Gojo's POV:
Coming back from overseas always feels like jet lag, even if I use teleportation techniques to cut time. My body wasn't tired, but my brain was fried from dealing with the higher-ups. A total drag.
Still, I had business to finish. Reports said a special grade cursed spirit had taken root in an abandoned factory back here in Japan. I already knew about it before leaving for my mission abroad, and I figured I'd handle it when I got back.
But the second I reached the district, something was off.
That cursed energy flaring inside the factory wasn't just the special grade's. No, someone else was fighting it. My Six Eyes locked in immediately, tracking the clash.
I perched on a nearby rooftop, hands in my pockets, and watched.
A boy was in the middle of the fight. Flames burned around him, sharp and wild, but controlled enough to keep the cursed spirit on edge. His instincts were… impressive. He wasn't trained, not in the way Jujutsu High sorcerers are, but his reactions were natural — like he was born for combat.
"Not bad," I muttered, eyes narrowing.
The special grade cursed spirit — a hulking mass of screeching metal — lunged, tearing the floor apart. The boy didn't back down. He met it head-on, flames twisting into the shape of a wolf that lunged and ripped into the spirit's core.
When the cursed spirit crumbled into ash and shards of iron, the boy stood still, catching his breath. No celebration. No panic. Just quiet control.
I felt my lips twitch into a grin.
A newly awakened special grade sorcerer, raw and unshaped. With guidance, he could become something extraordinary. Someone who could stand side by side with me.
"Well," I said to myself, "looks like I found a rookie worth keeping an eye on."
The next day, I paid a little visit to my clan's records anyway — just in case. No trace of him, no mention, no rumors. That confirmed it. He was completely new to the jujutsu world.
And that made him my responsibility. Or at least… my entertainment.
That night, I followed the faint traces of his cursed energy to a modest apartment in the city. He wasn't hiding. Just living like a normal person. I smirked.
"Found you."
When I rang the bell, I felt his hesitation behind the door. He opened it carefully, eyes steady but cautious.
"Hello there," I greeted him, easy going.
"Hello, how can I help you?" His voice was calm, but there was a guarded edge to it.
"Well, wouldn't it be better if we talk inside the house?" I tilted my head, smile never leaving my face.
He blinked, then nodded. "Of course, please come in."
The apartment was neat. No cursed objects lying around, no barriers. Just a normal living space. But the boy himself was anything but normal.
"What do you prefer – tea or coffee?" he asked politely.
"I'd prefer tea. I've got a bit of a sweet tooth, you see," I said, grinning.
He nodded, retreating to the kitchen. I leaned back on the sofa, taking in the room. Normal house, normal furniture. But the person moving about in the kitchen? A special grade sorcerer, still unaware of what he really was.
From his POV, this was probably just a strange guest asking for tea. From mine, it was the beginning of something big.
I chuckled under my breath."Guess I'll have to be his guide… whether he likes it or not."
MC's POV:
I finished making the tea and handed a cup to him. Sitting down across from him, I took a sip myself before asking, "So… do I know you? And what exactly can I help you with?"
"Ah! Where are my manners," he said with a grin. "My name is Gojo Satoru. I'm a Jujutsu Sorcerer… just like you."
Seeing the confused look on my face, he quickly added, "I know you don't fully understand what that means yet. Don't worry, I'll explain."
"I saw what you did today at that factory."My body stiffened on purpose, pretending to be cautious.
"Now, now, don't be on guard," Gojo waved his hand casually. "I can do the same kind of supernatural things you do."
To prove his point, he picked up a steel spoon from the table. Without even touching it, the spoon bent at an extreme angle and snapped in half.
"See? What I used to do that is called cursed energy. I'm sure you must have felt that strange flow of power inside you when you fought today. That's cursed energy. And people who can control it are called Jujutsu Sorcerers."
He leaned back comfortably before continuing."Cursed energy is basically born from negative emotions. Everyone in the world has it, but only people with a large amount—or with the right kind of brain—can actually sense it, see curses, or manipulate it. Those who can, become sorcerers."
"So… is there an entire secret society of people like me?" I asked curiously.
"Yup," Gojo nodded. "We've been around for centuries, and you'll find us all over the world. What you fought today was a cursed spirit—creatures born from the buildup of negative emotions. Our job as Jujutsu Sorcerers is to exorcise them. If we don't, they'll cause chaos and take lives."
I took another sip of tea, letting it sink in.
"That's why I'm here. I want to invite you to Jujutsu Tech. Think of it like a high school, but instead of normal classes, it's where newly awakened sorcerers learn how to control cursed energy and use it properly."
I raised an eyebrow. "Okay… but first of all, do I even have a choice? And second, how exactly are sorcerers categorized?"
Gojo suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahahaa! Oh, man, you're fun. For your first question—sorry, but not really. You see, you don't have anyone else in this world anymore. You could try to go back to a normal life, but…" he paused and smirked, "an unregistered sorcerer is dangerous—to himself and to the people around him. Especially someone as strong as you. And trust me, normal life is going to feel way too boring after what you've already experienced."
"As for your second question," he leaned forward with a playful smile, "sorcerers are ranked by power levels, kind of like grades in school."
He raised a finger and began listing them out:
"Grade 4 – Cannon fodder. Weakest of the weak. Honestly, they're just there to make numbers."
"Grade 3 – These guys could level a neighborhood if they fought seriously without a barrier to contain the damage. Not exactly impressive, but not harmless either."
"Grade 2 – Now we're talking. A Grade 2 sorcerer could flatten a city block if you remove the safety measures."
"Grade 1 – The elites. Veterans who've trained for years. These guys can wipe out an entire city on their own if they went all out without a barrier. Pretty terrifying when you think about it."
He paused for dramatic effect before pointing both thumbs at himself.
"And then there's the Special Grade. This category? Wildly unpredictable. Some special grades could annihilate an entire continent. Others? World-ending potential. And yes, before you ask, the barriers we use in missions exist to contain all that destructive output. Otherwise, Japan would've been a crater years ago."
I sat there stunned, the weight of his words pressing down on me. I was right. The power level of this world have been upscaled. Like some kind of AU.
Gojo leaned back with an easy smile, sipping his tea like he hadn't just described apocalyptic power levels. "And people like you and me? We're in the Special Grade club. But remember, even within this rank, there are massive differences. For example…" he tapped his chin playfully, "you're a shiny new sports car. I'm… well, I'm the guy who designed the road."
I groaned internally. Great. Not only is he strong, but he's insufferably cocky.
After some more back-and-forth—mostly Gojo joking around while I tried to get straight answers—he finally stood up.
"Well, that's enough lecturing for today. I'll swing by tomorrow to pick you up. Pack light—you won't be needing much where we're going."
He gave me a lazy wave as he walked out, leaving me staring at the door, mind racing.
Tomorrow, my life was about to change forever.