Willing

When Jujutsu Headquarters came to demand Shoko, Zhiyan was in his study, reading through recent Jujutsu Society case files.

A fine autumn rain drifted outside the window, rustling against the bamboo leaves. Seven days had passed since Shoko arrived at the Zenin Clan.

Over those seven days, he had visited Wana's courtyard every day. Sometimes he brought pastries, sometimes he asked whether Shoko needed anything, and sometimes he simply sat for a while, listening to the two little girls chatter.

Shoko still didn't say much, but whenever he left, she would tell him, "Zhiyan, go to bed early tonight."

Every time, he nodded and agreed.

And every time, he failed to go to bed early.

"Zhiyan."

His father's voice came from the doorway, carrying a rare note of seriousness.

Zhiyan looked up to find Naobito Zenin standing there, his clothes unusually neat and no sake flask in his hand.

He looked ready to discuss serious business.

"Father."

Naobito Zenin came in, sat opposite him, and looked at him.

"Someone from Jujutsu Headquarters is here."

Zhiyan's heart sank slightly.

"When?"

"Just now," Naobito Zenin said. "The Kamo Clan sent word that Jujutsu Headquarters already knows about the girl. No idea where the information leaked, but those old bastards have their eyes on her now."

He paused, his gaze settling on his son's face.

"They're already at the gate, claiming they have important matters to discuss. Discuss what? They're here to demand we hand her over."

Zhiyan fell silent for a few seconds.

"They found out so quickly."

"Faster than expected." Naobito Zenin frowned, a rare sight. "I thought we could keep it quiet for at least a month or so, but it leaked in seven days. Either one of the sorcerers who went with you that day couldn't keep their mouth shut, or..."

He glanced at his son.

"Or someone had their eye on that girl before she came here."

Zhiyan's fingers tightened slightly.

Had their eye on her.

A nine-year-old child had become prey in the eyes of various factions simply because she had awakened a rare Cursed Technique.

"Who came?"

"A disciple of that old bastard Gakuganji," Naobito Zenin said. "Polite enough. Said Jujutsu Headquarters heard the Zenin Clan had discovered a precious Reverse Cursed Technique Sorcerer and wanted to invite her over for a 'visit' and an 'exchange of ideas.'"

He put heavy emphasis on "visit" and "exchange," his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Zhiyan said nothing.

"They brought a show of 'good faith,' too," Naobito Zenin continued. "They said if the Zenin Clan lets the girl go to Jujutsu Headquarters, they'll give her an official position with the benefits of a Grade 1 Sorcerer. They even promised to assign people specifically to protect her."

"Protect," Zhiyan repeated, his tone calm but edged with coldness.

"Yes, protect." Naobito Zenin laughed, his smile tinged with mockery. "Protect her so thoroughly that nobody can see her. Protect her until she can serve no one but them."

He looked at his son.

"Boy, the question now is-what do you intend to do?"

Zhiyan fell silent.

The study grew quiet, leaving only the rustle of rain outside.

Of course he knew they couldn't hand her over.

Once Shoko fell into Jujutsu Headquarters' hands, her fate would no longer be her own. Those people would find all sorts of excuses to keep her there and all sorts of ways to make her serve them. At the end of the day, she was only a nine-year-old child, without connections or anyone to back her up. She couldn't resist, and she couldn't escape.

But refusing wouldn't be easy, either.

Jujutsu Headquarters represented the official authority of Jujutsu Society, and everyone had to show them some respect in public. Powerful as the Zenin Clan was, it couldn't openly oppose them. If they refused outright, Headquarters could accuse them of "hoarding talent" or "hindering the development of Jujutsu Society," making things even more troublesome.

And-

It wasn't time to fall out with them yet.

Zhiyan recalled what his father had said the night before. The balance of power in Jujutsu Society was shifting, and every faction was making moves behind the scenes. The Zenin Clan was strong, but it couldn't afford to make enemies everywhere. Maintaining a veneer of peace with Jujutsu Headquarters was especially necessary.

They couldn't hand her over, but they couldn't openly break with Headquarters, either.

Then what could he do?

Zhiyan's thoughts raced.

Stall for time? But stalling wouldn't solve the underlying problem. As long as Shoko remained an "outsider," those people would have grounds to reach for her.

Send her away? Send her back to her home in Kanagawa? That was even worse. An ordinary family had no means of protecting her. If those people came knocking, her parents wouldn't even have a chance to resist.

