Chapter 71: Before Leaving
Yaga choked for a moment. He had to admit that while Toho Hiroshi's plan was crazy and risky, it was indeed the most direct, and possibly the most effective, way to break the deadlock.
Based on his understanding of The Higher-Ups, conventional methods simply couldn't shake their foundation, let alone uncover the deeply buried nails.
However, the cost was simply too great.
From now on, Toho Hiroshi would bear the stigma of a traitor and a mass murderer, walking on the edge of darkness, becoming an enemy to his former sworn friends and comrades, and possibly even facing Gojo Satoru's 'pursuit and extermination.' This pressure and psychological burden were not something an ordinary person could bear.
And Gojo Satoru would also have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of Jujutsu High alone, navigate the new power structure, and cultivate the'seeds of a new era.'
As for himself, Yaga gave a bitter smile. That kid Hao really arranged a 'good position' for him.
"You two idiots..."
Yaga could only utter that phrase again, filled with the meaning of hating iron for not becoming steel, yet mixed with an indescribable heaviness and sorrow.
He seemed to see again the two exceptionally talented but wildly different problem teenagers in the classroom back then, now both embarking on such difficult and lonely paths.
One had become obsessed, the other had willingly sunk into darkness.
Gojo Satoru looked at the complex expression on Yaga's face and, uncharacteristically, didn't argue, merely giving a soft "Mm," acknowledging the assessment.
"So, Principal Yaga."
He put his sunglasses back on, concealing the emotions in his Six Eyes, and his tone reverted to its usual casualness, yet it inexplicably sounded reliable. "Mr. 'Fulcrum' of the new era, you'll have to take good care of things from now on, won't you? Those terrified rotten oranges outside, and a whole mess of problems, are all counting on you to appease and clean up."
Yaga Masamichi let out a long, deep sigh, filled with helplessness, responsibility, and a heavy sense of mission from having the future forcibly entrusted to him by his students.
He picked up a half-finished Cursed Corpse from the table, his rough fingers unconsciously caressing it, his gaze directed out the window at the night, which was gradually returning to calm after the 'meteorite' scare.
"I understand."
Finally, he responded in a deep voice, his tone returning to its usual steadiness, but more solemn than ever.
"I will do my best to stabilize all of this."
"As for you two..."
He paused, not finishing his sentence, merely shaking his head.
The path had been laid out; no matter how difficult, they could only follow the direction they had chosen.
Gojo Satoru's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. He stood up and brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
...Toho Hiroshi's figure silently vanished amidst the ruins and smoke of The Higher-Ups, not fleeing directly.
Kamui's spatial vortex silently opened in a secluded street corner somewhere in Tokyo. He stepped out, the suffocating killing intent and Rinnegan's pressure around him greatly suppressed, but the coldness and resolve hidden deep in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest.
He needed to deal with some 'aftermath' before he completely sank into darkness.
Following a vague address in his memory and a faint but unique trace of Cursed Energy, he moved like a ghost in the night, sweeping through the silent streets, finally stopping before a slightly old apartment building.
He didn't go upstairs, but merely spread a minuscule ripple of Cursed Energy, sending it precisely into a specific room.
A moment later, a tall, languid figure slowly ambled out from the shadows of the stairwell.
Fushiguro Toji had an unlit cigarette in his mouth, wore loose loungewear, and his face still held that expression of being unenthusiastic about anything, yet subtly containing a beast-like sharpness. But the moment he saw Toho Hiroshi, his entire body's muscles tightened imperceptibly for an instant, and a deep wariness flashed in his usually lazy eyes.
"Yo."
Toji spoke first, his tone casual but with sufficient vigilance. "What a rare guest. I heard you caused quite a stir over there just now?"
He gestured with his chin towards The Higher-Ups, the news spreading astonishingly fast.
Toho Hiroshi skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to the chase, his gaze sharp as a knife: "You don't live far."
"Yeah, it's cheap and quiet."
Toji shrugged, seemingly understanding Toho Hiroshi's implication—this place wasn't far from the area where Fushiguro Megumi, Tsumiki, and Rika lived.
"I'll be disappearing for a while now."
Toho Hiroshi's voice was low and steady, yet carried undeniable weight. "Perhaps for a long time. Gojo will take over Jujutsu High, but he has his own matters to attend to."
Toji raised an eyebrow, not replying, waiting for him to continue.
"Megumi, Tsumiki, and that child named Rika."
When Toho Hiroshi uttered these three names, his tone seemed to soften ever so slightly, but quickly returned to its coldness. "They need someone to watch over them."
Toji scoffed, a hint of playfulness in his voice: "What? The Special Grade Curse User who slaughtered The Higher-Ups is now worrying about the safety of little brats? Isn't your role change a bit too sudden?"
Toho Hiroshi was unmoved by his sarcasm. A faint purple ripple flashed in his left eye, making Toji's smile stiffen slightly.
"I'm not asking you, Fushiguro Toji."
Toho Hiroshi's voice wasn't loud, but it carried immense pressure. "This is what you owe me from when I 'let you live.' Now, it's time to pay it back."
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Toji's cynical expression slowly receded. He stared at Toho Hiroshi, as if evaluating the odds and consequences of making a move. After a few seconds, he 'tsk'ed and looked away, implicitly acknowledging this undeniable 'debt.'
"You're well aware of Megumi's talent," Toho Hiroshi continued. "
Leaving him in a normal environment is a waste and more dangerous. Gojo Satoru will definitely come for him soon and take him to Jujutsu High. That's where he belongs."
"As for Tsumiki and Rika..."
Toho Hiroshi paused. "They need a relatively peaceful life. Ensure their safety before Jujutsu High takes over, or before certain troubles find them. That shouldn't be difficult for you."
Toji was silent for a moment, then finally scratched his hair lazily: "Alright, got it. For the sake of... money."
He habitually tried to find an excuse, but under Toho Hiroshi's all-knowing gaze, he ultimately swallowed his words, merely waving his hand impatiently. "I'll keep an eye on those kids. As long as trouble doesn't actively come knocking."
"Very good."
Toho Hiroshi got the promise he wanted and said no more. He gazed deeply at a certain window in the apartment building, as if he could see through the walls to the children who might already be asleep inside.
Then, he turned, and his figure once again merged into Kamui's distorted spatial vortex, disappearing without a trace, as if he had never appeared.
Fushiguro Toji stood alone, looking at the spot where Toho Hiroshi had vanished. After a long moment, he muttered, "Monster."
He looked up, also glancing at that familiar window, his eyes complex and unreadable.
Finally, still with the unlit cigarette in his mouth, he slowly ambled back into the dim stairwell.
The night wind blew, carrying away the last trace of spatial fluctuation.
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