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This world that he was thrust into was still so strange to him.
Still, he couldn't complain about it. This was his life now.
He wished that Yuji was around. So that he would have a familiar face to see.
But he, Fushiguro-san and Nobara-san had been promoted to Grade 1. Whatever that had meant exactly.
He didn't fully understand the grading system that they had. Typically, the beginners would be about Grade Four. Grade 4 is a rank meant for weak and inexperienced sorcerers. But due to his apparent level of experience, he was placed at Grade 3, an average rank for jujutsu sorcerers to have, especially students.
Gojo-san had stated that he wanted to personally assess his skills himself. That he had potential.
He wasn't sure about the grades or how to get promoted. But Yuji-kun had saved him. He owed him a great deal.
I am going to get stronger, Yuji! Just you wait!
The kid was pretty strange.
He looked as if someone was dragging him out of bed every morning. But in a way, he was.
The first thing that he wanted to see was his ability to use Reverse Cursed Technique. He only caught a glimpse of it when the kid just reacted to Yaga-san's "doll". He knew it was called a Cursed Corpse, but it was fun to call it a doll in front of him. Every time he corrected him, he looked like an embarrassed ten year old. Even with the cutesy names he gave them. That blue dog thing that attacked Yoshino-kun, Yaga called it Tsukimoto? Maybe?
Still, he had brought him over to Shoko.
He was able to explain Reversed Cursed Technique to the kid, at least the basic function of it. Reducing it to a math problem actually made sense to him. Even if he hated arithmetic.
Then again, Shoko was horrible at explaining it. Even if she did admit it now.
"For me kid, you just go "fwoo" then "hyooi". "Fwoo then "Hyoi". Think you can get it?"
He could only hope that the kid understood.
"I kinda understand that. I felt something like that when I first used it. Even if it was by accident," Yoshino said sheepishly.
Really? He understood that? Such a weird kid.
It was then that he held his hand before the corpse in front of him. Small sparks of red and white energy came out of the kid's hands.
Every cut that was across the corpse suddenly closed up. Whoa.
"Wow. Not bad, not bad at all kid," Shoko said with a lazy droll.
"It was kinda like what you said, Shoko-san. You go 'fwoo' then 'hyooi'. Sort of. It felt strange. But cool. I can't believe I was able to heal something!!"
I can't actually understood believe that he understood that. How?
"So, how did it work for you, kid?" Shoko asked him.
"Well, it was like there were two opposing forces. A 'fwoo" then a 'hyooi'. Like I had made a poison in one hand and then was able to create an immediate cure with the other."
Shoko looked at the kid passively and uttered a satisfied 'Hmmm'.
Guess it does make sense for the kid. His innate technique is centered around poison. It's only fitting that his Reversed Cursed Technique would work like that. Especially since he boiled it down to basic arithmetic. Damn, does math suck.
"Alright, let's keep testing it out, kid. Gojo, you mind?"
"Why else would I bring him here? Not just to see your ever gloomy and fugly face, Shoko-chan!!"
"Screw you, Gojo," Shoko said.
He then saw her almost drape her head over the kid's shoulder. Observing him like an owl.
Looks like she may have found a prodigy of sorts.
He had to admit that he enjoyed his time with Ieiri-san. He learned a great deal about Reversed Cursed Technique.
But he needed to do more than just heal.
His Moon Dregs was strong. But he needed more. All the more reason why he went out with Ijichi-san and Ino-kun.
After gaining the fundamentals of his Reversed Cursed Techniques, Ijichi-san implored for him to go with him. Apparently he had a theory about it and Cursed Spirits. Ino-kun would accompany him as he might need help.
They made it to an area where it was ripe with many cursed spirits. A small wooded area with a lake. There were plenty of small insect-like ones called Fly-Heads. Ijichi-san had told him that they were generally very weak.
Three emerged quickly. Two of them had long tentacle-like, finned limbs extending from their heads, red eyes, a dark blue body, and possesses clawed, paddle-like arms with yellow spots and yellow-and-red palms. It has a beige fin on the upper portion of its body and beige fin-like legs below. Its body was like that of an eel but it had a wide circular-shaped mouth that was reminiscent to a lamprey.
The other one was a frog of some kind. Its underside and bumps found on various parts of its body are both cyan-colored with thick black edges. Its head bears a gently-upward curling spike and a large black claw on the back of each hand. Its hands and feet have three bulbous digits and underneath its chin is a bulbous yellow-green vocal sac. Its eyes yellow-red, almost bloodshot. It looked like it could be a dart frog.
