Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Himawari, for all her entire life, is blessed.

She is the daughter of the strongest shinobi alive. She is the daughter of the most beautiful woman best known as the Hyuuga Princess. She is also the little sister to the best big brother in the world!

For all her life, Himawari never took everything for granted. She listened well, and tried to understand everyone even when some things made her sad. She understands that her father is not always at home because he’s busy protecting the entire village, and even beyond that. He’s the strongest, after all.

So, Himawari understands all their sacrifices and does not take it for granted.

She visits her uncle’s grave as much as she could, regaling him with every story she could update him with. After all, her uncle saved her parents so that she and her big brother could be here now. He deserves to know about how the future he saved is doing.

Himawari brings him fresh sunflowers for each visit, because her Mama said that her uncle loved those flowers. That’s also why her name is Himawari! Both she and her big brother were named as tribute to their uncle.

She feels how treasured she is through knowing that, amongst everything else.

“Welcome to Yamanaka Flowers~” Inojin’s voice rang as Himawari opened the door. He looked up from his drawing, expression breaking to an easy smile. “Oh, Himawari! Hello!”

“Hi, Inojin!” Himawari beams, arms extending to a wide wave as she approaches the cashier. “Do you still have some sunflowers?”

“Of course! We’ll never run out of them for you.” Inojin answers, grabbing an already prepared bundle behind him. “Here you go!”

Himawari beams as she places the appropriate payment to the table. “They look great. Thanks as always, Inojin!”

Inojin sighed fondly as he took the payment Himawari placed. It will only be a waste of time to deny payment every time she gets flowers at their shop, no matter how much the Yamanaka family insists that it’s on the house. But Himawari does not want that kind of exchange, in her eyes, it’s only fair and just to pay the same amount as everyone else in the village. Her Mama had taught her that.

Hmm! She’ll tell her Mama what she did once she gets back!

˚‧｡⋆🌻⋆｡‧˚

Himawari, with all her life as she knew it, is blessed.

Every morning, she thanks the heaven and the earth that she gets to wake up with a house full of her favourite people. She smells her Mama’s cooking wafting through the air, she sees her Papa stumbling through furniture with his eyes still closed with sleep, she hears her big brothers already bickering in the early morning trying to get the biggest piece of pancake.

Mama would then send Papa and her big brothers out the door after morning time. With their bentos packed, then they’re all out for the day and Himawari will have to be on her own again. But that’s okay, because everything is peaceful and she is blessed. 

She enjoys her day with walks and her own training as her Mama encouraged her to do. She waves to everyone who recognises her and that, too, is a blessing. For as long as there is someone who knows Uzumaki Himawari, she is blessed with not being alone.

“Grandpa said that my Byakugan is the best he’s seen for a long time.” Himawari smiles as she sits crouched, her chin on her knees as she recounts everything unto her uncle’s grave. “He keeps showering me with praises that I don’t even know which ones are exaggerated anymore! Grandpa can be too nice. Was he like that with you, too?”

The grave does not answer, of course. But Himawari really only likes to play pretend all the time. Talking helps fill the quietness of her home whenever everyone is busy outside. Her big brother is always on a mission or with his friends. Her Papa is always in the Hokage Tower. And her Mama is the only one home with her, and today, Mama sent Himawari on a mission to buy bread and tea! Mama didn’t say she can’t visit her uncle on the way.

She had encountered a weird kid who tried to attack her when she was headed to the Yamanaka flower shop. It was a good thing that her big brother was there! Otherwise, Himawari would have used the technique she just learned from her auntie.

“Auntie taught me a new move yesterday. She said it was your best move!” Himawari preens at the memory once more, remembering the way her Aunt and Grandpa rejoiced when she successfully performed the technique. “They said that they were initially surprised that I learned it so fast, but then said that it must be because I’m the best.”

Himawari scratches her neck at that, now a little embarrassed after saying it out loud. “Well… I think I still have a long way to go to perfect the technique. Auntie said that she wasn’t the best teacher for the technique. But when she saw me do it anyway, she thought she saw uncle for a moment.”

Whenever her uncle is being remembered, the room often turns sombre. But no one was sad, Himawari could tell. It was just that they miss uncle so much, even Grandpa. He must really love uncle so much that the smile on his face would fall. Himawari only ever saw her Grandpa shine brightly with smiles.