Hire her as a sorcerer for the Zenin Clan? Father had said that wouldn't carry enough weight. An employee could be dismissed at any time; a retained sorcerer could change patrons whenever they pleased.

Unless-

Unless she truly became a member of the Zenin Clan.

Unless "Zenin" became part of her name.

Zhiyan's thoughts paused.

He remembered his father's flippant suggestion that night.

"Marry into the family or something."

He remembered Shoko's earnest gaze that morning.

"If becoming part of the Zenin Clan is the only way I can be safe, then I wouldn't mind marrying you."

He remembered how she had looked when she said it, composed and calm, as though stating the most ordinary fact in the world.

Zhiyan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

He turned the idea over in his mind several times.

Logically-

It would work.

It would work very well.

An engagement would make Shoko the Zenin Clan's future daughter-in-law. That carried binding weight in Jujutsu Society, far more than any employment contract. If Jujutsu Headquarters still wanted her, they would have to consider the reputation they would earn for "stealing another family's bride." The Zenin Clan had every right to protect its own, and no one could fault them for it.

Besides, an engagement didn't mean getting married immediately. She was still young; they could wait. Wait a few years, until she had grown up and thought things through for herself, before making a decision. In the meantime, she could live safely with the Zenin Clan, learn to control her Cursed Technique, and gradually come to understand this world.

Once she could protect herself, if she wanted to break off the engagement-

Zhiyan's thoughts paused there.

If she wanted to break off the engagement...

He suppressed that faint, unnameable feeling and continued thinking.

If she wanted to break it off, they could deal with that then. At least she would be safe for these next few years.

Logically, this was the best solution.

But...

What about everything else?

Zhiyan recalled the faint scent of gardenias when Shoko leaned close to him, remembered her earnestly saying, "You really are good-looking," and the way her eyes curved as she said, "I'm just telling you now, so you won't be clueless later."

She had only been nine when she said that.

Yet every word she spoke seemed to be waiting for an answer from him.

Zhiyan drew a deep breath and looked up.

"Father."

Naobito Zenin was drinking from his sake flask-who knew when he had taken it out again-and raised an eyebrow at his voice.

"Made up your mind?"

"I have." Zhiyan's voice was steady, each word distinct. "Arrange an engagement."

Naobito Zenin nearly spat out his sake.

He choked and coughed repeatedly, pounding his chest as he stared wide-eyed at his son, looking as though he had seen a ghost.

"You... what did you say?"

"Arrange an engagement," Zhiyan repeated, as calmly as if he were commenting on the pleasant weather. "Let Shoko stay as the clan head's future daughter-in-law. Then Jujutsu Headquarters will have no grounds to demand her."

Naobito Zenin stared at him, his eyes widening further.

"You..." He pointed at his son, then at himself. "When I suggested it that night, you nearly electrocuted me!"

"That was different."

"How was it different?!"

"You were talking nonsense that night." Zhiyan's tone remained steady. "This is a carefully considered plan."

Naobito Zenin opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

He looked his son up and down, his gaze carrying suspicion, amusement, and a trace of something hard to describe... excitement?

"Carefully considered?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure you don't have some other reason?"

"What other reason?"

Naobito Zenin stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled.

It was an indescribably punchable laugh.

"You little brat." He leaned back and gave his sake flask a shake. "Your ears turned red again when you said that."

Zhiyan's ears had indeed turned red.

But his expression didn't change.

"It's hot."

"Hot?" Naobito Zenin glanced at the steady autumn rain outside, his grin growing even more punchable. "Fine, fine, it's hot. Now tell me, how do you intend to carry out this 'carefully considered' plan?"

Zhiyan took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to give his father an electric shock.

"Have Wana bring it up," he said. "That girl speaks before she thinks, but it would be more appropriate coming from her than from us. She can say she wants Shoko to stay with her forever, so she wants us to arrange an engagement and make Shoko a real member of the family someday."

"And then?"

"Then I'll speak to Shoko myself." Zhiyan paused. "She... she's more mature than other children her age. She can understand these things. Besides, she said before that if becoming part of the Zenin Clan was the only way to be safe, she wouldn't mind marrying me."

Naobito Zenin's eyebrows rose even higher.

"She said that?"

"She did."

"When?"

"A few days ago."

Naobito Zenin watched his son, his gaze growing more and more knowing.

"Boy," he drawled, "just how far have things gone between you and that girl?"

