Chapter 147
Gojo Satoru's cheerful "Let's go!" made Hatori Kazuma mistakenly believe that they would arrive soon.
But in reality, they actually bought Shinkansen tickets and rode all the way from Tokyo back to Kyoto.
On the bus, some fans recognized them and whispered excitedly, asking them for autographs. Gojo Satoru readily signed his autograph and then watched as Hato Kazuma signed his own in the cursive script he had taught him.
As the fans bowed repeatedly to them, took the autographed book and pen, and turned to leave, Gojo Satoru caught a glimpse of her holding the book in one hand and the marker in the other, drawing a huge heart around their names.
Gojo Satoru's azure eyes narrowed slightly, immediately filled with an expression of approval, and he even nodded slightly.
Excellent taste!
Kazuma Hatori blinked his dark eyes blankly, then turned his head to look at Satoru, who had suddenly become exceptionally happy and was even swaying his head slightly to a certain rhythm.
...?
—After they left the station, Gojo Satoru hailed a taxi and gave them an address.
When Kazuma Hatake recalled where that place was, he couldn't help but show a slightly speechless expression.
"Go back to the Gojo family?" he asked Gojo Satoru in a low voice. "Would it be alright for me to go back given my identity?"
Gojo Satoru smiled and turned his head to look at him. "Scared?"
Kazuma Hatori blinked his dark eyes. "I'm worried about whether the elders of the Gojo family are alright."
He's not the kind of person who gets so scared that his legs go weak at the sight of someone.
Moreover, Kazuma Hatake is now a curse master, a wanted criminal with a red name—in the words of a classic villain, "Anyone who sees me must die."
But he really does take action.
Hearing Kazuma Hatori's serious tone as he made the reversal, Satoru Gojo burst out laughing and couldn't help but poke his cheek with his finger—it felt so good, he wanted to poke it a few more times.
"It's okay, this address is near Gojo's house, not Gojo's house."
Kazuma Hatori sat obediently, getting addicted to being poked and prodded by Satoru Gojo, and even started to rub him.
This technique is very skillful; it's the standard posture I practiced last night while kneading the pills.
Kazuma Hatake: "..."
Seeing how happy Goku was getting more and more excited as he kneaded the cloth, Kazuma Hatori decided that he should use the black bean shrub mimicry less often in the future.
Once the car came to a stop at the destination, Gojo Satoru seemed even more excited, leading Hato Kazuma with considerable skill as they made several turns and arrived at the entrance of a building near the address.
This is a fairly traditional detached house, a slightly old two-story wooden building with a small courtyard enclosed by a wall.
"Grandma Qianxiang—is Grandma there—?"
Gojo Satoru rang the doorbell and called out in a louder voice.
The downside of this type of house is that it has poor sound insulation; when Gojo Satoru called out from the door, there was an immediate response from inside.
"You've arrived. Is this Young Master Wu?"
Grandma Chika came over and opened the door. She looked Gojo Satoru up and down, and every wrinkle on her face when she smiled radiated kindness and gentleness.
"Don't call me Young Master Wu anymore, it sounds really awkward."
Gojo Satoru stuck out the tip of his tongue at her, indicating that he really disliked being called that—but his expression didn't show any impatience or aversion; it was more like a junior's lazy, coquettish manner.
"You've grown a bit taller again, that's good, it's a good thing."
She smiled and stepped aside to let Kazuma Hatake and Satoru Gojo come in quickly, "This is the first time you've brought friends over, it's really rare."
"From now on, I'll only bring this friend to see you. His name is Kazuma, Hagoromo Kazuma."
Gojo Satoru took Hato Kazuma's hand and skillfully taught him how to take off his shoes in the entryway before coming in.
Although it's a house that's been lived in for many years, the overall environment is spacious and clean. Every piece of furniture has been carefully wiped clean, and the wooden floor has been meticulously maintained. It's clear that the owner is someone who loves life.
