Chapter 88 : Years and Miracles Themselves
Detective Conan World.
Teitan High School's annual club day was approaching. Each club was bustling with activity, rolling up their sleeves to prepare for a big effort.
Kudo Shinichi was a member of the soccer club but also had a place in the anime club, crowned with the title of [Best Advisor].
Therefore, he was currently sitting in the anime club's meeting room, listening to other students discuss how to plan this activity.
"We've done maid cafes year after year before. This year let's innovate and do a different theme!"
The club president energetically suggested, "That new Jujutsu series has been really popular lately, so let's make that our theme."
"Great! Plus we can divide the site decorations into three areas: Thousand Year Hexagram, Yesterday's Past, and the main modern story!"
The twin-tailed vice president spoke enthusiastically, then muttered, "Speaking of the recent Thousand Year Hexagram, little brother Sukuna is really too sinister..."
Little brother, huh. Hearing this, Kudo Shinichi couldn't help but recall his previous conversation with Kurosawa Akira.
Both Kudo Shinichi and Kurosawa Akira had experienced the non-natural child phase.
When they were still elementary school-sized, they were classmates at Teitan Elementary School.
Except for the very beginning when Kudo Shinichi, still as Conan, was extremely suspicious and nervous for a while due to Akira's face being very similar to Gin's, they got along well afterward and had a good relationship.
Therefore later, after the organization was destroyed and both took antidotes to grow up, they would still meet for meals together when free.
During meals and chats, they would talk about Jiang Lai from the Jujutsu world and recent manga plot updates.
Kurosawa Akira held his chopsticks, gray-green eyes staring at the table in front of him, speaking in his consistently cool voice:
"Didn't expect Jiang Lai-nii to have another little brother... Well, first, I'm not a brother complex. Just from an objective standpoint, I think Ryomen Sukuna is an unqualified little brother."
"Or more precisely, I don't think he counts as Jiang Lai-nii's little brother either. So-called [Existence] conceptual brothers naturally aren't as reasonable as my legal adoption and long companionship."
"Second, I'm not a brother complex. I just think those online comments about Lai-nii and little brother Sukuna are rumors. Rumors are naturally bad, so I'll rationally and objectively downvote them one by one."
"Sukuna definitely doesn't count as Lai-nii's little brother. A qualified perfect little brother should be like me. Finally, I'm really not a brother complex."
Kudo Shinichi: "......"
The great detective put down his chopsticks, the great detective's mind worked, the great detective fell into thought, then solved the case.
Only one truth: Akira, you are a brother complex! Stop denying it!!
The distraction from reminiscing was only momentary. Immediately, Kudo Shinichi's attention returned to the anime club meeting scene.
The club students in front of him were still enthusiastically discussing:
"Aside from those sinister scenes, the recent updated plot really makes people go doki-doki! Like, painful yet heart-fluttering..."
"Did you all see this morning's update? God Lai's night meeting with thousand-year-ago Gojo, the moonlight and window atmosphere was absolutely perfect!"
"Uwah, I definitely remember! When I saw that part, it was truly a beautiful face attack from two handsome guys. I screenshotted all those official illustrations!"
"I bought so many copies of these chapters' physical manga volumes: one to read, one to collect, two specifically for cutting up posters, plus I commissioned several phone screen-sized drafts for wallpapers!"
"Such strong fan devotion...!"
Bringing up this topic, all the club members with shared interests began discussing excitedly.
"This story really involves reincarnation concepts! The cursed spirit manipulator and reverse cursed technique user Gojo mentioned must be Geto and Shoko, the thousand-year-ago trio!"
"Plus Ten Shadows Technique Shuuki... feels like Megumi-kun. Wonder if Nobara and Yuji will appear later."
"Really want to see awakened past life memories and such, but it might be heart-wrenching. Thousand-year-ago Lai-san who was so powerful, gradually weakening, becoming a fallen god... Satoru-kun isn't just a witness but a participant. If he really awakens past life memories, it'll be very painful."
