Beyond the Veil | Yuji

3

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
CHAPTER 3
SCIENCE
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

The sun is high in the sky, casting long shadows on the schoolyard as our gym class is in full swing. We are in the middle of running laps, the rhythmic thud of our footsteps mingling with the sound of distant laughter and shouts from other students. I am running beside Yuji, who is going slower than usual just to stay by my side. Not that I am slow—my training with Nanami and Gojo has seen to that—but Yuji is incredibly fast and usually is far in front of everyone.

"What's your favorite manga, Reina?" Yuji asks, his voice bright with curiosity. His usual energy is infectious, and I find myself smiling despite the exertion.

"I really like Attack on Titan," I reply, trying to keep my breathing steady. "The story is just so intense and the characters are amazing."

Yuji's eyes light up. "No way! That's one of my favorites too! The action scenes are incredible."

Just then, Yuji grins mischievously and begins running backwards so he can look at me as he talks. It is such a Yuji thing to do, and I can't help but laugh. My heart flutters slightly, but I push down the blush threatening to creep up my cheeks. This is just Yuji being Yuji, I tell myself.

"Yeah, the action scenes are great," I say, my voice a little breathless, not just from the running. "But I also love how deep the story is. The themes of freedom and sacrifice really get to me."

Yuji nods enthusiastically, not missing a step despite running backwards. "Exactly! And the character development is top-notch. Eren's journey is so intense. I feel like many people misunderstand him."

We continue talking, our conversation flowing easily as we run. Yuji's enthusiasm makes it easy to forget the effort of running, and I find myself getting more animated as we discuss our favorite scenes and characters. I glance around at our classmates, noting that most of them are lagging behind us. Yuji might be slowing down to match my pace, but we are still faster than almost everyone else.

"You're really good at this," Yuji says suddenly, his eyes meeting mine. "Running, I mean. You must have some secret training regimen or something."

I laugh, trying to keep my tone light. "Maybe I do. You'll just have to keep up to find out."

Yuji laughs too, his face lighting up with genuine joy. "Challenge accepted!"

Our laughter echoes through the schoolyard until Coach's booming voice cuts through the air. "Nakamura! Itadori! This is not the time to chit-chat! Get focused!"

We both snap to attention, responding in unison, "Yes, sir!" Our voices are almost comically synchronized, and we exchange a quick glance, struggling not to burst out laughing again.

As we resume running, we fall into a companionable silence. I enjoy the rhythm of our footsteps and the steady pace we maintain together. There is something comforting about Yuji's presence.

Since he introduced himself on the first day, Yuji has made it his personal mission to get me to open up. His persistence is both endearing and relentless. He sits with me during lunch, walks with me between classes, and chats with me after school. He always has a smile on his face, his energy a constant, infectious force that chips away at my shyness.

That's how I find myself here, right now, comfortably running alongside him. In the past few months, we have spent countless hours talking, sharing stories, and laughing. I realize that I know Yuji better than I know Megumi, despite having known Gumi for almost three years. Yuji's openness and warmth make it easy to connect with him.