"She is Grandma Murakami Chika, the Gojo family's personal kimono master."
Gojo Satoru, who sat down at the coffee table, introduced himself to Hatori Kazuma.
"I don't deserve the title of master."
Grandma Qianxiang, who was in the kitchen making tea, was still sharp of hearing and sight. Upon hearing this, she smiled and replied with a sentence—even mimicking the tone of the second half of the sentence perfectly.
Kazuma Hatake almost laughed.
I never expected that Granny Qianxiang, who is already so old with graying temples, would have such a lively personality.
“I say so,” Gojo Satoru made a face at her before continuing to explain to Hato Kazuma, “Some of the kimonos I wore when I was a child at the Gojo family were made by her. Of course, I definitely didn’t meet her back then; the servants told her the sizes.”
As [Six Eyes], whose bounty exceeds 100 million, he was carefully protected before awakening his magic. After awakening, he was busy with various targeted elite and successor education programs, as well as accumulating mission experience.
He's just a skilled kimono maker; you won't see him.
The turning point came when Gojo Satoru was around ten years old.
He has already awakened the [No Limits] technique, and has basically completed all the educational courses arranged by the clan. He has even gone on several missions.
Tired of the elders who endlessly interfered with his thoughts, Gojo Satoru mastered the art of sneaking away without a teacher.
"Self-taught?" asked Kazuma Hatori.
“I guess I was self-taught…” Gojo Satoru pondered, rubbing his chin. “I don’t remember much about my childhood, but it was from a certain day that I started to really enjoy going outside to play.”
Calling it "playing" isn't quite accurate. It seems he spends most of his time wandering the streets, then goes back to the Gojo family with a blank expression, getting scolded by the elders but still sneaking off anyway.
On one of those occasions, on his way back to the Gojo family, he encountered Granny Chika, who was possessed by a cursed spirit.
Exorcising cursed spirits is a simple matter, but apart from the [tent], ordinary people may not understand what he is doing and will not receive any thanks.
Of course, Gojo Satoru didn't decide to do this just to express his gratitude.
He has always acted impulsively, and after experiencing the [Tianyuan Assimilation] mission not long ago and narrowly escaping death, he has become even more enlightened and resolute in his true [original heart].
Just as Gojo Satoru was about to leave nonchalantly, Granny Chika insisted on thanking him and invited him to her home.
It was around that time that Gojo Satoru realized that Granny Chika seemed to be aware of the existence of the cursed spirit.
Upon further inquiry, it was learned that she was one of the unofficial staff members who had worked with the Gojo family for many years, responsible for making kimonos for the clan members.
"She even treated me to strawberry daifuku back then."
Gojo Satoru chuckled and whispered to Hatori Kazuma, secretly raising three fingers.
"The cream was fragrant and sweet, it was so delicious. I couldn't resist and ate three of them."
Kazuma Hatori imagined little Satoru sitting in front of this coffee table, his cheeks puffed out as he chewed on a strawberry daifuku, his blue eyes sparkling, and a smile appeared on his lips as well.
"Are we going to use three this time too?"
Unexpectedly, Granny Chika had already returned to the living room. On the tea tray she brought over, besides the rich and sweet matcha, were four plump and bulging strawberry daifuku.
"It's a handmade, luxurious cream-filled daifuku," Gojo Satoru immediately replied loudly.
"want!"
Grandma Chika smiled and gave one to Kazuma Hatori, and the other three to Satoru Gojo.
"So, what brings you here today, Young Master Wu? I heard a couple of years ago that you insisted on going to a vocational college, which infuriated the elders."
"Yes, yes, I really made them furious."
Gojo Satoru stabbed a strawberry daifuku with his fork and took a big bite. "But doesn't that make them more energetic? They even speak with more vigor."
Although he only had a strong voice when he was scolding him.
After being lectured by Yizhen last year, he was so kind to Yizhen that it gave him goosebumps.
Even Granny Qianxiang couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, yes, yes."
