Shadows unseen

7-Stronger

The following day, back at Jujutsu High, Y/n found herself sitting on the steps outside the training grounds, her mind still buzzing from the previous night's events. Megumi had been quiet for most of the morning, his usual stoic expression masking whatever thoughts he was harboring about what had happened with Yuji.

Y/n sighed, staring out at the sprawling grounds in front of her. She had never imagined her life would take such a sharp turn. Just a few months ago, she had been living her life as normally as possible, trying to cope with the shadows that had followed her since her parents' deaths. But now, those shadows felt far more real. And far more dangerous.

"Hey."

The sudden voice startled her, and she turned to see Megumi standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into his pockets. His expression was unreadable, as always, but there was something different about the way he looked at her today. Less guarded, maybe.

"Can I sit?" he asked, nodding toward the spot beside her.

Y/n shrugged, scooting over slightly to give him space. Megumi sat down, his gaze drifting out toward the training grounds, where other students were practicing their techniques. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't exactly easy either.

"You did okay yesterday," Megumi finally said, his voice low.

Y/n blinked, caught off guard by the comment. "I didn't do anything."

"You didn't panic," he replied, still not looking at her. "That counts for something."

She frowned, unsure if that was meant to be a compliment or not. "But I couldn't fight. I couldn't help."

Megumi sighed, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "It's not always about fighting. Sometimes, staying calm in a situation like that is more important. It's easy to lose control when you're scared."

Y/n bit her lip, the weight of his words sinking in. She hadn't thought of it that way. She had been so focused on what she couldn't do, on how useless she had felt in that moment. But maybe Megumi was right—maybe there was more to surviving in this world than just being able to fight.

Still, the desire to be stronger burned inside her.

"I want to help next time," she said quietly, her hands tightening into fists on her lap. "I don't want just to stand there and watch."

Megumi's eyes softened slightly, but his expression remained serious. "Then you'll need to start training. Properly."

Y/n looked at him, her heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and determination. "I'm ready."

Megumi nodded, standing up and offering her his hand. "Then let's get started."

Y/n hesitated for just a moment before taking Megumi's hand, pulling herself up from the steps. His grip was firm but not forceful, a small reminder of the quiet strength he carried with him every day. As they began walking toward the training grounds, the weight of what she had just agreed to settled into her chest. This wasn't just any training. If she wanted to stand alongside Megumi, Yuji, and the others, she needed to commit fully. There was no room for hesitation or half-measures.

Megumi stopped near a quieter section of the grounds and turned to Y/n. "We'll start with the basics. I know you've seen a lot already, but mastering your cursed energy is the first step to becoming a real sorcerer."

Y/n nodded, her nerves tingling with anticipation. She had seen what Megumi and the others could do, the way they commanded cursed energy like it was an extension of themselves. She had watched in awe, but now it was her turn to learn.