Auntie always carries uncle’s photo around wherever she goes. Whenever Himawari is left alone in the tea room with the picture, she falls into the impulse of talking to uncle again like he’s actually there enjoying tea with them. But then she would feel the adults walking back and Himawari would stop. Because whenever they see her talk to uncle, everyone turns sombre and it’s the type that is sad for Himawari.

She doesn’t want anyone to be sad because of her. Everyday is a blessing because of her uncle, so everyone should be happy!

“Auntie said you were really protective of them back then, especially with Mama. But that must also mean that you were strong enough to protect them!” Himawari finally stood up, placing her hands to her waist with a declaration. “I will also aim to be strong like you, uncle. I want to be strong enough that I can protect Mama and my big brothers too!”

She let out a giggle as she remembered something. “I would also want to protect Papa, but I’m sure he would tell me that there’s no need. He’s the strongest shinobi, after all! He’s the one who’s reaaally strong enough to protect everyone.”

Looking up, she feels the sun’s rays to be not as hot anymore. She’s been here long enough.

“I’ll be going now, uncle! Enjoy the fresh sunflowers I got you, the flower’s season will be ending soon.” 

Himawari leaves the site with a wide wave and smile. With that, she’s sure her uncle will be happy once again in heaven. Mama told her that uncle is a really good listener, so anything Himawari says will surely be appreciated by her uncle.

˚‧｡⋆🌻⋆｡‧˚

Himawari, ever since she was born, has always been blessed.

The world has long been peaceful by the time she was born. It was why Mama and Papa decided to have her then, welcoming her to the era of peace. So assured that nothing will ever put their beloved daughter to danger anymore.

That is why Himawari lives forever grateful to those that made it possible for her to be born. She gets to enjoy her childhood in peace, and with a complete family who loves her so, so much. She gets to make many friends and she gets to meet interesting beings that her Papa introduces her to. It’s a shame she never got to talk to Kurama, her Papa liked to talk about the Nine-Tails so much, even after he lost Kurama.

“I’m home~” She greeted the house by the entrance, but stopped when she noticed how clustered all the furniture suddenly looked. 

This morning, everything was the same as always. Her Mama’s cooking wafted through the air, her Papa stumbled through furnitures with his eyes still closed with sleep, she heard her big brothers already bickering in the early morning trying to get the biggest piece of pancake.

That morning was another morning of blessings and Mama sent Papa and her big brothers out the door after morning time. Their bentos packed and then they were all out for the day and Himawari was on her own and that was okay, because everything is peaceful and she is blessed. 

There were many shinobis currently going through their home. The home Himawari is blessed with because it is filled with her most precious people who makes waking up extra special.

A shinobi approached her, asking her questions that she could only shake her head with as an answer. The words register and she answers, but it comes out muddled inside her head when she tries to recall what they had asked her in the first place.

Himawari entered the living room and immediately spotted something on the ground that only further sunk her heart down. It was the family picture they had taken after her big brother was finally officially added to their family by paper. It had been a blessed day because Himawari got another big brother.

It had been months since then. The photo had always been spotless and Mama took great care for it every day. Making sure that the space it stood was not faulty, making sure that nothing around it could ever knock it down. Chiding her big brothers whenever they played too hard around the photo.

But now it lay on the wooden floor, cracked glasses spread ominously.

Mama would be livid if Mama saw the state it was in. Himawari should fix it immediately before Mama comes and sees it. Papa would know where to buy the exact same frame that Mama wouldn’t notice it had been changed.

But their familiar footsteps do not come. No one is telling Himawari to help clean up the mess, to grab a broom and let her big brothers clean it because they’re certain both of them are the cause. 

Instead, unfamiliar footsteps walk around Himawari’s safe haven. They entered with their shinobi sandals on — Mama doesn’t like it when someone comes in wearing their shinobi sandals inside their home.

A shinobi tries to approach her again, most likely the person assigned to look after her for now because Mama and Papa are gone. They’re not inside the house where they should be at this hour. Their shoes were on the foyer but they weren't inside the house. Why, where, how?

“Himawari-sama…”

But Himawari could tell that they’re not gone. They’re still here, somewhere she doesn’t know, can’t see, don’t hear, won’t process. They’re not gone.

She needs to find them. 

Her Byakugan is strong, her grandpa had said. 

The best he’s seen for a long time.

