The vibrant aroma of sugar and chocolate filled the air as Satoru and Suguru stood in front of a towering display of colorful candies. Their excited chatter blended with the soft jingles of the candy store's background music.
"Suguru, you have to try this! It's amazing!" Satoru declared, practically bouncing on his feet as he pointed to a selection of rainbow-colored gummies stacked neatly in glass jars.
Suguru hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay..." he said, his voice quiet but curious.
Satoru grabbed a handful of candies and shoved one into Suguru's palm. Suguru inspected it briefly before popping it into his mouth.
A moment of silence passed.
Then—
Suguru's eyes sparkled with pure delight. "Yum!" he exclaimed, his expression lighting up like a child who had just discovered the wonders of sugar for the first time.
Satoru grinned triumphantly. "See? Told ya!"
Across the store, Seijuro and Toji stood near the entrance, watching the interaction unfold from a distance.
The store itself was small but lively, filled with the soft hum of a chocolate fountain and the faint rustling of candy bags being stocked. Rows of neatly arranged confections lined the shelves, from traditional wagashi to imported Western sweets.
Toji, standing with his arms crossed, eyed the two kids with a smirk. "Looks like they're getting along."
Seijuro nodded, his gaze lingering on Satoru's beaming face. "Yeah... looks like he just made his first friend the same age as him."
A quiet sense of relief settled in his chest. For all of Satoru's strength, he was still just a kid—a lonely one. Seeing him bond with Suguru so effortlessly... it was reassuring.
But more than that, Seijuro knew this moment was crucial. This was the start of a different future.
'This is my chance... my chance to stop what happened in the manga.' Seijuro's crimson eyes darkened slightly at the thought.
Toji, noticing the shift in his demeanor, raised an eyebrow. "Oi. You look like you're scheming something."
Seijuro smirked. "I'm always scheming something."
Toji huffed out a laugh but then tilted his head slightly. "You know, the higher-ups are gonna flip out when they realize you didn't put up a curtain earlier."
Seijuro let out a deep groan, rubbing his temples. "Ugh... I know."
Toji grinned. "Would've been fun to watch their reaction, though."
Seijuro scoffed, crossing his arms. "Too bad I had my servants handle it before things got out of control."
He had already made a quick call to his information network, instructing them to pose as police officers to calm down any witnesses near the abandoned pizzeria. The last thing he needed was a public panic over a 'ghost-infested' location.
Toji chuckled. "Tch. You're no fun."
Seijuro smirked. "Be grateful. If I left it alone, we'd be drowning in complaints and red tape."
Toji shrugged. "Yeah, yeah. Still, I bet the old geezers are losing their minds right now."
Seijuro sighed, but his gaze drifted back toward Satoru and Suguru, who were now arguing over which candy was the best.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
This time... he was going to make sure things were different.
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The crisp evening air greeted them as they stepped out of the candy store. Suguru and Satoru walked ahead, each holding a bag filled with sweets. Their conversation was lively and animated.
"Alright, let's see what we got," Satoru said, excitedly peering into his bag.
Suguru followed suit, pulling out a box of traditional wagashi candies. "I still can't believe you picked those rainbow gummies over these."
Satoru scoffed. "Obviously! They're colorful and stretchy, and they taste amazing! Besides, Dad paid for it, so why not go all out?"
Suguru hummed, popping a small yokan jelly into his mouth. "Hmm... I guess that's fair." He chewed thoughtfully before smirking. "But that just means I made the more refined choice."
Satoru gasped, dramatically clutching his chest. "Are you calling my taste in candy uncultured!?"
Suguru grinned. "I mean... yeah."
Satoru playfully nudged him with his shoulder, causing Suguru to stumble slightly before laughing.
Meanwhile, Seijuro and Toji followed a few steps behind them, their conversation starkly contrasting to the boys' lighthearted chatter.
Toji glanced at Suguru. "So, what's the plan for the black-haired one?"
Seijuro, hands tucked in his pockets, smirked slightly. "Simple. We call our driver again and have Geto lead us to his house."
Toji raised a brow. "That easy, huh?"
Seijuro chuckled. "Kids are easier to handle than sorcerers who overthink everything."
At that moment, the quiet hum of an approaching vehicle caught their attention.
A sleek, black limousine glided down the road, coming to a smooth halt beside them. The polished exterior gleamed under the streetlights, reflecting the curious look on Suguru's face.
