Leave You to Me

The atmosphere in the living room was even more harmonious than expected.

Zhuzhi sat on the sofa, with Shoko and Wana on either side of her. Warm yellow light fell over the three of them, adding a touch of warmth to this ordinary evening.

"Shoko, your skin is so nice." Zhuzhi studied her closely, a hint of envy in her voice. "What skincare products do you use?"

Shoko thought for a moment before saying,

"Nothing special. Just the usual ones."

"You must have been born with it." Zhuzhi smiled. "It's good to be young. When I was your age, my skin was lovely too. I didn't need to put anything on it to keep it soft and dewy."

Wana chimed in beside her.

"Your skin is still lovely!"

Zhuzhi laughed at that and reached out to tap her lightly on the forehead.

"You certainly know how to flatter someone."

Wana giggled and snuggled closer to Zhuzhi.

Zhuzhi turned back to Shoko.

"Were you and Zhiyan engaged as children?"

Shoko nodded.

"Yes. When I was seven."

Zhuzhi blinked.

"Seven? That young?"

Shoko's eyes curved in a smile.

"Yes. We actually hadn't known each other for very long then."

Zhuzhi looked at her curiously.

"Then I suppose you count as childhood sweethearts."

Shoko didn't deny it.

Zhuzhi turned to Wana again.

"What about you, Wana? Is there anyone you like?"

Wana froze for a moment, then blushed slightly.

"N-no!"

That reaction was suspicious, to say the least.

Zhuzhi smiled.

"If there isn't, why are you blushing?"

Wana hurriedly waved her hands.

"There really isn't!"

But her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the kitchen.

Just for a moment.

A fleeting one.

So fleeting that she didn't even notice it herself.

But Zhuzhi noticed. Apparently, she was afraid her brother would find out.

Her smile deepened.

"All right, all right. There isn't anyone."

Her tone plainly said, "I understand."

Wana's face grew even redder.

Shoko watched from beside them, her eyes curved with amusement, but said nothing.

Zhuzhi moved on to another topic.

"What do you usually study at school?"

Wana thought for a moment.

"Lots of things. Cur-uh, anyway, we have lots of classes."

She had almost let something slip and hastily corrected herself.

Zhuzhi didn't notice. She simply nodded.

"That sounds quite demanding."

Wana nodded vigorously.

"It is! Especially the theory classes. They're so boring!"

Zhuzhi laughed.

"Then what do you do on your days off?"

Wana perked up.

"Sometimes we go shopping, sometimes we get something to eat, sometimes..."

She rattled on at length, going from Tokyo's dessert shops to Kyoto's old streets, from the bamboo grove at Jujutsu High to the stream behind the mountain.

Zhuzhi listened with interest, occasionally asking a question.

Shoko listened quietly beside them, adding a few words now and then.

The three of them got along wonderfully.

Time ticked steadily by.

Just then, Zhuzhi's expression suddenly changed.

It was a subtle shift, just a momentary frown before she quickly returned to normal.

But Shoko saw it.

She set down her teacup and looked at Zhuzhi's face.

"Zhuzhi, are you feeling unwell?"

Zhuzhi paused, then smiled and waved a hand.

"It's nothing serious. Just a minor problem."

Those words did nothing to reassure Shoko.

After all her years of reading medical texts, she knew one thing-

The more insignificant a minor problem seemed, the more dangerous it often was.

She looked at Zhuzhi, her gaze growing more serious.

"I know a little medicine too," she said, her voice gentle and sincere. "If you don't mind, could you tell me what's bothering you?"

Zhuzhi looked at her in surprise.

"You know medicine too?"

Shoko nodded.

"Yes. I've studied some."

Zhuzhi thought about it, decided it wasn't anything important, and told her.

"I've been getting headaches on and off lately." She pointed to her temple. "They aren't very bad, just a dull ache that comes in waves. I went to a clinic, and the doctor said it might be stress and a lack of rest."

Shoko's brows shifted slightly.

Headaches.

Intermittent.

She nodded.

"I see."

She stood and walked over to Zhuzhi.

"I know a few massage techniques too." She smiled, her expression gentle and reassuring. "Let me ease the pain for you."

Zhuzhi looked at her, surprised, but even more touched.

"Thank you so much, Shoko."

Shoko waved a hand.

"It's nothing."

She walked behind the sofa where Zhuzhi sat and gently placed both hands on her head.

Then she began to massage it.

Her touch was light and gentle, each motion almost like a caress.

Zhuzhi closed her eyes and sighed comfortably.

"You're... really good at this."

Shoko said nothing.

Her attention was already elsewhere.

She began concentrating her cursed energy.

It was faint and subtle, almost imperceptible. She slowly sent it into Zhuzhi's body, like an invisible thread feeling its way through the dark.

This was a technique she had read about in the Zenin Clan's ancient texts.

It was used to detect hidden ailments within the body.

For Jujutsu Sorcerers, those ailments might show no signs at all, only to suddenly flare up during a battle one day. For Reverse Cursed Technique Sorcerers, discovering them early meant treating them early.

