Ch 77: Return

After finishing the meal Gojo had offered—while he devoured an ungodly amount of sweets—I focused and activated my portal, returning to my universe.

As soon as I stepped out, the familiar sight of Garuda in his towering form greeted me. He glanced down and said, "Oh, you have returned."

Letting out a deep sigh, I lunged forward, arms open. "Garuda, buddy!"

The massive bird swiftly sidestepped. "I am not gay."

I froze mid-motion, my expression shifting from exhaustion to sheer disbelief. "Bruh. I just went through hell, and that's your first response?"

Garuda tilted his head, unimpressed. "Oh yeah? What happened?"

I took a deep breath and recounted the madness—falling out of the sky, getting chased by some Temple Run reject in a Subway Surfers cop uniform, hopping dimensions, running into Saiki, escaping from Fate universe, then ending up in Jujutsu Kaisen where Gojo force-fed me food while throwing philosophical nonsense at me.

Garuda listened patiently before nodding. Then, with a completely neutral expression, he asked, "A question if I may… but did you actually think of a destination before opening the portal?"

I blinked. My brain whirred. The realization hit like a truck.

Oh.

OH.

Of course, if I had chosen a destination instead of just blindly opening a portal, I wouldn't have ended up in random universes running for my life.

I groaned, covering my face. "I hate how much sense that makes."

Garuda let out a dry chuckle. "So, what have we learned today?"

"That I'm an idiot," I muttered.

Garuda smirked. "Glad you're finally catching on."

"I know it was a dumb idea to implant the Portal Vein just for convenience, I should have not left the mix world and enjoyed it more, atleast its peaceful there."

Arthur let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples. "Yeah… I'm just gonna cry myself to sleep. Bye, Garuda."

Without waiting for a response, he stepped out of the suitcase, back into his apartment in the mix-anime world. The moment he set foot inside, he was hit with a wave of exhaustion. His body felt grimy, and his clothes still carried the faint stench of burnt monster flesh.

"Ugh… gross," he muttered, peeling off his jacket as he trudged toward the bathroom.

Turning on the shower, he let the warm water cascade over him, washing away the filth—both physical and mental—from his chaotic trip. The Temple Run creature, the weird subway cop, the ridiculous chase through dimensions, and Gojo's smug face all flashed through his mind.

"I need a vacation from my life," he groaned, scrubbing himself down.

After thoroughly cleansing every inch of himself—because no way was he letting even a speck of that monster residue linger—Arthur finally stepped out, towel wrapped around his waist. He took a deep breath, letting the fresh, clean scent of soap calm his nerves.

Walking into his bedroom, he collapsed onto his bed, barely mustering the energy to pull the covers over himself.

"Never opening a random portal again…" was his last thought before exhaustion finally claimed him.

The next morning, Arthur woke up feeling slightly more refreshed but still mentally drained from the chaos of yesterday. Letting out a yawn, he dragged himself out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom. Another shower wouldn't hurt—just to make sure there were no lingering smell from his wild interdimensional adventure.

After freshening up, he got dressed in his usual casual attire and grabbed his bike keys. "Alright, back to normal life," he muttered to himself before heading out to Yukihira Restaurant.

As he arrived, the familiar scent of spices and sizzling ingredients filled the air, instantly lifting his mood. Joichiro stood behind the counter, flipping something in a pan with practiced ease. The moment he noticed Arthur, he smirked.

"Yo, Arthur. You look like you've been through hell."

"You have no idea," Arthur sighed, walking in.

Arthur let out a deep sigh and plopped down onto a stool near the counter. "You ever had one of those days where everything just goes wrong?"

Joichiro chuckled, setting down his pan. "Sounds like a story. What happened?"

Arthur waved a hand dismissively. "Just got lost in a bad part of town, ran into some crazy people, and barely made it back in one piece. But hey, at least I got a free meal out of it."

Joichiro raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a wild night. Maybe you should start writing a book about your misadventures."

Arthur smirked. "If I did, it'd be a best-seller."

Joichiro laughed before sliding a plate of food toward Arthur. "Eat up. Good food fixes at least half of life's problems."

Arthur glanced at the dish—perfectly cooked beef with rice, topped with a soft-boiled egg. His stomach grumbled, and he didn't hesitate to dig in.

