Chapter 33: Home

It was early in the morning, the sky barely lit by the first rays of the sun, casting a soft orange glow over the urban landscape. On a secluded and quiet street, a luxurious black car moved smoothly. Behind the wheel, the driver maintained a neutral expression, while Satoru Gojo, sitting in the passenger seat, let his thoughts wander. Behind him, Makima and Rika, both teenagers about to turn fifteen and sixteen, remained silent.

Makima was sitting by the window, her gaze fixed on the landscape swiftly passing by. There was something about her expression that made her seem much older than she actually was. Her face was serene, almost impenetrable, as if she were immersed in thoughts she didn't share with anyone. Despite her youth, Makima projected a maturity that Gojo found disconcerting. She wasn't a child, of course, but she didn't even seem like a typical teenager. Every time he looked at her, he was overwhelmed by the feeling that he was in front of someone who didn't match her age.

Next to her, Rika awkwardly handled her new cell phone, a recent gift from Makima. Though the girl was accustomed to techniques and training, technology still puzzled her a little. Her fingers slid over the screen clumsily, and from time to time she glanced at Makima, as if seeking some sort of silent validation. However, Makima kept her gaze on the landscape.

Her gaze first fell on Rika, and a slight smile appeared on her lips. She recalled the recent conversation she had with Shoko, who had talked about the girl's progress. She was amazed at how quickly she was learning. "It's incredible how much she has advanced, especially with handling the reverse technique," she thought, feeling genuine satisfaction. They were still unsure if Rika could heal others with it, as it was too early to know if her energy would be compatible for that kind of application, but the progress was promising. "Good thing Shoko decided to take on a student," she reflected. It even surprised her that someone could learn anything with her friend's strange and absurd explanations.

Then her gaze turned to Makima. Makima's case was very different from Rika's. From the first day he was assigned as her mentor, Gojo had tried to establish some kind of connection with her, but he encountered a barrier every time he tried. The girl seemed to absorb information effortlessly, but rarely showed interest in delving into anything beyond the theoretical. To impress her, Gojo had even decided to show her a domain expansion from the inside, something he thought would capture her attention and spark some enthusiasm in her. However, Makima simply watched with that impassive expression she always wore, as if she already knew everything in advance.

This puzzled him. Gojo wasn't used to being treated with such indifference, especially not by someone her age. "Are all the Zenins like this?" he thought with a hint of irritation. First, there had been Megumi, with his reserved and distant attitude, and now Makima, with her impenetrable coldness. "Makima and Megumi... two teenagers from the same clan, but with a way of being that chills the soul," he reflected, a faint smile on his face as he imagined a competition between the two to see who could treat him with the most indifference.

The reason for this trip interrupted his thoughts. It was the monthly weekend when he had to take Makima back to the Zenin clan. She was allowed to visit him once a month, and Gojo was in charge of taking her. He didn't like the routine, but he didn't have many options either. The Zenin clan wasn't exactly the best environment, but rules were rules. Gojo looked at Makima again, who remained absorbed in her own world. There was something about her he couldn't quite understand, something that unsettled him more than he was willing to admit. It was as if, beneath the appearance of a teenager, something far more complex, darker, was hidden.

He sighed, aware that despite his efforts, he still hadn't managed to break down the barrier between them. Every time he tried to talk to Makima about something more personal, about her own feelings or her progress, she would offer only superficial answers, always keeping her distance. Gojo didn't know if it was out of distrust or simply because she had no interest in opening up to anyone. "Maybe it just takes more time," he thought, though he internally knew that something about Makima wasn't like the others.

Makima, meanwhile, kept looking out the window, her expression as enigmatic as ever. She knew that Gojo was watching her through the rearview mirror, but she did nothing to acknowledge it. For her, the trip was nothing more than a formality, a monthly duty she was used to. Her relationship with Gojo wasn't bad, but she didn't feel the need to forge a deeper bond either. For her, it was all a matter of learning what she needed and moving on.

