Chapter-301
It has been half a month since the battle in Shibuya.
Zenin Kiyoshi was currently hiding helplessly by the window of the men's restroom, complaining to Gojo Satoru beside him:
"I didn't expect to be able to hold on for so long. I feel a bit frustrated by this 'just barely hanging on' attitude. Don't you think so?"
Gojo Satoru, meanwhile, leaned against the window frame with a teasing smile on his face.
"There's nothing we can do about it. I've heard that if you betray too many women's hearts, you'll be forcibly pulled back from hell even after you're dead. I feel like that's what's going on with you right now."
Hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi's lips twitched involuntarily, and he muttered to Gojo Satoru beside him:
"Don't talk about those messy things. I've been so busy lately, no, it's worse than death. How should I put it, being enveloped by guilt and self-blame every day is really unbearable."
In addition to processing my own emotions, I also have to constantly make amends to those I have hurt. Sometimes I would spend my mornings with Mei Mei, and then I would skip lunch to go with Shoko.
I just came out of the autopsy room, didn't even have time to take a shower, and then the Utahime dragged me to the park to play baseball, and then there was more...
As Zenin Kiyoshi rattled off the list, Gojo Satoru's smile grew increasingly irritating. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, his voice becoming even softer:
"Isn't it because you left behind too much? You should make it up to everyone during this time, since you might leave at any time, right?"
"Stop saying things like you want me to die, it's so unlucky. I'm still alive and well, aren't I? Besides, we can talk about those things later. When did you become so pessimistic?"
Gojo Satoru's eyes trembled slightly behind his sunglasses. He looked at Zenin Kiyoshi for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the urinal next to him.
"Zenin Kiyoshi, I've actually remembered quite a few things recently, and I've gained some understanding of this world. The world we're in now, it can't be real, can it?"
Gojo Satoru's sudden words startled Zenin Kiyoshi, who instinctively turned to look at him, his tone unchanged, still that languid air:
"Whether it's true or not doesn't really make any difference. If I really died in Master Tengen's incident, then what happened in this world would very likely happen again in the original world."
This can be considered a kind of "Balancing Mechanism"; you can think of this as the future after our original point in time.
A timeline divided by the "death at the Zenin," and on this timeline, the five enlightened ones—that is, you in the present moment—are speaking to me from a past timeline.
What Zenin Kiyoshi said was not complicated. With Gojo Satoru's extraordinary intelligence, he understood the cause and effect relationship almost instantly.
Gojo Satoru's sunglasses slid down slightly, revealing his azure eyes, in which the reflection of the urinal was mirrored. Zenin Kiyoshi stared at the slightly distorted urinal, momentarily speechless.
After a moment of silence, Gojo Satoru suddenly chuckled and said:
"So that's how it is... I always felt something was off. Ever since I opened my eyes a few days ago, I've felt like I don't belong to this world, like I'm in some kind of illusion, like our memories are still stuck in that summer ten years ago..."
He muttered to himself, tapping lightly on the windowsill with his fingers, his tone becoming somewhat wistful:
"So I'm talking to you in the 'past' and the 'present' right now? And this 'future' version of me... is experiencing everything that should have happened after you died?"
The monk nodded and said softly:
"That's roughly the idea. Although I don't know why the Balancing Mechanism is targeting me, it did create this world based on the premise of my death in order to erase my existence. However, due to Kenjaku's Seance Technique, I, as a variable, suddenly appeared..."
"This has caused the timeline to become messed up?"
Before Zenin Kiyoshi could finish speaking, Gojo Satoru impatiently chimed in, a smile of excitement playing on his lips.
"This is really interesting, Qing! What would happen if we stayed here instead of returning to our original timeline?"
Regarding Gojo Satoru's question, Zenin Kiyoshi pondered for a moment before sharing his thoughts:
"The best-case scenario is that the world gradually collapses, and we return to our original point in time."
At this point, Zenin paused, his voice lowering:
"Of course, the worst-case scenario is... this false future will overwrite reality, we will be unable to go back to the past, and my death will inevitably become a reality."
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru suddenly leaned closer, his eyes behind his sunglasses staring directly at Zenin Kiyoshi:
"Don't worry, Zenin Kiyoshi, I won't let that fake thing become real."
I can sense that this world is built around my existence. When I achieve something, or when I reach a certain level of consciousness, this world should disappear, or rather, return to nothingness.
Although I don't know if this is a good thing, I know that you can't die here. The false future should not become reality. Before you appeared, this world felt so suffocating to me.
I can't quite accept this feeling. You, Geto, all the people I know, everyone has changed. Many people have died, many people have changed, and there are no longer any people around me who care about me, no longer anyone who is truly willing to get close to me.
Although Shoko is still trying to get closer to me, I know that there is always something invisible and intangible between us.
And I could clearly feel that the appearance of that thing was with your death.
So, to be a little selfish, I hate the world as it is now. Even after you come, this world will still be far worse than the world before.
In these past ten years, so many regrets and deaths have been irreversible, and I... have shouldered too much that I shouldn't have had to bear. Ahhh~ Although it sounds a bit sentimental,... I'm so tired~
Without you and Geto, the burden has fallen entirely on me. You guys know perfectly well that I'm the laziest and most unruly jerk, so why do you still so selfishly entrust everything to me?
Chapter-302
As he spoke, Gojo Satoru's voice gradually lowered. He took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of tired, pale blue eyes.
The sunlight outside the window shone on his face. After Halloween, the weather was getting cooler day by day. The sunlight at this time was just right, neither hot nor cold. It shone on Gojo Satoru's face, making his skin look even whiter and more translucent, vaguely revealing a bit of fragility.
Zenin Kiyoshi silently looked at Gojo Satoru, and after a long while, he spoke softly:
"Because you are Gojo Satoru, the bastard that Geto and I trust the most. No one else can take on this responsibility, but..."
Zenin Kiyoshi paused slightly, not finishing his sentence, but instead patting Gojo Satoru on the shoulder, his tone unusually serious:
"Even the strongest has the right to get tired. I'm really sorry for all these years for putting such a heavy burden on you alone, even though you're a rather unruly, ill-tempered, disrespectful, and impolite person like Gojo Satoru."
Gojo Satoru suddenly laughed, a laugh that carried a mixture of relief and a hint of helplessness:
"Isn't it too late to apologize now? Besides, you bastard, just like me, never use honorifics with others. And you should know that for the past ten years, I haven't even had a proper meal. I've been busy dealing with all sorts of messy things, and I haven't slept more than six hours a day."
Ah! No, wait! I've calculated it. I only get two hours of sleep a day. If it weren't for my ability to use the Reverse Cursed Technique to repair my own brain at all times, I would have died from staying up late long ago.
Do you know that for the past few years, the place I've slept most often is on the bus or at tram stops... It's so annoying!
"Okay, stop complaining. When we get back, I'll try my best to cook for you every day with Geto and take over some of your work. I promise you'll get a good night's sleep."
