Back during the Ralts and Chirulian stages, this was their most common interaction. After all, Ralts was 40 cm tall and Chirulian was 80 cm tall, both basically children, and it suited them well. But after evolving into the 160 cm tall Gardevoir, such interactions became much rarer.
Even so, in Gardevoir's heart, this was always the best way for her master to express happiness. Only at moments like this did it show that she was still just eight years old in terms of Makoto. In the end, Akira could only use the second calming move for Gardevoir, the familiar "there there," to settle her down.
Even then, she continued to lightly circle around him, swinging the arm that wore the Bracelet. Akira did not mind and went back to focusing on his review work. Over eight years, the two had long grown used to this way of being together.
When Akira was busy, she stayed by his side. As Ralts, she lay on his shoulder, and as Chirulian, she liked to watch nearby. Now as Gardevoir, she liked to spin, and when Akira was dizzy with work, seeing the well-behaved psychic girl beside him often lifted his mood.
With Gardevoir's help, Akira successfully completed the final evaluation. "Formation changes, good. Local cooperation, good. Position awareness, clear. Overall efficiency, excellent."
"Although the overall strategic view still needs work, reaching this level of coordination means dealing with the exchange event will be no problem. Even if Yuta and I are banned, or restricted from using partners, we still would not lose to Kyoto."
It went without saying that if no restrictions were placed on the Tokyo side, Kyoto would have no chance at all. But before heading to Kyoto, Akira still had one matter he had to clarify. It concerned another blood relative studying at the Kyoto school.
He raised his eyes and looked toward the wall to one side. On the other side of that wall was the mother they shared.
"Mom, I will be leaving in a few days."
"Mhm. I will help you pack later."
"I am going to Kyoto."
"Have fun, and remember to bring back souvenirs."
"Mom!"
Akira finally could not hold it in anymore. What he wanted to hear was not this kind of casual daily talk.
"I am going to Kyoto to take part in the Goodwill Event. Noritoshi Kamo will also attend as Kyoto's representative. There is no way you do not know this."
Akira had not said it outright before, but Akira was a formal staff member who also handled paperwork for Tokyo Jujutsu High. She would know earlier than the students, not later.
Yet almost a month had passed, and Akira had shown no sign at all. She did not say she would go, and she did not say she would not.
The principal Masamichi Yaga had already gone ahead to meet Kyoto Jujutsu High's principal Yoshinobu Gakuganji to arrange the work in advance. With Akira's position at the school, she was fully qualified to go along.
Even now, when her son asked her face to face, Akira still said nothing. Akira knew what his mother was struggling with, but time was getting closer and could not be delayed any longer.
"Mom, it is about time you gave me a clear answer. Just make the decision and do not worry. If there are problems, I will handle them."
"How do you plan to handle them?" Akira asked.
"We will see how Kamo Clan reacts. If they turn a blind eye and pretend nothing happened, then everyone gets along. If they dare to bully people, then do not blame me for being rough. I will have Little Sha and Darkrai tear down Kamo Clan's ancestral estate. That should help them understand reality."
After learning from Satoru Gojo for so long, Akira had picked up quite a few methods of threat and deterrence. He still kept some restraint, following the usual traditions of China.
They did not start trouble, but they were not afraid of it either. They promised not to use nuclear weapons first, but if someone wanted a nuclear war, they would throw one straight back.
A faint smile finally appeared on Akira's face, and she reached out to touch Akira's head. When he was young, she often did this, and his habit of patting heads came from her.
Now that he had grown taller, Akira had to raise her hand higher to reach him. She looked at him gently and said, "I am happy you feel this way, but Ari, have you thought about how the Jujutsu World will react?"
"At worst, they cannot beat us head-on and will use sanctions and isolation. I am not bragging, but when it comes to dealing with sanctions, Tokyo Jujutsu High ranks second, and no one in Japan dares claim first. The sky will not fall. Satoru Gojo is there to hold it up."
At first, Akira only wanted to secure a stable life for his mother. After more contact with Satoru Gojo, he felt being a bit more aggressive was fine, since that was exactly what Satoru Gojo wanted to see.
"I just do not want to trouble Satoru Gojo too much," Akira said, shaking her head softly. "He has already taken care of us a lot."
"We have done plenty for him too. Human relationships work like that," Akira said with a grin. "Or is it that you, Mom, have started to like Satoru Gojo?"
Hearing her son's nonsense, Akira changed from patting his head to smacking it lightly. "What are you saying? Do you really want to push your mother out like this and go live a two-person world with Little Sha?"
Akira had thick skin and did not care about the pain. He joked, "Have I ever cared whether anyone was watching when it is me and Little Sha?"
She fell silent for a moment. If he had not said it, she would almost have forgotten that the one who suffered the most from being forced to watch was her, as a mother.
"And besides," Akira continued, "aside from his personality, Satoru Gojo is pretty good in every way. I have not heard any rumors either. Even that questionable personality is nothing compared to my cold-blooded cheap dad."
"If you compare them like that, then yes, that is true," Akira said.
Since the legal wife's request to swap children had been approved, Akira had lost all goodwill toward her ex-husband. Outside she might still care about appearances, but in front of Akira there was no need.
"But if you look at it that way," she said, "are there not too many suitable people? Am I supposed to marry all of them?"
"Are there other suitable candidates?" Akira rested his chin on his hand as if thinking. "An unmarried adult man… it is not Principal Yaga, right? His conditions are good, but his looks are a bit uneven."
That face full of muscle stood out even more because people like Satoru Gojo and Akira raised the average so high. She glared at him and said, "If you talk like that, the principal will be heartbroken. He thinks highly of you."
"That is not my fault. He stays in his room all day making Cursed Corpse. Honestly, if he keeps going like that, I would not be surprised if he builds an army."