Chapter 108: A Long-Awaited Reunion
Shoko looked at Choso; this existence, born from a forbidden Cursed Technique, revealed emotions that were incredibly real at this moment.
She sighed: "The way to protect him isn't necessarily by pulling him into your camp. Sometimes, letting go and allowing him to find his own answers is the true form of protection."
After saying this, she didn't linger and turned to leave.
In the vast, quiet room, only Choso remained. He stood there alone, the setting sun shining through the window lattice, stretching his shadow out long.
He pondered Shoko's words, then thought of Itadori's resistant and pained gaze, his heart filled with unprecedented confusion.
He had found his brother, yet it seemed he was losing him.
...
On the other side, in front of an ordinary apartment building on the edge of the city, Yuta Okkotsu and Toho Hiroshi stopped.
Rika lived here, under the secret protection of Yuta Okkotsu and Jujutsu High, living and going to school like an ordinary girl.
"This is the place."
Yuta Okkotsu's tone was complex, "Mr. Dongfang, I hope you remember that no matter how grandiose your reasons may be, you should not deprive her of the right to choose her own reality."
Toho Hiroshi did not answer, merely looking up at the window glowing with warm light, a trace of imperceptible fluctuation flashing through his Rinnegan.
He adjusted his collar; the red cloud of the Akatsuki Organization on it seemed to dim slightly.
"Let's go."
He took the lead and stepped upstairs.
Yuta Okkotsu followed closely behind, feeling anxious.
He didn't know how Rika would react, nor what kind of ripples Toho Hiroshi's appearance would bring to her peaceful life.
A knock on the door sounded.
Light footsteps came from inside the door, along with a crisp, pleasant female voice: "Coming! Is that you, Yuta?"
The door was pulled open, and a young girl wearing loungewear and an apron, her hands still dusted with a little flour, appeared at the doorway. She had soft, long hair and a gentle smile, her eyes clear—it was Rika.
Seeing Yuta Okkotsu, her face immediately bloomed into a joyful smile, but when she saw Toho Hiroshi behind him, her smile stiffened slightly, and a trace of confusion and a subtle sense of familiarity flashed in her eyes.
"Yuta, who is this?"
Toho Hiroshi looked at the Rika before him, full of life and peacefully happy, her image slowly overlapping with the little girl in his memory who curled up in the darkness, tormented by a Curse, yet they were completely different.
He was silent for a few seconds before speaking in an unusually gentle tone, completely different from his usual manner: "Rika, long time no see."
Rika tilted her head, carefully examining Toho Hiroshi, that inexplicable sense of familiarity growing stronger.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, her eyes widened slightly, and she asked softly with a hint of uncertainty: "Are you... Brother... Tohao?"
This "Brother" made Yuta Okkotsu, standing to the side, freeze, and it also caused a clear crack of what could be called "nostalgia" to finally appear on Toho Hiroshi's calm, unruffled face.
He nodded gently, the corners of his mouth lifting into an extremely faint but real arc.
"Yes, it's me."
Rika's eyes instantly turned red, misting over with a hazy layer of moisture.
She almost subconsciously took a step forward, then stopped somewhat timidly, nervously wiping her hands on her apron, her voice choked with sobs: "Brother Hao... is it really you? I... I thought you would never come to see me again..."
Over these past few years, although Yuta Okkotsu and everyone at Jujutsu High had given her a stable home, on countless nights, she would still think of that black-haired boy who appeared like a ray of light during her darkest, most helpless childhood, lifting her from the mire of the Curse and giving her her first warmth and shelter.
That "Brother Toho" who taught her to read, told her stories, and was taciturn yet had gentle eyes.
Toho Hiroshi looked at the young girl on the verge of tears, the indifference in his Rinnegan that usually overlooked all living beings seeming to melt slightly.
He stepped forward and extended his hand very naturally, just like years ago, gently ruffling Rika's hair, his movements carrying a long-lost familiarity.
"I promised to watch you grow up."
His voice was much softer than usual, "It's just that there are some things I need to take care of."
Yuta Okkotsu stood to the side, watching this scene with complex feelings.
He knew that Toho Hiroshi had been kind to Rika and was an important relative to her, but at this moment, Toho Hiroshi was also that dangerous figure who wanted to push forward the "eye of the moon plan".
Watching the unreserved reliance and joy in Rika's eyes, he clenched his fists involuntarily.
"Brother Toho come in quickly!"
Rika realized, hurriedly stepping aside to let him in, her face beaming with a pure, happy smile, momentarily ignoring the serious-looking Yuta Okkotsu beside him, "I'm trying to make cookies! You said before that you liked sweets."
She said the last sentence a bit shyly, obviously still remembering details from a long time ago.
Toho Hiroshi followed suit and walked into the cozy apartment, which was full of life.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of butter and powdered sugar.
His gaze swept over the coffee table with textbooks and magazines, the vibrant green plants on the windowsill, and the slightly messy flour and molds on the kitchen counter, his eyes flickering slightly.
This was the "ordinariness" he had been secretly protecting, hoping she could have it forever.
"Rika."
Yuta Okkotsu couldn't help but speak, his voice somewhat dry, "We came this time, actually, because there is something..."
"Yuta."
Toho Hiroshi interrupted him, his gaze still fixed on Rika, watching her busily and clumsily go to pour water, his tone calm, "At least let her bring this glass of water over first."
Yuta Okkotsu was speechless, watching Rika's busy and happy back, swallowing the rest of his words.
Rika brought the water glass over, carefully placing it on the coffee table in front of Toho Hiroshi, then sat on the sofa next to him, hands on her knees, like a child waiting for praise, looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes: "Brother Toho, have you been doing well all these years? You now... look a bit different from before."
She noticed his strange and deep eyes, as well as the indescribable, distant, yet powerful aura about him.
"I'm doing well."
Toho Hiroshi took the glass, but didn't drink, just holding it in his hand, "Rika, what about you? Is this life now what you wanted?"
"Yes!"
Rika nodded vigorously, her face full of heartfelt happiness, "I like it very much! I can go to school, make friends, and prepare for the school festival with everyone."
"Yuta also often comes to see me, although he is always very busy."
She said, glancing at Yuta Okkotsu with a slight hint of complaint, but her eyes were still full of affection.
"Ordinary days are really, very warm."
She paused, her voice lower, filled with gratitude: "I know that the reason I can live like this now must be because Brother Hao, Yuta, and everyone else have been protecting me. Thank you all."
This sincere expression of gratitude made Yuta Okkotsu's heart tighten, and also caused Toho Hiroshi to fall silent for a moment.
"If..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 40+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics