"I talked with Amanai Riko at the aquarium today," Zoro mentioned.
Toji was already aware of it. While Zoro and Amanai strolled through the aquarium, Toji had been there too, hiding his presence for security reasons.
Of course, Amanai was unaware of Toji's presence, though Zoro, with his Observation Haki, knew.
They had not overheard their conversation. He could have easily listened in if he wanted, but he had deliberately chosen not to.
Yet, he could guess what it involved.
"You told her to live, didn't you?"
Surprised by Toji's guess, Zoro looked at him questioningly. Toji shrugged.
"It's pretty obvious what you'd say to that kid."
If Amanai herself had a firm belief and chose sacrifice, that would be one thing, but Zoro wouldn't let a young girl brainwashed into sacrificing herself go through with it so easily.
"I didn't tell her to live. I told her to think more about it."
"It's the same thing."
Though called a 'vessel,' Amanai Riko was just a girl who had lived a relatively peaceful and joyful life. With friends at school and a woman like Kuroi around, it was impossible for her not to have attachments to life.
"The more she thinks about it, the more she'll feel tied down."
That's what attachments do.
The problem was what came next. Even if Amanai Riko says, "I don't want to be assimilated," it's not a situation where you can simply say, "Oh really? Then let's not do it."
Of course, Zoro might think differently.
"If she says she doesn't want to go through with it, you'll help her, right?"
Even as he asked, Toji already knew the answer. Though Zoro might seem aloof, concerned with no one but himself, he invariably reached out to help anyone who asked, even if they were strangers.
As expected, Zoro nodded firmly. Toji muttered, knowing it would be so.
"You expected that, huh?"
"I told you, you're my son."
Although he couldn't always say he was a good father, he had raised and watched over him. He knew him well enough to guess.
"Aren't you going to scold me?"
"Would you change your mind if I did?"
"No."
"Then why bother?"
Zoro was stubborn to a fault. Once he made a decision, he didn't waver, swayed by others' opinions, even if those opinions came from the jujutsu community, or even his father, or the world itself.
Knowing his nature well, Toji hadn't planned to scold him.
'It's just a waste of both our energies.'
The real issue was the higher-ups. They hated uncertainties. Whether Amanai wanted to be assimilated or not, they'd probably try to force it. They wouldn't want to consider a situation where Tengen becomes non-human and potentially hostile.
There's no losing in a fight for them. The real problem was what came afterward. Securing the safety of Megumi and Tsumiki, and the vessel, was critical. Zoro's goal wasn't merely to prevent Amanai from being assimilated, but to ensure she could live freely afterward.
Zoro gazed thoughtfully at Toji before speaking up.
"You can get angry if you want."
Surprised by such an unexpected remark, Toji quickly turned his head.
"What?"
"You can object too."
Zoro was a part of this family, and this decision could affect the entire family. Apart from his own resolution, he wanted to hear Toji's thoughts, even if it meant facing vehement opposition or anger.
Father will agree with me because he loves me—I never had such thoughts. Not in the slightest. People were already cautious around Zoro.
"That would be manipulation."
It would be exploiting an unavoidable weakness to gain the upper hand. That's oppression, violence.
"That's not an option."
Love and dreams are separate things. Even in a family bound by love, everyone may have different desires and values, and it could lead to conflicts.
Didn't it happen with Luffy, Dragon, and Garp? From grandfather to grandson, three generations each belonged to different organizations, each moving forward with their own goals and beliefs.
Toji was momentarily at a loss for words, understanding the implication, but…
"I won't do that, Zoro."
Whether or not it's right to force Amanai to assimilate despite her unwillingness wasn't something Toji judged. It wasn't particularly important either way.
Probably the same for Zoro. Even if this act might be called a wrongdoing, Zoro would steadfastly protect Amanai because she said she didn't want to assimilate.
If Zoro was inclined to stop the assimilation, Toji would unhesitatingly side with him. And the opposite would be true as well.
Zoro, being a powerful non-sorcerer by birth, might find it hard to fully integrate on either side of the sorcery divide. If Toji opposed Zoro and reacted angrily in such a situation, it would mean…
"You'd end up all alone."
Considering Zoro sometimes felt lonely, Toji swallowed what he was about to say next.
Zoro occasionally had a particular way of looking at things, not just seeing what was before him but something reminded by it.
At those moments, his gray eyes seemed to cloud over as if recalling memories, then suddenly snap back to reality. His face subtly shifted before quickly returning to calm.
