Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Satoru Gojo was only seventeen years old when he killed Toji Fushiguro, the most formidable rival he had faced up to that point. Their duel had been staggering, fought in two stages and culminating in the release of the Hollow Purple cursed technique, which Gojo had learned to master because of the Sorcerer Killer himself. Of course, Toji hadn't taught him anything intentionally, but it was under the pressure imposed by him that the heir of the Six Eyes was able to understand, in practice, the use of reversed cursed energy. Only through this manipulation was he finally able to master a resounding power that, from then on, would become the nightmare of all his enemies.

It was probably out of a certain respect for his most challenging adversary that Gojo decided to grant the assassin's final request. Not that Toji had been clear in his final words; after all, all he had vaguely said before dying was that his son would be sold to the Zen'in clan in two years' time.

Someone with fewer scruples would have left the child at the mercy of a cruel family, but, at the same time, no one smart would hand over a potential prodigy to the care of those who only sought to forge a weapon. Therefore, Gojo decided to check out who the son of the man who nearly killed him was, and understand the real weight of that information.

When he spotted the spiky-haired little creature that barely reached his knees, Satoru felt an immense urge to smile. From afar, it was already possible to notice the kid's potential and foresee what he would become after years of training. A rough diamond, ready to be polished. Was Toji entrusting him with the heir to the clan's most powerful technique? How interesting. Was that the deceased's way of finally taking revenge on the family that had excommunicated him?

Adjusting the round dark glasses on his nose, Gojo quickened his pace to catch up to him—which was no challenge at all, given his long legs—and drew the boy's attention with the sound of his shoes. The boy gripped the straps of his backpack upon noticing the stranger's presence. He couldn't be even seven years old, judging by his size. When he turned to face whoever was following him, he did so with curiosity and not an ounce of fear, which was admirable. After all, it was rare to find someone who didn't tremble before Satoru.

"What is it?" he wanted to know, staring at Gojo's dumbfounded face. "You're weird."

Damn, you are the spitting image of your father! Satoru thought, perplexed.

"Nothing at all! You're Megumi Fushiguro, right?" he quickly composed himself.

"Who wants to know?"

"My name is Satoru Gojo, I'm a jujutsu sorcerer. I was sent by your father."

"My dad? Hm. And what do you want?"

Gojo crouched down so they would be on the same level, allowing the conversation to flow without the little one needing to crane his neck. Lowering his voice, he began to explain:

"You've probably noticed that you're a little different from other kids. You see things that no one else sees. You must also feel a mysterious power in there. That's because your dad came from the Zen'in clan, an influential family in the jujutsu world. But they're pretty scummy people, so he decided to leave the clan to have you. Cool, right? And so, when I kill—"

"I don't know my dad and I don't care what he does either. But I kinda understand what you meant."

A bit shocked, Gojo analyzed the boy, who seemed much more mature than his age suggested. Satoru wasn't exactly an expert on kids, but he didn't imagine they were so eloquent. Perhaps it was a Megumi particularity.

Adopting a more direct approach, he continued:

"The thing is, the Zen'in clan loves to buy special kids, and you are incredibly special. I'm here to find out if you want to go with them."

"Are they going to be like my family?"

Gojo examined Megumi's little face and identified the downcast eyes of a sad child, burdened with responsibilities far too early. He didn't seem to laugh often. For a second, Satoru felt profound compassion. Family. The word was strong and full of meaning. Even though the clan could be considered one, Gojo knew very well that what Megumi was looking for was something entirely different.

"No. They won't be like a family," he stated, his voice turning somber.

"Then I don't want to go."

"Alright. You don't need to worry about that, then. Leave it to me," he said, ruffling Megumi's dark hair.

Gojo stood up and cast a glance at the shack where the boy lived alone. He noticed a grumpy old woman peeking through the crack of the neighboring door and quickly deduced she was the one keeping an eye on the kid. Reluctantly so, judging by her tone of voice.

"Did you come to pick up the boy? Finally! Such irresponsibility..."

"Hey there, granny," he waved, keeping his other hand tucked in his pocket. Then, he turned back to Megumi. "The only thing I'll need from you, Megumi, is that you get really strong. Strong enough to keep up with me. Think you can handle that?"

Megumi didn't answer, but his serious expression was enough for Gojo to know he would take that challenge to heart. It seemed there was nothing left for the boy in that world anyway.

He said his goodbyes and promised to return soon, as he had some loose ends to tie up first. He asked the boy to pack all his belongings, as they would leave upon his return. And, although it wasn't a common feeling in his repertoire, Gojo experienced a tightness in his chest, as if abandoning his commitments and staying there a little longer wouldn't be such a bad idea.

The child's silent plea touched his heart as he watched him walk away; the emptiness in those eyes reflected the void that also existed in his own. You didn't need to know the details to tell that this boy, much like himself, already knew the heavy burden of great loss.

◆

Later, Gojo kept his promise and returned to Megumi's tiny home. The little boy had packed his bag, as agreed, and wasn't taking much with him—after all, he owned almost nothing. They left shortly after, traveling by car to Tokyo.

At the foot of a mountain, they abandoned the vehicle. As a prelude to a long walk to their final destination, Satoru grabbed the little one's backpack, slung it over his own shoulder, and hoisted the boy up by the scruff of his neck with his other hand.

Megumi thrashed in the air, eyes wide open. Gravity seemed to disappear without the slightest explanation as he watched the ground distance itself from beneath his feet, pulled upward by an invisible force. His despair only ended when his legs landed on the shoulders of the one responsible for that unexpected prank.

"Enjoy the view from up there. This is going to be your new home," Gojo said calmly, holding the boy by his ankles. "Big backyard, huh?"

"Where are we?"

"This is jujutsu sorcerer territory. Over there, in those buildings, is the Technical College, where you'll go when you get older. You're too young to be a student, so I'm going to train you privately. I'd even let you stay with granny, but if I'm caught going there too often, you could become a target. I thought it best to bring you right here."

"Do you have a lot of enemies?"

"Oh, yeah, you better believe I have plenty. But no one dares to mess with me. Which doesn't mean they can't mess with the people around me."

That's why I need you to get strong, Gojo mused in thought.

"What's going to happen to normal school? Am I going to stop going?"

"Now that's something I hadn't thought about," he clicked his tongue.

He remembered the late Riko Amanai, who chose to attend school even knowing that the fate awaiting her left no room for mundane activities. Tengen had authorized the girl's whim, and Gojo had lamented the unnecessary exposure to danger at the time; but it was after seeing the teenager live a normal life that he understood the importance of that gesture. As foolish as it seemed to cling to such ordinary things when the future was uncertain, it was even worse to strip someone of the opportunity to lead a life free of cruel and difficult decisions.

"You're going to keep going to school, yeah," the sorcerer decided. "I just need to enroll you in one nearby."

Megumi followed the landscape full of nature and stone paths with his eyes. He looked for people, but there was no one around. The place was plunged into an atypical silence, interrupted only by the sound of insects and birds. It was as if they had crossed a portal into an alternate dimension in Japan. The scenery was perfect for playing freely and spending a relaxing day, but without the presence of fun company, that place boiled down to a dull botanical garden.

"Megumi... I know you said you don't care, but any of these days, if you want to know about your dad, you can ask me."

The little boy remained quiet, absorbing the view around him. He wasn't interested in prolonging the subject.

When they neared a huge house made of solid wood, Gojo stopped and set the child down.

"This is where you're going to stay. There's plenty of space. I won't be able to be with you all the time, but I asked the managers to keep an eye out when I'm away."

They entered, and Megumi looked at everything without much enthusiasm.

"Are you hungry?" Gojo asked, hands on his hips. "I think there's ice cream here in the fridge."