“I came here this time,” Gojo Satoru swallowed a big mouthful of cream filling, his eyes squinting happily, “to ask Grandma for that kimono.”
"That one?"
Grandma Chika didn't react for the first few seconds, then asked with some surprise, "Are you sure you want to give it to Ichima?"
Gojo Satoru nodded. "It suits you well, doesn't it?"
Upon hearing this affirmative statement, Granny Chika carefully examined Kazuma Hatori, who was sitting next to her.
Kazuma Hatori was so nervous that he subconsciously put down the fork he was trying to cut the strawberry daifuku, placed his hands on his lap, and straightened his back.
“His height is indeed just right,” Granny Qianxiang smiled. “Is he the one you’re looking for?”
Kazuma Hatori looked at Satoru Gojo with a puzzled expression.
"I guess so?"
Gojo Satoru propped his head up with his hand, looking quite relaxed.
"It's just sitting there anyway, and it's easy for it to spoil. Now might be the perfect time."
These two sentences left Kazuma Hatori somewhat stunned, but Satoru Gojo didn't need an explanation.
When Granny Chika took out the brand-new, well-maintained kimono, Kazuma Hatori even thought he was seeing things.
It was a very dignified black hakama with a patterned background, neatly tailored, with wide and delicate cuffs, and a round family crest clearly printed on the inside.
It's not the wisteria pattern of the Gojo family, but rather something closer to a bird from the realm of ghosts and spirits, a familiar image frozen in a pose with outstretched wings and drooping head.
—To be more precise, it is the head of the family's attire that Kazuma Hatori wore in the previous playthrough.
This was the second time he had been so stunned that he was almost speechless since the Mont Blanc he received on his birthday.
"How is it? Pretty good, right?"
Gojo Satoru gazed at the patterned hakama hanging on the wooden rack with satisfaction for a moment, then gestured for Hatori Kazuma to try it on.
"Was it...made a long time ago?"
Kazuma Hatake slowly began to speak.
He was quite certain that since Wu first met him when he entered college, he had spent the vast majority of his time with him.
Even when we're apart to do tasks or other things, we always keep in touch by phone.
Satoru probably didn't have time to prepare such a surprise for him—let alone, judging from Granny Chika's words, this kimono was prepared for [someone].
"Yes,"
Grandma Chika smiled as she stroked the perfectly pleated haori hakama in front of her, lost in memories.
"It was probably after I got to know Young Master Wu, who always sneaked out. He was curious about my kimono-making process, so I showed him each step one by one."
"After seeing that he was very interested, I asked if there were any styles or patterns he liked. There were a few sample garments in the workshop, and he could choose any of them."
"As it turns out, Young Master Wu pointed to one of the crested haori and asked me if I had a pure black one, and not the Gojo family crest."
"Although I was surprised, I agreed, thinking it would be nice to make an exception and make a children's version for him. But then, Master Wu said he wanted an adult size."
Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru muttered a sarcastic remark, "So you were planning to make a mini version for me after all."
Honestly, back then he preferred wearing regular hoodies and shorts; there's no way he would want to wear clothes like that.
"Although it has been stored here for many years, the day has finally come for it to be sent out."
Granny Chika smiled happily as she spoke to Kazuma Hatori.
"This is a kimono that Young Master Wu cherishes very much. He specifically instructed me to keep it safe and wait for someone he thinks is suitable to wear it. So, I hope you will cherish it as well, Kazuma."
"yes."
Kazuma Hatori stumbled slightly as he stood up before stiffly accepting the kimono—but his tone was quite solemn and resolute.
Clothing made with care can enhance your temperament and charm.
Within the system, it even popped up an introductory box, which was subtly different from the first playthrough.
But in Kazuma Hatori's heart, all of that became secondary.
He wanted to ask more – was the game already running before he clicked to start the second playthrough, rather than just being defined by a thin set of data as [character background]?
Wu... how long did he wait for him?
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