The Eyes of Divinity (Jujutsu Kaisen x Male OC)

Chapter 53 | Calm before the storm

(Rest in Peace, Akira Toriyama.)

Satoshi stood beside Tsumiki and Satoru, his heart filled with hope for the first time in what felt like an eternity. After everything that had happened, things were finally starting to look up. The successful rescue of his eldest daughter had given him renewed faith in his abilities, and he felt more determined than ever to save Megumi from the clutches of the nefarious Sukuna. With a renewed sense of purpose, Satoshi took a deep breath and prepared to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.

After a brief moment of respite, he realized that the moment he had been dreading had finally arrived. The Culling Games, a brutal and unforgiving battle for survival, had gone on for far too long, and he knew that the time had come to put an end to it. But first, there were some loose ends to tie up. Some unfinished business that needed to be taken care of before he could face his ultimate foe, his father Sukuna, in a final showdown.

Satoshi and Satoru stood facing each other, both lost in their thoughts. Satoshi then reached into his pocket and pulled out a blindfold that belonged to his brother. It had been a long time since he had seen it last, and he couldn't help feeling nostalgic. He turned to Satoru and suggested, "I think it's time we pay a visit to an old friend of ours." But then he quickly remembered something and added, "But before that, we need to regroup with everyone and plan our next move."

Satoru nodded his head in agreement, his gaze fixed intently on his brother. He responded in a calm and composed tone, "Sure. In the meantime, you'll need to fill me in on the situation..." 

Satoshi, Satoru's brother, replied, "Right. I need you to grab onto my shoulders. I'll explain what happened whilst you've been away." Tsumiki and Satoru gripped Satoshi's shoulders as he used his Instant Transmission technique to teleport directly back to Ryuji, Itadori, and Maki.

Upon spotting the trio, Yuji blurted out in shock, "Huh?! Satoru-sensei!!" He ran over and clasped onto Satoru while Ryuji ran over to hug his big sister.

Maki's gaze shifted towards Tsumiki, who was tightly embracing Ryuji. A pang of envy and sadness crept into her heart as she longed for the warmth of her twin sister Mai's embrace. Though she tried to keep a composed front, her mind was racing with thoughts of Mai and the unbearable longing to see her one last time.

Despite her efforts, Satoshi, her mentor, sensed her distress and placed a tender hand on her shoulder, gently inquiring, "You want to talk about it?"

Maki's gaze dropped down to the ground as she took a moment to reflect on the tumultuous events that had recently unfolded. Her heart ached as she spoke softly, "It's just...I'm truly glad we made up in the end...but it was too short-lived. Mai's life was meant for so much more than just Jujutsu Sorcery. She never wanted any of this...all she ever wanted was a normal life. She just wanted a normal life, but it was ripped away from her, all because of me.  I was too weak to protect her, too weak to save her from our "Father." And then, when we fought against Sukuna, I was once again too weak. He didn't take Itadori or me seriously, and it almost cost us. I hate it. I hate that I'm weak. I hate myself." 

Satoshi took a moment to digest what Maki had said about herself; with a sympathetic look and gentle tone, he replied, "You're wrong, Maki. Let me share with you what it really means to be strong. I've lived a life filled with battles, and the fires from those battles have tempered my soul. I've walked the path of darkness, and it's from that abyss. Being strong isn't defined solely by physical strength or prowess in battle. No, strength is a far deeper concept, one that resides in the core of a person's being. To be strong is to possess unwavering integrity, a moral compass that guides our actions even in the face of chaos. It is to stand tall and resolute, unyielding in the pursuit of justice and truth. Strength lies not only in a person physically but in the power of their convictions. The strong know the weight of responsibility. They don't shy away from it but rather embrace it willingly. They protect those that cannot protect themselves, lending their aid to the powerless and oppressed."