(I) GETO SERINA
The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a fiery glow over the chaotic landscape where Geto Suguru stood, contemplating the dark designs he had been harboring. A breeze ruffled his dark hair as he waited for a response from someone whose heart he hoped to sway.
"Serina, would you join me?" Suguru genuinely smiled at his younger sister stretching his hand out to her amidst the busy streets of Tokyo. His best friend, Gojo Satoru, watched just inches apart from Serina, waiting nervously for her decision.
Serina's long raven hair tied back in a ponytail danced along with the whims of the wind. She met her brother's gaze, a sense of boundless warmth in her amethyst eyes yet her conviction unwavering.
"Suguru… What you're suggesting… It sounds so extreme."
Suguru stepped closer, his voice low and persuasive. "My beloved sister, imagine a world where sorcerers reign. Where these pesky monkeys are gone for good. We can finally be free from protecting the weak. I need you to make this vision a reality."
"Suguru…" Gojo Satoru mumbled. The pain and anger manifested in his voice. Suguru is very close to his heart, but this… This idea of wiping out all non-sorcerers was insane. And now he's witnessing him compel his younger sister to join him. How Gojo hates to be in this position right now.
"Monkeys?" Serina's gaze dropped steadily on the ground. The girl forced herself not to cry, but a lump in her throat threatened to betray her emotions. "Is that the reason why you had to kill our parents too?" Serina's thoughts echoed loudly, but her spoken words remained soft.
Suguru's tone faltered for a moment, yet he replied indifferently, "You have to understand. Our parents' deaths were a wake-up call. It's our responsibility to cleanse this world."
Serina's heart sank deep. How could his brother, of all people, do this to their family? To her? She looked straight into his brother's eyes, hoping that the next words she'd utter would change his mind. "Suguru, I wish I could make you see that there's a path to change without causing more harm. I'll always love you, but I can't be a part of this."
Geto Suguru's arm dropped on his sides. He raised his chin and stared back at the two people he cared the most in his lifetime. He responded, his ideals still unswayed, "I have decided on my way of life. From now on, I will strive to achieve what I am capable of." With those words, he turned his back and walked away. Satoru Gojo raised his hand, his fury fueling contemplation of getting back at Geto. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Serina in a profoundly somber state, as if she wished for the world to swallow her whole at that very instant. He slowly lowered his hand. How could Geto Suguru walk away from him and from the only sister he has?
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The piercing alarm emanating from Serina's phone was all it took to jolt her from her bed. It has been years since his brother walked away from being a sane sorcerer, from his best friends and from her. And it has only been a year since she's lost him too. She silenced her alarm and fixed her gaze upon the ceiling of her room. This particular scene often haunts her in her dreams. However, she never felt remorse for her choice. Serina, being the kind-hearted person that she is, perfectly knows that she made the right decision.
"Ugh!" The raven-haired girl stretched her legs and let it hang in the air. "I hate waking up to these kinds of dreams." Serina softly slapped both of her cheeks to release any negative vibe then proceeded to make her bed. Tokyo Jujutsu High has been her safe haven. Upon completing her studies alongside Nanami Kento, she made the choice to become a Jujutsu teacher at the very same institution. Despite her denial, part of her decision was influenced by Satoru.
Serina scanned her room seeing all the unpacked luggages she still had from her recent mission. There were a lot of shopping bags from a variety of stores she visited during her "self-proclaimed break". On her desk, three bags filled with sweet and savory treats rested, set apart from the surrounding clutter. She sat on her chair, grabbed small cards for each bag and started scribbling the names of its recipients.
"These two go to Satoru, Megumi, Kugisaki and Itadori." Serina carefully placed the note on the bags. "And this one is for Kento-kun!" With a wide grin, the female Jujutsu teacher affectionately uttered the name of someone dear to her heart.
Serina and Nanami were in the same class at Tokyo Jujutsu High. They spent a lot of time together before and after Haibara's passing. Serina looked up to him because he was dedicated to doing what's right, and he was strong, both inside and out. Over time, she started to have feelings for him. Even though she knew he didn't feel the same way, she valued their friendship a lot and they were still really good friends.
As soon as Serina stepped in the kitchen to make herself some breakfast, her phone rang. She took a peek at the screen contemplating if the call was worth answering. She rolled her eyes and decided to take the call.
"INA! Welcome back!" Gojo Satoru's voice echoed in her ear. Serina winced at his friend's loudness, taking the phone briefly away from her ear.
