Chapter Text
2012
Kita comes home later than usual.
“Tadaima.”
“Okaerinasai.” Yumie greets with a smile from the tatami mat. “You’re later than usual, perhaps your bu–“
The smile drops once a familiar aura gets caught in her senses, she turns her head to finally turn to her grandson. Her jaw almost drops at the sight; her dear Shinsuke, with band-aids and bandages adorning his body. His uniform is only slightly dirty, but that’s enough to be worried about as Shinsuke is usually so clean and meticulous – he wouldn’t let a stain on any of his clothes, be it a jersey, school uniform, or just an ordinary shirt. It’s ridiculous, because he usually goes home with his clothing as clean as it was when it exited the dryer.
So seeing this only overwhelms Yumie with concern.
And there’s the aura. Years with the Zenins had taught her a lot of things.
Like how a non-shaman can sense cursed energy.
“What happened?” Yumie asks, voice more stern and serious than worried.
Kita lowers his head, in shame and respect. “I… wasn’t looking where I was going and I collided with someone who was running.”
Yumie also observes the uncertainty in his words.
Kita is confident – with his decisions, routines and what comes out of his mouth.
Where is that confidence now? What happened to his clothes? Why are there bruises all over him?
Or most importantly, why does Yumie sense great cursed energy applied on him?
It’s clear that Kita had way more bruises than what Yumie sees, because the cursed energy on him suggests that he was healed. Albeit the cursed energy is not reverse curse technique, which is a bit baffling because she has never heard of any other technique that can cure injuries.
“Shinsuke, are you telling me the truth?” Yumie squints her eyes at him.
Kita gives a nervous nod. “Yes granny. I apologize if you never expected this careless behavior of mine.”
Yumie only nods back and forces a smile almost synonymous to the one she wore a while ago. “Alright, I understand. It is only human of us to be careless.”
But the cursed energy on you suggests that its owner is not just human.
Yumie dismisses him, telling him to go rest at his room before he takes a bath. She’ll be the one to cook dinner for tonight instead of him helping – all because of his current state; dirtied, bruised, concerning . Kita obliges. As he does his back-from-school routine, he analyzed how his grandmother reacted; she seemed unfriendly and too serious, as if her worry measures more than just a simple accident, as if she knows about what really happened that afternoon.
Kita can’t help but wonder,
Granny, what are you hiding from me?
As Yumie puts on her apron, she thinks endlessly. There was another aura of cursed energy on Shinsuke that she senses, later finding out that it’s his own aura. She can’t mistake it – she’s familiar with the flow of a Zenin’s cursed energy, whether a ten shadows user, a projection-sorcery user, or any other technique, as long as it stays within the borders of the Zenin bloodline. It only surprises her, because;
“I can’t sense any cursed energy in this child.” The curse specialist ascertains. “The possibility of him manifesting a technique is very rare, close to none.”
“But he’s a Zenin.” Naobito counters.
“It’s not unheard of for normal children to be born into prestigious clans.”
Did the curse specialist read him wrong? Did he miss any faint indication of cursed energy flowing when he was a baby? Yumie trusted his conclusion; that Shinsuke wasn’t blessed with curses, as if curses were a blessing in the first place. If only he was able to interpret him right, then his father wouldn’t have ordered him dead.
But then again, Yumie will never know how Shinsuke would have been raised at the Zenin household – he might become another Naoya, another Naobito. Yumie did her best to raise the boy to bear the same heart as his mother, not the same cruelty of his father. Maybe this decision was the best of all.
And then there’s the issue of his mother, the woman who held on tight to him as her final goodbye. Maybe if he was assessed correctly, then he would’ve still been in the arms and care of his dear mother.
Speaking of his mother, Yumie can only wonder how her former master is doing. She hopes that the heavens are giving her a good life, one without the regret of giving her son away – because really, it’s either Shinsuke dies, or he lives far, far away from the family that his blood ties him to. There was no other choice, Naobito never gave his wife a choice. The memory only makes Yumie seethe in anger.
“Zenin-sama.” Yumie closes her eyes and speaks to no one in particular. “Your son is slowly manifesting,
I hope you’ll be able to see him soon.”
2013
It’s been almost three months since Kita’s first encounter with an actual cursed spirit, also three months since he found out about Osamu and Atsumu’s secret and three months since he met the Gojo Satoru. He’s been slowly researching about different cursed techniques and bloodlines in the jujutsu world. The holidays pass them by and then January is back on the current timeline.
He started regularly seeing cursed spirits and it’s nothing he’s afraid of though, now that he knows what they are. Most cursed spirits just pass by him, not even daring to lift a finger (if they even have one). They treat Kita as like he can’t see them, when they’re clearly aware that he can. Because of this, Kita became used to it within only a few months. He’s seen different shapes and sizes, sensed different auras radiating from them – all these and then it became some sort of familiarity to him. Kita’s ability with repetition surely is uncanny.
The twins always act like they never revealed anything around their captain – as if they were normal teenagers who fail classes and always cause the dumbest bullshit; as if they weren’t cursed . Kita is only impressed with how well they conceal their cursed energy, he can’t even sense it on normal occasions.
Speaking of the twins, Kita is now tidying up the gym with them after an exhausting two hours of practice. The spring interhigh is coming up and they qualified for nationals. Kita religiously crosses the numbers in his calendar every morning when he wakes up. Albeit he won’t admit it, he’s very excited about it – it can get his mind off of curses, even just for a little while.
The rest of their teammates went home already, and they opted for some extra practice, hence why it’s just the three of them.
“If you weren’t a clan anymore, then how did you discover your cursed techniques?” Kita suddenly queries. Atsumu stops his cheery whistling while Osamu turns to his captain at the question.