"At the end there, God Lai couldn't hold on and needed to hibernate, yet was still so gentle, playing a nighttime escape game with Satoru and hiding his physical condition..."
The long-haired girl said quietly, "Plus he said goodbye to Satoru-kun properly. That star promise was both beautiful and illusory. Can they really meet again? When they meet again, will it still be you and me under tonight's moonlight... Oh no, tissues!"
"Ah! Yuko-chan, don't cry!!"
Surrounding students immediately pulled out tissues and handkerchiefs, comforting their friend who started crying as she spoke.
"...Sorry everyone, my tear ducts are quite developed..."
"Take it easy, take it easy. Didn't they meet in the future? Plus they promised to tell stories and such. Doesn't that perfectly correspond to little Satoru's part at the beginning of Yesterday's Past?"
The vice president patted her shoulder, then her words suddenly paused, as if she suddenly realized something.
"Eh, wait. Does this mean after this, they have to wait a thousand years to meet again? Will God Lai sleep that long?"
During plot analysis, everyone's gaze unconsciously focused on the [Best Advisor] present: great detective Kudo Shinichi.
Kudo Shinichi crossed his hands, sapphire blue eyes holding thoughtful light as he replied:
"Probably won't end that quickly. Thousand-year-ago Lai had very strong power. He wouldn't fall into deep sleep for too long just from reviving one Ten Shadows Technique child."
"I think this chapter isn't over yet. There should be more plot afterward. After all, there are still some foreshadowing elements that haven't been revealed, right?"
"It's just that if we take their parting promise as foreshadowing, perhaps they won't have any true reunion after this in the Heian-kyo."
Kudo Shinichi knew the manga plot was all events his good friend Jiang Lai truly experienced. His current analysis was based on Jiang Lai's mentions of world consciousness influence.
Of course, this content naturally couldn't be revealed. Therefore, he still used manga foreshadowing explanations to communicate with anime club students.
"Eh, what?" The people around looked somewhat dazed. "True reunion?"
"The Heian-kyo had no electronic communication devices. Letters were also very difficult to deliver. Perhaps there would only be one-sided [heard that the other is doing such-and-such]. But this can't count as true reunion, right?"
Kudo Shinichi lowered his hands and said, "Perhaps in the latter part of Thousand Year Hexagram, the two will always miss each other through misfortune, or only have brief encounters where they can't say much."
"That's also why [next time we meet, make him tell me a few interesting stories] wasn't realized until Yesterday's Past chapter."
"...Sounds very reasonable. So the latter half of Thousand Year Hexagram chapter will be knives, right?" The anime club president covered his chest. "Already starting to hurt! No way, this cafe theme definitely has to make others hurt too."
"Everyone, let's think together about how to make this club day a sinister activity!"
The president suddenly slapped the table, like he was injected with adrenaline, becoming fighting spirited.
"Eh???" Everyone couldn't react for a moment.
"Decided!" The president pulled out a marker, writing a string of text on blank poster board, then held it up to show club members.
"This club day activity, our theme goal will be [The coffee is delicious but seeing the surrounding decorations makes your heart and stomach hurt so much you can't drink it and will use up all the tissues for wiping tears]! How about it?"
"...A weird light novel-style theme goal was born!!"
On the other side, in the Jujutsu world.
Jiang Lai, who had no time to look at his phone anymore, didn't know about the other world's situation.
At this moment he was just following his instincts, walking ghostlike toward where he sensed [Birth].
The cream-colored moon hung in the sky, its gentle radiance softly enveloping everything on earth. Under such moonlight, waves of drowsiness surged more and more intensely.
This is a bit troublesome. Jiang Lai's thoughts swayed. Better not lie down and sleep in some random place.
If that happened, he'd definitely startle passersby, maybe even be worshipped as some incorruptible corpse in a town shrine.
Random thoughts slid through his mind. When his figure stumbled, Jiang Lai felt wind brush past his ears, then fell into a warm embrace.
The lotus pink kimono was as magnificent as always. [Birth] with a peach-blossom face and princess-cut hair appeared before him. Despite seeming delicate, their arms were surprisingly strong, now steadily embracing Jiang Lai.
