"In other words, my parents achieved a much higher status within the Gojo family. As a result, I was brought up strictly, had to abide by a lot of rules and was treated very specially, which really got on my nerves. As a result, I occasionally - or rather, far too often - ran away from home and preferred to hang around outside. When I was at home, I suffered under the command of my parents and was taught Jujutsu every free minute. Well, at least the basics, because no one was able to teach me my skills."
She was still sitting quietly and attentively opposite me and seemed to be literally hanging on my every word.
"And how did you manage to become so strong?" She even asked me a question that made me wonder at first.
Was this question more of a taunt or did she really want to know?
"Well, yes. I started reading up on it in various books from the Kyoto Academy. Then I tried it out and finally perfected it for myself," I let slip vaguely and pulled up my security wall.
That seemed strange to me. No one had ever taken an interest in me before. The realization that I was the strongest was sometimes simply accepted or even assumed that I had fallen from the sky like that and now this young jujuzist was sitting opposite me and asking me about myself?!
What was she trying to achieve? Was Mayu trying to see behind my facade or to harm me, but I couldn't see how?
"Typical parents," she mused absentmindedly, "what happened next? You were still at home then, so when did you move to Tokyo?"
"... After my time at boarding school. After my teenage years, to be precise."
Was I mistaken or did a hint of pity contort on her face?
"You even went to boarding school? That doesn't exactly sound like a picture-book childhood," she said much more cautiously, but again with suspicion. She probably didn't miss the fact that I had put up my wall, did she?
But there was nothing there! I read nothing but pure interest from her ultraviolet eyes. There wasn't a single spark of hypocrisy or mockery in them. On the contrary, she seemed to have been so captivated by the superficial tale from my childhood, as if she had been listening to an exciting report.
"That must have been difficult, wasn't it? In terms of your skills and training them. I mean, until two months ago, the concept of jujutsu was completely foreign to me and you've been teaching me ever since, which I personally find extremely difficult. But with you? You actually taught yourself everything. In fact, you didn't have anyone to show you, explain it to you or even demonstrate it to you. That's incredibly admirable."
She was just admiring me? That felt incredibly strange.
"Oh well. That was a piece of cake," I smiled, waving off the difficult part of my past, "it wasn't always easy now and then, but it's no longer a problem."
"Impressive," she remarked thoughtfully, "how often did you despair when things went wrong or you didn't succeed?"
I furrowed my eyebrows in a flash, but only for a brief moment.
"... Often enough."
I didn't have to mention again that the whole thing seemed strange to me, did I? Who the hell cared if I could manage my escape techniques? It was funny.
"I can imagine all too well. For my part, I find it really remarkable and have great respect for you, Satoru. Not just in terms of what you've learned as a jujuzist."
I simply hadn't expected such words, which is why I felt small for a split second.
Back to that small, often desperate boy I had recently grown out of, who had more than enough problems with his immense cursing energy and techniques.
There were always short but intense phases where it brought me to the brink of despair, but she didn't need to know that.
Just as I was about to respond, the waiter beat me to it with the full tray and Mayu sat down at the table again.
As soon as he had gone, the table was set with food and drinks and we were ready to start eating, Mayu's sweet voice broke the brief silence between us.
"Enjoy your meal."
"Thank you, you too."