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I.
When Mai first saw her, she thought she was a stick-in-a-mud, just like that old geezer who went on and on and onnnnn about preserving tradition and old ways of jujutsu sorcery. At this point, Mai could have probably passed out from her spot. Then she found out that the old geezer was apparently the principal.
Her scar stood out from her, especially as a woman, and Mai have seen what's up, first handedly in her shitty household. The way she dressed with the traditional war, the woman almost reminded her of the type that aimlessly followed behind a man and did what they told her to be, just like Mai's braindead mom who chopped vegetables and cooked meals to the same man who slapped her across the face just seconds ago ..
But one that surprised Mai the most about meeting her was how she went on the first day of school where Mai would have expected long-winded formal pleasantries but this Utahime Iori, their teacher, went right in with the first lesson of the day after she introduced herself.
"In sorcery, they emphasized that one's individual cursed energy is extremely important and the defining factor. However," Utahime paused, and this initially caught the attention of Mai when she was ready to pass out again. "I do think that it's also important how individuals can use it as a group even with their varying cursed energies."
A hand shot up from the very few people of her class. Mai craned her head and saw that the guy was dressed in a traditional shozoku robe, very much fit in Kyoto's stick-in-the-mud vibe.
"And how exactly is that going to work? Won't the person with the most cursed energy just overpower everyone?" The guy asked.
"Well, there's a lot of factors like cooperation, compromise and communication from everyone. So, how about we start getting to know each other first?" Utahime smiled, a heartwarming one.
Mai straightened up on her seat, thinking that maybe Utahime-sensei wasn't that bad after all….
A week went by. Making friends was a bit hard, and somehow Utahime-sensei made it work with these "team building activities." Mai wasn't sure if she hated it or not.
Mai went to her first ever office once on a friday afternoon not because of trouble but actual emergency. She was also left with no other options since her newly met roommates had left early because Momo had this "extremely formal annoying family dinner" as she phrased it and Kasumi had to go look out for her brother over the weekend.
"Hey," Mai awkwardly said as she slid the door close behind her. "Uh, sensei."
"Hello Mai," said Utahime. "Do you need any help?"
Mai cleared her throat so as to not stumble over her words. "I tried looking through the kitchen cabinet and even the bathroom but I didn't find any napkin pads."
"Oh, right, I still didn't fill those out at the dorms," answered Utahime. "But don't worry I have a box of them right now." She smiled, and she was so calm about it too.
Unlike when Mai first had it, when she was little, she was freaking out that blood stained her sheets and her kimono. She was absolutely scared out of her mind that the curses she saw finally went to attack her while Maki was trying to calm her down the whole time.
"Did you just have it today?" asked Utahime as she pulled the box under her office desk.
"Yeah.." Mai still remembered so well how her hands scrubbed so hard on her kimono so blood could get off, trying to hide it from her mother, trying to get rid of it so her mom wouldn't have to do more chores, so mom wouldn't have to get mad at her.
Utahime then proceeded to give her a pack of napkins. "Here." She also handed her a heating pad and pills, some few things that weren't easily seen around Mai's household.
"Um, thanks…" Mai said, her fingers tugging the corners of the box unsure what to do.
"Let me know if you need anything."
Mai was ready to turn around and head back to her dorm but then with the heating pad and pills, she wasn't sure. "Utahime-sensei," Mai called, admitting defeat. "Will you still be around campus this weekend? You know, just in case I die from my cramps."
Utahime lightly chuckled. "Yes, of course, give me a call. Cramps can be truly horrible."
"Thanks…again." Mai tugged a small smile. She was relieved that she didn't have to writhe in the corner of her house, all alone with no Maki, as her own gut scraped her inside while her family still beat her to do her chores.
II.
Utahime needed to get it done before the baseball game started. She needed to address it because she knew that one thing that could make her kids, unstable teens especially, worse was when things are getting sweeped off under the rug.
She looked out at her students, sitting on the benches and tying their shoes to get ready. She was the one who probed them to be haste after all as she was the baseball fanatic. She clapped her hands, and easily, their chitchats died down and they all turned their heads to look up.