"Ice cream is dessert."

"So what? Just take it," he handed him a chocolate popsicle. "You're a pretty serious little guy, don't you think? You're not impressed by anything. You need to do something about that scowl of yours, huh? Or you'll end up sullen like Nanami."

Megumi accepted the sweet with suspicion and leaned against the wall, feeling out of place in such an unfamiliar environment. Gojo scratched his jaw, somewhat uncertain if he had made the best decision bringing the boy to his home. But what was he supposed to do? Leave him there with that grumpy old hag?

"Make yourself at home. I'm going to go get our dinner."

Later, after the meal, Megumi sat in front of the TV watching some random program, but his attention waned as sleep crept in stealthily. Gojo watched the scene from his corner until the child finally gave in to exhaustion and his head lolled to the side.

"You're just a kid, after all," he murmured thoughtfully.

He carried Megumi to the guest bedroom and laid him gently on the bed. He sat beside him and watched him sleep for a long time, feeling that tightness in his chest once again. It was complicated to nurture affections in a sorcery world where everything was unpredictable. But, at the same time, it was as if that child's existence was mending the damage of a deep cut, recently made by the person he trusted most.

Gojo could have become bitter after suffering so many disappointments, but his heart, contradictorily, softened. Riko's death, Suguru Geto's estrangement. Those two things were like spears driven into his chest. More painful than the blade used by Toji, Megumi's father. And yet, Gojo, who had always loathed morality, felt as if a profound duty had taken root in his body, strengthening a previously unknown desire to offer tenderness.

Crazy to think that his killer had become his savior by placing a child in his path. And that it was his best friend who made a choice that put them on opposite sides.

Looking at the sleeping child, the Six Eyes user hoped that he would have enough strength to deal with that kind of pain when the time came. He wasn't foolish enough to imagine a future free of malice. Praying was in vain, and he knew he wouldn't be able to prevent Megumi from suffering in that world. All that was left was to do the only thing within his reach: strengthen him until he became a powerful sorcerer. Capable, even, of surpassing him.

◆

Even after clarifying that he couldn't guarantee his daily presence, Gojo managed to maintain a consistent routine in Megumi's life. And it wasn't for lack of commitments, as work was never scarce in the jujutsu world. It just so happened that he had become so skilled that finishing missions took only minutes of his attention. He didn't even care much about showing off to the curses anymore, as his mind would randomly wander to the small figure he kept at home. It wasn't rare to catch himself wondering what Megumi was up to, wishing the child were a little more outgoing.

"You know that a child needs more than just a roof over their head," Nanami had said, when they were both gathered in the school kitchen while the blonde prepared a coffee. "Don't think that just because he's a smart boy for his age, he doesn't need affection. I'd say his case, especially, demands affection."

"You seem to know a lot about kids, Nanami. Don't you want to be the second parental figure of this family?" he said suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Who knows, maybe this is your opportunity to finally learn how to be responsible, Satoru? I'm certainly not going to exempt you from the full experience."

That day, Gojo spent the entire mission pondering his kouhai's words, understanding perfectly well what Nanami was drawing attention to. But it was hard to know what Megumi needed or liked. The brat was so focused and serious that it was almost boring. Weren't little boys supposed to be messy, hyperactive, and things like that? Why did he have to end up with one so devoid of joy?

"Hey there, ugly?" Gojo said casually to the curse as he held it by the head, crushing it. "You don't know anything about kids, do you? I could really use some tips..."

Megumi, on the other hand, went to school early in the morning and returned to Gojo's house in the afternoon. He dedicated some time to doing his homework and, in his free time, roamed around the territory protected by Tengen. Whenever Satoru showed up, he was taken to the field where the two practiced hand-to-hand combat and the use of the Ten Shadows Technique, which was in its most premature stage.

They always returned home in the early evening, when the child could barely stand on his feet and needed a bath. Gojo would have dinner with Megumi and use mealtime to ask about his day at school. The conversation didn't extend into an elaborate exchange of words, but for Satoru, it was enough. Compared to the coldness of the beginning, that timid interaction was tremendous progress.

"Why do I need to learn how to fight if I can summon shadow animals?" Megumi asked as he watched Gojo get his bed ready.

"The Ten Shadows Technique allows you to summon shikigami to fight for you, but that doesn't mean you can be weak in hand-to-hand combat. Otherwise, your opponent will take advantage of that opening to attack you directly," Gojo explained calmly. "So, it's very important that you master both. You'll be better prepared to deal with any kind of situation."

"I can't visualize it properly when you tell me to call the shikigami," Megumi complained, frustrated after trying in vain multiple times during training. "Isn't there a better way for me to do this?"

Gojo rested his chin on his fingers and scanned the room searching for an idea. He sat on the bed and patted the space next to him, motioning for Megumi to come closer. He admitted that his approach up to that point hadn't been the best, but in his defense, he didn't know any other user of the technique to teach him the proper method. Everything he was doing was somewhat improvised, using only theoretical knowledge. He hoped to figure out how to make it work together with the boy.

"Can't visualize it? Let's see..."

Gojo's gaze fell upon the shadow of Megumi's spiky hair projected on the wall. How funny, it looks like a sea urchin, he thought. And just like that, he had an idea.

"Let's try a different hand sign. Here."

Gojo positioned both hands, creating the shape of a dog's head. Megumi followed his line of thought and saw the animal's silhouette on the wall. Suddenly, he got excited and imitated the gesture, channeling his cursed energy into the form.

"Say the command, Megumi," he instructed softly, feeling the shift in the boy's vibration.

"Gyokuken!"

It was instantaneous. From a spot in Megumi's shadow, two dogs—one black and one white—emerged and stood at the ready.

"Ah, there they are!" Gojo cheered. "The Divine Dogs."

Megumi was in awe.

"Can I touch them?"

"Go ahead. They're yours. You are their master now."

The boy hesitated, but the black hound didn't let him feel awkward, nudging its own head against his hand. Megumi, for the first time, broke into a genuine smile. He seemed unable to believe what he was seeing. He pet the dogs, which were practically his height, and was enchanted to realize how docile they were.

"These are the dogs granted to the user of the Ten Shadows Technique. They are your first shikigami. The others you'll have to subjugate before you can summon them to fight by your side. But you don't need to worry about that right now."

Gojo subtly slipped out of the room to let Megumi interact with the dogs. He stayed by the corner of the door, hidden, watching the scene with pride. He pulled his phone from his pocket and took a picture of the moment, justifying it to himself with the fact that he needed to document the progress of his little pupil.

◆

The following week, Gojo was sent to track down a grade one curse hiding in a quarry where, according to local rumors, several workers had died after a cave-in. He was flying over the field searching for his target when his cell phone rang in his pocket. The caller ID showed Megumi's school.

"Mr. Gojo? Are you available to speak?"

"Yes, of course," he replied distractedly, his strikingly blue eyes focused on his objective.

He caught a movement underground and aimed at the hidden creature with two extended fingers.

"This is Megumi's school calling. We're contacting you to let you know that he fell from a tree and got hurt while playing..."

The blast of Red fired earlier than planned, blowing a massive crater into the ground.

"...and we will be taking him to the hospital while you..."

In the blink of an eye, Gojo was already walking through the school gates. Striding quickly down the corridors filled with the chatter of children, he scanned the entire premises for little Megumi's cursed energy. He found it in the nurse's office, where three other women were also present.

"Megumi?" he rushed in frantically.

"H-How did you get here so fast?!" the woman who had been on the phone jumped in her chair.

