Saizeriya.
A family restaurant chain beloved across Japan, famous for its affordable prices, quick service, and reliable food.
Red-and-white signage outside.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, rows of red booth seats stretch back into the restaurant, each table fitted with a stainless steel condiment rack and a call bell.
The air smells of garlic toast, a trace of warm grease.
The scent of ordinary life.
The eldest son of the Gojo family, who was anything but ordinary, seemed to like it here anyway.
Gojo Satoru picked a long booth by the window, sprawled into the very back, and slapped the menu onto the table.
“Order whatever you want.
I’m paying!” Geto Suguru was still sitting with his head in his hands, desperately trying to figure out how to make Gojo Satoru forget what he’d just witnessed.
He didn’t respond.
Ieiri Shoko didn’t care what she ate.
She handed the menu straight to the two little girls beside her.
“What do you want?” Nanako and Mimiko both leaned over the table, their small heads pressed together, eyes scanning the colorful pictures.
“This one!” Nanako pointed at the pasta.
“This one looks really good too…” Mimiko pointed at the pizza.
“Then order both.” Gojo Satoru had his legs crossed, one arm draped over the back of the seat, wearing the expression of a man who had too much money and knew it.
The two kids looked up at him, eyes bright.
“Really?” “Yep.” “Yay!” They kicked their legs happily under the booth.
Their toes swung back and forth, dangling above the floor.
Himmel sat on the other side of the table, elbows propped on the surface, chin resting in one hand, watching the girls with a quiet smile.
Seven people total had shown up to a family restaurant on a weekday afternoon.
They were loud enough to draw glances from nearby tables.
When people noticed Gojo Satoru and Himmel, the usual commentary followed: What a good-looking family.
Faced with those stares: Gojo Satoru was completely used to it; Himmel swept his bangs aside as a matter of course; Geto Suguru developed a stomachache; Ieiri Shoko scrolled through her phone.
Nanami Kento wanted to leave.
“By the way, why did you invite me?” “Huh?
What are you talking about, Nanamin?” Gojo Satoru looked genuinely baffled.
“Aren’t you part of our crew?” “Yeah, Nanamin, you can’t just opt out,” Himmel added with sincere concern.
“Are you having trouble connecting with people?” “Actually, what I’d love to know right now is how to escape social harassment from my own classmates,” Nanami said flatly.
“I see.
So the pressure of a new transfer student like Himmel is getting to you.
You really are shy, Nanamin.” Gojo Satoru leaned back with theatrical gravitas.
“I see.
So your senpai’s enthusiasm is making you flustered.
You really are green, Nanamin.” Himmel shook his head with grandfatherly compassion.
“Who in the world put these two in the same room together?” Nanami stared.
He pointed a stiff finger sideways and turned to Shoko with a face that had stopped trying.
“This is entirely your fault.” Ieiri Shoko cheerfully elbowed Geto Suguru.
“…Guilty.” Geto had no time to deal with the accusation.
He was still mentally sorting through his cursed spirit collection, growing more irritated by the second that not a single one of them possessed a technique that could wipe someone’s memory.
As the group talked, the food started arriving.
Once the table was full, Gojo Satoru clapped his hands with great ceremony.
“Okay!
Strategy meeting — starting now!” “For what?” Shoko speared another piece of crispy fried chicken with her fork.
“Shoko.
Insubordination.
That’s a demerit.” Gojo Satoru frowned.
“The care and raising conference for those two little troublemakers, obviously.” Right.
Gojo Satoru might play it loose, but he got things done when it mattered.
Especially since a certain mission went wrong, he’d learned to pay more attention to the people around him , the ones who didn’t share his absurd durability.
“Yaga said we rotate.
I’m fine with that, but we should still work out the order, shouldn’t we?” “You’re fine with it?
I’m the one who’s worried about you.” Shoko ticked off fingers.
“You eat too much sugar and you spoil yourself rotten.
If you give these kids cavities, I’ll be hearing about it as their doctor.” “That’s so mean!” Gojo Satoru pouted at her.
“And you smoke constantly, Shoko.
You’re going to be a terrible influence.” “Let’s focus on the schedule,” Shoko said, suddenly businesslike.
“Right…
For starters, I’ll station some cursed spirits near them.” Hearing actual business, Geto Suguru surfaced from his obsessive fugue.
Several of the spirits under his control were rational enough to function semi-independently.
