To celebrate the adoption, the three of them treated themselves to a feast... at KFC.
Zen'in Naoya shot them a sidelong glance.
"..."
Junk food.
Asou Akiya helped look after Fushiguro Megumi and only ate three hamburgers himself.
Megumi buried his head in the latest KFC children's set meal, his mouth covered in crumbs as he showed a particular interest in the chicken wings. After lunch, Asou Akiya took him to stand in line, lifting him gently under the arms and teaching him how to rub up soap bubbles beneath the faucet and wash his hands. Every step was carried out meticulously. In a soft voice, he explained the importance of cleanliness.
Around them, countless other parents were doing exactly the same thing.
Megumi secretly glanced to the side and saw a little girl blowing away the foam she had worked up in her hands, earning a burst of laughter from her mother.
He remembered that Fushiguro Tsumiki and Mrs. Fushiguro had shared that kind of relationship. He had always been the one standing behind them, watching. He had never been the child whose feet dangled in the air while being lifted up by an adult.
Looking into the mirror directly in front of them, Asou Akiya seemed to see straight through Megumi's thoughts.
"Megumi, do you want to blow bubbles too?"
Megumi stared at his hands. Like a child trying hard to act mature, he replied, "No! That's way too childish."
Asou Akiya only smiled and said nothing.
In the afternoon, Asou Akiya placed Megumi in a shopping cart and took him around a large maternity and children's superstore.
Their first stop was the children's loungewear section.
Asou Akiya wanted to buy clothes for Megumi that were suitable both for going out normally and for sleeping in bed. The fabric had to be soft and breathable. He instructed Zen'in Naoya to help with the selection.
"According to my requirements, get seven sets of short-sleeved shirts and shorts for Megumi, three sets of long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and two children's jackets. One should be a size larger, and the other should fit a little more closely."
Zen'in Naoya muttered, "That's all? You're so stingy."
Naoya's sense of fashion was not bad, and he saved Asou Akiya a great deal of time when it came to selecting clothes.
Asou Akiya pushed Megumi's cart toward the next section and explained gently, "Don't learn your uncle's spendthrift habits. Children grow very quickly, and summer is almost here. Short-sleeved shirts are perfect for wearing underneath school uniforms."
Megumi sat in the shopping cart with his knees pulled to his chest, listening to the constant sound of the wheels rolling forward.
Hearing that, he tilted his head back to look at the black-haired teenager who seemed so tall and dependable in his eyes.
"Everyone else is already going to school. When can I go to school?"
"Very soon. I won't make you wait too long."
Asou Akiya lowered his gaze to meet the child's eyes. The shadow cast by his figure sheltered the three-year-old, who felt a little embarrassed by the question.
Their second stop was the children's daily necessities section.
Seeing Zen'in Naoya dragging his feet and moving at a snail's pace, Asou Akiya had no choice but to park the shopping cart in a safe spot and begin a rapid-fire round of questions with Megumi.
"Megumi, don't think too hard about it. Just answer me within three seconds."
Asou Akiya switched into full-scale shopping mode.
"What flavor toothpaste do you like? Strawberry or lychee?"
"...Strawberry."
"The toothbrush handles come with puppy, bear, and kitten designs. Which one do you like?"
"The puppy."
"Two face towels, two bath towels, two multilayer gauze bath towels, one foot towel, one towel for washing your butt..." Asou Akiya continued without pause. "Black, white, or gray—which color do you like?"
"White."
"What about blue, yellow, or brown? Which color do you like for a summer sun hat?"
"Blue."
"What kind of slippers do you like? The kind that covers your toes, or cool flip-flops?"
"This one!"
Megumi gradually changed from sitting there stiffly and blankly to climbing up and peering at the shelves himself.
Using his own form of "big data" filtering, Asou Akiya quickly confirmed Megumi's personal preferences: a child who was not particularly fond of sweets, who liked cute animals—especially canines—and who preferred clean, fresh-looking colors.
"One children's umbrella, one children's raincoat, one children's water bottle, one children's electronic alarm clock, one large bottle each of children's shampoo, body wash, and moisturizing lotion, and several travel-sized refill bottles..."
"Ah, I almost forgot. We also need a sewing kit."
At remarkable speed, Asou Akiya finished purchasing everything Megumi would need.
Megumi's eyes widened in surprise. He realized that Asou Akiya was extraordinarily efficient when shopping. He never spent more than a minute hesitating over a single item.
