Knock, knock, knock…
Click.
The door opened slightly, and a small head poked out.
"Uncle's here!"
Fushiguro Tsumiki's face lit up with delight as she quickly pulled the door open.
"Happy New Year, Tsumiki."
Zen'in Shinsuke handed her a red envelope.
"Thank you, Uncle! Happy New Year to you too!" Tsumiki bowed politely.
"Hello, Uncle."
Standing just behind her, Fushiguro gumi clasped his hands together and called out as well. His expression was calm, but his eyes revealed a quiet anticipation.
"You want one too, huh? Here, kid."
Shinsuke smirked as he handed over another red envelope. Who did this brat think he was fooling, trying to act all aloof at his age?
"Thank you, Uncle!"
gumi's eyes flickered with excitent as he quickly accepted the gift.
Inside, Toji had already tied on an apron and was cooking in the kitchen, perfectly settled into the role of a stay-at-ho dad.
"What about ? Where's my red envelope?"
Toji stuck his head out from the kitchen, rare mischief in his tone.
"You? You're grown. Shouldn't you be the one giving a red envelope instead?"
Shinsuke shot him a look.
As the elder, it was only natural for him to give red envelopes to the kids. But Toji? He was long past that age. If anything, he ought to be giving his older brother one.
"No red envelope for you. But I did bring cake."
Shinsuke lifted the box in his hand.
"Tch. I'm not a kid."
Toji froze for a second when he saw the cake, then quickly ducked his head back into the kitchen, pretending indifference while stirring the pan.
"Wow, cake! Does that an it's soone's birthday today?"
Tsumiki and gumi's eyes sparkled, mouths already watering as they stared at the dessert.
"That's right. Can you guess whose birthday it is?"
Shinsuke placed the cake on the table, looking amused.
"Hmm… it's not my birthday, and gumi's was last week. Uncle's birthday is in sumr… so that ans it's Dad's birthday!"
Tsumiki figured it out almost instantly.
gumi tilted his head thoughtfully. "So Dad's birthday is right next to New Year's."
Last ti, Toji had taken the kids to Shinsuke's place to celebrate his birthday. This ti, the older brother ca to theirs—bringing both New Year's cheer and a birthday celebration for Toji.
That night, the four of them welcod the new year together. Tsumiki and gumi leaned against the window, watching the colorful fireworks explode across the night sky.
"So, how's life now? Better than before, right?"
Shinsuke glanced at Toji.
"What are you talking about? I used to be free as the wind."
Toji refused to admit it.
But compared to a year ago, the reckless, devil-may-care aura around him had faded noticeably. Perhaps this was the power of raising kids.
"You, on the other hand—almost thirty, and still no girlfriend."
Toji smirked, throwing the jab without rcy.
He already had two kids, yet his older brother didn't even have a partner. Didn't that seem backwards?
Sure enough, Shinsuke's lips twitched at the remark. Against his will, the image of Yuki Tsukumo flashed across his mind.
Shinsuke quickly shook his head. Why did that woman suddenly co to mind?
"When you bring back Tsumiki's mother, then you can say that to ."
So what if they were both bachelors? Just because Toji had kids, did that make him superior?
"..."
At that, Toji fell silent.
Ding-dong.
A ssage chid on Shinsuke's phone. He glanced down—it was from Yuki Tsukumo.
A selfie. Next to her stood a snowman that bore an uncanny resemblance to soone he knew.
Yuki Tsukumo: Happy New Year! [Cute]
Zen'in Shinsuke: Nice snowman. Don't build one like that again.
Yuki Tsukumo: What do you an? Doesn't it look just like you? [Smirk]
Zen'in Shinsuke: ...Do I look that ugly to you? [Angry]
…
Ti passed, and the new year arrived. Shinsuke's days fell back into their steady rhythm—daily training, punctuated by the occasional mission from Jujutsu High whenever a first-grade or stronger cursed spirit appeared.
Each mission was both an opportunity to earn rit and to strengthen himself.
After repeated experints, he finally confird the conditions for the scripture's absorption and conversion.
It only worked on cursed spirits he killed with his own hands—
and only those of first grade or higher.
The years slipped by. Gojo Satoru and Ieiri Shoko graduated from Jujutsu High, imdiately transitioning into teaching positions. Smooth, flawless timing.
Soon after, Nanami Kento and Amanai Riko graduated as well.
Nanami chose not to continue as a sorcerer, instead stepping into the corporate grind of everyday society.
Riko, however, remained at Jujutsu High as a sorcerer—often dropping by Shinsuke's place to freeload als.
After all, Shinsuke occasionally took them out on missions. Over ti, he'd at least beco acquainted with most of Tokyo Jujutsu High's students.
"Yo, old man, still training? I'm here to mooch dinner again."
A familiar voice rang out as Amanai Riko appeared in the yard.
She had shed her girlish innocence. Long hair brushed her shoulders, a yellow coat draped casually over her fra, and she was blowing bubbles with chewing gum. She had transitioned from bright-eyed student to feisty, streetwise young woman.
To Shinsuke, she really did look like a rebellious teen now. If she added a tattoo and dyed her hair, the image would be complete.
"Riko-nee! You're eating at my brother's place again!"
Aside from Shinsuke, who was in the middle of his workout, the Zen'in yard also had its regular visitors: Maki and Mai. The sisters ca every single day, punctual as clockwork. No one in the Zen'in household dared to stop them.
They had grown from little lolis to slightly taller lolis—other than height, not much had changed.
"Can't help it. I'm the only one left at Jujutsu High. Gojo's always on missions, Shoko-nee is busy, and there's no one else to keep company. I'd die of boredom if I didn't co find you guys."
Riko said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
After all these years, she hadn't built many friendships. Nanami had beco a corporate drone, Kuroi was gone… which left only this eccentric, hobody "uncle" and the two little sisters.
"Even Maki and Mai call brother. Why are you the only one who insists on calling old man? Do I really look that old to you?"
Shinsuke had been annoyed by that nickna for years.
"Co on. You're thirty. If I don't call you 'uncle,' what should I call you? You expect to call you what these two little brats do? Onii-chan~"
"Ew!"
Even Riko shivered at her own imitation, goosebumps prickling her arms.
"..."
Alright. On second thought, uncle wasn't so bad. At least it wasn't nauseating.
"What's the big deal? Brother is brother. What's weird about that?"
Mai tilted her head, genuinely puzzled why Riko refused to call him that.
"Anyway, old man, I heard so news. Because of your performance these past few years, the higher-ups have officially labeled you as a… Special Grade One Sorcerer Without Cursed Energy!"
She grinned smugly.
"Congrats, you're a sorcerer now. And a special one at that!"
It was true—over the years, Shinsuke had led countless missions. Though the strongest cursed spirit he'd fought was only quasi-special grade, his consistent results had convinced the higher-ups to rank him on par with a first-grade sorcerer.
Shinsuke, however, couldn't care less.
Special this, special that… none of it mattered.
Money—that was what was real.
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