Aya's hands still trembled as she stepped back from the tall figure in her doorway. The city noises outside seemed distant, muffled by the pounding of her own heartbeat. Satoru Gojo stood calmly, his white hair slightly ruffled by the evening breeze, the blindfold concealing eyes that somehow saw everything. Aya had no idea how to react.
"I… I don't understand," she whispered, voice barely audible. "You… you're my brother?"
Gojo smiled faintly, tilting his head. "Yes. I am. And it seems you already know… more than you think." His tone was gentle, but it carried an undeniable authority. Aya's chest tightened. More than I think… what does that mean?
He gestured for her to sit, stepping inside as if he had every right to do so. Aya hesitated, then allowed him to enter, feeling an uneasy mix of fear and fascination. Her apartment, small and cluttered, felt suddenly cramped under the weight of his presence.
"You've been experiencing unusual phenomena," Gojo began, pacing slowly, his hands behind his back. "Objects moving, shadows behaving… that's not normal for someone your age."
Aya nodded, words failing her. I didn't know… I couldn't control it…
"Exactly," Gojo said, stopping suddenly and facing her. "You have inherited something rare, something powerful. You are a Gojo. You carry the Six Eyes and the techniques of Infinity within you. Your abilities are… remarkable, even for me."
Aya stared at him, her mind spinning. Six Eyes? Infinity? She had never heard of such things, and yet a strange resonance stirred inside her chest, like recognition, like a memory she couldn't place.
"I… I don't understand," she said again, gripping her knees. "I've never… done anything like this before intentionally. How can I… be like you?"
Gojo crouched slightly, resting one hand on the edge of her sofa. "Aya, this isn't about copying me. It's about discovering what is yours. The power you have… it's innate. It has been dormant, waiting for you to realize it. That moment you confronted the curse last night? That was just a glimpse."
Her stomach twisted. "You mean… I can actually control it?"
Gojo's blindfolded gaze seemed to pierce through her. "You will control it. But it requires training, focus, and understanding of the world you've never known. Magic and curses… life and death… these are not playgrounds. Your power can protect, or it can destroy. And I intend to make sure it protects."
Aya's thoughts whirled. Protect? Destroy? What am I… really? She looked down at her trembling hands, the faint memory of the force that had surged through her, the invisible shockwave that had repelled the shadow. She had felt it before she even knew what it was. Now Gojo called it… hers. It's really mine.
"I'll start with the basics," Gojo continued. "Focus on sensing energy. That's the first step. Close your eyes, breathe, and feel the currents of cursed energy around you. Don't force it. Let it come to you."
Aya obeyed hesitantly, sitting cross-legged on the floor. She closed her eyes, trying to tune into the strange currents that pulsed faintly in the corners of her awareness. The apartment grew quiet, except for the distant hum of the city. She felt warmth, cold, pressure, and release—energy moving like rivers beneath her skin. It made her shiver.
"Good," Gojo said softly. "Now, reach out with your mind. Extend it. Don't think… feel. Let your body guide the energy."
Aya concentrated, a low hum vibrating in her chest. She raised her hands slowly, and to her astonishment, she felt the invisible currents respond, bending slightly to her will. It was subtle, yet undeniable. I'm doing it… she thought, breathless. I'm actually doing it.
"Not bad," Gojo said, standing behind her. "You have an affinity few possess. But this is only the beginning. You'll need control, endurance, and courage beyond imagination. The world of sorcery is dangerous, Aya. There are enemies who would kill to harness your abilities. And they are coming."
Her heart skipped a beat. "Enemies…?"
Gojo nodded gravely. "Yes. There are those who know of the Gojo bloodline, and they seek to exploit it. Your awakening has already drawn attention. That's why I'm here—to guide you, to protect you, and to ensure you survive."
Aya's mind raced. Fear, excitement, and determination battled inside her. She had always lived a quiet, ordinary life. Now she was being thrust into a world she didn't understand, yet the thrill of it—of finally realizing her own strength—was undeniable.
"I… I want to learn," she said firmly, voice steady despite the tremor in her chest. "I don't want to… lose control again. I want to… be ready."
Gojo smiled, a rare, approving expression. "That's the spirit. But understand this: you're not just learning to fight. You're learning to be. The Six Eyes will show you clarity, the Infinity will give you control, but your heart… your choices… those will define the path you walk."
For the next hour, Aya followed Gojo's guidance, opening herself to the currents of cursed energy. She felt more than she ever had—the hum of the city, the faint flicker of life around her, even the residual echoes of curses long dissipated. She sensed patterns, flows, and potentials, all converging within her awareness. Every nerve seemed alive, every breath synchronized with the invisible world around her.
By the time she opened her eyes, exhaustion pressed against her body, yet she felt alive in a way she never had. The room seemed sharper, brighter, yet simultaneously heavier with possibilities. Gojo's voice cut through the haze.
"You're ready for the next step tomorrow," he said. "For now, rest. Tonight, reflect. Remember, your power is not just strength—it is responsibility. And responsibility is the first true lesson of any sorcerer."
Aya nodded, still breathless. She watched him leave, the door closing behind him with a finality that echoed in her chest. Alone, she curled into a corner of her apartment, thoughts racing.
I am Aya Gojo, she whispered to herself, voice barely audible. I have this power. I have a path. I have… a choice.
And for the first time, the shadows around her didn't frighten her. They were part of her world, part of her awakening. The journey had begun.