Jujutsu Kaisen: Nanami's daughter, Noriko.
BY: RENEE PHYLLIS
Chapter Seven
"Training with the seniors"
"Hey dad", Noriko says as she picked up her phone and answered her father's call. "How are you? I heard what happened", he said in his usual tone, but mixed with a little bit emotion, showing concern for his daughter. "I guess… I guess I'm fine, physically, I think", she replied to the question, not knowing how to say to her father that she feels weak and stupid. A long pause occurred as Nanami thought of what to say. Nanami knows that Yuji is alive, but could not say it to his own daughter – who's grieving the lost of her new profound friendship with the boy, though he only hopes it as friendship and nothing else. He was very skeptical in knowing that she was the only girl in Gojo's students and one was a boy – it would have eased his mind if Gojo said that the boy, which is Megumi, is gay. Nanami could not think of his daughter having a boyfriend. Not that she had the personality of a cat who would rather eat peacefully and not care for the world, but because she is indecisive about having a constant personality. Every time Nanami would try and make a joke out of a serious matter, she would glare at him and speak her mind. And every time there wasn't a serious moment, she's a happy-go-lucky girl. Basically, Nanami thinks she's weird – her constant personality is yet to be discovered. After the long pause, Noriko could not take it anymore and burst all of her emotions. "Dad, I'm so weak. I didn't know what to do then. If I hadn't left him, he wouldn't have turned into Sukuna and that bastard wouldn't have taken his heart out. I can't even use my own technique, because it might kill me", she cried her eyes out. Unable to control her tears, she kept wiping them away, hoping they would stop. Megumi could hear her cries and wanted to approach her, even Nobara wanted to comfort the girl, but they knew they needed to leave her alone. "Megumi was badly hurt because I couldn't control my fear. I shouldn't have agreed to uncle's proposal. I should have just stayed with you. I- I can't be a sorcerer anymore", she fell to her knees. She felt as though she was the worst of the worst. She wanted to go back to her father and just be with him, pray that he'll always be there to unlock the front door and eat dinner with her. "If you do that, then, I can't call you my daughter", Nanami said and somehow, it struck a nerve and she was hurt. "I didn't raise someone who gives up so easily. Who cries to the phone and bringing herself down? Who are you and what have you done to my Noriko?", his tone was strong and angry. Noriko stopped from crying. She looked at herself in the mirror she had in her room and was shock to see a girl crying. She has cried before, but because Nanami wouldn't buy her what she wants, not because of something as feeling weak and wanting to give up. "The Noriko I know was strong-willed. She was logical, serious and blunt. She was a cunning young lady who would not give up for nothing. And above all, she hated the way people would not be serious at a serious moment. She's the most annoying, self-centered in a good way, and loving person I know. I was bored, but when she came along, it felt as if I brought a mother instead of a daughter", it was the first time that Nanami had said something to her like that. It was true, Nanami had brought along a mother instead of a daughter. Every time he came home, Noriko would be in the kitchen cooking dinner. Nanami didn't know where she had learned to do so, but she did. He would find Noriko standing in the chair with an apron and stirring some noodles. He remembered he had bought some groceries. "No weapons on the table", she said, more like reminded Nanami to put away his weapon and clean himself before sitting in the table. When dinner was set, he tasted the soup and was impressed – it was delicious for a seven-year-old girl. Another time when he came home late, he found Noriko on the couch with a knife on her hand. It was scary and she was eight. He slowly grabbed the knife and went to the kitchen, saw a note that said, "I could not wait any longer. I cook some food for you and gave myself a knife, in case of any intruder". He looked at the note and got terrified of adopting a murderer. Wow, this kid is something else, Nanami thought to himself.
Hearing her father speak his mind so harshly, but lovingly, she felt a little less depressed and a little more impress by herself. "Suck it up and call me if you're done crying", her dad said and sighed as he ended the call. She was stunned as hell. She thought she was gonna get some comfort from her dad, instead, she was scolded. But it only made her suck it up and not give up.