“I used some sorta’ telekinesis to hit ‘Tsumu with a rock.”
“I made ‘Samu punch himself.”
Both twins turn to glare at one another.
“So you don’t have an immunity to each other’s attacks?” Kita asks.
Osamu gives a triumph smirk. “’Tsumu doesn’t have any to mine but I do from his.”
“Tsk. Cocky asshole.” Atsumu rolls his eyes.
“How?”
“To harm a being, I have to put my cursed energy in external things, like takin’ control o’ water and drowning ‘em, making the air around poisonous, or just simply attacking ‘em with sharp objects. Atsumu on the other hand, needs to apply his curse energy internally. He needs to put it in the actual bodies of his victims so he can do things like control their cells. The harm is always done from the inside for his technique.” Osamu explains.
“An’ since ‘Samu’s my twin, my cursed energy can’t infiltrate his body. I mean – it can, but it can’t do any harm. I can heal him though and transfer energy, but where’s the logic in that? It’s unfair!” Atsumu whines while Osamu just keeps smirking.
Kita raises a brow. “But I thought you made Osamu punch himself.”
“That was back then when our techniques weren’t fully developed. It was one of my earliest memories, I was about… four back then.”
“Hmm.” Kita nods. “What are you called?” Is his next question. He can’t seem to get it out of his head, and is a bit troubled with that thought. “You aren’t shamans, so are you curse users?”
Both twins cringe at the title.
“Don’t call us that! It’s invalidating!” Atsumu scrunches his face.
Osamu decides to clear things up. “We’re not sorcerers, but we’re not curse users either – seein’ as we don’t use our techniques for evil shit.”
“I’m sorry for accidentally offending you.” The older apologizes in understanding. “Might you enlighten me then?”
“It’s not really known because we aren’t acknowledged by the jujutsu world, but they were kind enough to give us some sorta’ title.” Osamu says.
“We’re called curse holders!” Atsumu continues, a big smile on his face just like usual. “We hold curses, but we don’t bother to use them unless it’s to defend ourselves. Otherwise, we just leave ‘em be an’ try to hide them as much as possible. Like ‘Samu said, it’s not a common title in the jujutsu world because curse holders like us avoid it as much as possible.”
“Huh, ya do learn a new thing everyday.” Kita hums, tossing a volleyball up and catching it repeatedly. “How many of you are there?”
“There is never a specific quantity, after all we’re hidden everywhere.” Osamu shrugs. “Anyone can be hiding as a curse holder. Aran-san can be one, Sunarin might be one, Akagi-san, Gin or Oomimi-san. Again, it could be anyone but we’ll never know.”
“Hey, but remember at the interhigh, when we went against Fukurodani?” Atsumu asks.
“What about them?” Kita lifts a brow.
“Their captain and setter both have a faint aura of cursed energy.” The faux blond explains. “They don’t seem like shamans, Gojo never mentioned students like them at Jujutsu Tech. I’m guessin’ they’re curse holders too.”
“Whaddya’ know, it’s a small world.” Osamu comments. “Again, we’re all around but never really aware of each other’s presence. Most curse users come from being curse holders.”
“There are practically more curse users than shamans.” Atsumu apprises. “Well, the sorcerer side always seems to win because of Satoru-san. Still, their small numbers are quite concerning,”
“But do you think Gojo-san can maintain peace by himself?” Kita verbally ponders. “Ya think he can continue carrying the weight of the jujutsu world on his shoulders?”
Atsumu gives a thoughtful pause. Then, he frowns. “No… no he can’t. Even the strongest have limits.”
“Well, it would’ve been possible if Suguru-nii hadn’t become a curse user.” Osamu reflects on how the world of curses could’ve been today if Geto had remained on the side of humanity.
“You’re still calling him Suguru-nii?” Atsumu looks at his twin, face contorting in a grimace.
Osamu shrugs once again, unaffected. “No matter how much ya want to deny it, he was an older brother t’ both of us, especially to you Atsumu.”
Atsumu doesn’t say anything, he just scoffs as he turns his head away. Stupid Geto and his stupid decision to leave him and Osamu behind – to leave Shoko, to leave Gojo behind.
“Who is this Suguru-nii?” Kita interrogates.
Osamu sighs. “Remember when I said most curse users come from being curse holders?”
The older nods, opting the spiker to continue. He does. “Geto Suguru is the strongest curse user who came from being one of the four special-grade shamans of Japan.”
“I assume he’s powerful?”
“Very.” Atsumu agrees. “And with Satoru-san, they were as immovable as mountains, truly the strongest duo.”
“What is his relationship with Gojo-san?” Kita asks again, both twins look hesitant.
“It was never clear on what they both were. Outside, it’d seem like they were best friends, but really there was somethin’ more to it. Whatever they had never developed because of Suguru-san’s conversion.” Atsumu narrates rather, sadly.
Kita would want to ask so much more, but it seems like the discussion is quite touchy given the sudden sullen atmosphere. Kita isn’t a heathen, in fact he’s the exact antithesis of one. He’s respectful and understanding, unlike his biological father and brother – so much like his mother. His friends’ feelings matter more than his curiosity, so he stays silent.
After the quiet stretches around the gym, Kita tries to forget the topic by thinking of another question that the twins might be more comfortable in answering.
“Do your cursed techniques have a specific name?” Kita asks as he mops the floor.
“It doesn’t actually, we’re the only ones who ‘re recorded t’ have this. Hell, we weren’t even recorded. Most of the jujutsu world don’t know about these techniques. So Satoru-san told us that we can name them ourselves. N’ since I’m shit at that, I let ‘Tsumu do the work.” Osamu answers as he lowers the net to keep it.