Megumi, who was grimacing in pain, looked up and met the sight of the nearly two-meter-tall man in front of him. It was clear he had been holding it together, as if afraid to show vulnerability to those strangers. However, faced with such a familiar face, the boy was consumed by a flood of emotions and broke down in frightened tears.

"Oh, Gumi..." Gojo cooed, scooping the boy up into his arms. Megumi hid his face in Gojo's chest and sobbed even harder, finally giving up on repressing what he felt.

"I'll take him to the hospital," he informed the women, who were still in shock from his sudden appearance.

With that said, he vanished outside, teleporting straight to the hospital's emergency room. There, Megumi resisted being pulled away from Gojo, as if anticipating the worst.

"Everything's going to be okay, my sweet boy. I'll stay right by your side. They're just going to check if you broke any bones, alright?"

It was only after chanting several words of comfort that Megumi calmed down enough to be taken for an X-ray. The diagnosis confirmed a fracture near his ankle, which meant the area would have to be put in a cast.

"Satoru! What do you think you're doing? You abandoned the mission halfway through?!" Yaga, his former teacher and now the principal of the jujutsu high school, bellowed into his ear over the phone while Gojo waited for the doctor to immobilize the boy's leg.

"There was an emergency. Sorry about that."

"Do you have any idea how much I'm going to hear from the higher-ups because of your..."

"Hold on, I'll call you right back."

Gojo shoved the phone into his pocket as he noticed the orthopedist finishing up the cast and turning around to give instructions.

"In a few weeks, he'll be able to put weight on his foot. Until then, make sure he keeps his leg elevated."

"Oof, what a bummer, huh, Megumi? Just when you learned how to really play, you go and wipe out completely."

Gojo pulled out his phone once again to snap a picture of the sulking little boy with his wide, tear-filled eyes.

"Come on. Let's go. Thank you, doctor."

They left the hospital, and Gojo settled Megumi into his arms, resting him chest-to-chest against himself.

"How did you get here so fast?" the boy mumbled.

"Ah, I was right nearby. Lucky, huh? Are you hungry? I'm dying for a sweet..."

◆

Megumi's leg recovery was fast, considering the standards of non-sorcerer humans. It could have been even faster if Gojo hadn't stalled in taking him to Shoko, his friend who specialized in reversed cursed energy. It just so happened that he had started to enjoy taking care of Megumi, and the cast on his leg was the only acceptable excuse he could find to carry the child up and down everywhere.

Megumi was so skittish that it took a bone fracture for him to become a tiny bit less grumpy. Of course Gojo, eager to lavish affection, didn't want to miss the opportunity to be clingy with the tiny human, keeping the boy in tow for everything he did. That's why, when the recovery period ended in a week and Megumi went back to walking on his own, Gojo felt completely dejected. Megumi went back to repelling him and acting independently. And now, with the Divine Dogs around? It was as if Satoru didn't even exist.

"Whatcha doing, Megumi?"

This didn't mean Gojo was going to give up on pestering the brat, stretching his long legs around him and leaning forward to look at him upside down.

"Homework."

"Homework? On a Saturday? How boring! Let's go out for a walk. It's super sunny outside."

Megumi took a peek out the window and, indeed, the sunny day was a beautiful sight.

"So, what do you say?" Gojo persisted.

"It's too hot to play outside."

Gojo straightened up and let out an exasperated sigh. He grabbed the child by the collar and dragged him outside, the dogs trailing close behind. Then, he grabbed Megumi by the leg and carried him upside down, as if he were a meat skewer.

"Let me go!" Megumi protested, trying to hit Satoru's side with his little fists.

"Nope!"

At that exact moment, Nanami was walking down the stone path and caught sight of the unusual scene.

"Hey, Nanami!" Gojo waved cheerfully.

"Help!" yelled the boy, whose face was already red.

"Catch!"

Nanami's eyes widened when he realized Gojo was serious and practically launched the child through the air toward him. The blonde opened his arms, desperate to break the fall, but Megumi floated just before colliding with his chest.

"That was a close one, huh?" Gojo smiled mischievously, his hands shoved in his pockets as he approached the two.

"That is not a healthy way to play," Nanami reprimanded, setting the boy down on his feet.

"I thought it was pretty fun. Wanna go again, Megumi?"

"No..." the boy mumbled, hiding behind the more responsible adult.

"Alright. Let's do something more chill. Wanna come with us, Nanami?"

"I'd rather not intrude on a family outing. Have fun."

With the blonde's farewell, Gojo watched his colleague walk away, his mouth slightly open. Family. That word again. In a flash of memory, he cast a meaningful look at Megumi, who was a bit shy after having his human shield removed.

"Come on. Let's have some fun today. You're as pale as a ghost. You need some sun on that face."

Gojo held out his hand to the boy, who looked at it with apprehension before taking it. He probably searched for the seriousness in Satoru's voice before trusting him.

"Look who's talking..."

The grumble drew a genuine laugh from Gojo. He continued to smile as he felt the squeeze on his fingers, a warmth taking over his chest. Family. What nonsense. He and Megumi were nothing to each other.

And yet, that seemed to be the only word capable of describing them.

◆

Months later, Gojo returned very late from a mission. He couldn't accompany Megumi to his evening training or pick him up from school, and practically left the boy alone to eat and deal with household chores. It wasn't his intention to abandon him like this, but since becoming the strongest sorcerer of that generation, it had brought an absurd burden of responsibility. Besides having to deal with dangerous curse users, he had to face the entire political and hierarchical system that filled the jujutsu world with annoying rules and archaic customs. Honestly, he would have blown the heads off all the old geezers in the higher-ups by now if that would solve the problem. But he knew that even if he eliminated the brass, other exact replicas would just be put in their place.

"You know... training Megumi gave me a great idea," he had told Nanami during one of their breaks to exchange information. "I want to become a teacher."

"You? A teacher?"

"Why are you so surprised?" he took offense at the incredulity in his friend's voice.

"I never thought you had a knack for teaching. But why do you want to become a teacher?"

"If I can mold the future generation that will take the reins of the jujutsu world, I'll be able to witness a true revolution happen in our society's standards. Isn't that awesome, Nanami?"

"If you succeed in reproducing miniature Satoru Gojos, I think I'd rather disappear from the jujutsu world."

"Ah! Stop it, Nanami! You know it'll be way more fun!"

At night, when he finally stepped foot in the house, Gojo allowed himself to relax a bit, being swallowed by the pitch-black of the silent residence. He stopped by Megumi's room to check on him and found him sleeping among the dogs, surrounded by school supplies. He seemed to have fallen asleep in the middle of a coloring assignment, judging by the mess.

Gojo took off his jacket and draped it over the back of a chair before approaching and gathering the colored pencils from the mattress. When he picked up the notebook, he came across a drawing that made him emotional. In it, Megumi had drawn himself next to a tall, slender figure that could only be Satoru himself. The dogs were also there, along with other animals that Gojo knew belonged to the Ten Shadows Technique but hadn't been tamed yet.

"Draw your family" was the title of the activity. Gojo had to sit down to catch his breath and keep himself from bawling. It was too cute to handle.

"Ah, Megumi..."

Finding space that didn't exist in that cramped bed, Gojo lay down right in the middle. Afraid of waking the kid up by accident, he simply curled up next to him, deciding that, for once, he would forgo his own bed to sleep beside Megumi.

◆

It was truly comical to stumble upon Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer in the jujutsu world, at six foot three, perched in dark glasses, watching a children's performance. He stood out from the other parents around him due to his white hair and youthful appearance. He looked more like an older brother to one of the kids rather than a father, but no one dared ask what he was doing there.

When Megumi's class had their turn, Gojo pulled out his phone and filmed the entire performance, waving and distracting the poor boy, who blushed with embarrassment upon noticing him. He hadn't expected to see the sorcerer; in fact, he had hidden the school notice at the bottom of his backpack. Not because he didn't want to invite him. He just hadn't known how to do it.