"I know it has been a stressful goodwill event ever since yesterday, but there's just one thing I needed to tell everyone."
Her kids huddled in together like penguins, and all ears to what she had said.
"I wasn't aware that Principal Gakuganji ordered you all to kill Itadori Yuuji which could have put everyone in danger. I apologize for not knowing it sooner," said Utahime.
"Apparently, that geezer did the same thing to Gojo," suddenly chimed in Todo, and everyone turned their heads with their own individually weirded out faces because it was one of those rare times Todo participated in group discussions. "Heard it from Brotha Yuuji." Then everyone collectively sighed in disappointment.
He was still quite pissed that his Brotha Yuuji got targeted like that. Other than that, Todo found it interesting for both teachers to get fooled by the old geezer. Gojo, the strongest sorcerer, and there's their Utahime-sensei, a mere semi-grade one. Yuuji did mention that he had to hide for a while from his classmates, and only showed up to see his classmates at this goodwill event. Todo wondered if Gojo even mentioned this to Tokyo Tech just like their sensei did.
"It's okay, Utahime-sensei," assured Momo as she lent a hand on her shoulder.
"It's a good thing you've told it to us, sensei," said Todo. "We'll know what to do next time."
Utahime gave him a smile, and Todo couldn't help but return a small smile.
He remembered the first time he stepped into Kyoto Tech campus right after Tsumoko sent him off for more training. It bothered him that instead of being recommended to go to Tokyo, a far more interesting bustling city, he got into the old fashioned and dull Kyoto. Still, he'd probably find a way to get into the Tokyo campus every way he can.
He went into the teacher's office as he was told to, the stinging wound still pulsing on his face. There, he saw his supposed teacher, sporting a whole miko outfit. She turned around, coming face-to-face with Todo, the scar across her face being revealed to him.
"Todo Aoi. Yuki Tsumoko scouted me," he said straight to point, but the teacher only had her eyes widened as if Todo had cut up his own finger right in front of her.
"Your bandage is really soaked," she said, filled with concern, and Todo almost forgot that yeah, he got a whole bandage wrapped around his head, the pulsing wound being some kind of a normal thing for him.
The teacher drew out her nearest cabinet, a whole kit of bandages, a first aid kit. "How about I fix you up while I introduce myself, hm?" she asked.
Todo raised his brow. "I can do it by myself," he answered. The reaction from this teacher was totally alien to him as all his life, all his training, Tsumoko only yelled at him to get up on his feet again even when blood was gushing and soaking on the collar of his shirt.
"I already have everything out." The teacher gestured at her kit.
"Look, lady," resisted Todo. "I don't think I'm even gonna stay here, so it doesn't matter."
"Please, I really don't mind," continued the teacher. "Better to get it fixed up right away."
Then again, another alien thing that came out of her mouth, the same thing that his teacher like Tsumoko wouldn't even let him off the hook so easily. But like Tsumoko, this lady was stubborn too. Maybe even all sorcerers were supposed to be.
So he did, letting the teacher, Utahime Iori as she introduced herself, work her magic. Her hands worked with great care, very unlike the constant callousness of everything wrapped in his life, but still he took interest in it, to how delicate it is. He was transported to being surrounded by Sakura trees, and as petals fell onto him, it reminded him of her touch.
He guessed he would stay. Kyoto was supposed to be that strictly traditional, and yet, Todo found some spunk in this place.
III.
For the countless times of the week, Utahime saw Mechamura go into her office to deliver small errands when the Kyoto Teacher specifically knew that she was pretty sure she evenly distributed the work to her students.
"This is the fifth time of the week, I'm feeling that your team has been dumping all their work to you," Utahime said when Mechamaru had come to the office for his errand runs.
"I know," Mechamuru said, "I….don't actually mind."
Utahime let out a sigh. "Who's been doing it? Is it the girls?"
Mechamaru didn't respond for a while. Then a beat passed. "Yes…"
"Ah, those girls can be no-good sometimes, especially Mai and-"
"Miwa has been trying to help me out though," interjected Mechamaru. "With the errands and everything. She's nice…"
"Yes, she is. Miwa, if she hadn't been there, Mai and Nishimiya could have done some crazy things," said Utahime with a relieved sigh.
