Gaio held Marin Kitagawa's hand as they followed Satoru Gojo and his group through the VIP passage at the train station, arriving at the parking lot.
Two sleek black Toyota Alphards were parked in reserved VIP spots, each with a driver in a crisp tuxedo and white gloves standing respectfully nearby.
Gaio raised an eyebrow.
Alright, Satoru Gojo might be a chaotic, unreliable guy, but as the head of one of the Big Three Families, the Gojo clan, he never lacked for flair or wealth.
"Not bad, huh, Nero?" Gojo sauntered over with his usual cheeky grin, trying to sling an arm around Gaio's shoulder. "Pretty thoughtful, right? Private cars just for you!"
Gaio didn't even bother responding this time. He casually lifted his arm, brushing off Gojo's hand, and led Marin toward one of the Alphards.
The rear door slid open automatically. He guided Marin inside first, then followed.
"Hey, wait for me…" Gojo tried to squeeze into the same backseat, but a foot in a black sneaker shot out from the car, landing squarely on his chest.
Thud!
The kick wasn't hard, but it was enough to send Gojo stumbling back a couple of steps, nearly crashing into Yuji Itadori behind him.
"Pfft—" Nobara Kugisaki couldn't hold back a laugh, quickly covering her mouth.
Megumi Fushiguro looked away, expressionless.
"Hey, come on, Nero! That's just cold!" Gojo steadied himself and dramatically "protested" through the car window.
The window rolled down just a crack, revealing half of Gaio's impassive face. "Take the other car," he said flatly, and before Gojo could reply, the window slid back up.
"Tch…" Gojo pouted, peeking through the gap. Inside, Marin had settled comfortably next to Gaio, her big, curious red eyes watching the little scene outside with an innocent expression.
Gojo shrugged, turning to wave at his three students. "Alright, alright, let's go, kids. We're taking the other car. Man, what a heartless guy…"
The driver silently opened the door of the second Alphard for Gojo and his students.
The two black luxury vans glided smoothly out of the VIP parking lot, merging into the evening traffic of Higashi-Tokyo, heading toward Suginami Ward.
The Alphards wove through Suginami's streets, finally stopping in front of a brand-new, single-family house.
Gojo was the first to hop out, throwing his arms wide. "Ta-da! Surprise!"
As Gaio helped Marin out of the car, her eyes widened. "Oh! The house is back!"
She let go of his hand and skipped a few steps to the front gate. A cobblestone path led to the entrance, a new wind chime hung under the eaves, and even the small flowerbed in the corner of the yard had been restored to its original state.
Gaio's gaze swept over the house, which was almost identical to his memory, then turned to Gojo. "Your doing?"
"Sort of!" Gojo pulled off his blindfold, revealing sly blue eyes. "While you and your girlfriend were off traveling, I… ahem… reorganized some assets from those old geezers."
He kicked the stone lantern by the gate. "Rebuilt it with their money. Consider it a thank-you for taking care of our big problem."
Gaio nodded. "Thanks."
Gojo, hearing the rare gratitude, clutched his face dramatically and wiggled. "Oh my, oh my! The cool and stoic Nero-kun is thanking me!"
His three students, watching their teacher lose it again, collectively facepalmed.
Gaio's cheek twitched. "Be serious."
Gojo chuckled, continuing, "I had people try to recreate your house as best they could, but they could only get the exterior right. The interior—decor, furniture—that's something only you guys know. So, I had them go with a modern vibe for now."
Marin was already tugging Gaio toward the house. "Tian-kun, come look!"
She slid open the front door, and the faint scent of fresh tatami mats wafted out. The living room blended sleek Nordic-style furniture with traditional Japanese aesthetics.
Gojo trailed behind leisurely. "The kitchen's got all the latest appliances, and the bathroom's been redesigned."
He crossed his arms behind his head. "Furniture, appliances, bedding—everything's top-of-the-line, the most expensive stuff. Those old geezers had deep pockets, after all."
Leaning closer, he slung an arm around Gaio's neck again. "So, Nero, what do you think? Pretty sincere, right?"
Gaio raised an eyebrow at Gojo's words. "Alright, out with it. What do you want? You're not this generous for nothing."
