The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Tokyo Jujutsu Academy's training hall, casting long streaks of gold across the polished wooden floor. Aya sat cross-legged on the mat, her palms resting lightly on her knees, eyes closed. She could feel the faint hum of cursed energy in the air, a subtle reminder that the world she had stepped into yesterday was far from ordinary.
Mei-sensei's footsteps echoed softly as she approached, hands clasped behind her back. "Aya," she said, her tone neutral yet commanding. "Today, we focus on precision and control. You handled yourself well yesterday, but raw power alone will not be enough. Discipline must follow instinct."
Aya opened her eyes, nodding. "Understood, sensei."
Before Mei could continue, a shadow shifted at the edge of the hall. Aya's senses flared instinctively. She recognized it immediately—a trace of energy unlike the usual currents she had been practicing with. Sharp, calculating, cold. She turned slightly, but nothing moved.
Ren, who had just entered the hall, noticed her reaction. "What is it?" he asked, eyebrows furrowed.
Aya shook her head, frowning. "Something… I can't see it clearly yet. But it's watching."
Mina stepped closer, placing a hand lightly on Aya's shoulder. "Just a feeling?"
Aya nodded slowly, focusing on the tremor in the air. "Yes. Something is monitoring us."
Gojo's earlier words returned to her: Your power can protect, or it can destroy. The idea that someone might be observing her—testing her—ignited a mixture of fear and determination.
Mei-sensei clapped her hands sharply, drawing Aya's attention back. "Enough speculation. Today, you spar with your classmates. Ren, Arata—partner up. Aya, you face both of them."
Aya's pulse quickened. The challenge was clear. This was more than a test of raw ability—it was a measure of her control, strategy, and adaptability.
Ren grinned, already crouching in a combat stance. "Don't hold back."
Arata, leaning against the wall with his usual unreadable expression, stepped forward silently. "I won't."
Aya inhaled, centering herself. She felt the familiar hum of cursed energy at her fingertips, the subtle ripple of the air as if acknowledging her presence. Focus. Don't react, anticipate.
The spar began. Ren struck first, fast and unpredictable, his movements fluid but lacking finesse. Aya blocked and countered instinctively, feeling the energy respond to her will. She shifted weight smoothly, redirecting Ren's momentum, and sent him sliding across the floor.
Arata remained still, observing. Then, with a fluid motion, he attacked from an angle Aya hadn't anticipated. She barely sidestepped, the tip of his blade grazing her uniform. Her heart raced—he was precise, disciplined, and unlike any opponent she had faced before.
Mina's voice rang out, calm yet sharp. "Watch his rhythm, Aya. Don't just react."
Aya nodded subtly, adjusting her stance. She closed her eyes briefly, letting her intuition guide her. The cursed energy pulsed faintly around her, responding to her focus. She moved like a shadow herself, redirecting Arata's strike and countering with a small, controlled pulse of energy that sent him stumbling back slightly.
Ren laughed, brushing dust off his uniform. "Not bad. You're faster than I expected."
Arata straightened, expression unreadable. "Controlled, but still rough. You rely too much on instinct."
Aya felt a flare of irritation. Rough? I'm controlling it. You just can't see it yet.
The spar continued, a delicate dance of energy and strategy. Aya realized something important: strength alone wasn't enough. Precision, timing, and understanding the opponent's intent were equally vital. By the end, she had held her own against both, managing a combination of instinct, raw power, and emerging technique.
Mei-sensei clapped lightly. "Satisfactory. You're improving quickly. But remember, rivalry is not just about outmatching others—it's about recognizing your own limits and expanding them."
Aya exhaled, wiping sweat from her brow. Her body ached pleasantly, muscles burning with exertion, yet her mind was alive with clarity. She glanced at Arata, who met her gaze for a brief second, unflinching. He's a challenge, she thought. And I'll rise to it.
As the training session concluded, Aya lingered near the hall's edge, sensing the lingering traces of the earlier shadow she had felt. It was stronger now, closer, yet still hidden. Her pulse quickened—not with fear, but with anticipation. Someone is watching. Someone wants to see what I can do.
Ren nudged her shoulder. "You spacing out again? You're lucky I don't hit you with another sparring round right now."
Aya gave a small smile, brushing it off. "I'm… thinking."
Mina tilted her head. "Thinking or sensing? You're… different, Aya. You feel things others don't."
Aya's lips pressed into a thin line. "I guess that's part of being… Gojo's sister."
The afternoon waned, shadows stretching across the courtyard. Aya felt both exhaustion and exhilaration. Her abilities were growing, her instincts sharpening—but so was the awareness that she was now a target. Someone, somewhere, had taken notice of her awakening, and the realization settled in her chest like ice.
They're coming, she thought. And I need to be ready.
Later, alone in her room, Aya traced her hands over the faint bruises from training. The city outside was quiet now, but she could still feel the subtle tremor in the currents of energy around her. Whoever was observing would not wait. Whoever they were, they would strike.
Aya's resolve hardened. I won't let them control me. I'll master this power—every bit of it.
She closed her eyes, letting the hum of her own cursed energy fill the space. Tonight, she would rest. Tomorrow, she would train harder. And soon, she would face whatever shadow dared to challenge her.
I am Aya Gojo, she whispered softly, the words carrying more weight than before. And I will not be ignored.