Damian took Marin's hand and, following the lead of Gojo and his students, crossed through the VIP access of the station.
A guard let them pass without asking for explanations, and in just a few minutes, they reached the private parking area.
Two shiny black Toyota Alphard vans were lined up in front of them.
Next to each one, a chauffeur in a perfectly pressed tuxedo and white gloves stood upright, bowing respectfully as they approached.
Damian raised an eyebrow, unable to help it.
Even though Satoru was eccentric and theatrical, in the end he was still the head of the Gojo family.
Gojo stepped forward with his usual carefree smile, swinging his arms.
"What do you think, huh? Admit it, I'm a first-class host. Private transport, no less!"
He tried to throw an arm over Damian's shoulders with familiarity, but Damian didn't bother to respond, simply lifted his arm and brushed his off with ease.
Without letting go of Marin's hand, he walked straight toward one of the Alphards.
The rear door slid open smoothly on its own with a barely audible sound. Damian motioned for Marin to get in first. She obeyed, glancing curiously at the luxurious cabin before sitting down and settling into the leather seat.
Damian followed her and closed the door behind him.
"Eh? Wait for me—!" Gojo took a couple of strides to climb in with them, but before he could put a foot inside, something appeared out of nowhere: a foot wearing black sneakers shot out from the interior and planted itself squarely against his chest.
Thump
It wasn't a violent hit, but enough to push him back with a small stumble.
Gojo had to wave his arms to regain his balance and nearly bumped into Yūji, who hurried to step aside.
"Pfft—!" Nobara burst into laughter, trying immediately to cover her mouth, but it was useless.
Megumi, as usual, didn't even flinch, turning his gaze away with a neutral expression.
Gojo straightened up, brushing off imaginary dust from his shirt.
"How ungrateful!" he protested dramatically through the window.
The glass lowered just a few centimeters. Inside, Damian's face appeared.
"You're taking the other car."
Without waiting for a reply, he rolled the window back up.
Gojo clicked his tongue and smiled quietly to himself, amused despite the snub. He leaned slightly to peek inside before giving up; Marin was already nestled against Damian, looking around curiously.
"… what a heartless man…" Gojo muttered with resignation before turning to his students, "Come on, kids. We're in the other one. All aboard."
The driver of the second vehicle quickly opened the door, and Gojo's group climbed in amid hushed comments and Nobara's stifled giggles.
Soon after, the two black Alphards glided smoothly into motion, merging with the evening traffic of Higashitsu.
The reflection of the city lights danced across the glossy paint as they moved toward the Suginami district, leaving behind the bustle of the station.
After traveling down several quiet streets in Suginami, the two vehicles stopped in front of a completely new single-family house.
"Ta-daa~!"
Gojo was the first to jump out of the Alphard, stretching his arms and presenting the house. "Surprise~!"
Damian got out next, still holding Marin's hand. She froze for a second, eyes wide open, before squealing in amazement:
"Aaah! The house is back!"
She let go of Damian's hand and ran to the garden gate.
The stone path leading to the entrance looked identical to before, a new wind chime hung under the eaves, swaying softly in the breeze, and in the corner the little flower bed had been rebuilt exactly as she remembered.
Damian moved forward slowly, observing every detail. The house was almost exactly as in his memories, even the faint scent of fresh wood mixed with the plants carried him back to the past.
Then he turned to Gojo, "You did this?"
"You could say that." Gojo removed the blindfold from his eyes, revealing their brilliant glow. "While you and your little girlfriend were off traveling, I sorted out the fortune of those old men."
He tapped the stone lantern next to the entrance with his foot. "I used their money to rebuild it. Consider it a small 'thank you' for getting rid of a huge little problem for us."
"..."
Damian stayed silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
"Thanks."
Gojo put both hands to his face, "I can't believe it! The cold and distant Nero just thanked me!"
Yūji, Nobara, and Megumi exchanged resigned looks.
Damian's face twisted with annoyance, "You're really insufferable."
Gojo chuckled under his breath, satisfied. "I had them rebuild it as close as possible, but they could only copy the exterior. The interior, the decoration… that was already your thing and, well, your house was in ruins. So I asked them to at least equip it with the latest."
Marin, unable to wait another second, came running back and tugged on Damian's hand. "Let's go see!"
She slid the door open with excitement. The soft scent of new tatami filled the air like a fresh sigh. The living room was a harmonious blend of traditional Japanese design and minimalist Nordic-style furniture.
Gojo entered behind them with his hands clasped behind his head. "The kitchen's fully equipped with the latest. The bathroom, completely redesigned."
He stepped closer to Damian, once again trying to sling an arm over his neck as if they'd been lifelong friends.
"Plus, I bought duvets, appliances, and everything you need. Only the best and most expensive, huh?"
