Chapter 128 : Detective Conan World Merchandise Rush & Returning to the High School
Morofushi Hiromitsu and Matsuda Jinpei both tacitly chose not to follow up on the medical product trade, because it was truly too shocking. For mental health, it was better not to know.
Anyway, Kurosawa Akira was currently under Jiang Lai's education and could be considered chaotic good in serious matters. Since this batch of goods was being traded through legal channels, they wouldn't get involved.
For this reason, they never learned whether Gin had replied to Kurosawa Akira's message, whether the deal was completed, or whether the final agreement requirements were modified.
Morofushi Hiromitsu & Matsuda Jinpei: Thanks for asking, don't want to know the outcome.jpg
Next, the Detective Conan world welcomed a new batch of official hot-selling merchandise figures, and their attention quickly shifted to grabbing figures.
This time's official Jujutsu new series merchandise was a summer fireworks festival yukata series. The figures were made lifelike and exquisite. As soon as the presale images were posted, they exploded across major websites.
However, this round's limit of two figures per person made countless fans wail endlessly, especially the all-in completionist parties.
For this, the official blog received countless reply comments, with many hoping the official would lift purchase restrictions and remove quotas. Logically speaking, with commerce as primary focus, there shouldn't be limits.
But the official still set this condition and stated: To prevent people from hoarding many for high-priced resale, they simply set up backend real-name verification with quota limits.
Regardless, this official merchandise was extremely hot, with fans gearing up to purchase the second sales opened.
As the countdown to sales opening gradually approached, Matsuda Jinpei couldn't help but feel restless. He crossed his legs on the sofa, muttering:
"How to put it, although we've already collected lots of merchandise and I'm happy about Jiang Lai's popularity, when this merchandise came out I still can't help wanting to grab some."
"That's normal, people inevitably have collecting addictions." Morofushi Hiromitsu's voice was gentle, "I can help you quit, like you help me grab another Little Sheep."
"Wait, aren't we supposed to be on the same side?! Share honor and disgrace, family!" Matsuda Jinpei pointed toward the special display case in the living room, "Speaking of which, everything we grabbed is displayed in there, why do you want me to grab another pair?"
"Zero has been working overtime recently and has no time to participate in merchandise grabbing. He asked me to help buy merchandise when I'm free." Morofushi Hiromitsu smiled, "It's rare to see Zero have some daily leisure hobbies, so naturally I want to help."
"Also, Zero said the FBI stationed in Japan for missions recently can grab official limited merchandise every single time, which is very annoying."
Mentioning this, Morofushi Hiromitsu was somewhat surprised, "The FBI who came to Japan recently should be Akai and them, right? Is their internet that good? And he should be very busy too, how would he have free time to grab merchandise?"
Matsuda Jinpei leaned back on the sofa: "Don't know, come to think of it, why don't we ask Hiroki to help grab purchases? Hiroki, who's rooted in the network as Noah's Ark, is the true god of merchandise grabbing."
Mentioning this, he unconsciously continued: "Hiroki mentioned before that if there's need, I can ask him to help with purchases."
"I remember when chatting with Noah's Ark Hiroki, Hiroki said he recently made friends with a fellow fan whose IP is mostly in America but sometimes in Japan. Sometimes they ask Hiroki to help with purchases."
Getting to this point, he suddenly stopped, and Morofushi Hiromitsu also fell into brief silence.
After a few seconds of quiet air.
Matsuda Jinpei & Morofushi Hiromitsu: ...Wait, seems like we suddenly discovered the truth behind a certain FBI gentleman's surprising ability to grab official limited merchandise every time!!!
Meanwhile, in the Jujutsu world.
After that night of accidentally entering Ryomen Sukuna's Innate Domain and completing a healthy 10,000-step check-in inside, Jiang Lai never entered again.
Probably the residual fragment power had dissipated. Jiang Lai thought. He wondered if touching fragments and fingers again would let him re-enter Ryomen Sukuna's Innate Domain.
If there was a chance, he might try it.
Jiang Lai felt the Innate Domain was a good communication channel, though they currently had no plans for proper communication.
Next time entering Ryomen Sukuna's Innate Domain, he might try to see if besides phones, he could carry other items, or whether he could conceive other items in non-real space.
If possible, he'd first get a deck of cards. Maybe everyone could play "Daifugo" (similar to Chinese Fighting the Landlord) in the Innate Domain.
Use entertainment to fill the spiritual world of the lonely empty-nest elderly Sukuna, so he wouldn't think about sinister operations all day.
Jiang Lai thought whimsically, feeling very amused.
After the Geto Suguru incident ended, he emailed Gojo Satoru back, telling him Geto Suguru was fine, then half-jokingly said when he returned, he would remind Geto Suguru to prank him back.
Hearing his best friend was safe, Gojo Satoru's email tone returned to its usual style, proudly stating something like "bring it on," he wasn't afraid of Suguru's counter-pranks.