From the reminiscing, Nanami had concluded Noriko's constant personality. It was his own personality. He knows that he's blunt and serious, but there was more to Noriko than meets the eye. Maybe she was like Nanami – she got influenced – but she was strict in times and fun, when it was put in the right situation. Her constant personality is balance. Maybe that's what's so admiring about Noriko, she knows how to balance things. He sighed so loudly upon ending the call. He didn't want to be so strict with Noriko and he kind of hated the way he spoke, but he knew it was enough for her to get up and not give up. He just wished he could have eased her pain by telling her the truth.
"So what's the exchange for? Playing Super Smash Bros?", Nobara asked, her tone showing a hint of annoyance. "I won't lose if they're playing the Wii version. I'll trash them with my Meteor Smash", she added. Noriko looked at Nobara with the same expression as her question. Seriously, this girl is more like a guy than a girl. She smirked at herself. "Then three of us will play together", Panda said. Noriko a little bit confused. "In the goodwill event, the principals from Kyoto and Tokyo High School will propose their own methods for dueling. Each method takes one day, so that's two days in total. And that's the official consensus. We have group battles in the first day, individual battles in the second. It's always been like this", Panda explained. "Salmon", Inumaki agreed. "Group and Individual battles? Does that mean sorcerers are going to fight each other?", Nobara was sure full of question. Who could blame her? She was new to all of these. "Yes, it's a sorcery battle with no rules, except, you can't kill", Maki grinned happily. "In order not to get killed, we'll provide extensive training", Panda stated and then started to show his skills in a simplified way, punching the air on a battle stance. "Do you guys actually have time for this? I thought Jujutsu Sorcerers are understaffed", Nobara asked another question. Panda turned to her and said, "That's a good question. The answer is Yes, for now. Human depression often accumulates from late winter to early spring, and then erupts in early summer, which in turn, transforms into curses. That's when we're the busiest". "We're mostly busy all year long, but things should be settling down soon.", Maki added and put her hand on her waist, her bag with her much like to Noriko's bag. "I see", said Nobara. "So, you're all coming, right? Your classmate's dead, after all", asked Maki and turned from Nobara and Megumi to Noriko. "I'll do it. I want to be strong and I'll do anything about it", Nobara and Megumi said in unison. Maki waited for Noriko's response and looked at her closely. They all turned to her direction. "Sure. It's a game after all", Noriko replied and Maki smirked happily. "But if the training and games turn out to be meaningless, I'm leaving immediately", Nobara commented. "Me too", Megumi agreed and Noriko just nodded. Maki chuckled. Inumaki remained silent. "That's the arrogant spirit we need", Panda said. "Noriko, you're still the same, I'm glad", Maki muttered and smiled.
As they were walking, a familiar voice calls out Noriko's name. "Where is my favorite niece? Or my soon-to-be daughter?", a woman shouted from the distance. Maki, Inumaki and Panda sighed so loudly. Megumi's eyes grew bigger and Nobara was confused. Noriko hid behind Megumi. "Nori? Oh, Nori!", her hair was white and eyes were blue as the clear sea. She wore bandages in her wrist, her hair flying free and her eyes in tears of seeing Noriko. "I heard what happened from my brother. I'm sure you're deeply hurt. You're very much the sensitive kid", she said as she grabbed Noriko and hugged her, squeezing her tightly. "Geez, how many jujutsu sorcerers are your relatives", Nobara muttered under her breath. "Oh, my sweet sweet Noriko", she said. "Auntie Izumi, you can let me go now", Noriko pleaded. "Izumi-sensei, you're squeezing her tightly", Megumi said bluntly and points at Noriko. "Megumi-chan! Oh, you've grown. Are you two together now? Eh?", Megumi felt awkward and Noriko rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna go to Yaga, but I'll come find you all", she waved her hand and ran like a child to Principal Yaga. "Who was that?", Nobara asked. Noriko sighed and asked the others if she and Nobara could get something to eat.
