The morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
Sunlight filtered through the windows of Sora's room, casting soft patterns across the wooden floor. His bag rested near the door—packed neatly, with only the essentials inside.
Clothes.
A few books.
Nothing unnecessary.
Sora stood beside it for a moment.
Silent.
"…So it's today."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Only acknowledgment.
---
The orphanage felt different.
Not because anything had changed.
But because everyone knew.
Word had spread last night.
Sora was leaving for Tokyo.
---
The dining room was quieter than usual.
That, more than anything, felt unnatural.
No one was fighting over food.
No dramatic shouting.
No chaos.
Just small, awkward conversations.
Sora sat in his usual seat.
Breakfast in front of him.
Untouched for a few seconds.
Across from him—
The four.
Yumi avoided his gaze.
Daisuke poked at his food absentmindedly.
Mika looked irritated.
Satoshi looked like he wanted to say something.
None of them did.
Sora sighed lightly.
"…what is up with you all? The silence is too chaotic."
That broke it.
Yumi looked up.
"Shut up."
Her voice wavered slightly.
Daisuke forced a grin.
"Yeah… don't get used to silence."
Mika crossed her arms.
"You're the one leaving. Why are you complaining?"
Satoshi finally spoke.
"…Do you have to go?"
The question hung in the air.
Simple.
Honest.
Sora picked up his chopsticks.
"Yeah."
No long speech.
No dramatic explanation.
Just that.
Satoshi looked down again.
"…Oh."
Silence returned.
Sora took a bite of his food.
Calm.
Normal.
As if this was just another day.
But his mind wasn't entirely here.
---
He noticed that Yumi cried last night.
She tried to hide it.
But her eyes spoke different.
Daisuke tried to be the usual jokester.
But failed.
Mika got angry.
Why?
Who knows.
Satoshi stayed quiet.
That one was expected.
---
Sora exhaled softly.
"How troubling. It looks like I am being married away as a bride."
Across the room, Ms. Kasumi watched quietly.
Sighing she said.
"The kids are not that tough inside. Not having a family made them fragile. As the family, you would be very important to them..."
She paused.
"...just like how important they are to you."
Her expression was gentle.
But tired.
She had already said what she needed to last night.
No long lecture.
No attempt to stop him.
Just one thing—
"Come back safe."
Sora finished his meal.
He took his plate, washed it and announced.
"I'm leaving in a bit."
The four looked up again.
Yumi spoke first.
"…Already?"
"Yeah."
Daisuke scratched his head.
"That's fast."
Mika clicked her tongue.
"Tch. Of course it is."
Satoshi just nodded.
"…Right."
Sora picked up his bag from beside the wall.
It was light.
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
Turned slightly.
"Don't slack off too much. I will come back in due time to monitor your growth. "
Yumi frowned.
"You're the last person who should say that."
"True."
Daisuke spoke.
"Guess we're the seniors now."
Mika rolled her eyes.
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
Satoshi looked at Sora one last time.
"…Take care."
Sora gave a small nod.
"Yeah."
The four were hopeful about their reunion.
---
Outside—
The air was cold.
A faint cold breeze passed through the street.
Waiting near the gate—
A tall figure stood casually.
Hands in pockets.
Relaxed as ever.
Satoru Gojo.
He waved lazily.
"Took you long enough."
Sora walked toward him.
"I was eating."
"Well.. eating is important."
Gojo glanced back toward the orphanage.
"They didn't follow you out."
"They don't need to. I already told them I will be back."
Sora adjusted his bag slightly.
"More than that, they already said what they needed to."
Gojo hummed with a smile.
"Good."
He turned and started walking.
"Let's go then."
Sora followed.
No dramatic farewell.
No looking back.
Just steady steps forward.
---
Kyoto's streets were calm in the morning light.
Shops slowly opened.
People moved about their day.
Normal life.
Sora walked beside Gojo quietly.
Hands in his pockets.
Mind wandering.
---
Three years.
That's how long it took.
From experimenting with weak curses…
To storing them…
To refining his technique…
To being noticed.
---
"…Radar, huh."
Sora muttered.
Gojo glanced at him.
"You heard that part?"
"You didn't hide it particularly."
Gojo grinned.
"I didn't. Anyways ,you're more famous than you think. A metal controlling cursed technique user who goes around capturing curses."
"It sounds as if that is the only thing you know about me."
"Pretty much. Other than your usual life and your nightly activities, we know nothing else."
They walked in silence for a bit.
Then Gojo spoke again—
"You'll like Tokyo Jujutsu High."
"I don't like school."
"There are interesting people there."
"Even more troublesome."
Gojo smiled.
"You'll see."
---
Sora looked ahead.
The road stretched forward.
Behind him—
The orphanage.
A place that didn't belong in the world he was stepping into.
---
"…I'll come back."
He said it quietly.
Just a simple promise.
---
Gojo glanced at him briefly.
Then smiled.
"Of course you will."
---
And just like that—
Hagane Sora left Kyoto.
Heading toward Tokyo.
Toward a new world.
Toward Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Where things would no longer be quiet.