When Gojo Satoru was at the police academy, he received activity logs from the AI clone every day. After his consciousness returned to his main body, he also retrieved all the memories from the half year he had been absent.
Therefore, he was not surprised by Kuroba Chikage's video request.
Although the number of times the two had actually met could be counted on one hand, this "Phantom Lady" was indeed quite close to him and cared about him.
Gojo Satoru connected the video, and the screen was instantly occupied by a bright face.
"Good afternoon, Little Satoru."
The woman with short purple hair had a beautiful face, dressed fashionably, and had an elegant and outstanding temperament like a professional model. One couldn't tell at all that she was already the mother of a ten-year-old child.
The background of the video was a European-style cafe with retro decoration. Sunlight spilled through the window onto her profile, making her whole person look shiny.
"Yo, Chikage." The white-haired youth waved his hand somewhat lazily: "You look like you are in good spirits."
How to put it, it was no wonder Kaito misunderstood before that he was a gigolo found by his own mom—just looking at Kuroba Chikage's carefree state, she really didn't look like a tragic widow whose husband had died, but more like a leading lady who easily started a second life and planned to look for happiness at any time.
However, thinking from another angle, this kind of performance also made it easier for Kaito to suspect that Kuroba Toichi was still alive, always keeping a sliver of hope in his heart.
As for why she had to be so roundabout and just wouldn't say the truth... then one could only go and ask that old thief Aoyama.
"Little Satoru too~ Whenever I see you, I think you are quite pleasing to the eye."
"But..." Kuroba Chikage intentionally dragged out her tone, leaning forward slightly, her azure eyes that were exactly the same as Kaito's carrying a cleverness that couldn't be ignored: "We haven't seen each other for just this long, and we've become so distant?"
"Just calling my name won't do—come, call me sister to let me hear it."
Gojo Satoru: "..."
Although he often shamelessly called the female classmates of the same period "sister" when he wore his vest, that was also because the setting of the vest itself was eighteen years old, which was a solid younger age compared to others.
At the same time, due to the split in identity recognition, when acting cute to those young girls as "Kuno Nozomu," Gojo Satoru didn't have much psychological burden.
But facing this genuine cousin who was recognized by the world consciousness and had a blood relation with him, this word "sister" often stuck in his throat, making it hard to blurt out.
Well... if only Kuroba Chikage were as old as Belmot, he wouldn't be unable to let go.
Belmot far away in America: Are you polite?
Seeing that he didn't open his mouth for a long time, Kuroba Chikage didn't speak either, but just lowered her head, wiping away non-existent tears sadly: "Sigh, Little Satoru must hate me. True, after all, we only recognized each other so late, blame me for not being by your side when you were a child..."
Gojo Satoru knew she was intentionally playing shameless, but he sighed inaudibly, his voice carrying a bit of helplessness: "...Sister."
"Eh! That's right~"
Kuroba Chikage instantly smiled like a flower, leaning back against the chair completely satisfied.
Gojo Satoru's mouth twitched, suddenly feeling this scene looked familiar.
Wasn't this exactly the appearance of himself teasing Kaito to call him uncle? What a boomerang.
Looking at Chikage's smile across the screen, he had to admit that with the same personality of liking to tease people, saying they were relatives really made quite a lot of sense.
"Speaking of which..." His cheap cousin propped up her cheek, asking with a smile: "I heard the Gojo family recently started to enter the food industry, and the market response seems very good?"
"Well, it's alright."
Gojo Satoru resumed his lazy posture, manipulating the plush bear in front of the other person to pour a cup of black tea for himself: "When the newest dessert is developed, I will mail you some to taste."
"Great, Little Satoru is really thoughtful."
Kuroba Chikage caught sight of the small bear that could move by itself, but she didn't appear surprised, nor did she ask much.
Although she ran away from home midway, she was also a person who grew up in the Gojo family since childhood. Under the constant influence, she, like other clansmen, possessed an indelible faith in the "Six Eyes" as a spiritual totem.
And as the only "Six Eyes" in hundreds of years, it was a matter of course for Gojo Satoru to possess such magical power.
"It looks like under your leadership, the future of the Gojo family makes people look forward to it very much."