As he ate, the usual lunchtime customers trickled in, filling the small restaurant with energy. Arthur helped out where he could, taking orders and preparing dishes while Joichiro handled the rest of the work.

By midday, things settled down, and Arthur wiped the sweat off his forehead. Just as he was about to take a break, the door swung open, and in walked a familiar face.

Utaha Kasumigaoka.

She looked around before spotting him and smirking. "Well, well, Arthur-kun. Fancy seeing you here."

"Ah Utaha-san! Finally here to try my food hmm?"

Utaha smirked, stepping forward with her usual composed demeanor. "Oh? So what you said was actually true—you really are working here. I was curious to see if you could actually cook or if you were just showing off."

Arthur crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. "I feel like I should be offended, but since you're here, I assume you plan on testing my skills?"

She sat down at the counter, resting her chin on her hand. "Why not? Surprise me."

Arthur grinned. "Alright, but don't blame me if you end up addicted."

He turned toward the kitchen and started preparing a dish, making sure to put in a little extra effort. As he worked, he glanced at her. "So, what brings you here besides my amazing cooking?"

Utaha tapped her fingers on the counter. "I had some free time, and I figured I'd drop by. Plus, I was wondering—are you interested in working on a project?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "A project?"

Utaha nodded. "I'll explain after I taste the food. If it's good, maybe I'll consider you worthy of hearing the details."

Arthur let out a short laugh. "Talk about high standards. Alright, challenge accepted."

He plated the dish and placed it in front of her. "Enjoy, Kasumigaoka-san."

Utaha eyed the dish in front of her with mild skepticism before picking up her chopsticks. She took a bite, chewing slowly, and then her expression softened ever so slightly.

Arthur leaned forward. "Well? Am I worthy?"

Utaha set her chopsticks down and let out a small sigh. "Annoyingly, yes. This is delicious. I might actually have to come back."

Arthur smirked. "I'll take that as high praise coming from you."

Utaha straightened up. "Now then, about that project. I'm working on a new visual novel, and I need someone to help refine the story. You're good at coming up with ideas, aren't you?"

Arthur blinked. "Wait, you're serious? You want my help writing a game?"

Utaha nodded. "You seem like someone with a unique perspective. And, well, I'm curious to see what kind of story you'd come up with."

Arthur chuckled. "You sure you're not just using this as an excuse to spend more time with me?"

Utaha smirked. "Would that be a bad thing?"

Arthur paused for a second before shaking his head. "Fine, fine. I'll hear you out. But I expect free meals as compensation."

Utaha sighed. "What a shameless man. But fine. You win this round."

Arthur leaned back, crossing his arms. "Alright, hit me with the details. What's the game about?"

Utaha gave a knowing smile. "Now, now, if I tell you everything upfront, where's the fun in that? Why don't we meet up later to discuss it properly?"

Arthur sighed dramatically. "Ah, so I'm being lured into a trap. Fine. Where and when?"

Utaha tapped her chin. "How about tomorrow at a café? I'll text you the details."

Arthur shrugged. "Sounds good. Just don't make me regret it."

Utaha smirked. "No promises."

Arthur pulled out his phone, tapping a few buttons before sliding it across the table toward Utaha. "Here. Just text me, and I'll save your number."

Utaha raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "My, how forward. Are you always this smooth with women, Arthur-kun?"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "If I was, I wouldn't be handing you my phone like an awkward teenager."

Utaha chuckled but took the phone anyway, swiftly entering her number before passing it back. "There. Now we're officially in contact. Try not to send me weird texts at three in the morning."

Arthur smirked. "No promises. I might just send you pictures of my cooking to make you jealous."

Utaha leaned in slightly, her expression teasing. "Oh? Then I expect nothing but Michelin-star quality, Arthur-kun. Don't disappoint me."

Arthur chuckled. "Challenge accepted."

Arthur slipped his phone back into his pocket, a small smirk still lingering on his lips. "Well then, Utaha-san, since we're officially contacts now, does that mean I can expect some special privileges? Like an exclusive preview of your next novel?"

Utaha tapped her chin in mock contemplation. "Hmm, tempting. But you'll have to earn that privilege, Arthur-kun."

