"How did you end up like this?" Shoko Ieiri held a cigarette in her left hand, while her right was pressed against Hasegumo's left shoulder, slowly channeling Reverse Cursed Technique. "And why are those two idiots perfectly fine? They've been dead to the world, sleeping like logs."
"Just bad luck. Our opponent happened to be the perfect counter for them," Hasegumo said, flexing his right bicep with a grin. "Don't worry about it. I'm back in one piece, aren't I? Mostly."
"Why didn't you use your own RCT to regrow the limb? Mine can only help the wound on your shoulder heal; the connection point is completely severed. I can't regenerate the whole thing for you."
"..."
Receiving no response, Shoko looked up.
"I can't use Reverse Cursed Technique anymore," Hasegumo said, his face devoid of its usual playfulness.
"I... I'm sorry." Shoko felt a sudden, heavy weight settle in her chest. She knew exactly what losing an arm meant for someone like Hasegumo, who dedicated his life to the absolute limits of martial arts. She wanted to offer some comfort, but the words felt stuck in her throat.
"I bet that arm on a new era!" Hasegumo's face suddenly split into a wide beam. "Just kidding! It's only temporary. I just have to learn math all over again."
Thwack!
Shoko sent Hasegumo flying with a well-aimed punch. "You bastard! Have you been hanging out with those two too much? Give me my sympathy back!"
"Sorry, sorry! You had such a scary look on your face, I had to do something to lighten the mood." Hasegumo scrambled up and gave a deep, ninety-degree bow. "Please, forgive me!"
"Ugh... where am I?"
Waking from the murky darkness, Suguru Geto slowly opened his eyes.
"Congratulations. You've successfully become a cute little girl." Satoru Gojo's obnoxious voice rang in his ear. Suguru looked up toward the sound.
"Satoru?" Suguru's mind was still a jumbled mess. After Laplace was exorcised, all the stolen knowledge had returned to its owners, but depending on the brain's processing power, some required longer than others to reboot.
"And... Shoko? Gumo! Your arm!" As his vision cleared, Suguru bolted upright, fully conscious now.
" 'You... you are a pile of rotting vomit. Gah...' " A second ago, Gojo was doing a ridiculous impression of Laplace's voice; the next, he was looking at Suguru with a rare, somber intensity. "How is it? Remembering everything now?"
"That thing spat your knowledge out and crushed it... I think I heard something while I was out. Gumo... can you really not use RCT anymore?" Suguru slammed a fist into his own thigh. "Dammit. If only I were stronger, this wouldn't have..."
He was cut off by Gojo's mocking laughter. "Haha! I knew it! You act all cool on the surface, but you're actually the biggest softie. You just love carrying everyone's burdens on your own shoulders, don't you?"
Gojo turned around and held out his hand. "That'll be 100,000 yen, please."
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the 'scumbag telepathy' you two share," Shoko sighed, handing over the cash before strolling away.
"Um, can I put that on my tab? I'm broke," Hasegumo said, raising his hand like a bankrupt student.
"Huh?" Gojo gave him a look of pure, unadulterated judgment.
"As far as I know, you were taking down curses for money even before you enrolled. You live like a monk—you don't buy anything except food and Coke, and you only wear the school uniform. Where the hell is your money?" Gojo demanded.
"Ah, about that..." Hasegumo rubbed the back of his head with his remaining hand. "Last year, I entered a martial arts tournament. I was sure I'd win the whole thing, so I bet my entire life savings on myself. And then..."
He gave Gojo a "you know how it is" look.
"Why would you gamble if you're broke?!" Gojo snapped. "You're supposed to be my best friend! My brother-in-arms!"
"Put it on the tab. Plus 30% interest."
"Deal."
"I say," Suguru Geto rumbled from behind Gojo, his eyes practically glowing with a murderous red light. "Would you two like to explain to me exactly what is going on here?"
"Shinra Tensei!" Hasegumo shouted, utilizing his peak physical stats to vanish from the scene at the speed of light.
A bruised and bumped Satoru Gojo eventually found Hasegumo and Shoko in the classroom, followed by a still-tiring Suguru Geto.
"...So, that's basically the gist of it. I figure if I study elementary school math for about two weeks, my RCT should come back," Hasegumo explained calmly from his seat.
"And you two just went along with this idiot's antics?" Suguru asked, feeling personally victimized.
"It's 'Pain Therapy,' Suguru," Gojo chimed in, having already forgotten the lumps on his head. Whenever Suguru spoke, Gojo couldn't help but needle him.
In a dramatic, low, and mock-sexy voice, Gojo began to recite: "Feel pain, contemplate pain, accept pain, know pain!"
Suguru couldn't resist adding one more lump to Satoru's collection.
"Ow! Dammit!" Gojo clutched his head, hissing through his teeth. "Fine! Just wait until I master RCT. I'm going to keep my technique running 24/7. No one touches me without my permission ever again!"