“That’s right!” Atsumu singsongs, mood lighter.
“Hmm, you’re good at languages, right Atsumu?” Kita clarifies.
“Yup!” The setter lights up at the praise as his twin rolls his eyes. “I named my technique as Circum Vivorum and ‘Samu’s as Circum de inanimatis .”
Intrigued, Kita’s brows scrunch together. “That’s Latin, am I not mistaken?”
“Bingo! Satoru-san approved of it!”
“Okay, then what does it mean literally?”
Osamu shrugs as Atsumu approaches him to help fold the net. “I never cared for the meaning really, it’s just nice to the ear. It’s not like I fuss about my technique anyways – I don’t even want to acknowledge it.”
“Oh, then I guess I could reveal the meaning of the names now.” Atsumu smirks.
“Do yer’ worst.” Osamu lifts his shoulders in indifference.
“Mine means circus of the living and yours means circus of the nonliving or inanimate .”
“Why circus?” Kita inquires.
“’cause we’re clowns.”
Osamu hits his brother in the head. “What the fuck?”
“Ow, ‘Samu!” Atsumu whines, but soon enough, his whining is devoured by laughter. “So now ya care about the meaning? It’s not like anyone can speak Latin in Japan!”
Osamu only punches Atsumu’s shoulder in response. The blond counters. “All jokes aside, I have another meaning behind those names.”
“Hmm, enlighten us.” Kita says.
“The flow of circuses is usually directed and controlled by ringmasters. In our case, me and ‘Samu are the ringmasters and dependin’ on our techniques, everything ‘round us is the whole circus. Meanin’, we can control the circus – which is the whole environment.” Atsumu elaborates with ease. “Simply, we can control everything. The whole world is a joke anyways.”
“That’s… pretty clever.”
“I know right.” Atsumu grins. “’Samu needs to give me more credit.”
Osamu replies with a ‘tch’ and Atsumu’s laugh is boisterous.
“Does Satoru still keep visiting those twins?” A man dressed in a black yukata asks as he tucks two sleeping children to bed.
“According to my report, yes.”
The man exhales a huff of laughter. “I’m assuming they’re not giving in.”
The other nods. “Seems like they have no intention in attending jujutsu tech.”
“Hmm, they really stayed true to their word.” The man exits the room as the woman follows him out, carefully closing the door as to not disturb the slumbering girls. “I remember they had a distaste in curses even when they were just kids. Especially after what happened to Atsumu.”
“What importance do those twins hold? Why are we monitoring their interactions with Gojo?” The other furrows her brows in confusion. “They’re mere teenagers, why would they attend a school for curses?”
“Ah, so you don’t recognize them, Manami?” The man turns around with a leering look, his mouth curved in a crooked manner; Geto Suguru – special grade sorcerer turned curse user.
“You don’t know? Miyas?”
“They’re Miyas? Didn’t they stop having twins?” Manami’s dubiety only increases.
“Well news flash! There’s a pair in their bloodline once again! Just like old times.” Geto puts his hands together joyously. It’s been boring in the jujutsu world without the Miya’s cursed technique. Atsumu and Osamu’s birth will maybe spice things up. Well – that’s only if they enter the jujutsu world first, but given their potential and continuously growing techniques, it’s impossible for them to not get involved.
“I see.” Manami nods. “Although I still don’t get these techniques of theirs.”
“The first-born can control living things and the other can control non-living.” Geto explains. “Quite dandy if you ask me. They can kill you without lifting a finger.”
“That’s… powerful.”
“And that’s not even their full power! The reason why we need to keep a close eye on them is because of that full power.”
“And how does this relate to Gojo?” Manami asks.
They enter a room, the one where Geto loves to lounge at, messing around with his curse manipulation – playing with fourth grade spirits and purposely killing them afterwards. It helps him kill time and stress. He makes his way to lay down on the wooden chaise lounge resting in the middle of the room as he indulges himself in the view outside from the gigantic window. The walls in the room are covered with traditional Japanese paintings, some of which were offerings from his wealthy followers, and others being imbued with curses, to which he takes advantage of. You can never tell which painting is cursed or not.
“The last three sets of Miya twins excluding Osamu and Atsumu have developed a technique so powerful, that it can make the strongest special grades cry.” Geto starts.
“And what is this technique?” She asks.
“’Seven days of creation’.” A knowing grin appears on Geto’s face. “You know what else is it called?”
The other shakes her head, she knows absolutely nothing about the Miyas. That family name isn’t of any significance to the jujutsu world anyways – that was, until two boys were born on the fifth of October, 1995.
“’Everything in infinity’.” Geto answers his own question. “And what do you connect infinity with?”
Manami pauses in thought. “The Gojos?”
“Exactly. Back then when the Miyas were still considered a clan, they had a bond with the Gojos – because their techniques complimented each other too well to be considered coincidences only.”
“Hmm, the jujutsu history books never mentioned this.”
“You’ve gotta’ dig deeper, Manami.” Geto chuckles. “The Miyas aren’t part of the jujutsu world anymore, but now with Atsumu and Osamu, the situation might turn upside-down – they might reclaim their power above all the other clans.”
“You never explained their techniques, Geto-sama. I’m confused.”
“Well you see, after the old techniques of the Miyas died down, a more powerful one arose – it was probably around the Azuchi-Momoyama period when a Miya married a special-grade Spanish sorcerer. I’m sure you’re knowledgeable about the curse on the Miyas, hmm?” Manami nods when her master turns to her. With that, he continues his narration. “They were able to grasp the one in four-hundred chance and conceived twins – those twins were named La Luz and Nocturno; Spanish for daylight and night .”
“I’m assuming their abilities have something to do with their names?”
