Watching Satoru cheer like a spectator at a sports match after my victory, I let out a light laugh. It was only then that I remembered Suguru, who was currently unconscious after the blow I‘d landed. Seeing him sprawled out on the ground, I felt a pang of guilt. Rather than leaving him to Shoko for treatment, I considered summoning Round Deer to heal him myself, but a thought suddenly struck me.
’I can already layer Nue‘s cursed energy over my own body... If I do the same with Round Deer, couldn't I theoretically perform the healing myself?‘
With a perfect test subject lying right in front of me, I immediately put the theory into practice.
’Just like when I coat myself in Nue‘s cursed energy... focus on that sensation, but switch the target to Round Deer.‘
As I maintained my focus, a pair of deer antlers manifested atop my head.
“Looks like it‘s a success.”
I placed my hand on Suguru‘s face and willed the Reverse Cursed Technique into existence. A soft, white light emanated from my palm, and within moments, the bruising and abrasions on Suguru‘s face vanished. Though Suguru began to stir shortly after, my mind was entirely preoccupied with the sensation of utilizing the Reverse Cursed Technique.
’I feel like... I‘m starting to get the hang of it, but it‘s still faint. It‘s vague. I‘ll need to practice this several more times.‘
Since it had only been a minor concussion, Suguru recovered quickly, though the output was noticeably weaker than if the Round Deer had performed the healing directly.
“Still, this is quite useful,” I muttered.
I dismissed the Round Deer manifestation and reflected on the internal flow of energy. Just then, a fully conscious Suguru spoke up.
“Touya... did you heal me? No, more importantly... just who is this ’master‘ of yours who‘s supposedly stronger than you? Honestly, I never imagined I‘d get picked apart like that in a physical exchange.”
“Oh... my master? That‘s not a person.”
“...What is that supposed to mean?”
“It is what it is. If you aim for that level of strength, you‘ll end up transcending humanity itself.”
“I have no idea what you‘re talking about.”
As I talked with Suguru, Shoko and Satoru approached us.
“You just used Reverse Cursed Technique, didn't you? You told me you couldn't do it.”
Shoko, holding a handful of cigarette butts she‘d seemingly finished while watching the spar, bit into a fresh cigarette. Her words were slightly muffled as she spoke.
I found the sight somewhat charming and smiled. “I told you before. My shikigami knows how to use it. I‘m just cheating by borrowing its power. I still don't actually know the mechanics of performing a Reverse Cursed Technique on my own.”
“Hmm... is that so? Well... does it matter? If you get better at it, it‘ll mean less work for me. Keep at it.”
Shoko gave my shoulder an encouraging pat and stepped aside. I was so focused on her that I failed to notice Satoru charging at me like a runaway train. We collided head-on. My world spun as I was driven head-first into the dirt, and my consciousness slowly faded into black.
“Touya! You really are my best friend! You‘re incredibly strong!”
“Haah... Gojo, why don't you lift your head and actually look at your friend‘s face?”
“Eh? Touya!!”
“Tou... up... wake...!”
“She won‘t... like that... be qui...”
’Ugh... so noisy...‘
“Oh? Did his... eyebrow... just... twitch?”
“Maybe... probably... imagining it...”
’Why is it so loud? This pillow is so soft, I want to sleep more...‘
“Touya! Get up already!”
“I told you, he isn't waking up yet.”
’These voices... Satoru and... Shoko?‘
Finally stirring from my forced slumber, I blinked my eyes open.
’What is this...? I can‘t see clearly.‘
Through the gaps in my half-shrouded vision, I could see Satoru standing and looking down at me.
’Wait, this pillow is exceptionally soft. Is this even a pillow?‘
Just as the thought occurred to me, the obstruction in my vision moved, and sunlight stabbed at my eyes. I squeezed them shut for a moment before opening them again, only to find Shoko staring down at me from an uncomfortably close distance.
“You actually woke up. I guess Gojo is good for something after all.”
“I told you he would! Hey, isn‘t that a bit harsh?!”
’The proximity to Shoko... the soft sensation against the back of my head... Don‘t tell me...‘
“It is a lap pillow, so stop dazing off and get up.”
“Ah... a ceiling I don‘t recognize...”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
’Satoru... you‘re an angel. To think you‘d orchestrate a situation like this for me...‘
“Actually... I think I‘m still hurt. Can I stay like this for just a bit longer?”
“The Reverse Cursed Technique already healed you, so stop faking. You want me to put a cigarette out on your forehead?”
Despite the refreshing wink she gave me, the threat was visceral. Regretfully, I pushed myself up and sat upright.
“Thanks for the treatment. But you didn't have to go that far with the posture...”
“Oh, that? I just felt like doing it for you.”
“...What? What did you just say?”
I couldn't believe my ears. I felt my heart rate spike, and heat began to crawl up my neck. Shoko watched me for a moment before letting out a smirk.
“I‘m joking. Look at her.”
Shoko shrugged and gestured with her chin toward Satoru.
“Her reaction was just too funny to pass up.”