Seeing Gojo's childish outburst, Suguru finally relaxed back into his usual smiling self. "Gumo, are you really going to start back at one-plus-one?"
"How much is one-plus-one again?" Hasegumo tapped his temple. "Wait, it tickles. I think something is trying to grow back in there."
The three of them burst into laughter.
"Maybe you should just re-enroll in primary school. Jujutsu High is too advanced for you," Gojo joked, mentioning that the Gojo family owned a private elementary school and could get him in easily.
Hasegumo waved him off, insisting he could be self-taught.
Amidst the noise and banter, time began to slip away...
April 12, 2006. Noon. Clear.
The snow had melted, revealing the gray earth beneath, though a closer look showed hints of green where the grass was beginning to sprout. The trees lining the road were already pushing out new buds.
"Ah..." Hasegumo let out a massive yawn and stretched. "That's enough studying for today."
"Time for Hachi's walk. Let's go, buddy."
He took off the non-prescription glasses he only wore for studying. In his words, wearing glasses gave him a "vibe of profound wisdom."
"Well, well, look who it is." Satoru Gojo pushed the door open just as Hasegumo was tucking the glasses into a drawer. He leaned in close, inspecting Hasegumo's face with exaggerated theatricality.
"If it isn't our resident math genius, Hasegumo-kun. Finished your primary school curriculum already? Planning to play hooky?"
"Too close," Hasegumo said, pushing Gojo's face away.
"Two months and you're still stuck on grade school math? I clearly overestimated you," Suguru added, entering the room right on cue.
"Actually, I finished," Hasegumo said, standing up and ignoring their teasing with a calm smile. "I just wrapped up Calculus today."
"Wait, for real?" Gojo stared at him, his expression shifting to one of genuine disbelief. "Really?"
"That curse didn't just take my knowledge; it seems to have taken my 'bad at math' trait with it when it died," Hasegumo noted. "I think I might actually be a math prodigy now."
"So it's true what they say about fools having all the luck?" Gojo rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I believe the term is 'reconstruction through destruction,' " Suguru interjected, seemingly betraying Gojo's side. "So... what about your arm? Why haven't you fixed it?"
"Oh, you know, carrying one less arm makes me feel lighter. My movement is actually a lot more fluid now. I kind of like it."
Hasegumo quickly tried to change the subject. "Anyway, the new freshmen are arriving soon. I wonder if we'll get some cute juniors."
"I bet. I've noticed the trash cans in certain 'seniors' rooms have a lot fewer suspicious, crumpled tissues lately," Gojo quipped, annoyed that he'd lost a talking point against Hasegumo. "Lost your 'convenience,' but gained a 'stronger body,' eh?"
"I think only a certain teenager would have those in his trash," Hasegumo counter-attacked. "I'm twenty now. I'm a reliable adult."
He reached out and patted Gojo's shoulder with his right hand, then turned and patted Suguru's. "Make sure you guys find someone special while you're young. Otherwise, you'll end up like a certain someone—venting your pent-up teenage frustrations on your teammates."
"Satoru, don't let him distract us," Suguru said, completely missing the fact that he was also being roasted. "Seriously, Gumo. Why isn't your arm back yet?"
"I don't know. My math skills are way beyond what they used to be, but... I just haven't found that 'spark' yet," Hasegumo admitted honestly.
"I still can't pull off RCT for now." Hasegumo gave Suguru a high-energy, radiant smile. "But don't worry. I have a feeling it'll be fixed soon."
With that, Hasegumo turned to leave the classroom.
"Are you sure?" Suguru's voice was uncharacteristically low. Even Gojo had fallen silent.
"Of course."
The voice that floated back to them was full of absolute confidence. Suguru looked up, but all he saw was a straight, unwavering back as it disappeared through the doorway.
"Satoru... don't you feel responsible?"
The two of them were crouching in a corner of the hallway.
"If we were just a little bit stronger... if we could have fought alongside him... Gumo wouldn't have lost his arm because of us," Gojo replied. "Is that what you're thinking? That as 'stronger' sorcerers who were supposed to proctor his exam, we only survived because of him, while we did absolutely nothing?"
"I..." Suguru kept his head down, the words heavy. "Yes."
"That's why you're an idiot," Gojo said, standing up and slinging his jacket over his shoulder. "If you think you're weak, then get stronger. If you want to fix his arm, then learn high-level Reverse Cursed Technique. What's the point of sitting in a corner and moping?"
He dragged out the final word in a mock-annoyed sing-song: "Idiot!"
"You bastard!" Suguru snapped, his spirit instantly revived.
I will get stronger. I won't let another friend lose anything because of me. "Cursed Spirit Manipulation!"
"I'm out of here!"
"Get back here, Satoru!"