You were back inside Shoko's office as she locked the door so nobody could enter and listen in to the conversation. You sat on the bed and she sat on her rolling chair. Now, Shoko demanded answers to your scars, fearing it's been sitting there since you were a child.
You spared her the gruesome details as you didn't want to remember them. You blocked it out to protect your own peaceful mind. "Yeah, it's been there from the moment the orphanage knew my ability. They didn't care to treat my wounds even after I gave them what they wanted. I was isolated. I had no freedom… I used to sneak out at night because it was easy to, but I didn't escape because I was scared. That's how I met you and my mentor."
"Your mentor?" Shoko repeated in curiosity. She didn't know you had a mentor to help you learn jujutsu or something on par with it.
"Yes, I found a mentor and he taught me self defense, how to wield a weapon…basically teaching me how to survive. Then when I was 14, I took down the orphanage and ran away."
Chills ran down Shoko's spine when you ended your sentence. She could tell how emotionless you were as your voice was monotone with no hint of light in there but only darkness. She didn't know how to reply or even if she should reply.
You continued on, "Yeah so my mentor took care of me until I was 17, and I was left on my own and have been alone since then. If I had a cursed tool then I know I would've been fine. Nowadays, everyone's a shikigami user so I have no chance of winning. Plus, my skills are rusty since it's been over ten years." You chuckled to soothe your suppressed feelings because you remembered why you had to be on your own and powerless. It wasn't your choice but your mentor. A decision you'll regret for a long time knowing things could've changed.
"So you can heal?" Shoko wanted to confirm what you can or cannot do since her healing was just healing. Nothing more or less than that.
You didn't want to tell her everything about you yet, so you told her what's necessary. "Yes, I'm able to heal injuries, poisons, and restore limbs. I can also do spiritual healing too like mental, physical, and emotional healing. I'm pretty sure if I wanted to, I could definitely build an occult to have a different life." You knew how gifted you were, and if you were evil enough to turn your heart black, you knew it could've been a possible path. It would be easy for you to manipulate others since your ability was to die for. You could've had it all at the palms of your hands but you weren't like that so it didn't matter.
/
Later that day, you were changed out from the thin gown into some clothes. You had to meet with the principal of the school before your new life could begin.
"So why am I going with you?" You looked at Gojo as you gave him a not-so-happy expression. You thought Shoko was going to take you and be there by your side but you guessed not.
"Becauseeeeee… I know the principal so well that he's not going to refuse this if it's coming from me!"
"Right. All because you have a fancy title making you have authority over everyone… How nice…." You didn't really want his egotistical nature around you. It felt like it was going to drown you if you didn't leave right away. How suffocating it had to be when you didn't even know the layout of campus.
Gojo shook his head as he knew what he could and couldn't do. "Not really. I can't abuse my power and authority or else they'll find a way to take me down too. Me and the higher ups, who I hope you'll never meet and we'll pray for that, tippy toe around each other. I can't kill them or else they'll get replaced. They can't kill me or they're asking for war. It's very complex… I don't want to talk you to death with information!" Gojo chuckled as his lips were slightly curled downwards. Before your eyes, you saw how he had the world on his shoulders by being the most powerful sorcerer in this century. He was not a man who showed his true emotions but hid it to protect others and himself. It made you shift your perspective of him from one annoying guy to a conscious man who has to decide his next move.
"Yeah, save that for another day. I'm already nervous enough thinking about meeting the principal. I don't know what he's going to ask." Your body shuddered in fear sinking in your stomach. You didn't know how he looked, what his personality was, or anything. Gojo and Shoko didn't tell you a thing about him but wanted you to meet him.
Gojo noticed your pale face when he glanced down at you. It surprised him that your anxiety was getting larger to the point he couldn't see your glossy eyes reflecting the pathways to the principal. Now, he needed to do something or else you might pass out. "Don't stress over this. He's the best. He won't interrogate you and force you to show him your true power. He just wants to know your intentions, that's all. Principal Yaga is a nice guy, and he was my teacher back in high school too so I know him well."
