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“Why don’t you three get yourselves acclimated to the modern age?”
Geto’s suggestion had come no less than a day after Choso and his brothers were awakened. From underneath his two-tone beach umbrella, the man flipped through his phone, uninterested in making contact with the lone death painting standing over him.
“The memories of your vessels fall short when compared to first-hand experience. I believe your bodies would benefit from being broken into within a controlled setting than in the midst of a fight.”
“Would we not accomplish the same results here, if not better, considering no outsider is aware of this location, let alone able to enter?” The beach they resided in was the work of the cursed womb’s domain. A solitary pocket divorced from the reality outside it.
“You could. I’ll admit your argument is sound, but consider this a chance to experience a new range of emotion your previous existence did not permit. You wouldn’t want to deny your brothers the opportunity, would you?”
Nothing this man said or did would instill a proper level of trust in him. The already dubious circumstances of their awakening. Unfortunately, Choso’s suspicion did not outweigh the desire to deny his brothers the offer on their behalf. Not when they were currently occupied with building a castle made of sand, enjoying themselves in spite of Mahito's attempts at knocking it down. As such, Choso would begrudgingly consider Geto’s words and go so far as to accept the plastic rectangle from his hand, as it represented the funds they would have to pull from.
The name on the credit card held a name that Choso did not recognize. The curse raised an eyebrow at this, but all he received was an uninformative shrug and smirk to match, sealing Choso’s decision to simply tolerate this curse user and nothing more.
“Take this with you as well.” Geto’s eyes had moved back to his phone, uncaring how Choso squinted at being handed a similar device to his own. “You’ll be contacted if you’re needed. Until then, do whatever you wish as long as you don’t catch the eyes of any sorcerers skittering about. I'm sure you understand that if caught, none of you can be easily put back on the shelf in this state.”
Choso gave a silent nod as he accepted the device to hide his glare at what the man was implying. To push so hard in one direction and then to reel him back—Choso would take the man’s words as those of caution and step away before he changed his mind.
All that was left was to collect his brothers, and they would be on their way.
Their first destination was a clothing store located in a slower district of the city. The day was still young, which allowed the three to sneak in without making much of a fuss when it came to Eso and his desire to keep his back out of sight. Paradoxically, he took issue with wearing clothes to cover up, which forced Choso to look for a solution if they were to continue their day in peace.
With eyes on the clothing rack and the security mirror in his peripheral, Choso could keep the entrance to the sales floor under watch as they moved from one set of fabrics to the next.
“Try this.” The eldest lifted a black dress shirt for Eso to assess between his fingers. “It’s thin enough for you to breathe in, while the color will obscure what lies underneath.”
“I suppose this will work.” Eso took the shirt and stretched it out across his torso, already considering a pair of dress pants to go with it, if only for the sake of garnering less attention than they already had.
“Big brother! Look!” The two looked up to find Kechizu’s form squished between two unfortunate displays. Both of his mouths sported energetic grins, with one hand pointing to the black and white snapback on his head with the word ‘Tokyo’ written out across the front. “I found the perfect hat for my human disguise!”
Eso walked over to pat Kechizu on the shoulder. His other hand worked shifted Kechizu’s new hat closer to Kechizu’s center, pleased with his work, even if both he and Choso knew that one accessory would do nothing to blend their youngest brother into the populace.
However, it would seem their worries would become unfounded when they stepped outside and confronted the growing crowd of Tokyo’s busier avenues.
The majority of humans they passed would not grant them a second-glance, or even a first, too consumed in their world to involve themselves with the curses walking mere centimeters away. Of those who do cast their gaze in the brother’s direction, eyes would naturally fall to Kechizu. Not in fear nor panic, but in curiosity and confusion.
A child poked his brother’s arm to get Kechizu’s attention for the purpose of waving hello. Another teenager stepped forward and asked for a picture, only to then inquire of which movie Kechizu was attempting to promote. Neither of them had an answer, but before that could be discovered, another human had already jumped in with theories and claims based on the ‘design of Kechizu’s costume.’
In the end, Kechizu happily posed for a handful of pictures as Eso discovered the variety of ways different cell phones could snap a picture of the event.
“Stand a little to the left— Your left! Now raise your arms all this…” Eso’s orders would be followed as best they could. Some poses played up Kechizu’s nature as a dangerous being, fingers spread out and curled to mimic claws, while other poses would produce hearts with the combined effort of shaping one’s hand to create half a heart each.
Choso could only stand behind Eso and observe just how easily ignorance allowed this interaction to occur.
“Say Tokyo!”
“Tokyo!”
A simple tap of the screen the photo was taken, and the humans would eventually disperse soon after. With that interaction under their belt, the rest of the day truly felt doable so long as Choso kept his duty to his brothers in mind.
“I got my picture taken! Did you see big brother?”
“Yes, I did. You posed rather skillfully for the camera.” Choso raised his hand in an attempt to mimic the heart shape Kechizu had made to prove he had been paying attention. The eldest then took another look at their surroundings, deciding their time would be best served moving until they had a destination in mind. “Do either of you have anywhere specific you would like to go?”
