"Hey!" Gojo yelled, gaining Nobara's attention. "Over here!"
Behind two girls commented on the man. "Damn, what's with the blindfold?"
"If only they knew the real you." Nanami muttered. "Then they wouldn't be head over heels."
Nobara closed the locker with a slam, and turned to the three who were waiting.
"Okay, once again." Gojo motioned for her to speak.
"Kugisaki Nobara," She announced confidently, hand resting on her hip. "Be happy, boys. I'm the one woman in your group."
Stare, Nobara thought, looking at the two first years before her.
"I'm Itadori Yuuji, from Sendai." The pink haired boy said, smiling and pointing to himself.
"Fushiguro Megumi."
Nobara's eyes narrowed. Under her scrutinized gaze, Itadori transformed into a wobbling, plain looking boy.
He looks like a potato. He's definitely the kid that ate his boogers as a child. Her thoughts shifted to Megumi was also turned, but this time gave off the 'I'm better than you' frown. And only a name here? I can't stand high-and-mighty dudes. I bet he likes setting slicked-gulls on fire.
"Ok ow. That's not very nice." Itadori frowned.
"Does it look like I give a shit?" Nobara responded, flipping back her hair.
"Nobara! Nobara!" Gojo said, leaning over to her. "What do I look like to you?"
"...Is he really asking that question?" Panda whispered.
"Like an ugly man child who has grey hair because he's actually really old. I bet you used to kiss your reflection in the mirror." Nobara said, mouth turning down.
"I like that one." Utahime smiled.
She sighed, disappointed in who she got as her classmates. "I always get stuck with unfortunate circumstances."
"She took one look and sighed." Itadori said.
Megumi turned away and got straight to the point. "Are we going somewhere from here?"
Gojo laughed, "We do have all three of you together. Not to mention, two of you are from the countryside." He leaned forward with a smirk. "So of course we're going on a tour of Tokyo!"
Immediately Nobara and Yuuji cheered. "Tokyo! Tokyo! Tokyo! We love Tokyo!"
"First you hate them, now you're super happy."
"Are you on your period?"
"WHO THE FUCK SAID THAT?!"
"Huh?" Megumi sweat-dropped.
"TDL! I want to go to TDL!" Nobara requested, jumping up and down.
Itadori had his arms around Gojo's neck. "Idiot! TDL's in Chiba!" He posed as if he were getting into a fight. "Let's go to Chinatown, sensei!"
"Chinatown is in Yokohama!" Nobara retorted, fists balling.
"Yokohama's part of Tokyo!" Itadori yelled back. "Don't you know that? Look at a map!"
Gojo watched from the sidelines amused.
"The hell?! Quit spouting nonsense!"
"I will now announce our destination." This quickly got the two's attention as they kneeled before Gojo. "Roppongi!"
"I'm never trusting this bastard ever again." Nobara glared.
"Eh? Why?" Miwa asked.
"You'll see."
"Roppongi!" Yuuji and Nobara had stars in their eyes as they imagined the city full of lights.
They were immediately dispirited when they reached an old, abandoned store. Dark cursed energy was seen leaking out of the building.
"Oh."
"Yup."
"Hmpf! I'm still mad about that sensei!" Nobara said. "You better make it up to me!"
"I will!"
"Somehow I still don't believe that." Megumi sighed.
"Theres a curse here." Gojo explained.
"You liar!" Itadori and Nobara yelled, raising their fists in anger.
"This isn't even Roppongi!" Itadori shouted, covering his eyes.
Nobara glared. "You were messing with us country-folk!"
"There's a big cemetery nearby." Gojo continued on, as if they didn't complain. "The double whammy of that and an abandoned building brought out curse."
"So they really do pop up more often around graves?" Itadori asked, now focused on the topic at hand.
Nobara was still pissed, and muttering behind them.
"The issue isn't the cemetery itself," Megumi answered "It's the fact that people associate cemeteries with fear."
"Oh, it was the same for schools, too, wasn't it?"
"Hold up," Nobara interrupted. "He doesn't even know that yet?"
"To be fair, he just became a sorcerer."
"To be honest..." Megumi remembered when Itadori ate the finger.
"He swallowed a special-grade-cursed-object?!" Nobara ran to the side. "Gross! Unbelievable! That's so disgusting and unsanitary! No way, no way, no way!"
