Yuta Okkotsu

The classroom was filled with chatter as the students waited for their teacher, Satoru Gojo, to arrive and introduce the new student. Maki, sitting with her legs crossed, looked bored and unimpressed.

"I heard this new guy is quite the troublemaker," she said, sounding displeased. "Honestly, I'm not thrilled about having someone like that join our class."

Inumaki nodded. "Salmon," he said simply.

Hiro looked up from doodling in his notebook. "Is the new student a girl?" he asked hopefully.

Maki shot him an icy glare. Hiro quickly turned away and started whistling nonchalantly.

Suddenly, the door slid open and Gojo bounded in enthusiastically. "Listen up, everyone! We have a new student joining us today! Let's give them a warm welcome!"

But the class remained subdued and unenthused. Gojo sighed. "Tough crowd. Anyway, come on in!"

As the new student stepped into the classroom, a chilling, malevolent energy seemed to fill the air. His presence was overwhelmingly powerful.

Maki froze in shock. Panda felt a wave of terror. Inumaki immediately went on high alert. Hiro gripped the edge of his desk tightly and stared at the doorway.

The new student was a boy who looked a bit small compared to Hiro. He had messy hair and dark circles under his eyes. As he walked to the front, each step seemed to make the ground tremble slightly.

"I'm Yuta Okkotsu, nice to m-" he started to say quietly.

But before he could finish, Panda, Inumaki, and Maki were already standing in front of him. In a flash, Maki stabbed her sword into the chalkboard behind Yuta, terrifying him.

She glared at him intensely. "Listen. This is a school for sorcerers. We exorcise curses and battle malevolent spirits."

Her golden eyes bored into his as she said ominously, "And you... you're cursed. I can sense it."

Yuta swallowed hard, his face going pale. The entire class remained completely silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Here's the scene rewritten with Gojo's more playful and teasing personality:

Gojo stepped forward, his signature grin never leaving his face. "Well, well, looks like things are getting exciting around here!"

He turned to Yuta, who looked confused and scared. "Oops, my bad, Yuta! I guess I forgot to mention that this is a school for sorcerers. You know, exorcising curses, fighting off spooky ghosts, that sort of thing."

Yuta's eyes widened. "S-sorcerers? Curses? I... I didn't know..."

The class erupted into murmurs of surprise and disbelief. Gojo just laughed. "Ah, the look on your faces! Priceless. But seriously, let's all be nice to Yuta, okay? He's had a rough day."

Hiro, who had been watching the scene with uncharacteristic seriousness, stood up. "Hold on. What kind of curse is this?" He narrowed his eyes at Yuta. "I can sense it's incredibly powerful."

Gojo's grin widened. "Ooh, good question, Hiro! Let's find out, shall we?"

Suddenly, massive white hands began to emerge from the chalkboard behind Yuta. A chilling voice echoed through the room: "Don't bother my dear Yuta."

Hiro's hands crackled with lightning as he prepared to attack. But before he could make a move, the ghostly hands grabbed Maki, Panda, and Inumaki, lifting them off the ground.

"Rika, please! Let them go!" Yuta pleaded, looking panicked.

Hiro rounded on Yuta, his eyes flashing with anger. "Tell that thing to release them right now, or I'll end you myself."

Yuta looked helpless, unsure of what to do. But just then, Gojo sauntered over and tapped Rika's spectral arms.

"Now, now, Rika," he said, as if scolding a mischievous child. "We don't grab people without their consent. It's rude."

Instantly, the curse released its grip, dropping the three students to the floor. They scrambled back, catching their breath and eyeing Yuta warily.

Gojo turned to Yuta, his smile never faltering. "Seems like you've got quite the clingy girlfriend there, Yuta! But don't worry, we'll help you work on those boundary issues."

Yuta slumped forward, looking exhausted and ashamed. "I... I'm sorry. I can't control her. That's why I'm here... to learn how."

Gojo clapped him on the back, nearly sending him sprawling. "And learn you will, my cursed little friend! It'll be a wild ride, but that's what makes it fun!"

Gojo clapped his hands together, his ever-present grin widening. "Alright, class! Today we're going to head out and exorcise some curses in pairs. Time for some real-world experience!"

Hiro immediately sidled up to Maki. "I call dibs on Maki!" he announced, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

Maki clicked her tongue in annoyance, shrugging off his arm. "In your dreams, Miller."

Gojo wagged a finger at Hiro. "Actually, Maki will be partnering with Yuta for this exercise."

"Damn it," Maki muttered under her breath.

