Chapter Text
The screams didn’t end, it was like white noise at this point, and each time I took a step my shoes got sticky.
But I looked at him, a pale and dark figure among the chaos.
What happened?
Where am I?
Where is he?
I heard the birds chirping, and the trees moving softly with the breeze.
I moved my feet, trying to feel my body and surroundings, and I felt… grass.
There was a noise… Someone is trying to talk to me.
?- … okay?...
I tried to focus my sight. There was a pale figure.
?- Please answer…
My sight focused on the white-haired boy.
N- Gojo?
He smiled, less wickedly than usual.
G- I was starting to think I’d have to kiss you to break a curse.
He chuckled. I couldn’t help but blush at the idea.
I gained full consciousness. I was lying on the grass, just outside the school, and Gojo was kneeling next to me.
G- So, Nurieru, what happened? Did your pressure go down?
N- I… I don’t know… I don’t remember…
I slowly sat up.
Gojo was staring at me from behind his sunglasses.
G- Well, Shoko is here.
Shoko came running.
S- Sorry for taking so long.
She kneeled and looked at me from close.
S- No blood on the face…
She patted my head all around.
S- Does it hurt?
N- No.
She tilted her head.
S- Hmm… You don’t have pain anywhere? Even a small amount of pain?
I shook my head.
N- No, no pain anywhere.
Gojo looked at Shoko silently.
S- Well… That’s good, although odd. Maybe you passed out while lying down?
N- I don’t know, I don’t remember anything.
I massaged my forehead kinda frustrated.
S- Hmm… We should get you to the infirmary just in case.
Gojo clapped his hands.
G- Alright, let’s go.
He picked me up in his arms, even though I squirmed unsure of what to do.
He walked along Shoko to the infirmary.
I looked at him and realized that he wasn’t even holding me, he was just making me float with his power.
I squirmed around, scared of falling.
Shoko and Gojo left me at the infirmary to get checked by the nurse.
She didn’t find anything new. And when I got out of the infirmary, Shoko was waiting outside.
S- So?
N- Oh, I’m fine, the nurse didn’t find anything.
She sighed.
S- Thought so.
I wondered what that meant but I didn’t dare to ask.
S- Well, if something happens, even if you just start feeling dizzy, please send me a message.
She made sure that I had her phone number.
N- Thanks.
I bowed politely.
S- Don’t mention it, it’s just natural with my reversed curse technique to be the nurse for my classmates.
I smiled appreciatively.
N- I still think it’s very kind of you.
I didn’t dare to look at her face while speaking.
She smiled a bit.
S- Well, I better go check on those two just in case.
I nodded. Shoko was friends with Gojo and Geto.
Before she walked too far away she turned her head.
S- Actually, do you wanna come with me? I know those two are annoying, but I would feel better knowing that you’re around people in case something happens.
I blinked surprised by her offer.
N- Oh, s-sure.
I followed along, looking down and playing nervously with my hands.
We went to the gym, where Gojo and Geto were. They were talking while practicing their volleyball throws.
Ge- I’m just saying that you’re probably worrying for nothing.
Go- Hi girls.
Geto turned his head to see us, but Gojo felt our presence since Shoko opened the door.
Ge- Is everything okay, Nurieru?
He looked at me with what seemed like genuine concern, but for some reason… I felt something inside.
The sudden warmth of fire flashed in my mind, making me wince.
Gojo looked at me as soon as I reacted to the thought.
Go- What was that?...
His voice didn’t have its typical playfulness.
Shoko and Geto looked at me with concern.
S- Do you feel okay?
Ge- Nurieru?
N- I…
The sensation left my body completely, leaving me confused.
N- I don’t know what just happened to me…
S- Do you feel dizzy?
Ge- Maybe you should sit down.
In a matter of seconds, I was practically surrounded by them, trying to help me. I couldn’t look at any of them from how overwhelmed I felt.
I could feel Gojo’s intense gaze even though I couldn’t see it.
He took a step away and looked the other way.
Go- It’s probably nothing.
Ge- What? You have to be kidding, you-
For some reason, he didn’t finish his sentence, he just looked at Gojo.
Geto took a step back, giving me more space.
Shoko looked at them with her brows furrowed.
S- What’s with you two?
She put her attention back to me.
S- Come on, let’s sit down.
She pulled me down gently and we sat down on the floor.
N- It’s nothing, really, I just… I don’t know. It’s like… if I had remembered something, but… I don’t think that ever happened to me…
Shoko tilted her head.
S- When did you last eat?