Zhiyan's ears reddened further.

"Nothing has happened. She's only nine."

"I know." Naobito Zenin chuckled. "That's why I asked how far things have gone-I didn't ask what you two have done."

Zhiyan: "..."

He decided to ignore his father's nonsense.

"Anyway," he said, standing up, "I'm going to talk to Wana about this."

"Wait, wait." Naobito Zenin stopped him, his smile fading a little as he grew unusually serious. "Boy, are you sure you've thought this through?"

Zhiyan turned back.

"An engagement is no small matter. That girl doesn't understand now, but what if she decides she doesn't want it once she does? What will you do?"

Zhiyan was silent for a moment.

"Then I'll let her choose," he said. "In a few years, once she's grown up, if she wants to break off the engagement, I won't object."

"Then won't you have spent all those years waiting for nothing?"

"Not for nothing." Zhiyan's voice was calm. "She'll have been safe during those years. That's enough."

Naobito Zenin looked at him, then suddenly laughed.

His smile held warmth, pride, and a touch of something wistful that was difficult to name.

"All right," he said. "Go. I'll stall Jujutsu Headquarters for now. Tell them the girl is young and frail, and shouldn't be moved. We'll give them an answer in a few days."

Zhiyan nodded and turned to leave.

At the doorway, he stopped again.

"Father."

"Hmm?"

"If she really is willing..." He paused without turning around. "Then I won't have waited for nothing, either."

Then he pulled open the door and walked out.

Behind him, Naobito Zenin froze for a few seconds before slapping his thigh and bursting into laughter.

"You little brat-and you still claim you don't like her-hahahaha-"

His laughter carried far through the curtain of rain, chasing after Zhiyan.

Zhiyan kept walking, though his ears grew a little redder.

The rain was still falling, fine and dense, pattering softly against his umbrella.

Umbrella in hand, Zhiyan passed through the covered walkway, skirted the garden, and headed toward Wana's courtyard.

As he reached the courtyard entrance, he heard voices coming from inside.

"Shoko, look! I drew you!"

"Mm, I see it."

"Does it look like you? Does it?"

"...Aren't the eyes a little too big?"

"Bigger looks prettier! Your eyes are pretty anyway!"

"Then what about this beauty mark under my eye?"

"I drew the beauty mark! Look, look!"

Standing at the courtyard gate, Zhiyan listened to the conversation inside, his lips curving despite himself.

He closed his umbrella, stood at the door for a moment, then knocked softly.

"Who is it?"

Wana's voice came from inside, and the door swung open a moment later.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Zhiyan.

"Big brother! You're here! Come in, come in! It's raining and so cold outside!"

She grabbed Zhiyan's sleeve and dragged him inside.

Zhiyan followed her into the room and saw Shoko sitting by the window, holding a sheet of paper with a crooked little figure drawn on it.

She looked up at him, her eyes curving in a smile.

"Zhiyan."

"Mm." Zhiyan nodded. "Drawing?"

"Wana drew it." Shoko held up the paper. "She says it's me."

Zhiyan took a look.

The figure's eyes took up half its face, its beauty mark looked like a black bean, and its hair resembled a tangled clump of grass.

He fell silent for a moment.

"...It has a lot of childlike charm."

Shoko's eyes curved in a smile. Without saying anything, she carefully folded the drawing and set it aside.

Wana pulled Zhiyan down onto the daybed, her little face brimming with excitement.

"Big brother, what brings you here? Did you come to see me? Or did you come to see Shoko?"

"I came to see both of you," Zhiyan said, then paused. "There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it? What is it?"

Zhiyan looked at her, then at Shoko.

Shoko was watching him quietly, her gaze clear as a still pool of spring water.

He took a deep breath.

"It's about Shoko."

Wana blinked. Some of the excitement faded from her little face, replaced by a serious expression.

"What about Shoko?"

"People from Jujutsu Headquarters came," Zhiyan said. "They found out about Shoko's Cursed Technique and want to take her away."

Wana's eyes widened at once.

"Take her away?! What right do they have?! Shoko belongs with us!"

She threw her arms around Shoko's arm, her little face full of wariness, as though someone might come to snatch her away at any moment.

Shoko let her cling to her without a word, simply looking at Zhiyan.

Her gaze was calm and clear, as though waiting for him to continue.

Meeting her eyes, Zhiyan inexplicably felt a little more at ease.

