Gojo's residents,
The night had already fallen over the city.
After everything that had happened in Magano, everyone had finally returned to the real world.
By the time they had finished dealing with the Kegare and returned from that desolate realm, it was already nine o'clock in the evening.
Benio Adashino sat quietly on the edge of the bed in her room. She had already taken a bath and changed into comfortable clothes. Her long hair was still slightly damp, and a few strands rested against her cheeks.
She didn't bother drying it completely.
At the moment, she simply didn't have the energy to care.
Benio raised her head and looked toward the window.
Moonlight poured through the glass, spreading a pale silver layer across the room.
The sight was peaceful and beautiful.
After everything that had happened today, the quietness felt somewhat strange.
On the bed beside her, Kinako had already fallen asleep.
The little shikigami had been completely exhausted after everything that had happened in Magano. She had curled herself up comfortably, her small body rising and falling gently as she slept.
Benio looked at her for several seconds. A faint smile appeared on her melancholy looking face.
"You really are able to sleep anywhere, Huangfen…"
Benio sighed quietly.
After Gojo Satoru had teleported her back home, he had also teleported away with Hayasaka Ai. Inside, she had immediately noticed the two lunch boxes sitting on the dining table.
Unfortunately, by the time she returned, the food had already become cold.
And she didn't have any appetite to eat. So, in the end, she had returned to her room.
Now, sitting on the edge of the bed, Benio felt much calmer than she had earlier.
But being calm didn't mean that the questions in her mind had disappeared.
If anything, the silence gave those questions even more room to grow.
Her eyes slowly lowered.
Why? Why had Yuuto Ijika become like that? That question was stuck to her head not letting her forgot the sight.
Benio's hands slowly tightened.
There was no answer.
Only the quiet sound of the night.
Benio's gaze moved toward the small table beside her bed.
Three of her headdresses were still intact.
The fourth one had been broken.
The pink ornament that she had treasured for so long had been damaged during the confrontation. She had tired to left them in the hell zone but Kinako wasn't having it as she asked her to atleast bring them to the reality.
She stared at the broken piece before she reached out with her right hand.
Grabbed the broken ornament.
And—
Bang!
She threw it toward the wall.
The sound echoed through the silent room.
The ornament struck the wall hard, cracking a little before it fell onto the floor.
"I'll never forgive you…" She clenched her hands that had thrown the broken memory.
Benio took a deep breath as she rubbed her eyes that threatened to tear-up.
"I don't want to think about it anymore." She laid down on the bed, pulled the blanket over her body. She quietly murmured, "Maybe I'll forget everything that happened today."
That was what she wanted.
Knock, knock.
The world was too cruel.
A familiar voice came from outside the door.
"Benio, are you asleep?"
"Gojo-sensei?" She sat upright, trying to make her voice sound completely normal. "What is it, Gojo-sensei?"
"Come out." Gojo Satoru's voice sounded relaxed. "I have something to tell you."
"...Okay." Benio quickly put on a coat. "I'll come out now."
It was very cold at night.
She opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
However, to her surprise Gojo wasn't there.
Benio looked left then right in confusion, tilting her head before she walked toward the living room.
There was some noises coming from there which she could clearly hear in this quiet night.
Only after entering the living room did she finally see him.
Gojo Satoru was sitting comfortably on the sofa. He turned his head toward her.
"There you are." He then turn again and pointed toward the table in the living room. "You haven't eaten dinner yet, right?"
Benio's eyes followed his finger.
The two lunch boxes that had been sitting there earlier were now steaming. There was also a new addition of Hagi mochi.
Benio stared at the food. The aroma slowly reached her like a temptress using her seduction. Her appetite still wasn't particularly strong.
But then—
"Grrrr…"
Benio froze.
Her stomach had betrayed her!
She looked down towards the traitor as another rumble followed.
"Grrrr…" Her cheeks immediately became slightly red in shame.
"That answer it, now come and eat." Gojo patted the sofa beside him.
It was unusual for Gojo to not laugh or tease someone who was already being embarrassed.
"…" Benio lowered her head. Then she quietly nodded, "....Okay."
She sat beside him, as she pushed her damo hair behind her ear.