Himawari can also be strong.

She needs to be strong. She needs to find her Mama and Papa. Need to protect them like her uncle did —

Himawari steps back when the shinobi tries to grab her shoulder. Probably attempting to snap her out of it, to explain to her in more kind words about what happened. But they don’t know. Himawari knows they don’t know because even she doesn’t know.

She needs to find her big brothers. If Himawari doesn’t know what to do, surely one of them would know. They won’t leave too, will they? They can’t.

“I… Can I get some air? Please?” Himawari pleads, letting go of the bread and tea that Mama had asked her to buy. Maybe she should’ve placed it in the kitchen, Mama wouldn’t like it if Himawari mishandles food.

But that’s okay. Himawari can always just apologise and repent for the mistake however long it takes. Any punishment will be welcome.

If she finds them, then tomorrow she will wake up to another blessed morning. She will wake up and will thank the heaven and the earth that she got to wake up with a house full of her favourite people.

The shinobi watches as Himawari runs out of the house, not registering the sting of uneven pavements hitting her bare feet because she forgot to wear her sandals in her haste to get away from the empty house.

Emotions high and running, her Byakugan wills itself to life as she looks for the signature of her big brothers. She ended up deep in a forest that would have a path that leads outside the village — her big brother had shown this secret to her once as a warning. He never expected for Himawari to go against his words someday, but she would just apologise tomorrow.

She is the daughter of the strongest shinobi alive. She is the daughter of the Hyuuga Princess. She is also the little sister to the best big brother in the world. Himawari will apologise to everyone when tomorrow comes.

But then there was a flash so bright Himawari stumbled in her run. She’s not used to running. She’s not yet a shinobi. She’s still not strong, not enough—

Something tore in front of her. Something only her Byakugan could see amidst that sudden flash —

And then she fell to the ground. She kept falling 

And falling

And fell.

“The second-years lost! And I even helped Kusakabe motivate his students — how can he let this happen, Shoko?”

25-year-old Gojo Satoru spreads his wide limbs in one of Shoko’s uncomfortable chairs as he recounts the conclusion of the Sister-School Goodwill Event. Shoko really doesn’t give a damn about the result, as long as the whole thing ended early and she was able to get back to her office and take a smoke.

Day 1 was won by the Kyoto School, then to add more salt to that, Day 2 also landed in Kyoto’s win embarrassingly. Seriously, does Kusakabe even train his students enough? They weren’t like that when they were still in Satoru’s care!

“Yeah, Utahime wouldn’t stop talking about it.” Shoko commented, to which Satoru rolled his eyes from behind his bandage eye cover. “Personally, at least they knew to surrender early before they sustained worse injuries. Makes my job easier.”

“That’s the thing!” Satoru stressed, her hands extending widely in the air, “I didn’t teach them to be a pussy. Kusakabe no doubt instilled in their brain about the best scenarios to run away from!”

“You think it’s best for them to keep fighting despite the clear disadvantage?” Shoko gave him a judgemental quirk of a brow.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” Satoru hisses at her playfully, “I raised those kids. I know they’d have won those fights if they didn’t let those Kyoto students scare them from the get-go.”

“Take it up to Kusakabe, then.” Shoko shrugs her shoulders, putting out her cig and moving away from the window where she’d been standing. She returned to her desk, sitting down in front of the many medical reports she’ll need to sort out.

“Bah, don’t wanna. It’s not fun messing with that guy anymore.” Satoru shakes his head, standing up from his chair and taking Shoko’s place before the window. He’s not gonna smoke, though. “He’s not reacting to my jokes anymore, it’s so not fun. At least Utahime still reacts uniquely each time. Now that’s fun. Kekekeke.”

Not defending her dear friend’s honour, Shoko let out a laugh. “That, she does.” 

“You know, Utahime was tasked with giving a speech on Day 1, right?” Satoru snickered at the memory immediately, not even finishing the story yet. “You weren’t there, but she prepared a script for it and I took it before she went in front! She didn’t even notice!” 

“That’s so mean, Gojo.” The grin remained on Shoko's face despite her words. Now categorising the papers on her desk properly. “Should’ve seen that for myself. How did it go?”

“She was beet red as always!” Satoru wheezed out, laughing. “The students definitely caught on ‘cuz they were—”

When Shoko registered that Satoru didn’t stop his words to laugh, she looked up from her desk to see him staring out the window as if sensing something.

