ƚԋҽ Ⴆʅҽʂʂҽԃ ƈυɾʂҽ

Chapter 8: 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐜

"He told us to live long but all your dreams and problems vanish when you die. Is this the first time one of your comrades die?"

"It's my first time for a classmate"

"Hmph you seem oddly fine"

"You too"

"Well, I only knew him for about two weeks. I'm not such a soft woman that I would cry over the death of someone like him" Megumi glance at her and saw her lips quivering.

"It's so hot" he changed the subject. "Yeah. I wonder. When we'll get our summer outfits clothes" she wanted to ask him about Noroi, she hasn't seen the girl since yesterday. But she knows that the girl is probably mourning right now.

'Out of everyone, she was the closest person to him'

"Megumi, what the hell? You're more depressing than usual. Is this a wake?"

"Zenin-senpai"

"Don't call me by family na—"

"Maki. Maki!" She looked at the side and stared at her classmates that are hiding on the pillar. "He really did die. Yesterday! A boy in the first year! Noroi's friend died!" Her body went rigid. "Say. It. Earlier!!" She shouted.

"I'll seem a cold heartless demon!"

"Actually, that's exactly what you are, you know?!"

"Tuna mayo"

"Those people. Who are they?" Nobara asked pointing at the second year's. "They're our second year's senpai" he answered.

"Zenin-senpai. She's best at handling cursed tools out of us students" he started. "I guess all you do is spoil people" she mumbled.

"Cursed speech user. Inumaki-senpai. His only vocabulary is onigiri ingredients" Inumaki said an ingredient.

"That's Panda-senpai"

"But when she's with Yuuta she's a little bit calmer. And when Noroi is around she's a little awkward" he muttered to himself. "There's one more. Okkotsu-senpai. He's the only one I can openly respect but he's overseas right now" he finished.

"Are you seriously gonna leave the Panda's introduction as panda?" Nobara asked the one she's curious about only having a very very brief introduction. "Oh, sorry, guys. You're still in mourning" Panda apologize to them.

"But I want you to attend the Kyoto sister school exchange"

"Kyoto sister school exchange?"

They started to explain the event and the reasons why they needed to join.

"You're gonna do it right? Your comrade died after all" Maki smirks. "I'll do it!" They determinedly answered.

"I will become stronger!!"


"Noroi, that's enough" Gojo entered the room, his eyes scanning the place. Everything is a wreck, he doesn't need to open the lights to see how terrible the room is.

The girl didn't listen to her and continued with her work. "Noroi" he sternly called her name, seeing how she pushed herself to her limit. "I said that's enough" she swung her hand removing his hold.

"I need to get stronger so leave me alone!!" She shouted and he saw her shadow ripple. "You need to rest. Ever since you woke up yesterday you haven't left this room. How can you get stronger when your not taking a rest?" He groaned pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I already took a rest" she huff using her arm to wipe the sweats in her face. "What a five-minute rest between hours?" He sarcastically asked. "You're pushing yourself" he sternly told her.

"Why are you pushing yourself this hard, Noroi"

"Why?" She gritted her teeth. "That's because I want to get stronger! If I get stronger than Megumi then he won't be worried for my sake! If I get more stronger then I won't have a problem dealing with strong curses! If I get stronger then" she took a deep breath and clenched her fist.

"No one that I care will die again. If I was just stronger Yuji would still be alive" she whispered. "I don't blame, Megumi. It was his choice to listen to him and I understand why he drags me with him. If I got stronger, even stronger than him then he won't get worried about me anymore" Gojo really can't blame the other child. He just did that because of his brotherly instinct.

"If Megumi doesn't have any plans to improve then he shouldn't drag me with him. Unlike him I don't have any plans to be stuck in this forever, Satoru" she stated in a firm tone.

"If he's happy with the current strength, current power he has then I'm not. I'm not happy with what I have. I'm also not happy with what he has. But if his decision to be like that forever then fine" Noroi walk past her teacher.

"The only thing I can do is support him on his stupid decision while I improve myself" the last words she said before leaving the dojo.

Gojo sighed and crossed his arms. "You heard her right?" A figure stepped out from the shadows. Megumi has a downcast expression on his face.

"She doesn't blame you"

"I know but I still blame myself" he whispered his eyes scanning the wrecked room, then his eyes settled in the dark droplets on the floor.

"Megumi, Noroi has a point" he lowered his head. "If you don't want to drag her with you, improve yourself. Get yourself stronger. Because if your family saw how strong she will get they'll take her away by any means they can. You don't want your sister to go back to that place right?" His expression turned grim and he nodded his head.

"Then get yourself stronger. So both of you can rely on each other"


Megumi left the dojo and he hissed, adjusting his vision The room back there was dark like it was nighttime that's why he got surprised when the sunlight greeted him.

