Far inside the darkness—
Something shifts.
But does not emerge.
Gojo's posture changes subtly.
Infinity humming alive.
For the first time—
He looks genuinely alert.
Satoru Gojo (low, serious):"Everyone."
No playfulness.
No teasing.
Satoru Gojo:"Step back."
Even Yuji obeys instantly.
Megumi doesn't move far—
But positions himself closer to you.
Protective.
Instinctive.
Another pulse from the tunnel.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Your Tenchu mark throbs.
Answering it.
Like recognition.
Like resonance.
Gojo notices.
Of course he does.
Satoru Gojo (inner thoughts):…So it's connected.
The presence lingers.
Watching.
Measuring.
Then—
It Withdraws
No explosion.
No attack.
Just—
Silence returning.
Weight lifting.
The pressure vanishes like it was never there.
Yuji exhales shakily.
Yuji Itadori:"…I hate mysterious things."
Nobara Kugisaki:"What the hell was that?"
Megumi's eyes remain fixed on the tunnel.
Megumi Fushiguro:"…It wasn't a normal curse."
Gojo turns back to the group slowly.
Smile returning—
But thinner now.
Satoru Gojo:"Mission's over."
A beat.
Satoru Gojo:"We're leaving."
No explanation.
Which is explanation enough.
You take a step—
Your legs almost fail—
But you steady yourself again.
Megumi notices.
Says nothing.
But stays close.
And beneath your collar—
Tenchu pulses once
Soft.
Uneasy.
Like something just confirmed your existence.
Next Day —
Morning sunlight spills across the courtyard.
Fresh.
Calm.
Deceptively peaceful.
You stand there in your uniform.
Still slightly weak…
But stubbornly present.
Gojo waits near the weapon rack.
Hands in pockets.
Smile unreadable.
Satoru Gojo:"Good morning~"
Y/N:"…Morning, Sensei."
His gaze scans you.
Checking.
Measuring.
Satisfied enough.
Then—
He gestures toward the long row of weapons.
Blades.
Spears.
Staffs.
Things that look far too deadly for casual selection.
Satoru Gojo:"Pick one."
You blink.
Y/N:"…Excuse me?"
Satoru Gojo:"A weapon."
Casual.
Like he's asking you to pick a notebook.
Satoru Gojo:"Your cursed energy output is unstable in raw blasts."
His tone shifts slightly.
More instructor.
Less clown.
Satoru Gojo:"So we give it direction."
A pause.
Satoru Gojo:"You'll learn to channel instead of explode."
Your fingers flex unconsciously.
Memory of yesterday's surge still fresh.
You walk slowly along the rack.
Eyes scanning.
Too heavy.
Too large.
Too intimidating.
Then—
Your gaze stops.
A katana.
Elegant.
Slim.
Balanced.
You lift it carefully.
Surprised by the lightness.
Y/N (soft):"…This one."
Gojo watches closely.
A tiny grin forming.
Satoru Gojo:"Of course you'd pick the dramatic option."
Y/N:"It's light!"
You swing it experimentally—
Awkward.
Uncertain.
Nearly lose balance.
Gojo laughs.
Satoru Gojo:"Easy there, samurai."
Gojo steps closer.
Takes position behind you.
Hands adjusting your grip.
Precise.
Professional.
Satoru Gojo:"It's not about strength."
He corrects your stance with a gentle tap of his foot.
Satoru Gojo:"It's about control."
You nod.
Trying to focus.
Satoru Gojo:"Now…"
His voice lowers slightly.
Satoru Gojo:"Pour cursed energy into the blade."
You inhale.
Energy stirring.
And—
WHOOSH!
A violent surge floods instantly.
The katana vibrates.
Air distorts.
Satoru Gojo:"Stop."
Firm.
Immediate.
Your energy cuts off.
Chest heaving.
Y/N:"…I barely did anything…"
Satoru Gojo:"Exactly."
He taps the flat side of the blade.
Satoru Gojo:"You're dumping, not pouring."
Gojo steps back.
Eyes sharp now.
Fully teacher mode.
Satoru Gojo:"Again."
You close your eyes.
Slower breath.
Feel.
Don't force.
Cursed energy gathers—
But this time—
You hesitate.
Guide it.
Like threading a needle.
A thin ripple travels down your arm.
Into the hilt.
The blade hums faintly.
Soft blue sheen.
Stable.
Gojo's smile returns.
Genuine.
Satoru Gojo:"Good."
Your eyes open.
Surprised.
Y/N:"…That felt different."
Satoru Gojo:"Because you didn't panic."
A beat.
Satoru Gojo:"Your Tenchu reacts to emotional spikes."
Your hand tightens slightly.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
Satoru Gojo:"So we keep you calm…"
He grins.
Satoru Gojo:"…or at least less explosive."
Gojo gestures forward.
Satoru Gojo:"Now move."
You step.
Swing.
Adjust.
Katana slices through air—
Still clumsy—
But improving.
Energy flickers—
But doesn't burst.
Until—
Your foot slips slightly on gravel.
