Transmigrated As Satoru's Father

As Seijuro and Kaori settled into their seats, the tension between them was palpable. Kaori tapped her fingers rhythmically on the wooden table, sneaking glances at Seijuro, who seemed unnervingly calm considering the chaos they had just escaped.

"Alright," Kaori snapped, breaking the silence. "Spill it. What the hell was that blob thing? And who the hell was that creepy guy with stitches? What's going on?"

Seijuro leaned back in his chair, his crimson eyes studying her carefully. "Okay," he began, his voice steady but serious. "But I need you to stay calm. What I'm about to tell you will sound... crazy."

Kaori raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Try me. After what I've seen today, I don't think anything can surprise me anymore."

"Fair enough." Seijuro leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Those things you saw? They're called cursed spirits. They're physical manifestations of negative human emotions—fear, anger, hatred. When enough energy builds up in one place, it takes shape and becomes dangerous."

Kaori frowned, her mind flashing to the toxic atmosphere at her workplace and the simmering frustration she'd felt earlier that day. "So... what? You're telling me that blob was made out of bad vibes?"

"It's not as simple as 'bad vibes,'" Seijuro replied, his tone firm but patient. "Cursed energy is real, and it's something every human produces—whether they know it or not. It's the byproduct of negative emotions. Most people can't see it or the spirits it creates, but in places full of negativity—like your workplace—it can attract and strengthen cursed spirits over time."

Kaori's skepticism faltered as she connected the dots. "You're saying... my awful job contributed to that thing?"

"Not directly," Seijuro clarified, shaking his head. "It takes a huge amount of cursed energy to form a spirit that powerful. But places with concentrated negativity act like magnets. They attract and amplify spirits that are already lingering nearby."

Kaori crossed her arms, trying to suppress a shiver. "And that stitched guy? He didn't look like some blob of bad juju."

Seijuro's expression darkened. "He's not just any cursed spirit. His name is Mahito. He's a special-grade cursed spirit with intelligence—and a particularly horrifying ability. He can manipulate the shape of people's souls, twisting their bodies into whatever grotesque form he wants."

Kaori paled. "Manipulate souls? That's... sick."

"It is," Seijuro admitted grimly. "That's why people like me exist. We're called jujutsu sorcerers. It's our job to exorcise cursed spirits and protect people from them."

"Exorcise?" Kaori echoed, her eyebrows knitting together. "What are you, some kind of priest?"

Seijuro smirked faintly. "Not quite. We don't chant prayers or wave around holy water. We fight using cursed energy. Jujutsu sorcerers are trained to harness their negative emotions and turn them into cursed techniques—abilities designed to combat these spirits."

Kaori leaned forward, her interest piqued despite herself. "Cursed techniques? Like superpowers?"

"Sort of," Seijuro replied. "But it's not as fun as it sounds. Cursed energy is volatile and takes years of training to control properly. One mistake, and you're as good as dead."

Kaori frowned, processing his explanation. "And the spirits? Are they all as bad as that blob?"

"No," Seijuro said. "Cursed spirits vary in strength. They're ranked from Grade 4, the weakest, to Grade 1, which are exceptionally dangerous. Above that are the special grades, like Mahito. They're on a completely different level."

Kaori exhaled, leaning back in her chair. "This is... a lot to process."

"I know," Seijuro said softly. "But it's important you understand. What happened today wasn't random. Mahito is dangerous, and he targeted you for a reason."

Kaori's eyes narrowed. "Why me?"

Seijuro hesitated. He didn't want to mention Kenjaku or her potential connection to Yuuji yet. "Let's just say you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. For now, it's safer if you stick close to me."

Kaori's jaw dropped. "Stick close to you? Heck no! What do you think this is, some kind of action movie?!"

Seijuro sighed, rubbing his temples. "Miss Kurosaki, I'm offering you protection. This isn't about me—it's about keeping you alive."

Kaori crossed her arms defiantly. "I don't need some random white-haired weirdo protecting me! I can handle myself!"

Seijuro stared at her, deadpan. "You bit me five minutes ago because I was trying to help you."

Kaori blushed, her indignation faltering. "That... was different."

"Right." Seijuro sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, I'm not going to argue with you. Just know that Mahito won't stop until he gets what he wants. You need someone who knows what they're doing, and right now, that's me."

