Panda and Maki were in the same year, so he knew her situation well. Zen'in Maki was born into a branch family of the Zen'in clan, the older twin sister. Her younger sister, Mai, was a sorcerer with cursed energy, but Maki… had a "Heavenly Restriction"—zero cursed energy, but a body that surpassed ordinary people.
That was how it should have been.
But Maki's Heavenly Restriction was incomplete. Because she and Mai were identical twins, in the logic of jujutsu, identical twins were considered "one person," and their talent and cursed energy would be split equally. The weak cursed energy remaining in Mai's body affected Maki's "complete body," preventing her from reaching the absolute peak of physical ability like Toji Fushiguro.
"Maki…" Panda asked cautiously. "What are you thinking about?"
Maki looked up, glanced at him, and then lowered her head again.
"Nothing," she said, her voice very soft. "I was just thinking… about Lord Zen'in Genji and Zen'in Sei."
Silence fell over the air again.
Everyone knew the legendary brothers. Zen'in Genji, with the complete Ten Shadows Technique, the only sorcerer in history to subjugate Mahoraga, revered as a "god." Zen'in Sei, the complete embodiment of Heavenly Restriction, with zero cursed energy, his physical strength reaching the theoretical limit of a human being.
They were fraternal twins, yet both had reached the pinnacle of their respective paths.
"Zen'in Genji is the same as the sisters Maki and Mai," Panda tried to break the silence in a relaxed tone. "They're both twins. But that adult and his younger brother are the complete Ten Shadows and the complete Heavenly Restriction."
He paused and added, "Maki can't fully evolve because of the trace of her sister's cursed energy remaining in her body."
The atmosphere on the bench grew even more tense.
Nobara looked at Maki, then at Megumi Fushiguro, and suddenly said, "In that case, can you ask that adult if there's a way to change Maki-senpai's situation? He's so strong, maybe he has a way?"
The question was to the point.
Everyone looked at Megumi Fushiguro. As the successor of the Ten Shadows Technique and the son of Toji Fushiguro, he knew more about Zen'in Genji and Zen'in Sei than anyone else present.
Megumi Fushiguro was silent for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head.
"Probably not," he said calmly but firmly. "They may both be twins, but their nature is fundamentally different."
He organized his thoughts, trying to explain this complex concept:
"Zen'in Genji and Zen'in Sei are fraternal twins. In the logic of jujutsu, fraternal twins are considered 'two people,' but due to blood relation, there is a kind of 'karmic connection.'"
He paused and looked at Maki. "But you and Mai are identical twins. In the logic of jujutsu, identical twins are considered 'one person.' Your 'talent' is shared. Cursed energy, techniques, and even the 'Heavenly Restriction' will be split between you."
Maki's lips pressed together even tighter.
"And Lord Zen'in Sei," Megumi Fushiguro continued, "is a true Heavenly Restriction. 'Complete body' means his 'zero cursed energy' is absolute, unaffected by external factors. Even the karmic connection of twins cannot break this 'absolute.'"
"So," Itadori understood, "Lord Zen'in Genji was able to have such immense cursed energy because his brother's 'zero cursed energy' was so thorough that all the cursed energy that should have been split was absorbed by him alone?"
"That's one way to understand it," Megumi Fushiguro nodded. "And because Lord Zen'in Sei is the 'complete body,' this karmic connection is actually one-sided. Lord Zen'in Genji can benefit from his younger brother, but the younger brother is not affected. In the end, Lord Zen'in Genji received cursed energy surpassing ordinary people, and Lord Zen'in Sei, like my father, received a body that surpasses all."
He looked at Maki with complex eyes:
"But you… unfortunately, are not the 'complete body.' Mai's cursed energy remaining in your body prevents you from reaching the absolute peak, and it also keeps a 'split' between you and Mai."
Dead silence fell over the bench.
Only the rustle of grass in the wind, blowing across the distant playground.
Maki lowered her head, her bangs falling over her eyes. Her hand gripping her knee was very tense, her knuckles slightly white.
After a long time, she said quietly:
"So… I can never be as strong as Mr. Toji, right?"
The question was asked lightly, but the unwillingness and despair within it were so heavy that no one could breathe.
Megumi Fushiguro opened his mouth to say something comforting, but in the end, only silence came out.
He didn't know what to say.
The truth was harsh. Maki's talent was "split," her "Heavenly Restriction" incomplete. Unless Mai died or some miracle occurred, she could never reach the level of "one-man army" like Toji Fushiguro.
And the truth was… how could she want her sister to die?
That was her twin sister, the family she had protected since childhood.
"Tuna mayo."
Inumaki suddenly spoke. He walked over to Maki, crouched down, looked at her with his purple eyes, and repeated:
"Salmon roe."
Panda translated: "Thorn said that Mai's cursed energy is your 'burden,' but it's also your 'connection.' It limits you, but it also binds you. And…"
He paused, a smile appearing on his fluffy face:
"Besides, Maki, you're already very strong. Even if you're not the 'complete body,' you're still one of the best among us. Who knows what the future holds? Maybe one day you'll find your own path."
Maki looked up and looked at Inumaki, at Panda, and at her companions around her.
In Megumi Fushiguro's eyes, there was understanding—he was the bearer of the Ten Shadows Technique, burdened by the Zen'in clan's expectations, and knew the pressure of "being compared." In Nobara's eyes, there was defiance—she had come from the countryside, relying on her own efforts to get this far, and hated the notion of "destiny" more than anything. In Itadori's eyes, there was pure support—that guy seemed to never understand what despair was.
And Inumaki… although he could only speak in rice ball ingredients, in those purple eyes was clear trust.
Maki took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
She unclenched her hand, stood up, and rolled her shoulders.
"Right," she said, her voice returning to its usual calm. "No use thinking about it now. Let's train. The exchange students are coming next week. I don't want to lose face in front of 'that adult.'"
A typical Maki reaction—suppressing emotions and proving herself through action.
But everyone could see that as she turned and walked toward the training ground, her back was straighter than before.
"Hey, Maki!" Nobara jumped up and followed her with her hammer. "Wait for me! Let's spar! I want to see your new staff technique!"
"I'm coming too!" Itadori excitedly followed. "Fushiguro, teach me the lightning attribute seal again!"
Megumi Fushiguro sighed, but the corners of his lips lifted in a very faint arc. He stood up and walked toward the training ground.
Inumaki and Panda remained where they were. Panda watched Maki's back, a worried expression on his fluffy face.
"Mustard leaf?" Inumaki asked.
"I think," Panda said in a low voice, "Maki… actually cares about it. Obviously, they're both twins, both with the surname Zen'in. Those two adults reached the peak, but she and Mai…"
He didn't finish.
But Inumaki understood. He patted Panda on the shoulder—though with his height, the gesture was a bit of a stretch.
"Mentaiko," he said, his purple eyes watching the figure swinging a staff on the training ground, his gaze firm.
Panda was stunned for a moment, then laughed.
"Yeah," he said. "Mentaiko. Maki… will definitely find her own path."
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