While Shuten-douji was running covert ops in Kyoto,
Koyanskaya of Light—the Assassin—was meeting with Japan's Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister stands at the peak of Japanese politics,
akin to a president.
The venue: the official residence where the Prime Minister slept.
The Assassin had aimed for the predawn window when even busy leaders finally rest.
The current Prime Minister swallowed hard.
An intruder who had slipped past every sorcerous and physical security net without a sound—terrifying.
Looks, charm, sheer allure, the atmosphere around her—
she eclipsed every woman he had ever seen, yet no desire stirred.
He was the Prime Minister—he knew which women he could leer at and which he could not.
"So, in short, unrest may break out inside the Jujutsu Supervisory Bureau, and you want us to refrain from overreacting?"
"Exactly. It's a family quarrel at worst; the jujutsu world won't stop doing its job."
Would it really stop at a family quarrel?
The Prime Minister wondered but dared not voice it.
Cross her and he would die.
The certainty of death filled every corner of his brain.
"But why come to me so suddenly…?"
"I meant to stay quiet, but the Bureau keeps crossing lines. I can't just watch, can I? The jujutsu world plays by different rules."
Different rules.
As the man who appoints Bureau officials, he understood.
Not military might or modern weapons—jujutsu.
Those sorcerers have guarded Japan's hidden side since antiquity,
and so—
they remain indispensable to the nation's stability.
"I understand, but…"
"I know what troubles you. Yet I can promise you one thing."
The Assassin paused, smiling—
a smile so bewitching any man would fall on sight.
"We love peace more fervently than anyone—more than the crowds who chant it without conviction."
Yet—
the resolve behind that smile felt like steel:
solid, unshakable, ready to erase anyone who blocked her path.
The Prime Minister pressed a hand to his pounding heart.
Tension, excitement, fear—
every emotion numbed his thoughts. This was more frightening than any state crisis.
"So what you desire is non-intervention, yes?"
"Correct, Prime Minister. We can't let a handful of shortsighted leaders jeopardize the whole structure. The spine of the jujutsu world is still strong."
The targets would be limited precisely.
A small comfort.
"I'll answer plainly—no diplomatic varnish. I'll comply."
He sighed and nodded; opposing someone who infiltrated his residence without a ripple was folly.
"Thank you."
A smile blossomed across the Assassin's face.
A silent dawn promise, but enough—he would never dare renege.
"Thank you for receiving me at this hour. I'll take my leave."
She stood—and vanished.
Gone without a trace.
"Good heavens…"
The Prime Minister's eyes widened. It felt like a strange dream.
Sigh.
He sat for a while, pinching the bridge of his nose. Exhaustion washed over him.
"Master~ I'm back. Long trip, I'm beat."
Shuten returned from Kyoto.
She claimed to be tired, yet her grin screamed theatrics.
I pulled her into a firm hug.
When she begs for comfort, you give it.
Barring Raikō, no one else reacted.
Maki and Mai were at school, missing the show.
"Good work. Want to rest?"
"Mm-hmm. Got a fat advance; this is plenty. I'll crash in my room."
She lingered ten minutes in my arms, then disappeared into her room—
shorter than I'd expected.
Instead, I spent the next stretch soothing a jealous Raikō.
The other Servants, seeing that, got competitive too.
It took extra time, but…
I smoothed it over in the end.
—You built the harem; bear its weight.
Sitting on the living-room sofa, the line floated through my mind.
I couldn't quite relate.
Everyone respected boundaries, pouted a little, and coaxing them was fun. Honest fun, not brainwashing.
"You changed the plan?"
Only once things calmed did I call Gojo.
The field had shifted; he needed to know.
"Yeah. Instead of waiting for the higher-ups, I made them move. Details are classified."
"Bit sudden, but I like it. Faster we clean house, the better."
He laughed brightly.
In canon he'd chased reform through teaching—
train students, grow allies. Not this time.
The chalk was in Geto's hand now.
Geto, still on our side, welcomed a purge of the upper brass.
He was similar to Teacher Gojo Satoru, but a shade more aggressive.
"Great. Could you brief Geto so there's no confusion?"
"Sure. You good?"
"Of course. Thanks for worrying."
"Good. Later."
He cut the call like a knife. The yawn I'd heard said I'd woken him.
Gojo and Geto would handle the sorcerers' phone tree.
Leaves me with few to contact.
Toji cares little for politics.
Megumi will hear through Maki and Mai.
'Haven't used Toji in years,' I mused.
Time had flown—and my world had changed.
My accounts were still swollen.
Maki and Mai's accounts kept stacking cash.
When they turned legal, each would hold a hundred million yen—north of ten billion won.
The Assassin still minted money,
the Foreigner backed her up.
They'd perfected a revenue engine and kept refining it, taking the odd job.
"Brother, we're home."
Bored, enjoying the peace, I'd dozed off; Mai woke me.