"How loud can your voice get, Satoru?" She puts the call on speaker phone so she could do other things knowing that this won't be a short conversation."If you only called to ask if I bought snacks, yes I did."
"Actually, that's not the only reason. And for the record, it's SATORU-SENPAI. You know I'm 2 years older than you."
"Two years? More like a year and some months. Don't be so full of yourself, SENPAI. Anyway, let's get straight to the point. What's the other reason?"
"Oh, I called to remind you of the Kyoto Goodwill Event. I was informed that some of the Kyoto students will visit today. Please keep an eye on the rest of the first years for me. You know those students from Kyoto are fond of picking fights." Gojo said. Serina heard subtle sounds of munching from the other end of the line and sighed.
"Satoru, are you eating and not working again?"
"What? I was just having a little bit of snacks! Can't I take a short break?" Gojo responded, finally letting out audible munching sounds he hardly tried to hold back.
Serina chuckled a bit. She can imagine Satoru forcefully trying to chew really quietly so that she won't notice.
"So… How is Itadori doing?" Serina began to talk about Itadori Yuji, Sukuna's vessel. The news of Itadoroi's revival immediately reached her thanks to Shoko. She was strictly instructed not to mention anything about it to the higher-ups, not even to other Jujutsu students.
"He's okay. We had a little bit of a field trip and practical activity yesterday. He's basically going to be fine. He's strong, that's for sure. I'll reveal him when he's physically ready. But for now, I'm counting on you to manage the Tokyo and Kyoto students." Gojo's tone was warm and trusting. He knew that, among other Jujustu sorcerers out there, Serina was the most dependable. The both of them have been through a lot after all.
"Alright, alright… But you - "
CRASH!
Outside the school, a deafening crash reverberated. Serina cautiously peeked out of her room's window.
"Wow! Really? This early? Hanging up now, Satoru…" Serina clicked the "end call" button from her mobile phone. She hardly heard his friend's voice asking what was happening but she needed to see for herself what the commotion was about. She hurriedly grabbed a track top already lying on her bed.
With a sense of urgency, Serina sprinted towards the entrance of the school. As she arrived, a chaotic scene unfolded before her eyes. Fushiguro and Todo, two powerful jujutsu students, were locked in a fierce battle, their curses clashing with relentless force. The school's once-pristine facilities were now crumbling under the weight of their destructive power. Serina's head ached as she realized the gravity of the situation, and she knew she had to act swiftly to prevent further damage.
As she neared the damaged area, she overheard Fushiguro and Todo in a tense conversation. Each of them is not planning to back out.
"I don't see any enthusiasm in you." Todo said, ripping out Fushiguro's shikigami wrapped around his arms.
"I was just being nice, and you're acting all high-and-mighty." Fushiguro was down on the ground and a trace of blood covered his forehead. "Since you said that… Then I'll do it." His eyes were burning with passion, probably preparing to use more of his cursed technique.
Todo exclaimed with enthusiasm, "Bring it on!"
I can't believe Satoru left all this ruckus to me. I was planning to enjoy my breakfast this morning. Serina thought and tapped her forehead out of irritation. She began to draw her cursed energy. Inumaki Toge, one of the second year students was about to use his cursed speech when he saw Serina from afar. Serina waved his hand, gesturing to him to stop so that she could handle the situation herself.
The moment she laid eyes on the two students locked in combat, their surging cursed energy abruptly ceased, rendering them both unable to access their cursed techniques. Fushiguro and Todo stopped in confusion.
"Hands off my students, Todo and Zenin." Serina entered the scene after neutralizing, not just Fushiguro's and Todo's, but everyone's cursed energy.
"Geto-senseii!" Fushiguro, Inumaki, Panda and Maki huddled together, surprised that their female teacher was in school.
"Geto-sensei?" Kugisaki asked in confusion. She has never been introduced to Geto Serina yet. She stared at the ravenette for a brief moment, captivated by her beauty and undeniable aura of coolness. After a moment, she joined her classmates who were gathered together. She elbowed Fushiguro's side, retrieving more information.
"She's our teacher?" Kugisaki scanned Serina more closely. "What happened? I can't feel any cursed energy. Heck, I can't even draw one myself."
"That's Geto-sensei. She's a Grade 1 sorcerer. One of her cursed techniques is nullifying other's cursed energy. I didn't know she was already back from her mission."
"Awwww, kids. Geto? Serina-sensei is fine!" Serina smiled as she looked at her Tokyo students, examining if someone was badly hurt. She turned her gaze toward the Kyoto students, finding them wearing expressions of surprise."So are we gonna use more of our cursed energy? It's kinda ruining my day."
