No talent

After training ended at Jujutsu High's Training Ground, the last rays of sunset streamed through the high windows, spreading warm orange light across the floor. The light shifted slowly with the clouds, as though someone were painting the sky with an invisible brush.

Satoru Gojo sprawled on the floor, his wet white hair plastered to his forehead, looking like an enormous cat freshly hauled out of the water. He panted heavily, limbs splayed, with no regard for appearances. Sweat slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the floor, spreading into small dark patches.

"I'm dying, I'm dying, I'm dyyyiiing-" he complained, drawing out the words like he was singing a mournful song. "Has Mr. Yaga lost his mind today? That was twice our usual training! Twice!"

Xian Di stood nearby, breathing steadily, with only a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. The intense training seemed to have been no more than a stroll for him, just as one would expect of someone who regularly trained his body.

Suguru Geto wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat down beside him. His hair was a little disheveled too, a few loose strands clinging to his forehead, but he still looked as gentle and refined as ever. He accepted the water Xian Di handed him and thanked him.

Shoko held a bottle of water, took a sip, then passed it to Zhiyan. She was a little tired today too. Although, as a doctor, she generally didn't have to fight on the front lines, she still needed a strong body to keep treating people.

Zhiyan sat beside Shoko and took a few sips from the bottle, then tightened the cap and set it by his feet. He picked up a towel and wiped her sweat, looking every bit the devoted husband.

Having just finished handing out water, Wana sat down beside Shoko and drank in small sips. Her cheeks were flushed, and beads of sweat still dotted her forehead, but her eyes sparkled. She looked full of energy.

The Training Ground was quiet.

There was only birdsong from outside the windows and Gojo's occasional groans.

Gojo's gaze swept over Shoko, and his eyes suddenly lit up as though something had occurred to him.

He sprang upright and scooted over to Shoko. He moved so quickly that he hardly seemed like the same person who had been sprawled in a boneless heap moments ago.

"Shoko, Shoko!"

Shoko looked at him.

"What?"

Gojo leaned a little closer, an ingratiating smile on his face. That smile was, well, rather like a large dog wagging its tail.

"I have a question for you."

Shoko raised an eyebrow.

"Go ahead."

Gojo rubbed his hands together, looking as obsequious as humanly possible.

"So... how do you learn Reverse Cursed Technique?"

Shoko looked at him without saying anything.

Gojo hurried to add more.

"I know it comes naturally to you, but there must be some trick, right? Like how to sense cursed energy, how to circulate it, that sort of thing! Teach me, please!"

His eyes brimmed with anticipation, shining astonishingly bright.

Geto had been resting, but he came over when he heard this. He sat beside Gojo, his gaze earnest.

"Now that you mention it, I'm curious too," he said gently. "Reverse Cursed Technique is a very rare ability. It would be good to understand the principles behind it. If you don't mind, Shoko, could you explain it to us?"

Shoko looked at the two of them.

"Sure," she said, a hint of mischief in her voice. "I'll demonstrate it for you. Watch closely. This is the trick."

Gojo immediately sat up straight, his eyes wide and round, fixed on her without blinking.

Geto leaned forward slightly too, concentrating hard, afraid of missing even the smallest detail.

This was the secret to getting stronger!

They'd regret missing it for the rest of their lives!

Beside them, Wana leaned in curiously too. Shoko was going to teach them? She wanted to watch too!

Xian Di remained standing nearby. Though he wasn't looking over, his ears were already pricked, letting nothing escape him.

Seeing the serious expression on Shoko's little face, Zhiyan, who knew her well, realized that Gojo and Geto were almost certainly about to be teased.

Shoko stood up.

She planted one hand on her hip and raised the other, extending a finger.

Her pose had something of a grand commander directing an army about it.

Then she began drawing circles.

As she drew, she muttered under her breath.

"First, whoosh-"

Her finger traced a circle through the air, the movement smooth, as though she were drawing some mysterious rune.

"Then, hiyah-"

She drew another circle, this time in the opposite direction.

"Whoosh, hiyah."

Done.

She lowered her hand and looked at the two of them.

"Did you get it?"

Gojo's expression froze.

His sunglasses slid down to the tip of his nose, but he didn't notice at all.

Geto's expression wasn't much better.

He tilted his head slightly, his brows knitting together. His gentle eyes were now full of question marks. His lips moved faintly, as though repeating the few words Shoko had just said.

"Whoosh... hiyah?"

He repeated it, sounding a little uncertain.

Then he looked at Gojo.

Gojo looked at him too.

Their eyes met, and each saw the same thing in the other's gaze-

Confusion.

Seeing their expressions, Shoko tilted her head.

"You didn't get it?"

Gojo and Geto nodded simultaneously.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, like a duet of dancers.

Shoko sighed.

Her expression was that of someone looking at two hopeless idiots.

"No talent."