"I don't really mind taking her errands either," admitted Mechamaru. "It's nice to know that she and the others can rely on me."
Utahime looked up to him and even if she was merely staring at some metal robot helmet of Mechamaru, she could still hear the joy in the tone of his voice. "Then you're doing a great job," said Utahime, patting his shoulder.
It might have been just a puppet that Utahime-sensei touched but he still felt it right there on the confines of his forever reality, disabled and never would have felt the kiss of the sun. He cherished that at least, if he were able to describe the sun, then it might be just the sole presence of Miwa, his sensei and the rest of Kyoto Tech, for their warmth that he desired like a moth to a flame.
"But you gotta let them know though," added Utahime. "Or else, tell them sensei's gonna place a strict curfew on their midnight snacking."
"Wait," Mechamaru chuckled even through his robotic voice, "they've been doing that?"
"Their voices can be loud sometimes especially when they're teasing Miwa," chuckled Utahime as well. "So go! Run along now."
–
Another knock again came onto the office,and Utahime hoped to god that it wasn't Mechamaru this time.
"Utahime-sensei," a voice called out as she came in her hands behind her back, her steps nervously coming.
"Miwa, it's you. What's up?"
"About Mechamaru…" she said, her eyes refusing to look at her as it stayed glued to the ground.
Utahime waited as the blue haired girl still gathered her thoughts.
She breathed in and then, in one breath she said: "Pleasedon'tputstrictcurfewonus!"
The Kyoto teacher couldn't help but laugh. In the corner of her eyes, she also saw Mai and Nishimiya peering behind the door who probably probed Miwa to go to Utahime. "I'm glad you got the warning," said Utahime, once she settled down laughing and went ahead to close the office door. "It's impressive Mai and Nishimiya haven't been that total bad influence on you."
"I admit they could be double trouble sometimes, and they'd get me in trouble too, but-!" Miwa paused, "I'm happy to be friends with them."
Utahime looked at her student. A content smile spread across her face. "You're a good friend! Even Mechamaru sees that."
"Eh, Mechamaru?!"
"Yes," said Utahime as she stood up from her chair again, placing her hands on the shoji doors and then quickly sliding it open.
Outside the now opened door, Mai and Momo jumped up from the position of the classic 'pressing your ear on the door' and looked at Utahime like they were deer caught in headlights.
–
It has been a crazy week for Miwa honestly. Mai and Momo shenanigans, Mechamaru errands, and then unexpectedly landing herself at Utahime's office.
Finally, the weekend! Yet still, Miwa knew that she's all packed up for the weekend to check on her family and babysit brothers. On her way out of the campus, she ran in with Utahime-sensei also going down the cardio stairs of Kyoto Tech.
"Miwa! Are you headed to Tokyo?" She asked.
It didn't take long for Utahime and Miwa headed to Tokyo together. During the time of the train ride, Miwa and Utahime shared pieces about their life like with Miwa's brothers and Utahime being best friends with Doctor Shoko Ieri. It didn't feel too awkward as her sensei was brilliantly easy to talk to. When that long silence entered their conversation, Miwa decided to watch a movie.
"Is that 'Mean Girls?" lit up Utahime as she lightly jumped up from her seat.
"Yeah!" replied Miwa, also excited. "You have no idea how I religiously watch it with Mai and Momo!"
"Oh my goodness, I didn't you kids watch this stuff. I love it so much too! Watched it so much with Shoko back in Tokyo Tech." Utahime smiled from that memory. "How about 'Freaky Friday'? Have you watched that? Lindsay Lohan is on that one too."
"No, I haven't. I only watched Parent Trap of hers though."
"You should watch it! She plays such a different character on that one."
The two continued talking until Miwa suggested that maybe they can even watch Freaky Friday together. It added more to Miwa's core memories which usually includes watching Lindsay Lohan movies with someone special.
They reached Tokyo once the movie was over, and as they exited the station ready to part ways, Utahime gave her one more thing.
"Here." Utahime handed her cash before Miwa could even decline as her teacher quickly closed her student's fingers to keep the money.