"Since you're the only one who doesn't know my history… That was my Aunt Izumi, Gojo's sister", Noriko said. "I know, they have the same personality and the same hair and eyes. It was clear to see", Nobara replied and Noriko giggles. "I am Nanami Kento's daughter, well, adoptive daughter", Nobara looked at Noriko, a little stunned. "Oh, you're adopted?", Noriko nodded. "I was found at an abandoned building, a scared little girl tormented by a curse. My mother had died, giving birth and my father committed suicide. I was left to a friend's house, but that house and its people are crap, so I ran away. I couldn't see curses till I was four or five years' old. My dad found me and took me in when I was seven. He introduced me with his other co-workers such as Gojo-sensei and his sister, therefore, they kind of became my adoptive aunt and uncle. But I'm not really related to them. My father taught me combat skills since I was a child. I was a special kid, like he said. I have a technique called the Probability Manipulation, where I can use it to win any battle, even with Sukuna if the time comes, but I can't use it, because it's a very powerful technique that might kill me, if I did. My father forbade it. Maybe with a little practice and perfection, I can use it without receiving a major impact. Just like Inumaki-senpai, the more he uses his power, the more impact he receives and if I do the same, death might be my gain", Nobara seemed to understand her situation and her history. "It's a good thing that you confided in me", Nobara smiled. "It seemed like a good decision at first, but now, I don't think so", Noriko joked and laughed as they laughed together. "Thank you for listening", Noriko offered Nobara a hug. Well, it was a sudden hug that caught Nobara off guard. When Noriko hugged her, Nobara remembered a certain person that she wanted to see, and one of the reasons why she went to Tokyo. She remembered Saori, a friend she had made in her village that was cast out by the people living there. She was deeply angry at the people and that made her want to get out of the village she was living in. They bought some food from the vending machines and when they went to find the others, Izumi rans to them, greeting her niece again. Noriko hid behind Nobara, but she was a bit taller than her so, her head was easily spotted. Also, she had a moon hairpin on her hair, given by her father, so it was easy to know it was her. "Noriko, my niece. Why are you always hiding from me?", she said embracing Noriko and squeezing her cheeks some more. "Because you always do this", she replied and pulled her away but she wouldn't budge.
Izumi Gojo, Gojo-sensei's sister. Or at least, the only family member they know. It's hard to differ Izumi from Satoru, because they both have the same personality, although Izumi tends to be more reckless than Gojo. She's more a psychopath than Gojo, but she's still a caring human being. She has a little bit of crush with Noriko's dad; therefore, she's always impressing Noriko. First time they met was on the mall, when Gojo told Nanami to meet them there. Noriko was eight years' old and she held her father's hand as they were waiting. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a woman appears, scaring the life out of her. "You must be Noriko!", the woman exclaimed and Noriko jumped so high that she ended up on her father's arms. "Izumi, you scared her", Nanami scolded the woman. "Oh, I'm sorry. Well, I brought you some sweets", she held out a bag and gave it to the poor child, clinging to her dad. Just then, Gojo appeared panting. "Izumi, don't run off", he said in between breathes. It was unlikely of Gojo to be worried sick and scold someone, but when it comes to his sister, he's the sweetest big brother and the most annoying. Izumi hates him for the fact that Gojo always interrupts her alone time with Nanami.