"How is she?" The curious worried second-years asked. "She's fine. Just venting out and training by herself" he answered looking around the place, looking to where dojo she went.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Panda worriedly asked. "She'll be. Not now but soon" Megumi sighed rubbing his head.

"Should we approach her?" Maki nervously suggested and everyone gave her a blank stare. "I better suggest you not to do that, Zenin-senpai. She's mourning and venting out. It's dangerous to approach her when she vents out. Her shadows move and she unconsciously summoning a shikigami without even making a hand sign" he informed her.

"But the event. Who's gonna tell her about the event?"

"Tuna mayo" 'let's just text her' Inumaki answered. "Do you even have her number?" He made an ex mark and shake his head.

"I'll text her once I get back at the dorm"


"I'm sorry I didn't manage to take you out on a date, Roi"

Noroi threw a punch and the punching bag got sent flying to the wall, creating a dent.

"I'm also sorry for being hard-headed but I didn't regret what I did"

She gritted her teeth and clutch her head.

"Not even a single of it"

Noroi legs gave up and she dropped to the ground creating a loud thud.

"Live a long life"

Her shadow stretched and it devoured her, bringing her to the darkness and she let all her pain there. In that place no one can hear her, no one will know. No one will find out.

The darkness will always be her comfort zone.


"Huh? How long was I stuck there?" She mumbled, using her hand to block her eyes from the sunlight after getting out of the building.

"Where's the vending machine again?"


"Can't they up the numbers of vending machines a bit?"

"There's no way that's happening. After all, vendor entry is limited around here"

"By the way how's Noroi? I miss her already" Nobara mumbled the last part, taking a sip of her drink. "I don't know" she almost spits her drink out.

"What do you mean you don't know?!"

"She's gone"

"Huh gone?!"

His eyes glanced in front of them and when Nobara saw his expression so she looked too and saw two people.

"Why are you here in Tokyo, Zenin-senpai?" Megumi asked. "Isn't that what you call Maki, Fushiguro? Call me Mai" Mai smiles. "So these are the replacement for Okkotsu and the third year?" the person beside her said.

"We were so worried about you guys, we came with the school principal. Your classmate died right? Was it painful? Or was it not?" Their body slightly tensed up. Megumi was thankful that Noroi isn't present right now.

"What are you saying?"

"It's fine. There are some things that are hard to put into words right? I'll do it for you. Vessel sounds about right. The main point is that he's a half curse monster, isn't he? For that kind of filthy non-human. To rudely call himself a sorcerer next to you, you were repulsed by it, huh?" She smiles.

"Aren't you relieved he's dead?"

"Hey who are you?" He asked narrowing his eyes behind them. Nobara and Megumi whipped their heads behind them.

"Do you have money? I don't have money with me. I need to take a drink"

"Noroi?" Nobara hesitantly called her. The girl in front of her looks really really terrible. She has disheveled hair, her clothes are wrinkled, and have some blood, then her knuckles are bruised, and wounded.

"Why?" Mai's eyes widen. "Noroi?" He frowned. "Zenin Noroi?" Noroi frowned but it disappear seeing a familiar face. "Mai?" Nobara is gaping and looked at them back and forth. "You're a Zenin?!" She exclaimed making her grimace.

"Sadly yes but I am not affiliated with them anymore" then she looked at Megumi. "The money. I'm thirsty" he pulled his wallet out and gave her the money.

"Thanks" she mumbles buying herself a drink. "Noroi, they said something about Itadori!!" Megumi's eyes widen. "Huh? Yuji?" She stood after picking the bottle. "They just ask if he's really dead," Megumi told her glaring at Nobara.

"Why are they even asking? It's not like they're friends or have connections with each other. Unless" the Kyoto students tense when her sharp eyes glanced at them. "They really want to confirm if the vessel is really dead. Yuji. Itadori Yuji is dead. If that wants what you want to hear" she finished taking a drink to clench her thirst.

"If you went here to ask that then you've got your answer. Leave if you don't have any more business with us" she ordered throwing the bottle in the bin.

"Before we leave I want to ask Fushiguro a question" the two frowned and Megumi went into stance when he walked in their direction.

"What's your type?" There was a question mark above their heads. "Depending on your answer I will beat you half dead. Right here. Right now" Noroi scowled and stood closely to Megumi.

"By the way" he ripped his shirt and his body went into a fighting position. "My type is a tall woman with big ass!!" Hearing that answer made Noroi's eyes twitch.

'Is he his lost brother or something?'

"Why do I have to discuss my taste in women with you. Someone I just met?"

"That's right. He seems anti-social but he has high standards" he tilted his head an annoyed expression on his face. "You shut up. The situation is getting unnecessarily complicated" he said in an annoyed tone.