The expression on Satoru‘s face as she watched us was a sight to behold. Her usually beautiful face was crumpled in a bizarre mix of emotions, and her hands were trembling. To put it bluntly, she looked like a total idiot. Looking at her, the heat in my face immediately died down.
“Pfft... true. You‘re quite wicked, Shoko.”
“Whatever. Anyway, Gojo. I believe I told you to keep your hands up.”
“What did I even do wrong that I have to stand in the corner! I was just giving him a hug!”
“If I hadn't been here, Touya‘s skull would have been cracked open. You still think you‘re innocent?”
“Guh... that‘s...”
Eventually, Satoru hung her head and shuffled over, speaking tentatively.
“Touya... sorry. I just charged in without checking if you were looking.”
Seeing Satoru so deflated made me chuckle. “It‘s fine. I didn't die, so it‘s all good. Thank Shoko—you almost lost your best friend today. Besides, it was a good experience for me.”
’Man... I want another lap pillow.‘
“By the way, where‘s Suguru? Did he head back inside?”
“I‘m over here.”
The voice came from the stands. I turned my head to see Suguru leaning against the railing at a distance.
“I figured staying over there would just drag me into the mess, so I kept my distance.”
“That‘s cold. Especially after I healed you earlier.”
“And whose fault was it that I needed healing in the first place?”
Suguru smiled with his characteristic squinting eyes, leaving me speechless. I quickly changed the subject.
“Haha... Anyway, shall we head back?”
“Nice subject change.”
“Shut it.”
Just as we were about to return to the school buildings, a car pulled up to the main gate.
“What‘s this? Are we expecting guests at this hour?”
Shoko exhaled a plume of smoke and replied cynically, “Probably seniors.”
Two silhouettes stepped out of the vehicle.
“Satoru, you can see them clearly, right? Who is it? My vision isn‘t picking up the details yet.”
“Hmm... two women. One‘s in miko robes, and the other... is that a uniform? She has light blue hair.”
“Wait, miko robes?”
’It‘s Sister Utahime!‘
The pair spotted us and quickened their pace, eventually breaking into a run. I ran out to meet them halfway.
A girl wearing shrine maiden attire with cutely trimmed bangs. Despite the time that had passed, there was no mistaking Utahime. She looked as if she wanted to dive into a hug, but she caught herself and stopped just in front of me, seemingly conscious of the onlookers.
“Touya...! I knew you‘d come to the College. I‘ve been waiting so long. And... you‘ve grown so much. You look even more... like a man than before. Didn‘t you miss me—ack!”
I pulled her into a tight embrace, cutting off her rambling.
“Sister Utahime. It‘s been a while. I missed you terribly. I didn‘t mention it in my letters because I wanted to surprise you. Were you shocked?”
Stunned by the hug, Utahime went rigid in my arms. I could only see her ears, which were turning a vivid shade of red. She began to mumble against my chest.
“N-No... I wasn't that surprised. You said you were coming here back before I even enrolled. So I‘ve been... I‘ve been waiting for you this whole time. Regardless... you really did get taller... and your body is so solid... Gulp.”
I barely caught the last part as her voice trailed off into a quiet swallow, but I replied with a grin.
“You remembered my promise. I‘m touched.”
As I squeezed her a little tighter, my classmates caught up. I released her and introduced everyone one by one.
“Utahime, these are my first-year classmates. Come say hello. This is Satoru Gojo. She‘s the head of the Gojo clan and my childhood friend. This is Shoko Ieiri, a specialist who can use Reverse Cursed Technique on others. And this is Suguru Geto, he manipulates cursed spirits.”
“Hmph. I don‘t treat people as seniors unless they‘re strong,” Satoru barked.
“Ah, Touya, is this the insolent brat you mentioned in your letters?” Utahime asked.
I let out a strained laugh and nodded slightly.
“What? I didn't hear that. Were you bad-mouthing me?” Satoru demanded.
Shoko ignored her and introduced herself properly. “Shoko Ieiri, Senior. It‘s a pleasure.”
Utahime beamed, clearly delighted to find a sensible junior in the often chaotic world of jujutsu, and took Shoko‘s hands.
“Yes! I‘m Utahime Iori. You can speak comfortably with me. I‘m so happy to have another girl as a junior.”
“Hmph. If you wanted a girl, I‘m right here too,” Satoru grumbled.
Utahime ignored the complaining Satoru and accepted Suguru‘s greeting.
“Suguru Geto. Please feel free to be informal, Senior.”
“Right. Good to meet you. Please look after Touya, Geto.”
Satoru clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed by how much Utahime seemed to care for me. Shoko was standing off to the side with a strangely knowing smile, and then there was the other senior woman—the one with blue hair—who was laughing enigmatically behind Utahime. I felt a sudden, inexplicable chill run down my spine.
“This is going to be interesting,” the blue-haired woman remarked.
’Excuse me, but could you please not smile so ominously...? It‘s creeping me out...‘
Suguru, watching me break into a cold sweat, mocked me by mouthing a silent message: ’I told you it was going to be a hassle.‘
========================
The website for reading paid chapters is available on my Patreon. The number of chapters on Patreon: 43
Link: patreon.com/UltraMagnus_T