WARNING : I am not native speaker. One of my reasons to re-write this fict is because I want to practice my English even just a little. So, read it with a grain of salt and please enjoy yourself.
—OoOoO—
Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami
Oregairu by Wataru Watari & Ponkan8
Genre : Supernatural, Action, Freindship, Slice of Life, and Little Bit Romance
Summary : Not the romantic comedy of youth that he experienced, not the quiet and normal life of youth he had. He never missed his day-to-day cursing his strange and annoying life. He is Hikigaya Hachiman and this is all his complaints as a jujutsu sorcerer.
Chapter 5: Be careful of the fox that can appear suddenly.
—OoOoO—
"Hey, Komachi, what do you think if I want to be a special grade rank?"
At my sudden question, Komachi stopped her activity of exorcising the cursed spirit and looked at me with a surprised look.
"Did you hit something on your head, Onii-chan?"
I sighed and replied, "Forget about my question then."
As if not overthinking about my words, Komachi turned her focus back to searching for the existence of a cursed spirit within this old building.
Speaking of exorcising cursed spirits, it was my idea to bring Komachi to experience the sensation of hunting cursed spirits firsthand. All this time, all Komachi did was train. Occasionally, she would practice fighting against cursed spirits at the residence of the Gojou Clan, the clan in charge of protecting my family. To be honest, training in the Gojou Clan is not bad. We—Komachi and I—were going to Tokyo at least twice a month, heading to the residence of the Gojou Clan to train. Well, since I enroll Jujutsu High, I never pay a visit again to the Gojou Clan, though,
Anyway, the three great clans would routinely capture cursed spirits—without exorcising them—to train their younger generations. When Gojou-sensei came to our family and offered his protection in the past, that included training us to become jujutsu sorcerers. Because of that, we could take advantage of some of the Gojou Clan's facilities to a certain extent.
However, fighting a cursed spirit caught from the start had a different sensation from hunting a cursed spirit with your own hands. It was a feeling that I really only understood after I entered Tokyo Jujutsu High. Armed with that experience, I also thought that taking Komachi to hunt a cursed spirit wouldn't be such a bad idea. However, I could only put this idea into practice after leaving Tokyo Jujutsu High and having as much free time with Komachi as recently.
Of course, this activity will not be included in my work record because it is an activity outside the official mission. Even if I have an idea like this, I won't take Komachi on an official mission from the association. For me, who is ranked semi-first grade and in terms of strength has been considered equivalent to a first grade jujutsu sorcerer. The missions I received were dangerous because my status was now officially a professional sorcerer. So, there was quite a difference in level between us that it was difficult for her to join my mission.
In today's hunt, this old building on the east side of Chiba City, I surveyed the level of danger first. So, I ensured that it would be safe for Komachi to get hands-on experience in the field.
"If you were serious about what you said earlier, maybe you really could do it, Onii-chan," Komachi commented suddenly.
"You think so?"
Komachi looked back at me and said, "Yup. After all, if you think about it, aren't those who become special grades the ones who have problems with themselves? So, you would be fit considering your problem is your own personality, Onii-chan."
To be honest, something inside of me felt a little prickled at Komachi's words. However, I ignored it because she was my cute little sister.
"Uuuhh … What do you mean?"
My sister's slender index finger started to touch her chin and gently tapped the cute chin.
"I mean, didn't Geto Suguru rebelled because he had trust issues or something? And from several sources that I heard, Tsukumo Yuki-san was actually the only sorcerer who had never done a mission and preferred to travel around. For Yuuta-san…, well, he is a very nice person. Still, he also has a lot of trouble controlling his powers. As for Gojou-san, how should I put it? He is actually comparable with you in terms of your personalities. Your nature and personality are very, very rotten. If Gojou-san is an overzealous uncle who act like a hyperactive teenager, in other hand, Onii-chan is a youth who lacks the spirit like a depressed old man."
"The biggest regret of my life is letting you hang out with that damn Maki," I said in return.
Komachi tilted her head and replied, "Eh? Why? Maki nee-san is a really nice person, you know. She is so cool, and she is the embodiment of hard work!"
To be honest, Komachi used to be the one who really loved and admired me so much as her onii-chan. Well, now she still loves me, though. However, since she got to know Maki and became close to that female Gorilla, Komachi changes and gets really clingy every time she meets Maki. Not only that, I don't even remember when Komachi started calling that barbarian girl "Maki nee-san". It makes me very envious because I am the only person who deserves to be a big brother to my cute Komachi!
I know it! Even though I have always been a loner who doesn't want to interact with anyone unless it is for an important matter, Maki was the first to embrace the radical Anti-Hachiman sentiments. And somehow, Komachi caught on to that radicalism, and now Komachi often thought of me as a weirdo. Plus, now that I had to meet Yukinoshita, another girl who somehow had Anti-Hachiman sentiments.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to get rid of those thoughts for now. However, I vowed to teach that Four-Eyes Gorilla a lesson later.
