The classroom was alive with energy as usual. Maki was in the middle of some banter with Panda, and Toge was silently observing. As I leaned against the wall, I couldn't help but listen to their playful arguments. But then... the door swung open.
Yuta Okkotsu stepped into the room.
The energy shifted instantly. Something about his presence was palpable. Even without saying a word, his cursed energy was so powerful that it filled the entire room, like a storm waiting to unleash. I wasn't the only one who noticed. The other students reacted almost immediately.
Maki was the first to act. "What the hell is this? This is a place to learn how to exorcise curse. Not a place for cursed people." Her voice was a sharp, almost challenging tone.
Panda's eyes narrowed as his usual calm demeanor shifted into something more alert. Toge's eyes flickered toward Yuta, and I could feel his energy subtly rise.
Before any of us could process fully, the students instinctively leapt into action. Maki threw her naginata across the room, its sharp blade cutting through the air in a flash. At the same time, I summoned my Birdie shikigami. The creature flapped its wings, its bird-like body circling in the air between me and the unfamiliar cursed energy.
Yuta, unprepared for the chaos, was still trying to introduce himself when—BOOM!
A surge of cursed energy erupted from him, and in an instant, Rika manifested beside him. The massive, intimidating cursed spirit towered over the room, sending a deep, reverberating shockwave through the space.
Before anyone could react, Rika's power flared uncontrollably, and in one swift movement, Birdie was obliterated—reduced to nothing more than scattered cursed energy. It happened so fast that even I couldn't react in time.
The room fell into stunned silence for a brief moment.
"What the hell just happened?" Maki growled, but there was no time to dwell on it.
With a flash of blue, Gojo's voice rang out, cutting through the tension. "Alright, alright, calm down!" he said, appearing from the corner where he'd been observing the entire time.
He stepped into the middle of the room, his usual nonchalant demeanor taking over. " " He's the new transfer student—Yuta Okkotsu. He is a special case. He will be with us from now on."
Yuta stood a little awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. He gave a small wave, still not used to being surrounded by so many powerful students.
"Yuta, don't mind them. They're just a bunch of weirdos," Gojo added with a chuckle.
Maki snorted. "And you're just a walking disaster."
Panda and Toge exchanged looks, and I could feel the curiosity bubbling in the air. Rika's cursed energy still lingered in the room, and Yuta looked somewhat sheepish, his eyes cast down as if he didn't quite know how to apologize for Rika's outburst.
The tension in the room didn't last long. After a few moments, Maki grunted, "Whatever. I'm not in the mood to babysit."
Panda shrugged. "I guess we'll get to know him better soon enough."
Toge, as usual, didn't say a word but gave a slight nod in acknowledgment of Yuta's presence.
I, on the other hand, stood back, letting the moment pass. But the whole situation was a little too close for comfort, and I could feel the need to be cautious about what had just happened.
Flashback: A Reckless Encounter with The Butcher
Suddenly, the scene shifted, and I was no longer in the classroom. The image of Yuta's arrival faded, and I found myself once again on that mission—the one that almost cost me everything.
The cursed energy was thick in the air. My target: The Butcher, a brutal, cleaver-wielding curse that had been tearing through villages, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. I had underestimated it. My usual strategy of close combat was no match for its raw power. Guess jumpjutsu kaisen is not always the way to go.
The Butcher was a hulking figure, with cleavers fused to each hand. Every swing of its arms was a devastating strike, tearing through the very air around it. My shikigami Birdie was too slow to keep up, and I found myself on the defensive.
I tried to strike quickly, to dodge and land a blow, but The Butcher was relentless. I barely had time to react before one of its cleavers slashed across my side, the pain searing through my body.
I should've known better than to go in without thinking. I wasn't prepared for the brute force of a cursed spirit like this. The injuries were severe—my body was shredded, and I felt the cold grip of fear.
End of Flashback
I snapped back to reality, feeling the sting of my old wounds. The pain was a reminder of my recklessness. As I glanced around the classroom again, my fingers instinctively traced over the bandages wrapped around my torso.
Yuta was watching me carefully, probably sensing my discomfort. But I just gave a short nod, trying to brush it off. "It's fine," I muttered, though I knew deep down that I needed to be more careful moving forward. I couldn't afford to be careless again.
Gojo looked over at me, his usual smirk on his face. "Get some rest after class. You've earned it."
I barely managed a smile, but it didn't quite reach my eyes.