Arthur chuckled. "And how exactly do I do that?"

Utaha leaned forward slightly, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. "Surprise me. Impress me. Make it interesting."

Arthur sighed dramatically. "Why do I feel like I'm being roped into something troublesome?"

Utaha only smiled. "Because you are."

Utaha tapped her fingers on the table, watching Arthur as he prepared to head back to the kitchen. "By the way, Arthur-kun," she said casually, "do you think you could get Kessoku Band to work with us?"

Arthur paused, turning to her with a raised eyebrow. "You mean for the game?"

She nodded. "They're talented, and their music could really set the mood. Plus, they'd bring a unique charm to the project."

Arthur crossed his arms, thinking. "I could ask them, but why the sudden interest?"

Utaha smirked. "Call it writer's intuition."

Arthur leaned against the counter, arms crossed as he considered Utaha's request. "Alright, I'll ask Gotou-san and the others. This project could actually benefit them as a band too. A game soundtrack would give them exposure beyond just live performances."

Utaha nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Good. I knew you'd see the bigger picture."

Arthur chuckled. "You just want to use my connections, don't you?"

"Of course," Utaha said without hesitation. "But only because I trust your judgment."

Arthur stretched slightly before offering a casual nod. "Alright then, Utaha-san. I'll wait for your text. In the meantime, I'll ask the band if they're interested."

Utaha took a sip of her coffee, watching him with an amused expression. "You make it sound like you're doing me a favor."

Arthur smirked. "Aren't I?"

She chuckled. "Fair enough. Just let me know once you have an answer."

Arthur gave her a thumbs-up before grabbing his keys. Time to see if Kessoku Band was up for something big.

As the evening set in, Arthur made his way to Starry, where Kessoku Band was deep in practice. The moment he entered through the door, he was greeted by the familiar sight of Bocchi nervously adjusting her guitar, Nijika tapping her drumsticks together, Ryo tuning her bass, and Ikuyo humming to herself with a bright smile.

"Yo," Arthur called out, catching their attention.

"Arthur-kun!" Ikuyo beamed. "Here to play with us again?"

"Not today," Arthur said, leaning against the wall. "I actually have something to discuss with you all."

Arthur crossed his arms, glancing at each of them. "Ever thought about working on a game soundtrack?"

The room went silent for a moment. Bocchi blinked, looking like she wanted to disappear, while Nijika tilted her head in curiosity. Ryo raised an eyebrow, and Ikuyo gasped in excitement.

"A game soundtrack?" Nijika repeated.

"Yeah," Arthur nodded. "Utaha-san is working on a visual novel project, and she asked if I could get you guys involved. You'd be composing and performing the music for the game."

Ikuyo practically sparkled. "That sounds so cool!"

Ryo hummed. "Depends on the genre."

Bocchi, on the other hand, looked like she was about to short-circuit. Arthur noticed her tense posture and quickly added, "No pressure, of course. Just thought it could be a great opportunity for you all."

Nijika clapped her hands. "That actually sounds amazing! It could help us reach more people!"

Ikuyo nodded eagerly. "And making music for a game? That's like a dream!"

Bocchi swallowed hard. "A-Are we really good enough for something like that…?"

Arthur smiled. "You tell me. Do you think your music isn't good enough?"

Bocchi hesitated before shaking her head slightly.

"Then there's your answer," Arthur said. "If you guys are interested, I'll set up a meeting with Utaha-san so you can hear more details."

Nijika looked at the others. "What do you guys think?"

Ryo shrugged. "Sounds fun."

Ikuyo cheered. "I'm in!"

Bocchi, still looking nervous, finally gave a small nod.

"Alright then," Arthur said with a grin. "I'll let Utaha-san know."

---Note

If you find any Writing or Grammatical errors, mention it in the Paragraph Comment.

Also here is some weird Female Lead suggestions by some of you.

1. Anya Forger form Spy x Family (Not an AU where she is older but the original one)

2. Miyu from Fate (Shirou's Sister from Miyu verse)

3. Mahiro Oyama from Onii-chan wa Oshimai!(This one is a literal dude turned into a girl and he is 20)

4.Astolfo from Fate/Nasuverse (aslo a Guy)