Yuta, overhearing this, paled slightly. "D-damn it?" he thought nervously. "Is she that upset about being paired with me?"

"Panda and Inumaki, you two will be a team," Gojo continued, seemingly oblivious to the tension.

Hiro raised an eyebrow. "And what about me?"

Gojo laughed, slapping Hiro on the back. "You're a grade 1 sorcerer, Hiro! You can handle missions solo. But for today, you'll be coming with me. We're going to observe Maki and Yuta's mission."

Maki frowned. "Why do I have to be paired with him?" she asked, jerking her thumb towards Yuta.

Yuta flinched, his thoughts racing. "What have I gotten myself into?"

Hiro nodded vigorously. "Yeah, why does she have to go with him?"

Gojo just chuckled, waving off their concerns. "Now, now, lovebirds. A few minutes apart won't kill you."

Both Maki and Hiro sputtered at this, their faces turning red.

"We're not lovebirds!" they shouted in unison, then glared at each other.

Gojo's grin turned sly. "Could've fooled me," he said in a sing-song voice. "The way you two are always bickering, it's like an old married couple."

Maki looked like she was seriously considering murder. Hiro, on the other hand, had a speculative gleam in his eye, as if he was actually pondering the idea.

Yuta, watching this exchange, felt more lost than ever. Was this... normal for jujutsu sorcerers? The constant teasing, the casual talk of murder?

He glanced at Panda and Inumaki, hoping for some sort of guidance. But Panda just shrugged, and Inumaki muttered a quiet "Bonito flakes" under his breath.

Gojo and Hiro were lounging against the car, parked in front of an empty school. The sky was overcast, and Hiro could feel the cool breeze on his face. Inside the school, Maki and Yuta were searching for the cursed object they'd been tasked with exorcising.

Hiro glanced over at Gojo, a question burning in his mind. "Seriously though, why did you pair Maki with Yuta?"

Gojo shrugged, his usual grin in place. "Well, Panda obviously can't leave the school grounds. Yuta wouldn't understand a word Inumaki said. And you? You'd just spend the whole mission hitting on Maki and getting on her nerves. So, Maki was the logical choice."

Hiro frowned, but couldn't argue with that assessment. Still, something was bothering him.

"Okay, I get that," he said. "But why did I have to come along to observe? Not to toot my own horn, but I used to exorcise curses every night back in New York."

Gojo laughed, the sound echoing in the empty schoolyard. "Oh, I know. But I wanted you to see something. Though I'm not sure if you'll be able to pick up on it."

He reached over and ruffled Hiro's blond hair, much to the younger sorcerer's annoyance. "Tell me, Hiro. Why do you want to be strong?"

Hiro batted Gojo's hand away, scowling as he fixed his hair. "I already told you. I don't like the idea of anyone being stronger than me. That's all there is to it."

Gojo hummed, his eyes unreadable behind his sunglasses. "Is that so? You know, strength isn't everything."

Hiro snorted. "Says the strongest sorcerer in the world."

"Fair point," Gojo conceded with a chuckle. "But there are different kinds of strength, Hiro. Raw power is one thing, but there's also strength of character, of spirit. The strength to protect what's important to you."

Hiro was quiet for a moment, considering this. Before he could respond, however, a loud crash sounded from inside the school, followed by a scream.

Hiro straightened up, his body tensing. "That sounded like Maki."

Gojo, however, didn't seem concerned. If anything, his grin widened. "Ah, it seems the fun is starting."

Hiro stared at him, incredulous. "Fun? Gojo, they could be in trouble!"

Gojo waved a dismissive hand. "Nah, they'll be fine. Maki's tough, and Yuta... well, let's just say he's got a trick or two up his sleeve."

Another crash, louder this time. The windows of the school rattled in their frames.

Hiro stepped forward, lightning beginning to crackle around his fists. "Screw this. I'm going in."

But Gojo's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Wait," the older sorcerer said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "Watch."

Hiro hesitated, torn between his instinct to rush in and help, and his trust in Gojo. Finally, with great effort, he relaxed his stance.

"Fine," he bit out. "But if things start to look bad, I'm not just going to stand here."

Gojo nodded, his grin returning. "Of course. But have a little faith, Hiro. Those two might just surprise you."

As if on cue, a blinding light flashed from the windows of the school, accompanied by a roar that shook the very ground beneath their feet.

Hiro's eyes widened. "What the hell was that?"

Gojo's grin took on a sharp edge. "That, my dear student, is the power of a fully realized curse. And the power of the one who wields it."

Hiro stared at the school, his heart pounding. Just what kind of monster had Yuta brought into their midst?