Zenin Kiyoshi listened to Gojo Satoru's complaints and couldn't help but chuckle for a moment, then softly comforted him:
"Although my cooking may not suit your taste, I don't really like Japanese food, and it gets boring after a while."
"If that's the case, then I'm already looking forward to it. Oh, and remember to sign a Binding Vow later. You bastard, you're really good at making promises and empty promises. I don't want you to renege on your word later."
The two men's laughter echoed in the bathroom, only to be interrupted by footsteps that suddenly came from outside the door.
A voice, tinged with a dangerous laugh, came from outside the door:
"I found you, Zenin Kiyoshi~ You promised to come with me to see the new magical artifacts today, right? My axe is so badly worn after the last battle that it's almost unusable. Didn't you say you'd come with me to take a look?"
For a weak woman like me, without a powerful weapon, future battles will be a real headache.
Since you've promised me, I'm sure you won't back out or suddenly change your plans, right?
As he said this, Mei Mei's voice carried a clear hint of threat.
Almost simultaneously with the final, shimmering voice, Shoko's cold and slightly hoarse voice came from another direction:
"Senior Mei Mei~ Zenin Kiyoshi promised to help me organize the dissection records. There's been so much going on lately, especially after the war ended. There are quite a few cyborgs who need treatment. If you want to buy magical tools, I'll go with you to take a look when I have time."
Or you could try talking to Principal Yaga; doesn't he have a deep understanding of cursed artifacts?
Before Shoko's voice could even finish, the Utahime's slightly hurried voice came through:
"Damn it, you really were hiding in this place! I knew it would be some kind of messy place. Get out here right now, there's a baseball game this afternoon. If you dare to be late, I will absolutely, positively not let you off the hook!"
Hearing the somewhat noisy and chaotic sounds outside, Gojo Satoru gave Zenin Kiyoshi a gloating smile:
"Looks like your 'journey of atonement' isn't over yet, you bastard~"
Zenin Kiyoshi felt his whole body trembling. He covered his eyes, his voice choked with sobs for the first time:
"Sometimes I really wish I were dead... Even a god wouldn't know what to do in this situation, right?"
Don't say things like that.
Gojo Satoru did not respond to Zenin Kiyoshi's joke, but suddenly became serious and said:
"Since this is a possibility of the future, something that might happen in the future, let's turn it into the best experience, a memory that extends from a false future to a real future."
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Zenin Kiyoshi was somewhat stunned. He looked at Gojo Satoru with a strange gaze, and then said with some emotion:
"Is this really something you should say? How come it's suddenly so philosophical?"
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru's lips curled into a familiar smile once more:
"After all, even according to the original timeline, you might have experienced this scene, right? Instead of expecting to be just as helpless then as you are now, why not take advantage of the present to practice more?"
Zenin Kiyoshi was momentarily speechless. He looked at Gojo Satoru, and the arguing behind him grew louder. He knew he couldn't stay any longer, and said with a sorrowful expression:
"Satoru, sometimes I think you're a pretty good person. If possible, try to figure out the logic behind how this world works as soon as possible!"
After saying that, Zenin Kiyoshi left the bathroom in a way that meant he would never return.
Gojo Satoru silently waved to Zenin Kiyoshi's retreating figure, then said:
"Of course, after all, we're the strongest, aren't we?! Don't worry, I'll handle these little things quickly!"
Time flies, and it was already 3:14 a.m. that night. Zenin Kiyoshi had just finished taking a shower and was sitting on his high-rise bed, feeling a little tired. Before he could even close his eyes to rest, he saw a message from Gojo Satoru.
"Zenin Kiyoshi, let's go. I know how to get out of this illusion."
Didn't you say before that the "me" in this world, which is my current body, is actually controlled by the consciousness of the past? This also means that there must be a Gojo Satoru here ten years from now.
If we can reconcile with Gojo Satoru, perhaps we can leave this place.
Let's go find that guy, find Gojo Satoru in this world, find his still-dormant consciousness.
Chapter-303
Gojo Satoru pulled Zenin Kiyoshi along, and the two wandered aimlessly through the back mountain of the high school.
Looking at the scenery around him that hadn't changed much, Zenin Kiyoshi couldn't help but ask, somewhat puzzled:
"Satoru, do you really know where 'yourself' is in this world? I feel like you're just leading me around aimlessly."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's complaints beside him, Gojo Satoru waved his hand and then said:
"Don't worry, I know myself best. I know exactly where that guy might be. He'll be here soon, you see."
Following the direction Gojo Satoru pointed, Zenin Kiyoshi's eyes narrowed slightly. There sat a man who looked almost exactly like Gojo Satoru in the original story.
And the person beside him, Gojo Satoru, slowly transformed into the person he knew from his high school days.
Zenin Kiyoshi stared blankly at the figure not far away, a hint of disbelief in his eyes.
Sitting under the tree was Gojo Satoru, dressed in a Jujutsu High teacher's uniform, with an eye patch loosely hanging around his neck. His pale blue eyes gazed into the distance, carrying the unique laziness and weariness of Gojo Satoru in this era.
"Is this you in this world? You look pretty much as I expected."
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice was somewhat complicated, and his eyes reflected the image of Gojo Satoru, showing a slight emotion.
"Haha, more mature than I imagined? But also a bit boring. It feels like a combination of Geto and Zenin Kiyoshi."
Beside him, Gojo Satoru had reverted to his appearance from his high school days, his hands in his pockets, a teasing smile playing on his lips:
"This is truly astonishing. If the timeline really does begin with your death, then this is the most authentic version of me? Oh well, at least it's the [True Five Insights] constructed by this illusion."
Gojo Satoru, standing under the tree, seemed to sense their presence and slowly turned his head.
When he saw Zenin Kiyoshi and his other self, his pupils contracted slightly, but then, as if remembering something, he wasn't particularly surprised. He simply turned and smiled at the two of them, then said:
"Hey~ Should I say long time no see? Or how have you been?"
Gojo Satoru (Teen), who was standing next to Zenin Kiyoshi, walked over with a grin and then said:
"Don't say things I can't say, just say you're happy to see us."
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru (Adult) was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said:
"Yes, I am very happy. I have basically never been this happy since Zenin Kiyoshi and Geto died."
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the two Gojo Satoru and suddenly chuckled:
"Looking at you all like this feels like looking in a mirror; it's just a little strange."
Gojo Satoru (Teen) leaned closer to Gojo Satoru (Adult), carefully examining his face, which was slightly different from his own:
"Wow, I have fine lines around my eyes even after ten years! Is it because I often stay up late playing games? And why is my hair so much less shiny than before? Is it because I often wear an eye mask that covers my hair?"
Is my scalp not breathing? I feel like I have a lot less hair in the areas covered by the eye mask!
Also, your skin has become rough, your dark circles are so heavy, and you have that inexplicable adult smell about you. What's wrong with you? I don't want to look like you ten years from now!
Listening to Gojo Satoru (Teen)'s series of complaints, Gojo Satoru (Adult) pushed him away with a hint of helplessness:
"It's because I have to deal with a lot of work every day, and you're not much better. You've been here for the past few days, and you've been eating and drinking like crazy and living a messy life. You haven't even taken care of your personal hygiene!"
