Welcome party

The room was quiet.

Madara sat cross-legged on the bed, his back against the wall, with the teddy bear beside his legs.

Outside, the sky was growing dark. The evening glow filtered through the paper window, casting long stretches of light and shadow across the floor.

He watched those patches of light and shadow shift, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

They didn't give me any specific tasks, just put me here as a node. What a twisted sense of humor...

The god's words echoed in his mind.

Roll the dice, pick a world, pick a character, then toss him, this "individual," into it like a pebble into a pond, just to see what ripples he would make.

No objective, no guidance, no "conditions for clearing the game."

Nothing but whimsical, irresponsible "fun."

Madara raised his head, his gaze seeming to pierce the ceiling and the roof, reaching toward the distant stars-or rather, toward the god who might be sitting in some pure-white space with their legs crossed, watching the show.

Then, expressionless, he raised his middle finger.

Fuck you.

After that meaningless but satisfying gesture, Madara exhaled and closed his eyes, leaning against the wall.

His body really was a little tired.

From being summoned into this world to the Cursed Spirit incident, arriving at Jujutsu High, and dealing with all the questions... he had not expended much physical energy, but he had been mentally on edge the entire time.

He decided to take a nap. It was still early, and there were plenty of things to do and roads to travel ahead.

He would rest first.

When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he sensed was another person in the room.

Not through sound, nor through their presence-in fact, Madara had not sensed any fluctuations in cursed energy or any presence at all-but through something subtler.

It was like spending a long time alone in a room before someone suddenly entered. Even if they made no sound, the movement of the air, the slight change in temperature, the sense of pressure in the space... would all tell you: someone was here.

Madara slowly opened his eyes without moving his head, only turning his gaze toward the left side of the room.

There was an extra chair there.

In a corner that had been empty before, there now stood an ordinary-looking wooden chair with a backrest.

And someone was sitting on it.

White hair, a black blindfold covering the upper half of his face, and an amused smile on the half that remained visible.

His legs were crossed, one hand propping up his chin while the other rested casually on the back of the chair. He looked as relaxed as if he were sitting in his own living room.

Satoru Gojo.

Even without those distinctive features, Madara would have recognized him.

That unique presence, that quality that made him stand out even with all his power reined in.

But the problem was-

Madara was not supposed to know him.

Within Jujutsu Society, Satoru Gojo's name was indeed renowned.

But to a boy who had only just awakened his cursed energy and had been an ordinary person until then, titles such as "Six Eyes," "the strongest," and "Special Grade Sorcerer" should have been unfamiliar.

Madara straightened up without immediately getting to his feet, just the right hint of wariness in his voice. "Who are you?"

Satoru Gojo's smile widened. Even with his eyes covered, the keen interest in his gaze was palpable.

"Satoru Gojo," he said brightly, his voice lilting at the end. "Your teacher~"

Madara paused as if digesting that information, then slowly nodded. "I-is that so? About what I imagined."

"Oh?" Satoru Gojo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Do you know me? Am I really that famous~?"

"No." Madara answered naturally, even looking a little puzzled. "I just heard Okkotsu talking to you on the phone earlier and guessed."

It was a perfectly reasonable explanation.

Okkotsu had indeed mentioned "Gojo-sensei" on the phone, and someone who was called a teacher and whom Principal Yaga was waiting for was most likely a teacher at Jujutsu High.

Satoru Gojo stared at him for two seconds, then snorted with laughter. "Is that so, is that so~"

He leaned back in the chair again and crossed his legs the other way.

Although his posture remained casual, the atmosphere in the room subtly changed.

"Well then," Satoru Gojo said, a little more serious despite the smile still on his face, "let's get down to business."

"Are you sure you want to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer?"

Madara opened his mouth, but Satoru Gojo raised a hand and stopped him.

"Don't answer yet. Think it over." The corners of Satoru Gojo's mouth stopped lifting, and his tone was solemn.

"Once you take this step, it'll be hard to go back to being an ordinary person or living a peaceful life. Facing Cursed Spirits, death, and the dark side of humanity every day... this isn't a game. You don't get another try."

He looked at Madara. Even through the blindfold, Madara could feel the weight of that gaze.

"Think carefully before you answer."

The room fell silent for a few seconds.

Then Madara smiled.

It was neither a happy smile nor a mocking one, but a faint smile, as if he had let something go.

"Thank you, Gojo-sensei," he said. "But I've already made up my mind."

He raised his head and looked straight at Satoru Gojo-or rather, straight at his blindfold.

"I'll do things that give my life meaning. I don't want to accomplish nothing or live a life without value."

He spoke calmly, but Satoru Gojo heard the determination in his words.

Satoru Gojo was silent for a moment.

He had learned a fair amount about this boy's circumstances from Yaga.

Both parents dead, no relatives, living alone, his cursed energy awakening after a Cursed Spirit attack-he could almost be said to have no attachments at all.

Someone like that would either sink completely or cling desperately to something that could give them "meaning."

The path of a Jujutsu Sorcerer was a curse to some, but salvation to others.

"I understand." Satoru Gojo suddenly sprang out of his chair and clapped his hands, his tone instantly switching back to cheerful.

"Then! Let's start with step one-a welcome party for our new student~!"

"...Huh?"

Before Madara could even react, Satoru Gojo had already opened the door and was shouting into the hallway.