Kaori hesitated, looking away. Despite her stubbornness, she could sense the seriousness in his tone. "Fine," she muttered. "But don't think I trust you completely."

"Noted," Seijuro replied dryly, leaning back in his chair. 'This woman is going to be a handful.' He thought.

"Uhm, here are your orders," Jin said hesitantly, his voice tinged with an edge of nervousness.

Seijuro and Kaori turned to see Jin approaching their table, balancing a tray with their food. His polite smile faltered for a moment before he quickly composed himself.

"Ah, thanks!" Seijuro said cheerfully.

Jin nodded and carefully placed the dishes on the table. "Enjoy your meal, customers!" he said, his tone overly formal as he turned to walk back to the counter.

However, just as Jin turned around, Seijuro noticed something hovering near him—a grotesque cursed spirit that resembled a mutated fly, its bulbous eyes gleaming as its spindly legs twitched in the air.

'How come I didn't notice that cursed spirit earlier?' Seijuro thought, narrowing his eyes. 'Is it because it's so weak? A Grade 4 at best? But... the way Jin stopped—does he see it too?'

The cursed spirit buzzed menacingly, its distorted voice rasping, "I'm...kind...wet...running down my va****!"

Seijuro's lips twitched in annoyance. 'What a vulgar little pest,' he thought. His gaze shifted to Jin, who was now sidestepping awkwardly away from the cursed spirit, his face pale and his movements stiff.

"Is that... a cursed spirit?" Kaori asked, her voice a mix of disgust and curiosity as she finally noticed the creature.

Seijuro nodded. "Yeah, but it's harmless. A Grade 4—it's weak enough that even an untrained person could probably handle it with the right tools."

Kaori wrinkled her nose. "It looks disgusting."

Seijuro's focus, however, was on Jin. The man's shoulders were trembling slightly as he stood behind the counter, clearly aware of the cursed spirit's presence. 'He can definitely see it,' Seijuro thought. 'This might be my chance to talk to him.'

Seijuro stood up, catching Kaori's attention. "Where are you going?" she asked, her brow furrowing.

"Just going to have a little chat," Seijuro replied casually, his crimson eyes fixed on Jin as he strode toward the counter.

Jin noticed him approaching and quickly straightened up, forcing a polite smile. "C-Customer-sama, how may I help you?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Seijuro smirked faintly and pointed directly at the cursed spirit. "I'm just wondering... do you see that?"

Jin's eyes widened, his facade of composure cracking. "Y-Yeah..." he admitted reluctantly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seijuro's smirk widened slightly as he leaned closer, his tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "How about you let me explain what it is you're seeing?"

Jin blinked, glancing nervously between Seijuro and the cursed spirit. Despite his apprehension, curiosity sparked in his eyes. "...Alright."

Seijuro straightened up, his expression growing serious. "Good. This might take a while, but it's important."

Kaori watched the scene unfold from their table, her curiosity piqued. "What's he up to now...?" she muttered under her breath, siping her coffee.

Jin hesitantly walked over to the table where Kaori was seated and settled into the chair beside her. He gave her a polite smile. "Uhm, excuse me, Miss..."

"It's Kurosaki," Kaori replied, her tone curt but softening slightly when she caught his warm gaze.

Her cheeks flushed lightly as she turned her head away, pretending to focus on the coffee in front of her. 'Why am I feeling like this toward him?' she thought, pressing a hand lightly to her chest as her heart gave a small flutter.

Kaori was confused. Seijuro was equally handsome—objectively more so, even—but something about Jin's demeanor struck a chord. He seemed genuine, unassuming, and approachable. There was a kindness in his demeanor that disarmed her in a way Seijuro's intensity never could.

Seijuro noticed the subtle blush on Kaori's face and inwardly smirked. 'Well, isn't that convenient?' he thought, amused. Jin's calm presence and good nature were clearly having an effect on her.

'It seems these two are naturally drawn to each other,' Seijuro mused. 'Good. This makes my job easier.'

He sat down in the chair directly across from them, a relaxed smile on his face. "Alright, now that we're all here, let's get into it."

Kaori snapped out of her thoughts, giving Seijuro a questioning look. Jin also turned his attention toward him, though he still looked uneasy.