Besides, as people get older, some of their hair will naturally fall out! It's a sign of maturity! You little brat!
At this point, Gojo Satoru (Adult) turned his gaze to Zenin Kiyoshi, his eyes suddenly softening, and then he said with a touch of emotion:
"Especially, every day I have to deal with the mess left behind by that irresponsible guy who just died. These things should have been solved by that bastard, don't you think? Zenin Kiyoshi."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi felt somewhat embarrassed. He chuckled awkwardly, looked up at Gojo Satoru, and then said:
"I can't accept this accusation. After all, I've come out of my deathbed to help you with things."
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's slightly lame joke, the three of them laughed at the same time, and the atmosphere suddenly became relaxed.
Sunlight filters slightly through the leaves, and time seems to overlap and intertwine at this moment.
After laughing, Gojo Satoru (Adult) suddenly became serious. He looked at the two people in front of him and then said:
"So, you two came here to say goodbye?"
Gojo Satoru (Teen) suppressed his slightly playful expression, nodded, glanced back at the world, and then said softly:
"I suppose so. This world was supposed to end anyway. Zenin Kiyoshi didn't die. If she continues to stay in this world, the timeline of the real world might be completely overwritten."
"Then Zenin Kiyoshi will truly be dead, and I will become exactly like you. Do you want to see that future? No, I should say, do you still want to continue in this kind of world?"
At this point, Gojo Satoru paused slightly, then slowly added:
"Moreover... everyone outside is still waiting for us, and we also have important partners in our own timeline."
After a moment of silence, a complex and amused light flickered in his azure eyes:
"Yes, I understand. In fact, I was prepared for this ever since you first came here, but I just wanted an opportunity. For the past ten years, I have been waiting for an opportunity to say goodbye."
At this point, Gojo Satoru (Adult) turned his gaze to Zenin Kiyoshi once more, his voice suddenly becoming choked with emotion, filled with an indescribable weariness and self-reproach:
"I'm sorry, Zenin Kiyoshi. If I had been stronger back then, I might have been able to help you, and you might not have died."
Also, if I had been able to pull myself together sooner and notice Geto's abnormality earlier, perhaps Geto wouldn't have turned out that way. If I had worked harder to crack down on the intelligence department at the high school, perhaps Haibara Yu wouldn't have died.
In short... I failed in many things. If I had been more cautious and stronger, perhaps many things could have been changed in the future.
I always arrogantly thought I could handle everything, but now it seems I'm actually a complete failure, aren't I?
Since you died, I've accomplished almost nothing..."
Chapter-304
Zenin Kiyoshi listened to Gojo Satoru (Adult)'s words, looked at him with an incredulous expression, then stepped forward and, to Gojo Satoru (Adult)'s astonishment, punched him in the chest.
Amidst the somewhat bewildered expression on Gojo Satoru (Adult)'s face, Zenin Kiyoshi said with a serious expression:
"You've been gone for so long, how come you've suddenly become like this? You used to be a bit rude, but at least you had some self-awareness. Now, have you become an apology machine?"
First, I am the one who should apologize for leaving you to face all of this alone. Although I myself do not know why I was the one to handle Master Tengen's affairs, this matter is not your responsibility at all. On the contrary, because of my death, you have been burdened with so much more. Do you think this is your problem?
Secondly, Geto's situation is even less of your problem. After I died, instead of picking himself up, he just went downhill and became even more despondent. That guy is the most pathetic one.
Instead of helping you share the burden, he turned into a Curse User himself, causing trouble for you everywhere and creating all sorts of messy psychological burdens for you. If I saw Geto at this point, I would definitely smash his head in.
Third, there will always be messy things. During this time, I have also learned about your schedule and work attitude. You get an average of two hours of sleep a day. How much more do you think you need to work?
In cases involving top-tier Cursed Spirits, you handle almost 99% of them. You travel all over the country every day. What more do you think you need to do to be considered to have done your best?
Fourth, even though you're already this busy, you still do your best in treating your students. Although sometimes you might neglect things because of your love of food, that's normal, since no one can be perfect.
Fifth, regarding the restrictions imposed by Higher-Ups, to my surprise, you did not engage in absolute confrontation with the Higher-Ups of the higher society. Instead, you have tried your best to meet their demands over the years in order to maintain the stability of the sorcery world.
Sixth, you have almost done your best in the fight against and dealing with the Curse Users. Under your various attacks, the incidents of the Curse Users harming ordinary people have been suppressed to a minimum. Have those rats in the gutter dared to come out in all these years?
Seventh, regarding self-regulation, although you might think I'm just flattering you, believe me, what I'm about to say is always my most genuine thought from the bottom of my heart.
The more powerful a person is, the more overwhelmingly powerful they are compared to others, the more likely they are to become a ticking time bomb. Because of their own excessive power, they may develop a feeling that "they are not like me."
This feeling is somewhat unavoidable, because to you, most ordinary people around you are as fragile as clay, easily shattered with just a light touch.
You'll start to feel that you can easily obtain anything in this world, and you'll feel that all the rules of this world don't apply to you, because those rules will be as useless as your great strength.
Under the influence of this feeling, you will become a capricious person, someone who doesn't care about anyone else's thoughts at all. The last person who was almost completely different from everyone else was called Ryomen Sukuna.
Therefore, I had previously wondered if you would become like Sukuna, someone who doesn't treat others as equals.
But as it turns out, I was completely wrong.
Satoru, you're absolutely wicked!
How do you manage to possess such immense power while maintaining peace with everyone around you? How do you manage to convince yourself not to become the master of everyone?
Therefore, considering everything mentioned above, I only want to say one thing to you, Satoru.
At this point, Zenin Kiyoshi paused slightly, his voice soft yet carrying an undeniable firmness:
"You've never been a loser, Satoru."
You've done more than enough over the past ten years.
Gojo Satoru (Teen) also came over, put his hands on the shoulders of the two of them, and said with a grin:
"Exactly! To be honest, I've only lived your life for a day or two, and I already feel like I'm going to die from the discomfort and pain. If I were to continue living like this, I think I would really go crazy."
The only thing I'm satisfied with about you is this: you're much stronger than me. You really are worthy of being my future self, aren't you? Hehe, anyway, you're pretty good!
Gojo Satoru (Adult) stared blankly at the two of them, and his face, which had been tinged with sadness, suddenly broke into a smile.
That smile held a sense of relief, but also a hint of bitterness:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, I've imagined many possible answers from you. I've thought you'd blame me, I've thought you'd hate me for these things, I've even thought you'd beat me up for not doing well enough, but I never expected you to answer like this..."
Damn it, why do you always manage to do things that are beyond everyone's expectations? Why do you always give answers that are different from everyone else's?
Why, why can you always read people's minds so accurately? It's infuriating! It's like you can read minds! This is so unfair!
The way you're doing this, the way you're all doing this... makes it even harder for me to let go.
