JJK X FATE: Chapter 53/54

Chapter 53: Jujutsu High School

April 2005, Tokyo Jujutsu High.

Early that morning, Yaga Masamichi stood at the entrance of the school.

Today was the day they welcomed new students.

"Five students, huh? That's quite a lot for a single class."

The Jujutsu world had long suffered from a manpower shortage, and each class at Tokyo Jujutsu High typically had a single-digit number of students.

There had even been years with only one student in an entire grade.

It was quite literally, "Without you, we can't even hold class."

"Only one non-sorcerer. Cursed Spirit Manipulation. A technique with considerable potential."

Eichi had submitted his application through the Zen'in Family, and they had subtly embellished the documents for both him and Artoria.

Yaga put the documents away and quietly waited for the new students to arrive.

Yaga Masamichi was a man of contrasts.

Despite his stern exterior, he had a meticulous and thoughtful heart.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have raised such an adorable panda.

Just as he was filled with anticipation, a white-haired young man appeared out of nowhere.

Yaga tried to maintain his dignity as a teacher, but inwardly, he was already grumbling that this kid had no respect for martial ethics. Scaring an old comrade like that first thing in the morning.

"You must be Gojo Satoru. I'm Yaga Masamichi, your first-year teacher."

Yaga introduced himself.

Satoru, who had been looking around casually, turned to face him.

"Hello, I'm Gojo Satoru, desu~."

With one hand in his pocket, Satoru raised the other to his forehead, fingers in a V-shape, waving playfully.

Just as the rumors said, Yaga thought. A very lively kid.

Then, two more students arrived.

A short-haired young man and a blonde-haired young woman.

Azuma Eichi, user of the Zen'in Family's Ten Shadows Technique, had already tamed Mahoraga.

Artoria, an imagined Heroic Spirit. The specifics were unclear, but it was confirmed she possessed the abilities of Artoria from the anime.

Initially, the Jujutsu Headquarters didn't recognize Eichi's new concept of an imagined Heroic Spirit.

They had instead insisted on classifying Artoria as a Special Grade imagined Cursed Spirit.

Unless Eichi agreed to publicly disclose the principles behind summoning imagined Heroic Spirits as shikigami, and what he referred to as his external technique.

Upon hearing that, Eichi immediately took Artoria to the base of the mountain where the higher-ups of the Kyoto Jujutsu Headquarters were gathered.

Right there, Artoria used Excalibur for the old geezers.

Seeing the brilliance that lit up the night sky, the elders had no choice but to accept that she was indeed a Heroic Spirit.

As for the missing mountain peak nearby?

Well, Japan has a lot of earthquakes. It's perfectly reasonable for a mountain peak to collapse, right?

"So slow, Eichi, Artoria."

Satoru turned around, spread his legs, and cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone.

"All right, all right, we know you were the first one here."

Eichi turned his gaze toward Yaga.

Hmm, kind of handsome.

The current Yaga was not yet the rugged version from more than ten years later.

His buzz cut was tidy, his beard well-trimmed, and his stern face naturally imposing.

A far cry from the spiky, cactus-like hairstyle he'd sport in the future. Right now, he looked much more refined and composed.

Although, at first glance, he still kind of resembled a big brother just released from prison.

"Hello, Yaga-sensei. I'm Azuma Eichi, and this is Artoria."

"Hello."

Artoria nodded silently at Yaga.

"Welcome to the school. I'm your teacher, Yaga Masamichi."

Yaga nodded. These two seemed relatively normal.

Flap, flap.

The sound of flapping wings caught their attention.

They all looked up.

A large, snow-white bird was slowly descending from the sky.

Its most distinctive feature was its oversized yellow beak.

So familiar.

"You're the slowest."

Satoru leaned in front of Suguru, smirking.

Suguru responded calmly, clearly used to this kind of thing.

"There's still ten minutes before the meeting time. I'm not late, Satoru."

"What is this, a new ride?"

"It's a Cursed Spirit. A pelican."

"Eh? But it's so pretty. Why would anyone have negative emotions toward this thing?"

"I don't know. Anyway, move aside. It's rude to leave Sensei waiting."

It's also rude to say that in front of the teacher, Yaga thought silently.

Hearing the word "pelican," Eichi finally remembered where he had seen this Cursed Spirit before.