"Ino-kun will back you up. You're not just gonna use your Cursed Technique to exorcise them. You're gonna try to use your Reversed Cursed Technique to absorb them," Ijichi-san stated.
Wait a minute? Absorb them? What did he mean by absorb them?
"You're likely thinking that the notion sounds ludicrous, I know. But from what Shoko had told me and based from your own explanation, you should be able to do it. It would be different from simply exorcising the curse with your own cursed energy and cursed technique. From what we can understand, your Shikigami is bound to you and your body. Particularly your hair.
You'll likely be able to summon out more in due time with more training. But in this manner, you would be able to expand your arsenal so to speak. Some shikigami can be summoned through certain mediums and talisman's, as Ino-kun can do it when he wears his mask. Fushiguro-kun can do it with his Ten Shadows Technique. And with how your cursed technique and reversed cursed technique works, you should be able to do so. In theory, you would be breaking down the cursed spirit and then taming it by infusing part of your own cursed energy to restore it so to speak.
I won't be forcing you to so if you want to, Yoshino-kun. Bu - "
"Let's go then! Ino-kun, back me up will you?"
He then charged at it. His combat skills were lacking, but he was able to make it through the Fly-Heads easily. He then made his way to that large frog cursed spirit. He then brought out Moon Dregs, and proceeded to attack it with its stingers. If it was poisonous itself, then simply stabbing it with his Moon Dregs stingers might be able to injure it enough at least. It yelled out a grunt and then he was able to jump upon its back.
He wasn't sure. All he did with Ieiri-san was heal some minor cuts and bruises on some corpses. But if Ijichi-san was right. Then he had to try. He had to at least try. I cannot be weak!!
The sparks ran rather rampant. The Dart Frog seemed to writhe and ribbit in agony. Both of his positive and negative energies together attacking it.
In that moment, he felt it. The rampant wildness of the spirit dissipating while mending it with his own cursed energy. Making it his, integrating it.
But the Dart Frog didn't dissipate. It eyed him for what felt like a long time. But then it puffed up it chest and sac and ... gave him a salute?
He didn't really know what to do. Was the Dart Frog really part of him now? But then, he pointed it to the Eels to attack them. Ino-kun then stopped his own attacks as the Dart Frog slammed its tongue and then its arms onto them.
Ino-kun then managed to grab on to them as he then headed towards them. His palms slammed on them both as he unleashed his reversed cursed energy and cursed energy upon them. It didn't take long for them to stop writhing. The Dart Frog and the Slick Eels dissipated and silhouettes of them came into him. The feeling was strange. Kinda like getting a tattoo like in those shows he had seen on occasion.
"Alright!! Looks like you did it, Yoshino-kun!!"
"Thank you, Ino-kun! The idea was strange, but thank you for the support, Ijichi-san!!"
He had to admit that the kid sucked.
Yoshino was already having a grasp on his technique and cursed techniques.
It's not like he was trying to imitate what he did with Yuta-kun. The only thing he was thinking of was to expand the kids arsenal a bit.
That he could possibly infuse his own cursed energy into a blade.
But watching him was like watching a kid swing a stick. A sickly kid.
If the kid was in a baseball team, he'd kick him out immediately. Maybe relegate him to a water or towel boy.
Then again, he probably shouldn't have had Maki train him. But the others like Inumaki and Panda were also helping him. They were definitely friendly to him.
The same could not be said about the Lady of Cursed Weapons.
"So, how does our latest student fair, Gojo-kun?"
"YO! YAGA-SAN!!
Eh, he's doing fine. With his cursed energy and cursed technique, he seems to handle it fine. Shoko-chan said that his grasp on Reversed Cursed Technique could rival hers with more time and training. Ino-kun said that his technique is good but needs some help with his hand-to-hand combat. Definitely needs it. But with weapons? It's like watching a rookie baseball player in all those movies. But you don't want to root for the kid. He can barely swing."
"Wasn't it the same with Okkotsu-kun?"
"No. Not really. Yuta-kun had something more to drive him. Love, grit and determination. Sure, he started out like a runt of the litter, but he powered on through. He'll be able to lace a sword with his own cursed energy soon enough, From what I could see, the kid's holding something back.
It's likely because of his own feelings. Unworthiness. Hatred. Guilt. We could blame that curse that helped unlock his potential, Yaga-san. But that kid is doing it himself as well. It'll get himself killed one day," Gojo said, solemnly.
"You can see all of that, huh, Gojo-kun?" Yaga said questioningly.
"Of course. THE SIX EYES SEES ALLLL!!" Gojo said, moving his arms and hands like a fortune teller on the street sides.
Yaga sighed. Even now, his former student was as impetuous as ever.