"Speaking of which, a cursed spirit that can store things in its stomach, you did find something very useful, didn't you?"
I can't help to commented on the figure of a creature all in black that wrapped around Komachi's left shoulder to the armpit. The creature was relatively small, not even as big as Komachi's head. The creature had a rather strange shape. He seems to have no body. So, his head seemed to become one with his body, which made him look like an eggplant turned upside down.
"You mean Ten? He is cute and versatile, right? If I ever meet something like this again, I will catch it and give it to Maki nee-san."
I guess you are the only one who would find a cursed spirit cute. Besides, you even went so far as giving a name to cursed spirit. However, rather than that creature, the only one that looks cute here is you, Komachi-chan!
I never knew Komachi, who would be wearing an all-black sailor uniform with a red ribbon in her chest, would look this cute. With the jujutsu uniform I am wearing right now, doesn't it look like we are wearing matching outfits?
"Well, Maki has always been looking for a cursed spirit like that. So, she will definitely be happy if she gets one."
Speaking of cursed spirits, Komachi uses them to store the talismans she has. Once again, Komachi's cursed technique was not as flexible as Geto's, who could easily store his cursed spirits within his body. So instead, Komachi needs a paper talisman in the form of a human-like that she made to store her cursed spirits. Meanwhile, a cursed spirit can only be stored in one talisman.
Usually, Komachi carries a sling bag to store her talismans. Whether it is talismans that already contain the cursed spirit or those that are empty, she keeps them all in one bag. However, that method made it difficult for her to mobilize her movements. So, the existence of a cursed spirit that could store her belongings really helped Komachi a lot.
"Right? right? Besides, I must thank Maki nee-san because she once caught a cursed spirit alive, which was very versatile for me."
"Ah, you mean the slime-like one?" I asked to which Komachi nodded.
Feeling that this conversation was getting out of topic from my original question, I was about to return this conversation to the topic I wanted to ask. However, just as I was about to raise my voice, I first saw the shape of a cursed spirit running towards us.
However, a stone hand quickly shot out from the passage wall we were in and struck a heavy blow to the cursed spirit that was about to attack us. After confirming that the cursed spirit couldn't move, the owner of the stone hand came out of the wall and finished off that cursed spirit.
"That is a good attack," I commented.
The hand that attacked the cursed spirit just now was one of the cursed spirits controlled by Komachi. Judging from his strength, the cursed spirit was only a second grade. However, he possessed a troublesome cursed technique, which was to be able to merge his body into any medium containing rock or earth. This gives him extremely flexible mobility and allows him to hide in the ground or even concrete walls.
"Of course, I have learned a lot about delivering surprise attacks from you, Onii-chan," said Komachi proudly.
I couldn't help but smile when I heard that I was my sister's role model. That makes me very happy, of course. However, I was reminded of the words I had not had time to say earlier.
"So, if I want to become a special grade, what do you think?"
Komachi was silent for a moment. She seemed to be very selective in choosing the words she wanted to say.
"For someone like Onii-chan who does not have many purposes in life, maybe I feel delighted to hear that the big baby I have been taking care of finally has high goals?"
"Big ba—."
Before I could raise my protest, Komachi had interrupted first.
"And if you can really advance to the special grade, as your little sister, I might really feel very proud," she continued with a sincere smile, "Not only that. My Onii-chan, who does not have much ambition in his life, now aiming for such a high position, you must have your reasons, haven't you?"
My breath seemed to stop when I saw Komachi's pair of eyes looking straight into mine. The last time I saw her looking at me like that was when I decided to seriously study to become a jujutsu sorcerer to protect my family. As I recall, that was three or four years ago. Now, my only sister gave me that look again. It made me think that Komachi's understanding of me was actually on a higher level than I imagined.
In fact, the way she was looking at me right now made me feel that her pair of adorable eyes had managed to penetrate into my soul.
"Well, I guess you are right," I replied, looking away.
Gojou-sensei's words five days ago kept ringing in my head. His words kept circling like a broken record.
Why do I think that being a first grade is enough to make me protect Komachi and my mother? Why did I want to be a jujutsu sorcerer in the first place? What am I really looking for and want to achieve?
To find the answer, I have to go back to when it all started, when Komachi's existence—to be precise, her cursed technique—was targeted by the Zen'in and the Kamo Clan. Moreover, after the Hyakki Yakou incident, Komachi's position with her cursed technique that similar to Geto's, put the association on alert and pointed the tip of their sword at my only sister's head.
