Revenge and Red

Hiro's eyes fluttered open, the warm summer light filtering through his window and gently rousing him from his slumber. He turned his head, a soft smile playing on his lips as he saw Maki sleeping peacefully beside him, her face relaxed and serene. Their clothes lay scattered across the floor, a testament to the passion they had shared the night before. Hiro felt a surge of pride as he glanced at the new, larger bed he had purchased, remembering the hassle of smuggling it into his room without Principal Yaga noticing.

As he lay there, his mind began to wander, his thoughts turning to his training and abilities. "I need another technique," he mused silently. "Blue Lightning and Divine Speed are all I have right now. I need something that can form more quickly and provide defense at the same time."

His musings were interrupted by the sensation of Maki's hand sliding beneath the sheets, her fingers wrapping around his member and stroking it with tantalizing slowness. Hiro let out a soft gasp, his body responding instantly to her touch.

"Good morning," Maki purred, her voice husky with desire.

"Good morning, Maki," Hiro replied, his breath catching in his throat as her hand continued its sensual exploration.

Maki smiled, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You don't mind, do you? I had a dream that left me wanting more."

Hiro grinned, his body already thrumming with anticipation. "Not at all."

Maki leaned in, capturing Hiro's lips in a searing kiss, her tongue delving into his mouth with a hunger that took his breath away. She pulled back, her eyes dark with lust. "Let's skip the first class," she suggested, her voice a seductive whisper.

Hiro hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. "Won't it be too obvious?"

Maki shook her head, her desire overriding any concerns. "I don't care. I want you so badly right now."

With that, she straddled Hiro's hips, taking his hard length in her hand and guiding it to her slick entrance. She sank down onto him, a low moan escaping her lips as he filled her completely. The bed creaked beneath them as Maki began to move, her hips rocking back and forth in a steady rhythm that sent waves of pleasure coursing through their bodies.

As they moved together, Hiro's mind continued to race, even as he lost himself in the sensations of their lovemaking. "Isn't it strange," he mused aloud, his voice strained with the effort of holding back his own release, "that you and I ended up together?"

Maki, her breath coming in short gasps, nodded. "It really is," she agreed, her words punctuated by soft moans of pleasure. "Opposites attract, I guess."

Hiro's thoughts drifted back to his Blue Lightning technique, the way it generated a magnetic field by combining positive and negative energy. It was similar, he realized, to Gojo's blue technique. And if Gojo's red technique was the opposite...

"What if I used negative energy with negative energy?" he wondered, his mind racing with the possibilities.

Maki, lost in the throes of her impending orgasm, barely registered Hiro's words. She increased her pace, her body tensing as she neared the edge of her release. "Shut up for a second," she gasped, her eyes squeezing shut. "I'm so close..."

Hiro, his eyes widening with sudden inspiration, exclaimed, "I've got it!" Without warning, he grasped Maki's hips, lifting her off of him and breaking their intimate connection.

Maki's eyes flew open, a mixture of shock and frustration on her face. "What? Why now? What the hell, Hiro?"

But Hiro was already scrambling out of bed, reaching for his clothes and dressing with frantic haste. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "I just thought of a technique that I need to try out."

Maki, her body still thrumming with unfulfilled desire, stared at him in disbelief. "Can't it wait five minutes?"

Hiro shook his head, his mind already far away. "I'm sorry, I want to practice it right away."

With a growl of frustration, Maki reached for the lamp on the bedside table, hurling it at Hiro's head. He yelped in pain as it connected, his hand flying to the spot where it had struck him. "Why did you do that?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion.

Maki, her eyes blazing with anger, shouted, "WHY THE HELL DID YOU INTERRUPT THE MOMENT?"

Hiro, realizing his mistake, offered a sheepish grin. "Um... I'm sorry?"

Maki, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone, said, "Just get out of my sight."

Hiro, his excitement momentarily dampened by the realization of his blunder, nodded. "I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you later, I promise."

