Gojo clapped his hands together, the grin on his face as wide as ever.
"Alright, Yuta-kun! Time to meet your classmates!"
He pointed theatrically at the trio, as if unveiling a grand prize.
"First up, Zenin Maki, our resident Cursed Tool expert!"
Maki crossed her arms and leaned against her desk, her sharp eyes locking onto Yuta.
For a moment, she said nothing, her expression unreadable.
Yuta bowed slightly, offering a polite smile.
"Nice to meet you, Zenin-san."
Maki didn't reply, her gaze lingering on him as if analyzing every inch of his being.
Then she simply turned her head away, muttering under her breath.
Gojo, unfazed by her silence, moved on.
"Next, we've got Inumaki Toge, our Cursed Speech user!"
Toge raised a hand in greeting.
"Kelp."
He said in his usual monotone.
Yuta nodded. "It's nice to meet you, Inumaki-san."
"And last but not least..."
Gojo gestured grandly toward the panda sitting on the desk.
"Panda!"
Panda grinned, waving a paw.
"Hello, I'm Panda!"
Yuta blinked, then chuckled lightly.
"Nice to meet you, Panda-san."
Gojo clapped his hands again.
"Now that introductions are out of the way, it's time for some afternoon practice! You'll be paired up in groups of two. Panda and Toge, Maki and Yuta."
The three students exchanged glances, their reactions ranging from neutral to indifferent.
"Alright, off you go!"
Gojo said, shooing them out of the classroom.
"I have very important things to do. You know, teacher stuff. See ya!"
Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode out, leaving the group standing in the classroom.
Panda broke the silence first, turning to Yuta.
"Hey, Yuta, I wanted to ask you something-"
Before he could finish, Maki interrupted, her tone sharp.
"So, you're the so-called Curse Eater, huh?"
Yuta smiled, scratching the back of his head.
"Yeah, that's me. I didn't choose the name, though. It just kind of appeared out of nowhere about a year after my debut."
Maki narrowed her eyes, studying him.
"You don't look like much."
"That's a bit rude, Maki-chan."
Panda interjected, his voice carrying a hint of disapproval.
"Salmon."
Toge added, nodding in agreement.
Yuta shrugged, unfazed by Maki's remark.
"It's fine. Hopefully, this practice will let me show you what I'm capable of."
Maki stared at him for a moment longer before huffing.
"We'll see about that."
Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked off, her ponytail swaying with each step.
Panda scratched his head, turning back to Yuta.
"Don't take it personally, Yuta-kun. Maki-chan's not a bad person, she just doesn't know how to socialize normally."
"Salmon."
Toge echoed in agreement.
Yuta chuckled softly.
"I don't mind. I get that my appearance can be deceiving. That's kind of the point."
He turned to Panda and Toge, giving them a quick wave.
"Welp, I'm off. Good luck guys. I'll see you both later."
Before they could respond, Yuta jogged off, his focus on catching up with Maki.
XXX
The evening sky stretched endlessly above the elementary school, the faint hum of streetlights the only sound breaking the stillness.
Yuta and Maki stepped out of the car, the cool night air brushing against their faces.
Standing beside the vehicle was Ijichi, their reliable driver and assistant to Gojo.
Ijichi adjusted his glasses, giving the two a quick nod.
"Good luck, you two. I'll be maintaining the Curtain from here."
He extended his hands and began chanting, creating a barrier around the school grounds, cutting it off from the outside world.
Yuta turned his gaze toward the ominous silhouette of the school.
"Well, this should be fun."
He muttered, adjusting his posture as he stepped through the gates.
Maki followed, her expression sharp and focused.
From her back, she drew a gleaming Naginata, its blade catching the faint light of the moon.
The weapon exuded a sense of deadly precision, its craftsmanship immaculate.
Yuta let out a low whistle, his eyes widening in appreciation.
"That's a pretty good quality tool you've got there."
"Shut up."
Maki snapped, gripping her Naginata tightly.
"Just don't get in my way."
Yuta chuckled softly, raising his hands in a mock gesture of surrender.
As they walked deeper into the schoolyard, the eerie silence was broken by faint, distorted whispers.