Rika burst through the roof of the school, her massive spectral form grappling with an equally giant cursed spirit. The two behemoths clashed, their blows sending shockwaves through the air.

Hiro stared, his jaw hanging open. "What the actual fuck?"

Gojo, in contrast, looked positively delighted. "Well, well, looks like we got lucky!"

Hiro spun around to face his teacher. "Is this what you wanted me to see?"

Gojo's grin was answer enough. "Indeed it is. Now tell me, Hiro. Do you think you could take on Rika?"

Hiro looked back at the battling curses, his eyes assessing. After a moment, Gojo spoke again.

"Answer honestly. You can't fool my six beautiful eyes."

Hiro hesitated, then sighed. "No. I couldn't."

Gojo's smile widened, but before he could respond, Yuta staggered out of the school entrance. In his arms, he carried two small children and a seemingly unconscious Maki.

Hiro was moving before he even realized it, rushing over to take Maki and the kids from Yuta's struggling grasp. He handled their weight easily, his strength enhanced by cursed energy.

"What the hell happened?" he demanded, his eyes darting between Maki's pale face and Yuta's exhausted one.

Yuta shook his head, panting. "I don't know. We were inside the cursed spirit, and Zenin just started feeling ill..."

Hiro saw red. Without warning, he headbutted Yuta hard, sending the other boy reeling back with a spray of blood from his nose.

"You idiot!" Hiro snarled. "If you can't protect Maki, then stay the fuck out of the way and let me handle it!"

Gojo's voice cut through Hiro's rage, calm and amused. "Tell me, Hiro. Is Maki the type of girl who seems to need protection?"

Hiro faltered, his teeth grinding together. He looked down at Maki, at the strong lines of her face, the calluses on her hands from countless hours of training.

"...No," he admitted finally, the word bitter on his tongue.

Gojo clapped his hands together. "Well then, that's settled! Get them in the car, Hiro. I'll handle Rika."

Hiro shot one last venomous glare at Yuta, who met his gaze with a sort of resigned acceptance, one hand cupping his bleeding nose. Then he turned and carried Maki and the children to the car, his steps heavy with frustration and something that felt uncomfortably like shame.

As he settled Maki into the backseat, her head lolling against the window, Hiro couldn't help but brush a strand of hair from her face. She looked so peaceful like this, so vulnerable. It made something ache in his chest.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, so quietly he could barely hear it himself. "I shouldn't have doubted you."

He straightened up, closing the car door with a gentleness that belied his earlier anger. When he turned back to the school, Gojo was walking towards him, Rika and the cursed spirit nowhere to be seen.

"All done!" Gojo announced cheerfully, as if he'd just finished a particularly satisfying meal rather than subduing two immensely powerful curses. "Rika's back under control, and our little curse problem has been solved. Good work, team!"

Hiro just stared at him, a thousand questions buzzing in his mind. About Rika, about Yuta, about the strange feeling in his chest when he looked at Maki.

But in the end, he just shook his head and climbed into the passenger seat. Some things, he was learning, were better left unasked.

At least for now.

As Gojo started the car and pulled away from the school, humming some annoyingly catchy pop song under his breath, Hiro glanced in the rearview mirror.

Yuta was in the back, wedged between the two sleeping children, his head bowed and his shoulders slumped. He looked small, Hiro realized. Young and tired and scared.

For a moment, Hiro almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

Then he remembered Maki's limp form in Yuta's arms, and his sympathy hardened into resolve.

Yuta Okkotsu might be his classmate, might even be his teammate.

But Hiro would be damned if he let the guy put Maki in danger again.

He'd die before he let that happen.

Hiro sat beside Maki's hospital bed in the school infirmary, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped tightly together. The orange glow of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting long shadows across the sterile white room.

He studied Maki's face, peaceful in unconsciousness, and felt a strange tightness in his chest. Why did he care so much? She was just another girl, just another classmate. And yet, here he was, keeping vigil at her bedside, waiting for her to wake up.

His thoughts swirled like the dust motes dancing in the fading light. Was it her strength that drew him? Her fierce independence, her unwavering resolve? Or was it something else, something deeper that he couldn't quite name?

The door clicked open, startling Hiro from his reverie. Gojo sauntered in, his ever-present grin a jarring contrast to the somber atmosphere.

"So, Hiro," he said, leaning casually against the wall. "Why do you want to be strong?"

Hiro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Because it bothers me that there are people out there stronger than me."

Gojo's smile widened. "And if you had been more powerful than Naoya, what would you have done?"