Gojo was the one who had found the note that morning after putting the notebook back in the backpack. He wanted to take a picture of the drawing before the boy woke up and ended up finding out about Father's Day at school. He canceled all his appointments to attend, drawing everyone's attention with his eccentric aura as he walked into the elementary school covered in craft foam decorations.

"Megumi, you did so well! You looked adorable!" Gojo pestered the little guy, pinching his cheeks. "What's this? Is it for me?"

Megumi was hiding something behind his back, but Gojo easily pulled the boy into his lap, taking the paper he was holding. On it, he saw the drawing from the night before, now with more details and even more colorful.

"How beautiful, Megumi. Did you make this?"

"Yes."

"You even drew Red and Blue..." he laughed, impressed to identify the two circles in his own drawn hands, representing his cursed technique. "I look pretty cool here, huh? And these little guys here? Who are they?"

"This one is Nue, this one is Orochi, this one is Gama. And this is Datto and his family."

"You have a lot of pets," Megumi's teacher commented as she approached.

"Oh, yeah. Our house is a zoo," Satoru joked. "There are still some missing here."

"I'm going to draw them on another page. There's no room here."

"True. The others are pretty huge."

"Sorry to ask, but are you Megumi's father?"

"I'm his guardian. Why? Is Megumi causing a lot of trouble?"

"No. Not at all. He's a sweetheart. A very smart and focused boy. I wanted to congratulate you on the great job you're doing raising him."

"Oh, I don't even do anything. Megumi was born uptight and by-the-book. I'm the one who gives him trouble."

After being fawned over by all the teachers and school staff, Gojo took Megumi home, feeling all triumphant and smug. But, as he looked over his shoulder, he was met with a massive pout.

"What's wrong, Megumi? Why the long face?"

"You're such a show-off!"

Gojo let out a laugh, imagining how much the kid had suffered realizing he had a guardian who was a total magnet for female attention.

"Aww, are you jealous? If I remember correctly, there were some cute girls looking at you over there too."

Getting no reaction, Gojo rubbed his hand over Megumi's head, messing up his spiky hair.

"Don't ignore me now, huh!"

"Hmph!"

◆

On Megumi's sixth birthday, Gojo prepared a huge dinner at home. It was an exaggeration on his part, considering he wasn't expecting many guests. Since the date was close to Christmas, he couldn't count on the presence of all the sorcerers, as most preferred to spend the holiday with their families or were busy on some mission. He also couldn't invite anyone from Megumi's school because of Tengen's barrier. But he found the idea of holding back to be a huge waste of time. After all, what kind of person would he be if he didn't show off a little with a grand display of abundance on such an important date?

The ones who showed up to celebrate with the two loners were Kento Nanami and Shoko Ieiri, the only two people close to Gojo who made a point of attending the party.

"So glad you came! I have Santa hats and golden party hats. Which one do you want?" Gojo greeted them excitedly, showing off the props like a street vendor.

"I prefer not to wear anything on my head," Nanami said, while Shoko accepted the golden hat.

Megumi was in the living room hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree bought the day before. Since it was giant, the boy could only reach the bottom part. He seemed to take the task seriously, keeping the symmetry between the sides and fitting candy canes between the red spheres.

"Happy birthday, Fushiguro," Shoko drew his attention.

Shoko and Nanami handed their gifts to the child, who stopped what he was doing to open the boxes. He found a ball and a remote-control car.

"Way better than the three-section staff," Gojo grumbled, somewhat annoyed, glancing sideways at his own gift, which had been abandoned in a corner.

"It's a visionary gift," Shoko agreed with a laugh. "Wait a few more years and maybe he'll change his mind."

The three gathered around the table to snack while watching Megumi play with the dogs and his new toys.

"Children are the ones who suffer the most in this jujutsu world," Shoko pondered in a low voice, noting the fact that the celebration was devoid of anyone Megumi's age. "I pity the next generation. We already know what kind of childhood they'll have. Isolated. Misunderstood."

"That's why we have to preserve them from this chaos until it's strictly necessary," Nanami added. "Have you thought about everything we've been through in the last few years? Does it really seem fair to subject these children to that future?"

Gojo remained silent, without a formed opinion. After all, he had no choice whatsoever when inheriting the Six Eyes. Since birth, he was destined to bring order to the jujutsu world. Not that he resented it. He liked the power and how it placed him above others. His sadness, therefore, extended to Megumi, who could have been living a normal life, far from all that hell.

Unfortunately for the boy, the choice was no longer possible either. The sales agreement with the Zen'in clan had only been undone thanks to the guarantee that he would work as a sorcerer in the future. The clan was willing to cut their financial investment in the school if that wasn't fulfilled.

Bothered by the prospect of having deprived the boy of a painless future, Gojo decided that it wasn't allowed to talk about anything serious at a child's birthday party. He filled the gathering with games that only he found funny, but which ultimately dissipated the heavy atmosphere. Megumi joined them when it was time to sing happy birthday and cut the cake (which vanished in minutes, thanks to the sugar-crazed host).

When it was time to leave, Shoko patted Megumi's head and advised him to ask Santa for a video game console, as maybe the jolly old man was in doubt about what to bring that year. She winked at Satoru, who made a slightly annoyed face.

"Thank you for inviting us. Take care," Nanami waved.

When Gojo went back inside with Megumi, the child looked at the incomplete Christmas tree. He didn't have to be told twice. They joined forces and finished decorating it, lighting up the colorful lights around the branches.

"Sensei, what's a video game?"

Gojo was surprised by the question, but quickly understood why Megumi didn't know what it was. Without the money to buy even a single game and unable to visit his classmates' houses to experience the technology of the time, Megumi was practically a cave child. A sting in his chest took him back to the conversation with Shoko and Nanami.

"Well, who knows, maybe you'll find out this year! You better ask for it soon. Christmas is already in three days."

◆

The following year, everyone was taken by surprise by the news that Kento Nanami was leaving Jujutsu High. He explained that he had been planning his departure for a while, a desire fueled by the feeling of a lack of purpose in working as a sorcerer. His speech to the board was understandable, and he wasn't judged for his choice.

Gojo, witnessing the departure of yet another friend, maintained his haughty posture. He provoked the blonde by slapping a hand on the wall next to his head and, lowering his dark glasses to stare at him with those blue eyes, said in a low voice:

"Call me whenever you want to come back, alright? I'll be waiting for you."

Nanami, arms crossed, didn't even flinch. He gave a polite bow and left carrying his belongings.

"Why did Nanami leave?" Megumi asked Gojo when he returned home.

They sat side by side on the veranda. The boy's bare feet dangled above the sandy ground of the garden, while the older man's long legs had to stretch out, taking up much more space.

"Ah, he... he's a little tired, I think. He needs some time."

"What is he going to do?"

"Work in an office."

"He's going to rest... by working?"

"Boring, right? That's Nanami for you."

"Is he going to come back?"

"Who knows? Maybe not."

"Will we be able to visit him?"

"Hm... I don't know. I think he's going to be pretty busy. But we can try."

Megumi looked down at his own hands intertwined in his lap.

"Look, Megumi, I know I said you need to get strong, but I've been thinking and... if you don't want to become a jujutsu sorcerer, just tell me. I won't force you to graduate from Jujutsu High."

Gojo knew he would end up in deep trouble if Megumi made the decision to abandon sorcery, stirring up a tremendous mess with the clan that already hated his own—but he didn't care in the slightest. He had reflected very seriously on this matter after seeing each of his colleagues succumb to the world of sorcery, and he didn't want Megumi to end up in the same dark place.