Damian didn't push him away, but narrowed his eyes.
"Speak. When someone's this thoughtful without reason, it's because they want something."
Gojo let out a short laugh and tilted his head, glancing sideways at Marin, who at that moment was playing with the smart panel on the wall.
Then he lowered his voice. "It's nothing complicated. Now that the two biggest villains in the jujutsu world are dead thanks to you, what's left are minor fights. You're not exactly needed anymore."
Damian nodded without showing surprise.
Indeed, Kenjaku and Sukuna were already dead; there were practically no major threats. Thinking that, he glanced sideways at Gojo.
Gojo continued, "But you know, cursed spirits never really disappear completely. So…" he paused briefly, his lips forming a more serious line, "at any moment an incredibly strong one could show up."
"Wow!"
From the living room came Marin's voice. She had found the smart system and had just activated the lights; now they were changing colors on their own, filling the house with soft glows shifting from blue to pink.
Gojo took advantage of the moment to step a little closer to Damian. "That's why, if you run into something like that, I hope you'll do us the favor of eliminating it." He raised a hand to his eyes, tapping them lightly. "And don't play blind."
Damian looked toward the living room for a few seconds, then turned back to Gojo.
"Is that all?"
"That's all." Gojo shrugged and regained a bit of his casual tone. "For you, it's something you can do almost effortlessly."
In the living room, Marin had already managed to get the smart speaker to play anime songs; now she was swaying gently to the rhythm.
Damian sighed. "If I run into them, or if they interfere with my life, I'll take care of it."
"Great!" Gojo smiled immediately. "Then, as thanks…"
He pulled out a small glossy black card and held it between two fingers.
"I asked Ijichi to prepare this for you: unlimited credit. Consider it consultant fees."
Damian was about to respond, but before he could open his mouth, Marin came in bouncing with excitement.
"Damian! The smart bathtub can make a rainbow bubble bath!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Gojo quickly slipped the card into Damian's pocket, giving him a knowing wink.
"Have fun~"
Then he spun on his heels and called to his students.
"Come on, let's not bother the lovebirds in their new house anymore."
Megumi stopped to bow his head respectfully before leaving.
Yūji smiled and waved enthusiastically.
Nobara, on the other hand, looked back more than once, reluctant to go; for her, Nero wasn't just someone strong, he was also an idol.
"..."
Damian stood watching as the group got into the Alphard and disappeared down the street. Marin, with the manners of a hostess, waved energetically until the taillights vanished.
As soon as the car disappeared, she let out a long sigh and, without warning, spun around like a small golden bullet, launching herself straight into Damian's arms.
"Damian-kun! Damian-kun!"
She lifted her face to look at him, her red eyes shining with an intense mix of fascination and a thousand questions.
"Those people were so interesting! Especially the man with the bandages over his eyes… he looked super strong! Who is he? And those students? Are they your friends? Are they the superheroes you talked about before?"
She pressed her hands against Damian's clothes, rising on her tiptoes and bouncing, eager like a child waiting for answers.
Damian held her gaze for a moment and then nodded, without going into details. "First, put the luggage away."
Marin pouted, clearly wanting to know more, but her curiosity was instantly defeated by the excitement of exploring their new house.
She let go and spun on her heels.
"Okay!"
And she ran off toward the suitcases at the entrance.
Damian watched her as she moved with excitement, and the corner of his lips curved before he turned and headed to the kitchen.
The new kitchen was spacious and bright.
The cabinets gleamed like mirrors, perfectly aligned, and the latest generation appliances were integrated without breaking the harmony of the space.
Damian opened the huge double-door refrigerator and, just as he expected, it was full of fresh, neatly organized ingredients.
"Good," he murmured with satisfaction, "that saves trouble."
He took out vegetables, fresh meat, eggs, and a small bag of finely packed noodles. He wasn't planning anything complicated: just a couple of stir-fried dishes and noodles with spicy oil.
In no time, the rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the cutting board began to fill the kitchen. The aroma of fresh garlic and newly chopped vegetables started to mix with the clean air of the place.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Marin had dragged the two suitcases to the bedroom door.
Curious, she slid the door open and peeked inside: a new bed perfectly made, a modern minimalist wardrobe, and soft light coming in through the window. She gave a small jump of joy and ran back to the living room, where she continued exploring the smart panel that controlled the house.
"Damian-kun~ what are we having for dinner?" she shouted expectantly.
"Stir-fry and noodles," he replied from the kitchen, moving with agility as he poured oil into the hot pan.
"Great!"
Marin left the panel and hopped her way to the kitchen entrance, peeking her head in.
The oil was already at the perfect temperature; Damian flicked his wrist and dropped in the sliced meat. A sharp sizzle echoed instantly, and the aroma spread through the whole place.
