Life became downright miserable for Chiyo Shin after that. The training itself was manageable.
But getting up early was practically killing him.
He still remembered being late on the first day. That was when he had learned just how terrifying his senior Maki could be.
Those memories were too painful to revisit. Fortunately, time flew, and the end of the month had already arrived.
The April school term was about to begin, and this hellish training would finally end.
Soon I can sleep in again, Chiyo Shin thought gleefully.
Training Chiyo Shin had dealt a blow to Maki's confidence.
He mastered everything she taught him. Fortunately, classes were starting soon, or she really would have run out of things to teach him.
March 30, 3:21.
Chiyo Shin was sparring with Maki.
Their cursed tools clashed, sending sparks flying in a fierce exchange.
Chiyo Shin spun, feinted with First Generation Moon, and sent a slash flying toward Maki.
Rather than meet it head-on, Maki used her naginata to deflect the slash with a deft application of leverage.
Their fierce battle was in full swing.
A voice rang out overhead.
"Shin, you've improved a lot these past few days."
It was Satoru Gojo.
Neither of them paid him any attention. They kept fighting.
Gojo was used to this.
He shrugged and floated over toward Panda and Inumaki.
In the training area, Chiyo Shin tightened his grip on First Generation Moon and poured cursed energy into it.
He unleashed a slash compressed to its utmost limit, so fast that only an afterimage remained.
It reached Maki in an instant. Unable to dodge in time, she could only block it with her naginata.
But the slash was too powerful for her to withstand, and it sent her flying.
"Maki!" Chiyo Shin vanished, then reappeared beside her and caught her as she flew backward.
"Maki, are you okay? It's my fault. I got too caught up in the fight and didn't hold back enough." Chiyo Shin was deeply apologetic.
Maki turned back and told him casually, "I'm fine. This was our last match today, and I told you before we started to go all out. You don't need to apologize."
That brought their bout to an end.
Only after finishing their practice did Maki and Chiyo Shin notice Gojo beside Panda.
Maki greeted him as usual. "Blindfolded bastard, when did you get here?"
"Ha ha, a while ago." Gojo was eating sweets.
"What are you doing here if you've got nothing to do?" Chiyo Shin walked over, picked up a sweet, and spoke as he ate.
"You bastard! I went all the way to Sendai for that edamame-and-fresh-cream Kikufuku!" Gojo hurriedly protected the sweets with Limitless.
"Stingy."
"I'm here on actual business. I'm introducing a new classmate," Gojo said seriously.
Chiyo Shin looked around but saw no one. "A new classmate? Where?"
"Already can't wait to meet your new classmate? Then prepare to welcome the Shadow Monarch! Let the new student, Megumi Fushiguro, descend!"
With that, Gojo vanished.
When he reappeared, a boy with spiky hair stood beside him.
Chiyo Shin was the first to extend a hand in greeting. "Hi, I'm Chiyo Shin, a first-year."
Megumi Fushiguro reached out and shook his hand. "My name's Megumi Fushiguro."
"All right, everyone, introduce yourselves," Gojo chimed in from the side.
"Welcome, Megumi Fushiguro! I'm Panda, and he's Toge Inumaki." Panda raised both hands and cheered.
"Kelp," said Toge Inumaki.
"I'm Maki." Both Maki and Megumi were slow to warm up to people.
"Get to know each other. I'm going back to Sendai to buy more Kikufuku." Seeing that everyone seemed to be getting along, Gojo prepared to leave.
"Sugar freak," Chiyo Shin muttered, curling his lip.
Whoosh.
Gojo was already gone.
Chiyo Shin turned to Megumi. "Fushiguro-can I call you that?"
"Sure," Megumi replied.
"Fushiguro, can I ask what your cursed technique is?" Chiyo Shin asked.
Megumi was a little surprised by how bluntly he asked, but he could answer that. "My cursed technique is the Ten Shadows Technique."
"What?" everyone exclaimed in unison.
"Tuna!" said Inumaki.
Chiyo Shin already knew Megumi's technique, but he still had to act surprised.
As a member of the Zenin Clan, Maki was the first to cry out.
She was shocked. How could the clan let someone with the Ten Shadows Technique remain outside the family? And his surname wasn't even Zenin.
"What's wrong?" Megumi asked, puzzled.
"Do you have any idea how important the Ten Shadows Technique is?" Maki asked, looking at the utterly oblivious Megumi.
"I know," Megumi said coldly. "But my surname is Fushiguro. I have nothing to do with the Zenin Clan."
Maki paused at his answer before saying, "My name is Maki Zenin. I'm a member of that family too."
"What?!" For the first time, Megumi showed an emotion other than his usual reserve in front of them.
Ignoring his surprise, Maki continued, "But I left that rotten family a long time ago. The food was awful, and the living conditions were terrible."
"One day, I'll become a grade-one jujutsu sorcerer, go back, and become the clan head. Then I'll tear down its corruption from within."
After saying that, Maki seemed to realize what she had done. "I'm going back to the dorm."
Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she turned and ran off.
What's wrong with me? First Okkotsu, and now another junior. Why do I keep blurting out everything I've kept buried inside?
"It's fine. Maki gets like that sometimes," Panda said, smoothing things over.
"Salmon," said Inumaki.
At a hot spring somewhere at the foot of Mount Fuji.
Kenjaku kept both hands tucked away. "Have you made up your minds?"
Jogo's voice was hoarse. "I agree. We'll stake our lives for a future. We will be the new humanity."
Hanami said, "ΞΟΤΣΨΧΥΩδ."
Mahito, still a cursed womb, rolled around beside the hot spring, while Dagon, also a cursed womb, soaked in the water and blew bubbles.
Kenjaku smiled. "Now that I have your answer, I'll be going. Enjoy yourselves."
Jujutsu High.
Chiyo Shin took Megumi on a tour of Jujutsu High, and the two got to know each other better.
Chiyo Shin's verdict on Megumi was that he was a cold guy with a secretly lively side.
Megumi's verdict on Chiyo Shin was that he was a baby-faced bastard.
The two got along very well.
After touring the school, they returned to the dorm and went to their respective rooms to rest.
The next day, 7:55 a.m.
Megumi had just stepped out of his room when he saw Chiyo Shin rushing outside in a panic.
His eyes widened at the enormous amount of cursed energy enveloping Chiyo Shin. He was utterly shocked. Is this guy for real?
Chiyo Shin, meanwhile, was frantic. He didn't even greet Megumi as he passed, simply darting outside.
He prayed that he wouldn't be late on this final day. Otherwise, Maki would blow her top.
Beep, beep. 8:00.
Just as his phone alarm sounded, Chiyo Shin came to a stop in front of Maki. "I made it!"
"You were almost late, Chiyo." Maki's angry voice was the last thing he wanted to hear.
Chiyo Shin was about to explain.
But Maki said, "This is our last session. This is as much as I can teach you. You'll have to figure out the rest on your own."
"Yes, Maki." Chiyo Shin's voice trembled, and he felt a little moved.
"Let's begin!" Maki made the first move as soon as she spoke.
The two clashed once more.
Before you continue