The driver stepped out, dressed sharply in a black suit. He walked over and opened the door with practiced elegance, bowing respectfully. "Your ride is ready, Seijuro-sama."
Satoru hopped in first, unbothered by the luxury he had grown accustomed to. "Come on, Geto! You ever been in a limo?"
Suguru hesitated, gripping his candy bag tightly. "Uh... no."
Seijuro gave him a reassuring nod. "No need to be shy. You're our guest."
Suguru slowly stepped in, eyes scanning the plush leather seats and polished wood paneling. It was far grander than anything he was used to, and for a moment, he didn't know how to sit.
Toji climbed in lazily, leaning back with a satisfied sigh as Seijuro settled in across from him.
Seijuro turned to Suguru. "So, Geto-kun, do you know where your house is?"
Suguru nodded, still trying to process everything.
Seijuro smiled. "Good. Just point it out to the driver, and he'll take us there."
Suguru glanced at the driver, then back at Seijuro before taking a breath. "...Okay."
As the limousine smoothly pulled away, Satoru unwrapped another candy, popping it into his mouth before turning to Suguru.
"Alright, tell me... if I had picked wagashi instead of gummies, would that have made me 'refined' too?"
Suguru grinned, leaning back comfortably in his seat. "Maaaybe. But you're already too far gone."
Seijuro watched them with a faint smirk, leaning his head against the cool leather of the seat. This... this was good. This was different. And he would make sure it stayed that way.
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The evening air was incredible as they exited the limousine, and the neighborhood was quiet. Suguru hesitated for a moment before leading them toward a modest, single-story house with a small front yard,
Toji leaned casually against a wooden post a few steps away, observing from a distance rather than getting involved.
"We're here..." Suguru muttered, glancing at the familiar sight of his home.
Satoru, ever blunt, tilted his head. "Your house is small."
Seijuro immediately sighed and flicked Satoru's forehead. "Satoru, that's rude."
"Ah! Sorry!" Satoru yelped, rubbing his forehead before quickly looking at Suguru. "I didn't mean anything bad!"
Suguru chuckled, unfazed. "It's fine. It is small."
Seijuro observed him. This was the perfect opportunity.
Kneeling to Suguru's level, Seijuro met the boy's gaze with a reassuring smile. "Geto-kun, you have a remarkable amount of cursed energy. If you're willing, I'd like to help you train and become a Jujutsu Sorcerer."
Suguru blinked, taken aback by the sudden offer.
Seijuro continued, his tone warm yet firm. "With proper training, you'll become strong enough to protect others. People need someone with your potential."
Suguru hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his dark eyes.
Before he could respond, Satoru threw an arm around his shoulder. "Dad's right! You should accept, Suguru! It'll be fun! We can train together, and you'll get so strong!"
Suguru fidgeted slightly. "I... I think I should ask my dad first. He might not want me to become a sorcerer."
Seijuro nodded, respecting his hesitation. "That's completely understandable. If you want, I can talk to him for you."
Suguru perked up at that. "Really?"
Seijuro grinned. "Of course."
They all turned toward the front door. Seijuro stepped forward and rang the doorbell.
A few moments passed before the door creaked open, revealing a tall, slim, yet well-built man. His short black hair was neatly tied back into a low bun, his sharp features strikingly similar to Suguru's.
The resemblance was uncanny.
"Dad!" Suguru exclaimed, his face lighting up as he ran forward and hugged his father's knees.
His father's tense expression melted into relief as he knelt down, wrapping his arms around his son.
"Suguru! Thank the heavens—where have you been? I contacted the police to search for you."
Suguru pulled back slightly, looking up at him. "I got lost... but they helped me."
He turned and gestured toward Seijuro and Satoru, who stood a few steps away.
His father straightened up, his sharp gaze shifting toward them.
'He looks like an adult version of Suguru,' Seijuro noted, the similarity between father and son almost uncanny.
The man took a step forward, his expression softening with gratitude. "Thank you for finding my son, Mister...?"
Seijuro smiled and gave a slight bow. "Seijuro Gojo, and this here is my son, Satoru."
Satoru waved excitedly. "Hello! I'm Suguru's friend! Nice to meet you, Mister Geto!"
Suguru's father chuckled warmly. "Nice to meet you too, Satoru-kun." He then turned back to Seijuro. "Please, come in. It's the least I can do to thank you for helping my son."
Seijuro nodded. "We'd be honored."
As they stepped inside, Toji, still leaning against the post, smirked. He wonder how Seijuro is going to convince Suguru's dad.