Toji always knew what fleeting emotion crossed Zoro's face.
Loneliness. Longing.
…Feelings Toji was all too familiar with.
Logically, Zoro must be missing Chie. After all, Zoro hadn't lost anything else— at least, as far as Toji knew.
Yet, the thought kept nagging at him that it wasn't just that. It wasn't that Zoro didn't miss Chie. It seemed like there was something else he longed for too.
This suspicion was confirmed on Zoro's birthday. Not a place he had been with Chie, but the ocean he should have seen for the first time.
Yet even there, Zoro seemed lonelier and more nostalgic than ever before. He masked it with an indifferent expression, but it was clear as day to Toji.
Toji carefully lifted Zoro into his arms. Despite Zoro being large for a six-year-old, he felt as light as a feather to Toji.
Zoro, unusually not throwing a tantrum and quietly nestling against him, looked up at Toji. Toji, with the utmost sincerity, spoke softly.
"I'm on your side."
I won't let you walk your path alone, no matter where it leads.
"Besides, you're terrible with directions. If I let you go alone, you'd get lost. I can't let my own kid turn into a lost child."
"What?!"
Zoro flared up as usual, and Toji chuckled. Indeed, this was the face that suited his Marimo.
"Whatever you do, I'll support you, but just keep one thing in mind."
"Take care of yourself?"
"That's right."
It doesn't matter whom Zoro saves or fights.
Just that he doesn't get hurt.
That's all I wish for.
Zoro looked straight at Toji and said,
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
After all, aren't Marimos supposed to be soft? Doesn't matter. Zoro is soft. Toji mused on this idle thought and playfully pinched Zoro's cheek. Then he added,
"Just so you know, Gojo and Geto feel the same way about you."
Remembering those two, who chattered obliviously about how they were the strongest, Toji's face turned sour. What were they thinking, discussing matters that could potentially antagonize the upper echelons openly within the sorcery community? Of course, no one other than Toji could have eavesdropped on their conversation.
Zoro nodded, unsurprised.
"I figured as much."
Toji might not have known, but those two would never support forcing the assimilation if the vessel was unwilling.
Now, all that remained really was,
"Amanai's decision."
...
Morning came. They ate breakfast at their lodging and boarded a plane back to Tokyo.
Upon arriving in Tokyo without incident, Amanai Riko, escorted by four guardians, bid farewell to Kuroi and entered the passage leading to Tombs of the Star.
Thud, thud.
Amanai walked behind Zoro, Toji, Gojo, and Geto.
Her blue eyes shifted restlessly. Her steps slowed, but the others continued forward, seemingly unaware.
Riko looked down at Zoro, who met her gaze and mouthed silently:
"Speak your heart."
Suddenly, Riko stopped, prompting the four to halt as well. She realized then that they had been adjusting their pace to match hers all along.
Gojo tilted his head slightly.
"What's wrong, Amanai?"
"I, I…"
Struggling to speak, Amanai finally met their calm gazes and said,
"I don't want to undergo the fusion."
Once she started, it was like a dam had broken, and her words rushed out uncontrollably.
"I want to live."
A tear rolled down Riko's cheek.
Ah, now I understand.
She had always wanted to say this.
Tears streamed down her face as Amanai continued passionately.
"With Kuroi, with my friends, with many more people…!"
Geto smiled wryly as if he couldn't help it, and though Gojo seemed like he wanted to tease her endlessly crying state, he refrained.
"To see more, to eat more, to experience more…!"
To extend the life everyone said she had to end, even if only for a moment longer.
"That's what I want…"
"If that's the case, you should've said it at the entrance. Why walk all the way here?"
"Gojo, shut it."
"Who are you calling 'shut it'?"
Geto clenched his fist. If it weren't for the constant protection, he would have shoved it in Gojo's mouth.
Still crying, Riko reached out her hand as Geto spoke gently to her,
"Let's go back, Riko-chan."
Her eyes widened. She wiped her tears and nodded.
"Yeah!"
Amanai grabbed Geto's hand. Toji, silently watching, nodded towards another path.
"Follow me. This way."
"You'd think you planned this. I'm the one who prepared it."
Gojo grumbled. Toji made a move to grab him, but was blocked by Gojo's always-active defenses. Damn those defenses.
Riko looked back. Seeing her clear, determined blue eyes, Zoro nodded.
"Leave the rest to us."
You go on living.
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