"Kicked all the Zenin clan's asses," Hiro replied without hesitation.

"And if you had been stronger than Rika?"

"Exorcised her." The answer came easily, automatically.

Gojo hummed, pushing off the wall and wandering over to the window. He gazed out at the golden-hued campus, his expression unreadable.

"You know," he said after a long moment, "Rika was Yuta's childhood sweetheart. She's bound to him by a curse. Yuta told me just a little while ago that he thinks it's because of a promise they made as kids, to get married someday. Do you still think she needs to be exorcised?"

Hiro frowned, a flicker of doubt creeping into his certainty. "A curse is a curse," he said finally. "She's not that little girl anymore."

Gojo turned to face him, his blue eyes piercing even through his dark glasses. "You say that as a jujutsu sorcerer. But as a human?"

"Sorcerers are weapons, not humans."

Gojo's laugh was sudden and sharp, slicing through the heavy atmosphere. "Weapons can't grow stronger, Hiro. They're made with a set power. But humans... humans can always become more than they are."

Hiro fell silent, his gaze drawn back to Maki's still form. Was he a weapon? Was she? Or were they something more?

"The only way to exorcise Rika," Gojo said softly, "is to execute Yuta. A boy who's lived his whole life in fear of hurting others. Is that justice? For someone who's only seeking a reason to live?"

Hiro's hands clenched, his nails digging into his palms. He thought of Yuta's face, pale and strained as he carried Maki from the school. The way his arms had trembled, from exhaustion or emotion, Hiro couldn't tell.

Was that the face of a monster? Or just a scared kid, burdened with a power he never asked for?

The sun dipped lower, painting the room in shades of red and gold. It felt like a metaphor, somehow. The day dying, giving way to the uncertain dark of night.

Hiro had always believed in absolutes. Curses were evil. Sorcerers were weapons. Strength was all that mattered.

But sitting there, in that liminal space between light and shadow, he found himself questioning everything he thought he knew.

If he exorcised Rika, would he be destroying a curse? Or murdering an innocent?

If he pursued power above all else, would he be becoming the strongest version of himself? Or just the coldest?

And if he let himself care, about Maki, about his classmates, about anything beyond his own ambition... was that weakness? Or was it the greatest strength of all?

Gojo was watching him, his grin gone, replaced by something older, wiser, and infinitely more weary.

"Think about it," was all he said before he turned and walked out, leaving Hiro alone with his swirling thoughts and the steady beep of Maki's heart monitor.

Hiro leaned forward, resting his forehead against his clasped hands.

He had a lot to think about.

Outside, the sun finally slipped below the horizon, plunging the world into darkness.

And in that darkness, Hiro closed his eyes and began, for the first time in his life, to truly question everything he had always believed.

It was a painful process, tearing down the foundations of his worldview.

But as he sat there, listening to Maki's soft breathing, he couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, it was a necessary one.

Because if he wanted to be truly strong - not just in power, but in heart and soul - then he would need to learn to see the world, and himself, in a different light.

Even if that meant facing some uncomfortable truths along the way.

The night deepened, and Hiro kept his vigil, his mind whirling, his heart aching, and his resolve slowly, painfully, beginning to change.

Hiro stood up, stretching his arms above his head. He glanced down at Maki, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Want anything from the vending machine?" he asked.

Maki nodded. "Iced tea. You know which brand I like."

Hiro waved a hand in acknowledgment and headed out of the room. He navigated the sterile corridors of the infirmary, his mind still churning with the events of the day.

As he approached the vending machine, he spotted a familiar figure. Yuta was standing there, his posture tense and uncertain as he perused the drink selection.

Something sparked in Hiro's chest, a flare of the old anger. Before he could think, he was moving, crossing the distance between them in a few long strides.

He grabbed Yuta by the collar, lifting him off the ground. The smaller boy yelped, his eyes wide with fear.

"Listen up, shrimp," Hiro growled. "I... I..."

But as he stared into Yuta's face, he faltered. Maki's words echoed in his mind, the softness in her voice as she spoke of Yuta and Rika's bravery. Gojo's cryptic wisdom, the challenge in his eyes as he questioned Hiro's beliefs.

And then, unbidden, a memory. His father, his face lined with weariness and hard-earned wisdom.

"Even the great ones make mistakes, Hiro," he'd said, his hand heavy on Hiro's shoulder. "It's what you do after that defines you."

Slowly, Hiro lowered Yuta back to the ground. He released his grip on the boy's shirt, taking a step back.

"I... I'm sorry," he said, the words feeling strange and clumsy on his tongue. "For hitting you, and... and everything."

