Ginza Street, Tokyo.
"Lord Geto! This is so delicious!" Nanako offered an almond shortbread cookie to Suguru Geto with a grin.
At that moment, Suguru held Mimiko in his left arm while Nanako perched on his shoulders, giving the unmistakable impression of a doting father. He chewed the snack with a small, helpless sigh.
"I'm only sixteen! What is all this nonsense?!"
Despite his protest, Suguru already towered over 1.8 meters, hardly looking like a minor. The two girls, Nanako and Mimiko, were only five years old. Passersby couldn't help but see a heartwarming scene: a young man with two adorable children.
As they walked, Suguru froze, staring at a muscular man holding the hands of a little boy and girl.
Toji Fushiguro glanced at Suguru and the two girls with interest.
"Your daughters?"
Suguru nearly choked. "No… I'm only sixteen."
"Your sisters?"
"Not exactly… they're orphans I adopted."
Toji studied Nanako and Mimiko. "They look like they have strong Jujutsu potential."
Suguru's gaze shifted to the boy Toji was holding, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face. That aura… a remarkably strong cursed technique.
Seeing this, Toji smiled. "This is my son, Megumi Fushiguro."
Megumi felt a strange awareness—this was a sorcerer, and a powerful one. He stepped forward, bowing politely. "Hello, I am Megumi Fushiguro."
Toji then ruffled the hair of the little girl beside him. "And this is my daughter, Tsumiki Fushiguro."
"Hello!"
"Hello, I'm Nanako Kasaba!"
"My name's Mimiko Kasaba!"
The three children quickly introduced themselves, and Tsumiki immediately looked eager to make friends.
Toji tilted his head. "Looks like the kids have something to talk about. There's a coffee shop nearby—want to join us?"
Suguru nodded. He also hoped to ask Toji for advice on being a good dad, managing two kids. If Megumi knew Suguru's thoughts, he would have scoffed. A stay-at-home dad? At sixteen?
It was Monday, and neither Megumi nor Tsumiki were at school because a certain dad had overslept. Instead of rushing to fix it, he called the school for leave and dragged them out shopping.
Inside the coffee shop, the children quickly became familiar, bonding over their shared age and personalities. Megumi, however, remained quiet, his expression poker-faced like Nanami.
"Congratulations! I heard you were recently designated Special Grade," Toji said, drinking his coffee with the boldness of someone downing street food beer. Suguru looked far more refined in comparison.
"I have you to thank, actually."
"…Never mind, let's change the subject."
Toji clearly didn't want to recall being ganged up on by three guys previously.
"Hey, Toji."
"What?"
"What's the meaning of your life?"
Toji blinked. "That's abrupt… I'd say it used to be money, now… maybe family." He glanced subtly at Megumi and Tsumiki.
"Family? From you, that's surprising!"
"What's wrong? You look gloomy, like someone dumped you."
"What a terrible analogy…"
"Gentlemen, coffee refills!" The waitress's gentle voice cut through their conversation.
"Thanks," Suguru said, reaching for the cup—but his eyes narrowed. A hideous Grade 4 cursed spirit clung to the waitress's shoulder. Everyone except Tsumiki noticed.
Before anyone could react, the waitress hurried off, busy with her work.
"Need help?" Toji asked, smiling at Suguru.
Nanako, Mimiko, and Megumi had just awakened their techniques and couldn't exorcise cursed spirits yet. Even a normal person with tools would cause chaos if they tried to fight a spirit publicly. Only Suguru could handle it discreetly.
"It's just a Grade 4. Won't hurt anyone," he muttered, raising his cup. Then he froze.
The latte art formed a cheerful sun-like smiley face, and a note lay beneath it.
"After drinking this coffee, forget all your unhappiness! (＾ワ＾)"
"Unhappiness…" Suguru touched his face, half amused, half exasperated. "Was it that obvious? Have I been walking around with a sour face the whole time?"
Sighing, he stood and approached the waitress.
"Hello, sir! Can I help you?" Her smile was like winter sun, warm and healing.
Suguru froze. She reminded him of his junior, Yu Haibara—just as passionate, just as lively, and just as breathtaking.
"Excuse me… what's your name?"
"Eh!" Nearby coworkers gossiped, excited by the encounter.
"Has Haruko finally wised up?"
"Hey, Haruko, you got a top-tier handsome guy on the first try!"
Blushing, the waitress replied, "Don't talk nonsense! This is our first meeting!"
"I-I'm Shinohara Haruko," she said, stealing a glance at Suguru. She had only offered him a small gift because he seemed gloomy, never expecting him to come ask her name directly.
Suguru exorcised the cursed spirit on her shoulder with a flick of his finger and retreated to his seat quietly.
Toji raised an eyebrow. "That's not how you pursue a girl."
"Exorcising cursed spirits isn't dating, I was just doing my job!" Suguru said with a smirk.
Toji laughed, "Sure, sure… not very convincing."
Suddenly, Toji noticed a group entering the shop.
"What is it?"
"Star Plasma Cult."
___
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