Chapter 31. Yellow brick road (Part 1)

Standing in the shadow of a towering skyscraper, I found myself contemplating the simplicity of those who effortlessly choose to toss coins into a wishing well rather than spending them on a meal. Clutching a cigarette between my lips, my gaze drifted from the sunlight dancing on the glass facades of the high-rises to the passersby below. The naivety and carelessness of people never ceased to amaze me, especially when sharp and calculating minds like Kokichi's were obscured by their ambitions and dreams.

Kokichi Muta... Desiring a new body is one thing, but placing your trust in those you wouldn't hesitate to destroy under normal circumstances is quite another. I've always struggled to grasp what he was truly after. Was it to overcome both Mahito and "Pseudo-Geto"? Or did he believe he could evade their clutches?

"I seem to have become a babysitter," I mused to myself, a light chuckle escaping my lips.

As I observed the world from behind the glass facades and watched pedestrians caught in their mundane worries, my thoughts wandered. Rescuing Kokichi was merely a piece of my complex puzzle. Looming ahead were more formidable challenges: not only did I have to wrench Ogami's life from Toji's grip but also secure Tengen's body, all while evading the deadly menace of Sukuna, who was not about to let me monopolize the excitement. What lay ahead promised to be a thrilling and dangerous journey.

In that moment, I reflected on how much my perspective of the world had evolved. I used to prefer a more inconspicuous approach, shying away from unnecessary attention, aiming to catch both Kenjaku and Sukuna by surprise. Now, the anticipation of what was to come only filled me with eagerness. The unfolding events had transformed me more profoundly than I had anticipated.

However, the thought of a world inhabited by Sorcerers always brought a smile to my face. At first glance, what seemed like a complex system, could actually provide solutions to many of humanity's dilemmas.

"And again, I find my thoughts wandering," I acknowledged, glancing at the pedestrians and realizing my train of thought had taken a sudden turn.

How many dreams and plans for the future would be shattered by my actions? Numerous things once deemed indispensable would be swept away by the relentless tides of change, and inevitably, many lives would be sacrificed in the process. Such is the reality of civilization. People are like sediments in a river, destined to flow with the current. Maintaining the status quo is merely one path; revolution always carries with it pain and suffering. When weighing personal gain against societal progress, people naturally tend toward the former.

Sometimes, I find myself pondering whether the pursuit is truly worth the effort. Who, besides myself, actually yearns for these changes in the world? Observing those around me, I see people engrossed in their everyday lives. Sorcerers have made peace with their destiny, finding ways to profit and fulfill their emotional needs. Ironically, it seems Sukuna might be the only one to endorse my plan. Though his reasons would undoubtedly be more self-serving, he would offer his support. How would my friends and allies react, though? I can't—or rather, choose not to—imagine their response. My reluctance stems from a fear deep within, a fear of being utterly alone.

In the midst of these thoughts, my phone vibrated in my pocket. Retrieving it, I looked down at my hands. Had someone questioned me two decades ago, in my first life, about my willingness to take another's life, I would have unequivocally declined. Yet, now, after all this time, I find myself prepared for significant change. With each day spent in this world, the realization that truth wears many faces, and that every choice comes with unpredictable consequences, becomes more profound. It's for this reason that individuals like Kokichi Muta merit assistance. If I'm proven wrong, can I seek mercy without having extended it myself?

Unlocking the phone, I discovered a new message from Mei. The first attachment was a photo of a black curtain shrouding the Tokyo School, accompanied by the caption: "Guess who can't pass through the curtain." Following this, Mei sent another image, this one capturing Gojo posing with a "peace sign" beside the curtain.

"They seem to be enjoying themselves..." I couldn't suppress a smile. "On another note, it appears I've accomplished more swiftly than anticipated," I reflected on my itinerary: meeting Kokichi, returning to Tokyo, and completing errands—all within roughly two hours. "Given that I commenced my journey at dawn, the timing isn't surprising."