A huge vein bulged on Gojo's forehead. What did she mean, he had no talent? Could any human being understand that?

Shoko pointed at Zhiyan.

"I taught Zhiyan."

Gojo and Geto turned their heads at the same time to look at Zhiyan.

Zhiyan had been thoroughly enjoying the show when he suddenly became its star, two burning gazes settling on him.

One gaze was resentful, the other complicated.

He turned his head and met their eyes.

Gojo's eyes held resentment.

Geto's held complex deliberation.

Zhiyan fell silent for a second.

Then he turned around, putting his back to them.

The movement could not have been more awkward.

Gojo stared at his back, then suddenly realized something.

"Wait-" He jumped up, indignation in his voice. "Doesn't Zhiyan's Reverse Cursed Technique come with his Round Deer? He didn't have to learn it!"

Shoko blinked, looking perfectly innocent.

"Really? Did I forget?"

Gojo: "..."

Keep pretending! Go on!

He was about to say something else when he suddenly stopped.

Something else had occurred to him.

Right, Zhiyan could use Reverse Cursed Technique too.

Sure, he'd gotten it effortlessly, with Round Deer doing the work, but maybe he could still teach him?

It was worth a shot!

Gojo's eyes lit up again.

They shone even brighter than before.

He scooted over to Zhiyan.

Zhiyan had just turned around when he found Gojo's face looming right in front of his own.

A sense of foreboding rose in Zhiyan's heart.

He was about to slip away discreetly when a hand landed on his shoulder.

Its grip was neither too firm nor too light, yet he couldn't break free.

A drop of cold sweat appeared on Zhiyan's forehead.

"Zhiyan-"

Gojo's voice sounded beside his ear, carrying a little flattery, a little wheedling, and a little threat that allowed no refusal.

"We're best friends, right?"

Could I say no?

Zhiyan took a deep breath.

"Go on. What do you want?"

Gojo chuckled, his smile as radiant as could be.

"It's about Reverse Cursed Technique. Could you explain it to me? How do you understand it?"

Zhiyan looked at him, then at Geto, who had also drawn closer, and knew there was no escaping today.

He thought for a moment, then began slowly.

"My understanding of Reverse Cursed Technique is..."

He paused.

"Negative times negative is positive."

Gojo blinked.

"Negative times negative is positive?"

Zhiyan nodded.

"It's not simply addition. It's multiplication."

He looked at Gojo.

"Do you understand?"

Gojo's eyes were very clear.

How clear?

So clear that there was no sign any knowledge had passed through them at all.

He simply looked at Zhiyan, blinking like a puppy listening attentively without understanding a single word.

Then he spoke.

"That's it?"

Zhiyan nodded.

"That's it."

Gojo froze.

He'd waited all that time, and this was what he got?

Negative times negative is positive? Multiplication?

How was this any different from Shoko's "whoosh, hiyah"?!

Veins bulged on his forehead one after another.

"You-" He pointed at Zhiyan, his finger trembling. "You and your wife are teaming up to mess with me!"

Zhiyan said nothing.

But his expression clearly said-

You noticed?

Gojo was about to erupt when a voice suddenly came from beside him.

"Zhiyan."

It was Geto.

His head was lowered, his brows slightly furrowed, as though he were pondering something. Something seemed to be turning over in those gentle eyes.

Gojo looked at him, a little puzzled.

"Geto?"

Geto ignored him and kept thinking.

After a while, he raised his head and looked at Zhiyan.

"What you just said, about negative times negative being positive, multiplication..."

He paused, as though organizing his words.

"Is it a little like... a collision?"

Zhiyan looked at him and nodded approvingly. Now here was someone worth teaching.

"Go on."

Geto thought for a moment.

"Two opposing things meet under certain conditions, then produce something new. It's not simple addition, but... a qualitative change? Cursed energy should work on a similar principle, right? Opposing cursed energy collides and produces something new-that's the essence of Reverse Cursed Technique?"

Zhiyan approved of that idea.

"That's more or less what I mean."

Suguru Geto's eyes lit up too.

"I think I'm starting to understand."

The two exchanged a glance, each seeing a certain resonance in the other's eyes.

It was the appreciation of one kindred mind for another, the recognition of one thinker by another.

Satoru Gojo stood nearby, watching the scene, utterly dumbfounded.

What was going on?

Just a moment ago, he and Suguru Geto had both been confused, both been teased by Shoko, and both been brushed off by Zhiyan.

How had Suguru Geto suddenly figured it out?

He looked at Suguru Geto, then at Zhiyan.

The two had already started discussing it.

"So the key is finding the balance point in the collision?" Suguru Geto asked.

"Yeah." Zhiyan nodded. "Too weak, and it won't work. Too strong, and it'll spiral out of control."

"Then how do you find that balance point?"

"Everyone's Cursed Energy has different properties. You have to work it out for yourself."

