Volume I - Chapter 10

After a brief moment of silence, firm knocks resounded on the door.

"Wake up, Kuroto. We're setting sail right after breakfast," said the voice from the other side of the door.

"Alright," I responded softly, hearing the footsteps recede. "Today's going to be a long one. I need to say goodbye to everyone."

For a few hours, I split my time between tasks and training, the cursed energy constantly humming within me. Gojo-sensei's words reverberated in my mind: keep focus on the training. Thus, each action and thought turned into an opportunity to hone my control.

The day somehow flew by. After the morning exercises, I headed to the cafeteria, served myself the usual food, and chose a place to sit. Spotting Tosca, I waved. She approached with a smile, different, brighter, and we dove into a chat.

"Did you sleep well, Tosca?"

Nodding, she maintained her light expression. "Yes, and you?"

"Same," I responded, subtly steering the conversation. "But what's lighting up that smile today?"

With enthusiasm and a fork dancing between her fingers, she shared: "I got called into the director's office early today!" Her voice was tinted with kindness and friendship.

"So, what happened?" I asked, anticipating the good news.

"They reconsidered my transfer to another institute. It's been indefinitely postponed and might be canceled if I improve my results!" Euphoria in her eyes was rare around here.

"Wow, that's great news," I said, but with a subtle distance in my voice. This director... what was he plotting?

"Why that face, Kuro? You don't seem happy for me at all!" Tosca pouted, adorably genuine frustration tinting her voice.

"Of course I am. But I'm likely to be relocated," I shared.

Her smile dissolved, replaced by palpable concern. "What? Why?"

I explained, keeping my voice casual: "It seems that after yesterday's incident, the director thinks I'd benefit from training with a field instructor in a squad."

Her joy had vanished completely. "What did you do, Kuroto?!"

"Hey, why am I always to blame?" I tried to divert the conversation, failing miserably.

"Because Kuroto's trouble scent is recognizable miles away!" She gave a light tap on the table, looking at me steadily.

I waved a hand near my armpit and pretended to sniff. "I don't think I smell that bad, come on."

Rolling her eyes, she fixed her gaze on me.

"I'm serious, Tosca. I'm being relocated because of yesterday's incident," I confirmed, placing my hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her.

"Do you promise?" Her eyes were soft, vulnerable, almost unraveling me.

"I promise. Now eat. You need to improve your results and nutrition is crucial... although the food here," I lifted the fork, eyeing the food with disdain, "leaves much to be desired."

'No doubt, it's better than prison food, but she doesn't need to know that.'

"Sometimes they don't even feed the kids who rank last," she murmured, somewhat downcast.

"I remember that. That's how we got close, right?"

"I still wonder why you started sharing your food with me," she confessed, seeking an answer in my eyes.

"You remind me of someone very special I lost," I admitted, the image of Lisa smiling blooming in my mind.

Years, in retrospect, have been a series of battles. Lisa... Oh, how I miss you, but I recognize that, for her, I might have been more a burden than a son. An additional burden, akin to the perspectives many held of me in my previous life.

With a heavy sigh, I diverted my attention to the present, inadvertently drawing Tosca's concern towards me.

"Are you okay?" she softly inquired, a comforting hand on my shoulder and eyes full of genuine worry.

"It'll be okay, Tosca. It was just a moment," I tried to assure her with a gentle smile.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, confusion clear on her face. "You don't usually have 'moments'."

Nobody's perfect, I thought. "Nobody's unbreakable, Tosca. Even I have my slips and kick the bucket now and then."

Frowning, she scanned the area around us. "Slips? I don't see any bucket here."

I smiled, appreciating her literalness. "It's just an expression, Tosca. You don't have to take it so literally."

Our laughter drew Lint, who brought vibrant, inquisitive energy as she sat down.

"I've heard rumors of a transfer to the exorcist squad. I thought Sieg would be the first in line, but you, Kuroto? How are you dealing with it?"

I raised an eyebrow in a non-verbal response, tossing the mystery back at her. "Who said it's me?"

His sharp gaze fixed on me, and a mischievous smile formed on his face. "Come on, Kuroto. Sieg may be talented, but when it comes to causing trouble," she said, pointing a playful little finger in my direction, "you are unrivaled."

Tosca's gentle laugh echoed beside me. "She's right, Kuro."

Rolling my eyes, I sighed in acceptance. "Maybe. But, you know, I might be maturing."

Lint burst into laughter, her tiny hands clapping on the table. "That, I've got to see!"

Even amid our laughter and jests, a submerged tension permeated the environment, reflecting a constant awareness of the ever-present dangers and the looming changes in the squad that signaled upcoming challenges.

