2006: one year at Jujutsu High
Satoru and Suguru are hanging out with me in my room. It's come a long way since I first moved in. Satoru came over one day and helped me hang all my posters and decorations, and now it actually looks like someone lives in it.
Suguru and Satoru both got promoted not long ago to Special grade sorcerers. It was a well earned promotion, but not an unexpected one. I haven't been promoted to first grade yet, but i'm hoping that I will soon. But for now, i'm stuck and third grade.
"Naomi, you're thinking too much about it. Get out of your head a bit." Suguru says.
"No, let her think. She needs the focus if she wants to get promoted. Every little detail, every little mistake she notices she'll need to perfect. That's the only way. She can't be weak." Satoru says as he looks at his phone while lying upside down on my bed, wait...
"Do you have your shoes on my bed?!" I yell outraged.
He looks down at his feet and then back at me, "maybe, what're you gonna do about it?"
I don't give him time to react. I run over to him and try to grab him and throw him off my bed, but he's still too strong for me. He sits up quickly and just holds me back. I push against him as hard as I can but he still keeps me at bay. No matter how many times I spar or fight with him, or how much weight I move at the gym, he always wins.
He smiles and laughs, "give up yet?"
I groan and let my arms fall down to my side, "fine."
He lets go of me unexpectedly and I fall forward clumsily. I would have fell right into his lap, but he knew this of course. He catches me and spins me and I end up sitting across his lap on the edge of my bed. My face flashes with heat as I instinctively grab on to his arms.
"When you ever gonna learn not to pick fights with me, you know i'll win." He says playfully.
I groan in response.
"Now, what is the magic word?" He asks teasingly.
"Ugh," i say rolling my eyes and looking away from him, "please."
He chuckles, "that's my girl. See, was that so hard?"
He smiles that damn smile, his bright blue eyes staring at me triumphantly. What I didn't notice until now however, was how close we are. I'm practically inches from his face. He grows more serious by the second, or should I say suave. He looks at my lips for a second, but I know it's just a distraction, he's about to throw me or something.
But he doesn't, he just keeps looking, as if he's trying to memorize something. Surely he's trying to think of how he can use this against me later. The great Satoru Gojo doesn't show weakness, and that's all I'll ever be to him. Weak. But even still, it doesn't stop me from blushing.
"Ugh, will you two kiss already?" Suguru says amused to the left of us.
"What?!" I say getting up quickly and brushing my pants off as if he left residue on me or something.
"Yeah, no way. Gross." Satoru says rubbing his neck, almost embarrassed.
Satoru's embarrassed? Embarrassed of the notion of kissing me no doubt. And how could I blame him. I'm nothing special and would just get in the way. Like he said, we need to focus on our techniques.
Satoru finally takes his shoes off and I reposition myself next to Suguru again on the couch. He's showing me different stances I could use with my new cursed weapons. I recently picked up a shield and spear. He's showing me historically successful uses of the weapons.
"Try this." He says showing me a Spartan.
I pick up my weapons and stand in the center of the room. I widen my stance with one foot in front and one to the rear. I place my feet firmly on the ground, like a sideways deadlift and tighten my grip on my spear.
"How's this?" I ask.
Suguru takes a long look, "maybe squat down a bit more? And bring your right hand up the spear a bit and pull it closer to your body."
I do as he says and look back for approval.
"Yes, I think that's it. Satoru?" He asks.
"Looks good to me, but what do you say we put that to the test?" He says.
I shrug my shoulders, "sure, i'll call Shoko."
"Oh no no no. You're with me." He tells me.
I groan, "Satoru, you know you're too strong for me."
"Exactly. That's why you should spar with me. I mean, how are you going to take on more powerful curses if you don't train like the best, with the best."
I sigh, "I know I know. It's just that my cursed technique is still not that powerful."
Suguru chuckles, "Are you kidding? You put the new kid Nanami in paralysis for a whole minute. That's way long enough to land a fatal blow."
"Yeah, but I want to work on my enhanced technique and reverse technique." I tell them.
"Huh? You know them?" Satoru asks.
"Yeah, I was reading up on my clan's history. Apparently, my enhanced technique is brain dead. Brain dead renders the victim basically brain dead for however long the curse user can hold it. Not to hurt them but to basically nullify any thought or action they were thinking or planning. The hurting is up to the user." I tell him.
"Whoa, Naomi, why didn't you say anything? That could mean-" Suguru starts before, as always like classic Satoru, figures it out before anyone.
"That's she could put her victims into this brain dead state and render whatever techniques they have useless. That's..."he says standing up and grabbing me by the shoulders excitedly, "that's so awesome! What are we waiting for?!"
"Well, if you think that's great, just listen to my reverse curse technique." I tell him.
"Well tell me then!" He says smiling and I sit next to him on the bed facing Suguru.
"Well, my reverse curse technique can allow me to manipulate a curse user myself. I can render them completely helpless and subservient to me, for however long I can hold that ability." I tell them.
"Holy crap, that could make you a special grade sorcerer Naomi." Suguru says excitedly.
"I know, but, I'm not sure if I can learn it." I tell them.
"Well then there's no time like the present. Forget the stupid spear and shield, this is wayyy more important. C'mon dork, let's go!" Satoru says rushing out of the room.
I roll my eyes and look to Suguru and we both laugh. We put our shoes on and follow him outside to the sparring area. He's already stretching, which is no surprise.
"Heads up, he want's to try to teleport. He may try that on you today." Suguru tells me.
"Really? He can do that?" I ask.
"Yeah, he told me briefly while training a few days ago." He tells me.
"Great, another thing he can brag about. Why can't he be more like you Suguru?" I ask.
Suguru chuckles, "what am I like?"
