The afternoon sun poured golden light across Tokyo Jujutsu High's courtyard. The monster trio—Gojo, Geto, and Kishibe—walked shoulder to shoulder from the mission dispatch room, the mission board finally blank for the weekend. It was one of those rare days where they weren't expected to risk their lives.
"Hey, Kishibe," Gojo said, stretching like a cat. "Yaga said you've been helping out the first-years more lately. That true, or was he hallucinating again?"
Kishibe gave him a look. "I correct their stances. That's it."
"Aww, you're such a softie!" Gojo elbowed him. "Our little killer is growing up into a responsible adult."
Geto laughed. "Next thing we know, he'll be writing lesson plans and asking them to call him 'sensei.'"
"I'll kill both of you," Kishibe muttered.
---
Later that day, the trio sat under the sakura tree beside the training field. A lazy breeze rustled the leaves as they unpacked a rare lunch together. Gojo had brought a ridiculous amount of snacks. Geto had actual bento. Kishibe, true to form, had convenience store onigiri.
Gojo offered a chocolate stick to Kishibe. "C'mon, you've got that brooding samurai diet. Live a little."
Kishibe stared at it, then took it with a grunt. Gojo beamed like he'd just won something.
Geto leaned back, watching the clouds. "You ever think we'll make it to our final year without completely losing our minds?"
"No," Kishibe said bluntly.
Gojo chuckled. "That's the spirit."
"But we'll make it anyway," Kishibe added after a pause.
They all looked up at the sky for a few quiet seconds, letting the moment stretch.
---
That evening, Geto and Gojo trained together while Kishibe worked with Nanami and Haibara, who had stayed after hours for extra drills.
Kishibe crossed blades with Nanami, correcting his grip.
"You hesitate," Kishibe said. "You fight like someone afraid of wasting energy."
"I am," Nanami replied.
"Then stop being a sorcerer."
Nanami froze. Haibara looked stunned.
"Either do this or don't," Kishibe said, voice sharper than his blade. "Half-measures get people killed."
But when Nanami reset his stance and tried again, Kishibe nodded.
"Better."
After sparring, Haibara grinned, sweat on his brow. "You're kind of a cool teacher, Kishibe-san."
"I'm not a teacher."
"You sure act like one."
Kishibe didn't respond.
---
Late that night, Gojo found Kishibe sitting on the rooftop, gazing over the campus.
"You keep doing this thing where you say you're not a teacher, but you keep teaching," Gojo said, plopping down beside him.
Kishibe didn't respond right away.
"They trust you, y'know. The kids. Even Nanami, and he hates everyone."
"I don't want their trust."
"Too late. You've got it."
A silence passed between them.
Kishibe looked up at the stars. "I don't want to lose anyone else."
Gojo leaned back, voice softer. "None of us do. That's why we teach. Even if we're bad at it."
Kishibe didn't smile, but the corners of his mouth twitched.
---
By morning, a new mission briefing would be waiting. But for now, under quiet skies and falling petals, the monster trio shared something rare: peace.
And maybe, just maybe, Kishibe was becoming something more than a blade. He was becoming a guide. A shield.
A teacher.
Whether he liked it or not.