It all frustrates me, makes me angry, hateful, sad, disgusted, and hopeless at the same time. Unfortunately, my helplessness forced me to sit idly by watching the people who regard Komachi as an object. My lack of strength and power can only make me see my mother huddled alone, begging for our protection here and there. I hate to admit it. However, if Gojou-sensei had not come to my family by then, we might have ended up being errands and tools for the Zen'in or Kamo Clans.
It made me realize something. No matter how hard my mother tried to seek help and justice, it would be useless if you had no connection. That is why I want to become a first grade jujutsu sorcerer so that I have many connections and protect my family from the injustices of the jujutsu society.
However, Gojou-sensei's words made me question my resolution again. Why should we beg for justice? We are not sinners to be deprived of their liberty. We didn't even choose to be born as jujutsu sorcerers. So, why was justice taken away from us?
It made me realize, in this world, it is not justice that you should seek, but the power that you should get. If you have power, you don't have to think about your justice. Injustice only comes to those who are weak. Injustice only comes to those who cannot protect themselves and those around them.
In fact, in this modern world which is said to uphold social equality, the theory cannot be disproved. In a national incident, a soldier must give up his right to survive and sacrifice himself to the front line to protect the president. Meanwhile, the president has the privilege to collect the survival rights of the soldiers to save himself.
Don't get me wrong. I am not criticizing the system or anything. Quite the contrary, I am just trying to imitate how this world works.
"Then hurry up to that level, Onii-chan. Because if you don't, I might get ahead of you," said Komachi in a tone filled with joy.
I smiled and closed my eyes hearing my sister's confidence. Of course, as an older brother, I am pleased to see my sister who can express herself well like that. With her cursed technique—cursed spirit manipulation—and a technique inherited from our ancestor, Abe no Seimei, Komachi's promotion to special grade is only a matter of time until she truly masters her cursed technique.
And yet, another side of me wants to still look cool and reliable by my only little sister.
"I will do it. I am your onii-chan after all."
—OoOoO—
"Alright, I will accept this Hikigaya as my subordinate."
"I knew that you would definitely accept the request of handsome senpai of yours. Besides, you are much friendlier and easier to ask for help than Nanami, Zuka-chan."
Hiratsuka snorted in disgust and replied, "You left me no choice, Gojou-san. anyway, don't call me that."
Gojou just smiled sweetly at his junior's answer. Even though his eyes were covered with completely opaque sunglasses, he could tell how Hiratsuka was drinking her third beer in annoyance.
"And then, let's hear my next request, Zuka-chan," said Gojou.
Hiratsuka glared and replied, "Wait, another request? And please, it is Shizuka, not Zuka-chan."
"I didn't say that I only had one request, did I, Zuka-chan?"
"Seriously, don't call me that, you fucking prick."
Ignored Hiratsuka's protest, Gojou still decided to continue.
"If Hachiman ever asks to be your disciple, please accept the boy's request," said Gojou seriously.
Instead of getting an answer from Hiratsuka, it was the very loud thump of the table that Gojou received. The sound of table-pounding by Hiratsuka succeeded in making the two of them the center of attention of the whole bar, which also served the ramen. However, neither Gojou nor Hiratsuka cared about the views of those around them.
"Don't ask for more than I am trying to give you, Gojou-san," Hiratsuka retorted angrily.
Despite the wrath of the First Grade sorcerer, Gojou remained motionless in his place without faltering in the slightest. The Strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer knew very well why his junior could be angry at him.
"You are a great person, Zuka-chan. And Haibara's death Is not your fault or Nanami's."
Hiratsuka regained her breath, which had been panting because of holding back her anger. Gojou's words, which brought up the name of her long-dead classmate, brought Hiratsuka back to memories that she had a hard time forgetting. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that she had been cursed by the death of her friend.
"Haibara believes that with my knowledge as a barrier technique user, I can help him practice. However, I am not Tengen. I can't spread jujutsu like Tengen did. Just because I have the same technique as Tengen, I was arrogant and felt I can help train him. And then, he died because of my incompetence and my arrogance. If only I was there with him and Nanami …."
"Hachiman will not die. He won't end up like Haibara," Gojou replied quickly, "At least, he won't die unless he meets an opponent as strong as me. However, this will only come true if you train Hachiman."
"That sounds like you are saying that he has potential to be as strong as you, Gojou-san."
"Well, he is one of my proudest students after all," replied The White-Haired Man and smiled, "Just like The Six Eyes users and Star Vessels who share a destiny. The users of jutsukekkai like you and Tengen are tied to other people's destinies. Tengen fulfills his destiny by spreading jujutsu to Japan. And then, how about you, Zuka-chan?"
"Didn't I tell you not to call me that, did I?" Hiratsuka replied, which in fact, was entirely ignored by Gojou.
Hiratsuka pondered over Gojou's words. Without being told, Hiratsuka was already aware of her responsibilities as a jutsukekkai or barrier technique user. At least, long before Gojou said it today, Tengen had already said it to herself.