I tried to remember, but… I couldn’t remember anything before passing out. I could remember who I was, and my childhood, but, if you asked me what I did yesterday, or how I was doing at school, I just couldn’t remember.
Shoko looked more concerned at me.
S- Hey, one of you, go get some food for Nurieru!
Her voice was so relaxed that even when she raised it it sounded calm.
Geto sighed a bit and went out of the gym.
Gojo was just silently holding a ball.
Shoko side-looked at him but then put her attention back on me.
S- Do you wanna talk about something? Maybe something that’s been stressing you lately?
I didn’t know how to tell her that I couldn’t remember anything about lately.
N- I…
G- leave her alone, Shoko. She’s fine.
He started practicing his catch throwing the ball against the wall.
Shoko pressed her teeth together.
S- Nurieru, excuse me a second.
She got up and walked up to him, she grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him out of the gym.
G- Oh, come on!
After a short while, Geto entered the gym.
He squatted down next to me.
G- Here, I hope you like what I got you.
He handed me a box of juice and a package of cookies.
I didn’t feel hungry, but I ate and drank it anyway.
N- Thanks.
I nodded politely.
He smiled softly.
He stayed silent while I ate.
Something about this, it felt… familiar.
I finished eating and he looked at me.
G- So, are you gonna talk with teacher Yaga? Or would you rather one of us go to talk?
Oh, right, I should tell our teacher.
N- Uhmm… I, I’ll go, It’s okay.
He looked at me silently.
G- It wouldn’t be a problem, you know? I doubt any of us would mind.
He smiled softly. I looked away flustered. Why was he so nice to me? And so… handsome. I could feel my heart beating.
Shoko entered again the gym.
S- Sorry for taking so long. Satoru went to tell teacher Yaga.
She sat down with me and Geto got up.
S- So? You feel better after eating?
I just felt full, but I nodded anyway.
Shoko smiled a bit.
S- You should be more careful.
Geto seemed lost in thought as he looked down and away.
G- Well, I better go take a shower. I hope you get better.
He waved at us as he smiled softly and then he left.
Shoko sighed.
S- I swear I don’t know what’s wrong with men…
I blinked. Why did she say that?
S- It’s as if they didn’t feel comfortable caring.
She shook her head softly.
S- Oh well. Do you feel ready to get up?
I nodded and we got up from the floor.
S- Do you want me to accompany you to your room?
N- Yeah, thank you.
We walked calmly and quietly to the dorms.
When we arrived at my door, Shoko put her hand on my shoulder.
S- If anything happens, or you just feel like talking, send a message or call me, okay?
I was slowly getting used to her kindness.
N- Yes, thank you.
I bowed politely and she shook her hands.
S- You don’t need to, really.
I smiled softly while looking down. I just really appreciated her kindness.
My heart palpitated and I hurried inside my room.
N- Bye!
S- Bye-bye.
My heart kept palpitating, but I tried to ignore it.
But… What now?
I looked at my room. For some reason, I felt like a stranger.
I sat on my bed and closed my eyes.
After some seconds I cleared my mind and focused on the magical energy in the room.
I got up and picked up the box under my bed. Inside were all my things for making talismans.
I touched my bracelets, imbued with magic energy. Protection and calm.
I grabbed at my necklace, touching its charms. Amethyst, mercury, and wood, also imbued with magic.
I exhaled as if I had been holding my breath all along. I just felt like if I had finally come home after an uneasy journey.
Yes, this is me. I’m here. Everything’s fine.
But… what was that? What happened earlier, and even earlier?
I just didn’t know.
Not yet.
I picked up another box from under my bed. Inside were my divination things; Runes and cards.
I passed my hand over them, trying to choose one method.
I shook my head. No.
Both.
I picked up first my runes, carved in wood by myself. I held them for some seconds with my eyes closed, then I threw them on my desk, and with my eyes still closed, I picked one.
It was upside down, almost never a good thing.
Runes can mean many things depending on the situation.
I focused my cursed energy on my hand, letting the magical energies interact.
Weakness. Confusion.
I sighed and opened my eyes.
I put the runes back inside the box.
I looked at the cards, scared of what they could tell me.
But truth be told, I had nothing better to do, and it was my responsibility to try to figure out what was going on.
I grabbed the cards and shuffled them without looking. I spread them on the desk and passed my hand over the cards, my cursed energy interacting with them.
I picked a card and looked at it. I focused more on its energy than its drawing.
“You won’t find answers yet”.
I sighed and put the cards back inside the box. I put the boxes back under my bed.
I lay down in my bed, completely tired of the situation. I tried to relax as much as I could.