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“Sensei?”
Gojo turned, and he realised that Nobara was still in the classroom. He had just dismissed the trio- Megumi, Yuji and her- as they finished a less than successful math class and were exhausted from a mission earlier that day. Why was she staying back?
The expression on her face was focused. She squinted, and Satoru thought she might have looked like him in that moment, when he was in that same chair trying to figure out how reverse curse technique worked while Shoko explained it to him unsuccessfully all those years ago.
"Nobara?”
She opened her eyes
“I could beat him right? My technique, it could deal damage?”
Mahito.
Before the class had finished, Satoru made the mandatory announcement about the curse that was Mahito. Yuji had recently been shaken by his encounter with the special grade, and only survived due to his special case of being Sukuna’s vessel.
The students had to know that Mahito wasn't a curse to mess around with, so Satoru explained what Yuji told him about their encounter, and what had happened to the unfortunate kid Junpei as a result. He was still angry that he had led Nanami and Yuji into such a dangerous position without even realising it.
Why was Nobara wondering if her technique would work on him? She wouldn't encounter him if he was smart enough to hide from Satoru himself now that he was with Yuji most of the time. In the same breath though, he would pound into their heads the fact that jujutsu sorcerers have to be prepared to die- and take on any level of curse no matter how unfair. No, it made perfect sense for her to be thinking about this.
Satoru grabbed a chair and turned it to sit and rest his arms on the back of it. He might've looked more concerned than he usually did, but Nobara needed to understand that she should not, under any circumstances, engage with that curse should she find him. He wanted his students to live long full lives, as much as possible.
“What are you thinking kid?”
Nobara looked up at him, and her expression was serious. Satoru was almost scared by the genuine concern in her tone when she spoke. She fidgeted with her pencil and couldn't make eye contact for her next words:
“Itadori, he just- he sounded so helpless when he mentioned what he had to do that day, to kill those transfigured people, and I'm sure he left out the worst details about that kid, Junpei. I've never seen him so angry when talking about a curse- and yeah I know I haven't known him that long but it's still not fair to him!”
“You’re right, but-”
“Wait, let me finish! I'm not getting in over my head here I’m just-” Her pencil snapped in her hand. She’d never shown so much anger in front of him, but he had a feeling it was overwhelming.
“Resonance does direct soul damage. If, say, I had to fight him one day- or even the boys, if I could just get a piece of him somehow, or get a nail on him, it could deal damage, wouldn't it?”
Satoru knew the answer already,
“Yeah, you could” Satoru saw her smile, not in the usual cocky grin, but a resolve that he hadn't seen on her before. That kind of resolve was exactly what she needed to survive, but, from his past, he knew the destructive path wanting to save your loved ones no matter what could lead you down.
But how could he possibly explain 12 years of learning and loss to this girl, so full of determination and hope? The expression on her face mirrored so many great students he'd seen rise, fall, survive and everything in between. It was impossible to say hey, don't consider that, it'll kill you one day, and not sound like you don't believe in your student’s abilities. He really wanted to see her reach her fullest potential as a sorcerer, and maybe in the back of his mind he saw a bit of his younger high school self, so full of confidence and power ready to take on any challenge, and just didn't want to see her go through what he had to. She already had to go through Yuji dying once, she didn't deserve to go through something so traumatic again.
“Nobara, don't forget what I said just now, I really mean it, it should only be me taking him on next time he shows up.” He smiled his usual cocky grin. “You can watch from a safe distance as your sensei shines in his extravagant glory!”
She looked unimpressed.
“Yeah yeah, but you said it yourself; we have to be prepared for anything, right?”
Satoru's smile faltered a little, unfortunately enough for his student to notice
“What? Don't tell me you made that up-” Gojo held up his hand to stop her and chuckled
“No. I didn't make it up on the spot actually.” He feigned being hurt by her words. She rolled her eyes. Good, he thought, she might respond more if he was his usual dramatic self.
“I just mean, that you three have aloooot to learn still in the world of sorcery, I mean I’m thinking you could all be incredible grade 1 sorcerers one day! There’ll be so many more opportunities to damage curses and test your abilities, just let me handle it okay? The special grade curses ought to be dealt with by a special grade sorcerer anyway-” He stopped himself as he remembered something. He hated himself for saying that, it reminded him of his Haibara Yu, who had died to a seemingly lower grade curse that turned out to be much more powerful. By the time Gojo had gotten there, Haibara was already dead in jujutsu high’s morgue and he took his sweet time torturing the curse that killed his underclassman.
He sighed, and Nobara seemed to shift uncomfortably in the uncharacteristic long silence from him.
“Just be careful okay? Promise me that?” Satoru settled on those words. He tried to convey the gravity of what he was feeling without scaring the girl, and she seemed to respond positively.
She grinned.
“Alright sensei, jeez, stop being so serious it's creeping me out! I’ll be careful I promise- It’s just that when people become important to me, I have to be prepared to protect them, that's all.” She blushed a little after she realised how blunt her statement was. Satoru smiled at it, such a simple philosophy but so powerful.
He threw his hands up in defense and responded
“No more seriousness, all shenanigans here!”
Nobara left the room, and he thought about their exchange. This was the first time she'd genuinely come to him without reservation for a concern- and if he was being honest with himself, he'd neglected her in terms of personal training, in comparison to Yuji and Megumi, hell Megumi had over ten years of Gojo in his ear about his ten shadows, he should make some valuable time for all his students to get proper advice from him. He called Ijichi and changed some plans in his schedule. It was mid October and he had a busy week ahead, but he would make sure and get in at least one session with the kid, and see how he could help her improve her skills and techniques. Maybe he should have Yuji and Megumi tag team and train her, too. Ideas started to form in his head and he flopped down onto the couch, exhausted. Teaching was harder than he’d ever thought it would be, especially in a profession like sorcery, but hey, he supposed that's what he was born for.
Either way, she'll be fine, she's a smart young woman and she knows her way in a fight.
—
The prison realm wasn’t comfortable, but it wasn't a bad place either. It just, was. Satoru thought about how he had just ended up there, and what might happen if he was truly sealed for long. He thought about his students, Yuji, Megumi and Nobara, his first years.
He remembered a brief conversation.
Mahito...
Damn it, he should've killed him first, now the trio might run into him, worse if they’re separated.
He tried not to dwell, but the conversation with Nobara replayed in his head, and he wondered if she would truly run into him. He’d hoped the limited amount of personal training he got in the weeks before would help her if she did. She was brave, she wouldn't back down. But what were truly the odds? He sighed, and pulled his blindfold on tight, his head was hurting
“Too much thinking when you can't do anything!” he said to no one in particular, all that looked back at him was bones. No matter the situation, he was sure of one thing.
She’ll be fine.