By the time I stepped out of the medical wing, I had already made up my mind about what I needed to do next, because whatever was coming, one thing was going to remain constant no matter which world we go to…
Power.
I needed to get stronger; everything else could be discussed and fussed about later on.
And it seemed like my newfound resolve was met by the world with a pleasant atmosphere to greet me.
It was nearing evening by the time I got out. This was the first time I had seen Tokyo Jujutsu Tech with my own eyes. And I had to say, it was a beautiful place.
Mostly isolated, with many buildings and much open space, but beautiful nonetheless.
Now, all I had to do was find someone. So I did just that—walked around, while looking for someone, anyone, to help me out.
After 10 or so minutes of sightseeing and trying to find my way out of the unassuming maze I found myself in, I finally found someone.
Two familiar figures ahead, almost always together and still looking as ridiculous as ever.
Actually, it was just one of the two who looked ridiculous to me, because he wasn't a human. He was a panda.
And not even a real panda, but a cursed doll which was miraculously brought to life by Principal Yaga and was made out of a stuffed toy.
Shaking my head at the absurdity of this world, I dashed towards them.
Panda turned toward me first, his eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity before softening. "Hey," he said, tilting his head. "You're the new guy, ain't you?"
Beside him, Toge Inumaki glanced over as well, offering a quiet, "Salmon."
As much as I wished to talk to them as if I had always known them, I couldn't, since this was arguably the first time we were talking in person.
"Hmm, hello. I'm Yami Akindo. Nice to meet you," I greeted.
Panda blinked. "So you've got a name, I thought you didn't have one," he said with a faint grin.
"Bonito flakes." Toge on the side shook his head, giving Panda a knowing glare.
I let out a small breath, something almost like a laugh escaping me despite everything. With everything going on with me recently, this was nothing but a minor matter, but damn, I was talking with a panda currently.
Another reminder of why this entire situation was ridiculous.
"I just left the medical wing and don't know my way around. Can you help me, please?"
There was a brief pause before I got to the point. "I was looking for Maki," I said. "Do you know where she is?"
Panda raised a brow. "Training area, where else could she be," he answered with a shrug.
"Why are you looking for Maki, though? Do you have any business with her?" Panda asked.
"Hmm, yes. I wished for her to train me in hand-to-hand fighting," I replied.
And once again, there was a pause between us. Once I said that, both the stuffed reanimated animal and the boy who could only talk with rice ball ingredients looked at me like I had grown a second head.
"Why in the world would you do that?" Finally Panda spoke, his voice, for a second, making me question my own decision, and I hadn't even asked him the reason for his outburst yet.
"Hmm… is there any problem with that?"
"Problem, you ask? You really are new here. Listen, you should ask someone else to train you. Maki isn't known for holding back, and with the recent power-up she got out of nowhere…" Panda didn't complete that sentence, but I understood what he meant to convey.
I gulped. Just now I remembered the girl was no longer what she was in the anime—she was like Toji f*cking Fushiguro now.
Suddenly, asking her for help sounded like a very bad idea.
"Mustard leaf…" Toge said, and I, of course, didn't get it.
"He is showing his concern for your health," Panda elaborated.
Well, thanks. I might just need it.
"Hmm, thanks for reminding him, but still I would like to meet her at least. I still have to thank her for something she did for me. So, would you mind telling me where I can find her?" I asked, with clear concern for my own well-being in my voice.
Though I was no masochist who derived pleasure from getting his bones snapped and ground to dust, I still planned to go through with this idea.
There was no one better to teach me close combat than Maki, and I didn't have time to linger around here forever. If I needed to improve fast, I had to endure the pain.
As for injuries, well… sigh…
I'll just have to rely on Reverse Cursed Energy. Hopefully, that would also improve my efficiency with it too.
"That way," Panda pointed casually. Not surprised that I didn't listen to him or Inumaki.
This was Jujutsu High; people hardly listened to anyone around here. All sorcerers were somewhat crazy in their own right after all.
"Thanks," I said, giving them a quick nod before moving on.
"What do you think, will he survive the training?" Panda asked once the boy was gone.
"Salmon."
"Hmm, makes sense. He survived Shibuya; it would be a shame if he couldn't survive Maki. I'm certain it would work out." Panda shrugged and kept on moving, Inumaki right beside him.
It didn't take long to find her.
She stood in the middle of the training field, swinging her weapon with controlled precision, each movement sharp and deliberate as if she was cutting through something invisible.
She was no longer in her uniform; instead, she was wearing casual clothes—shorts with a hoodie.
I just stood there, observing her. Eyes roaming her form, her legs, those muscles, her control over her body. It was mesmerising.
To think someone could have such refined control over her body, those perfected muscles.
I didn't want to admit it, but I was a tad bit envious. I shouldn't be—I knew her history to be envious of her of all people—but still.
That physical power was a dream for any man.
'I'm so joining a gym after I'm done with all this shit,' I grunted to myself.
But I wouldn't try to deny that there wasn't anything else besides pure admiration for her physique and power.
With the recent history between us and how stunning she suddenly looked under the golden rays of the evening sun…
I closed my eyes and tried to shake out the image of me kissing and hugging her.
'Don't think about that, you'll just make a bigger fool of yourself in front of her. Just focus on the matter at hand,' I berated myself.