"Well, you're very kind. You always make me smile when I feel weak or unnoticed. You have a very warm and inviting personality and I could never turn down one of your hugs. And you care for people. You have everyone's best interest in mind. I feel like I could tell you anything and you wouldn't judge me. You're more of a brother to me than anyone ever has been. Of course, I didn't have family, or friends for that matter. But still, if I could choose, i'd want you to be my family." I tell him.
"Wow." He says as we stop at the edge of the sidewalk.
"What?" I ask innocently.
"Nothing, it's just... Well I never thought you had thought of me like that." He says smiling genuinely.
"Well yeah, you're a good person Suguru. I'm very thankful for you." I tell him.
He smiles and looks at Satoru stretching in the yard.
"And what about him?" He asks.
"What about him?" I say.
"Is he like a brother to you?" He asks.
I blush and look away quickly clearing my throat, "Of course. Both of you are. He's just more of the annoying older brother." I say looking away.
He scoffs, "you know Naomi, you're a horrible liar."
"Hey, hurry up Naomi! I'm ready to kick your butt!" Satoru yells at us.
"Don't worry. I won't tell him you love him." He says walking away to the benches.
"Wh- no! I don't!" I say but my voice cracks.
Suguru just chuckles and shakes his head, "suuure, whatever you say sis."
I groan and roll my eyes. I can't love Satoru. He's an imbecile, and annoying at that. But still, there's things about him I can't get out of my mind.
"Hey! Loser! You coming or what?" Satoru says.
"Ugh, I'm coming, I'm coming." I tell him finally running over to him bringing my cursed weapons with me.
"Oh no no no. No cursed weapons. Only cursed techniques." He tells me.
"Fine. But you promise to help me focus on my technique?" I ask.
"Promise. Cross my heart." He says doing the hand motion too.
"And no teleportation." I tell him.
He groans, "why not?"
"Because you are promising to help me with my technique. Then, i'll help you with yours. Deal?" I ask.
He sighs, "alright, deal. Guess it's only fair."
"Pinky promise." I tell him.
He scoffs, "fine, pinky promise."
We hold our hands out and interlock our pinkies but right before we break apart, he grab my arm and throws me over his shoulder.
"Never let your guard down." He says.
I groan on the ground and stand slowly, "a little warning first?"
"The enemy doesn't give warnings." He says.
I continue to try to land hits on him, or touch him to just use my technique, but he dodges every single attempt.
"Gotta do better than that." He says.
"C'mon Satoru. Give me a chance to use it." I say.
He just looks at me expectantly.
I sigh in aggravation, "Please?"
He smirks, "there's that magic word again. Fine, I guess I'll let you hit me."
I roll my eyes and smirk. I run towards him and at full speed, right as I'm about to hit his chest with my palm, I channel my cursed energy to as high as I can possibly get it.
"Curse technique amplification: Brain dead!" I announce as I hit Satoru in the chest, but nothing happens.
"Awe, dammit. I was for sure I had that one." I say.
"No, seemed like you were distracted." He tells me.
I sigh letting my hands down at my sides.
"I don't know what it is. I focused all my energy into the technique." I tell him.
"It's alright Naomi. It takes time, and a lot of practice." Suguru says.
I sigh in defeat.
"C'mon. Again." Satoru says.
—
Later, Satoru, Suguru and I went to the basement room for movie night. They put a movie in that once again, I've never seen. Suguru popped some popcorn and put it in two bowls. One for the couch and one for the bean bag chair he ended up buying. Satoru and I usually take the couch and Suguru likes the bean bag chair. Mainly because he usually falls asleep and no one can see that he does so they don't wake him We're not even ten minutes in before Suguru starts snoring.
"Geez, that didn't take long." I say.
"Yeah, he can be so lame sometimes." Satoru says.
"Shut up." I say playfully.
We keep watching the movie but I don't understand it at all. Nothing makes sense and the people don't seem like they're telling the story genuinely.
"Satoru, what is this movie?" I ask.
"Return of the killer bee's." He says slyly.
"Well, is it a classic?" I ask.
"Well, it's classic alright, but in its own category. Just keep watching, you'll see what I mean." He says.
Confused, I keep watching.
Halfway through the movie, the characters start turning into bee's and I drop my jaw almost to the floor.
"What?! How does that even make any sense?!" I yell waling Suguru.
"Huh?" Suguru says sleepily, "oh, you're at that part." He says chuckling.
"The characters were all getting along! They were going to defeat the colony and return home safely! Now they're bees?! What kind of story is that?! They never even mentioned that as a possibility!" I say outraged.
My cursed energy levels begin to rise beyond my fists and it begins to flow throughout my body. This energy level is beyond what I've ever been able to achieve.
Satoru smiles, "I knew it."
"Huh?" I say confused.
"I know how you'll achieve Brain dead. Your cursed energy is connected to your emotions heavily. And the only way to tap into the amount of energy needed for brain dead is for you to show the most powerful emotion of all. Rage." He says.
"Nice! Good thinking Satoru!" Suguru says.
"You mean you knew this would happen the whole time?" I say.
"Yup, you're very passionate about certain things. A good story is one of them. I knew if I showed you a bad one you'd get outraged. Even thaf small amount was enough to channel a bigger amount of energy output." He says confidently.
"Well, maybe with this in mind, I may stand a chance at getting promoted." I say hopefully.
"Yup, if you can tap into that emotion again, then you may be able to channel that amount of energy. Just think of this movie if need be. That should be a good start." He says.
I smile wide and hug Satoru. He's surprised for a second but returns it warmly. His strong arms hold me, and I bury my head in his chest as he rubs my back.
"Thank you." I tell him.
I feel him place his cheek on top of mine and smile.
"You're welcome."