Rebirth into the world of curses(JJK)

The café where Gojo invited Yuta was nestled in a quiet corner of central Tokyo. On a winter morning, as the city was just waking up, the place looked particularly cozy. A small carved wooden sign with the name "Coffee Corner" gently swayed in the wind, while a tiny bell by the door chimed cheerfully each time someone entered.

Inside, the café radiated a warm, homely atmosphere. The walls were paneled with wood and adorned with black-and-white photographs of old Tokyo and elegant paintings in simple wooden frames. In the corner stood a small Christmas tree decorated with bright glass ornaments reflecting the lights of garlands. The soft glow of lamps, resembling antique lanterns, created a warm illumination that filled the room with soft shadows.

There weren't many tables in the café—only six in total—and each was covered with a checkered tablecloth. Small vases with dried flowers stood on the tables, and woolen blankets were neatly folded on the chairs for patrons who might be feeling cold.

Yuta sat at the farthest table, near the wall. He wore a bright white turtleneck sweater that fit snugly against his slim frame. Over it, he had a warm black coat, which now lay neatly draped over the back of his chair. Dark trousers and high boots with faint traces of melted snow completed his outfit. Yuta's slightly tousled hair glistened in the light of the lamps, and his dark blue eyes, shadowed by dark circles, drew attention to his tired but calm expression.

He sat with his arms crossed on the table, and in front of him was an empty cup with the remnants of espresso. Yuta's gaze occasionally drifted to the screen of his phone, which displayed the time: 8:10. He was slightly irritated that Gojo was late, though it was entirely typical of him.

Aside from Yuta, there were a few other patrons in the café.

By the window, near the small Christmas tree, sat a young woman engrossed in a book. On her table was a steaming cup of cappuccino and a plate with half a croissant. She wore a long brown coat draped over her shoulders and a bright scarf that contrasted with her otherwise simple look. Occasionally, she lifted her eyes from the book to glance out the window at the swirling snow.

Behind the counter, a young barista with neatly combed chestnut hair was preparing an order. His uniform was spotless—a white shirt and a brown apron with the café's emblem. From time to time, he glanced at Yuta, who, in his opinion, was the most unusual visitor that morning. Beside him stood a girl, also a café employee, wearing a checkered dress and a black apron. They were quietly chatting, seemingly discussing their plans for the day.

In the corner, near the bar counter, an elderly couple shared a plate of toast with jam. The man, wearing glasses and a formal gray suit, carefully cut the toast while his companion, wrapped in a woolen shawl, poured tea from a small teapot. They seemed happy, engaged in a quiet conversation.

A little further away sat an office worker who was clearly rushing to finish some project. His tie was loosened, and his shirt looked crumpled. In front of him was a laptop, and he typed furiously, occasionally taking sips from a paper cup.

Yuta looked up as the barista approached him.

"Sir, you've been sitting here for half an hour. Would you like to order something?" the barista asked, leaning toward Yuta and trying to sound as polite as possible.

Yuta raised his gaze. His dark blue eyes, shadowed by fatigue, momentarily made the young man tense. But then Yuta smiled, softening his expression.

"Sorry for the inconvenience. I'm waiting for someone; they should be here any moment. If it's alright, could you come back later once they've arrived?" His voice was quiet but assured.

"Oh, of course! Sorry if I bothered you," the barista apologized, bowing slightly. "I just thought maybe you were shy to order something. That happens sometimes."

Yuta gave a small nod and returned to his phone. The barista, still slightly nervous, walked back to the counter, where his colleague stifled a quiet laugh.

8:20.

Time passed, but there was still no sign of Gojo. Yuta stared out the window, where the snowfall had grown heavier. White flakes settled on the café windows, melting slowly in the warmth. Inside, it was cozy and peaceful, but Yuta's thoughts were far from serene.

-----

The bell by the door chimed, signaling new arrivals. Two figures entered the cozy café, and it was immediately clear who drew the most attention. A tall man with snow-white hair, as though sculpted from ice, stood nearly a head taller than everyone else. His movements were relaxed, even careless, and the round dark glasses on his face added an air of mystery. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt and matching dark trousers.

Beside him walked a teenager about the same height as Yuta. He had black, spiky hair that stuck out in all directions, reminding Yuta of a sea urchin. The boy was bundled up in a warm dark coat, and his neck was wrapped in a long scarf with gray and brown patterns. He paused for a moment at the entrance, surveying the café before turning a questioning gaze to the tall man. The latter simply smiled in response and strode directly to the back table, where Yuta sat.

"I hope I'm not late?" the man said with a wide grin, as though being 30 minutes late wasn't an issue at all. He sat down across from Yuta, comfortably settling into the chair and crossing one leg over the other.

Yuta squinted, glaring at his teacher in annoyance.

"Satoru-san, you're 30 minutes late," he said sharply, staring directly at Gojo.

Gojo seemed entirely unfazed. He waved off the reprimand with an expression of complete serenity and shifted the blame to his companion.

"Well, it's all Megumi's fault!" he declared. "I told him yesterday to wake up early, but the kid overslept, and I had to stand outside in the freezing cold waiting for him."

Megumi, who had just removed his coat and scarf and neatly placed them on a nearby chair, gave Gojo a cold look.

"It was exactly the opposite," he said, his voice calm but laced with irritation. "You made me wait, and then you showed up 15 minutes late."

Gojo sighed heavily, as though burdened by the weight of an unfair world.

"Ah, youth these days. No respect for their elders," he said with exaggerated drama, shaking his head.

"To earn respect as an elder, you need to act like one," Megumi retorted sarcastically, taking a seat next to Gojo. He now looked at Yuta with open curiosity.

Yuta watched this small performance with a faint smile on his lips.

"You seem pretty close," he remarked, directing the comment at Megumi.

The response was unexpected. Gojo merely laughed, throwing his head back, while Megumi frowned and turned away with a displeased "hmph."

Gojo clapped his hands to regain their attention.

"Alright, listen up, guys! This is your first time meeting each other, isn't it?" But before he could continue, a waiter approached their table.

The young barista bowed politely and asked, "Would you like to order something?"

Without lifting his eyes from the menu, Megumi curtly replied, "Black coffee and bacon with eggs."

Gojo, browsing the menu as if he'd never seen one before, chose something much more extravagant.

"I'll have a cocktail and a raspberry-coconut smoothie."

Yuta, maintaining his calm demeanor, said, "Coffee and tamagoyaki, please."

The waiter jotted down their orders and left, leaving the three at the table. Gojo leaned back in his chair, his wide grin never fading.

"As I was saying, this is your first time meeting, so let me introduce you." He gestured toward Yuta. "Megumi, this is Yuta Okkotsu, a first-rank sorcerer. One of the strongest young sorcerers I know."

Megumi glanced at Yuta and gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. Yuta rose from his seat and bowed formally, surprising Megumi slightly.

"Pleased to meet you," they said in unison. Megumi nodded again and stood to return the bow.

Gojo didn't let them linger in formalities for long.

"And now for the main event," he said, clapping his hands once more. "From today onward, Yuta, you'll be Megumi's mentor!"

Yuta raised an eyebrow in sur

prise, while Megumi let out a quiet sigh, clearly not thrilled with the sudden announcement.