Yoriichi Tsugikuni spoke at length.
He told his wife everything—his entire story.
Uta gently caressed Yoriichi's face, her expression full of sorrow.
"You've been through so much."
Yoriichi held her hand and nodded.
"Mm."
The air around them was filled with love and warmth.
This was precisely why Ren Asakura chose not to linger.
Staying here wouldn't just make him an awkward third wheel.
He'd also get overwhelmed by all the affection—practically force-fed a dose of romance.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the darkness.
Kokushibo had arrived.
Yoriichi turned his head and, without hesitation, spoke the name he had called countless times before.
"Brother."
Kokushibo had countless words he wanted to say—years of emotions and regrets weighing on his heart.
But in the end, all of it condensed into just three words.
"I'm sorry."
Yoriichi was momentarily stunned.
Kokushibo turned to leave immediately.
His emotions were too complicated.
Once, he had wanted to protect this younger brother of his, to walk alongside him.
But one day, by mere chance, Yoriichi picked up a wooden sword—
And displayed an unparalleled talent.
No matter how hard Kokushibo trained, he could never surpass it.
And so, overwhelming jealousy consumed him.
To the point of madness.
To the point of falling into darkness and becoming a demon.
"Brother, wait!"
Yoriichi called out just as Kokushibo was about to leave.
Kokushibo stopped in his tracks.
Yoriichi continued, his voice calm.
"Brother, you don't need to apologize to me. I never once thought you wronged me."
Kokushibo turned back.
Yoriichi's gaze was steady, as if he were merely stating a simple truth.
Kokushibo frowned. "Why?"
Yoriichi's expression softened as he spoke, his voice filled with nostalgia.
"Because my brother has always been an extraordinary person. You always looked after me."
Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
A flute.
Objects from the living world couldn't enter the afterlife.
But under absolute power, even the rules had to yield.
Wrapped in a red cloth, the small wooden flute remained intact.
Kokushibo stood frozen, staring at it in shock.
"Brother…"
Hearing that familiar word once more, Yoriichi smiled.
Ren Asakura decided it was best for him, the unwanted third wheel, to quietly slip away.
…
Returning to the living world once more, Yoriichi Tsugikuni had a faint smile on his lips, the weight on his heart finally lifted.
"Thank you, Group Leader."
Ren Asakura waved a hand dismissively. "No need to mention it!"
Yoriichi had never imagined that his own brother had been jealous of him.
If only they had been honest with each other sooner—if they had voiced their thoughts openly—would things have turned out differently?
But there were no "ifs" in life.
Seeing that everything was resolved, Ren Asakura figured it was time for him to leave.
"Well then, I'll be off, Yoriichi."
A portal opened before him.
Without hesitation, Ren Asakura stepped inside.
Watching his figure disappear into the void, Yoriichi reached into his robes and pulled out the wooden flute.
"Brother, I will live well from now on!"
…
[Chat Group]
[Yoriichi Tsugikuni]: "Thank you, Group Leader. I am truly grateful that you allowed me to see my wife, my child, and my brother once more."
[Lu Mingfei]: "A power that can transcend life and death, cross the boundary between worlds… That's seriously amazing! I wish I had an ability like that."
[Ren Asakura]: "You'll get there when you reach the level where you can completely ignore the rules of the world. Right now, you're just a low-tier trash stuck at the beginner stage—not even qualified to be cannon fodder."
[Lu Mingfei]: "(ˇ﹏ˇ)!"
[Lu Mingfei]: "I really am useless… I'm sorry for being so weak!"
[Lu Mingfei]: "Without my little brother, I'm really just a loser."
[Saitama]: "No worries, I'll teach you how to get stronger."
[Lu Mingfei]: "?"
[Saitama]: "100 push-ups every day. 100 sit-ups. 100 squats. And a 10-kilometer run. Do it Every. Single. Day."
[Lu Mingfei]: "...!"
[Ren Asakura]: "In One Punch Man's world, hard work actually does pay off. Saitama broke his limiter through training, allowing him to grow infinitely stronger at an absurd rate. That's his unique talent."
[Ren Asakura]: "In the Hero Association, S-Class hero 'Superalloy Darkshine' became ridiculously strong purely through extreme training. Same with 'Tanktop Master.'"
[Lu Mingfei]: "So does that mean I can do it too?"
[Ren Asakura]: "Sorry, different power systems."
[Lu Mingfei]: "...!"
[Lu Mingfei]: "(;Д`)!!!"
[Ren Asakura]: "But what are you so scared of? As long as I'm here, those four-legged lizards in your world are just a bunch of overgrown reptiles. Stick with me, and I'll carry you to the top."
[Lu Mingfei]: "I will hold on to the Group Leader's thigh with all my might! I'll be the most loyal underling! If the Group Leader tells me to go east, I won't go west. If the Group Leader tells me to go south, I won't go north!"
[Ren Asakura]: "Sigh… Your shameless devotion leaves me speechless."
[Lu Mingfei]: "There's no shame in clinging to the strong!"
[Saitama]: "By the way, Group Leader, do you want to visit my world? Last time I visited your place, you were a great host. Oh yeah, I should be meeting Genos soon."
[Ren Asakura]: "Genos is a good guy. Though blinded by vengeance, he's still a righteous hero. After his hometown was destroyed, he's been searching for the one responsible."
[Saitama]: "Yeah! I'll help him out."
[Ren Asakura]: "I'd love to visit your world, Saitama, but I've already skipped school for quite a while. I should probably check in again. After all, I'm still a high school junior."
[Lu Mingfei]: "Do you even need to go to school? With your strength, you could rule the world."
[Ren Asakura]: "I'd never do something so boring."
[Lu Mingfei]: "The ultimate dream of any ambitious person… and you think it's boring?"
[Ren Asakura]: "Boring as hell. What's the point of ruling the world? Other than feeling empty, lonely, and cold, there's nothing to gain. I'd rather enjoy my high school life to the fullest."
[Lu Mingfei]: "High school life is fun? Damn it, why is mine so miserable?!"
[Ren Asakura]: "Your youth, my youth—we're not the same!"
[Lu Mingfei]: "(^)"
[Minato Namikaze]: "That's right! We should learn to enjoy life. Some things are beyond our control, so the best we can do is change our mindset."
[Lu Mingfei]: "Tch, you damn winner at life! I heard you're already planning for a second child."
[Minato Namikaze]: "()"
[Ren Asakura]: "Mingfei, do you want a wife?"
[Lu Mingfei]: "?"
[Ren Asakura]: "Let me go over there, and I'll snatch that little kaiju for you."
[Lu Mingfei]: "Kidnapping is illegal!"
[Ren Asakura]: "Who cares? If you don't say anything and I don't say anything, who's gonna know? As for your future brother-in-law, we can just ship him off to France to sell… 'special oils.'"
[Lu Mingfei]: "Σ(°△°|||)︴!"
°°°
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