Timeless

Chapter 2

A breeze entered the teachers' lounge of the Tokyo prefectural jujutsu high school. Even the refreshing coolness of it couldn't help the classroom teacher of first years, Ume-sensei's intense staredown at the papers intently. Her eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"What's wrong, Ume-san? It's not like you to dwindle on it too much."

She looked up to see a tall, buff man, "Yaga-san, I'm a bit worried. That's all."

"For their first trip mission without you? How so? You did approve of it", he sat down in the chair next to hers.

"I know, I know, but still... I didn't think they would give them a mission related to curse users this early", she sighed as she re-read the contents all over again.

He nodded when he finally understood her worry: " The higher-ups seem to want the new generation to push further and further. Since the amount of active Jujutsu-shi is getting low, they want to prepare the youngsters faster."

She unconsciously clasped her prosthetic leg tight, "objectively, I can see their points. Even so ... My students are more than ready for curses. But, curse users? They are usually nastier than the curses."

He patted her shoulder comfortingly, "They will be back just fine. Trust them."

She nodded after a moment of contemplation, "I do."

~

You burned the last of curse talismans and sent a thumbs up to the boys. Nanami was quick to destroy the nail pinned to the ground. As soon as the veil fell, Haibara took the lead into the abandoned tunnel.

The mission was to find and capture the curse users who had been asking for ransoms in exchange for removing the curses they first placed on the villagers. The place is a bit far off from Tokyo so you had to take half a day to reach and another half to investigate. It wasn't until the second day you found a lead to their hideout.

You summoned your will-o-wisp in the form of a swallow bird to light up the way. It swiftly flew ahead into the dark, wet tunnel. Closing your eyes, you focused on finding the targets.

"Yamazaki-chan, are you sure about using it? They can see us coming", Haibara glanced back while clearing the path for you.

"They already know we are on their tails the moment we destroy their veil. Besides this is the only way inside. They will be waiting for us anyway", Nanami answered and positioned himself in the rear, just in case of a sneak attack from behind. Even though it had been just the first few weeks of the school year, the three of you were already finding grounds to work together.

"Speaking of them", you stopped walking and reopened eyes. Your fire swallow bird seemed to be tackling some sort of wall.

"Another barrier?", Nanami murmured.

"Not quite", no sooner did you say that another copy of the said wall appeared behind your group.

"They are trying to crush us, huh?", excited Haibara covered himself in curse energy.

"Think you can get to them the moment we break the wall?", Nanami also poured his energy into the sword.

"Give me 10 seconds", you grinned at the challenge.

Nanami and Haibara shared a look before facing an increasingly closing wall on each side.

"On your mark, Yamazaki-chan."

"I'm honored", you also focused on increasing fire output for speed, "3...2...1!", and dashed up to the ceiling.

At the same time, Nanami cut up the wall from the back and Haibara crushed the one in front. Through the opening, you found a middle-aged man faltering in surprise. Spinning to get more momentum, you chop-kicked right onto his head. Then, swept off his legs in the process. When he started to fall, you noticed another man with needle projectiles in his hands. Although you tried your best to dodge all the needles, one of them pierced into your forearm.