But Tu had already stood up, grabbing Tsunayoshi and pushing him toward the Doorway.
You're sleeping on the Sofa tonight.
“Tu——”
Bang!
The door slammed shut in front of Tsunayoshi.
Tsunayoshi stood outside the door, feeling like crying but having no tears.
Reborn walked over, patted his shoulder, said in a sympathetic tone, but with a gloating expression: "Happy New Year, Tsunayoshi."
Tsunayoshi sighed and crouched down against the wall.
This New Year will probably be spent on the Sofa.
Thursday
Yokohama, an Apartment Building.
Tu Bai stood before a door and took a deep breath.
He found Tu Bao's residence according to his memory.
He knocked on the door.
A chaotic series of sounds came from inside—it sounded like Footsteps, arguing, the sound of something falling on the ground.
After a while, the Shoji was pulled open a crack, a pair of Red Eyes peeked through the gap.
It was Tu Bao.
"Er Bao?" Tu Bao's Voice was thick with tears, but there was a hint of.. terror in his eyes?
Brother, I've come to find you for the New Year," Tu Bai smiled. "Is it convenient?
Tu Bao opened his mouth but said nothing.
The door was pulled wide open.
Tu Bai froze when he saw the scene inside.
In the Living Room, three adult Men stood.
One wore a Sand-colored Trench Coat, looking at him with a squinty-eyed smile.
He wore a Black Suit Jacket, wrapped in Bandages, with an indifferent expression.
A person wearing a pure black Suit, draped in a black coat, with a red scarf around their neck and hollow eyes.
A Little Boy, about six or seven years old with short black hair, was also sitting on the Sofa, clutching a Game Controller and looking at him curiously.
Four.. Dazai Osamu?
Tu Bai's brain stalled.
Er Bao, you've come at just the right time.." Tu Bao grabbed his sleeve, his eyes brimming with tears, "I don't know what to do..
Before Tu Bai could even react, a familiar Voice came from behind him:
Xiao Bai, why are you running so fast?
Tu Bai froze.
He slowly turned his head.
At the End of the Corridor, Gojo Satoru stood there, not wearing his blindfold, his Ice Blue Eyes shimmering under the dim Light. He was wearing casual black shirt and trousers, his hair still a bit wet, clearly having rushed out right after taking a shower.
He looked at Tu Bai with a smile, but no matter how one looked at it, that smile was dangerous.
“The note is written quite simply,” he said, walking over. “Looking for Brother [male]? Hmm?”
Tu Bai took a step back, bumping into the door frame behind him.
He looked inside—four Dazais and one crybaby Brother.
And looking outside the house—a Gojo Satoru with an eerie smile.
Caught in the middle, he was in a dilemma.
"Um.. I can explain.." he said weakly.
Gojo Satoru had already walked up to him, looking down at him. "Explain what? Explain why you ran? Or explain—who these people are?"
He looked past Tu Bai's shoulder toward the four Dazais in the house.
The four Dazais also looked at him at the same time.
It was as if flashes of lightning were streaking through the air.
Tu Bao hid behind Tu Bai and whispered, "Er Bao, the one over here looks even scarier.."
Tu Bai wanted to cry but had no tears.
Can this New Year even be enjoyed properly?
-----------------------
Author's Note: ☆彡（ノ^^）ノ Happy New Year! Please enjoy this sweet little side story.
Chapter 33
Little Black Rabbit ran all night.
No, it didn't know how long it had been running. The Forest was pitch black, making it impossible to distinguish between Daytime and night; only the occasional slivers of Moonlight leaking through the gaps in the leaves let it know it was still running forward.
Its four legs had long since lost all strength, every step felt as if it were stepping on cotton, soft and limp, as if it might collapse at any moment. But it did not dare to stop.
There were pursuers behind him.
Those Cursed Energy fluctuations were far away at first, then they drew closer, then they grew distant again. Perhaps they had chased in the wrong direction, or perhaps their attention had been drawn by something else. But Tu Bai knew they would not give up.
He must run. The farther, the better.
