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Archer the Sorcerer Chapter 3
🕑 Added 2024-08-07 08:13:24 +0000 UTCChapter 3: Hillbilly Elegy
It had been one year since that moment. The catalyst that changed everything for him.
He wondered what really set off the downward spiral that he was experiencing.
Was it the funeral of Satoru’s father? Or… was it the death of the Star Plasma Vessel?
Suguru Geto walked through the streets while having this train of thought. The lack of silence was heavy, not a stark contrast to the chaos that constantly surrounded him in his current life.
His thoughts began to drift back to a time that felt like a different lifetime altogether—a time when he was still a student at Tokyo Jujutsu High, alongside his best friend, Satoru Gojo. A time when Riko Amanai was still alive.
‘Riko.’ Her name echoed in his mind, bringing with it a rush of memories and emotions that he had tried so hard to bury.
The Star Plasma Vessel. The mission that had changed everything. He could still see her face, smiling and full of life, unaware of the fate that awaited her. Suguru closed his eyes, allowing the memories to wash over him, pulling him back to those fateful days.
It had been a sunny afternoon when they first met Riko Amanai. Suguru and Gojo had been assigned to protect her as she was the designated vessel for Master Tengen.
At first, it seemed like just another mission, but as they spent more time with Riko, they grew attached to her. She was unlike anyone they had ever met—strong-willed, brave, and with a zest for life that was infectious.
He remembered how she had insisted on going to school, despite the dangers.
"I want to live my life," she had said, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I don't want to be just a vessel. I want to be Riko Amanai, even if it's just for a little while longer."
Suguru had admired her for that. She had a strength that was rare, a strength that resonated with him deeply.
They had spent days protecting her, fighting off assassins and curses, all while trying to give her the semblance of a normal life. And in those moments, between battles and strategies, they had laughed, talked, and formed a bond that he had never anticipated.
But then, it had all come crashing down. Suguru’s mind drifted to that horrific day when they had finally reached the Star Corridor. The memory of that moment was etched into his soul, a wound that would never heal. They had been so close, so sure that they had succeeded.
Riko had smiled at them, thanking them for everything, as she prepared to fulfill her duty.
The door had opened, and Suguru had felt a surge of relief. They had done it. They had protected her. But then, in an instant, everything had changed.
Toji Fushiguro, the Sorcerer Killer, had appeared, and in the blink of an eye, Riko was gone.
Suguru could still hear the gunshot, the deafening sound that had shattered their hopes and dreams.
He could still see the blood, so much blood, staining the pristine white of the Star Corridor. Riko’s lifeless body had fallen, and with it, Suguru felt a part of himself die.
He had rushed to her, his hands trembling as he cradled her body, desperately trying to hold onto the warmth that was quickly fading. Satoru had been there too, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
They had failed. They had failed Riko, failed to protect her, failed to save her.
In the aftermath of her death, Suguru had felt a shift within himself. The world that he had once believed in, the ideals that he had held so dear, began to crumble.
He had seen the darkness and cruelty of the world firsthand, and it had changed him. He had started to question everything—his role as a sorcerer, the purpose of their missions, and the very nature of the world they lived in.
The loss of Riko had been the catalyst, the event that had set him on a new path. A path of anger and disillusionment, a path that had led him to where he was now.
He had become disillusioned with the jujutsu society, with its rules and its failures. He had come to believe that the world needed to change, that the only way to protect people like Riko was to create a new order, one where sorcerers ruled and the weak were purged.
But as he walked through the streets there, lost in his memories, Suguru couldn’t help but wonder if he had lost himself along the way.
The boy who had once fought to protect the innocent, who had laughed and dreamed with his friends, seemed like a distant memory. In his place was a man consumed by anger and bitterness, a man willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals, no matter the cost.
Suguru sighed, running a hand through his hair. He could still hear Riko’s voice, her laughter, her dreams.
She had wanted to live her life, to be more than just a vessel. And he had failed her. He had failed to give her the life she deserved.
And then, Satoru Gojo fulfilled his potential – truly becoming the Strongest.
Suguru walked with purpose, his dark clothes billowing slightly in the evening breeze. He had cut ties with the Jujutsu world, or so he thought, and was now a rogue sorcerer, following his own path, one that was steeped in a vision of cleansing the world of non-sorcerers.