How am I supposed to face this world alone if you all act like this?
The leaves suddenly began to fall faster, the surrounding scenery began to blur, and the figures of Zenin Kiyoshi and Gojo Satoru gradually became transparent.
"It looks like the time has come."
As he looked at the two people before him, his eyes slightly reddened, he said softly:
"I was just venting. Let's go back. After all, this is just a fake world; everything will eventually cease to exist, and for me, this is the best ending..."
Upon hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the adult Satoru before him, gently patted his shoulder, and said with a smile:
"I don't know anything like mind reading. I'm just speaking my mind purely from the heart. Satoru, you're such a gentle person."
Before he could finish speaking, his figure began to disappear.
At this moment, Gojo Satoru (Teen) also became transparent, and at this instant, he gave Zenin Kiyoshi a bright smile:
"Don't forget the meal you promised to cook for me! I remember!"
Zenin Kiyoshi stood there, listening to Gojo Satoru's words, a smile appearing on his face. As the last leaf fell, he said softly:
"Don't worry, I will definitely keep my promise to you, and I will definitely change this future."
Gojo Satoru (Adult) smiled and watched his disappearing figure, remaining silent for a long time.
Chapter-305
As if he had just woken from a dream, Gojo Satoru (Adult) stared in the direction where the two had disappeared, speechless for a moment.
All the moments and memories of the past few days flooded into his mind at this moment.
After Zenin Kiyoshi was resurrected, even the toughest Principal Yaga, shed tears the moment he saw him.
Needless to say, the Utahime, who was easily moved to tears, had been shedding tears almost nonstop ever since she saw that Zenin Kiyoshi was still alive.
Everyone was crying, but some people would never see this scene again, such as Ms. Fushiguro Eri, Ms. Kuroi Misato, Amanai Riko, and Haibara Yu...
Over the years, the sudden death of Zenin Kiyoshi has led to a series of tragic events.
Adult Satoru attributed all these mistakes to himself, but... after hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's evaluation of him, he suddenly felt that perhaps he wasn't so bad after all.
He covered his eyes, trying to stop the tears from spreading, but the slightly salty tears kept dripping from between his fingers.
Being understood is something extremely rare in this world, a truth that Satoru only gradually came to understand after the deaths of the two of them.
At that moment, he seemed to hear Geto Suguru's voice beside him.
"I'm sorry, Satoru, we've been at odds for so many years, it's really... I'm sorry. If I had been stronger back then, things might not have turned out this way."
This time, if it weren't for Zenin Kiyoshi's existence, Mimiko and Nanako would probably be dead. If such a thing really happened, even if I died, I would never be able to forgive myself.
I'm so sorry, so sorry... because of my stubbornness... I've caused so much harm to the people around me who love me. I'm so sorry...
By the end, Geto Suguru was choking up, tears streaming down his face. But when Gojo Satoru (Adult) looked up, all he could see were Nanako and Mimiko, their eyes slightly red.
Nanako stepped forward, took Geto Suguru's phone out of her pocket, and then said to Gojo Satoru:
"I know that saying this now might make you uncomfortable, and I know that I am not qualified to say these things to you, but this is the only relic left by Lord Geto Suguru. It contains photos of you and Gojo (High School)."
The phone is a very old model. Geto Suguru went to many repair shops and spent a lot of money to keep it until now, and he also backed up a lot of data in the process. But he always says that this phone has sentimental value and refuses to exchange it.
Gojo Satoru took the phone from Nanako's hand, gazing at the familiar flip phone design, a bitter taste lingering on his lips.
"This was a birthday gift I gave Geto the year he enrolled in college. It was the latest model at the time, so he loved it to death. That's probably why, right?"
As Gojo Satoru spoke, he opened his phone and stared at the familiar photo of the four of them on the cover. For a moment, he felt like he couldn't breathe.
Mimiko glanced at Gojo Satoru, whose expression seemed a bit off, quickly took two steps forward, patted him lightly on the back, and whispered:
Are you alright?
"Yes, it's alright, thank you for your concern. Where are you planning to go next?"
Hearing Gojo Satoru's question, Mimiko was speechless for a moment. She glanced at Nanako, then sighed and said:
"Master Zenin Kiyoshi asked us to stay here, but... I felt we were not qualified to stay, so we prepared to leave Japan. As for where we were going, we didn't know."
Gojo Satoru didn't speak, but gently tugged at the hem of the two sisters' clothes and whispered:
"I don't care about what happens after you become adults, but what happens before you become adults is your responsibility when Geto is around. If Geto is gone, then Zenin Kiyoshi will be in charge. If both of those bastards are gone, then I will be in charge of your lives."
If I remember correctly, you two are only sixteen years old, right? And since you've been with Geto since you were little, I've heard that neither of you has ever been to school and you don't have any savings. How are you going to survive if you go out like this?
Go to work? Or take on the dangerous job of a sorcerer? I can't trust you to do either of those. Since Zenin Kiyoshi said you should stay, then you two must stay here until I think you are capable of living on your own.
As for your own ideas, well... minors aren't allowed to have their own ideas. It might sound a bit old-fashioned, but listen to me. And every month, I'll give you money. You like desserts, right? I'll take you there..."
Gojo Satoru talked on and on, his attitude was a bit tough at first, but he probably realized that his attitude was too paternal, so he gradually softened.
However, Mimiko and Nanako were able to understand Gojo Satoru's true feelings. They could genuinely feel that Gojo Satoru's concern for them did not actually stem from any sense of responsibility towards Geto.
It was a genuine, heartfelt desire to be good to them, like a fireball in the night, impossible to conceal.
The two women didn't say anything, but simply nodded emphatically to Gojo Satoru, tears streaming down their faces as their vision blurred...
On the other side, the people inside the college seemed to sense something as well. They slowly closed their eyes, feeling a hollow pain in their hearts.
Fushiguro Megumi watched as the tea gradually faded away, her grip on the cup tightened slightly, causing the tea to splash, but she said nothing.
She smiled and asked softly with concern:
"Be careful, it's hot. Go get a towel to dry it..."
He stopped speaking before he could finish.
As Zenin Kiyoshi and the others disappeared, the world here gradually became illusory, and everyone's memories slowly faded away. The suffocating pain also dissipated with the wind at this moment.
The illusion shattered completely, and the sunlight of the real world shone through my eyes.
Zenin Kiyoshi slowly opened his eyes, feeling the somewhat uncomfortable texture of the hospital bed beneath him.
A surprised voice came from beside my ear:
"She's awake! Zenin Kiyoshi is finally awake!"
Gojo Satoru's voice came from the side, with his familiar lazy tone:
"Yo~ Welcome back, Zenin Kiyoshi."
Zenin Kiyoshi turned his head and saw Gojo Satoru lying on the hospital bed next to him, his sunglasses perched crookedly on his nose.
Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing everything in a warm golden hue.
This world is so real it makes you want to cry.