"So, how's your dad?", Izumi asked smiling widely and weirdly that it made both Noriko and Nobara uneasy around her. "You're always asking him to me. Why don't you call him instead", Noriko suggested while scratching her head and staring at the creepy woman, who was staring in either her feet or the ground. It was hard to tell. "What would I say? I don't know how to engage with him. He's so… manly", Izumi's smile faded and she looked down as she talked like a child having a childhood crush. Seriously, Noriko wouldn't be fine, if she had Izumi for a mother. "Ehhhh?", Noriko and Nobara said in unison, giving the woman a what-the-hell look. "Auntie, you're a grown-up, you'll manage", Noriko said and took Nobara's hand as they went to go look for the others. "Noriko", her usual light voice, turned into a dark and deep one. Noriko felt uneasy again and Nobara held on her hand so tightly out of fear. What's with the sudden change of voice? "I hope you're doing fine, but mostly; I hope you would mention me often to your father", she said, her bangs hiding her expression. The girls didn't know if she was angry, sad or creepy happy. "Okay?", she showed her face with a smile of a demon – an exaggeration in Noriko's mind. She smiled so widely and clapped both her hands to the side, then she left and gave Noriko one last kiss on the cheeks. "That was…", Nobara could not find the right words, how awkward and awful that was. "Creepy? Scary? Weird? Psychotic?", Noriko said one by one. "All of the above", replied Nobara and off they went to the others while they brought food with them.
After some technicalities and instructions, Megumi and Noriko went somewhere. "When we arrived at the scene, your son had already passed away. To be honest, I was hesitant to save people there. But my comrades said otherwise. Although we didn't make it, my friend insisted that we should bring the body back to confirm his death", Megumi said in melancholic tone, reminiscing and thinking of Yuji. Noriko was even hesitant to come, but Megumi had asked her for support. "And to give you closure", she spoke so softly and tenderly. She tried smiling a little bit, to ease what the mother was feeling as of the moment. "So we brought this back", Megumi handed something out to the woman and Noriko gasped in confusion. She didn't know Megumi had that on his possession. The deceased Tadashi's mother broke down, crying for the lost of his son. "Gomen nasai", Megumi said as he looked down to the woman on her knees. Megumi and Noriko bowed down as a sign of respect and offered their condolences.
Megumi and Noriko changed into their track suits and went to the field where they were training. Nobara was already running, because Panda was chasing her. "You two are slowpokes", Maki commented. "Salmon", said Inumaki. Megumi zips his track suit and Noriko puts her bow down as well as her bag of arrows and kunais. Noriko sits down besdie her Inumaki-senpai and watches as Nobara shouts. "Let me buy some cute sportwear now, I'm sick of my uniform", she said as Panda threw her and she fell on her face. "What are they doing?", Megumi asked. "Falling practice", replied Panda, followed by Inumaki who said, "Mustard", which meant that he was asking Nobara if she's alright. "Don't worry about her Inumaki-senpai, I'm sure she's fine", Noriko laughed hysterically as she saw Nobara's face on the ground. "You three are weak in close-range combat, specifically you, Noriko, since you're all arrows and bow", Panda said which slightly hurt her feelings, considering she has immense reflexes and is greater than Nobara and Megumi in close-range battles, but she admits, she still needs a little bit practice. "My bad, well then, I'm referring to Fushiguro and Kugisaki here", Panda had forgotten that he taught Noriko a few tips in close-range fights. He awkwardly smiles at the girl. Noriko stands up from her seat and approaches Megumi and Maki. Out of nowhere, Megumi reacts to something. "What's wrong?", Maki asked annoyed. "I feel annoyed all of a sudden", he replied. "Huh?", Noriko and Maki looked at the spiky haired boy who was looking at absolutely nothing. "What?", Maki got angry thinking she was the annoying one. "I'm not talking about you", Megumi assured. In the background, Panda kept on throwing Nobara while Inumaki was sort of there to catch her.
"The event is only a month and a half away, we can't waste time", Maki uttered while she threw her staff to Megumi to try it for practice. "Noriko, you can use your hands, we both know you can take me, but well, will you be able to now?", Maki was triggering her. It's no surprise that people would expect something out of you, especially when you've been trained before by someone of a strong caliber. Like Noriko herself, she's been trained by Nanami and she also trained herself, so it's only natural that Maki would challenge her on a hand-to-hand combat while the others had weapons. Plus, Noriko was indeed a talented person, despite her feeling weak and prideful – in most times. Noriko might not be as durable as Yuji or Megumi, but it is shown that she has a great sense of touch, reflexes she uses in battles – well, in planned battles, sometimes, she forgets her own reflexes talent – and is of big help.
