Chapter 130: Chapter 119
Nanami, about to ask if Zoro was serious, closed his mouth upon seeing Zoro's composed face. Of course, he was serious. The boy didn't make idle remarks often, and when he did, it was obviously not sincere.
Nanami sighed.
"I need to graduate and leave this place soon."
"You can leave now."
"Then wouldn't I be treated as a deserter?"
Zoro pondered for a moment before responding.
"What if I said I was bullying you?"
"..."
Caught off guard by the unexpected suggestion, Nanami was speechless, but Haibara interjected.
"That's not true."
"I don't really care what people call me."
"No! I don't want you to take the blame."
Haibara stated his disapproval firmly, and Zoro nodded, choosing not to argue further. From experience, Zoro knew to respect when someone said no and to back off gracefully.
"We've gotten stronger too! Please rely on us a little, senior."
Haibara proudly flexed his slightly more muscular arm. Gojo, swaggering over with his long limbs, snorted.
"Stronger? You've barely scraped off the newbie label."
"Ah."
"But you're not as weak as before. You've gotten somewhat less weak."
Gojo's harsh assessment was tempered when Geto put a hand on his shoulder.
"Satoru, that's not nice to say to your juniors. You should encourage their growth."
"Pfft. Does encouragement make them grow?"
As the two towering students bickered at the bus door, Shoko, who had arrived with her bag, sighed.
"Both of you move aside, you idiots."
Because of you, no one can board the bus. Shoko then delivered a low kick towards their shins.
...
The bus to Kyoto was bustling with noise.
"But why are we taking a bus?"
Nanami suddenly asked. There's the Shinkansen, and although more expensive, there are also planes. Shoko responded with a, "Well..."
"Mr. Yaga made an impulse purchase."
"Excuse me?"
"He had a fight with his wife that day."
When Nanami looked at Yaga, he cleared his throat and averted his gaze. There was no denying it. Taking the Shinkansen would have been much faster and cost-effective, but as Shoko said, the decision to charter a bus was heavily influenced by Yaga having had a bad day due to a fight with his wife.
Shoko shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, it's good not to draw attention, right? You won't see anyone bothering Gojo."
"...Why would they bother Senior Gojo?"
"Because he's pretty handsome."
Being in crowded places naturally attracted attention, and though rare, there were people who tried to get Gojo's number.
Toji was also handsome, but his fierce demeanor made it difficult for ordinary people to approach him. Moreover, if he felt annoyed, he could erase his presence completely. He often did this, especially when he was with the kids.
Gojo sighed dramatically and shook his head.
"This darn popularity."
As Shoko and Geto grimaced and Nanami looked on, Haibara, who had brought a bag of chocolates, raised it high with a cheerful shout.
"Who wants chocolate?"
"Me."
"Me too!"
"I'll have some too."
Watching the second-year students munching on the chocolates, Yaga smiled gently. Though they were rambunctious, they shone brightest when being true students.
"Me too!"
"Not you."
Toji gently grabbed and lowered Tsumiki's eagerly raised hand. Megumi, who didn't particularly like sweets, blinked and shook his head.
"Senior Zoro, do you want some too?"
"No."
"Oh, don't you like chocolate?"
"Zoro doesn't really like sweet things."
Gojo popped a chocolate into his mouth and said,
"I don't understand why you wouldn't eat something this good."
Haibara asked brightly.
"Then what kind of food do you like, Senior Zoro?"
"Rice."
Especially plain white rice without any mixed grains. He used to like sea creature meat in the past. Since such creatures didn't exist in this world, he couldn't eat it anymore.
"Anything that goes well with alcohol is fine too."
"Alcohol is a no-go."
"Got it."
At Toji's words, Zoro pouted. Haibara then spoke to Zoro.
"I know a great place for food, let's go together sometime!"
"Sounds good."
"What do they sell there?"
"They serve rice and noodles. Especially the grilled salmon set and the meat noodles are delicious."
"Oh, really? Maybe I'll join too."
"Suguru, me too!"
"Sure."
"Speaking of which, where will we eat when we go to Kyoto? Gojo, isn't your family from Kyoto? Know any good places?"
"I don't know. I almost always ate at home."
...Kyoto. Toji mulled over the name of their destination.
He had never thought he would return there on his own accord. Of course, they were headed to Kyoto Jujutsu High, not the Zenin family's place.
Lost in thought, Toji felt someone poke his cheek. Turning around, he saw Megumi looking at him.
"Papa's acting weird."
"What is?"
"Your face."
Smile. Megumi reached out, grabbed Toji's cheeks, and pulled the corners of his mouth up into a smile. Of course, even with all her might, the still babyish Megumi could barely move the cheek muscles of the robust Toji.
"Oh really."
"Papa, you look uglier when you don't smile."
"You too, my little sea urchin."
"I'm not a sea urchin!"
"Stop teasing Megumi!"
As the bus grew noisy, Nanami noticed that Zoro hadn't buckled his seatbelt and fastened it for him.
"Ah, thanks."
"You're welcome."
His face looked young and pale. It was hard to believe that this was the person who had claimed to be responsible for harassing someone, as he seemed just like a child.
Nanami hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"You can act like a child."
"?"
"Because you actually are a child."
A child shouldn't have to do things for adults. Nor should they have to bear the responsibility for what adults do.
Zoro chuckled lightly.
"If I acted any more childish here, it would be really troublesome."
"I don't think you will."
"Hmm?"
"I don't think you're a bad person."
It was ambiguous to call him good, but he definitely wasn't bad. If he truly were bad, he wouldn't have suggested claiming he was harassing Nanami just to help him leave this place faster.
Though his methods might be harsh and somewhat unilateral, Zoro always intended to help people.
"You can rely on others."
After all, he was at an age where it was not just okay, but necessary.
Nanami sighed as he remembered how recently Zoro had walked in the exact opposite direction he had pointed.
"Especially when walking, please rely on someone."
"Huh?!"
"Maybe you should carry a compass."
Maybe that would prevent him from getting lost. Seeing hope in Nanami's expression, Gojo shook his head in disbelief.
"You still don't understand. Do you think a compass would keep him from getting lost?"
"That's unfortunate."
"Hmph..."
Zoro looked at Toji, but in this matter, Toji, who showed no intention of siding with Zoro, said seriously,
"How about carrying a GPS, son?"
That way, Toji wouldn't have to worry every time about Zoro getting lost. Zoro, his face turning red, yelled at Toji,
"Be quiet!"
...
Upon finally arriving at the Kyoto Jujutsu High, Toji encountered someone he was not pleased to see.
Gojo, who had gotten off the bus first, frowned.
"Why is that guy here?"
As soon as Toji stepped off the bus, he instinctively hid the kids behind him upon seeing a familiar face. Zoro sensed his hesitation, but Toji did not want to expose his child to that person.
Toji glared at the person in front of him. The boy with straw-colored hair appeared to be around Gojo's age and emanated a sense of déjà vu, especially his distinctive eyes and the palpable energy.
It was a Zenin.
"Hey, are you deaf? Why are you here? Don't tell me you've enrolled at the Kyoto Jujutsu High?"
The boy, ignoring Gojo's provocative tone, walked slowly out from among the staff of the Kyoto Jujutsu High. His pupils dilated, and his hands trembled as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
It was clearly a reaction of awe.
The boy stuttered a few times before finally managing to ask,
"Is it really… really Toji-san?"
"...?"
Faced with the familiar address, Toji scowled.
"Who are you again?"
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