"I won't let them take you away," he said, his tone steady and earnest. "But you need to know that as long as you're not part of the Zenin Clan, they'll always have an excuse to interfere."

Shoko nodded.

"So?"

Zhiyan paused.

"So-" He looked at Wana. "Wana, let me ask you something."

"What?"

"Would you like Shoko to stay with our family for good?"

Wana nodded immediately. "Yes, yes! A million times yes!"

"And what if..." Zhiyan slowed a little. "She stayed in a different capacity?"

Wana blinked, her little mind racing.

"A different capacity? Like what?"

Zhiyan was silent for a moment.

"An engagement," he said. "She would become engaged to me."

Wana froze.

Her little mouth formed an O, her eyes growing wider and wider as she looked from her brother to Shoko, then back to her brother.

"An... engagement?"

"Mm."

"The kind of engagement where... she'll marry you someday?"

"...Mm."

The expression on Wana's little face went from shock to confusion, from confusion to realization, and from realization to an indescribable delight.

"Aaaaaah-"

She shrieked and threw her arms around Shoko.

"Shoko! Did you hear that? You're going to marry my brother! You're going to be my sister-in-law!"

Shoko swayed under the force of her embrace, but her expression barely changed.

She looked at Zhiyan, her eyes curving slightly.

"So," she said in her usual mild voice, "you came to propose?"

The tips of Zhiyan's ears reddened again.

"I'm not proposing," he said. "I'm here to discuss it."

"Discuss what?"

"Discuss..." He paused. "Whether you want to."

Shoko watched him without speaking.

The room fell quiet for a few seconds.

Clinging to Shoko's arm, Wana stared at her nervously, her little face full of anticipation.

Shoko thought for a moment, then asked a question.

"If we get engaged, those people won't come demanding that I go with them anymore?"

"They won't," Zhiyan said. "They'll have no grounds to demand the Zenin Clan's future daughter-in-law."

"And if we get engaged, I can keep living here?"

"Yes. You can stay as long as you want."

"And if we get engaged, can I still go home to see my mom and dad?"

"Yes. Whenever you want."

Shoko nodded and thought a little more.

"And if we get engaged, what if I grow up and decide I don't want to get married?"

Zhiyan looked at her and answered earnestly.

"Then you don't have to."

Shoko blinked.

"Is that allowed?"

"Yes," Zhiyan said. "The engagement is just a temporary measure to keep you safe for the next few years. Once you're grown up and can protect yourself, if you want to break off the engagement, I won't object."

He paused.

"When that time comes, you can go wherever you want and marry whoever you want. I promise."

After hearing him out, Shoko lowered her head and looked at her hands.

Those small hands had once brought a sparrow back to life.

The room was so quiet that they could hear the rain outside the window.

Wana was so nervous she barely dared breathe, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Shoko.

After a long while, Shoko lifted her head.

She looked at Zhiyan, her eyes curving in a smile.

"Okay."

Zhiyan was briefly taken aback.

"You..."

"I said okay," Shoko said, her voice as mild as ever, but carrying the faintest hint of amusement. "Let's get engaged."

Wana immediately cheered and threw her arms around Shoko.

"Yay, yay! Shoko, you said yes! You're going to be my sister-in-law!"

Shoko gently patted Wana's back as she hugged her, but her eyes stayed on Zhiyan.

Meeting her gaze, Zhiyan suddenly felt his heart skip a beat.

He looked away and stood up.

"Then I'll go... tell Father."

He turned to leave.

"Zhiyan."

Shoko's voice came from behind him.

He stopped and turned back.

Shoko was still sitting by the window, the light filtering through the rain outside falling across her face, soft as a thin veil. She watched him, her eyes curving slightly, the beauty mark beneath her eye lifting with her smile.

"You just asked me so many things," she said, her voice still mild, but a little softer than before. "So let me ask you one question."

Zhiyan's heart gave a small leap.

"What is it?"

Shoko tilted her head and looked at him earnestly.

"What about you? Do you want to?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

Wana's cheers cut off abruptly. Her eyes widened as she looked from Shoko to her brother, her little mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.

Zhiyan stood where he was, looking at Shoko.

The girl's gaze was clear and calm, as though she were waiting for the most ordinary answer in the world. Yet something slightly different seemed to lurk deep in her eyes-anticipation? Curiosity? Or something else?

He opened his mouth, only to find his throat tightening.

Did he want to?

