Jujutsu Kaisen: The Forgotten Clan
Chapter 19- Thank You
February 1st, 2007: One Month After Transferring to Jujutsu Technical College
"Hey, what is the principal of the Kyoto school doing on-campus? It's the third time I have seen him on campus since January." Me talking to Haibara during class.
"I am not sure. Hey Nanami, what is going on with..."
"Could you not drag me into your conversation? I am trying to take notes." Nanami cutting Haibara off mid-sentence. I shrug at Haibara and go back to reading the board. My phone starts vibrating in my pocket.
"Turn that off or take your conversation outside, Santa-Clara." Yaga, growing agitated. I smile and put my phone away.
When class lets out, Haibara, Nanami, and I meet up with Gojo and Geto for lunch and training. I tell Haibara and Nanami to go ahead of me.
"I am glad you came back, what is with the books?" Haibara asks.
"A bit of light reading, and personal homework. Where are the other two?"
"Right behind yah newbie. What's up with books? Trying to cram for a test or something?" Gojo and his antics. I shrug my shoulders and stay quiet.
The five of us head off-campus to a cafe for lunch. After placing our orders, my phone vibrates again. I hit the 'decline call' button. Thirty seconds later, the same number calls me again.
"Must be important for someone to call you three times in under an hour." Nanami states.
"Oooh, it looks like someone is becoming Miss Popularity. Who is the unlucky sap trying to get a hold of you?" Gojo trying to get under my skin.
"It's nothing you all need to worry about. Please mind your own business." I am responding to the text message received during class and talking out loud simultaneously.
My classmates and I discuss our upcoming missions and what we have planned for the weekend. At some point during the conversation, I ask, "Why is the Kyoto principal on campus? I have seen him three times on our campus since January."
"Planning for the upcoming Sister-Exchange event with our principal," Suguru answers my question.
"Hmm, is the exchange event a dance?" I am asking from experiences attending civilian schools. During the spring semester, students take each other to a school dance. Suguru and Satoru start laughing.
I furrow my brow in confusion.
"You are funny Santa-Clara. The Sister-Exchange event is a time for students to show off their sorcery skills and build comradery. It is reserved for second and third-year students from both branches, but...a few exceptions might be made this year." Satoru, trying to suppress his laughter.
"Continue talking..." I am intrigued and want more information.
Ring, ring, ring. What the devil is going on today? My face flushes red and I excuse myself from the table. Once outside, I look at my phone and see my roommate is calling.
"Sakura, I am at school. What is it?"
"I wanted to say hello to you, that is all." She hangs up and texts a smiley face emoji to me. I close my eyes, count backward from ten, and laugh.
I turn around and see my classmates leaving the restaurant. I send a message to Sakura before they reach me.
"What is with the early departure from lunch? We just ordered and settled into a groovy conversation."
"Did you just say groovy conversation, newbie?"
"I did, so get over it. I assume we are heading back to campus?"
The rest of the crew shake their heads yes.
Back On Campus
Why is the vampire still on campus? And who are the individuals heading towards us?
"There you all are. What is with the look, Santa-Clara?" Yaga
"I am doing a walking meditation. How may we help you?" I am lying through my teeth.
We are instructed to head back to the classroom and wait for further instructions.
The five of us are greeted by Shoko and two other women whom I have never seen before. All three students are talking amongst themselves, and stare as the rest of us walk into the classroom. Buzz, buzz, buzz. After today, I am going to have to change my phone number.
"There you all are, Mei, Utahime, and I was worried about you all."
"There is no need to worry about us, we are capable of handling anything that comes our way. One of the perks of being strong." Satoru with a smug look on his face.
"Don't start with us Gojo, and please respect your elders." This woman has a red bow in her black hair, looks a few years older than my classmates, and wearing a red bottom-white top combination.
"Hee, hee, it is easy to upset you, Utahime. Have you met our newest addition to Jujutsu Tech?" Satoru turns around and notices I am not paying attention.
"Oh, you mean the person with her nose glued to her phone. Yeah, I heard rumors about her. She seems interesting."
Everyone stops talking, I look up from my screen, and notice all eyes are on me. I give a shy wave to my audience, look towards my phone screen one last time, and put the device in my back pocket.