Wasn't it that big bird that kept trying to eat capybaras?

In his past life, Eichi had really liked capybaras for a while.

He remembered this big white bird that always tried to eat them, even though it couldn't bite or swallow them.

After Suguru's brief self-introduction, the group began waiting for the last student.

Yaga glanced over at Satoru and Suguru, who were still chatting about the bird, then at the two quietly standing nearby.

He sighed, wishing all his students were as well-behaved.

Little did he know, Eichi was thinking about whether he should fly to school next time like Suguru.

How fast was Qiongqi again? Walking by himself was just too slow.

Speaking of which, Artoria had Riding Skill. She could expertly handle all sorts of mounts and vehicles.

Maybe he should get her a motorcycle?

Imagining Artoria in a black suit, riding a motorcycle into battle, looking gallant and heroic, Eichi decided it had to be arranged.

Soon, the last student arrived, right on time.

A black sedan stopped at the foot of the mountain.

Ieiri Shoko, with short brown hair and a tall figure, walked up with a suitcase in tow.

"By the way, you two didn't bring any luggage?"

They were required to wear school uniforms at Jujutsu High, but surely they needed at least some change of clothes and daily necessities.

"Ah, no need. If we need anything, we'll just buy it."

Satoru said his Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue allowed him to move at high speed, so shopping was no problem.

"Same here. Once I confirm the situation, I'll head to a nearby supermarket."

Riding a flying Cursed Spirit made getting around very convenient.

Hmm, transportation needed to be arranged. Damn, he still couldn't get a driver's license yet.

If he used Qiongqi, he'd have to avoid being seen by normal people and not cause a disturbance.

Wait. How did Suguru fly around without drawing attention? He'd have to ask him about that later.

"Hello, I'm Ieiri Shoko."

A good kid, Yaga nodded.

"My favorite thing is alcohol. I don't like things that are too sweet."

Her next sentence nearly made Yaga lose his composure.

Another problem student.

"I am your teacher, Yaga Masamichi. I'll now give you a tour of Tokyo Jujutsu High."

He led the group through the campus, showing them around and helping them choose their dorms.

"Hey, do you really not like sweets?"

Satoru suddenly appeared at Shoko's window.

"Anything too sweet is a no-go."

"How tasteless."

"I especially don't want to hear that from you. Also, this is the girls' dorm. Get out!"

Bang.

Shoko slammed the window shut.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 54: Let Me See Your Level

The first day at Tokyo Jujutsu High passed peacefully.

After introductions with Ieiri Shoko and getting familiar with the campus, the day came to a close.

On the second day, Yaga Masamichi gave them a brief explanation of the school's history and what they would be learning over the next few years.

It had to be said, the explanation was as boring as a principal saying, "Let me just say a few words."

Satoru, who was nearly dozing off, suddenly perked up at one sentence.

"Now, let's head to the training ground so I can assess your skill levels. I'll base the upcoming curriculum on that."

After speaking, Yaga led them to the training field.

"Come on, Eichi, all of you, come at me together."

Before Yaga could make arrangements, Satoru impatiently ran to the center of the field.

"Yaga-sensei, I'll go first."

Eichi turned and asked.

It was rare to have such an open opportunity to beat up Satoru.

"Hmm. Keep in mind, this match is just to assess your level. Stop before causing serious injury."

"Understood."

Eichi stood across from Satoru, hands in his pockets.

"Oh, just you alone? Not calling Saber?"

Last night, during a snack party in the dorms, Satoru had said that Artoria's name was too long and asked if he could call her "Ria," like Eichi. Artoria rejected both Satoru's and Suguru's suggestions.

After that, Satoru and Suguru simply started calling her "Saber."

"I'm enough on my own. Ready to get beaten up?"

Eichi gave a mischievous smile.

Both of them grinned with anticipation.

"Then, begin."

At Yaga's signal, Eichi and Satoru launched into a high-speed exchange of blows.

Eichi slightly bent his body, blocking Satoru's heavy punch with his right arm.

His left fist, kept behind him, swung toward Satoru's chest. Satoru leaned back, letting the fist graze his uniform.

In the next instant, Eichi's right fist followed up.

Satoru's Six Eyes turned, his cerulean pupils locking onto the attack.

He bent back to dodge, then threw a side kick at Eichi's waist.