"You can use it for your train fare going back to Kyoto."
"B-but, sensei!"
"Take it,"still insisted Utahime. "It's my way of telling you that you also have a family in Kyoto Tech and not just here." The Kyoto teacher only watched as her student grinned, repeatedly nodding her head and saying thank you to her.
Miwa swore she would have probably cried in the middle of the train station.
IV.
Amidst all the chaos, Momo still tried to give Mai a proper funeral, and she had mere 19 days before entering that annoying culling game.
Everyone had split up right after their failed ambush on Pseudo-Geto. Kasumi had to go check her family. Kamo went up to check on his mom and his clan. Todo and Arata were busy at Shibuya. Almost one third of their student body was dead, too.
That realization hit , and Momo tried to fight her tears as she gripped tightly in her broom, feeling the weight of Mai's body.
"If anything happens, regroup back at Kyoto Tech, and STAY in contact with each other." Those were the parting words of their Utahime-sensei before they went rushing off on their own.
The Zenin estate wasn't too far off from the campus, but still fatigue overpowered Momo's muscle, turning sore every minute she rode her broom with the inevitable truth dangling right next to her.
She got down to the campus, seemingly now deserted, as she pulled her phone and dialled her only hope.
"Utahime-sensei.." Momo called. The teacher picked up by the fourth ring.
"Mai-chan, she's-" Momo took a deep breath, her words trembling. "She's dead."
A pause came from the other line as if letting the heavy truth sink into the ocean of their psyche, the cracks of reality. The reality was that sorcerers always want to distance themselves because for this reason, the reason alone that they will never know a friend could die off anytime.
"I told her not to go but Mai, she's so-" Momo broke out into tears, another onslaught of tears building up that she tried to suppress when she left the Zenin compound.
"Nishimiya, are you at Kyoto Tech?" Utahime asked, her voice gentle but not trying not to give out too as it cracked.
"Yes. I-I have Mai with me…"
Utahime stayed at Kyoto Tech planning first before going into the culling game. However, she didn't waste time to find which part of the campus her students were, and as soon as she saw Momo, crouched down, her hair no longer in perfect style, the kyoto teacher ran up to her and enveloped her with a hug.
Her student cried onto her arms as she caressed her hair. Her cries echoed through the empty campus, and Utahime only held her tighter.
Through blurry tears, Momo looked up to her teacher seeing as her eyes glistened as well and prickles of tears were seen from the corner of her eyes, trying to process the fact that she didn't lose Muta but also Mai within the same week.
They stayed there for a while as Momo also hugged her teacher harder, knowing she also needed it.
"Sensei..." Momo broke off their hug as she sniffed and wiped her tears. "Remember that one lecture you did about preventing Cursed spirits?"
She nodded. A sorcerer must be killed with cursed energy or else they will return as cursed spirits.
"You see…Mai said she'd want to be cremated." Momo and Mai were on their midnight escapedees one time when she began talking about the lecture earlier even when she looked like she would prefer to stay in bed during the actual lecture.
"If shit happened like that, I'd just want to get my body cremated, so the deal's done, no stress about it," Mai said. "And I don't want my ashes buried at the damned Zenins anyway, dump me in the ocean or something."
Momo and Utahime then helped carry Mai together down to the Tech school basement where the crematory is. They lay her on those cold steel cabinets, placing her gently and positioning her arms and hands clasped together on her stomach. They wiped the blood off her face and proceeded to do all the prep process for cremation, and Utahime knew it all too well because she spent years seeing comrades falling over faster than they could see the light of day.
Momo quickly went up to her dorm to grab a picture of mai, a polaroid of her, and even went to check up Mai's room for her stuff, the overwhelming memories and emotions already crushing Momo. She passed by the dormitory kitchen, her breath stiffened like a punch in the gut that she no longer has Mai for her midnight escapedees. She was no longer there when they steal Miwa's food, no longer there to tease Miwa, and the ghost of her seemed to thread on those floorboards as if whispering those memories to Momo.
"Hey," Utahime called as she lightly nudged her student who stared too deeply at the flickering fire on the small window of that steel cabinet.
Momo blinked, turning her head.