His mind drifted back to his final conversation with Satoru Gojo, his closest friend, the one person who might have understood his disillusionment but could never accept his methods. Their parting words were heavy with unspoken emotions, a mixture of sorrow, anger, and the deep bond that they had shared.
It was a farewell that left a lasting ache in Suguru’s heart, one that he carried with him even as he forged ahead with his new ideals.
“Are you the strongest because you’re Satoru Gojo, or are you Satoru Gojo because you’re the strongest?”
It was the sentence he last spoke to his best friend’s a few moments ago, making it some sort of goodbye as they went on their separate ways.
If he had been Satoru Gojo, he could’ve realized his new, twisted ideals; getting rid of all non-sorcerers and create a utopia for all Sorcerers.
So that no more Cursed Spirits got birthed. So that Sorcerers wouldn’t need to fight in this twisted cycle... so that those like Riko Amanai and Yu Haibara wouldn’t have lost their lives.
The sun was setting over Shinjuku as Suguru Geto walked through its streets. The warm hues of twilight bathed the streets in a soft glow, casting long shadows and creating an almost ethereal atmosphere.
Someone accidentally bumped into him a little. Suguru didn’t give him any attention or even any sense of acknowledgement of his presence. The man who bumped onto him said his apologies, but Suguru just kept on walking.
‘Monkeys… all of them,” he inwardly thought, judging the person who had dared to touch him. Feeling like he had just bumped onto a vermin.
As he walked, he noticed a small park, almost deserted save for a few children playing. It was a serene place, with neatly trimmed grass, colorful flowers, and a playground that looked well-maintained.
Suguru’s eyes scanned the area, and he spotted a lone figure sitting on a swing, gently swaying back and forth. The child was small, perhaps six years old, with white hair and an expression that seemed too serious for someone so young.
Beside the young boy was a plastic bag of groceries, looking like he had just ran an errand and bought cooking supplies.
Suguru’s curiosity was piqued, and he approached the boy, his footsteps silent on the grass. The child looked up as he neared, his eyes wide and curious, yet cautious. Suguru knelt down to be at eye level with the boy, offering a gentle smile.
“Hey there,” Suguru said softly.
The boy looked toward the source of the voice that questioned him, his small hands gripping the chains of the swing tightly.
“Suguru Geto,” he replied quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Suguru’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected to meet him, not here, not now. He studied the boy’s face more closely, recognizing the familiar features.
This was Satoru’s younger brother, Shirou Gojo.
“What are you doing here all alone, Shirou?” Suguru asked, keeping his tone gentle.
The young kid kept his eyes on Suguru, kicking at the ground lightly. “Was just done buying groceries, now taking a bit of rest,” he said. “Sometimes I come here when I want to be by myself.”
Suguru nodded, understanding the need for solitude all too well. “It’s a nice place to think,” he agreed. “Do you mind if I sit with you for a while?”
Shirou Gojo shook his head, and Suguru took a seat on the swing next to him. They sat in silence for a few moments, the creaking of the swings and the distant laughter of other children the only sounds.
“Aren’t you supposed to be a wanted man now?” Shirou asked suddenly, his eyes searching Suguru’s face.
Suguru hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yes, I am. I see that words travel fast.”
“The ones in the family compound talked about it,” Shirou’s expression hardened slightly. he said. “About how you massacred a village, leaving no one there alive. Was that all true?”
Suguru didn’t felt a pang of guilt and sadness after hearing those words coming from the child’s mouth. To him, they were nothing more than monkeys after all.
“Yes, indeed,” he admitted. “I did those things for all those monkeys that could not use any Cursed Energy.”
The young one there seemed to ponder this, his old mind trying to grasp the complexities of what Suguru was insinuating. “Why?” he asked, his voice not tinged with any kind of horror or sadness.
Suguru sighed, looking up at the darkening sky. “It’s complicated, Shirou,” he said. “But that’s the path I’ve chosen. I’m done fighting for the non-sorcerers. Because of them, Cursed Spirits are born. Non-sorcerers can’t control their negative energy, and that leads to all the horrors being birthed. It will never stop, unless they are all gone.”
Suguru did not want to discuss such a heavy topic with someone so young and innocent, but from his point of view, he wanted Shirou to know and understand about why monkeys didn’t deserve to live in the first place.
