"Forget it, I'm really tired today. I'm heading back first," Ming said.
Shoko felt a bit let down. No matter how you looked at it, not receiving a gift when everyone else did felt a little uncomfortable.
"Oh, right, there's still Shoko," Ming noticed that Shoko looked upset about not getting anything. He had actually brainstormed many types of gifts, but he truly didn't know what to give. Should he give a girl alcohol and cigarettes? Please, they were still minors. Even though people in Japan matured early, he figured he'd pass on that.
"I get one too?" Shoko asked, surprised and delighted.
"Of course," Ming replied.
He then opened his Sharingan. Shoko instinctively averted her gaze, but Ming walked slowly toward her.
"Look into my eyes, Shoko," Ming commanded.
"Hahaha, Ming, you aren't planning on gifting Shoko a 'beautiful dream' through an illusion, are you?" Satoru Gojo laughed.
Suguru Geto shared the same thought.
"Tch, please don't use your room-temperature IQs to speculate on my thoughts," Ming said rudely. In truth, he couldn't blame them for thinking that; even Shoko suspected the same.
Shoko hesitated but eventually met his gaze.
"Transcription Seal (Tenshyō Fūin)!" A surge of ocular power flowed toward Shoko.
"There. Shoko, I hope you like this gift." Ming waved his hand dismissively and started walking toward his dorm.
"What was that? Shoko? Was it really just a dream?" Gojo walked up to her.
"I... I don't know. He just stared at me suddenly," Shoko said blankly.
"Hahaha, I knew it! Ming just didn't prepare a gift and bluffed his way out!" Geto laughed.
"Looks like it. He should have just used my suggestion," Gojo added.
"Hmph." Shoko looked toward Ming's departing back with a hint of annoyance, then headed to her own room.
"Alright, let's head back too, Satoru," Geto said.
"Fine." The two walked side-by-side toward the dorms.
Back in his room, Ming collapsed onto his bed, feeling a wave of dizziness.
"I didn't expect the Transcription Seal to drain so much ocular power. Even my mental energy is hitting its limit," Ming muttered to himself.
He had intended to explain it to Shoko, but the sudden vertigo was so intense that he would have fainted if not for his sheer willpower. To avoid looking pathetic in front of the others, he had to make a quick exit. It didn't matter if he explained it now or later.
Ming was genuinely worried about Shoko's safety. As a sorcerer, she would inevitably have to go on missions. If she was with Gojo, Geto, or himself, it wouldn't matter—they were strong enough to ensure she never got a scratch. But he couldn't guarantee that for others; geniuses were few and far between. Therefore, Ming had sealed his strongest physical attack, Amaterasu, and the spatial ability of Kamui into Shoko's eyes.
This way, even if he were trapped or away, Shoko wouldn't suffer a single injury thanks to these dual ocular powers.
Ming was happy today. Meeting Geto, Gojo, and Shoko made him feel truly glad.
"So this is what friends feel like," Ming murmured. Similarly, Geto and Gojo were lying on their beds, staring at the ceiling.
"Friends, huh? Not a bad feeling," Gojo thought.
"Friendship... it's a first for me," Geto smiled slightly.
The next day, the group was summoned by Masamichi Yaga, who was furious. Regarding the Sukuna finger incident—well, basically because the group had "forgotten" to cast a Veil (Curtain). Furthermore, because Gojo and Geto had gone overboard, the school had been practically leveled. The higher-ups had identified Gojo's signature from the battlefield traces, and Yaga had taken the heat for it.
After a thorough scolding, Yaga left them with a reminder about classes.
"Seriously, why do we have to look out for the weak?" Gojo grumbled, walking ahead.
"Satoru, this is how society works. The strong survive to protect the non-sorcerers. Casting a Veil is essential to prevent panic," Geto argued, walking beside him.
"Tch, so what? They can't see Curses anyway. It shouldn't matter if we cast a Veil or not. Right, Ming?" Gojo looked back at Ming.
"I don't really care either way, but I think you should listen to Suguru," Ming said lazily.
"What? Even Ming is taking his side?" Gojo felt betrayed.
"Actually, I'm saying this for your own good. Your techniques are purely Jujutsu born from your Innate Technique. Ordinary people can't see them. That's exactly why you should use a Veil," Ming explained in his usual unhurried tone.
"Why?" Shoko asked.
"Like this." Ming mimicked Gojo's posture and tone: "Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue!" Then he switched to Geto's: "Cursed Spirit Manipulation!"
The others stared at him with question marks over their heads. Ming looked ridiculous posing like that; they wondered if he had a screw loose.
"Haven't figured it out yet? Honestly... what you see me doing right now is exactly how you look to ordinary people. They can't see the Curses or the techniques. All they see is some weirdo standing there striking poses and shouting out chuunibyou-sounding move names," Ming explained with a sigh.
"Do you get it now, Satoru? People will think you have 'Middle School Second Year Syndrome'."
At that moment, both Gojo and Geto felt a massive wave of secondhand embarrassment. It was a "social death" realization.
"Why didn't I think of that before?" Gojo muttered, horrified. "What about you then? I remember you took that mission last time."
"My technique is different from your Six Eyes. When my energy passes through the technique, it manifests as ocular power. Susanoo and Amaterasu can generally be seen by ordinary people. So, I don't suffer 'social death'," Ming said.
"Besides, I usually finish things with a single glance. I rarely encounter Curses that require a full-scale battle," Ming added.
Gojo and Geto stared at Ming with resentment. Even though Ming was technically backing Geto's point about the Veil, he was doing it while humble-bragging.
"You really should have kept that to yourself," Geto sighed.
"Can't help it, it's the truth. Besides, I'm on your side here," Ming said.
"Suguru, Ming... from now on, you must remind me to cast the Veil," Gojo said gloomily before speeding up and disappearing from sight.
"Seems it worked, Suguru," Ming said, looking at Geto.
"Only you could convince Satoru like that," Geto laughed. The three of them shared a laugh.
Over the next few days, Yaga focused on teaching Jujutsu theory—the weakest area for both Geto and Ming. With Geto's high IQ and Ming's Sharingan, they mastered the knowledge quickly. Yaga also moved them into combat training, having the three boys spar against each other while Shoko trained alongside the Cursed Corpses.