"Kuroto, whenever you get into trouble, I worry," said Lint, her voice a soft melody, but laden with sincerity.

Her unexpected concern caught me a little off guard.

"Thank you, Lint," I said, offering a genuine smile. "I'll try to stay out of trouble. But, you know, sometimes it comes to me even when I don't want it to."

Her shrewd gaze locked onto me, a malicious sparkle dancing in her eyes. "Well, maybe if you stop being so welcoming, they'd get tired."

Tosca let out an amused laugh. "It's true. He really knows how to attract trouble."

Our laughter blended, and for a moment, the gravity of everything that lay ahead was forgotten. It was comforting to have true friends, even if they took every opportunity to tease me.

Then suddenly, an instructor arrived, causing our conversations and laughter to die abruptly. Lint and Tosca cast me looks of concern and understanding.

"Kuroto?" The instructor, clipboard in hand, already moved his gaze toward me.

"Yes?" I responded, setting the fork aside, a clear signal of my acceptance that it was time to leave.

"We're departing. Meet me at the main gate in ten minutes," he said, turning and leaving the dining hall without waiting for an answer.

My sigh was almost inaudible as I poked at the food. "Guess my time's up," I muttered, turning my gaze to Tosca, who looked visibly upset, her eyes welling up. "Hey, keep your head up. You don't want others to see you like this, do you?"

Tosca tried to articulate words through her sobs, but Lint wrapped her in a comforting hug before she could continue.

"Hey, don't worry," Lint told me with a smile that tried to be playful. "I'll take care of Tosca. But, in return, I expect souvenirs when you come back, you scamp."

I just waved, leaving the dining hall and heading to the main gate. There, I encountered the instructor and the institute director, whose cunning smile always instigated a desire to punch him.

"Our little prodigy is departing, I see," he observed, messing up my hair with a casual pat. Part of me wished, for a brief second, that I could break the hand that touched me with such condescension. "You're being assigned to the A-class squad, which means we have BIG expectations of you, boy. Follow the orders of the Scarlet Reaper."

My eyebrow arched at the name. "Scarlet Reaper?"

He simply smiled, seemingly pleased with my reaction. "Your senior. A high-class exorcist about to be promoted to first class. The squad you'll be joining has a 100% success rate on their missions, although, of course, some fatalities have occurred. But nothing that jeopardized the mission."

"I understand. I hope to meet your expectations and that you keep your word," I declared, avoiding meeting the eyes of that repugnant figure, while taking a small package with my belongings from the instructor.

"I am a man of my word," he affirmed, his expression serious.

"I need to ask something," I spoke, stopping in front of the main gate.

"Ask your question, young one. Depending on what it is, I may give you an answer," he said, with an indifferent and distant tone.

I hesitated for a moment. If I asked the question, he would surely be more certain about it. I thought about how I could inquire, but no matter how I formulated the question, no option seemed good to bring up Lisa. I simply murmured, "Better forget it. I don't want to know."

A weak laugh, yet intense enough for me to feel the mockery, escaped him. "If you have nothing to say, better stay silent, boy."

The gates closed, and I stood there, staring at the institute building for a moment. Despite everything, that was my home for a few years and, honestly, I wouldn't miss the place, but rather the incredible people I met. I headed to the car, settling in for what seemed to be a long journey ahead.

Several hours later...

I closed my eyes, training diligently as the car swayed. The vehicle gave a small jolt and began to decelerate gradually until it finally stopped. When I opened my eyes, I saw that the sun was setting. We descended and began to walk along a trail in a dense, snowy forest. It seemed we still had a long way to go, but in less than ten minutes, we arrived at a gigantic clearing that seemed to be a landing strip. A small plane was there, with capacity for maybe seven or eight people, but only two were on the strip: a young person in a black overcoat and another in a red one, holding a kind of giant scythe, larger than herself.

We approached, and the figure with the scythe briefly spoke with the person in charge who was with me. It seemed to be the so-called 'Scarlet Reaper', if the name matched.

"So you're the kid that the institute director wanted to discard for the Dawn Squad?" she said, grabbing the clipboard the person in charge had handed her and appearing to read it.

I just gave her a sideways glance, somewhat irritated. "Apparently, yes."

A laugh escaped her and, as if a signal, I felt an overwhelming murderous intent, which made me jump back and unsheathe my sword. The crazed woman tried to cut me with the scythe, but, thanks to my sharp senses, I managed to quickly dodge to deflect the blow of the enormous blade. However, the woman gave me no time to think and, with a violent kick in the ribs and absurd strength, launched me against a tree a few meters away, causing me to spit out a little blood.

"That's going to bruise," I murmured, holding my arm, which seemed to have been dislocated.