After a long journey, they finally arrived at the imposing gates of the Zenin clan estate. The black vehicle moved slowly as the large iron gates opened with a heavy creak, allowing the car to snake through the cobblestone path toward the main building. Silence settled over the surroundings, interrupted only by the sound of the tires on the stones. Rika was already busy preparing her belongings and those of her teacher while the car was still moving. Makima, for her part, remained calm, observing the exterior with the same impassive gaze she had maintained throughout the trip.

Upon arriving at the main building, a group of servants was already waiting for them, as was customary. They lined up by the entrance, bowing deeply in a show of respect as the car came to a stop. However, what caught Makima's attention the most was the figure of her brother, Naoya, who stood among them. His expression was the same as always: a slight, arrogant smile, but at least he dignified himself by greeting them in person. Makima looked at him and, after a moment, returned a small, calculated smile. Among all the people surrounding her on the estate, Naoya was perhaps the only one with whom she felt a minimal comfort. It wasn't that she completely trusted him, but at least she knew he could be useful when she needed him.

Rika had already finished gathering everything when the car stopped. Both of them got out, and the servants responded with a deeper bow, while Naoya merely nodded with satisfaction, not bothering to hide his usual haughtiness. Gojo, on the other hand, stepped out of the car with his characteristic sunglasses, greeting everyone with his usual carefree, almost playful attitude.

"Well, my dear chicks," Gojo said in his cheerful, mocking tone, "I'll see you on Monday as usual to pick you up. Don't forget to eat all your vegetables and brush your teeth before and after bed."

Makima, without losing her composure, simply nodded. She knew that any attempt to prolong the conversation with Gojo would be a waste of time. Rika, on the other hand, imitated him with less enthusiasm, responding to Gojo's farewell more lazily, which made him smile as he scratched the back of his neck with a slight chuckle. Gojo watched them enter the house before letting out one last sigh, as if thinking that taking care of Zenins was more complicated than it seemed, and then got back into the car and drove away.

Once inside the house, Makima walked down the hallway with firm steps, keeping a memorized distance between her and Rika. The air inside the estate always had that touch of heavy formality that she found familiar. She stopped for a moment and looked at Naoya, who was walking beside her.

"Have you prepared everything?" Makima asked bluntly, knowing that her brother always preferred to avoid subtlety.

Naoya looked at her with a somewhat irritated but also resigned expression. Despite his arrogance, he knew that when Makima asked for something, he could never say no.

"Yes, he'll see you on Saturday at noon," Naoya replied in a dry tone. "It wasn't easy convincing him to agree to a secret meeting, let alone on such short notice, but he accepted. Care to tell me why you want to see him?"

Makima observed him for a moment before showing a small smile. Among all the Zenin, Naoya could be the most detestable to others, but to her, when he put his mind to it, her brother could be quite useful.

"If the test goes as I think it will," she replied calmly, "I'll give you a demonstration."

Naoya sighed, clearly irritated by the lack of details, but didn't press further. He knew that Makima rarely revealed her plans ahead of time, and it was clear this wouldn't be any different. Although he still didn't know exactly what she was planning, the mention of a "demonstration" only heightened his curiosity.

"Is it all set up?" Makima asked, her tone now colder.

"Yes, yes," Naoya responded with another heavier sigh. "The vagrant is in a separate room, as you requested. But you'd better not do anything strange, got it?"

Makima glanced at him sideways, giving him a strangely sincere smile, something rare in her.

"You know I like you, right?" she said, almost as if it were a casual comment.

Naoya paused for a moment, surprised. He couldn't remember the last time, if it ever had happened, that his younger sister had said something like that to him. He was used to her coldness, her distance, but that sudden affirmation left him speechless. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. And although he tried to hide it, the discomfort was evident on his face.

"Don't make it any weirder than it already is," Naoya finally responded, trying to regain his composure.

Makima said nothing more, simply continued walking, her thoughts revolving around what was about to happen shortly. What her brother didn't yet know was that the "demonstration" she had in mind went far beyond anything he could imagine. And if everything went as she expected, she would never be the same again.