Chapter 4: The Cursed Corpse White Wolf — First Meeting with Megumi Fushiguro
Gojo Satoru said to Kamihara Hajime, whom he had just put down, "Hey, welcome to Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical High School. You'll be studying here when you're older."
Kamihara Hajime looked around. Between the regularly arranged tall trees was a stone-paved road, with many stone lanterns on both sides. In the distance, there was a cluster of ancient-looking buildings with upturned eaves and arched corners, hidden within the mountains and forests.
Gojo Satoru walked along with him, saying, "This place has a barrier, so ordinary people and those Curse Masters can't easily get in. You stay here for a bit, and I'll arrange things for you after I've handled my business."
Passing through various buildings, Gojo Satoru finally led Kamihara Hajime to a tall man. This man was robust, with strong, short black hair and a meticulously trimmed beard near his chin, along with resolute eyes—a standard image of a tough man.
"Satoru, what's wrong? Why are you carrying a child?"
Gojo Satoru briefly explained the situation to him, then said to Kamihara Hajime, "This is my former homeroom teacher and the next principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High, Yaga Masamichi. Teacher Yaga, I'll leave him with you for now. I'll be back soon."
After Gojo Satoru left, the two were left staring at each other. Yaga Masamichi, with his arms crossed, looked at the little one who wasn't even as tall as his waist, his expression appearing very serious.
"Ahem..."
Yaga Masamichi was the first to break the silence. They couldn't just keep staring at each other; how awkward would that be? He happened to have an idea. Then, he spoke in the gentlest tone possible, "Um, do you like playing with toys? I have many toys that move. See if there's anything you like."
Kamihara Hajime remembered the panda. This tough man in front of him seemed to know how to create Curse Technique/Cursed Corpses. Simply put, he could create non-living objects that possessed Cursed Energy and could move independently. Thinking of this, he also developed some interest in these so-called Curse Technique/Cursed Corpses, so he nodded.
Yaga Masamichi led Kamihara Hajime into a room filled with various, numerous dolls, most of which were animal-themed, with many tools placed nearby.
Yaga Masamichi picked up a round, fluffy white spherical object. It had only a very cartoonish pair of eyes and a mouth, no limbs. He handed it to Kamihara Hajime: "Satoru said you also have Cursed Energy. You just need to hold it in your hand, think about making it move, and then smash it on the ground."
Kamihara Hajime held the object, which was slightly smaller than a basketball, with both hands. He tried squeezing it, and the feel was quite good. Then, following Yaga Masamichi's instructions, he infused Cursed Energy into the ball. Immediately, the eyes on the ball began to animate, and it started trembling in his hands, gradually becoming difficult to hold.
Kamihara Hajime immediately smashed the object onto the ground, and the white fluffy ball bounced off the ground at an incredibly fast speed, hitting the ceiling. Soon, it began tracing dazzling trajectories around the room.
Yaga Masamichi was somewhat stunned. This was a toy-like object he had made in his spare time; it had very strong elasticity when Cursed Energy was infused into it, but its low destructive power meant it had been left idle. But what was with the terrifying speed of this thing now? And what about the cracks on the wall and ceiling?
Just as he was about to intervene and stop the rapidly bouncing white fluffy ball, Yaga Masamichi saw Kamihara Hajime suddenly extend his hands, and the white fluffy ball was tightly gripped in his grasp. He then realized something was amiss.
Gojo Satoru had only told him that this little boy was special, but he hadn't given any specifics. He had barely even seen the speed just now. Although it was partly because he wasn't prepared or paying attention, it still shocked him greatly.
Kamihara Hajime's eyes gleamed. Although he had the experience of being a human in a previous life and his thoughts far surpassed those of his peers, perhaps due to his body, some childlike qualities also existed within him.
Throwing the ball, watching it bounce around rapidly, and finally catching it—this super-upgraded version of a bouncy ball brought Kamihara Hajime immense joy.
Yaga Masamichi had intended to say something, but seeing Kamihara Hajime playing so happily, he held back his words. As Kamihara Hajime played with the white fluffy ball, sometimes holding it, sometimes not, Yaga Masamichi picked out a few more relatively harmless Curse Technique/Cursed Corpse and gave them to him to play with.
...
When Gojo Satoru returned, he saw Yaga Masamichi sitting cross-legged and smiling, and not far away, Kamihara Hajime was playing with a husky-like Curse Technique/Cursed Corpse. The boy held a white fluffy ball in his hand, then threw it, and it bounced away at a rapid speed.
Then the husky joyfully darted out, caught up to the white fluffy ball, and ran back with it in its mouth. Along the way, it tripped and fell, but quickly got up as if nothing had happened, picked up the fluffy ball again, and ran towards Kamihara Hajime.
Yaga Masamichi noticed Gojo Satoru, stood up, and greeted him, "Satoru, you're back."
Gojo Satoru scratched his head, wondering what was going on. Yaga Masamichi explained, "I was afraid he'd be bored, so I found some Curse Technique/Cursed Corpse for him to play with. You know, I've been researching how to give Curse Technique/Cursed Corpse their own consciousness lately. This dog is a somewhat unsuccessful work."