"Kyoto third year. Todo Aoi. Introductions over. Now we're friends, right? Answer me already. I don't care if it's a guy" Todo told him, his eyes glancing at the female standing beside him.

"A guy's fetish reflects about him. Guys with boring taste in women are boring themselves. And I loathe boring men. The exchange is my turf. Where my soul excitedly runs wild. If someone bores me at my last exchange. Who knows what will happen to them? This is my brand of kindness. I'll leave you half dead today. Answer me, Fushiguro. What's your type of woman?"

'Kugisaki is unarmed. Noroi looks terrible and she won't hesitate to join the fight. But I'd like to avoid it than to engage'

"Huh are those summer clothes? It's annoying but how nice" Nobara mumbled. "Noroi, want to go shopping?" She just absent-mindedly nodded her head, making Nobara smile inside.

"Not forgiving people isn't a bad thing. That's just part of your kindness isn't it?"

"I don't really have a preference. As long as that person has unshakeable character, I won't ask for more" Megumi answered. A heart appeared from Mai, Nobara commenting. "That's not a bad answer. If you have said something like big boobs I'd have killed you myself" she smiles.

"As I expected. You're boring, Fushiguro" Noroi pushed him away and crossed her arms in front of her. "Noroi!" Both of them shouted. Megumi quickly followed her and Nobara was about to follow her too when Mai stopped her.


Noroi rolled to the ground then stood up almost tumbling down. Todo who saw Megumi running to her attacked him. "Shit!" He almost got hit if it weren't for her dragging him in her direction.

"Hey, why are you interfering with us?" Noroi didn't say a word and dispel her toads, her hands rubbing her arm. "Tsk never minds" he looked at Megumi.

"I knew from the first time I saw you. You're a boring person. But you can't judge a book by its cover right? That's why I asked you. But you trampled on my kindness" he wiped his tears away. "Could it be you also have a pineapple for a brain?" Noroi scoffed and combed her hair.

"You don't use your technique right?"

"Hm? Oh, that rumor is nonsense. I used it against a special grade curse" both of them are surprised. "I'm relieved!" He made the gamma hand sign and the Nue and Noroi were impressed at the shikigami he summoned.

Todo stared at him, forgetting the girl's presence. Then he suddenly disappeared from their sights.

"He's fast! Wasn't he at full speed last time?!"

Noroi pulled him close changing their spot. "You really love to interfere huh? So be it" Todo German suplex her to the ground. Noroi managed to escape his grip and gave him a roundhouse kick in the head, smashing his head on the ground.

The gamma's tongue wrapped around her waist pulling her away from him. "You okay?" She nodded her head, slightly dizzy from the attack. Todo shakes and rubbed his head, eyes blinking and staring at the girl, who caught him by surprise.

'I should eliminate the bother first'

He used his speed to appear behind them and holding her uniform he threw her to the building.

"Third time. This is my fucking third time getting tossed on the building" she coughed spitting the blood and gritting her teeth. He saw Megumi getting beat up and tossed above the building.

"I barely feel my intention to fight from you unlike Noroi" he commended pulling his hand to break the gamma's tongue. Megumi slowly pushed his body to sit,

"I've been holding back, and you're so proud? Noroi isn't even serious. If you're to insist like that then I'll show you" Todo felt the shift of his energy making him smirk.

He run to him when a black thing appeared right in front of him, then it revealed Noroi. He was taken aback at her energy and the slight craze glint in her eyes.

She made a hand sign and a black elephant appeared beside her. "Let me repay you" she smirks, water coming out from the elephant's trunk. Todo got pushed back and he was being overwhelmed by the water, it was like fighting a strong current. Not only that his whole body got electrified when the water disappeared.

He'll admit it. It was painful.

His body is twitching but it didn't stop him from grinning. Todo runs to her his hands raised and Noroi also mimicked him. Before the two can land a hit Inumaki appeared.

"Don't move" their body froze and Panda punched Todo away. "What are you doing?!" He shouted. "Haaa just made it in time" he panted and almost screamed seeing Noroi with a very awful appearance.

"Bonito flakes!"

"Well, I guess not" he sweatdrop. Noroi nodded her head to him and he nervously nodded his head back to her. She turned her back and walked to Megumi.

"It's been a while Panda" Todo smiles shaking his pants to get rid of the water. "Why can't you be patient until the exchange event? I'm gonna announce your return to everyone. I'll yell noooo" Todo rubbed his nape looking away.

"We were about to go back anyway. Even if you didn't say anything. It seems like" he looked at the two. "I won't be bored the whole time" they gave him a glare.

"Tell Okkotsu for me to come too," he told them taking his leave. "I'm a panda. I don't understand human words" Panda said. Inumaki keeping quiet. When they remember the two.

"Are you two okay?"