"The name is Santa-Clara, Blaze. Who are you?" I extend my hand to the woman wearing red pants.
"Lori, Utahime. It is nice to officially meet you. See, Gojo this is how you treat those who are older than you." She smiles at me while shaking my hand.
The second woman walks towards me: she is tall with light-blue hair, wearing a black suit-tie outfit, and carries herself with confidence. I am getting businesswoman vibes from her.
"And I am Mei Mei. I heard you were responsible for subduing the vampire that is in custody. How did you manage that?"
"Fighting as my life depended on it," I say with a flat affect.
"Interesting, I enjoy meeting a woman who can hold her own in a fight and lives up to her reputation. Let me know if you need someone else to hang out with." Mei Mei says before sitting down.
"Agh, the newbie is being modest. She killed a vampire in addition to bringing a vampire into custody. If you look closely, you all can see where she was bitten."
This bit of information makes Utahime scrunch her nose and Mei Mei grin.
"Don't draw unwanted attention to me Satoru. You have said enough." I cover my neck with the collar of my jacket.
I am about to flip Satoru the bird but stop myself when I sense Yaga and the principals from walking down the hallway. I sit down next to Shoko and Mei Mei.
"You may want to sit down, dude. The flock of adults is heading towards us." I direct this towards Satoru, who rolls his eyes, laughs, and sits next to Nanami and Suguru.
Thirty seconds later, the adults make their way inside the classroom.
"Good, everyone is accounted for. Congrats Yaga on taming your students" Principal Gakuganji says out loud. I close my eyes and count backward from ten.
"There is no time to sleep, Santa-Clara. The reason why you are all here is simple; we are holding the exchange event in two months."
Silence fills the room.
"What Yaga is trying to say, the three of you first-year students are invited to participate in the event. Gojo and Geto are automatically included as participants; as are the two third-year students."
The silence returns.
"What happens during this, event?" I want answers before I decide to participate.
"The event takes place over two days: day one is individual trials, day two is a group exorcism race. For the individual trials, points are awarded based on how well someone fights their opponent. During the group exorcism, the team who exorcises the most curses win the race."
Yaga does his best at explaining the Sister Exchange event, but Gakuganji adds his two cents anyway.
"What Yaga failed to mention is, killing is strictly prohibited during the event. Incapacitating an opponent is off-limits too, and the Kyoto school will host this time around."
I look at my classmates and shrug. We can make our own decisions, but I want time before deciding.
"You have until the end of today to make your decision, Santa-Clara. In the meantime…
Buzz, buzz, buzz. I swear to the moon herself that if Sakura calls me one more time, I will rip her fangs out!
"Please excuse me. There is an emergency at my house that I need to take care of."
I walk out the classroom door, shut it once I am in the hallway, and book it off-campus.
Outside My Apartment Complex
"Hey what is going?"
"Why did we have to evacuate? Where is your younger brother?"
"Where are you going, kid? We need to stay here!"
The group of people is relatively small and easy to get around. There is smoke coming from a fifth and third-floor building. I run up the stairs to my apartment, open the door, and see Sakura sitting at the dining room table.
"Explain to me what is going on, Sakura. Seven calls in under an hour!" I am out of breath and flustered at this point.
"Someone burnt their food while cooking? Maybe someone left a lit cigarette on their countertop. I don't know. I never leave the house!"
Knock, knock, knock.
"What the devil…"
"Santa-Clara, are you in there?" My neighbor, Aiko, is standing outside the door.
I wave for Sakura to stay where she is and go outside.
"Hi Aiko, I am right here. Any idea what is going on with floors three and five?"
Poof!
"I don't know, we need to get downstairs. The fire department and police have been contacted"
"Cara, Cara?" Aiko's son calls after me. I babysit him from time to time. He can't pronounce my last name yet and has resorted to calling me Cara…like the orange.
I wave Aiko and her son off, walk back inside my home, and head towards the bedroom.
"What do you need me to do, Blaze? I can help you pack up your papers, make you a drink. You are stressed out, how about a hug."
"Sakura, let me gather my thoughts first. We need to evacuate…."
Buzz, buzz, buzz. Great! Now Satoru and Suguru are trying to get a hold of me!
"Evacuate where Blaze? Downstairs…you know going out in the sun for prolonged periods is something I am working up towards."
