A/N at the end

CHAPTER 3

{POV: Suzue Kujou}

Satoru had overwhelmed her with information and words, bombarding her with facts, figures, and details about the school. The tour itself had been exhausting, but the real trial had been the interrogation that followed. Every question he posed seemed designed to probe deeper into her defenses. She had prepared for this—rehearsed her answers to potential awkward questions over and over in her mind. And now that the ordeal was over, she allowed herself a small moment of relief.

She felt she had done quite well. She had maintained her composure, answered his questions as she had practiced, and most importantly, Satoru seemed satisfied with her responses. He hadn't pressed further, hadn't questioned the validity of her claims. Maybe, just maybe, he believed her.

But then came the final question, the one that caught her off guard.

«Alright. In this classroom, two of the three first-year students are waiting, including Sukuna's vessel. Does the idea of dealing with him scare you? I mean, considering you're weak…»

Weak. The word echoed in her mind, striking a chord deep within her. Yes, she was weak. Maybe not in the way Satoru meant at that moment, but the description fit her nonetheless. She had been made to feel weak her entire life—by the Zenin clan, by her circumstances, and by the crushing weight of her past. Weakness was something she had come to accept, a part of her identity that she couldn't escape.

But if she was to be completely honest with herself, the idea of dealing with the King of Curses… the terrible Ryoumen Sukuna… it didn't terrify her as much as it should have. There was fear, of course, but it wasn't paralyzing. It wasn't the overwhelming dread she had expected to feel. Perhaps it was the numbness that had settled in after years of being pushed around by forces beyond her control, or perhaps it was something else entirely.

«No.» she responded, her voice steady and clear. Strangely, she wasn't afraid and she saw no reason to lie, at least about this.

But as the word left her lips, she noticed an almost imperceptible change in Satoru's demeanor. His satisfied smirk deepened, a glint of something dangerous flickering in his eyes. He seemed… impressed by her answer, but in a way that didn't bode well for her. She had seen that look before—on the faces of those who enjoyed a challenge, who thrived on pushing others to their limits.

Feeling a sudden need to clarify, to soften the impact of her words, she quickly added «But only because the strongest sorcerer is present.»

Satoru's smile seemed to widen even more, stretching into a grin that made Suzue's stomach twist. She had made a misstep, she realized, and now she was at the mercy of whatever game Satoru Gojo had decided to play.

«Right.» he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. «Come on, let's introduce you to the students! »

Suzue swallowed, the lump in her throat making it hard to breathe. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and followed Satoru into the classroom. The room was old and sparsely furnished, with only three desks lined up in neat rows. It was a stark reminder that theoretical lessons were likely a mere formality in a sorcerer's education, secondary to the harsh and brutal training that awaited them outside the classroom.

Her gaze immediately fell on the two students. A boy with messy black hair sat slouched at a desk, his expression one of mild annoyance. Next to him stood another boy, this one with short pink hair, who was leaning over the desk, laughing at something, clearly enjoying the irritation he was causing his classmate.

There was no mistaking who the vessel of Sukuna was. The cursed energy that radiated from the pink-haired boy was suffocating, a dark and twisted aura that sent shivers down Suzue's spine. It was terrifying in its intensity, a constant reminder of the malevolent force that lay dormant within him. And yet, there he was, laughing, his demeanor so at odds with the evil that lurked beneath the surface.

There was a light in his eyes, a warmth that contradicted everything she had expected. He didn't look like a monster. He looked… normal. And that realization shook her more than any amount of cursed energy ever could.

As the two boys turned to face them, Suzue's eyes locked with Sukuna's vessel for a brief moment

It was just for a moment.

But it was enough.

White. Blindingly white.

Then, suddenly, she was staring into the eyes of a boy with red irises, terribly similar to hers.

The vision was blurry, unfocused, like trying to grasp something just out of reach. The boy's lips moved, but the words were distorted, echoing in her mind like a distant memory.

Was he calling… her?

«Kaede?»

«Suzue?»

The sound of her own name, spoken in a familiar voice, yanked her back to reality.

She snapped out of the vision, the world around her coming back into focus. Satoru had placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her 'gently', by his standards. The weight of his touch was grounding, pulling her back from the strange, dreamlike state she had been in.