After running for a while longer, the Water Sound came from ahead. A small stream, not wide, with very shallow water, where the clear Moonlight shone upon the surface, casting a Silver Light.
Tu Bai stopped, panting. He looked behind him, then looked at the stream again.
The pursuers will track his Aura. He has been running for so long that his Aura must be scattered everywhere, but if there is a stronger current to wash it away..
He grit his teeth and jumped into the stream.
The stream water was very cold, like ice, making his whole body shudder. But he didn't stop, running downstream with the current, his four short legs paddling through the water, splashing up sprays of droplets.
After running for dozens of meters, he crawled onto the shore, soaking wet and shivering like he was in a sieve.
But he couldn't care about the cold. He closed his eyes and mobilized the nearly exhausted Demon Power within his body.
He had to regain his human form. Even if he only regained a little bit, he would be faster than a Rabbit.
Demon Power circulated through his body, like the last few drops of water seeping from a dried-up riverbed. His body began to swell and grow, slowly transforming from a palm-sized Rabbit into human form.
One meter, one meter fifty, one meter seventy.
He opened his Eyes, looking down at his own hands—they were Human hands, but the skin was pale and covered in a light fuzz. He felt the top of his head—his Ears were still there, long and soft, drooping on both sides of his head. His tail was also still there, a small fluff of fur at the base of his spine.
Demon Power was too weak to maintain a complete human form. But at least he could run.
Tu Bai took a deep breath, turned around, continued running into the depths of the Forest.
The wind howled in his ears, branches scraped against his cheeks, stinging with pain. He couldn't afford to care; he just had to run.
The Baby in his Abdomen pulsed weakly, as if cheering him on.
Just hold on a little longer." He said in a low voice, unsure if he was speaking to himself or to that tiny existence, "Just hold on a little longer.
---
While running, he suddenly stopped.
There is someone ahead.
No, they aren't people. It's Cursed Energy Fluctuation—intense, malicious Cursed Energy Fluctuation.
Three.
Tu Bai took a step back and turned to run, but the sound of Cursed Energy Fluctuation also came from behind him.
Surrounded.
He slowly walked out from the Shadow of the Forest. Three Figures stood under the Moonlight.
The first one walked at the very front, wearing a unique, thick Kimono that revealed a lean waist. His brownish-black hair was tied into two high ponytails, his center-parted bangs swayed gently in the wind. He had dark horizontal lines and magenta eyeshadow on his face, with black Cursed Wards on the bridge of his nose. His features were handsome and well-proportioned, but his gaze was as cold as ice.
The second one followed behind him, wearing an revealing tight tank top that showed off his well-defined muscles. His hairstyle was quite unique—shaved short on both sides with only the front hair left, resembling some kind of avant-garde mohawk. His features were handsome, a faint, almost imperceptible smile played at the corners of his mouth, but there was no Temperature in those Eyes.
The third one stood at the very back, a small and thin figure with messy, blue-green short hair. The upper half of his face was human, but the lower half was a massive, cracked mouth, revealing stark white teeth. Blood flowed from his eyes, nose, mouth, making him look like a demon crawled straight out of hell.
These are three Cursed Spirits, all of them are Special Grade.
Tu Bai's heart sank to the bottom of the Valley.
The one walking at the very front—Hanami—spoke, his Voice low and calm:
So you're that Rabbit?
Tu Bai said nothing. He slowly backed away, his hand pressing against his chest as he attempted to mobilize his Demon Power.
But it was too little. Too little.
The second—Dairoku, smiled, a smile so elegant it looked as if he were attending a banquet: "Don't bother. Your Demon Power is nearly exhausted; we can tell."
The third—Choso, poked his head out from behind, his massive mouth stretching even wider as saliva mixed with blood dripped down: "Brother, can I eat this?"
Hanami did not answer. He simply stared at Tu Bai, his gaze complex.
"The Lord has sent us to take you back," he said.
Tu Bai knew he was talking about that man, but he ignored him. He was looking for an opportunity, any opportunity at all.
Dairoku suddenly took a step forward.
Tu Bai took a step back, his right hand forming a loose fist as he activated his Construction Technique.