“So, that’s what you want now? Massacre them all, except those that can control Cursed Energy?” Suguru got asked more, and after hearing the question, he showed a little smile.
“Yes, a utopia for all Sorcerers. That’s the path I want to take, no matter the cost.” Suguru said those words with conviction. “I don’t suppose one as young as you to understand, but as you grow more and get more mature, you’ll see that I—“
“I understand,” the six-year-old said quietly, interrupting Suguru’s saying in the process. “Killing the majority to save the minority… to save those you deem precious.”
Suguru’s heart raced a little at the sincerity and understanding in Shirou’s words. “Yes… that’s what I want to do! You understand, right?! These monkeys… they don’t deserve to breathe the same air as us! We, Sorcerers, keep fighting and dying and for what? For them to keep on living while we clean up their messes, sacrificing ourselves in the process?!”
Shirou kept looking at Suguru as he talked and talked about his twisted ideals, but in his silence, he understood it; the reversal of Kiritsugu and Shirou Emiya’s ideals.
“Perhaps this is the reason why I’m here…” the young boy muttered softly, not being heard by Suguru as his heart was racing in the process of telling Satoru’s little brother his world view.
“Heh, what a joke,” Suguru stopped to look at Shirou, who had said those words to him. The young boy had a bit of a dry laugh after saying it.
“What do you mean by that, Shirou?” Suguru took on a serious tone while asking Shirou that question, not in a mood to be lighthearted whatsoever.
“Those who pursue that extreme of an ideal will only walk through hell, no matter what side of the coin they’re on,” Shirou explained to Suguru while looking at the sunset sky.
The young boy was reminiscing on his experiences as a Counter Guardian, where he took on the role as someone that sacrificed the minority to save the majority of humanity.
To see someone willingly took that kind of role with a twisted sense of justification… it all felt like a bad joke to him.
“And for you, Suguru Geto, I know for certain that you will not prevail,” Shirou said those words with conviction as well, looking at Suguru straight on.
“I see, you really are his brother, aren’t you? I thought that you would agree with me,” Suguru responded, a hint of disappointment was showed as well. “But no matter, I should see to it that my ideals will become a reality… so that those like you can live peacefully.”
“You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”
The young boy quoted an unknown line for Suguru to hear, making him questioned what the six year old had meant by it.
“What do you mean by that?” Suguru asked.
“It’s a quote from a movie that Satoru took me to watch a few weeks ago, for my sixth birthday,” Shirou explained. “It fits perfectly for you, doesn’t it?”
That quote not only fit Suguru perfectly, but for Archer of the Fifth Holy Grail War as well.
“Satoru should be more responsible. He shouldn’t have taken you to see such a mature movie,” Suguru expressed his disappointment toward his best friend a little.
“Yes, he shouldn’t have. He kept telling me that it was a superhero movie that kids my age would enjoy. I think he had more enjoyment after watching it.”
Suguru had a bit of a laugh after hearing what Shirou had said, trying to think about what Satoru’s face must have been like when forcing his little brother to watch that movie with him.
They then lapsed into a comfortable silence once more. Suguru found himself feeling a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in a long time, just sitting there with the young boy who reminded him so much of his lost friendship with Satoru.
As the sky grew darker, the streetlights flickered on, casting a warm glow over the park. Suguru knew it was time to leave, to continue on his path. He stood up, looking down at Shirou with a gentle smile.
“I have to go now,” he said. “But remember, Shirou, you’re strong. You have your brother that cares about you. Never forget that.”
Shirou Gojo looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and understanding. “I won’t forget,” he said.
Suguru nodded, feeling a lump in his throat. “Take care, Shirou,” he said softly, before turning and walking away, his baggy clothes billowing behind him.
As he left the park, Suguru felt a strange sense of closure. Meeting Shirou had reminded him of the bonds he had once cherished, the friendships that had shaped him. Though he was now on a different path, the encounter with the young boy had given him a reminder of why he had chosen his current course.
He walked through the quiet streets, his mind filled with thoughts of the past and the future. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, filled with challenges and sacrifices. But he also knew that he was entirely alone… for now.
The memory of Satoru Gojo, the bond they had shared, and the innocent talk he’d had with Shirou, his little brother would stay with him, guiding him in the darkest of times.
