In the almost empty classroom, where only four desks and the blackboard were in the foreground, the sound of irritated footsteps echoed on the floor. This sound was persistent and loud - so much so that it immediately indicated the extreme annoyance and dissatisfaction of its source.
Oddly enough, this sound seemed magically soothing to me, almost lulling. Because of this, I involuntarily let out a sweet yawn, and after that, the footsteps only became more insistent.
"Are you planning to break the floor with your stomping?" Panda couldn't hold back, sarcastically addressing the source of the sound.
"Shut up!" It was a rather sharp and straightforward response for such an attractive girl. Nevertheless, her charm did not diminish, but rather increased...
Zenin Maki, the only girl in our group. And no matter how one might try to phrase it, I can't call her a representative of the weaker sex, because if you don't count me, this whole group is essentially on the same level. And in it, among other things, is a user of Cursed Speech and a masterpiece of Cursed Art.
"Salmon?" Toge sympathetically addressed Panda.
"Panda is used to tyrannical personalities," the bear replied, slightly amused.
It's amazing how with the right motivation and the presence of developed intelligence and wit, this guy... this panda, after twenty minutes, began to understand Toge's speech.
"He's so annoying," Maki continued, running her fingers through her black hair with a greenish tint. "He's thirty minutes late!"
"That's Satoru Gojo for you," Panda commented, shrugging his bear shoulders.
"Well, it could be worse, for example, he could find himself a girlfriend," I couldn't help but smile at the thought of such a situation.
"Never," Maki sharply retorted. "Can you imagine a girl who could put up with him? It's impossible."
"Hard to imagine," Panda mused.
"Huh?" Maki and Toge looked at him questioningly.
"Hard to imagine that I agree with Zenin," Panda finished his sentence, trying to turn it into a joke.
"Don't call me Zenin," a vein popped on the girl's forehead from anger. "Salmon," Inumaki nodded.
This is indeed an interesting group gathered here.
Panda - a real masterpiece of Cursed Art in creating cursed corpses. A very optimistic and calm personality with a specific sense of humor. Sometimes sarcastic, he tends to take any situation lightly.
Inumaki Toge, a member of the Inumaki clan, a user of an incredibly strong curse - Cursed Speech. Initially seeming quiet and reserved, he is actually a very insightful and caring guy. His efforts to avoid speaking to prevent accidentally harming anyone with his Cursed Speech are commendable.
Zenin Maki, a member of one of the three major clans, the Zenin clan. Unable to perform magic like ordinary sorcerers, she possesses remarkable physical strength and incredible skills in martial arts and wielding Cursed weapons.
Well, and me, Yami Sukehiro, a reincarnator, a sixteen-year-old mage of a special rank...
Ah, how could we forget him, our teacher, the male embodiment of the word "waifu," Satoru Gojo.
"Speaking of which, here he is," I thought, sensing his Spiritual Signature.
A few seconds later, the door to the classroom opened, and a tall man in a completely black uniform of the magical college of magic, with white bandages over his eyes, entered.
"Good morning, everyone," the strongest mage of our time greeted us in a feigned manner.
"You're late!" Maki blurted out irritably. "You never come on time," Panda grumbled. "Salmon," Toge nodded.
"Morning," I sleepily replied.
"Hey, hey, it seems everyone is here," ignoring the displeased greetings, Satoru, in his usual manner, started a conversation. "While I had time, I went to Shinjuku and bought you some delicious souvenirs."
Watching our teacher put up the peace sign with one hand and wave a bag of purchased souvenirs with the other, everyone was taken aback by such an unexpected turn of events. On the other hand, I had long stopped paying attention to such things. Of course, I understood that Satoru Gojo was an eccentric character, but when you can easily slice through buildings like butter, burn streets, and battle Curses either to dispel boredom or derive pleasure from the fight, you gradually blur the line of normalcy within yourself.
"I hope it's not something sweet," I said, recalling my snack after breakfast.
To be honest, even imagining the taste of chocolate makes me a bit nauseous...
"Don't worry, our chef already complained that you made him prepare so many dorayaki in just an hour," Satoru said, slyly smiling as he reached into the bag. "So, I bought a couple more portions!"
What a jerk... He saw me lying lifeless in the cafeteria amidst a dozen plates smeared with chocolate!
A little later.
