There was a rather interesting pattern in the sorcerer world: many powerful figures had something unusual about their eyes.
Blindfolds. Sunglasses. Strange pupils. Hidden techniques tied to vision.Leon used to joke about it back in his previous life, but now that he stood face-to-face with several of them, the feeling was much stronger.
First, sunglasses faced off against a blindfold—Gojo Satoru.Now, sunglasses faced off against a pair of natural "dark circles"—the small Pokémon perched on Leon's shoulder.
The man wearing those black sunglasses was Yaga Masamichi, principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High.
It was the third day after Gojo's visit. Admission approval had arrived the next morning, and Leon was already reporting to campus. The efficiency alone made it clear how much influence Gojo carried.
From appearances alone, Yaga didn't look particularly friendly. Broad-shouldered, thick-built, wearing a dark uniform and an intimidating expression, he sat behind his desk like an immovable wall.
The moment Gojo stepped inside, the principal spoke in a deep voice:
"You're late again, Satoru. Half an hour. When are you going to fix that habit?"
"Not in this lifetime," Gojo replied cheerfully. "But for the sake of the gift I brought today, please forgive me. You'll definitely like it."
Before anyone could react, Gojo casually lifted Pancham by the scruff and held him up in front of Yaga.
Two pairs of "dark circles" stared at each other.
"Pan~!" Pancham protested loudly, trying to look intimidating—but somehow only becoming cuter.
Yaga's stern expression melted instantly.
"Well now… what's your name, little one?"
"Pancham," Leon answered.
"A good name."
"Pan~pan!" Pancham waved his stubby arms happily.
"Principal Yaga is Panda's creator," Gojo added. "No one in Tokyo understands panda-type creatures better than he does."
Leon already knew that, but seeing it firsthand was still surprising. Most Pokémon could only communicate through limited sounds, and even Leon relied heavily on experience to interpret them. Yet Yaga seemed to understand Pancham almost instinctively.
Within moments, the energetic little troublemaker had gone completely docile in his hands, rolling onto its back as Yaga scratched its belly contentedly.
Gojo whistled. "Impressive. I was half joking when I said that earlier."
Mayumi, standing near the door, looked astonished as well. She hadn't expected Gojo to behave so casually—or the intimidating principal to turn soft so quickly.
Leon, however, wasn't surprised. If anything, Gojo's personality was the least dignified part of the so-called "strongest sorcerer." Reliable? Absolutely. Respectable? Debatable.
Yaga, meanwhile, turned back toward Gojo with a sharp glare. "Satoru…"
Gojo only grinned, deliberately leaning back against the desk. Pancham had now settled comfortably across his thigh, making it impossible for Yaga to lash out without disturbing the little Pokémon.
The principal inhaled slowly, visibly restraining himself before clearing his throat.
"I've already heard the general situation," Yaga said. "Answer one question for me, Leon. Why are you here?"
Gojo muttered under his breath, "Here we go again…"
Leon clapped his hands suddenly.
"Pancham—use Tackle!"
"Pan!"
The tiny Pokémon launched forward without hesitation. Of course, the attack did no real damage—but it created enough distraction for Yaga to grab Gojo in a swift grappling hold, twisting him into an awkward lock.
Gojo winced. "Whose side are you on?!"
"You're the teacher. He's the principal," Leon replied innocently. "You do the math."
"Pan~!" Pancham bounced around excitedly, clearly enjoying the chaos.
"Leon… is this really alright?" Mayumi whispered.
"Relax," Leon said calmly. "They've known each other for years."
Sure enough, after a few exaggerated cries of surrender, Gojo finally tapped out.
"Okay, okay—I give!"
Yaga released him, looking satisfied. Leon gave the principal a thumbs-up, which Pancham immediately copied with great enthusiasm.
Gojo rubbed his shoulder, muttering, "Some welcome committee…"
With the atmosphere finally settling, Yaga leaned forward again, expression serious.
"Now," he said, "answer my question properly. Why do you want to join Tokyo Jujutsu High?"
Leon thought for a moment, then asked, "Would you like the official answer, or the Gojo-style answer?"
"I want both."
"Alright," Leon said, straightening his posture dramatically. "Let's start with the official one…"
He cleared his throat, raised one hand theatrically, and began:
"To protect people from curses, to stand where others cannot—"