Author Note: I revised a little bit of chapter 5 considering some weren't satisfied with Gojo's out of character behavior. I doubt it did much to fix it but i tried and would like to hear some more feedback in writing him better! Enjoy the chapter!

I sighed, a long, drawn-out breath escaping as I kicked the side of the Kairagi slumped against the dirt. The dull thud of my foot against their body and pain from the impact caused them to grunt. They were barely conscious, groaning at the bruises and broken bones. Pathetic.

Scoffing at the sight, I stepped over them casually, inspecting the area. It had been three days since the last incident, and surprisingly, nothing too troublesome had popped up. After my encounter with Granny and Chiori, things were quite mundane to say the least. I'd sleep through most of the day, occasionally wandering the streets of Inazuma City or stopping by Yae Publishing House to flip through books, letting time drift by. But once night fell, I subjugated cursed spirits in the forests. Occasionally, I'd cross paths with kairagis or treasure hoarders thinking I was an easy target, like the ones sprawled on the ground now.

Kairagi. Bandits with swords. If I had to guess, they were about as strong as third-grade sorcerers. Tougher than your average person, sure, but to me? Just weaklings. I yawned, the boredom settling in as I plopped down on top of one of the fallen Kairagi. They let out a pained groan beneath me, but I ignored them, giving their head a smack when they tried to resist.

Staring up at the night sky, the moonlight filtering through the branches, I felt my bright blue eyes hidden under the cloth I scavenged somewhere. The night was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. My mind wandered, mulling over what to do next. I had cleared out a decent number of cursed spirits in this area already, but they kept coming back. They always did. Every night, the forest repopulated with lower-grade spirits, like weeds springing up from the ground. They weren't much of a threat most of the time but, every now and then, they'd kidnap someone from the villages or cities nearby. That's what got to me. It was the reason missing person cases had started popping up on the bulletin board back in Inazuma City. It was the reason I even investigated this case. Problem is it's difficult to tell if these cases were caused by cursed spirits or lowly bandits like these.

"You guys really wasted my time…"

I kicked the back of the Kairagi's head beneath me, eliciting another groan. They were conscious enough to feel it but too broken to fight back. As my gaze drifted away from the defeated thugs, I saw a small figure huddled in the corner locked behind wooden bars, trembling. A child. She must have been no older than eight or nine. Her face was streaked with tears, and her wide eyes darted between the bandits and me, clearly terrified.

This kid was one of the victim of the missing person cases which I was investigating. Kayano Aya, daughter of the Kayano family, most likely from a noble family judging by the silk ribbon tied in her hair. It wasn't cursed spirits that took her; just common thugs trying to make a quick profit through ransom. Still, this was the kind of mess the Tenryou Commission should have been handling, not me. I sighed again, feeling the weight of annoyance settle on my shoulders as I made my way over to her.

"Hi there," I greeted, trying to keep my voice as soft as I could. Not that it helped.

She let out a shriek, pressing herself further into the corner, trembling like a leaf caught in a storm. I wasn't exactly the most reassuring figure to a child who had just witnessed me beat several grown men into unconsciousness. The blindfold probably wasn't helping either.

With a sigh, I pulled off the cloth covering my eyes and smiled. "Hey, it's alright. No need to be scared. See? Big bro's just a regular guy."

Her wide eyes studied me for a moment, still unsure, but the sight of my eyes—human and not glowing or monstrous—seemed to calm her down just a little. Her shoulders eased, though she was still shaking.

"You want to go back to mommy and daddy?" I asked gently.

She hesitated, biting her lip before giving a small, timid nod. I smiled again. I grab hold of the wooden bars and broke it effortlessly. The physical strength of people from this world is unreal if you just trained regularly. At this level I'm probably close or equal to that man, Toji Zen'in in terms of physical strength. I offered her my hand. She stared at it for a long moment, then finally reached out, her small fingers gripping mine.

