Kiyotaka sighed as he felt the binding vow settle onto his soul.
Gojo smiled and threw the finger from before at him and said, "Eat it."
Kiyotaka sighed as he caught the finger, saying, "It's not exactly very appetising."
Gojo smiled mockingly as he asked, "Do you want me to cook it up into a 5-star meal for you?"
Kiyotaka deadpanned at this before throwing it into his mouth and swallowing it as he felt pushback from the Cursed Energy. Though Gojo couldn't see any changes in his Cursed Energy, it was obvious from the facial contortions as he tensed his hand.
Kiyotaka controlled his expression as he showed a displeased expression, saying, "I should have taken up your offer. It tastes horrible."
Gojo smiled, thinking, 'It really wasn't a fluke. He's a viable vessel.'
"How do you feel?"
Kiyotaka gave him a monotone look and said, "Considering this brings me one step closer to a potential death, I feel like I just ate poison."
Gojo laughed and said, "Hey, I said I'll delay it indefinitely. Trust me, okay?"
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "I'm still new to a lot of this, but alright."
Gojo smiled and said, "Your Cursed Energy is pretty interesting. It's innately invisible."
Kiyotaka looked at his fists and said, "I can feel it, but I can't see it, and I don't have any control over the visibility."
Gojo nodded and said, "That's normal for you to be unable to control its visibility. It's a Cursed Energy Trait. You're not supposed to be able to turn it off."
Gojo smiled, thinking, 'Then the physical mass part of it must be from his Cursed Technique.'
They walked over to a building as Gojo said, "You'll be enrolling in Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School."
Gojo smiled, making a peace sign and saying, "By the way, you're the third first year."
Kiyotaka deadpanned at this before sighing and thinking, 'Educational systems are really tossing me around from one to another, huh?'
They continued walking as Gojo continued on, saying, "It's one of the only two Jujutsu schools in the world. On the surface, it's known as a private religious school. Many Jujutsu Sorcerers continue to use it as a base of operations after graduation, so it's a pillar in the Jujutsu community, not just for education but for support and mediation in missions. Anyways, you're about to have an interview with the principal."
"I'm guessing that if I fail the interview, I get executed immediately?"
Gojo smiled and said, "Yup."
'You're acting too positive about all this.'
That was the thought Kiyotaka was having.
"What? So you're not the boss?"
Gojo looked back, and Sukuna's face was on Kiyotaka's face, talking.
"Any hierarchy other than strength is worthless."
Sukuna said this with a smirk before smiling and saying, "This kid is pretty interesting."
Gojo looked surprised, exclaiming, "Oh? So you can talk like that?"
Sukuna smirked and declared, "I owe you a favour, you know. When I get control of this kid's body, you're the first one I'll kill."
Gojo smiled confidently and said, "It's my honour to be targeted by the great Sukuna."
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "Go to sleep already."
Sukuna smiled maliciously as the face faded away.
Kiyotaka turned to Gojo and said, "So tell me about this guy."
"Ryumen Sukuna is a fierce imaginary god with 2 faces and 4 arms. But he's actually a human who really existed, though it was over a thousand years ago. In the golden age of Jujutsu, Sorcerers gathered their might to challenge him and failed. Crowned with the title of Sukuna, we couldn't even destroy his grave wax as he traversed through the ages after death as a Cursed Object. Without a doubt, he is the King of Curses."
Kiyotaka looked to him and asked, "So... he is a threat to you?"
"Well... If Sukuna regained all his strength, he might give me a little trouble."
Kiyotaka looked quizical and asked, "But would you lose?"
Gojo smiled and said, "Nah, I'd win."
They walked towards a building, going up the stairs.
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Kiyotaka entered the hall as a man sat there surrounded by dolls.
"You're late, Satoru. Six minutes late. Not enough to chastise you for, but I know I told you to fix your habit of being late"
Gojo smiled, waving, "Come on. It's me. Your favourite person, Satoru Gojo!"
Yaga looked annoyed and said, "Just let me talk with this kid, Satoru."