"Hey, is that all you've got? Get up, kid; you'll accompany me until I'm satisfied," the woman said, removing her hood and revealing her appearance.

She was a woman with black hair and intense red eyes. She seemed to be in her 30s, but her expression exhibited notable seriousness and determination. I really wasn't enjoying this feeling of vulnerability.

"You're insane," I growled, standing up and adjusting my shoulder with a pained expression, then grabbed the blade. I tried to coat it with cursed energy, but since it wasn't a cursed artifact, it seemed difficult to make the energy flow through it.

Even so, I managed to concentrate a small amount; the sword now emanated a sinister aura.

The Reaper smiled. "Finally! Decided to take it seriously?"

I didn't answer, just ran towards her, swinging my sword in a wide arc. She easily dodged, but I was ready for that. It was a feint. I spun on my axis, trying to hit her with a thrust. She blocked it with the shaft of her scythe, causing sparks to fly from the friction.

I quickly recomposed myself and advanced again, trying to predict her movements. However, her speed and skill with that scythe were extraordinary. She dodged all my blows, mocking every failure.

"You're going to have to do better than that!" She yelled, unleashing a series of swift attacks. Her scythe moved so quickly it looked like a red blur. I defended, dodged, and counterattacked, but she was always one step ahead.

At one moment, our blades clashed, and we were face to face, looking into each other's eyes. For a brief second, I saw a spark of recognition in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

Suddenly, her scythe had a slight crimson glow, and it seemed that the blade of her scythe was something incredibly strong as it repelled her, throwing me back. I was disarmed, with my sword a few meters away. The Reaper, seizing the opportunity, rushed toward me, ready to deliver the final blow.

However, instead of despair, I felt an unshakeable calm take over me. My training, the teachings of Gojo-sensei, and the fervent desire to survive all combined in a single moment. I channeled my cursed energy into my hands and unleashed a strike in the air, and used the energy trying to stiffen my hand more and held the blade with both palms and kicked the woman away, which made her slightly recoil.

The kick that was supposed to hit the Scarlet Reaper's stomach squarely hit her staff. She swiftly twirled the handle just fast enough to defend herself. Slowly, she stood up, dusting off her clothes, and looked at me with a surprised expression. I took the opportunity to rush for my sword.

"Well... it seems you're stronger than you look," she said, flashing a smile.

I retrieved my sword and stared her down. "We're just getting started."

She lunged at me with fury; her blade aimed straight for my neck, and I had to defend myself. I tried to coat the blade with cursed energy, but I couldn't do it quickly enough. The scythe's blade glowed red again. As I defended with my sword, with a swift and relentless motion, the blade of my sword met the blade of the Reaper's scythe. However, her sharp and shining blade seemed like a knife cutting through butter — in other words, a blade slicing through steel with ridiculous ease. It split my sword in half, grazing my clothes, leaving a small cut on my chest. It might have sliced me in half if I hadn't pulled back when she attacked. I was stunned, eyes wide as I watched pieces of my sword fall into the snow. Taking advantage of my distraction, the Reaper thrust her scythe's handle, striking me in the stomach and making me double over in pain.

She drew closer, her breath steady. She hardly seemed tired after all that action. "Get up," she hissed. "You better give it your all, or else." She placed the blade against my neck, forcing me to lift my head and meet her gaze.

Her eyes displayed indifference and coldness. It truly felt like she would end me right there. Her blade felt as if it was burning my skin, almost as if it was close to melting. "I'll kill you right here and now, kid."

I swallowed hard, my eyes burning with fury. I couldn't afford to lose. I stood up, and although I'd lost my sword's blade, I still had the hilt. I channeled my cursed energy through it, feeling the power surge within me. I knew I had only one shot.

When she came at me with an arcing blow, I furiously closed the distance, narrowly evading the scythe's blade and focusing on the handle. She tried to block with the handle, but with a firm move and unwavering concentration, I delivered a devastating blow. My eyes, steady and intense, didn't blink. The energy, resembling a flame, transformed into a small flash coated in black and crimson. The impact, which already would have been powerful, now felt explosive. The scythe's handle snapped in half with a sharp noise, and my punch hit the Reaper's stomach, sending her sliding a few meters back in the snow.

My ears rang, and my breath quickened. I had done it. The "Kokusen" – something I'd only heard of in the anime and from Gojo. And I'd executed it. The feeling was exhilarating yet terrifying. For a brief moment, I felt euphoric, as if I understood the refining of cursed energy much better after performing the Kokusen.

The Reaper looked at her broken scythe handle and then at me, shock and admiration evident on her face with a hint of anger. "Well done, kid. You've really pissed me off. Do you know how much this damned thing cost?!"