Chapter-306
A soft rustling sound came from the room. Mei Mei was sitting next to Zenin Kiyoshi's sickbed, holding a pear in her left hand and slowly peeling it, a smile playing on her lips.
The window to the hospital bed was slightly ajar. The wind outside wasn't too hot, and it stirred the curtains, carrying with it the unique smell of medicine that was typical of hospitals, which gave one a strange sense of peace.
The smell of disinfectant mingled with the faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms drifting in from outside the window, filling the otherwise quiet ward.
Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on Zenin Kiyoshi's face, making his complexion appear even more rosy.
The monitor emitted a regular beeping sound, displaying alarmingly poor health on both individuals.
Gojo Satoru leaned against the bed next to his, his sunglasses slipped down to the tip of his nose, revealing a pair of somewhat helpless eyes.
He was fiddling with a crumpled juice box in his hand, the plastic wrapping making a soft crunching sound between his fingers. Perhaps he was tired of it, he tossed the juice box into the air, and then it was pulled into a tiny dot by some inexplicable force.
"Ugh, how boring! I've already told you that Zenin Kiyoshi and I are perfectly fine! Why won't they let us leave the hospital?! And don't forget, I carried Zenin Kiyoshi back myself! He can stay here, but why do I have to stay here too?!"
As Mei Mei peeled the pear, she slightly raised her head and smiled at Gojo Satoru, saying:
"Because you inexplicably said you almost died when you came back, for your safety, you should stay here and get checked out. Although there are no physical changes, there might still be some hidden dangers in your brain."
Especially you, Gojo, you look even stranger than before.
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru smiled, touched his hair, and spoke with a hint of emotion in his voice.
"Mei Mei, do you think so too? I also feel like I've matured a lot!"
Before Mei Mei could speak, another voice came over, along with a can of iced cola thrown at him.
"You bastard, you really know how to talk big! Hey, Ice Cola, if it hits you on the head, I'm not responsible!"
Geto Suguru's voice came through, tinged with a helpless teasing tone. However, Gojo Satoru had already deduced the landing point based on the direction the iced cola flew. Even if he did nothing, the cola would only land on his blanket.
Sure enough... whether in that illusion or in the real world, Geto is always the same.
This guy hasn't changed at all.
But why did you ultimately make that decision?
Geto... This time, if I'm here, I absolutely, positively will not let you go down that path.
Furthermore, we don't know if Nanako and Mimiko really exist. If they do, then we should take Geto there immediately when we go back. That village is hell for Mimiko and Nanako!
Gojo Satoru was thinking about many things and didn't greet Geto Suguru for the time being.
Geto Suguru found this strange, so he walked up to Gojo Satoru:
"What are you thinking, you idiot? Ice-cold cola in this weather will leave a damp feeling on the hospital bed. Don't blame me later if you can't sleep well at night, okay?"
As Geto Suguru spoke, he picked up the iced cola from the hospital bed, opened it, and with a hissing sound, handed it to Gojo Satoru.
Gojo Satoru took the cola, and seemingly to hide his inner thoughts, he gulped it down several times before smiling at Geto and saying:
"Phew~ It really makes me feel alive again. In this kind of weather, an ice-cold Coke is definitely more refreshing! But eating pears would be too bland!"
Zenin Kiyoshi ignored Gojo Satoru's teasing and simply smiled as he said to Mei Mei:
"I remember Mei Mei, you always peel the pear skin into a single strip. Is there any special meaning to that? Or is it simply because you have good fruit-peeling skills?"
Mei Mei's fingertips trembled slightly as the knife left a deep mark on the pear. She put down what she was holding, smiled at Zenin Kiyoshi, and slowly explained:
"Don't you know? If you can peel fruit without breaking the skin and turn it into a whole strip, you can make a wish. I'm not sure if it's true, but what if it is?"
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru couldn't help but recall the love that Mei Mei felt for Zenin Kiyoshi in that illusion—a love that seemed to only exist in romance dramas.
If he didn't quite understand those emotions before entering the illusion, after experiencing the illusion and those nearly ten years of memories and experiences, even though he didn't absorb much, Gojo Satoru is now many times more mature than before.
Hearing Mei Mei's words, he immediately laughed and teased her:
"What did Mei Mei wish for? I heard that if you peel fruit for someone, your wish has to be related to that person, otherwise it won't come true!"
Gojo Satoru shook the can of cola in his hand, the ice cubes clinking together. His sly smile made Mei Mei momentarily embarrassed. Before Mei Mei could speak, Gojo Satoru continued, still smiling:
"Some legends might actually be true!"
His gaze swept meaningfully over the Zenin, as if hinting at something.
Geto Suguru leaned against the window, looking at Gojo Satoru's expression, raised an eyebrow, and then said softly:
"Satoru, you're acting strange today. Did you hurt your brain?"
"Maybe."
In response to Geto Suguru's words, Gojo Satoru sighed dramatically and then laughed:
"After all, that bastard didn't hold back when he threw the Coke."
"What are you talking about, you idiot? The Coke didn't hit you at all."
Zenin Kiyoshi coughed lightly, drawing the attention of the three. The situation was somewhat awkward. He looked at the pear that Mei Mei was about to finish making, pondered for a moment, and then said:
"Mei Mei's wish... is probably that everyone is safe and sound."
The peeling motion suddenly stopped, and the pear skin was completely peeled off at that moment, floating lightly into the trash can.
She looked at the whole strip of pear skin, a faint smile appearing on her lips:
"You've got half the wish right, but it's not entirely accurate. Would you like me to cut it into smaller pieces for you?"
"Wow~ I knew it! Geto! I want that too!"
Gojo Satoru clung to Geto Suguru, yelling incoherently. Geto Suguru pushed Gojo Satoru away with a look of disgust, saying at the same time:
"You idiot, you only deserve to eat unpeeled bananas!"
"Hey! Monkeys peel bananas before eating them! Apologize to all the monkeys!"
Chapter-307
After the two finished their playful banter, Gojo Satoru suddenly looked at Geto Suguru and then asked with a grin:
"Geto, have you been having any strange dreams lately?"
Hearing Gojo Satoru's somewhat baffling question, Geto Suguru looked at him with a puzzled expression, then asked with a confused look:
"Dream? What type are you referring to? Give me an example, at least provide some strange criteria, right?"
"For example…" Gojo Satoru rubbed his chin twice as he listened to Geto Suguru's question, carefully choosing his words before trying to speak in a relaxed tone:
"You dreamt that we were all old, and then someone died, and you couldn't handle the blow, so you became a Curse User or something?"
Geto Suguru, hearing this, helplessly covered his forehead. He looked at Gojo Satoru beside him, then flicked him on the forehead, saying with a speechless expression:
"Huh? Why do you always have such bizarre dreams? They're so outrageous! Why did I have to become a Curse User?"
But when Geto Suguru got to this point, he suddenly paused, and Zenin Kiyoshi could clearly see that Geto Suguru's eyes were momentarily dazed:
"But if you really want to talk about it, I did have a strange dream last night... but I don't remember anything after I woke up. However, I can feel that it was indeed a sad and strange dream."
