Kiyotaka threw a right hook at Gojo, thinking, 'I've improved, but is it enough?'
Gojo caught Kiyotaka's punch, saying, "Looks like you've mastered your Cursed Technique enough that you don't have to chant to use it in simple imbuements to your hands and feet."
Kiyotaka nodded, saying, "I used it once when Nobara and I fought back in that abandoned building when we first met, but the cost was way too high. At that rate, I would have run out after 20 uses. I've been spending most of the month trying to reduce the cost."
Gojo smiled, saying, "That's good. You've already got a good understanding of how to use Cursed Energy to an extent that it would take most people years to learn. Your physique and mindset are good too. Right now, what's holding you back is your inexperience in fighting Curses and using your Cursed Technique. I'm glad you've been working hard to compensate."
Kiyotaka sat down, feeling exhausted as Gojo asked, "Have you ever tried to heavily coat the mass in Cursed Energy? It'll make it invisible."
Kiyotaka nodded and said, "The amount needed is absurd. Even worse for projectiles."
Gojo laughed and said, "Then Sukuna must have managed it back then with a binding vow."
"Binding vow?"
Gojo smiled and said, "You can make binding vows with yourself to restrict yourself in one thing in exchange for increasing your performance somewhere else."
Kiyotaka seemed to understand as he asked, "What judges a binding vow as a fair trade?"
Gojo shrugged and said, "No one knows. It's likely about what you sincerely perceive as a fair trade."
Kiyotaka nodded in understanding but then said, "When I regained control of my body back then, I was practically empty in terms of Cursed Energy. It seems like even with binding vows, not even Sukuna can do it easily. Maybe if he regained his power, it would be easier for him, though."
Gojo smiled and asked, "So on that topic, how much Cursed Energy do you have, Kiyotaka? Compare yourself to me."
Kiyotaka deadpanned, saying, "Comparing myself to you? That's not a funny joke. Just come out with it and tell me to praise you for having so much Cursed Energy."
Gojo laughed and then said, "Well, that is true, but I'm serious. I want to know."
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "If your Cursed Energy was 100, mine would be 65."
Gojo whistled, saying, "It's impressive that you have that much."
Kiyotaka sighed and asked, "Do you have that much more Cursed Energy than the rest of the Sorcerers?"
Gojo smirked and said, "Of course. I'm the strongest, after all."
Kiyotaka looked to Gojo and asked, "Can I ask about Domains? Is it possible for me to make one for myself?"
Gojo nodded, saying, "That's possible, though the concept of using a Domain is abstract."
"Then..."
Gojo shook his head and said, "It's the pinnacle of Jujutsu. Calm down before I have nothing left to teach you."
Kiyotaka looked at him incredulously, saying, "You told me to get as strong as the Volcano Curse so..."
Gojo poked him in the forehead and said, "I did say that, but I didn't say you needed to get that strong immediately. You can take things slowly and enjoy things along the way. You might be 18, but don't throw away your youth so easily. Enjoy it because I'll make sure no one can take it from you."
Kiyotaka looked to Gojo in surprise before saying, "I'll keep that in mind, and I'll expect as much from you."
Gojo smiled and said, "Now that's what I like to hear."
Kiyotaka looked to him, thinking, 'Though the other things about him are contentious, I can respect this much about him.'
Kiyotaka then sighed, thinking, 'If only I had met you sooner. My youth is already long gone.'
—————————————————————————————————————
The trio stood together by the vending machines, and Nobara complained, saying, "Couldn't they put in a few more vending machines?"
'I'd assume it's because this place has a level of secrecy that needs to be retained.'
Kiyotaka thought this as Megumi answered her, saying, "They can't. There are only so many workers who can come in here."
That's when a muscular man and a girl walked over as Megumi asked, "What are you doing here, Zenin-Senpai?"
Nobara looked surprised, asking, "Oh, she's one too? They do look similar. Sisters?"
