Chapter Text
The cafeteria is nearly empty. Those present hardly pay them any mind. If he's recognized, it's by people who have defied the life expectancy of their profession or those who play supportive roles for the people on the front lines. But these new people that were once prohibited from walking these lauded halls know nothing of Gojo Satoru, only whispers and rumors of a legend from a bygone era.
Just like he always wanted, anonymity, just another face in the crowd.
"Who's coming?" Shoko asks.
"A few relatives," Satoru answers.
Shoko is immediately on guard. "Who?" She asks suspiciously.
Satoru can't blame her; he can't abide by his family, and his reasons are numerous. As a long time friend, Shoko has unfortunately been exposed to his familial nonsense.
"The people I like," He says vaguely.
Shoko is far from satisfied. "Rate them on a likability scale?"
"Mean or average?" He equivocates.
"Use those two brain cells and make do with whatever makes sense to your inbred brain," Shoko says dryly.
"Hey! I'm adopted!"
"Your dad is what? Your third or fourth cousin." Satoru turns his head, fighting a smile, and subtly gives her the one-finger salute. Unphased, Shoko continues, voice dry as she empathetically says, "Friend, I'm sorry to say this, your family tree is a wreath."
They fall into old patterns.
"If inbreeding creates a specimen like me—peak perfection." As vain and shameless as he is, even he cringes at the words that leave his mouth. "Then it's a necessary evil."
Shoko is equally appalled and repulsed. "I can't believe you said that with a straight face. Even you can't believe the bullshit you say."
In for a penny, in for a pound, "I can't have that inbred feeling?"
Shoko throws a piece of curry bread at his head. Infinity blocks it, and Satoru sticks out his tongue.
"You're an idiot," Shoko shakes her head.
Satoru laughs and stirs the conversation back to its original subject. "On a scale of 1 to 10, they average 6 to 7.5. Add Mei, and it's 8 on a good day."
Shoko is still dubious but acquiesces, "All right, I'm coming."
"Have you visited?"
Shoko shakes her head, "No, not yet. Nobara wants to go with Megumi first. I told her he'll likely go with you since you're family. Nobara didn't know that, so you can guess her reaction."
"It's not like it's a secret," Satoru shrugs.
"It's not a well-known one, your family is secretive," Shoko points out.
Most major clans are. The Zen'in, less so, they boast robust numbers amongst their ranks, the Kamo are a shadow of what they once were, and the Gojo and their minor clans are inconspicuous, choosing to move in silence.
"I respect Mei's decision. I'm visiting before we go bar hopping. Megumi has a list of gifts for me to deliver."
"Speaking of pregnancy," Shoko segues the conversation. "Nobara wants to try for a second pup."
"Really?" Satoru is surprised; he thought they were one and done.
"Yeah, I'm not so sure. Kyosuke was planned, but Nobara's pregnancy wasn't...ideal, and we decided not to have more. I can't imagine a second pregnancy going smoothly when the first one left a lot to be desired," Shoko divulges.
There are many ways he can respond. Satoru is a newlywed. What does he know of pregnancy? Satoru is a father figure, and his idiot of a kid took leave of his senses and got pregnant. What kind of parental figure does that make him? The child he could have had would have remained unknown to him. What insight can Satoru provide when he's had a history of failure in the family planning division?
He stops his self-deprecating thoughts and provides a solution.
"Have you considered alternate methods?"
That catches Shoko's attention.
2013
He's kept in separate quarters.
Isolated.
Far from the other children.
As Satoru nears the veil of despair thickens. It collides with Infinity, encroaching but never penetrating, attempting to drive him into the realm of hopelessness and anguish.
Gaining custody was the easy part. His parents relinquished him to the child protective services after a series of inexplicable and unfortunate events. Satoru couldn't blame them; they weren't equipped to handle this. Not all those who wander are lost, but they never found themselves back in the light; their son, unfortunately, did. He gained back the power that eluded them, but lacked the tools to hone it.
That's why Satoru is here.
The Okkotsu are descendants of the extinct Maeda clan. Satoru seeks what was lost, what was extinguished in the fifteenth century, during the Ashikaga period.
The curse attached to the boy is merely a bonus.
Satoru opens the door.
"Hey, kid."