"Mm… Mai? School's over already?"
"Yes. Sorry. If you nap too long, you won't sleep tonight."
"Thanks."
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Mai's relieved smile made me chuckle.
"How's school? Next year you're off to Tokyo Jujutsu High—having fun while you can?"
"Thinking it's my last year helps me enjoy it."
"Oh? How?"
"One of the seniors tags along to karaoke sometimes, and…"
Mai knelt by the bed and shared her everyday tales—fresh and youthful.
Made me wonder if I should've tried school life.
"Winter's almost here."
She glanced out the window, murmuring.
Already that time.
"Yeah. After winter comes spring, and you'll enroll."
"They say the school has dorms… Could I commute from home?"
"If that's what you want."
"Really? I'd feel like a burden."
"No burden. We'll ask an assistant supervisor to handle transport."
Commuting help is part of their job—maybe mornings, maybe both ways.
"We'll sort it with the school. Don't worry."
"Okay, Brother."
Mai rested her chin on the bed, grinning—adorable from this angle.
I stroked her hair gently.
First time since she'd grown up.
"Been a while since you petted me, huh?"
She closed her eyes, utterly accepting.
—Mai knows perfectly well she's a woman.
Why did Naoya's line float up now?
I nearly sighed.
"Mai, you went to wake him and yet you're still—"
Knock. Maki entered and froze, eyes pinned to my hand on Mai's head.
"Oh, you're back."
Mai didn't even look, keeping her head under my hand.
"Sneaky."
Maki finally spoke, cheeks flushed.
"Sneaky how? I said nothing; he just started petting me."
"You angled yourself for it."
"Maybe. Why mad? Ask him to pet you too."
Mai cracked one eye, smiling.
Maki opened and closed her mouth, embarrassed.
"Maki. Come here."
"…Okay."
I beckoned, pulling her in. The pout melted.
I stroked both sisters' heads for nearly ten minutes.
"You just got home—wash up and change. Must feel sticky."
"Yes, Brother."
"'Kay."
They leapt up and trotted out like obedient big dogs.
I rested; they went to school; winter arrived quietly.
Shuten's [Fruit of Alcohol] had surely prodded things—perhaps the higher-ups were simply plotting.
Peaceful yet faintly unsettling days drifted by.
Not a bad life.
"Mr. Kandok, do you have a moment?"
Mid-December rolled toward its end; Christmas loomed when Geto phoned.
He'd been busy—Muta Kokichi too—so why now?
"Yes, go ahead."
"The higher-ups have issued an official invitation. They say they want proper cooperation."
So it begins.
Shuten's charm had borne fruit.
"When?"
"Tomorrow at five p.m. They'll send a car. Name a pick-up spot and an assistant supervisor will come."
"How considerate."
I'd expected a heavy-handed push—apparently not.
Whether to avoid alarming us or out of fear, either worked.
"Are you sure? We've no idea what they're planning…"
"They invited me, so I'll go. Worst case, I run."
"Can't argue."
Geto sighed, clearly uneasy.
"Thanks for worrying. How are the girls you brought?"
"Fine. Living normal lives. They don't want to be sorcerers."
"Makes sense."
Mimiko and Nanako—only memory was Sukuna carving them up in Shibuya.
Bit-part characters, really.
They never drew me in like Maki and Mai—closest was Kugisaki.
"Even with cursed energy, you can't force a rough life on someone."
"The future's uncertain. Sorcerer work's brutal, but the pay's decent."
"Ugh, reality check."
Geto laughed awkwardly.
"Anyway, have them pick me up near Shibuya Station."
"Understood. How many in your party?"
"Did they set a limit?"
"None. Friendly meeting, they say—no need to fear."
Makes sense: the more allies you think you have, the better.
No fear—as long as they truly are allies.
'Too relaxed looks odd; two should do.'
Two Servants manifest; the rest stay spiritual, backing the sisters.
"I'll bring two."
"Including you that's three—any car can handle it. I'll report."
"Thanks. Anything else?"
"Nothing. You?"
"I'm good."
"Then I'll hang up. The venue'll be crawling with higher-up sorcerers… You'll be fine?"
I will. Anything short of Special Grade can be neutralized in a blink—and the Servants laugh at such threats.
"Yeah. Don't worry. Get some rest."
I ended the call and exhaled.
Every Servant in the room fixed their eyes on me.
"Brother, you're really going?"
"The higher-ups invited you? Safe if we tag along?"
Maki and Mai were among them.
I appreciated it, but taking them would be riskier.
"I'll be fine. You all heard—anything else?"
I scanned the six Servants.
Tomorrow, regardless of duty roster, I'd pick two to accompany me.
A prime occasion—
and only one fair way to choose.
The most impartial method there is.
"We're deciding by rock-paper-scissors. Eyes closed—if you peek you'll read patterns. Everyone, close them."
From here on, it's kill or be killed.