After coaxing Tsumiki, Eichi continued teaching Megumi some foundational knowledge of the Ten Shadows Technique.
Meanwhile, Tsumiki was playing with Feather Rabbit and the Divine Dogs.
"Come on, cross your hands like this, just like me."
Eichi straightened his hands and brought them together, crossing his thumbs to form a hand sign.
The shadow cast on the ground resembled a large bird.
Megumi mimicked his movements, crossing his hands.
Gurgle, gurgle.
The shadow on the ground began to react.
"Don't inject Cursed Energy, Megumi."
Eichi reached out and vigorously ruffled Megumi's spiky hair.
"First, let's practice and memorize all nine hand signs."
"Mhm."
Megumi nodded seriously and began practicing hand signs along with Eichi.
The Ten Shadows Technique is different from Cursed Spirit Manipulation.
It requires forming hand signs to summon.
Because of this, users of the Ten Shadows Technique must be able to form hand signs quickly and accurately in any situation to ensure the successful summoning of shikigami.
While it may seem more troublesome than Satoru's Limitless or Suguru's Cursed Spirit Manipulation, it is still one of the more practical Techniques among those currently known.
Even without considering Mahoraga, the Ten Shadows Technique offers a rare balance of versatility and power.
As long as one's talent isn't abysmal, they could at least reach the level of a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Even setting aside everything else, the existence of Round Deer alone was enough to ensure a stable livelihood for any Ten Shadows Technique user—provided they could tame it.
"Megumi, is there a shikigami you want to tame?"
After practicing the hand signs for a while and correcting several of Megumi's mistakes, Eichi asked.
Having goals can help sustain motivation.
So Eichi thought it was best to help Megumi set one.
Megumi glanced at Eichi, then looked over at Tsumiki, who was holding Feather Rabbit.
"What is that?"
Megumi was certain Feather Rabbit didn't appear in the picture book he had.
"That's Feather Rabbit, a shikigami created by combining Nue and Rabbit Escape."
While Feather Rabbit was undeniably cute, it didn't have much combat ability.
Also, because of Rabbit Escape's splitting trait, fusing other shikigami into it could be extremely troublesome.
This time, Eichi used Nue's Cursed Energy to create a pair of wings and attached them to Rabbit Escape, then used Rabbit Escape's own Cursed Energy to dye the wings white.
After all, it was made to make Tsumiki happy, so being cute was enough.
"Nue."
Upon hearing the name, Megumi immediately flipped through the picture book until he found Nue's entry.
"I want this one."
He pointed at the picture of Nue.
"Alright. Then Megumi, you need to study Nue's information carefully and work hard to tame it as soon as possible, okay?"
"Mhm."
Megumi nodded seriously.
Seeing his expression, Eichi stood up and walked over to the sofa.
"You'll be enrolling in Tokyo Jujutsu High sooner or later, so just take Megumi with you when you attend class in the future."
"Mhm, got it."
Toji replied without even looking up.
Eichi nodded in response.
"Megumi's Cursed Energy isn't sufficient yet, so there's no need to rush into the Taming Ritual. First, help him lay a solid foundation and gradually increase his Cursed Energy. When I'm not around, you can ask Yaga for support.
Once Megumi has enough Cursed Energy, help him tame the remaining seven shikigami. After that, I'll teach him how to use the Ten Shadows Technique properly…"
While Eichi discussed Megumi's development plan with Toji, he mentally reviewed everything again, checking if there were any overlooked points.
"Mhm, that's good for now."
After confirming the plan was solid, Eichi nodded and walked toward the refrigerator.
He was a little thirsty after all that talking.
Opening the refrigerator, the first thing he saw was a chilled rabbit.
"..."
Eichi and Rabbit Escape stared at each other for a few seconds.
Then Rabbit Escape immediately jumped onto Eichi's head, attempting to use it as a springboard to flee.
Unfortunately, the rabbit trying to take advantage was grabbed by its ears mid-air.
"Ria."
"What is it, Eichi?"
"How about cold-eaten rabbit for dinner tonight?"
The Rabbit Escape in Eichi's hand began trembling all over, then struggled desperately.
"Cold-eaten rabbit, huh? The weather's been getting hotter lately, so it's the perfect time for cold dishes."
Artoria nodded in agreement.
"Mhm. That settles it then."
Rabbit Escape flailed its legs for a moment, then simply played dead.
Eichi, finding it unresponsive, stopped teasing it.
He placed the rabbit on the cutting board, then took out a few cans of drinks—one for each person—and began enjoying this peaceful moment of daily life.
That was when a strange object caught Eichi's eye.
"What's this?"
Eichi bent down and picked up the object that had fallen to the ground. It looked like a wooden box, with gaps revealing metal parts inside.
On top of it sat a steel ball.
'Why does this look so familiar… Ah, right. Isn't this Todo's left hand?'
"Oh, that. Let me think. I think it's called a vibraslap. I heard it helps develop a child's musical sense. Minako bought one for the two kids."
Toji stared at the vibraslap for a while, then finally remembered it.
'So it really is Todo Aoi's left hand.'
Eichi sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration.
You could always count on Gege to stir things up.
Everyone had assumed that after having his soul altered by the Immortal Master's Technique, and losing his left hand, Todo Aoi would no longer be able to use Boogie Woogie.
Yet somehow, Gege brought it back in the most absurd way possible.
And it happened just when most of the others were already gone—like the Calabash Brothers rescuing their grandfather, one by one falling along the way.
Eichi could understand not revealing the plan to Yuji, but why wasn't Kusakabe told either?
He genuinely felt sorry for Kusakabe, who had to step up alone and face Sukuna.
Ding, ding, ding.
His phone rang.
He pulled it out and saw it was his personal butler, Zen'in Shuji.
Eichi immediately answered.
"Young Master Eichi, there's an issue with Kurusu Hana, the person you asked us to find."
"What kind of issue?"
Kurusu Hana was one of the Players in the Culling Game, an incarnated Angel Jujutsu Sorcerer from a thousand years ago, capable of using a Technique that nullifies all other Techniques.
Because Megumi saved her when they were children, she fell in love with him.
She worked hard to save others, striving to become someone worthy of standing by Megumi's side.
In the end, Ryomen Sukuna, who had taken over Megumi's body, used her feelings against her and seriously injured her.
Still, Kurusu Hana completed her mission in the end.
She opened the Prison Realm and released the sealed Satoru.
"We found three people nationwide named Kurusu Hana. Only one matches your provided details, but this girl has been missing for several months now, and it's highly likely..."
Eichi understood what Zen'in Shuji meant.
Kurusu Hana might already be dead.
"Several months? She's been missing that long?"
Eichi rubbed his chin in thought.
He only knew that Kurusu Hana and several other children were captured by Cursed Spirits, but he couldn't recall the exact timing.
He just remembered that she was accidentally rescued by Megumi after he awakened the Ten Shadows Technique.
That was why, upon learning of Megumi's Awakening, he immediately instructed Zen'in Shuji to search for her.
"Send me all the details. Also, arrange a car for me."
(To be continued.)