The training field at Tokyo Jujutsu High was quiet in the early afternoon, save for the rustle of wind through the surrounding trees and the occasional creak of the wooden viewing stands. It was a deceptive calm, the kind that carried the faint scent of challenge in the air.
Mahito stood near the center, rolling his shoulders and tilting his head in an easy stretch. His gaze drifted over the sparring dummies, the scored earth, the faint scent of sweat and scorched energy in the air.
He chuckled under his breath. "Didn't even take a full day before I was accosted for a spar."
Across from him, Maki Zen'in tightened the wrap on her hands. Her eyes were steady, unreadable behind her glasses, but her posture carried the kind of quiet tension he associated with people who were constantly pushing themselves against an invisible wall.
On the field, Panda and Inumaki were also watching, almost as if they were prepared to jump in if Mahito did something strange. But their interference wouldn't be necessary today.
"It's not every day we get a Special Grade curse hanging around the school grounds," she said bluntly. "If there's a chance to measure myself, I'm not going to waste it."
Mahito's lips curved. "Measure yourself… or prove something?"
Maki's jaw shifted slightly, but she didn't flinch. "Both. My reasons don't concern you. But you are strong, not as overwhelming as Gojo, but stronger than everyone else around."
The conviction in her voice caught his attention. He'd met plenty of sorcerers and cursed spirits, but few carried ambition with that kind of focus.
And he already knew that what came out of her mouth was not just empty words. He knew what she would end up doing in the future.
"I see…" he said, his tone softening in amusement. "I think I like that answer."
They took their stances, the air between them growing still. Maki moved first, her body a blur of physical precision, no cursed energy reinforcing her strikes, only raw, conditioned power.
She wielded a real spear, a cursed weapon from the armoury. This was also one of the reasons why she wanted to spar with Mahito. To fight with a real weapon, not just a stick.
Her first attack was a simple thrust, her sharpened spearhead heading straight for Mahito's midsection.
But such a simple attack wouldn't so easily land on someone like Mahito.
Without even hesitating, he leaned backwards, one of his feet shooting upwards to kick the hilt of the spear in one fluid motion.
Maki wasn't even phased by this either; her spear twirled and immediately swiped, trying to leave the slightest mark on Mahito's ankle.
But the shapeshifting Special Grade Curse already knew she was a capable fighter. In an instant, he pulled his leg back, causing only a slight scratch to appear on it.
"First strike~ Very good!"
He did not go all out, nor did he use his full speed or cursed technique. Instead, he decided to train his martial arts for once.
Before Maki could even comment, his palm thrust right toward her abdomen, a strike she quickly moved to block, her spear twirling around as the hilt came in contact with Mahito's palm.
The sheer force behind it sent her skidding on the ground, momentum which she used to roll and thrust her spear towards her opponent's head, going straight for the kill.
Mahito jumped, raising his leg into an axe kick as he pushed the head of the spear into the dirt with a smile on his face.
Maki quickly tried to pull her weapon back, but even with her Heavenly Restriction-enhanced strength, she struggled heavily.
She almost fell backwards when Mahito's leg lifted, performing a high kick right towards her head.
The hit landed right on her cheek, sending her tumbling on the grounds of their makeshift arena, raising up a small cloud of dust.
On the side, Panda tensed uncomfortably. While Inumaki narrowed his eyes, his expression quite serious as he muttered: "Fish cake..."
Maki immediately rolled to her feet, a red and blue bruise forming on her cheek, while a deranged smile also appeared on her lips.
She was concerned at first, but now at least she didn't have to worry anymore...
Mahito was not one to take it easy on her because she was a woman. Rather, his kick felt heavy enough to kill any regular human, and even some weaker sorcerers.
Her spear was no longer with her, but she was not dissuaded; instead, she used her speed to immediately dash towards the Special Grade Curse, who kicked up her spear and started wielding it with a stance similar to her own.
She slid in under his guard, leg whipping in a low arc. He deflected it using the hilt of the spear, before turning it and aiming the blunt end right for her head.
She donkey rolled just in time to avoid that crushing blow, which immediately went on to break the concrete and dirt at the point of contact.
Maki sweated a bit, although she dodged successfully; if Mahito had used the longer, sharpened end of the spear, then she would have been pierced right through, impaled into the ground like a post fence.
Mahito twirled the spear, motions similar to Maki's own as he created a gust of wind powerful enough to blow the dust away.
"You rely on speed to bridge the gap," Mahito remarked conversationally as she slid back a step. "Good, but predictable. Easy to counter for someone who can match your speed. And predictability gets you killed."
Maki's eyes narrowed. That determined smile never left her lips. At that point, she had completely forgotten what she was facing. "Then help me become more unpredictable!"
Her excitement made him laugh; it was short but genuine. He threw her spear back with a smile on his face.
"Alright." And he obliged.
For the next few hours, the field rang with the thud of footfalls, the solid crack of strikes meeting parries, and the occasional dull smack when Mahito redirected her attacks into the dirt.
He never unleashed Idle Transfiguration, not even using it to reinforce his body; he only used Cursed Energy. Yet it was obvious to both of them who was dictating the pace.
Still, Maki adapted. She read his feints faster, pushed harder on the few moments he gave her an opening.
Her stubbornness was palpable, and he found himself impressed by her refusal to let frustration cloud her control.
Finally, after a particularly sharp exchange that ended with her elbow a hair's breadth from his ribs before he trapped her arm, Mahito stepped back and dropped his stance entirely.
"Enough."
Maki straightened, breathing hard but still sharp-eyed. Her body was filled with bruises, injuries that were painful, but not serious. Mahito had not taken it easy on her.
She was exhausted to the point where, when she realised that the fight was over, she lay down on the broken and battered training grounds. She sounded ragged as she was taking hungry, deep breaths, one after another.
At some point, Panda and Inumaki had walked off, realising that Mahito was not going to seriously harm her. So it was just the two of them now.
"You've got talent," Mahito said, tone frank. "And willpower. I could make you stronger. Much, much stronger."
Her brow rose. "Stronger how?" She was not interested in shortcuts, but it was safe to say she was intrigued.
She was already somewhat trusting of Mahito after she had gotten to see how he behaved in combat. He had shown her he was both well-meaning and highly capable.
He tilted his head. "Using my technique. Only with Gojo's permission. It wouldn't be simple… or safe."
Her curiosity broke through her suspicion. "Explain."
Mahito's voice dropped, slow and measured. "Your soul isn't entirely yours. It's tied to someone else. Your twin, I believe I've met her before, too. That connection binds you both, limits you both. I can try to cut it."
Her eyes widened despite the exhaustion, fists clenching at her sides.
"If it works," he continued, "your Heavenly Restriction would fully manifest. Your body would potentially reach its absolute physical peak.
Your sister… her limitations would lift as well. Her cursed energy reserves seemed quite low; I assume they would rise quite a bit."
She weighed him carefully. "And if the procedure fails?"
"Not sure," he admitted, with no hesitation. "This would be a high risk. Twins are already an anomaly in the Jujutsu world. I can't guarantee what will happen if it doesn't work."
Silence fell between them, broken only by the wind.
Maki's mind was rolling around; her eyes seemed a bit frantic. The prospect of cutting the bond between twins which chained down both her and Mai was beyond tempting to her.
Any lesser man would likely even end up using this against her. But Mahito was no such man.
He was more of a curious soul.
'A good chance to experiment… and if it works, both sisters will owe me. The Zen'in Clan already hates me anyway~ They hate anything different after all.'