Gojo then said, "This is Principal Yaga Masamichi. I'll let you talk with him."
Yaga looked to Kiyotaka, inspecting him and thinking, 'The kid has no facial expressions. He's insane enough for it, but... what about his reasons?'
"Why do you want to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
Kiyotaka looked to him and said, "Because I don't want to die and because there are things I can accomplish with Jujutsu that I couldn't before."
Yaga looked to him and asked, "Is that all? No bright ideas about saving people?"
"That's a requirement, but it's not my motivation."
Yaga sighed and said, "Alright then. Welcome to Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School."
Kiyotaka walked past as Gojo looked surprised, saying, "I've never seen you go so easy on someone before."
Yaga sighed and said, "He gave me the right answers. Not some altruistic fool, but still someone willing to help the innocent."
Gojo walked a bit faster and caught up to Kiyotaka as he led him to his dorm room, which Gojo had chosen to be right next to Megumi's.
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Kiyotaka looked around and said, "This is rather spacious."
Gojo smiled and said, "All the second years and third years are out at the moment, but you'll meet them soon enough. There aren't many of them."
Kiyotaka looked to Gojo and asked, "Where are these fingers of Sukuna. I'm assuming Jujutsu Society doesn't possess all of them?"
Gojo nodded and said, "They're exceedingly hard to obtain. Some have an overwhelming presence. Some keep very quiet. Some have already been absorbed by a Cursed Spirit. There's nothing more troublesome when it comes to searching for them."
Kiyotaka sat on his bed thinking, 'It's likely that Sukuna will try to regain his power...'
"You'll be using me as a radar."
Gojo clapped, saying, "That's right. Another 50 points for you!"
They left Kiyotaka's room as Megumi stepped out from next door with a yawn, saying, "There are plenty of empty rooms. Why did you put him right next to my room?"
Gojo smiled and said, "I'm hoping that the two of you learn to get along."
Megumi turned to Kiyotaka and said, "I'm sorry about before."
Kiyotaka shook his head and said, "It's alright. You were following orders. Besides, I think I should apologise for doing a number on your hand and arm."
Megumi sighed and said, "It's fine. Already healed."
Kiyotaka looked at Megumi's hand and arm, thinking, 'Accelerated regenerative factor? Or some kind of advanced medical techniques?'
Gojo looked confused, saying, "You two are too serious! Act more like teenagers!"
Megumi ignored him, saying, "So Ayanokoji. Let me show you the way to the cafeteria."
Gojo made a pseudo-hurt expression, shouting, "Hey, don't ignore me! I'm Satoru Gojo!"
Kiyotaka opted to go with the flow, saying, "Sure, Fushiguro," as they began walking.
Gojo sighed, saying, "You two are so mean to me. Well whatever. Just so you guys know. We're gonna go pick up the other first year."
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The next day, the three of them watched as a girl hassled a talent scout.
"Hey. What about me?"
'Her?'
The girl crossed her arms, saying, "For the modelling gig, duh. I'm asking what you think about me."
The man looked awkward, saying, "Oh, um... I'm in a hurry at the moment..."
He tried to walk away, but the girl pulled him back, saying in an annoyed tone, "What the hell? Don't run from me! Come out and say it!"
The man tried to run, saying, "I'm sorry! Please let me go!"
Gojo called out to her.
"Hey! Over here!"
Some ladies walked past, saying, "Damn, what's up with that blindfold?" as Megumi looked annoyed for some reason.
'Is that the expression of a child whose father constantly gets hit on?'
Kiyotaka thought this before dismissing the thought.
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The girl closed a locker and locked it as she pocketed the key and turned to face them.
Gojo smiled and said, "Okay, once again."
"Kugisaki Nobara. Be happy boys. I'm the girl in your group."
'Stare...'
She stared at Kiyotaka.
Kiyotaka offered his hand, saying, "My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. I hope we can work well together."
Megumi, prompted by this, then simply introduced himself.
"Fushiguro Megumi."
Nobara looked at Kiyotaka and thought, 'So he's the gloomy loner type. Still... he's not as bad as this guy.'