Seijuro cleared his throat and began explaining everything—about cursed spirits, jujutsu sorcerers, and the world unseen by most people. He recounted the same points he'd shared with Kaori earlier but tailored his explanation for Jin, adding more emphasis on the potential danger surrounding cursed spirits.

By the time Seijuro finished, Jin's eyes were wide, and he leaned back slightly in his chair. "That's... a lot to take in," Jin admitted, his voice quiet but steady.

Kaori nodded in agreement, crossing her arms. "Yeah, tell me about it. This day has been... exhausting."

Jin glanced at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that," he said gently, his tone full of genuine concern. "It sounds terrifying."

Kaori's blush deepened slightly as she waved off his concern. "I-it's fine. I mean, I'm still alive, thanks to..." She trailed off, gesturing vaguely toward Seijuro, though her gaze lingered on Jin.

Seijuro smirked knowingly, leaning back in his chair. "Well, I'm just glad we're all on the same page now. The important thing is that you both stay safe and out of trouble. This isn't something to take lightly."

Jin nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. Thank you for explaining all of this... even if it's hard to believe."

"It's a lot, I know," Seijuro said, his tone softening slightly. "But trust me, the more you understand, the better you'll be able to handle what's coming."

Kaori glanced at Jin, who seemed lost in thought, then back at Seijuro. Her earlier skepticism was beginning to wane, replaced by a growing sense of trust.

Seijuro smirked inwardly again. 'These two are already connecting. Things are moving faster than I expected.' He glanced out the café window, his mind already plotting his next steps.

The vulgar cursed spirit continued its bizarre rant.

"Papi suck my p*****, GAWK! GAWK! GAWK! GAWK! GAWK!"1

All three turned toward the cursed spirit, their expressions a mix of disbelief and disgust.

"Vulgar..." Jin muttered, his brows furrowed in mild embarrassment.

Kaori crossed her arms, nodding. "Gross..."

Seijuro stood up from his seat, a glint of determination in his eyes. "This is the perfect opportunity," he muttered under his breath.

Jin and Kaori watched as Seijuro approached the cursed spirit. His calm and confident demeanor immediately drew their attention.

"What are you doing?" Kaori asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

Seijuro turned his head slightly toward them, smirking. "Teaching you how a jujutsu sorcerer exorcises a cursed spirit."

He stopped a few feet away from the vulgar blob-like creature. Its many eyes rolled around in its misshapen head as it noticed Seijuro.

"Ohhh, you want a taste too, papi? GAWK! GAWK!" it cackled, its deformed arms twitching erratically.

Seijuro ignored its grotesque taunts and extended his right hand. A faint, blue glow began to emanate from it, growing brighter and more concentrated with each passing second. The cursed energy formed into a crackling aura around his hand, its intensity casting an otherworldly light in the dim café.

"This," Seijuro said, his voice calm yet authoritative, "is cursed energy. By focusing and manipulating it, sorcerers like me can exorcise cursed spirits."

The cursed spirit began to twitch, sensing danger as Seijuro's hand pulsed with raw energy.

"Wait, wait, wait—don't hurt me, papi! I was just jokin'!" it screeched, backing away.

Seijuro smirked. "Too late."

With a swift, fluid motion, Seijuro brought his glowing hand down in a chopping motion. The blue energy surged as his hand connected with the cursed spirit, slicing through it effortlessly. The cursed energy caused the creature to disintegrate into nothingness, leaving behind a faint shimmer in the air.

Jin and Kaori stared, wide-eyed, as the cursed spirit vanished before their eyes.

"Whoa..." Jin muttered, his voice filled with awe. "That was... incredible."

Kaori blinked, her jaw slightly slack. "So that's how you deal with those things?"

Seijuro turned back to them, brushing off his hands as if he had just completed a minor chore. "That's one way, yes. Each sorcerer has their own technique, but the basics are the same. You channel cursed energy to overpower and destroy the spirit."

"That's... really something," Jin said, still processing what he had just witnessed.

Kaori crossed her arms, frowning slightly. "I guess that's useful, but... how do you even learn to do something like that?"

"Training and experience," Seijuro replied with a shrug. "A lot of trial and error. But for now, just leave the exorcising to people like me."

