November 6, Monday.
Early that morning, Asou Akiya prepared breakfast as usual, however, in the middle of cooking, he received a phone call from Yaga Masamichi.
"Morning, Akiya."
"I'll be holding a morning meeting during the first class today, so don't be late."
"Akiya, are you feeling unwell? Don't neglect your health. Also… I don't think we should tell Satoru directly. Let me handle the adoption announcement. Out of respect for me, Satoru won't say anything to you."
"I hope the two of you won't end up fighting. That guy Satoru has no sense of restraint. He might accidentally hurt you…"
Having spent the entire night agonizing over the wording of his vow, Asou Akiya's mind felt as though it had rusted over. All he could hear was the other man's endless stream of concerned chatter.
Yaga Masamichi was worried about him.
Yaga Masamichi was talking about the adoption.
They were already father and son in all but name, and now they could make their relationship public to everyone at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
He… finally had someone to rely on in the jujutsu world. He was no longer an orphan. Just as he himself had given Fushiguro Megumi a home, he, too, had found a family. It was something worth celebrating with unrestrained joy.
Was Makora's power really that important? Was it worth more than familial bonds?
Was it impossible to become a Special Grade sorcerer without Makora?
No. When Megumi lost Makora, he would no longer be a target for enemies, and become a Special Grade sorcerer sooner and more quickly.
Throughout history, no one had ever successfully tamed Makora. If Megumi summoned Makora to defeat an enemy, it would often lead to even more disastrous consequences. The one left to clean up the mess would always be Gojo Satoru, and the jujutsu world would blame him for failing to keep the Ten Shadows in check.
What we need is a controllable, reliable force capable of ensuring safety. What I want to give Megumi is a life filled with hope and promise.
To that end...
I have to make Megumi swear a vow.
For the rest of his life, no matter the circumstances, no matter his condition, no matter how desperate the situation, he must never use Makora.
In exchange for this Binding Vow, the other nine shikigami will become easier to control.
Even if Megumi grows up to hate me, even if he resents me for it, I will have no regrets!
"I'll listen to you, dad."
The black-haired boy braced one hand against the kitchen counter, gazing at the corn and eggs steaming in the pot. The rising moisture blurred his vision, shrouding everything before him in a dreamlike haze.
Megumi was willing to listen to him, and he, in turn, was willing to listen to Yaga Masamichi, determined not to betray the hopes the older man had placed in him.
Have I really become this exhausted...?
He ended the phone call. For a brief moment, it felt as though all his energy and vitality had been drained away. Leaning against the kitchen counter, he found himself with no appetite whatsoever. Nor did he want anyone to discover him in such a sorry state.
He gradually relaxed his rigidly upright back and slowly sank into a crouch. Then, shifting from a crouch to a seated position, he bowed his head between his arms and knees and used his phone to set an alarm for ten minutes.
I'll just sleep for ten minutes.
He didn't want to go anywhere. The open kitchen by the entrance would serve as his little resting place.
His youth, his dreams, his passions—all of them belonged to this very corner of Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Ten minutes later.
Asou Akiya awoke. It took him a full minute to remember who he was and what he needed to do, but once he did, his motivation returned in full force.
When Gojo Satoru saw his friend arrive with breakfast, smiles spread across both their faces. They shared a few happy moments together before heading off to school.
Getou Suguru was waiting for them in the corridor. Once they stepped outside, their group of three became five. Haibara Yu dragged Nanami Kento along to catch up with their senpai, leaving only Zen'in Naoya absent. He had taken the day off, but in reality, he was being kept under house arrest by the Zen'in family and subjected to a rigorous course in financial education to reshape his attitude toward money.
They were still a short distance from the classroom building when Ieiri Shoko came into view, her schoolbag in hand. Gojo Satoru and Getou Suguru called out to her, but Shoko quickened her pace, determined to avoid getting dragged into another childish prank by the two delinquent DKs. However, the moment she heard Asou Akiya call her name, she reluctantly stopped and waited for him.
"Stop treating me like air!" Gojo protested indignantly.
"Shoko, you know people might get the wrong idea if you keep acting like that." Getou delivered the bizarre remark with a fake smile.
"Tch." Ieiri Shoko wasn't remotely intimidated by their nonsense. After examining Asou Akiya's complexion, she walked over to his side and squeezed Getou out of the way.
The two underclassmen watched them, feeling that the four of them shared an exceptionally close relationship. Their dynamic was nothing like the atmosphere in their own class, where Zen'in Naoya refused to get along with anyone, making the entire class unpleasant to be around.