“Precisely!” Geto cheers as he gets up, stretching. “La Luz can control the length of day while Nocturno, night. Although they couldn’t control the stars, the moon and the sun. That’s where the next pair of twins come in almost half a century later – they could control those celestial beings in the sky but not the day and night themselves.”
“And how does this correspond to the Gojos?”
“Gojos can control the whole infinity, where do you think night, day, the stars, moon and sun belong to?” Geto asks enthusiastically, casually walking around the room as his eyes jump from one painting to another.
“…Infinity?”
“Bingo! As I said, their techniques complimented each other!” Geto claps. “The third set of twins – the ones before Osamu and Atsumu were the most powerful. With their father being Spanish, they were named Sol and Luna, two beautiful but deadly girls. This time, they can control everything in night and day – including the stars, moon and sun alike.”
“Despite being twins, they were separated – Sol as a sorceress in Spain and Luna in Japan. The partnership between Miyas and Gojos was at its highest point, because Luna married into the Gojo clan. But when the two twins were reunited, they were caught by a very powerful group of special grade curse users. Knowing they’d die, they made a binding vow with the stars above them before they took their final breath.”
Fascinated by this, Manami raises a brow, eager for Geto to continue. “What is this binding vow?”
“That the next set of twins born into the bloodline will have the ability to use the technique they dedicated their lives to develop – the seven days of creation.”
“Do you know anything about this?”
“Oho! I know a lot!” Geto says. “The common religions here in Japan are Shintoism and Buddhism, but then again, the Miyas have Spanish ties. Spain is known for their Catholicism – so it’s presumed that the last three sets of twins got their techniques from the Catholic bible. Which is kinda’ ironic, since Miya literally means ‘shrine’.” He laughs afterwards.
“How do you know all of these?” Manami asks as suspicion arises in her.
“Again, the Miyas had a strong bond with the Gojos. Being best friends with the current clan leader, I had unlimited access to their history – documented exclusively for the Gojos, away from the prying eyes of the rest of the jujutsu world.” Geto says proudly. His friendship with Gojo really benefited him in more ways than he can count. “Anyways, so I also did my research on the bible, and it seems like the seven days of creation is an actual story; it’s how their god created everything that came to be in the void of infinity.”
“Day one was the day and night – light and dark. Day two was the clouds and the ocean. Day three was the land and plants – including trees. Day four was the moon, sun and stars. Day five was the birds in the sky and fish in the sea. Day six was animals and humans. And day seven was their god’s rest.” Geto’s grin is unwavering. “And if you connect it all then–”
Manami’s eyes widens. “The first set, La Luz and Nocturno were day one. The second set’s techniques were derived from day four. Sol and Luna were a combination of day one and four, so Atsumu and Osamu…”
“Atsumu and Osamu are day two, three, five and six – literally all living and nonliving things within infinity with the exception of the celestial objects.” Geto finishes. “But because of Sol and Luna’s binding vow, on special occasions, Atsumu and Osamu can also control all seven days of creation; everything in infinity . It’s their triumph card.”
“Put that with Satoru’s limitless and it’s the end of the universe.” Geto chuckles. “Gojos and Miyas together are unstoppable.”
Manami freezes, goosebumps trailing all over her body. The two boys she once found harmless can actually cause the most destruction – sans Gojo Satoru, of course.
“Although I’m sure that Atsumu and Osamu can’t manifest that just yet due to their lack of training, as they grow, it will continue to develop. That’s why Satoru is so insistent in nurturing their potentials, because they’re close to the age when that technique could possibly be activated.”
That doesn’t make Manami feel less scared though, that must’ve been why her master instructed her to prioritize her observation on their interaction with Gojo. Geto seems to have noticed her discomfort, so he continues. “But… there is a way to prevent the usage of seven days of creation.”
“How?”
“I know it’s impossible to kill both of them, especially with Satoru frequently visiting them. It doesn’t matter though, because the seven days of creation can only be activated by both twins, it won’t do so if the other is dead.” Geto informs. “So right now, we have to kill at least one of them. That’s why I want you to keep observing them, so we know when to strike.”
Manami nods, but then another question appeals to her. “I heard there’s a Zenin with Gojo.”
“I heard that too.” Geto says. “A little kid whose father was exiled. Satoru killed his father actually.”
“Aren’t Zenins and Gojos at each other’s throats?” Manami asks, confused with Gojo’s decision of putting a Zenin in his care.
Geto only laughs. “Manami, Satoru is crazy. He’s completely bonkers. Despite that, he won’t be fucked up in the head for nothing. Knowing him, there’s always a motive, even in the most nonsensical things. Lucky for you, I managed to crack it.”
Geto was Gojo’s best friend, maybe even more. He was and still is his one and only. All their time together was an opportunity to treasure, or to take advantage of one another. Because of this, Geto can read the shaman like an open book – by his expressions, his actions, the tone of his words and the light in his eyes. Maybe his real cursed technique is the ability to interpret every thought in Gojo Satoru’s mind, he’ll never know.
“Elaborate for me, Geto-sama.”
“If we review the relationships of the Gojo clan, we’ll learn that during the highest point of jujutsu, the Miyas were their allies while the Zenins were their foes. As time passed by, the power of those two clans started to decline – their precious techniques don’t frequent that much anymore. What we’re seeing here is that Satoru is trying to nurture the twins and this little Zenin because they seem to have inherited their respective clan’s techniques. He’s doing this so that…”
And then something clicks in her.
“So that… the highest peak of the jujutsu world will repeat in our era… having limitless, the ten shadows technique and the seven days of creation in one setting can… defeat Sukuna?”