Just then, the ward door was pushed open, and a rather tall nurse walked in, carrying a medical record book. Her gaze swept over everyone in the room:
"Visiting time is over, the patient is about to rest, you can pack up and leave now."
Upon hearing this, Mei Mei stood up and smiled slightly at Zenin Kiyoshi:
"Get some rest. I'm waiting for you to recover so we can go shopping together."
As she turned, her gaze briefly met that of Zenin Kiyoshi, and there seemed to be some unspeakable emotion hidden in their eyes.
Geto Suguru patted Gojo Satoru on the shoulder and then said with a smile:
"Let's go, let Kiyoshi, you bastard, get some rest."
After the two left, many more people arrived. They all expressed their kindness and concern for Zenin Kiyoshi before leaving amidst the nurses' somewhat impatient urging. As for Gojo, everyone treated him with an attitude of "it's okay if he's not dead."
Of course, Gojo Satoru wasn't angry. He knew that everyone was only acting that way on the surface, and that they were actually very worried about him.
As night fell, after the nurse repeatedly told Gojo Satoru not to make noise and disturb the other patients' rest, he finally closed the ward door, turning back every few steps.
It wasn't that the nurse was reluctant to leave, but rather that Gojo had already caused too much trouble today, leading to numerous complaints and grievances from patients. If the same thing happened again soon, her work would definitely be criticized.
If it weren't for the fact that Gojo Satoru and Zenin Kiyoshi were so good-looking, she would have already scolded those two guys instead of trying to persuade them so kindly!
The ward door was closed, and as the creaking sound completely disappeared, the room fell into silence.
A few slightly noisy arguments came from outside the window, sounding somewhat like Osaka accents.
Gojo Satoru was lying on the bed, legs crossed, glancing at the TV remote control next to Zenin Kiyoshi, and then said:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, turn on the TV. I'm still not used to not having a smartphone to play with these days."
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Zenin Kiyoshi smiled and then said:
"You're such a fickle jerk! You've only been there a short time, and you're already starting to dislike this era?"
Listening to Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Gojo Satoru looked at the two of them left in the ward, and then suddenly spoke:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, how much do you still remember? About the things and memories in that illusion?"
Zenin Kiyoshi gazed out the window; a gentle breeze blew in, causing the gauze curtains to tremble slightly. He answered softly:
"It's so-so, but maybe it's good enough."
The beeping of the monitor was particularly clear in the quiet ward, and sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting long shadows of the two people.
Just then, Gojo Satoru's words broke the hard-won solemn atmosphere. He grinned at Zenin Kiyoshi and said:
"Is that enough? Then can you tell me what the most recent and biggest lottery number is? Or who won the World Cup? And what industries will be profitable in the future? Oh, and where should I buy a house so I can make a fortune later?"
I don't know why, but even though I still have all the memories of everyone, whenever I think about similar memories, my mind gets confused, and then I can't remember anything at all. Do you think this could be something someone deliberately created?
Listening to Gojo Satoru's rambling words, Zenin Kiyoshi said with a hint of helplessness:
"I knew you bastard would ask me this kind of question, but unfortunately, my memories of that world are missing. Because according to the timeline of that illusion, my memories are only of the back of the coffin lid..."
"That's true... Didn't you take a look around after you came out?"
"Just how utterly devoid of empathy do you think you are?!"
As Zenin Kiyoshi's soft roar rang out, the nurse who had been waiting outside immediately pushed open the door and rushed in.
Her face was flushed, she was breathing slightly, and her eyes were blazing with terrifying flames that seemed capable of burning Zenin Kiyoshi and Gojo Satoru to ashes.
"Hey! Didn't I tell you two not to bother others at this time?! How many times do I have to tell you two before you understand?!"
"I'm sorry!" x2
As the nurse scolded them again, they both lowered their heads obediently, like children being reprimanded, and listened attentively to her teachings.
By the time the nurse calmed down, Gojo Satoru was almost asleep.
"You bastard! That's for real!"
The nurse looked at Gojo Satoru, who was about to fall asleep, and a somewhat helpless expression appeared on her face.
She glanced at Zenin Kiyoshi before continuing:
"You should be careful, try to persuade that silver-haired idiot."
"Don't worry, nurse, I will."
Hearing Zenin's gentle voice, the nurse blushed, then nodded slightly and left the room.
Zenin Kiyoshi stared at the departing figure, his eyes slightly dazed.
In this real world, some things are quietly changing.
Chapter-308
"After I finish my studies here, I'll go to a vocational college. I want to become a sorcerer too!"
Hearing Riko's ambitious words, Tengen and Tsukumo Yuki both smiled and applauded.
"Hahaha! Riko, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. But before you become a sorcerer, I have a question for you."
At this point, Tsukumo Yuki's expression instantly turned serious. Her eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a terrifying aura that made it impossible for anyone to lie.
Seeing Tsukumo Yuki like this, Riko assumed that he had something very important to ask, and her expression inevitably became serious and tense at this moment.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi had already anticipated what question Tsukumo Yuki would ask, and a faint look of helplessness appeared on his face. In fact, up to this point, Zenin Kiyoshi still couldn't understand the fundamental logic behind Tsukumo Yuki's question.
Is there any necessary connection between what kind of woman you like and her character, or whether you can become close friends with her?
XP is something that changes depending on the individual, right?
Aside from some xPs that violate criminal law, Zenin Kiyoshi doesn't think there's any distinction between high and low xPs.
Whether you like beautiful ankles, long legs, mountains, or plains, it doesn't really matter.
I like abs, I like collarbones, I like Adam's apples, I like beautiful hands, I like people with visible veins on their arms...
There's a lot of random stuff going on, nothing much to say.
Just as Zenin Kiyoshi had predicted, Tsukumo Yuki fixed her gaze on Riko, then asked with a serious expression:
What kind of man do you like?!
Riko, who had been listening intently to the ninety-nine questions, was somewhat taken aback after hearing them.
"Hahahaha?!?!"
Riko's face instantly flushed crimson, her fair skin turning a deep rosy hue. She gazed at Tsukumo Yuki before her, her voice trembling with shyness.
"Miss Yuki, why, why are you suddenly asking me this kind of question?!"
Yuki blinked, her cheeks slightly flushed. She subconsciously glanced in the direction of Zenin Kiyoshi. To be honest, this was the first time she had ever asked a girl this question in front of Zenin Kiyoshi, and she felt a strange sense of nervousness.
"Why are you suddenly asking this? I, I..."
Riko stammered, unable to speak, but her eyes unconsciously glanced in the direction of Zenin Kiyoshi.
Tsukumo Yuki, meanwhile, stood with her arms crossed, looking completely at ease. She coughed, seemingly to hide her feelings, and then said calmly:
"This is a very important question! It can reveal a person's taste and personality!"
Tengen shook his head helplessly, clearly already used to Tsukumo Yuki's unconventional style. In fact, after their relationship gradually improved, Tsukumo Yuki had asked him the same question.
What was my answer back then?