On Monday mornings, Yaga Masamichi usually attended the first class to hold a small homeroom meeting for the second-year students.
The four students were thus "fortunate" enough to attend an early-morning meeting with the current principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Wearing his sunglasses, Yaga began by reprimanding Gojo Satoru. "Last week, you were reported for destroying another building."
He then turned to Getou Suguru. "Suguru, at least you did a decent job." His tone immediately sharpened. "Just stop using Special Grade cursed tools in confined spaces! You tore down two walls!"
Getou could only grin sheepishly. Ever since obtaining Playful Cloud, he'd developed a fondness for fighting cursed spirits with pure physical combat.
Gojo leaned back in his chair, balancing precariously on its two rear legs, and scoffed, "You've become pretty pleased with yourself now that you're principal, huh?"
Asou Akiya propped his cheek on one hand and listened to the litany of mischief his friends had gotten up to.
Meanwhile, Ieiri Shoko took out a small mirror and used it to put on a new hair clip. She earned so much money these days that she hardly knew what to spend it on.
After publicly reprimanding the two troublemakers, Yaga cleared his throat, clenched a fist, and announced, "There's one more important matter I need to tell you all."
Gojo, true to habit, immediately took the opposite side. "All you ever do is criticize us, Yaga-sensei; since when have you had anything important to say?"
For once, Yaga Masamichi didn't get angry. Instead, he offered Gojo Satoru an uncharacteristically amiable smile, doing his best to look friendly.
Gojo Satoru nearly tipped backward and fell off his chair, but he managed to plant both feet firmly on the floor just in time. "Whoa! I've got goosebumps all over!"
Getou Suguru muttered, "...Yeah, something about this feels weird."
He eyed Yaga suspiciously. Their homeroom teacher was a muscular, intimidating-looking man with a fearsome face. He didn't exactly strike Getou as the type to put on a false smile.
Ieiri Shoko looked up and realized that Asou Akiya was the only one remaining calm and composed, carrying himself with the air of a seasoned general.
"Akiya, why do you look so serious?"
He was almost too calm.
"This concerns me, so feel free to take a guess."
Asou Akiya offered that brief explanation, giving Ieiri Shoko and Getou Suguru something to speculate about.
There was only one person present who had absolutely no idea what was going on.
Gojo Satoru: "???"
Unable to make heads or tails of the situation, Gojo finally asked, "Akiya, what kind of guessing game are you two playing? Why not just tell us the answer?"
Yaga Masamichi promptly took control of the conversation, rapping his knuckles against the lectern. "Stop whispering among yourselves and pay attention."
All four students in the row turned toward him, only to hear their homeroom teacher drop a bombshell.
"I've adopted Asou Akiya. From now on, he'll be my son."
Asou Akiya's heartstrings trembled. Tension coiled through him as he nervously looked toward his friends, waiting for their reactions.
Ieiri Shoko didn't hesitate for a second. "Congratulations!"
Getou Suguru followed right on her heels. "Congratulations! Akiya, if Yaga-sensei ever bullies you, we'll report him!"
Gojo Satoru: "...???!!!"
Yaga Masamichi replied, "You're welcome to supervise us! I won't give you a reason to report me!"
He then made a point of informing Gojo personally, "Once I submitted the adoption application to the Higher-Ups, Akiya's ties with the Gojo Clan were officially severed."
A bolt of lightning struck out of a clear blue sky, leaving Gojo Satoru, who had been lounging around in the classroom without a care in the world, utterly scorched and battered.
Akiya isn't the Gojo family's little tangerine anymore?
Yaga snatched Akiya away?!
Gojo's first reaction was remarkably genuine.
"Yaga-sensei! You're stealing my men!!!"
Even in his shock, he hadn't forgotten to address Yaga as sensei. When Gojo made a promise, he kept it to the letter.
"Akiya, wouldn't it be great if you took my surname? Why would you choose Yaga-sensei instead? If nothing else, you could've chosen Suguru!" Gojo was overcome with the bitter feeling of having his friend stolen away from him. In his eyes, Yaga Masamichi was the villain here. He tried to reach past Getou Suguru and grab Akiya by the shoulder.
Take the Gojo surname? It wasn't as if he were marrying into their family.
Take Suguru's surname? And become some sort of unconventional orphan duo, pretending to be a set of parents together?
Asou Akiya couldn't help laughing at Gojo's suggestions. Somehow, each idea was more useless than the last.
Getou Suguru was practically carrying half of Gojo's body as he held him back like a wall. He couldn't resist making a sarcastic remark. "Satoru, you're heavy! and stop harassing Akiya!"
