Toji turned over a new leaf?

The afternoon sun spilled lazily into the room, where tiny motes of dust drifted slowly through the light like countless golden sprites dancing.

Zhiyan held Shoko in his arms as they snuggled beneath the covers, neither wanting to get up.

Shoko traced gentle circles on his chest, over and over. Her fingertips were soft, brushing his skin through the thin fabric and leaving a faint, elusive tickle.

Zhiyan looked down at her.

Her hair lay scattered across his arm, soft and smooth, gleaming faintly brown in the afternoon sunlight. Her breathing was slow and steady, each breath brushing his chest.

"Done sleeping?" he asked.

Shoko shook her head, her hair tickling his chin.

"I don't want to sleep anymore. But I don't want to get up, either."

Her voice was muffled, with a touch of petulant sweetness.

Zhiyan chuckled.

He tightened his arms, drawing her closer.

Shoko nestled into his embrace, finding a more comfortable position.

They continued enjoying the peace and quiet.

Then his phone rang.

"Bzz, bzz, bzz-bzz, bzz, bzz-"

The vibration sounded particularly jarring in the quiet room.

Zhiyan frowned slightly.

Who would call him at a time like this?

The old man?

Reluctantly, he reached over and picked up his phone from the nightstand.

His eyes swept over the screen.

Caller ID: Toji Zenin.

Zhiyan paused.

Toji?

That guy actually called me?

He stared at the screen for two seconds to make sure he wasn't seeing things-the name was clearly displayed, leaving no room for doubt.

"What is it?" Shoko asked softly, noticing his reaction.

Zhiyan patted her hand to reassure her, answered the call, and brought the phone to his ear.

"Hello."

A familiar voice came from the other end, as flippant as ever.

"Yo, kid. Long time no see."

"The famous 'Sorcerer Killer' actually has time to call me? What an honor!"

Zhiyan emphasized the title, his voice full of teasing.

The other end went silent for a second.

Then came a click of the tongue.

"You little brat. Still got that same smart mouth," Toji said with a hint of exasperation. "All right, enough buttering me up."

"So, what do you want?"

Rustling came from Toji's end, as though he were looking for something or shifting position. A moment passed before he spoke again.

"Heard from the old man that you're at Tokyo Jujutsu High now?"

Zhiyan gave a sound of acknowledgment.

"Yeah. Why?"

Toji didn't answer directly.

Zhiyan raised an eyebrow,

then suddenly spoke.

"Let me guess-"

"Don't tell me you happen to be nearby and want to take me out for dinner?"

The other end fell silent.

For a long time.

So long that Zhiyan almost thought the call had ended.

He glanced at the screen. The call was still connected.

"Hello?"

Toji finally spoke, sounding frustrated.

"Talking to you is no fun at all, you little brat."

"Looks like I guessed right," Zhiyan said, a little smugly. "When?"

More rustling came from Toji's end.

"No need to pick some special day," he said. "Let's do it today. You guys shouldn't have anything going on at school tonight, right?"

Zhiyan thought for a moment.

It was a day off, and he really had nothing planned for the evening. No missions, no classes, no loose ends to deal with.

"Sure," he said. "Where?"

His phone vibrated as a message arrived.

He opened it and found an address.

"There," Toji said. "Seven tonight. Don't be late."

"Got it."

Just as he was about to hang up, Toji spoke again.

"Oh, right-"

Zhiyan brought the phone back to his ear.

"Yeah?"

Toji paused.

"That little brat Wana's there too, right?"

"She is."

"Bring her along," Toji said, his tone unusually serious for a moment. "Haven't seen that girl in ages."

Zhiyan was about to agree when Toji added something else.

"Oh, and your fiancée."

"Anyone else?"

After Toji said no, he hung up.

Shoko lifted her head and looked at him.

"Who was that?"

Zhiyan looked down and met her eyes.

"Toji Zenin."

Shoko blinked.

Of course she had heard that name before.

Toji Zenin, Zhiyan's cousin and former teacher. Supposedly, he was an irresponsible man who spent his days lounging around and taking all sorts of odd jobs. He was also the "scumbag cousin" Wana talked about.

She thought for a moment, then spoke.

"He's the 'scumbag cousin' Wana talks about, right?"

Zhiyan paused.

Then he nodded sheepishly.

"...Yeah."

Shoko smiled.

There was a mischievous edge to her smile.

"Wana also said he used to be your teacher." She tilted her head as she looked at Zhiyan. "Doesn't that mean-"

She deliberately drew out the words.

"Zhiyan's actually a-"

She didn't finish, but her meaning was obvious.

A scumbag.

Zhiyan looked at her, a little annoyed. I'm a scumbag?