"They're twins," answered Megumi.
Megumi said this as Mai looked to the trio with a smile, saying, "Don't call me that, Fushiguro-kun. You make me sound the same as Maki. Call me Mai."
She said the last part while tilting her head slightly and closing one eye. Kiyotaka nudged Megumi, saying, "I think that girl is trying to seduce you. As advice from me to you, make sure that you don't eat any food she offers you. It would leave you completely open to..."
Megumi grew a tick mark, saying, "She's my cousin once removed!"
Nobara looked shocked, shouting, "You're one too?!!"
Kiyotaka looked surprised before saying, "Oh? Still. That move is a woman's most dangerous..."
Megumi looked annoyed, saying, "Shut up."
Todo looked at them and asked, "So these are the three that took on and beat a Special-Grade Curse?"
Mai smiled and said, "Fighting a Special-Grade curse must have been so terrifying. We were worried, so we came to check on you."
She said this without a hint of sincerity as she and Todo both looked to Kiyotaka, thinking, 'No Cursed Energy?'
Mai looked annoyed at this, thinking, 'Even less than Maki. It pisses me off just to look at him.'
Todo stepped forward, saying, "I'm only here to see if these guys are fit to take Okkotsu's place. That's all I want to know," as he took off his jacket and threw it to the side.
Todo looked to Kiyotaka, asking, "Ayanokoji, right?"
Kiyotaka looked to him, saying, "Yes. That's me."
Todo smirked and asked, "What kind of woman is your type?"
Kiyotaka deadpanned as the other two looked confused. Todo proceeded to rip his shirt off his own body, revealing his muscles and saying, "I feel like you'll have a good answer! By the way, my name is Todo Aoi, and my type is a tall woman with a big ass!"
Kiyotaka once again deadpanned before saying, "I like a woman with nice, smooth thighs. I prefer modest proportions everywhere else. Just enough to fit in my hands. I don't particularly like weak or stupid women either."
Everyone deadpanned at this as Megumi thought, 'You can't be serious. He never acts like this, but when this random guy shows up and asks that random question, some kind of hidden degeneracy pops up randomly?!!'
Nobara kicked him on the side, shouting, "Don't answer that! And don't do it without hesitation, you perv!"
Kiyotaka didn't budge from the kick as he said, "It's only my honest opinion. You wouldn't want to be kicked after saying you like a tall guy with a lot of money, would you?"
Nobara tensed up awkwardly, saying, "Well... well... no but... um... ugh!" and then shouting, "No!!! Don't you spin this on me. Have some tact, you perv!"
Kiyotaka deadpanned, asking, "What kind of hypocrisy is this?"
Todo smiled and said, "That's a good answer! A refined taste that needs both mental and physical ability! Your sincerity has flavour all on its own! You're interesting! I like you!"
Kiyotaka deadpanned, thinking, 'Why does it feel like being liked by him is not a good thing?'
Todo smiled and said, "Looks like they got a good replacement for Okkotsu, but what about you?"
He looked to Megumi, who hesitated as Todo said, "Hurry up and answer. If you prefer men, that's fine too."
Nobara looked annoyed, asking, "What does this have to do with anything?"
Kiyotaka sighed, saying, "It's a test of character. It's not about the answer but the sincerity you put into it and how quickly you answer. Fushiguro. Get clear of here."
Kiyotaka stood in front of Megumi and looked to Todo, saying, "This isn't the place for a brawl. Calm yourself and leave."
Todo shook his head, saying, "Your hesitation is the answer. Fushiguro! You're boring!"
Todo rushed towards the two of them as Kiyotaka said, "Manifest", as a slab of mass appeared in front of Todo's face, flying towards him.
Mai looked shocked, thinking, 'He has Cursed Energy? But I couldn't see it!'
Todo was shocked for a second as he clapped his hands, swapping with Kiyotaka, who looked shocked, thinking, 'I changed positions?!! This is...'
