Ze's sharp tongue immediately silenced Naobito and Takanobu.
The Grand Elder quickly covered Satoru's mouth, offering an apologetic smile to the two family heads. "The junior is sensible, please forgive us!"
"Hmph!" The two heads snorted and left with a flick of their sleeves.
The Grand Elder breathed a sigh of relief. "Young Master Satoru, those two are the heads of The Big Three Families; you must watch your wording!"
Satoru shrugged. "I can't be bothered with pleasantries." Beside him, his older brother Gojo Ze stood with an equally indifferent expression. Neither of them cared for the hypocritical social dancing of the clans.
The juniors of the Zenin and Kamo families viewed the twins as the proverbial 'other people's children'—existences they could only look up to. This distance allowed Ze and Satoru to focus on what really mattered: finding snacks.
"Yue~ why is this pastry salty?" Gojo Satoru scrunched up his face, putting down a salt-and-pepper pastry.
"My foolish younger brother!" Gojo Ze shook his head, reaching for a piece of cherry pie.
Both twins had developed a massive sweet tooth to fuel the energy consumption of the Six Eyes. Just as Ze's hand was about to touch the pie, a small, fair hand brushed against his. He turned to see a little girl with brown hair staring blankly at him.
"Ieiri Shoko?" Gojo Ze blurted out.
"You know me?" Shoko tilted her head, surprised the elder of the "six eyes twins" knew her name.
Ze nodded. "I've heard of you; a natural-born Reverse Cursed Technique user."
Shoko understood. Though her brilliance was overshadowed by theirs, she was a "National Treasure" level non-combatant. While she was thinking, she noticed the cherry pie was already in Ze's hand.
Gojo Ze glanced at her and split the pie in two. Shoko's eyes lit up, reaching out both hands.
"Satoru, this one is sweet," Gojo Ze said, handing half to his younger brother.
Shoko's hands froze in the air. Just as she was about to complain, Ze handed the remaining half to her.
"Tha... thank you! What about you?" Shoko asked.
"Me? I'll just have whatever!" Ze reached back and grabbed an even larger piece of cherry pie from the table.
"Eh???" Shoko's gratitude vanished. This guy had shocked her three times in ten seconds. What a guy who doesn't play by the rules!
Soon, the banquet moved to martial arts sparring. Though the twins had zero interest, they were forced to perform like New Year's attractions for the relatives.
The result was total dominance. Without using Limitless or Blue, relying solely on physical skill and the Six Eyes, they crushed the other children. Amidst the gloomy faces of Naobito and Takanobu, the banquet reached the segment Gojo Ze looked forward to most: the auction for the Special Grade Cursed Tool: Playful Cloud (Yūun).
"Five hundred million!" someone called out.
Gojo Ze's pupils constricted as he spotted the bidder. Fushiguro... no, Zen'in Toji!
"What's wrong, brother?" Satoru followed Ze's gaze. He felt an immense pressure from a man with zero Cursed Energy. "This person... is so strong!"
Ze smiled. "I told you, don't always think you're invincible."
"Six hundred million!" Ze called out, instantly causing an uproar.
Toji frowned, muttering, "Troublesome brat!"
"Seven hundred million!"
"One billion!"
Toji's mindset broke. He couldn't compete with the Gojo Family's wealth. Ze secured the tool for one billion.
As the banquet ended, Shoko Ieiri bid farewell to the twins. Ze and Satoru boarded their sedan, but Zen'in Toji followed them out of curiosity.
The car stopped at the edge of the estate. Their mother met them, leading them home through the snow. Toji watched from dozens of meters away, his presence completely erased.
Suddenly, Ze and Satoru turned their heads simultaneously. Their azure pupils met Toji's surprised eyes.
"This is the first time someone has sensed my presence from behind," Toji thought, a chill running down his spine. "And it's... two children!"
He watched the figures of the two brothers disappear into the distance, feeling that this winter was exceptionally cold.