"Smells so good!" Marin exclaimed, her eyes sparkling and her little nose twitching as she inhaled the scent.
The extractor hummed softly, and only the rhythmic tapping of the spatula mixed with the crackling of ingredients frying could be heard.
Little by little, the newly rebuilt house began to fill with a delicious smell, an aroma that was already making it feel like a true home.
Outside, the lights of Higashitsu were starting to come on one by one, while inside the warmth of the kitchen erased any trace of coldness in the new walls.
…
The next morning arrived quietly.
A soft light filtered through the new curtains; Marin was still deeply asleep, curled up between the sheets, her face half hidden and her hair messy across the pillow.
!
She felt her body being lifted and opened her eyes, still sleepy.
Damian was carrying her in his arms.
"Mm… good morning…" she mumbled drowsily, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Good morning," he replied in a low voice as he carried her through the living room to the new bathroom.
There he gently set her down.
On the sink, a toothbrush with toothpaste already prepared awaited her, and a clean towel hung within reach of her hand.
Damian tilted his head and placed a brief kiss on her forehead. "Wash your face and brush your teeth. Then take a shower… there's still a bit of last night's scent."
"Mmm."
Damian had already turned to leave. "Breakfast is in the kitchen."
She nodded again.
He didn't add anything else and walked out.
Soon after, the sound of pots and knives began to echo once more from the kitchen.
Marin rubbed her eyes lazily, brushed her teeth, and rinsed her face with cold water until the sleepiness began to fade.
"..."
Drops slid down her cheeks as she dried off in front of the mirror, and then she suddenly froze.
Carefully, she pulled a little at the collar of her nightshirt and leaned toward the mirror. On her skin, right over her neck, there were still two reddish marks.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed, bringing a hand to cover them as an intense blush rose to her face. "Damn… they still haven't gone away…"
She touched the marks with the tips of her fingers and frowned, thoughtful.
"Would it be better to cover them with concealer?"
But the next second, her lips curved into a smile. Something amusing passed through her mind; the embarrassment gave way to a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Hehehe…" she laughed quietly to herself, tilting her head with a triumphant air in front of the mirror, "Actually, it's fine… perfect to show her."
This made her straighten up with renewed energy. She gave herself a small fist pump for encouragement and walked out humming on her way to the shower.
Soon after, she returned fresh and scented, wearing a clean white shirt that hung loose and comfortable.
As always, she played with her outfit: tied the lower part in a neat knot at her slender waist, tucked the rest carefully into her short skirt, and let a loose tie hang around her neck.
Light as a hare, she hopped her way to the kitchen.
Damian was standing with his back to her, focused on the sizzling pan. Marin crept closer quietly, stood on tiptoe, and without warning planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
"Good job!" she sang in a bright, awake voice.
Damian nodded.
Satisfied, Marin slipped away obediently to the table. She pulled out a chair, sat down, and rested her cheeks in her hands, watching his broad back with a smile that grew on its own.
Moving naturally, Damian finished flipping the fried eggs and placed them on a plate. As he turned, his gaze lingered on her for a moment: the knotted shirt, the loose tie, that expectant smile. Something in his expression softened, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Marin answered with an even bigger smile.
Damian set the breakfast on the table: golden fried eggs, rice congee, and small side dishes. Then he sat naturally beside her.
The aroma of congee and freshly cooked eggs filled the room. Marin picked up her spoon and began to eat happily, her eyes sparkling with each bite.
Damian had barely managed to grab some vegetables with his chopsticks when the phone on the table started vibrating.
Bzz…Bzz…
The screen lit up and a name appeared: "The Young Lady."
Marin, who was just sipping her congee, glanced quickly and as soon as she saw the name, her nose scrunched.
With a "fierce" expression, she grabbed the half of fried egg left on her plate, stuffed the whole thing in her mouth, and started chewing with determination, punishing the poor egg.
Damian watched the entire scene out of the corner of his eye, and a very faint smile formed on his lips.
He reached over and gently ruffled her golden hair, then picked up the phone and answered.
"Yes?"
Kaguya's sweet and polite voice came almost instantly from the other side, "Good morning, Damian-kun. Have you had breakfast yet?"
Damian sighed as he heard her courteous tone. "Kaguya. Good morning. I'm having breakfast."
"Ah, I'm glad to hear that." her voice softened even more, with velvety courtesy and a hint of expectation, "Then, may I ask you to remain at home for a moment?"
Damian raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"My chauffeur and I…"
"…are on our way to your house."
________
Time: If you're craving more (and I know you are!), I have just what you need. On my Patreon, you'll find exclusive chapters. Join our community and be the first to discover what happens next!
👉 [patreon.com/Athome790]
Your support fuels me. Thank you for the support! 💖