The two students were looking at her, their expressions tinged with confusion as to why she had suddenly frozen, staring into space. Suzue could feel their eyes on her, the unspoken questions hanging in the air. She swallowed hard, realizing that her cursed energy had flared uncontrollably for a brief moment, slipping out of her grasp. She quickly regained control, forcing her energy to settle back into its usual, tightly contained state.

She forced a smile, hoping to dispel the strange atmosphere.

«I'm sorry,» she murmured, her voice steadying as she took a deep breath. «I must have been lost in thought for a moment.»

Satoru's hand lingered on her shoulder for a moment longer, his presence oddly comforting despite the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in her mind. «No problem. Happens to the best of us,» he said lightly, though Suzue detected an undertone of concern in his voice, something that made her feel exposed.

Her mouth had been slightly open, a telltale sign of her shock, but she quickly composed herself, trying not to show how shaken she truly was. She needed to recover the situation immediately. There was no room for weakness, not here, not now. She forced herself to take another deep breath, calming her racing heart, and then gave a small, polite smile and a bow.

«I'm Suzue Kujou. I've been assigned as an assistant at this school starting today. I hope my presence can support your studies and training.»

She tried to ignore the unsettling sensation gnawing at her, but she could feel Satoru's eyes fixed intently on her, his gaze piercing, as if he could see through the facade she was desperately trying to maintain.

She had probably made another misstep.

The black-haired boy was the first to introduce himself. He had a very serious, almost frowning expression, but Suzue got the impression that it was just his normal face, not a reflection of his mood.

«Megumi Fushiguro.» he said simply, his tone clipped and to the point.

Suzue observed him for a moment, unsure of the proper etiquette in this situation. Then, she did the first thing that came to mind that seemed "normal" and extended her hand to shake his. Physical contact wasn't something she particularly enjoyed, but the circumstances seemed to require it.

Next was Sukuna's vessel, Yuji Itadori. His cheerful and outgoing personality was immediately evident, which only made the mission given to her by the Zenin clan weigh even more heavily on her shoulders. His bright smile was in stark contrast to the dark, ominous energy she sensed within him.

«Yuji Itadori!» he said with a big smile, stepping forward and extending his hand toward her.

Suzue hesitated, her mind flashing back to the disturbing vision she had just experienced. She raised her hand to shake his, but the moment their hands got close, there was a small burst of cursed energy, a sharp, almost tangible force that pushed them apart.

It was like they had been shocked.

Suzue's eyes widened in surprise, her gaze snapping to Yuji's face, only to find the same confusion reflected in his eyes. Had she "repelled" him? Or had he done something? Or… was it Sukuna?

«I'm sorry, Kujou-san! Whatever happened, it was unintentional! » Yuji quickly apologized, his face full of genuine concern. His earnestness made the situation even more confusing.

At that point, Suzue found it impossible to regain her composure and maintain a calm, neutral expression. The vision, the burst of energy, the strange, almost intimate connection she had felt with the vessel—it was too much. Her usually controlled demeanor was slipping, a slightly worried and concerned look taking over her face.

Satoru, ever the observer, quickly intervened, his tone light and teasing. «Alright! No handshakes, our Suzue doesn't like physical contact! » he joked, his words cutting through the tension in the room like a knife. His attempt to lighten the mood was successful; the students visibly relaxed, but Suzue knew better. Satoru's keen interest in her was growing, much to her dismay.

She had definitely attracted too much attention from the infamous Satoru Gojo. She had hoped to stay under the radar, to blend in, but that plan was quickly unraveling.

«Now that introductions are over, let's move on to more important things! The last first-year student will arrive in Tokyo in a few hours: we'll all go together to pick her up! » Satoru announced, his tone shifting back to its usual upbeat and commanding style.

The two students seemed to have quickly forgotten the incident, especially Yuji, who seemed quite excited about the "field trip." His infectious energy filled the room, momentarily dispelling the lingering unease.

But Suzue… although she appeared to be listening, her mind was elsewhere. The vision of the boy calling her "Kaede" kept replaying in her mind, like a haunting echo that wouldn't fade.