As the night enveloped the town, Suguru Geto disappeared into the shadows, a rogue sorcerer with a heart still touched by the light of old friendships and the ‘innocence’ of a child.
******
Where was he at this point?
Truly, after all that he had gone through, he didn’t know himself.
After that piece of paper was given to him, he didn’t know anything anymore.
“SUGURU GETO; SENTENCED TO DEATH.”
The announcement report gave every excruciating detail on why and even the evidence was quite clear. His homeroom teacher even gave him the announcement himself.
His best friend had basically committed an act that was so heinous; it didn’t even make sense in his mind. Hell, he got told that Suguru’s parents were killed… by Suguru himself.
Even after confronting him head on, where he wished that it had all been a lie, or just a fabrication, it turned out to be true.
‘What the fuck does he mean by killing all non-sorcerers? What the fuck does he mean it wouldn’t be pointless because I could do it?’
He’d lost so many. His father, a year ago. His underclassman, a few weeks ago. His best friend, just about on this day.
Oh, he lost Riko Amanai as well. Thanks to that freak of a person.
Even though after, he had finally managed to unlock his full potential and be the Strongest. He also needed to grow up and realized that he couldn’t save those who weren’t strong enough.
The scenery was quiet at Tokyo Jujutsu High, the usual hum of activity having died down as the stars were about to began to blanket the sky. The campus was peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaotic and dangerous world outside its walls.
Masamichi Yaga, his teacher, appeared, Satoru looked up as he approached, sensing the young sorcerer's aura even before he spoke.
"Satoru," Yaga greeted, his voice gruff but warm. “Rough day, huh?”
"You can say that again," he replied, taking a seat next to Yaga. He stretched his long legs out in front of him and leaned back, seemingly at ease. "Thought I'd take a break from being the strongest for a moment."
Yaga chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "The strongest, huh? That's a title you've earned, no doubt."
Satoru tilted his head, his smile slightly widening. "You sound like you're about to give me a lecture, Sensei."
Yaga shook his head, his expression thoughtful. "No lecture, just an observation. You're powerful, Satoru, perhaps the most powerful sorcerer in the world. But I've noticed that power comes with its own challenges, doesn't it?"
Satoru's smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "Yeah, it does," he admitted, his tone unusually subdued.
"People expect a lot from you when you're the strongest. They look to you to solve every problem, fight every battle. It can be... exhausting."
Yaga nodded, understanding the weight behind Satoru's words. "I can imagine. It's a heavy burden to bear, especially at your age. But you've handled it well."
Satoru leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Sometimes I wonder if being the strongest is really a blessing. Sure, it has its perks, but it's also isolating. People either idolize you or fear you. They don't see you as a person, just a tool to be used."
Yaga's eyes softened, his gaze steady and compassionate. "That's true, Satoru. Power can be a double-edged sword. But it's not just about how strong you are; it's about how you use that strength.”
“You've always been more than just a powerhouse. You've got a good heart, and you care about your students and the people around you."
Satoru looked away, his expression introspective. "Sometimes I feel like I'm just going through the motions. The strong protect the weak, but what happens when the strong don't feel like they belong anywhere?"
Yaga sighed, his voice filled with the weight of experience. "That's a question many strong sorcerers have faced. The truth is, strength can be a lonely road. But it doesn't have to be. It's about finding people you trust, people who see you for who you are, not just what you can do."
Satoru chuckled, a hint of sadness in his voice. "Easier said than done, isn’t it?”
"True," Yaga acknowledged. "But there are those who care about you, Satoru. And there are others—people like Nanami, Shoko, and even me. We see you as a person, not just a weapon."
Satoru was silent for a moment, absorbing Yaga's words. He knew they were true, but it was still difficult to shake the feeling of isolation that came with his immense power.
"I just wish I could connect with people more easily," he finally said. "But with this power, it's like there's always a barrier between me and everyone else."
Yaga placed a hand on Satoru's shoulder, a rare gesture of comfort from the usually stoic man. "That's the challenge of being the strongest. But you're not alone, Satoru. You have people who care about you, who see beyond your strength. And remember, it's okay to let others in, to show vulnerability. It doesn't make you any less strong."
Satoru looked at Yaga, a small, genuine smile forming on his lips. "Thanks, Sensei. I guess I needed to hear that."
Yaga smiled back, a warm, fatherly expression. "Remember, being the strongest isn't about never needing help. It's about being able to accept it when you do."