Kuroba Chikage recalled: "When I was still in the family, I proposed many times... continuing to be so complacent will only cut off our own path. But the elders wouldn't listen to me, and I had no way to convince them."
"It's truly for the best that you can change this family." Speaking up to here, she said with concern again: "However, being the family head is not an easy thing, don't give yourself too much pressure..."
"No need to worry."
The corner of Gojo Satoru's mouth curved into a trademark arrogant arc: "This small matter is completely within my control."
"The era belonging to the Gojo family... will eventually come."
Hearing such wild words, Kuroba Chikage froze for a second before laughing out loud.
"As expected of you. Then, I will properly look forward to that day coming."
Next, the two talked about some daily topics again, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.
"Right..."
Kuroba Chikage picked up the coffee cup, her finger smoothing the edge of the cup, her tone becoming a bit more serious: "Satoru, actually I came to find you mainly wanting to talk about Kaito."
"Oh?"
"When I did a video call with Kaito yesterday, I always felt he had something on his mind."
The purple-haired woman with gorgeous features frowned slightly, a bit of worry showing in her eyes: "Although he was still laughing and playing and arguing with me, but... I just feel he has things cooped up in his heart and didn't tell me the truth."
Gojo Satoru thought back to Kaito's recent performance, and there seemed to be nothing abnormal.
"Could it be that he accidentally fell into the water and a fish crawled into his clothes?"
Kuroba Chikage sighed: "If it were really that simple, it would be fine instead."
"In short... a mother's intuition is very accurate."
She continued: "I can't return to Japan this month yet, so I want to trouble you to help me ask and see, and guide him along the way."
Gojo Satoru nodded: "Fine, leave it to me."
"Thank you, Little Satoru~ When I go back, I will bring you an awesome souvenir."
Chikage's smile became bright again: "I have something to do here, hanging up first, remember to chat more with Kaito!"
After the video hung up, Gojo Satoru stared at the darkened screen, thoughtful.
"Kaito's worry... what exactly is it?"
A child's thoughts were like changeable weather, clearly the previous second was sunny for thousands of miles, and the next second it could give you a downpour, unguessable and untouchable.
"Forget it, better to go ask the person directly."
Gojo Satoru stood up and stretched.
Today was Sunday, Kaito should still be at home.
"Hmm... should I just teleport directly to his window side to startle him? Or, call first to ask and see?"
"Knock, knock, knock——"
The door of the Japanese room was knocked gently at the right time.
The old butler Gojo Heikichi's voice came from outside the room: "Lord Head, Master Kaito is here, and is waiting for you in the small reception room."
So coincidental, it truly was speaking of the devil and the devil arrives.
Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow: "Did he come alone? Didn't bring Aoko?"
"Yes, he said he has something to discuss with you."
Gojo Satoru casually straightened the collar of his yukata, stepping toward the small reception room specially prepared for Kaito and Aoko.
Pushing open that door, what entered the view was a room filled with a warm atmosphere.
The floor was covered with a soft cartoon carpet, the center was a comfortable wide sofa and a tea table, and the corner held the newest model of game console, all kinds of comic books, and a cabinet stuffed with snacks and drinks. There were also dolls Aoko liked and magic props Kaito liked, not missing a single thing.
Although here was not as classical and elegant as other reception rooms, it was a full-mark holy land in the hearts of the two little guys. After all, sometimes the Gojo head was busy handling affairs and couldn't receive them at the first moment, so he simply made such a place let them move freely.
When Gojo Satoru pushed the door and entered, Kuroba Kaito was lying face up on the sofa, holding a snow-white Ragdoll cat in his arms, scratching its fur off and on.
"Good wow, Daifu, I said why I didn't see you, so you ran here."
Perhaps because this cat was too understanding of human nature, during the half year White topped Gojo Satoru's shell, it didn't really stick to him, but played very well with Kaito and them. Even if the real owner came back, Daifu wasn't quite used to it for a while, always liking to wander outside.
Gojo Satoru: So... love will disappear, right?
Daifu was scratched very comfortably, letting out a "purr purr" sound.
Kuroba Kaito's gaze was a bit empty, obviously his mind was not on the cat, and he didn't even notice someone walking to his side.