The cursed energy probed deeper.

Through skin, through flesh, through the skull...

Then she sensed it.

Shoko's brows gradually drew together.

This was no "minor problem."

Through her cursed energy, she "saw" something.

Inside Zhuzhi's brain.

Something small, irregular, and growing.

A brain tumor.

And it doesn't look good.

It's already starting to spread.

Shoko's hands paused.

For a moment, panic seized her.

But she quickly steadied herself.

Then she resumed the massage, allowing nothing unusual to show on her face.

Inside her mind, however, her thoughts were already racing.

A brain tumor.

She had only encountered such things in medical texts. Even ordinary medicine often struggled to treat this illness. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy-each came with immense pain and risk.

And Zhuzhi might not even know what illness she had.

She thought it was just an ordinary headache.

Shoko took a deep breath.

Reverse Cursed Technique.

Can I use it?

The essence of Reverse Cursed Technique was reversing damage and repairing the body. She had used it to heal external injuries, internal injuries, and even birds on the verge of death.

But illness...

She wasn't sure.

Illness and injury were different. Injury came from outside, happened suddenly, and was something that "shouldn't exist." Illness came from within, developed gradually, and meant something had gone wrong with the body itself.

Can Reverse Cursed Technique reverse it?

She didn't know.

But whatever the answer, she had to try.

She closed her eyes and began using Reverse Cursed Technique.

Cursed energy circulated through her body, turning into a warm glow that slowly seeped from her palms into Zhuzhi's head.

Her idea was simple-

Try to reverse the state of those cells.

Turn them from "diseased" back to "normal."

Like making a wilted flower bloom again.

Like making a murky drop of water clear again.

Cursed energy poured in without pause.

Through her cursed energy, she "saw" the diseased cells. They differed from the healthy cells around them: darker in color, more distorted in shape, and giving off an unhealthy fluctuation.

She wrapped her cursed energy around them.

Then she began reversing them.

Warm light flowed around those cells, like spring sunshine melting snow and ice, like clear spring water washing away dust.

The fluctuations from those cells began to change.

From diseased to normal.

From distorted to healthy.

One, two, three...

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Shoko's forehead.

This was harder than she had imagined.

There were too many diseased cells, and they had already begun to spread. She had to locate each diseased cell precisely, apply her cursed energy precisely, and complete the reversal precisely.

She couldn't miss a single one.

She couldn't damage the healthy cells.

Her cursed energy flowed out endlessly, precise and gentle.

Time ticked by, second after second.

Zhuzhi closed her eyes, feeling the warmth spreading from her head.

It tingled pleasantly.

She felt a little weak.

But it was comfortable.

It was as though something was slowly melting inside her mind, as though some burden was gradually lifting. Her body felt lighter and more relaxed, until she was almost asleep.

She simply thought it was because Shoko was good at giving massages.

She had no idea that something was changing within that warmth.

A long time passed.

A very long time.

Shoko finally stopped.

She opened her eyes and softly exhaled.

Sweat slipped down from her temple, and her face had grown slightly pale.

But she smiled.

Because she could sense with her cursed energy that every diseased cell had disappeared.

Not a single one remained.

They had all returned to normal.

The problem was solved.

Feeling the hands on her head stop moving, Zhuzhi slowly opened her eyes.

Her head was still a little hazy, but it wasn't unpleasant. It was the drowsy languor that came after a good night's sleep.

She looked at Shoko, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Shoko, you're amazing," she said with a smile. "I feel so much better. My head doesn't hurt at all anymore. With massage skills like that, you really should open a shop!"

"I'm glad you liked it, Zhuzhi."

The kitchen curtain lifted, and two figures stepped out.

Zhiyan and Toji.

They had just finished washing the dishes, and their hands were still a little wet.

When Toji looked up, he saw the cheerful scene on the sofa-Zhuzhi smiling gently, Shoko's eyes curved in a smile, and Wana chattering beside them.

He turned slightly toward Zhiyan and spoke.

"Looks like they're getting along pretty well."

Zhiyan nodded.

"They are."

The two walked into the living room and sat on the sofa.

Toji glanced at Zhuzhi, then at Shoko, feeling that something was off.

But he didn't dwell on it.

They chatted a little longer, and it grew late.

Zhiyan stood up.

"We should head back."

Shoko and Wana stood as well.

Zhuzhi hurried to her feet.

"You're leaving already? Stay a little longer."

Zhiyan shook his head.

"We have classes tomorrow."

Zhuzhi was disappointed, but she didn't insist.

She looked at Toji.

"Go see them off."

Toji raised an eyebrow.

"Is that really necessary?"

Zhuzhi shot him a glare.

Toji immediately stood up.

"All right, all right. I'll see them off."

He couldn't have looked more obedient.

Watching this, Wana couldn't help laughing.

They all went downstairs.

The car was already waiting.

Zhuzhi stayed home to look after Megumi, so only Toji came to see them off.

Zhiyan was about to get into the car when Shoko suddenly stopped.