"This Hikigaya…, you really paid attention to him, huh?" said Hiratsuka, "I can understand why you brought up Zen'in Maki under your wing since that kid really looks like Zen'in Toji. However, for this Hikigaya …, except for his bloodline from Abe no Seimei, I don't see any special reason for you to think so highly about him."
Hiratsuka downed her third beer in one gulp and continued.
"Speaking of Maki, you haven't even found a way to remove all of that child's cursed energy, have you? Whether It is Zen'in Maki or Hikigaya Hachiman, the gamble you have placed on them is too big, Gojou-san. If you really want to revolutionize the jujutsu society, wouldn't it make more sense to focus on Okkotsu Yuuta, Fushiguro Megumi, and Hikigaya Hachiman's little sister, Hikigaya Komachi? The three of them are special, and their potential is much more promising."
"Hahahaha … has your mind been corrupted by those old geezers, Zuka-chan? Since when did you turn into a boring person like this?"
When Hiratsuka was about to reply to Gojou, the man interrupted her first.
"I may not have found a way to make Maki reach Toji's level yet. And although Hachiman doesn't even have a cursed technique as great as the three kids you mentioned earlier. However, that is not what makes them any less special. Maki is the embodiment of hard work itself. She will train a hundred times harder than anyone else. As for Hachiman …, he is hard to explain. His brain never stops thinking. His logic will make you think that this kid is a logic monster."
With a sigh, Gojou continued, "The point is, when you see the two of them playing their part, you will understand why those two kids are special to me."
—OoOoO—
Hiratsuka Shizuka, a jujutsu sorcerer who doubles as a teacher at a famous high school in Chiba, stands while leaning her front body against the guardrail on the school's roof. Enjoying the breeze during the day while smoking a few cigarettes. Seeing how her black hair fluttered in the direction of the wind, coupled with the thin cigarette smoke that flew and disappeared in the air, made you think that the teacher really was a very cool grown woman.
Hachiman, standing behind Hiratsuka, sometimes felt jealous of his manhood when he saw how masculine Hiratsuka was. If he had been born ten years earlier … or his age and Hiratsuka were not too far apart, Hachiman might have genuinely fallen for Hiratsuka's charisma.
After hearing the female sorcerer's deep sigh, she looked straight at Hachiman. She smoothed the strands of her hair that were slightly disheveled in the wind. Then, with a fairly relaxed movement, Hiratsuka leaned her back against the guardrail, took a deep breath of her cigarette, and exhaled roughly towards the sky.
"Let me repeat it. You want me to train you?" asked Hiratsuka and was only answered with a nod by Hachiman.
Seeing his response, Hiratsuka continued, "Even though that means I can't give you a recommendation since my status has changed to your mentor, do you still want to train under my tutelage?"
Once again, Hachiman nodded his head steadily. There was no doubt left in him, he had thought this through, and this was Hikigaya Hachiman's latest resolution.
"Looks like Gojou-san has said something to you, huh?"
Hachiman was silent and had no desire to answer the question. Because he knows, there are still other words that the teacher would say.
"Let me ask you something, Hikigaya. My decision to accept you as my disciple depends on your answer," Hiratsuka said dryly, "I have read all the documents by Gojou-san about you, from your development to your training methods. My question is, why are you so focused on practicing your energy control?"
Hachiman blinked his eyes a few times. When Hiratsuka said she wanted to hear the answer, he expected questions like, 'why do you want to be strong?' or something. After all, that was a cliché scene in the shounen mangas he'd often read. However, he didn't expect Hiratsuka to ask about his training method.
"Is there something wrong with that?"
Hiratsuka shook her head slowly and replied, "Nothing. It is just, why don't you understand your cursed technique and cursed energy further instead? You must know that only by understanding your cursed technique and your own form of cursed energy, you can increase the ability and even the amount of your cursed energy. However, you train your cursed energy control much harder than anyone else. So, what do you want to achieve from that?"
'Ah, so, that is what she meant?'
Hachiman still didn't know the relation between Hiratsuka's question and the reason for wanting to accept him as her disciple or not. However, Hachiman could understand why the woman asked about his training method.
To put it simply, Hachiman's training methods were quite different from most other sorcerers. Not like most concepts in fantasy stories in manga or anime. In the world of jujutsu, only understanding your cursed technique and cursed energy can make you a strong sorcerer. By understanding your strengths, you can get to know yourself better. By knowing yourself, you can create many things that always suit you. This is the basis of jujutsu sorcerer training.
You can even perform high-level spells like Ryoiki Tenkai and Cursed Technique Reversal simply by understanding your cursed technique and cursed energy form.