"You know, I've seen comrades get sent here, even John Does, no families to come over, not even friends, that I sometimes had to deal with their ashes. It's really sad and it happens, but even with that, a fellow sorcerer can still understand what they went through."
The buzz of the fire cackled, making Momo wince, but she set her eyes to Utahime, not leaving it once.
"I just hope that everyone in Kyoto Tech," Utahime added, "Everyone is able to get along but I wasn't able to save anyone.."
"You did so much more than that, Utahime-sensei," said Momo as she smiled, her soft eyes bearing to Utahime. "If it weren't for you, we probably wouldn't be this close. Mai, Miwa, Mechamaru. Er, Kamo has a stick up his ass at times and then Todo can be a real meathead, but whatever it is, we're still able to stay together because of you."
"Thank you, you're too sweet," Utahime smiled back, she could feel her eyes glistening that might spill over into tears.
"C'mon now, sensei! I don't wanna be crying again," joked Momo as she quickly wiped the corners of her eyes.
Utahime only chuckled at her as she playfully knuckled her head.
V.
He wasn't sure how many days had passed since he was taking the train heading out of Tokyo with Kyoto Tech after hearing from Mechamaru for the last time.
And now knowing that his clan had disposed him just like trash, like the supposed bastard son he is, it stung like grinding more salt on the wound he deliberately try to cover up. He was able, almost barely, to get Maki out of the colony though, so he'd clung to anything he could that he was still useful.
Kamo waited and sat at the beat up benches of a hallway. He and Maki were able to regroup with the others, especially with Doctor Shoko and Auxiliary manager Ijichi. He held onto his shoulder, trying to keep himself from passing out from his injuries.
The door clicked open, revealing Maki. "It's your turn," she said as she offered him a hand to get up and limp his way onto the room. "Shoko-san was able to get a hold of Utahime-sensei," added Maki, "She sounded…really worried about you."
Kamo hummed. Typical Utahime-sensei.
In less than five minutes when Doctor Shoko was beginning to patch him up, the Kyoto Teacher bursted to the door with Momo following close behind her.
Utahime greeted him with a relieved smile immediately as she continued to help out Doctor Shoko with his injuries, passing out tools or bottles to the Doctor. It definitely was weird for Kamo as he was used to just manipulating his blood when treating his injuries, just him with no third party involved. He knew he couldn't resist especially when Utahime-sensei was also treating him because he knew his sensei wouldn't easily let him off the hook.
"I'm glad you're well," was the first thing his sensei said to him. "I wouldn't want to lose another one of my students."
Kamo swallowed.
"I've heard how the fight went," Utahime said, her eyes suddenly drilling into him. "Maki said there were a lot of close calls. Tell me, did you really think of signing away yourself like that?"
Kamo widened his eyes, tearing away his gaze from his sensei. "Sensei, the clan doesn't need me anymore, I'm nothing, and my mother she-" Kamo paused, a force was building up in his throat that he wouldn't want to win. "She has her own family. She's not coming back."
Utahime flinched inside. She knew how much Kamo had worked hard for his clan to prove his worth as a sorcerer with the many hours of study and discipline that at some point, his discipline was seen as the-stick-in-the-mud to his peers. So, she let him talk, let him have someone to listen to.
"You're not responsible with-"
"No!" he exclaimed. "Maybe, if I was a better son, a better sorcerer, my mom wouldn't have left me…" His head fell, shoulders caving in as if he didn't want anyone to see him like this, retracting from a shell so he couldn't be seen.
"Kamo," firmly said Utahime, planting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You're not responsible to your mom or even your clan, you're not responsible for how they feel because you're just a kid. Your worth isn't tied to any of them."
Just a kid. That idea seemed new to him when all his life he needed to always look out for the bigger picture,like it was second nature needed for survival. He closed his eyes and felt his breaths getting heavy. His head only fell forward to Utahime-sensei's shoulders as he took comfort in her and on her kosode that he for sure knew would get dampened.
VI.
"I've contacted Kasumi-chan, she said she'll be arriving from Sendai," spoke Momo as she looked at Kamo, his eyebags from his stick-in-the-mud studying routine before all this madness was darker than ever.