She turned and looked at Toji.

"Toji."

Toji raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

Shoko's expression grew more serious.

"There's something I want to tell you."

Toji looked at her, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes.

"What is it?"

Shoko fell silent for a moment.

Then she spoke.

"Zhuzhi... had a brain tumor."

Toji's expression froze.

For that instant, his entire body seemed rooted in place.

His pupils contracted sharply.

His face went pale in an instant.

"What?!"

He spun around, about to charge upstairs.

His speed was astonishing.

"Wait-"

Shoko's voice came from behind him.

"I've already treated her."

Toji stopped dead.

He turned his head and looked at Shoko.

His eyes held a hope he hardly dared believe in.

Shoko met his gaze and spoke earnestly.

"She's fine now. I used Reverse Cursed Technique to turn all the diseased cells back into healthy ones."

She paused.

"But you'll still need to keep an eye on her. Even though she's fine now, she should still go to the hospital for regular checkups. Just in case."

Toji stood where he was, completely still.

He looked at Shoko, his lips moving as he tried to say something, but no words came out.

A long moment passed.

Then he suddenly bent at the waist.

He bowed deeply.

He bent so low he was almost at a right angle.

"Thank you."

His voice was low and deep, carrying a solemnity they had never heard before.

Zhiyan froze.

So did Wana.

In all the years they had known Toji, they had never seen him like this.

He had always been so flippant, as though he wouldn't care even if the sky fell. But now he stood bent over, his head lowered, like a child who had done something wrong.

His reaction startled Shoko too.

She hurried forward and helped him straighten up.

"Toji, you don't need to do this. It's what I should do."

Toji straightened and looked at her.

Something flickered faintly in his eyes.

His voice was a little hoarse as he said, "To me, she's..."

He didn't finish.

But everyone understood.

Shoko smiled.

"I know."

She turned, took Wana's hand, and got into the car with her.

Wana leaned out of the car window and made a face at Toji.

"Hey! You lousy cousin!" she shouted. "You'd better treat Zhuzhi right! Or I won't let you off!"

Toji looked at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"I know."

He waved a hand.

The gesture was casual and natural.

Satisfied, Wana pulled her head back inside.

Zhiyan stood beside the car, looking at Toji.

They held each other's gaze for a few seconds.

Toji spoke.

"Kid."

Zhiyan looked at him.

"Yeah?"

"Treat her well."

Toji glanced at Shoko inside the car.

"That girl's a good one."

Zhiyan nodded.

"I know. You don't need to tell me."

Toji smiled.

There was genuine warmth in that smile.

"Go on."

Zhiyan got into the car.

The door closed.

The car slowly pulled away, heading deeper into the night.

Toji stood where he was, watching the car grow smaller and smaller in the distance until it finally disappeared at the end of the street.

The night breeze blew past, carrying a faint chill.

He stood there for a very, very long time.

Then he turned and walked toward home.

One step at a time.

Slowly, steadily.

Countless images surged through his mind.

Zhuzhi's smiling face.

Her busy figure as she cooked.

The tenderness in her eyes as she held Megumi.

The way she had sat on the sofa today, smiling as she chatted with Shoko.

If she hadn't met Shoko.

If Shoko hadn't noticed.

If that tumor had kept growing...

He didn't dare think about it.

He truly didn't dare.

If Zhuzhi had died-

He would never recover.

No, it wasn't that he would never recover.

He would fall apart completely.

He would be beyond saving.

He had walked so many roads, been through so much, witnessed so much life and death. He had thought he was numb to it all, that he no longer cared about anything.

But after he met her, everything changed.

She was the only light in his dark life.

No.

Not just her.

Two other figures surfaced in his mind.

Zhiyan.

Wana.

Those two brats had never been afraid of him, even as children.

Everyone else avoided him, despised him, called him "useless" and "trash." Only those two brats had asked him to be their teacher, to guide them, and told him, "Make sure you come back," whenever he left.

They were his family.

His true family.

If Zhuzhi was the rope that anchored him, keeping him from drifting any longer,

then Zhiyan and Wana were the warmest light in those dark years of his.

They let him know that there were still people in this world who cared about him.

He lifted his head and looked up at the night sky.

There were few stars, just a handful twinkling faintly on the horizon.

But his heart was full of light.

He quickened his pace, heading home.

Upstairs, the light was still on in that window.

That was his home.

His wife and son were there.

He pushed open the door.

Zhuzhi was sitting on the couch. When she saw him return, she gave him a gentle smile.

"Gone?"

Toji nodded.

He walked over and sat down beside her.

Then he reached out and drew her into his arms.

Zhuzhi paused in surprise.

"What's wrong?"

Toji said nothing.

He only held her a little tighter.

Zhuzhi didn't press him.

She simply leaned into his embrace and gently patted his back.

"There, there. I'm right here."

Toji closed his eyes.

A long time passed before he spoke.

"Yeah."

Thank you, heaven, for letting me meet you.

And thank you to that girl for leaving you with me.