"That's what everyone's thinking." Kamo shuddered in disgust.
"No kidding. I don't get how a person can just eat a finger and call it a day." Maki added.
"What?!"
"And how are you acting like it's desert?!"
"I agree with her." Megumi said.
"I want to know what you're capable of. Just think of it as a field test." Gojo informed. "Nobara, Yuuji, you two go exorcise the curse in that building."
"Geh."
"Huh? But I thought only curses could exorcise curses, right? I can't use any jujustu yet."
Gojo grinned at Yuuji. "You're basically half a curse already. There's cursed energy flowing through your body. Though controlling that energy isn't something you can learn overnight," He pulled out a weapon. "So use this."
"It's the cursed tool, Slaughter Demon. It's a weapon imbued with cursed energy. It'll work on curses too."
"Lame." Nobara sneered. She walked over to the building, tying her belt on.
"Hehe. You guys get to see me in action. You should be honored." Nobara said.
"Like hell I will." Mai responded. "I bet you're going to do terrible."
"Oh yeah?"
"Oh, one more thing," Gojo called out. They turned. "Don't let Sukuna out. If you use him, you'll get rid of all the curses nearby in a flash, but you'll also drag everyone around into it."
Itadori gave a thumbs up. "Got it. I won't let Sukuna out."
"Hurry it up!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Go on, now!"
Itadori lifted the garage door.
While Nobara marched right through the hallways, Itadori checked every room, acting as if he were infiltrating enemy ground.
"You're not in a movie." Megumi sweat-dropped.
"No need to go that far." Mechamaru nodded. "You can't really hide from a curse, and they'll end up appearing someway or another."
Outside, Megumi said, "I think I'll go too."
"Awww," Momo laughed. "Are you feeling left out?"
"Don't push yourself. You're still recovering."
"But someone needs to keep an eye on Itadori, right?"
"True, but this time, we're testing Nobara."
"There have been so many tests lately."
"What a pain." Nobara groaned, stomping up the stairs. "Why do I have to deal with curses after coming all the way to Tokyo?"
"Huh? Didn't you come here to exorcise curses?" Itadori asked, following her.
"Not everyone has their situation to be like yours." Nanami informed kindly.
"Yeah, I figured."
"Let's save some time, and split up." Nobara gestured to the upper floors. "I'll start from the top, and go floor by floor. You start from the bottom. Let's get this over with, and grab some sushi from Ginza."
"Hold on a minute...Let's take this a little more seriously. Curses are dangerous you know."
"Geez, why's he acting like a pro?" Mai grimaced.
"I think it's fine!" Miwa piped up. "He's just looking out for Nobara-san."
"Tsunamayo."
Nobara grunted, and kicked him down the stairs. "I don't wanna hear it from someone who was a normie just recently! Now get moving! Hmpf!"
"Your emotions have been all over the place today!" Itadori cried in disbelief.
"That's why girls don't like you!" She screamed back.
"Where did that come from?" Kamo blinked.
"How do you know they don't like me?!" He got up. "Are you even popular to talk? Bitch."
"ITADORI..." Nobara yelled threateningly. "What. Did. You. Just. Call. Me?"
"Bitch!" Mai chuckled.
"N-no I didn't!" Itadori shrank away, trying to avoid Nobara's wrath.
"My, brotha. This is why we don't insult females."
"Where's the popcorn?" Gojo called.
"You called me a bitch." Nobara said calmly. Then she launched herself at a screaming Itadori. "GET BACK HERE!"
"Gojo-sensei!" Itadori cried. "Save me!"
"What do I get if I do?"
"Argh!...Uhhh.." Itadori scrambled to the side of the theatre as others watched in amusement. The traitors. "Candy?"
"Boo!" Gojo sulked.
"Dessert?"
"No! I can get that on my own!"
"Well what do you want?" Itadori was getting desperate. Nobara had pulled out her nails, and was ready to hit him with them.
"Hmmmmm." Gojo tilted his head, then grinned. "If you agree to do something for me, then I'll save you."
"What is it?"
"Nah-ah~ I can't tell you. You just have to trust me."
"UGH FINE!"
With that, Gojo teleported to Nobara and picked her up by the scruff.
"Hey! Sensei! Put me down!"
"Nope!" Gojo smiled, placing her back in her seat. She was still thrashing against his grip, but he bent down to whisper something to her which caused her to stop.
