Beyond the Veil | Yuji

6

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
CHAPTER 6
MISSION
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

Megumi and I arrive at Jujutsu College, and immediately I sense that something is off. The usually serene grounds are bustling with more sorcerers than usual, all of them hurrying about with urgent expressions. My curiosity piqued, I turn to Megumi. "Do you know what's happening?" I ask.

He shrugs his shoulders, his face betraying no more knowledge than mine. "No idea."

We make our way to Principal Yaga's office. As we approach, I catch the sound of raised voices. Recognizing the voices instantly, I pause just outside the door. Nanami's voice is unmistakably angry.

"I won't allow it!" he says vehemently. "I won't put her in danger."

Gojo's voice follows, equally determined. "She's not ready for this. And you can't seriously expect him to tend for the both of them. He's 17!"

Megumi glances at me, his expression unreadable, before knocking on the door. The voices inside fall silent, and after a moment, Principal Yaga's voice calls out, "Come in."

We enter the office to find Nanami and Gojo standing opposite Principal Yaga, their faces set with determination. The atmosphere is thick with tension. Nanami's eyes soften slightly when he sees me, but his worry is still evident.

"Nakamura, Fushiguro," Principal Yaga acknowledges us with a nod. "Thank you for coming."

"What's going on?" I ask, unable to keep the concern out of my voice.

Yaga sighs, glancing at Nanami and Gojo before addressing us. "There's an important mission that requires immediate attention. However, there are disagreements about who should be involved."

Nanami steps forward, his gaze fixed on me. "This mission is too dangerous. I don't want her anywhere near it."

Gojo nods in agreement. "They are not ready for this level of threat."

I feel a sharp pang of offense at Gojo and Nanami's apparent lack of faith in our abilities. It's not just that they don't think I'm ready; it's that they don't think I'm capable. Before I can voice my frustration, Megumi, whose attitude usually rivals mine, steps forward to argue on our behalf.

"Why can't we handle it?" he demands, his voice cutting through the tension. "At least tell us why you think we can't manage it."

Principal Yaga sighs, leaning back in his chair. "There seems to be a grade one curse in a mental asylum. People have been disappearing because they think it's funny or adventurous to wander inside. But no one ever comes out."

Nanami crosses his arms, his face stern and his tone as sharp as a knife. "She's not the right level for a grade one. She's barely a grade three."

I feel a surge of frustration and offense. As much as I hate to admit it, Nanami is right. But it still stings.

Yaga retorts calmly, "Megumi is a grade two, and despite her lack of cursed energy, Nakamura is very skilled with her katanas, not to mention that her perception of cursed energy flows is almost as good as Gojo's. With their combined efforts, the higher-ups are convinced they can defeat the curse."

Gojo scoffs angrily. "That's because the higher-ups are idiots with less that a brain cell."

Yaga sighs, rubbing his temples clearly done with their attitudes. "There are no other sorcerers available and you both know that."

I want to ask what those reasons are, but the tension in the room is too thick. I keep my mouth shut and nervously okay with my rings.

"I understand your concerns," Yaga continues, "but this is the situation we are in. We have to make do with what we have."

Nanami's expression softens slightly as he looks at me. "Reina, this isn't about doubting your abilities. It's about your safety."

"I might not be strong enough," I say, my voice steady but resolute, "but I'm still better than the non-sorcerers. We can't let more people die. If there aren't any sorcerers available besides Megumi and me, then we will handle it."

Megumi nods in agreement, his expression mirroring my determination. Nanami looks as if he's about to burst, the vein on his forehead pulsing prominently. He turns toward Yaga, his voice tight with barely contained frustration. "I'll handle the curse myself."

Yaga shakes his head firmly. "Tomorrow is the 24th, Nanami. We need you."

I exchange a confused look with Megumi. Why is tomorrow so important? It's not just because it's Christmas Eve, that much is clear.

Yaga stands up from his chair, signaling the end of the discussion. "It's settled."

Gojo grumbles loudly, a string of curses spilling from his lips. Nanami turns toward the wall and slams his fist into it, creating a noticeable dent. I gasp loudly and rush towards him, grabbing his hand. His eyes meet mine, and all I see is worry etched deep within them.

My heart clenches as I cup his face with my hands. "I'll be fine," I reassure him, trying to infuse my words with as much confidence as I can muster. "Really, I will."

My own words feel hollow as they leave my mouth, but I cling to them desperately, trying to convince myself as much as him. Nanami's expression softens slightly, but the worry doesn't completely fade. He places his hand over mine, squeezing gently.

"You have to be careful," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I will," I promise again, my voice firmer this time. "I'll be careful, and I'll come back safe."

Gojo walks over, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Don't do anything reckless Little Firecracker."

I nod, feeling the weight of their expectations. "I won't."

As we leave the office, the gravity of the situation settles over us like a heavy shroud. Megumi walks beside me, his presence a comforting reminder that I'm not alone in this. The corridors of Jujutsu High feel unusually tense, filled with an unspoken sense of urgency and danger.

Nanami watches us go, his gaze filled with a mixture of pride and worry. I give him one last reassuring smile before turning the corner, hoping that my words have given him some measure of comfort.

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All I can say is be prepared for next chapter.