They couldn’t babysit, but they could relay simple information.
“Beyond that, our mission timelines aren’t predictable, so we’ll have to coordinate as we go.” “Shoko is based at the school, right?” Shoko, already regretting it: “Also based in unpaid overtime.” Geto Suguru, calculating: “Which means the second-years are the ones with the most free time, when you think about it.” Gojo Satoru, completely shameless: “Exactly.
Youth is when you grind.
Build character.” Himmel, who had somehow assimilated into the third-year energy and was now performing full elder: “You know, I’ve always thought Nanami had exceptional mother potential.” The group chattered for a while longer.
Then, in unison, they all turned to look at Nanami.
“…” He laughed, short and humorless.
So this is what you were setting up.
He wasn’t even surprised.
“I think,” Nanami said calmly, “you should be more concerned with what the people actually involved want.” He’d heard the broad strokes of the situation.
What he also noticed was that the moment the Hasaba sisters registered they were being discussed, their expressions had flickered , just briefly.
Then, with a composure that was almost sad to witness, they’d gone back to pretending they hadn’t heard anything, taking small polite bites of whichever dish was closest, waiting quietly for the adults to decide their fate.
Nanami knew children didn’t like being treated like something passed between hands.
He cut straight to it.
“Fine.
I’ll get a copy of the duty roster from Yaga-sensei, factor in Himmel’s situation, compile everything together, and set up a group chat.
Everyone fills it in regularly so we can track availability and progress.” “Also , for the first month, Himmel almost certainly won’t be running solo missions.
I’ll be assigned to accompany him.
So during that window, I need the three of you to actually make time for the kids.
No excuses.” “Oh…
oh, wow.
He’s serious.” Gojo Satoru was visibly taken aback.
He dropped the clowning.
“The mother I chose is exactly who I knew he was.” Himmel nodded with a grave, approving expression.
The two little girls turned their starry eyes toward Nanami.
It was probably a bit late to mention this now , but the Hasaba sisters had developed a quiet fondness for everyone at the table.
Himmel was the coolest, gentlest, most flawless hero big brother in existence.
Geto Suguru was the big brother who looked terrifying but was actually kind.
Gojo Satoru was the big brother who bought them things.
Shoko was the only big sister.
And Nanamin was now officially the most dependable big brother.
They’d call him Mama Nanami.
Neither of them said it out loud, though.
Last time they’d said “Mama Gojo,” Mr.
Gojo had not taken it well.
“Though it’s not as if we can shoulder this entirely ourselves,” Geto Suguru added.
“We’re jujutsu sorcerers.
There will be stretches where we can barely manage ourselves.
So I’ve already spoken with my parents.
The girls will spend most of their time there.” “Brilliant.” “Really brilliant.” “Hey, that’s sneaky.
I’ve never even been to your house, Suguru~” Reactions varied.
The Hasaba sisters felt a little nervous about unfamiliar adults.
But if they were Geto Suguru’s parents, they decided it was probably okay.
So then.
Gojo Satoru: “Alright.
Since the schedule exists — or will exist — the next order of business is celebrating and applying appropriate pressure.” “Pressure?” Himmel repeated, puzzled.
“Obviously.
Look at who’s raising these two.” Gojo Satoru crossed his arms.
“A kid brought up by us cannot afford to be mediocre.” Is he seriously the type to pile expectations on children?
The Hasaba sisters’ performances , pretending they’d heard nothing , became noticeably more committed.
“We’ll have the entire jujutsu world bowing down!
Well , at minimum, they should be untouchable among their own age group.” Gojo Satoru graciously ‘adjusted his standards’ for their benefit.
He wasn’t a demon, after all.
“But actually, when you think about it,” Gojo Satoru said, shifting his gaze to the hero, “their technique is literally Himmel.
So you’re the one who needs to conquer the jujutsu world first.” “…” Himmel blinked.
Then a quiet smile crossed his face.
“That’s quite a tall order.” But there was something he didn’t say out loud.
He thought the children of this world had it too hard.
So young, and already carrying this much.
They seemed accustomed to it, the way people become accustomed to weight they’ve carried long enough.
But Himmel was an adult, and watching them, he couldn’t quite make peace with it.
If there was anything he could do…
Well.
He was already here.
Then let me end the cursed spirits.
Like I did before.
[That’s what Himmel would do.] ➤ Next: Do You Want to Join the Axis Church?
The story is already written.