Suddenly, he felt he needed to teach her a little lesson.

He bent down.

Closer to her.

The distance between them vanished in an instant, until their noses were almost touching.

Shoko's smile froze.

She looked at his face looming before her. Again?

"What are you doing now...?"

Zhiyan didn't answer.

He simply moved closer, pressing his lips to her ear.

"Whether I am..." His voice was soft, his breath warm. "Don't you already know?"

His warm breath kept brushing Shoko's earlobe.

It tickled.

A blush spread from her cheeks to her ears, then down her neck, like a rosy glow slowly blooming.

She spoke quietly, her voice trembling a little.

"I-I don't know..."

The corners of Zhiyan's mouth lifted slightly.

He gently kissed her earlobe.

"You really don't know?" he asked in a low voice, pressing her for an answer.

Shoko let out a soft moan, her whole body going limp.

But she still answered stubbornly.

"I don't know."

Zhiyan's smile deepened at her shy yet stubborn expression.

He kissed her earlobe again.

Then again, and again.

The kisses were light and fleeting, yet carried an indescribable intimacy.

Shoko's breathing quickened.

Her fingers clenched his shirt, her knuckles paling slightly.

"S-stop it..." Her voice was impossibly soft.

Zhiyan lifted his head and looked at her.

Shoko's face was as red as a cooked shrimp, her eyes glistening as she glared at him.

But there was nothing intimidating in that look.

Only flustered indignation putting on a brave front.

He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"All right. I'll stop."

Shoko huffed and buried her face in his chest.

They fooled around in bed a little longer.

In the end, Shoko spoke first.

"All right, all right. Time to get up." She nudged Zhiyan. "Aren't we going out for dinner?"

Zhiyan checked the time.

It really was getting late.

The sun was already sinking in the west, and the light outside the window had turned a warm orange.

He sat up and pulled Shoko up with him.

Shoko smoothed her hair and got out of bed.

At the door, she looked back.

"I'll go back to my dorm and change first," she said. "You should get ready too."

Zhiyan looked at her and nodded.

"Let Wana know, too. I'll come pick you both up in a bit."

Shoko agreed, then opened the door and left.

Zhiyan was alone in the room.

He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the sunlight outside.

A smile still lingered on his lips.

He thought back to how Shoko had looked.

Her face flushed, her eyes glistening, saying "I don't know" while burying her face in his chest and refusing to get up.

When I put it that way, am I really a bit of a... scumbag?

Of course not. I'm perfectly respectable.

Though he had no idea what Toji was up to, it would be nice to see him.

After all, they had only met a handful of times over the past few years.

As the sun began to set, Zhiyan stood outside the girls' dormitory.

He had changed into casual clothes-a dark shirt and black trousers-and looked a little less severe than usual. His sleeves were rolled up slightly, exposing a small stretch of his wrists.

The evening breeze carried the scent of the mountain woods.

It was crisp and fresh, mingled with the fragrance of bamboo leaves.

He stood tall and straight, like a stalk of green bamboo.

Before long, two figures emerged from the dormitory.

Shoko walked in front, wearing a light-colored dress. It was pale blue, with a hem that fell just above her knees, revealing her slender calves. Her hair hung loose, glowing softly in the sunset, its slightly curled ends swaying gently with her steps.

The setting sun fell across her face, gilding her profile with warm orange light.

Wana followed behind her, wearing a pink hoodie with her hair tied in a high ponytail.

A radiant smile lit her face, and her eyes sparkled like two stars. She walked with a spring in her step, her ponytail swinging behind her.

Zhiyan's expression softened as he watched them.

"Let's go."

The three of them got into the car.

The car slowly pulled away from Jujutsu High and headed down the mountain road.

The scenery outside kept changing, from dense woods to scattered buildings, then from scattered buildings to bustling streets.

Wana chattered away the entire ride, asking one question after another.

"Is it really that scumbag cousin of ours?"

"Yeah."

"What's he doing in Tokyo?"

"No idea."

"What does he want with us?"

"Dinner."

"Just dinner?"

"Yeah."

Wana frowned, looking skeptical.

"Would he really be that nice?"

She paused, then added,

"He's not trying to screw you over again, is he? He really did a number on you the last time he came looking for you."

Zhiyan fell silent for a moment.

Last time...

That had been years ago. Toji had offered to show him a bit of the world, only to take him somewhere shady and nearly get him into trouble.

"Probably not," he said.

Wana still wasn't reassured.

"Then why's he treating us to dinner?"

Zhiyan thought for a moment.

"Maybe... he wants to catch up?"

Wana rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Catch up on what? How he spun me around like a windmill when I was little? Or how he stole my toys?"

Zhiyan was starting to lose his composure, too.