Kaori sighed. "I guess I'll have to..." She glanced at Jin, who seemed thoughtful. "You're not thinking of trying that yourself, are you?"

Jin chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I think I'll leave it to the professionals."

Seijuro smirked, satisfied. "Smart choice." He returned to the table, his mind already planning how to involve them further without overwhelming them.

Jin leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowed with concern. "So... since I can see those things, how am I supposed to live a normal life now? Pretend none of this exists?"

Seijuro stroked his chin thoughtfully, considering how to approach the situation. "For now, Jin, it's the same advice I gave to Kaori: stick close to me. As long as you're around a jujutsu sorcerer, you'll be safer than if you were out there on your own."

Jin sighed heavily, running a hand through his light pink hair. "I've got a café to run, Seijuro-san. I can't just drop everything to follow you around."

Seijuro smirked faintly. "I'm not saying you need to abandon your life. I'll work on a plan to ensure both of you stay safe. But until then, you need to stay vigilant, especially since you can see cursed spirits. They'll notice you too."

Kaori frowned, glancing at Jin. "Wait, does that mean those things are going to keep coming after us?"

Seijuro nodded solemnly. "It's a possibility. People who can see cursed spirits tend to attract their attention. It's like carrying a light in the dark—everything around you is drawn to it."

Jin sighed again, his face filled with unease. "So, what do we do if one of those things shows up? I'm no sorcerer, and I doubt Kaori is either."

"You won't need to fight," Seijuro said firmly. "If anything happens, call me immediately. I'll take care of it. In the meantime..." He leaned forward, his crimson eyes locking onto Jin's. "Stay out of dark, desolate areas, and don't let negative emotions consume you. Those are the breeding grounds for cursed spirits."

Jin nodded slowly, his expression grim but determined. "Alright. If that's what it takes to keep this place and everyone safe, I'll do it."

Kaori glanced at Seijuro, still unsure but slightly reassured by his calm demeanor. "So, you're like our guardian or something now?"

Seijuro chuckled lightly. "You could say that. For now, consider me your protector. But trust me, this is just the beginning. The world of jujutsu is a lot deeper than what I've told you so far."

Jin and Kaori exchanged glances, their lives irrevocably changed by what they'd learned. Though fear lingered, a sliver of hope began to grow—Seijuro was here, and for now, that was enough.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧

Kenjaku reclined in a beach chair, the serene backdrop of crashing waves contrasting sharply with the chaos that typically surrounded his plans. The sound of seagulls filled the air, but his attention shifted as a familiar guttural sound echoed.

"Bwwrrppp!"

Kenjaku turned his head lazily to see Dagon waddling toward him, its tentacles undulating with urgency. The sight of the aquatic cursed spirit always brought a hint of amusement to his stitched face, but this time, Dagon's demeanor was unusually frantic.

"Ah, Dagon," Kenjaku said, his voice smooth and measured. "I assume you've returned with news. Where is Kaori's body?"

"Bwwwp!" Dagon replied, its movements restless.

Kenjaku's calm expression twisted into a slight frown as he processed the spirit's gibberish. "Seijuro Gojo was there?"

Dagon nodded emphatically, its tentacles writhing in agitation.

Kenjaku's smile faded into a contemplative scowl as he rested his chin on his hand. 'That Gojo... Why does it feel like he's aware of my plans? Not just aware—he's actively interfering.' His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest as the pieces of this unexpected complication began to assemble in his mind.

"Dwwppp!" Dagon blurted out again, snapping Kenjaku from his thoughts.

His expression sharpened. "A new cursed spirit? And it's a special grade?"

Dagon nodded once more, its excitement barely contained.

Kenjaku leaned back, his usual grin creeping across his face. "How intriguing," he murmured, his tone laced with amusement. "A special grade cursed spirit emerging in these circumstances? This is no coincidence."

For a moment, he appeared lost in thought, the gears in his mind spinning rapidly. Then, his grin widened, his face tugging unnaturally.

"Well then," he said, rising from his chair and brushing off imaginary sand. "Let's recruit this cursed spirit, shall we? I do enjoy when new pawns appear on the board. Who knows? It might even turn the tides in our favor."

Dagon bobbed in agreement, following close behind as Kenjaku began walking down the sandy shore, his aura emanating quiet confidence and the promise of more chaos to come.