"Kaede?"

The name lingered in the air, as if it held some profound meaning that she couldn't quite grasp. It sent a shiver down her spine, an unsettling familiarity that made her heart race. Who was she? The questions circled her mind, refusing to settle, gnawing at her with a persistence that bordered on obsession.

The two students left the classroom, their chatter fading as they moved down the hallway, leaving Suzue standing there, staring into space, lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts.

Satoru, of course, noticed immediately. «Everything's fine?» There was a hint of curiosity and concern in his voice, the playful edge softened by genuine interest.

Suzue couldn't help but wonder how the whole scene had appeared to him, to the Six Eyes. Had he seen the vision too? Had he sensed the burst of energy?

She looked at him, forcing herself to meet his gaze, trying to appear confident and determined. «Everything's fine.» She forced a smile, hoping to convince him—and herself—that she could handle this.

But deep down, she knew her first day at Tokyo Jujutsu High had definitely started off on the wrong foot.

Suzue watched the dilapidated building in front of her with concern. It loomed ominously, its decaying structure a stark contrast to the lively, chaotic streets they had just walked through. Satoru's teaching methods seemed a bit too direct—almost reckless—but he stood there with his usual cocky attitude, leaving her no choice but to accept the situation. There was no arguing with Satoru Gojo.

They had just picked up the last first-year student, Nobara Kugisaki, and Suzue had immediately been overwhelmed by the girl's exuberant personality. Nobara had bombarded her with words, calling her a "mysterious beauty from Tokyo" and expressing how "grateful" she was not to be the only lady in the group. The energy was contagious, and despite herself, Suzue found it somewhat endearing, though a bit overwhelming.

Nobara had grabbed Suzue's hands in a grip she couldn't escape, her enthusiasm unrelenting. Suzue, unused to such direct and intense interactions, felt her anxiety rising. Her instincts screamed to pull away, to retreat into the safety of her own space. But luckily, Satoru had stepped in, gently pulling Nobara away with a laugh and distracting the group with the promise of a trip around the city.

Yuji and Nobara were excited at the prospect, while Megumi remained his usual stoic self, his face a mask of mild annoyance. Suzue envied Megumi's ability to remain unruffled, even in the face of Satoru's unpredictable behavior.

But their enthusiasm quickly faded when Satoru led them to an isolated street and in front of this old, abandoned building. And not just any abandoned building: an abandoned and cursed building. Sometimes Suzue wondered if Satoru was just a sadist. His nonchalant attitude towards danger was unsettling, and she couldn't help but worry about the students.

Satoru wanted to test Yuji and Nobara's abilities—more their mental fortitude than their physical skills—and had sent the visibly reluctant duo into the building to exorcise the curses. This gave Suzue some time to catch her breath, though the oppressive atmosphere around her made it difficult to fully relax.

Tokyo was extremely chaotic, and the neighborhood they had walked through, Harajuku according to Satoru, was teeming with people and noise. The sheer volume of the crowd had been too much, and Suzue found it difficult to navigate through the sea of people without feeling claustrophobic. They had passed an almost endless sequence of colorful shops and pastry stores, which Suzue had observed with some interest, even if she would never admit it. The trip through the crowd had left her disoriented, and those few moments of peace and silence were just what she needed.

And then, there was still the matter of that morning swirling in her mind; she couldn't shake off the unpleasant feeling that brief vision had left her with. Kaede seemed like a… familiar name. Probably someone from her clan, but at that moment, she couldn't associate it with a face. It gnawed at her, the feeling that she was missing something crucial, something that was just out of reach.

She glanced at Satoru, who stood nearby, his posture relaxed but alert. He seemed to thrive in situations that would make most people uneasy. She envied his confidence and wondered what it was like to view the world through his eyes. For him, it seemed as though the world was a game, and he was the only one who knew all the rules.

«Head back to some pastry shop and get something for when Yuji and Nobara are done!» Satoru's voice suddenly broke through her thoughts, his carefree attitude jarring against the eerie silence of the abandoned building. He had shoved some money into Megumi's hand with a casualness that bordered on rude, making it clear that this was more of an order than a suggestion.

