Jujutsu Sparring

For some reason, Satoru Gojo hadn't come by in a long time.

Maybe it really was as the guard had said: he'd spent far too long playing, and the sudden guilt he'd felt last time had driven him to buckle down and study.

-Well, that was wonderful.

I had a lot more peace and quiet, too.

Over the past few days, aside from taking the Divine Dogs and Nue out and attending Jujutsu and hand-to-hand combat classes, I'd spent almost all my remaining time in the Shadow World.

I should mention that my Shadow World turned out to be far more rich and varied than I'd expected.

I didn't know whether any previous users of the Ten Shadows Technique had discovered this, but all ten types of Shikigami were already there in our shadows.

The first time I entered my own Shadow World, I was honestly stunned.

-Wow. Just... wow.

Besides the Divine Dogs and Nue I saw every day, I also found an endless sea of rabbits covering the ground, a fluffy expanse of dazzling white.

Almost the instant I saw them, their name came to mind.

This was Rabbit Escape.

There were also a great serpent, toads, Max Elephant...

And Mahoraga, who stood motionless as though asleep, with an overwhelming presence.

The moment I entered the Shadow World, the Shikigami visibly stirred.

Their joy was so obvious and intense that, through the faint connection between us, I could feel every bit of it.

The Divine Dogs and Nue weren't too bad, but the Shikigami I'd never summoned seemed especially excited, constantly crowding up against me.

Rabbit Escape in particular nearly buried me under its enormous swarm of rabbits... Aside from feeling a little suffocated, I had no other complaints.

-So my Shikigami had been here all along.

Was I just too hopeless as their master, leaving the rest of them stuck in confinement?

Seeing how warmly and excitedly these Shikigami that belonged to me alone greeted my arrival, then thinking about how they couldn't get out...

Oh no. My heart ached a little.

I really ought to visit them more often.

Besides that, I quietly resolved to practice Jujutsu hard and summon every last Shikigami if I could!

Some time later.

It was another lovely, sunny day. The cherry blossoms on the trees were now in full bloom, spreading great swaths of pink across my courtyard. Whenever the wind blew, it was like a snowfall of pink petals.

The weather was still cold, and I didn't much feel like moving.

I'd probably ruined my health by working myself to the bone in my previous life. Although I hadn't cared much at the time, the treatment I'd later received in the hospital had been physically agonizing.

Because of that, I now thoroughly disliked training and classes, but especially loved sprawling somewhere comfortable to relax both body and mind.

Just like now.

The cherry blossoms in the courtyard were beautiful, and the sunshine outside was lovely, so I brought a lounge chair, a small blanket, and a soft pillow out of my shadow, then leisurely settled down to bask in the sun.

-After discovering I could enter the Shadow World, I'd quickly developed a new use for my shadow: storing things.

It was a useful ability, perfect for keeping things in.

My new attendant was very perceptive. The instant he saw me bring out the lounge chair, he instructed the kitchen to prepare some snacks, then promptly served them.

I was very pleased and felt utterly at ease.

Suddenly remembering that I hadn't taken the Shikigami out yet that day, I took the opportunity to summon the Divine Dogs and Nue.

The black Divine Dog was relatively steady and quiet. Compared with the lively, slightly goofy White Divine Dog, it was practically a considerate little angel-

Because the instant I lay down, it gently rested its head beside my hand, looking perfectly content to let me pet and stroke it as much as I pleased.

My White Divine Dog, on the other hand, could only launch its enormous body straight at me. If Shikigami couldn't help but avoid harming their masters... I'd probably have ended up with broken ribs.

What a sweet burden.

As for Nue... its heart was wild and free. It had probably flown off to its favorite mountain behind the estate by now.

My blissful mood as I basked in the sun, petting a dog with one hand and eating snacks with the other, didn't last long.

Because Satoru Gojo, whom I hadn't seen in ages, had come back. Yet again.

His enthusiasm for studying... really hadn't lasted long.

But I didn't know whether he'd lost his mind or whether the clan elders had drilled some idea into him during his studies... Whatever the case, he'd started challenging me to fights.

The moment he stepped into my courtyard, he declared with a determined expression, "Let's fight!"

I said, "..."

"No." I refused without a second thought.

Satoru Gojo apparently hadn't expected me to refuse. Before that determined expression had even left his face, he froze where he stood.

"...What did you say?"

I ignored him, rolled over, and continued enjoying the lovely sunshine.

-Did he think I was like those people in the Gojo Clan, agreeing to anything their Child of God said?

Why would I sacrifice my rest time to fight Satoru Gojo? It wasn't as though I had nothing better to do.

Hah. Kids.