You glanced at him and let a small sigh slipped your lips. "If you say so… but it would've been nice to have Shoko than you…or even Nanami. I don't know how to adjust to you yet."
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
"Our vibes are just different."
Once you guys made it to Principal Yaga's secluded traditional Japanese house, you noticed how dim the room was as it was lit by candles. There was nothing decorated inside but stuffed animals laying around.
"So you're the person Gojo and Shoko were talking about huh?" A deep voice called, making your eyes focused on a man in his late forties creating the stuffed animals you saw. He must be the principal of this school, but you didn't expect him to have a particular hobby of making dolls. You're not going to judge what he liked. It's not something you're used to seeing.
Clearing your throat, you spoke firmly for him to hear your disguised stress. You had a courteous smile on your lips, being polite and respectful as he's your elder. "Yes, I am. If you don't know who I am already, I'll introduce myself. My name is y/n and I was dragged into this trial by your familiars." You looked over your shoulder and directly stared at Gojo since the first meeting with him was unpleasant.
Principal Yaga continued stabbing the felt into his figures to add more shape and color in it. "Oh yes, I heard about it. Not to mention the part where you're hunted by curse users too. Are you taking refuge here? What's your intention to stay here?" He was trying to get under your skin to rile you up, ensuring he'll cause some type of hidden conviction to come out.
You kept a calm composure and replied to his questions. "I was pressured to agree despite wanting to leave."
"You can still leave. No one is forcing you to stay."
"I understand I can still do it but I can't because I don't have the resources. I'm choosing whether I want to die by curse users or have the opportunity to flip the role while I'm here, so I'm picking what's going to be beneficial for me. I want to know how life changing this will be for the next seven days." Your voice was mellow, expressing your reasoning to stay and get the help you needed while your eyes never let go of his figure ignoring you. "I'm not here asking to become a new sorcerer in the making or become a go-to healer, I'm just Shoko's new assistant. The only reason why I'm here to get your approval—"
Principal Yaga interrupted you with a serious statement slapping your face. "If you're a self-proclaimed healer, then you're not safe anywhere." He stopped his doll making process and made his way towards you. You didn't flinch or get intimidated by his looming frame but kept yourself collected.
"Shoko's a healer and we, as sorcerers who fight til death, tire her out. We will burn you too if you choose to stay."
You gulped as you remembered the extent of your healing ability. If it becomes known that I can save people from death, restore limbs, reverse a person's original form, and revive them within 24 hours then they will come after me too…. But sorcerers exorcize curses to keep a balance in this world. From what I remember there's not a lot of sorcerers as they're rare. If I save them then—STOP! I'm not here to be a sorcerer but to be Shoko's assistant. I was caught off guard! You didn't want to think about other things when you didn't have to.
A small scoff left your lips by accident because this wasn't how the conversation was supposed to turn. "What you just said doesn't correlate to why I'm here. I just need your approval for the seven day trial and be protected because Gojo, Shoko, and Nanami want me to do it." You didn't understand why it would be so dangerous for you to stay long term if you chose it because nobody would know about your healing power but those you told. You're never going to let anyone know or else it could potentially bite you in the butt.
Principal Yaga sighed at your incomprehensible mind to grasp his intention, but he's not going to fight you about it since you barely know anything about being a sorcerer. He hoped you wouldn't stay after your trial ended, not to be mean but because it'll be the same fate you have right now. Who knows how you'll be treated once other sorcerers find out you're another healer in the tiny pool.
"Go ahead. If you're planning to head outside school grounds, have someone guard you." He gave his approval and you were glad yet nervous despite what you said earlier.
After you were escorted by workers to find your new home, Principal Yaga tugged Gojo by the ear to scold him. Gojo shouldn't be scouting for potential sorcerers, especially healers. After all, you're innocent and naive, and you know nothing about the jujutsu world. Anyone can take advantage of your good heart and lie. Unlike Shoko, she has an excuse when she's a full time doctor at other hospitals.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" Gojo whined in discomfort, tapping Principal Yaga's arm to let him go. He didn't know what he did wrong. He thought he was doing something good by having Principal Yaga talk to you face to face rather than having a representative like himself do it.
