"Noroi..."
Yoshimura looked at Noroi with surprise.
But after thinking about it, it made sense.
If Ukina had come back, it wasn't strange that Noroi could too.
What Yoshimura hadn't expected was that Byakuya had not only resurrected Ukina but had also resurrected Noroi.
Especially since Byakuya had actually thought of Noroi.
After all, Byakuya and Noroi had never had any interaction...
Could it be because of Eto again?
"Kuzen, Eto, it's been a long time."
Noroi smiled and waved at them.
"Yes, it really has been a long time."
Yoshimura said with emotion. "I've grown old, while you still look young."
"I suppose I look the way I did before I died. So many years have passed since then—Eto has grown up too."
Noroi looked at Eto.
Although he could tell Eto had grown up, he really couldn't tell how old she was now.
After all, even if someone said Eto's current appearance and figure belonged to a teenager, no one would doubt it.
The previous Noroi had been able to move, but that was only as a kagune monster, entirely sustained by Eto's kagune. Having residual consciousness didn't mean he still had actual thoughts.
After Eto became human due to the Infinite Tsukuyomi, she lost her kagune, and Noroi in his kagune monster state had become nothing but a corpse.
Only to be immediately resurrected by Byakuya's Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique...
"It's good that you're back."
Eto said with a relieved smile.
Although Ukina didn't know Noroi, she could tell from Eto's reaction...
"It seems... this gentleman is someone very important to our little Eto, right?"
Ukina asked.
"Mm, he's my foster father."
Eto nodded. "He raised me from when I was very small."
"Foster father..."
Ukina fell silent for a moment.
Yoshimura entrusting the infant Eto to Noroi had happened after Ukina's death—she naturally didn't know what had occurred after she died.
But being clever, she could guess roughly what had happened.
Yoshimura also fell silent.
When it came to matters concerning Eto, he couldn't face Ukina.
Back then, not only had he failed to protect Ukina, he had also failed to protect Eto...
"Back then... Kuzen must have been in a very difficult position. Otherwise, he wouldn't have entrusted little Eto to someone else. I imagine that's how it was?"
Ukina said softly.
"..."
Yoshimura still couldn't bring himself to respond.
No matter how many circumstances or reasons there were, he had indeed abandoned Eto.
But at that moment, Eto suddenly spoke up. "I understand Father. Although I did hate him, now all the hatred and regrets have been resolved. Mother has come back too. I think it's best for a family to be reunited, so I don't care about those things anymore."
"Eto..."
Yoshimura was somewhat surprised that Eto would speak on his behalf.
"Little Eto has said as much. Kuzen, aren't you going to show some response?"
Ukina immediately urged Yoshimura.
"Mm..."
Yoshimura then embraced Eto.
Although Eto instinctively resisted a little, she didn't push Yoshimura away.
This embrace between father and daughter had been delayed by more than twenty years.
Eto's hatred toward Yoshimura also nearly dissipated at this moment—mainly because her mother and foster father had been able to return to her side...