Maki, Mai, and Megumi stood facing each other.
It was incredibly awkward.
"This is as stiff as a marriage interview. Shouldn't the Boss be the one on the matchmaking seat?"
Toji, sitting in the corner, tossed the question out casually.
I'm just a kid myself, but seeing kids their age together… a marriage interview? Really?
"What kind of political marriage is this supposed to be?" I shot back.
"Huh? Isn't it? Isn't that why that trashy family sent those girls over?"
Well, he wasn't wrong. But still…
This is a bit troublesome.
I lost my words and simply let out a long sigh.
There's no helping him.
"I am Megumi Zenin."
In the midst of the silence, Megumi was the first to bow his head.
It was a standard, polite greeting.
"Zenin?"
Instantly, Maki's brows furrowed.
Mai also flinched, her posture shifting into one of wariness.
—*Don't call me by that surname.
—Oh my. I'd appreciate it if you didn't use that family name?*
As depicted in the original story, the two sisters loathed the name Zenin.
They hated it so much they would tell strangers to use their given names upon their very first meeting.
And yet, here was someone proudly introducing himself with the Zenin name.
A boy, at that.
It was only natural for the sisters to be on guard, but…
"Maki, Mai. It's okay. Megumi is a Zenin, but he has absolutely nothing to do with that side of the family. The same goes for Toji."
The moment I spoke, the sisters turned their gaze toward me.
Their eyes were wide with shock.
"Really?"
Maki was the one to ask, looking directly at me.
It figured. Maki was always the one to step up first.
"Really. Did you not hear anything from Naobito-san or Naoya?"
"Nothing."
"Ah, I see."
I nodded, letting out another sigh.
Since there's no love lost there, I suppose it makes sense they didn't tell them.
Or perhaps they just kept their mouths shut, assuming I would be the one to explain.
"Toji left that house a long time ago. He has a Heavenly Restriction that leaves him with zero Cursed Energy, so he wasn't exactly treated well there."
"That guy?"
Maki's eyes shifted back to Toji.
She might not have known his name, but it seemed she had heard rumors about him.
"You've heard of him, then?"
"Yeah. My damn birth father used to harass me, bringing up some Heavenly Restriction or whatever."
Maki's expression and voice were laced with pure contempt.
Her 'damn birth father.'
Her hostility toward Zenin Ougi was glaringly obvious.
"Everyone in that household is a piece of trash. Glad to see we're on the same page."
Toji let out a short smirk and gave a dismissive wave.
That relaxed gesture and the half-grin—the greeting of a fellow outcast—seemed to finally melt the tension in Maki and Mai.
"Uh, yeah. That's what I've heard."
Megumi replied apathetically.
He looked just as disinterested as he did in the manga.
"Ah, I'm Mai Zenin. Pleased to meet you."
"You're an elementary student, right? I'm a year younger, so you can speak casually to me."
"Oh, really?"
The shy Mai blinked, her eyes softening.
They really were sisters; the timing of their relief was identical.
"You. You said you have a Heavenly Restriction?"
While Mai and Megumi conversed, Maki approached us.
"Yeah. What about it?"
"Then, can you even beat a Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
"A sorcerer? Depends on the situation, but my win rate is pretty high."
Toji feigned humility with a straight face.
It wasn't just 'pretty high'; it was overwhelming.
Excluding Gojo Satoru, he was likely undefeated.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say his win rate sat at a near-perfect 100%.
"How do I become like that?"
Maki's eyes sparkled with intensity.
She wanted to become a sorcerer just to spite her family. I could see the glimpses of the reckless girl who would eventually put her life on the line for that single goal.
It was pitiful, admirable, and fascinating all at once.
So Maki was already like this, even back then.
"How? If you survive a few life-or-death situations, your senses get sharp. And then eventually..."
Toji's dismissive response trailed off as he blinked.
He seemed to have finally noticed.
"Boss. Is she...?"
"She has a Heavenly Restriction. The same type as you, Toji. However..."
I paused, meeting Toji's eyes.
Keeping that gaze, I signaled toward Mai with a subtle shift of my eyes.
Toji followed my lead and then nodded slowly.
Fortunately, he seemed to understand the complexity of the situation.
"Ah, I see. I get it. Still, a Heavenly Restriction is a Heavenly Restriction, right?"
"Yes. That's why she's so interested."
"Is this why you wanted us to meet, Boss?"
"That was part of it. I thought it wouldn't hurt for you two to be on friendly terms, though I know you're not the type to enjoy company."
"If it's not related to the main Zenin family business, then fine."
Toji smirked and looked at Maki.
"So, what is it you want? Say it clearly."
"I'm going to become a sorcerer."
"Ah. Is that so? And you want me to teach you combat techniques?"
"Eh? No, that's..."
Maki faltered, her voice growing soft with hesitation.
She wasn't used to receiving help from others.
Lines from the Culling Game arc of *Jujutsu Kaisen flickered through my mind.
"Maki. If you need help, you have to ask for it. They might say no, but the act of asking is important."
I stepped up behind Maki and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.
Asking for help requires its own kind of courage.
Of course, there are plenty of people who cross the line into exploitation, but still...
Normally, it's a difficult thing to do.
It's especially hard for someone raised in an environment like Maki's.
In a world where no one ever offered help, she likely never even considered reaching out a hand.
Basic food, clothing, and shelter.
An education.
Those aren't 'help'; they are a parent's fundamental obligation.
"Yeah."
Maki turned her head slightly and nodded.
She seemed to have found a sliver of courage.
"Um... please teach me your techniques."
Maki said, looking straight at Toji.
It was heartening to see her step forward.
"For free? If you were my kid, maybe, but I can't just give it away. Unless the Boss asks, that is."