Unfortunately, understanding is not easy to do. Many jujutsu sorcerers fail to understand their cursed techniques well even though they have tried hard. In this case, Hachiman, who continually failed to form his domain to the point of damaging his internal organs, might also be said that Hachiman failed to understand his own cursed technique and cursed energy. However, his training method only focuses on controlling the cursed energy is not entirely true.
"Isn't controlling the cursed energy also a way of understanding the form of cursed energy?" asked Hachiman.
"You can't control it if you don't know the form you will control. Suppose you can understand the form of your cursed energy. In that case, you will naturally be able to control your cursed energy," said Hiratsuka.
"Do I really have to know the form of cursed energy before I can control it? After all, why should I really understand the form of my cursed energy?"
"What do you mean?" asked Hiratsuka in surprise.
"Energy is eternal, something that can neither be created nor destroyed. Energy can also be felt but cannot be seen by the eye. That is what energy means in physics."
"Then?"
"With that theory alone, understanding the form of energy completely is enough to go against the laws of physics. Understanding means you can see something. So, if the true form of energy itself cannot be seen, how can humans understand this energy? Wouldn't humans be too arrogant with their wits if they claimed to understand forms of energy? When you think that you can understand something well, it is actually just an illusion that makes you feel that way. In fact, your knowledge is no bigger than a drop of water in the ocean."
Even though Hachiman said that, in truth, there was one person who could see energy. That person was none other than Gojou Satoru. However, Gojou was a true anomaly in this world. His footsteps can change the map of the common sense of mankind and the jujutsu society. So, you can't fit that person into the theories created by human with all their limitations.
Hiratsuka was intrigued by Hachiman's answer. However, she kept quiet as if giving a signal for him to continue his words.
"People might say, 'oh, I can see the shape of the lightning. It has a blue glow. Doesn't that mean I can see energy?'. However, is it true that the blue light you see is a form of energy? Nah. If the blue light is energy, why does other energy from light have a white color? In fact, white still has eight different color spectrums at different frequencies. The eight colors can still be broken down into a much wider range of colors. And thus, the light or blue light from lightning is not an energy. It is just a chain reaction generated by the energy itself."
"Okay, I understand your point," Hiratsuka interrupted, "However, you haven't answered my question yet."
"Why would I prefer to control my cursed energy rather than understand the form of my energy?" asked Hachiman again for confirmation, and Hiratsuka nodded.
The teenager who had eyes like a dead fish took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"Because it is obvious, the role of humans is not to understand the form of energy perfectly, but to make use of it," replied Hachiman, "Please don't misunderstand. I am not saying that those who research quantum physics are in vain. I mean, it is just a different perspective on energy."
"Not understanding it perfectly, but taking advantage of it," said Hiratsuka, who repeated Hachiman's words with a faint smile.
"Precisely. I always thought, why does Gojou-sensei always analogize cursed energy and cursed techniques as electrical energy and electronic devices? If the goal is only to easily understand the cursed energy and cursed techniques roles, then many analogies are easier to understand than electricity and electronic devices."
"Hooo …, then, why do you think?" asked Hiratsuka with interest.
"Because energy efficiency is much easier to understand when we make an analogy with electricity."
The words of 'efficiency' that Hachiman spoke made Hiratsuka really interested in the analysis of the teenager before her.
Hachiman wet his throat with saliva and continued, "The most terrifying thing about Gojou-sensei is not his cursed technique. Instead, the efficiency of his cursed energy uses. He could give off such a powerful output. But, on the other hand, the cursed energy consumed was close to zero. This is in contrast to Okkotsu. Okkotsu requires a large amount of energy to issue a large attack output.
Why? Because the efficiency of the two is very much different. The relationship is very similar with electricity and electronic devices. In the past, just to operate a low-performance computer had to require very, very large electrical power. Even the total could exceed the electricity needs of a single house building. However, nowadays, with just 130 watts, you can power a high-performance computer with data processing speeds up to millions of gigahertz per second. It doesn't stop there. This efficiency will continue to be improved over time so that the power required is getting smaller. Still, it can turn on electronic devices with much more sophisticated performance."
Hearing that long explanation, Hiratsuka couldn't help but smile widely. In fact, she would not hesitate to give very high credit to the young man before her.
"That is a fascinating thought, Hikigaya. So, what do you think the difference is?"
"Technology," replied Hachiman with certainty, "the size of transistors in the past was huge. This is what causes the size of the processor and electricity consumption is also getting bigger. In today's era, the size of the transistor is getting smaller and smaller, so it creates a processor that we know as a microprocessor. Utilizing a microprocessor, many sophisticated electronic devices can be created. In other words, the main factor that sets old and modern electronic devices apart is the quality of the electronic components. Based on Gojou-sensei's analogy, suppose the cursed energy is the same as electrical energy, and the cursed technique is an electronic device. In that case, that means the human body is the electronic component. In other words, to increase the efficiency of the cursed energy, it requires a body that allows it to do so. This is what I have been trying to achieve."