It wasn't just him too but also Momo felt all the stress getting a hold of her. She had been neglecting her skin care routine, and there were tiny spots of red already threatening to come out as zits on her tiny face.
"How's she holding up?" asked Kamo. He was still her senpai, afterall. Miwa was also the few people who listened to him despite finding out that she did find him scary.
"She's been throwing herself busy with culling game missions," said Momo. In fact, this will be a proper meeting with her once she gets back here to Kyoto. "I'm worried for her."
Kamo glanced at the blond girl, her usual confidence all weared down as she hung her head low. This past week did truly a number on them, physically and emotionally.
"And you, did you hear anything from Todo?" She asked.
"That gorilla probably survived," Kamo answered without missing a beat.
Oh, so he knows, Momo thought. She had been the messenger between the sorcerers recently and passed all the details of plans and all the details of the Shibuya incident. Somehow, she knew where everyone was until a certain meathead decided to lose all contact from her.
Momo took a heavy sigh. Kamo and Momo both know that as much as Todo is the bane of their existences ever since they met on the unfaithful day of being first years together in their jujutsu careers, Kyoto Tech couldn't afford to lose another one of their own.
"They found the prison realm and will be unsealing it soon," brought up Momo. "But whatever, that's probably enough for him to come out from hiding."
Silence overtook for a moment.
"Nishimiya."
Momo looked up at him, his face painted on a solemn note.
"About Mai, I'm sorry."
Momo bit her tongue, pressure was lumping at her throat again and she lost count of the many times this week she tried to swallow it back. "This is the worst," she said, "I'm supposed to be her senpai, and I couldn't protect her."
"Hey," Kamo tilted his chin to look at Momo gripping tight on her broom that he could almost see her fist turning red. "It wasn't your fault. Knowing the Zenin clan, I know they can be brutal and just living underneath their roof, it's..scary." Kamo understood alright. Mai and Maki's situation being part of the Great clans. He would never look down on it, he felt it himself, and he saw how it drove out her mother to almost insanity.
Momo readjusted her breath. "You aren't pretty bad yourself, huh, Noritoshi?"
Baffled by the change of atmosphere, Kamo raised a brow. "Where is this-"
"I'm saying that you're not always that stick-up-his-ass kind of guy." Momo grinned, a tiny chuckle escaping her lips.
Before Kamo could react, squeaks of footsteps and clicks suddenly interrupted them, making Kamo and Momo hastily turn their heads to the sound.
"Kasumi!" Momo immediately raised up from her seat as she saw her junior appeared. Miwa welcomed her hug as she even crouched down to accommodate her senpai's height.
Kamo only observed them and watched Miwa, who he'd seen for the first time since they split off after the ambush attack. She had puffy marks around her eyes that she tried to hide with her now growing bangs, her light blue hair seemed less brighter, but the small smile on her lips as she closed her eyes to take in Momo's hug seemed the only thing keeping her together from falling apart despite everything of all, despite how the reality of the situation was she just lost two of her closest friends.
"I have news," said Miwa as she let go of the hug and looked at Kamo's direction as well as Momo's. "Nitta and Todo-"
A snap resounded on the hallways where almost the rest of the Kyoto gang had gathered. All their heads turn towards behind what's behind Miwa, and there-
"What all y'all yapping about?" His voice boomed in the hallway, revealing himself, and just like the rest of the Kyoto Tech, he had marks of what the past disastrous weeks had done to them. He wore a sling on his arm with the decapitated hand, still shirtless, but his jacket casually perched on his shoulders. He held his usual scowl with a pouty mouth.
"Todo, your cursed technique-" Out of reflex, Kamo noticed it first but before he can say more, he was suddenly behind Miwa, not Momo, and next to Nitta who jumped in surprise. "What the-!"
Todo held a huge grin, his eyes sweeping across the group for their reactions. "Eh? What's with the gloomy faces?" Their faces look indifferent, but one thing stood out to him was the usually bright Miwa's face, who always tried to quell fights between them, wasn't as bright as he used to be.