Balance wavers.
Focus breaks.
SURGE
The blade flares violently.
Shockwave ripples outward.
Gojo appears instantly—
Hand gripping the back of the blade.
Infinity neutralizing the burst.
Silence.
Your eyes widen.
Y/N:"…I lost it again…"
Satoru Gojo (calm):"No."
He releases the blade.
Satoru Gojo:"You caught it faster."
A small pause.
Satoru Gojo:"That's progress."
You look down at the katana.
Breathing steadier now.
Not a weapon.
A conduit.
Not power.
Precision.
Gojo watches you quietly.
Something thoughtful behind that usual grin.
Satoru Gojo (soft):"We'll make a proper sorcerer out of you yet."
You glance up.
Half annoyed.
Half motivated.
Y/N:"I already am one."
Gojo laughs.
Bright.
Satoru Gojo:"That attitude helps."
And beneath your collar—
Tenchu pulses
Soft.
Interested.
The metallic hum of the katana still lingers in the air.
Your grip tightens slightly.
Mind replaying Gojo's words.
Control. Not force.
A sharp sound of footsteps.
Confident.
Measured.
Maki Zenin:"So."
You turn.
Maki stands there, wooden practice spear resting against her shoulder.
Eyes locked directly on your blade.
Maki Zenin:"You picked a katana."
Not surprise.
Assessment.
Y/N:"…Yeah."
Maki steps closer.
No hesitation.
Maki Zenin:"Why?"
Gojo answers before you can.
Naturally.
Satoru Gojo:"Because it's stylish."
Maki Zenin:"…I wasn't asking you."
Gojo grins.
Unbothered.
You glance between them.
Y/N:"It's light… easier to handle."
Maki studies your posture.
Your stance.
Your hands.
Then—
She clicks her tongue softly.
Maki Zenin:"Light doesn't mean easy."
She taps the blade with one finger.
Maki Zenin:"And thin doesn't mean forgiving."
Your brows knit.
Maki Zenin:"…If you swing this wrong, it won't just miss."
A pause.
Maki Zenin:"It'll snap."
You blink.
Instinctively looking at the katana.
Gojo chuckles quietly.
Watching the tension build.
Satoru Gojo:"Which is why~"
He gestures dramatically toward Maki.
Satoru Gojo:"I'm outsourcing."
Maki Zenin:"…Tch."
But there's a faint smirk.
She steps forward.
Maki grabs a wooden bokken from the rack.
Tosses it toward you.
You barely catch it.
Maki Zenin:"We start with this."
Y/N:"…Not the real one?"
Maki Zenin:"You haven't earned the real one."
Gojo laughs loudly.
Satoru Gojo:"See? Responsible senpai."
Maki Zenin:"Leave."
Satoru Gojo:"Rude."
He waves dramatically…
And actually walks away.
Still smiling.
You and Maki now face each other.
Silence thick with expectation.
Maki Zenin:"Hands."
You adjust instinctively.
Wrong.
She immediately corrects you.
Firm.
Precise.
Maki Zenin:"Not choking it."
She loosens your fingers slightly.
Maki Zenin:"You're guiding the blade, not strangling it."
She steps around you.
Adjusts elbows.
Shoulders.
Feet.
Maki Zenin:"Katana fighting is structure."
Tap.
Maki Zenin:"Alignment."
Tap.
Maki Zenin:"Economy of motion."
You swallow.
Trying to absorb everything.
Maki Zenin:"Strike."
You swing.
Too wide.
Too tense.
Maki sidesteps effortlessly.
Bokken smacking your wrist.
Y/N:"Ow—!"
Maki Zenin:"Again."
Second swing.
Still rough.
THWACK.
Shoulder this time.
Maki Zenin:"You're muscling it."
Third attempt.
She blocks.
Pushes back.
You stumble.
Maki Zenin:"Relax your arms."
Y/N:"I AM RELAXED!"
Maki Zenin:"…No. You're nervous."
That lands harder than the bokken.
Maki demonstrates.
One clean swing.
Minimal movement.
Maximum precision.
The air itself seems sliced.
Maki Zenin:"See the difference?"
You nod slowly.
Maki Zenin:"No wasted motion."
She points at you.
Maki Zenin:"You're fighting the weapon."
A beat.
Maki Zenin:"Make it an extension."
Maki steps closer again.
Maki Zenin:"Now add cursed energy."
You tense slightly.
Memory of earlier surge.
Maki Zenin:"Not a blast."
Her gaze sharpens.
Maki Zenin:"A coating."
You inhale.
Energy gathering.
Slowly—
You guide it down your arms.
Into the wooden blade.
A faint shimmer forms.
Stable.
Maki's eyebrow lifts.
Maki Zenin:"…Huh."
Maki Zenin:"Again."
This time—
You swing.
Cleaner.
Sharper.
More controlled.
The shimmer holds.
No explosion.
No distortion.
Maki smirks faintly.
Maki Zenin:"Better."
Your chest rises with heavy breaths.
But there's pride there now.