NOVEL NEXT Chapter 90: Chapter 90
Study, exams. Sorry for the delay.
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Blocking a powerful kick, Itadori gritted his teeth as he stepped back quickly, his eyes tracking the movement of his opponent charging toward him.
"Damn, I knew he was strong..." After taking a powerful punch to his defense, Itadori forced a nervous smile as he staggered backward. "But I didn't think it would be this much!"
Regaining control, he immediately tried to counter his target, but as soon as he launched his attack, he was surprised when a sweep knocked him down on his back, a blade appearing right in front of his eyes.
"Keep your eyes on your opponent, don't lose focus, or it could be fatal."
With the voice guiding him, Itadori sighed as he sat up when the blade was pulled away from his face.
"Yes, sir."
Itadori nodded, and lifting his head to look at the one teaching him, he smiled upon seeing Nanami's back.
Nanami was a competent sorcerer, someone worthy of being considered the strongest first-grade at Jujutsu High. Itadori could notice the difference in his cursed energy control; it was more meticulous and only became chaotic when necessary.
That was what made his strikes so painful. Maintaining control over his cursed energy until the last second, he unleashed blows with enough force to injure even special grade curses. Nanami was a deadly opponent for anyone with intermediate strength.
That was why, despite Gojo being a decent teacher, Itadori saw Nanami as a better mentor.
When it came to raw power and enhancement through cursed energy, the two complemented each other.
"Get up, let's get something to eat." Nanami ordered as he sheathed his blade.
"Alright." Itadori nodded as he pushed himself up, a tired sigh escaping his lips as he felt his sore muscles. "Damn, you could take it a bit easy."
"I was taking it easy."
"Seriously?!" Itadori opened his mouth in disbelief before quickly shaking his head with a hint of discouragement. "Wow..."
Regaining his composure, he fell into step beside Nanami, who began walking to exit the training room they were in.
As they walked, Itadori shook his arm to relieve the discomfort, turning to Nanami as he suddenly remembered something. "Did something happen at Junpei's house?"
Confronted with the question, Nanami maintained his stoic expression as he continued walking. "The managers haven't reported anything, so it seems everything is fine."
"That's good." Itadori nodded in satisfaction, a calm smile appearing on his lips.
After retrieving his finger from Junpei's house, Itadori made his concerns clear to Ijichi, the assistant director taking his words into account and leaving some managers to monitor the boy's house.
He wanted to avoid Mahito's approach at all costs, considering that with Junpei's mother still alive, the curse could find another way to manipulate him.
Itadori actually wanted to bring Junpei under the wings of Jujutsu High as soon as possible, but that decision would take time due to the elders needing to assess whether Junpei was a threat or not.
Itadori doubted it was just that. In fact, he believed the elders were merely wasting time instead of doing their jobs...
Sighing, he pushed those thoughts aside. At the end of the day, he could only wait.
Fortunately, with Junpei's mother saved and Mahito far away, Itadori doubted the boy would become a user of curses.
"What would you like to eat, Itadori?"
Blinking when Nanami suddenly asked, Itadori turned with a bit of confusion, his face becoming thoughtful. "I think... pork would be great."
Nanami nodded, seeming to ponder this option for a moment before replying. "Pork, then."
Itadori smiled contentedly, and turning to face the silent Nanami beside him, he realized...
Even after a month training alongside him, he had never stopped to learn more about the sorcerer. It felt a bit rude, considering Nanami was the one helping him improve his control over cursed energy… Not showing interest in his story felt somehow disrespectful.
But with the silence between them as they walked to leave the building, Itadori saw this as a perfect opportunity to understand a bit more about the person Nanami was, since in his old life, despite liking the sorcerer, Itadori hadn't delved deeply into his story and motivations.
"Hey, Nanami."
Calling out to the sorcerer, he watched Nanami turn to him with an eyebrow raised in question.
"What made you return to active duty as a sorcerer? I remember the sensei saying you had stepped away."
"..." Nanami kept his serious gaze, but despite that, he didn't seem offended by the personal question.
Instead, his expression softened as he remembered the time he was working in an office.
"I realized that the life of a salaried worker and the life of a Jujutsu sorcerer end up being quite similar, so in the end, I just had to choose whether to live with or without regrets..." Adjusting his glasses, he began. "So, if during my life I can earn the appreciation of a few people, then for me, that's enough."
Itadori nodded silently, focused on listening to the sorcerer's words.
"Don't get me wrong, I still hate all this. I still see the work of a sorcerer as a job for crazy people, but… someone has to do it, whether they want to or not."
Stopping in his tracks, he turned to Itadori, leaving the young sorcerer confused.
"But I don't want you to feel obligated to all this, Itadori." With a soft gaze, he told Itadori sincerely. "This idea that sorcerers must sacrifice themselves for a greater good, I don't want you to take that to heart… If we, the adults, force the youth to sacrifice their lives, then we're nothing but trash.
The death of your companions should never be seen as something expected."
With his hand resting on the boy's shoulder, Nanami continued firmly.
"I returned because I wanted to live without regrets, but it was also…
Because I didn't want young people like you to have to go through what I went through."
"..."
Opening his eyes slowly, Itadori absorbed that memory for a moment before turning to the bed in front of him, his eyes moving over the body of a sleeping and completely bandaged Nanami.
"Live without regrets..." He whispered, his gaze landing on Nanami's face, completely covered in bandages. "Thank you for that, Nanami."
And letting cursed energy dance around his hand, Itadori showed a determined look.
"I will strive to live without regrets."
"..."
Outside Jujutsu High, two figures suddenly appeared, their gazes filled with memories wandering over the entrance leading to the school's facilities.
"It's a bit strange coming back here after everything..." One of them said, the figure beside her nodding in agreement.
"Definitely..." And with a sigh, the figure pulled out her phone. "He said he would be waiting for us here."
"Do you think he's messing with us?"
"No, our contract still stands. He wouldn't break it without suffering serious penalties."
"Right..."
The two girls exchanged glances for a moment before sighing in disappointment. "And here we are, the girls, who are late."
"Let's go find him, then."
And with the two figures starting to move away, their faces were finally revealed to show two beautiful young women.
"Be careful, Nanako!"
"You too, Mimiko!"