Shadows unseen

13-Special Grade

The early morning sky over Jujutsu High was painted with soft hues of orange and pink, a quiet calm settling over the grounds before the day's training began. Y/n stood in the courtyard, her katana in hand, feeling the familiar weight of it as the cool breeze swept through her hair. The sword gleamed in the morning light, a reminder of her brother and everything she was still learning.

Across from her, Megumi and Yuji were already warming up, their movements fluid and focused. Nobara was stretching a few feet away, her hammer and nails set neatly beside her on the stone steps. Even without the pressure of a mission, there was a quiet intensity in the air—the kind that always seemed to come with training at Jujutsu High.

Y/n tightened her grip on the hilt of her katana, her heartbeat quickening slightly as she faced the empty space in front of her. She had been practicing with the blade more often lately, but there was still a lot to learn. Her thoughts drifted briefly to the mission they had completed together, where she had fought off a curse but still felt the lingering sting of doubt in her abilities.

"Focus," she muttered to herself, shaking off the nerves.

"Alright, everyone!" Gojo's familiar voice rang out as he approached the group, his ever-present grin lighting up his face. "Hope you're ready for a tough session today. I've got some fun surprises planned."

Yuji pumped his fist in the air, already brimming with enthusiasm. "Let's go! I've been waiting for some good training!"

Nobara rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "You're always excited for this stuff, aren't you?"

Megumi stood silently beside them, his expression calm but focused, his hands shoved into his pockets as he watched the exchange. Y/n caught his eye for a brief second, and he gave her a small nod—a silent gesture of reassurance. It was subtle, but in that moment, it was enough to calm her nerves.

Gojo clapped his hands together. "Alright, kiddos. Today's training is going to focus on close combat, curse energy control, and weapon handling. Y/n,"—he glanced in her direction—"you'll be working with your katana. I want to see you getting more comfortable with it, especially after that last mission."

Y/n nodded, a flicker of determination sparking in her chest. She took her position at the far end of the courtyard, squaring her stance and gripping her katana with both hands. The others watched briefly before turning to their own training, each focusing on their individual tasks.

As Y/n began her drills, slicing through the air with swift, calculated movements, she tried to focus on the rhythm of her strikes. But her mind kept drifting back to the mission, to the doubt that had crept in when she faced the curse. What if I mess up again? What if I'm not strong enough?

Her next strike faltered, the weight of her thoughts throwing off her balance. She gritted her teeth, shaking her head in frustration.

"Don't overthink it," came a voice from beside her. She hadn't even noticed Megumi approaching. He stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, watching her with that same calm intensity she had come to recognize.

Y/n straightened up, slightly embarrassed that he had noticed her slip-up. "I'm trying not to," she muttered, lowering her katana.

Megumi raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking too much about the mission. Focus on what's in front of you right now."

Y/n blinked, surprised at how easily he had pinpointed the source of her distraction. "How did you—"

"You have the same look I do when I'm frustrated," he said simply, his tone matter-of-fact. "Just... take it one step at a time."