"At the very least, he's gaining some friends. Yuji-kun and Nobara-chan are able to do so easily. Megumi-kun and him, are alright. Kinda like me and Nanami-kun in a way. It's good to know that the other's are reaching out to them. Even if Maki-chan's bedside manner needs work though. Heh!"
Yaga then looked at Gojo-kun. He smiled. But there was a forlornness in his eyes. Of course, he was likely thinking of that. No matter how much time had passed, he recognized his former student's sadness.
But they were also piercing at the Yoshino boy. With a sense of familiarity.
"Oy, Yaga-san. You might want to know, I'm looking into Yoshino-kun. Ichiji-san should come up with the results soon," Gojo said plainly.
"Looking into? What do you mean by that, Gojo-kun?"
"The kid's potential. Whether its truly his own. Or something else entirely. His technique is tied to his body, but it's similar and familiar enough to Megumi-kun's. I just hope that my suspicion is just that; a suspicion".
He had to admit that it was hard. He had wanted to try kendo as a kid, thinking that it was fun. And that it looked cool.
But this was nothing like his childhood dreams.
It also didn't help that he kept getting his ass handed to him.
There was little doubt that this Maki Zenin was an expert. Not just in weapons, but hand to hand combat. She moved with purpose and precision.
He liked Inumaki. He couldn't understand everything that he was saying. But he could tell that he was friendly. And Panda was as friendly as he looked. And he looked so cuddly that he wanted to hug him tightly.
"I can't believe that you're Gojo-san's latest pet project! Weak!" Maki said aloud.
I know I'm weak. You don't have to rub it in! He almost said out loud.
"Benito flakes," Inumaki uttered. He sounded like he was concerned.
"C'mon, Maki! Give the kid a break! He is a newbie after all. He kinda reminds of me of Yuta-kun in a way!" Panda said jovially.
Yuta? Who's Yuta?
"At least Yuta had some stones. I don't see any potential in him at all!"
"Mustard leaf," Inumaki said at him.
I didn't say that I was done. Not yet.
He wasn't sure that his stance or his grip was correct. As cute as she looked, he had no desire to hold anything back. He then charged at her.
Maki looked at him in a bored manner. She dodged effortlessly. Damn, how is she so graceful?! She then did a flip up in the air.
He had to get her. There'd likely be an opening once she comes close. I can't make too wide a slash.
She came down quickly. She nearly hit him with that polearm of hers. But somehow he managed to dodge by rolling onto the ground. He then let out a thrust followed by a diagonal strike.
Maki was quick. Far too quick. She came at him and jabbed his stomach with the blunt edge of her polearm. Goddamnit!! THAT HURTS!!
"MUSTARD LEAF!"
"Did'ja have to hit him that hard, Maki-chan?!"
"Well, I gotta admit. You've got some talent, kid! Some, at least,"
Damn. Maki sounds like some cold hearted ice demon.
"Well, I never said that I was gonna give up! Even if I am new here!"
Panda and Inumaki gave him a thumbs up. Maki just stared at him with an intensity. She then followed up with a smirk.
"Alright. Need a break?"
"I never said that. Do you?"
Observe. That was all he had to do. Observe.
To watch the event thru their surveillance. Particularly to take note on Megumi; his techniques and fighting styles. That he should be able to learn by observing him in particular.
He had to admit that Megumi looked cool. From the way he fought to how he carried himself. He held himself with a quiet sense of dignity.
It just made him wish that he could get stronger faster so that he could fight by Yuji's side.
But he was able to make himself a bit useful. As he watched the surveillance, Yaga-san and Gojo-sensei came in the room. Yaga-san instructed him to rescue one of the Kyoto School's students. She was in the forested area and knocked out. That with what was going on, they could not allow any students to be caught in the crossfire.
It wasn't much. He wished that he could help properly but Gojo-sensei said that it would be helping. And that she was a nice girl, whatever that meant. So, he went off to get the student.
When he got to her, he saw that she was deeply asleep. It was strange, but Gojo-sensei and Yaga-san had mentioned it was due to one of the techniques of one of their students. If he had to guess, it was Inumaki-kun. He had to admit that he was rather impressed with him. So, he quickly picked her up and ran off to safety, away from the area.
He had to admit that she was pretty. She seemed to be of an age to him. Armed with long, light blue hair with that extends past her shoulders and frame her forehead, dark, triangular eyebrows and asymmetric bangs. She looked pretty cute in that uniform of hers: black, long-sleeved jacket over a light-colored button-down shirt and a black tie, pants, socks, shoes.
