25 Local Faith I

A year had passed since Toji's downfall, Nanami had been fully acknowledged as a semi-first grade sorcerer while Haibara was on his way to become one. He was still a third grade sorcerer but was being assessed on whether he could become one.

But although this was good news, one of the students didn't make any progress on his ranks. Arai was still a third grade {Miwa's Level of usefulness}. Despite this being his second year as a student, he was still the weakest of the bunch.

Though his Technique [Gift] was powerful, he had to sacrifice a shikigami to use it. It was better to simply give that curse spirit to Geto who could maximize its abilities compared to him. And unlike Mei Mei, curse spirits of high grades was hard to find compared to a crow.

But Arai ignored that, more like he didn't care about his ranking. After he saw Toji and Gojo fight, he always had a thought at the back of his mind.

'Can I become as strong as they are?'

Gojo had become the strongest leaving Geto behind. His 'Infinity' could now be activated at all times and his eyes were able to detect whether anything was of harm to him and could automatically activate his technique to protect him.

Gojo was invincible now.

Arai even after a year couldn't get that thought off his head.

"Arai, the food's getting cold."

Looking up, he saw a girl with dark black hair and light brown eyes. She wore a school uniform with black, white and blue as the dominant colors. Her hair was tied as a ponytail. In her hands was a spatula and she made an unhappy face.

"Sorry, just thinking about something." He scratched his face awkwardly.

This girl was Haibara Eino. Sister of Haibara Yu, his classmate.

"Come on! I just made you dinner and this is what I get? I'm never making you food when you come over. Hmph!" She pouted which made her cuteness overshadow her anger.

"Sure sure, I'll eat your delicious dish. Thanks for the food." He said while patting her head.

"Th-that's not fair..." Her anger was quickly subsided by the blissful feeling of the all mighty headpat.

He watched as she grabbed his hand to continue patting her head. "Pampered much?" He said this while turning to Haibara who was simply enjoying a sandwich. The two of them were at Haibara's house taking a break from all the spirit hunting. Having a break in this line of break was almost non-existent so they made sure to savor every second of it by relaxing.

"I don't pamper her."

"Then why is she falling asleep on my lap just because of a headpat."

"Sensitive?"

"Bull-"

A ringing sound echoed throughout the room. It was Arai's phone and he accepted the call while excusing himself. He went outside where he wouldn't bother the siblings.

"Principal Yaga, what is it?"

"A new mission for you, Haibara and Nanami. This mission is outside Tokyo so be prepared to set out. I'll give you a review on the mission at school. Be here at 3."

The call ended there. Yaga was always a man that got down to the point and if deemed unnecessary, he would not speak more than needed.

"*Sigh.* Another mission. One outside of the city as well. What a pain." Arai said while massaging his eyes. He looked back to the pair of siblings laughing without any care.

Eino didn't know that her brother was a curse user. If she did then her world would be turned upside down and she would never let him go to dangerous missions. Which was why Haibara Yu kept it a secret from her

A secret that he would never let her on.

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At Jujutsu Tech, a man with black disheveled hair sat down on a bench and sat on it expelling a long sigh. It was Geto, his expression was pale and he even seemed to have lost weight. The bangs covering his face grew even more than before.

He was alone with no one there to be with him.

A memory of the year before made his mood sour. The happy faces of the people who killed an innocent girl. Clapping as if someone's birthday was being celebrated.

Non-sorcerers who viewed curse users as lambs or guardians.

Killing them off when unneeded but when needed begs like the mongrels they were and pleads them by giving some self righteous reason.

"Fucking monkeys." He muttered just low enough so that no one could hear him.

He then began thinking about the conversation he just had with Tsukumo Yuki.

She was one of three special grades and had more experience than him.

Both in battle {and relationship}.

Geto recalled what she had said to him. That one line kept being repeated in his head.

"You who look down on non-shamans... and you who rejects that idea. These are just the possibilities you've found."

"But the one who you will commit to being from now on. 'That' will define your true feelings."

"The one I commit from now on..." He muttered with his head down. Geto had been experiencing an existential crisis. He didn't know how to differentiate from what he wanted to be to what he needed to be.

Did he want to become a sorcerer who's only fate is to die by curses or the people he was supposed to protect?

Or did he want to kill all non-sorcerers so that he could finally make a peaceful world where no curse would ever be born?

After all only non-sorcerers create curses as curse users are able to control their curse energy to stop it from leaking out.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard footsteps. Looking up, he saw Arai walking to him.

"Hey Geto, you seen Haibara somewhere?" Arai asked as he sat down next to Geto.

"He was just here. You missed him."

"That guy is never on time."

"Heh, don't be so harsh on him. He doesn't have any harm in mind."

"Yeah, yeah..."

They smiled talking to each other. They were actually quite similar which was why they got along pretty well.

Geto and Arai were both calculative people and used every opportunity presented in a fight to win. Their personality was more or less quiet but easily got along with others.

But the key difference was their ideology. Both had different views of this world.

Geto looked down with a sad smile on his face. Unlike Arai, his view of non-sorcerers was slowly changing. And if it kept going, he was afraid that one day he wouldn't be the same person he was before.

What path should he choose?

"Arai..."

Hearing his name be called, he turned to Geto who still looked down to the floor. Not wanting to look at him in the eye.

"One day... I'm going to ask you to join me in my endeavor. And I want you to decide whether it's right or wrong."

His eyes lifted to look at Arai who was perplexed at what he was saying. "But I'll tell you in advance, that no matter what you decide. I won't change my stance."

After finishing what he said, Geto stood up and left the room leaving the puzzled Arai behind. Arai couldn't see Geto's face as it seemed a sort of barrier formed around him. Like he didn't want to be approached right now so he didn't follow him.

Pondering about what Geto told him, he sat there confused but also began to think about what question Geto would ask him.