Morning light filtered gently through the windows of the orphanage.
The dining room was lively as usual.
Bowls clinked against the wooden table, chairs scraped softly across the floor, and the younger children talked loudly over one another while eating breakfast.
Three years has passed.
Changing many things.
But the atmosphere of the orphanage remained the same.
Warm.
Alive.
At the center of the table, Sora sat quietly with a bowl of rice in front of him.
Fifteen years old now.
His shoulders had broadened slightly, and his frame had grown taller and leaner. His black hair was short and slicked backed.
The laziness in his posture still remained, but a calm resolution remained firm in his gait and behavior.
Across from him, the same four troublemakers continued their morning argument. The only four who seemed to be destined to live their life in this orphanage until adulthood.
Yumi pointed across the table.
"You took the last dumpling!"
"I saw you eyeing it first!"
Daisuke raised his hands defensively.
"I was simply admiring its texture!"
Mika sighed.
"You two are unbelievable."
Satoshi shoved another spoonful of rice into his mouth.
Sora watched them for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"…Fourteen years old and still fighting over dumplings. Tsk Tsk, when will the four of you grow up."
All four turned toward him.
"Shut up!"
From the kitchen counter, Ms. Kasumi chuckled softly while preparing tea.
"You're the oldest here, Sora. Set a better example."
"I am."
"I hope it was not the insult. "
"It was."
Kasumi shook her head slightly.
Just then—
A quiet knock came from the front door.
Just a polite tap.
The children barely noticed.
Kasumi glanced toward the hallway.
"I'll get it."
She wiped her hands on a cloth and walked toward the entrance.
The dining room quickly returned to its usual noise.
Meanwhile—
Sora continued eating quietly.
But his ears were sharper than most.
He could faintly hear the front door opening.
Then a man's voice.
Cheerful.
Confident.
"…Good morning."
Kasumi's voice followed.
"…Yes?"
There was a short pause.
Then the man spoke again.
"I'm looking for someone. A fifteen years old boy who is a orphan here."
Sora's chopsticks paused slightly.
Only for a moment.
Then he resumed eating.
At the front entrance, Kasumi studied the visitor standing outside.
Tall.
White hair.
A black blindfold covering his eyes.
Yet his relaxed smile carried an odd confidence.
"I'm Satoru Gojo," the man said lightly.
Kasumi didn't react immediately.
But she could feel something strange about him.
Something heavy beneath the relaxed tone.
"For what purpose, may I ask?"
"To give him scholarship."
He tilted his head slightly.
"At Tokyo Jujutsu High."
Kasumi's expression stiffened slightly.
She had heard that name before.
Only once.
Years ago.
When she had asked someone about the strange things Sora sometimes encountered.
Gojo leaned slightly against the doorway.
"Don't worry."
"I'm not here to cause trouble."
Kasumi folded her arms slowly.
"Why would the Tokyo high give him scholarship?"
Gojo smiled.
"Because the kid you're raising has been doing some very interesting things."
Kasumi exhaled slowly.
"…So you know."
"Of course."
Gojo chuckled.
"He's been on our radar for a while."
Kasumi frowned slightly.
"…Radar?"
He raised two fingers.
"The kid had taken the attention of a senior 'staff' who found him interesting."
Gojo paused for a moment.
"Afterwards, he was found doing intriguing action which gave us enough reason to sponsor him."
Gojo shrugged.
Kasumi remained silent for a moment.
Then she asked quietly—
"…And what do you want from him?"
Gojo's smile softened slightly.
"To simply invite him."
"To enroll at Tokyo Jujutsu High and make his special talent blossom."
The words lingered in the air.
Kasumi looked back toward the dining room where the children were still laughing loudly over breakfast.
"…He's only fifteen."
Gojo shrugged.
"Most of our students are."
Then he added gently—
"But he's already been walking in that world for years."
Kasumi closed her eyes briefly.
She already knew that.
After a moment, she nodded.
"…Wait here."
Gojo stepped inside quietly.
The two moved toward the living room, away from the dining room.
The children never noticed.
A minute later—
Kasumi returned to the dining room.
The children were still arguing.
Sora had already finished his breakfast.
"Sora."
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"There's someone here to see you."
The room went silent.
Yumi blinked.
"…Visitor?"
Daisuke leaned forward.
"For Sora?"
Satoshi gasped dramatically.
"Did you break the law?"
Mika rolled her eyes.
"Idiot."
Sora stood slowly.
"…Who is it?"
Kasumi simply replied—
"A teacher."
Sora studied her expression.
Then nodded once.
"…Alright."
He walked toward the hallway calmly.
The four teenagers stared after him.
"What teacher visits during breakfast?"
"No idea."
"Maybe he's getting expelled."
"He doesn't even go to school!"
Meanwhile—
Sora stepped into the quiet living room.
A tall white-haired man sat comfortably on the sofa.
Even with the blindfold covering his eyes—
He was clearly looking directly at Sora.
The man smiled.
"Hey."
Sora leaned lightly against the doorway.
"…You must be Satoru Gojo."
Gojo chuckled.
"And you must be the kid causing paperwork problems for The Jujutsu High."
Sora crossed his arms slightly.
"I don't think I had done anything to warrant such things."
Gojo tilted his head.
"Yes you have."
"Your nightly activity are quite famous. Hagane Sora."
There was a small silence.
Then Gojo spoke again.
"So."
"How would you feel about moving to Tokyo?"
Sora didn't answer immediately.
Outside the living room—
The children continued arguing about dumplings.
Completely unaware—
That by tomorrow—
Sora would be leaving Kyoto.