"So you're my cousin?"
"That's right."
Akira Zenin made himself at home, strolling into Megumi Fushiguro's small house and half-lying down on the "sofa" Tsumiki had pieced together from little stools.
Megumi Fushiguro looked at him in mild surprise.
"You're huge…"
…
"That's how big clans are. Sometimes age and seniority don't really line up."
"So my father and my uncle aren't that far apart in age?"
"Not that far…"
While Akira Zenin indulged Megumi Fushiguro's curiosity, Tsumiki padded in wearing slippers, carefully carrying a glass of water.
"I'm sorry, Zenin-san. We've never had guests before, so we don't really have anything to serve…"
"It's fine. Plain water is great."
"Well… we're about to make dinner. Would you like to stay?"
"Tsumiki!"
Megumi Fushiguro cut in sharply. After apologizing to Akira Zenin, Tsumiki was gently pushed into the other room.
As if worried he might overhear, the two lowered their voices.
"I'm telling you, we just met him. We don't even know what kind of person he is. You trust people too easily. Inviting him to stay for dinner is a bit much…"
"But he's your cousin, isn't he?"
"That's different. A family that could raise someone who just abandoned us like that… I'm not sure what he's really like."
"Aww… I just thought eating together like a family would be nice…"
Seeing Tsumiki look a little downcast, Megumi Fushiguro softened.
"Fine, fine. But he's from some big clan. He might not even be used to our food."
Tsumiki brightened immediately.
"I'll go start cooking."
Megumi Fushiguro frowned.
"I'll keep an eye on that guy. You go."
He paused before leaving.
"Be careful with the stove and knives. If you need help with anything that takes two people, call me."
"I've been in the kitchen more than you have. But thanks for the reminder, Megumi."
…
When Megumi Fushiguro tiptoed back into the makeshift living room, all he heard was a steady rhythm of breathing.
"Fuu… fuu…"
Akira Zenin had already fallen asleep on the bench-sofa. From the look of it, he'd been out for a while.
"This guy… is he really reliable?"
…
"Hey. That one's Tsumiki's."
Dinner was simple: miso soup, rice, and fried vegetables. Since it was usually just the two of them at home, there weren't enough extra dishes to properly divide everything.
Still, for kids who had been living on their own and surviving, their cooking was already far better than convenience store bento.
"Ah~ The rice is really good. I've got a junior who would love this."
"Tch. That's a pretty clumsy way to change the subject."
Akira Zenin laughed and ruffled Megumi Fushiguro's hair until it stuck out like a sea urchin.
"You sure know a lot for a kid."
"What else was I supposed to do? Two six- or seven-year-olds get sold off and still help count the money?"
"…Ugh."
Megumi Fushiguro spoke calmly, without much resentment in his tone. It was far too mature for his age—but in a way, it suited a future Jujutsu Sorcerer.
"Eating without meat every day won't do. From now on, I'll give you 500,000 a month."
Instead of cheering, Megumi Fushiguro shot him a wary look.
"So he really did sell us, huh?"
"…Then 100,000 a month."
In a place where hourly wages hovered around 1,000, that wasn't exactly a small sum.
"We can support ourselves."
Akira Zenin rolled his eyes.
"Stubborn kid…
Fine. Consider it a loan. Once you become a Jujutsu Sorcerer and start earning from missions, you can pay me back."
"You can make money as a Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
Megumi Fushiguro's question made Akira Zenin laugh.
"What, you think we live off air?
By the way, you can see Cursed Spirits now. Has your technique fully awakened?"
Megumi Fushiguro shook his head.
"I don't know. But I have two big dogs now."
As he spoke, he formed hand seals.
"Divine Dogs."
A white dog-shaped shikigami, over a meter long, emerged from his shadow.
The moment the white Divine Dog appeared, Megumi Fushiguro visibly relaxed. He knew how strong it was. The strange Cursed Spirits they'd encountered before had all ended up in its stomach.
But what the Divine Dog did next made his eyes widen.
The white dog trotted up to Akira Zenin, lay down, rolled onto its back, exposed its belly, and even let out a soft, almost pitiful whine.
…
Akira Zenin smiled and scratched its belly.
"Alright. After dinner, come with me to Tokyo Jujutsu High."
"Uh… we're leaving here?"
Megumi Fushiguro still looked stunned.
Akira Zenin, clearly pleased by his reaction, patiently explained.
"Cursed Spirits are extremely sensitive to sight. Sometimes even the personnel responsible for scouting them have to wear glasses that block their vision.
Now that you can see Cursed Spirits, they'll notice you too.
You have Cursed Energy and shikigami to protect you. But what about Tsumiki?"
At the thought of Tsumiki being harmed by Cursed Spirits, Megumi Fushiguro nodded without hesitation.
"Okay."
"For now, Tokyo Jujutsu High will just provide you with a place to stay. Support staff will take you to and from school, so don't worry about that.
Oh, and two lively little girls just arrived there. They'll probably get along well with Tsumiki."