Old fuddy-duddy

An old, established traditional restaurant stood tucked away in an unremarkable alley in downtown Yokohama, with only a dim yellow lantern hanging outside.

Shoko's father had never imagined he would set foot in a place like this again in his lifetime.

The private dining room could easily hold a dozen people, yet he sat alone across from Naobito Zenin. The low table between them was covered with exquisite dishes, each so much like a work of art that he could hardly bear to touch it with his chopsticks.

"Come, my fellow in-law, have a drink!" Naobito Zenin raised his cup, his face lit with a heartfelt smile. "This is a day worth celebrating! We're not leaving sober!"

Shoko's father looked at the cup of sake before him and hesitated.

Normally, he only had a couple of beers after coming home from work. This occasion, this liquor, this lavish setting-it was all rather beyond his everyday experience.

"Um, Mr. Zenin-"

"Call me your in-law!" Naobito Zenin interrupted. "It's all settled now. Why are you still calling me mister?"

Shoko's father opened his mouth and struggled to correct himself. "...My fellow in-law."

"There! That's more like it!" Naobito Zenin laughed heartily, tipped back his head, and drained his cup.

Shoko's father followed suit.

The sake slipped down his throat, crisp and smooth, nowhere near as strong as he had imagined.

"That's good sake!" he blurted out.

Naobito Zenin's eyes lit up.

"You know your sake?"

"No, no, no," Shoko's father hurriedly waved his hands. "I just think it tastes good."

"Then have some more!" Naobito Zenin filled his cup again. "Come on, try this. It's the restaurant's specialty-fresh sea bream, brought in from the coast just this morning."

Shoko's father picked up a piece with his chopsticks. The fish was fresh and tender, melting in his mouth.

Suddenly, he felt that perhaps life wasn't so bad after all.

In the next private room, three children sat around another table.

Wana chattered nonstop, praising one dish, admiring another, then pestering Shoko with one question after another.

"Shoko, are you really going to marry my brother?"

"Haven't we already agreed on that?"

"Then when will you get married?"

"When I'm grown up."

"How long will that take?"

"A few years, I suppose."

"How long is a few years?"

Shoko thought for a moment. "Probably... when you're about this tall?"

Wana looked down at herself, then at the height Shoko indicated with her hand. A serious expression settled over her little face.

"Then I have to eat lots!"

Zhiyan sat nearby, quietly sipping his tea. As he listened to the two little girls talking, the corners of his lips curved slightly.

Shoko glanced at him, and her eyes curved into a smile too.

The room was warm, and outside the window lay a carefully tended garden, where bamboo cast dappled shadows beneath the lights.

Suddenly, Shoko felt that days like these might not be so bad.

Several rounds of drinks and dishes later, Naobito Zenin's face had begun to flush, and his voice had grown louder.

"Let me tell you, my fellow in-law, that boy of ours has never given us anything to worry about." He pointed in Zhiyan's direction-even though Zhiyan wasn't in the room. "Steady, sensible, thorough in everything he does. With him, Shoko will never be mistreated!"

Shoko's father nodded repeatedly, though it was hard to tell whether he sincerely agreed or had simply drunk too much.

"Yes, yes. He seems like a very good boy to me."

"Doesn't he?" Naobito Zenin filled his cup again. "Come, another drink!"

They drained another cup together.

Just then, the sliding door opened gently, and Zhiyan entered.

He sat down beside Naobito Zenin without speaking, simply waiting in silence.

Naobito Zenin glanced at him.

"Something you need?"

Zhiyan nodded.

"There's something I'd like to discuss with you, sir."

Shoko's father set down his cup and looked at him.

"Go ahead, Zhiyan."

Zhiyan paused, seemingly gathering his words.

"Sir, about Shoko..." he began earnestly. "Once the engagement is settled, she'll be staying with the Zenin Clan. But we're worried..."

He looked at Shoko's father.

"Worried about what?"

"About your safety, and your wife's."