From the shadows, several Cursed Spirits began to materialize, their twisted forms grotesque and unnatural.
Their voices overlapped, a haunting chant filling the air:
"Put me on... Put me on..."
Maki's sharp eyes scanned the encroaching figures, her lips curling into a smirk.
Without hesitation, she lunged forward, her Naginata slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The Cursed Spirits shrieked as she dispatched them one by one, her strikes swift and efficient.
With a final elegant swing, the last spirit dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind only the faint scent of sulfur.
Maki landed lightly on her feet, her Naginata gleaming in the moonlight.
From behind her, slow, deliberate clapping echoed through the air.
She turned to see Yuta, standing casually with a small, amused smile.
"Good job, Maki-san! Nine out of ten!"
He commented, his tone light.
Maki's eye twitched in irritation.
"Tch."
She spun on her heel and marched toward the school building, muttering under her breath.
Yuta followed at a leisurely pace, hands tucked into his pockets.
As they entered the building, the oppressive aura of Cursed Energy grew thicker.
Small Curses skittered into the shadows, their twisted forms retreating into the corners as if avoiding something far more terrifying than the two sorcerers.
Maki noticed their behavior immediately.
She glanced at Yuta, who had stopped to peer out a nearby window.
"Pull it out."
She said curtly.
Yuta turned his head toward her, his face adopting a mockingly shocked expression.
"Maki-san, at least take me out to dinner first."
A faint blush crept across Maki's cheeks.
"I meant your student ID, dumbass!"
She snapped, her voice rising in frustration.
Yuta's laugh echoed softly through the empty hallway.
He reached into his pocket and handed her the small card.
Maki grabbed it, her eyes narrowing as she read the details.
Her eyebrows shot up in disbelief as she stared at the words.
Special-Grade Sorcerer.
She turned back to Yuta, about to question him, when he suddenly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace.
Her face turned bright red as she frantically stammered.
"W-What the hell are you doing?!"
Before she could struggle free, a deafening roar shook the building.
The walls trembled, and from the far end of the hallway, a massive Curse emerged.
Its body was grotesque, a mass of writhing limbs and snapping jaws.
The Curse lunged forward, and the top of the building exploded in a cacophony of shattered wood and concrete.
In one swift motion, the Curse's enormous maw engulfed both Yuta and Maki, swallowing them whole.
"Thank you... for the meal..."
The moment Yuta and Maki hit the squelching, pulsating ground, Yuta took a quick look around.
The insides of the Curse were grotesque, warped, fleshy chamber that pulsed like a beating heart.
"Well, looks like we found the missing two kids."
Yuta said casually, his tone almost too relaxed for the situation.
Maki turned to him, her eyes narrowing.
"What are you talking about?"
From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the two boys huddled near the wall.
One of them was unconscious, his head resting against the other boy's lap.
Her breath hitched in realization, but the moment was interrupted by the fact that Yuta still had his arms wrapped around her.
Her face flushed red as she shoved him away with more force than necessary.
"Stop clinging to me, idiot!"
She snapped, trying to mask her embarrassment.
Yuta stumbled back a step but laughed softly, unfazed.
Maki scanned the ground, searching for her Naginata, but it was nowhere to be found.
Frustrated, she clenched her fists and began punching the fleshy walls of the Curse's stomach.
Each punch created a small ripple, but it didn't seem to have any real effect.
"C'mon, open up, you fat bastard."
She muttered through gritted teeth, landing another solid punch.
Yuta leaned back against the wall, arms crossed as he watched her futile effort.
"You do realize that after the first punch, it's not going to work, right?"
"Shut up, newbie!"
She yelled, storming toward him.
Yuta raised an eyebrow, still leaning casually.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"What is wrong is that you've been standing there like a spectator this whole time!"
Maki fumed, her frustration boiling over.
"I'm doing all the work here, and all you're doing is making dumb comments! And now, look where that's gotten us, inside some disgusting Curse's stomach, about to die because you're too busy playing spectator!"
She jabbed a finger at him, her voice rising.
"I can't believe I'm going to die next to some idiot who thinks he's hot shit!"
Her rant was interrupted by a small, trembling voice.
