Convergence

Part 1 : chapter 2

Utahime felt terrified.

Why did Gojo Satoru want to see her? Wasn't it her first day here?

Could it be because of that glance earlier in the day?

Or perhaps because she had somehow shown a lack of respect for the family's rules?

A flood of questions burst into Utahime's mind in less than a second.

"Why...? " she replied automatically.

"What kind of question is that? It's time for his shōgi games. Every day, a pupil plays with our young master. It's your turn, as you're new."

"Oh... I see," Utahime replied, though she did not understand why this task had never been mentioned before. Exhausted from her long journey, she had no desire whatsoever to play shōgi with this boy.

The servant escorted Utahime to a large room whose floor was entirely covered with tatami. In the centre stood a low wooden table. Upon it rested a board of nine-by-nine squares, lined with trapezoidal pieces. Gojo Satoru was already seated, patiently awaiting his opponent.

Utahime felt a chill run down her spine.

It felt as though she had been thrown into a lion's cage - and the lion was this pale-haired boy.

"This is Iori Utahime, young master. She will play against you tonight," the servant announced before disappearing behind the partition.

She was trapped.

Utahime stepped forward and sat opposite Gojo Satoru.

Without uttering a single word, he moved his first piece.

He was like an impassive automaton, utterly uninterested in the identity of his opponent. It made no difference - he would win. Tomorrow, another opponent would come. Why bother speaking to them? They were nothing compared to him.

Fifteen minutes passed. Utahime lost the first game.

Another fifteen minutes passed. She lost the second.

And so it continued, until the clock struck nine.

"You truly are the worst opponent I have ever encountered," Gojo Satoru said.

It was the first thing he had said to her.

Stung by the remark, Utahime could not resist replying.

"Please do not mind my mediocrity, young master. I have had a rather long and exhausting day - unlike everyone else in this room."

Surprised, Gojo burst into laughter.

It was the first time she had seen his face shift from that inscrutable expression.

"What a sharp tongue for a servant."

"I beg your pardon? A servant?" Utahime replied, offended.

"Is that not what you are? A servant of the Gojo family - bound to respect and obey us for the rest of your life," he said, fixing his azure eyes on hers.

Utahime was speechless. Never in her life had she felt so humiliated.

Outraged by his tone, she stood abruptly and left the room without a word.

Who cared about the rules? Who did he think he was?

Utahime was furious.

If she could have, she would have slapped him. True, he was the heir of the Gojo clan - plus the bearer of both the Infinite and the Six Eyes, the most powerful exorcist of tomorrow's world... but that did not give him every right, right ? He did not need to be so arrogant. So insufferably proud.