No More Weakness

September 5, 2018

I let out a shaky sigh and leaned further into Nobara's touch. My body might have felt settled on the floor, but my mind was still churning. The movie's dialogue buzzed in my ears, half-heard, while the other half of my brain was fixated on tomorrow - first mission since that day and the chance to prove my hard work paid off.

"You okay?" Nobara's voice was soft. The gentle rhythm of her fingers carding through my hair slowed momentarily. I could tell she knew I wasn't just enjoying a relaxing movie night.

"Yeah, just, you know, excited."

She chuckled, a low rumble in her chest that I felt against my back. "Excited and scared. It's okay to feel both."

Her bluntness was refreshing. "It's not being scared," I mumbled. "It's more like...anticipation. I want to test myself, see what I can really do now."

"I see." Nobara shifted, her warmth a comforting weight against me. "But I know you're gonna kick ass."

I twisted slightly, looking up at her. The dim light cast soft shadows on her face, highlighting the determined set of her jaw. "Yeah? How do you know?"

Nobara laughed, the sound genuine and bright. "Because it's you." She paused, her fingers stilling momentarily.  Then, she added,  "It gets easier when you know you have someone to watch your back."

Her words settled over me like a blanket. Something in my chest unclenched. She wasn't just talking about missions.  And deep down, I understood what she meant - she wasn't just a teammate, but something more. The fact that she saw something worth fighting for in me was a bigger confidence booster than any pep talk.

"Well," I said, aiming for a lighthearted tone, "don't go ditching me out there. I still need my favorite nail-hammering maniac with me."

"Don't worry," she shot back, "you're stuck with me, Kaito."

Her laugh faded as she turned towards a framed photograph on my nightstand. In the dim light, I could just make out the smiling faces of a young me with a man and woman - my parents.

"Are those..." Nobara's voice held a hesitation I hadn't heard before.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice a little rougher. "They died a few years ago."

A silence descended, not awkward, but heavy with unspoken questions. Truthfully, my thoughts of them were more habit than feeling. My mind had grasped onto the concept of 'parents,' people who were supposed to be important, but the emotional core was missing.

Because Kaito, the one in the photo... it wasn't me. The day I'd taken over this body, my own soul had pushed him aside. The real Kaito had probably died then, a casualty in my fight for survival.

I shoved the grim thought away. It didn't matter that much anymore, not really. The Kaito of now was the one that counted. That Kaito stopped mattering when I left that apartment, the stench of death and old curry clinging to everything. This life I'd stumbled into, it was mine now.

"Well," I said, pushing for a brighter tone, "how about we don't dwell on the past tonight? You staying here?"

Nobara's eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought she might actually consider it. My pulse quickened. But then she shook her head, a small smile on her lips.

"Not before your mission. You need your rest."

"Oh, so now you're concerned about my beauty sleep?"

She leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss on my lips. It was a fleeting promise, a taste of things to come. "Goodnight, Kaito. I'll see you before you leave."

With that, she slipped out of my room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the lingering warmth of her touch. I turned off the movie, ready to face whatever tomorrow threw at me. I'd show them all, and most importantly, show myself,  that I deserved this new chance at life.  And that meant protecting the future I was building, a future that was starting to look a lot more promising now that Nobara was in it. 

===== 

The dojo doors were slightly ajar, letting me peek at Nobara and Maki locked in their usual, no-holds-barred sparring match. Nobara's grin was fierce as she danced around Maki's relentless strikes. Her nails buzzed like a swarm of angry hornets alongside her, zipping in and out of Maki's reach. While watching I couldn't help the wide smile spreading over my face. Nobara was getting stronger, her movements sharper, the way she integrated her techniques even more fluid. Just like me, she wasn't wasting any of this time.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, jarring me from my thoughts. I pulled it out, and my eyebrows shot up.  Gojo's number was flashing on the screen.

"Well," I announced, catching both girls' attention, "looks like it's my turn to kick some ass."

Maki paused, wiping a bead of sweat from her temple.  "Good luck," she said curtly.