Annoyed, Megumi tried to grumble something in protest, but the inevitability of Satoru's request made it pointless to argue. With a resigned sigh, he set off, leaving Suzue a bit envious of his temporary escape from Satoru's relentless presence.

Now they were completely alone, waiting for Nobara and Yuji to complete the task. Suzue kept her eyes fixed on the building, almost holding her breath as she tried to avoid drawing his attention, but Satoru had a knack for honing in on her attempts to stay unnoticed.

«So, Suzue» he began, his voice carrying that familiar, mischievous lilt that Suzue had come to recognize—and dread. It was the tone he used when he was about to toy with someone, and she knew she was the target this time. «Can you tell me how many curses are inside? And what grade?»

He asked it almost as a provocation, but fortunately, the question turned out to be easier than expected. Suzue took a moment to gather her senses and concentrate, closing her eyes briefly to focus on the cursed energies emanating from the building. After a few seconds, she confidently answered. «Five curses. Three fourth-grade and... two third-grade.»

She looked up, satisfied with her performance. If Satoru's intent was to test her abilities as an assistant, she felt she had fully passed the test. But when she saw his expression, a chill ran down her spine. He was too satisfied. Almost pleased with Suzue's answer.

Had she made a mistake? No, she was certain of what she had sensed. But then why was Satoru looking at her like that?

Satoru finally spoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm. «Truly impressive! You said you had good perception, but this precision goes far beyond what's expected from an assistant... or a fourth-grade sorcerer.»

Suzue froze, struggling to keep her gaze fixed on him.

"...Damn."

She was determined not to show any signs of wavering, but Satoru stared at her insistently, his grin widening as he watched her squirm under his scrutiny.

«As an assistant, the least I can do is provide detailed information to higher-grade sorcerers.» She replied, trying to maintain a calm and measured tone. But the pressure was mounting, and she could feel her control slipping. She averted her gaze, unable to withstand the pressure any longer, and said the first sensible thing that came to mind.

Satoru's grin only grew wider, and he took a step closer, invading her personal space. «Well said!» His voice was light, but Suzue could hear the underlying malice in his words, and she hoped the matter was closed for now.

Satoru Gojo was complicated to deal with. Not just because he was the strongest sorcerer, but because he seemed to see right through every word or gesture of hers. She felt like a small mouse being chased by a cat—except the cat had the Six Eyes and seemed entertained by her struggles. His scrutiny was unnerving, and she felt her defenses crumbling under his relentless gaze.

Just when she thought she couldn't take it any longer, Satoru reached out and poked her cheek with his finger, the teasing touch sending a jolt through her.

«Relax a bit, will you?» he said, his tone half-teasing, half-genuine. «You're wound up so tight you're going to snap»

Suzue blushed deeply, the unexpected physical contact sending her thoughts into disarray. She wasn't used to being touched, and certainly not in such a casual, playful manner. Instead of pulling away, she found herself rooted to the spot, unsure of how to respond.

«I-I'm not-» she started, but the words faltered on her lips. Was he trying to unsettle her, or was he genuinely offering advice? She couldn't tell, and that only made her more flustered.

Satoru chuckled clearly amused by her struggles. He poked her cheek again, this time a bit more forcefully, like he was trying to draw her out of her shell. «Pretty please?» He replied with a shrug, his tone annoyingly casual.

And yet, despite herself, she felt the tension in her shoulders begin to ease. There was something disarming about Satoru's playful attitude, something that made it difficult to stay on guard around him. If he had truly wanted to expose her as a spy of the Zenins, or make her uncomfortable, he probably would have done so already. But instead, he seemed to be… trying to put her at ease? It was hard to believe, but the more she thought about it, the more it seemed possible.

Maybe, just maybe, she could let her guard down a little around him. Not completely, of course—Satoru Gojo was still Satoru Gojo, after all. But perhaps she didn't have to be so tense all the time.

«I'll try...» she murmured, her voice soft but sincere. She could try and trust him, even if just a little.

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, as if studying one another. But just as quickly as it came, the moment was interrupted. Suzue's senses suddenly tingled with alarm. She could feel something shifting inside the building, a spike in cursed energy that sent a jolt of worry through her. Her eyes widened with concern, and she instinctively looked to Satoru.