She looked to Megumi next.
'Only a name? I can't stand high-and-mighty dudes. I bet he likes setting oil-slicked gulls on fire.'
Kiyotaka was able to read what she was thinking to an extent as he thought, 'Hey, now. Don't go judging us badly from the moment you meet us.'
Nobara sighed, saying, "I always get stuck with the unfortunate circumstances."
Megumi turned to Gojo and asked, "So are we going anywhere from here?"
Gojo chuckled slightly and said, "We do have all three of you together. And Kugisaki. You're a newbie to Tokyo. Let's do it... a tour of Tokyo."
Nobara looked ecstatic, shouting, "Tokyo! Tokyo! I love Tokyo!"
Kiyotaka deadpanned, asking, "Fushiguro. Are people from the country usually that excited about the city?"
Megumi sighed and said, "I don't really care."
"That's fair."
Nobara shouted, saying, "TDL! I want to go to TDL!"
Gojo smiled and said, "I will now announce the destination."
Nobara looked to Gojo expectantly.
Gojo paused for suspense before declaring, "Roppongi!"
Nobara looked excited, saying, "Ro-ppon-gi?"
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They arrived at a building, and Megumi looked at it and said, "There's a Curse here."
Nobara went into a fit, shouting, "You liar! This isn't Roppongi! You were toying with a country folk like me!"
Gojo showed no guilt, saying, "There's a big cemetery nearby. The double whammy of that and an abandoned building brought out a Curse."
Nobara was still crashing out as she started talking about [Who gets you your rice?] and things like that.
Kiyotaka looked to Gojo and asked, "Are Curses born from the negative emotions of people?"
Megumi and Gojo looked surprised, asking, "How do you know about that?"
Kiyotaka thought back to the strength of the Curses that had attacked him and said, "Both cemeteries and abandoned buildings aren't looked well upon. I made a guess."
Kiyotaka contemplated it, thinking, 'Then Curses in the city will be much stronger than Curses in the country due to the significant difference in population.'
"Wait a minute. He didn't even know that for sure yet?"
Nobara asked this, looking to Gojo and Megumi.
Megumi sighed and said, "To be honest..." before explaining.
Nobara backed away with disgust, shouting, "You ate a Special Grade Cursed Object? Gross! That's so unsanitary and disgusting!"
She backed away further, saying, "No way, no way, no way, no way!"
Kiyotaka looked to her and said, "It was either that or leave my friend to die."
Nobara looked surprised as she sighed, saying, "Now you're making me look like the bad guy. You jerk!"
Kiyotaka shook his head and said, "I completely agree with you. They taste horrible."
Nobara deadpanned and asked, "Are you going to become some kind of food critic for eating Special-Grade Cursed Objects?"
"I'd rather not."
Gojo stood there and said, "I want to know what you two are capable of. Just think of it as a field test. Nobara, Kiyotaka, you two go exorcise the Curse inside that building."
Kiyotaka and Nobara walked toward there as Nobara asked, "You can use Cursed Energy, right?"
Kiyotaka nodded, saying, "I should be fine."
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They walked through the building, checking around. They walked up the stairs as she complained, "Ah! What a pain. Why do I have to deal with Curses after coming all the way to Tokyo?"
Kiyotaka deadpanned, thinking, 'Because you chose to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer?'
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "You take the upper floors, and I'll take the lower floors. That way we'll save time."
Nobara sighed and said, "Alright, let's finish this quickly and get some sushi from Ginza," as she headed further upstairs.
As Nobara disappeared from sight a Curse attacked Kiyotaka from above. He quickly ducked under its blade and jumped back, thinking, 'They attack people on sight, and ordinary people can't see them. They're dangerous. It makes sense why there's a force of people to deal with these creatures.'
"Do... you need... a receipt?"
The Curse asked this in a way that seemed like it was barely capable of speech.
Kiyotaka sighed, thinking, 'Cursed Energy isn't actually hard to use. For me, at least.'
Kiyotaka thought of his father and the instructors of the White Room.
