Chapter 9: Hakari
The black Toyota Century moved smoothly through the streets of Tokyo.
Inside the back seat, Sanjiro sat quietly with a handheld console in his hands.
On the screen, the champion battle music played from Pokémon Platinum.
Across from his character stood the terrifying champion—
Cynthia.
Sanjiro's Pokémon fainted.
Again.
He stared at the screen in silence.
Then he sighed and closed the Nintendo DS.
"…Damn it."
He turned the device off and slid it into his bag before slumping against the leather seat.
Outside, the city rushed by in flashes of buildings and traffic.
"How much longer?" he asked tiredly.
The driver glanced at him through the rear-view mirror.
"Ten more minutes, sir."
Sanjiro groaned.
"Ten more minutes…"
He rubbed his face.
"Fine, I can survive ten more minutes."
Then he frowned.
"And stop calling me sir."
He pointed accusingly at the driver.
"I'm half your age. You're making me feel like an old man."
The driver nodded respectfully.
"As you wish… sir."
Sanjiro stared at the back of the man's head.
His eye twitched.
But he said nothing.
---
Exactly ten minutes later, the car pulled up beside a busy Tokyo train station.
The driver stepped out and opened the door.
Sanjiro grabbed his luggage and stepped onto the pavement.
The car quietly drove away, leaving him standing alone among the crowd.
Sanjiro pulled out his phone and checked the time.
Then he frowned.
"…Where the hell is that bastard?"
He muttered to himself.
A voice suddenly whispered behind him.
"It's bad manners to call someone a bastard behind their back."
Sanjiro jumped.
His instincts screamed.
He spun around instantly.
Standing behind him was a tall man wearing a black uniform and a white blindfold.
Sanjiro blinked.
"…Satoru Gojo?"
The man grinned.
"In the flesh."
He tilted his head slightly.
"And shouldn't there be a big brother in there somewhere?"
Before Sanjiro could react—
Satoru grabbed him and began aggressively ruffling his hair.
"Hey—!"
Sanjiro struggled.
"Let go!"
"People are staring!"
People nearby began glancing at them curiously. But Satoru Gojo didn't care at all.
He kept messing up Sanjiro's carefully styled hair.
"Stop resisting and let me show you my love."
Sanjiro tried to pry his hands away.
"Your love is harassment!"
Finally, Satoru released him.
Sanjiro stepped back quickly and tried to fix his hair.
Satoru placed his hands on his hips and admired him.
"Wow."
He nodded approvingly.
"You've grown."
Sanjiro was now only slightly shorter than him.
"Almost as tall as me."
Satoru smiled smugly.
"But not as handsome."
Sanjiro's eyebrow twitched.
He clenched his fists.
But he said nothing.
"Let's go already," Sanjiro said flatly.
Satoru shrugged.
"Not yet."
"There's someone else we're picking up."
Sanjiro raised an eyebrow.
A few minutes later, someone approached them.
The guy looked rough.
Blonde hair tied in loose braids. Sharp eyes.
He wore the dark blue uniform of Tokyo Jujutsu High, but the jacket hung open, revealing a white tank top underneath.
He walked like he owned the street.
"Yo."
He stopped in front of them.
"You Gojo-sensei?"
His tone carried zero respect.
Satoru chuckled.
"Indeed I am."
The young man's gaze shifted to Sanjiro.
They looked almost identical.
"…Who's this punk?"
Satoru gestured lazily.
"This is my little brother."
"Gojo Sanjiro. He'll be your classmate."
Then he pointed toward the blonde.
"And this is Kinji Hakari."
"Both of you are first-year students."
Sanjiro stepped forward politely and extended his hand.
Hakari looked at the hand.
Then he looked back at Sanjiro's face.
Silence.
"I don't shake hands."
He walked past him.
Leaving Sanjiro frozen in place.
His hand still hanging awkwardly in the air.
Satoru clapped once.
"Well!"
"Looks like everyone's here."
Without waiting, he started walking toward the train that had just arrived.
"Let's go."
Hakari followed casually.
Sanjiro slowly lowered his hand.
His eye twitched again.
'This guy is a complete douchebag. I don't understand why people liked him in my past life.'
Sanjiro thought as he walked behind him.
Meanwhile, Hakari glanced sideways at him.
'Rich kid, huh.'
He smirked slightly.
'That means he's basically a walking wallet. Maybe I can "borrow" some money.'
Ahead of them, Satoru waved.
"Hey!"
"Hurry up!"
---
Kyoto.
Far from Tokyo, another car drove along a quiet road.
Inside sat Kozuki Gojo.
Across from him were two people—his assistant Fukushima Gojo, and a young man with brown hair and green eyes wearing glasses.
Fukushima handed him a folder.
"Here are the reports, Lord Gojo."
Kozuki opened the file and began reading.
Several pages later, he sighed.
"So that's what happened."
He closed the file slowly.
"I can't believe the Star Plasma Religious Group is acting this boldly again."
His eyes drifted toward the passing scenery outside the window.
"Even after what happened last time."
He folded his hands.
"…Times are changing."
His voice was quiet.
"I can feel it."
He leaned back slightly.
"I just hope Satoru…and Sanjiro are ready to carry the responsibility that's coming."
---
A Hill Overlooking the Road
A man stood on a hill several hundred meters away.
He wore traditional Japanese clothing—kimono and hakama.
In one hand he held a cane.
Long stitches ran across his forehead.
His eyes calmly followed the car moving along the road below.
"…It seems the plan is progressing smoothly."
He smiled faintly.
"It may be time to change into a better body."
The man turned away from the hill.
The wind rustled through the grass.
The ancient sorcerer known as Kenjaku quietly walked into the shadows.
....
(A/N): I'm still withing for a good romantic partner recommendation. So far,
1. Yuki.
2. Shoko.
3. Mai and maki.
I just realised, there aren't many good female options. And those that exist are either very old or younger. I mean, i do like me some mommies, that will grom me like mai mai. So far I'm thinking of mai. Can't, cuck my boy yuta. No matter if he is a bum.