Chapter 77

Zenin Toji. Grade 4 Sorcerer. Physical Techniques Teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High.

Toji idly looked at the faculty ID card Yaga had issued him for Jujutsu High, casually tossing it into the air and catching it.

Today was the day Zenin Toji would start his first day at Jujutsu High as both a teacher and a sorcerer.

"Uncle! I want to try that too!"

Despite the early hour, Tsumiki's eyes sparkled as she reached out to Toji. When Toji handed her the ID card, Tsumiki threw it towards the ceiling and caught it again.

After finishing morning training and coming out of the bath, Zoro saw Tsumiki throwing and catching the ID card like a throwing star and asked,

"What's that?"

"My ID card from Jujutsu High."

"Hmm."

Zoro responded nonchalantly and shook his damp green hair. Toji watched him with a peculiar look. The wetness made him look even more like a marimo.

Zoro came over to Toji and deftly caught the ID card Tsumiki had thrown in the wrong direction. Glancing at the ID card, Zoro pointed to the part that read "Grade 4."

"What's this?"

"It's the grade."

"Grade?"

"Sorcerers and curses each have their own grades. From Special Grade, then from Grade 1 to Grade 4."

"So Grade 4 is the strongest?"

Toji chuckled at Zoro's innocent question.

"No."

"Then?"

"Special Grade is the strongest. Then comes Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4. Like that. Well, there are things like Semi-Grade 1 too..."

Toji suddenly realized how unaware Zoro was about such knowledge. It was to be expected since he was still young, but it seemed like he needed to be educated.

'Should I have him sit in on some classes at Jujutsu High?'

With so few students, he probably couldn't sneak in even if he wanted to, so should he just send him openly? Toji thought amusingly.

Zoro frowned.

"Grade 4 is the weakest?"

"Yes."

"But dad is Grade 4."

"Because I have no cursed energy, they probably didn't know how to assign a grade. The grading of sorcerers considers the ability to utilize cursed energy and the effectiveness of their techniques."

In truth, they probably didn't even want to assign a grade at all. Toji thought to himself. Of course, they would still assign him missions that Grade 1 sorcerers take on. That's how it is.

Zoro clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"Idiots."

Toji gazed thoughtfully at his eldest son.

A few days ago, when Toji had told Zoro that he would officially become a sorcerer and start working at Jujutsu High, Zoro had listened quietly and then asked just one thing.

"Is that what you wanted?"

"...Yes."

"Then it's fine."

That was the end of it. Zoro didn't ask any more.

'Is it indifference, or does he just trust that I'll handle it well?'

Probably both.

Zoro was fundamentally indifferent to others and didn't meddle much. Although he cared deeply, he wasn't the type to scrutinize what others were doing or take an interest in their every action.

In Toji's view, Zoro fundamentally let others do as they wished until they encountered a specific situation where he would step in. This included situations where protection was needed, when someone couldn't or wasn't doing what they needed to, or when they were doing something they shouldn't.

'Zoro pays attention to me often because I frequently find myself in such situations.'

Toji smiled bitterly. He couldn't deny it, and that made him feel sorry.

Of course, just because Zoro seemed to brush things off didn't mean Toji could really leave him uninformed. So, Toji did explain more to Zoro.

He talked about how missions usually involved capturing curses or cursed users, how Zoro, Tsumiki, and Megumi would stay at Jujutsu High with Toji while he was teaching, and how, if Toji was on a long mission, they might have to wait at the school dormitory with their siblings or stay at home with the babysitter, among other things.

'I don't plan to take on long missions, anyway.'

Zoro gets lost if he walks more than three steps, and Megumi and Tsumiki are still young. Toji wasn't heartless enough to leave such kids behind for a long time.

'I just won't do those kinds of missions.'

If there were someone in the Jujutsu Headquarters with enough power or brains to force Toji into missions, the sorcerer world wouldn't be in such disarray. He scoffed at the thought.

Zoro, seemingly losing interest, handed the ID card back to Toji. With a flick, Toji tossed the ID card into the air again and caught it. Zoro crossed his arms.

"How does it feel?"

"...Not sure."

It was complicated. A swirl of emotions that Toji couldn't quite pinpoint stirred within him.

'Was this all there was to it?'

Was this what he got for dealing with those cursed users and teaching some young sorcerers?

Of course, the cursed users Toji had taken down weren't just one or two, and the ones he taught weren't ordinary at all.

Was he only accepted for that? The existence that is Zenin Toji.

Then, why had he been ostracized for so long?

"It would have been better if I had died without being born."

That was what his mother used to say every time she faced Toji. Having lost a significant position within the clan upon Toji's birth, she said that every time she saw him.

Suffering without being able to contain her anger until she passed away from this world.

If it was going to end up like this.

If so, it would have been better from the start—

"Papa."

Megumi's voice snapped Toji out of his thoughts. Wearing his going-out clothes, Megumi reached out to Toji. It was an unspoken request to be held.

Toji carelessly stuffed the ID card into his pocket and picked up Megumi with one hand. Megumi naturally settled into Toji's embrace and rubbed his cheek against his chest.

Since it was something he usually didn't do, Toji awkwardly patted Megumi's back.

'Does he know something?'

The hair brushing against his shirt felt prickly.

Tsumiki toddled over and reached out her hand to Toji.

"Uncle, hold my hand."

"It might hurt your arm."

Because of Toji's height, young Tsumiki had to lift her hand to hold Toji's.

"It's okay!"

When Tsumiki raised her little hand high, Toji took it. Zoro stood beside Tsumiki, looking at Toji with an expression that seemed to ask why they weren't leaving yet.

"..."

It's just like my children to not give me a moment to dwell in sentimentality.

Yet, before he knew it, the negative thoughts that had clouded Toji's mind had completely disappeared.

Toji laughed softly, almost like a sigh, and said to Zoro,

"Let's go."

"Yeah."

As Toji and Zoro walked, they chatted casually.

"What are you going to do for your first lesson?"

"Like it's the real deal."

"Be careful. You might end up killing those kids."

"It's fine. We have a reverse curse technician."

"Ah. Was her name... Shoko Ieiri?"

"Yeah. The girl you treated."

"Those kids are in for a tough time."

"Better than what real enemies would do to them."

"...How far are you planning to go?"

"All the way."

He planned to give them a glimpse of hell.

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