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CHAPTER START---
Sitting under a small tree in the courtyard of his dorms, Taiyo glances at the koi fish in the pond beside him.
Watching them swim around as the evening sun sets, he can't help but appreciate the tranquility of this moment.
In his lap is a thick book, one of the very few useful things he found in that poor excuse for a library on campus.
It detailed the history of Jujutsu, sparsely. Skimming through the eras, learning many famous names, but nothing about their Jujutsu or innate techniques.
"For people who like to tell everyone what their techniques are, they suck at putting it in writing," Taiyo says.
Taiyo sighs as he continues reading, having already learned the basics of modern Jujutsu Society, including the hierarchy of the major clans, the Jujutsu Tech schools, the government, and the Grade system.
Now he's trying to find the origin of Jujutsu, but can't find a damn thing.
Only stories about people and vague details about how they accomplished their feats, but no specifics. Even their recorded history is a collection of stories told like myths.
"Ryomen Sukuna and Master Tengen," he mutters. "The only names that are mentioned, one is dead and gone mysteriously. And the other is somehow still alive and kicking, upholding the barriers around Japan that suppress Cursed Spirits and keep Jujutsu hidden."
"And she's about as cryptic as you'd expect," Gojo says, startling Taiyo.
"Where the hell did you come from?" Taiyo asks, looking over to see Gojo standing on the water, or standing infinitely close to the surface without disturbing it.
"I've been here for about five minutes," Gojo says as he sits on the surface of the water, still not disturbing it. "Your senses are garbage. Fix that unless you want to die."
"Yeah, well, I'll start with the actual training after I understand a bit of the theory more."
"What's the point? The best way to learn is just to let the Cursed Energy flow, you know, just feel it and do it," Gojo says.
Taiyo gives him a curious look, then rolls his eyes. "You really would have been a shitty teacher."
"Are you saying reading is better than doing?"
"I'm saying that I'm reading, so I don't start with bad habits. Unlearning bad habits is way harder than learning good ones."
"Oh right, I guess training for the Olympics means learning isn't exactly new to you," Gojo says. "Most of the kids we get have their Cursed Energy since they were four or five years old, so I guess your experience with discipline makes up for being a late bloomer."
"Lucky me," Taiyo mutters.
"Speaking of that, when exactly did you awaken your Cursed Energy?" Gojo asks. "If it's not an inherited technique, then usually it takes something traumatic to awaken it, but—" he pulls out some papers from seemingly nowhere. "The only record of a Jujutsu Sorcerer in your family, is your great-great-grandfather, but he didn't have an Innate Technique."
Taiyo looks over to Gojo, who hands him the papers, which he begins reading.
"Seems like Master Tengen trusted him to protect that Sukuna Finger at least, but still, nothing special."
"Useless history lessons," Taiyo says after skimming the papers. "I don't care about dead people, only the future, my future."
"Ha, that's exactly the answer I was hoping for!" Gojo says. "But that does leave the question, about what awakened your Innate Technique, your Cursed Energy."
"I have fire…Immolation, and I watched my parents burn alive, trapped in a car around the same time. What do you think?"
"I figured as much, and 'Immolation', that's a good name," Gojo says. "And, about the shrine burning down, and your grandmother, an accident?"
Taiyo shrugs, "Maybe it was a sign, that the past was to be burnt and forgotten, so it can never hold you back again."
"Hmm, that's fine. Curse Users are what we call people outside of the Jujutsu Tech system that use Cursed Energy, but the truth is, all who use Cursed Energy are a bit insane, and inhuman."
"Yeah well, I just never realized how much I hated being stuffed in a box like some secret from the world, until that night."
Gojo watches Taiyo through his blindfold, and sees the souls in his body resonate for a moment before calming down.
"Is that why you got to the Olympics?" Gojo asks. "Because you wanted the attention and fame?"
"Not at first, and not entirely. It really isn't that simple. It started with small competitions. My grandfather was very traditional, and liked archery, so we'd practice together.
But I was good, really damn good. Eventually, it went from just archery to sports shooting, and then it felt like I couldn't miss, so I didn't, and I kept going.