"What's wrong with you, [Space-Time]?" The elder sister's (elder brother's) gentle voice carried some surprise and worry. "Your power..."
Jiang Lai half-lowered his eyes. In the familiar atmosphere of a fellow [Existence], his body that had been struggling to maintain alertness relaxed.
He said softly: "Sorry, seems I used my abilities a bit too much. I'm quite sleepy now... could you please take me somewhere to sleep?"
"......" [Birth] first froze, then understood what had happened from the person's words.
They pressed their lips straight, beautiful eyebrows furrowing as they spoke: "Fool. Don't give so much for humans. It's completely unnecessary. Just follow me from now on, living freely and happily beyond the human world."
"Thank you," Jiang Lai smiled, his voice low and sincere. "But sorry, I probably prefer to continue walking in the world."
[Birth]'s beautiful peach-blossom eyes lowered, staring at him for several seconds before finally sighing softly.
They raised a hand to pat the black-haired youth's back, confused yet helpless: "Really don't understand you... Well, let's take you to [Origin] first."
They changed position, half-embracing Jiang Lai, speaking gently: "If you're sleepy, rest peacefully. We're all here."
The gentle temperament of the elder sister (elder brother) brought him comfort. Jiang Lai's warm brown eyes lifted slightly, responding with a warm smile: "Then I'll trouble you."
After finishing his words, he could no longer control the drowsiness that had long since burst its banks, following the instinctive surge into deep slumber.
Wind blew through the forest, as if playing a gentle lullaby.
......
Normally [Existence] wouldn't dream. But this time, Jiang Lai had a hazy dream.
The dream didn't seem to contain any specific logical events, only vaguely remembering an infinitely extending brilliant starry sky.
Shining stars transformed into meteor showers, dragging long tails as they fell from the sky one by one. The magnificent scene when they burned was spectacular beyond compare.
But this unprecedented beauty could apparently only be seen once, because the falling stars in the dream were like white fireworks, dimming after burning out and scattering with the wind.
After burning out, the dream starry sky became deep blue-black, like a water pool, an eye, a black hole.
In the infinitely extending yet gradually fading blue-black, Jiang Lai awakened.
He didn't know how long he'd slept this time. When consciousness returned, he felt some sunlight lazily warming his cheeks, breeze playfully stirring his long hair, with the unique fresh fragrance of post-rain forest grass around his nose.
Jiang Lai opened his eyes.
An ancient, kindly voice reached his ears, still in that undefinable language that his brain could somehow understand:
[Awake, child?]
"Mm, I'm awake." Jiang Lai curved his eyes. He was currently in a hammock woven from ancient tree branches and vines.
After waking, Jiang Lai stretched lazily, turned to sit up, and said earnestly, "I rested very well. Thank you."
[No need to be so polite. We are 'family' after all.]
"Still need to say thanks." Jiang Lai smiled. "What time is it now? How long did I sleep?"
[If calculated by human methods, you hibernated for over ten years.]
Over ten years? Jiang Lai was slightly stunned, then quickly accepted it. Not very long, not very short either.
Now would probably be when Shuuki was in adolescence, long-haired Gojo had grown into young adult 285, and Ryomen Sukuna's "King of Curses" title was widely circulating.
Additionally, there was Kenjaku... Recalling this, Jiang Lai's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
If the traveler the villagers mentioned at the parasite village was indeed Kenjaku (Brain-kun), then Brain-kun seemed to have started preparing something early on.
But in this Heian-kyo of rampant curses and demons, with jujutsu sorcerers and curse users everywhere yet extremely underdeveloped communication, finding people across the vast land was truly difficult.
Moreover, Jiang Lai wasn't clear about Kenjaku and Tengen's appearances or more specific information in this era.
It seemed that to capture Kenjaku's figure, he'd need to plan further ahead, considering what the other might be interested in and standing guard to observe first. Thoughts surged in Jiang Lai's mind.
Speaking of which, the original work seemed to show that Kenjaku's thousand-year plan apparently involved Ryomen Sukuna?
