The sun was already setting when Arata, Gojo, and Kusakabe walked back through the gates of Jujutsu High. The mission was done, the report filed, and the curse gone. The air on campus felt calmer than the warped mess inside that abandoned school.
They stood in the open courtyard, the morning sun casting long shadows across the wide stone tiles. Arata stretched his shoulders lightly, still feeling a dull ache from the constant reinforcement he had used in the fight. Gojo, leaning against a tree with his blindfold covering his eyes, was grinning as usual.
"Well, well. Not bad for your first official field trip, Arata. You didn't just win, you made it look clean. If it were me, I probably would've broken the entire building. Guess you're more polite."
Arata gave him a small glance, voice steady. "Politeness had nothing to do with it. I just didn't want unnecessary damage."
Kusakabe walked a step ahead, his hands tucked in his pockets. "Efficiency. He read the curse right and didn't waste energy. That's rare for someone his age." His tone was calm, flat, the way he always spoke. Not warm, not cold. Just stating facts.
Gojo grinned wider. "See, even Kusakabe's praising you. That's rarer than a panda not eating bamboo."
Kusakabe didn't react, just kept walking.
Arata let out a breath, relaxed but thoughtful. "It was straightforward once I understood the rhythm. The sound wasn't just noise — it was the core of its technique. Interfere with the beat, and the space stopped twisting."
"Smart thinking," Gojo said, his voice almost sing-song. "Most sorcerers would've gone straight for the head, or the arms, or whatever holes it had. You looked at the technique first. I like that. Of course I would have erased the curse at first instance, but no one is me."
Arata shook his head slightly at his cockiness. "Looking first saves time later. Power without direction doesn't help much."
Kusakabe finally spoke again. "And he didn't panic when the curse compressed the room. A lot of sorcerers freeze when faced with that kind of unusual technique."
Gojo chuckled. "Not this kid. He's already punched a special grade before, remember? Compared to that, this semi-special must've felt like sparring practice."
Arata's tone stayed calm, but his eyes sharpened a little. "It wasn't practice. It was still dangerous. If I'd lost focus for even a moment, the pressure could've crushed my ribs."
Gojo gave a playful whistle. "Ooh, serious as ever. Relax, I'm saying you did well." His tone softened, a little more honest.
They walked into the main courtyard, the sky now painted with faint orange light. Some sorcerers crossed paths with them, nodding in greeting, but most kept to their routines.
Arata slowed a step, his voice quieter. "I learned something important today. Training is good, but there's a limit to learning from other people. In the field, things don't follow manuals. If I want to reach the top, I'll need to push deeper on my own. Experiment, test, break things down."
Gojo smirked. "Oho, hear that, Kusakabe? He's already talking like an old researcher."
Kusakabe looked over his shoulder, his tone still calm. "So long as he remembers the risks. As it is said, Jujutsu is fair."
Arata nodded. "I understand. But standing still won't get me anywhere either. My understanding is Jujutsu is fair to those, who have guts to take risk" He said smiling.
For a moment, Gojo stopped joking. He tilted his head, studying Arata with a smile that was still playful, but his words had weight. "You really are something else, Arata. Most kids your age want shortcuts. But you… you've got patience and drive. Natural genius with common sense. That's rare."
Arata didn't answer right away. He let Gojo's words hang in the air, then simply said, "I'll keep moving forward. That's all."
They reached the steps of the main building. Gojo clapped his hands together suddenly. "Alright! Debrief done, mission success, all smiles. I say we grab something to eat. My treat!"
Kusakabe gave him a flat look. "…I guess we can do that. It's not my money anyway. And since when did you start spending money on other people?"
Gojo laughed, raising a finger dramatically. "That's because I'm teaching financial responsibility. Isn't that right, Arata?"
Arata shook his head lightly, hiding the faintest smile. "That's not what responsibility means."
"Details, details!" Gojo waved it off. "Come on, let's get food. You can't experiment on an empty stomach."
Kusakabe sighed, but didn't object.
Arata followed them, calm but steady, the lessons of the day already settling in his mind. The mission hadn't been about victory. It had been about control — of cursed energy, of decisions, of himself. And that control was something he intended to sharpen further.