"The only reason I pulled you over here is because I can't refuse that damn old man's orders, not because of you. That room over there is yours from now on. It's a bit messy, so clean it up yourself. I'll leave some food for you. The bathroom is over there for washing up.
"It's still summer, so you don't need thick blankets. Just find a place to sleep. Don't bother me with anything else."
After saying this, Toji seemed to lose all his strength and collapsed onto the sofa, his eyes staring blankly at the television.
Zenin Kiyoshi glanced at the TV. It wasn't even a show, just a commercial.
The exaggerated acting and loud lines seemed to fit the current social atmosphere of Kyoto.
"Not many people watch commercials so seriously."
Zenin Kiyoshi's voice broke the silence, but he received no response from Toji.
The man remained on the sofa, completely ignoring him.
Kiyoshi wasn't surprised by Toji's distant attitude. In fact, this was how Toji should normally act towards him.
The reason he chose to keep him here earlier was probably not just to repay Zenin Naobito's favor, but also because he felt a bit of empathy, seeing a reflection of his own past.
However, that empathy wouldn't last long. He was already starting to push his past, and himself, off a cliff.
To him, everything about the Zenin clan should be rejected, including himself.
But sometimes, even when you think you're beyond saving, seeing a similar past experience can still stir something inside you.
"Where's the food?"
"In the kitchen. Find it yourself. If you can't cook, eat instant noodles. A kid your age can survive even by chewing on tree bark."
As he said this, Toji's voice paused for a moment, as if he remembered something. He then shook his head and said no more.
Tree bark... it's better not to eat that unless you're truly about to die.
Hearing this, Zenin Kiyoshi nodded and walked towards the kitchen.
This body was about eleven or twelve years old, seemingly around the same age as Satoru Gojo.
Most children this age are strictly forbidden from entering the kitchen. After all, no one knows what kind of trouble they might cause.
But Zenin Kiyoshi was different. Inside his young body was the soul of an adult.
He didn't find Toji's distance and coldness strange. Anyone who had gone through what he had would likely resent the Zenin clan.
Zenin Kiyoshi decided to use his own methods to close the distance with Toji, starting with making a proper meal.
There weren't many ingredients in the kitchen. The expiration date on the meat in the fridge was unreadable. The stove was covered in a layer of grease and dust, looking like it hadn't been used in a while.
Zenin Kiyoshi took out a piece of meat and put it in the sink to defrost. Just then, he felt a faint trace of cursed energy from nearby, carrying a very uncomfortable feeling.
He instinctively looked up. Even with only 10% of the Six Eyes ability, it gave him excellent observation skills.
The moment the presence appeared, Zenin Kiyoshi had already locked onto its source.
[A Grade 3 Cursed Spirit? Zenin Ogi's house?]
After arriving at the Zenin estate, Kiyoshi had already familiarized himself with the main buildings around him. The direction the cursed energy came from was where Zenin Ogi lived.
Zenin Kiyoshi felt the presence and frowned slightly.
First, the Zenin clan was protected by a barrier. A cursed spirit shouldn't be able to sneak into the heart of the estate, let alone get past the outer perimeter.
Second, from the earlier conversation between Zenin Shinichi and Zenin Toji, the current head of the Zenin clan was Zenin Naobito. In the entire clan, only he could command some respect from Toji.
Third, when he arrived earlier, he saw some leftover firework debris on the ground and heard the faint cries of babies.
From the second and third points, he could basically figure out the current situation: it must be the month when the twin sisters, Zenin Maki and Mai, were born. And in this same month, the position of clan head fell to Zenin Naobito.
This made Zenin Ogi, who had always seen himself as the next head, extremely dissatisfied. He believed he was in no way inferior to Zenin Naobito.
But the reality in front of him forced him to find excuses for his failure.
And ultimately, that excuse fell upon his two newborn children.
Because when they were born, they were detected to be extremely rare twin sorcerers. And such sorcerers are cursed by heaven at birth, or rather, placed under a different kind of restriction!
Under the influence of this restriction, his two daughters both became mediocre, or in other words, useless, with no outstanding abilities!
In Zenin Ogi's view, this was the main reason why he did not become the clan head.
And in order to wash away this shame, the method Zenin Ogi chose was to erase his "stain" by killing the twin sisters, Zenin Maki and Mai!
This feeling reached its peak today while dealing with the Zenin Kiyoshi incident. Being reprimanded by Zenin Naobito with "This is an order from the clan head" made Zenin Ogi so hateful he could almost grind his teeth to dust.
Driven by this power, a cursed object, deliberately brought into the Zenin estate, appeared right before the eyes of the two newborn sisters.
It was a monster with six arms, covered in dark red fur. No one knew what it was, but its mouth was currently emitting a thick, disgusting stench, and it was constantly drooling over the two infants.
From Zenin Kiyoshi's perspective, this scene was incredibly clear.
Right now, Zenin Kiyoshi had two choices.
First, to turn a blind eye, continue to cook his meal, and the subsequent plot would have nothing to do with him.
Second, to be a hero, to choose to help others, and not care if the future plot changes.
And obviously, Zenin Kiyoshi's figure, already leaving the room, represented his choice.
-------
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