After hearing Shinsuke Zenin's explanation, Toji's expression remained blank, but he felt much more at ease.
If it was because of their mother, he could understand.
Still, the fact that she'd forgotten about him, her younger son, because of her mother was a little irritating.
"She left you a letter. I've kept it at my place. If you want to read it, come get it," Toji said.
"You don't have to. Just keep it safe. It's probably full of useless words anyway."
Shinsuke Zenin waved a hand.
So much time had passed. He didn't want to bring it up again.
Knowing their mother, she'd probably written another apology. It hadn't even been her fault, so why did she always apologize? The world was to blame.
"What are you planning to do now?" Toji stared at Shinsuke Zenin.
"Obviously, eat... Ahem, I'll find a job and get by for now."
Shinsuke Zenin had nearly blurted out what he was really thinking.
But his younger brother already had a family and a child. If he, the older brother, spent every day lazing around and living off other people, it wouldn't look good.
"Since you're back, why not stay? Come work with me as a Sorcerer Killer."
Toji invited him. Given their unusual circumstances, becoming killers was about the only line of work that suited them. It wasn't as if they could be like other sorcerers and exorcise Cursed Spirits.
"Forget it. I'm not interested in being a killer."
Shinsuke Zenin shook his head, flatly refusing.
He already had a plan.
His main goal now was to get stronger as quickly as possible.
The Jujutsu World wasn't going to stay peaceful forever, and he wasn't strong enough to protect the people around him.
Thinking of what his nephew would go through in the future, how could he, as his uncle, not have his back?
Sukuna, of all people—if he tried to hurt Shinsuke's family, Shinsuke would kick him into the ground.
Of course, making money to support himself was important too.
Aside from living off others, what kind of work paid well and fast...?
"I'd advise you to quit being a Sorcerer Killer too. Go home, settle down, and raise your kid. Stop wasting your time on this stuff."
Shinsuke Zenin lectured Toji.
He didn't take care of his child and spent all his time out fooling around. What kind of behavior was that?
"Mind your own business. I'm leaving. Don't bother me unless you have a reason."
Toji got up and left, too lazy to listen to Shinsuke's nagging. He was still as annoying as an old housewife.
He acted like he didn't care, but the corners of his mouth had already begun to lift.
His older brother had suddenly returned after being gone for so long. At least now, he felt a little less alone.
Watching Toji leave, all talk and no sincerity, Shinsuke Zenin shook his head. "Remember to take me to meet my nephew and niece tomorrow."
Toji paused. His mouth twitched, then he promptly opened the door and left, pretending he hadn't heard.
"That kid..."
While the misunderstanding between the Zenin brothers was being cleared up, Jujutsu High was in an uproar.
Two Quasi Special Grade sorcerers, Satoru Gojo and Geto Suguru, had defied the higher-ups' orders and sent the Star Plasma Vessel, Riko Amanai, back home.
Their actions had seriously endangered the Jujutsu World.
After all, if Master Tengen didn't merge with the Star Plasma Vessel, her body would continue evolving to a higher level. At that point, Tengen might lose her sense of self and even turn against humanity.
After evolving, Tengen would become more like a Cursed Spirit.
As the higher-ups considered how to deal with the trouble Satoru Gojo and Geto Suguru had caused, Master Tengen spoke up.
Instead of turning against them as everyone had expected, she told the two not to worry.
It was fine if Riko Amanai didn't want to merge with her. Tengen could still control herself for now, so there was no need to rush.
"Gojo, Master Tengen's a pretty nice person. She didn't even blame us."
Inside Jujutsu High, Geto Suguru and Satoru Gojo chatted in the empty indoor basketball court.
Shoko Ieiri leaned idly against a nearby doorway, a lollipop in her mouth.
"Of course she is. She's Master Tengen."
Great people had a way of seeing the bigger picture. She wouldn't hold a grudge against a little girl.
Watching the two of them sweat it out on the court, Masamichi Yaga was so angry he could barely contain himself. If Master Tengen hadn't let it go, those two might well have been branded Curse Users.
"Yaga-sensei, you look kind of unhappy. What happened? Tell us so we can enjoy it too."
Seeing Masamichi Yaga with a face like a donkey's, Satoru Gojo asked with great tact.
"Are you looking for a beating again?"
Masamichi Yaga put on his teacherly air, and Satoru Gojo immediately ducked his head.
He knew perfectly well that, because of the mess he and Geto had made, Yaga had gotten an earful from those old men among the higher-ups.
"Don't be mad. They can't do anything to us because of our strength."
Satoru Gojo tried to reassure him.
The Six Eyes and the Limitless were already enough to defy the heavens. In this incident, he'd also awakened the Reverse Cursed Technique and the Hollow Technique, which few in the Gojo Family even knew about.
He was confident that his strength was now enough to make the higher-ups back down.
And sure enough, the higher-ups hadn't really given them trouble. They'd just made a few empty threats and hadn't dared take any real action.
"Sure, sure. You're the strongest."
Yaga couldn't be bothered to argue with Gojo.
One day, the other man would understand that some things couldn't be solved with strength.
"Gojo, we've found out who tried to assassinate you two this time."
Shoko Ieiri interrupted the conversation.
When Satoru Gojo and Geto Suguru had sent Riko Amanai back, she'd asked Meimei to look into the killer.
The Zenin brothers hadn't bothered to hide their identities, so Meimei had uncovered everything about them in no time.
"They're from the Zenin Family. They were born without Cursed Energy."
"The older brother, Shinsuke Zenin, brutally killed dozens of people in the Zenin Family eight years ago, then went overseas. It seems he just returned to the country.
"The younger brother, Toji Zenin, married into the Fushiguro Family and changed his name to Toji Fushiguro. He's a Sorcerer Killer."
Hearing this, Satoru Gojo and Geto Suguru stopped what they were doing.
"The Zenin Family?"
"No Cursed Energy? How's that possible?"
Geto Suguru could hardly believe it. Someone with no Cursed Energy had beaten Gojo so easily? Did that make any sense?
"He really had no Cursed Energy. I'm sure of it," Satoru Gojo confirmed.
He hadn't sensed even a trace of Cursed Energy from those two strange brothers.
"By the way, Shoko, what happened with Shinsuke Zenin killing everyone in the Zenin Family eight years ago?"
Satoru Gojo was curious about that.
Shoko Ieiri looked languidly at him and said offhandedly, "The Zenin Family. No Cursed Energy. Do I really need to explain?"
"I see."
Satoru Gojo rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "He really is an interesting person."
The first time he'd seen the man, he'd noticed something different in his eyes.
Looking back, it was the absolute confidence that only the strong possessed.
Meanwhile, Shinsuke Zenin, with no money for a hotel, returned to the courtyard where he'd lived before going overseas.
It was right next to the Zenin Family estate.
"It's pretty clean. Not bad."
The house wasn't as run-down as he'd expected. Someone must have been coming by regularly to clean it.
Aside from old man Naobito, it was probably his idiot younger brother.
Exhausted from the day, Shinsuke Zenin fell asleep as soon as he lay down.
Tomorrow, he'd meet his nephew and niece, then decide whether to look for a job. He couldn't exactly ask the Zenin Family for money, could he?
Before you continue