"So, you've had your fill, and now it's time to get to know each other!" Satoru clapped his hands, starting the conversation. "While you were gone, we've already reintroduced ourselves," Maki grumbled, leaning her head on her hand and crossing one leg over the other.
"Panda even learned to understand his new comrade!" Panda replied, nodding vigorously.
"Well, that's great! In that case, let's divide: Toge with Panda, and Sukehiro with Maki," holding a piece of chalk, Satoru drew four silly faces, most likely ours, and circled pairs. "Of course, not perfect teams, but you'll get to know each other better this way."
"What are we going to do?" Maki raised an eyebrow, directly asking the question.
Panda and Toge, sitting on the side, nodded in unison, showing their interest. After all, it can't be that the idea of the strongest mage is boring... Oh no, it can, for example: buying damn dorayaki!
"You will exorcise Curses!" Satoru glowed with enthusiasm. "Right away?" Panda was surprised.
"Among you, there's no one who hasn't exorcised a curse at least once. So, this lesson will be perfect for getting to know each other," Satoru explained, walking from side to side. "Besides, I don't see any dissatisfaction or reluctance on your faces."
After that, a short briefing followed, the essence of which was... Well, it had no essence! And all because for Satoru Gojo, exorcising Curses is no different from "taking a dump" - so easy that it's pleasant. The only somewhat reasonable advice was not to die. Although the prefix "if possible," which the white-haired man added at the end, reduced everything to a usual dad's wish before you go out with the guys.
◊◊◊
"So, where are we heading?" I asked Teacher Gojo as we left the school, lighting a cigarette.
"Your pair with Maki is a bit special," Satoru replied, slightly thoughtful.
"Are you not bothered by the fact that he smokes?" Maki asked discontentedly.
"Nope," Gojo shook his head negatively. "I'm bothered that mages of a special and fourth rank will work together."
"Special rank... Stop! How is that possible?" Maki stared at me in shock. "Show me your student ID!"
Almost ripping the plastic card from my hands, Maki began to read with undisguised surprise:
"Student number: 10000, name: Yami Sukehiro, date of birth - December twenty-fourth, two thousand. Rank... Special."
"A promising young groom," the white-haired man said, patting me on the shoulder.
"What an honor!" I mockingly bowed, took a deep drag of tobacco smoke, and snatched the student ID from Maki's hands. "It's a bear service, not a title. I'm only here for that reason."
"Oh, so you're a tsundere," somehow Satoru came to this conclusion.
"And you turned out to be quite the jerk," my "teacher" annoyed me so much that I couldn't resist using [Provocation].
However, the strongest is the strongest, because apart from a fleeting frown, he didn't react in any other way.
"I think you're forgetting that I can handle you even with my bare hands," Satoru raised his eyebrows, responding to my provocation.
"A sad fate for a bachelor," I just shook my head, exhaling a smoke ring.
Throughout this time, Maki looked at us as if at rare animals... Or maybe like idiots. In any case, I clearly felt her embarrassment and even uncertainty. Which was incredibly unusual for my understanding of Zenin Maki. Uncertainty?!
"If you're unsure of yourself because your partner has 'Special Rank' written on his plastic card, what's the point of going against the Zenin clan's traditions?" Maki provocatively looked me in the eyes, as if throwing down a challenge.
"Shut up!" My words ignited righteous anger in the girl's heart. "It's not for you to find meaning in my actions."
After that, with an irritated snort, Maki turned around and headed towards the school exit.
"And still, she's an interesting person, isn't she?" Satoru asked me.
"Straightforward, rude," the ember at the end of my cigarette glowed stronger. "But her willpower and motivation are impressive."
"Oh, someone found himself a girlfriend?" Teacher Gojo teased me with a Cheshire smile.
"Looks like you've become quite the joker?" Turning around, I marched towards the direction Maki went.
"Well, why not, you're quite compatible," Satoru commented, following me.
"You don't understand people well if you think Zenin Maki needs a relationship," I said, looking at the girl who was walking about forty meters away from us.
"Well, revenge is revenge, and teenage love is on schedule," Gojo countered.
"No, revenge is a secondary feeling for her," taking another drag, I continued. "She's just like me, like you were in school... Ambitious."
Looking at the blue sky, I couldn't help but think about the fate of this girl and the price she would have to pay to realize herself and her desires.
Yes... This world is too cruel to good people.