Without a clear motivation and a touch of madness, it was impossible to survive that burden.

"What do jujutsu sorcerers do, exactly?"

"We exorcise curses and save the lives of non-sorcerers."

Until recently, Gojo would have laughed at that answer. He, who in the past had been averse to the idea of protecting the weak, would never have had that on the tip of his tongue. He didn't use to see much sense in that altruistic purpose, despite having worked incredibly hard on his own development. It was never for humans that he had dedicated himself so much; he just wanted to be able to master his techniques and become invincible.

The one responsible for instilling the notion that the strong should preserve the lives of the less capable was Suguru Geto, his former best friend. Geto had always urged him to be less arrogant and to strive to be a good person. It was almost painful to conclude that he had adhered to his friend's ideal right when he was no longer there to defend it, having adopted a completely opposite stance towards the world.

What an enormous responsibility it was to be in the role of influencing the ideals of a child who didn't yet know his own path. How to guide him? What to make him think? How to keep him from straying? What should he encourage and when should he prune him? Indeed, Megumi had brought with him an enormous reflection on Gojo's impact on others.

"But will I be able to do that?" the boy wanted to know.

"If you train hard enough, you'll be able to do it in the blink of an eye."

Megumi shrank into himself, doubting those words.

"And if I don't want to, what will I do?"

"Whatever you want. You can even leave Japan if you feel like it."

Eyes widening, Megumi looked at his sensei, curious to hear him talk like that. He couldn't imagine leaving Satoru's side.

"But don't worry, you'll be able to visit me whenever you want," Gojo assured him with a calm smile. "Just know that if you do choose to be a sorcerer, I won't go easy on you, alright?"

"What about you, sensei? Don't you get tired like Nanami?"

"Hm, nah. I'm good. I like being a sorcerer."

"Why?"

Gojo shrugged.

"Ah. It must be because I am the strongest."

◆

It was too early for Megumi to decide about his future at six years old, so Gojo gave the boy time and space to let the idea mature. Meanwhile, they kept up their usual routine, training and perfecting the Ten Shadows Technique, in addition, of course, to sharing other pastimes.

The only thing that changed over time was Megumi's temperament, which, as he approached adolescence, became increasingly unbearable. Gojo wanted to believe it was just a phase, but instead of finding his path, the boy distanced himself by adopting a detached attitude.

When he entered middle school, Megumi showed no desire whatsoever to form bonds and, suddenly, started getting into fights with countless bullies.

And his excuse was...

"I hate people who invade other people's space thinking they have the right to do so! Those guys make me sick."

Gojo looked critically at the ten beaten-up kids lined up in the school's main office. He raised an eyebrow, impressed by the feat. Megumi was good in a fight; he didn't have a single scratch on his face. Satoru didn't know whether to be proud that the teenager wasn't a wimp or disappointed by the wasted talent.

Wearing his sorcerer uniform and the bandages over his eyes, Gojo looked like he had been interrupted in the middle of some serious duty. Taking a deep breath, he pushed Megumi's head out of the school and continued to guide him down the sidewalk.

"It's about time we had a little chat."

Megumi was taken to the top of a distant building, right in the middle of Tokyo.

"Honestly, Megumi, I don't care if you beat the crap out of cowards. What I don't understand is... how you can get hung up on something so petty."

"Are you going to criticize me because I beat up those idiots?!" Megumi grew angry. "I hate bad people, and I hate the good people who forgive them! It doesn't make any sense!"

"That's a lot of hate inside that little heart of yours. But don't you think, Megumi, that you're acting exactly like them?"

"No. There is no pride inside me!"

"No?" Gojo challenged him.

Megumi barely felt his position shift, but suddenly, all that lay beneath him were forty stories of free fall and the tiny streets of Tokyo, where he would splat if Gojo undid the technique.

"There's no pride in there from feeling superior to those insignificant beings?"

"I'm not evil like them."

"So you're taking justice into your own hands?"

"The world is unfair!" he shouted, almost breathless, his focus darting to anything other than the abyss below him and what it would do to his body. "Not everyone suffers the way they should for being cruel! And not everyone knows how to protect themselves!"

"And what are you going to do with that information, Megumi? Why act like it's any of your business?"

Pulling the teenager back, Gojo dropped him onto the safe floor of the rooftop, watching him prop himself up on his forearms as he caught his breath.

"I don't care what your motivations are, as long as you are sincere and ambitious. What I can't accept is this pointless rebellion of yours. You want to attack those who are weaker just because you have a chance to win? Then why don't you try dealing with someone your own size? How long will you settle for a guaranteed win?"

Gojo took a few steps and crouched down next to the boy.

"You're just being another coward, Megs. Better think carefully if this is really what you want."

Leaving Megumi there in a time-out to reflect, Gojo vanished, returning to the restaurant where he had been with Nanami before being summoned to deal with the troublemaker. The Grade 1 sorcerer, who had returned to Jujutsu High six years ago, was reading the newspaper intently while waiting for their meal to be served.

"Trouble with Megumi?"

"I miss when he was just a little baby, Nanami," he whined, putting on a high-pitched voice and rocking an imaginary baby in his arms. "They grow up and get so annoying!"

"I'm amazed he hasn't turned into a compact version of you after living so closely with you. It proves he's quite resilient."

"Unfortunately, Megumi turned into an emo," he lamented exaggeratedly. "What did I do to deserve this?"

The waitress appeared with a tray and served their orders, pouring green tea into two ceramic cups.

"Megumi's mindset is a major problem," Gojo commented in a low, grave voice as soon as they were alone again. "He would be capable of confronting me, but he doesn't do it because, in his head, he has already lost."

"When you grow up with such a close reference of absolute power, it's only natural that he feels diminished."

"Are you saying it's my fault?"

Gojo seemed surprised, but not offended. He truly considered the weight of his own influence on the boy.

"I can't say for sure. But perhaps having such a clear view of the top made him afraid he'd never reach it."

"But I wanted him to feel motivated! Not the opposite!" he grumbled in frustration.

"You forget that Megumi wasn't born under the best circumstances. His mother died very early. Then his own father abandoned him and sold him to a clan that excommunicated him. Feelings from that time become deeply rooted, and even though he was taken in by you, we can't demand that he interprets life the same way you do. Don't underestimate the size of a trauma in someone's head."

With his chin resting on his fist, Gojo poked at his food. Reflecting on Nanami's words, he began to question himself if he had really done a good job up to that point. Megumi was getting stronger and even smarter, but at the same time, he was regressing in willpower. He never expected that encouraging the boy to do his best could breed feelings of inadequacy.

"I'm not saying you did anything wrong with him," Nanami guessed his line of thought. "I'm just telling you to consider the kid's point of view."

Something Gojo always had a certain difficulty doing.

At night, while staring blankly at a random spot in the garden, Satoru heard Megumi arrive. Still in his uniform and looking drained, the teenager joined him on the veranda bench, his shoulders slumped with exhaustion.

"Did you know that the Zen'in clan and mine haven't gotten along for generations?" Satoru started the conversation.

"Why?"

"There was this Era, way back, where the heads of the clans decided to clash. Sounds like it was quite the public spectacle. Things kept heating up until they ended up killing each other. You want to know what the most interesting part is? The head of the Gojo clan had the Six Eyes and the Limitless. And the head of the Zen'in clan used the exact same technique as you."

"The Ten Shadows Technique?" the boy turned to Gojo, perplexed.

"See where I'm going with this?"

Megumi, rendered speechless, kept staring at his sensei in disbelief.

"There is no sorcerer in history who has managed to subjugate Mahoraga, the most powerful shikigami of them all. But who knows, maybe I'll be the first to witness such a feat..."

