Chapter 54: Fushiguro Toji's Transformation
Geto Suguru could feel that Toho Hiroshi had always cared for him. Though he didn't say it, he often considered the feelings of those around him.
Just like now, the night breeze was cool, and the moonlight was like water. Toho Hiroshi didn't say anything more, just stood quietly to the side, giving him space to process his emotions.
This silent companionship made Geto Suguru feel more at ease than any words could.
He knew Toho Hiroshi's character well; beneath his indifferent exterior lay a meticulous heart.
Whether it was the trusted attack that could deal with Tamamo-no-Mae, the soul-stirring words on the train just now, or even their silent standing side-by-side at this moment, these were all his unique ways of showing care.
"I know."
Geto Suguru finally spoke again, his voice much calmer, carrying a subtle warmth, "Although you always act indifferent to everything, you actually care more than anyone."
He turned his head to look at Toho Hiroshi's eyes, which were still profound in the night: "Gojo Satoru is ridiculously strong, but he's thick-skinned and often doesn't notice these subtle things. But you always do."
Toho Hiroshi neither denied nor admitted it, merely saying, "Thinking too much makes you go bald."
Geto Suguru was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, "Is that supposed to be concern?"
"It's advice."
There was another brief silence, but the atmosphere had already lightened considerably.
"Goodnight."
Toho Hiroshi was the first to take a step, waving at Geto Suguru, "I need to go back and check on the three little brats at home."
The residential area of Tokyo was quiet and peaceful in the night.
Toho Hiroshi's figure appeared silently at the street corner near the Fushiguro Siblings' residence.
He didn't directly appear inside the house but first meticulously sensed the surrounding environment, confirming there were no abnormal Cursed Energy residues and no ill-intentioned gazes prying. Only then did he slowly walk towards the small building with warm lights.
The key slid into the lock, turning gently.
As soon as the door opened a crack, a small figure with a faint fragrance rushed over and hugged his leg.
"Brother!"
It was Rika's soft and joyful voice.
Immediately after, Tsumiki Fushiguro, wearing an apron, poked her head out from the kitchen, a gentle smile on her face: "Brother Toho, you're back."
Fushiguro Megumi was sitting at the low table in the living room doing homework. Hearing the sound, he looked up, his sea urchin-like hair slightly shifting, his eyes brightening for a moment before quickly returning to their usual calm demeanor. He simply nodded: "Welcome back."
"Mm."
Toho Hiroshi responded, then bent down and gently patted Rika's back before walking to the living room and sitting down.
Tsumiki immediately brought over a cup of hot tea and some homemade pastries.
Tsumiki asked with concern, "Have you had dinner? Do you need me to prepare some more?"
"No, I've eaten."
Toho Hiroshi looked at the warm scene before him—Rika leaning dependently by his side, Tsumiki gentle and considerate, and Megumi, though silent, breathing steadily—and imperceptibly nodded in his heart.
They were indeed doing well.
He briefly asked about their recent lives and studies, mainly listening to Tsumiki's soft narration, with Megumi occasionally adding a sentence or two, and Rika chirping about interesting things she did at school with Yuta Okkotsu.
Toho Hiroshi mostly listened quietly, occasionally nodding.
This ordinary, everyday domesticity formed a stark contrast with the Special Grade Cursed Spirit battle and the undercurrents of the Zenin Family he had just experienced, yet it slowly relaxed something taut within him.
After sitting for a while, he stood up: "I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back soon."
He didn't say where he was going, and the three of them tacitly didn't ask further.
Tsumiki merely said considerately, "Okay, please be careful."
Toho Hiroshi's figure merged into the night. When he reappeared, he was on the rooftop of a cheap apartment building several blocks away.
The rooftop was empty and deserted, with the night wind howling.
But in Toho Hiroshi's perception, there was an extremely faint, powerful aura here, almost blended with the environment.
He walked to the edge of the rooftop and looked down.
As far as his eyes could see, it was the small building where the Fushiguro Siblings lived, a superb vantage point from which he could see all the movements on the surrounding streets.
"Looks like you chose a good 'bird's-eye view'."
Toho Hiroshi spoke to the empty rooftop.
A figure wearing a black tight-fitting vest, with muscles as sleek as a leopard, emerged from behind a wall. He had an unlit cigarette in his mouth and was none other than Fushiguro Toji.
He glanced at Toho Hiroshi, his eyes still carrying their usual laziness and mockery, but deep within there was a subtle complexity.
"Stop bothering me, kid. I took your money, so I'm just doing your job."
Fushiguro Toji's tone was impatient, "This place is quiet, good for sleeping."
Toho Hiroshi didn't mind his attitude, merely asking calmly, "How is it?"
Fushiguro Toji was silent for a moment, his gaze involuntarily falling once again on the distant, lit window. He grunted, "Tsk, the two troublesome brats don't seem to have starved to death or been bullied."
"As for that kid Megumi, I didn't expect the Cursed Technique he awakened to actually be the Ten Shadows Technique…"
"That girl Tsumiki… still smiles so foolishly."
His tone seemed full of disdain, but that momentary gaze and slightly relaxed shoulders betrayed something else.
Toho Hiroshi asked, "Anything unusual nearby recently?"
"A few blind Cursed Spirits came wandering around, and I crushed them casually,"
Fushiguro Toji picked his ear, as if talking about swatting a few flies. "And a few small fry from the Zenin Family secretly came to snoop around. Probably that old fox Zen'in Naobito sent them to check things out. They didn't get close, so I ignored them."
"Well done."
Toho Hiroshi nodded.
With Fushiguro Toji guarding in the shadows, unless a Special Grade Cursed Spirit or a head of The Big Three Families personally arrived, the safety of the Fushiguro Siblings was essentially assured.
"Hmph, of course it's well done, I'm…"
Fushiguro Toji habitually wanted to boast, but stopped halfway through, seemingly finding it pointless to say these things in front of Toho Hiroshi. He impatiently waved his hand instead, "The money's almost run out, send more over. The liquor around here isn't cheap."
Toho Hiroshi glanced at him, knowing this guy was purely making excuses to get money for horse racing or pachinko, but didn't expose him. He casually tossed over a card.
"Use it sparingly. Next time I come, I don't want to hear about you running around because you owe gambling debts."
Fushiguro Toji caught the card precisely, a wild grin spreading across his lips: "Don't worry, next time I might win big and throw the money in your face."
Toho Hiroshi couldn't be bothered with his crazy talk. He took one last look at the warm light in the distance, and his figure began to blur.
"Cherish this opportunity, Fushiguro Toji."
As his voice faded, Toho Hiroshi's figure completely disappeared from the rooftop.
Fushiguro Toji stood in place, his fingers rubbing the cold card, motionless for a long time.
The night wind ruffled his unruly black hair.
He looked at the window again, until the light extinguished, plunging into darkness and silence.
He clicked his tongue and re-merged into the darkness, like a silent and dangerous guardian ghost, becoming one with the night.
Meanwhile, Toho Hiroshi returned to the mansion, sat down in the living room, closed his eyes, and began to rest.
Rika, hugging a pillow, quietly snuggled onto the sofa next to him and fell asleep. Tsumiki brought him a thin blanket, and Megumi quietly said "goodnight" before returning to his room.
Outside the window, the moon and stars were sparse; inside, breathing was steady.
This moment of tranquility was worth protecting with his strength.
And the fierce blade in the shadows also seemed to have found a subtle anchor, something different from slaughter and money.
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