"So why is it you accompanying me!?" Utahime looked at Gojo Satoru with a sour expression.
"You think I want to? It's all because Genji said something like, 'I'm counting on you, Satoru. It wouldn't be good if Senior Utahime went home alone and something happened, so go with her.' Do you think I'd come otherwise?"
The two bickered as usual. As for the reason they were heading to Utahime's house together, that required going back three hours.
Three hours ago, at the Gojo Family villa.
Gojo Satoru sauntered out of his room.
"Why does my neck hurt so much?"
"You probably got a stiff neck from sleeping wrong last night. Given your sleeping posture, anyone would think you were playing a real-life version of parkour in your dreams," Genji said as he followed out of the room, calmly making up an excuse as if he wasn't the one who had made a move yesterday.
"Then why did I wake up on the floor?" Geto Suguru also walked out while rubbing his neck; this one actually had a stiff neck.
"Satoru kicked you onto the floor." Genji was quite honest this time.
Ignoring the two who had started fooling around so early in the morning, Genji stretched and headed downstairs.
"Good morning."
Shoko poked her head out of the kitchen and said to Genji with a smile.
"Ah, oh, good morning, Shoko." The kiss from last night flashed through Genji mind again. Looking at Shoko, Genji felt a bit unsure of how to face her.
'Wait, is Shoko making porridge? It smells so good. Is she wearing lip balm? Her lips look so shiny, I wonder what they taste like... What on earth am I thinking about?!'
Genji felt he must have woken up too early and his brain hadn't fully booted up yet, causing him to have such wild thoughts first thing in the morning.
Seeing Genji flustered state, Shoko's eyes crinkled with laughter, and she leaned into his face mischievously.
"What's wrong, Genji? Your face is a bit red."
Seeing Shoko's face so close to his, Genji could even feel her breath.
'Is her toothpaste mint-flavored? Wait... why am I guessing toothpaste flavors like some kind of pervert?!'
While an internal war raged in Genji mind, Shoko stopped while she was ahead and said to him, "Go wash up first; the porridge will be ready soon."
Seeing that Shoko had finally let him off the hook, Genji immediately slipped away from the danger zone. He didn't even notice Utahime greeting him as he passed her.
"Why is his face so red?" Utahime wondered, but her attention was soon diverted by the aroma coming from the kitchen.
"Shoko~, I'm hungry! Is the porridge ready?" Utahime skipped into the kitchen, ready to eat.
At the dining table, while everyone was eating porridge, Gojo Satoru suddenly asked:
"The individual battles aren't starting today. What are your plans? Are you going to keep touring Kyoto?"
Genji glanced at Gojo Satoru, knowing this guy definitely had some scheme in mind.
"Since no one has plans, I heard there's a kikufuku shop in Kyoto that's been open for decades called Yongguoya. How about we..."
"Sorry, I'm going to visit a few Jujutsu Sorcerer families today," Mei Mei suddenly interrupted Gojo Satoru.
"Eh?"
Before Gojo Satoru could react, Geto Suguru added:
"Sorry, Satoru, I have things to do too. That girl from Kyoto Jujutsu High I saved before is also a Shikigami User. We agreed to meet today to exchange insights on controlling Shikigami."
"I plan to visit Kyoto Jujutsu High today. I heard they have many unique curse samples, so I want to take a look." As she spoke, Shoko turned her gaze toward Genji.
"Genji, come with me."
"No problem," Genji answered without hesitation.
"I wouldn't feel right letting you go to Kyoto Jujutsu High alone."
"You... how could you all!" Seeing everyone abandon him one by one, Gojo Satoru suddenly felt a wave of sorrow.
"Then I'll go by myself, and I won't give any of you a single bite!" Watching Gojo Satoru throw a tantrum like a child, Genji shook his head helplessly.
"Senior Utahime, what about you?"
Genji turned back to Utahime, only to find her looking quite restless.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Genji gaze on her, Utahime said despondently:
"My mother just sent a message. She said I must go home today."