Shoko's father froze.

"Our safety?"

Zhiyan nodded.

"Now that Shoko's Cursed Technique has been discovered, Jujutsu Headquarters won't be the only ones watching her. Although the engagement can protect her, some people might resort to underhanded methods-such as targeting her family."

Shoko's father sobered up considerably.

"You mean..."

"What I mean is," Zhiyan said, looking at him sincerely, "I'd like you and your wife to move to Kyoto too."

Shoko's father opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

Move to Kyoto?

His family had lived here for decades. They had jobs, neighbors, everything they knew. And now, all of a sudden, they were being asked to leave-

"I know this is an abrupt request," Zhiyan continued. "But please understand that it's for your safety. The Zenin Clan has businesses in Kyoto. We can arrange jobs and a place for you to live. Shoko will also be able to see you whenever she wants."

He paused.

"Of course, if you don't want to move, we'll send people to protect you. But that will inevitably cause some inconvenience. Moving is the best option."

Shoko's father fell silent.

As he looked at the boy before him, a complicated mix of emotions suddenly welled up inside him.

This child was only nine, yet he had thought everything through so thoroughly. Not only was he taking Shoko away with him, he had even considered her parents' safety.

He looked at Naobito Zenin.

Naobito Zenin held the sake flask, the earlier drunkenness gone from his face and his gaze clear.

"My fellow in-law," he said, "the boy is right. We need to consider your safety too."

Shoko's father was silent for a few seconds.

"But... we have jobs in Yokohama, and a house..."

"The jobs are easy enough to handle," Naobito Zenin said. "The Zenin Clan has several shops in Kyoto. You can work at whichever you like. Housing is even less of a problem. It's already prepared."

He glanced at Zhiyan.

"This boy had someone get it ready before we came. We're only waiting for your agreement."

Shoko's father froze.

He looked at Zhiyan.

The boy remained as composed as ever. Meeting his gaze, he gave a slight nod.

"It's already prepared."

Shoko's father opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Suddenly, he had no idea what to say.

This child truly cared.

From Shoko's situation to her parents', he had considered every detail and made proper arrangements for everything.

And he was only nine.

Shoko's father took a deep breath.

"Zhiyan," he began, his voice a little hoarse, "may I ask you something?"

"Please go ahead, sir."

"Do you... truly want to protect Shoko, or are you only doing this out of responsibility?"

Zhiyan looked at him without the slightest evasion.

"Both."

He paused.

"At first, it was responsibility. I brought her back with me, so I ought to keep her safe. But afterward..."

His words slowed.

"Afterward, it became more than just responsibility."

Shoko's father looked at him, then suddenly smiled.

There was comfort in that smile, and relief, along with a trace of something difficult to put into words.

"All right," he said. "We'll move."

Zhiyan was briefly taken aback. Then he stood and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, sir."

Shoko's father waved a hand.

"Don't thank me. Thank yourself."

He looked at Naobito Zenin.

"My fellow in-law, we'll need another couple of drinks."

Naobito Zenin burst out laughing.

"Of course, of course! Come, fill them up!"

In the other room, Wana had fallen asleep slumped over the table, her little cheeks rosy and a trace of drool hanging from the corner of her mouth.

Shoko draped her own coat over her, then sat by the window, looking out at the garden.

The sliding door opened gently, and Zhiyan entered.

Seeing Wana asleep, he softened his footsteps and went to sit beside Shoko.

"Your father agreed," he said.

Shoko turned to look at him.

"To the move?"

"Yes."

Shoko was silent for a few seconds.

"When did you arrange it?"

"Before we came," Zhiyan said. "I had someone find a house in Kyoto, near the Zenin Clan's estate, but not inside it. Your family can live together without being hemmed in by all our clan's rules."

Shoko looked at him, her eyes curving into a smile.

"You really have thought of everything."

Zhiyan's ears reddened slightly.

"It's only right."

Shoko didn't look away. She simply kept watching him.

