Clan Head (2)

After a brief silence, Chinatsu promptly crossed her arms, venting her displeasure and making it clear that these old geezers had better not force this on her.

Perhaps to members of other Jujutsu clans, the position of Clan Head, the leader of an entire clan, was the ultimate prize, something they would rack their brains to seize.

Take the neighboring Zenin and Kamo Clans, for example.

They fought tooth and nail for the position, each clan practically staging its own miniature war of royal succession.

By comparison, the Gojo Clan's two candidates were downright oddballs. For them, the position was hardly out of reach; they could practically reach out and grab it if they just got serious and put in a little effort.

Yet despite that, neither of the Gojo Clan's two candidates had any interest in becoming Clan Head. They even found the idea somewhat distasteful.

If only one divine child had been born, the position would have passed directly to that child, with nothing to debate. Even if that child then neglected the Gojo Clan until it fell apart, the title would still belong to the divine child alone. No one else had the right to interfere.

But two divine children had appeared at once. Although the elders had been overjoyed at first, when the two said as children that they had no interest in the position, the elders had brushed it off with a faint smile.

They had assumed it was simply because the two were young. Once they grew up and experienced firsthand the importance of power and status in society, at least one of them would change their mind.

But the result... was the situation before them now.

"Chinatsu, the position of Clan Head isn't a Binding Vow. Why are you so opposed to it? The Gojo Clan's head is more of a symbol. The Clan Head doesn't need to personally handle every little clan matter. We elders aren't just here for decoration."

The Elder talked himself hoarse, working hard to explain all the benefits Chinatsu would enjoy as Clan Head. He actually managed to tempt even a slacker like her.

Just as she was about to be persuaded, Chinatsu abruptly shook her head. She lightly patted one cheek with one hand and held the other up toward the Elder, cutting off his offensive.

She panted lightly, trying hard to get the rather underpowered CPU in her head working.

The position sounded wonderful coming from the Elder, but that was only his side of the story. It wasn't that she distrusted him; this concerned her future, and she needed to take it seriously.

"Does it really have to be either me or Satoru Gojo? Can't you choose someone else from the Gojo Clan with a good reputation and enough ability to command everyone's respect?"

"Miss, this is a clan rule handed down by our ancestors. And if I may be frank, don't you and the young master both thoroughly meet those requirements of reputation, ability, and the respect of others?"

"..."

Against the Elder's airtight offensive, Chinatsu's defenses seemed so thin and fragile.

According to the figures the Elder presented, seven of the Gojo Clan's eleven elders supported Chinatsu as the next Clan Head.

Although the remaining four elders were in Satoru Gojo's camp, they weren't particularly opposed to a future with Chinatsu as Clan Head. They could practically be considered neutral.

Among the ordinary members outside the elders, Chinatsu's support was even more clearly dominant. When she accepted the documents the Elder handed her, complete with statistical charts, her hands were faintly trembling.

After inwardly grumbling, Elder, you're taking this job way too seriously!, Chinatsu took the papers and lowered her gaze to them.

When the statistical analysis revealed that she really was this popular, waves of warmth welled up in her heart.

The only act she put on was being "ladylike." The way she interacted with everyone at home was genuine. She had expected to be well-liked, but this well-liked...

Satoru Gojo, if only you could pull your weight a little!

Chinatsu felt a strange mix of exasperation with Satoru Gojo for failing to live up to his potential and a mother's longing for her son to make something of himself.

After an internal struggle, Chinatsu lowered the papers and looked up at the elders before her with mixed feelings. A "yes" almost slipped from her lips.

"If it really reaches the point where there's no turning back, I'll take over," Chinatsu said with one hand on her hip, letting out a somewhat helpless sigh.

Although her answer was extremely vague, its underlying meaning was that they would discuss this later. She would only take over if she had no other choice, and until then, she would do everything she could to avoid becoming Clan Head.

Yet even an answer that vague was enough to bring smiles to the elders' faces. They actually popped champagne right then and there.

To be clear, popping champagne wasn't a figure of speech. The Elder really pulled a bottle of champagne from inside his clothes. Though he had no bottle opener, he simply used Jujutsu in its place.

At that, Chinatsu kept one hand on her hip and pressed the other to her forehead, an expression caught between laughter and tears spreading across her face.

Meanwhile, having finished a Jujutsu mission on his own, Satoru Gojo was leisurely heading back toward Jujutsu High with a swagger that answered to no one.

In fact, he and Chinatsu had finished their missions at roughly the same time. His return had been delayed entirely because of the bulging plastic bag in one hand.

Chocolate, cake, pudding, ice cream, and Kikufuku... the bag was packed with nothing but sweets, especially Kikufuku, Satoru Gojo's favorite.

"Too bad they didn't have the edamame whipped cream flavor. Only that shop in Sendai sells it. Well, the other flavors are pretty good too~"

Satoru Gojo walked along with a cheerful smile. He wasn't using Teleportation, not because he was carrying a plastic bag, but simply because he had calculated exactly when he would return to Jujutsu High.

Shower, lie in bed, watch shows, eat sweets.

Endless bliss... huh?

Satoru Gojo suddenly stopped. Puzzled, he looked down and raised one foot, revealing a ten-thousand-yen bill he had stepped on, now stuck to his shoe.

Although ten thousand yen wasn't much to Satoru Gojo, money earned through hard work and money found lying on the ground felt entirely different.

Smiling, Satoru Gojo reached down and peeled the bill off his shoe. Holding it between two fingers of one hand and carrying his bulging bag of sweets in the other, he thought, Today really is a great day, and headed back to Jujutsu High with a goofy grin.