Satoru nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing. "I'll try to remember that."
The bond between teacher and student, built on mutual respect and understanding, was a rare and precious thing. In that quiet moment, Satoru felt a little less like the invincible strongest sorcerer and a little more like a young man trying to navigate a complicated world.
And for that brief respite, he was grateful. After that, Masamichi Yaga left him all by himself.
‘If I’m the only strong one, it doesn’t mean anything. I can only save those who are ready to be saved.’
Satoru Gojo finally knew what he needed to do.
He was just sitting at the grand staircase inside the compound of Tokyo Jujutsu High, watching as the sun was shading the color orange, as it was an hour or two before it finally set.
His mind had a train of thought about what that douchebag said to him before he passed away… thanks to him blasting away half of his torso to oblivion.
“Two or three years from now, my kid will be sold to the Zenin Clan. Do as you wish with that.”
The sentence he was thinking was the last words coming from the Sorcerer Killer, Toji Fushiguro’s mouth.
Never had he expected to be fighting against him last year. The reject of the Zenin clan, who had almost killed him.
But thanks to him, Satoru Gojo had been able to unlock his full potential, becoming from just a Special Grade Sorcerer to be truly the strongest Sorcerer of this current time.
He also had not expected for that freak to bear a child, and knowing what kind of act Toji had been insinuating, he was truly a deadbeat of a father to begin with.
Satoru would certainly do as he wished with that information being given to him. Now that he also wanted to forge his own path, that piece of information would be his stepping-stone.
But first, there was also another stone he wanted to step. And that stone was closer to him in distance and in relation.
“They’re both the same age, right? Time to set up a play-date, then,” Satoru said to no one around him to listen.
Satoru Gojo was just sitting, and in the next second, he was gone.
******
After the day he had gone through, surprises shouldn’t come around again, right?
Waking up to the news that his ‘brother’s’ best friend just turned into a serial killer on the loose was surely the crème de la crème of the day.
Meeting said person had been another surprise to be sure, and most certainly, not a welcome one.
‘Wrong day to pick for grocery-shopping…’ he thought while walking with a plastic bag filled with groceries and other forms of cooking supplies so that he could make his own dinner.
These days of him not doing anything and just living life as a child made him start to think more about what he wanted to do now that he no longer was bound in an eternal servitude for Alaya.
The option to become a Sorcerer was already there. Shirou Gojo was born in a prestigious and acclaimed sorcerer family. His brother was the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer there was, and he himself knew that he could exorcise Cursed Spirits.
In short, he could become the Hero of Justice he’d once promised his father from his previous life; Kiritsugu Emiya.
The six-year-old Shirou Gojo walked through the streets with this train of thought after talking with Suguru Geto, his brother’s former best friend and a recent rogue Cursed Sorcerer.
The topic he had talked about with Suguru made him remember more about his previous life and, of course, his previous afterlife.
The hell he’d gone through.
But alas, with him remembering it and then looking at his stubby and small legs he was walking with, made him think that he could just lead a normal life.
‘I could just be the disappointment of the family. Living a mundane life, working a 9-5 job, grow a belly and settle down…’ he thought while looking down at his moving legs.
After these train of thoughts, he finally arrived at the Gojo family compound.
Lo and behold, someone was waiting for him.
“Huh, another surprise waiting for sure here,” he muttered under his breath as he looked at the person who was waiting for him; none other that his abrasive, annoying and overall insane ‘big brother’.
“Yo, Shirou! What you got there, groceries? What are you, a junior Masterchef now?” Satoru Gojo proclaimed his greetings in his usual manner, by being condescending.
He let out a breath as he knew that Satoru would just make his day longer than it already was. “I like cooking. Is there something wrong with it?” he asked Satoru in a non-lighthearted manner.
“You do know we have people in the house that can do that, right? I mean, we got chefs, maids, servants — hell, we even have our own gardener!” Satoru joyfully said to his little brother, who was just looking at him in a tired manner. “Now that I think about it, it’s good that you’re not a spoiled and entitled brat…”
“You’re more of the spoiled and entitled brat that I am…” the six-year-old muttered under his breath, not intending for Satoru to hear.
“Huh? What was that you said?” Satoru asked while gesturing for his little brother to speak up louder.
