The principal himself had not fought personally either, and with that muscular build and condensed Cursed Energy, Akira did not believe he was bad at close combat.
Masamichi Yaga tugged at the flesh on his face. "You are the same. You were guarding against me the whole time."
As he said, that was the real reason Akira did not act personally or directly command Gardevoir. This was a test, not a life-and-death fight. When both sides relied on companions, the one who did more would lose.
"So, am I qualified?" Akira asked.
"You are qualified," Masamichi Yaga nodded slightly. "If not for what Satoru said about your lack in Jujutsu, I would have hired you as a teacher here."
Akira's face remained calm, but his hands quietly clenched. Those words were both recognition and the first official evaluation of his strength from the Jujutsu Society. Eight years of restraint and eight years of effort had been worth it.
After steadying himself, Akira said, "How about a compromise. Student as my main role, teaching assistant as a part-time job?"
"So that is your move. Please do it that way," Masamichi Yaga said readily. "Then I can officially dump a lot of work on you."
The sky cleared, the rain stopped, and Satoru Gojo felt like he was back in form. This time, however, neither Masamichi Yaga nor Akira objected.
That was because Jujutsu World was severely understaffed. There were not enough students, and even fewer teachers, which was why first-year students were sent straight into real combat. Tokyo's school had only two teachers besides the principal, and counting students on internships, on leave, or overseas, there were barely more than ten.
As the strongest, Satoru Gojo was as busy as his strength implied. Teaching, missions, managing the Gojo family, planning reforms for Jujutsu World, and recruiting students kept him constantly occupied. Without his special Jujutsu and natural talent, he would have collapsed from overwork long ago.
"Then it is settled," Masamichi Yaga concluded. "Satoru will mainly handle the lower grades. You will start with the first years. When Satoru is away, you take charge, mainly practical combat and physical skills. As for Jujutsu, leave that to Satoru."
"If you do not mind, I can help as well."
An unexpected voice spoke up.
Akira was stunned. He was used to shocking his mother all year round, but this time it was reversed, and his mother shocked him instead. The feeling lingered on his face, and he could not hide it even if he tried.
Masamichi Yaga was also a little surprised. He looked at Ms. Mei and started to speak, but she raised a hand to stop him.
"I am also a graduate of Tokyo Jujutsu High. It was over twenty years ago, but a Jujutsu Sorcerer does not forget the knowledge that matters." Akemi Aki replied calmly, glancing at Akira now and then, clearly satisfied with his expression.
Satoru Gojo let out a light chuckle. Over the past two days, he had people check information on the Ake Clan mother and son, but in a place like Japan, it was not easy. Now that he had this lead, the range could be narrowed a lot, since there were only so many graduates of Tokyo Jujutsu High over the years.
Masamichi Yaga pushed his Sunglasses thoughtfully. "If you are a graduate of the school, then there is no problem. In that case, I will leave it to you, Ms. Mei."
"Mom—"
Akira was about to speak, but Akemi Aki already understood what he wanted to say and spoke first.
"The child works so hard, so as a mother I cannot do nothing. Drinking tea, growing flowers, and practicing calligraphy all day has gotten boring." She smiled slightly. "Relax, it will be fine. This is Tokyo Jujutsu High."
Akira thought about it and felt she was right, so he did not argue further. At worst, he could just train a few more Pokémon, since group fights were his favorite anyway.
Seeing that Akira had no objections, Masamichi Yaga gave an order. "Gojo, take them to handle the procedures, and also introduce the security measures."
"Alright, Tokyo Jujutsu High sightseeing group, let's go." Satoru Gojo raised a hand and acted like a tour guide.
Unfortunately, his act fell apart the very next second.
"Pick up some wooden boards and nails on the way back, and fix the floor when you return."
"Huh? Why am I the one fixing it? I was not the one who broke it."
"Do it when I tell you to. Are you the principal, or am I?"
"Yes, yes, such a pain."
"Too quiet. I cannot hear you."
"Yes!"
Akira learned another lesson. When a Jujutsu Sorcerer speaks like commanding a warship, volume matters. You cannot lose in presence alone.
Despite the severe lack of manpower, the school itself had not been downsized at all. In fact, it was very grand, with vast grounds and distinctive buildings. Pagodas, shrines, green walls, wooden railings, single and double eaves, and connected corridors filled the area.
Since Jujutsu was unknown to ordinary people, Tokyo Jujutsu High presented itself to the outside as a professional religious school. The act was done thoroughly, and in any case, the Jujutsu Society never lacked money.
After spending most of the morning touring the campus and then fixing the floor, it was nearly noon when Satoru Gojo officially brought Akira to the class. There was no need to introduce the classmates, as they were the two students and one Panda he had met before: Panda, Maki Zenin, Toge Inumaki, and Panda.
Perhaps because of their previous brush with danger, or simply from habit, they were training hard even without a teacher present. The meeting place was not a classroom, but the training field.
"Gather." Satoru Gojo clapped his hands to draw attention.
The three students stopped at the same time and focused on Satoru Gojo. Their eyes quickly shifted to the Pancham on his broom-like head.
"Mayonnaise." Toge Inumaki said as he looked over.
"Panda, your little brother?" Maki Zenin asked with a smile.
"No, he is not. He is not a Cursed Corpse."
Panda denied it on instinct. He was not really Panda, but Masamichi Yaga's greatest creation, a Cursed Corpse born with emotions and intelligence, a suddenly mutated cursed corpse.
Right after he said that, Pancham jumped over and grabbed Panda by the belly, refusing to let go. He kept making cheerful noises as he clung on.
Panda had no choice but to give in. "Alright, alright. All Panda under heaven are one family. I will be your big brother."
Only then was the little guy satisfied. He ran back to Akira, skillfully dug a piece of bamboo out of Akira's backpack, and handed it to Panda.
Panda looked helpless. "I do not eat bamboo…"
A Cursed Corpse was not a living creature. He did not need to eat or use the restroom.
"Wan, wan."
"I really do not eat it. Akira, help talk to him."
With Masamichi Yaga as precedent, it was reasonable that Panda could communicate with Pancham as well.
Akira spoke up. "Xiao Wan, stop messing around. Be careful, or your brother will not play with you."
Pancham immediately calmed down. He held the bamboo himself and stood behind Panda, just like a little follower sticking close to his boss.