The wide training field of Jujutsu High stretched out in front of me, grass swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. The place was calm, quiet—perfect for practice.
Sweat clung to my forehead as I finished another set of push-ups. The wolf spirit lay curled in the shade of a tree, eyes closed but watching me all the same. My heat spirit flickered faintly near my shoulders, warm and restless.
I stood up, brushing off my hands, when a familiar voice rang out.
"Training hard as usual, huh?"
I turned. Gojo stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, blindfold covering his eyes as always. His tone was playful, but there was a sharpness behind it, like he was actually paying attention.
"Someone has to," I replied calmly, stretching my arms.
Gojo smirked. "Ouch. You wound me. What, you think I slack off?"
"You do," I said without hesitation.
That earned a laugh. "Fair enough. Then how about this—you and me, a quick spar. No cursed techniques, just hand-to-hand. Let's see what all that training really gave you."
I felt a flicker of excitement. "Fine."
We squared off on the field. The wolf raised its head, watching intently.
The moment Gojo moved, I understood why he was called the strongest. His strikes were clean, precise—no wasted effort. Still, I held my ground. I blocked, dodged, and countered, my cursed energy reinforcing my arms and legs when needed. I managed to land a solid strike on his ribs, forcing him to step back.
He grinned. "Not bad."
But then his pace shifted. Faster, sharper. His kicks landed heavy, and his punches slipped past my guard. Every time I adjusted, he adjusted quicker. Before long, I found myself on the ground, breath heavy.
Gojo offered me a hand up. "Don't pout. You did well. For someone who awakened recently, you're moving like a veteran."
I took his hand and stood. "…You still won."
"I always win," he said matter-of-factly, then chuckled. "Experience, kid. You'll catch up."
He dusted off his uniform and tilted his head. "Actually, that's why I came. I wanted to ask you a favor."
I raised a brow. "What kind of favor?"
Gojo's playful tone softened slightly. "You've heard of Fushiguro Megumi and his sister, Tsumiki, right?"
I nodded. "A little."
"They're important to me," Gojo said, and for once, his tone was serious. "I promised to spend the weekend with them. But…" He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Some urgent mission came up. So, I want you to go pick them up from their school. Maybe spend some time with them. They could use the company."
I blinked. "You want me to babysit?"
"Not babysit," he corrected quickly, smiling again. "Just… be there. Tsumiki deserves a good weekend, and Megumi—well, he acts tough, but he's still a kid. They need someone around."
His words carried more weight than his usual jokes. I thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'll do it."
"Good," Gojo said, clapping my shoulder. "I knew I could count on you."
—
Later, back at my apartment, I freshened up, running a towel through my hair. Then I walked down to the garage and pulled the cover off my father's car. The black Bugatti gleamed under the dim light, polished and sleek.
"Convenient," I muttered with a faint smile as I slid into the driver's seat.
The drive to Saitama Prefecture took a little over an hour. The city rolled by, neon lights mixing with the fading sun. Eventually, I pulled up to the gates of Saitama Urami East Junior High.
Parking by the entrance, I stepped out of the car and leaned against it casually, hands in my pockets. A crowd of students was already gathering, whispering and pointing.
Then I saw them. A boy with sharp eyes and dark hair, walking beside a kind-looking girl. Megumi and Tsumiki.
I raised a hand and waved. "Yo."
They both froze.
Tsumiki tilted her head, confused. Megumi scowled immediately.
I pushed off the car and walked toward them. "I was waiting for you two."
Tsumiki hesitated. "…Us?"
"That's right. Name's Arata." I stopped a few steps away, smiling faintly. "Gojo asked me to pick you up. He got pulled into a mission."
Megumi's eyes narrowed. "You're a sorcerer?"
"Yeah," I said simply. "Friend of Gojo's. He figured it'd be better than leaving you waiting."
Tsumiki looked me up and down, then gave a small, polite bow. "I see. Sorry for the trouble, then."
"No trouble," I said easily.
Megumi, though, wasn't convinced. "…You look too young to be a sorcerer."
"I'm fifteen," I answered.
That surprised both of them.
"Fifteen?" Tsumiki repeated.
"Mm," I nodded. "It's only been a few months since I was dragged into this world. But I've caught on quick."
Megumi muttered something under his breath. Probably not flattering.
I chuckled softly. "Anyway, let's go. We can talk on the way."
They exchanged a glance before reluctantly following me to the car.
Inside, the drive was quiet at first, the hum of the engine filling the space. Tsumiki broke it first.
"You really don't seem like a sorcerer," she admitted softly. "You're… normal."
I gave her a small smile. "I take that as a compliment."
Megumi crossed his arms. "Normal people don't drive Bugattis."
"This one was closest," I said calmly.
Megumi stared at me. "…What does that even mean?"
I didn't answer, keeping my eyes on the road. Tsumiki tried not to laugh, covering her mouth.
The rest of the ride was lighter. Tsumiki asked about my training, my favorite foods, my hobbies. I told her about exploring the world, my dream to travel everywhere someday. She listened earnestly, while Megumi chimed in occasionally, mostly skeptical comments.
Eventually, we pulled up to their home.
Tsumiki turned in her seat. "Would you… like to come inside?"
I nodded. "If that's okay with you."
—
The house was modest but warm. Shoes lined the entryway, the living room clean though lived-in.
As soon as we entered, Tsumiki set her bag down and moved toward the kitchen. "I'll make us something—"
"Stop," I said quickly, stepping in front of her.
She blinked. "Eh?"
"You just got home. Go freshen up," I said firmly. "I'll handle dinner."
"But you're a guest—"
"You and Megumi feel like younger siblings to me," I interrupted, my tone soft but steady. "So let me do this."
Tsumiki hesitated, then sighed with a small smile. "…Alright. But only this once."
"Deal," I said, heading into the kitchen.
By the time the siblings came back downstairs, the table was already set. The air smelled of warm miso soup, grilled fish, and rice. I'd also cleaned up the living room while waiting for the rice to cook.
Megumi sat at the table, his usual scowl softening slightly as he glanced at the food. "Smells good."
Tsumiki helped me set the last of the dishes. "This looks amazing."
We all sat together. The atmosphere was calm, almost like family. Megumi ate quietly, though his pace betrayed he was hungry. Tsumiki kept thanking me between bites, her smile never fading.
I leaned back slightly, watching them with a faint warmth. "See? This is better. You should relax once in a while."
Tsumiki laughed softly. "Maybe. Just don't make it a habit to clean our house."
Megumi grunted, chewing. "Tch. Too late."
The three of us ate together, the night settling in outside. For once, everything felt simple. Peaceful and calm.