Before Kiyotaka could finish his thought, he was hit by his own attack and sent flying forward, separating him from Megumi. Todo then used a lariat on Megumi, who threw up his arms in a desperate defence, with Nobara being completely incapable of reacting.
Megumi was sent flying back as he slowly got up, thinking, 'What the hell? How did he? His Cursed Technique?"
Nobara looked shocked, shouting, "Fushiguro! Ayanokoji!"
She moved to help Fushiguro, but Mai put her gun at Nobara's waist, saying, "Now now. Don't get involved. Todo is a Grade 1 Sorcerer, so even if you step in, it won't change anything."
She said this while smiling, but she was actually quite annoyed, thinking, 'That guy. The vessel. He has the same kind of technique as me.'
Kiyotaka slowly got up, thinking, 'How did he react to that? I manifested it almost right in front of his face. Also, how did he swap with me? It's most likely his Cursed Technique.'
He looked to Todo, thinking, 'This guy is strong.'
Todo had seen the mass in front of him and easily determined it was via the Cursed Technique of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Confirming this, he then realised that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka has Cursed Energy and that it is invisible. Using this fact, he determined that swapping with him was possible, and so he did so.
Todo looked to Megumi and said, "I hate boring men like you."
Kiyotaka sighed, shouting, "Try not to die before I get there, Fushiguro," and chanted, "Manifest", as a slab of mass wedged itself between the gunpoint and Nobara. He rushed in, kicking Mai in the side as she landed in the gravel.
Nobara looked surprised, saying, "Thanks, Ayanokoji", before seeing the look on his face as he looked at Mai.
Mai slowly got up, saying, "Kicking a woman? What kind of brute are you?"
Kiyotaka looked at her darkly, thinking, 'Wallowing in your weakness and trying to act like that makes you better than those who aim higher,' as he looked to her and said, "I went easy on you. Be grateful. Be grateful I didn't go for a lethal alternative."
She shivered as Kiyotaka walked to her, saying, "If you're going to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer with such weak resolve that you resort to messing with other people, you'll die."
"It's not as if I wanted to..."
"It's not about whether you want it or not. I didn't want to either, but if I have no choice, I'm going to be strong. Not weak. I'll rise up. I won't submit to being pushed down."
Mai looked enraged, shouting, "Don't go acting like that. You're just talented enough that you can..."
"I'm not. I have no talent. Everything I have, I earned the hard way. I bled until I didn't care anymore. I cried until it no longer had any meaning. Don't spit on my effort by calling it merely talent."
Mai couldn't come up with anything to reply to that. There was nothing she could say in response. Kiyotaka walked past her, saying, "Behave, and I won't report you to Gojo Satoru," as she tensed up at the threat.
Megumi blocked another punch from Todo as he felt blood drip down from his forehead, and he said, "I'll answer now! Just stop it already, you idiot!"
Todo had tears in his eyes as he said, "No! It's meaningless now, Fushiguro. You're boring!"
He said this before punching Megumi into a wooden structure as Megumi began to look manic, forming a hand sign as he asked, "You want to see something exciting?"
That's when Kiyotaka kicked Todo in the side, causing him to get pushed back. Todo dragged his feet to stop the slide, saying, "That was a good kick, Ayanokoji."
Kiyotaka sighed, saying, "Stop it before you get yourself killed."
Kiyotaka looked to Megumi, saying, "Put your hands down. Don't summon whatever that is", and thinking, 'Some kind of Trump Card. Very dangerous too.'
Megumi lowered his hands as he looked to Todo with an annoyed expression.
Todo looked surprised, saying, "You had something up your sleeve? Maybe you won't be so boring after all."
The Second-Years arrived as Maki walked up to them, asking, "You managed to fight back against these two idiots? Not bad."
Kiyotaka took a breath and said, "Todo is no idiot. Dodging my attack. He didn't do it on impulse. It was calculated. He had less than a second to calculate all of that, but I could tell that's what he was doing from his expression. He's a battle genius."
