Gojo watched Yuta for a moment before letting out a sigh and ruffling the young man's hair in a casual gesture.
"Listen, Yuta, I'm going to be straight with you. Right now, you're weak."
Yuta's head shot up, stunned by his teacher's blunt words.
"But that's okay," Gojo continued, a smile creeping back onto his face. "Because this situation? It's my responsibility now. You've done what you could, but taking back Rika and stopping Geto? That's out of your league for now."
Yuta stayed silent, his fists clenched tightly.
Before he could respond, the door to the room swung open. Maki, Panda, and Toge entered, each showing signs of their recent battle.
Maki walked with a slight limp, Panda had bandages wrapped around his side, and Toge looked more exhausted than usual.
"You really know how to make us worry," Maki said, crossing her arms.
Panda, more expressive, immediately walked over, his broad smile lighting up the room. "Finally awake! I thought we'd have to carry you around forever. And trust me, that would've been exhausting."
Toge simply said, "Okaka." But the subtle nod he gave Yuta spoke volumes.
Yuta smiled faintly, touched by their presence.
"Are you guys okay?" he asked hesitantly.
Maki shrugged. "We've been through worse. You're the one who needs fixing."
Gojo stepped back slightly, watching the scene unfold with a satisfied smile. "Alright, this is way too much camaraderie for me. I'll leave you guys to it."
He headed for the door but paused before exiting. His expression turned serious. "Get some rest."
With that, Gojo strolled out of the room.
Yuta lowered his head, his shoulders slumping. His fists gripped the sheets beneath him.
"I couldn't do anything."
A firm hand landed on his head, making him flinch.
"Well, at least you know it," Maki said bluntly, her piercing gaze fixed on him as she crossed her arms.
Yuta looked up, shocked, before dropping his eyes again, defeated.
"It's true. I'm useless," he whispered.
But Maki's fists clenched, her eyes burning with restrained anger.
"Then that makes us useless too," she snapped.
Yuta blinked at her, confused.
"You think we did better than you?" she went on, her voice trembling with frustration. "We couldn't do a damn thing either, Yuta. Nothing. We couldn't fight back or protect anything. So yeah, we're useless. But you know what?"
She stepped closer, her eyes boring into his.
"That gives us a chance to change it."
Yuta's eyes widened, startled by the intensity of her words.
Panda nodded, crossing his massive arms. "Maki's right. We'll get stronger. All of us."
Toge, true to form, added a single word: "Ikura." But the determination in his tone left no room for doubt.
A sly grin spread across Maki's face.
"And we've got our sensei to back us up for revenge."
Panda raised an eyebrow, pointing at her. "No shame, huh?"
Maki whipped her head toward him, her cheeks tinged red.
"So what?!" she shot back, raising her voice. "There's no shame in leaning on your elders once in a while!"
As the group bantered, Yuta listened silently, the storm of emotions within him gradually calming. Yet one question lingered.
"Do you guys think… Sensei can really beat Geto?" he asked hesitantly.
Panda burst out laughing.
"Of course he can," he said confidently. "At this point, it's Geto who's the underdog."
Yuta tilted his head, puzzled. "Is Gojo-sensei really that strong?"
Maki adjusted her glasses, a glint of pride in her eyes.
"Are you kidding?" she said with a smirk. "Gojo-sensei isn't just strong. He's the strongest."
---
Gojo gently closed the door behind him. Just outside, Shoko leaned against the wall, a cigarette dangling between her fingers. She barely glanced up as he approached, exhaling a plume of smoke that spiraled lazily upward.
"So, you planning to actually do something this time?" she asked in a neutral tone.
Gojo gave a faint smile, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Thanks for looking after the kids, Shoko. Without you, they'd still be in rough shape."
Shoko shrugged, looking away. "It's my job. No need to thank me." She stubbed out her cigarette in a makeshift ashtray on the windowsill and sighed. "The principal wants to see you before you do anything reckless."
Gojo raised a hand in acknowledgment, his grin still intact. "Got it, got it."
Shoko studied him for a moment, her expression neutral, though a flicker of concern crossed her eyes. "You act all carefree, Gojo, but this time, you'd better finish it."
Gojo paused, thoughtful, before tilting his head slightly toward her. He adjusted his sunglasses, hiding his gaze.
"I am the strongest, aren't I?"
Shoko rolled her eyes, exasperated, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah, yeah. Just try to come back in one piece, emotionally and physically, okay?"
Gojo didn't reply. He resumed walking, his footsteps echoing in the hallway as Shoko's figure faded behind him. Ahead, the doors to the principal's office loomed, almost beckoning him.
"Finish it, huh?" he murmured to himself, his smile widening as he pushed the doors open.
Standing before the principal's office door, Gojo lifted his foot, a wide grin on his face, ready to kick it open for his signature dramatic entrance. But before he could make contact, the door swung open abruptly.
A colorful mascot stood there, its vacant gaze fixed ahead, before politely stepping aside to let him in.
"The door's barely a week old," Masamichi called from behind his desk, his tone laced with mild exasperation. "I'm taking precautions."
Feigning offense, Gojo strolled in casually. "You've got no sense of humor, old man. A sturdy door's meant to be tested, isn't it?"
Masamichi ignored the quip, crossing his arms as his eyes followed Gojo, who slumped into a chair across from the desk, propping his feet up on its edge with a lazy air.
"I hear you wanted to see me," Gojo said, arms behind his head, completely at ease.
Masamichi nodded, though his expression remained serious. "Yes, but first… have you made a decision about Geto?"
For a moment, Gojo stayed silent, an enigmatic smile hovering on his lips. Then, with a small shrug, he said, "Not sure what you mean, boss."
Masamichi let out a deep sigh but didn't press further. "Fine. In that case, let's move on."
Gojo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What could possibly be more pressing than Geto?"
Masamichi leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze locked on Gojo. His tone shifted to something heavier, almost solemn. "The anomaly."
Gojo blinked before bursting into laughter. "The anomaly? What are we talking about here? A mythical beast?"
Masamichi didn't flinch, his voice cutting through the humor like a blade. "He's in Tokyo. Right now."
Gojo's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Leave the kid alone, Masamichi-sensei. He hasn't done anything wrong."
Masamichi shook his head, resolute. "I'm not asking you to harm him. Just test him. I need to know where he stands."
Leaning back in his chair, Gojo crossed his arms. "Why are you so suspicious?"
"The council," Masamichi replied, his voice heavy with weight. "You know how they feel about anomalies. If that kid's hiding anything, they'll use it as an excuse to intervene. And trust me, their 'tests' won't be as gentle."
A tense silence followed as Gojo's jaw tightened slightly. Then he stood, the light reflecting off his glasses, obscuring his eyes.
"I'll see what I can do. But if you think I'm going to hurt him just to ease the paranoia of those old fossils…"
Masamichi nodded slowly, his expression unyielding. "I expected no less from you. But remember this: the sorcerer world runs on rules. And rules, whether we like them or not, don't always leave us a choice."
Gojo opened the door with a casual motion. "You know what? That's why I prefer breaking them."
Without waiting for a reply, he walked out.
TO BE CONTINUED!
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Next Chapter on 5 February 2025: On the Hunt for a Genius and a Cook