“Gojo?” Shoko called out, propping her elbow on the desk and held her face with her palm. “What is it now?”

“Hmm…” Satoru brought his hand up, squeezing his cheeks in thought. He still hadn’t taken his eye-bandage off, so it probably isn’t something so serious. “There was a split-second shift. Didn’t seem to cause any residual, though. Should I check?”

“Why the hell are you asking me?” Shoko let out a sigh. “If the shift bothered you so much, maybe you should check. Might find something interesting — might even be a special-grade curse or something.”

“Doesn’t seem to be, though…” Satoru tilts his head in contemplation before snapping back straight, voice turning jovial again. “But you’re right! I can’t tell what it is so I must check! Whatever it is, I’ll be able to deal with it swiftly anyway. See ‘ya, Shoko!”

“Thank god.” Shoko muttered, but Satoru had already teleported himself away before she could finish the mantra.

˚‧｡⋆🧿⋆｡‧˚

Satoru appeared in the forest a few kilometres away from the barrier of Jujutsu Tech. There weren’t any kind of cursed spirits nearby, the ones that Satoru could spot were seemingly edging away from the area of Satoru’s interest.

Weird thing is, they weren’t even paying attention to the strongest sorcerer in the area! For the first time in a while, Satoru was not the sole person in the middle of a parted ocean of curses, no. Instead, every cursed spirit in the vicinity was trying to slink away from a small figure on the ground a few steps away from Satoru.

The sight of a little girl unconscious in the middle of the forest already worried Satoru. That was one thing. It’s another to realise why the curses were edging away from the girl more than they did with Satoru.

The little girl was a beacon of cursed energy, like a bonfire who just kept burning and burning non-stop as the smoke of a weirdly positive energy mixed like gas to wood. There’s so much of both at the same time that the curses can’t even determine whether it’s safe to consume any of the energy.

Satoru took off the bandages around his eyes completely, taking a full look at the girl with all his Six-Eyed glory and crouching next to her.

She was uncomfortably front slamming on the ground as though she had tripped. She wore a yellow dress hoodie with black leggings and barefooted. There’s blisters on her reddened feet, no doubt from running in the forest with no shoes on. Her hair was a bob of thick dark hair, bangs framing her round face. There are symmetrical dual lines on both sides of her cheeks — birthmarks or scars? It’s cute, actually. Makes her look like a cat.

At least she seemed to be breathing. Just unconscious. 

But what’s a little girl doing alone this deep into the forest? Her clothes seem to be fully intact. Her only problem is really just the barefooted feets. Did she run away from something? Somewhere?

Welp, weird cursed energy aside, this chibi needs some instant check-up from their resident witch-doctor!

With the right amount of Blue used to assist her form, he held onto the hood of her top and picked her up, careful not to choke her. Wow, she really does look like a cat.

He looked around, double checking the area for anything that the girl might’ve dropped somewhere but found none. Once he’s done with that, he teleports back to Shoko’s office holding out the little girl her way.

“Shoko! Look what I found!”

Shoko looked up only for a quick look from her medical reports, an unlit cigarette on her lips. She dropped it when taking a double take, mouth hanging a jar at the sight of her friend’s preposterous way of holding the kid.

“What the fuck, Gojo— are you stupid?!” Shoko stood up, glaring at him. “Put her down!”

Satoru did so while humming cheerily, placing the unconscious kid to her medical table as it was the one Shoko pointed to. In her defence, it was the closest thing.

“I thought you went to check that weird shift?” Shoko scrubbed a palm over her face with a heavy sigh. “Why in the world did you come back holding a little girl by her scruff? Huh?”

“Well, yeah. I did go to the place where I felt the shift on. Found this girl in the middle of it, front-facing the ground unconscious.” Satoru poked at the girl’s cheek who didn’t stir from the touch. Nonetheless, Shoko swatted his hands away as she checked for the girl’s vitals. “The curses around her were scared shitless and can’t even go near such a vulnerable target ‘cuz of how dense her cursed energy is — which is wayy too many for a little girl like her.”

Shoko opened the girl’s eyes, stopping at the sight of very clear blue orbs. She had to look back at her friend, ethereal blue also looking closely, just to compare before she went back and flashed a light to her. Her iris shrunk and dilated, reacting as normal, though she still did not stir awake.