"... Are we... going to die..."
Maki turned to see the conscious boy start to cry, tears streaming down his face.
His sobs echoed through the grotesque chamber, his fear palpable.
Yuta sighed and walked over to the boy, crouching down in front of him.
He reached out and patted the boy's head gently.
"Hey now, no need for that, brave kids don't cry."
Yuta said softly, his voice soothing.
He glanced over his shoulder at Maki, his expression playful but tinged with reproach.
"Now look what you've done, Maki-san. You've made the kid cry. I expected better from you."
Maki froze, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to form a response.
"W-What are you-"
Yuta turned back to the boy, his gentle smile unwavering.
"Don't worry, kiddo. We're all getting out of here alive. I promise."
The boy sniffled, looking up at Yuta with wide, tear-filled eyes.
Standing up, Yuta dusted off his pants and rolled up his sleeves.
He lifted his hand to his face, revealing a ring glinting faintly on his ring finger.
Yuta turned to her, his expression suddenly serious.
The casual demeanor he'd worn since their arrival melted away, replaced by something far more intense.
"You wanted to know what makes me a Special Grade Sorcerer, right?"
Yuta asked, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of power.
Maki blinked, her frustration momentarily forgotten.
Yuta tilted his head slightly, a faint smile returning to his lips.
"Here's why."
He said softly.
He raised his hand, the ring catching the dim, eerie light of the Curse's insides.
"Come out, Rika-chan."
Outside the Curse's stomach, the massive grotesque creature suddenly froze.
Its bulbous, writhing form began to tremble, and a loud, guttural growl echoed into the night.
The creature's bloated stomach twisted unnaturally, as if something inside it was fighting to break free.
It let out a wailing shriek as a pale, elongated arm punched through its gaping mouth.
The Curse thrashed wildly, but another limb emerged, gripping its upper jaw with terrifying strength.
The creature screeched in pain as the hands tore its jaws apart, splitting the Curse cleanly in half with a sickening crack.
What emerged was a towering, monstrous figure.
A pale, nightmarish Cursed Spirit.
Its body was skeletal and elongated, with needle-like teeth glinting in the moonlight and a single, glowing red eye that radiated malice.
"YUTA!"
Rika roared, its voice an echoing blend of rage and obsession.
The bisected Curse writhed on the ground, but Rika turned her full fury upon it.
"YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! YUTA! "
She screamed with every punch, her massive fists smashing into the remains of the Curse.
Each blow sent shockwaves through the building, her relentless assault turning the creature into nothing but mangled flesh.
With one final roar.
"YUTA!"
She brought her fist down on its skull, crushing it completely.
The Curse dissolved into nothingness, its existence wiped out by the overwhelming power of Rika.
As the dust settled, Rika tilted her head back and let out a bloodcurdling roar that echoed into the night sky.
On the ground stood Yuta, carrying the two boys in his arms as if they weighed nothing.
His expression was calm, his gaze steady as he turned to look at Maki.
Maki, meanwhile, stood frozen.
Her Naginata hung limply at her side, and her wide eyes were locked on the gruesome scene before her.
"Maki, meet Rika."
Yuta said, his voice even as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"She's my childhood friend, who turned into a Special-Grade Cursed Spirit after she died in a car accident five years ago."
Maki's head snapped toward him, her shock deepening.
"I... kind of cursed her on accident. But I managed to resolve that issue a few months after the accident."
Yuta continued, his tone light despite the weight of his words.
Maki blinked at him, struggling to process what she'd just witnessed.
Her voice came out weak, almost a whisper.
"What the fuck..."
Yuta smiled faintly and adjusted his grip on the boys in his arms.
"Come on, let's get these kids treated."
He said, walking toward the school gates.
As he passed through the remains of the Curtain, he glanced over his shoulder.
"Rika-chan, playtime's over."
he called, his voice firm.
From the distance, Rika's glowing red eye shifted toward him.
Her twisted face softened slightly, and she crooned.
"Yuta..."
Her form began to dissolve into the night.
At the school gates, Ijichi's car was parked.
In the driver's seat was Ijichi and in the passenger seat, Gojo sat with his feet propped up on the dashboard, lazily flipping through his phone.