Their third stop was the children's shoes and bags section.
Asou Akiya lifted Megumi onto a low stool and began helping him choose a backpack for school.
In Japan, school bags ranged from inexpensive models to costly earthquake-resistant versions. Asou Akiya did not choose the most expensive one. Instead, spending rationally, he selected a kindergarten backpack with an appropriate weight and moderate capacity, one that would not interfere with Megumi's ability to run around and play.
After that, Asou Akiya crouched down and personally helped him try on shoes.
There were sneakers, sandals, rain boots, canvas shoes, and indoor shoes—a total of five pairs for everyday use.
Zen'in Naoya came jogging over with an armful of children's clothes and dumped them into the shopping cart, instantly burying the space where Megumi had originally been sitting.
Megumi abruptly turned his head and stared at the cart piled high with belongings. Without saying a word, he sulked quietly to himself.
Asou Akiya instructed an employee to package the shoeboxes, then stacked all five boxes neatly onto a second shopping cart.
"Megumi, come here."
Megumi's gloomy mood instantly cleared.
"Naoya, push that cart and follow behind me."
Asou Akiya had Megumi sit atop the stack of shoeboxes. It was even more stable and cushioned, giving the child the feeling of having his own special throne.
The fourth stop was the children's educational games section. The fifth stop was the toy section. The sixth stop was the children's food section. The seventh stop was the children's sports section...
Inside the maternity and children's superstore, the combination of Asou Akiya and Fushiguro Megumi became something of an oddity.
A gentle-faced, exceptionally handsome high school boy was carefully looking after a three-year-old child, making them appear almost like father and son.
As for Zen'in Naoya—
The man's face and body had long since disappeared behind multiple shopping carts.
By the time they finished checking out and headed back, the commercial minivan that Asou Akiya had rented finally proved its worth. The spacious interior was packed to the brim with purchases. Megumi lay sprawled among a mountain of stuffed toys, feeling as though he were trapped inside a dream too unreal to believe.
Standing at the entrance of the rental apartment, Asou Akiya taught Megumi how to recognize the apartment number.
"Remember this apartment number. Then remember our names and phone numbers. From now on, you'll be living here. Naoya and I will hire a nanny to take care of you, and we'll come visit you often. Once you start kindergarten, the school will provide a place for you to take your midday nap. After classes end in the evening, Naoya will pick you up and bring you home."
"I'm Asou Akiya. My surname is Asou. It doesn't carry any special meaning."
"His name is Zen'in Naoya. His surname is Zen'in, but his background is rather special, so you mustn't casually tell other people about it."
"Other than us, don't trust strangers. If someone kidnaps you or tries to take you away, do your best to protect yourself. We will definitely find you."
Holding Megumi's hand, Asou Akiya patiently drilled these basic facts about them into the child's memory.
Zen'in Naoya curled his lip.
Asou? No special meaning?
This guy didn't even dare tell a child that his real surname was Kamo!
The three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment gave Fushiguro Megumi a space of his own.
The children's room was far more spacious and brightly lit than the one he had at the Fushiguro household. Asou Akiya had converted the area with the best natural lighting into Megumi's room.
Megumi had begun to accept his new home. When asked whether he was happy, he revealed a small smile.
Having only met them on the first day, however, Megumi was still somewhat quiet and reserved.
Asou Akiya said, "Megumi, there's something I want to tell you."
Megumi blinked. "?"
Zen'in Naoya was exhausted and thirsty. Since nobody was paying attention to him, he went to find a bottle of mineral water for himself, secretly amused as he watched someone deceive a child.
Asou Akiya lowered himself to Megumi's eye level.
"Your uncle is someone who doesn't know how to care for children. He was born into an exceptionally privileged family and was spoiled by his relatives. However, for safety reasons, he will be your guardian on paper."
Megumi hesitated.
"What is a guardian? Does it mean father?"
Zen'in Naoya immediately protested.
"Hey, hey!"
Asou Akiya and Megumi tacitly ignored Zen'in Naoya and continued their conversation.
"No, not your father. At most, he's your uncle. You can think of him as half an elder relative. The person who will truly raise you is me. I'll do my best to give you a normal life, so that you can go to school smoothly and grow up safely into adulthood."
Megumi nodded.
Unable to hide his feelings, he visibly let out a sigh of relief.
Zen'in Naoya felt as though he had just been mocked by a three-year-old child. Striding over with large steps, he said in irritation instead,
"What's so bad about being my son? When I become the head of the Zen'in clan in the future, you'll be the next heir!"