Moonlight streamed through the lattice window, settling over them as softly as a veil.

Suddenly, Shoko reached out and took Zhiyan's hand.

Zhiyan stiffened slightly.

Her hand was small, soft, and warm, like a little tuft of cotton.

Then her fingers moved gently, scratching his palm twice.

Zhiyan's heart skipped a beat.

He turned to look at Shoko.

She was watching him, her eyes curved and a faint smile on her lips.

She made no sound, only moving her lips gently.

Zhiyan watched her lips, deciphering the words one by one.

Old.

Fuddy.

Duddy.

He froze.

Old fuddy-duddy?

Him?

Seeing his stunned expression, Shoko's eyes filled with even more amusement. Still without a sound, she scratched his palm again.

Zhiyan's ears turned scarlet.

The redness spread from their tips to their rims, all the way down to the base of his neck.

He wanted to say something, but had no idea what.

In the end, he simply tightened his grip on the little hand making mischief in his palm.

Feeling his grip tighten, Shoko's eyes curved even further.

Outside, the moonlight fell in silence.

Inside, two nine-year-old children held hands, one with bright red ears, the other beaming.

Only after a long while did Zhiyan finally speak.

"How am I an old fuddy-duddy?"

Shoko thought for a moment.

"You're an old fuddy-duddy when you talk, an old fuddy-duddy when you do things, and even an old fuddy-duddy when you walk."

Zhiyan: "..."

"Wana said so," Shoko added. "She said you've been like this since you were little. You never acted like a kid."

Zhiyan fell silent for a few seconds.

"Do you mean 'an old fuddy-duddy' or 'mature beyond my years'?"

Shoko tilted her head.

"Is there a difference?"

"Yes."

"What difference?"

Zhiyan looked at her and said earnestly,

"'An old fuddy-duddy' is an insult. 'Mature beyond your years' is a compliment."

Shoko blinked, then laughed.

Her laughter was clear and bright, like wind chimes.

"Which do you think you are, then?"

Zhiyan thought for a moment.

"Mature beyond my years."

"Really?" Shoko looked at him with her head tilted, her eyes curving into crescents. "But I think you're an old fuddy-duddy."

Zhiyan: "..."

"Still," Shoko added, "an old fuddy-duddy isn't so bad."

As she spoke, she scratched his palm again.

"At least an old fuddy-duddy is dependable."

Zhiyan looked at her, suddenly at a loss for words.

He simply tightened his grip on her hand and didn't let go.

Only after a long while did he speak softly.

"Then do you like old fuddy-duddies?"

Shoko looked at him, her eyes curving.

"Take a guess."

Zhiyan's ears turned scarlet.

He didn't ask again, merely turning away in silence to look at the moon outside the window.

Watching his scarlet ears, Shoko couldn't stop smiling.

She suddenly felt that this old fuddy-duddy was rather cute.

In the private room next door, the two fathers still hadn't finished their drinks.

"Listen, my future in-law, that boy of ours is just too quiet." Naobito Zenin's face was already flushed from drinking, and his words were beginning to slur. "He's been like that since he was little. Never acted like a kid. His mother and I worried ourselves sick, thinking he'd never find a wife."

Shoko's father had drunk nearly as much, and his speech was growing loose too.

"But he found one, didn't he? Our Shoko!"

"Exactly!" Naobito Zenin slapped his thigh. "All thanks to your Shoko! What a good girl. Sensible, sweet, and she can keep that boy in line!"

"Keep him in line?"

"You bet!" Naobito Zenin chuckled. "You haven't seen him around her. His ears never stop blushing. Once they turn red, they stay red all day!"

Shoko's father paused, then laughed along with him.

"Really?"

"Really! Let me tell you-"

The two began whispering together, breaking into bursts of laughter now and then.

It grew late. The drinks were finished, and the food had gone cold.

Shoko's father staggered out of the private room, and Zhiyan caught him.

"Careful, sir."