«Gojo-sensei, Nobara...»

Satoru didn't even flinch. «Don't worry, I know. She'll be fine.»he said, his voice so calm it was almost infuriating. How could he be so nonchalant? Suzue could sense the danger, and yet Satoru seemed completely at ease.

Before she could press further, a curse was thrown out of the third-floor window of the building, tumbling through the air like a writhing mass of cursed energy. Suzue's breath caught in her throat as she recognized it.

"The third-grade curse..."

She watched as the curse hurtled toward them. As Satoru had predicted, Nobara had handled it, but the curse was now heading straight for them.

Satoru, ever the calm observer, didn't even flinch. Instead, he watched the curse fall, his expression almost bored, as if this was all just part of the day's entertainment. «Ah, but that's not good! That curse will end up right on our heads.» He remarked with mock drama. He turned to Suzue with a smirk, just staring at her, as if daring her to do something about it.

It was clear what he wanted. He wasn't going to lift a finger. He wanted her to handle it. Suzue's frown deepened, her annoyance bubbling up to the surface. "I take it back. He is such an annoying person."

With a pout, Suzue pointed at the curse suspended in the air. She took careful aim, her eyes narrowing in concentration, and shot a small fireball from her fingertip. The flames erupted from her hand, shooting through the air with precision, and devoured the curse on contact. She didn't even try to moderate the destructive power of her technique. If Satoru could be an ally, then she had no reason to hide.

In a matter of seconds, the curse was gone, consumed completely by the fireball, leaving only a faint wisp of smoke in its wake. The air crackled with residual energy, the faint smell of burnt ozone lingering where the curse had been.

Satoru's smirk widened into a full-blown grin, and he gave her an approving nod. «You've got quite the technique there!» he exclaimed, his tone now more teasing than ever. «You don't hold back, do you?»

Suzue bit her lip, her frustration slowly ebbing away, though she still felt a mix of annoyance and relief. She didn't like being tested, especially not like this, but it seemed she had passed. «...You could have handled it yourself.» she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration as she avoided meeting his eyes.

«But where's the fun in that?»

{POV: Satoru Gojo}

Satoru had dismissed the group of students and Suzue as soon as they returned to school. The day had been long and strange, and now he found himself sitting in the teachers' lounge, straddling a chair backward with his blindfold removed, as if the act of unmasking his eyes might help him think more clearly.

He had seen countless strange things in his life, but the encounter between Suzue and Yuji today was... different. Even by his standards. Thanks to his Six Eyes, he had clearly seen Suzue's cursed energy go completely out of control when she got close to Yuji. A weak shockwave had erupted from her, pushing Yuji away, almost as if her body had acted on instinct to protect her. But Suzue herself didn't seem to realize what had happened, which only deepened the mystery.

Suzue Kujou was an enigma, one he was determined to solve. There was something about her that intrigued him, a puzzle that begged to be unraveled. He needed to talk to someone about it, to share the strange mix of curiosity and concern that had been gnawing at him all day.

The door to the teachers' lounge swung open, and Satoru looked up to see Shoko standing in the doorway, glaring at him.

«Shit, no no no... You're thinking. Why do you have to think right here?» Shoko's voice was filled with mock exasperation as she sauntered into the room, but Satoru could see the curiosity lurking beneath her usual nonchalance.

Perfect, here was his prey.

Shoko entered the room and sat at a desk at a safe distance from Satoru, still glaring at him with that look that said she was about to be dragged into something she'd rather avoid. Satoru couldn't help but smirk at her annoyance, a playful glint in his eyes.

«So? The new assistant not doing her job well?» Shoko asked, her tone casual, but Satoru could tell she was interested. Despite her best efforts to appear indifferent, she was always keen to understand what was going on beneath the surface.

«If by 'her job' you mean the task the higher-ups clearly assigned her before sending her here, then no. She's not doing it well at all. She's as transparent as glass.» Satoru began, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. «Obviously, she's a pawn in the hands of the Zenin clan, but I can't help but feel... pity. It's clear she's in an uncomfortable situation.»

