The next day.
"Toji, do you think Mukuro really has no problems? He and Suguru somehow picked up two little girls again from who knows where…"
Inside the Fushiguro house, Onshin looked a bit worried.
"He'll be fine. I already talked to that kid. It was all just small misunderstandings…"
Toji glanced out the window. It was another sunny day.
* * *
Meanwhile, inside a huge luxury mall in Kyoto.
"By the way, why do I have to come along?"
Mukuro looked at Suguru next to him with an exasperated expression.
Taking kids out to shop? Even Megumi never got treatment like this.
"Well, you're the local here in Kyoto. Shouldn't you show some hospitality to a guest like me?"
Suguru slung an arm around his shoulder and flashed a big toothy grin.
"Nanako, Mimiko, if you see anything you like just say it. Don't be shy. This big brother has plenty of money."
The two girls beside him looked amazed by everything around them. Their eyes showed curiosity mixed with envy and a bit of inferiority. Suguru joked lightly to ease them.
At their level, even if they normally didn't pay attention to mission rewards or spending, money was hardly a problem.
"Only for today."
Feeling the two shy yet hopeful gazes sneaking toward him, Mukuro gave in and went along with Suguru's words.
"Thank you, Master Geto and Master Fushiguro!"
Their happiness was clear as day. Even their steps grew lighter.
They were like two small butterflies. After escaping a spiderweb, they had flown straight into a blooming field. Everything felt suddenly beautiful.
"Are you planning to raise them? You're only seventeen…"
Walking behind the girls at an unhurried pace, Mukuro asked with his hands in his pockets.
"That has nothing to do with age, does it? Your brother was only a teenager when he raised you. As long as I'm willing and they're willing, that's enough."
Suguru didn't care about such things. He liked their personalities and how they treated the people who saved them. It felt right to raise them like daughters.
"Master Geto! Master Fushiguro! Over here!"
Stopping in front of a small food stall in the mall, the girls waved their little hands at the two men behind them.
"Coming."
Suguru waved back in response.
Their bright voices rang like pleasant bells, allowing these two young men who traversed the jujutsu world to temporarily set aside their identities as sorcerers and simply accompany them in their capacity as "adults."
"Croquettes… Mukuro, want one?"
After letting the girls choose the flavor they wanted, Suguru took out his wallet and looked at Mukuro behind him.
"Master Fushiguro, do you want to try? It smells so good…"
Nanako held her croquette, sniffing the warm golden crust. She didn't even mind the heat and bit into it right away.
Her eyes sparkled as if light burst out.
Growing up in a poor village, suffering because of their cursed energy, they had never tasted anything like this.
Just one bite felt like touching heaven.
But after that first bite, she didn't continue eating. Instead, she held it out to Mukuro.
Mimiko on the other side did the same, offering her croquette with one small bite taken to Suguru.
In their minds, these men had saved their lives, so something this delicious should be shared with them.
"Thanks, Mimiko."
Suguru didn't refuse. He opened his mouth and took only a tiny nibble from her croquette before smiling with satisfaction.
"It's great."
Mukuro didn't bite it the way his friend did. Under Nanako's expectant gaze, he broke off a small piece and put it into his mouth. As he chewed, he gently patted her head. Her face lit up with joy.
"Big sis! Over here!"
Suddenly, a short-haired girl about their age bumped into Mukuro's leg while running through the mall. She fell hard onto the floor.
"Mai! Are you okay?!"
The other girl, the one she called big sister, rushed over and helped her up, then apologized to Mukuro nonstop.
"It's been years… didn't expect to run into members of the Zenin clan here."
Mukuro recognized the twin sisters immediately. They were Ogi Zenin's daughters.
"Huh? Big brother knows us?"
Mai blinked her eyes. She only thought the tall boy in front of her looked cool, but she had no memory of him.
"I'm sorry! They were careless. If they offended you somehow, please allow me to apologize for them!"
Just then, their mother who had fallen behind finally caught up. The moment she saw Mukuro, she froze. A tremble ran through her.
A second later, she stepped forward and bowed at a full ninety degree angle.
"Mukuro, I'm taking the kids to buy clothes first. Come find us after you're done here."
Suguru didn't know much about Zenin clan matters, but he could tell he didn't belong in this conversation. He grabbed the sisters and left before Mukuro could answer.
"Huh? Well…"
Mukuro was about to say it wasn't a big deal, but Suguru had already scooped up Nanako and Mimiko and run off.
"Lift your head. Am I that scary?"
Noticing people nearby starting to stare, Mukuro frowned.
"N-not at all! Maki, Mai, hurry and greet Mukuro-sama!"
The woman straightened up and tapped her daughters' backs.
"Mukuro-sama… are you one of the two men the clan head said who can be unbeatable with only physical skill and cursed tools?!"
Maki was visibly excited. She didn't notice Mai pouting beside her.
"You could say that—"
"Please teach me how to grow stronger, Mukuro-sama!"
Mukuro hadn't even finished speaking before Maki shouted her request.
She had almost no cursed energy. She wanted nothing more than to be like him, someone who could stand at the top using only her body and weapons.
If she could become stronger, she could protect her sister.
"If you want to grow strong, wait until you're older and go to Jujutsu High. The teachers there can teach you. I don't have time to babysit brats like you."
Mukuro waved a hand and turned to leave.
"When I grow up and become stronger… may I come ask you again?"
Maki's stubborn voice rose behind him. Her mother flinched in fear.
"Do as you like."
Mukuro didn't dislike them. They were some of the few normal people the Zenin clan had. Two innocent kids born into the wrong family. That wasn't their fault.
**
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