Some time later...
"What do you want from us, Isshin?" Marika asked casually, though her tone carried a trace of annoyance. She wasn't angry anymore, not really, but the tension between us still lingered in the air. We had talked for a few minutes earlier—enough for her to understand why I did what I did, though I knew she didn't fully accept it.
Instead of answering directly, I decided to shift the focus for a moment. "First, tell me how the food is? I put in extra effort today, just for all of you," I said with a grin, as I cooked more dishes on the stove. It was a subtle tactic, one that I knew would put them off balance—just like always.
"Good enough," Melina responded, taking another bite of the chicken without looking up. Her words were clipped, but at least she wasn't outright dismissing my attempt at hospitality.
The others? Silent. They focused on the food laid out before them, chewing away in a deliberate quietness. Typical. I smirked to myself as I watched them eat, reading their reactions like an open book.
"Judging by your faces," I added, casting a quick glance around the table, "I'd say it's to all your liking—even if you're too stubborn to admit it out loud."
And just like that, they all choked on their food at the same time.
"Ahahahaha! You all are so tsundere! I like it!" I couldn't help but laugh, a genuine one, before turning off the gas. Their reactions were always priceless, even when they tried to hide them.
But the moment of levity passed quickly. I took my seat at the table, my expression shifting into something more serious. "Truth be told, I need your support," I said, my voice steady now. They all stopped eating, turning their attention fully to me. Good—they knew I wasn't just playing around anymore.
"I want your help to recreate the Jujutsu Society." I could feel the weight of my words settle over the room. "Right now, it's filled with fools who can't think outside the box, clinging to old, fleeting values. And it's costing the lives of the young ones."
I looked each of them in the eye, making sure they understood the gravity of what I was saying. "The system is broken. I need to tear it down and rebuild it—better, stronger, so no more lives are lost in the name of tradition."
"....What do we get in turn, now we are your slaves?" While exaggerating her current conditions Rani spoke in her characteristic tone.
"Well for starters my support in whatever you want in your world. If we found a way back for four of you." I proposed a deal which made their brows move and they gave a valid surprise reaction.
'They were not expecting such an offer, after the binding vow I made with them.'
"From tonight onward I will be teaching you all how to use your current power or curse energy. Only if you want to?" I proposed because they didn't have anything better to do, if they like getting stronger and exploring new things it's a worth it deal.
"It's quite a tempting offer considering our stand with you." Marika spoke, each word was precise with places for counter offers or I assumed so.
The tension at the table remained palpable, but Marika's measured response gave me a sense of relief. It was a step forward, even if it wasn't exactly an agreement yet.
Rani, ever the skeptic, leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "And what if we refuse?" she asked, her gaze sharp. "You think we'll just bend to your will because you fed us a nice meal? And made curse vows."
I met her stare without flinching. "No," I said calmly. "I don't expect that. That's why I'm offering you a choice. A better option. Help me, and I'll give you the resources and knowledge to become stronger than you've ever imagined."
"I know what it's like to want more than what this world offers. You all do. If you refuse, you're free to walk away. But," I added, my voice darkening slightly, "you know as well as I do that breaking a curse vows has its own downside which even I'm afraid to."
A heavy silence followed. They understood what I meant—curse vows, while a potent tool, were also a dangerous one. Unchecked, it could cause god know what harm to them.
Melina finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "What exactly are you planning to do with this new Jujutsu Society? Are you trying to play the hero, or do you have some other agenda?"
Her question was direct, cutting through the layers of my earlier proposal. I respected that.
"I'm no hero," I admitted. "This isn't about being righteous. It's about survival. The current system will collapse eventually, but not before it takes down everyone it's supposed to protect. I want to build something that can withstand what's coming. I want a future where strength isn't bound by outdated rules and politics, where people with real potential—like all of you—aren't held back by someone else's idea of tradition."
There was a flicker of something in their expressions—interest, maybe, or at least a consideration of my words.
Marika leaned forward, her fingers tapping thoughtfully against the table. "And what if we help you? What then?"
I smiled, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Then we tear down the old world, brick by brick, and build something new. Together."
Rani smirked. "Well, if nothing else, it sounds fun."
The others exchanged glances. The choice was theirs to make, but I could tell that some part of them was already leaning toward my offer. They were ambitious, curious, and—most importantly—bored. And what I was offering? It was an opportunity to break free from their mundane existence and grasp real power.
Marika finally nodded. "We'll think about it. But know this, Isshin—if we agree, we're not your pawns. We'll be equals in this... relationship."
"Of course," I replied smoothly, though inwardly I knew that power dynamics were never truly equal. Still, I'd let them believe it for now.
As the conversation settled into a temporary lull, I could feel the first threads of agreement beginning to weave between us. It wasn't outright acceptance yet, but it was close.