"Do you prefer men who are intelligent and can offer you some assistance?"
Thinking of this, Tengen subconsciously glanced in the direction of Zenin Kiyoshi. Although he hadn't conjured up a specific image in his mind when he spoke of it, now...
It seems that the only person in the past thousand years who could fulfill this request is Zenin Kiyoshi, who sits not far from him.
No wonder Tsukumo Yuki gave me a strange look after I finished speaking that day!
Thinking of this, even Lady Tengen subconsciously lowered her head. Since she could remember, she had basically stayed inside the Barrier to contribute to the Barrier magic of the entire country, and had not had any extra contact with any man.
Although she had witnessed countless stories of love between men and women over the past thousand years, nothing could compare to experiencing it firsthand. With that thought, she bit her tongue hard.
As a faint pain spread, Tengen shouted into his mind:
"What are you thinking?! Tengen! You are already a thousand years older than him! Before his great-great ...
If one harbors any improper thoughts towards him, wouldn't that be utterly shameless?!
Tengen angrily berated herself while constantly bowing her head. Fortunately, she wasn't the main character at the moment, so no one noticed her unusual behavior.
After the initial nervousness and shyness, Riko calmed down. Thinking that Tsukumo Yuki usually asked men the same questions, she gradually calmed down.
Riko tilted her head and thought for a while, then her eyes suddenly lit up. She glanced at Zenin Kiyoshi not far away, bit her lip, as if she had made up her mind, and then slowly said:
"I like... gentle people like Zenin Kiyoshi, people with slightly curly hair, and people who think about others."
"puff--"
Zenin Kiyoshi, who was drinking tea, almost choked. He wasn't stupid; he could understand such an obvious hint.
Upon hearing this, Tsukumo Yuki's face didn't show any strange expression, but her heart still skipped a beat. Sure enough, Riko, that little girl, was thinking the same thing as her!
Damn it, even though they'll be rivals in love later, I can't help but admire their taste in men who are the same type as me!
She took a deep breath, then softly said to Riko:
"Ahem, that's a decent answer, I suppose. But by the way, if you want to enroll in a junior college later, you'll have to graduate from this Lianzhi Girls' School, right? It's a three-year secondary school. If you go directly to junior college, won't your age be a bit too old?"
Seemingly to avoid further awkwardness, Tsukumo Yuki decisively changed the subject. At that moment, Ms. Kuroi entered from outside, serving everyone fruit while smiling and replying:
"Don't worry about that. Zenin Kiyoshi has already discussed it with Principal Yaga. These things will just be a formality. The specific procedures will be handled internally at the college. There's no need to consider age."
"Night Moth, the prospective principal?"
Tsukumo Yuki subconsciously repeated the word, finding it somewhat amusing.
Zenin Kiyoshi watched this scene and felt that life was peaceful and the days were not bad.
My phone vibrated; it was a message from Gojo Satoru.
"Should we go to the village where Mimiko and Nanako live?"
Chapter-309
Zenin Kiyoshi looked at the message on his phone and pondered for a moment.
To be honest, due to the recent "Balancing Mechanism," Gojo Satoru can now be considered a semi-transmigrator who "knows what happens next."
In fact, Gojo Satoru now understands things that will happen in the future even better than he does himself.
After all, Zenin Kiyoshi only watched the anime storyline, while Gojo Satoru personally experienced those ten years.
Therefore, in many details, Zenin Kiyoshi is not as good as Gojo Satoru.
For example, the details of Geto Suguru's encounter with Nanako and Mimiko are only shown in a few scattered scenes and memories in the original work, but in Gojo Satoru's memory, there is a complete and detailed process.
Based on this reasoning, the reason why Gojo Satoru is saying this now is most likely because, in his memory, Mimiko and Nanako's tragic fate has already begun... no, it's possible that they've already been abused for some time.
Although he hadn't officially met the two girls yet, recalling how dependent they were on him in the illusion, Zenin Kiyoshi couldn't help but sigh slightly and replied to Gojo Satoru's message:
"Yes, we'll go there as soon as we get back this time."
The other side replied very quickly.
Should we call Geto over too?
"Yes, besides Geto, we should also call everyone else over. I think it would be best if everyone else, besides Geto, also experienced this kind of thing, so that they could also make a choice. In the different world of sorcerers, there are also many things that can impact one's heart."
It seems that everyone has always assumed that sorcerers are in an absolutely superior position compared to ordinary people, but sometimes, some weak sorcerers are still abused and harmed by ordinary people who cannot understand.
I hope everyone can see this, but not just this.
Looking at the message sent by Zenin Kiyoshi, Gojo Satoru sighed slightly. In fact, he had thought about this matter before, and Zenin Kiyoshi's answer was within his expectations, after all, Zenin Kiyoshi was different from himself.
In all their relationships, Zenin Kiyoshi, though about the same age as everyone else, gave the impression of being older than them, and even older than Mei Mei and the others.
He was like an older brother to everyone, taking good care of them from beginning to end without spoiling them too much. He would also give them appropriate challenges so that they could become better.
The experiences of characters like Mimiko and Nanako might indeed slightly alter the way those sorcerers at the Jujutsu High view ordinary people...
Hopefully, people won't have any opinions about ordinary people. At least for Gojo Satoru himself, he... well, even he doesn't have any particularly good opinions.
According to Zenin Kiyoshi, Gojo Satoru often seems sharp and assertive, but in reality, his sharpness is not much different from a child's unreasonable tantrum when he can't get the candy he wants—it's all bark and no bite.
Even in Zenin Kiyoshi's view, Gojo Satoru was so kind that he was bullied.
As Gojo Satoru turned off his phone, Zenin Kiyoshi on the other side was pulled along by Tsukumo Yuki and forced to discuss the importance of a partner's appearance preferences.
However, Zenin Kiyoshi did not refuse. After experiencing that illusion, Zenin Kiyoshi began to cherish this life, which was similar to his daily life, more and more.
Often, people don't realize that there will never be such wonderful days again.
As night fell, Zenin lay on his bed. He slightly drew back the curtains, and with the gentle moonlight streaming in, he turned on the desk lamp.
Then, he whispered something towards the corner of his room:
"Satoru, if you want to come over tonight to talk to me, you'd better bring some food with you, otherwise I'll mind if you disturb my sleep."
As the slightly joking voice fell, Gojo Satoru's voice rang out immediately afterward:
"Of course, I'm not the kind of person who likes to disturb other people's rest for no reason. You know, in that illusion, I didn't have a proper rest for almost ten years, so now I care a lot about sleep and rest."
"If it weren't for something keeping me so awake, I wouldn't have bothered you."
As he spoke, Gojo Satoru took out some grilled meat and beer from the paper bag he had brought.
"I brought some barbecue from a roadside shop over there. Let's eat and chat. By the way, could you open the window? I'm worried the barbecue smell will be too strong later."
Hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi smiled and shook his head, then asked with some curiosity:
"It shouldn't matter if the barbecue smell is a bit strong, right? After all, this is part of my room."
