In a regular car, with a scratched dashboard and the smell of old plastic mixed with cheap cologne, Shinkuro and the guy he saw being called "daddy" by many young girls online were in an uncomfortable silence.
The engine's hum filled the void, and Tokyo's traffic felt distant, muffled by the closed windows.
So it was Jujutsu Kaisen all along? Shit, I never watched that anime!
Damn! The protagonist has... pink hair? There's a suicidal emo, something about a giant white dude who helps the villain later, and a hottie who's like Sakura except she's actually useful.
There's also Satoru Gojo, the white-haired guy who turned into a Kit-Kat.
Got it!
There's the pink-haired guy with four arms who rips apart the white-haired one. If I remember right, he has some kind of technique called "malevolent script" or something like that.
"How have you been, young man?" Said Nanami in a professional tone, eyes fixed on the road ahead.
"Huh, more or less?" Said Shinkuro, glancing quickly at the rearview mirror, still not getting the question.
"You don't look very well." said the wannabe executive as the mood inside the car grew more awkward, as if the air was getting heavier with each second.
Did he notice me lost in thought? Or maybe it's about my clothes, I mean, I am homeless.
"I was kicked out of home… it hasn't been easy." Said Shinkuro, trying to dodge the conversation, his eyes fixed on the foggy window.
"I see. That caused you some trouble, didn't it? Have you been feeling anger, stress, or maybe fear?" Said the older man, his voice gaining weight, as if analyzing each word.
In this world people get stronger from bad emotions, right? Well, if he's gonna offer me some cover story, then I'll go along with it.
"Yeah, and ever since then I've been really alone, but suddenly… I unknowingly created something, and it's been supporting me." said Shinkuro as the other man's gaze softened, like something had just been confirmed.
"Then the situation is better than I thought." With that, the man fell silent until the end of the ride, eyes lost in the road ahead.
Did I say too much? No, I need to open up a little. I remember this world also has jujutsu schools and those shonen things, so it's probably not too dark.
Transition presented by Yuki Tsukumo punching the screen.
The car stopped on a narrow road lined with trees, the breeze making the leaves dance. A green hill stretched out before them. At the top, surrounded by a bamboo fence and calm shadows, stood a complex that looked like it came straight out of feudal Japan.
Tall carved wooden gates with ancient kanji marked the entrance. Stone paths, flanked by neatly trimmed shrubs, led to buildings with curved rooftops covered in dark tiles. The lighting came from moss-covered stone lanterns that gave off a dim glow.
What's with this place being traditional as fuck?
"Gojo, could you come out and show yourself for a moment?" said Nanami, his gaze fixed on a small rock near the gate.
A white tuft of hair popped out from behind the stone. A tall, smiling man with a relaxed posture and restless energy came running out like an old friend arriving at a picnic.
"Nanami!" the weird man shouted affectionately as he ran up to the executive.
Why does it look like Nanami aged ten years when he saw this guy? Maybe they're a couple or something?
While strange theories about the weird situation formed in Shinkuro's head, Nanami sighed and raised his left arm to keep the other from getting too close.
"Don't come any closer than that" said the tired man, almost resigned.
"But why are you here with a young man, Nanamim? Isn't today your day off?" Asked the strange guy with a genuinely curious look, as if nothing about this was unusual.
"I found this young man talking to himself while leaking a high amount of cursed energy. Seems to be some kind of innate shikigami user." Nanami spoke plainly, like he was giving a regular report.
"Another talent that popped up out of nowhere? Why don't you enjoy your day off and I'll take this boy to the principal?" the strange man offered, as if the matter was trivial.
"Very well. Young man, this is Satoru Gojo. He's strong and trustworthy, and he usually takes in talented sorcerers. I'll leave you in his hands for now." said the man as he calmly turned away.
Hey, what the fuck is this? What do you mean "usually takes in the talented"? And what's up with their interaction? That conversation didn't even last a minute.
"Um, nice to meet you?" said Shinkuro, still confused.
"Pleasure's mine, kid. Now… how about you tell me your name and show me any creature you control?" Satoru seemed both excited and genuinely curious, his eyes shining.
"I'm Shinkuro, and sure, I guess?" as Shinkuro introduced himself, black liquid tentacles formed on his shoulder and molded into Venom's head.
Satoru's expression shifted — curiosity gave way to a hint of disappointment. He stared into Venom's white eyes in silence for a few seconds.
"Looks kinda weak…" the man seemed disappointed, frowning slightly.
"Venom strengthens me. Besides that, he removes diseases, wounds, and poisons from my body. He doesn't act on his own." explained Shinkuro, carefully watching the man's reaction.
"Huh. How much stronger?" the man's eyes seemed to light up again with the new information.
"I don't know exactly." said Shinkuro honestly.
"I usually just keep Father's body functioning at maximum efficiency." said Venom, who had been silent until then.
"HE TALKS!" Satoru's eyes were shining like a kid getting a present.
"Yeah, he talks." Shinkuro had been thinking of hiding that, but it felt unfair to Venom, who had his own mind and a desire to communicate.
"That's so cool! But I think we've talked enough. I'll take you to the principal's office now." The older man suddenly remembered he had other things to do.
Shinkuro didn't say anything, just nodded when Satoru placed a hand on his shoulder — and in the blink of an eye, the world changed location.
They were now in front of a massive room with tall wooden doors, dark and polished. The air around them seemed to hum softly. Shinkuro felt a brief wave of nausea for a split second before it passed.
"You look better than I expected for your first teleportation." The man looked surprised at Shinkuro.
"I handled it." Said Venom, retracting into Shinkuro's shoulder like a living shadow-cloak.
"Cool." said Satoru, opening the massive door like it was his own house.
Hey, wait… what do you mean you're already opening the principal's office doors? What if there's a test to get into the school? I'm not ready!