Eichi blocked with one arm, grabbed with the other, taking the kick head-on.

Then, gripping Satoru tightly, Eichi forcefully threw him away.

Satoru spun midair, landed smoothly, and charged again.

As he approached, he jumped, hurling a powerful punch.

No way to dodge.

Eichi crossed his arms and blocked. The blow pushed him back several meters.

Satoru didn't let up. He stepped forward and unleashed a rapid flurry of punches that landed squarely on Eichi's guard.

This style... it resembled Wing Chun. Now that he thought about it, Satoru had used something similar when fighting Miguel.

In that case—

Eichi leaned back, planted his hands, and twisted his body, landing a kick on Satoru.

Using the momentum, he pushed Satoru back and created distance again.

Fists, palms, legs, elbows.

Over the next few minutes, Eichi didn't hold back, turning his entire body into a weapon. He unleashed a barrage of attacks with everything he had.

Satoru could feel the intensity behind each strike and responded in kind, trading blows without reservation.

Neither was willing to yield.

Bang.

Both landed clean hits at the same time, their bodies flying in opposite directions.

Eichi got up, shaking off the numbness in his arm, and looked at Satoru with blazing eyes.

Satoru returned the look with one of equal fighting spirit.

"You're pretty good, Satoru."

"You too, Eichi. You've lasted longer than I expected."

"Hey, Satoru, want to make a bet?"

Eichi smirked.

"What kind of bet?"

Satoru looked intrigued.

"If I beat you without using Mahoraga, you have to follow one command from me. If you win, I'll do the same."

"Deal. You're the one who's going to lose, anyway."

Satoru raised his chin.

"After all, I am the strongest."

That unparalleled confidence shone in his cerulean Six Eyes.

"Then starting today, the title of 'strongest' will be mine."

Eichi grinned wildly, bordering on madness.

"If you can, then come and take it."

"Round two. Begin, Chimera!"

Eichi formed a hand seal, and a Vicious Beast appeared behind him. It had wings on its back and sharp horns on its head.

"What is that?!"

Shoko was startled by the Chimera's terrifying aura.

Though she had seen many gruesome injuries, she had never encountered a Vicious Beast like this. Just looking at it sent chills down her spine.

"That's the Chimera, a fusion of Eichi's Ten Shadows Technique shikigami."

Suguru stepped in as a temporary commentator.

Yaga, standing nearby, clenched his fists as soon as the Chimera appeared.

He felt things were starting to go beyond what he had anticipated.

Satoru tossed aside his sunglasses, Limitless already activated.

"Roar!"

A fierce wind erupted, sending sand and stones flying as it surged toward Satoru.

Eichi subtly formed a hand seal, then followed closely after the storm, initiating Tiger Funeral.

Satoru raised his right hand and swung it, creating a cerulean orb that followed the arc of his movement.

The orb, like a miniature black hole, absorbed the raging wind in an instant.

Then Satoru lifted his right hand high and slammed it down.

The blue orb followed his motion, crashing from above toward the Chimera.

The Chimera spread its wings. Purple lightning formed an arrow, firing directly at the orb, followed closely by the fierce wind. The lightning struck first, destabilizing the Blue, while the wind detonated it midair.

"Oh?"

Satoru looked amused, then began to form a second Blue.

The tactic was reminiscent of Itachi's counter to Chibaku Tensei.

While Blue mimicked a black hole, it was still just Cursed Energy. As long as its stability was disrupted or its limit breached instantly, it could be neutralized.

That's exactly what the Chimera had done.

Using the piercing nature of lightning to interfere with Blue's stability, and the wind to strike when the energy was unstable, they exploded the orb before it could land.

Before Satoru could launch a second Blue, Eichi had already closed the distance.

A Cursed Energy-infused punch slammed into the Limitless in front of Satoru.

Satoru's counterattack appeared instantly before Eichi's eyes.

Black Divine Dog shot from the shadow beneath Eichi, claws slashing toward Satoru.

Eichi took the opportunity to spin and land a roundhouse kick, then coordinated with Black Divine Dog to create distance.

Satoru prepared to chase, but then he felt a strange fluctuation in Cursed Energy.

Behind him, White Divine Dog, still in spirit form, appeared and attacked.

Eichi and Black Divine Dog launched another pincer attack.

(To be continued.)