Chapter 113

Silence flowed through the classroom. Gojo spoke in a disapproving voice.

"…Was that something everyone asked when they enrolled in the Jujutsu High? It was asked even in our time."

"Satoru, this is an important issue."

Yaga knows. Most sorcerers who enroll in the Jujutsu High do so because they have no other choice. If they don't come, they would either have to train under their own sorcerer family or another sorcerer, or be classified as deserters and be pursued by other sorcerers.

Especially for sorcerers from non-sorcerer families, many have only recently discovered that there are others in the world who can see spirits like themselves.

'Nowadays, people from the Gojo family like Satoru, Zoro, and Toji are common in the Jujutsu High.'

Originally, the Jujutsu High was a place where many came from prestigious sorcerer families or non-sorcerer families. Famous sorcerer families like the Gojo family do not send students to the Jujutsu High but train sorcerers within the family.

'While the Gojo family is familiar with the sorcery world, those from non-sorcerer families often find out about this world for the first time.'

Asking such students why they came to the Jujutsu High would feel ridiculous.

'Still, it must be asked.'

It's not about elimination. Yaga Masamichi doesn't have the authority to reject students from the Jujutsu High. That authority only comes with higher ranks. Yaga, merely a teacher in the Jujutsu High, has no such authority.

But he wants them to think.

What they will gain from this school.

Those who step into the world of sorcery without meaning or purpose do not live long. The enemies are too abhorrent, and it's a place where you cannot confide in others, and where comrades die. Without even a vague purpose, like a rock eroded by the waves, they eventually disappear without a trace.

If one was pushed into enrolling without thought, they must start thinking now.

Why they came to this school.

Amid the silence, Tsumiki, held in Zoro's arms, suddenly spoke.

"I came following brother Zoro!"

With her lively voice, the mood momentarily lightened. Nanami smiled faintly, and Haibara burst out laughing.

"Did you say Tsumiki? You really like your brother, huh? My sister likes me a lot too."

Tsumiki nodded vigorously several times.

"Yes! Zoro may be a Marimo, but I like him."

"Hey, listen."

"Hehe."

"Kukuku."

Zoro, laughing and shaking, glared at Toji who added fuel to the fire. Megumi then murmured softly.

"Marimo brother."

"..."

"Well done, Megumi. Zoro really is a Marimo."

"What do you mean, 'really'? This is all your fault. What are you going to do about it?!"

It's because you keep calling me your Marimo, now even the kids are calling me Marimo!

Toji chuckled, looking at the indignant Zoro, and then leaned back in his chair with a relaxed gesture.

"Well, maybe aim for the next life. Maybe you'll be born with black hair like mine then."

It's hard to imagine Zoro with black hair. Green suits him perfectly. Hmph, Zoro snorted.

"If there's a next life, I'm definitely not coming back as your son. Maybe a brother or a father."

"Oh, that'd be fine with me."

Zoro as a brother or father... Well, either way, he could be loved and respected.

Unlike someone who left him alone, no matter what happened.

Unlike someone who said he should just die and then threw him into a warehouse full of curses after beating him up.

But he didn't expect that much. After all, Zoro had already done a lot for Toji as a son.

Toji then stood up and lifted all three kids at once, then sat them all on his lap. With a blank face, he stroked Zoro's head as Zoro looked up at him.

"Why, don't you like it?"

"...No."

Toji, who can't lie well, stroked Zoro's head even faster. It felt like touching a rock covered in thick moss.

Gojo, watching Zoro's hair becoming increasingly like a new nest, asked.

"Zoro, did Yaga teacher ask you that question too?"

"No."

"Hmm. Not a formal student, huh? If asked why you came to the Jujutsu High, what would you answer?"

"I came to become stronger, until I'm the strongest."

Ultimately, whether in a past life or this one, Zoro's ambition remains the same.

To be the strongest.

Whether he's called a saint or a villain, it hardly matters to him.

Shoko made a curious sound.

"Is that all?"

"There are other purposes too."

Such things naturally arise the longer you spend time together. Just as when he was a pirate, those purposes are not easily explained in words.

When the time comes, he will show it through actions.

"When Yaga teacher asked me that, I said, 'If my body isn't in the world of sorcery, who else would be?'"

At Gojo's words, Geto couldn't help but laugh.

"That's so you, Satoru."

"Isn't that just a middle school syndrome?"

"Hey, that's too harsh, Shoko."

"My words aren't wrong, are they? If not us, then who would be in the world of sorcery."

Gojo looked around at Geto, Toji, Zoro, and Shoko, and smirked.

"We're the strongest, after all."

Proudly proclaimed by Gojo, the faces of Geto, Ieiri, and Toji soured.

"Ah? Why the long faces, everyone?"

Yaga pressed between his eyebrows with a finger.

"...I think that's enough of a demonstration from the seniors."

Your responses?

Hmm, Haibara rested his chin on his hand and thought.

"I'm not usually one to think deeply about such things, but... I want to do what I can do here."

Doing what you can with all your might feels good. He replied cheerfully.

"...."

Nanami looked at Haibara with a strange expression. To be able to say that's the reason for entering such an unconventional school.

As if asking, 'what about you?', everyone's gaze turned to Nanami who sighed. Honestly, he wanted to say he enrolled because he would have been treated like a criminal otherwise.

As his eyes widened behind his sunglasses, Gojo chuckled.

"Wow, that's honest."

"Better that than saying something that isn't true."

Toji felt satisfied. Right now, the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College was a gathering of the craziest elements in the sorcery world.

Including Toji himself.

Watching the reactions of those around him, Nanami blinked.

"...Did I just say that out loud?"

"Yes."

The first impression was terribly messed up. Nanami thought internally. In this already narrow society, he might be ostracized. Preparing mentally for a fall from grace and scolding, Yaga said calmly.

"You're both passed."

"...Really?"

"Thank you!"

"Satoru. Suguru. Show them to the dorms."

"Yes."

"Yes."

Both men rose from their chairs.

"Nanami. Haibara."

Both pairs of eyes turned towards Suguru. Geto smiled kindly.

"Welcome to the Tokyo Jujutsu High."

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