Shoko's father looked at him and patted his shoulder.

"Boy," he said, reeking of alcohol, "treat her well."

"I will."

"If you ever dare mistreat her..."

"I won't."

Shoko's father looked at him, then suddenly smiled.

"All right. I believe you."

He glanced over to where Shoko stood waiting beneath the covered walkway, holding a bleary-eyed Wana by the hand.

Moonlight fell over them, as gentle as a painting.

Shoko's father suddenly felt that perhaps this decision had been the right one.

Early the next morning, there was another knock at Shoko's door.

Shoko's mother opened it to find Zhiyan standing outside, with several neatly dressed people behind him.

"Good morning, ma'am." Zhiyan bowed slightly. "We're here to help you move."

Shoko's mother froze.

"Move? So soon?"

"The sooner you move, the sooner you can put your minds at ease," Zhiyan said. "Everything is ready. You only need to pack some personal belongings. The furniture and everything else are already there."

Shoko's mother opened her mouth, then closed it again.

She glanced back inside. Shoko's father was still sleeping off his hangover, groaning on the couch.

"Um... he isn't awake yet..."

"That's all right," Zhiyan said. "You can start packing. He can head over once he wakes up."

Shoko's mother looked at him, suddenly at a loss for words.

This boy really did think of everything.

So thoroughly that she didn't know how to refuse.

She sighed and smiled.

"Then... sorry for the trouble."

Zhiyan shook his head.

"It's only right."

An hour later, most of Shoko's family's belongings had been packed.

Shoko's father finally woke up and came out rubbing his head. At the sight of all the people and boxes filling the house, he stood stunned for several seconds.

"What's all this...?"

"We're moving," Shoko's mother said. "Zhiyan said we'd move today."

Shoko's father looked at Zhiyan.

Zhiyan met his gaze and bowed slightly.

"Good morning, sir."

Shoko's father opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end he merely sighed.

"You... have really thought this through?"

"Yes."

Shoko's father looked at him in silence for a few seconds, then smiled.

"All right," he said. "Let's move, then."

Standing to one side, Shoko watched the scene with a smile in her eyes.

She walked over to Zhiyan and gently tugged his sleeve.

Zhiyan lowered his head to look at her.

"Hmm?"

Shoko said nothing, simply smiling up at him.

That smile held gratitude, admiration, and a trace of something she couldn't quite name.

Zhiyan's ears turned red again.

He looked away, pretending to direct the movers.

Watching his retreating back, Shoko's smile deepened.

She finally understood why Wana admired her brother so much.

He really was so dependable.

Dependable enough to put her at ease.

That afternoon, Shoko's family got into a car bound for Kyoto.

Shoko's parents sat in the back, with Shoko in the middle and Zhiyan on the other side. A sorcerer from the Zenin Clan sat in the front passenger seat, speaking quietly with the driver.

The car glided onto the highway, the scenery outside racing backward.

The car was quiet, filled only with the low hum of the engine.

Shoko glanced at her parents on her left, then at Zhiyan on her right, before quietly reaching out and taking his hand.

At that familiar touch, Zhiyan stiffened slightly again.

He didn't pull away, only turning to glance at her.

Shoko was gazing out the window as though nothing had happened, but there was an unmistakable smile on her lips.

Zhiyan's ears began to burn again.

He turned to look out the window too, pretending to admire the scenery.

But he didn't let go of her hand.

In the back seat, Shoko's father caught the scene in the rearview mirror-the two children holding hands, both looking out the window, one with scarlet ears and the other with a smile.

He suddenly smiled.

He patted his wife's hand, motioning for her to look.

Shoko's mother followed his gaze and smiled too.

They exchanged a glance without saying anything, then quietly turned back to watch the scenery outside.

Beyond the windows, the sun shone brightly.

The car crossed a large bridge, with a shimmering river below.

Shoko suddenly spoke.

"Zhiyan."

"Hmm?"

She turned to look at Zhiyan.