“Bingo bingo bingo!” Geto claps. “Manami, you’re quite smart. Despite being able to control everything in infinity, Miyas can’t control curses. Gojos can’t do so as well, so with a Zenin and their ability to control shadows, it’s somewhat close to curse manipulation, although not quite. But still, Satoru knows that’ll work.”
“But how are they going to kill Sukuna? His fingers are indestructible.”
“That’s the last thing Satoru needs; a vessel.” Geto answers her question. “Once they find one, he’s going to have them eat all twenty fingers and then using the sacred techniques mentioned earlier, they’re going to kill Sukuna once he comes out.”
“That’s… a well formulated plan.” Manami analyzes. “Geto-sama, Gojo might be smarter than you!”
“Manami!” Geto whines, making the other curse user laugh.
“Although I am impressed.” Manami comments. “That you were able to piece everything together.”
“Of course.” Geto grins, then a faint frown replaces the triumphed smile. “Despite what happened now, Satoru will always be my one and only.”
“I do have something else to report.” Manami says. “The twins are quite close to their team captain, and I sense some kind of aura from him.”
Geto arches a brow in thought. “You were able to sense his aura but you didn’t sense the twins’.”
“H-hey! They were good in concealing their cursed energy, whereas this boy seems like he just manifested. You can’t control your cursed energy when you just gained it.”
“Hmm, fair point.” Geto rubs his chin in understanding. “And what about this captain?”
“I managed to get some info on him. He’s in his third year in Inarizaki High, Amagasaki, Hyogo. He’s eighteen, the closest known relative is his grandmother.” Manami reports. “No news for his parents or whatsoever. I sensed his cursed energy to be formidable.”
“And then?”
“Remember the rumors that Zenin Naobito’s youngest son died?” Geto nods as she makes him recall the rumor.
“I looked more onto it; Kita Yumie is this captain’s grandmother. Kita-san was also a head maid in the estate, she retired the day after the birth and suspected ‘death’ of the baby. The baby’s remains were never found.”
“And?”
“This can’t all be a coincidence. I’m suspecting this captain is the ‘deceased’ son of Zenin’s head of the clan.” She theorizes.
“Hmm, assuming you are correct.” Geto returns to the chaise lounge, sits on it and crosses his legs. “What technique does his cursed energy suggest? Projection sorcery? Ten cursed shadows?”
“That’s the issue. His cursed energy doesn’t relate with any of the Zenin clan’s known techniques, but it suggests that he’s still part of the Zenins.” Manami continues. “Even Gojo’s monitoring him along with the twins.”
“Hmm.”
“Yeah.”
“Manami?”
“Yes, Geto-sama?”
Geto uncrosses his legs and links his hands together, elbows resting on his knees. With the infamous detrimental stare of his eyes, he orders a command.
“Keep an eye on him.”
After practice, the three of them start to walk home as they were the only ones left. The sun is setting, and it’s a little over five thirty now. This time, they pass by a more uninhibited part of Amagasaki, as the twins were sent on errands after practice by their mother.
“So you have to send that to your grandmother?” Kita asks.
“Yup! ‘Samu helped Ma in makin’ it!” Atsumu beams.
“Only because ya can’t cook for shit.” Osamu teases.
“Shut yer’ trap!”
The trip to the twins’ lovely grandmother was nice, and they promised to visit in a less busy time. As for now, they’ll be having exams soon, so they need to study. Upon bidding goodbye, they decide to continue walking on the path that leads further into the quiet neighborhood – it’s like a ghost town.
“Geez, this gives me the creeps.” Atsumu comments, eyes surveying around from the dead trees, to the abandoned buildings. “Do people still live here?”
“No. A fire happened here a few years ago, so it’s clearly inhabitable. Right now, the town is planning to make this whole area a school, but construction won’t be starting till the next few months.” Kita explains.
All three of them know that there’s some sort of shortcut from here to their ordinary route, and it’s quite dark; the color of the sky is becoming more and more blue, and eventually it will turn black, so they have to hurry home now. To cover the unnerving silence, they talk about the upcoming nationals.
“I hope my new serve works this nationals!” Atsumu says. “I’ve been practicing!”
“We know.” Kita and Osamu say with indifference, in unison.
“Be more enthusiastic will ya!” The setter pouts.
“Overworking is nothing to be enthusiastic about.” Kita comments.
“But ya need to work to become the best!” Atsumu argues.
“Work, not overwork.”
Osamu laughs.
“Who are you looking forward to playing against?” Kita asks.
“I heard someone beat Shiratorizawa.” Osamu informs. “But I’ve never heard of their school before.”
“What’s their name?”
“Karasuno.” The spiker answers.
“They might just be some average school that got lucky.” Atsumu shrugs.
“I don’t think they’re just average, especially since they beat Shiratorizawa.” Kita says.
“Hey ‘tsumu, didn’t you meet their setter at that training camp?” Osamu inquires, remembering how Atsumu told him about this intriguing setter his dumbass of a twin brother provoked.
“Hmm, Tobio-kun? I think he’s not from Karasuno.” Atsumu puckers his lower lip in thought.
“Well no shit ‘tsum, where else would he come from?” Osamu rolls his eyes.
And then Atsumu halts with the realization. “Oh fuck! Tobio-kun’s from Karasuno!”
“Is he good?” Kita asks.
“Impressive to say the least…” Atsumu puts careful thought in his next words, “and kinda’ cute.”
“You have a thing for boys like them.” Osamu states the obvious.
“And ya din’ have to point that out!”
“Anyways, I’d like to see how Karasuno would play out. If they can beat one of the top three aces, then I think we have to consider them a threat.” Osamu says.
“Fair point. Have you watched the match with Shiratorizawa yet?” Kita asks, both twins shake their heads. “Well, gives us more the reason to be prepared.”