He took steps towards her, placing his one hand on her shoulder that surprised her, making her squirm. "Miwa," he said, keeping eye-to-eye with her.
Her eyes widened when all of a sudden he swung his head back and slammed his forehead on MIwa's quick. Neither of them flinched and it was Momo who was left horrified, her jaw dropped, ready to pounce on Todo for such action. "What the hell was that, Todo?!" she exclaimed.
"You've experienced losses," Todo said as he casually withdrew his head, a light bruise starting form on his forehead. "But you've been practicing and growing a lot." He then offered her a small smile. He noticed it, her cursed energy quickly flowing into her head when he was about to headbutt her. Definitely not a grade 3 sorcerer move.
"Todo-senpai…" She was speechless, but he was right. She'd lost so much that it drove her to a corner when her world kept nagging her that only if she was strong enough then, she could have done more. He saw it, he saw that she was trying There was heartfelt behind his words in a weird way like he threw his all in it and slam dunked it towards Miwa..
"And you two should be doing the same!" Todo changed his tone as he eyed Momo and Kamo. Their faces knotted in irritation as they also prepared an onslaught of insults to him.
"Goodness, children," Another familiar voice had quickly dissipated their arguments. Her motherly tone was way too engraved with the Kyoto kids ear frequency. "What's the noise about?" Then she appeared still elegant and poise. Immediately, Todo spun around and kneel after her, his head bowed down.
"You've taught me well, sensei," he blurted, catching everyone in surprise and even their sensei with her both eyebrows raised. "The mastery of jujutsu can be said to be the mastery of subtraction." He quoted. "After defeat, I've searched far and wide for an answer," he continued, earning some instinctive groans from the Kyoto Tech, and some hands might have slapped their forehead. "But what I didn't know was the answer sitting right there next to me," Todo dramatically paused, eyes landing on someone in particular. "Arata Niita with the knowledge of negative energy."
Niita merely blinked as he pointed a finger to himself, mouthing a "me." But unfortunately, the theatrics weren't over yet.
"You've said it before, sensei. The use of multiple heads, the use of applying theories, creativity of lessening the prerequisites of cursed techniques, the mastery of jujutsu. And I've found.." Todo brought up his 'un'-decapitated hand up and everyone looked at it like it was suddenly the second coming of Jesus. He clenched his fist except for his thumb and forefinger hovering on each other then quickly, he pressed them together…SNAP!
–
Just like the baseball game, Utahime seemed to notice that her student willingly partake in roasting Todo. And the funny thing was everyone had mixed reactions, going from 'the theatrics were absolutely necessary' to 'where the hell did you disappear from out of nowhere?! Oh wait, I preferred you actually never showed up!' All of their chatters echoed in their hallway but not one addressed about how he was able to find an alternative for his technique, a feat for mastering jujutsu.
Utahime was relieved just by watching over them, almost gathering in a circle at the hallway. She smiled. They got each other's back.
"Utahime-sensei, what do you think?" asked Kamo as he turned around to look at her.
"You don't have to ask her what she thinks," replied Todo. "I bet she's proud of me. I'm her star pupil after all."
Kamo only gritted his teeth. "Wasn't asking you."
"Hey, c'mon guys, we just saw each other again and we're already like this!" intervened Miwa.
"Boys will always be a headache. Right, Utahime-sensei?" said Momo.
Utahime then abruptly entered their circle. "Okay, that's enough," she said. "All of you will always be troublesome for me."
Todo took a moment to stick his tongue at Momo.
"But I'm glad you're all here, alive and well," Utahime said, smiling at all of them.
"We have never made it without you," said Momo. She wouldn't mind saying it, again and again.
"Yeah, sure, aside from Itadori and Utahime-sensei, I guess I have to show up even when I get sick of your boring tastes." Todo shrugged. Again, that earned another bickering between Todo, Momo, and Kamo.
Meanwhile, Miwa looked at her fellow classmates. Indeed, they all made it and as she brought out from her the last remnant of Muta, she hoped that he was seeing this somewhere out there as well as Mai, that the battle might not be over yet, but they all managed to be together.
"Thank you, Utahime-sensei," Miwa said as she looked over the teacher who returned a huge smile on her face.