Recalling that Utahime's family was indeed based in Kyoto, Genji nodded. Then Shoko asked curiously:
"Senior Utahime, is there a problem with going home?"
"Those elders at home will definitely try to force an arranged marriage interview on me! Or worse, they might have already picked out a husband. Argh!! Those damn old geezers! I even went to school in Tokyo, and they still won't let me go. They nag all day about passing down the Cursed Technique as soon as possible. I'm only eighteen! I don't want to enter the grave of marriage yet!"
Looking at the agitated Utahime, Genji recalled the information he had gathered before.
If he remembered correctly, Utahime's family ran a famous temple in Kyoto with many devotees. Senior Utahime herself was the successor of a lineage of shrine maidens. Combined with her powerful Cursed Technique, it was no wonder the elders were eager for her to produce heirs and pass down the technique.
And if Genji remembered correctly, the current head of the Yanagi Family was Senior Utahime's grandmother. Thinking of that old woman, Genji heart sank. He then spoke to Gojo Satoru and Utahime:
"Why don't you accompany Senior Utahime home, Satoru?"
"Huh!!?" they both exclaimed.
The two reacted strongly to Genji suggestion.
"Why should I leave the kikufuku behind just to accompany Utahime home!?" Gojo Satoru protested loudly.
"Exactly! If I bring this guy back, who knows what my family will say about me," Utahime chimed in.
"Don't overreact, you two." Seeing them look like they wanted to eat him alive, Genji waved his hands sheepishly.
"Think about it, Senior Utahime. Once you refuse the arranged marriage, knowing that Old hag's style, she might put you under house arrest, right? Satoru could help then. And Satoru, Senior Utahime's well-being is surely more important than a few kikufuku, isn't it?"
As Genji spoke, he leaned closer to Gojo Satoru and whispered:
"Although the Gojo Family is powerful in Kyoto, you've lived in the ancestral estate in the suburbs for years, right? Your knowledge of Kyoto surely can't compare to the Yanagi Family, whose main house is in the heart of the city. If you protect Senior Utahime, you might even find some hidden gourmet dessert shops, right?"
Gojo Satoru was just about to nod, swayed by Genji words, when he suddenly realized something was off.
"Then why don't you go? I can swap with you."
"I'm afraid that's really not possible." Genji scratched his head awkwardly.
"If I accompanied Senior Utahime home, that Old hag would probably grab a blade and hack at me the moment she saw me."
Hearing this, everyone's eyes widened, and Utahime was even more curious.
"Wait, why would she hack at me?"
"A few years ago, when I was a Freelance Sorcerer, I had a mission in Kyoto. I had a conflict with the Yanagi Family; they tried to capture me, but I ended up capturing them instead. Then, I even used those people to extort a sum of money from the Yanagi Family."
Genji explained awkwardly to everyone. He couldn't help it; talking about how he extorted money from his senior's family right in front of her was still a bit embarrassing. After all, he didn't have a thick skin like Gojo Satoru's.
"So you're the one who made Grandma so angry she sliced the table in half!" Utahime realized with a start. She still remembered her grandmother's furious expression from back then.
"Then there's no choice. I'll reluctantly go with you," Gojo Satoru said. He and Utahime exchanged a look and accepted the arrangement.
Back to the present.
"When you see my mother in a moment, whatever you do, don't open your mouth. I'm afraid she'll be so angry she'll faint. She already has a weak heart. Do you hear me!?"
"I got it. You're so naggy, and you're so weak too," Gojo Satoru replied impatiently, not forgetting to continue mocking Utahime.
Just as Utahime was about to start another argument with Gojo Satoru, the front gate opened.
"Welcome home, Young Lady."
A woman in her sixties or seventies wearing a kimono opened the gate. She spoke respectfully to Utahime before turning her gaze toward Gojo Satoru.
"This must be Mr. Gojo. Welcome," the woman greeted Gojo Satoru with impeccable etiquette.
"Yes, I'm back, Auntie Kyouko. Please inform Mother and the others that I've brought the 'Young Master' of the Gojo Family as a guest."
After speaking, Utahime glared at Gojo Satoru again and then walked into the house.