With that, he hurried out of the room, his mind already racing with ideas for his new technique. As he made his way down the hallway, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for leaving Maki in such a state. But the allure of a new ability, of becoming even stronger, was too great to resist.

He would make it up to her, he vowed silently. But for now, he had work to do. The exchange event was fast approaching, and he needed to be at the top of his game. With a determined grin, he quickened his pace, his footsteps echoing through the empty corridors as he made his way to the training grounds.

Behind him, Maki lay in bed, her frustration slowly ebbing away as she stared at the ceiling. She knew Hiro, knew his drive and his passion for becoming stronger. It was one of the things she loved about him, even if it drove her crazy sometimes.

With a sigh, she rolled over, burying her face in his pillow and breathing in his scent. She would forgive him, she knew. But not before making him work for it. A small smile played on her lips as she closed her eyes, already planning her revenge.

Maki strode into the training area, her footsteps heavy with frustration and annoyance. The morning's interruption had left her in a foul mood, and the sight of Kugisaki and Fushiguro sitting on the grass, their faces etched with sorrow, only served to deepen her irritation.

Panda and Inumaki stood before the younger students, their expressions somber and serious. Maki, her voice dripping with sarcasm, called out, "Hey, why the long faces? Did someone die?"

Panda, his voice gentle but firm, replied, "Maki, didn't Hiro tell you? Itadori passed away recently."

Maki froze, her eyes widening in shock and disbelief. She whirled around, her fists clenched at her sides. "That idiot didn't tell me anything! Now I look like a heartless demon."

Panda, his expression unchanging, said, "Well, that's how you come across."

Inumaki, his voice soft and mournful, added, "Salmon."

Maki sighed, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her own insensitivity. "I don't have the energy for this," she muttered, turning back to face Kugisaki and Fushiguro.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. "Alright, as you know, the exchange event is coming up, and it'll be the first time we'll need the help of the first-years to complete the team."

Panda, his voice filled with a hint of doubt, said, "Although Hiro could probably take on all of Kyoto by himself, but who knows?"

Maki shot him a glare, her eyes narrowing in annoyance. She turned back to Fushiguro, her voice stern and commanding. "We'll be preparing you for the event, so get ready."

Kugisaki, her voice hesitant and unsure, asked, "Hiro-senpai isn't here?"

Maki, her jaw clenching with barely contained anger, replied, "No."

Fushiguro, his eyes downcast, said softly, "Do you know where he is? I was hoping he could train me."

Maki, her patience wearing thin, snapped, "Hiro this, Hiro that. NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT HIRO MILLER!"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, before asking, "Why do you want to train with him?"

Fushiguro, his voice filled with determination, replied, "I just want to become stronger."

Maki, her expression softening slightly, said, "Tough luck. Right now, Hiro is training a new technique, and when he's focused on that, he doesn't have time for anyone, not even his girlfriend. He's inconsiderate like that."

Panda, his voice filled with concern, interjected, "Maki, don't take out your frustrations on them."

Maki, her anger flaring once more, snapped, "Shut up, you furry idiot!"

She turned back to Kugisaki and Fushiguro, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "Listen up, you two. I'll be training you for the exchange event, and I won't go easy on you. You're going to work harder than you ever have before, and you're going to become stronger than you ever thought possible."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the two younger students, taking in their determined expressions and the fire in their eyes. "I know you've been through a lot, losing Itadori. But we can't let that hold us back. We have to keep moving forward, keep pushing ourselves to be better."

Kugisaki and Fushiguro nodded, their faces set with grim resolve. Maki, her voice softening slightly, continued, "I know it's hard, but we have to be strong. For Itadori, and for ourselves."

She turned to Panda and Inumaki, her expression one of fierce determination. "Let's get started. We have a lot of work to do."

The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the training grounds as the afternoon wore on. Kugisaki and Maki sat side by side, taking a well-deserved break and sipping from their water bottles. The cool liquid soothed their parched throats, washing away the dust and sweat of their intense training session.

