A boy who was both suspicious and kind.
Suspicious women.
Everything surrounding the new environment of Maki and Mai was undeniably suspicious.
The sudden shift in their lives brought a fair amount of stress.
Even so, it was leagues better than staying at the Zenin manor.
Even before the most brutal of the family's physical abuse could truly begin, the psychological toll had been mounting.
That stifling atmosphere.
The eyes filled with contempt, pouring in from every direction.
Though their bodies were physically unharmed for the moment, their spirits had been worn down to rags.
Had they not had each other, they would have shattered long ago.
This was especially true for Mai, whose heart was far from ironclad.
She had a passive streak that left her vulnerable.
—"I should have just stayed there, doing chores, letting them order me around!"
Her desperate cry from the Kyoto Goodwill Event flashed as a potential future. It was enough to reveal her true nature.
But destiny had shifted now.
Whether that particular event would ever manifest again was a mystery, but one thing was certain.
The current situation was far superior.
"Mai, do you want some juice?"
"Yes... Thank you."
The kind boy was always looking after her.
And then there were the women following him.
They weren't all exactly 'kind,' but they weren't hostile either.
Paradoxically, their lack of excessive kindness was what put her at ease.
The mere fact that they weren't enemies was a massive relief.
"Now then. Since you'll be starting school soon, I'll be handling your foundational education. These are the Master's orders, so I expect your full cooperation."
After breakfast, Koyanskaya of Light, the Assassin, sat down before the sisters.
They were in the twins' new room.
Her objective: the education program her Master had mandated.
'So big...'
A sense of sheer awe washed over Mai's gaze.
Up close, Koyanskaya's overwhelming physical proportions—the sheer volume of her bust—were even more vivid. The sweet, sophisticated scent clinging to her made Mai's mind tingle.
Maki, on the other hand, remained wary of the Assassin's abnormalities. However, after a brief moment of observation, she sighed.
She realized vigilance was futile.
No matter how much she put up her guard, she was at their mercy. It was easier to just let go and follow along.
Besides, Maki's thoughts weren't entirely different from Mai's.
Seeing that breathtaking bust left her practically speechless as well.
"So, what kind of 'education' are we talking about?"
"Nothing too intellectually demanding. It's about the mindset required for school. You've lived in a group environment before, but this is your first time socializing with a group of peers, isn't it?"
"Yeah, that's true," Maki nodded frankly.
Despite being treated like garbage at home, being raised in a prestigious clan meant their vocabulary and manner of speaking were sophisticated. The same applied to Mai.
"I've heard your previous life was quite agonizing, but peer groups can be just as vicious in their own way."
"How?"
"Exclusion. Contempt. Petty friction. There are many issues, but bullying is the most prominent," Assassin explained with a faint, sly smile, her eyes narrowing.
At the slight intimidation, Mai's shoulders flinched.
Maki, however, remained unfazed.
"They're just kids, right? Can't I just beat them up?"
"Oh? A question that cuts straight to the heart of the matter. You're right. However, if you beat them to a pulp indiscriminately, it causes a headache for the administration, doesn't it?"
Therefore, Koyanskaya would teach them how to crush others without leaving a trace.
Whether through psychological warfare or physical precision.
"Shall we begin our lesson, then?"
The Assassin spoke with a smile, and both Maki and Mai found their eyes drawn to her moving lips.
***
I went to find Toji for the first time in a while.
It was spring, the season of blooming flowers.
The weather was perfect for meeting in a park and enjoying the breeze.
"Brother."
"Oh, Megumi. How have you been? It's been a while."
"Yeah."
Toji walked over and sat on the bench with Megumi.
He looked exactly like the elementary-school-aged Megumi I had seen at the conclusion of the Hidden Inventory and Premature Death arcs.
Even if the age differed slightly, the appearance was identical.
"I heard the news. You adopted those brats from the Zenin family?"
Sitting beside me, Toji handed me a can. It was an isotonic drink he had grabbed from a nearby vending machine.
"Yes. Thanks for the drink."
I took a sip and nodded. Megumi sat on Toji's other side, sipping his own drink.
When he was a toddler, he had a shy charm to him. Now, he seemed to have inherited Toji's prickly, cynical edge.
Still, he followed me well enough, and our affinity wasn't bad. It was at a comfortable level.
"What's their use?" Toji asked bluntly.
"You don't raise children based on their 'use,' Toji. That's a terrible attitude for a guardian."
"Boss... did you play at being a parent in a past life or something?" Toji asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
Was it really that shocking?
"Not at all. Forget being a parent, I never even got married."
"You say that as if you really had a past life. Is that why you're like this...?"
"Maybe?" I chuckled, taking another drink.
Toji looked strangely serious, as if lost in deep contemplation over my words. Meanwhile, Megumi looked at us both with an expression that said, What kind of nonsense is this?
I understood Megumi's perspective, but Toji was really overthinking it.
"I think I roughly get it," Toji said, nodding finally.
I wondered what exactly he thought he understood, but I didn't press it.
"Whatever it is, I'm glad you're on board. So, how about Megumi? Is he doing well?"
"Well enough. He starts school next year, after all."
"Megumi is already an elementary student? Time really flies."