Gojo flailed both arms. "Say something, Akiya!"
"Say whatever you want." Asou Akiya covered his mouth, his eyes crinkling with amusement. Yet, deep in their depths, a faint trace of loneliness remained hidden.
Yaga had advised him not to provoke Gojo Satoru.
That was why he hadn't objected. He had never told Gojo Satoru that he had never been a member of the Gojo Clan in the first place, and the arrangement also gave him a convenient explanation for where his information came from. He was grateful to Yaga Masamichi, who had never once pried into his secrets. Even so, he still needed to find a justification for everything he had done.
In your eyes, I was once a servant, a little orange, and a classmate whose status was unequal to yours.
From now on, can we have a relationship of equals?
Asou Akiya had countless things he wanted to say, but the words curled up inside him like a shy plant folding its leaves at the slightest touch. Bashful and hesitant, he couldn't bring himself to voice them.
Having finished the serious business, Yaga Masamichi answered with a perfectly straight face, "Perhaps the surname Gojo just doesn't sound very nice."
Gojo Satoru looked at him with deep suspicion, momentarily dumbfounded. "Really? Is that it, Akiya?"
Asou Akiya thought for a moment before answering earnestly, "Yaga-sensei is teasing you. The surname Gojo sounds perfectly nice, too. But I'd rather hold on to the things that are my own. I've discussed it with Yaga-sensei, and even after becoming a member of the Yaga household, I'll be keeping my surname."
Asou Akiya carefully articulated part of what he had been thinking, each word deliberate and clear.
"I'm still Asou Akiya, your classmate, the same person you've always known."
I'm still me. I've never changed, and I don't want you to think that I have.
Asou Akiya rose to his feet and met the gazes of Getou Suguru, who was still seated, and Gojo Satoru, who was being held aloft by his friend. Summoning every ounce of courage he possessed, he said, "Gojo, sit back down. This is the path I've chosen for myself, please give me and Yaga-sensei a little support."
If I've schemed too much, that's my own problem.
I still want to live an honest, untainted life, one in which I can earn your wholehearted acceptance.
Gojo Satoru fixed his gaze on him, studying the black-haired boy who so desperately wanted his support. He watched him intently, leaving no part of him unobserved. Somehow, Akiya's eyes seemed clearer and more transparent than before.
"Akiya, I was just joking around with you guys!"
Gojo Satoru returned to his seat.
Resting his hands on his knees, he turned sideways to look at Akiya. His posture was a little more rigid than usual, giving him the unmistakable air of someone deliberately pretending to be relaxed and composed.
"Starting today, I'll officially be living independently. Akiya, you don't have to come over and do the housework for me anymore."
Gojo Satoru thought to himself: The "employment relationship" between his family and Asou Akiya had come to an end.
He could no longer burden his friend with taking care of him.
It was over.
"Akiya, congratulations, you can finally be yourself again. You have my support in staying as far away from those old conservative oranges as possible."
Those were Gojo Satoru's genuine feelings, as well as the most heartfelt blessing he could offer Asou Akiya.
Akiya's smile wasn't quite as radiant as usual. It was faint, yet still gentle. Suppressing the discomfort he felt at having to let go, he willingly accepted the changes in Gojo Satoru.
Both Getou Suguru and Ieiri Shoko noticed that Akiya didn't seem particularly happy. Each had their own thoughts on the matter, but they respected his choice.
The reason for Akiya's dejection was simple: Gojo Satoru no longer needed him.
Ieiri Shoko couldn't understand Akiya's fixation on the matter, but she found herself faintly envious of the kind of close, inseparable friendship that seemed to exist between boys. Getou Suguru, however, could understand at least some of Akiya's feelings. He, too, hated how slowly his strength was growing and how he could no longer help Satoru as his friend advanced farther and farther along the path of a jujutsu sorcerer.
Not wanting to leave his friends worrying for too long, Asou Akiya soon pulled himself out of his slump and regained his spirits.
A brilliant glimmer flashed through his eyes.
No. He was still useful.
Once he taught Megumi how to control his cursed energy and had him swear the vow, Gojo Satoru would truly have nothing left to worry about.
There was still one more thing he had to accomplish: ensuring that Ryomen Sukuna would forever remain countered by the combination of the Six Eyes and the Limitless technique.
...
I want to watch you ascend to the position of the Strongest.
You once told me that after you became the Strongest, you would consider me your closest friend. I could be like Suguru, too, couldn't I?
******
TL Note: Hehehehehehehehehe... The downward spiral is starting~~~
All of his bottled up stress is catching up to him...