Jiang Lai, back in his Little Sheep disguise and attending Satozakura School, finally got through his final semester exams.
Although he had missed classes later, Jiang Lai, whose soul was an adult, managed to catch up and complete the coursework before exams.
Jiang Lai: Long time no see, the tension of taking exams!
After exams came a relatively long spring break. Little Sheep Jiang Lai, carrying his backpack full of homework, traveled with Nanami Kento to reach Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Standing before Tokyo Jujutsu High's main gate, Jiang Lai felt momentarily dazed. He hadn't been here for quite a while.
Standing at the gate, he could almost see the daily interactions of Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, and Ieiri Shoko from their high school days.
Back then, Jiang Lai's robes fluttered, ancient books concealed at his lips as he smiled watching the youthful campus life of the young men and women.
Time flowed, years passed. This land always had new batches of youthful, spirited youngsters. The trees that had stood here for countless years witnessed generations of students growing and departing.
The high school carried memories, but life wasn't just memories. The long road ahead still lay at their feet.
Jiang Lai followed Nanami Kento, and with the barrier management staff's assistance, registered his cursed energy before passing through the barrier into the school.
Nanami Kento first led Little Sheep Jiang Lai toward the dormitories: "They're still in class now. I'll take you to the dorm to put down your backpack, then bring you to the classroom. Today's coursework is jujutsu-related. You can audit first and ask about anything you don't understand."
The blonde adult's expression was calm, his tone cool, but his content was very thoughtful and considerate, explaining school matters to Little Sheep Jiang Lai in detail.
"The school is large. If you're unfamiliar, walking alone is easy to get lost. There are no road signs here. I recommend traveling with companions early on, or memorizing routes yourself, or leaving temporary cursed energy markers you recognize along the way."
"The school is relatively safe since outsiders generally cannot enter. Most places on campus can be visited, but the cursed object storage room, cursed tool storage areas, and the Tombs of the Star below where Tengen-sama resides cannot be entered casually."
Tombs of the Star...
Jiang Lai silently thought about manga details. He remembered there was a tall tree spiraling upward at the center.
Mentioning ancient trees, he inevitably thought of [Origin]. He wondered if there might also be fragment parts at the Tombs of the Star.
Tengen staying here probably wasn't random site selection. Perhaps sensing this area's environment was extraordinary, he remained here as his permanent residence.
His thoughts flowing, Jiang Lai's expression remained unchanged, still listening to Nanami Kento explain school matters with youthful curiosity and enthusiasm.
"Due to small numbers, the school has no dedicated cafeteria, but corresponding management staff handle nutritious meal preparation. If not eating at school, remember to report in advance to avoid food waste."
"Dorms have lights out at midnight, no lights out on weekends. With emergencies or advance notice, lights out can also be waived."
By this point, Little Sheep Jiang Lai had followed Nanami Kento to the dormitory area.
Nanami Kento skillfully approached the dormitory management staff for communication, then led Little Sheep Jiang Lai into the traditional-style building corridor.
"Can I choose my own room?" Little Sheep Jiang Lai quickened his pace, his expression radiating joy as he pointed diagonally ahead, "I want that one."
Jiang Lai planned to continue living in his previously occupied room.
He really liked that dormitory room: the room structure, lighting, and scenery outside the floor-to-ceiling windows were all excellent.
Nanami Kento's gaze followed Little Sheep Jiang Lai's pointing, and noticing the room he'd chosen, he paused slightly and replied: "That room doesn't house anyone."
"Huh?" Jiang Lai was somewhat surprised, "Why?"
"Gojo-sensei, Ieiri-san, and former Geto-senpai told management staff that room should be kept empty, not housing anyone." Nanami Kento said, "Perhaps they'll store some things there."
"...This is the storage room chosen by the seniors?" Jiang Lai's tone was somewhat uncertain.
"That's how management recorded it, and others would probably think so too." Nanami Kento's voice was calm. Being perceptive at heart, he could see more from the seniors, "However, when I say storing some things, I don't only mean physical items."
Nanami Kento didn't specify clearly, but after a pause, Jiang Lai gradually understood.
When the clock reversed, rewinding to after the Star Plasma Vessel incident, he couldn't come as they had hoped the next day, the third day, the fourth day, countless days, he never came.
Perhaps never to meet again in this lifetime, perhaps no one but them would know the truth of the restart.
This room became a place where memory fragments belonged.
Thinking this way, Jiang Lai felt indescribable complex emotions rising in his heart.
He suddenly understood somewhat how that time-space jump that passed in a blink for him represented such long, enduring, boundless years for others.
...It really was a long wait, my friends.
Jiang Lai withdrew his gaze, looking ahead, silently thinking.
We will ultimately create the best happy ending, just as after the flow of sun and moon, we finally welcomed reunion.