"Huh?"
The world came into focus slowly, as if the haze of a vivid dream refused to lift completely.
He blinked, staring at the asphalt beneath his feet, then up at the road stretching out before him.
The sounds of the city, a car engine idling nearby, distant footsteps, a cacophony of voices, pressed into his ears.
He blinked again, confusion flooding his expression.
"Where... am I?"
He muttered aloud, startled by the high-pitched, childlike quality of his voice.
Instinctively, he raised his hands and stared at them.
They were small, the fingers delicate and soft, free of the calluses or scars he had grown accustomed to.
A tremor ran through him as the realization set in.
These were not his hands.
His confusion deepened, swirling into panic, but before he could gather his thoughts, the sharp sound of panicked shouting snapped him to attention.
He turned his head toward the commotion, the noise sharp and frantic.
Words reached his ears, and though they were spoken in Japanese, he understood them perfectly, as if the language had been etched into his mind.
This realization startled him almost as much as the scene unfolding before him.
A car accident.
The twisted remains of a small sedan sat in the middle of the road, its front end crumpled against a streetlight.
The driver and a woman, stumbled out of the car, hands trembling as the driver clutched his phone.
His panicked voice called out in rapid Japanese, his face pale with shock.
Blood painted the asphalt in splatters and streams, leading to the lifeless body of a little girl sprawled on the pavement.
The sight of her froze him in place.
His breath caught in his throat as an inexplicable pang of familiarity struck him. He didn't know her... or did he?
Why did she seem so familiar, like a face glimpsed in a forgotten dream?
His stomach churned, his mind racing to place the memory that danced just out of reach.
"What... why does she..."
He whispered, his voice trailing off as a shiver ran down his spine.
Then he heard it, a voice.
Feminine but warped, as though layered with static.
"YuTa..."
The word echoed in his ears, and he turned sharply, searching for its source.
His heart pounded, the sound of his name ringing with an eerie familiarity.
Before he could react further, he felt a cold, unnatural grip around both his ankles.
His gaze snapped downward, and his breath hitched.
A pale ghastly figure clung to him.
Its features were distorted as it stared up at him with no eyes and needle-like teeth, its voice a mix of desperation and malice.
"YuTa... YoU pRoMiSeD..."
It rasped, its tone uneven, as if struggling to form the words.
"YoU pRoMiSeD... wHeN wE gReW uP... wE wOuLd GeT mArRiEd..."
His eyes widened, terror clawing at his chest as he staggered backward.
He barely kept his balance, his mind racing to comprehend the scene before him.
(What the hell is going on?!)
He thought, his heart pounding against his ribs.
The cold grip on his ankle tightened, the ghost's voice growing louder, more insistent.
XXX
Five years later.
The sunlight filtered through the windows of the classroom, casting long shadows across the desks.
Three students lounged inside, chatting idly.
Panda, a massive talking panda, leaned casually against a desk.
His wide paws gestured animatedly as he spoke.
"Hey, did you hear about the new transfer student? Rumor has it he stuffed four bullies into a locker. All at once."
Zenin Maki, a young woman with long green hair and glasses perched on her nose, adjusted her ponytail and crossed her legs.
She shot Panda a skeptical look.
"Stuffed them into a locker, huh? Did he kill them?"
Sitting beside her, Inumaki Toge, with his white hair and ever-present face covering, tilted his head.
"Tuna Mayo."
He said nonchalantly, his tone suggesting mild curiosity.
Panda wave a paw dismissively.
"Nah, he didn't kill them. They're only gravely injured."
Maki leaned back in her chair, one brow arching as she smirked.
"If this new kid thinks he's hot shit, I'll wring him out myself."
"Bonito Flakes."
Toge replied, nodding in agreement.
At the front of the classroom stood Gojo Satoru, his snow-white hair gleaming in the sunlight.
His iconic blindfold wrapped snugly around his eyes, yet his ever-present grin suggested he saw far more than anyone else.
He clapped his hands, the sound echoing through the room.
"Alright, everyone! Get ready to meet your new classmate! I expect you to give him a warm welcome!"
The three students didn't react, their expressions flat.
Gojo sighed dramatically, shaking his head.
"No enthusiasm at all. You kids are gonna ruin me one day."
Outside the classroom door, a young man stood silently, his hand resting on the frame.
He had neatly combed black hair and piercing blue eyes that reflected a calm intensity.
(How should I introduce myself?)
He mused, his lips curving into a mischievous smirk.
(Guess I'll give them a little scare.)
With that, he slid the door open and stepped inside.
The moment his foot touched the floor, the air in the room changed.
A dense, malevolent aura swept through the classroom like a tidal wave.
The windows cracked, the wood groaned, and an overwhelming pressure pressed down on the occupants.
Maki's eyes widened as her breath hitched in her throat and she couldn't move.
Panda's usual jovial demeanor vanished, replaced with a stunned silence as he froze in place.
Toge, gripping the edge of his desk, muttered a shaky response.
"C-Caviar..."
His voice trembling.
With each step the young man took, his aura grew more intense.
The air around him shimmered, and in the minds of the students, they saw the image of a towering monstrosity.
A creature with elongated limbs, razor-sharp fangs, and the same sinister aurathat the young man has.
The entity seemed to stalk the young man's movements, its presence suffocating.
The young man reached the center of the classroom and stopped.
He gave a slight bow, his lips curling into a kind smile that was at odds with the oppressive energy surrounding him.
"Hello! I am Okkotsu Yuta. Let's all get along, okay?"
The three students couldn't respond, their bodies still rigid from the overwhelming aura.
"Yuta-kun, maybe tone it down a bit? You're scaring them."
Gojo said cheerfully, ignoring the suffocating atmosphere entirely.
Yuta blinked, looking toward Gojo's ever-calm smile.
"Oh, sorry. My bad."
He said casually.
In an instant, the malevolent aura vanished, and the room returned to normal.
The sunlight was warm again, the room stopped creaking, and the oppressive energy dissipated.
The three students gasped, finally able to breathe again.
"What the fuck was that?!"
Maki yelled, bolting upright from her chair.
"Yeah, what was that?"
Panda added, his voice laced with equal parts confusion and indignation.
"... Salmon." Toge chimed in, still gripping his desk.
Gojo raised his arms in a dramatic flourish.
"Everyone, this is your new classmate, Okkotsu Yuta! A recently registered Special-Grade Sorcerer just like yours truly!"
Yuta waved his hand sheepishly, his earlier smile returning.
"Hello."
He said again, his voice now much gentler.
The room fell silent, the three students processing what they had just heard.
"He is also known by the Jujutsu community as the infamous Curse Eater."
Gojo added casually.
Maki was the first to break the silence.
"What?!"
She shouted, her voice echoing through the room.
Panda's jaw dropped as he echoed.
"Ehh?!"
Toge, never one to be left out, exclaimed.
"Spicy Cod Roe!"
Gojo laughed, clearly enjoying their reactions.
"Looks like you're all going to get along just fine!"
XXX
Hello readers!
I wanted to try a new style in writing so comment if this is better or not.
You know the drill, add to your library, comment on any errors in the fanfic, and send me Power Stones.
Thank you everyone and see you later!