He was wondering the same thing himself.

Toji really didn't seem like the type to invite people out for dinner.

Unless...

He needed something.

The car made its way through the city, passing bustling shopping streets and quiet residential neighborhoods before finally stopping outside an ordinary housing complex.

The three of them got out and surveyed the scene before them.

It was a quiet residential area, with leafy trees and tidy streets. Several apartment buildings stood in a pleasant arrangement, with flowers and greenery planted below them, along with a few cherry trees. Though they weren't in bloom, it was easy to imagine how beautiful the place would be in spring.

The street was quiet, with only a few ordinary residents passing by now and then. Children's laughter drifted over from a distance, as though they were playing outside one of the buildings.

Wana looked around, puzzled.

"Are you sure this is the place?"

Wana wasn't the only one. Zhiyan was beginning to have doubts himself.

Toji actually lived somewhere like this?

He had imagined Toji living in some filthy apartment, with garbage piled everywhere and nothing in the fridge but beer and expired boxed meals. Or perhaps in a cheap hotel, here one day and somewhere else the next, with no fixed home.

But this place...

This place looked far too normal.

Too normal to be somewhere he would live.

"Could we have the wrong place?" Wana asked.

Zhiyan checked the address on his phone again.

No, this was it.

Nothing for it. Let's see how this goes.

He started forward.

"Let's go."

The three of them approached the apartment building.

Everything was perfectly normal.

So normal that it only made Zhiyan more uneasy.

Zhiyan checked the number on the door, then the address on his phone.

No, this was it.

He took a deep breath, raised his hand, and knocked.

Knock, knock, knock.

Footsteps sounded from inside.

They were very light.

Then the door opened.

Zhiyan froze-no one was there?

A childish voice immediately piped up from below.

"Down here!"

Zhiyan lowered his head.

And saw a child.

He was a little boy of about three or four, dressed in a tiny T-shirt and a cute pair of shorts. Most of his black hair stuck up, making him look like a fluffy hedgehog.

He tilted his little face up and stared at them with big, round eyes.

Those eyes were large and bright, like two black grapes, their dark pupils distinct against clear whites.

But it wasn't those eyes that surprised Zhiyan.

It was his face.

That face looked exactly like Toji's.

The same brows and eyes, the same contours-even the slightly smug expression was identical.

He was practically a miniature Toji.

Zhiyan's expression froze.

He stared at the child, his mind completely blank.

This...

This was...

Wana froze, too.

She crouched down and leaned closer to inspect the child.

"Wow-" she exclaimed. "Look! This kid looks exactly like our scumbag cousin!"

Startled by her reaction, the child took a step back.

But he didn't cry or hide. He simply watched them curiously with those big eyes.

Just then, a woman's gentle voice came from inside.

"Are you the guests Toji mentioned?"

Her voice was warm and kind, like a spring breeze or the afternoon sun.

Footsteps followed, and a young woman emerged from inside.

She wore simple clothes for around the house-a light-colored top and a dark, long skirt. Her hair was loosely pinned at the back of her head, with a few stray strands hanging by her ears. Her features were gentle, her brows and eyes softly curved, and she had a reassuring air about her.

She came to the doorway, and her smile deepened when she saw the three of them.

"You must be Toji's younger cousins?" Her gaze moved over all three before settling on Shoko. "And you must be Zhiyan's fiancée?"

Shoko nodded.

The woman's smile brightened further.

It was sincere and warm, without a trace of pretense.

"Come in, come in." She stepped aside to clear the doorway. "Don't stand outside. Toji went out to pick up a few things. He'll be back soon."

Zhiyan looked at her, then at the child who looked exactly like Toji, his feelings tangled.

Something suddenly dawned on him.

Toji...

Had he really settled down?

He looked inside.

The apartment wasn't large, but it was very tidy. There was a sofa and a coffee table in the living room, with a few children's picture books and a box of crayons on the table.

A delicious smell drifted from the kitchen, as though someone was simmering soup. It was rich and warm, carrying the scent of home.

Everything was so normal.

Too normal to be the sort of life Toji would have.

Zhiyan took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Shoko and Wana followed him.

The child stood in the doorway, looking up at them with curiosity filling his round eyes.

Wana crouched down and smiled at him.

"What's your name, little guy?"

The child blinked.

Then he spoke, his childish voice soft and sweet.

"My name is Megumi Zenin."

Wana's mouth fell open.

Megumi Zenin?

She looked at Zhiyan.

Zhiyan was also watching the child, his expression complicated.

Megumi Zenin.

No need to guess. He was definitely Toji's son.

His cousin's boy.

Tonight's dinner might turn out to be a lot more interesting than he'd expected.