'After all, I have plenty of people I'd like to curse.'
It charged at Kiyotaka, swinging its arms as Kiyotaka ducked under, funnelling Cursed Energy into his hand before plunging his right arm through its stomach.
Its blood dripped from its lips as it tried to slash Kiyotaka, but before it could, Kiyotaka lined up his other hand and chopped at the Curse's side while pulling his other hand in the opposite direction. With this motion, the Curse was cut in half as it fell to the floor, dead and evaporating.
Kiyotaka looked at the Curse, thinking, 'They evaporate after death. Interesting.'
Kiyotaka looked to his right hand and thought, 'Cursed Energy is good for reinforcing the body.'
Kiyotaka looked up, thinking, 'Is Kugisaki doing alright?'
—————————————————————————————————————
Nobara stood there as a Curse was holding a little boy hostage, thinking, 'It's taking him hostage?'
It pressed a nail against the boy's neck, causing him to bleed.
Nobara cursed, shouting, "Damn it, damn it, damn it! Damn it!"
'This Curse isn't even all that strong! Grade 4? No more like a low Grade 3. But it's aware of that! That's why it chose to take a hostage!'
The Curse looked smug as Nobara sweated, thinking, 'Calm yourself down. If I die, the child dies too. But if the child dies, I won't die. Logically speaking, it's better if I survive at least!'
Despite her thoughts, she dropped her hammer and her nails as she raised her arms, saying, "I'm unarmed. Let the boy go."
The curse smirked as Nobara chided herself in her mind.
'I'm such an idiot! See? It's not letting him go at all!'
Nobara sighed, saying, "I wish I could have seen Saori-chan one last time."
That's when a fist infused with Cursed Energy stuck through the wall and tore it down as Kiyotaka walked through and chopped at the Curse's arm, freeing the boy as he grabbed him, and jumped back, thinking, 'That's all for my part. Gojo is assessing you, so do your best, Kugisaki.'
The Curse started to phase through the wall as Nobara shouted, "Ayanokoji! Give me that arm!" as she pulled away at her shirt, revealing a straw doll. Kiyotaka kicked the arm over to her as she dropped the straw doll onto it.
The young boy clung to Kiyotaka, saying, "A straw doll? Creepy."
"Straw Doll Technique: Resonance!"
The Curse jumped through the wall, only for Nobara to slam a nail into the straw doll with her hammer as the Curse exploded with nails coming out from its body, fading into nothing.
Nobara took a breath, saying, "We won."
She then turned around and shouted, "How the hell did you punch through a wall like that?"
"I reinforced my fist with Cursed Energy."
Nobara was having none of that as she shouted, "If I did that, I'd break my hand!"
"I was already very physically strong."
"That's a lame excuse, and you know it. How would you even get that strong?"
Without a shred of guilt or shame, he replied, "Piano and Calligraphy."
Nobara glared at him, shouting, "I'll kill you, you lying bastard!"
Kiyotaka sighed as he held the child's hand and guided him out of the building, with Nobara complaining as she followed, and he asked, "Why did you even become a Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
Nobara looked angry, shouting, "Because I hate the countryside and wanted to live in Tokyo!"
Kiyotaka looked at her, thinking, 'These people are insane.'
Nobara smiled, saying, "This was the only way I could move to the city without having to worry about money!"
Nobara sighed and said, "Thanks for the help..."
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "You don't have to thank me."
Nobara smirked, taking a stance, saying, "Then it's all over! We're completely even now!"
Kiyotaka deadpanned at this.
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They saw the kid off as he left, and everyone sat together as Gojo smiled, shouting, "Now! Let's go and get some food!"
Nobara smiled, shouting, "Let's get some Sushi!"
Gojo nodded, saying, "Leave it to me. Kiyotaka? What about you?"
"Sushi is fine."
"Megumi?"
Gojo looked to Megumi, who was scrolling through his phone as he turned around, leading Kiyotaka and Nobara off and saying, "Let's go", as Megumi snapped to attention.
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Chapter?
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