Nobara, already grinning, just gave me an enthusiastic thumbs up."You got this, Kaito!"

It was time to put all that training into practice. I made my way out of the dojo and towards the main college entrance, excitement bubbling up despite the nerves.

As I approached, I spotted a woman standing beside a sleek black sedan. She was probably a few years older than me, with pale blue eyes and short, messy yellow hair. A slight smile played on her lips as our eyes met.

"Kaito Murakami, I presume?" Her voice was pleasant, but there was an underlying authority to it. "I'm Akari Nitta, and it's nice to finally meet you face-to-face."

"Nice to meet you too," I replied, my eyes narrowing slightly. "So, what's the mission?"

Akari's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. "It's Hakone," she said, the name of the town hanging heavy in the air. "A high school. The outbreak was sudden, and the number of curses inside, as well as potential casualties, remains unclear. Our priority is to secure the safety of any students trapped inside and neutralize the threat as quickly as possible."

"Understood. Any specific approach you have in mind?"

"Stealth and caution should be our initial strategy," Akari explained as she slid into the driver's seat. "Assess the situation from the inside without alarming the curses further. I'll assist, but remember, the hands-on part is all you. I'm here for supervision."

"Got it," I confirmed, sliding into the passenger seat and fastening my seatbelt. Gojo wasn't wrong. I had grown, and I wouldn't fail.

Akari shot me a brief nod. "Good. I have no doubt you can handle this." She turned the key in the ignition, and the engine rumbled to life.

Upon arrival at  Hakone High, a grim sight greeted us. The school grounds were eerily empty, the silence broken only by the rustle of leaves in the wind. But beneath that silence, I could sense the oppressive weight of cursed energy hanging in the air.

We were met by a young sorcerer, who looked like he might be a student himself. He seemed relieved at our arrival.

"You guys must be the backup sent from Tokyo College, right?"  he asked, his voice a touch shaky. "I'm Hikaru Sato, and they've put me in charge of the briefing."

"That's correct,"  Akari replied. "What's the situation, Sato?"

Sato gestured towards a table with a spread-out map. His expression was grim as he traced a finger over the building plan.  "We have eleven students unaccounted for inside. The curse activity seems concentrated in specific areas, but..." he trailed off, his gaze flicking towards me, "...they're unpredictable, and the energy readings are fluctuating wildly."

I frowned,  zeroing in on the map. "Special grades?"

"Thankfully, no," Sato shook his head, "but don't underestimate them. We've lost contact with several scouts sent inside." His voice lowered. "Something's not right about this outbreak."

Akari's gaze sharpened. "Eleven students..." she murmured. She turned to me, and though her tone remained calm, there was a steeliness to it.  "Can you handle it, Murakami?"

"I wouldn't be here otherwise," I said, meeting her gaze.

Sato unrolled the school blueprint further. "The gym and science labs are registering the highest cursed energy. Use extreme caution."

Sato watched us, a flicker of something like admiration in his eyes. "I wish you luck," he said solemnly. "Those kids..."  He didn't have to finish the sentence.

Akari nodded. "We understand the stakes."

Turning towards the school entrance, a wave of apprehension washed over me. Before walking through those doors, I made a split-second decision. "Hey, Sato," I called out, "How did this even start? The curses,  I mean?"

His expression clouded over. "We don't know yet.  It's like they materialized out of thin air."

My footsteps echoed as I ventured deeper into the east wing. With each turn, the pulse of cursed energy grew stronger, thrumming against my skin. The smell of dust and something sour, vaguely metallic, lingered in the air.

Approaching the gymnasium, caution prickled down my spine.  The erratic energy signatures swirling around it were enough to make my hair stand on end. Taking a deep breath, I peeked inside.

The gym was in chaos. Grotesque shapes lurked in the gloom, their twisted forms barely distinguishable.  The air crackled with a sickening, oppressive energy that made my stomach churn.

Something shifted in the shadows, and one of the grade 1 curses turned its misshapen head towards me.  It let out a chilling screech that sent my adrenaline soaring.  Time seemed to slow as its hulking form lunged.

