The first Student

A real Curse

Y/n spent the next two weeks mostly with Gojo. Every day was a test of her endurance. And not just because of the lessons. Gojo was really hard to bear in the long run. Not that the rest of the training was easy. After all, he had done her a favor and was now teaching fighting techniques from the ground up. It was a bit like learning the choreography for a dance. When they then apply what she had learned in a duel, he always lended her some of their cursed energy. Y/n noticed that he was giving her a little more every day, as if he was slowly getting her used to handling the power. He also explained the world of Jujutsu to her in theory. Y/n already knew some key points from her father. But she ended up with a pile of notes and a buzzing head. But today the learning was over.

"Where are we going? Do you have another surprise for me?", y/n asked as Gojo led her out of the academy grounds after breakfast. But he shook his head. "Nop. No surprise. Today will be a little more serious, but I'm sure you you will face your first curse with fierce fighting spirit."

"First curse?", y/n repeated, feeling herself getting nervous. If Gojo had heard, that she was a little unsettled now, he didn't respond. At least not with any of his usual rudeness. He sounded reassuring instead. "Just one little one. A tiny little curse. And I'll be there the whole time."

"Okay," even though Gojo was really getting on her nerves, she found it reassuring.

"But we have to take the train. Normally we have drivers but...", he paused for a moment and y/n rolled her eyes. "I get it. Your drivers are afraid that I'll attack them from the back seat."

"They'll all eat out of your hand, you'll need patience." Grinning, y/n shook her head. "I think I really like you after all."

"Have you ever thought that you don't like me?", Gojo sounded challenging as they arrived at the train station. Y/n now had to speak a little louder, the incoming train caused quite a wind. "Let me say it like this, you're a toddler with no manners and a condescending grandfather at the same time."

Because she didn't get an answer at first, y/n worried that she might had really offended him. But when they got off the train again, Gojo counterattacked. "You're not exactly a prime example of overly friendly company. I would be careful about judging others, if I was you."

"Don't tell me that you care about other people's opinions!," she looked at him with a tilted head. Gojo grinned briefly at her as he led her away from the train station. "You have a good understanding of people."

Y/n couldn't help but lift her chin proudly as she walked next to him. But her pride came before the fall. And the the reason for that appeared right in front of her, in the form of a dark alley in a remote side street. "Oh my goodness, I wouldn't want to be out here alone. Especially not at night."

"Exactly. But how many people do you think have done that because it's kind of a shortcut? Exactly, many. And they all almost shit their pants because of fear," Gojo announced, perhaps a little condescendingly. Y/n knew pretty quickly what he was referring to. "And this fear has probably manifested itself into a curse. You want me to go in there? But I don't want to do that."

Gojo sighed. "Relax yourself. I already told you, I'm coming with you. It is of great necessity that we find out whether you can absorb curses with your power."

"Of great necessity," y/n mimicked him. Gojo shook his head reproachfully. "But I'm the toddler with no manners. Sure."

"Come on. Let's go!", he didn't take time to make sweet requests, but gave her a good shove on the back, so that she stumbled a few steps forward. "It's okay! I can walk by myself."

"Well, bravo," Gojo added sarcastically, then they walked deeper into the alley side by side. Was y/n wrong or was it unnaturally dark here? It seemed as if not a ray of sunlight reached the ground they were walking on. But it was just midday. Slowly but surely an oppressive feeling began to appear in y/n's chest, but she didn't want to let it show.