Chapter 36

Rook was smiling.

The wrestling team was a little nervous, until Rook pointed to the others. "Those there, are the past champions right?" he asked bluntly.

"Yeah…" the captain said.

"Why do they look more nervous than you?"

The Captain peered over, but paused. "You're right!" he whispered. "Did their top guy go down?"

He snickered. "Not yet, not until he faces us. We're up last anyways since we're hosting this shindig. If anything, just watch. I think it's going to be rather pathetic."

The team did just that, Rook kept track of the other school and knew that despite the lack of curse energy, there was still talent among them. However, that talent diminishes, since they relied on their curse energy more than actual practice. When it was their turn, Rook smirked as he sent the weakest up first.

Granted, the weakest on the team is equal to the strongest on the other teams! The first match was over in an instant, the guys listened and put Rook's lessons to the test. They would win time after time, and yet, the other schools continued to peer at him oddly.

Before long, they were in the championship match.

Rook was smiling wickedly since the other teams had no idea what to do to counter them. Their skills have been polished and refined, Rook's guys have unknowingly sparred with dragons!

Then the final pin came and the school had one, the other side was getting resentful.

"Bunch of monkeys…" one muttered.

Rook decided to take off his blindfold. When he did, he glared at the other side rather angrily. "Care to repeat that, asshole?" he called.

It caught the others off guard. "Rook?"

"You guys can stand down here, I want to see the looks on their faces… the fact that we kicked their asses and yet… they call us a bunch of monkeys?" he asked curiously. "Why would you call us the monkeys when we are the ones who won?"

"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE WON!" one of the other captains shouted. "This was to be OUR VICTORY!"

"Aaaaaannnnnndddddd why should I care?" Rook asked in an annoying tone. 'Oh great, my dad side is coming out of me' he thought but smirked at the notion. At least he knows when that happens, it seriously is almost like a gas leek to him!

"You are a disgrace to your clan!" shouted another. "If you had any sort of honor…"

"AAAAAAAANNNNNNDDDDDD why should I care?" Rook snapped back. But then heard a familiar chuckle coming from the stands. He turned and smirked to see Pops seated and watching the whole thing, however, that put the other students on edge.

After all, Pops still has his curse energy. His face maybe different from the others, but Rook knew it was him by scent alone.

"Rook, let's go. I could give a shit as to what these losers have to say," the captain decreed.

"I couldn't agree more. Let's bail," Rook turned back once more before he glared at the other schools again, he waited for the wrestling team to leave before stating to the others. "If you EVER come to this school, pick a fight with my friends or family… I can assure you… you won't make it to learn what grade you are!"

Those who came to watch had no idea what he was referring too. At least, the humans anyways. The sorcerers on the other hand, knew he just uttered a threat to them. Whether or not it is taken seriously… It will be on them.

As Rook began to leave, he found Pops coming in close behind him. "You put them on edge, you got to be careful though. I felt killing intent in your aura…"

"Really? I didn't think I had one just yet…"

"Also… your eyes changed."

Rook suddenly paused, but Pops pushed him to keep going until they were out of the gym. Once outside, he told Rook to put his blindfold back on. "Pops… how much different did my eyes turn?" he asked.

Pops was a little perplexed. "I don't know how… but they looked like Sukuna's."

#

The event was done for the day.

Rook was pleased that the school won and they filled up the trophy case. The couch was so thrilled he treated the whole squad out to a meal. For a strange reason, food tastes a lot better after a victory!

Everyone was regaling the event with pleasure. The parents came and stuck around to chat, Kiyoshi kept peered at his father when someone said. "Itadori! No way, the Tiger of the West!"

"Oh God, not that nickname again…" his father sighed.

Kiyoshi snickered.

"I wouldn't be laughing," warned Shin. "Some of the guys wanted to start calling you the roadrunner or something stupid."

He stopped instantly. "Please don't let that stick…" he muttered.

"Don't worry, it won't." Rook decreed. "Besides, this is a time for celebrating!"

The table cheered to their victory today and were pumped for the next time these events occur.

However. Shin knows that they won't be here for much longer; the other schools will go back to their ways of cheating… he wondered though if perhaps there could be a way to stop that from happening.

Everyone here was thrilled. So was the gym teacher who appeared to have a look of relief in his eyes.

Before long, the teacher stood. "Everyone, I want to thank you for all your hard work and training today!" he called. "It's been over ten years since our school has won a thing, and thanks to everyone here… I can finally retire!"

The students were stunned.

"Retire?" Rook asked.

"Indeed, I was told I couldn't originally retire until I had won the school something, but, year after year we kept facing stiff competition. The Vice principal told me I couldn't retire or get my pension unless there was a trophy in the case… that was so long ago, but now! I can… but I won't yet" he said and smiled.

The students cheered to that as they took a drink of soda in celebration.

"And if I may…" the wrestling captain stood. "We know we got to thank someone here for their hard work, Rook Gojo… without him, I don't think we would be able to brag right now!"

"Hold it!" Rook stated. "Partly true, but that only goes so far. YOU chose to listen to me, well, not just me either. You had the Zen'in brothers helping as well, my siblings and friends stepping up to fill in as needed… and for those who dropped out so we could fill in… thank you. Especially you man, you threw up to sell it!"

The one kid that did such a thing, was eating the most out of anyone there!

"Here's to everyone's hard work!"

Needless to say, everyone slept well that night…