Present day
It had been six months since Yuji first met Choso, and life had settled into a new kind of routine—or at least as normal as life could be for an 11-year-old jujutsu sorcerer. While he'd grown significantly stronger and more confident in his abilities, Yuji hadn't gone after a Grade 1 curse yet. It wasn't because he wasn't ready—he absolutely was—but because he just didn't see the point right now. There was no urgent reason to take on something that powerful.
4 days ago was March 20th, 2014—Yuji's 11th birthday. Choso had made quite a fuss about it in their shared dream world, going out of his way to celebrate his "little brother's" milestone. He'd even spent extra time teaching Yuji advanced blood manipulation techniques like Flowing Red Scale: Stack and Blood Meteorite. As a birthday gift, Choso had also challenged him to a sparring match, though Yuji now regretted accepting it. Sparring with Choso turned out to be an entirely different level of pain than anything he'd experienced before.
Flashback: The Dream World Sparring Match
In the familiar forest clearing of their shared consciousness, Yuji stood across from Choso, who had his arms crossed with an amused expression. The setting was the same as always: the round wooden table in the background, with empty chairs that seemed to symbolize the brothers who had yet to awaken. But the peaceful scene clashed with the tension in the air. Yuji's muscles were coiled like a spring, his breath steady but shallow as he watched Choso.
"Ready, little brother?" Choso asked with a smirk, unfolding his arms and taking a step forward. His casual tone carried an undertone of authority, the kind only an older sibling could muster.
Yuji nodded, steeling himself. "Yeah, but don't hold back! I want to see how strong I really am."
Choso chuckled, shaking his head. "You're ambitious, I'll give you that. But don't cry when I overwhelm you."
Without warning, Choso lunged forward, his speed far greater than Yuji had anticipated. Before Yuji could react, a sharp strike landed on his stomach, sending him flying backward into a nearby tree. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs, and he struggled to catch his breath as Choso approached casually, giving him no time to recover.
"Don't let your guard down, Yuji," Choso said, his voice calm but firm.
Yuji gritted his teeth and scrambled to his feet, cursing himself for being so careless. He focused his cursed energy, reinforcing his body and taking a more defensive stance. This time, when Choso charged, Yuji was ready—or so he thought.
Choso's attacks came in a flurry, each strike faster and heavier than the last. Yuji barely managed to block or dodge, but every failed attempt left him open to another blow. A punch to the ribs, a kick to the side, an elbow to the shoulder—Choso was relentless. Yuji could feel his stamina draining rapidly, and he hadn't even landed a single hit yet.
"Is this all you've got?" Choso taunted, sidestepping one of Yuji's desperate swings with ease. "You'll never reach my level if you can't even keep up with me."
Yuji growled in frustration, his blood boiling. He knew Choso was right—he needed to do better. But how could he bridge the gap between them? His techniques weren't enough, and his reinforcement wasn't holding up under Choso's overwhelming power.
Then, as Choso prepared another attack, Yuji remembered the technique they'd been practicing together: Flowing Red Scale: Stack. It was risky and drained a significant amount of energy, but if he timed it right, it could give him the boost he needed to land a hit.
Focusing his cursed energy, Yuji activated Flowing Red Scale: Stack. His blood flow surged, enhancing his strength, speed, and reflexes beyond their normal limits. He could feel the strain on his body immediately, but he didn't care—this was his chance.
Choso noticed the change and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Trying something new, little brother? Let's see if it makes a difference."
Yuji didn't respond. He tightened his grip on the ground with his toes, launched himself forward with incredible speed, and closed the gap between them in an instant. For the first time, Choso seemed genuinely surprised.
Yuji feinted to the left, forcing Choso to shift his weight, and then pivoted sharply to the right. Using the momentum, he delivered a powerful punch infused with cursed energy directly to Choso's side. The impact sent Choso skidding backward, his feet digging into the ground to stop himself.
For a moment, there was silence. Yuji stood panting, his body trembling from the strain of Flowing Red Scale: Stack, while Choso looked down at the spot where Yuji had hit him.
"Well, well," Choso said, a small smile playing on his lips. "You actually managed to land a hit. I'm impressed."
Yuji grinned despite his exhaustion. "Told you I wouldn't go down without a fight."
Choso chuckled and stepped forward again, his expression softening. "You've got potential, Yuji. But don't let one hit go to your head. You're still far from ready to face opponents at my level consistently. Keep training, and one day, you'll surpass me."
Yuji nodded, his determination renewed. "I'll hold you to that."
As the sparring match ended, Choso placed a hand on Yuji's shoulder, a gesture of both approval and encouragement. "Happy birthday, little brother. You're getting stronger every day."
Back to the Present
Reflecting on that sparring match, Yuji couldn't help but smile. Choso had been right—there was still so much for him to learn and improve on. But with every step forward, he was getting closer to his goal. For now, though, he was content with the progress he'd made and the bond he'd built with Choso.
One thing that had caught Yuji completely off guard recently was Ozawa. At school, she had surprised him with a birthday present. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was a new jacket—one that he found surprisingly comfortable and warm. It was such a sweet gesture from her, and it left him both touched and a little guilty. He knew Ozawa struggled with her appearance. She often hid her insecurities behind a cheerful demeanor, but Yuji could tell how much it weighed on her.
From what he remembered in his past life, Ozawa would grow into a stunning young woman after gaining confidence and making some changes for herself. So, why not help her now? Not for her looks, but to help her feel better and love herself again.
Grinning as he opened his phone, Yuji typed into his notes app: Operation: Help the beauty that is Ozawa lose weight and love herself! A new goal was set, and he couldn't wait to make it happen.