The months of relentless training, the fights that had pushed me to my limits - it was all distilled into this moment. My instincts honed from countless near-misses kicked in. I sidestepped, the wind from its clumsy attack ruffling my hair.

The distance closed in a heartbeat.  My fist shot out, connecting with the curse's flesh in an explosion of cursed energy. It staggered, disoriented. I didn't give it a chance to recover, unleashing a calculated flurry of strikes aimed at its weak points.

Another curse noticed the commotion, twisting its elongated body to charge. I was already spinning, meeting its attack with a bone-jarring roundhouse kick that sent it crashing into the wall, where it dissipated with a shriek.

Each move flowed into the next, a dance of deadly precision I'd never thought possible a few months ago. One curse went down, then another.  The air crackled with my cursed energy,  each exertion feeling less like draining power and more like flexing a familiar muscle.

Then I saw them. Two students, crumpled against the far wall. As I got closer, lifeless eyes stared up at me, filled not with terror now, but a haunting emptiness.

A surge of anger flared through me, quickly dampened down. There wasn't time for grief. More threats could be lurking, more students needing help. I wouldn't fail them.

A movement in the corner â€" not a threat, but a flicker of pale school uniforms. Five more students, huddled together.  I raised a hand, signaling them to remain silent.  They watched me, wide-eyed and terrified, as I approached the last of the curses.

This one, larger and bulkier, seemed almost wary. Good. It should be. My eyes flared, and I tapped into that well of growing power. This wouldn't be a drawn-out fight.

The curse roared, sensing the threat. It lunged, its massive form a blur of rage.  But I was ready. With a flick of my wrist, my threads sliced through the air with unnatural speed.

The curse never stood a chance. Within a second, the curse was gone, replaced by hundreds of shimmering threads, each imbued with cursed energy, traced intricate patterns across the wall. Below it, lay a pile of disintegrating flesh, the curse utterly annihilated by a thousand cuts.

Huh, so this was what overwhelming strength feels like on the other side.

But my victory was short-lived. The students huddled in the corner were staring at me with wide eyes, a mix of fear and awe in their expressions. I forced the intensity in my gaze to soften, focusing on them instead of the aftermath.

"It's safe now, let's get you out of here."

Every step through the silent hallways felt heavy. The air thrummed with an oppressive silence, broken only by the soft sobbing from one of the students I'd rescued. Their fear was palpable, a sharp contrast to the bold confidence I felt coursing through me.  I glanced back at them frequently, trying to silently convey a sense of reassurance.

Then, a choked cry pierced the silence. My head whipped around, my muscles tensing. One of the girls was staring at something on the ground, her eyes wide with renewed terror. "It's okay," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, hoping to soothe her.  "We're almost there."

Finally, the exit came into view.  Sunlight burst through the shattered glass, a beacon of hope in the desolate landscape. As we stepped outside, a wave of relief washed over me. Though my body remained tense, ready for anything, I allowed a hint of a smile to touch my lips.

The students, seeing the familiar world outside, seemed to finally relax, too. They clustered around me, their eyes reflecting a mix of relief and awe. It was an uncomfortable reminder of the responsibility I now carried, their admiration a burden I wasn't sure I was ready for.

Across the yard, I spotted Akari.  She rushed towards us, her eyes sweeping over the group. When her gaze finally landed on me, I saw a flicker of something like approval.

"You made it," she said, then turned to the students with a genuine smile. "You're all safe now, let's get you guys to a doctor to look for some injuries." 

"I'm going back in," I said, my voice firm. "There might be more threats and even some potential leads..." the thought of the curses just popping out of nowhere lingered. I needed to figure out where they came from.

Akari studied me for a moment, a crease appearing between her brows.  "Alright," she said finally. "But be careful. Report anything unusual when you come back."

A simple nod was my only response before I turned and headed back inside the darkened school. I wasn't just hunting curses anymore; I was seeking answers.  Something wasn't right with this whole situation and I wouldn't stop until I'd eradicated every last curse. Hopefully, getting a step closer to the truth lurking beneath the surface.