"In short, your main goal in practicing cursed energy control is not to make it easier to mold your energy into a cursed technique or other technique such as domain expansion. Instead, to increase the efficiency of your energy usage?"
Hachiman nodded and replied, "Well, yeah. Of course, I wouldn't say that I would reach a level of efficiency on par with Gojou-sensei. After all, I am not that arrogant to compare myself to him. However, it would be great if I had an efficiency level at least half than Gojou-sensei's."
Hiratsuka lowered her head and tried to reconsider her thoughts. But unfortunately, there are no more appropriate words to describe Hiratsuka's satisfaction when she heard Hachiman's answer.
However, she still didn't want to take the responsibility of teaching someone. But, a strange urge inside her told her to guide a Hikigaya Hachiman.
During this time, she always tried to isolate herself in Chiba—her hometown—and reduce her interactions with jujutsu school as much as possible. Even though she couldn't see it, she realized that she had always been burdened with the curse of Haibara's death.
Once a person is cursed with a death, it is difficult for them to escape the curse. However, Hiratsuka saw that her chance to let go of all the burdens of her past had come.
'Who would have thought that it was someone like you who would free me from this curse?' Hiratsuka thought peacefully.
"Your answer exceeded my expectations, Hikigaya. Well, I think I have nothing to lose if I teach you."
Hachiman's eyes widened without him noticing. A feeling of relief began to tickle his stomach, forcing him to show a smile that he rarely showed. If he saw his current expression, maybe Hachiman would curse himself for showing the smile Maki often labeled as a fool.
"I have seen your training results, and you are really struggling even if it is just to expand your domain, aren't you?"
"Well, yeah," replied Hachiman, "From what I heard, you can use Domain Expansion. That is the reason Gojou-sensei told me to learn from you."
Hiratsuka nodded in response to Hachiman's statement.
"In the first place, what do you know about the types of domains?"
Responding to the woman's question before him, Hachiman's brain began to spin to carry out a selection process to provide the answer as accurately as possible. Word by word, he sorts it out, and then he arranges it to form an answer that he thinks is the most correct.
"Well, it is a high-level spell. As a variation, you can shape it into a simpler form, such as a Simple Domain. You can also shape it into a more versatile form, such as Domain Amplification. Well, Simple Domain and Domain Expansion are really different, though. However, the domain can be divided into two classes based on the period, namely the old-style domain and the modern domain."
Hiratsuka nodded in satisfaction at Hachiman's answer. Seeing him, who had grasped the basic understanding of a domain, relieved her that there was no need to teach the young man from scratch.
"Right. In my case, the domain I have is an old-style domain. So, mine is not as strong as the modern domain."
Ryoiki Tenkai or Domain Expansion. As Hachiman explained. Basically, there are two types of domains if you categorize them based on the time or period of popularity. Modern domain is generally used by modern sorcerers. Meanwhile, the old-style domain was more often used by sorcerers in the past.
The thing that distinguishes between the old and modern style domains is the effect of the domain. In the modern domain, at least two effects will appear if the opponent is trapped in it. The two effects are "sure hit" and "sure kill". Anyone caught in the modern domain will surely experience both effects. Just by being trapped in a modern style domain, you will die instantly unless you have a high-level difference with the users of that domain. This makes the modern style domain considered a high-level spell and is used as an ace for jujutsu sorcerers.
Meanwhile, the old-style domain only applies the "sure hit" effect in its domain. In other words, anything trapped will definitely be affected by the domain's effects but won't die instantly. Although it doesn't have a certain death effect, this old-style domain can sometimes be more troublesome than a modern domain, depending on how the user can use it in combat.
However, old-style domains tend to have specific rules for activating the "sure hit" effect on their domains. Therefore, this type of domain is very tied to the fight's conditions or the opponent. On top of that, the main advantage of this type of domain is that it uses quite little cursed energy, making it possible to use the domain several times a day. This is very different from the modern domain, which consumes so much cursed energy so the user can only use it once a day.
Gojou Satoru is the only exception in the jujutsu society right now. He could use the modern domain many times in one day without fear of running out of cursed energy. This was due to the extremely high efficiency of using his cursed energy, allowing him to cast high-level spells with near-zero energy consumption.
Hiratsuka sucked out the entire cigarette and put the cigarette butt into the portable ashtray that she always carried with her everywhere. Only then did she speak again.
"A domain is like your own bedroom. It doesn't matter if it is an old-style or modern style. The best domain is the one that makes you feel comfortable and safe when you are in it."
"Doesn't that sound like the domain user is a NEET?" Hachiman commented.
