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a few days later
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Days had passed since Rina moved into her apartment at Jujutsu High. The quiet familiarity of the school grounds had returned to her in pieces, like fragments of a dream she'd almost forgotten. Yet, in the six years since she last walked these halls, everything felt distant, alien even, as if she were walking through a life that no longer belonged to her.
Her apartment was neat and spartan, just as she liked it. No personal touches. No mementos of the past. The sterile environment matched her demeanor perfectly—cold, practical, efficient. The only indication that anyone even lived there was the occasional trace of tea brewing in the mornings or the sound of her motorcycle engine roaring to life in the evenings as she left to clear her head. Since her return, she had avoided most of the teachers and students, preferring her solitude over unnecessary interaction.
One afternoon, just as she was settling into the stillness of her day, a knock echoed through her apartment. She sighed, her irritation palpable even though no one was there to witness it. Sliding open the door, she was greeted by the towering figure of Yaga Masamichi.
"Good afternoon, Rina," Masamichi said, his voice gruff but with a warmth that didn't match her current mood. "Thought I'd show you around since it's been... what, six years? There have been some changes."
Rina's eyes flickered with disinterest, but she nodded. "I suppose," she said, her tone flat, the words almost dismissive. She grabbed her jacket, pulling it on with a sharp motion, and stepped out into the hall.
Masamichi began walking ahead, glancing over his shoulder to ensure she was following. "The place hasn't changed too much," he started, his tone casual as they moved through the familiar corridors. "But we've got some new faces, new students, new teachers. Figured it'd be good for you to know your way around again."
Rina said nothing, her footsteps quiet and methodical behind him. As they passed a few classrooms, she noticed a few teachers chatting in the halls, students laughing and rushing between classes. It was a far cry from the darker, more intense days she remembered. Her presence, however, seemed to cast a chill wherever they walked—teachers offered her stiff nods, students shot curious, sometimes fearful glances, but no one approached.