Gojo grinned, glancing at Marin, who was excitedly fiddling with the smart home control panel in the living room. He lowered his voice. "Nothing big. You've already taken out the two biggest bad guys in the jujutsu world, so what's left is just small fry. You don't need to get involved."
Gaio nodded slightly.
With Kenjaku and Sukuna gone, there weren't many major threats left.
He glanced at Gojo sideways.
Gojo continued, his expression growing a bit more serious. "But cursed spirits? They'll never stop popping up. So…" He paused. "There's always a chance some super-strong monster could show up."
Marin let out a sudden "Wow!" from the living room—she'd activated the smart home system, and the house's lights began cycling through colors.
Gojo seized the moment to lean closer. "So, I'm hoping if you run into something like that, you'll take care of it for us, instead of…" He mimed covering his eyes. "…looking the other way."
Gaio glanced at Marin, who was gleefully playing with the voice-activated system, then back at Gojo. "That's it?"
"That's it," Gojo said, spreading his hands. "It's just a small favor for you."
In the living room, Marin had gotten the smart speaker to play an anime theme song and was swaying her golden hair to the beat.
Gaio looked at her. "If I come across one, or if it messes with my life, I'll deal with it."
Gojo's grin returned full force. "Awesome! And as a little thank-you—"
He dragged out his words dramatically. "I had Ijichi set you up with an unlimited black card. Call it… a consulting fee?"
Before Gaio could respond, Marin bounced over, her red eyes sparkling. "Tian-kun! The bathroom's smart tub can do rainbow bubble baths!"
Gojo slipped the black card into Gaio's pocket with a wink. "Have fun~"
With that, he headed for the door, calling to his students, "Alright, let's go! Don't wanna interrupt the lovebirds' new home vibes~"
Megumi gave Gaio a small, expressionless bow before following. Yuji waved cheerfully, while Nobara lingered a bit, reluctant to leave—after all, Nero was her idol.
Gaio watched as Gojo and his students piled into the Alphard and drove off. Marin, ever the polite hostess, waved until the taillights vanished around the corner.
The moment the car was out of sight, she spun around and, like a golden cannonball, launched herself into Gaio's arms with a "Whoosh!"
"Tian-kun! Tian-kun!" She tilted her face up, her red eyes brimming with excitement and curiosity. "Those people were so cool! Especially that tall guy with the white hair—he seems super strong! Who is he? And those students? Are they your friends? Are they the superheroes you mentioned?"
Gaio nodded but didn't answer directly. "Let's unpack first," he said calmly.
Marin pouted cutely at his dodge, but her excitement about the new house quickly took over. "Okay!" she chirped, bounding toward the suitcases by the entrance.
Gaio watched her lively figure, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint smile.
He headed to the kitchen.
The brand-new kitchen was spacious and bright, with gleaming cabinets and top-tier appliances. He opened the massive double-door fridge—stocked to the brim with fresh ingredients.
Perfect. That saves some effort.
He pulled out vegetables, meat, eggs, and a small pack of neatly packaged noodles.
A quick stir-fry and some chili oil noodles should do it.
The rhythmic sound of chopping soon filled the kitchen.
In the living room, Marin had dragged their suitcases to the bedroom door. She peeked inside curiously—new bedding and a sleek, modern wardrobe. Then she scampered back to the living room, diving back into the smart home panel.
"Tian-kun! What's for dinner?" she called toward the kitchen, her voice full of anticipation.
"Stir-fry. Noodles," Gaio replied without looking up, his hands moving deftly as he poured oil into the hot pan.
"Yay!" Marin cheered, setting the control panel aside and bouncing to the kitchen doorway, peeking in.
The oil hit the perfect temperature, and Gaio tossed in the sliced meat. A loud sizzle erupted, the aroma exploding into the air.
"Wow, that smells amazing!" Marin's eyes sparkled, her little nose twitching as she inhaled deeply, looking like a hungry kitten.
The range hood hummed quietly, and the kitchen filled with the sounds of the spatula and sizzling ingredients, the savory scent quickly spreading through the new space.
Outside, Higashi-Tokyo's lights began to twinkle. Inside, the steam from the cooking rose, giving the house the warm smell of home.
