Between the Darkness and Light | Satoru Gojo x OC

- Chapter 14: Mind and Body -

We all watch intently and with mild amusement as Panda, one of the second years I just met a few days ago, throws Nobara around the field. That's their idea of training, I guess. It's not hard to tell that Nobara is frustrated, judging by the amount of curses she's yelling from missing her hits. Panda doesn't seem fazed though.

I was taking a quick break from sparring with Maki. I feel completely worn out, sweat running down my body and dripping to the ground below me. Toge, another second year, sits next to me with the zipped-up dark collar part of his shirt covering his mouth and nose as always.

What's with these people covering parts of their faces?

I hear Maki snicker from beside me. "Looks like they're having fun."

"Salmon..." Toge replies. I still have no idea what he's saying...

I look over at Panda and Nobara, still training intensely. Panda is throwing Nobara around easily, and her curses become louder and more colorful every time she misses a hit. It looks like Panda's the more experienced one of the two. I wipe the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand and take another sip of water.

Panda laughs loudly, his voice booming across the field. "You need to work on your stamina, Nobara!"

Nobara scoffs in response, her breaths coming out in ragged gasps. "Shut it, Panda!"

Just then, I sense the presence of someone behind me. I turn to see Megumi walking up to us while zipping up his navy and light blue jacket.

"Yo you're late, Megumi." Maki turns to face him with a bored expression. "Where have you been?"

"Kelp" the platinum blonde haired boy adds.

Megumi just grunts in response, "What does it matter to you?" Suddenly his expression changes to a distant, forlorn expression. "Answer me something."

Maki turns back to him with a raised eyebrow, "Hm?"

"As a sorcerer, what kind of people do you wanna save?"

Maki looks taken aback by Megumi's question, clearly not expecting it, "Huh? What difference should it make to me whether my actions save anyone at all?" She huffs, voice tinged in irritation.

"I knew I shouldn't have asked you" Megumi mutters, rolling his eyes.

She catches this, and her eyes instantly harden in annoyance. She huffs angrily, "Say what?!"

"FUSHIGUROOO!!!" A loud yell causes all of our attention to move to the field, where Nobara is currently being spun around by Panda. "Quit asking interview prep questions and come switch places with me! I am so totally sick of these school uniforms! Let me go buy some cute tracksuits for this event!!!"

"And here we go!" Panda grunts as he swings the brown-haired girl across the field, her screams echoing across the large landscape. I watch in amusement with a small smile.

"What the hell are they doing?" Megumi says with a bored tone.

Panda gives us a thumbs up and a large smile, "Falling practice!"

"Mustard leaf..."

Panda directs his attention to Megumi and me, "You three are all pretty weak in close quarters..."

"So first," Maki grabs her staff off of her shoulder and struts over to the field. She points the staff at Megumi and I, as if challenging us. "See if you can land a blow on us. Do that and we'll talk." She smirks.

Megumi looks bored as ever but nods his agreement while I get up, wiping the sweat off my brow again. I stretch my arms above my head, rolling my neck from side to side. I'm a little sore, so it feels great to stretch. Reaching down, I pick up my grandpa's sword from where it lay next to me on the ground.