Extra: Two Doting Dads

"Okaaay, thanks for your hard work, everyone!"

The floor director's voice rang out, bringing the day's filming to a close.

Yuji Itadori, who had been holding his breath in concentration through an action scene just moments earlier, exhaled and switched out of character. At the same time, he felt a heavy slap on his shoulder.

"Uh, hey, don't hit me, Sukuna."

That was his twin brother, Sukuna Itadori. Their faces were identical, but for some reason, his personality was horribly twisted.

Entirely unaware that his own excessive optimism might have contributed to that, Yuji sighed and told Sukuna, "Good work." Sukuna merely answered with a snort.

He had something more pressing on his mind than accepting thanks.

"That idiot... is taking forever."

Still wearing his kimono costume, he picked up the phone he had left beside the set and checked the time. Yuji leaned over to look, then frowned too.

"Yeah... Hey, is he really going to make it here on his own?"

The two exchanged looks for several seconds... then silently lowered their heads and sighed.

"Not a chance." "Yeah."

As the two leading actors slumped dejectedly in a corner, the other cast members couldn't help worrying about them. One big-name actor rose leisurely and approached the twins from behind.

Sukuna, always sensitive to someone's presence, turned with a threatening look, and Yuji whipped his head around almost in response. At that instant... the big-name actor, Satoru Gojo, threw his arms around their shoulders.

"What's wrong, twins? Why the long faces?"

Naturally, the one to answer was the sociable Yuji... right? No. Surprisingly, the normally taciturn Sukuna spoke instead.

"...That idiot Haruka still isn't here, even at this hour."

This time, it was Gojo's turn to let out a startled "Huh?"

"Aren't we about to go film 'Celebrity Taste Test'?"

The youngest of the three Itadori Family sons, Haruka Itadori, had yet to appear.

Meanwhile, a photo was going viral on a certain social media platform with a blue bird logo... though the twins wouldn't learn about it until a little later.

"All right, let's begin. Our annual New Year's tradition, 'Celebrity Taste Test.'"

"We've already had quite a few problems at the start of this year, but it looks like we can finally get things sorted out."

The hosts were Suguru Geto and Shoko Ieiri.

This edition of Celebrity Taste Test featured only the cast of the hit dark fantasy series "Jujutsu Kaisen." Those two had adamantly refused to compete, so they had been promoted to hosts instead.

...Incidentally, their reasons for refusing were:

"Because Satoru's/that bastard's here."

They had withdrawn for fear of being placed on Satoru Gojo's team. Satoru Gojo, rejected even by fellow actors who had started out alongside him... Well, that was just like him.

Naturally, Satoru Gojo himself was present. In the show, he played the handsome, powerful, gentle GLG-Great Last Guardian-who supported the protagonist and his friends. In the entertainment industry, however, his scheming, awful personality and tendency to drag everyone around him down had earned him the nickname "walking minefield."

"Aww, what? Geto and Shoko aren't playing? How boring."

He had a nasty mouth, but he was a major star whose good looks could excuse anything.

Just then, a young man lightly poked his head out and smiled at the minefield.

"Gojo! We'll do our best to liven things up too, so don't disappear on us, okay?"

Yuji Itadori. He was the leader and eldest brother of the rookie idol group "3tigers," which had started making a name for itself shortly before filming began. The group, commonly known as the Three Tigers, consisted of three brothers: the older twins, Yuji and Sukuna... and Haruka, the youngest, who was a year their junior.

As the eldest, Yuji was cheerful and easygoing, a mood-maker who brought smiles and happiness to everyone. His devoted, fussing side when looking after his two younger brothers was another treat for fans. He was also extraordinarily athletic and competed in "SASUKE" every year.

"Foolish. They're the opposing team, after all. We should crush them from the outset."

That sharp tongue belonged to the second brother, Lord Sukuna. His slightly archaic speech and domineering attitude made him a complete sadist, but his fans apparently loved that. Though he seemed thoroughly difficult, he was ridiculously soft on his brothers. He acted prickly toward his older brother but was nothing but sweet to his younger one. According to inside family information, this was the brother who drove Haruka to university.

"Heh, you think that highly of me? I'm delighted." (Sinister smile.)

"Has the senility finally reached your brain, you doddering old actor? I have no interest in trash." (An oppressive stare from on high.)

And... for some reason, he got along terribly with Satoru Gojo. It was common knowledge in the industry, but once a confrontation like this began, no one could stop it. Yuji in particular couldn't rein Sukuna in, so the clash between a major star and a talented newcomer unfolded.

"Ah, this won't do. Let's retreat, Shoko."

"Let's get out of here."

Even the hosts had given up entirely. The show was about to collapse before it even began... when:

"Big brother, wait."

An authoritative voice... no, a rather dopey call cut in.