The walk back to Inazuma City was long, but I kept her talking, throwing out random bits of conversation to keep her mind off what had just happened. From the conversation I found out more about the Kayano family. They were well-known in the city for their business, though Aya didn't seem to know much about it. Still, she warmed up to me a bit, her voice growing steadier as we walked together through the forest. Besides personal talk, she also mentioned things she likes such as dolls and playing hide and seek.

As we neared the outskirts of the city, I spotted a girl in the distance. A young girl with bright blond hair tied back, dressed in a red yukata with gold fish patterns, her face smudged with dust and dirt. She was holding a firework stick, an odd sight out here in the quiet parts of the city's edge. Her yukata was a little disheveled, but she seemed cheerful enough, playing with the fireworks in the open space. Maybe she had come here to avoid bothering anyone with the noise.

"Yoimiya onee-chan!" Aya's voice suddenly broke into a bright cry, and before I knew it, she let go of my hand and ran toward the blonde girl.

Yoimiya, huh? So they knew each other.

The girl named Yoimiya turned around, surprise lighting up her face as she knelt down to catch Aya in a warm embrace. "Aya-chan! What are you doing out here so late?" Her voice was gentle, filled with concern as she ruffled Aya's hair and wiped the tears from her eyes.

I stayed back, watching them for a moment. Yoimiya was good with kids, way better than I was, at least. She comforted Aya with a natural ease, offering her candy and even pulling out a new firework to distract her. Aya's sobs quieted, replaced by the occasional hiccup and a shy smile.

With Yoimiya taking care of things, I figured my job was done. I turned to leave, slipping into the shadows quietly, but before I could—

"Satoru Nii-chan… where are you going?"

Aya's small voice stopped me in my tracks. I sighed, turning back to see her looking up at me, tears still glistening in her eyes. "Yoimiya nee-san can take care of you now. I've got things I need to do," I said, trying to sound casual.

"But… Aya hasn't thanked you yet. Stay and play with us, please?"

I groaned internally. She had me cornered. With those teary eyes and that innocent look, there was no way I could refuse. I wasn't that heartless.

"Alright, alright. I'll stay for a little while," I muttered, walking back over to them.

Yoimiya grinned, clearly pleased. "So, you're Satoru-kun, huh? I'm Yoimiya! Nice to meet you!"

"Yeah, same here"

The three of us spent the next hour playing around with fireworks, laughing and talking. Yoimiya was a lively one, always smiling and chatting away, and it didn't take long before even I found myself relaxing a bit. Her bright personality was quite infectious. She was well-known among the local kids, and Aya seemed to be one of them. Thanks to her, we managed to send a message to Aya's family, letting them know she was safe. We decided to wait out here for them to pick her up and spend some time playing around.

"Hey, Aya-chan, check this out," I said, holding a firework in my hand.

Aya watched with wide eyes as I let the fire burn on my palm, the flames licking at my skin, only for me to extinguish it with a flick of my fingers. It was a simple trick, ones people usually do with matches and lighters. Of course it's a whole different matter with fireworks, only I could pull off using cursed energy manipulation and reverse cursed technique to make it seem it didn't burn me at all. To her, though, it was pure magic.

"Wow! How did you do that?" she asked, clapping her hands in amazement.

I grinned. "Big bro Satoru is a Magician you see~."

Not to be outdone, Yoimiya pulled out one of her own fireworks, lighting it up and sending it soaring into the sky. It burst into a brilliant display, revealing the shape of a bunny in the night sky.

"Ahaha! A bunny!" Aya cheered, jumping up and down with excitement.

Soon after, Aya's parents arrived. They thanked us profusely, bowing deeply before taking Aya home. She waved goodbye, her face glowing with happiness, and I couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. It was a farcry from the Aya whom I just met at the forest. There were no longer fear and sadness in her eyes.

"Satoru-kun," Yoimiya called out once Aya and her family were out of sight.

"Hm?"

"I was really worried when I heard Aya-chan went missing, but thanks to you, she's alright. I mean it—thank you."