An evil grin spread across her face. Itadori gulped.
"Ok Yuuji-kun~ It's safe."
The boy inched over slowly and back into his seat.
Above him, a curse sunk down, alerting Itadori. Before the curse could get him, it's arm when flying. Purple blood sprayed from the severed limb, as Itadori backflipped away.
'Do you need...a...receipt...'
It's a curse! Itadori brought both hand up in defense with the knife.
It came towards him, but Itadori dodged, stabbing upwards and into the stomach. He quickly cut off the other legs, and the curse fell. Moving fast, he flipped multiple times in the air, before falling and skewering the curse through the head.
"Nice!"
"Not bad for using a blade for the first time." Maki complimented.
Smiling, he rubbed his nose. "Yeah, I can really move!"
"That Yuuji," Gojo commented, tapping his head. "He's missing a few up there. He has no hesitation when it comes to killing these things that take the form of living creatures, albeit bizarre looking ones, trying to kill him."
Megumi sat in silence, listening to his words.
"It's not like he's been familiar with curses for a long time, like you. This is a boy who used to live a normal high school life. You've seen plenty of jujutsu sorcerers, even those with talent, give up in frustration because they couldn't conquer their fear and disgust, haven't you?"
Megumi looked down.
"So today, I want to confirm how crazy she is."
"I'm perfectly fine sensei." Nobara huffed.
"Hey, you curse." Nobara said, serious. "I mean you, mannequin in the center. You actually think you're hiding there?"
She took out two nails and her hammer. "If you won't come out. I'll just have to exorcise you."
"But Kugisaki has experience, right?" Megumi questioned. "Little late for that now, isn't it?"
"Curses are born from human minds. So their strength and numbers grow in proportion to the population."
Nobara pulled her arm back, cursed energy surging and surround her nails. She hit them harshly, making them flying accurately to her target.
"Oh! I like your technique!"
"It's very useful." Nanami said.
"I get it. You're a construction worker." Mai said, like she had found the secret to the universe.
A tick mark formed, but Nobara stayed in her seat.
The mannequin bent back, but didn't die.
"Do you think Nobara understands, that the curses in Tokyo are on a different level than those in the countryside?"
An eye emerged from the mannequin.
Nobara stood in front of her house, before leaving. She passed a car that was covered in insults.
"The countryside look really drab." Momo said. "Thank goodness I don't live there."
"Curses are born from human minds," Gojo narrated. "So their strength and numbers grow in proportion to the population. Curses in Tokyo are on a different level than those in the countryside."
The mannequin stood up, jerkily.
"You might want to pull those out," Nobara snapped her fingers, causing the nails to drive deeper into the curse. "Or my cursed energy will flow into you."
The curse couldn't stop from keeping the nails from exploding. It died quickly.
"And you can do that?"
"You're talented Nobara-chan." Gojo said.
The girl ignored the small burst of happiness that came with it.
Nobara smiled in satisfactory, giggling. Nailed it.
A sudden noise got her attention. For a second, her eyes filled with shock. A child? Must have snuck in for some fun and encountered the curse.
She walked over, reassuringly. "Hey, it's alright now. Come on out."
The boy shook his head in fear.
Huh?! She turned away embarrassed. "I guess it's true that kids don't warm up to beautiful women. Guess I'll call Itadori."
"Or maybe you're just ugly."
Kamo sighed. "Please stop, Mai."
"Wait!" The child shouted. "Don't leave me here!"
She turned back, only to see a monstrous hand grab the boy's head. Nobara moved to hit the curse, but stopped when she realized it was holding the kid hostage.
"Tsuna!"
It's taking him hostage! This curse has intelligence?!
"When I say level, I don't just mean the amount of cursed energy they have. It's their cunning. Monsters that have gained wisdom will often force cruel choices upon you...With the wait of human lives in the balance."
"It's scary how much they can evolve..." Miwa remarked. The thought of curses having some semblance of intelligence frightened her.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! Damn it!" Nobara cursed. This curse isn't even all that strong! Grade 4...Maybe even lower like Grade 3! But it's aware of that! That's why it chose to take a hostage!
"This is why my other self told you to be careful." Itadori reminded.
"Ugh. I know. I just wasn't expecting it to behave like that. " Nobara rolled her eyes. She'd already been nagged. No need for more.
"Expect the unexpected." Gojo added, uncharacteristically serious.
