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Yuta lowered his head, his shoulders slumping. His fists clenched against the sheets.
"I couldn't do anything."
A firm hand landed on his head, making him flinch.
"Well, at least you're aware of it," Maki said, arms crossed, her piercing gaze fixed on him.
Yuta raised his head, shocked, before lowering his eyes again, defeated.
"It's true, I'm useless," he whispered.
But Maki clenched her fists, her eyes burning with restrained anger.
"Then in that case, so are we," she snapped.
Yuta stared at her, bewildered.
"You think we did any better than you?" she continued, her voice trembling with frustration. "We couldn't do anything either, Yuta. Nothing. We weren't even able to put up resistance or protect a single thing. So yeah, we're useless. But you know what?"
She stepped closer, her eyes locked onto his.
"That gives us a chance to change it."
Yuta blinked, surprised by the intensity of her words.
Panda nodded, folding his massive arms. "Maki's right. We're going to get stronger. Every last one of us."
Toge, true to himself, only said one word. "Ikura." But the firmness in his tone was enough to show his agreement.
A cruel smile curved Maki's lips.
"And besides, we've got our sensei to avenge us."
Panda raised an eyebrow and pointed at her. "You've got no shame, seriously."
Maki snapped her head toward him, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"So what?! There's no shame in relying on your elders once in a while!"
Yuta listened in silence, the storm of his emotions gradually calming. But one question still gnawed at him.
"Do you think… Sensei can really beat Geto?" he asked hesitantly.
Panda burst out laughing.
"Of course he can," he replied confidently. "If anything, it's Geto who's playing the challenger here."
Yuta tilted his head, intrigued. "Gojo-sensei is really that strong?"
Maki adjusted her glasses, pride gleaming in her eyes.
"You're kidding, right?" she said with a smirk. "Gojo-sensei isn't just a strong jujutsu sorcerer. He's the strongest."
---
Gojo gently closed the door behind him. Just outside, Shoko was waiting, leaning against the wall, a cigarette pinched between her fingers. She barely looked up as he approached, exhaling a plume of smoke that drifted lazily toward the ceiling.
"So, you planning to go this time?" she asked in a neutral tone.
Gojo smirked, his hands slipping into his pockets. "Thanks for the kids, Shoko. Without you, they'd still be in bad shape."
Shoko shrugged, looking away. "It's my job, no need to thank me." She crushed her cigarette in a makeshift ashtray on the windowsill before sighing. "The principal wants to see you before you do anything."
Gojo raised a hand in acknowledgment, his smile unfading. "Got it, got it."
Shoko eyed him for a moment, her expression neutral, though a flicker of worry passed through her gaze. "You can play the carefree act all you want, Gojo, but this time, it has to end."
Gojo paused, looking thoughtful, before slightly turning his head toward her. He adjusted his glasses, hiding his eyes behind the lenses. "I'm the strongest, aren't I?"
Shoko rolled her eyes, exasperated, but she couldn't stop the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, yeah. Just try to come back in one piece—emotionally, I mean, okay?"
Gojo didn't answer. He resumed walking, his footsteps echoing once more down the hall, as Shoko's figure faded behind him. Ahead, the doors to the principal's office seemed almost to anticipate his arrival.
"End it, huh?" he murmured to himself, his grin widening as he prepared to push through them.
Reaching the office door, he lifted his foot with a broad smile, ready to kick it open in his usual dramatic fashion. But before he could touch it, the door swung open abruptly.
A colorful mascot stood there, its blank, fixed gaze meeting his before politely stepping aside.
"The door isn't even a week old," Masamichi's voice came from the desk inside, slightly exasperated. "I'm taking precautions."
Feigning offense, Gojo stepped in casually. "You really have no sense of humor. A solid door's meant to be tested, isn't it?"
Masamichi ignored the remark, his arms crossed. He followed Gojo with his eyes as the latter flopped into a chair across from his desk, throwing his feet up on the edge with nonchalance.
"Heard you wanted to see me," Gojo said, folding his arms behind his head.
Masamichi nodded, though his expression remained grave. "Yes. But first… Have you made your decision regarding Geto?"
Gojo stayed silent for a moment, an enigmatic smile on his face. Then he shrugged slightly. "No idea what you're talking about, boss."
A deep sigh escaped Masamichi, but he didn't press. "Very well, in that case, let's discuss something else."
Gojo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh?" He leaned forward slightly, curious. "What could be more urgent than Geto?"
Masamichi leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze locked on Gojo. His tone grew heavier, almost solemn. "The anomaly."
Gojo blinked, then burst out laughing. "The anomaly? Who are you talking about, some kind of mythical beast?"
Masamichi didn't flinch, his voice cutting like a blade. "He's in Tokyo. Right now."
Gojo's smile faded, replaced by a more serious look. "Leave the kid alone, Masamichi-sensei. He hasn't done anything wrong."