She checked the girl for more, checking her ears, her mouth, feeling her head for any kind of injury. She healed her blistered feet in quick seconds, writing everything on her medical report paper. Identifying information empty.

Satoru stood close, still looking at the kid’s face. She had one of those faces, you know? The kind that looks absolutely sweet and nice and soft. Contrary to his theories on how she ended up in that mountain, she actually looks relatively healthy and free of callouses or other injuries that would suggest that she tried to survive with all her might.

“Her laceration suggests cuts from rocks and splintered woods, other than that, she seems normal and healthy.” Shoko said after double-checking everything. She tapped the end of her pen on the board as she stared at him. “Be honest, is she related to you?”

Satoru tilts his head at the weird question. “Never seen her my entire life.”

“You’re sure?” Shoko squints at him, skeptical. 

Seriously, why is she even doubting him? What is she expecting him to say?

“Deadass 100%.”

“You wouldn’t mind if I took some blood from her to test?” Shoko asked again, staring at him with a dare as she went and grabbed an unused needle for sucking blood. He shuddered at the sight of it despite himself.

“Seriously, why do you have to ask me for that? Isn’t that part of your protocol or something?” Satoru stops and actually tries to think about it. “No, wait, she’s a minor. Would that even be legal?”

“You didn’t seem to care about any of the legality of bringing her here in my office unceremoniously.” Shoko shot him a deadpanned look as she grabbed an alcohol and cottons this time. “That’s considered kidnapping, if you didn’t know. Completely illegal.”

“Then I’d defend myself by saying that she was in an unsafe location. Thus, this was simply me giving her a hand at re-locating to a safe place. I even sent her straight to a doctor!” Satoru preened proudly, boasting at his chest held high. “I’m such a good samaritan, am I right?”

“A satan, more like.” Shoko grumbled unkindly as she took blood from the unconscious kid, ignoring when Satoru let out a squawk at the slander. She cleaned up the little girl’s arm after, placing a clean cotton over the pricked wound.

As Shoko put the blood on separate vials for testing, she explained the reason she asked. It’s been at the end of her tongue ever since the two of them appeared.

“I asked because of how familiar her cursed energy is, actually. Reminds me of when we were in first-years. You were still shit at controlling your cursed energy back then. It was like staring at a burning man.”

Satoru scrunched his nose at the example she used. She’s so brutal that it’s a wonder why she’s still a doctor with all that mouth.

“I noticed that too but obviously, I was nicer than you. I thought of her as a bonfire with gas adding in and making the fire of cursed energy expand more.”

Shoko did not care for Satoru’s analogy, which, rude. Satoru even took the initiative to change some original wording and made it sound more coherent outside his brain. No one appreciates Satoru’s efforts anymore!

“And if she were related to me, don’t you think I would know about her sooner?” Satoru said, pulling a chair closer to the table and sitting down on it as he brandished out his phone. “When do you think she’ll wake up?”

“In a few hours or so.” Shoko calculates, placing a palm over the girl’s forehead to confirm. “She doesn’t have any brain or head injury. She likely just passed out due to exhaustion or maybe even through extreme stress.”

Shoko stands up, starting to walk away as Satoru types away at his phone. 

“She’ll be fine with answering questions, right?” Satoru hummed, grinning as he sent out his last message to a stressed Ichiji and closed his phone. “Just cleared my schedule out. It’s not a busy season anymore, anyway.”

“Yaga will definitely storm this place soon.” Shoko sighs heavily, already expecting the shouting to happen inside her very office.

Satoru just waved off her words, taking out the bandages he hid in his pockets. “That’s just normal Yaga. He must’ve felt her presence enter through with me too since he’s familiar with my cursed energy. The others would’ve just thought it was mine.”

“Hnm…”

He was about to start wrapping back the bandage around his eyes, but then the little girl squirmed. 

Huh. Did the hours pass by without them noticing?

Having the same line of thought as him, Shoko checked the time on her own phone. It confirmed that it’s only been 20 minutes since Satoru brought the girl to her office.

“…papa…”

Shoko and Satoru met each other’s gaze for a moment, the latter forgoing his attempt of bandaging his eyes for now to keep a close eye on the little girl’s state.

Her eyes squinted open, hissing at the light coming from the open window and tilting her head away from the source. Satoru had been on the other side, which made their eyes meet — vivid blue meeting ethereal ones.