"I know, right? I used to think so!" Replied Hiratsuka enthusiastically.
Realizing that she had gone off topic, Hiratsuka coughing to cleared her throat.
"The point is, when I see the results of your training so far, it would be better if you learn the Reverse Cursed Technique first. However, at the same time, you must train your domain as well."
"What? Training Reverse Cursed Technique and Domain Expansion in parallel, isn't that … a little too much?"
Hiratsuka shook his head slowly and replied, "Not really. I believe this is the most suitable method for you."
He had thought about practicing the Reverse Cursed Technique as well in the past. However, the spell was too complex and the concept was too abstract to learn. So, he gave up his intention and preferred to learn the domain. However, if this female teacher in front of him was convinced that he could practice both simultaneously in parallel, Hachiman had no words against it.
"Speaking of training you, maybe I should train this brat as well," Hiratsuka said suddenly, making Hachiman frown in confusion.
"Who? Are there other people under your supervision?"
"Yes. You know, I had guessed for a long time that the association would be lack of assistant manager as it is now. So, I submitted a proposal to the association to let one student who specifically wants to be an assistant manager to seek hands-on experience under my supervision for two years."
"In short, this person will be under your supervision for two years. Then transferred back to a jujutsu school to complete the rest two years of education?" asked Hachiman, to which Hiratsuka nodded.
Unlike most other high schools that implement a three-year education system, students at jujutsu schools take four years to complete their education. However, under special conditions like Hachiman, who is in strength and knowledge equivalent to a first grade jujutsu sorcerer, you can drop out of school and immediately make a career as a professional sorcerer.
"So, who is this kid? Why didn't you ask this person for extermination all this time?" asked Hachiman again.
"Do you have the heart to bring a newbie into exterminating a first grade cursed spirit?" Hiratsuka replied with a sigh, "Well, I will introduce you to this brat after school today."
"I don't mind even if I don't know the kid, though. However, well…, if you really want to introduce me, I think I can spare my time."
"Don't act like you are a busy person, kid."
That is how the conversation between the two professional sorcerers ended. Hachiman was able to convince Hiratsuka to train him. On the other hand, he also got new information that there are other jujutsu sorcerers in this school besides him and Hiratsuka Shizuka.
—OoOoO—
For those who have just entered high school, the characteristics on their faces are generally easily recognizable. The typical faces of brats who has just stepped into the realm of youth will be very clearly seen from the first year students. However, their nature and how they form friendships will be very different if you compare them to sophomores and beyond.
Most second year high school students have started to recognize fashion and branded goods well. Their hobbies have started to look more mature than just playing games or reading mangas during summer vacation or something. Not infrequently, the bridges of friendship between these teenagers will be established because of the similarity of their favorite items or new hobbies, or even a same target of gossip.
Despite that, there are some geeks like Hikigaya Hachiman who prefer not to have any unnecessary interactions and will spend their time relaxing as best he can.
However, suppose you compare the first year high school kids to upper years. In that case, they are more likely to start friendships with hobbies like anime, manga, and games without being shy or covering it up. This is also clearly seen in one of the classrooms containing first year students at Sobu High School.
"Have you seen the booming horror anime this season? Seriously, this week's episode was scary, really, really scary!"
"Ah, I know … I know. The scene where the female lead falls off the ghost's head really surprised me!"
"Eeeehh… isn't it just you two being too timid? I don't even think the anime is as scary as people say."
"Stop bragging for once, Takashi. We know you are the most cowardly here."
The boy named Takashi sat on his own bench, while the other three stood around the boy's bench.
The conversations that the four boys had were just a tiny part of the many conversations in this class to get closer to each other and make friends. Of course, each person or group of friends will cover a different subject. However, that is roughly what the students in this class look like trying to get to know themselves.
"Speaking of horror anime, have you read any horror stories that have recently become popular on the internet?"
"Horror story?"
"Oh, you mean the story about the old tunnel north of Narita City?"
"Eh, there is a story like that?"
"You really don't know, Takashi? It is quite popular, you know. They even said that this could be one of the seven mysteries in Chiba Prefecture."
The boy named Takashi shook his head and asked, "Isn't that an exaggeration? Shouldn't I have heard of it too if it is that scary?"
"It is not that you haven't heard it, but you don't want to hear it, do you?" sneered one of his friends, "From what I heard, it says a demon is waiting in that old tunnel, huh? A male demon who was tall with many stitches on his face. I heard he can also turn into a terrible monster."
"Male? From the blog I read, they said it was a female demon with many stitches on her face? Besides, instead of being able to turn into a monster, she has an army of demons that she controls alone."
Without the four boys realizing it, a girl was sitting behind Takashi. She had been listening to their conversation without missing a word.
"Eeehh … don't tell me, you guys will believe random posts on the internet?" blurted the girl.