I shrugged, trying to downplay it. "I just stumbled across her while dealing with those ruffians. No big deal." Actually I had been investigating her case worrying it was a cursed spirit but turning out that it wasn't but of course I couldn't tell her that.

Yoimiya smiled, a knowing look in her eyes. She seems like she had a lot more to say, she's quite the talkative person after all but "You said you had somewhere else to be, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, if you ever have some free time, come by the Naganohara Fireworks Shop. We can hang out, and I've got plenty of things I want to chat about!" Her grin was infectious, and despite myself, I found my lips twitching into a smile.

"Haha, I'll think about"

Just as I thought, she indeed had more to say but, It seems like Yoimiya was quite thoughtful and decided to not force a conversation more than needed for this time. She even invited me to visit another time when I'm more-free. I appreciated it. With that, we parted ways and I walk back to Inazuma city feeling a bit relieved

Walking past the vibrant night city of Inazuma, I couldn't help but admire the soft glow of the lanterns illuminating the stalls and shops. The air was filled with laughter and the enticing aroma of street food as families and friends gathered to enjoy the festivities. It was a comforting sight, one that reminded me of the simple joys in life.

I had done enough for the day—perhaps it was time to head back to the dorm and unwind. A stop at Yae's bookstore for a few new reads had crossed my mind, but as I strolled toward the Yae Publishing Company, my plans were abruptly interrupted.

A group of men clad in armor approached me, their presence imposing. I recognized them instantly—the Tenryou Commission. My eyes narrowed as I spotted a tall woman stepping forward. She was unlike the armored men, wearing attire that resembled an archer's garb. Her short black hair was adorned with a Tengu mask, and her sharp, golden eyes locked onto mine as she walked closer.

"Satoru, I presume?" she stated, her voice steady and authoritative.

"Yeah? What does the Tenryou Commission want with me?" I replied, crossing my arms defiantly.

Unexpectedly, she performed a slight bow, catching me off guard. It was a gesture of respect, but I couldn't shake off the confusion it brought.

"We've heard about your assistance in the case of the young mistress of the Kayano family. We want to extend our gratitude," she explained, her tone shifting slightly. "However, we also need you to accompany us for questioning regarding the case, Satoru."

I rolled my eyes, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. "Ugh, I expected something like this. You know, I'm a little tired. Can't we do this some other time?"

"No, we need to make an immediate report on this matter," she insisted, her voice firm.

"Well, that's your problem, not mine," I shot back, my frustration growing. I could see the tension building in her posture, her eyebrow twitching as she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Satoru, please comply and do not make this any more difficult for us," she urged, her patience clearly wearing thin.

"Why should I? I already said I'll do it some other time. If you guys are so hell-bent on immediate action, why didn't you find Aya-chan sooner?" I glared at them, my words laced with cold disdain. The Tenryou Commission, despite their reputation, often stumbled at the worst possible moments. Had I not found Aya-chan when I did, who knows what might have happened to her?

The armored men shifted uneasily at my defiance, taking a stance as if readying themselves for a confrontation. But the woman in the Tengu mask raised her hand, signaling them to hold their ground.

"Satoru, I'm asking you one more time. Please come with us to report on this matter," she said, her voice now tinged with urgency.

I could feel the eyes of passersby turning toward us, whispers spreading like wildfire among the crowd. A kid cornered by the Tenryou Commission—it wasn't the kind of attention I wanted.

"Sorry, birdie, but I've already said we'll meet another time."

With a swift motion, I tossed a handful of small darts into the air. They landed on various stalls and walls around us, each one inscribed with talisman seals.

"Subjugation technique: Bind!"

In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. The people around us froze, their bodies becoming paralyzed as the seals activated. My chance to escape was now.

I dashed away, glancing over my shoulder with a teasing grin, sticking my tongue out in a playful provocation.

"Kh… Satoru!" the woman in the Tengu mask shouted, frustration lacing her voice. "I'll remember you…"

Her words faded as I slipped into the shadows, my heart racing with exhilaration. I could hear the muffled chaos behind me as the Commission struggled against the effects of my seals.