“Well—” Eso’s suggestion would not get heard, as Kechizu raised a hand high in the air and flailed it about in the air.
“Oh! Me! I do! Pick me!”
The middle brother would not be upset by this as much as his posture of displeasure would first have them believe. “Whatever Kechizu wants. I’m sure he’d put more thought in his decision than I have.”
Eso lingered beside Choso, choosing to rest his elbows on the wooden fence separating them and the animals inside. The two watched over Kechizu together, allowing the youngest to approach the animals at his own pace, joyful for the ability to experience the mundane activities most humans would overlook as nothing more than an activity to eat up hours of their day.
Every moment with his brothers was more precious than anything else this world had to offer, no matter the circumstances they found themselves in.
“You know, you’re allowed to relax.”
Choso held his breath, slowly releasing the sigh he’d built up in the hopes of ridding what may appear as frustration with his younger brother’s words.
“I am relaxed.”
“When did we decide it was ok to lie to each other?” Eso pressed his chin against his palm, eyeing Choso with insight the elder would rather wasn’t there. “Your shoulders have been tense this entire trip. Your eyes never stop moving. And your ears twitch at the slightest sound.”
The younger chuckled beneath the saddened smile he wore.
“Give your younger brother some credit, Choso.”
“My intention was not to insult you.” Choso turned to Eso, taking care to keep Kechizu within the periphery of his vision. “I am as relaxed as I can be while surrounded by humans. Any one of them could be a sorcerer, not to mention what other dangers lurk just beyond what we can see. As the eldest, it is my duty to assure that you both are safe while we take advantage of the day Geto-san has granted us.”
“I know, and I respect that, but elder brother,” The pause lingered as Eso straightened himself. Within this silence he placed his hand on Choso’s shoulder, tightening his grip momentarily as he tapped his forehead in search of the words he believed his brother needed. “I think it would be best—”
“G-GUYS? WHAT DO I DO!?”
Eso’s words were cut short as the pair’s attention snapped onto Kechizu. The youngest did his best to hold himself steady, even as his legs wobbled left and right as one of the goats in the pen approached his outstretched hands in search of the food within them.
“Remain calm. Continue to stand still. Relinquish the food gently as the keeper said and you will remain unharmed.”
In tandem with Choso’s advice, Eso brandished a thumbs up in support before shouting his encouragement.
“You’re doing great!”
“I-I am?” Kechizu turned back to the animal in front of him, a tad calmer than before as he watched in awe at the creature eating from his palms. This mild trance did wonders for prolonging the encounter, allowing Kechizu just enough time to transfer what food remained into one hand so that he may hesitantly poke at the top of the goat’s head. “H-Hi.”
The goat gave no reaction to Kechizu’s prodding, which acted as a welcome to continue so long as the youngest remained respectful.
“I think,” Eso continued his thought from before, “It would mean more to all three of us if you took part in our activities instead of keeping yourself outside them.” He then released Choso from his hold, requiring both arms to thrust himself over the wooden fence to join Kechizu in the animal pen. “We choose to live for one another, which means we can all look out for what dangers may cross our path. You don’t need to do it alone.”
“Truthfully, I am content with watching you both enjoy yourselves from here.” The pressure from Eso’s newly crossed arms and raised eyebrow, however, had Choso reconsidering his stance. His weak point was being exploited shamelessly, with the only consolation that it came from a concerned place within his brother’s heart. “I will join you in a moment. Allow me to take the proper route through the gate and meet you both on the other side.”
“You say that as if you’ll be taking more than a couple steps.” Eso waved him off, already approaching Kechizu with additional feed to fend off the two additional goats who sought to corner their youngest.
Choso halted his approach, if only to commit the scene to memory. Never within the dreams he spent most of his existence residing within would he have ever thought to picture such a sight. To then imagine himself a part of it… He was deeply grateful for the opportunity.
At the behest of his brothers, Choso was practically shoved into choosing their next destination. Sightseeing was an easy enough choice to make, deciding that the walk between their current position and Tokyo's famous tower would fill up the rest of their afternoon if they slowed their pace. Street vendors, performers, and minor landmarks of interest would easily swat at their attention. To meander from one spot to the next remained orderly in their own way, with each brother taking turns to point out which way their steps should deviate before ultimately returning to the path they started on.
It was at the base of the Zojo-ji Temple where his brothers had already run off ahead that Choso felt the vibration in his pocket, preceding the intrusive ringtone of the cell phone he had been given. One look at the screen revealed who the caller was, his name already put into the contact list before the device had ever reached Choso’s hand.
The ring continued as he stared at the screen, all too aware of the significance such a sound held. With a deep breath, Choso clicked the answer button with his thumb and pressed the device against his ear.
“Geto-san.”
“Choso. I hope you boys have been enjoying yourselves?”
“What do you need, Geto-san?” Neither of them required an exchange of pleasantries. Especially false ones.