“I said, what are you doing here, Satoru? You rarely come home. Don’t you have missions to go through?” he said while making up another topic so that he wouldn’t need to repeat his muttering.
“Oh right, I was just about to tell you,” Satoru became alive and started to prepare what he wanted to say to begin with. “Shirou, we’re gonna have a play date for you!”
Satoru said it with the biggest grin he could muster and acted like he had the biggest sugar rush a 17-year-old was experiencing, from his eyes.
“What do you mean by ‘play date’? Isn’t it almost late for kids my age to play outside to begin with?” he asked while also pointing out that the sun was beginning to set.
“Don’t worry, you little snot! Big brother’s here to look out for you and for your play date to go well!” Satoru said while ruffling his kid brother’s white hair, all the while with a nonchalant manner.
He hated every time Satoru did this. Not only did he feel like he was being treated in a condescending manner, but also the force that Satoru was using hurt his small and tiny scalp.
As Satoru ruffled Shirou’s hair, he started to look at his little brother in a bit of a serious manner, letting his sunglasses a bit loose from his eyes in the process.
“Shirou, did you meet Suguru by any chance?” Satoru asked in a serious manner, no longer being nonchalant like he previously was.
With his Six Eyes, he could see Cursed Energy in the tiniest of minuscule. And what Satoru was seeing was none other than the lingering traces of his former best friend’s Cursed Energy on his little brother.
“Yeah, we accidentally met after I bought these groceries,” he answered honestly.
“Did he do anything to you, or say anything in particular?” Satoru started to ask Shirou more, intending to find out just what had happened during their exchange.
“He just explained why he did all those things that he did, and also about how he wanted to kill every non-sorcerers in the world so that we could live in a utopia where no Sorcerer needs to fight and die,” he explained his exchange with Suguru in a summary, making Satoru have a inscrutable expression.
“And did you say anything to him after that monologue?” Satoru asked.
“Told him what a joke it was, and that he wouldn’t prevail,” Shirou answered in a stoic manner.
It was true. Even though he understood Suguru’s newly-realized and twisted ideals, he knew for certain that such an extreme wouldn’t be able to be realized, speaking from his own experiences, of course.
‘I wonder if this world falls into the Counter Force’s jurisdiction, or perhaps, that’s why I’m here in the first place,’ the former Counter Guardian inwardly thought, having his own time thinking in the process of it all.
“Heh, that’s my boy. You know, I think your big brother is starting to rub off on you,” Satoru gleefully claimed while also started to ruffle his little brother’s hair more, looking at his annoyed expression in the process. “Well, let me know if he ever comes up to you again or something. But– oh yeah, play date!”
Satoru grabbed onto Shirou’s small hand that wasn’t holding the plastic bag, intending to take him somewhere.
“Okay, I hope this doesn’t give you whiplash, or make you barf a lot — maybe expect a bit of nausea,” Satoru said in a nonchalant manner.
“Wait, what do you mean by—“ he couldn’t finish his question as all of a sudden, he got interrupted with Satoru inexplicably transported them.
What was left of them in front of the Gojo Family compound was only dust, flowing with the wind.
*************
Another day was ending, and nothing changed.
The sun was beginning to set and his small footsteps lingered to accompany the loneliness he was experiencing,
Those who were able to witness him would just think that he was a small boy walking to his house after school. With his backpack and clothes, he looked just like a normal first-grader.
It was the boy’s expression that made people thought of him a bit differently.
Stoic and firm, it looked like he was already more than mature for his age. At the same time, some would say it only elevated his cuteness.
Megumi Fushiguro was only a six-year-old first grader, after all.
He walked with intent, as the more he walked; the more the outlook of the city was changing. The commercial district was beaming with life, but the more he got closer toward his destination, the more of a stark contrast it was.
The district he was entering was not what you could call ‘pristine’ or ‘beaming with life’. He saw alleyways that cars couldn’t enter. He saw children his age running around playing in the mud. He saw houses that were so closely put side by side and on top of each other.
This was his reality; the reality of an orphan.
He really didn’t know if he and his sister were technically orphans. Perhaps, their parents weren’t dead yet, but they were certainly abandoned with little money and no warmth whatsoever.
In Megumi’s mind, they were already dead.
Thus, all he could do was becoming more mature, aging faster than a normal first-grader on the inside.