"You can't be serious!" Megumi interrupted him, appalled. "You can't believe that I..."

"The top is a very lonely place," Gojo raised his voice, silencing the boy. "And there's no telling how long I'll stay there. But I wouldn't mind sharing the spot with someone for a while. I have never underestimated you, Megumi, so it's sad to realize that you put yourself down."

Memories from his Jujutsu High days invaded Gojo's mind, especially those connected to Suguru Geto. He had failed to notice, back then, his best friend's mental ruin. He had failed to understand him and prevent him from losing himself in the darkness. Had he been ignoring Megumi the same way? Perhaps respecting his student's space too much had interfered with his judgment on what was best for him.

"I see your potential, so I can only expect your best, Megumi," Satoru lowered his tone, his gaze locked on a distant point in the night horizon. "It was never my intention to pressure you or anything like that. I guess it's like tending to a flower bud, knowing from the start that the flower that will emerge from it will be beautiful and lush. I can't decide the moment it's going to bloom."

With his arms and legs crossed, the Six Eyes heir lowered his chin.

"I can only help those who are ready to be helped. So, until you make a decision, Megumi, you'll just be walking in circles and wasting your time. The only way to survive this unfair world is by creating your own system of values. Search for a universal meaning and you will die searching. Live your truth, Megumi, and you will have lived your life."

Ending his speech, Gojo stood up. He put his hands on his hips and broke into a sudden smile.

"You really beat the crap out of those kids, huh, Megumi? Love to see it," he teased, mercilessly ruffling the teenager's messy hair.

"Give me a break!"

Megumi swatted Gojo's arm away, irritation dominating his features. But as Satoru stepped inside the house, he caught from the corner of his eye a timid smile breaking through all that seriousness on the boy's face.

◆

Megumi had heard in passing about the commotion that had taken place at the entrance of Tengen's territory. Suguru Geto, a Jujutsu High alumnus, had shown up with his faction to announce a battle between sorcerers, something he called the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons. Such a declaration stirred up both the Tokyo and Kyoto schools, which prepared to face thousands of curses.

In the end, the battle served a different purpose than expected. Geto's intention was to separate Yuta Okkotsu, a special grade first-year student, from the rest of the sorcerers and defeat him alone. His goal was to extract the curse that accompanied the boy, recognized as powerful and with unprecedented destructive potential.

Megumi had joined the Tokyo School folks on the front lines; therefore, he only discovered these details when Geto's allies mysteriously vanished and Gojo reported the destruction at Tengen's territory to the managers. It seemed surreal that a plan of that magnitude was merely to distract and buy time. Megumi was in awe of the magnitude of Yuta's power and how important he was to the jujutsu world.

"Where are Panda and Inumaki, Nanami?" he asked the sorcerer as they began to retreat, after the chaos had settled.

"Gojo sent them back to the school to protect Okkotsu."

Earlier that year, Megumi had been introduced to the first-year students: Maki Zen’in, Panda, and Toge Inumaki. Gojo was so excited to brag about his first class that Megumi had no choice but to meet the generation that would be trained by him. His sensei had organized a super fun get-together, the only animated one among a bunch of awkward teenagers.

"And this here is my Megumi. Isn't he cute?" he had embarrassed him in front of the freshmen, pinching his cheeks and drawing laughs from those who, very soon, would become his senpai.

Not long after, Yuta had appeared out of nowhere and integrated into Jujutsu High, catching everyone's attention. His existence violated the rules, but Gojo had managed to suspend the boy's execution. Satoru wasn't one to give details about what he was scheming, but Megumi was never one to question him, trusting the judgment of someone capable of seeing beyond the obvious. He admired his guardian for being influential enough to forge a new condition. It made him reflect a little on what actually made sense regarding the rules of the jujutsu world, since Gojo wouldn't be stupid enough to keep someone around who threatened the lives of sorcerers.

"And are they okay?"

"Apparently, yes. Everyone is fine. And Suguru Geto was eliminated. Which explains the retreat of the other curse users."

They stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, the car that would take them back parked a few meters away. Nanami was unwrapping the tie from around his fist to put it back around his neck when Megumi startled him with a question.

"Who is this Geto, Nanami?"

"Gojo never mentioned him to you?"

"I've heard of him through some managers, but all I know is that he's a Jujutsu High alumnus. Or was."

Nanami stared at the teenager's naive expression and took a deep breath. It wasn't his place to share about other people's lives, but the blonde was already tired of knowing that Gojo hardly ever shared his past and feelings. And he wouldn't be telling just anyone, but rather the one who truly mattered.

"Suguru Geto studied alongside Gojo. You could say that, before Gojo completely mastered the Limitless, Geto was his equal in terms of strength and technique. They used to be best friends."

Despite having a best friend being such a mundane thing, Megumi felt shaken by the term. After all, he had never seen Gojo talk about his friendships. The image he had of him was of a solitary, unreachable person. Realizing the implication of this made his heart heavy in his chest.

On the way back home, Megumi tried to gauge the dilemma of having to face a friend and still witness his death. How do you deal with someone you trusted—probably your only friend—becoming your enemy?

The night was already bleeding into the early hours of the morning when Megumi stepped into the entryway. Spotting the shoes left in the corner, he deduced Gojo had already arrived. The teenager didn't seek him out right away, preferring to take a shower first to rid himself of the filthy clothes and the blood crusted over his wounds.

Once dressed in comfortable clothes, he went to the kitchen and took his time brewing some lavender tea. He poured the liquid into two clay cups and headed toward the back, where Gojo's room was located. He found him reclining on the bed, without his bandages, his white hair falling over his forehead.

Gojo shifted slightly to the side. His blue eyes were dull, and a severe expression lived on his handsome face. An exceedingly rare expression of apathy.

"Megumi?" he uttered softly, but with an indifference so unfamiliar that Megumi felt something snap and sting inside him.

The cups shattered on the floor as the teenager took a step forward, his breathing hitched while his arms reached out to wrap around his sensei's body. It was like the day he had fallen from the tree and broken his leg. He hadn't cried right then, for his shame was greater than his pain; but the moment he had seen Gojo walking through the infirmary door, he felt as if he didn't have to endure anything alone anymore. And a flood of tears had spilled over, his childish despair finally set free. He had been so scared.

Megumi sobbed against Gojo's shoulder, his hands gripping his back tightly.

"What's wrong, Megumi?" Gojo asked warmly as his arms slowly moved to return that distressed embrace.

"I want to become a jujutsu sorcerer," Megumi managed to say through his tears.

I want to get strong like you.

I don't want to leave you alone.

Gojo rubbed Megumi's back until he felt him calm down.

"Is that your decision? Your true desire?"

"Yes. It's what I want."

The corner of Gojo's mouth lifted, and he stroked Megumi's head, trying to tame the rebellious strands in vain. Then, he made room so they could both fit comfortably on the bed.

"You're going to have to dedicate yourself twice as hard, huh?"

"I know. You're not going to go easy on me."

Gojo chuckled. “I'll put you through hell..."

Megumi smiled. And he didn't need to see it to know that Gojo was smiling too.

◆

Megumi massaged his temple with his thumb as he dialed Gojo's number on his phone.

"There's nothing here," he summarized the problem.

"What?"

"The weather shelter is empty."

"Seriously? Hilarious. You think it went for a little walk?"

"I'm going to punch you!"

"Don't come home until you get it back, got it?"

The call was abruptly ended, and Megumi breathed heavily through his mouth. What a shitty mission. It was supposed to be a simple cursed artifact retrieval, and now, its whereabouts were unknown. How had that devil's finger disappeared? And why did they put it in such a stupid place? Honestly.