Gojo handed her the chopsticks, before taking out his, "Eat slowly."
He reminded, even though he doesn't have to.
Benio picked up the bento, it was already opened and began eating slowly as she was told.
Gojo also brought his own bento over, picked up one of the chicken piece, and placed it into Benio's lunch box.
"Eat more."
Benio looked at the chicken then him, only for him to reply, "You need the energy more than I do."
Benio didn't argue. She silently picked up the chicken nugget and ate it.
Gojo casually ate a few mouthfuls of rice himself while passing another chicken piece one by one to Benio.
After eating and getting thirsty, he put his bento aside and poured himself a cup of warm black tea.
Just because he had sweet tooth doesn't mean he can't get used to bitter things.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Vanilla, who had been sleeping somewhere nearby, suddenly lifted her head. Living room is her personal paradise after all.
Her nose twitched — the aroma from the food had finally awakened the sleeping log after multiple tries.
"Meow…"
Benio startled glanced down, at the white cat that was giving her big eyes. "Vanilla?"
"Meow! Meow!" The cat's voice became more urgent.
Benio smiled faintly, a more happy smile, "Okay, okay. I know."
She picked up a piece of chicken, placed it carefully onto a small piece of paper. She doesn't want to dirty and floor at night and also doesn't want to walk to the kitchen and take out her plate.
Then she lowered it to the floor, just few inches from the sofa, "Here you go."
Vanilla immediately approached with hurried steps.
Benio chuckle to herself with knowing, looking at the cat obediently eating the chicken from the paper.
A few crumbs scattered across the floor.
Benio watched her with a slight twitch on her smile.
"You're really cute."
Vanilla continued eating without glancing at the food provider.
Benio eat the last piece of chicken that she was saving for the cat, after finishing she put the bento aside and picked up another Hagi mochi. This one was her second one as she had already eating one in between.
Gojo remained silent. Too focus on finishing his own food.
After finishing, he leaned forward slightly — hands were crossed together.
"Benio."
"What is it, Gojo-sensei?"
She replied in a muffled tone, she was still eating the Hagi mochi.
Gojo's expression became slightly more serious. "Don't think too much about him."
Benio's mouth stopped. The Hagi mochi remained fixed on her palm.
For several seconds, she didn't answer.
Nom! Nom!
Then she continued eating. "I wasn't thinking about him. He's no longer my brother."
Gojo looked at her. "Is that so?"
"Yes."
Benio nodded, too focused on eating that she didn't see the expression Gojo was making.
Gojo remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"I could have killed Yuuto today."
Benio stopped eating completely. She slowly raised her head only to be meet with the usual calm expression that he usually wore.
"…" Her green eyes were filled with confusion. "Gojo-sensei…"
She stared at him hard, asking him the question. "Why did you let him go?"
Gojo didn't immediately answer.
Benio continued.
"Even though he used to be my brother…" Her fingers tightened around the chopsticks. "But he kill so many people."
Her voice trembled.
"He should…" Be killed.
The word caught in her throat. She just couldn't say it.
Gojo simply looked at her as a slight disappointment appear on his face before it disappear. He didn't force her to finish the sentence.
Benio lowered her head. The word she couldn't say remained trapped in her mind.
"Your personal affairs should be settled by yourself." He said, giving her the reason behind his mercy.
Benio's eyes trembling slightly.
Gojo nodded, "If you want to settle things with Yuuto someday, then you should be the one to do it."
Benio smiled weakly. "I think so too."
She looked down at her hands, those weak, utterly pathetic hands that couldn't do anything except for begging for mercy.
"But I'm really no match for him."
She remembered the overwhelming pressure that was overwhelming her and others.
Gojo watched her quietly, a small smile had finally appeared on his face.
"Have you forgotten whose student you are?"
Benio blinked. She looked up at him.
"Of course not." Her answer came almost automatically. "I'm your student."
Gojo smiled. "Exactly."
He pointed toward himself.
"And who is your teacher?" His expression became extremely confident. "The strongest."
"So, don't worry too much."
He casually placed his hands behind his head.
"There's no problem with me teaching my student how to deal with her troublesome ex-brother."
How fun.
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,650