To be fair, it only made him have a more jaded view of life. Unlike his sister, Tsumiki Fushiguro.
Tsumiki was not his sister by blood. They were step-siblings, you see? His father married Tsumiki’s mother… and then they both disappeared together.
Life had been a cruel joke for them. But at least, they had each other. And for Tsumiki, she always had a positive outlook on life, unlike him.
She always cleaned up the place they both were staying in. She always tried to make the day more enjoyable and not as depressing as it was. Overall, Megumi was not alone and Tsumiki was not alone either.
These were the thoughts of the six-year-old Megumi Fushiguro while walking towards his home.
“You’re Megumi Fushiguro, right?”
As he walked while looking down at the cobblestones of the alleyway, thinking about all the things he had gone through, someone behind him interrupted him by asking his identity.
Megumi turned his body around, trying to see who was asking him.
They were two people standing behind him.
One was tall young man with sunglasses, having hair white as snow and also wearing a high school uniform that he didn’t know about. The other was a child; a boy closer to his own age, also having white hair, a mildly tan skin, and a grocery plastic bag was being held on to by one of his hand.
“Who are you?” Megumi asked in an annoyed manner while looking at the stranger who called out his name. The older teenager who was asked only had a weird and inscrutable reaction after looking at Megumi’s face. “And what’s with that weird face?”
Megumi just kept staring as the older white-haired person looked goofy and the other six-year-old in the vicinity also looked at him with narrowed eyes and a raised eyebrow.
“You just look like him, is all…” Satoru replied Megumi’s question while fixing his sunglasses’ position.
It was a really surreal and traumatic thing for Satoru to experience, as he had not expected that Megumi Fushiguro would have a striking resemblance with his father.
“So, listen. About your dad…” Satoru started to explain while the rest of the kids near him started to listen. “He’s from this big shot Jujutsu Sorcerer Family called the Zenin, but they’re such scumbags that they make even me sick. Alas, that’s why your dad left the family and had you.”
Megumi had no reaction whatsoever as he listened on about the summary of his father’s tragic tale and upbringing. He had no care in the world for his father, of course.
“Now, you’re one of the ones that can see things, so you’re privileged there, right?” Satoru continued. “You’ve noticed the power within yourself, too, yeah? The Zenin clan just loves strong powers. Most become aware of their Cursed Techniques around 4-6 years old.”
Megumi of course knew what the older teenager was saying. It had been a year since he could see those malformed Spirits that haunted the dark corner of alleyways and other places that had an eerie atmosphere.
He had noticed some form of energy that he could summon from within him. But with Tsumiki not being able to see or had that same energy, he kept his mouth shut.
“It’s the perfect time to sell a kid off!” Satoru started to gesture his hands in a weird way while the kids looked at him as if they were seeing something weird. “So, Megumi, you were the ultimate card that your dad kept on hand against the Zenin clan! Pisses you off, doesn’t it?”
Satoru started to crouch down in front of Megumi’s face, intending to tell him more about something.
“So, about that dad of yours, I ki—“ Satoru was abruptly interrupted as not only Megumi spoke over him, but the six-year-old beside him nudged him as well.
“I don’t care,” Megumi interrupted Satoru’s saying, not intending to listen any further. “I have no interest in where he is or what he’s doing.”
“I haven’t seen him in years. I don’t even remember what he looks like…”
After what he had experienced, and with living with Tsumiki all by themselves even though they were just children, Megumi truly did not give any shit about what had happened to his father.
“Though I get the general idea from what you just said. Tsumiki’s mother hasn’t come home in a while now, either,” Megumi continued and Satoru, while listening, widened his eyes a little after hearing Megumi’s line of dialogue. “That means they’re finished with us, and they’re off enjoying themselves somewhere, right?”
“Ah, Megumi’s home,” another young child said from above them, as she opened the window from the second story of a rundown apartment, making all in the vicinity looked at her.
While all of this was going on, the only one who hadn’t spoken a single word was the white-haired six-year-old who was only intending to listen.
After listening to what Megumi had said, Satoru could only be silent for a while, trying to intake what this first grader in front of him was trying to say.
“Are six-year-olds really like this now?” Satoru commented while not only looking at Megumi, but also his kid brother who was the same age as him.
He did not expect to see that Megumi had this kind of maturity and jaded view of the world, but then he remembered that he also had a little brother who sometimes acted and said things like what Megumi had just said to him.