Atsumu huffs proudly. “Exac–“
“But to not overwork.” Kita cuts him off sternly. Atsumu’s grin fades as Osamu laughs once more.
“Who are you looking forward to playing with, Atsumu?”
“Fukurodani. They beat our ass last year, plus I’d like to pinpoint their ace’s cursed energy, it sparks some familiarity.” Atsumu replies.
“I thought it’d Itachiyama.” Osamu turns to his twin.
“And why wouldja’ think so?”
“Wouldn’t ya like to see their ace?” Osamu smirks.
Atsumu rolls his eyes, but the faint blush on his cheeks is notable. “I’d rather pay attention to Komori-kun, he seems nicer than Omi.”
“Lies.”
“Hmph.” Atsumu ignores his brother. “Kita-san, how ‘boutya?”
“I’m equally curious ab–“
Bang!
They hear the click of a trigger from not so far away. As deafening as it is, Kita and Atsumu’s attention divert from it to the next thing their ears seize.
Osamu lets out a ‘bwah’ as blood spills out of his mouth – his mouth that only tastes of metal.
Atsumu is first to react, eyes wide with immense worry and panic as he catches Osamu – the latter’s feet seemingly unable to keep him up. Kita appears to stay unresponsive for a while, eyes trained on the sudden wound. Osamu himself feels warm blood trail from his left pectoral, down his torso; but that feeling is drowned by the tremendous pain – pain that overwhelms all his five senses.
Both the setter and his captain crouch down, with Atsumu gently laying his twin by his lap, Osamu sucks in a sharp inhale of breath.
Soon two or three white limousine-looking cars line up as men in black suits get out and surround them in a circle, guns pointing to the defenseless teenagers.
Atsumu or Kita couldn’t care less about that, because a bigger matter is at their hands.
Osamu got shot.
“’SAMU! HEY!” Atsumu’s panic never ceases. He is now covered in blood as he holds his brother, pressing his hand on the bullet wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Osamu shouts in pain, eyes tightly shut as he hisses afterwards. “OI SHITHEAD! IF YA DIE, I’LL REVIVE YA AND GIVE YA A MORE PAINFUL DEATH!”
“I’m not dead dumbass!” Osamu groans in agony, trying his best to keep his eyes opened. As much as he won’t admit it, he hates seeing his twin in such a state of fear and concern, especially if it’s because of him himself.
“Can you still use your technique?” Kita rushes, although he seems composed, panic slowly blends with his voice. Osamu weakly nods.
“’kay, here’s what yer’ gonna do.” Atsumu instructs, voice barely a whisper but still drenched in hysteria. “Use gravity defiance to remove the bullet from your body and I’ll heal ya instantly.”
“Are you finished saying goodbye to your brother?” A man interrupts, cigar hanging from his mouth. “Or do we need to shoot him more?”
Kita observes this man, he’s a bit shorter than all the other men, and a lot chubbier too. Just like the rest of the men surrounding them, his eyes are covered with black-rimmed sunglasses, which is weird because it’s night and the sun isn’t out. His suit looks luxurious, compared to the rest – black velvet tailored with golden accents, a Gucci belt in between the belt loops of his pants. He must be the leader of their group. But what kind of group are they? Are they the yakuza? No, the yakuza wouldn’t stoop low enough to harm clueless students. These must be rich bastard yakuza-wannabes.
Kita calmly stands, raises both his hands up, covering Atsumu who is slowly healing his twin – the bullet now removed courtesy of Osamu himself. Seems like these men don’t have any connection with curses, because they couldn’t seem to sense Atsumu’s release of cursed energy. If they did, then they would’ve shot him immediately before he could fully cure Osamu. “I think that’s enough. We’re only highschoolers, we don’t have any money t’ give, no one will pay you a ransom if you kidnap us. Despite that you still disturb us, why?”
The cocky man’s grin gets wider and much more disgusting. “Those twins behind ya? There’s a bounty on either of their heads.”
Atsumu slightly flinches at the new bit of information. Kita raises a brow in contemplation. “A bounty? Where did this bounty come from?”
“A curse user in the cursed world.” The man simply replies, then a disturbing laugh erupts from him. He laughs without restrictions, almost as if he’d leave this street victorious. “How much you ask? Three hundred million yen.”
Kita shudders. It really must be a big deal for the death of at least one of the twins for them – both figuratively and literally. Still he extends both his hands out, a gesture of protection. No matter how scared he is, he’ll try his best to fight for others. “These twins are like my brothers. If ya wanna kill them, you’ll have to get through me first.”
“Well don’t mind if I do.” The man smiles even more maniacally. Then an order follows. “Boys, I want y’all to fire.”
The men circling Kita and the twins immediately follow instruction, they lift their guns and point them to the very center of the circle – where the ‘ helpless’ teenagers are. Kita gulps, his second near-death experience but this time he’s truly going to die. Not only him, but also his kouhais. What a failure of a captain he is, a failure of a senpai.
“We’re gettin’ that three hundred million boys, FIRE!”
It all goes fast; the chorus of pressing multiple triggers ring in Kita’s ear as the bullets zoom towards them.
Time to welcome death.
“Circum de inanimatis: Dead motion.”
At Osamu’s unanticipated command, the bullets stop midair; any hints of motion are replaced with stillness. Suddenly they neatly turn to the opposite direction and without letting a nanosecond pass by, they zoom even faster to where they came from – the pointed barrels of the guns being held by the suited men who circled them, effectively piercing through their chests all in harmony.
Kita suddenly feels both Atsumu and Osamu slowly get up.
And as they get up, multiple bodies fall down, blood pooling from the bullet wounds, to the dull cemented ground – breaths ending in less than a second or two.
