Discord: discord .gg /eHuxNeZfyS [Come chat with me]
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene [Read ahead & support me]
You.tube: @KeanuEugene [Giving away all my writing knowledge]
CHAPTER START---
---Sunday, March 14th, 2015…
"Don't think about the score," Panda whispers while Taiyo is trying to focus.
"Shut up…"
"Don't think about how I'm winning."
Taiyo takes a deep breath and steadies himself, loosening his grip on the golf club and double-checking his lineup on the golf ball.
"Don't take it personally," Panda says. "You're only human…"
Taiyo swings and hits the ball, which knocks against the large screen within the simulator box in front of them.
"PERFECT!" the announcer celebrates before showing the final score, with Taiyo losing to Panda by one swing.
Panda laughs manically as Taiyo rolls his eyes.
"How does it feel to lose, 'Mr. Special Grade', huh?"
"Losing is the risk of competition, no shame in that," Taiyo turns around to face the couches behind him, where Panda and Ino are sitting. "But there is shame in staying a loser…"
Ino frowns and gives him the middle finger.
"Not what I mean, but if the shoe fits—"
"Start the next game," Ino hops out of his seat and grabs the club from Taiyo.
Taiyo sits and grabs his beer, looking up at the moon above them, then off to his left, where the Tokyo skyline gives a mesmerizing view. "It's not the end of the world, you know. At least not yet."
"Easy for you to say."
Panda starts the next round, and Ino takes his first swing, failing miserably.
"C'mon. I rented out the entire rooftop for us, at least try to cheer up."
"I'm having fun," Panda says. "And winning."
Ino turns and points at Panda with the golf club. "You and Principal Yaga come here all the time."
Panda shrugs.
He then points to Taiyo. "And you always rent out places you go to, otherwise your fangirls show up."
"Don't remind me."
Ino then turns and takes another swing at the ball, which clatters off the screen. "Sometimes it feels like life is just out to get me."
"This is how every guy feels the first time."
"Is this how you felt?"
"I've never had a girl break up with—" Taiyo stops himself. "I'm sure this is how I'd feel."
"Yeah, well. We go to a concert, and you wake up with two idols in your hotel room. But a week later, I get broken up with over text…for some guy she met at the concert!"
Ino's Cursed Energy surges and twists the club, causing his swing to miss the ball.
Taiyo shares an awkward glance with Panda as Ino gets another club.
"Does she have a sister?"
Ino turns to him. "What? No, why?"
"Best friend?"
"Are you—"
"Is her mom single?"
"Dude! I'm not doing that! What kind of person even thinks of that?!"
Taiyo laughs and finishes his beer. "I'm just thinking of the fastest ways to get you out of this crappy headspace and back on task. You're two weeks from being a third-year Jujutsu Sorcerer! That means more money, more influence, more opportunities."
"More pretty girls," Panda says.
"Thank you," Taiyo hops up and grabs Ino's beer, walking over to hand it to the boy. "See, Panda gets it."
Ino takes a large sip before looking between them. "We're a secret society, and all the women in the Jujutsu World are either ugly, crazy, or evil. Being stronger doesn't help."
"Well then, just do what I do. Focus only on getting better and stronger. And you really should. Fourth-years aren't allowed in the sister school exchange event, so this one is your last chance to get promoted."
"Yeah, you're right." Ino finishes his beer, then opens another, taking a seat on the couch and handing Panda the club. "Nanami Sensei says I could be Grade 1 before graduating, so I'd like to make him proud."
"Exactly."
Panda begins landing multiple holes-in-one as they continue talking. And Taiyo focuses on the one subject that can always distract Ino.
"What does Nanami have planned for you, anyway?"
"He said my training is going to be a lot more intense. My combat is almost acceptable for a Grade 2, but my knowledge of Jujutsu is still too limited. We'll be focusing on that."
"Ahh, nice."
"What about you and Kusakabe Sensei?"
"Ugh. He's ditching me," Taiyo finishes his drink. "Says I'm more than capable enough not to drag him to dangerous missions, and since my schedule can be erratic, no Managers for most missions. That part I like."
"Wow, I'm not sure how I'll be without Nanami Sensei."
"Eh, it's not that big of a deal. If I need Kusakabe, I can always call him. But he won't be a teacher anymore. Says he'll be going back to freelance for a while unless something interesting happens."
"Yeah. I have to decide if I'm staying for fourth year or going freelance next year."
"Isn't it the same thing, but students just have the school for support and as a base, since you won't have classes anymore?"
"I'm from a minor clan. Normally, clan kids don't stay for the 4th year since we have support outside of the school."
"Well, I'll be staying. No sister school exchange means no fight with Gojo, and I can't have that until I win."
"Like that'll even happen," Ino chuckles at his friend.
