Happy birthday

He wondered what expression that guy had worn when he suddenly saw a Rasengan flying toward him.

Shoko did not respond. She simply looked at Yue Liusi, who seemed rather bedraggled, with an unreadable expression.

"How did you end up looking like this?"

"I tested an ability. It's nothing."

Seeing Shoko's expression, Yue Liusi felt a little helpless.

"Seriously, why the long face at a time like this? At least give me a smile. Think of it as a reward for me."

With a casual sweep of chakra, he cleared away the rainwater. Then, remembering something, Yue Liusi took a small box from his pocket. Inside was a pendant.

"Oh, and happy birthday."

Looking at the tiny, crystal-clear kunai pendant before her, Shoko's eyes flickered despite herself.

Her breath caught slightly.

She fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly leaned closer.

Yue Liusi instinctively stepped half a pace back. Shoko met his gaze, her eyes shining with a light they had never held before.

An Uchiha's eyes could speak.

She had seen it.

That shining figure.

Shoko suddenly broke into a radiant smile and accepted Yue Liusi's birthday present. Then she raised her other hand and caught his wrist.

"Tired? I learned some cooking from Kugisaki."

"Come on, let's go home. I'll cook for you."

The umbrella tilted slightly, sheltering them both.

"By the way, who taught you to give something like this as a birthday present? Isn't this the sort of thing little girls like... Your taste is really awful, you know..."

"Is that so?"

"It's all Kugisaki's fault for giving me lousy advice..."

If Nobara Kugisaki had been there to hear Yue Liusi shifting the blame, she would surely have entered combat mode on the spot.

He hadn't even explained things clearly when he asked her!

The rain drifted gently down, as though veiling the world in gauze.

Normally, two people sharing one umbrella would inevitably feel at least a little cramped.

But if anyone offered Yue Liusi another umbrella now, he would definitely treat them to a Tailed Beast Bomb.

Beneath the curtain of clouds, silver threads danced.

Rain misted through heaven and earth; between two people, ripples arose unbidden.

"Happy birthday!"

The moment they returned home, a clear voice rang out, followed by the popping of party poppers.

"Happy birthday!"

"Haha, good old Panda! The moment Shoko left, he hurried us all into decorating. We originally planned to do it with her, but a surprise mattered more!"

Nobara Kugisaki spoke with a smile.

After Yue Liusi proposed the birthday banquet, they had spent the past two days getting everything ready, keeping Shoko in the dark the whole time, of course.

Keeping it from her was no easy task, and they had put considerable thought into it. Whether they had actually succeeded, though, was anyone's guess.

Quite a few people had come to the party. Fortunately, Shoko's home was large enough, or it might have been rather crowded.

"You all..."

Shoko blinked, still somewhat surprised.

Although she had known the others seemed to be doing something behind the scenes and had roughly guessed what it was, she had not expected anything on this scale.

Come to think of it, she had not properly celebrated her birthday in many years.

"Sho~ko~"

A figure came flying over, threw herself straight into Shoko's arms, and hugged her tightly.

Utahime's face was wreathed in smiles, and she seemed to be in a good mood.

Seeing Shoko still standing there, Yuki Tsukumo propped her chin on her hand from her seat on the sofa and said pointedly,

"What are you standing there for? Aren't you worried about letting someone's heartfelt efforts go to waste?"

Shoko rolled her eyes at Yuki Tsukumo, then swept her gaze over the lively crowd.

Satoru Gojo's students, Momo Nishimiya and Miwa from Tokyo Jujutsu High-even Noritoshi Kamo, who had been confined to his home, had made it over.

This was the Kamo Clan showing its attitude toward Yue Liusi.

Originally, Kenjaku had already taken secret control of the Kamo Clan, and Jujutsu Headquarters would gradually have become his puppet as well. Naturally, things were different now.

As for how to clean up those rotten remnants, that was not something Yue Liusi needed to worry about.

That was also why Yuta Okkotsu had not appeared at the birthday party.

He had more than enough on his plate now.

Leaving Shoko to receive everyone's well wishes as the guest of honor, Yue Liusi slipped around the side and went over to Yuki Tsukumo.

Utahime turned away, then wheeled out a cake with two girls.

"We know you don't like sweets, but you still need a birthday cake."

Pushing a cake taller than herself, Momo Nishimiya poked her head out from one side.

"It's all those boys' fault for being so clumsy. Otherwise, we definitely could have made it even bigger..."

Behind her, the huge kitchen was a complete mess. Itadori and the others stood inside looking thoroughly dejected. Even the sea-urchin spikes on Megumi Fushiguro's head had been bent under cream and other things.

Only Todo was still comforting Itadori with a confident look.

Yuki Tsukumo glanced at the others, then turned to Yue Liusi and spoke softly.

"Whatever the case, we're still short-handed. Okkotsu has to take some people to tie up loose ends, so there aren't many left who can handle the Culling Game."

"What are you thinking? Do you have any plans?"

Yue Liusi smiled lightly, then spread his hands.

"No."

At his answer, the corner of Yuki Tsukumo's mouth twitched.

Before she could speak, Yue Liusi's next words reached her ears.

"There's no need."

"Neither manpower nor plans are necessary."

Yuki Tsukumo's expression froze. Looking at his utterly unconcerned expression, she was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Fine, you're in charge. I'll follow your lead."

Yuki Tsukumo stretched and spoke with some resignation.

Almost everyone agreed on one thing.

Had Satoru Gojo not been sealed, the so-called Culling Game would have been nothing more than an incident that hardly counted as a major problem.

And now, Yue Liusi was no less capable.

"Happy birthday, Shoko."

Nearby, Masamichi Yaga smiled as he looked at Shoko before him, speaking softly with gratification.

So much had happened in this short week, from Gojo being sealed to the current sweeping purge of Jujutsu Society. It made the world feel unpredictable.

And he had to admit...

Shoko really did have a much better eye for people than he did.

Watching the two converse, Yue Liusi's eyes flickered slightly.

Some key people were still missing from Shoko's birthday.

Come to think of it, ever since that promise, Shoko had never asked him anything about it, as though she had long since put it out of her mind.

But he knew this was trust.

Angel, Hana Kurusu, should be in the Second Colony. I just don't know whether she's gone somewhere else by now.

Actually, given how well modified ninjutsu suited this world, abilities such as the Truth-Seeking Orb and the Preta Path could achieve similar effects.

It was just that Yue Liusi did not yet possess those abilities.

After a round of celebrations, the home filled with laughter. Holding two glasses of liquor, Shoko walked toward Yue Liusi, who had not joined in the fun.

Watching Shoko approach, Yue Liusi raised his hand and pointed at her liquor cabinet, which was already considerably emptier, and said with a smile,

"Looks like your liquor collection is in for trouble."