Eyes of silver and gold are now fatal . Their pupils contract in a way that resembles insanity.
So this is the power of the Miya twins.
Their leader panics, thrills travelling from the tip of his toenails, to the strand of hair located at the tip of his head. Immediately, he fishes a walkie-talkie from his pocket. “REQUESTING BACK-UP, IMMEDIATELY!”
“Three hundred million yen?” Osamu comments, silver eyes shining in lethality and skepticism. He stretches his now healed body, as if he’s warming up for a fight he’ll surely win. “Are we really that cheap? The least I expected was fifteen billion.”
“I thought we had the world in our hands, why would someone take that away from us just for fuckin’ mountains of stupid, baseless cash?” Atsumu giggles, sarcasm dripping in his deep voice – the same voice that was always cheery and teasing, now deadly .
Soon, more cars started piling up the quiet street as more men in black exit them and crowd around the scene. Atsumu lifts his fist up and clenches it like he does in volleyball tournaments to silence the crowd – but this time, cursed energy is in the picture. The men instantly drop to their knees, guns abandoned on the pavement and breaths labored due to the restricting feeling in their lungs; it’s as if they’re being squeezed to the point where they could fit in the curse holder’s palm. They cough helplessly as they shrink into a fetus position, trying to alleviate the pain and make their body supply a passage for oxygen to enter. But how can they do so when their bodies are literally in Atsumu’s hands? The blond only laughs at their desperate but fruitless attempts. How cute.
And then he clenches harder, his nails harshly digging on the soft flesh of his palm. The men under his technique all cry, but instead of a loud scream for help, all that escapes are desperate wheezes.
“Explode.” Osamu orders.
Cursed energy overwhelms the compounds in the gunpowder of each bullet tucked in the magazines of the guns as they explode, killing everyone near them.
Kita watches in horror – people dying and explosions.
“Ya tried to kill my brother. Because of that, I’ll kill four hundred of you.” Atsumu stares at the leader, venom at the tip of his tongue and intimidating are his eyes of gold that can surely outvalue the three hundred million yen on their heads.
“Sir…” The man trembles as he whispers into the little microphone, sweat rolling down his pathetic face. “They’ve got us. You never told me they were this powerful!”
“Hmm, who might that be?” Atsumu asks, mouth curling into a seemingly innocent smirk, eyes gleaming in petrifying curiosity. “Are they perhaps the one who placed the bounty?”
The man takes a shaky step back as Atsumu approaches him. “Aww, why so shy? I thought ya wanted the three hundred million?”
“Sir I need help!” The man yells, his plea directed to the device pinned on his coat, tears slowly collecting at the corner of his eyes. The other side of the line is silent though and the person on it doesn’t respond.
“Are ya gonna tell me?” Atsumu’s grin gets wider. Who’s smiling now? “Hurry, ‘cause I’m gettin’ ideas on how to kill ya.”
“SIR!”
“Ah, I know now!” Atsumu snaps his fingers playfully. “I wasn’t hurt, but my twin was! So I’ll let him kill you!”
“Give the fucker to me Atsumu.” Osamu demands from beside Kita, voice deep and cold like the depths of the Pacific Ocean, like the power of his technique.
“He’s all yo–“
“It’s Geto Suguru!” The man admits, breathless and agitated, thinking it would help his life be spared. “He offered the bounty!”
What?
He heard that wrong, right?
All Atsumu’s confidence and composure leaves his being in an instant. His knees go weak at the name. His Suguru-nii, the man he took inspiration from, the man that would tease Gojo along with him and Osamu, wanted him dead . The man that taught him so much – the man he loved as a mentor and older brother, would offer three hundred million just to kill them.
Geto Suguru was the man who taught him how to be kind.
Atsumu wants to scream in agony, to cry because of this betrayal. He wants to shout for him and Osamu, for Shoko, for Gojo .
When did it all change? When did the kindest person he ever knew became the cruelest of them all?
This only fuels his anger.
He steps away, making space for his brother. “Osamu.”
“I hear ya.”
The man widens his eyes when he sees the gigantic chunk of mass above Osamu. Seems like the grey-haired twin is slowly amalgamating rocks from all around the area, molding it into one enormous boulder. Mists of blue float around as more and more rocks get sucked in into the already forming item – just like how magnet attracts metal. Osamu’s hair floats around, blue mists coating his body.
Kita observes. He makes a mental note to never mess with the Miyas.
Pointing at the massive entity above him, Osamu’s finger gracefully turns to the direction of the man, a nonverbal command to his cursed energy.
“It was a good attempt to collect three hundred million. But not good enough.” Is all the spiker says before the humongous boulder dashes towards the man at the speed of light, crushing his defenseless body on the wall.
As the sound of bone crushing reverberates, blood splatters everywhere – as if it wasn’t already everywhere in the first place. There are bodies on the ground, fire all around as an aftermath of the explosion, blood stains their school shoes and even on their uniforms. It’s a good thing that they’re at the more abandoned parts of Amagasaki, one where no eyes would dare to peak in. The fire will start gaining attention though, so they better finish things fast.
Although the man’s body is crushed, the microphone slips off of the cracks of rock, dropping to the ground. The twins carefully approach it. It’s when Osamu puts the headpiece closer to their ears that they finally hear it.
Geto laughs like a loco through the small speaker, very much entertained by the scene depicted by the numerous sounds he heard through the device. He heard humans cry in pain as their lungs compress and eventually die upon getting caught in uncountable explosions.
“VERY GOOD ATSUMU, OSAMU!” He claps. “KILL THOSE MONEY-SEEKING MONKEYS FOR ME!”
