LONGING AND DESIRE ❪ inumaki toge ❫

FIVE: TOKYO JUJUTSU HIGH.

Tokyo Jujutsu High is not half as grand as the Akiyama Compound but Fuyumi's eyes roam the expanse of the school with enough hunger to rival that of a starving wolf. She runs her gaze over the traditionally designed buildings, the slope of the roofs and the grassy green grounds stretching across for miles. She inhales the scent of pine trees and slight acidic note that comes with housing so much cursed energy, taking her first step into the land to feel how the energy thrumming through the Earth unfolds itself to greet her.

"Akiyama-san?" a timid voice questions, so soft and tinny that it sounds like it's coming out of a busted radio, and Fuyumi turns around to see a man peering at her. His eyes roam over her face curiously and she doesn't call him out for it. Rarely have Sorcerers seen her out in person. Shiro wouldn't have her accompany him to clan meetings other than the ones held at the Akiyama Compound and so the people who knew what Fuyumi looked like slowly started reducing. "Kiyotaka Ijichi," he holds his hand out to her expectantly and she shakes it with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Ijichi-san, and please, don't refer to me so formally. Akiyama-san is what people call my brother," he nods, looking relieved which confuses her. Did he expect her to be more uppity like other clan members? Well, she can understand that. She's met her fair share of arrogant clan heirs, not that she'd name any ( Zen'in Naoya, for one ) who have made her want to bash their heads in. Footsteps make her realise that Ijichi is moving forward, gesturing to the buildings. She listens politely as he gives her a brief rundown of Tokyo Jujutsu High's history, of how many Sorcerers they've housed and trained into becoming the pillars of Jujutsu Society. Her mother studied here, she thinks with a stab to her heart. So did her father and her brother. Fuyumi glances around, seeing the scuffed marks on the grass training grounds, the weapon shack located a distance away, the edge of the building that must be the student dorms. She wonders if any of the marks on the school came from her parents, if her mother clasped a palm over her mouth in shock after pouring too much cursed energy into an attack and creating a burn in the grass, if Shiro grumbled and glared at the sun's rays streaming through the window of the student dorm.

After the attack, the Akiyama Clan preferred to go to the school which didn't pose a danger to them, meaning that it didn't train any Inumakis. She knows that everyone would have preferred her to go to the Jujutsu school in Kyoto, but Fuyumi knew that she didn't want to go to a school where she'd be constantly monitored by members of her clan, who would report on everything she did and undermine every effort she put into whatever she did. They would see her struggling with something and whisper about it, whispers that would eventually get to her brother and have him demand for her to come back. Years of only having Fuyumi by his side made Shiro a protective brother, the best brother, but a hindrance to her improvement nonetheless. Here, she was free, free to be a mess and make up for her shoddy technique and become strong enough to wave off all of the rumours and insults that were exchanged in the dark.

"-is that alright, Akiyama-kun?" she turns around to face Ijichi, cheeks turning scarlet once she realises his question is aimed at her.

"I'm sorry, Ijichi-san. I was distracted," he chuckles lightly, shaking his head.

"It's alright. Most students tend to be like that when they come to Jujutsu High. I was just asking if it'd be okay if I left you to your own devices," she notices he's glancing at his phone anxiously, thin lips pursed into an even thinner line.

"Do you need to go somewhere, Ijichi-san?"

"Unfortunately, it seems that the Second Years have gotten up to some mischief," the man tries to play it off but Fuyumi can see the exhaustion creeping into his shoulders at the thought. "I don't mean to leave you alone-"

"It's alright," she interrupts, smiling reassuringly. "Just- could you please let me know where I'm supposed to go?" he rummages through his pocket, bringing out a neatly folded piece of paper.