Calling it a day right then and there, Megumi decided he would return to the school the next day to look for the object. He doubted anyone had done anything with the finger, or that place would have already been leveled to the ground. It would be better to try and find it in the daylight, especially since, with such powerful energy in the area, pinpointing its exact location would be a pain in the ass.

◆

Gojo, finding himself without news from his beloved Megumi since the day before, decided to drop by Sendai. Just to be safe. He didn't want to give him special treatment by playing the doting father—and he also knew the boy would hate it if he hovered over the mission—but after going so long without receiving a single text about the search's progress, he decided to take a peek.

Not that he didn't trust Megumi. Far from it. It was just a bit weird. Besides, the cursed object was the finger of Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses. What if, by chance, it had ended up in the wrong hands and Megumi was in actual danger? It was better to check. Just to be sure.

At first, he was only going to watch from afar, but upon noticing the destruction at the school, he knew things had gotten ugly. Appearing beside Megumi, he noticed him bloodied and in a familiar stance.

Is he going to summon Mahoraga? What kind of situation made him resort to that?

"Hey there. What's shaking?" he interjected.

"Huh?" Megumi's incantation dispersed. "Gojo-sensei! What are you doing here?"

"I wasn't even really planning on coming, but I was playing tourist nearby and decided to drop in. Man, you are completely beat up," he let out a laugh and pulled his phone from his pocket, turning on the camera. "I have to show this to the second-years!"

Megumi rolled his eyes and tried to escape, but Gojo photographed him from multiple angles without giving him a chance to stop it. The boy could already foresee the laughingstock he would become to his senpai, especially to Maki, who loved to pester him about his supposed lack of skill in hand-to-hand combat.

"So?" Gojo wanted to know as he put the phone away. "Where's the finger? Found it?"

"Well..."

The emergence of another voice in the conversation made Gojo realize the existence of a pink-haired boy, shirtless. Satoru was about to make a joke out of the situation ("Did I interrupt something?") when he heard the next words.

"My bad. I kinda ate it."

For a moment, Gojo thought he hadn't heard right.

"For real?"

"For real," both teenagers said in unison.

Gojo held his chin and took a good look. It was hard to believe. He stepped closer and inspected the crazy kid, sniffing the cursed energy.

"That's wild. It's all mixed together inside you. Feeling anything weird?"

"No. I'm chill."

"Can you switch with Sukuna?"

"Sukuna?"

"Yeah. The curse you swallowed."

Having to clarify that was even more absurd than talking to someone who had actively planned to absorb a cursed artifact. What had happened for him to pull off such a feat? And how had Megumi dealt with it? Good thing he had shown up.

"Yeah, I think I can."

Gojo was impressed by the kid's nonchalance.

"Then give me ten seconds. Ten seconds and you switch back," he said, starting to stretch.

He had to try. He needed to gauge the boy's potential. And one of Sukuna's fingers was a piece of cake. It would even be fun. If the kid couldn't tame the curse, he would just finish him off and that would be it: case closed. On the other hand...

"Don't worry," he reassured, noticing Megumi's startled face. "I'm the strongest around. Megumi, hold this."

He shoved a brown paper bag into his student's lap.

"What is this?"

"Kikufuku. Sendai's specialty," he explained excitedly, already tasting it in his mouth just imagining it. "It's super delicious! And it's not a souvenir for you, Megumi. Don't make that face. I'm going to eat it on the bullet train ride home..."

An explosion happened in the meantime, and Gojo watched the movement as if it were in slow motion. How weak.

"The whipped cream inside is delicious!" he continued to recite the wonders of the sweet while sitting on the back of the possessed kid. "If you want, I'll share some with you, Megumi..."

Sukuna, enraged by his opponent's laid-back attitude, attacked him relentlessly, moving the air as if it were blades.

"Since my student is watching, I'm going to show off a little bit," he whispered to the curse, dodging the blows as if it were a mere game.

Creating an opening, Gojo punched the air using his cursed energy, sending Sukuna flying away with the intensity of his power.

"You jujutsu sorcerers are always a pain in every Era!" the demonic voice bellowed, launching a destructive attack towards Gojo, who repelled it effortlessly.

"Almost done... seven... eight... nine..."

And, just like that, Sukuna left the teenager's body, who woke up from what seemed to have been only a very brief nap.

"Did everything go okay?"

"Whoa! I'm shocked..." Gojo laughed. "You really can control him!"

"But he's annoying. I can hear his voice in my head."

"It's a miracle it stops there."

Stepping in front of the kid, Satoru tapped his forehead, interfering with his energy. The body fainted, and Gojo had to catch him so he wouldn't fall face-first onto the ground.

"What did you do?" Megumi showed concern.

"Knocked the boy out. If he isn't possessed by Sukuna when he wakes up, he might have potential as a vessel."

Holding the limp body, Gojo slung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Truly, something extraordinary. Someone capable of controlling the King of Curses... this kid was no small deal. Most wouldn't have survived to tell the tale.

The issue, however, had nothing to do with his talent, but with his uncertain future. Satoru knew what was coming as soon as he brought the case up to the higher-ups. He had already gotten into trouble with the Yuta Okkotsu situation; imagine showing up with yet another stray dog? It would severely test the elders' patience. But that was the least of it. Actually, what really caught Gojo's attention was something else.

Turning to Megumi, he asked:

"What should we do with him?"

The question was a test, yes, but it also came from a place of genuine curiosity. Would Megumi cling to the rules? Would he be indifferent? Or would he...

"Even though he's a vessel, jujutsu regulations demand that he be executed," Megumi said, his tone measured. He seemed to be hiding something. "But I don't want to let him die."

Ah. There it was. Gojo offered a closed-mouth smile.

"Is it personal?"

"Exactly. Please, help him."

Gojo experienced an indescribable pleasure at that. Hearing the reserved Megumi ask for his help filled him with happiness. Not to mention the fact that his student was breaking senseless rules, finding something valuable and mysterious in that situation. Finally, Megumi had found his truth and was following it instinctively.

"If it's a request from my precious Megumi..." he cheered, giving a thumbs-up. "Leave it to me!"

◆

With the addition of Yuji Itadori to the first-year class, Gojo was thrilled. It was hard to form large classes at Jujutsu High, even knowing there were several sorcerers scattered around the country, so managing to bring in more people was a massive joy. Sure, he had to win through sheer argument to suspend the boy's execution, and he knew he would face constant backlash for bringing yet another cursed youth into Jujutsu High, but so what? It wasn't as if it were the first or the last time he would do that.

Why did he have to be the only one to realize that Jujutsu High needed people with extraordinary potential? Those old geezers were so clueless. Discarding Sukuna's vessel without even giving the kid a chance to prove his worth. The elders needed to realize that the wave of power they were trying to hold back was unstoppable. The curses of this era could no longer be fought by the same level of sorcerers if they kept up that narrow-minded mentality. They needed strong allies, so why make the terrible decision to execute someone willing to play on the same team?

Gojo would prove to them that he was right. And he was so excited about his feat of bringing Yuji to the school that he shoved the kid into the room right next to Megumi's, who had moved out of the house to live in the student dorms (something Gojo found so unnecessary! Teenagers. Always wanting privacy). He was certain his beloved student would love the idea.

"With so many empty rooms, it had to be right next to mine?" Megumi complained upon seeing them in the hallway.

"Isn't it more lively this way?" Gojo smiled cheerfully, spotting the reddish tint on Megumi's cheeks.

"You're so organized, Fushiguro..." Yuji commented as he peeked into the serious teenager's room.

"Get out of there." Megumi slammed the door in Yuji's face.

