[10] Okkotsu Yuta

In addition to physical training, Shin had to train his techniques every day. Over the years, he had developed a solid grasp of their normal usage, and under the guidance of Satoru Gojo, he began to gain insight into "Technique Reversal."

If "Wheel of Time: Turn" is the acceleration of an object's time, then the technique reversal, "Wheel of Time: Reverse," is naturally its opposite: time reversal.

Sorcerers extract their cursed energy from negative emotions. If we consider this cursed energy as negative energy, it can generally only be used for combat. However, if a sorcerer multiplies their cursed energy with cursed energy, like a double negative becoming a positive, they can obtain a form of positive energy.

This stable positive energy can be used to heal human bodies, but it varies from person to person and is quite rare. Currently, the strongest user of technique reversal is Miss Ieri Shoko from the Tokyo Jujutsu High.

If this "positive energy" is injected into a sorcerer's technique, it can achieve a reversal of the technique, which is what technique reversal is.

Satoru Gojo naturally knew this as well, although his reverse cursed technique could only heal himself. Shin was quite invested in this aspect because, as an experienced gamer, he understood just how important such a healing skill could be.

He successfully refined positive cursed energy, but perhaps due to inexperience, he couldn't maintain it for long. He wasn't yet capable of casually restoring severed limbs or organs.

However, it was still useful because it allowed Shin to preliminarily achieve technique reversal. Even if it could only be maintained for a short time, it was sufficient for him to inject it into his techniques.

Shin was still practicing this, and he didn't have complete control over it yet. The cursed energy consumption for his technique reversal varied from low to high depending on the usage level. At times, it consumed much more than the regular use of techniques. Currently, he managed to achieve a partial balance between the technique reversal and the standard use of techniques.

This balance allowed Shin to use techniques to accelerate himself and replicate the "Flash" effect without worrying too much about the potential impact on his body because of the "reverse" aspect.

That state was called "Timeless," meaning that when moving at extreme speeds, time becomes meaningless. Of course, this required Shin to exert himself fully to achieve.

By the way, the name was given by Satoru Gojo. Shin originally thought of a long name, but Gojo rejected it with loud exclamations.

In that state, Shin had previously tested it with Satoru Gojo's cooperation. He could unleash countless attacks, like a torrential storm, hitting the enemy simultaneously in an instant, or he could strike a decisive blow in one hit—speed beyond any reaction time!

As for why he didn't use it during a previous mission, it was simply because that cursed spirit was too weak! It couldn't even withstand his serious punches; how could it qualify for a big move?

Currently, Shin's usual attack methods still involved using the Extinction and then looking for opportunities to accelerate cursed energy arrows. Under Maki's training, he was also considering obtaining a sword-type cursed tool for close-range attacks.

He thought: If the enemy could break through his ranged attacks and get close, he could then unleash rapid slashes. Even if the enemy was strong enough, and he didn't have a sword, he could still transform and use his fists to unleash Black Flash and completely obliterate the opponent!

"What are you laughing at?"

As Shin was lost in thought, Maki approached and knocked him off balance. Panda leaned over and mysteriously said, "I heard a new first-year student is enrolling!"

Shin's eyes lit up at Panda's words. With the principal, Yaga, being a mentor, this news seemed quite credible. This meant they would soon have a new classmate, bringing the total number of first-year students to five. This news was further confirmed after Satoru Gojo showed up.

"The time is the day after tomorrow. Everyone, get ready to welcome the new classmate!"

Maki pointed at Satoru Gojo, who was expressionless. "Why is he more excited than we are?"

Shin leaned back in his chair, gently swaying to maintain balance, his slightly curled hair bouncing. A few days ago, he had changed his hairstyle and dyed it a shade of gray. When he returned, Maki had mocked him about his "ridiculous hairstyle," leading to a back-and-forth where Shin ended up running away from a furious Maki.

Hearing Maki's words, Shin waved his hand dismissively. "Huh? You're still not used to it? Satoru-sensei has always been like this~"

A day later, the four of them walked to the classroom, preparing to meet the new classmate. Along the way, Panda shared what he had heard. "I heard that the new student transferred after stuffing four classmates into a storage locker."

Maki asked curiously, "Did he kill them?" Inumaki Toge chimed in, "Tuna mayonnaise?"

Panda shook his head. "No, apparently they were seriously injured."

"Well, whatever. If he's too arrogant, we can just teach him a lesson," Maki replied without looking back.

"Maki is so scary," Panda said, mimicking a high-pitched voice. Shin echoed, "Yeah, yeah, so scary~"

Maki's face turned beet red, and she angrily marched into the classroom. Not long after, Satoru Gojo arrived, spinning dramatically into the room with exaggerated movements and expressions. "Now, let's introduce the transfer student. Everyone, get hyped!"

What followed was a silence so thick that it felt suffocating. Satoru Gojo froze for a moment before weakly saying, "Come on, let's get the mood up!"

Maki leaned against her desk, casually resting her legs. "I heard he's someone difficult to get along with. Who's going to create a lively atmosphere for such a guy?"

"Salmon."

Inumaki and Panda nodded in agreement with Maki's words. As for Shin, he was feeling a bit drowsy, having stayed up late watching anime and gaming the night before.

He was also thinking: Were there any other students in this class? Didn't he remember there were only Maki and the other two? No, it seemed like someone's name had been mentioned before—could it be this transfer student?

"Whatever."

Seeing that the mood had not improved, Satoru Gojo didn't feel discouraged. He called out loudly to the door, "Come in!"

Meanwhile, outside the classroom.

A black-haired, white-clothed boy stood anxiously at the entrance. The silence inside felt unnervingly still...