He was just a baby when I first saw him, and now he's a student. The passage of time truly is a marvel.
"Yeah. And he's manifested his Cursed Technique."
"Really?" I asked, my eyes snapping wide.
I already knew it would happen, but hearing it in person was a different matter entirely.
"Yeah. He hit the jackpot. I don't know if it'll be a blessing or a curse for him, but it's never bad to have power," Toji said, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. He looked genuinely proud.
"What kind is it?"
"The Ten Shadows Technique. I assume the Boss knows about it?"
I knew it better than anyone. It was an overpowered technique that used shadows as a medium to control ten types of Shikigami. And then there was Mahoraga.
Because of that monstrosity, the adult Megumi in the original timeline became notorious for summoning it at every slight inconvenience.
The moment things looked slightly south: 'With this treasure, I summon...'
The image of him chanting the incantation to call Mahoraga flashed through my mind.
"It's an Inherited Technique."
"The crown jewel of Inherited Techniques. If he went to the Zenin, they'd treat him like royalty."
"But you have no intention of sending him there, do you?"
"None. It might be a paradise for a sorcerer, but I see no reason to throw my kid into that dumpster fire," Toji nodded. He really had become a father.
"Wise choice. Still, it would be best for him to master the technique, right?"
"Obviously. But he's still young, so I'm going to give him some space. There's no need to rush, is there?"
"Does Megumi feel the same way?"
"I wouldn't mind starting a bit early," Megumi chimed in nonchalantly, having been listening quietly.
At an age where kids usually sparkle at the idea of special powers, he was remarkably composed. Even when he should have been begging to start, he remained calm.
Was it because he took after Toji? Or because Zenin Sae was raising him with plenty of love? In the original story, Megumi never knew a mother's love, but things were different now.
"Is that so? If Megumi feels that way, learning early might be for the best."
"Are you serious?" Toji asked, blinking. He clearly didn't expect those words from me.
"Whatever path he chooses, he's inevitably going to get entangled with the Jujutsu world. You know the saying about the awl in a bag, don't you?"
"That talent can't be hidden even if you try?"
"Exactly. It's a technique powerful enough that its previous user, even while incomplete, managed to kill a head of the Gojo clan possessing the Limitless. It's delusional to think it can be kept hidden forever."
I sighed, and Toji nodded slowly. Fortunately, he seemed to agree.
"The Boss has a point."
"Yes. Speaking of which, would it be alright if I conducted an experiment later?"
"An experiment? Like what?" Megumi's eyes sparkled with genuine interest. Even if he acted indifferent, he was curious.
"I'll tell you later. More importantly, I'll introduce you to the girls sometime so you can all get acquainted."
"Ah, sure. That's fine. Do they have any potential?"
"They do. And you won't have to worry much about their character."
"Good. Being stepped on by others doesn't necessarily make someone a 'good person,'" Toji muttered a bitter truth of life.
There was no room for rebuttal. The weak are not inherently good. I had lived through enough to know that very well.
"Shall we call it a day? I'll see you again soon."
"Yeah. Anything else you need me to do?"
"No. Just maintain the current status quo. We've already made a fortune as it is."
I had invested the capital Toji earned, and Koyanskaya had managed the funds. Because the world of Jujutsu Kaisen was set in the modern era, major historical events played out identically to my own world.
The IMF crisis in Korea, the Twin Towers in America... we capitalized on them all. We had earned so much that looking at the monthly revenue was just a mundane task now.
"I'm jealous. Nothing for me?" Toji sounded truly envious. His love for money was as strong as ever.
'I should give him some sort of reward.'
He had worked hard in the field for me, and that money had blossomed into even greater wealth. It had been years since Toji essentially became my subordinate. It was time for a new form of compensation. Medicine alone wasn't enough anymore.
"Well, would you like to open a dojo?"
"A dojo?" Toji tilted his head, clearly confused.
"You're exceptional at combat. Teach people how to fight. Not 'martial arts,' but survival and combat skills."
"Hmm... You mean train guys like bodyguards for money?"
"Yes. You can keep doing your usual work, but with fewer field assignments. It's not a bad deal, is it?"
Hunting Curse Users paid well, but there weren't an infinite supply of them. Especially since we had already thinned their numbers significantly. A secondary source of income was necessary.
Toji understood the logic and nodded.
"Sounds alright. What about the costs?"
"We can start small, so it won't be much... I'll cover the construction and two years of maintenance. Does that sound fair?"
"Sounds great. I'm counting on you." Toji grinned genuinely. He was always happy when someone else footed the bill.
"I'll head out first, then. See you later."
"Yeah. Get home safe."
"I will. See you later, Megumi."
I bid farewell to the father and son and left the park. I figured I would introduce Maki and Mai to them around summer break. They were busy adjusting to their new lives; there was no reason to complicate things for the sisters just yet.
—Master, are we going home now?
As I walked through an alley, Shuten-douji contacted me via our mental link. Out of consideration for me, she was maintaining her spirit form.
—We should.
—But didn't ye have a meetin' with that blue-eyed brat today?
—Ah.
It was Sunday, wasn't it? I had completely forgotten.
I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed the number for my designated assistant director.
"Hello?"
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