They chat for a moment before Panda walks over and checks his phone, seeing a message from Principal Yaga.
"Dad says they're all outside and coming upstairs now," he says.
Ino chokes on his beer. "What?"
"Oh yeah. I forgot to mention. Some of the teachers are coming to meet us to talk about important stuff."
"Damn it, Panda! We aren't old enough to even drink! I can't have Nanami Sensei see this!"
"Relax," Taiyo rests a hand on his shoulder and flows RCT through Ino, instantly destroying the alcohol in his system.
He then grabs Ino's beer, cloaks it in Cursed Energy, and tosses it into the night sky far above Tokyo.
"Problem solved."
"Are you crazy?" Ino asks. "What if that hurts someone?"
Taiyo gets up and grabs the club from Panda, starting another round.
"Oh please, what will they say? A magically reinforced beer fell from the sky at Mach 2 and splattered them?" he scoffs and plays his game. "Grow up."
Ino leans forward and slides the other sealed beers to Taiyo's side of the small snack table in front of them.
'There is no such thing as a normal Special Grade,' Ino and Panda think almost simultaneously.
Moments later, Shoko, Nanami, Kusakabe, Ijichi, Utahime, and Yaga enter the rooftop lounge to see their students at the far end, closer to the edge, where the clearest view of Tokyo's skyline is.
Taiyo glances over as they approach, then focuses back on his game.
"Was the rest of the school busy?" he takes the last swing, finally beating Panda, then walks over to crack open a new beer.
"Unfortunately, no," Yaga says as he takes a seat beside Panda. "Which is why all the most obvious Gojo faction members meeting in my office wasn't an option."
"Technically, I'm neutral," Taiyo cracks open his beer.
Shoko immediately snatches it out of his hand. "Technically, you're underage," she says, then sits beside Utahime on the couch.
Taiyo frowns and settles for a can of soda. "Fine with me killing people but not drinking, as if that makes sense."
"You've killed people?" Yaga asks.
Taiyo frowns. "What do you people want? And remember, I'm still neutral, my own faction. I'm not team Gojo or team…whatever the hell is dumb enough to be on the other side."
"The higher-ups," Nanami says.
"Then what are we even talking about? Just let Gojo go kill them."
"He's trying to build a new Jujutsu Society that isn't governed by blood and power. You can't do that by starting with murder."
Taiyo shrugs. "Then I'll do it, and he can be the boss."
Shoko glances at Yaga.
"No," Yaga says. "And that's not even what we're here to talk about. Gojo is having a meeting as we speak with many Jujutsu Clans, then going to meet with the higher-ups, all about Geto's recent activity."
Taiyo rolls his eyes and takes a seat at the edge of the couch, beside Utahime.
"Geto has been connected with too many problems recently. Gojo may not be able to shield him from the consequences anymore."
Taiyo leans back and sighs. "But Gojo won't kill him. Yuki doesn't give a damn either way. And, sorry to spoil whatever plan you all have for me, but if Gojo tells me not to do it, I won't either. Part of a Binding Vow for our fights to continue."
"Shit!" Yaga grits his teeth. "That brat went this far to protect Geto!"
"We were best friends," Shoko says. "To the two of them, that hasn't changed."
"What about you?" Taiyo asks.
"Geto flagrantly kills many people, and I suspect he'll kill every human that produces Cursed Energy if he could. He is an enemy to too many. I can't let my feelings for him allow such a thing."
Utahime pats her friend on the shoulder.
"Useless crap," Taiyo says. "It all boils down to killing either the higher-ups or Geto."
"Their recent decision may push Gojo to remove them himself," Kusakabe says. "That execution order was a mistake if I've ever seen one."
"Execution order?" Ino asks.
"A boy awakened an Innate Technique recently," Yaga says. "One that mixes modern technology and Jujutsu in a much more profound way than anything we'd thought possible. To them, it's living proof that their ancient beliefs are outdated, so they ordered his execution."
"But Gojo stepped in?"
Yaga nods. "He even agreed to directly connect himself to the boy by taking a teaching role. Gojo won't stand by and watch anyone lose their childhood if he can help them."
"Gojo teaching," Nanami chuckles. "Hopefully, when the boy is in second year, Kusakabe or I can step in and teach him properly."
"It's better this way," Yaga says. "Besides, I doubt either of you is excited to teach someone who starts a fight with their Domain Expansion."
Everyone is surprised at that, and a broad smile splits Taiyo's face. "Who?"
"He'll be on campus in a few weeks. His name is Kinji Hakari…"
END CHAPTER---
Discord: discord .gg /eHuxNeZfyS [Come chat with me]
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene [Read ahead & support me]
You.tube: @KeanuEugene [Giving away all my writing knowledge]