"Panda!"
Not far ahead, a towering panda—easily taller than most adults—was waving enthusiastically. Despite his massive build, he somehow managed to look overwhelmingly adorable.
"Genichiii~!"
Genichi dropped his luggage just in time to be engulfed in a crushing bear hug. From this close, he realized Panda was still a good head taller than him.
After the reunion, Panda grabbed part of his luggage and slung it effortlessly over one shoulder.
"Gojo-sensei was supposed to pick you up," Panda said, patting Genichi's back. "But you know how that goes… I'll take you to the dorms first. Then you can meet the other first-years. They're super interesting."
Genichi picked up the remaining bags, laughing as Panda reacted with audible awe at the gaming consoles peeking out.
"Wait—those are the latest models?! I need to try them."
After settling his luggage in the dorm, Panda led him to a classroom.
The door slid open with a bang.
"Woooh! Maki! Inumaki! New classmate!"
Inside sat a boy and a girl in Jujutsu High uniforms.
The girl wore her dark green hair in a practical ponytail. Her features were sharp and striking—but slightly softened by a pair of round glasses that looked almost deliberately unfashionable.
The boy beside her had short silver hair. The lower half of his face was hidden by his high collar, giving him a quiet, refined air.
Both looked up as Panda entered with a white-haired boy in sunglasses and an easy smile.
There was something… familiar about him.
They couldn't place it.
"This is Kamihara Genichi," Panda announced proudly. "The one I keep telling you about."
They'd heard the name before. Panda mentioned him often. And there was the obvious connection to Gojo.
Maki Zenin narrowed her eyes internally.
He looks like Gojo's kid.
No—worse. Adopted kid energy.
Same punchable vibe.
But as Genichi removed his sunglasses and offered a polite bow of greeting, she amended her assessment.
…Actually, he seems better than that blindfold idiot.
"Salmon."
Toge Inumaki nodded politely in greeting.
Panda pointed. "That's Maki. Don't call her by her last name—she hates it. She's a monster in close combat."
Then gestured toward the silver-haired boy. "Toge Inumaki. Cursed Speech user. He can't speak normally, so he uses rice ball ingredients instead."
Genichi smiled easily. Panda was Panda. Inumaki felt approachable despite his speech limitation. And Maki, though sharp-edged, didn't seem unkind.
The door slid open again.
Hands in pockets. Blindfold on. Late.
Satoru Gojo entered like he owned the air.
"Everyone get acquainted?"
Panda and Inumaki responded first. Maki's expression darkened slightly. The "strongest sorcerer" reputation had taken significant structural damage since she'd met him in person.
Genichi? He was immune. Years of exposure had built resistance.
Gojo clapped his hands cheerfully.
"Maki's from the Zenin family. Panda has Principal Yaga's guidance. Toge's got family training. Genichi's been studying early too. So I'll skip basics."
He beamed.
"As a welcome gift, I'm picking two perfect missions for you all. Wait for my good news!"
Silence.
"Oh! Teams! Maki and Genichi. Panda and Toge."
Maki's eyebrow twitched. "Already? We just started."
Panda scratched his head. "Uh… why not me and Genichi?"
"Because," Gojo said, raising a finger dramatically, "team balance. You don't stack two melee builds in one party!"
Panda deadpanned. "This isn't a video game, Gojo-sensei."
Genichi, meanwhile, felt excitement stir.
Finally.
Real combat.
Training Grounds
After warm-ups, Maki faced Genichi with a wooden staff in hand. He held a bokken.
"I heard you're not strong in close combat?" she asked bluntly.
Genichi spun the wooden sword lazily.
"Not exactly. My technique accelerates objects. Physical reinforcement's decent. I just… don't have refined forms. Training with Gojo doesn't exactly teach fundamentals."
Maki swung her staff experimentally, the air cracking.
"Then let's test it."
"No problem. Go easy on me."
She didn't.
Within a few exchanges, Maki's internal commentary shifted sharply.
This isn't "decent."
The strength. The speed.
Even holding back, it was impressive.
Her physical ability exceeded most due to her unique constitution—but Genichi wasn't far behind.
He wasn't polished. His techniques lacked structure in evenly matched duels.
But under pressure?
His defense and counterattacks sharpened dramatically.
And he's a ranged fighter too, right?
After they stopped, Genichi felt it too.
On-screen portrayals never captured this.
Maki's offense was relentless—like being trapped in a storm.
Under his sincere requests for advice, her impression of him improved quickly.
On the other side, Panda and Inumaki didn't spar much. Cursed Speech made full-force practice risky.
Still, somehow Panda flawlessly interpreted Inumaki's rice-ball language.
Their communication was smooth.
Then came Gojo's "guidance."
Which, in Genichi's experience, meant chaos.
"Everyone attack me at once," Gojo said cheerfully.
They did.
He dodged everything.
Blocked effortlessly.
Countered just enough to be infuriating—but never seriously injuring them.
Maki escalated intensity. Panda tried to slack off until Gojo "gave him special attention." Inumaki wisely avoided overusing Cursed Speech—forcing it on Gojo would only backfire.
Genichi stayed at range.
He drew Zhumie.
Cursed energy formed a glowing blue string.
A deep-blue arrow materialized.
The bow felt right.
Power scaled with input. There was a ceiling—but it was high.
Gojo evaded the arrows easily. The ones that struck the ground exploded violently. A few nearly hit Maki and Panda before Genichi adjusted output.
Eventually, once his teammates withdrew, Genichi had no choice but to engage up close.
Another round of loving "instruction."
When Gojo finally finished beating them all into the dirt, he stretched like a satisfied cat.
"Great session! I'm off. Self-practice from here!"
He vanished.
"Finally~" Panda groaned.
"Salmon."
Maki recovered fastest.
And privately, she admitted—
This pairing makes sense.
She could pressure enemies in melee while Genichi controlled the battlefield at range. His arrows could crater the ground with enough force.
And if a tactical curse tried to rush him?
They'd get a very unpleasant surprise.
Genichi caught the calculating look in her eyes and felt slightly nervous.
He coughed lightly. "I'm grabbing drinks. Anyone?"
Panda sprang up instantly. "Cola. Ice cold."
"Bonito flakes."
"Room temperature water," Panda translated. "Gotta protect the throat."
Inumaki nodded.
Maki shrugged. "Green tea's fine."
Genichi returned with the requested drinks from his portable fridge and tossed each to them before settling down with a bottle of water.
They drank. The fatigue faded.
Conversation flowed more easily now.
Panda and Genichi were clearly trouble together—already whispering mischievous ideas.
Inumaki might look quiet, but he was the type to immediately join in.
Maki wouldn't participate—but she enjoyed watching.
As long as she wasn't the target.
She trusted her teammates.
Respected them.
And when Panda once declared, "Maki's the best in a fight. Total sense of security!" while trying—and failing—to wiggle his eyebrows meaningfully—
Genichi didn't know why.
But his hand suddenly felt very itchy.