Chapter 25: Emiya-kun, Can You Cook?
Did this dream represent Heroic Spirit EMIYA? Or perhaps, another possibility of the existence named 'Emiya Shirou.'
The 'Emiya Shirou' of that world once had his closest family, the only family who had looked after him like an older sister since Kiritsugu's passing.
However, he inherited Kiritsugu's ideal but failed to find a happy ending.
Not only did he accidentally kill his only relative, but he was also forced to slaughter innocent people.
Even after death, he found no peace, still acting as a 'Counter Guardian' to maintain the so-called human order through relentless killing.
He acted without any personal thought, merely as a killing machine.
His memories were fragmented, and his past was lost.
He discarded morality and scorned kinship.
He upheld the belief of 'saving the innocent,' but ultimately lost the reason and the original form of that belief, blindly pursuing only results, which eventually led to ruin.
Yet, even after that long atonement ended, the man standing on the gallows saw the 'Universal Justice' he had dreamed of in his youth. He forgot everything, but he never forgot that.
His actions were no longer for 'Justice,' but merely for the correct 'Outcome.'
So, did his pitch-black yet pure Cursed Energy come from him? Another possibility of Heroic Spirit Emiya, or perhaps, EMIYA Alter.
Emiya really wanted to try out the specific properties of this Cursed Energy right now, but the person next to him clearly wasn't going to give him much personal space—
"What's wrong? You don't look so good... Bad dream?" Satoru Gojo wasn't at all embarrassed about being caught entering the bedroom and even showed thoughtful concern for Emiya's state.
"No, I'm alright... I would definitely feel better if you would knock before entering my room, though."
Faced with this lawless and unrestrained person, Emiya could only press his hand to his forehead in exasperation.
Who would want to wake up and find someone who entered at an unknown time staring at them, especially another man?
"How can you say that? Don't forget I have this." Gojo pointed to the blindfold over his eyes. "Since I noticed Emiya-kun was sound asleep beforehand, I deliberately didn't make a big noise. How can you disappoint this considerate gesture?
It's exactly eight o'clock now. Emiya-kun, your schedule is very healthy. So, do you want breakfast?"
Could Gojo-san have sneaked into his room early in the morning just to eat breakfast with him? Emiya definitely couldn't believe that.
However, out of respect, Emiya looked at Gojo's empty hands and tried to ask, "Have you prepared breakfast already?" If someone showed that level of goodwill, he had no reason to refuse.
Hearing this, Gojo spread his hands with great confidence.
"No!"
"..." That was a remarkably candid answer.
"So, what made you think I could cook?" Emiya asked, having roughly figured out why this person was waiting here so early.
"Intuition, that's the 'Strongest's' intuition. Alright, actually, the information from my investigation said Emiya-kun lives alone, so doesn't that greatly increase the probability that you can cook?
So, can you cook? You must be able to, right?"
It was strange; why was a peculiar emotion called anticipation bubbling up in Gojo's expression? If 'The Strongest' wanted to eat something, couldn't he just ask anyone?
Nonetheless, Emiya was honest. Despite his helplessness, he nodded and replied.
"Yes."
"Yay!"
If a person no longer cares about what others think of them, their mindset becomes optimistic, and they also gain many conveniences in life. Fortunately, Satoru Gojo was exactly that kind of person.
Under his shameless offensive, Emiya eventually stood in front of the kitchen counter and put on an apron.
The refrigerator held many ingredients, but it wasn't suitable to eat anything too rich in the morning. So, Emiya simply pan-fried a steak and an egg, and then cut up some vegetables and fruit for a salad, which he placed in front of Gojo.
For a breakfast, this was quite hearty.
"Ooh-ooh, it looks very appetizing. Well then... I'll dig in." Gojo devoured the food with an exaggerated zeal. In no time at all, most of the steak and salad had disappeared into his stomach.
"Even if it's just for breakfast, you shouldn't have to come all the way here, Gojo-san, right?" Emiya genuinely didn't believe Gojo came here just for this, but even if it was a side-benefit, why freeload off him? These ingredients were Jujutsu High's, after all.
"If you ask why, it's simply because I don't have time, I suppose?" Gojo, mouth full of salad, replied.
"No time?" Emiya was a bit confused. Who wouldn't have time for breakfast?
"That's right.
After we parted last night, I went to Italy because there was a Special Grade Cursed Spirit that couldn't be dealt with there. After rushing back, I spent a little time taking care of the accumulated Cursed Spirit requests that couldn't be resolved, and finally managed to squeeze in three hours of rest.
To avoid wasting time, I just slept at your place while I was here."
"...?" Emiya briefly imagined Gojo dozing off on a chair but was still a bit confused. Even as 'The Strongest,' shouldn't he not have to exhaust himself running around to solve Cursed Spirit problems? Generally, a character like him should be safely kept in the main base, used as a sort of nuclear deterrent.
If Gojo had to be constantly active, the state of the Jujutsu world was probably quite awful.
Awful to the point that if he wasn't constantly putting out fires, stability couldn't be maintained. Perhaps that was indeed the case. After all, they said Cursed Spirits are inexhaustible, and no amount of Sorcerers' lives could fill the gap, but Gojo could easily suppress them.
However...
"Only resting for three hours... Do you really not feel tired?"
Even a true superhuman couldn't relentlessly kill Cursed Spirits at high intensity for twenty-one hours a day. The body might be tough enough, but the mind wouldn't be.
Just like Emiya Alter, he lost himself in countless mechanical acts of slaughter.
"It's fine." Gojo's face still held a smile. He said:
"I am 'The Strongest,' after all."
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