Maki looked annoyed, saying, "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say", as Todo smirked, looking to Kiyotaka with respect.
Maki then looked to Mai, who was sitting on the floor, as she said, "Get up already", while offering her hand.
Mai slapped Maki's hand away as she slowly got up.
Todo then said, "We're leaving, Mai. We need to go now, or we'll be late to the handshake event with Takada-chan."
Everyone deadpanned at this.
Then, Todo looked happy as he said, "Oh? There's my jacket," as he walked over and picked it up, slinging it over his shoulder.
Mai clicked her tongue, saying, "All of this is pissing me off. I'm done with it."
Maki kept an eye on Mai as she left with Todo.
Kiyotaka sighed and looked to Maki, saying, "Gojo's forcing me to participate in the Exchange Event so you'll see me there. I've been assigned a mission by him, so I'll see you all later."
Maki smirked and said, "Good. I'll see ya there, hotshot."
Kiyotaka walked off.
—————————————————————————————————————
A month passed as Kiyotaka walked with Gojo, who said, "I won't be able to lead you this time. But don't worry. I've called in a friend you can trust."
Gojo opened the door as a man with blond hair and glasses was standing there, and Kiyotaka thought, 'Both he and Gojo cover their eyes. It could just be a coincidence, but I'll ask.'
Before Kiyotaka could say anything, Gojo smiled, teleporting next to the man, slinging his arm over his shoulder, saying, "This is Nanami Kento, the ex-salaryman Jujutsu Sorcerer."
Kiyotaka deadpanned at this, thinking, 'Hey. Don't devolve his individuality into some kind of stereotype.'
Nanami seemed used to this saying, "Please don't call me that."
Gojo smiled and said, "Plenty of Jujutsu Sorcerers are oddballs, but since he worked for a company, he's got a good head on his shoulders. He's a Grade 1 Sorcerer, too."
Nanami fixed his glasses while saying, "I'm sure no one would want to hear you say that about them."
Kiyotaka extended his hand, saying, "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka..."
Remembering what Nobara said, he decided to change up his introduction a little, continuing, "I'm working as a Sorcerer to delay my own execution."
If she saw this scene, Nobara would be fuming, shouting, "That's not what I meant, you idiot!!! You're 18 years old. How are you still incapable of introducing yourself properly?!!"
Nanami simply shook his hand, saying, "Nice to meet you, Ayanokoji-kun. I've already heard of your predicament. I suppose you understand then..."
"Understand?" asked Kiyotaka.
"That being a Jujutsu Sorcerer is shit!"
"Agreed."
The two nodded in agreement with each other as Gojo thought, 'How scary. Wait... Oh no. What have I created by bringing these two together? The gloomy atmosphere is at 200%!'
Nanami crossed his arms and said, "Ayanokoji-kun, please don't believe that I'm of the same mindset as Gojo. I do trust and have faith in him..."
Gojo looked smug at this, but then Nanami finished his sentence, saying, "... but I do not respect him!"
Gojo looked shocked, shouting, "Huh?!"
Nanami walked over to the stairs, saying, "I hate the way the higher-ups do things, but I do believe in rules and regulations."
Kiyotaka nodded, saying, "Of course. If you disliked rules and regulations for something like that, you'd be missing the point. Attacking the system instead of fixing it or getting rid of the people abusing it."
Nanami nodded, saying, "That's exactly right."
Nanami looked to Kiyotaka sternly and said, "I heard you worked in a three-man squad to take down a Special-Grade. It's impressive work, but that doesn't mean I acknowledge you as a sorcerer. I'll do that if you prove yourself in front of me."
Kiyotaka nodded, saying, "I don't like to base things on second-hand accounts either."
—————————————————————————————————————
To Be Continued
—————————————————————————————————————
Rating Out Of 10 For This Chapter?
—————————————————————————————————————