“Why are you looking at me for?” his little brother asked as he felt that Satoru was looking at him in a weird way, like he was comparing him to Megumi.
“Just that I got the feeling that you two will get along nicely…” Satoru answered while the one who got his answer only raised his eyebrow.
“Well, whatever…” Satoru looked back towards Megumi, who turned his back on him and faced directly towards his sister. “If you ever want to know about your dad, you can ask me.”
“Just so you know, I think it’ll be interesting to hear…” Satoru said as he started to stand up from his crouching position. “Now, on to the main point. What do you want to do? Do you want to go to the Zenin clan?”
After hearing Satoru’s line of questioning, Megumi faced back towards Satoru. “What will happen to Tsumiki? If I go there, will Tsumiki be able to find happiness? It all depends on that.”
For Megumi, it truly depended on whether or not his sister would be taken care of as well. He knew that he would be alright, his sister on the other hand, was a different matter entirely.
“No. A hundred percent no,” Satoru gave Megumi a straight answer from his own judgment. “I can say that with certainty.”
Judging from Satoru’s experience with them, Megumi’s sister would probably have been discarded or be thrown out if Megumi had come to the Zenin clan with Tsumiki.
Megumi started to hold on to his backpack, as he felt that it would be terrible judgment for him if he would choose to go to the Zenin clan.
Satoru started to laugh as he saw Megumi’s reaction to his choice of wording, at the same time, he knew what he had to do, the thing that he had planned for in the beginning as well.
“Okay! Leave the rest to me, then,” Satoru said those words while also ruffling Megumi’s hair and scalp. “In that case, Shirou! Come here!”
Satoru started to pull away his kid brother’s arm from beside him, intending to get him closer to Megumi’s position.
“Megumi, this is my kid brother, Shirou. You’re gonna be best buds with him from now on...” Satoru gleefully proclaimed while ruffling Shirou’s hair as well. “He’s like you, y’ know. Always have that sour look on his face but he’s just a little snot, like you!”
His kid brother definitely didn’t like what Satoru was insinuating, judging from his inscrutable expression. But overall, everything started to fall into place for Satoru’s plan.
Megumi looked at Shirou’s face and he felt that the little brother had nothing alike with his big brother. He had judged his overall appearance ever since he laid eyes on the other six-year-old. Whereas his big brother was loud, boisterous, annoying and overall acting like a nonchalant idiot, Shirou had been stoic and had little reaction or action whatsoever.
It was the kind of company that Megumi liked the most, rather than the kind of company that Satoru had on his sleeve.
Megumi started to put his hand forward towards the little brother, intending to shake his hand. “Megumi Fushiguro.”
With just a little pause, the one that was offered a hand to introduce himself did the same gesture. “Shirou Gojo.”
They both then shook their hands after introducing themselves, which Satoru looked at in a focused state.
“Hehe, look at that. You both look like best buds already!” Satoru said while ruffling both Megumi and Shirou’s hair and scalp at the same time. With the force that Satoru was using, both of the children on the receiving end had more than just discomfort.
“Now, I might need both of you to push yourself a bit, though. So do your best and get strong…” Satoru said to both of them as he let them go of his torturous patting and started to stand up. “Strong enough to keep up with me.”
He looked at both of the young boys in front of him, and he could see that their potential was high, high enough to keep up with him.
Overall, this ‘play-date’ was a full-blown success for Satoru Gojo, as his plan was beginning to be planted...
…and he would be there when it came to fruition.
As all of this was happening, the boys did not realize a bit that someone was watching this whole exchange. That someone was none other than the only girl there.
Tsumiki watched as he looked at the two strangers having a conversation that she couldn’t hear, looking more confused and wondered just who on earth were these two white-haired boys that talked with Megumi, her little step-brother.
Her eyes focused on the younger of the two. The boy with the same color of white for hair as his big brother while also having a mild tan for his skin. His eyes were in the color of amber and his face had that stoic and mature look even though he looked a bit younger than her.
For some reason, she couldn’t take away her eyes off of him.
Comments
Xylade
I'm already excited about the changes Shirou would bring with his involvement on the story. Great chapter.
Bookworm bibliophile
This chapter was beautiful. It captures both the vipes of jujtsu and archers. This is the best.