He had asked her so many questions, considered so many options, and thought of so many reasons involving "protection," "safety," and "a temporary measure."

Yet throughout it all, he had never asked himself that question.

Did he want to?

Zhiyan remembered the day he first met her. Holding a daifuku, she had said earnestly, "I just wanted to see if it would be different." Sunlight had fallen across her face, and the beauty mark beneath her eye had lifted with her smile.

He remembered every letter from the past three months. In her letters to Wana, she would occasionally add, "How has Zhiyan been lately?" Whenever Wana read it aloud to him, he always said, "Fine," then went back to his files.

He remembered the faint scent of gardenias when she leaned close to him that morning. She had said earnestly, "You really are handsome," then tilted her head and added, "But you'd probably look even better smiling."

He remembered how, each time he left over the past seven days, she had said, "Zhiyan, go to bed early tonight."

Every time, he had nodded and agreed.

And every time, he had been unable to sleep.

Zhiyan's Adam's apple bobbed.

Looking at Shoko, he spoke each word clearly.

"I do."

Shoko blinked.

"What did you say?"

The tips of Zhiyan's ears reddened again.

But he didn't look away.

"I want to," he said, his voice lower than before, but even more earnest. "Not because the engagement can protect you, not because it's the best option, but because-"

He paused.

"Because it's you."

The room was so quiet that they could hear the rain.

Wana covered her mouth, her eyes wide, her little face plainly saying, Oh my goodness, what did I just hear?

Shoko looked at Zhiyan and suddenly smiled.

It was different from her usual smile-not faint and polite, but genuine, a smile that spilled out of her eyes.

Her eyes curved into two crescents, the beauty mark beneath her eye lifting slightly with her smile, softening her whole face.

"That's good, then," she said.

Zhiyan stood there watching her smile, suddenly feeling that even the rain outside sounded lovelier.

"What's good?" Wana finally couldn't help asking, her little face full of excitement. "What are you two talking about? Why don't I understand?"

Shoko turned to her and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"We're talking about how your brother wants to."

"Wants to what?"

"Marry me."

Wana froze for a second, then began to shriek.

"Aaaaaah-big brother, you finally figured it out-I thought you'd stay awkward forever-"

Zhiyan: "..."

He decided to ignore his little sister.

"I'm leaving," he said. "To tell Father."

He turned to leave, but Shoko's voice came from behind him again.

"Zhiyan."

He looked back.

Shoko stood by the window and waved at him.

"Get to bed early tonight."

Zhiyan looked at her, the corners of his lips curling up.

"All right."

He opened the door and stepped into the rain.

He didn't even open an umbrella.

The fine rain fell cool against his face, but he didn't feel cold at all.

The smile never left his lips.

Behind him, Wana was still squealing.

"Shoko-you really are going to be my sister-in-law now-this is great, this is so great-"

"Mm." Shoko's voice was soft, but held a hint of laughter. "It really is."

Zhiyan quickened his pace.

His ears burned red.

But he couldn't keep the smile off his face.

Toward evening, Naobito Zenin was lounging in his study, drinking, when he heard a knock at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Zhiyan walked in.

Naobito Zenin raised an eyebrow.

"Well?"

"She said yes."

Naobito Zenin nearly choked on his drink again.

"She said yes? Just like that?"

"Mm."

"Does that girl know what a marriage agreement means?"

"She does," Zhiyan said. "She understands everything."

Naobito Zenin looked at him, fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

There was relief in that smile, a touch of wistfulness, and a little envy he couldn't quite put into words.

"All right," he said. "Then I'll go turn down those old fossils at Jujutsu Headquarters."

He stood, walked to the door, then looked back.

"Boy."

"Yes?"

"Treat her well."

Zhiyan looked at him and nodded.

"I know."

Naobito Zenin smiled, opened the door, and left.

Zhiyan was alone in the study.

He stood by the window, looking out at the rain.

It was still falling, fine and thick, onto the bamboo leaves, into the pond, into every corner of this old estate.

He remembered the last question Shoko had asked him.

"What about you? Are you willing?"

He remembered how he'd felt when he answered.

His heart had been racing, but once he'd said it, he'd felt utterly at ease.

The corners of his lips curled up.

I am.

Of course I am.

Perhaps he'd been willing ever since he'd first seen her in that dessert shop.

He'd only truly realized it today.

Outside the window, the rain rustled softly, as though it, too, was happy for him.