Heading north

"I need to remind you, the Higher-Ups aren't that simple. Unless you're like Satoru Gojo, going against them will be quite a headache."

Yuki Tsukumo reminded him that there was a reason the Higher-Ups had become the Higher-Ups.

"You said it yourself. Unless you're like Satoru Gojo."

Yue Liusi spread his hands, looking rather unconcerned.

"But you're not Satoru Gojo."

Yuki Tsukumo felt she needed to make things clear to Yue Liusi. She didn't want him acting on impulse.

It was normal for someone his age to have such ideas, but having an idea and putting it into practice were two different things.

Even if Yue Liusi really intended to do something, he had to think it through before acting.

"Yes, I'm not Satoru Gojo. I'm just me. I'm just Yue Liusi."

Yue Liusi smiled faintly. He knew Yuki Tsukumo was worried about him, and continued,

"Don't worry. I'm not someone who acts purely on impulse."

Seeing his expression, Yuki Tsukumo felt reassured. She got up and left, preparing to meet up with the others.

After Yuki Tsukumo left, the room fell quiet.

Yue Liusi simply sat in silence, as though thinking about something. Beside him, Shoko Ieiri didn't disturb him either, merely watching him quietly.

Time ticked by.

At last, he let out a soft breath.

Shoko Ieiri's voice quietly broke the silence.

"Yue, are you hesitating?"

As her words reached his ears, Yue Liusi nodded.

Shoko Ieiri smiled softly, then spoke gently, a touch of tenderness in her voice.

"We can't know what will happen after the Higher-Ups disappear, but who says the outcome will necessarily be bad?"

She knew he wouldn't hesitate over something he had already decided. He was worried about what would happen after the framework collapsed.

Would a stalled Jujutsu system have negative consequences? Would operations across the board be affected?

However rotten the framework was, at least it was still a framework. If that enormous machine stopped running, there was no telling how many people would suffer.

And this was such a critical time.

The Culling Game had already begun, Tokyo was in dire straits, and Kenjaku was watching hungrily from the shadows.

Really, Yue Liusi only needed to act. What did any of these matters have to do with him?

But he knew he still couldn't bring himself to dump those responsibilities on other people.

"Shoko, tell me..."

"If I insist on changing things, can I do it?"

Yue Liusi knew how well Shoko Ieiri understood him, which was why he had chosen to discuss these things with her.

He didn't consider himself a genius who could accomplish anything with ease.

Starting a revolution sounded simple, but in reality, it was fraught with difficulties.

Seeing Yue Liusi's furrowed brow, Shoko Ieiri couldn't help looking moved.

Yes, Yue Liusi was Yue Liusi. He was different from everyone else.

She spoke softly.

"A massive system won't collapse over a few operators. At most, it'll stagnate."

"Isn't there a saying about putting your own house in order before dealing with outside threats?"

"Yue, you don't need to shoulder all the responsibility yourself. You're clearly doing this for all of Jujutsu Society, for those who want to keep living."

"Besides, there are still some clearheaded people left among them. They won't let the system collapse. And we have Okkotsu now, with fresh blood to come in the future."

"The path Satoru Gojo chose hasn't failed. Jujutsu Society will get better."

"The future really isn't as bleak as you imagine, is it?"

Shoko Ieiri raised her hands and cupped Yue Liusi's face, lifting his head until their eyes met.

Looking at Yue Liusi, she said earnestly,

"Yue, do you really think what Kugisaki and the others did today was just a passing whim? That Yuki Tsukumo made a special trip here just to deliver some news?"

"They already knew about you. They did that to ease your stress, and to tell you... that they all support you."

"Nanami, Panda, Maki, and everyone at Tokyo Jujutsu High are also doing what they can in their own ways."

"Do you know how conflicted I felt when I saw you choose to have me keep quiet so they wouldn't worry?"

For the first time, a tender smile appeared on Shoko Ieiri's languid face.

Wasn't Jujutsu Society's hope right here?

Satoru, is this the world you hoped for...?

Shoko Ieiri's expression was serious, her gaze steady.

"Yue, you're not alone."

"Trust your companions, okay?"

She held his face carefully, as though it were some precious treasure. Yue Liusi froze for a moment. Her fingertips felt slightly cool against his skin, yet they brought a distinct warmth.

"You really are treating me like a child."

Yue Liusi brushed her hands aside with some resignation, then said softly,

"I will."

Shoko Ieiri's words still echoed in his mind. For a brief moment, he slipped into a daze, then shook his head and slowly breathed out.

As though noticing that trace of confusion deep within Yue Liusi's eyes, Shoko Ieiri got up, went to the liquor cabinet, and took out an unopened bottle.

She walked back to Yue Liusi's side and soon filled two glasses with fine liquor, pushing one toward him.

"Yue, at first, you only wanted to learn Reverse Cursed Technique. What about now? Do you consider me a companion?"

"That goes without saying. And there's Itadori and the others, too. Sometimes, I can sense a trace of distraction in your eyes when you look at them."

"You act as though you don't care, but is that really true? If it weren't for what you've done, why would they see you as a companion worthy of respect?"

Shoko Ieiri raised her glass, the clear liquid rippling inside.

"You've long since come to see yourself as one of us."

Yue Liusi touched the cold glass and couldn't help laughing.

"Shoko, you're right."

Yes, he had kept wondering how things had reached this point. He had only been a bystander, yet he had become part of the vortex.

Even his actions and thoughts had been changing imperceptibly.

When had it begun?

Perhaps it was the first time he saw Itadori, the first time he saw that living, breathing person. Or perhaps it was when he saved the others after destroying Dagon. It might have been after he grew closer to Shoko Ieiri, or the moment he decided to stay in Tokyo with the three kids.

He knew now that he truly belonged to this world.

Suddenly, Yue Liusi recalled something Mei Mei had once said.

If you want to become someone new, go north. If you want to return to who you used to be, go south.

Now, he finally understood what those words meant.

Yue Liusi didn't consider himself someone who couldn't accept new things or fit in with his surroundings. After all, he had accepted the fact that he had come to this world so quickly.