Apricus

001

Four years later

The soft thrumming of the train shook Megumi's feet as he stared out the window.

"What are we doing here again, exactly?" The slouched, pink haired boy scratched his head in earnest.

Three teens sat in varying positions on the train seats, whereas a tall man with glaring white hair leaned against a pole, one leg crossing over the other as he checked his phone. A girl with short, ginger-brown hair sat with crossed legs, staring at the window opposite of her; on the other hand, the two boys next to her were a stark contrast. A dark haired boy sat upright with crossed arms while the other was low in his seat, his legs spread in a casual way. People seemed to glance at them cautiously, eying their matching navy outfits with a certain level of uncertainty. They stood out from the normal business folk, and it wasn't far-fetched to suspect that perhaps this group was involved in some cult activities based on their demeanor.

"We're here to pick up the last first year!" The white haired man chuckled to himself, "I seem to have forgotten a certain promise that was made years back."

The three teenagers seemed to perk up immediately at this; Gojo had stated that Nobara would be the final first year. Possibilities ran in each of their heads, picturing what kind of person the new student would be and what their cursed technique would entail.

"What? A fourth first year?" The second boy, this one with spiked black hair, seemed to find uncertainty in the fact that he hadn't known, despite his long ties with the man.

"That's right!"

"Thank God; I was scared I was going to be stuck with these two over here." Though she had just met the two, Nobara had no shame in voicing her perspective as she gestured towards the teen boys.

As the train sped on, the flashing background indicated that they were approaching that of a popular city. Clear in view were skyscrapers which seemed to reach towards the heavens; buildings were clustered together like sardines in a beat up, oily can. Even in broad daylight were bright, blinding neon signs that indicated a number of sales and products. One could only suspect that this vibe was fitting to only a niche group of people.

The speakers suddenly blared, a soft feminine voice announcing that they had arrived in Osaka. The train slowed to a stop, arriving at a spacious platform with multiple exposed arches webbing to form geometrical pillars, all sharp edges and jutting lines. Droves lined up to await boarding; the station ran like a well oiled machine.

As the four stepped off, they were immediately hit with the humid summer air and the familiar crowding of a bustling city scene. Hundreds of people passed by conducting their own accords: checking watches, business calls, and discussing fashion, workplace gossip and whatever new trends had taken over the internet by hand. Gojo led the way, his outworldly height seeming to create a barrier for the students to follow. Eventually, they settled for a space to stand relatively near the centre of the station where they had a decent view of the trains. As they stood awaiting, the crowd seemed to weave around them like a thread through a needle.

Megumi wasn't sure what he was expecting. Gojo had never once mentioned he had known another person his age, let alone discuss the fact that whoever they were was a cursed user. He was aware of the dwindling numbers of jujutsu sorcerers, and the rarity it was to spot one whose blood didn't stem from a clan. He thought of the rest of his peers: Zenin and Inumaki both came from clans, Itadori was an anomaly and he didn't even know some of the others well enough to know how their cursed techniques came to be. Quite frankly, he didn't really care.

"There she is," Gojo smiled, waving over at a figure in the distance.

The three students - curiosities ranging - whipped their heads over, craning their neck to glance at who their sensei was pointing at. To their surprise, a girl clad in high school uniform was the one at the end of his gaze. Uniform wasn't even the right word to describe what you were wearing. Though you sported a standard blouse and skirt, you seemed to have customized it to an extreme extent. Your skirt was shortened and your top loose and tucked in deliberately to show a glimpse of skin. Adorning what seemed to be every part of your body was some sort of jewelry - stacks of bracelets, multiple long and short chains and even belts and metal hanging loose off the belt loops of your skirt. Even your bag was dripping with charms and keychains.