I should stop staring. She might think that I'm some kind of creeper or something. Even if Gojo-sensei said that she was a nice girl. Maybe he has a different definition of "nice".
She didn't stir or moan. Inumaki's Cursed Speech must be really powerful for her to be knocked out like that.
Once he brought her back to the school, he wanted to go out and help out. Even if he was still training, he had to do something. Yuji-kun was out there. As were the other students, like Inumaki-kun and Panda. But Yaga-san insisted that he stay. That he was still much too weak to do anything. At the very least, they could watch over the girl, Miwa-chan, together.
Yeah, like that doesn't make us both sound and look creepy, Yaga-san.
It wasn't long that she had woken up. Her voice was almost as cute as the way she woke up, like it was just a long nap to her. Yaga-san told her that things were alright and that she should stay put along with him.
As if I didn't feel awkward enough ...
"Uh, um, you're the one who got me out of the forest, right? Thank you."
He felt his face getting warm.
"Well, it was, uh, um, no trouble at all, ma'am!"
Talk about awkward.
He was glad that the mess was done with.
And he was glad that Yuji and the others were all safe.
But Nobara and Fushiguro-kun gave him weird looks when he mentioned that Yuji-kun was safe. He was forced to admit that he knew that Yuji-kun was alive and that he had to keep that a secret.
Fushiguro-kun gave him a look of annoyance mixed with understanding. Nobara-chan had jabbed at his shoulders and ribs, stating that he should have told her. Chiding him in an almost playful manner. But he still told her what he was told, that he wasn't allowed to divulge any information about Yuji-kum for his own safety.
Only Yuji-kun was able to dissuade it all. Even thanking him for doing his best to keep him safe. It made him more glad that he didn't blab about it.
It was then that Kyoto and Tokyo Jujustsu Schools had decided to host a baseball game for their final event. Yuji had invited him to take part in it.
But he felt that he couldn't considering he didn't do much. And besides, he was never the most athletic in the first place. He'd likely embarrass himself.
Yuji asked if he could at least hang back and watch. That he was fine with.
As he sat down, he took note of a young man coming close to him. He was as tall as Gojo-sensei with very defined, heavy muscular build and relatively tan skin. Small black eyes and shoulder-length black hair that is almost always tied into a top-knot bun with unusual flyaway strands with rounded ends akin to multiple stamens of a flower, befitting the meaning of his name. One of his most notable features is the large scar running down the left side of his face. He was holding a pitching machine with an strange icon. Like something out of a sentai series.
"Hey, kid! Were you the one who saved our Miwa-chan?" the muscle bound guy asked.
Wow, he was big. And scary!
"I, uh, um, yes. Yes I did," he practically muttered out.
The pitching machine then let out a small glow. It then uttered the phrase "thank you". Waitaminute, that machine could talk?!
"This is our buddy, Mechamaru. His body was a bit damaged, so he's using this for the time being to take part in the game. I'm Aoi Toudou!"
Body? There was a person there? And he's using a pitching machine as his body? He can use it as a body??! WoW!! Jujutsu sorcery is sooo weird and coool!!
"It's nice to meet you both. I'm Junpei Yoshino. I was just doing what Yaga-san and Gojo-sensei told me to do."
"We are grateful, Yoshino-kun," Mechamaru uttered out.
"At least you did something for a newbie, Yoshino-kun. You look like you've got promise!" Todo said with a maddening grin.
Something about him felt familiar yet intimidating. Kina like Yuji-kun but in a different way.
"I hope that you were not inappropriate with Miwa-chan," Mechamaru had said.
"No. No, no, no. I wasn't inappropriate in any way at all!! I just did what Yaga-san and Gojo-sensei had told me. Bring her to safety and nothing else!" he said nervously.
That strange icon's eyes then began to give off an eerie green glow.
"If you say so," Mechamaru said robotically and ominously.
He quickly took note on the other students. He immediately recognized Miwa. There was a girl who looked almost exactly like Maki. Was she her twin or something? She seemed rater cute. There was a tall young man almost as tall as Todo who kinda looked like some kind of priest. And there was short blonde haired girl holding a broom. She was kinda cute too. And there was a tall stern-looking woman with a scar on the right side of her face that crosses the bridge of her nose.
"Too bad you're not taking part in the game. It'd be interesting to see who and what else our sister school has. But, enough of that.
There's something I'd like to know, Yoshino-kun!"
He looked scary. His muscles on his body instinctively flexing. His hands and fingers creating a grabbing motion.
"Tell me. What kind of woman's your type?"