"If you have some problem with your head, you should tell it to Shoko. I'm certain she can fix it, you know."
The voice came from behind me. I almost yelped and jumped from where I stood; it completely caught me off guard.
I turned around, hairs standing on end at how someone was standing right behind me and I didn't sense it, my body tensing up as if I was back in that shithole again…
Dare I say, PTSD from Shibuya came back as cursed energy flared around me, my hands already moving into the familiar hand sign…
But midway, I stopped, seeing the smirking face of the same girl who I was admiring earlier. I looked back in disbelief at where she previously was, and sure enough, she wasn't there.
'I didn't even sense… Oh yes, she's like Toji now…' I reminded myself, though internally I felt like getting a heart attack.
"Geez, don't get your panties all worked up. Relax." Maki took one step back; even she was startled at my sudden movements if her hasty retreat was anything to go by.
Her eyes lingered on my hands, which were making the exact same sign she had seen both me and the King of Curses make before we opened our domain. Then her heavenly-restricted senses caught my completely out-of-tune heavy breathing. She didn't need anyone to tell her that she had really startled me to the point that I might have actually opened my technique.
"Relax, calm down." She said again as she noticed my breathing was all over the place from that little fright she gave me.
On the other hand, I was all stiffened up, heart rate spiking as high as Mount Fuji.
By the time I realized how I had just acted, I felt my heart beating against my chest like a hammer.
It felt terrible.
It was nothing but her just appearing out of nowhere behind me, and I acted like a scared cat.
I could still feel my breathing not calming down. I had to force my hands to separate and drop down to my sides.
"S-sorry. I just…" I tried to say, but she waved her hand.
"About to open your domain," she added in.
"Hmm… sorry." I had no idea how to reply. If I had seen any unfamiliar face, I might have really opened it. Talking could be done after I had the poor soul motionless and powerless once inside my domain.
Maki's eyes lingered on me for a while until my breathing calmed down before she finally asked,
"You need something?"
"Huh…?"
She rolled her eyes. "You came here and were staring at me like I owe you money or something.
If anything, it's the other way around.
So… you need something from me…?"
I pursed my lips. Is she serious? She literally gave me a heart attack, and that's all she has to say?
And what the f*ck…? She really intended to make me pay for that cursed tool?
Girls of this world are horrible.
Sighing and accepting my fate, I went back to the real reason I was here in the first place.
I stopped a few steps away, steadying myself before speaking. "Yes… I-I wanted you to train me… please~"
She stared at me for a second.
Then she scoffed lightly. "No."
The answer came so quickly that it almost caught me off guard.
Girl, at least pretend you gave it a little thought.
"Wait, wait… but why? I really want to learn, please…" I added.
"I'm not your instructor," she continued, resting the weapon against her shoulder. "And I'm not babysitting someone who barely knows how to throw a punch. And cries his eye balls out at a little pain."
I clenched my jaw slightly. Did she have to bring that up? At least there was no one else here to hear us.
"I'm not asking you to babysit me," I continued. "I'm asking you to help me fix what I'm bad at."
She didn't look convinced.
"Look, you saw it yourself," I continued, my voice steady despite the pressure of her gaze.
"I can barely throw a straight punch. I fought that volcano head beside you—you know I can get things done as long as I connect."
"That worked well enough, didn't it?" she shot back.
"Barely," I replied immediately. "And next time, barely won't be enough."
"Till now I relied on instincts, brute force, and whatever I could figure out in the heat of the moment. But that just won't do if I were to fight someone stronger.
I know now that there are those monsters out there, many much stronger than what we faced. I don't want to be caught off guard again. Please, teach me how to fight."
That made her pause.
"And you think you'll be fighting more of them… what made you think that?"
"Instincts…" I replied almost immediately without any hesitation.
"Instincts have been one thing which has kept me alive so far, and I know better than to ignore them now. And my instincts tell me that bigger troubles are coming. I just know it. Call it an instinctive response, an educated guess, or just pure faith in my own horrible luck.
I just know that Shibuya wasn't the end."
I took a step forward. "And as far as I have seen, you're the best when it comes to close combat, hand-to-hand. Hell, you made me punch that volcano head when I myself wasn't sure where my punch was going to land. If there is someone who can teach me, then it's you."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied me more carefully, as if trying to figure out whether I actually meant what I was saying or if this was just desperation talking.
Silence stretched between us for a few seconds.
Then Maki exhaled through her nose, shaking her head slightly.
"That's a hell of an instinct you have there…" She didn't say it out loud, just grumbled to herself, but I did hear her clearly enough.
For a second, I thought that was another refusal.
But then she adjusted her grip on her weapon and stepped forward.
"Fine," she said. "But don't expect me to hold back."
A small weight lifted from my chest at that.
"I wasn't planning on it," I replied.
Her smirk returned, sharp and confident.
"Good," she said. "Then let's see how long you last."
"Now?"
Maki didn't even feel it was justifiable to answer any query before her staff came directly for my head.
'Oh shit…'
xXx
A/N : By the way, if any of you guys haven't read the manga or seen season 3 of the series, and don't wish to get spoilers, I advice you guys to complete that first since as fic goes on, a lot of spoilers will be revealed here. Even if you have watched season three.
You have been warned !
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