"Are you serious?! Bringing a healer into this world will kill her! Once they find out she doesn't know anything about sorcery or the system, they're going to use her. This is not a safe place for her unless she knows how to fight back and stand her grounds." Principal Yaga kept his voice low so no one passing by would hear it.
Suddenly, Gojo was able to slip out from the ear pinching. He soothed his throbbing ear, feeling like it was going to explode. "That's why we don't tell the higher ups. We won't let them know about her existence or that she's a healer. She has potential! I can just see it!"
"Oh god… You and your nonsense…" Principal Yaga shook his head, rubbing his temples from Gojo's antics. But then again, he had to be rational. If it wasn't Gojo then it would've been someone else asking for you to have this trial too.
/
The house you were going to be living in was a small modernized Japanese house. It was different from the student dorms as you're not a student.
You stepped inside as it was already furnished. "I need to take off my shoes."
Quickly, you took off your shoes before going further in the house to investigate the things they had. The living room was small with a couch, coffee table, lounge chair, and a wall mount tv. Next to the living room was the kitchen and dining room. It was nicely colored in neutral tones. Your hand glided across the smooth, clean countertops and you even looked inside the fridge to see it filled with food.
"Oh wow! I'm in heaven!" Your heart leaps in excitement from the sight of fruits, vegetables, and meats. Now you didn't have to worry about meals because you had it all stocked in front of your eyes. A big gummy smile spread on your lips as you wandered around the house. It was a one bed, one bathroom house. On the plus side, the bed was spacious to fit two people and the bathroom had a big bathtub too.
You threw yourself on the comfy bed and smelled the clean scent of laundry. It made your nostril cry in joy. "Oh gosh, I didn't think I'd enjoy it already! Do I really want to be stubborn and go back to my old life when I have this? Nothing will go wrong if I take this path. I can be Shoko's assistant for life and live comfortably. Maybe I don't need a trial. This is what I want…" Your mind created fantasies about living in this house and building your future here. You could see yourself never fretting over food and shelter, making friends, learning new hobbies, and so much more. This was your paradise.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
You popped your head up from the mattress and jumped off the bed to see who it was. "It might be Shoko…"
You skipped to the front door and opened it to see it was your friend Nanami. "Oh! I didn't expect to see you! Come inside!" You jovially ushered him to enter the house and sit on the couch so he did. Nanami sat elegantly with his back straight, legs crossed, and hands on his lap. "Sorry, I don't necessarily know what I have in my fridge but do you—"
"No, it's okay. Just being able to see you is enough. I didn't get to talk to you this morning, but I'm glad I'm able to right now."
Quickly, you sat next to him but with a gaping space between the two of you. "It's been awhile since I've seen you, but how've you been besides stressing over me."
"Not too bad. It's the same old thing. How do you like your new place? It looks cozy." Nanami rotated his head around to admire the decor. It was very simplistic. There wasn't too much of anything to cause an eye sore. They added enough to tie the theme of the rooms together.
You glanced at your surreal living space with an indescribable smile that Nanami could tell you were enchanted. "It's still my first day here so I can't give you my full review, but my initial impression is good. I really like it here. It's what I've always dreamed of having…"
Nanami saw the corners of your lips twitching as if it wanted to frown. He wasn't sure what was going through your mind yet he could assume it could be linked to your old lifestyle.
"It's just shocking to be feverishly living in it, but I don't want my decision to be swayed from this kindness. Enough about me, how's work? You're all suited up again." You noticed his usual work attire as he doesn't wear a uniform like the students and staff wear.
Nanami pushed his glasses back and finally got a little bit comfortable in his seat. His arms were now crossed, still keeping his legs overlapping. "Stressful. It's not fun and easy to take on loads of missions while being on a time crunch. I hate going over time, but if I have to then I will, you know?" Then he went on to vent about work as you listened.
Oh is that a stress pimple on his face? It looks like one but it's tiny though. I guess the pimple reflects his words. I should cleanse him. You said to yourself.
You scooted closer to him shoulder to shoulder. "Nanami, you need to take it easy. It's not good for your body. Let me help!"
