The crisp sound of the alarm clock rang out. Eichi skillfully slapped it off, yawning as he walked into the bathroom.
Because he had stayed up too late the night before, he was still groggy when he finished washing up. Just as he was about to head to school, he suddenly realized it was the weekend.
For a moment, Eichi had the urge to smash the alarm clock.
Sitting on the sofa, he began to ponder what to do today.
"Forget it, I'm not thinking anymore. Time to exercise."
Sometimes, once you start thinking too much, the time you spend thinking far exceeds the time you actually spend doing something.
For example, in his previous life, Eichi liked to find a novel or a livestream to watch while eating before meals.
He would end up eating for ten minutes but spend half an hour just choosing what to watch.
It was the same when ordering takeout. He didn't want to just order anything. If he was going to eat casually, he might as well cook instant noodles at home.
As a result, he would spend half an hour scrolling through the takeout app, wait another half hour for delivery, and finish eating in ten minutes.
Time just quietly slipped away like that.
By chance, Eichi once saw a video. It said that if a person doesn't know what to do and feels lost, they should read, exercise, and enrich themselves.
Once they discover what they want, they should pursue it, not just lie around aimlessly when feeling lost.
Only then can they seize opportunities when they appear in a state of readiness.
Eichi felt that made a lot of sense.
Changing into sportswear, he began exercising according to the routine he remembered.
First, a few sets of warm-up movements.
A hundred push-ups, a hundred sit-ups, and finally a hundred squats.
The simple workout trained his chest, abs, and legs.
After finishing the warm-up, he stepped outside and turned left, beginning a ten-kilometer jog.
It was already winter, and since it hadn't started snowing yet, not all the leaves had fallen.
Around four or five in the morning, sanitation workers would have already cleaned the streets, so there weren't many leaves on the road.
Out of boredom, whenever Eichi spotted a leaf, he would subtly adjust his pace and step on it as he passed.
People are strange. When trees are full of leaves, no one pays attention. But when only a few leaves remain, all focus shifts to those few.
Perhaps the jog was too monotonous, and Eichi found himself thinking the same way.
By the time he finished his ten kilometers, it was almost noon. He decided to visit Toji's house for a while.
"Excuse me."
Eichi changed into slippers as he entered and saw a scene that made him chuckle.
"Don't pull, kid."
"Toji, be gentle with the children."
Toji was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, a soft pink blanket draped across his lap. Little Megumi sat in the middle of the blanket, staring at Toji with wide, curious eyes.
Tsumiki was perched on Toji's shoulder, babbling as she occasionally grabbed his hair for balance.
"Find a place to sit," Toji said without looking up, focusing on the two children.
His hands were raised high, hovering around Tsumiki, ready to catch her if she slipped but careful not to use too much force.
His crossed legs weren't idle either, gently rocking up and down like a cradle, coaxing Megumi in his lap.
The clumsy movements and conflicted expression made Eichi laugh quietly.
"Minako-san, I'll help."
Toji noticed his gaze and shot him a glare.
Eichi immediately turned away and walked toward the kitchen.
"No need, lunch will be ready soon. Just wait a bit," Minako said with a smile.
"I'll help too. Don't worry, my cooking skills are decent," Eichi replied confidently.
"Then I'll leave the vegetables to you," Minako said, unable to refuse, as she began preparing the fish, which required more attention.
Judging by the ingredients—bean sprouts, tofu, miso, and tomatoes—it was clear they were making simple home-style dishes. After a quick assessment, Eichi began working.
Having been single for two lives, he had plenty of experience cooking for himself. Why? Because after college, he couldn't afford takeout anymore.
Rent, utilities, phone, internet, heating... After paying all those, how could he afford three takeout meals a day?
He simply couldn't.
He often ate at the breakfast shop downstairs. Three buns and a cup of soy milk for seven yen were enough to fill him up.
Later, after getting tired of buns and stir-fried noodles, he started learning to cook.
Three stir-fried vegetable dishes, one pan-fried fish, and a bowl of miso soup accompanied by rice made up their meal.
"I'm eating," the three of them said in unison.
After the hearty meal, Eichi sat on the sofa next to Toji, who was lounging lazily.
Minako held Megumi in her left arm and played a small game with Tsumiki using her right, a contented smile on her face.
If Megumi's mother, Erika, hadn't died, Megumi would have called Minako his maternal aunt.
If Toji hadn't died, Minako would probably have lived a happy life.
Minako and Erika were cousins who had always supported each other.
Erika was cheerful and cool, while Minako was gentle and quiet.
Unfortunately, fate played a cruel joke on them both. Minako's husband died in an accident shortly after their child was born, leaving her widowed.
Erika also passed away not long after giving birth to Megumi. Both suffered tragic fates.
Later, because Toji was completely incapable of taking care of children, Minako took in Megumi and raised him alongside Tsumiki.
Two people whose lives had been shattered came together and rebuilt a family.
Toji went out to work and earn money. For someone with a complete Heavenly Restriction, that wasn't difficult.
By the time he left the Zen'in Family, his strength had already reached Special Grade. With that kind of power, even manual labor would be easy for him.
Not to mention, Naobito hadn't completely severed ties with him. If Toji needed, he could still find work through him.
In this way, Toji found his home and gradually learned what love meant.
Minako found support too, a partner who could protect her and two lively, healthy children.
In another world, Toji and Minako might have had an ending that, while not perfect, was at least peaceful. But unfortunately, he was born into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen.
The important characters written by Gege are always beautiful, strong, and tragic.
Some have tragic fates, some have tragic endings, and some have both.
Toji is a character who has both.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)