Chapter 27

Tanso froze.

In fact, his whole body trembled to the sensation.

The brothers instantly stopped what they were doing as they noticed how… terrified their brother had become. "Tanso… TANSO!" Sho was quick to sit his younger brother down. He started shaking in fear. "Tanso… what's wrong? Is something wrong?" Sho asked over and over again.

Then, the words appeared on his back.

'Do not go in the forest… NO ONE go in the forest!'

"The forest… what's in the forest?" Choso asked.

'Don't know, but my familiars are terrified right now… Sukuna is there… but it appears as if he was speaking to himself. And yet, my familiars ran the moment they felt something… off'

The brothers exchanged looks. "We shouldn't go in the forest and yet, if Sukuna is there…" Choso said with worry.

As they paused to consider their options, Junpei's phone dinged with a text message. He checked it out, yet appeared rather stunned. "Uh… Yuuji said he sensed an elemental in the forest, it should be harmless and to leave it alone. He is aware it is near Sukuna but is keeping a close eye on it all." He explained.

Once more, the brothers paused to the news. "He did it, didn't he? Sukuna managed to contact an elemental!" protested Junpei.

Who was oddly silent to it all was Toshi. The moment they mentioned the forest, he paused but never appeared concerned as the brothers were.

It's been rather strange in Junpei's mind. So much so he peered over at him. "Hey, Toshi… I've been meaning to ask you…"

He paused and turned to the brothers. "Ask me about what?"

"When you first got here, you were concerned about Sukuna, utterly terrified if I am not mistaken… and yet now… you appear to be his biggest advocate next to Chusi… What changed?"

All the brothers stared at him now.

Toshi froze like a deer in the headlight. "I… ugh… it's just that… he saved my life…"

"We get that, but it's more than what it appears to be. I can feel that you are nervous, but it's not as strong of a sensation I get from the brothers." Choso explained. "Is there something you are not telling us?"

He sighed in defeat.

Toshi looked to the brothers and explained. "The ability Choso has to sense the brothers' emotions… is the same as I have… but I don't sense the brothers very strongly… this connection is closes with Sukuna." He explained.

Instantly, they froze.

"I honestly thought you knew of this…"

"I was figuring something out…" Junpei said offhandedly. "When Sukuna said something serious… you snickered on the other hand."

"Because he was putting a tough guy act on. When he said he hated something, he was really looking forward to it." Toshi confessed. "But, out of respect, I didn't say this aloud nor would anyone let him live it down. He's just starting to express emotions and I didn't want to hinder that."

"But to be connected to him like that… that's how you knew about the snowball fight!" decreed Sanso.

"Yes, because Sukuna was having fun. I felt that and knew we had to see for ourselves…" Toshi's voice trailed off. "Please, don't let him know you know. No doubt this is something rather… delicate to be exposed, especially for someone like him…"

They exchanged looks, no one was laughing at the idea, but a nod of understanding came from the brothers. "We won't speak a word of this, little brother. We promise" Eso said.

"Thanks, he's just starting to show and feel more emotion now. If he is mocked for it… I fear what would happen…"

"True…" came out of Junpei. "So… he's getting elemental power huh?"

The brothers shuttered. "I wonder how long it would be until he perfects it…"

Suddenly, all eyes came on Toshi once more.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"You can sense Sukuna's emotions… so when he perfects something, he would feel rather proud of himself right?" Junpei asked.

"I suppose he would."

"So you would be the first to know if he has…"

"But I cannot say that he has… correct?" Toshi questioned back. Since after all, if he tells the brothers, and they tell Sukuna… Sukuna would know something is afoot. Once more they nodded to this. "I will try to do so in as carefully as I can and without betraying his trust… is that okay?"

Choso smiled and nodded to him. "Just be mindful of yourself," he warned.

Toshi nodded, but soon… paused.

"Toshi?" asked Noranso.

His face darkened slightly. "You know how you told me to warn you when Sukuna has perfected his elemental ability?" he asked.

Everyone was visibly confused but nodded. "Yeah… so…" Junpei said but trailed off the moment Toshi gave them a serious nod.

The brothers went a little pale, just like Tanso did when the elemental in the forest scared off all his familiars…