Nanami's eyebrow rose from your words as he didn't know how you could help his work get better. "What do you mean?"
The moment he said that, your pointer finger pressed on his forehead, feeling his troubles swelling his mind and soul. It's like watching spilled water travel across the dining table, causing everything to get soaked in the process and ruining the expensive wood and table cloth.
"Take a deep breath and release your stressors that's tying you down and relax your muscles. Keeping it tense won't do any good for you."
Nanami did what you told him as he asked what you were trying to do. "I don't get what's going on. I've tried meditation before, soothing music, all that other stuff but it doesn't help—!" Immediately, he felt the sense of fatigue hitting his eyelids, lulling him to sleep. This confused yet scared Nanami as he never experienced this before, but he couldn't protest at all because he had no control of his body. His eyes closed and he lost consciousness and slumped to the side.
Nanami's soft snores were heard from where you sat, so you knew he was sleeping. He looked like a quiet giant taking a peaceful nap to wash away his hard work.
"Well, now I have to occupy myself until he wakes up. I'm not going to disturb him if his body needs it. A good mental and physical cleansing for him should be added to his routine because it sure did do something to him…" You giggled to yourself and got off the couch to find things to do.
20 minutes later,
"Ah…" Nanami groaned as he woke up. His eyelids still felt heavy like he wanted to sleep just a little longer to feel satisfied. His eyes adjusted from the transition and realized he's at your house still. "Oh gosh!" Nanami quickly sat up as he sunk into the cushion and turned his head around to find you sitting in the lounge chair across from him. You were reading a book about jujutsu to educate yourself. It was a very educational book since you didn't know anything. It made your brain explode so many times and wondered if you could replicate it despite not having a lot of negative cursed energy but positive.
Nanami noticed how consumed you were until he alerted you. "Hey y/n, I'm awake now. I'm so sorry about me passing out." He chuckled to get his guilt out and fixed his hair in the process.
Closing the book in your hands, you kept giggling because it amused you. "You were sleeping really good! I think at one point you drooled when I checked up on you." Seeing how Nanami was taming his messy hair, it really showed how sleep deprived he was. "How do you feel now? I cleansed your spiritual core."
Nanami rubbed his eyes and any drool residue in his face before replying, "It felt really nice. I haven't felt like that in years, thank you." He felt his body more energized and complete. There's no tension or aches in his muscles. You completely healed him from his stress.
"Hehe I like to hear that! It alleviates your troubles and it can make people sleepy and send them to a state of bliss. Either way, it's good for everyone to have some sort of cleansing. I will gladly do it again if you'd like."
A grin curled his lips, making eye contact with you. "I wouldn't mind it. If I do need one, I'll let you know ahead of time. So is this another ability of your curse technique? I guess I did wait and see like you said." He remembered your secretiveness of not wanting to tell him but lure him in when you and him were eating out.
"Oh I forgot I even said that to you." Your days were a blur to you especially after getting kidnapped and thrown into this new situation. You needed to destress and sleep. You've been through a lot.
Then you brought a new topic in the air. "Do you live on campus too?" You wondered if you're gonna see him around the area and how often too? It kind of made you feel excited if he did live here because now you have another friend to go to.
"No, I don't."
"Oh…"
Nanami saw the disappointment in your eyes as it fell to the ground. You were like a little kid getting sad when you missed the ice cream truck driving by. It caused his heart to twitch because he knew you didn't know anyone but him and Shoko. You were going to be lonely on campus.
Nanami pursed his lips and said something to uplift your spirit. "I'll come and visit, okay? It's not easy to adjust to a new environment so I'll be there to give you comfort if needed. Don't be too sad. But I should get going now as I work tomorrow too. I'll see you later."
After Nanami left your house, you sat back on the couch to gather all your thoughts. "Just meeting him a few times, it's hard to tell what he thinks or feels because he has a stoic expression and he's blunt… Yet I can see his kindness coming forward as well as his good heart. He's very considerate. I didn't ask him to drop by; he did it because he sensed it… He's sweet."