In her haze, the girl’s form relaxed at the sight of his eyes. “…Papa?”

Shoko’s eyebrow curled up at that, giving Satoru a silent question to which he just gave a shrug before plastering a smile on his face and regarded the girl.

“Definitely not him, sorry kid~” Satoru propped an elbow by his knee and leaned his chin on a closed fist, meeting the girl’s current level. “I found you alone in the forest, do you remember how you got there?”

The girl slowly tried to sit up, propping up by her elbows and Shoko assisted her in the act.

“I was… looking. Looking for… someone?” Her face  scrunched as she tried to think. 

“Looking for your dad?”

“No, I… it’s just… I think Papa is gone. Mama, too.” Her lips quivered, her hands clenching at the end of her yellow hoodie. “But I can… I wanted to search for them. I just… I just needed someone’s help.”

“Hmm….” Satoru meets the girl’s gaze. She’s not at all intimidated by his eyes, she’s seemingly even drawn to it. “What’s your name?”

The answer came easy. “… Himawari.”

“That’s a pretty name. It suits you!” Satoru smiles, Shoko writes down the name on her chart and signals at him to continue. “What about your last name?”

Himawari opened her mouth, about to answer but hesitated. Her brows furrowed in concentration, trying to say something again, but failed.

“I don’t… know.”

“Don’t know or can’t remember?” Satoru tilts his head.

Himawari shakes her head, unsure herself. “I don’t know…”

˚‧｡⋆🌻⋆｡‧˚

Himawari is now sitting up on one side of the metal table, her feet swaying front and back as the two adults around her assessed her.

“How could she have possibly gotten amnesia from? When I found her, it only looked like she tripped and exhaustion caught up to her.”

Gojo Satoru, as he had introduced himself to her, is a tall man with really pretty white hair and even prettier blue eyes. Unfortunately, he had covered it up with bandages already.

The eyes brought familiarity to Himawari's chest. Everything about the man’s behavior reminds Himawari of something. A memory of someone locked deep in her mind.

“Could be from the trauma of losing her parents suddenly.” Ieiri Shoko replied, her hand on Himawari’s head while a strange energy assessed her head. The woman clicked her tongue when she found nothing, “Still nothing. Usually, even the slightest bit of trauma gives off cursed energy. I’m finding none from her at all. She’s cleared off of any mental conditions.”

“Literally the reason why I’m so confused.” Gojo sighed and turned back to Himawari. “You really can’t remember anything? Not even your father’s name or anyone from where you came from?”

Himawari tries to recall again, but can’t find a face. She could only recall sensations of her memories, of how blue Papa’s eyes were and how pretty her Mama’s are. A house filled with blessing, but Himawari can’t recall any name or face of the people she cherishes.

Heavily, she answered. “No… I only remember running out of the empty house when I realised they were gone.. Maybe I shouldn’t have run away so suddenly.”

A large palm landed on her head, the weight of it nudged her mind away from self-deprecating thoughts.

“While I agree that you shouldn’t have run out alone, I’m sure it was only because you were scared.” Gojo’s hand was warm, as was everything else about the man. Being in his presence soothes Himawari’s worries like… like Papa does. He crouched down again to meet her level. “Were you scared something bad happened to your Mom and Dad?”

To his surprise, Himawari shook her head no.

“Papa is strong.” Finally, a genuine smile appeared from Hinawari’s expression that had the two adults starring. “Papa is the strongest, so I’m not worried! He’ll always protect everyone, so I’m sure he’s protecting Mama with him. I just… want to make sure they’ll get home soon.”

“‘The Strongest,’ huh…” Gojo huffed, standing to his full height while still looking at Himawari’s direction. It’s hard to tell what expression he’s wearing with those bandages covering his eyes. Himawari wants to see those sky-filled eyes again.

On her desk, Ieiri stared pointedly at Gojo. “Can I say something?”

“You’ve used up all your defense time! Adjourned!” Gojo turned to her, tongue sticking out to which Ieiri retaliated by throwing a pen his way.

Himawari’s eyes widened when the pen slowed to a stop in front of Gojo. The pen stayed suspended until he grabbed it with his hand. “Real mature, Shoko. What if you accidentally hit our dear Himawari-chan, hm?”

“As if you’d allow that to happen.” Ieiri rolled her eyes.