Geto’s voice is only slightly different from before, but the tone he speaks in is as if he’s a whole other person; he used to be so responsible and straightforward, a compensation for Gojo’s idiotic persona. But now, all Atsumu and Osamu hear is the voice of a playful sadist, having fun with the blood-curdling screams and pleas that deliver themselves from the microphone through the speaker.
“Yer’ kinda late to the party, as much we don’t want to, we already killed all your minions.” Atsumu grits his teeth.
The twin’s response only excites Geto. It’s been a long time since they’ve talked and seemingly, everything has changed.
“Atsumu, Osamu!” Geto’s laughter calms down. “Missed me?”
“I’ll get straight to the point Suguru-san.” Osamu speaks into the tiny device, unfriendly. “What are your intentions?”
“F’ya think we’d let ya hurt Satoru-san, then think again.” Atsumu hisses, venom still mixing with his words.
“Aww, what happened to ‘Suguru-nii’ and ‘Satoru-nii’?”
“Answer the fucking question.” Osamu bites, but even he can hear how much wider Geto’s grin gets.
“I couldn’t hurt him even if I wanted to!” Geto chuckles. “Don’t worry about him, worry about yourselves.”
“Coward!” Atsumu yells, anger seething. “If ya wanted us dead then ya should’ve come for us yourself!”
“Oh, don’t worry Tsum.” Geto provokes with that nickname. Atsumu used to love it when he would call him that, but right now the way it rolls out of his tongue is frustrating, infuriating ; a reminder of the drastic change that Geto’s been through – from their ally to their opponent. “I have someone else on the way.”
Meanwhile, Kita’s eyes widen. They concentrate on the surroundings as his breathing goes uneven, adrenaline slowly increasing in his system.
There’s something in the shadows.
Osamu’s eyebrows scrunch at Geto’s last statement. “What are ya–“
“ATSUMU, OSAMU!”
Kita suddenly shouts, feet immediately taking the initiative to protect his underclassmen as his swift eyes sees an agile figure creep unto the distracted twins. Using all of his power, he runs his fastest towards them, fist readied into the typical fighting stance.
Space seems to distort in the flash of the moment.
Everything else becomes illogical. His only rationale is to protect the twins.
Before the katana of the mysterious figure can run through the necks of both brothers, Kita throws his hardest punch to its unexpecting face. Everything goes by in slow motion.
He expected it to have at least a bit of impact.
What he doesn’t expect, is a blinding blaze of black and red erupting from the impact.
A strong gust of wind is generated from the impact, spreading out the area in a circular motion in the same way waves ripple from a water drop. Their hairs fly, bits of cements and drops of blood are blown along the powerful but unexpected interference caused by the sudden action. The hit blows the figure up into the wall and it doesn’t stop there; the impact was in fact, strong enough to press the figure, a curse user , into the wall with a vertical crater left behind it at its wake. Rubbles of cement slowly drop from the crater, landing on the other bodies scattered on the ground. Both twins turn their heads at the scene; from the dropped katana to their captain.
Something tells Kita that they sensed the release of cursed energy; they sensed the black flash.
Kita looks at his hands like they were bloodied, but instead of blood, there is cursed energy.
What?
No, how?
Geto suddenly cheers from the speaker, smirk evident in his voice. “Seems like Satoru’s new pet has discovered a cursed technique. Such fun! Such–”
“Shut up!” Atsumu screams , stepping on the device to stop Geto from talking. He immediately turns to the curse user who was knocked out by Kita’s cursed energy. Without hesitation, he swipes his hand, effectively snapping the other’s neck. For extra precaution, he stops their heart with a demanding stare. The body falls from the wall and into the ground as it joins the other lifeless bodies, now being lifeless itself.
Kita couldn’t really care; his attention is solely focused on his hands. What was that? Why was the impact so strong? Was that cursed energy?
“K-kita-san…” Osamu starts, unsure. “…has cursed energy?”
Gojo’s question from three months ago instantly replay in Kita’s mind.
“Do you think you have a cursed technique?”
Kita shakes his head. “That would be quite impossible.”
It was surely impossible, Kita never has any involvement with curses growing up, so why now?
“We have to get out of here.” Atsumu pants, catching their attention. “We have to tell Satoru-san.”
“He’s overseas.” Osamu states, seemingly having recovered from the initial shock. “There are no other sorcerers here in Amagasaki that we know, and even so we can’t trust ‘em.”
“Fuck.” The blond curses. “Where do we go now?”
Osamu pauses, he has to think of something fast.
“’Tsumu, you heal any injuries. I’ll try my best to separate the blood from our uniforms, although it probably won’t be seen afterwards, we need to wash ‘em immediately as soon as we get home. I’ll burn this place down once we leave. We’re goin’ to tell Ma that we were caught up in a school project, that’s why we went home late. Kita-san, tell granny the same thing too.” Osamu instructs, a bit in a rush because the closest neighborhood probably caught the dilemma, and it’ll be soon when someone starts investigating.
They start doing their respective tasks. Once finished, they see the abandoned site burn in the brightest of flames. And once the heat of the moment starts to fade away, awful realizations appeal to each one of them.
I killed a lot of people tonight! Goddamnit ‘tsumu! Atsumu thinks to himself, tears of frustration rolling down his cheeks as he pulls his hair in resentment. The memories of a certain trauma overwhelm him – images flash beneath his eyelids as more angry tears escape.
Suguru-san’s coming for us. We need to find Satoru-san as soon as possible. Osamu thinks, face impassive as he hugs his weeping brother. He tries to comfort him by whispering things like ‘we needed to kill them’ and ‘we survived because of you’.
However, Kita’s stupefaction never seems to fade. His hands tremble as he continuously observes them, as if it can lure out any cursed energy residing in him.
So many questions roam in his mind, but one stands out.
Who am I?