"Ahem." Gojo Satoru cleared his throat.
Kaito only then returned to his senses, seeing the tall man dressed in a kimono before him, he sat up his body subconsciously: "Ah... Uncle!"
It seemed he had completely gotten used to this title, which was truly gratifying.
"Aiya~ Little Kaito." Gojo Satoru naturally rubbed his head, making the already messy hair even messier: "How do you have time to come find me today? Could it be that you miss your uncle too much?"
"How is that possible..."
The youth whose face became more and more handsome showed half-moon eyes, while dodging his magic palm, while rescuing his own hairstyle: "Just have something I want to ask you."
Speaking of this, Gojo Satoru was quite curious. Could this be Kaito's worry?
He smoothly pulled a bag of potato chips from the snack cabinet and sat down on the sofa: "Speak up, what matter?"
Kuroba Kaito hesitated for a bit, lowering his head to scratch Daifu's ear, before opening his mouth: "That... Uncle, are you free tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock?"
"Tomorrow afternoon?" Gojo Satoru chewed potato chips, asking intentionally: "What, do you want your uncle to take you to the amusement park to play?"
"Of course not!"
Kuroba Kaito reasonably suspected that compared to himself, his uncle was clearly the one who wanted to go to the amusement park to play more.
"Actually, our school is going to hold a parent-teacher meeting tomorrow..." He sighed and said: "This semester Grandpa Jii helped me attend it, but he had something to do and went far away these few days, and Mom is not in the country, so..."
Gojo Satoru blinked his eyes: "So you want me to go?"
"...Correct."
Perhaps because he rarely begged others to do anything, Kuroba Kaito scratched his cheek somewhat embarrassedly.
"It won't be held for long either, at most an hour or so... Of course, if you are very busy, it's fine if you don't go, I'll just tell the teacher and——"
"Rest assured."
Gojo Satoru reached out his hand, this time not rubbing hair, but gently patting the other person's shoulder.
"This is our Little Kaito's parent-teacher meeting, how can your uncle be absent?"
He knew this invitation looked simple, but behind it, it represented the youth's awkward and genuine trust. Maybe only a little bit, but... did this mean that in the other's eyes, he was already treated as a relative who could truly be relied on?
[Ding! Impression value from plot character Kuroba Kaito increases by 200 points, impression composition... peace of mind.]
Kuroba Kaito's eyes lit up: "Really?"
"Of course it's real, but..."
However, just at this rare warm moment belonging to the uncle and nephew, Gojo Satoru showed an ill-intentioned smile.
"You have to promise me one condition."
"Ha? What condition?"
Kuroba Kaito became alert instantly. He knew that according to the other's personality of always not playing cards by common sense, things wouldn't go so smoothly at all.
"You have to now, immediately, right away, call me 'the handsomest and most amazing uncle in the whole world'."
Kaito: "...Who wants to call that!!"
"Is that so?" Gojo Satoru made a gesture to stand up: "Then forget it, I suddenly remembered tomorrow afternoon seems to have an important meeting to hold..."
"Wait!"
In the final analysis, Kuroba Kaito was not as tsundere as Kudo Shinichi. Facing a condition where he only needed to compromise a little bit to reach the goal, he didn't resist for long, and directly and cleanly sold out his integrity.
Repeatedly reciting his father's teaching of "always maintain a poker face," Kaito grabbed Gojo Satoru's sleeve and spoke in a low voice.
"...The, the handsomest and most amazing uncle in the whole world."
"Can't hear oh~"
"The handsomest and most amazing uncle in the whole world!!"
"Not sincere enough~ put a bit more full emotion into it!"
Kaito took a deep breath, as if using up his lifetime acting skills, squeezed out an incomparably bright smile, and called with a voice sweet enough to choke someone to death: "The handsomest and most amazing uncle in the whole world~ please~ tomorrow go help me attend the parent-teacher meeting~"
Gojo Satoru: "..."
Is this the power of Yamaguchi Kappei's voice-changing period?
He silently covered his chest: "Bad, a bit disgusting."
Kaito: "...Wasn't it you who made me say it like this!"
Surely, he had better spend money to hire a fake uncle to go attend the parent-teacher meeting.