The curse's eye turned upwards showing no sympathy.
She grit her teeth. Calm yourself down. If I die, then the child dies too. But if the child dies, I won't die. Logically speaking, it should be better if I survive at least! She closed her eyes in frustration, and dropped her weapons.
"I don't really approve of that choice." Kamo said, believing the curse wouldn't jest let the kid go.
"Konbu." Inumaki could definitely see what he was getting at. You could't trust curses, no matter how weak they were.
Nobara raised her arms in surrender. "I'm unarmed. Let the boy go."
The curse grinned widely.
"See?"
I'm such an idiot! See? It's not letting the boy go at all! She looked sadly at the ground. "I wish I could have seen Saori-chan one last time."
"Who's Saori-chan?" Maki asked.
"Someone who I used to hang out with." Nobara answered, not wanting to get into all the details. She was sure it'd show her past sometime later.
Suddenly a fist broke through the wall. "Huh? I missed?" The wall crumbled as Itadori crashed through.
"..."
"Again with your inhuman strength!"
"I really shouldn't be surprised anymore." Momo agreed.
"You get used to it after some time." Megumi reassured.
"That's my brotha!"
The curse brought up it's claw to the boy's neck, but was stopped when its fingers were cleaved off.
"Ohhh! Nice~" Gojo cheered, high-fiving Itadori.
"You're pretty good kid."
The curse was kicked away, as Itadori caught the boy. "You okay?"
"Uh-huh."
Clutching it's hand, the curses phased through the wall.
"Mentaiko!"
"AH! Stop it!"
"It'll be fine, Gojo and Megumi are outside." Panda said.
"It's getting away!"
"I don't think so!" Nobara yelled, pulling out a straw doll. "Itadori! Give me that arm!"
"Oh no..." Itadori groaned; the doll she had used was incredibly creepy to him.
"Huh?"
The curse jumped from the side of the building, alerting Gojo and Megumi
"I'll exorcise it." Megumi offered.
"Hold on."
"Still not part of the action." Mai snorted. "Poor you. And you were so eager."
Megumi glowered at her. He wasn't that pressed about it. Probably. Just a little.
The straw doll was thrown onto the arm. Itadori and the boy clung to each other horrified.
"A straw doll?" The boy whispered.
"Creepy." Itadori replied.
"I actually think it's interesting." Yaga said, rubbing his beard.
Nobara ignored the two, and swung the nail down. "Straw doll technique: resonance!"
"Yeahh! Go Nobara-chan~" Gojo whooped.
"Ew! I don't need your encouragement."
"Nice job." Nanami smiled. The girl didn't let the chance for the curse to escape, which showed him great resolve. She would be powerful in the future.
The curse's heart throbbed before getting pierced by thick blades. It dissolved, and the cursed energy wafting from the building was gone.
"Hmpf. I could've done better." Mai complained, but she did feel a bit impressed.
"Stop spouting lies. God, I can't stand you!" Nobara whined, pulling at her hair.
"Nice." Gojo commented. "She's crazy alright."
"I'm perfectly fine, sensei." Nobara mocked. "Unlike the rest of the crazies here."
"And me!" Miwa piped up.
"Don't forget me." Megumi added, raising his hand.
"We won."
The countryside Nobara came from was shown. A young Nobara was seen kicking a rock.
"Awwwwwww~" Gojo cooed. "You were so cute!"
"Please shut up."
"I mean he's not lying, so..."
When I was in first grade, Saori-chan moved to the village from Tokyo. She was cute as a doll, and as kind as a nun. Child Nobara was given a Christmas card. Yet Saori-chan was ostracized by the villagers.
Utahime frowned. Ignoring a young girl at that for moving to the village? How close minded.
"She thinks country-folk are dumb" they said, letting themselves get paranoid, and in the end, they drove her out. Nobara stood in front of Saori's house. Calling it sickening wouldn't be enough. She brought all these homemade sweets I'd never heard of and said, "The ones from the bakery are even better," with a smile, and she treated me to them.
"I glad you were friends with her." Maki smiled. Being lonely wasn't something she'd wish on people.
"I am too."
If I had stayed in that village...
"That's why I told you...it's dangerous to go alone and you need to take it seriously!" Itadori yelled, exasperated.
"You never said it was dangerous to go alone!"
"I-I didn't?!"
"You have crap memory." Momo deadpanned.