Whoosh. As though accompanied by that sound effect, a head emerged from Sukuna's lap... It belonged to the youngest of the Three Tigers, Haruka Itadori.

Squinting his sleepy, half-open eyes, he tugged at the hem of his brother Sukuna's costume.

"The promotion and my apology are more important than arguing."

And just like that, the murderous aura of the brother who had been squaring off against Gojo dwindled away.

"Ah, right. Let's get it over with," he said, stroking the head of his younger brother, who had been using his lap as a pillow moments earlier.

Probably half the Three Tigers' fans screamed at that sight.

Haruka Itadori. A year younger than his brothers, he was currently juggling university life and his idol career. Laid-back, lazy, and entirely at his own pace, his greatest obsession was sleep... though apparently, what he really wanted was to stay near his brothers and be pampered. Unlike his two older brothers, he had neither astonishing stamina nor acting ability, but surprisingly, he was the brains of the family.

He was also, however, the strangest of the three.

"Um, a lot of 'I spotted him' photos taken on the train around noon today have been going viral. Sorry, that really was me.

Yuji and my brother told me, 'We've got Celebrity Taste Test, come to work,' so I thought I'd go by myself, but I was half asleep and got on the train. I left home in my loungewear."

"Sorry our idiot caused trouble, but stop spreading those photos... unless you want them deleted."

"Hey, hey, Sukuna! What are you saying?

Sorry to our fans and everyone on the train. Haruka's a little scatterbrained, but that's part of what makes him cute... Huh? This sounds weird. It's not really an apology anymore."

Even as the three brothers continued their noisy exchange, only one of them was dressed differently. Or rather, Haruka was the one still wearing nothing but loungewear.

A kitty hoodie would probably be the right name for it. The hood had cat ears, paw-pad ornaments hung from the ends of the drawstrings, and a cute cat face was printed on the large front pocket.

The nineteen-year-old in that hoodie lazily sat up and pulled the cat-eared hood over his head.

"So warm, so comforting... I can sleep."

Forgetting all about his apology, he swayed, pulled under by the urge to sleep.

"Ah... That's the one I gave you for Christmas, right? Glad you like it."

Steadying Haruka from the left before he toppled over was Megumi Fushiguro, a young actor close to the Itadori brothers. He often worked alongside the eldest brother, Yuji, and the actress Nobara Kugisaki. But he also seemed to take good care of the troublesome youngest brother, Haruka, and frequently posted photos of outings with both families on his account. Without exception, those photos featured Haruka asleep beside the Fushiguro Family's large dog.

"You have poor circulation in your hands and feet, right? Make sure you stay warm."

Beside Fushiguro, actress Nobara Kugisaki was another person who always looked after the Itadori brothers. She was about to get a blanket for Haruka, whose sensitivity to the cold was well known, but the staff stopped her. Naturally, their reason was that he would fall asleep if given a blanket.

The talented rookie actress, Lady Nobara, clicked her tongue loudly.

"What clueless staff."

"Indeed."

According to the production crew, Lord Sukuna and Lady Nobara actually got along quite well.

"All right, all right, it finally looks like we can get started. Let's divide you into teams."

Clap, clap. A few dry claps finally brought the situation under control. When Satoru Gojo called out, "Dereliction of duty!" the hosts answered with smiles that brooked no argument. This year's hosts were not to be trifled with.

"So, how are we splitting into teams?"

In a sense, the eldest son of the Itadori Family was impressive for being able to break the tension with a question in that atmosphere. Looking at Yuji's smiling, innocent gaze, his senior Geto silently withdrew the dark aura gathering behind him.

"This time, Yuji..." He paused, then glanced at Haruka for some reason.

"Foolish. Pointless. There's no need to ask. We brothers will naturally be on the same team."

Sukuna blocked that meaningful look with his arm. However:

"Mm, sorry, Sukuna. Unfortunately, you'll be split up this time."

"What!?" "Huh, seriously?" "Zzz... hmm?"

Geto's shocking announcement sent shock waves through the three of them(?). At their reactions, both hosts' lips curled upward.

"This time, Yuji will be on the First-Year Group team. That's Yuji, Kugisaki, and Fushiguro."

Shoko Ieiri gestured with her cocoa-flavored cigar in the nonsmoking area, prompting Kugisaki to tilt her head.

"Wouldn't that leave Haruka on his own?"

The hosts answered her question with wry smiles. "Yeah, sorry."

"Haruka will partner with Satoru on Team Strongest."

In the dark fantasy series "Jujutsu Kaisen," there were indeed scenes in which Haruka Itadori fought Satoru Gojo, the strongest in Jujutsu Society, to a standstill. But just because of that...

"Yes! Haruka, come over here! You feel safe teaming up with the strongest, don't you?"

