Kaede calmly walked towards Sukuna's estate, remembering that several months had already passed since they formed a team. Although tensions between the three him, Sukuna, and Miyako had been inevitable at first, the rising strength of curses from their births had forced the clans to unite the most promising young members. Over time, they had learned to work together, despite the differences in their personalities and goals. Today, however, was not about a mission. Sukuna was focused, his movements fluid but filled with an imposing strength. Kaede didn't need to announce his presence; Sukuna noticed him immediately.
"What is it now?" he growled, not stopping. "We just finished a mission three days ago. Don't they have anyone else to do them?"
Kaede, amused, only smiled. "It's not that," Kaede responded calmly. "I just came to congratulate you and give you a gift."
Sukuna frowned, clearly irritated and somewhat puzzled. "What's this about?" he finally asked, with sweat still covering his forehead.
"Isn't it your birthday? You turn 18 today, don't you?"
Sukuna sighed, wiping his forehead with his hand. "Who told you...?"
"I just asked the superiors, and they told me. Miyako will come later. She said you won't like her gift."
"Her too?" Sukuna clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Kaede offered him the wrapped package. "Here... go ahead and open it."
Reluctantly, Sukuna took the gift and unwrapped it with disinterest, but his expression changed when he saw what was inside. "What is this?"
"Pretty, right?" Kaede smiled, satisfied. The small weapon Sukuna held in his hands was a dagger with a curved blade, sharp on one side. The hilt was reinforced with two rings crossing at right angles, creating a unique and functional structure.
"Isn't this from your clan?" Sukuna asked, looking at Kaede with a mix of surprise and suspicion.
"Yes, but I'll be the leader soon. It's called Kamutoke. It suits your fighting style well. Its main feature is that if you stimulate it with cursed energy, it will send torrents of electricity to the marked target."
Sukuna, intrigued but saying nothing, infused the dagger with his cursed energy. Instantly, a massive bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, straight toward Kaede. Unfazed, Kaede raised his hand as if about to catch it. A blinding light engulfed the area, followed by a thunderous boom that echoed through the forest.
When the light finally faded, Kaede stood with his hand extended, a small crack in it already beginning to heal. "I knew you'd do that... geez, a 'thank you' would've been enough, you know?"
Sukuna observed the crack disappearing quickly and, for a moment, just stared at him with a mix of surprise and admiration. Then, in a lower, almost hesitant voice, he asked, "Why are you giving me this...? I don't understand."
Kaede looked at him with a calm smile, as if everything had already been planned. "I already told you, you only turn 18 once. Besides..." he paused, thoughtful, before continuing, "sooner or later, you're going to need more than just brute strength. And I want you to be prepared for what's coming."
Sukuna raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced but still holding the dagger firmly. "Tch, I don't need to prepare for anything. Everything I need is right here," he said, pointing to himself. But deep down, Kaede could tell that Sukuna understood the gesture, though he would never admit it openly.
"I know," Kaede said, still smiling. "But it's always good to have an edge, don't you think?"
Sukuna remained silent for a moment longer, staring at the dagger in his hands. Finally, without looking up, he muttered, "Thanks."
Kaede shrugged, satisfied. "You're welcome. Now... just make sure not to destroy the estate before Miyako arrives with her 'gift.'"
Sukuna started walking towards his house. When he reached the stairs, he stopped and looked back.
"Are you just going to stand there watching? Come inside already," he said impatiently.
Kaede, with a calm smile, sighed. "Sure, though I think you should send someone to check on the fire we caused in the forest."
"Yeah, whatever," Sukuna replied, brushing off the potential forest fire. It was hardly a concern for him.
Once inside, they both knelt in front of a small wooden table. A servant quickly appeared, bringing a bottle of sake and two cups. After placing them on the table, she bowed respectfully and left.
Kaede broke the silence, watching Sukuna.
"Do you like your new status in the world? If I remember correctly, when we were kids, you were barely known. Your technique was... pretty weak, to put it lightly. Who would've thought it would actually turn out to be so devastating? Hahaha."
Sukuna didn't respond immediately. Instead, he picked up his cup and took a sip of sake, letting the warm liquid flow down his throat. They spent about an hour talking about the missions they had completed and the mischief they had gotten into in their youth. Kaede, more talkative than Sukuna, explained how to properly use his new gift, Kamutoke.
Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted their conversation.
"Sorry I'm late, but the idiot tailor couldn't find my order. Can you believe it? Gods! How do you lose an order? It's not every day someone like me is your customer!"
Kaede couldn't help but laugh at his friend's behavior. Sukuna, on the other hand, just rolled his eyes. Miyako approached the table, and upon seeing the cups already filled, exclaimed:
"Eh, you're drinking this early?"
Her eyes stopped on the small weapon resting on the table. With her Six Eyes, she analyzed it closely.
"Kaede, your father will kill you if he finds out you gave this to this psychopath."
Kaede, after taking a sip from his cup, responded casually.
"It's fine. At most, he'll give me a lecture. As long as it's not the Inverted Spear of Heaven, I don't think he'll care."
"Right, because it's not like Kamutoke is a special-grade cursed tool too..." Miyako said with a sigh. "Anyway, here's your gift."
She handed Sukuna a carefully wrapped package. He accepted it, looking at it curiously.
"What is it?"
"Open it, and you'll see," Miyako instructed.
Sukuna unwrapped the package, and when he saw it, his eyes widened. It was a high-quality white kimono, with the edges decorated in blue.
"I chose the fabrics myself. It's very special to me. I hope you like it," Miyako said, with a mix of enthusiasm and nervousness.
"... Pff."
"What are you laughing at?" Miyako frowned as she noticed Kaede trying to suppress his laughter.
"Nothing, just remembered something. Don't mind me," Kaede replied, trying to hold back his laughter.
Sukuna looked at them, knowing exactly why Kaede was laughing. "Thanks... it's nice..." he muttered as he put the kimono away.
"Huh? Aren't you going to try it on?" Miyako asked, eager.
Sukuna groaned and reluctantly went to another room.
"I don't know how he didn't throw it in your face," Kaede commented, leaning on his arm as he waited for Sukuna to return.
After a few minutes, Sukuna returned to the room wearing the kimono. Miyako smiled, pleased with her choice.
"It looks great on you. The colors match really well, and the style suits you," she said, admiring him.
"Pff, hahahaha," Kaede couldn't hold back his laughter, rolling on the floor. "Gods! What's wrong with you, are you drunk already or what?"
Miyako didn't understand her friend's laughter. Sukuna watched the scene with a mix of confusion and resignation.
"That's it! You're wearing this on our missions," Miyako declared.
"What?" Sukuna was stunned.
"The fabric is high quality, so don't worry. Your bones are more likely to break than the kimono," Kaede shrugged.
Sukuna wanted to test that statement in front of Miyako but held back. After all, it was a special day, and he didn't want to ruin it.
The atmosphere lightened, filled with laughter and stories, and for a moment, they forgot the weight of their world, enjoying each other's company at Sukuna's home.
However, what seemed like a happy celebration was marked by a dark future. Unaware that their decisions and actions would become the catalyst for an apocalypse, the young trio enjoyed their friendship, not knowing that soon they would be dragged into betrayal and conflict. Each shared smile would be a spark that would ignite the flames of an inevitable fate.