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru shook his head, then said to Zenin Kiyoshi:
"I'm not worried about the smell of barbecue filling your room, but I'm worried that the smell of barbecue will attract some hungry bastards, like that guy Geto, who has a very sensitive nose, and Mr. Toji, those two are the most dangerous guys."
If those two find out we're secretly having barbecue here, we're going to get ripped off badly.
Hearing Zenin Kiyoshi's words, Gojo Satoru smiled faintly, but didn't say anything more.
Seeing this, Zenin Kiyoshi sighed slightly. He took the skewer of roasted mutton that Gojo Satoru handed him and said as he ate:
"Still thinking about what happened in that illusion? It seems that the various events there had quite a impact on you?"
Gojo Satoru nodded upon hearing this, without saying a word. Instead, he casually picked up the boxed fried rice beside him, staring at each grain of rice glistening with oil, his voice somewhat deep:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, although I heard you talk about me in that world, I want to ask you, if I follow that timeline, will everyone really treat me that way in the end?"
I've actually been thinking about this question ever since I came back from that illusion.
Because I discovered that all the choices I made in that illusion over the past ten years are likely the same choices I would make now.
So... will everyone really hate me afterwards?
After Gojo Satoru finished speaking, he wore an indescribable bitter smile. He wasn't wearing sunglasses, and his bright eyes looked like shattered, reflective glass in the moonlight.
Chapter-310
Seeing Gojo Satoru's appearance, Zenin Kiyoshi wasn't actually that surprised.
He had actually anticipated this from the very beginning.
Although Gojo Satoru appears carefree and nonchalant on the surface, he seems to be indifferent to everything.
However, if you really take a closer look at this guy, you'll find that Gojo Satoru is an extremely sensitive and thoughtful person.
He is someone who worries about how those around him regard him, feels sad because those around him don't understand him, and constantly drains himself over all sorts of trivial matters.
In heaven and on earth, I alone am supreme.
Even such a domineering declaration is nothing more than a result of Gojo Satoru's long-term self-isolation, his absolute strength, his lack of personal awareness, and his distorted and abnormal inner self as compensation.
Thinking of this, Zenin Kiyoshi unconsciously took a bite of the grilled meat. He didn't rush to answer Gojo Satoru's question, but instead slowly chewed the grilled meat in his mouth.
Moonlight streamed through the gauze window, casting soft shadows on Zenin Kiyoshi's face.
"Satoru..."
After swallowing the roasted meat in his mouth, Zenin Kiyoshi finally spoke slowly and deliberately:
"What do you think your counterpart in that other world did wrong?"
Gojo Satoru paused, lowered his head, pondered for a moment, and then said seriously:
"No... I think he did his best. At least if I were in his position, I couldn't force myself to live a painful life for ten years, nor could I go to such lengths for the future of the sorcery world..."
It's even less likely that I would still have the mindset and thoughts to protect people who don't even trust me under such circumstances.
So, no matter how you look at it, the version of myself in that world evokes an indescribable sense of sorrow and powerlessness. Someone who is better than me in every way always ends up being the one who gets the better end up.
Hated by everyone, and failing at everything he did, he was eventually slunk away and sealed in a small box, with hardly anyone even showing any sadness.
What I noticed at the time, apart from a few extremely special individuals, was that most people didn't actually show much surprise when they heard that I had been sealed by the [Prison Realm].
It's like... if you're dead, you're dead, there's nothing special about it.
I really don't know, if it were me, could I have done that? Maybe...
However, this time, before Gojo Satoru could finish speaking, Zenin Kiyoshi interrupted him.
"That's enough, Satoru. From your perspective, your other self has already done a great deal of work. And from my perspective, isn't that the same?"
You don't need to think so pessimistically and hopelessly about what happens in that illusion. In many cases, the real purpose of that illusion is to make you remember that [Zenin Kiyoshi has been killed].
Therefore, in order to achieve this goal, that world will definitely give you the most memorable experience, and it will also make you feel hopeless and bitter about that future. Only in this way can you have no hope for that future and just give up.
"Suppose that in that world, after I die, Geto and everyone else are still alive, and they haven't left yet, do you think your thoughts about me and various details of my life would change?"
Seeing Gojo Satoru's somewhat confused expression, Zenin Kiyoshi smiled, then helplessly raised his beer can, gently tapped Gojo Satoru's can, and explained with a smile:
"The important thing is that you now know about another possibility."
As for your anxiety about the future, it's completely unfounded. Worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet? Why don't you just kill me already? At least then you'd know where things are going, and maybe you'll become a super popular idol by then?
Listening to Zenin Kiyoshi's teasing, Gojo Satoru remained silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter:
"That's right. Now that we know about another possibility for the future, we should do everything we can to prevent that future from happening."
At this point, Gojo Satoru took a big gulp of beer, and his tone became lighthearted again:
"But to be honest, I was really miserable in that world~ I couldn't even buy the limited edition from Kikufuku! And I even had to squeeze in time for eating and sleeping. I spent about 27 days a month doing missions and tutoring students."
The remaining days weren't for rest, but rather for confronting and strategizing with those Higher-Ups.
Listening to Gojo Satoru's incessant complaints, Zenin Kiyoshi smiled:
"Yeah, you're really pathetic. The worst part is that you don't even have anyone to complain to."
The two men smiled at each other, then touched their beer cans, which were covered in moisture. The air was filled with the aroma of grilled meat and a faint smell of beer.
After drinking some beer, Gojo Satoru suddenly addressed the Zenin with a serious expression:
"Zenin Kiyoshi, thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for what you said to the other me in that illusion..."
Gojo Satoru's voice was soft, but the heavy emotion in his tone was unmistakable.
"Those words, both he back then and I now, are things we desperately need to hear."
Zenin Kiyoshi gazed at the bright moonlight outside the window, nodded slightly, let out a small hiccup, and then said softly:
"Those words weren't just spoken to 'you' in that world."
Gojo Satoru paused for a moment, then revealed a genuine smile:
"Ah, I know, you always like to think two steps ahead before taking any action."
A gentle night breeze stirred the curtains, carrying the warmth unique to a summer night.
The faint chirping of insects in the distance only accentuated the tranquility of the night.
"Speaking of which..." Gojo Satoru suddenly changed the subject, his expression becoming somewhat serious.
"What are your plans to do about Nanako and Mimiko's situation?"
Zenin Kiyoshi's expression also turned serious, and his voice became slightly lower:
"Act quickly. According to your memory, they should have been imprisoned for some time now."
Gojo Satoru nodded, sighed, and said:
"I've already asked Principal Yaga to help me pinpoint the exact location of that village. We'll set off as soon as we get back this time."
The two chatted about some more details until the barbecue gradually cooled down and the beer was almost gone.
As Gojo Satoru got up to leave, Zenin Kiyoshi suddenly called him back:
"Satoru".
"Um?"
"No matter what happens, remember that you are never alone."
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru smiled and then said:
"Isn't that obvious? Besides, this statement applies to you as well!"