Hearing Satoru Gojo's shout, he hesitated for a moment, gripping the doorknob, took a deep breath, then pushed the door open and walked in, slightly bowing his head.

At the moment the new classmate appeared, Shin, who had been somewhat drowsy, instantly became alert. 'What a strong cursed aura!'

Maki's initially indifferent expression changed, and both Panda and Inumaki were equally startled. Each step the boy in white took felt like it was stepping on their hearts.

The thick cursed energy almost felt tangible, with a terrifying presence lurking behind the deep darkness, the oppressive aura making it hard to breathe.

Maki reached for her naginata, Panda put on his gloves, and Inumaki lowered his collar, ready to unleash his cursed words.

The poor boy in white had just lifted his head at the teacher's desk when a sharp blade grazed past his face and sank deeply into the blackboard behind him.

"My name is Okkotsu..."

The frightened boy looked at the four before him, stuttering and unable to say anything further. Maki gripped the hilt of her weapon, her gaze scrutinizing him. "You... you're cursed! How can someone like you be a student here? What's going on...?"

Panda pretended to be fierce, but Shin, standing slightly behind, felt something was off. The curse within this boy was too overwhelming, and his heightened senses made him acutely aware of the lethal threat.

"Something's wrong..."

Shin quietly stepped back a few paces. Satoru Gojo, leaning against the door, casually remarked, "Every year, over ten thousand mysterious deaths or disappearances occur in this country, many of which are caused by curses born from human negative emotions."

"Some of these are due to sorcerers, and the only way to deal with curses is with curses. This is the Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical School, where we study curses to exorcise them."

The boy in white wore a troubled expression. "Why didn't anyone tell me this beforehand...?"

Everyone turned to look at Satoru Gojo, their disbelief at his unreliability renewed.

Satoru Gojo offered a half-hearted apology, then suddenly remembered something. "You guys should stay away from him..."

At that moment, it felt as though a beast was breathing behind them, making their hairs stand on end as a thin layer of cold sweat trickled down their backs.

The four of them turned to see the blackboard behind the new student stained with a dark ink-like color, which began to ripple like water.

Two pale, grotesque arms, clearly not human, emerged one after another. One hand easily grasped Maki's naginata, prompting her to abandon her weapon and retreat a few steps along with the other three.

Then a somewhat strange voice, sounding like a little girl, echoed, "No..."

The new student showed a look of panic, but it wasn't fear of this presence; rather, he was worried it might hurt someone else.

He raised his hand, trying to stop the owner of those arms: "Rika... don't!"

Before he finished speaking, the little girl-like voice suddenly erupted with the continuation of her previous words: "… hurt Yuta."

The other empty hand immediately reached towards the group, and Maki felt an overwhelming sense of pressure that almost paralyzed her.

Grinding her teeth, Maki said to Shin, "Shin, you go first..." However, her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of Shin, who had been standing next to her, had vanished, leaving her words unspoken.

When she looked up again, Shin was already standing at the door, looking back at her with an expression that seemed to revel in misfortune.

Shin had tensed up the moment those arms appeared, and he decisively chose to "get out of the way." What a joke! The feeling he got from this presence made the last cursed spirit in the hospital seem like a baby.

So, Shin made the quick decision to escape. Although Satoru often acted unreliable, he probably wouldn't let things go this far. Even if the cursed spirit launched a fatal attack, Satoru would likely intervene, right? Besides, the way it just grabbed didn't seem that forceful; was it because that person was restraining it?

And indeed, things played out that way. Maki, Panda, and Toge were only beaten up a bit, and the terrifying entity, whose full appearance remained unseen, vanished behind that person again.

Only then did Satoru jump out to give everyone a detailed introduction to the new student. In short, she was Yuta's childhood friend, Rika, whom he had promised to marry when they grew up. She had died in an accident right in front of him and turned into a curse that haunted him.

"That's right! This is Yuta Okkotsu, cursed by the one he loved most, Rika!"

After Satoru's extravagant introduction of the new student, he added, "If you attack Yuta, Rika's curse might activate or might not. Either way, everyone needs to be extra careful~"

The three who had already been beaten couldn't help but complain, "Couldn't you have said that earlier?"

Yuta was witnessing Satoru's style for the first time when Satoru began introducing the others: "This is Maki Zenin, a cursed tool user skilled in using special weapons to exorcise curses."

"This is Toge Inumaki who usually only speaks in ingredient names. You should communicate with him properly." Toge, sporting a bandage on his head, greeted with a single word: "Kombu."

He seemed like a strange person. Yuta saw Satoru point to the gray-haired boy who had run away earlier and hadn't been touched by Rika, and with a warm smile, Satoru introduced, "This is Shin Shuichi."

Satoru paused for a moment as if unsure of what to say next before turning to the next person.

"Hey, Satoru-sensei, why did you skip over me? Say a few more words!" Shin's smile faded; the charming introduction he wanted was gone.

Satoru ignored him and pointed to the most prominent figure, Panda, saying, "This is Panda." Panda added, "I'm Panda; please take care of me."

Then Satoru stroked his chin, "That should be about it."

Poor Yuta could only silently criticize in his heart: 'That's a Panda, right? A talking panda that walks upright! Why didn't he mention the most interesting thing?'

Satoru clapped his hands, "Great! Now we have five first-years; it's really lively. I'll assign groups for this afternoon's jujutsu practice."

"Toge and Panda will be in one group, while Maki and Yuta will be in another."

Shin raised his hand, "Satoru-sensei, what about me?"

Satoru smiled brightly, "You have a solo mission~"

°°°

A/N: 2.1k words

If you want to read ahead and access 20 advanced chapters, check the patreon

Link: Patreon/Moziel