Toji's lips curled into a crooked grin.
He was teasing her even now.
Maki glanced at me, then at Toji, mulling it over.
Eventually, she reached a conclusion.
"What do I have to do?"
"That's a very dangerous question to ask. You shouldn't go around saying you'll do 'anything.'"
"Still, I don't want to cause trouble for my brother."
"Good mindset."
Toji stroked his chin for a moment before deciding on a fair price.
"I'll teach you the techniques. In exchange, you'll work at my gym periodically. Naturally, it's unpaid."
"Unpaid means... I won't get any money, right? I'm used to that. It's fine."
Maki nodded without hesitation.
It was heartbreaking to hear a child say she was 'used to' unpaid labor.
"Uh... right."
Even Toji looked visibly taken aback.
Her response was something you'd expect from the Industrial Revolution era; no wonder he was stunned.
"Is that okay with you, Boss?"
"It's a decision Maki made on her own. But make sure her attendance is strictly voluntary."
"I don't plan on forcing her. But I'd like to set a schedule. It'd be a pain if she just showed up whenever."
"There will be times when the gym is closed, after all."
Everything was reasonable, so I had no grounds for objection.
It was the right move for both of them.
"For now, come between three and six in the afternoon. I'll keep the door open for you."
"Okay."
"If I'm closing, I'll let the Boss know, so check with him beforehand. If you don't hear anything, assume it's open."
"Thank you."
Maki bowed her head respectfully.
The desire to be a sorcerer—that drive shown in the original story was already clearly defined in her heart.
On the other hand, Mai, who was watching from the side, was different.
She had no desire to be a sorcerer and thus no intention of growing stronger.
She would eventually become a shackle for her sister.
While she viewed herself that way, I knew Maki would never think of her as a burden.
'I'll have to find a way.'
Even now, I investigate the sisters' bodies every day.
I am searching for a way to sever or split the concept of them being 'cursed identical existence'—the metaphysical link that treats them as one person in jujutsu logic.
This is a matter of altering their very existence.
It was far more difficult than developing Magecraft using the Inverted Spear of Heaven as a sample.
Even Koyanskaya and Ibuki were having trouble with it...
It seems I need Toji's help.
If I have a perfect sample of a fully completed Heavenly Restriction like him?
Perhaps I could find a way to help Maki at least reach that level.
"Boss. Why are you looking at me like that?"
Toji narrowed his eyes.
As expected of a Heavenly Restriction user, his intuition was razor-sharp.
"It's nothing."
I smiled and shook my head.
There was no rush; we had plenty of time.
"What about you, Mai?"
I asked as Mai approached.
Megumi had retreated to a corner and was yawning with boredom.
Mai had no greed for power.
There was no real reason for her to come here.
If she did, maybe she could learn some basic self-defense?
However, Mai loved her sister dearly.
She might tag along just for that reason.
There was enough credibility to the fan theories that Maki was actually Mai's first love in Jujutsu Kaisen*.
Maki was confident.
She was the one pillar of support in that hellish Zenin family.
Regardless of gender, it was a personality easy to fall for.
"Can I follow my sister?"
Mai asked me cautiously.
As expected, she didn't want to be separated.
"If that's what Mai wants."
"Thank you."
Mai smiled shyly, letting out a breath of relief.
She seemed to have been worried that I wouldn't allow it or that she'd be scolded for being selfish.
"Alright, so it's settled. The one who called herself Maki will train. The one called Mai will just observe."
Toji brought the matter to a clear conclusion.
I nodded in agreement.
"Yes. And about that experiment I mentioned before. How about this weekend? I heard Megumi wanted to learn more too."
With one topic closed, I moved on to the next.
In the corner, Megumi's eyes flickered with a sudden spark of interest.
"This weekend? Sounds fine. Where?"
"The place... well..."
I fell into thought for a moment.
For the Taming Rite, a wide-open area would be best.
Especially if I wanted to avoid paying for property damage.
As I pondered the location, a single place came to mind.
It felt almost like destiny.
'Hmm...'
Outside Toji's gym.
Something watching from a distance stroked its chin.
It held a high-magnification scope in its hand.
A perfect blind spot.
It was a position so flawlessly chosen that nothing inside could detect it by instinct alone.
It had incited the Grasshopper Curse to test the waters, but the result was more serious than expected.
They were beyond the point of reason.
And it wasn't just one monster; there were many.
'I'm lacking in power. For now, I'm outnumbered too.'
They were an eyesore and needed to be removed, but a direct move was impossible.
That would be like fanning the flames of a burning house.
Staying quiet like this—hiding and waiting for an opening—was the most desirable path.
'Should I grab those things and use them as blackmail?'
At a glance, those children seemed precious to the target.
If held as hostages, would it be possible?
The *something was momentarily tempted by the thought, but it only lasted an instant.
Like a beautiful dream that vanishes the second you wake up.
'No. If I do that and it fails, they'll hunt me to the ends of the earth.'
It would be great if it worked, but it was too optimistic. The probability of things going wrong was far too high.
The something* saw a future of failure much more clearly than a future of success.
Because it saw that, it discarded the thought.
Ultimately, it reached the same conclusion: continue observing.
Safely. Calmly.
'I have plenty of time. I'll wait for a gap.'
The *something felt the link between the child inside and those terrifying women.
By feeling it, it could be certain.
That boy.
If only it removed that boy, those fearsome women would naturally vanish as well.
The something* smiled softly and leapt from the roof.
Its presence was fragmented and small.
Combined with the distance, those on the other side didn't notice a thing.
'I'll have to be cunning about this.'
The something laughed as it vanished, as if being sucked down into a sewer drain.
Its expression was smooth, yet thoroughly evil.