"Do we look okay to you?" They flatly asked making him wince. "I'm leaving" Noroi informed them and before they can say a word her shadow swallowed her.

She phased through the building's structure till she landed on the ground. She narrowed her eyes on the bridge and she appeared there.


Her eyes narrowed when the shadow of the couch move to the side and she was startled when it rose above, even the principal was startled a little bit. Her jaw drop from shock when it revealed a person. She can't see her face because her back is facing her.

"N— what happened to you?" Gojo frowned standing up. "We got beat up" she answered using her sleeve to wipe the blood.

"A teacher has their reputation but the student don't so I won't apologize" this wasn't the time to laugh but Gojo still laughed.

"Also I went here to ask if you managed to retrieve my weapon"

"Yep we retrieve it and it's in your room" he smiles. "Gojo, why aren't you disciplining your students?" The principal asked. "What she did was very disrespectful" Noroi scoff and gave him a smirk.

'Uh oh who made this woman angry?'

"Preach what you're saying, old man. This" she pointed at her bleeding head. "Was done by your student. I got thrown on the building and I am getting sick of being thrown on the building. I am not the only one who got thrown but also Fushiguro Megumi too" Gojo was mentally hyping her up in his mind.

"Don't put your fucking tradition mindset on me. What I hate the most is conservative traditional fools" she snarled and Gojo was so proud of her. Her shadow covers her and it disappeared through the ground.

Noroi doesn't have any energy left to wrap to the exact location so she walked to Shoko's office on foot.

Appearing exactly in the room she got a surprised expression from the second year's. "What the hell!" She looked to the side and saw Nobara.

"Noroi, you looked terrible once again" Shoko smile at her. "I got tossed on a building. Again" she tiredly muttered. "Hey, you idiot! I need a damn explanation from you!!" Nobara ordered feeling like she's the only one being left behind.

"About what?" She started to doze off from receiving the treatment. "On what you just did like how you appeared that black thing and also the Zenin part!" They sweatdrop at the last words she said.

"I don't feel like talking about the last part" Nobara was about to argue when she saw her serious expression. "But to answer your question I am related to the Zenin. I have their blood running through my veins" she told her getting more sleepy with each passing second.

"Then how about Fushiguro?"

"I am carrying my mother's name while she's carrying her father's name"

"Their father" Shoko corrected making Nobara's jaw drop. "Their father?! I know you two are related but I didn't know you two are really that related like close related to each other!" She rambles.

"You two really look like siblings and I didn't know you two are actually siblings!"

"Half siblings" Nobara finally malfunctions. Her brain didn't manage to handle all those information making her shut down.

"What is this event Todo is fussing about?" She asked them after Shoko finished her treatment. "Exchange event where sorcerers are going to fight. No killing included" Megumi briefly explained.

"Noroi" Noroi looked at her and the confidence she gathered disappeared. "Maki, it's been a while" Noroi mumbled. "Yeah, it's been a while" Maki never really get intimated but when it comes to her she easily gets intimated, was it because of the lack of emotion she's showing and her sharp eyes? Yeah, it's because of that and some other things about her.

"We're training the first year's. Shaping them up for the event. Do you want to join?" She hesitantly asked, the three are anticipating waiting for her answer.

"No" their shoulders drop. "It's too sunny and hot. I don't like to train outside" she mumbled making them deadpan. "Stop training in the dark! Get your eyes used with the sunlight!" Megumi growled.

"I don't want too"

Then they started to bicker with each other. The second year's and so as Shoko is just watching them with amusement.

In the end, their side wins, making the second years rejoice.


— Juju Stroll —

"You stink"

"I don't stink"

"You stink"

"I don't stink! Why are you treating me like an animal?" Panda asked laying on the ground. "Because you're a panda" Maki answered. "Mustard leaf," Inumaki said. "You smell like an animal. I keep telling you to take a bath, and you never do" Maki told him. "I don't like getting wet. But unlike you guys, I don't sweat and I Febreze every day so I don't stink" Panda defended.

"So that's what happened" Maki explained to the two first years. "You guys try taking a whiff" Nobara and Megumi quickly smell Panda. "Doesn't really stink. Sort of smells like the sun" Megumi answered.

"Sunshine!" Nobara and Maki thought. "Tuna tuna! Salmon cod roe!" Inumaki gained everyone's attention so as Noroi who went out of her cave. "What are you all doing?" Noroi frowned and they didn't bother asking the girl why she looks a mess.

"Maki-senpai said Panda-senpai stink" Megumi answered. "But Fushiguro said he sort of smells like the sun" Nobara added. "Noroi, why don't you try it—" Maki didn't have time to finish her words when Noroi butted in.

"He stinks" Noroi stated walking away leaving everyone dumbfounded and Panda broken-hearted from the girl's harsh comment.
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ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ ᴛʀᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴄ

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