"I see..."

The more they talked, the more they clicked, and the deeper their discussion went.

Satoru Gojo understood every word they said, but put together, none of it made any sense to him.

He stood there, utterly bewildered.

So he was the only clown here?

He turned to Shoko.

Shoko was listening intently to Zhiyan and Geto's conversation, with no intention of paying him any attention.

He looked at Xian Di instead.

Xian Di gazed out the window, looking utterly untroubled by the world.

Satoru Gojo's heart sank.

Just then, the door to the Training Ground was pushed open.

Wana walked in carrying several bottles of water.

She had gone to get water earlier and had no idea what had happened here.

As soon as she entered, she saw Satoru Gojo standing beside Zhiyan and Suguru Geto with a sour expression.

She walked over and handed out the water.

Satoru Gojo took his bottle but didn't drink.

He simply hung his head, his entire being radiating an air of having nothing left to live for.

That air was so thick it was almost tangible.

Wana watched him with some curiosity.

"What's wrong with you?"

Satoru Gojo lifted his head and looked at her.

His sky-blue eyes held uncertainty, hurt, and a hopeful plea for comfort.

He suddenly spoke.

"Wana."

Wana blinked.

"What?"

Satoru Gojo's voice trembled slightly.

"Am I really as dumb as a pig?"

Wana suddenly struggled to keep a straight face.

Had he finally recognized what he was?

But she didn't laugh.

She merely spoke with a perfectly serious expression.

"How could you say that!"

Hope flared in Satoru Gojo's eyes.

Was she going to reassure him that he was a genius? Tell him he was actually smart?

Wana continued.

"Pigs are way smarter than you."

Satoru Gojo's expression froze.

The hope that had just kindled in his eyes instantly died.

In its place came an indescribable sort of... despair.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't get a single word out.

Beside him, Shoko finally couldn't hold back and burst into gleeful laughter.

Zhiyan and Suguru Geto also stopped their discussion to watch the scene.

Wana looked at Satoru Gojo with an innocent expression.

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

"You... you..."

He pointed at Wana, his finger trembling.

"What about me?"

"What about me?"

"What did I ever do to you!" he finally exploded. "Did you really have to roast me like that!"

Wana tilted her head, looking perfectly serious.

"I'm just stating the facts."

Satoru Gojo: "..."

Just then, the door to the Training Ground was pushed open again.

A tall figure appeared in the doorway.

He walked to the center of the grounds, sweeping his gaze over everyone.

"You're all here. Good."

His deep, resonant voice echoed through the spacious Training Ground, carrying unquestionable authority.

The six of them lined up neatly, waiting for Masamichi Yaga to speak.

Masamichi Yaga's gaze passed over each of their faces.

Then he spoke.

"Next week-"

He paused, as though giving them time to digest the information.

"The Goodwill Event between Tokyo Jujutsu High and Kyoto Jujutsu High will be held."

Satoru Gojo's eyes instantly lit up.

They shone brighter than they had at any point earlier.

The Goodwill Event?

Wasn't that a perfect chance to fight?

All his hurt vanished, and he perked right up.

Suguru Geto nodded thoughtfully.

Wana asked curiously.

"The Goodwill Event? What's that?"

Masamichi Yaga glanced at her.

"It's an opportunity to spar and exchange experience with the students from Kyoto Jujutsu High. It's held once a year, and this year it's our turn to host."

He paused.

"Although you're first-years, you've been enrolled for several months and completed quite a few missions. You're strong enough, so all of you will participate."

Satoru Gojo clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming.

"Awesome!"

Masamichi Yaga looked at him.

"Don't get excited just yet."

His voice was low, carrying a note of warning.

"Kyoto Jujutsu High has quite a few formidable students too. Talented members of the Kamo Clan, the Zenin Clan, and other clans will all be participating. This won't be the sort of playing around you do in your regular training."

Satoru Gojo didn't take it to heart at all.

"However strong they are, can they really be stronger than me?"

Masamichi Yaga ignored him.

He looked at everyone.

"We'll discuss the details in class tomorrow. Prepare yourselves over the next few days."

He paused.

"That's all for today. Dismissed."

After Masamichi Yaga left, Gojo gathered everyone together and said confidently, "Let me put it this way. With me, Geto, Zhiyan, and Xian Di, what bunch of small fry could possibly beat us? We'll sweep the whole competition."

Wana was a little indignant. "What about me?"

Satoru Gojo waved a dismissive hand. "You can cheer us on from the sidelines."

Wana ran over, jumped hard, and climbed onto Gojo's back, grabbing his ears. "How dare you underestimate me!"

Gojo's ears hurt so badly that he repeatedly begged for mercy. "I was kidding! You're the strongest, your majesty! I'll cheer you on, okay? Ow, stop pulling!"

The other four shook their heads helplessly. Those two were a real pair of characters.