Chapter 35
A week later…
The venue was packed as usual.
Junpei wondered about before buffing himself out for the event. The fans were excited and couldn't wait for the show to start. They ranted and raved about how Ryomen Sukuna aims to please his fans and ensure it's a great concert all around.
When he heard enough, he snuck backstage once more. Junpei then went through his odd tradition of absorbing curse blood and making himself alter. When he was finished he would make sure he looks the same as last time and ask the brothers. "This good?" he questioned.
Tanso gave the thumbs up.
Eso nodded but somehow, kept peering at the side mouths on Junpei. He learned that it wasn't because it bothered him, it just reminded him of Kechizu… the mouths that is. Junpei still hasn't gotten around to asking them about the original little brother.
Yet, as they prepared, a knock came to the door. Curious, Eso opened it only to find the rest of the family had come. With the exception of Yuuji. "BROS!" he cheered.
Junpei was stunned that even Choso was here. "You don't like heavy music," he said in a bewildered tone.
"It's not my taste, however, I will always support my brothers." He decreed.
They sat and talked for a little bit, until a commotion began to boil out in the hallway. Junpei peered out and saw the three bands that were going to open for them, demand that they not go on first.
"Come to think of it, Ryomen Sukuna is still a new band, we've been one for years before them, so THEY should open the show."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Before the three bands were excited to be the opening act, now, it's a sudden change of mind! Inei was quick to confront them on the notion. "Ryomen Sukuna hand picked you to be the opening act, you ASKED to be his opening act and he obliged, how DARE you think you are greater than him at this point in time! The fans are here to see HIM, not you. This was to get you exposer and propel your bands!" he protested to them.
The looks of greed came over them, they flipped off Inei and stated that if Ryomen Sukuna was so special, they can have the whole damn show!
When the bands left. Inei was at a loss. Junpei approached him as he said he saw it all. "What the hell are we going to do? Suiryu isn't here yet, and the show starts…"
Junpei looked to the wall. "Ten minutes ago…"
The roar of the fans was getting louder by the second, they are NOT happy.
"What do we do, we don't have enough time to find another band!"
"Ahem, we can hold them off."
Junpei froze as he turned and saw Eso smiling along with Tanso. "Wait, just the three of us?"
"No, the seven of us!"
Choso sighed aloud. "You better tell him now, I don't like keeping secrets… never mind, I'll speak it. Your older brothers have taken up music since they were jealous of all the time you spent with Eso, Tanso and Suiryu." He said bluntly.
"Jealous?" he asked curiously as the other brothers appeared to have shied away. "Why would you…"
"You enjoy things that we like to enjoy…" said Kotsuso. "Not all of us like the same thing, and the fact that you take your time to each us as well as help us with our hobbies, how could we not be jealous when you spend more time with some brothers over others?" he asked.
"We took up music, thinking that if we knew how to play, you would be around us a lot more," said Noranso.
"Yeah…" said Shouoso in a shy tone. "We play really well, we sound like that band you like to sing to, Linking park!"
"How did you know…"
"When you walked in the woods, listening to music, we heard you sing… you sound like HIM too, so it would only be right that we support the talent you have. You sound like the led singer from the band, so we learned the interments that are use so you can be on the stage… what do you say?" asked Sanso.
It was that night, Junpei was forced to take the reigns. However, he didn't realize how much of an effect it would have on his mind.
He was on stage for a good few hours until Suiryu arrived. When he did, he took over easily and they closed out the show without any upset fans. Yet, when it all ended.
Junpei felt different.
"You okay?" Suiryu asked out of curiosity. "You got a me look on your face."
He paused oddly. "A you look?"
"Like you just discovered something good and beneficial to you." Suiryu said but then appeared to be peering over Junpei oddly. "Yes… yes I think we got plenty to work with here…"
He didn't realize it at the time, but Suiryu's brain went into overdrive as he began to prepare for what has yet to come. Junpei would be blindsided by the notion, but until then, he was more focused on school.
He will be going in a few days.
#
"And with that being said, I think this is going to be a perfect way to show off our new student!"
By the next morning, the brothers had a surprise visit from Satoru Gojo. He was explaining that the students from Kyoto would be coming for a friendly match in a sense. A good will event to train each other. Junpei was going to be part of said event! "Wait, they know what I can do right? I mean, the war we went through…"
"Honestly, only some sorcerers remembered you. You were in the air most of the time and then went fighting on your own. So, no one has really seen what you can do. Not to mention, you have improved quite a bit. Suiryu even said you are getting creative, that's half the fun with curse energy!" Gojo said with great joy.
"Indeed, his methods and use of the blood manipulation is beyond my own imagination. I'm not as playful with it considering the source of this power." Choso said in a slightly bitter tone.
"I treat it like water bending…"
"Ooo last airbender, I like your style!" Gojo sensei said. "Don't show me any of it just, yet. I want to be surprised…" he said and grinned.
"Little brother will be safe, correct? You promised me this…" Choso said in a warning tone.
Junpei paused. "He promised you?"
Choso cleared his throat but didn't speak.
Gojo on the other hand….
"It was Choso who came to me to ask you to go to school!" he blurted out. "Suiryu had ho hummed the notion, he didn't think you needed to go to school considering your talents. As well, you were learning well on your own. Choso however came to me and insisted that I take you to the school. You have much to learn but mainly, it was something you wanted to do. Quite frankly, I wanted you to attend for Yuuji's sake. I think he could really use another friend… Itadori hasn't really been the same since the body thief incident…"
"I want you to keep a closer eye on our brother," Choso said to Junpei. "As much as Suiryu is there, I think he doesn't quite have the dedication needed to ensure his safety. You, on the other hand, you would make certain Yuuji is taken care of. Satoru promised me that he would make sure that you are also looked after. Apparently hybrids like us are not common nor welcomed among jujutsu sorcerers."
"And how!" Gojo said aloud. "But I assure you, I'll look after him. Besides. I'm the one that got Tanso's familiars in!"
Junpei remembered Choso say he was thinking about that, letting Tanso send some familiars on ahead. But the barrier…
Apparently, Gojo sense has a way around it. Some have already entered the school!
"So, when is this good will event?" Junpei asked curiously.
"Soon, but tomorrow. I am going to take you to the school so you can get a feel for the place… better still, let's go now!"
"Now?" The brothers demanded.
Gojo smirked as he gently grabbed Junpei's arm and led him outside, he made a marking in the dirt, before he turned to the brothers. "I'll bring him back before dinner!" he laced his fingers and then…
BOOM
Junpei was taken from the camp, and brought to the school instantly!
"You have GOT to teach me that!" he said to Gojo.
"In due time, come on, let's look around."
Satoru Gojo gave him the grand tour. It wasn't long before he ran into Yuuji's friends, and then, Yuuji came out from the forest. However, he didn't appear to be himself. He looked… lost in a sense.
Yet that spark of life came back into his eyes when he saw him standing there. "Junpei?" he whispered.
"Hey Itadori"
Gojo sensei said he wanted to test him out, yet before he could, Suiryu came out of nowhere and stated he wasn't done training with him yet. "Hands off Satoru!" he warned. "He's MINE!"
That alone startled him. Suiryu was determined to teach him something serious, but Junpei had no idea what…