“I have a task for your brothers. Round them up and return at once, so I may inform them of the details directly.” And with that, their day together was over.
“Only them?”
“They can’t continue holding onto big brother’s hand forever.” Choso’s grip on his cell phone tightened, producing a series of cracks against his ear. “Even at their level, it will be a simple retrieval mission.”
Even at their level...
What that statement implied made Choso’s blood boil underneath his skin and the muscles around his throat constrict as if to prevent him from expelling the building outburst into the curse user’s ear.
Instead, Choso held his tongue and gazed up at the sky. The Tokyo Tower loomed above him, its shadow cast across the temple’s grounds. Far down the stone path they were following stood Eso and Kechizu, laughing as they pointed at something Choso could not see. Between them were rows of Jizo statues, many dressed for the cold weather predicted to come in the following days.
Impulsivity would have Choso turn the device off and continue their trip. Perhaps extend the borders of their exploration to the neighboring prefecture in search of the peaceful existence with his family he longed for.
But impulsivity was naïve. Neglectful. Impulsivity did not think of the dangers that would arise from making enemies of sorcerers and curses alike. It did not recall the remaining siblings that still await their rescue, nor understand just how impermanent the ignorance of humans was in the world to come.
As much as he desired to remove themselves from the fighting entirely, the reason they would fight was to preserve days such as these. Days that were cut far too short. Days that Choso would press close to his chest to fuel what drove him to continue down the path he’d chosen.
“I understood. We will begin making our return.”
Eso and Kechizu would have to forgive him for his inability to witness the City from Tokyo Tower’s observation deck. He was sure the sight would have been as breathtaking as all the promotional brochures claimed it to be.
The three of them would have to return another day with the rest of their siblings in tow.
“At least this convenience store looks mostly intact.” Yuji, the newly discovered youngest of Choso’s family, waved a tired hand in front of the doors to test the motion-activated mechanism responsible for opening them. When nothing came of it, with little surprise on either brother’s part, Yuji brute-forced the doors apart instead. “I’m going to see if there’s anything worthwhile inside.”
“I’ll join you.”
Choso did not receive a meaningful response to his offer beyond a mild hum of acknowledgment. His brother was no longer shoving him away or seeking avenues for which he could escape from Choso’s sight, but that did not mean their relationship was any less strained. As much as Choso was willing to look past the fallout of their shared parent’s lies and scheming hellbent on tormenting their family, the guilt his younger brother felt over the loss of Eso and Kechizu were enough to keep himself at a distance. Not only emotionally, but physically.
Yuji gradually moved to the furthest reaches of the convenience store from Choso’s position when searching for food and supplies they could scavenge. Always looking over his shoulder, senses alert to the slightest noise, Choso found it best that he do nothing but peruse the shelves by the store’s entrance while allowing his younger brother to take the lead in searching for supplies primarily for him. Yuji was more human than the rest of his siblings, after all. Requirements such as food were not the same between them.
While looking for something to keep his attention when the immediate area proved useless, Choso turned back toward the exit with intent on waiting for his brother there. It was here by the doors where he had overlooked a collapsed display of brochures, postcards, trinkets, and wearable merchandise that had been mostly trampled over by others who had passed through prior to the pair. Normally, these sorts of items would be lumped together with the useless category, but a certain cap that got knocked by the tip of Choso’s boot had the Death Painting giving it a second thought.
He recognized that particular hat.
It was a simple design with less-than-average quality lettering, but that was enough to invoke a memory he’d been clutching dear to his heart ever since he felt the connection his heart shared with Kechizu’s snap.
Without thinking, Choso bent down and took the cap in his hands. He did so in silence, keeping his tormented thoughts within himself, even as Yuji walked by with his spoils in tow. It only felt natural to place the cap on his younger brother’s head. It fit just right, keeping snug and thus remaining in place even when Yuji tilted his head in confusion over why Choso would do such a thing.
“What…?” Yuji rearranged the bags of food between his hands, freeing one in order to reach up and tear the offending cap off his head. He then read the writing on the front and scoffed. “I love Tokyo… Don’t you think this is in bad taste?”
His brother was referring to the surrounding destruction. Abandoned buildings half-standing. The crater that had replaced Shibuya— Yuji’s body had been used by Sukuna to carry it all out. It being against his will was irrelevant. But, while that was on the forefront of his younger brother’s mind, Choso could not help but see something far different: The image of their lost brother, sharing in the same hat, looking at his older brother for approval.
“I don’t think so." Choso then motioned to the dark clouds encroaching upon the city outside. "I suspect this next night will be a cold one. Since you can’t regulate your body temperature like I can, I suggest you cover your head to keep the heat within your body from escaping.”
“Whatever.”
Yuji turned away from Choso to close his eyes and eventually shake his head before departing the store entirely. Despite his clear reservations, it had taken far longer than Choso thought for his younger brother to ditch the cap, waiting until there was a suitable place to hang it, such as the doorknob of a familiar looking clothing store…