Cursed Currents | Gojo & Geto

十

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
10
SPARRING
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

I hit the tatami mat with a solid thud, feeling the impact reverberate through my body. As I roll to the side, I narrowly avoid Aiko's strike, her wooden stick slicing through the air where I had just been. I grit my teeth, my arms burning from the effort as I push off the mat with all the strength I can muster. With a powerful shove, I extend my legs and trip her, sending her crashing down onto the floor.

She lands with a soft thump, her startled exclamation muffled by the mat. I'm already on my feet, jumping up and turning swiftly. I brandish my wooden stick with a grin, pointing it at her neck. "You're dead!" I declare triumphantly, the thrill of victory coursing through me.

She glares up at me from the ground, her cheeks flushed with both exertion and embarrassment. I lower my stick and offer her a hand. She takes it with a huff, pulling herself up while dusting off her pants. "You're such a jerk for making me fall," she mutters, her tone half exasperated and half amused.

From the stands, Takeshi claps his hands, his grin wide as he watches us. He takes a swig from his water bottle, clearly enjoying the show. I extend my hand in his direction, and he tosses me his bottle with a practiced flick of his wrist. I catch it with one hand, quickly unscrew the cap and down half of it in one go, the cold water soothing my dry throat.

Without missing a beat, I pass the bottle to Aiko, who accepts it with a grateful nod. She takes a generous swig, her earlier irritation fading away as she swallows.

Takeshi, still leaning against the railing of the stands, raises an eyebrow as he observes us. "Nice moves out there," he shouts down with a smirk. "I almost thought you were going to lose it there for a second."

Aiko rolls her eyes but smiles, "Yeah, well, you weren't the one face-first on the mat."

I laugh and nudge her lightly with my elbow. "Come on, it's all in good fun. We're just pushing each other to get better."

She strolls over to Takeshi and he casually slips his arm around her shoulders, a gesture that underscores their height difference. The way she leans into him and the way he adjusts his stance to accommodate her both speak volumes about their unspoken affection. I can't help but smile at the sight.

Their mutual feelings are evident, though neither has made a confession yet. It's almost an unspoken truth among us, one that we all notice but haven't directly addressed. I find myself silently betting on who will make the first move and confess, though I keep the wager to myself since there's no one else to compete with.

I twirl the wooden stick in my hand, the smooth wood feeling reassuringly familiar. The soft swish of the stick slicing through the air is comforting after the intense training session. I glance over at Takeshi, who is now laughing with Aiko. I decide it's time to mix things up a bit.

"Hey, Takeshi-chan," I call out, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Want to have a go?"

His eyes light up with excitement as he hears the challenge. A wild grin spreads across his face, and he cracks his knuckles with a practiced flair. "Bring it on!" he responds eagerly, his tone full of enthusiasm.

He takes the stick from Aiko's hands, giving her a quick, appreciative nod before stepping into the center of the tatami mat. I take a few steps back to give us some space, positioning myself in the center of the mat where the floor is most resilient for our sparring. The atmosphere shifts as Takeshi readies himself, his eyes narrowing in focus while his body tenses with readiness.

I grip my own stick firmly and settle into my stance. The mat beneath us is slightly worn from countless hours of training, the edges frayed from use. The quiet hum of our breaths and the distant sounds of the training hall create a backdrop to our impending match. We exchange a quick nod, signaling that we're ready to start.