The next morning, soft dawn light filtered through the new curtains.
Marin was still fast asleep in the soft bedding, her face half-buried. Suddenly, she felt herself lifted, stirring with a sleepy mumble.
It was Gaio, carrying her in his arms.
"Mmm… morning, boyfriend-kun…" She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice soft and groggy.
"Morning," Gaio replied quietly, carrying her steadily out of the bedroom.
He crossed the living room to the pristine bathroom and set her down gently. On the sink, a toothbrush with toothpaste already squeezed onto it waited beside a glass.
He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Brush your teeth. Then…" He paused. "Take a shower. Last night's… lingering scent is still there." He turned. "Breakfast's in the kitchen."
Marin, still a bit dazed, nodded sleepily. "Oh… okay…"
Gaio said nothing more and walked out. Soon, faint clinks of kitchenware came from the kitchen.
Marin rubbed her eyes, brushed her teeth slowly, and splashed cold water on her face, finally waking up a bit.
As she wiped her face in front of the mirror, her movements paused.
Something clicked. She tugged at the collar of her pajama shirt and leaned closer to the mirror. Two faint red marks were clearly visible on her pale neck.
"Oh!" she gasped softly, her cheeks flushing bright red. "Oh no, the marks haven't faded…"
She touched the marks instinctively, frowning slightly, muttering, "Should I cover them with concealer?"
But then, as if remembering something amusing, her eyes lit up, and a grin spread across her face.
"Hmm…" She looked at her reflection, a hint of smugness in her expression. "This works too…" She touched the marks lightly, her eyes sparkling. "Perfect to show off to that missy!"
The thought cheered her up, her shyness replaced by excitement.
She made a little "You got this!" gesture at the mirror, then hummed a tune, skipping off to the bathroom to shower.
Marin finished quickly and changed into a clean white shirt.
She seemed to love this style: the shirt's hem tied neatly at her slim waist, the rest tucked into a short skirt, with a loose tie dangling around her neck.
Like a cheerful bird, she bounced into the kitchen.
Gaio stood with his back to the door, frying eggs in a sizzling pan. Marin peeked over his shoulder, standing on tiptoe, and planted a quick "smooch" on his cheek.
"Thanks for cooking, Tian-kun!" Her voice was bright and full of energy.
Gaio didn't turn, just letting out a low "Mm" from his throat.
Satisfied, Marin skipped to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
Propping her chin in her hands, her sparkling red eyes fixed on Gaio's broad back, her lips curved in a happy smile, like a little animal waiting to be fed.
Gaio deftly plated the golden fried eggs and turned, his gaze landing on the girl at the table.
Seeing her tied-up shirt, loose tie, and unapologetically eager smile, a gentle warmth curved his lips.
Marin beamed back, her smile as bright as the sun.
Gaio set the breakfast—fried eggs, light porridge, and small dishes—on the table and sat naturally beside her.
The table was filled with the aroma of porridge and golden eggs.
As Gaio picked up a bite of pickled vegetables, his phone buzzed on the table.
The screen lit up, displaying the name "Missy."
Marin, sipping her porridge, glanced at the name. Her nose wrinkled, and her cheeks puffed out like an annoyed kitten.
She "viciously" grabbed the half-eaten fried egg from her plate, stuffed it in her mouth, and chewed hard, as if it were that missy's flesh.
Gaio caught her reaction, his lips twitching into a faint smile.
He reached out, gently ruffling her golden hair with a soothing touch.
Then he picked up the phone and answered. "Hello?"
Kaguya Shinomiya's sweet, refined voice came through, laced with her usual aristocratic tone. "Good day, Tian-kun. Have you eaten?"
Gaio sighed silently at the overly formal greeting, like something out of an old drama. "Morning, Kaguya. I'm eating now."
"Oh, wonderful," Kaguya's voice softened, a hint of anticipation creeping in. "Then, might you wait at home for a bit?"
Gaio raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"My driver and I," Kaguya's voice came clearly through the receiver, "are on our way to your house."
Feed the author—vote now or the story starves 😭"
Want 2 chapters a day? You know what to do!
Request your favorite story too!
Pat-reon: belamy20