After pocketing my phone and disposing of the cigarette butt, I disappeared from my location as though I had never been there. My foresight in activating a [Spell] spared passersby any shock; without it, they might have doubted their sanity.

Empowered by "Reinforcement" and my physique — enhanced through four sequences and relentless training and battles — I could move at speeds surpassing Japan's fastest Shinkansen, approximately three hundred and fifty kilometers per hour. Although the distance was considerable, about sixty kilometers, I managed to cover a tenth of it in just over a minute. By the time my "Reinforcement" kicked in, enabling a surge in speed and breaking the sound barrier, only two minutes and thirty-two seconds had elapsed since Mei's last message. I had reached the Tokyo Metropolitan Magic School.

Before me, the school's residential complex unfolded, its architecture steeped in traditional Japanese aesthetics. A little beyond the main grounds, the curtain descended, with Gojo standing next to it, his typical smirk in place, and Mei, engrossed in typing something on her phone.

"Sukehiro!" Satoru called out, waving in a manner suggestive of old friends, conveniently glossing over our quarrel from the day before.

"Didn't expect to see you here this quickly," Mei remarked, approaching with a cheerfulness that seemed out of place against the backdrop of unfolding events.

"I wasn't exactly tied up," I responded, acknowledging them both with a nod.

"We're trying to figure out this curtain. Gojo believes he can get through it, but no luck so far," Mei explained, gesturing towards Gojo who was theatrically struggling against the black barrier.

I couldn't help but smile at his antics. The weight of my earlier contemplations lifted in the presence of these two. Satoru might not be the easiest to deal with, and Mei could be overly pragmatic, but their company reminded me of the value of friendship and the warmth it brings.

"It's just a well-crafted ordinary curtain, designed specifically to block 'Gojo Satoru'. The twist is, everyone else can pass through it with ease," Gojo commented, half in jest.

"Is it akin to women, then?" I quipped, eyeing the barrier.

"You have a way with words," Satoru shot back.

"Did Mei tell you that?" I shifted my focus from the barrier to her, noting how her pale blue hair partially obscured her face.

"Why don't you give it a try?" Mei suggested with a smile, catching my gaze.

"Try what?" I asked, slightly caught off guard.

"To pass through the barrier," she replied innocently. "What else could it be?"

With a resigned sigh, I nodded and stepped forward to attempt a passage through the curtain, only to find my hand halted by the impenetrable black surface, much like Satoru's earlier effort.

"Not accustomed to rejection?" Satoru teased.

"It seems someone really has it out for us," I shrugged, suspecting Kenjaku's attention on me hadn't waned since our encounter with Mahito.

"The Sorcerer behind this curtain is inside, meaning the barrier's resistance won't be enough to deter us for long," Gojo confidently declared.

Choosing to remain silent, I was curious to see how Satoru would tackle the barrier. Instead of offering my assistance, I armed myself with patience, closely observing the methods of our era's most formidable Sorcerer. As minutes ticked by, Satoru suddenly clapped his hands together in realization.

"The mind behind this barrier is truly skilled," he noted before propelling himself into the air, leaving us to ponder his next move.

"Do you think he'll ever find himself a girlfriend?" I mused, turning to Mei who stood beside me, watching Satoru's ascent.

"Who could possibly put up with someone like Satoru?" Mei pondered, tilting her head, a flicker of amusement in her eyes.

"Utahime?" The idea seemed absurd even as I voiced it, envisioning the woman with the distinctive scar on her face alongside Satoru.

"Are you serious?" Mei burst into a playful laugh. "She can barely tolerate him."

"Perhaps she's just a 'tsundere'?"

Just then, the curtain before us shuddered, then started to fade and vanish, as if it were paint being rinsed from glass.

"I wouldn't advise saying that to her face," Mei advised with a smirk, stepping forward through the space where the curtain had been.

"I'm not that reckless," I replied, following her with a chuckle, shaking my head at the thought.