It was then that the door to the room opened and Himawari saw a tanned man in glasses enter to inspect the room. Shaded eyes landed on her instantly.

˚‧｡⋆🧿⋆｡‧˚

“I thought I felt an unknown energy enter the premises.” Masamichi pinches the middle of his brows, closing the door behind him with a click. “Who was it? Who snuck a kid in school?”

Shoko immediately points to Satoru’s way and to which he even raised his hands proudly.

“Found her a few kilometres away from the school’s barrier, sir, yes, sir!”

“Satoru!” 

“In his defence, the kid was unconscious and had bruised feet when he found her.” Shoko shrugged her shoulders. “Also, can’t you see the amount of cursed energy she has? Curses would swarm around her if left unchecked.”

Himawari visibly scrunches her nose at the words she used, clearly lost to its meanings.

“You should’ve brought this up to me as soon as you dropped her.” Masamichi massages his temples. “So? What else do I need to know?”

“Amnesiac for some unknown reason. Can’t remember names and faces except for her own first name.” Shoko handed him the chart she had of Himawari, complete with notes and assessments.

“I’m Himawari. I’m sorry for intruding suddenly.” Himawari bows her head in greeting, hands twindling with each other.

Masamichi sighs, approaching the girl. “I’m Masamichi Yaga. I’m the principal of the school you’re currently at, right now. Feel free to call me however you’re comfortable with.”

Himawari tilts her head, eyes closing in ponder. It only took her a few seconds until she opened her eyes with a genuine smile. “Micchan!”

Satoru was the first to react, “Wow, good one, Himawari-chan! You’re good at giving nicknames, aren’t ‘ya?” He said as he lightly ruffled her head to which she leaned into, grinning.

“Papa said so, too!”

Satoru cooed at her cuteness. Generally, he never liked dealing with kids because of how snotty and annoying they can be with their tantrums. But Himawari is clearly none of that!

She’s such a well behaved child, maybe too well behaved to the point of having no guard up at all! Who knows where she’ll end up if Satoru hadn’t sensed her?

He ignored the way Masamichi and Shoko met each other’s stare, the latter extending her palm as if presenting exhibit A their way. He was too busy inspecting Himawari’s cheeks, she doesn’t seem to mind it at all! Probably used with people squishing it for being such a good girl.

Masamichi turns to Satoru with an expectant air, “Satoru, is there anything you feel the need to tell me?”

Satoru stops the hands that had been squishing Himawari’s soft cheeks and gives the older man a dubious stare. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“… Nevermind.” Masamichi let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head off of ridiculous thoughts. “So? How are you gonna take care of her? Do you have everything prepared?”

“Me? Why me? I’m just a good messenger here!” Satoru retorted, aghast. “I’m already taking care of two brats myself! You want me to add another one to the equation???”

“You’re not even that present. You just show up once every week or two to hand them their hefty allowance and bounce.” Shoko measured him with a stare. “Not that I fault you for it. You have your own hell of a schedule, but at least you’re able to provide for them.”

“You make me sound like an absent father.” Satoru grumbles, crossing his arms with a huff. “For the record, I still take them out for birthdays and other special occasions! Maybe even random ones when they specifically ask for it and when I’m in the mood for sightseeing!”

“I didn’t say that, we don’t need to antagonise your character that much for people to steer clear off you.” Shoko rolls her eyes. “You have the means to hire a full time nanny, anyway.”

“Tsumiki was uncomfortable with that idea, so I compromised with a hired nanny to just clean on set schedules. She prefers to be hands on despite being a kid herself.” Satoru scratches her head at the reminder. “And I certainly don’t want to add another toddler at her feet. She’s gonna be attending middle school soon.”

“I’m 10!” Himawari balks out after hearing the word toddler.

“Oh, you are? I couldn’t tell with how small you are.” Satoru joked with a snicker, patting her head as she huffed. “Aren’t sunflowers supposed to be so tall?”

“Unfortunately, Satoru. You’re the only candidate with the credentials to show for the task.” Masamichi returns to the topic. “With how high her cursed energy is, the higher ups will eventually get a wind of her existence and will try to figure out if she’ll end up having a very useful technique.”

“Ugh. if you say it like that…” Satoru’s mood sours and Himawari picks it up despite having hidden it in a mirthful tone. “3 kids, seriously? How can I even juggle that around into my already busy schedule?”

