CHAPTER 25: AFTER THE STORM

The ruins of the battlefield were quiet now.

The curses had vanished. The blood had dried.

The wind whispered through cracked buildings and burnt-out streets.

But within the silence, laughter began to bloom again.

Yuta stood at the edge of the collapsed courtyard, staring out into the horizon. His eyes were hollow with grief, but there was a flicker of peace beneath the sorrow.

Gojo walked up beside him, hands in his pockets, a gentle grin on his lips.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked.

Yuta didn't respond at first.

Gojo gently patted his back. "You okay?"

"I… yeah," Yuta said quietly. "It's just… it still hurts."

"Of course it does," Gojo said. "Love's like cursed energy. It doesn't disappear—just changes form."

Yuta gave a small nod. "I just feel… empty."

Gojo tilted his head thoughtfully. "Well, if you ever need someone to fill that emotional void, I can always lend you Utahime as your big sister."

Yuta blinked. "Wait, what?"

Standing not too far behind them, Utahime Iori, who was just starting to walk again with a bandaged arm, turned toward them sharply.

Her eyes narrowed.

Gojo smiled wider. "You don't mind, right? You'd make a great big sis. Stern, but sweet. The kind of person who makes warm rice porridge and slaps curses with a broom."

Utahime stared at him with a flat expression, before sighing. "If he wants that, I'd gladly be that. I don't have a problem…"

She glanced at Yuta, a soft smile on her face. "As long as someone keeps this cat-mutant away from me."

Yuta tried to suppress a laugh.

Gojo clutched his heart in mock pain. "Utahime, how cruel! But hey—if you're already halfway to becoming his sister… why not take the next step and become my wife?"

He said it in a teasing, dramatic tone, batting his lashes.

Utahime didn't answer.

She punched him directly in the face.

Gojo stumbled back three steps, clutching his cheek. "Okay, okay! Maybe too fast."

Utahime rolled her eyes. "Idiot."