The two seemingly reached some agreement a thousand years ago. Unclear if the new series would develop similarly.
If so, from Ryomen Sukuna's side, he might be able to obtain or witness some information related to Kenjaku.
He thought: Hope the manga also provides more god's-eye view, revealing plot happening in places he couldn't see.
The current season should be summer, with flourishing branches and vigorous life everywhere. Surrounding them were overlapping mountain ranges in these uninhabited peaks.
Jiang Lai sat on the ancient tree's woven vine hammock, naturally dangling his legs and swaying as he gazed into the distance, his thoughts temporarily coming to rest.
Just then, he again heard [Origin]'s warm voice: [What do you plan to do next? Are you going out again?]
"Hm? Next." Jiang Lai thought. "Actually I haven't thought of specific plans yet, but I do plan to go out again."
He planned to find clues about Kenjaku from Ryomen Sukuna while still in this Heian-kyo. He wanted to know about thousand-year-ago Gojo and Shuuki's situation, even if he couldn't visit in person, just hearing news from afar would be good.
His heart remained concerned about his friends and his path home after achieving the good ending.
[Will you do what you did before? After karmic burdens accumulate, the consequences might not just be slumber.]
"I don't save indiscriminately. I have my own principles. As for karma, I can sense it."
Jiang Lai's expression was actually cheerful. "But rather than calculating consequences carefully, I prefer doing well with what's in front of me. Results are indeed important, but the process is equally worth devoting attention to."
"As for whether it's fortune or misfortune, I believe in subjective initiative and interdependence of fortune and misfortune. What seems like misfortune might, from another angle, be the fortune that more people and I want to pursue."
[Seems like you really dote on humans.]
"Mm, [dote]? Probably not that word." Jiang Lai blinked, holding his book in front of his mouth. "Though my birth method and abilities differ from most people, I've always felt I'm also one of the countless living beings."
"Walking in the world isn't some 'divine descent,' because I originally belong to the world."
The ancient tree [Origin] seemed to laugh, every leaf trembling. That ancient voice slowed:
[I see. Universal love without losing principles, gentleness with firmness, treating everyone equally regardless of power level. It seems you truly have the potential to become a true god.]
"...True god?" Jiang Lai was dazed for a moment.
[We are currently [Existence], but actually [Existence] at most is only a type of quasi-god. You have the potential to become a true deity.] The ancient tree's voice held an elder's laughter. [I very much look forward to witnessing your future.]
A true deity? Jiang Lai internally showed half-moon eyes, self-deprecatingly thinking: Actually, in the future, forget about being a deity—in the manga he seemed to have already degraded into a mix of human and cursed spirit.
He replied aloud: "Mm... actually I'm not very interested in being a deity or anything."
Jiang Lai's brown eyes lifted. "Being high above is too lonely. I don't want to be some lonely true deity in the ninth heaven."
[That's not it.] The ancient tree's voice still carried kind laughter, speaking at a gentle pace. [True deities are never in the ninth heaven, but among the people.]
[—To become a god, one must first be human.]
A gust of wind suddenly rose, the summer morning breeze swirling, carrying the moisture from soft grass-covered earth and distant wisps of cooking smoke from remote villages, blowing past the scar-covered treetop of the ancient tree and the navy kimono hem of the black-haired youth.
"......" Jiang Lai was first stunned for a moment, then paused for a second, thought, and suddenly smiled. "If that's the case, then the answer is—humans themselves are full of miracles, aren't they?"
The true deities of the world are the countless living beings themselves.
The ancient tree's flourishing leaves trembled again. He seemed to laugh again, but this time, He said no more.
Jiang Lai leaped down lightly from the vine-woven hammock, landing steadily on the ground.
He raised his warm brown eyes, looking ahead, feeling incredibly light. The morning sun in the east rose peacefully higher, with clouds rippling across the sky in golden waves.
Jiang Lai silently thought to himself: I am me, always have been and will ultimately return to being an ordinary person through the vast journey mixed with laughter and tears.
—And countless ordinary people are themselves the incomparable miracle.