Yuta blinked, clearly taken aback. Then, to Hiro's surprise, he smiled. It was a small thing, tentative and a little wary, but genuine.

"It's okay," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm really sorry too, for not being able to protect Maki better."

Hiro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No, you... you did protect her. Thank you for that."

Yuta's smile widened a fraction. "She must be a really good friend, for you to worry about her like that."

Hiro paused, considering that. A good friend? Is that what Maki was to him?

He couldn't deny that she was attractive. He liked her, sure. But enough to get this worked up? Enough to lose sleep over, to challenge his entire worldview for?

She was supposed to be just another trophy, another conquest. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized... it wasn't like that. Not with her.

With Maki, he found himself wanting more. More than just a fleeting fling or a notch on his bedpost. He wanted... what did he want?

He thought of her smile, rare and precious as a diamond. The way her eyes sparked when she was angry, the way her hair shone in the sunlight. The strength in her hands, the fire in her soul.

He wanted to know her, he realized. Really know her. He wanted to be the one to make her laugh, to stand by her side, to share in her triumphs and her sorrows.

He wanted...

Oh.

Oh shit.

Hiro swallowed hard, feeling like the ground had just shifted under his feet. This... this was new. This was terrifying.

This was...

He shook his head, trying to clear it. One life-altering revelation at a time.

He focused back on Yuta, who was watching him with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Yeah," Hiro said finally, his voice a little rougher than usual. "Yeah, she's... she's a good friend. They all are, here."

Yuta's smile turned wistful. "That's good. I hope I can get along with everyone here, too."

Looking at him, Hiro felt a pang of guilt. This kid, with his haunted eyes and his gentle spirit... he'd been through hell. And what had Hiro done? Threatened him, hurt him, judged him without even trying to understand.

Some hero he was.

He felt his face twist into a scowl, and Yuta flinched, obviously expecting another outburst.

Hiro forced himself to take a deep breath, to unclench his fists.

"Hey, Yuta?"

"Y-yeah?"

Hiro felt his face heating up. He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Do you... do you want to be friends?"

The words came out in a rush, stilted and awkward. Hiro cringed internally. Smooth, Miller. Real smooth.

But when he risked a glance at Yuta, the boy was staring at him with wide eyes, a slow, incredulous smile spreading across his face.

"Really? You... you want to be friends with me?"

Hiro shrugged, trying to play it cool even as his heart pounded in his chest.

"Sure, why not? transfer students gotta stick together, right?"

Yuta's smile could have lit up the whole city. "I'd like that," he said softly. "I'd like that a lot."

Hiro found himself smiling back, a real smile, not the cocky grin he usually hid behind.

It felt good. It felt... right.

They stood there for a moment, grinning at each other like idiots. Then Hiro remembered why he'd come out here in the first place.

"Oh, right. Drinks."

He turned to the vending machine, fishing in his pocket for change. He could feel Yuta watching him, could practically hear the gears turning in the boy's head.

"Hey, Hiro?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you. For giving me a chance."

Hiro paused, his hand hovering over the button for Maki's favorite iced tea.

He thought about the anger that had driven him for so long, the obsession with strength, with being the best. He thought about the loneliness that had always lurked beneath it, the fear of never being good enough.

He thought about Gojo's words, about the difference between weapons and humans.

He thought about Maki, about the way she made him want to be better, to be more.

And he thought about Yuta, about the courage it must have taken to come here, to face each day with a curse like Rika hanging over him.

Maybe... maybe they weren't so different, the two of them.

Maybe they both had a lot to learn.

Hiro took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

"No," he said, pressing the button. The machine whirred to life, the can clattering into the dispenser. "Thank you. For... for being you."

It wasn't much. Just a few words, a tiny olive branch in the face of everything that had happened.

But as Hiro looked at Yuta, saw the way his eyes shone with gratitude and hope...

He thought that maybe, just maybe, it was enough.

A start.

He grabbed the can, tossing it to Yuta. The boy caught it, looking surprised.

"C'mon," Hiro said, jerking his head towards the infirmary. "Let's get back before Maki starts wondering where her tea is. Trust me, you don't want to see her when she's caffeine-deprived."

Yuta laughed, falling into step beside him.

And as they walked, shoulder to shoulder under the fluorescent lights, Hiro felt something in his chest ease.

It wasn't forgiveness, not yet. There was still too much history, too many hurt feelings and misunderstandings.

But it was a beginning. A chance.

And in a world of curses and chaos, of danger and uncertainty...

That was worth more than all the strength in the world.