The girl's cute voice suddenly made the four boy's eyes focus on her. None of them replied to the girl's comment because no one expected a cute girl to suddenly join their conversation.
"Isn't that just a plain article?" continued the girl, "Don't you realize that the article is only used to increase search traffic on the internet? It was all planned by the content creator, you know. Usually, the one who writes is a YouTuber. Because when it goes viral, all you have to do is make the video there, so you would get a lot of viewers."
Again, no one was able to answer the girl's logic. And yet, as a man, their pride refused to let the short fawn haired girl say whatever she wanted. However, before one of them opened their mouth, the girl was ahead of them.
"I have no problem with you guys who like anime. I mean, don't the boys in our class talk a lot about it too? However …, to the extent that you believe in absurd articles on the internet, isn't that a bit …."
The girl didn't finish her sentence not because she felt bad about saying it. Contrary, it was something she had planned well. The sentence she didn't finish was actually a form of provocation. However, the target of her provocation was not the four boys whose faces looked like potatoes.
"I feel that way too, Isshiki-san," said another girl who sat on the bench next to the girl who turned out to be Isshiki, "Don't those who mix things up on the internet with anime, actually look like chuunibyou? I mean, It makes them look like people who can't tell the difference between fiction and the reality."
Isshiki gave a faint smile, but she quickly erased the smile in less than a second. Nevertheless, Isshiki was quite happy because the provoking words she threw were successfully struck by the target she expected.
"Well, I didn't mean it like that, but I think I get what you mean, Ichika-chan," Isshiki replied with an awkward smile that she faked, "And when you think about it, what you said seemed very reasonable, though."
If only one of them had someone with better brainpower, maybe that person would say something like, "didn't mean that' your ass!" to Isshiki. Because, from the first sentence to the last sentence spoken by the girl, all of them have contradictory meanings. However, the discrepancy in meaning was not something she unconsciously uttered. Quite the contrary, it was a structured sentence that Isshiki deliberately expressed.
The first sentence showed her disapproval, which seemed to say at first she didn't mean to say that. However, her last sentence saying that her friend's opinion was reasonable, gave the impression that she wasn't actually thought of by such an opinion in first. Showing that she wasn't a bad girl who would mock other people's hobbies. In other words, from the start, Isshiki had such a disdainful opinion. However, to maintain the impression of being a good-natured girl, Isshiki structured the provocation conversation so that someone else happily voiced Isshiki's thoughts without Isshiki even asking.
In short, the short-haired girl didn't want to get her hands dirty. If it wasn't the fox brain girl who was naturally known to be cunning and manipulative, then no other term could describe the girl surnamed Isshiki.
"Besides, where is there such a thing as a demon in this world? Right, Isshiki-san?" asked the girl again.
Meanwhile, Isshiki just mumbling with her innocent smile, and her eyes closed without giving a definite answer. However, because these kids weren't smart enough to guess Isshiki's thoughts, they also interpreted Isshiki's mumbling as a sign of approval of the girl's opinion sitting next to her.
Feeling their pride as men being trampled on, the four boys couldn't do anything but grumble incoherently and returned to their respective seats. Because of the evil conversation that Isshiki planned, the four boys would never again discuss something as ridiculous as a ghost sighting or anything else in the future. At least, until this year's Halloween Day arrives.
'Something supposedly resembling a ghost appeared in the North of Narita City. Shaped like a human with stitches on his face. The cursed technique supposedly changed his body shape or controlled the cursed spirit…, maybe? I have no valid data. However, maybe I should report this to Hiratsuka-sensei?'
Isshiki Iroha, a first year girl at Sobu High. One of the students who just enrolled and affiliated with Tokyo Jujutsu High. Currently sponsored by a first grade jujutsu sorcerer, Hiratsuka Shizuka, and has the opportunity to firsthand experience as an assistant manager for two years before being sent back to a jujutsu school.
A sly girl who has a hobby of destroying other people's delusions about supernatural things. She is Isshiki Iroha, a third grade jujutsu sorcerer who has a telepathic as her cursed technique.
-Continued-
Author Note: Hellooo, back again with me. I didn't think this chapter would be this long. Actually, I even removed a lot of material from this chapter because it was so long. I had to delete the material that would explain why I changed Tengen's jujutsu technique, which was originally "immortality" into a "barrier technique". The point is, here I want to say, that I made changes to Tengen's technique for the plot of this story. However, the substance of what Tengen was able to do remained unchanged.
With this chapter, I finally officially closed Arc 1. Then there will be a time skip that is quite far, and Haruno will appear in the following 2 chapters.
Since it's been too long, that's all from me. So how do you feel about this chapter? And thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed my previous chapter. Please leave a trail of feedback for this chapter in the review section because your review is my spirit. Until then, stay safe and see you in the next chapter.