Asou Akiya did not interrupt.
Instead, he watched Megumi with a faint smile, silently giving him courage.
Megumi answered stubbornly, "I already have a father."
His father was Toji.
Though he often failed to come home, and he was often cursed at and berated by women. Yet despite everything, Megumi still wanted to see him return.
Zen'in Naoya was momentarily rendered speechless.
If it had been anyone else, he would have immediately fired back with a cutting remark. But Megumi's father was Toji. No matter how arrogant Naoya was, he did not believe he was qualified to take Toji's place.
"As expected of Toji's son. At least he has some conscience. Being born wasn't a waste after all."
In a strangely inexplicable manner, Zen'in Naoya forgave his nephew.
"..." Asou Akiya had just witnessed the existence of an ultimate fanboy.
"..." Megumi was equally bewildered, suffering from his complete inability to comprehend his uncle's bizarre train of thought.
In the living room, Megumi chatted with Asou Akiya for a long time. Being a child, his stamina eventually gave out. After an entire day of shopping and excitement, he was exhausted. Asou Akiya settled him on the sofa for a nap and covered him with a small blanket.
Zen'in Naoya poked at Megumi's sea-urchin-like hair, his actions full of ill intent, while feeling an oddly domestic sense of make-believe family life.
"Hey, Kamo! What are you doing—?!"
Zen'in Naoya suddenly cried out in alarm.
Asou Akiya had taken out a sewing kit and was embroidering the name "Fushiguro Megumi" onto all of Megumi's belongings—his towels, stuffed animals, backpack, and everything else.
By marking ownership in this way, he was helping Megumi develop a sense of security and belonging within a family.
At present, the surname "Fushiguro" was relatively safe. It would not attract unwanted trouble.
Zen'in Naoya leaned in to examine the embroidered lettering up close.
"Did a servant teach you that?"
As the young heir of the Zen'in clan, Naoya was still in the stage that sorcerer families referred to as "tempering the body." His entire focus was on improving his physical capabilities and combat strength. His understanding of family management and internal affairs remained superficial. He was not particularly skilled at schemes or conspiracies, yet he had been born naturally ruthless and vicious. As a result, he thrived in the open and covert power struggles of a great clan.
This, in turn, had made him another young master hopelessly detached from ordinary life.
The fifteen-year-old boy, with his dyed blond hair, possessed an undeniably attractive appearance. Upturned eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips combined with an arrogant, self-centered bearing. Such looks might deceive outsiders who knew nothing about the real Zen'in Naoya.
"My mother taught me," Asou Akiya replied. "She wanted me to be able to live independently."
Holding the thread between his teeth, Asou Akiya was completely immune to the Zen'in family's polished exterior and rotten interior.
"Those are skills women are good at. I can't believe you're willing to spend time learning them. Instead of wasting your energy on trivial things like that, you should be studying the secret techniques of the Three Great Clans."
Zen'in Naoya looked down on the way Asou Akiya devoted his time and effort to such mundane matters.
"I only know the New Shadow Style: Simple Domain."
Asou Akiya lowered his head and smiled faintly.
"and the secret techniques of the Three Great Clans have nothing to do with me."
Zen'in Naoya reacted instantly and shouted,
"Even if I died, I would never reveal our secret techniques!"
Asou Akiya replied in a calm, offhand manner,
"Keep your voice down. Megumi is sleeping."
He had originally never placed any hopes on Naoya to begin with.
"This world taught me long ago the importance of relying on myself."
After being interrupted repeatedly, Asou Akiya finished his embroidery, set the sewing kit aside, and finally faced Zen'in Naoya directly.
"My expectations of you aren't high. At school, you are not allowed to bully girls. When carrying out missions for Tokyo Jujutsu High, you must lend a hand to your fellow sorcerers. Occasionally, you'll serve as my sparring partner and help me train."
Zen'in Naoya stared at him in disbelief.
"That's it? Those are all your demands?"
As the heir apparent of the Zen'in family, Naoya had always assumed that anyone who got close to him would try to squeeze some kind of benefit out of him.
The internal struggles of great clans had always been ruthless. As the victor in the battle for inheritance rights, he had long grown accustomed to trampling on the dignity of those who lost.
"You think that's easy?"
Asou Akiya had no intention of indulging him. A mocking smile appeared on his face.
"For someone like you, controlling your temper is harder than ascending to the heavens. Remember your promise. If you disobey my orders, you will lose the ability to use cursed energy."
