On the streets of Tokyo at noon, sunlight filtered through the gaps between high-rise buildings, casting dappled shadows onto the asphalt.
Crowds flowed back and forth, footsteps, laughter, and the cries of vendors intertwined, creating a bustling atmosphere that was almost suffocating.
Rin, carrying a simple backpack, strolled leisurely through the crowd, holding a newly bought cup of juice between his fingers. The icy coolness spread from his fingertips.
Condensation slipped down the side of the cup onto the back of his hand, but he paid it little mind, simply gazing aimlessly at everything before him. This was his third day wandering Tokyo, and the final day of the deadline given by Gojo Satoru.
He wasn't in the slightest hurry; after all, he had plenty of time.
Since arriving in this world, aside from the occasional outing with Geto Suguru.
He had almost always stayed within the Star Plasma Cult's mansion, either training Sorcery or studying the Cursed Spirits left behind by Geto Suguru, never having the opportunity to wander alone like this.
In these three days, he had visited almost every corner of Tokyo.
From the luxury malls of Ginza to the ancient streets near Sensō-ji Temple, from the Shibuya crossing to the bustling night markets of Shinjuku, the city's prosperity far exceeded his imagination from his previous life.
In his previous life, he lived in an orphanage in a small town, rarely even stepping out of the county seat, let alone experiencing a vibrant metropolis like this. Back then, he was so poor that he occasionally had to save up just for one decent meal.
But now, things were different.
The money left by Geto Suguru, combined with the proceeds from the transfer of the Star Plasma Cult's assets, was enough for him to live comfortably.
During these three days, he stayed in the most luxurious hotels, lying on soft beds and watching the night view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
He went to pre-booked Michelin restaurants, sampling exquisite dishes whose names he couldn't even pronounce; he tried every amusement ride he had only seen on TV in his previous life, experiencing all sorts of novelties.
But the novelty came quickly and faded just as fast.
At first, he found it novel to stay in a presidential suite for the first time, and he was amused by the delicate plating in the restaurants.
But before long, this novelty turned into blandness. No matter how soft the bed in the luxury hotel was, it couldn't warm the empty room.
No matter how exquisite the Michelin dishes were, they felt cold in his mouth.
No matter how thrilling the amusement rides were, only a deeper silence remained after the screams faded.
He looked down at the juice in his hand. The sickly sweet taste dissolved on his tongue but brought no pleasure.
Looking up, the people around him were mostly gathered in small groups: friends with arms around each other's shoulders, couples walking hand-in-hand, and husbands and wives pushing strollers.
They laughed, played, and chatted about trivial matters. Even just sitting on a roadside bench basking in the sun, their faces were filled with relaxed smiles.
Perhaps they didn't have much money, wearing ordinary clothes and eating street food, but they had the warmth of companionship.
As for Rin, he only had himself.
The sun was still bright, and the street was still bustling, yet he felt like an invisible person, isolated from all the surrounding splendor.
The scene before him gradually overlapped with his previous life: the empty orphanage hallway after school, the dinner table where he sat alone during festivals, the solitary figure facing a computer screen late at night.
It turned out that nothing had changed.
His time with the Star Plasma Cult felt like a brief, warm dream.
Geto Suguru's kindness, the reliance of Nanako and her sister, and the companionship of Miguel and Larue made him mistakenly believe he had finally escaped loneliness and gained the "home" he desired.
But when the dream ended, he was still that lonely person; no matter how prosperous the city or how much wealth he possessed, he could not integrate into the surrounding bustle.
Rin stood amidst the crowd, letting people come and go around him. The juice in his hand gradually lost its coolness.
His state of mind remained completely undisturbed, showing neither sadness nor disappointment, only a near-numb tranquility, as if accepting a long-foretold fact.
After a long pause, he slowly raised his head, watching the clouds drift overhead. His lips moved slightly, uttering a few words in a voice so soft it was swallowed by the street noise, yet carrying the relief of crossing two lifetimes:
"It's simply always been this way."
Having said this, he threw the remaining juice into a trash can and turned toward the ramen shop on the roadside.
His steps remained firm, without any lingering attachment. Since the bustle had nothing to do with him, he would continue to pursue power. At least power would never betray him.
The ramen shop on the street corner was filled with the rich aroma of Tonkotsu Broth, and steam misted the poster-covered walls.
Just as Rin took the ramen handed to him by the server, and before his chopsticks even touched the warm rim of the bowl, a cold, mocking voice unexpectedly pierced his mind, like an ice-quenched needle, causing a slight ache in his eardrums.
"How much longer are you going to wander around here? Aren't you bored?"
Rin's movement of picking up the noodles paused, and he slightly lowered his eyelids, concealing the disturbance in his eyes.
The surrounding diners were slurping their ramen, and the boss was calling out orders behind the stove. No one noticed that the young man sitting by the window was conversing with an invisible presence.
He quickly returned to normal, stirring the Soft-Boiled Egg in the bowl with his chopsticks. The steam blurred his profile, and he ignored the voice in his mind.
He knew the source of this voice all too well; it constantly caused mischief in his mind, like a fly he couldn't swat away.
"Hey, hey, kid, are you deaf?"
The voice sounded slightly annoyed, carrying the arrogance of a superior being:
"Hasn't anyone taught you to respond politely when someone speaks to you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a subtle sneer erupted in Rin's mind, full of malicious mockery:
"Oh right, I forgot. You're an unwanted orphan, ha ha ha ha!"
The arrogant laughter was like a sharp whistle, scraping against Rin's nerves repeatedly.
This time, Rin finally spoke.
His chopsticks continued to move in the bowl. He picked up a mouthful of noodles and put them into his mouth, chewing with unhurried composure, but his voice clearly reached the depths of the soul, delivering a precise counterattack:
"Did no one teach you not to interrupt others while they are eating?"
He paused, swallowing the noodles, and his tone gained a hint of casual sharpness:
"Oh right, I forgot too. You were a curse from birth, eating your own brother while still in the womb. Afterward, I suppose you didn't spare your own parents either, did you?"
"Am I right, King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna?"
Those few short sentences were like a heavy blow, accurately striking Sukuna's sore spot.
The arrogant laughter in his mind instantly ceased, leaving only a brief, heavy silence. Even the air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Rin ignored him and continued to eat his ramen quietly.
The richness of the Tonkotsu Broth, the chewiness of the noodles, and the creaminess of the Soft-Boiled Egg melted on his tongue, but he had little appetite.
Sukuna's voice could always easily dredge up the past he wished not to touch, and it could always disrupt the calm he deliberately maintained.
Before long, Sukuna's voice sounded again, but the previous arrogance was gone, replaced by a chilling playfulness:
"What does that matter, kid?"
The low voice echoed in the depths of his soul, carrying an enticing implication:
"In essence, we are both the same kind of person: lonely, selfish, and only believing in our own power."
His tone suddenly turned greedy, as if appraising a rare treasure:
"Speaking of which, your body is truly marvelous... A pure and powerful Cursed Energy vessel, plus all these strange things. It's perfectly suited to my taste."
Rin finished his last mouthful of noodles, put down his chopsticks, and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
He did not respond to Sukuna's words, merely concentrating silently in his mind.
.....
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