It was his second day at Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu High School.
When Chiyo Shin headed out that morning, the old man at the residence gave him a cardboard box.
Inside were all his identification documents, a phone and its instruction manual, a Tokyo Jujutsu High uniform, and some everyday necessities.
He could tell at a glance that Satoru Gojo had arranged it.
Chiyo Shin put everything Satoru Gojo had prepared away in his dorm room, feeling a little touched. He had never expected his teacher to be so kind.
Just as Chiyo Shin was feeling moved, the door suddenly opened.
"Yo, you're up early, you cocky brat." Satoru Gojo pushed his way in, holding some sweets.
Tch. Somehow, seeing him killed all that gratitude.
"Heh, you're up pretty early yourself, you blindfolded bastard." Chiyo Shin gave as good as he got.
"You're no fun. Just yesterday, you were calling me Teacher Satoru Gojo," Satoru Gojo said with an obnoxious grin.
"Come with me once you're done unpacking. I'll introduce you to your future teammates. Oh, remember to wear your uniform and bring your student ID." With that, Satoru Gojo went outside to wait by the door.
"Okay," Chiyo Shin answered.
Chiyo Shin changed out of his kimono and into his uniform, then searched through his documents for his student ID.
His eyes widened when he read the information on it. What? I'm actually Special Grade?
The photo on the student ID he had pulled from the pile bore a prominent stamp marking him as Special Grade.
I'm amazing.
Once he was ready, Chiyo Shin stepped out of his room.
Satoru Gojo was leaning against the wall outside.
"Looking sharp." Satoru Gojo started walking as he spoke.
Chiyo Shin followed without a word.
"We're heading to the school's athletic field. The second-years are on break, but they're still here training. They should all be on the field around this time." Satoru Gojo led Chiyo Shin toward the field.
The two soon reached the athletic field on foot. Through the gateway, Chiyo Shin could make out a few people sparring.
The Tokyo Jujutsu High athletic field.
Panda was sparring with Maki Zenin.
"Yo, everyone's looking lively! Now, let me introduce our new first-year, Chiyo Shin. Give him a warm welcome!" Satoru Gojo pushed Chiyo Shin in front of him and called out.
No one responded. Panda and Maki kept sparring, while Toge Inumaki watched from the platform.
"Hahaha, your students really don't respect you at all." Rather than dwell on whether anyone acknowledged him, Chiyo Shin turned around and mocked Satoru Gojo.
"Ah, what a bunch of unlovable students. Let's wait until they finish." Satoru Gojo headed toward Toge Inumaki, and Chiyo Shin followed.
Seeing Chiyo Shin approaching with Satoru Gojo, Toge Inumaki greeted him. "Kelp."
"What?" Chiyo Shin was confused.
"This is Toge Inumaki, a descendant of Cursed Speech users. Since his words can unintentionally curse others, he uses food names instead. 'Kelp' means hello." Satoru Gojo stood beside Toge Inumaki and introduced him to Chiyo Shin.
"Oh, I see. Hello to you too." After hearing Satoru Gojo's explanation, Chiyo Shin returned the greeting.
By the time they had gotten acquainted, Panda and Maki's sparring match had reached its conclusion.
On the field, Panda threw a straight punch at Maki as she hung in midair. Even airborne, she moved nimbly, swiftly bringing her naginata in front of her to block.
Unfortunately, Panda was too strong, and his punch sent Maki flying.
Maki used the momentum to twist in the air and adjust her position, landing steadily beside Inumaki and Satoru Gojo.
The sparring match was over.
Satoru Gojo stood with Chiyo Shin on the platform overlooking the field.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Chiyo Shin, a new first-year. I look forward to working with you." Chiyo Shin bowed on the platform.
"Woohoo! Welcome, welcome! I'm Panda," Panda cheered.
"Isn't it still too early for enrollment? Why is a first-year joining now?" Maki asked, pushing up her glasses.
"Salmon," Toge Inumaki said, sticking to his usual vocabulary.
"It's true that school hasn't started yet, but it's only a month away. That's hardly a difference."
"Besides, Chiyo Shin here is a promising talent I went to great lengths to find deep in the mountains. He's Special Grade, just like Okkotsu!" Satoru Gojo patted Chiyo Shin on the shoulder.
"Tch, you mean you tricked me into coming here." Chiyo Shin offered a different version of events.
"Special Grade!" Maki looked up at Chiyo Shin on the platform in disbelief. First one, now another? How were they all so strong? It made no sense.
"Chiyo Shin, introduce your cursed techniques too. You'll be going on missions together, so you need to understand each other." Satoru Gojo gestured for him to continue.
"Uh, I have two cursed techniques. One is the Collapse Cursed Technique, and the other is the Vibration Cursed Technique. I also know a little Reverse Cursed Technique," Chiyo Shin said confidently.
"Huh? Two cursed techniques, and you can use Reverse Cursed Technique too? Are you a monster?" Panda exclaimed.
"That's impossible! Stop lying! How could one person have two innate cursed techniques?" Maki's face was filled with disbelief too.
"Tuna mayo!!" Toge Inumaki reacted the same way.
"It's true. Chiyo isn't lying. His brain has a very unusual structure, which is why he has two innate cursed techniques."
"But I didn't know about the Reverse Cursed Technique. Come on, show us what you can do, Chiyo!" Satoru Gojo said, his expression unreadable.
"Oh, okay." Chiyo Shin jumped off the platform, turned around, and placed both hands against it.
"Cursed Technique Lapse: Annihilation!"
The moment Chiyo Shin spoke, an immense surge of cursed energy spread from his navel throughout his body and into his hands. The platform he was touching instantly crumbled into fine dust that drifted through the air.
Satoru Gojo, who had been standing on it, remained suspended in midair before slowly descending toward Maki and the others.
"The technique I just used was Collapse. Next, I'll use Reverse Cursed Technique. Applying Reverse Cursed Technique to a cursed technique produces a different effect," Chiyo Shin explained.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Golden Repair!"
Before all the dust could settle, it swiftly gathered back together, restoring the platform to its original form.
"This move works on people too."
"Next is the Vibration Cursed Technique."
"Cursed Technique Lapse: Ao Fish!"
Chiyo Shin lightly tapped the ground with his foot. A vibration spread across the field, growing steadily stronger. It was roughly equivalent to a magnitude-four earthquake-not particularly powerful, and not enough to cause any damage.
He tossed his student ID into the air.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Stillness."
As the technique activated, every object within three meters of Chiyo Shin froze in place. He reached out, took his student ID from where it hung in midair, and tucked it against his chest.
"Uh, I can also activate Stillness through touch," Chiyo Shin explained.
Once Chiyo Shin had demonstrated all his abilities, Satoru Gojo was the only one on the field who remained relatively calm. Everyone else was too stunned to speak.
"You're not human. You're a monster!" Panda finally said after staring blankly for a while.
"How is that possible!!" Maki's eyes were filled with disbelief.
"Tuna mayo!" Toge Inumaki exclaimed.
"Well? Pretty strong, right? I told you Chiyo was strong. Once he makes some progress with cursed energy control and domains, he'll be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with me." Satoru Gojo spoke with absolute confidence to the others beside him.
"All right, now that he's introduced his abilities, you can get acquainted. I'm heading out. Kikusuian has something new today, and I have to try it. See you, everyone." With that, Satoru Gojo vanished on the spot.
Watching Satoru Gojo disappear, Chiyo Shin wanted to swear. He just left like that?
Looking at the others, Chiyo Shin said awkwardly, "Uh, hello, upperclassmen."
Before you continue