“I’ll make sure to lessen the mission you get weekly.”

Satoru waves him off, “You’ve tried that already and it didn’t work. The higher ups like to work me to the bone, everyone knows that. Can’t even sleep in my bed at the end of any day.”

Himawari looks between each of them as they bounce off suggestions to assist Satoru one after another.

Being the core subject at hand, she shouldn’t be present when talking about the problems that would arise when taking care of her.

But Himawari showed no signs of being upset over the increasing number of suggestions being turned down. In fact, she seemed to be more resigned to it as if already used to the same kind of situation.

“You must be really strong, Satochan.”

Himawari’s voice halted their conversations, belatedly remembering that she was still present in the room and had the capacity to understand their words to some degree.

“Satochan? I like that, I approve!” Satoru grins at her with a thumbs up. “And yes! Strongest man alive, at your service!”

Himawari giggles at his antics. “People called Papa the same words, too. He’s the Strongest! Papa is known by everyone because he saved the world and brought peace! So Papa is always busy taking care of everything because everyone is relying on him.”

She didn’t notice the incredulous looks everyone gave to the white-haired man. She was too busy focusing on swaying her feet in the open air.

“He’s not always at home because of that. He leaves early and comes home too late and too tired to play with Himawari. But that’s fine too because I’m thankful he still comes home for us.” Himawari smiles, letting herself bask in that warm, faceless memory that cradles her chest. She looks up with a bright smile filled with genuine understanding. “Waking up everyday is a blessing, thanks to him always protecting everyone! I’m sure everyone feels the same way with you, too, Satochan. I know I am.”

It's truly a wonder how a child could ever be so innocent. Even more so for someone like Himawari to understand so much, having felt disappointment herself, and still feel genuine appreciation for a father who would prioritise the masses to his own family.

Looking at it this way, Satoru wouldn’t prefer that. Why care so much for the quantity when clearly, the quality it compares to is so, so much better in comparison? Who wouldn’t want to come home and be greeted by that adoring expression?

“What I’m saying is, I wouldn’t mind if you won’t be around much to play with me, Satochan.” Himawari continues, now fiddling with her hands again, suddenly feeling conscious when no one spoke after her. “I’m sure my situation made everything complicated. I’m sorry I can’t help with my incomplete memories. So please don’t sacrifice your time at my expense. If it means Satochan can help lots of people, I won’t mind at all!”

Suddenly, Himawari found herself lifted up into the air and she let out a surprised squeal.

“Woah!”

Satoru held her up, bandage taken off as the magnificent blue orbs locked with her own. Satoru wore a bright expression of his own, giddy on the edges as fascination seeps into his chest.

“Is this young lady asking for this lowly knight’s services for help~?”

Himawari let out a ton of giggles, arms swaying as she’s effortlessly lifted into the air.

“No way someone this strong is but a lowly knight! A re-evaluation is needed for someone worthy to be called the Strongest!”

Satoru cooed, bringing the little girl to his chest who didn’t question anything and simply welcomed the embrace. 

“Himawari-chan is so cute~ Angels like Himawari deserve everything in the world!”

“Himawari doesn’t need everything!” She preens, proud of herself. “Himawari is already blessed by being the Strongest’s daughter!”

“Yes, yes! This lady is so humble and kind~” Satoru burrows her face deep into her dark locks, the sensation of it bringing up familiar memories to each other. “I shall help this princess recover all her missing memories and bring her home!”

Himawari pushed lightly to put space between them. Making her palm straight and land it on each of Satoru’s shoulders one at a time.

“I dub thee— Sir Knight!”

As the two got lost to their own random world, the two adults stared at the sidelines, squinting at the familiar yet unfamiliar display.

“Can I say it?” Masamichi asks cryptically. They don’t need to meet each other’s gaze to understand the question.

“I’ve been asking the same thing since I saw her.” Shoko replied tiredly.

“You think you can check? Just in case?” But then Masamichi lets out a ragged breath, stuttering at the incredulity of what he’s asking. “Goddamnit. What am I saying? Of course it’s impossible!”

“This is Gojo we’re talking about. Nothing is impossible for that monster.” Shoko shakes her head, massaging her temple. “We don’t have his blood samples around, anyway. We can’t check it even if we want to open that cursed box of questions.”

A blessed child, huh?