𝑴𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 (𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒖 𝑮𝒐𝒋𝒐 𝒙 𝑶𝑪)

1.4 Between Teasing and Temptations

The classroom at Tokyo Jujutsu High was steeped in a strange, almost surreal atmosphere. In the center of the room stood a single desk, imposing and massive, like a solitary island in a sea of empty tatami mats. The shutters on the windows were closed, hiding the outside world where snow was falling in thick, constant flakes, covering everything in a thick white blanket. The light, filtered through the gaps in the shutters, cast oblique shadows on the walls, creating a striking contrast between the darkness and the faint glimmers of light.

On the desk, carelessly draped, lay Satoru Gojo's jacket—a dark, heavy coat with a casual appearance. Chihiro, still intrigued by her new mentor and his habits, slowly moved towards the desk. She reached out cautiously, hesitating for a moment before grabbing the jacket with her slender fingers. The fabric was soft and warm, almost reassuring. She brought the cloth to her nose, closing her eyes as she inhaled deeply.

The scent was intoxicating—a blend of woody notes, cedar, and pine, mixed with a hint of freshness, like a breath of pure mountain air. This scent triggered something deep within her, a wave of reminiscence that floated in her mind, elusive yet strangely familiar. It smelled so good, almost comforting, yet she couldn't quite remember why. There was something intangible, like a memory buried deep in her subconscious.

Suddenly, the silence of the room was interrupted by the sound of the door being abruptly thrown open. A man entered the room. Short, stocky, and visibly sweating despite the frigid cold outside, he wiped his face with a cotton towel, leaving wet streaks on his forehead and his reddened cheeks. His greasy, unkempt hair stuck to his scalp, and a thin mustache twisted above his upper lip.

Chihiro, startled, let the jacket slip from her hands, hanging loosely under her arms. She turned to face the intruder, her eyes filled with surprise and wariness. The man stared at her for a moment, his gaze piercing from beneath thick, bushy eyebrows, before introducing himself in a rough voice.

"Ah, I see... You're Gojo Satoru's new student," he growled, his eyes scanning Chihiro from head to toe with a disdainful expression. "Not for long, I suppose." He pulled a pair of glasses from his pocket and awkwardly placed them on his nose, also retrieving a small, crumpled notepad. "I'm an envoy from the council of exorcists," he added, as if to justify his presence.

Chihiro stared at him, motionless, not knowing how to react. The man frowned, displeased with her silence. "I'm going to ask you some questions," he said brusquely, not even bothering to sit down. "And I expect answers."

He asked her a first question, then another, but Chihiro remained silent, unable to answer him. Her inability to speak seemed to frustrate the man more and more, his cheeks puffing up with anger, his breathing growing heavier. He moved closer to her, his eyes narrowing as he studied her more closely.

"What's wrong with you, huh?" he growled, his voice growing harsher. "You can't speak? Why? What happened to you?" He leaned in closer to her, his foul breath filling the space between them. "Are you cursed or something?"

Chihiro instinctively stepped back, her hands clutching Gojo's jacket as if it were a shield. But the man seemed oblivious to her discomfort. His gaze became harder, almost vulgar, as he continued. "Maybe you're a threat, hmm? Maybe we should keep a closer eye on you and your secrets."

Without warning, he grabbed her wrist roughly, his thick, greasy fingers closing around her slender wrist with brutal force. Chihiro gasped, a flash of fear crossing her eyes. She tried to pull away, but the man held her tightly, his smile twisting into a satisfied grimace.

"Look at this," he said in a disgusted tone, pulling on her arm to bring her closer to him. "A little fragile thing like you, and you really think you can be an exorcist? What a joke." He shook her slightly, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You're just a useless little thing, huh? Maybe even dangerous. What are you hiding, huh?"