Chapter 22
By the next morning, things have changed.
Junpei was getting ready for school when he paused and noticed Choso on the couch taking up a new hobby. He stared on for a moment before realizing what he was making. "Are you knitting?"
He didn't even stop from his task. "Younger brother needs more soft things for his nest that he is making. I thought I would help by making him a blanket. I am just starting to get good at it." Choso said offhandedly. Stung along the couch was the failed attempts he has made earlier. But just now, he has gotten the stitching right and was about to continue on. "I will be making some for us too since we cannot take back the items Yuuji has already borrowed from us."
"You do know Suiryu just placed a massive order through Amazon right? We're all getting new blankets and towels." He said offhandedly.
Choso however wasn't interested in those, he was more committed to fulfilling Yuuji's needs. "That's nice of him, but for now, I will keep practicing."
Junpei left him alone that moment on.
As he left the dorm, he began to approach the school when he saw Yuuji out and about once more. He was on the prowl and searching for something. Curious, Junpei followed him around to see where he went. He raided the other dorms of the senior students, he was brash enough to return to Gojo sensei's dorm before he discovered the massive boxes left at the front of the school. "Looks like Suiryu's amazon order arrived…"
Yuuji paused as he sniffed over the boxes before he found one of interest. He tore into it like a wild beast before revealing the prize inside.
More blankets!
He appeared as if he struck gold as Yuuji made happy chirping sounds before gathering everything he could into his arms and running off with his treasure.
Junpei was at a loss for words to what he just witnessed. "He really just takes what he wants huh?"
"That was the dummy box"
He jumped as Suiryu came out of nowhere!
Of course he snickered about it, Junpei however hates being snuck up upon. "What the hell man! Also, dummy box?"
He nodded. "I ordered replacement shit just yesterday, it is coming today, but that stuff I just got this morning. I set it up so Yuuji would plunder that one and leave everything else I ordered alone. At least, here's hoping. He keeps making that damn nest bigger and bigger…"
"Why is he making the nest though?"
Suiryu shrugged. "Hell if I know." He said. "All I was told was to butt out and let him do his thing. SO, I'll do just that then. But I also got to make sure he doesn't take any more shit. Everyone is upset they can't get their stuff back. The girls in particular, I'll just have to bribe them again with another shopping spree or something…"
Junpei nodded. It has been odd trying to get some decent sleep when you only have fitted sheets and a cover blanket to use. Everything warm and soft has been pilfered to say the least! "Well, better get to class…" he said offhandedly.
"I'll go with you, today, you guys are with me."
He felt his stomach drop a little. After all, there was a devious grin on Suiryu's face.
#
Suiryu stood before Nobara, Fushiguro and Junpei. Yuuji won't participate, not like anyone can get him to focus anyways. So with that, the lesson went on. He stood proudly before everyone, his arms crossed as he announced. "Today, I want everyone to pick one thing about their abilities, that they absolutely suck at… and work on it."
The three froze in confusion. "What?" they demanded.
"We're good at what we do! We don't suck!" protested Nobara.
"What is something that you know you can do better but haven't done so yet?" Suiryu asked once more.
Junpei paused to the question. "Well. I know I can fight well like this, but when I bulk myself up I am not as good." He explained. The little battle he had with Todo only proved that shortcoming.
"Good, Junpei will work on that. Fushiguro, what about you?"
"I'm quite good at what I do…"
"Wrong!" Suiryu corrected. "You are good, but not that good. Since I know you got a stronger Shikigami to summon and get under contract, do you not?"
He turned a little white. Fushiguro shied away on the notion. "It's too strong for me to take on…"
"Wrong again!" Suiryu scolded. It caught Megumi off guard. "You are not looking at how much you improved. If anything, you got a good shot at it. And if it doesn't go right, I'll step in." he stated.
He then turned to Nobara. "And?" he asked of her.
Her arms crossed. "And what?" she demanded. "I am good at what I do!"
"What happens when you have no nails or straw dolls left?"
"I can fight okay!"
"You need to fight better. Today I called in a favor." Looking over his shoulder, he smiled and nodded. "Mika is going to train you today." He announced.
Nobara was stunned. "Wait, Mika?"
He nodded. "We got a few weapons for you to choose from, from this moment on, along with your hammer, nails and straw dolls I want you to have a small, concealed weapon in yourself. Just in case of an emergency. As well, you are going to learn hand-to-hand combat. And later, you and I are going to work on a new method together."
She paused. "Is that a date?" she muttered.
"It can be" he said and grinned. "But for now, Mika," he said and turned to her. "She's all yours."
Nobara went off with Mika, one down. "Junpei, I asked Eso to assist you today. We got enough curse blood to make you grow into the same size as him, you'll spar with him and learn how to move about with a bulkier frame."
He nodded in agreement. Suiryu sent him back to the dorms to train, which left him and Fushiguro.
Megumi stared at him. "I got a bad feeling about this. I know I got stronger, but to go against Mahorage…" he paused and shook his head to it all.
Suiryu knew why he was apprehensive. Sukuna himself admitted that if Fushiguro had called upon this shikigami back at the correctional facility, it would have killed him. Yet when he gained 15 of his twenty fingers… he took it down rather well. It still damaged him, but he was able to defeat it. "Mahorage is powerful, I know that for certain because of the recall I have of it. Yet you too have gained great strength. We can also better gauge your power this way too and I will have a better understanding as to how far you need to go to conquer it. Trust me?" he asked.
There was a look of hesitation, but he nodded. "Yes," Megumi said. "I trust you,"
"Good, let's go off the school grounds and into an open area, Sukuna had to defeat it last time using a domain…"