When Yuta approached with the boys, Gojo looked up, his bandaged eyes crinkling with amusement.
"Not bad, Yuta-kun. I'll give you an A+ for that performance."
He said, giving a thumbs-up.
Yuta chuckled.
"Thanks, Gojo-sensei."
Behind him, Maki caught up, her Naginata back in her hand.
Her face was still a mix of disbelief and irritation as she stomped toward the car.
Gojo turned his attention to her, his grin widening.
"Looks like you also have fun, Maki-chan. But not too much fun I assume~"
Maki glared at her teacher, her tone dry as she muttered.
"Shut up."
XXX
The next morning, in an undisclosed room shrouded in darkness, Yuta stood at the center, casually munching on a bag of chips.
The room was silent save for the faint crunch of his chewing.
Surrounding him were thin, opaque Japanese sliding walls, concealing the identities of the higher-ups seated behind them.
Their shadows flickered faintly against the panels as they argued amongst themselves, their voices rising and overlapping in a cacophony of frustration.
"Why did you manifest the Cursed Apparition, Orimoto Rika?"
One demanded, his tone sharp and accusatory.
"Do you have any idea what you could've happened?"
Another spat.
"Orimoto Rika's manifestation could've leveled the entire town!"
"Do you comprehend the magnitude of your recklessness?"
But Yuta was unfazed.
He stood there absentmindedly, occasionally reaching into the bag for another chip, seemingly more invested in his snack than the barrage of scolding being directed at him.
"Are you even listening, boy?!"
One of the higher-ups barked, his voice cracking with fury.
"This behavior is completely disrespectful!"
"Is this some kind of joke to you?"
Yuta finished his last chip, crumpled the empty bag, and tossed it onto the floor with a lazy flick of his wrist.
He licked the salt off his fingers before finally looking up.
"You wanna know what I think is a joke?"
He said, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of menace.
The room fell silent.
"The fact that you old farts think you know more about Rika-chan than I do."
Yuta continued.
"She's been with me since the day I cursed her. I've taken care of her. I've resolved that issue of her going crazy. But here I am, being lectured by a bunch of prunes who wouldn't last five seconds in the same room as her."
His demeanor shifted.
Gone was the carefree teen, replaced by a presence that filled the room with a chilling gravity.
"Your words mean nothing to me."
He declared.
"The only reason this place hasn't been reduced to rubble by Rika-chan is because I say so."
The higher-ups felt uneasy, their previously confident tones faltering.
Yuta pointed a finger toward the thin wall, his gaze piercing even though their faces remained hidden.
"And if anyone says otherwise..."
He paused, his voice dropping to a cold, steely whisper.
"I'll kill them."
The air grew heavy, the weight of his words sinking into the room like a stone dropped into still water.
Without waiting for a response, Yuta turned and walked toward the door.
He slid it open, his steps slow and deliberate.
Before leaving, he glanced back over his shoulder and kindly added.
"Have a nice day."
Outside, the bright sun provided a stark contrast to the tension-filled room he had just left.
Yuta exhaled softly, shoving his hands into his pockets as he started walking down the corridor.
"Yo!"
A familiar voice called.
Yuta glanced up to see Satoru Gojo leaning casually against the wall, adjusting the bandages over his eyes.
"How'd your first meet-and-greet with the old guys go?"
Gojo asked with a smirk, clearly knowing the answer already.
Yuta shrugged, his tone flat as he replied.
"It's shit."
Gojo nodded in agreement, falling into step beside him.
"Yup, sounds about right. Those guys are the absolute worst."
Yuta huffed a small laugh, but his pace didn't slow.
"You know, I really don't know how you've dealt with them for this long without leveling the place."
Gojo grinned, sliding his hands into his pockets.
"It's called being a mature adult, Yuta-kun. You should try it sometime."
"Pass."
Yuta said bluntly, earning a chuckle from his teacher.
But somewhere in the back of Yuta's mind, he knew that the higher-ups wouldn't forget this confrontation anytime soon.
And neither would he.
XXX
Hello readers!
I just realized that Rika is something like a Stand for Yuta.
Thank you everyone and see you later!