"You had all this ready before you even asked whether we'd agree to move?"

Zhiyan met her gaze, his ears reddening further.

"...What if you agreed?"

Shoko looked at him, then suddenly laughed.

Her laughter was clear and bright, like wind chimes.

Shoko nodded, her eyes curving into crescents. "A thoughtful old fuddy-duddy."

Zhiyan: "..."

He decided to stop talking.

But he never let go of Shoko's hand.

A quiet cough came from the front seat.

It was the sorcerer accompanying them, trying hard to hold back his laughter.

Zhiyan's ears grew even redder.

Shoko acted as though she hadn't heard a thing, still leaning against his shoulder and watching the scenery outside.

The car continued onward.

Past mountains and rivers, past fields, toward the ancient city of Kyoto.

As the sun sank in the west, the car turned onto a quiet street.

Cherry trees lined both sides. Though they weren't in bloom, it was easy to imagine how beautiful the street would be in spring.

The car stopped in front of a house.

It wasn't large, but it was elegant, built in the classic Kyoto style, with blue-gray roof tiles, white walls, and a few stalks of bamboo by the entrance.

"We're here," Zhiyan said.

Shoko's parents got out and stood at the gate, looking at the house that would soon become their new home, unable to speak for a moment.

Shoko got out too and joined them.

"Mom, Dad," she said, "let's go inside and have a look."

Shoko's mother nodded, taking her hand as they walked inside.

The house was small but cleverly laid out. Just inside the gate was a little courtyard with a small pond holding a few koi. Farther in were the living room, bedrooms, and kitchen, all fully furnished with brand-new furniture.

What surprised Shoko's parents most was that the kitchen had already been stocked with rice, flour, other staples, and cooking oil, and the refrigerator was packed with ingredients.

"This..." Shoko's father looked at Zhiyan.

Zhiyan stood at the entrance and bowed slightly.

"I didn't know what you both liked to eat, so I had them stock some everyday ingredients. If they're not to your liking, they can be replaced anytime."

Shoko's father opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Suddenly, he didn't know what to say.

This boy really had thought of everything.

So much so that they didn't know what to say.

Shoko's mother walked over to him and gently took his hand.

The two exchanged a look and smiled.

"Thank you," Shoko's father said. "Really... thank you."

Zhiyan shook his head.

"It's only right."

Shoko stood to one side, watching the scene, her eyes curving into a smile.

She walked over to Zhiyan and quietly took his hand again.

Zhiyan looked down at her.

Her eyes curved into a smile at him, but she said nothing.

That little hand, though, gave his palm two more scratches.

Zhiyan's ears flushed again. That made three times.

But he didn't pull away. He only held her hand tighter.

The last rays of the setting sun spilled into the courtyard, bathing everything in a warm golden glow.

Koi swam leisurely through the pond, occasionally flicking their tails and sending up little splashes.

Looking at it all, Shoko suddenly felt that this unfamiliar city didn't seem quite so unfamiliar anymore.

Because he was here.

With his thoughtful preparations, his steady gaze, and his bright red ears.

And the hand that had never let go of hers.

She looked up at him.

"Zhiyan."

"Hm?"

"Give me a smile."

Zhiyan froze.

"What?"

"Give me a smile," Shoko said. "I've hardly ever seen you smile."

Zhiyan's ears reddened a little more.

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

Zhiyan looked at her, silent for a few seconds.

Then the corners of his mouth slowly curved upward.

It was a faint smile, so very faint, yet it seemed to soften even the sunset.

Shoko watched him, her eyes curving into a smile.

"Just as lovely as I remembered."

Zhiyan's ears turned even redder.

But he didn't look away. He simply watched her, taking in her smiling eyes and the tiny beauty mark at the corner of one eye.

"Shoko."

"Hm?"

"From now on," he said, his voice a little lower than usual, "I'll smile more."

Shoko blinked, then smiled.

Her smile was brighter than the sunset.

"Okay."