"I am aware of this Sakura, and I have a potential solution if you will hear me out."
Bang, bop. Again, with the explosive noises. I notice the room is starting to heat up and realize the fire has made its way to the seventh floor.
I run into the bedroom, throw my closet door open, grab two books, three piles of paper, and my extra jujutsu tech uniform.
"Put these on and follow me."
Sakura throws on the long-sleeve, hooded jacket, and black cargo pants without protest. I hand her sunscreen and sunglasses too.
The two of us join the people evacuating from the eight-floor without causing a disturbance. There is a curse lurking around the complex, but I don't have time to investigate. I need to protect Sakura.
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz. Buzz, buzz, buzz. Dang, it man!
"Hey, are you alright?"
Sakura is shaking my shoulder, trying to get my attention.
"I am fine Sakura, how are you? Do you need to eat?" She gives me a puzzled look with her amber eyes.
She shakes her head and comes towards me with her arms extended. I back up a few steps and dart my eyes left and right. Sakura stops moving and shakes her palms towards herself…inviting me into her arms. I accept the hug.
"I don't need to eat right now, Blaze, stop worrying. Whatever has started the fires will be taken care of by someone else. In the meantime, we should find shade. Oh, and your friends are a few blocks away."
She pats my back before letting me go. I look at my phone and see five unread messages on the phone.
Satoru: Hey, why aren't you picking up our calls?
Satoru: Are you ignoring us? Why did you leave campus in such a hurry?
Satoru: You still alive?
Suguru: Hello Blaze. After leaving in such a hurry, Mei and the rest of us were a bit concerned. Satoru has tried calling you a few times but has not gotten a hold of you. We will come to check in on you momentarily.
Satoru: Ignore Suguru, he is a simp with no backbone. Just kidding
I facepalm myself and feel my cheeks turning bright pink. At least the Higher-Ups and Elders have not been placed on notice…yet.
"Grr. Come on, keep the hood up until we find a place to sit. Are you feeling overstimulated?"
Sakura shakes her head no. I don't want to endanger her or other people. We have spent a few weeks navigating ways to incorporate food into Sakura's diet, so she does not have to rely upon blood all the time. It is not perfect, but we are making progress.
"Have you seen your brother yet?"
"No. The last time I saw him was at Disneyland. Do you have any information on him?"
I cut off our conversation when I spot Satoru and Suguru rounding the corner. Breath dude, it is going to be alright. Sakura's face lights up with excitement.
"There she is, Suguru. Who is the person standing with her? Hmmm, interesting."
"Do not start anything with her, Satoru."
"Why not? Teasing people is a specialty of mine, and as you said…she can handle anything that is thrown at her."
Sakura and I walk towards my classmates while having a private conversation.
"Oh, they are strong, Blaze. You were not kidding when you said I will not have to worry about my safety."
"Don't stroke the ego of the one who is wearing shades. I will not hear the end of his rantings if he is given a chance to mouth off."
"There you are, who is this?" Satoru pointing to Sakura.
"My roommate, she moved in a few weeks ago." I am pretty sure Satoru can tell I am lying. Oh well.
"My name is Sakura, and who are the two of you?"
Buzz, buzz, buzz. While Sakura and the dweebs are talking, I excuse myself and check my phone.
Text Message from Unknown Number
If you think harboring an undead being is all fun and games, I will make sure the fun part is taken away. Another scar on the neck never hurt anyone…
"Whatever, I am not going to indulge in this individual's antics."
Another Text Message
Hey, where are you? I have been looking for you since evacuating the apartment. Are you safe? Call me. -Aiko
After texting Aiko, I look at the time and realize it is 4:00 pm.
"What is with the look? Something bothering you?"
"I don't know how I am feeling right now. Or how to process what happened. And I am pretty sure my boss is going to fire me for calling off again. Before I forget, this is for the pizza and cookie during our mission."
Suguru takes the money without protest.
"You have a job newbie? Outside of sorcery?"
Satoru and Sakura walk over to Suguru and me.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Unknown Number Again
Don't think about running away, hiding, or getting help.
My response: who are you and what are your intentions? I do not press send.
I turn around and smile at my classmates and Sakura. I also turn my phone off.
"How about we walk and talk? I am sure the Elders will want to talk with us or something like that."