"Huh, ah... hmm? I'm teaming up with Gojo? Then hugs."

The nineteen-year-old spread his arms and flung himself into the twenty-eight-year-old's embrace, and Gojo lifted him effortlessly.

"This is practically a crime." "Indeed."

The Itadori Family's bodyguard stood with a paper fan in one hand. Sukuna raised his fist, seething with resentment.

"Oh, right. Sukuna will be paired with Mahito on Team Cursed Spirits."

"Cause trouble and I'll burn you to ashes, you little worm."

"...Aren't you two the ones who laugh at Itadori together in the show?"

All right, once everyone settled down, it was time for the first test.

"Um, the first test is wine... right? Nice. I want some too."

"Hey, Shoko. Restrain yourself.

...Ahem. This time, we've prepared a wine from Château Lafite Rothschild. A superb vintage that costs at least a million yen a bottle at an upscale hotel. You'll be comparing it with a five-thousand-yen bottle of supermarket wine. And a one-thousand-yen bottle of grape juice."

This round compared wines. The correct answer was the million-yen bottle of wine. The wrong answer was the five-thousand-yen bottle of wine. And the choice designated absolutely unacceptable was the one-thousand-yen bottle of grape juice.

At present, impressive "First-Class Celebrity" signs stood in front of all the celebrities'-the actors'-seats, but this absurd show lowered their rank with each wrong answer, until they might not even appear on-screen anymore. Incidentally, choosing the absolutely unacceptable option dropped them two ranks. Their disappearance would come all the sooner.

"From the First-Year Group team, Mr. Megumi Fushiguro. From the Cursed Spirit team, Lord Sukuna."

And since Haruka is underage, Satoru will go for Team Strongest."

"Aww, give me a 'Lord' too. I'm first-class, you know."

The three who had been called stood and were led into the room. Satoru Gojo's complaint was casually brushed aside.

: Waiting group

"...Will Gojo be okay?"

Haruka Itadori rested his chin in his hand and murmured, his voice full of genuine concern.

"Why? Gojo can definitely tell wines apart, right?"

Yuji, sitting one seat away, asked, and Haruka's lips moved.

"No, he can't handle alcohol, so I'm worried he'll feel sick... He has to go because I can't drink, and I don't want him pushing himself."

Hearing such innocent words, a staff member couldn't sit still and hurried out. Apparently, when told about it, Satoru Gojo smiled broadly and said:

"Then I won't drink today. I'll judge by the aroma and color. I am the strongest, you know?"

Incidentally, after confirming this on the monitor, Haruka quietly added:

"I just thought filming that pretty face of his completely drunk or throwing up everywhere would be a broadcast disaster... Though this is pretty annoying too."

In the end, all three answered correctly. Their teammates welcomed them back as they returned with the bearing of champions.

"Fushiguro, welcome back! You were amazing!" "Not bad." "...Yeah."

That was the First-Year Group.

"I'm back, Haruka! Well? Was I cool?" "Such a coool frilled lizard." (Thumbs up.)

That was Team Strongest.

"...Hmph. Boring." "...Hi." (Trembling.)

Only Team Cursed Spirits had a strangely obvious pecking order.

"Now, let's begin the second test. The second test is shrimp.

Premium Australian lobster costing thirty thousand yen per kilogram. You'll be comparing it with frozen shrimp at two thousand yen per kilogram, and imitation crab sticks."

"Our next participants are Lady Kugisaki, Lord Haruka Itadori, and Mahito."

Once again, someone who was supposed to be a first-class celebrity had been denied an honorific, but no one commented. The person himself couldn't comment either.

"Well, good luck, Haruka!" "Rawr." (He raised both hands in front of his face in a little roaring pose.)

At Haruka's reply, Satoru Gojo silently pulled out his phone and captured the moment in a burst of photos. Sukuna was doing the same thing in the front row.

Wow, two doting dads.

The other cast members thought that, entirely unaware that they, too, were digging their own graves.

After the three were led into the tasting room, the answers were revealed to those waiting.

"Here's a spoiler: A is the absolutely unacceptable imitation crab. B is the premium shrimp. C is the wrong answer, frozen shrimp.

Knowing that should make watching the monitor fun for the waiting group too. You can see everyone's answers in real time."

"Whoa, will Kugisaki be okay?" Itadori asked worriedly.

"...Well, even if it's hard to distinguish it from frozen shrimp, she should at least be able to spot imitation crab," said the comparatively calm Fushiguro.

Then Satoru Gojo spoke, sounding like someone worried about a child sent out on an errand. "Hmm, will Haruka be okay?"

Naturally, the two brothers objected.

"What are you talking about, Gojo? Haruka may usually seem spaced out, but he's the most knowledgeable one in our family, you know?"

"Honestly... As I said, senile."