Gojo, unfazed by Megumi's fierceness, admired the scene before him, feeling as though he were witnessing the beginning of a romantic comedy.

"Tomorrow we're picking up the third first-year! Isn't that awesome? I'm killing it this year."

He clapped his hands and shook them, skipping down the hallway on his way out of the dorms.

◆

In his entire life, Megumi had cried very few times. Not for lack of reasons. Someone more sensitive in his shoes would probably burst into tears quite easily dealing with everything he lived through. It just so happened that he was someone very closed off, someone who rarely opened the floodgates to his emotions or relinquished control. Therefore, you could count on one hand all the times he had shown such a display of vulnerability.

The first, when he fell from a tree and broke his leg.

The second, when he declared his desire to become a jujutsu sorcerer.

The third, when Yuji Itadori died right before his eyes.

This last time, he didn't shed a single tear when it actually happened. He watched Yuji's body, with a hole in his chest, fall before him in a state of pure shock. And even when he was already far from the scene, on his way to the Jujutsu High morgue, he didn't feel his eyes well up. Not even when Shoko unveiled the body, confirming the cadaverous state of his classmate, did he express any sorrow.

He finally cried when he saw Gojo.

Like all the previous times, Satoru's presence was the deciding factor that allowed him to surrender to the despair taking over his body.

"I'm so weak..." he sobbed against Gojo's shoulder, who hugged him tightly as soon as they met. "I couldn't help him."

"This wasn't your fault, Megumi. None of this was your fault."

Gojo held him and comforted him for what felt like hours, internally cursing whoever was responsible for sending inexperienced teenagers to handle a special grade mission, putting them in mortal danger.

◆

Gojo honestly thought that Megumi would receive the news of Yuji's resurrection with more enthusiasm. He was surprised to be met with his wrath instead.

"What did I do? I thought you'd be happy!" he dodged Megumi's blows.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner that he was alive?!"

"Ah, but that would ruin the whole surprise! Don't be mad at me! I know you like him..."

"Shut up!"

◆

Despite Megumi enrolling at Jujutsu High and moving out of the house to live in the dorms, he and Gojo hadn't lost the habit of sharing a weekly meal which, according to Satoru, was sacred, familial, and therefore, mandatory. It usually happened during lunch or dinner, but since the older man detested routine, he liked to switch things up every now and then. It was two hours of quality time where he would randomly decide what they would do.

That time, since he was feeling less restless, Gojo opted for breakfast on the veranda. Since the weather was pleasant, he slid the glass doors open and let the sounds of nature reach the lavish table, set with an endless array of treats. He had swapped his blindfold for his dark glasses and was wearing a white cotton dress shirt, just like Megumi. It wasn't on purpose, but Gojo didn't miss the opportunity to make a heart shape with his hands and announce "we're matching!" in a cute voice, to which Megumi reacted with pure teenage disgust.

"Do you think Itadori made a binding vow with Sukuna?" Megumi finally voiced the doubt that had been consuming him ever since he saw Yuji resurrected without a single scratch.

"Definitely," Gojo drank his coffee. "Sukuna wouldn't revive him without setting a price."

"Did Itadori say anything?"

"He doesn't remember," he lamented. "My theory is that Sukuna's deal involves Yuji not remembering it. And right now, it's impossible to know what he agreed to. I can't judge him. Yuji is very young and lacks tactical intelligence. He isn't malicious, so he might have agreed to something he doesn't even know the meaning of."

Gojo had a bad feeling about it, as anything was possible when it came to the King of Curses. Unfortunately, only time would tell what condition he had imposed on the boy.

Watching Megumi hang his head, Gojo knew something else was tormenting him.

"What is it, Megumi?"

"How much time do you think Itadori has?"

"Well... if we consider the slow progress we're making gathering the fingers, plus how much we can stall, I'd say about two or three years. Five at most, if we're really sneaky about it," he smiled smugly. "It'll give you a nice little window to date him."

Megumi hunched his shoulders and blushed violently.

"And if you want to break up with him, we can find a way to move the execution up," Gojo swiped his hand across his throat like a blade and let out a loud laugh at the sight of his student's scowl.

"Why do you joke about serious things? It's Itadori's life."

"Oh, you're mad? I thought you didn't care..."

Gojo spread jam on a piece of toast and took a bite. Noticing that a shadow still hovered over Megumi's head, he intervened once more.

"Have a little more faith in me, Megumi. Who said that after finding all twenty fingers, I'm going to hand over the last one?"

Sliding his glasses down to the tip of his nose, Gojo locked eyes with Megumi, making him understand his marvelous plan once and for all. When he saw comprehension settle on the boy's face, he smiled proudly and, while spreading more jam on his toast, blurted out:

"Just don't forget to use protection!"

Coffee sprayed against the Infinity, falling straight to the floor.

"I'm going to punch you! Shut up!"

"Bring it on, then. What are you holding back for?"

◆

During the moments when Gojo retreated to his office and sat by the window, he liked to occupy himself by scrolling through his phone's gallery. He took advantage of the quiet and the lack of distractions around him to look through the collection of photographs he had gathered over the years. The center of them all? Megumi Fushiguro.

He had hundreds of scenes captured. His favorites were the ones of Megumi still as a child. Megumi at six years old, sitting on a bench eating ice cream. Playing with the dogs (who, unfortunately, didn't show up in the photos, but were there in his memory). Sleeping on the couch, in bed, with his head resting on his homework or leaning against his shoulder during some train ride. There were also photos of him blowing out candles on every birthday (watching him grow older in each of them made his heart ache). Of him training martial arts. All scraped up after taking a tumble. With his leg in a cast, sulking on the hospital cot.

There was a full album with photos from his middle school graduation. From the various Father's Day performances. Mother's Day too, because Gojo dubbed himself a unisex guardian. From the various school activities, which Megumi participated in reluctantly, but ended up having fun once he let loose.

In another folder, there were photos of Megumi in the most diverse seasons of the year. In the middle of the snow, covered head to toe in warm clothes. Full of cherry blossom petals stuck in his spiky hair. Slathered in sunscreen and wearing his round dark glasses when they went to the beach. Covered in leaves after running non-stop through the park.

On their visit to the zoo, Megumi had been euphoric. He wanted to take a picture with every animal along the way. It was probably the only day he managed to genuinely tire Gojo out.

When he was little, Megumi easily cooperated with selfies, but as he got older, he started hiding from the lenses. Not that it worked completely, as Gojo had become an expert at photographing him by surprise. In most of the pictures, Megumi looked serious, but every now and then it was possible to capture his timid smile (and those were the photos Satoru lingered on the most).

There were already so many memories in that gallery that Gojo would get lost in nostalgia. And, when he dropped the phone on his chest and closed his eyes, he remembered the day he met Megumi. An angry little boy, full of attitude, whose hair alone indicated he'd be trouble. But, at the same time, a blessing of a kid, who entered his life and decided not to leave no matter what.

Are they going to be like my family?

"Gojo-sensei?" the voice of an older Megumi pulled him back to reality.

"So even he sleeps, huh?" the voice belonged to Yuji.

"Duh, of course he sleeps! Are you crazy?" that was Nobara.

"Wake up, Gojo!" Megumi insisted, probably grumpy. "If you were going to sleep, why did you call us?"

Gojo adjusted the blindfold over his teary eyes and stood up, making room for the loud duo, Nobara and Yuji, to fight over the spot on the armchair.

"What are you smiling at, huh?"

Gojo turned to Megumi, who was watching him with cautious bewilderment.

The only thing I'll need from you, Megumi, is that you get really strong. Strong enough to keep up with me.

His boy had gotten so strong since then.

"Nothing at all, Megumi," he ruffled his student's hair. "Just thinking to myself."