He paused, thinking back to the day's events, to every word Suzue had said and every action she had taken. «Suzue is a walking paradox—»

«Suzue? Suzue Kujou? Like the one who laughed at Naoya at that meeting? You talked about her for weeks, you were unbearable... So she's the new assistant? Congratulations, Satoru, you've found your crazy princess again.»

Satoru shot her a glare as she poured herself some coffee, but he couldn't help but chuckle at her comment. Shoko knew him too well, knew how to push his buttons in just the right way. But he was determined to ignore her provocations, at least for the moment.

«She has this way of behaving that goes from hesitant to incredibly bold.» Satoru continued, his voice tinged with frustration. «And this morning when I pointed out that she's technically the head of the Kujou clan, her response was... heartbreaking. It's like the Zenin clan did a very thorough job of breaking her spirit.»

Shoko listened carefully, her usual detachment giving way to a more serious expression. Despite her attempts to appear indifferent, Satoru knew that she shared his views on the darker aspects of the sorcerer society. They both understood the harsh realities of their world, the way people could be used and discarded without a second thought.

«And did they succeed?» Shoko asked, her tone probing.

«No, not completely. There's a spark of resilience hidden beneath the surface that occasionally shows.» Satoru replied, his voice softening as he thought about Suzue's quiet strength. «But it pisses me off. All that cursed energy she has... and just now, during the students' test, she used her technique to incinerate a curse in a matter of seconds. Then she stood there with those red eyes, all satisfied, as if she didn't know she had just done something way beyond the capability of a fourth grade or an assistant. ...Or maybe she did know? I suddenly feel like I've been tested.»

A mischievous smile spread across his face as he considered the possibility. Weak flames, as she had called them. After the display of strength she had given, it was clear she didn't believe it herself. It seemed more like a mantra repeated by someone else, a belief imposed on her by the Zenin clan.

"I feel like shaking her and telling her to wake up." he thought, the frustration gnawing at him. There was so much potential in Suzue, so much power waiting to be unleashed, but it was buried beneath layers of doubt and manipulation.

«Wow, I never thought I'd see your soft side. If her situation bothers you so much, then help her. Do you think she's worth it? Can you trust her?» Shoko's voice cut through his thoughts, her words as direct as always. She had a way of getting to the heart of the matter, of cutting through the noise and getting to the truth.

Satoru ran a hand through his hair, thinking. Was that what it was about? His soft side? Shoko had her own way of being blunt, but she was right. Despite everything, he felt a growing sense of responsibility towards Suzue.

Despite her backstory, despite the fact that she was likely sent to keep an eye on or worse, act against Sukuna's vessel, despite everything... she seemed like someone who could be trusted. Earlier, she had been genuinely worried about the students, and for Satoru, that was more than enough to judge her worthy of his trust.

Suzue could be a potential ally. If she could be shaped and guided, she could reach her true potential. And if he had to bend a few rules and ruffle some feathers along the way, so be it.

The game was on, and Satoru Gojo never backed down from a challenge.

«Looks like I'll have to bother the higher-ups again and help a little bird break out of its cage.» he concluded, a certain malice creeping into his voice.

Shoko smirked, a mocking smile playing on her lips. «Good luck, shiny prince charming. Just try not to cause trouble for the school, or Yaga will be pissed at all of us.»

Satoru laughed, the sound bright and carefree. He was going to help Suzue, whether she liked it or not.

«Trouble is my other name.»

A/N

Facts:

-The Japanese name "Kaede" (楓) has a meaning directly related to nature.

楓 (Kaede): This character means "maple" or "maple leaf." Maple trees are highly valued in Japan, especially in autumn when their leaves turn vibrant colors like red and orange. This natural spectacle is called "momiji" (紅葉) and holds significant cultural and aesthetic importance in Japan.

-The whole idea of "being able to sense cursed energy" is somewhat my invention—or at least, I think so. I'm not entirely sure if it works exactly like that in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, but I made it a bit like the "having a super powerful aura" concept from Dragonball, lol.

Satoru and the Six Eyes, of course, are on a whole other level, with his ability to not only sense but actually see the layers and flows of cursed energy. What I imagine for the others is more like a gut feeling, kind of like Spidey senses! This is my interpretation.

I'll leave you with this information ❤️