With her face contorted in a mix of pain and rage, the Reaper stood up. Her red eyes sparkled in the dim light, locking onto me with an icy, piercing gaze. She threw the remains of her scythe into the snow, now just a pile of broken, useless metal. "You'll pay for that, kid," she growled, her voice a fierce whisper that seemed to chill the air even further.

She started advancing towards me slowly, her steps firm and confident even without her weapon. Every move she made was precise and calculated, like a true predator stalking its prey. I gripped the hilt tightly, my only defense against the enraged woman before me.

The murderous aura she emanated was almost palpable, enveloping us in a silent whirlwind of deadly intent. We were both wounded, but while I was struggling to breathe, she seemed unharmed, her rage seemingly fueling her with dark energy.

Without warning, she lunged, throwing the broken scythe handle at me, forcing me to dodge. A burst of quick, lethal movement. I barely had time to lift my arm to block her powerful kick, which sent me flying.

"What have you been eating to get that strong?" I asked as I spun in the air, landing and sliding on the snow from the force.

She laughed as she charged at me, and as soon as I steadied myself after landing, she punched me in the face, making my head turn. "You ask that, yet how can a kid like you break my scythe, brat?"

She lunged again, her gloved fist targeting my face. This time, I was ready and blocked, feeling the shockwave from her strike travel up my arm. She didn't stop there, launching a series of punches and kicks that I had to block and evade.

Her blows pushed me back, but I refused to fall. She was incredibly strong and fast, but I was determined to hold my ground.

Stepping back slightly, I clenched my fists and analyzed her. I needed to use my head to win. It was clear that I wouldn't win with brute strength alone.

She came at me again, but this time, I did something she didn't expect. Instead of blocking or dodging, I used my cursed energy to propel my own attack, heading straight for her.

Our fists collided and a shockwave emanated from the point of impact, sending the surrounding snow flying upwards. The force of the impact was so great that we were both thrown backward.

I struggled to my feet, feeling every muscle ache, but I couldn't stop now. She also got up, her expression a mix of frustration and... respect?

"You've got spirit, kid," she admitted, wiping a trickle of blood from her mouth.

"I told you I wasn't going to make it easy for you," I replied, resuming my combat stance.

The figure who was with the reaper when I arrived appeared beside me, touching my shoulder, which caused my eyes to widen in surprise.

'Where did he come from? I couldn't sense him approaching.'

He began to speak; a youthful yet masculine voice came from him and soon he said, "You guys have a lot of energy to burn, huh? Must be nice having another lunatic to fight in the squad, right captain?" he said, addressing Scarlet.

She looked irritated when she looked at me and then at Sion, "Who gave you permission to intervene in the fight, Sion, you idiot?"

I started feeling a bit dizzy and soon began to stagger; I looked where the boy had touched me and was surprised to see a kind of dart. "Tranquilizer?"

My vision began to blur, but I could still see Sion's expression, which looked a mix of surprise and concern. My knees wobbled, and I did my utmost not to fall.

"You... Why did you do that?" I managed to murmur, feeling a wave of dizziness hit me.

"Relax, kid," Sion said, in a casual tone. "It was just to make you rest a bit. We didn't want Scarlet to actually kill you."

Scarlet grumbled disapprovingly. "No need to intervene. He was doing well."

Sion raised an eyebrow. "Really, captain? He broke your scythe. I wonder what you'd do in retaliation."

She crossed her arms, her eyes still focused on me. "You did well to stop the fight, but you should have consulted me first."

I tried to gather strength to stay on my feet. "What was that? What kind of crazy initiation is this?"

Sion chuckled lightly. "Sorry for the not-so-warm welcome. Here, we often test each other's limits to see how far we can go. It's our strange way of forming bonds."

Scarlet heaved an exasperated sigh. "And also to assess the abilities of each member. You did well, kid. Not everyone can break my scythe, and you will pay for the repair, just so you know."

Regaining a bit of my breath, I replied: "Well, at least now we know I can defend myself. But don't pit me against that lunatic again."

Sion laughed. "You mean the captain? Don't worry, you passed the test."

"That was a test?" I asked, still slightly dazed by the tranquilizer.

Scarlet nodded in approval. "You have potential, kid. I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do."

Suddenly, I felt a wave of exhaustion hit me. I fought against the feeling, but darkness began to close in around me.

Sion looked concerned. "I think the tranquilizer is taking effect. Well, at least the trip will be smooth."

Scarlet nodded. "Agreed. And after this, I hope he's ready for his real training."

And with that, darkness finally enveloped me, and I surrendered to it. Where the hell have I ended up with this crazy squad?