A massive cloud of dust and dirt exploded between us. It was a desperate, messy attack. I knew it was useless. I knew it was an insult to his power. But I needed a second. Just a single second to recalibrate.
Everything between us vanished instantly into a blue orb. Not from the front, but from the side. A single, perfectly drilled hole appeared in the swirling debris, and through it, I saw his blue eye, his fingers already forming the sign.
"Red."
The world turned crimson. It wasn't an orb pulling me in; it was a beam of pure, repulsive force—a concussive blast so dense it warped the air around it. There was no time to form a full counter. I threw my arms up, pouring every ounce of my RCT into a defensive shell around me.
The red beam slammed into me, and the sound was a deafening crack, like a mountain splitting in two. The force was astronomical. It wasn't just an impact; it was an erasure. My RCT shell shattered instantly, the feedback sending a blinding pain through my entire nervous system.
I was launched backward like a ragdoll, tumbling end over end until I slammed into the remains of a stone archway. The structure crumbled on top of me, dust and debris choking my lungs. I lay there for a moment, my body screaming in protest. Cuts and bruises were already knitting themselves closed, but a deep, cellular exhaustion was setting in.
He was toying with me, using just enough of his limitless CE to overwhelm, not to obliterate.
A shadow fell over me. I looked up through the settling dust. Gojo stood there, hands in his pockets, glasses still off. He looked down, his expression unreadable.
"You've got a good technique," he said, his voice losing its playful edge. "That RCT of yours is something special. But you're thinking like a sorcerer. You're trying to match my Cursed Energy with your own."
He crouched down, bringing his face level with mine. His brilliant blue eyes seemed to pierce right through my flesh, my bones, and into the very core of my soul.
"The secret to fighting me isn't about having more power," he whispered, a genuine, chilling smile finally gracing his lips. "It's about making sure I can't use mine properly. And you… you're not even close."
I grit my teeth, forcing myself to sit up despite the screaming protests of my muscles. I didn't care that he was stronger. I didn't care that I'd lost.
"Next time, I'll beat your ass," I said, dead serious. 'There was no bad blood between us, I'm just weak…for now.'
Gojo raised an eyebrow, but I wasn't talking about the fight. During our exchange of blows, I'd felt it—a hollowness in his heart that belied the strength in his eyes. He wasn't just acting arrogant; he was acting out.
"Did something happen to you?" I asked, watching him closely. He was acting or behaving strangely more than his usual self. "You're not usually this... punk-like."
Sayo stepped in, helping me to my feet as I pushed more RCT into my healing. She glanced at Gojo, then back at me.
"Hmm. Something like that," she responded vaguely.
"What? His girlfriend cheated on him or something?" I joked, trying to cut the tension of the typical Gojo method which worked.
"He-he. Something like that," Sayo repeated with a chuckle.
"What the fuck?" I muttered in surprise, not expecting what she just said would be true.
Before I could press further, he was gone. Principal Yaga had likely appeared to collect him, dragging him away to put some sense into him.
"He seems pissed, Isshin? You did something to him." Mei Mei asked.
"You have a fever, man keep it up." A blond man who I didn't even know passed me a thumbs up.
The other students swarmed me, offering water and words of encouragement, but my mind was still on that look in Gojo's eyes.
***
Evening
After the adrenaline faded and the crowd dispersed, I headed to my usual cafe. I needed quiet. I ordered a light, healthy meal—something to help my body recover after burning through so much energy.
"Man, I love eating this stuff," I muttered to myself, enjoying the solitude and the simple pleasure of food with some beer. Which for a good reason didn't last long.
I heard a familiar voice of a boy around my age who was none other than Satoru himself. "Yo." He said his hand as he greeted me and took a seat next to me and took the bite from the chopstick I was holding.
"This ramen hits the spot!" He admitted instantly loving the meal. "Two more, chief."
Ignoring the menace who just ruined the meal and appetite to eat I looked at another figure accompanying him. "Hi." She greeted me with a sorry face.
I paused, drinking the cold beer up quickly. I looked up.
"Huh? You two?" I asked not in anger or hate of what Satoru did recently.
"If it's related to what yo-" As I was speaking my heart out to clarify myself he interrupted me. "I want to apologise for my rash conduct."
"Huh? Did my ear hear it, right?" I hide astonishment and mock him while observing both of them. "I told you he will tease me!"
"Indeed, I thought he would hate you by now." Sayo said she seems to be flabbergasted. Perhaps they thought I would react in a negative way.
"I will forgive you if you pay for my date and daily spar."
"Huh? Really that easy." Saturo muttered not to buy my words. "He's not joking." His sister said understand me as we looked into each other's eyes.
"But you owe me the explanation." I insisted and ate my food faster, as I was getting late for my late night classes in the royal academy which I didn't want to happen.
"So I think the story starts with-" He stared at his elder sister as if he was against it but her glare made it clear she wants him to open up no more hiding. With a helpless face he begins his story.
It was about his last mission when the talentless man from the Zenin clan who wields heavenly restrictions defeated him and killed his friend who was supposed to merge with Tengen died.
"By the way, who are you going on a date with?" After finishing his story he nicely asked, he seemed interested for some reason as I prepared to leave.
"Your siste-" However before I could finish I heard him chant.
"Hollow purple!"
"Huh?"