Everyone was speechless. Serina smirked. "I thought so." And with a resounding clap from her hands, a surge of cursed energy returned, coursing through everyone.
"Serina-sensei I didn't know you're back!" As soon as Todo spotted Serina, he rushed forward with open arms, eager to pull her into a warm hug. But to his astonishment, his embrace never met its intended target. Instead, it was as if he had collided with an invisible wall, and he stumbled back, slightly dazed.
"Ow! Wasn't that too much, sensei? I was just happy to finally see you again!" Todo was all flustered and couldn't contain staring at the female Tokyo teacher.
"Hey!" Kugisaki elbowed Fushiguro again. The black-haired boy winced in pain and gave out an irritated look. "I thought that Todo guy likes tall girls with big butts? I mean Serina-sensei has a very nice curve but she's not that tall. If anything, we're likely the same height."
Fushiguro's cheeks reddened at Kugisaki's choice of words. He cleared his throat, "Serina-sensei is the exception. And could you please stop elbowing me?"
Kugisaki was drowned in her thoughts. She couldn't help but admire the elegance and power of Serina's jujutsu. It was a stark contrast to her own brash and straightforward cursed technique. "How did she do that to that big guy? Does she have the same powers as Gojo-sensei?"
"Now you're curious, huh? No, she's different. In one of our training sessions before, she mentioned that she uses a counter-cursed technique. She basically draws out cursed energy to make a reflective surface to deflect other jujutsu users." Fushiguro explained to her in detail. "But if you really want to know more about her, you should ask her yourself."
Fushiguro looked at Kugisaki who was still focused on Serina. Her eyes are sparkling as if she met the love of her life.
"Serina-sensei." Mai lowered her head as she acknowledged the Tokyo Jujutsu High teacher. She accepts and even commends her for being this strong but apart from that she feels wary knowing that Serina carries "Geto" as her last name. She knew she couldn't win even if she picks a fight so she decides to retreat and challenges the Tokyo High students instead. "Listen, it won't end so easily during the Goodwill Event." With these words, Zenin Mai and Todo Aoi leave the Tokyo Jujutsu High vicinity.
"Kyoto students are really a pain! Are you all okay, everyone?" Serina approached her students and was welcomed with a big hug from Panda and Maki. Inumaki was on the side, shyly tugging her track top.
"SERINA-SENSEI!" They all shouted with warmth. Serina felt even more attached to them the way they said her name affectionately.
"Megumi-kun, I think you need to have your head checked. Satoru will be so mad at me if he learns that you hurt yourself before the Goodwill Event." Serina reminded Fushiguro in a concerned tone.
"Satoru? She calls Gojo-sensei by his first name?" Kugisaki whispered to herself but Panda was close enough to hear her.
"Gojo-sensei and Serina-sensei go all the way back!" Panda exclaimed. "They're practically a couple! Ow!"
Serina gave Panda an exasperated look, lightly hitting him on the head. "Panda, you're stirring up trouble again. Don't make up stories, especially with Kugisaki here. A relationship with Satoru doesn't sound appealing." Serina winked at Kugisaki who was smiling at her from ear-to-ear.
Serina-sensei knows my name. Kugisaki thought to herself, feeling all fuzzy inside.
"Serina-sensei, it's all in good fun! You have to admit, people do seem to think you and Gojo-sensei would make a great couple!" Panda insisted.
"Salmon!" Inumaki chimed in.
"Not you too, Toge-kun. It's just gossip, Kugisaki. Satoru and I are friends and colleagues, nothing more."
Maki joins in the fun and teases her teacher even more, although she honestly knows that Serina and Gojo are really in a platonic relationship. "But don't you think it's kinda cute? You two are inseparable at school."
Serina's face turned a bright shade of red as she sighed in irritation. She glanced at Maki, who was still grinning, and then at Fushiguro who was awaiting her reply. "Guys, for the last time. And I won't repeat this anymore. Satoru and I are both dedicated to our work, and that's why we're often seen together. It doesn't mean there's anything romantic going on. Understood? Now, let's go!"
All five students nodded and then wondered, "Huh? Go where?"
"To prepare all of you for the Kyoto Goodwill Event. You want to defeat those students from Kyoto, right? Train well, give it your all, and bring honor to our school. Go out there and show them what Tokyo Jujutsu High is made of." With a resolute nod, Serina's students are filled with newfound motivation, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in their purpose.
