Aunt Yuki

The morning was peaceful in the house, bathed in a soft light filtering through the kitchen curtains. The family was getting ready for another day. Ryosuke, as he often did lately, was lost in thought, his eyes absentmindedly following the cereal floating in his bowl. His little sister, Sayuri, crunched on a slice of toast with jam. Their mother, already dressed in her work coat, took one last look around the room to make sure everything was in order before leaving.

As expected, Ryosuke was on dish duty. It was his turn this week, and though the task didn't hold much interest for him, he handled it calmly. He began clearing the table, carefully stacking the plates and cutlery before heading to the sink. While he washed the dishes and Sayuri finished her coffee, their mother suddenly stopped in the middle of the kitchen, as if something had just crossed her mind. She turned to her children with a light smile on her face.

"Oh, I completely forgot to tell you," she announced cheerfully. "Your Aunt Yuki is coming to visit tonight."

Sayuri's eyes widened in surprise.

"Aunt Yuki?" she exclaimed, her astonishment obvious. "Really? But… we haven't seen her in ages. Is she back from abroad?"

Sayuri was right. Yuki, their mother's younger sister, had been living abroad for several years. Her job had taken her all over the world, and her visits had become rare over time. The last time she had come to see them, Ryosuke hadn't even started middle school. Sayuri had barely been eight years old. Their aunt would occasionally send them exotic postcards from far-off places, but an in-person visit had become a rare event.

Their mother nodded, her smile still present. "Yes, she's been really busy these past few years, but she finally managed to free up some time. She's really eager to see you both."

Sayuri looked even more surprised. "Really?" She paused to think. "It's been, what, six or seven years since she left? I thought she never had the time with her job."

"That's true," their mother confirmed, "but this time, she's made it work. She won't be staying long, but she was determined to visit us. She's coming tonight."

Sayuri gave a small smile. "Well, this should be interesting," she murmured, already imagining the fascinating stories her aunt would have from her travels. She gently stroked Yuri, her kitten, who had curled up peacefully against her knees.

Noticing Ryosuke's lack of reaction, their mother turned toward him, slightly surprised that he hadn't responded to the news. She watched him for a moment, standing at the sink, his hands submerged in soapy water, his movements mechanical, as if the announcement hadn't really registered with him.

"Ryosuke, did you hear what I said? Your Aunt Yuki is coming tonight."

Ryosuke smiled slightly but remained focused on what he was doing. He carefully placed a plate on the drying rack before responding in a calm, detached tone, "Yeah, I heard you, Mom."

But inside, his mind was racing. What a coincidence... he thought, an excited smile forming on his lips.

Weeks ago, he might have reacted just like his sister. But ever since he remembered his past life and realized he was in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, his aunt held a different meaning. Aunt Yuki, or more specifically, Yuki Tsukumo—one of the characters from the manga.

Sayuri glanced at her brother out of the corner of her eye, frowning slightly. She found him changed. For weeks now, he'd been spending hours in his room, immersed in books he wouldn't have touched before. He wasn't the carefree Ryosuke she had always known. He seemed absorbed by something much deeper, something he wasn't sharing with her. It intrigued her, but she preferred not to ask questions.

"Well, I'm off," their mother said, glancing at her watch. "I should be back before Yuki arrives tonight, but make sure to tidy up the house, okay?"

Sayuri nodded absentmindedly, while Ryosuke dried his hands and put away the last of the silverware.

"Yes, Mom," they said in unison.

TO BE CONTINUED!

Next Chapter: A Sister in Need.