Cursed Currents | Gojo & Geto

二

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
2
FIRST YEARS
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

The following morning, I wake up earlier than expected, the soft light of dawn barely filtering through the curtains. The air is crisp and cool, the promise of a new day hanging in the stillness. I stretch lazily, savoring the quiet moment before the world fully awakens. The excitement of the previous day lingers, but now there's a sense of calm determination settling over me. Today, I want to explore Kyoto Tech. I want to know every corner, every pathway, every inch of this school that will be my home for the next few years.

I quickly dress, pulling on my usual training clothes: a comfortable but sturdy pair of pants and a fitted top that allows for easy movement. I tie my hair back, not wanting anything to distract me, and slip on my shoes. The corridors are empty as I leave my room, the only sound the quiet padding of my footsteps. There's something peaceful about being the first one up, the only one moving through the hallways. It feels like the school is mine alone, at least for this short time.

Outside, the training grounds are bathed in the soft, golden light of early morning. The air smells fresh, clean, carrying the scent of dew-covered grass. I take a deep breath, letting the coolness fill my lungs, and begin stretching. The grounds are expansive, with various areas designed for different kinds of training: open fields for combat practice, obstacle courses, and even a section with traditional wooden dummies for honing technique. I can already imagine myself spending countless hours here, pushing my limits, refining my skills.

As I finish my warm-up and prepare to start some light exercises, I hear a familiar voice calling my name. I whip around, my heart skipping a beat in surprise, and see Aiko bounding toward me. Next to her is a boy I don't recognize. He's taller than Aiko, with a relaxed posture and a casual smile on his face. His dark hair is slightly tousled, as if he just rolled out of bed, but there's a sharpness in his eyes that makes me immediately wary.

Aiko waves energetically as she gets closer, her grin as bright as the morning sun. "Sora! You're up early too!" she calls out, her voice full of the same boundless energy she had last night.

I hesitate for a moment, unsure whether I'm ready for her usual whirlwind of enthusiasm so early in the day. But before I can respond, she's already launching herself toward me, closing the distance between us in a few quick strides. Despite the fact that she's significantly shorter than me, she somehow manages to throw her arm around my shoulders and drag me closer to the boy.

"This," she announces with the same grandiosity she had when introducing me to her room, "is Takeshi Yamamoto, the third and last first year! Isn't that great? We're all together now!"

Takeshi laughs at her antics, the sound light and easy, and I find myself relaxing slightly. His laugh is genuine, the kind that puts you at ease without even trying. He nods in acknowledgment, offering a friendly smile as he looks at me. "Nice to meet you. Aiko's been talking about you since yesterday," he says, his tone teasing. "She's already decided we're all going to be best friends."

I offer a small smile in return, still cautious. "Nice to meet you too," I say, my voice steady but reserved. I'm not sure what to make of him yet, but Aiko's obvious comfort around him makes me think he can't be too bad.

Aiko beams, clearly pleased with herself for bringing us together. She starts talking again, her words spilling out in a rapid stream as if she's afraid she might forget something if she doesn't get it all out at once. "So, Takeshi and I were just heading to the common space to grab some breakfast, and we saw you here, Sora-chan! You have to join us! It'll be fun, and you need to try the food here. It's so much better than what I had back home."