Yaga Masamichi looked at Gojo Satoru, thought for a moment, and then said, "This child has great talent. Where did you find him, and what do you plan to do with him?"
Gojo Satoru then stroked his chin, saying, with a grim expression on Yaga Masamichi's face, "Huh? Didn't I tell you before?"
After further detailing Kamihara Hajime's background, Yaga Masamichi narrowed his eyes: "That's truly astonishing..." Gojo Satoru smiled, watching the playful husky run around, and continued, "I've already handled things at the orphanage. I'll find him a place to live later, or if not, a nanny. He's old enough to live on his own, right?"
Yaga Masamichi sighed, "He's only seven or eight years old. Although he's precocious, you can't be so careless. By the way, didn't you adopt another child before? Don't you have any experience?"
Gojo Satoru, enlightened, clenched his right fist and struck his left hand, "Right! I'll raise him with Megumi and the others. They're about the same age, and they can have another companion! That's what we'll do."
Yaga Masamichi shook his head, no longer harboring any illusions about Gojo Satoru's eccentric personality. He turned and waved towards Kamihara Hajime, signaling him to come over.
Kamihara Hajime walked over, holding the white fluffy ball and the husky. Gojo Satoru waved his hand and said with a grin, "I've taken care of the paperwork for you at the orphanage, and I've found you a good place to live!"
"Oh, thank you."
Kamihara Hajime politely thanked him, then turned to return the white fluffy ball to Yaga Masamichi, but Yaga Masamichi waved his hand, "I'm giving you these two Curse Technique/Cursed Corpse as a gift. This white ball isn't very useful, but this dog, I named him White Wolf. He has some combat ability, and perhaps he can help you in the future."
Kamihara Hajime looked down at White Wolf, who was wagging his tail very happily, then looked up and seriously thanked Yaga Masamichi. He truly hadn't expected this Uncle Yaga to give him these two Curse Technique/Cursed Corpse.
This man, with his fierce and serious appearance, had a soft, loving side within. He was a good person.
"Then I'll take him away."
Gojo Satoru said goodbye, then, disregarding Kamihara Hajime's wishes, picked him up again. White Wolf and the fluffy ball were both held in Kamihara Hajime's arms. Gojo Satoru waved goodbye, and the two instantly vanished from the spot.
When they reappeared, Kamihara Hajime found that their surroundings had become an empty street. Gojo Satoru led him to a detached house by the roadside and handed him a key: "This will be your home from now on. I can find you a nanny later. First, I'll take you next door. That's where your future companions and my future students are."
The two then went to the house next door. Gojo Satoru knocked on the door, calling out in a slightly cheerful, drawn-out tone, "Megumi, Tsumiki, open the door quickly! It's me, Gojo Satoru!"
To the rhythmic knocking, the door lock clicked open, and a girl opened the door. She looked very quiet and polite, and greeted Gojo Satoru when she saw him.
"Where's Megumi? I've brought you a new companion!"
Fushiguro Tsumiki looked at the boy following Gojo Satoru, then replied, "Megumi's in his room."
Gojo Satoru walked upstairs with his hands in his pockets, quite familiar with the place, and was about to push open a room door. However, the door opened first, and a black-haired, sea urchin-headed boy walked out.
"Gojo-sensei, aren't you even going to knock?"
Gojo Satoru waved his hand, "What do you mean? Didn't I knock?"
The young Megumi Fushiguro sighed, "I wasn't talking about that door... Never mind."
Gojo Satoru reached out and ruffled the boy's hair, pressing down the unruly strands, but they sprang back up when he removed his hand.
Then Gojo Satoru made an exaggerated gesture of presentation: "Ta-da! Let me introduce you to a new companion. His name is Kamihara Hajime, and he also has the talent of a Jujutsu Sorcerer, just like you. He's also awakened his Technique, so you might even be classmates in the future!"
Kamihara Hajime observed the still young Megumi Fushiguro. He wasn't much different from his impression, especially his hair, which was very similar. The boy's tender face always held a detached expression, seeming to have a kind of... contrasting cuteness?
But in Kamihara Hajime's eyes, he was the type that invited a punch. Of course, he was a good child and wouldn't hit people casually. At the orphanage, everyone respected him, which was why they recognized him as their leader.
Speaking of which, he wondered how things were at the orphanage. But with the government and these professionals involved, there shouldn't be any problems. He'd find time to go back and visit when he was older...
As Kamihara Hajime observed Megumi Fushiguro, the latter was also observing him. Upon hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Megumi Fushiguro's small face darkened: "I don't want to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer..."
Gojo Satoru acted as if he hadn't heard, smiling as he continued, "Well, then you two know each other! Oh, right, it's almost time for school to start. Unless something unexpected happens, you'll be classmates in elementary school too!"
"You two get to know each other. I have to go now." With that, Gojo Satoru vanished, leaving only the three youngsters there.