The moment he heard the consequences of defying those orders, Zen'in Naoya was furious, yet did not dare voice his anger.
After tidying up the living room, Asou Akiya picked up the sleeping Megumi and carried the young child into his room.
When he came back out, he found Zen'in Naoya lecturing a newly hired nanny.
The poor woman had truly run into bad luck.
She had heard that the owners of this home were looking for a nanny to care for a young child. Live-in service was not required, and the pay was quite generous. Who could have guessed that the household also came with an uncle who was absurdly fussy, spoke as though he had stepped straight out of a feudal era, and gave off the impression of a wealthy young master who had somehow wandered out of the Taishō period?
Asou Akiya immediately took over the conversation and shooed Naoya away.
"Go home. Don't forget to come to school tomorrow."
Zen'in Naoya stormed off in a huff.
Halfway through his departure, however, he suddenly realized that he didn't have enough money in his pocket to take the Shinkansen back to Kyoto. Since the servants couldn't come here to pick him up, he had no other options.
"This young master is out of money."
With remarkable shamelessness, he turned around and came back to borrow money.
For exactly one second, a look of pure agony appeared on Asou Akiya's face.
Not a single one of these people from the Three Great Clans is reliable!!
...
Back at the Zen'in estate, the return of Zen'in Naoya, who had spent the night away from home, immediately caused a minor uproar the moment he appeared.
"Dyeing your hair blond? What kind of disgraceful appearance is this?!"
The blond-haired teenager paused briefly, yet continued striding arrogantly into his family's territory. He charged forward without hesitation, completely ignoring the lectures of his elders.
The strength of a Grade 2 sorcerer and the certainty of becoming a Grade 1 sorcerer in the future were the source of his confidence.
More importantly, he was the legitimate youngest son most favored by Zen'in Naobito.
Zen'in Ogi, the younger brother of the current clan head, had always been extremely critical of Zen'in Naoya. In his view, his elder brother had only secured the position of clan head because he had produced a son who inherited the Projection Sorcery technique.
The moment Ogi saw Naoya, venom dripped from his words.
"You pierced your ears? And you're even wearing such cheap earrings? Zen'in Naoya, do you still remember that you're a member of the Zen'in clan?!"
Naoya dug a finger into his ear.
"Old dog, why are you barking so loudly? My old man doesn't have a problem with it."
The words old dog instantly shattered Ogi's composure.
His hand landed on the hilt of his sword, murderous intent threatening to erupt at any moment.
At that moment, Zen'in Naobito stepped out from the clan head's residence behind them. Seeing his youngest son's rebellious new appearance, his eyes lit up.
"Hahaha! Naoya, where did you get the inspiration for this look?"
Naoya answered reflexively,
"A hair salon magazine."
Naobito accepted the explanation without issue and said with remarkable open-mindedness,
"Not bad. You look like a mixed-blood foreigner."
Naoya frowned.
He took great pride in the purity of his bloodline. Why would he want to resemble some mixed-blood outsider?
Yet Asou Akiya's circumstances suddenly surfaced in his mind, causing his expression to soften slightly.
"Don't say that. I'm still proud to be a Zen'in."
When it came to the legitimacy and purity of bloodlines, the Kamo family stood at the very top among the Three Great Clans of the jujutsu world.
In the past, Naoya had held the Kamo bloodline in high regard. He had even believed that the Kamo family's legitimate daughter possessed the qualifications to become his lawful wife.
But the reality was a complete mess.
The Kamo family did not value its legitimate son in the slightest. They blurred the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate bloodlines, allowing an illegitimate son to pass himself off as a legitimate heir.
Meanwhile, Asou Akiya, as the direct descendant of the orthodox Onmyōji lineage, did not even know any of the secret techniques of the Three Great Clans.
Damn that Kamo family!
I'll find a chance to mock that bastard child Kamo heir in the future!
Shaking off his wandering thoughts, Zen'in Naoya narcissistically asked,
"Old man, how do I compare to Satoru-kun in terms of looks? I'm more fashionable, right?"
Zen'in Naobito's expression immediately turned strange.
He stared at his son for a long moment.
"Why don't you wash up and go to sleep?"
Leaving aside the traditional preference of the Three Great Clans for black hair and black eyes, even by anime standards, blond hair simply couldn't compete with white hair!
Naoya, it seemed you had yet to receive a proper beating from Gojo Satoru.