That was a little hard to answer. He didn't have a lot of experience with girls. Most of them avoid him like the plague, and when they don’t, it’s because they want to accuse him of being a freak, a loser, or a perv. He wasn't too sure about what he'd want from a woman regarding personality or looks. But it didn't seem as if Todo was interested in that. He wasn't really sure how to answer.
He'd seen plenty of movies and read a couple of graphic novels. There were few female characters that he liked that were depicted as more than just a standard love interest or a damsel in distress. It was kinda hard to say what kind of type he'd want or like. But Todo seemed to be anxious for an answer.
Almost half-heartedly he answered, "A somewhat tall but ultimately a badass beauty. Kinda like Ellen Ripley."
Todo then just looked at him agape.
"Yes. Yes. It appears that you and I are cut from the same cloth. MY FRIEND!!"
REALLY? Just from saying my type of woman?
His training was really progressing now.
Like Ino said, he wasn't going to be doing highly advanced moves at the moment. But he was coming along well.
While he hasn't been able to infuse his cursed energy into a sword properly yet, his handling of weapons has gotten better. As well as his hand to hand combat.
Nanami and Ino-kun had given him instruction as to use a cursed technique called the Black Flash. It was something that Yuji had already learned to use. The both of them described it as "entering the zone", like how most athletes are able to. Nanami's description hadn't worked too well. Even if he was getting stronger now, he wasn't exactly an athlete.
Ino-kun described it better. Even Shoko-san. Entering as state where everything feels natural to you and a near invincible state.
Panda had mentioned that he has gotten better. And Inumaki-kun too, he thinks. He still hasn't fully figured out what he says and means at times. He seems to say "mustard leaf" when he wants to joke around about something.
Maki-chan doesn't say anything. Positive or negative. She just tells him to keep on going. But she does help somewhat with the occasional critique.
"Don't swing too high. I can easily hit you!'
"You call that a block?"
"Did you really use a barrel roll to dodge? Learn to anticipate your opponent first!"
"Your stance is piss poor. Make it too wide and I'll kick you in the nuts, Yoshino-kun!"
She almost did the last time. And the barrel roll only helped somewhat.
He couldn't help but admire Maki. She used her body's insane strength, versatility and flexibility insanely well!
It wasn't until recently that he learned that she specialized in using Cursed Tools and had little to no cursed energy whatsoever. She was still amazing anyways!
"Are you gonna block or are you just gonna keep jabbing at me?"
He then altered his stance and performed an upward horizontal slash. She dodged it but he then went after her with an arcing vertical slash in an upward motion.
She had dodged both just by jumping. And so high. If I could go in and land a thrust on her ...
How did she do a split like that?! And from such a high distance!
Maki then struck at his legs. And quickly jabbed at his side with a karate chop. Then followed by a "bop" on the head with the bokken.
"Not bad. Still slow though," she said with a chuckle.
"Don't worry. I'll get better!"
"I know you will. You're not as wimpy as before, Yoshino."
"Well, I was new to everything ..."
There was little doubt.
Maybe if he styled his hair a bit more. Like those "crazy bangs" he had, Yoshino would almost look like him. Almost.
Such strange nostalgia.
Maybe ... If I could have ...
"Gojo-kun," Yaga-san said.
"Yo, Yaga-san," Gojo said plainly.
"Ichiji-san gave me the results that he had gathered. I've read through it first," Yaga said. He looked ... strange.
"So, what did you find out?"
"Gojo-kun, first tell me. What was your suspicion? About Fushiguro-kun and this boy?"
" ... A mutual connection ... of sorts ..."
"Waitaminute! So, do you mean to tell me tha - "
"Based on your expression, my suspicion was right? Wasn't it, Yaga-san?"
"He had a relation with the boy's mother some time before Fushiguro-kun had been born. There's roughly a year apart between them. It may be the reason as to why she and her spouse had separated. The boy seems to take after his mother in appearance at least," Yaga-san said.
Well, if he and Megumi-kun looked somewhat similar, maybe Megumi would have been a bit more apprehensive to him. Even if he had said he didn't remember what the old man looked like.
They can't find out about it. Neither one of them.
I can't believe I got struck with both of his kids.
"We keep this between us, Yaga-san. And Ichiji-san, of course. Tell him to burn up the report. Tear it up. Hell, use it for a coaster if he wants.
No one finds out about it. Understood?"
"Of course, Gojo-kun."
Is this penance? For whom? Himself? That guy?
He reminded him much of his one and only friend. A jujutsu sorcerer turned curse user, now a curse user turned jujutsu sorcerer is in their grasp. Was it his penance from beyond?
Didn't matter now. The kid was now a jujutsu sorcerer and his student.
I'll make sure that he's one of the strongest.