The Veil

Chapter # 41

Maki has been busy sharpening her cursed tools, Mai sitting beside her sister not particularly paying attention to what Maki was doing. Her focus was on the magazine she was reading. Maki adjusted her glasses, her eyes wandering to her sister, or rather her one eye wandering to Mai. She sighed, "this is the umpteenth time you've sighed today, Maki, or do you just want my attention?"

"I'm restless,"

"Irritated that the boys are keeping you out of whatever they are planning?"

"I'm angry they think I'm weak, my classmates are keeping me out of this as if I'll mess up their strategies." She was exasperated, Mai will even say she was snappier than usual, "they let Kugisaki in the team and I'm stuck here babysitting you." She mumbled the last part.

"Didn't know spending time with your sister is such a chore for you, Maki." Mai pretended to be offended, one thing that the near-death experience thought Mai was that she wasn't alone after all, and she is trying hard to become a good sister to Maki, "even eye bags are hiding information from you, something is skeptical." Maki knew who she meant by 'eye bags', "he usually spills everything if you glare one time, the boy seriously needs to learn how to hold his ground."

"Yes, of course, Mai I'll ask him to take classes from you, surely he'll learn something." Maki was being sarcastic.

"No, but he can surely learn something from you, Maki." Maki looked at Mai, she wasn't looking her way but rather staring at the wall ahead of her.

Maki decided not to say anything, a comfortable silence fell over the sisters.
The silence was soon broken as the door of the room was blown open, and a very out-of-breath Yuta came in.
"At least learn to knock---" Mai was cut off was Maki.

"Okkotsu, what happened?"

Yuta took a deep gulp of air, standing to his full height, "Gojo Sensei is back."

The sisters fell silent, glancing at each other from the corner of their eyes.
"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure and (Name) is here as well." He added as the three of them made their way outside.

"GOJO SENSEI!!" A very excited Itadori was hugging Satoru as (Name) was smiling beside them, "I THOUGHT YOU WILL NEVER COME BACK!!!"

"Talk quietly, I can already feel a headache coming from your screaming." Nobara glared at the boy.

The boy sniffled, wiping his nose on his sleeve, "nasty," Megumi made a face at him.

"It's nice to see you too, Nobara." Satoru ruffled her styled hair.

"Hey, not the hair!" She tried to slap his hand away, but her voice came out cracked.

"Kugisaki, are you crying?" Itadori asked.

"No, idiot, I just have an allergic reaction to the sun." She turned in the opposite direction.

"But we are indoors---" Itadori was smacked by the weeping girl. Gojo chuckled at her complete denial, turning to Megumi.

"Don't---" Megumi was engulfed in a hug.

"Megumi-chan, have you been not eating properly?"

"Get off of me!"

Satoru let go of him after a moment, giving the boy room to breathe.
"Don't ever hug me again."

(Name) was smiling at the reunion from a distance, she can feel happiness oozing from her husband. He belonged here, between his companions and students.
She felt a familiar presence behind her, she turned and surely in a distance Arshi was standing, "Arshi---" Out of all possible greetings, (Name) was not expecting a punch square on her jaw. She was sure it was dislocated.

"You damn idiot!" Arshi raised her other fist but (Name) blocked.

"Arshi, have you gone nuts!"

"Possibly yes! With a friend like you, I'm surely not sane anymore!" Arshi has stopped punching but was now verbally scolding her.

"I'm sorry!"

"I thought I'd lost you just like him!!!"

Arshi wiped her tears, she has been anxious since (Name) disappeared. When (Name) didn't appear after a day, her anxiousness doubled. Now, she was here along with Satoru, who was watching them fight not even trying to stop them.

"Arshi, I'm sorry." (Name) cautiously took a few steps towards her deranged friend, "I'm sorry for worrying you as much as I do." When (Name) was close enough, she enveloped her into a hug.

Satoru noticed Nanami just standing beside the girls, "Hey, Nanamin!" His cheery voice called him, getting his attention.
Nanami's face was just as emotionless as ever.

"You are back."

"Yes, and all the credit goes to (Name)." Satoru raised a hand, hoping to get a high-five from the blonde man.

Nanami just stared at him, "I figured that,"
Satoru brought his hand down, "it's good to have you back in terms of balance of strength." Gojo smiled brightly, he knew Nanami was not good with words, this was as far as he can enunciate his heart.

"It is good seeing you too, Nanami."