But the only thing more intoxicating than winning, than learning new things about yourself in a realm of competition, is becoming King, is standing on the podium and having the entire world looking up at you."
"Don't you mean up 'to' you?"
"No, I don't," Taiyo says. "What about you? That's how you must feel, right, as the strongest."
Gojo thinks about it for a moment, never really having anyone ask that since most people just assert their assumptions onto him.
"It feels…heavy. Like being the best runner, but always forced to run in place, all at once."
"I figured I wouldn't be able to understand," Taiyo shrugs. "I read that the entire world changed when you were born. Cursed Spirits became stronger to compensate."
"Jujutsu is fair," Gojo says. "Luckily, the Cursed Users mostly went into hiding, so Jujutsu Tech had a bit less to worry about on that front."
They chat for a few more minutes, and Gojo feels that he has a basic understanding of Taiyo's character.
And after the meeting he had with Principal Yaga before coming here, he's convinced that regardless of how Taiyo feels about the higher-ups and those 'useless old men', he'd become powerful, and they may entice him into doing some work for them, some work Gojo would rather he not do.
"Have you read about Binding Vows?" Gojo asks.
"Yeah, they're the foundation of Jujutsu, contracts between a Cursed Energy user and themself or another Cursed Energy user, but, it doesn't say how to use them, or how the consequences are calculated."
"That part depends on how valuable the terms of the contract were in the hearts of the people when it was made," Gojo says.
"So if they think their life depended on it, someone could die?"
"It's more likely your Cursed Energy would be sealed forever, but death isn't impossible," Gojo says. "So, how about we make one?"
Taiyo gives him a skeptical look. "I'm not stupid. Making a deal with someone that's been doing this for twenty years won't end well for me."
"That's the beauty of Binding Vows. You have to be honest when making them, no hidden fine text like modern contracts. It can only work when both sides understand what is required of them."
"Okay…I'm listening."
"Well then, let's keep it simple. How about we make our own little Olympics, but the only medal up for grabs will be the gold medal," Gojo says.
"Explain."
Gojo smiles, "At the start of the second semester of every school year, so the first week of September, we host a little contest between the Kyoto and Tokyo schools. The Kyoto school won the last one so they'll be hosting it this year.
Students from the first 3 years will compete, so everyone gets three chances to join. Fourth-years are rarely ever on campus and often take longer missions, so they simply aren't allowed to compete, mostly to avoid distracting them."
"So what, you want me to win for the Tokyo school?"
"Nothing so simple, or easy," Gojo says. "Plus, I said only the gold medal is up for grabs, which is currently mine."
This gets Taiyo to lean forward, intrigued. "Okay, keep talking."
"Each year until you graduate, I'll have a duel with you at the end of the Sister School Exchange event. You'll get an audience of all the students from both schools and a lot of high-ranking sorcerers."
"Kind of small, but I guess that's the closest thing I'd get to a Jujutsu tournament, so I'll take it," Taiyo says. "And what's the other side of this deal?"
"I get to give you three absolute commands," Gojo says. "But I promise not to make them anything that would cause you harm on a physical or emotional level, and I won't abuse it."
Taiyo narrowed his eyes at Gojo, trying to figure out what kind of commands he'd possibly give him, but he didn't have enough information about this world to make a good guess.
"So, what do you think?"
"I think I'm too inexperienced to be making a decision like this," Taiyo admits, then smiles. "But I'm going to do it, anyway."
"That's the spirit," Gojo says as he extends his hand and releases some neutral Cursed Energy on his palm.
"But, I do have one more condition," Taiyo says.
"What's that?"
"Tell me about the most difficult fight you've ever had."
Hearing that, Gojo remembers nearly dying to Toji Fushiguro and frowns, but figures there isn't any harm in telling someone about that.
"Fine, but you keep that between us."
"Deal." Taiyo releases some neutral Cursed Energy on his palm and takes Gojo's hand.
And they feel the Cursed Energy of the world around them shake as the pact is made.
END CHAPTER---
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