The principal's office carried the faint scent of old books and polished wood.
Behind the broad desk sat Yaga Masamichi, his expression calm but sharp as his eyes scanned between Gojo and Roy.
"So,"
Yaga said after listening to their explanation, his deep voice steady.
"You saw a tree, blossoms, and each blossom contained a… different life of yours?"
Roy nodded quickly, trying not to fidget.
"Yeah. It was… weird. Like I wasn't just watching, but actually living it. And then when I came back, I could do this."
At Yaga's request, Roy concentrated.
A faint shimmer pulsed in the air before the room seemed to tilt, just slightly at first, then fully.
Yaga blinked and found himself staring at two Roys, one on his left and one on his right, both grinning mischievously while the real Roy stood right in front of him.
"Not bad for a first timer,"
Yaga muttered, eyes narrowing with interest.
He tapped a thick finger on his desk.
"If every blossom you saw represents a different life… then it's possible that each one contains a different ability. If so…"
He leaned back, crossing his arms.
"You may very well be a Special Grade in the making. But that's a lot of speculation. For now you'll remain unranked."
Roy blinked, but his lips curved into a smile.
"Special Grade… that sounds kinda awesome."
Gojo ruffled his hair from behind, grinning like a proud teacher.
"See? I told you. We've got a real gem here."
The rest of the day blurred into training.
Gojo and Yaga both pushed Roy to experiment with his illusions.
How many could he make at once?
Could he affect one person's senses while leaving others untouched?
How much strain did it put on him?
Roy stumbled, messed up, even collapsed once or twice from the strain, but each time he laughed it off and got back up.
"You're persistent,"
Yaga finally said as evening approached.
His voice carried a rare hint of praise.
Roy, catching his breath, flashed a grin.
"Thanks. If I've got something this cool… I'm not just gonna waste it."
Even Gojo, who had spent half the session teasing him, nodded with approval.
"You've got guts, kid. And that's the one thing you can't fake."
By the time Roy left Jujutsu High, the sky was painted in shades of orange and crimson.
The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of city dust and food stalls preparing for the night rush.
On the walk back, he decided to test his new toy a little more.
A shimmer of cursed energy flickered, and suddenly two more Roys popped into existence at his sides.
"Alright, brain trust,"
Roy said, hands tucked behind his head.
"How do we make this trick the best it can be?"
The Roy on his left smirked.
"Simple. We're distractions. While they're focused on us, you get the real hit in."
The Roy on his right folded his arms.
"Or better, you make the whole room an illusion. Confuse everyone. Make them question what's real."
Roy's eyes lit up.
"Oooh, that's actually sick."
He walked along the empty sidewalk with his copies, listening to himself brainstorm.
By the time the familiar neighborhood came into view, he'd already made up his mind.
'Illusions are cool and all… but if I can't hit hard enough when the chance comes, then what's the point? I need to get stronger too. Physically.'
As he passed by the Fushiguro home, he slowed his steps just slightly.
Through the window, he saw Tsumiki and little Megumi preparing dinner together.
Tsumiki's gentle smile lit up the room while Megumi, looking serious even at ten, carefully cut vegetables under her guidance.
Roy watched for a moment longer before moving on.
His own house was quieter, darker.
Inside, he took a long shower, letting the hot water wash off the sweat and fatigue of the day.
The fridge was stocked, thanks to Gojo's earlier visit, and Roy set about cooking something simple.
Tomato soup and garlic bread.
The smell filled the kitchen, warm and comforting, and for a brief moment, he felt almost… at home.
He sat at the table with his meal, dipping bread into the soup, his golden eyes reflecting the dim light above.
"…Man,"
He whispered, the cheerful grin fading into something softer, almost fragile.
"This all happened so fast. Cursed energy, illusions, training… it's amazing."
He chuckled lightly, but it didn't last.
His gaze drifted to the window, to the darkening sky beyond.
"…But I wonder… if I'll ever get to see Mom again."
The silence in the house pressed against him, heavy and still.
His chest ached faintly, a pang of homesickness cutting through the wonder of his new reality.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
His head jerked toward the door.
Someone was there.