"Everyone! Come over here! It's party time!"

Half an hour later, Madara's dorm room had been completely transformed.

An enormous low table now stood in the middle of the formerly empty room, piled with all kinds of snacks, food, drinks, and desserts, as lavish as a festival stall.

Chips, chocolate, cookies, sushi, fried chicken, pizza, cake, pudding... and rows of bottled drinks.

Streamers and balloons hung on the walls-who knew where Satoru Gojo had gotten them.

A note reading "Welcome, new student" had even been stuck to the window. The crooked lettering made it obvious that it had been handwritten on the spot.

"We didn't originally have welcome parties~" Satoru Gojo said as he placed yet another box of daifuku on the table.

"But since you're joining partway through, Madara, and your situation is very unusual, I decided to hold a special one to take your feelings into consideration!"

He turned and winked at Madara-though it was impossible to see through his blindfold.

"Even if I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing~"

Panda was the first to rush into the room, his eyes lighting up at the table full of food. "Oh! What a spread!"

"Of course~" Satoru Gojo planted his hands on his hips, looking smug. "It's my treat today~"

"Thank you, Gojo-sensei." Yuta Okkotsu followed him in with a gentle smile, carrying several cans of drinks.

Toge Inumaki poked his head out from behind Okkotsu. "Mayonnaise."

There was a hint of excitement in his voice.

Maki entered last, adjusted her glasses, and surveyed the room. "Unexpectedly generous of you, Gojo-sensei."

"Haha, you're welcome, you're welcome~" Satoru Gojo spread his arms. "Enjoy yourselves, everyone! Enjoy your youth~ This is a youthful welcome party!"

"Then I'll dig in!" Panda had already grabbed a bag of chips, but when his other hand reached for the pizza, Inumaki nimbly intercepted him.

"Bonito flakes." Inumaki shifted the pizza box toward himself.

"What do you mean, first come, first served? I had my eye on it first!" Panda protested.

"Now, now, there's plenty of other food." Okkotsu gave a strained smile as he mediated, passing over a box of takoyaki.

"What a pain." Maki shook her head, sat down at the table, and picked up a piece of fried chicken. "I'll have this, then."

Madara stood in the corner of the room, watching the suddenly lively scene, a little at a loss.

He was not used to occasions like this-or rather, whether as a "transmigrator" or as "Madara Uchiha," this sort of warm, everyday life felt unfamiliar.

A hand suddenly gave him a push from behind.

"Go on." Satoru Gojo's amused voice sounded beside his ear. "Your youth is only just beginning."

Madara stumbled a step and was pushed to the table.

Only then did Panda catch on. "Oh, right. This is Madara's welcome party."

"That's why I'm saying you're all being too casual." Maki ate a piece of fried chicken and glanced at Satoru Gojo. "At least make it feel a little ceremonial."

"It's fine." Madara sat down at the table. "I don't mind... Besides, I'm not paying."

That eased the atmosphere a little. Okkotsu smiled and offered him a drink. "What would you like to drink, Madara? I'll pour you a glass."

"Orange juice. Sorry for the trouble."

Watching Madara take the glass, Maki softened her tone a little. "You don't have to be so stiff. Yuta was pretty much the same when he first arrived, and he's doing fine now, isn't he?"

"Please don't bring up the past, Maki-san!" Okkotsu's face reddened a little.

"It's only been a few months." Maki shrugged.

Meanwhile, Panda and Inumaki huddled together, talking quietly.

"That's why women like that aren't popular," Panda said in what he thought was a very low voice, though everyone could hear him.

Inumaki nodded solemnly. "Salmon, salmon."

"Hey!" A vein bulged at Maki's temple. "What are you two talking about?!"

"Nothing!" Panda immediately sat up straight.

"Mustard leaf!" Inumaki shook his head vigorously as well.

Watching the noisy scene before him-Panda and Inumaki shoving each other while Maki raised a soda can as if to throw it-

With Okkotsu trying to break things up with a strained smile beside them, and Satoru Gojo taking photos with a camera he had produced from somewhere, Madara froze for a moment.

Then he laughed.

It was not a forced smile. The corners of his mouth lifted naturally, his eyes curved slightly, and a soft laugh escaped his throat.

Although his expression quickly returned to normal, Satoru Gojo captured that fleeting smile.

Satoru Gojo lowered his camera, the corners of his eyes lifting beneath the blindfold as well.

Enjoy it.

He said it silently to himself.

Enjoy this noise, this everyday life, this time that belonged to their youth.

Because starting tomorrow, real training, missions, and battles would come one after another.

But at least tonight, at least at this welcome party-

"Come on, cheers, cheers!" Satoru Gojo raised a can of cola as if it were champagne. "To our new classmate! To youth! To-"

He thought for a moment, then beamed.

"Not having to write reports tonight!"

"Cheers!" Panda joined in.

"Salmon!" Inumaki raised his juice.

Okkotsu and Maki also raised their glasses with resignation. Madara looked at the orange juice in his hand, then slowly raised it too.

The glasses clinked with a clear, crisp sound.

Outside the window, the sky had gone completely dark, but the room was brightly lit and filled with laughter.

In this world where Jujutsu and curses intertwined, at this Jujutsu High filled with danger and death, an ordinary yet extraordinary evening began just like that.

And Madara Uchiha's story officially turned to the page titled "Jujutsu High student."