"No I don't!"
"You do..." The others chorused.
Itadori slumped.
Nobara glared at Itadori. "And what have you been eating that lets you punch through a wall with your bare hands?!"
"It wasn't reinforced concrete!"
"Like that makes a difference!"
"Eh. Todo, Panda, and I could do it too." Maki said, like it was something normal.
"Y'all are the weird ones." Miwa whispered.
"Even if it was, that'd still be impossible for most people!"
"Yup."
The boy between them laughed nervously.
"Poor kid."
"Most people? You know, you've asked me plenty of questions already, but why did you come to Jujutsu High?"
"Why?" She bent down, eyes squeezed shut, and pointed to herself. "Because I hated the country-side, and I wanted to live in Tokyo!"
"EH?!"
"I mean, theres lots of reasons why people move, so it's not that big of a stretch."
Nobara clasped her hands together with a cute pouting face. "This was the only way I could move to the city without having to worry about money!"
"Argh, that face does not suit you." Mai grimaced.
"Don't be jealous, bitch."
"You can risk your life over that?"
"I can." She smiled to him. "After all, it means being true to myself."
If I'd stayed in that village, I'd be good as dead. Saori-chan, I made it to Tokyo! If we ever meet here, take me to that bakery you mentioned.
"I'm sure you'll be able to to reunite!" Miwa encouraged.
"Yeah. I plan on it."
Nobara placed a hand on the boy's head. "So as far as that goes, I'm grateful to you too. There wouldn't be a bright future if I had died or I had been the only one to survive. Thanks."
"Wow. So you can actually thank people."
"No kidding."
"Thank goodness he's safe."
"Well, having a serious reason doesn't make anyone better than the rest." Itadori mused aloud.
"Okay!" Nobara put her hands out. "I've given you my thanks, so that's all over! We're even now!"
"What's wrong with her?"
"Bahahaha!" Mai wheezed. "Wasn't expecting that."
"I live over there! Thanks again!" The boy said, running off.
"Did you know I get into a foul mood when I'm hungry?"
"Who doesn't?"
"Normal people."
When are you not in a foul mood? Itadori thought.
"That's because of you." Nobara whipped her hair back. "When you're not around, I glow."
"Good Joseph!" Gojo called. "We made sure the kid got home. Now shall we grab some food?"
"Steak!"
"Sushi!"
"Leave it all to me!" Gojo agreed. "And you, Megumi?"
The boy was to busy scrolling through his phone.
"Okay, let's go." Gojo herded the other two away.
"Oh yes, leave the emo boy behind."
"Oh. I almost forgot the biggest haul of the day." Nobara said. "Hey you. Go fetch my things."
"Huh? Why should I do it? I thought we were even?"
"We won thanks to my cursed energy. You got a problem with all that?" She responded smugly.
"What about my raw strength?"
"Your monstrous power from eating weird shit?"
"It's not that, right Fushiguro?"
He stayed silent, brooding behind Gojo.
"Nothing."
"He's pouting because he didn't get to join in."
"I knew it!" Mai laughed, smacking the armrest.
Everyone else chuckled, giving him a knowing grin.
Megumi turned away with his ears pink.
Nobara chuckled. "What a child!"
"Tch."
Yuuji laughed, eyes forming crescents.
Log: July, 2018. West Tokyo City, Eishuu Juvenile Detention Center. In the sky, above the exercise yard.
"Hey..." Three men were gazing up at the sky.
"What's that?"
"What?"
"What the fuck."
"Holy shit it's huge!"
Unarmed Apparition of potential Special Grade. It's curse womb was witnessed by multiple non-jujutsu sorcerers.
"That up there! It look like an egg!"
"What are you talking about?"
Due to the emergency nature, three first-year Jujutsu Sorcerers were dispatched to the scene...
"Hell yeah!" Itadori grinned. "We're going to do so well."
"Hmm," Gojo mused aloud. "So this is where the future starts."
"I can't wait to see me in action." Nobara sighed.
"Nah, my scenes are going to be better than yours."
"I think we'll all do great!" Miwa cut in, trying to stop any new argument.s
...And one died.
Immediately everyone froze.
"Wait what?"
"Maybe they got it wrong?"
"No one's going to die, right?" Nobara asked nervously.
"But...it just said..."
"No one is dying," Gojo stated. "That's why we're watching the future."