Kugisaki, her eyes shining with curiosity, turned to her senpai. "Hey, Maki-senpai," she said, her voice hesitant but eager.

Maki, her lips curving into a small smile, replied, "You can just call me Maki."

Kugisaki's face lit up, a sparkle appearing in her eyes. "Okay, Maki," she said, her voice filled with a newfound sense of closeness. "Can I ask you something?"

Maki, her eyebrow arching in interest, nodded. "What's on your mind?"

Kugisaki took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Well, I see you as this strong, determined, and focused person. Why are you with someone like Hiro-senpai? He's inconsiderate, arrogant, rude, and kind of lazy."

Maki laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Is that how you see him?" she asked, her voice filled with amusement.

She removed her glasses, holding them up to the light and examining them thoughtfully. "I guess everyone has their own way of looking at him," she mused, her gaze distant and introspective.

Maki turned back to Kugisaki, her expression softening. "At first, he tried to court me. He's handsome, and that caught my attention, but it wasn't enough. Then, the guy, wanting to impress me, went and punched the leader of my clan."

She laughed again, the sound bright and carefree. "But what I liked most about him was how persistent he can be. Maybe to you, he seems lazy, but the guy trains more than any of us. It's his main goal, to become the strongest, just like I have mine, and he supports me. He has his, and I support him."

Maki's eyes took on a faraway look, a small smile playing on her lips. "Besides, he's quite adorable when you get to know him well. Thoughtful, affectionate, and always making you laugh."

Kugisaki, her expression skeptical, said, "Hmm, well, I thought it would be something more impressive, like him saving your life."

Maki chuckled, shaking her head. "He did save my life, but by then, we were already a couple."

Kugisaki, her nose wrinkling in distaste, muttered, "Well, I still think he's an idiot."

Maki, her laughter ringing out across the training grounds, agreed, "He is."

On the other side of the school, Hiro stood panting, his hands crackling with red sparks. Before him, a gaping hole marred the wall, a testament to the power of his new technique. Hiro, his eyes wide with excitement, stared at his hands in awe.

"I did it!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with triumph. "I did it!"

He took off running, his feet pounding against the ground as he raced through the school, his heart pounding with the thrill of his achievement. He burst into the training grounds, his eyes scanning the area until they landed on Maki.

"Maki!" he called out, his voice breathless with excitement. "I did it! I created my own version of the Red! I'm using negative energy with negative energy to repel, the opposite of my Blue Lightning!"

Maki, her expression turning stern, held up a hand to stop him. "I'm still angry about this morning," she said, her voice filled with a hint of warning. "I'll give you five seconds to get out of my sight. I don't want to see you until later when you finish your work."

Hiro, his smile faltering slightly, pleaded, "Maki, I need to test them. Could you...?"

Maki, her eyes narrowing, began to count. "One..."

Hiro, his voice taking on a wheedling tone, said, "Come on, babe. I promise I'll make it up to you later."

Maki, her voice growing louder, continued, "Two..."

Hiro, his shoulders slumping in defeat, sighed and turned to leave. Kugisaki, watching the exchange with wide eyes, turned to Maki.

"You've got him well-trained," she said, her voice filled with a mix of awe and amusement.

Maki, her lips twisting into a wry smile, replied, "I'd like to believe that, but the guy really does whatever he wants. He always gets his way."

Kugisaki, her brow furrowing in confusion, asked, "What do you mean?"

Maki, her expression turning thoughtful, explained, "For example, one time, he accidentally destroyed Yaga's office while practicing his domain expansion. Hiro went to Shoko, and Shoko ended up scolding Yaga for not giving Hiro more space."

Kugisaki, her eyes widening in surprise, said, "Shoko?"

Maki nodded, her voice taking on a fond tone. "She's like a mother to him."

As the two girls sat there, the sun sinking lower in the sky and the shadows lengthening around them, Maki couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and affection spreading through her chest. Despite Hiro's flaws, despite his arrogance and his occasional insensitivity, she knew that he had a good heart.

Hiro descended the stairs leading to the basement where Itadori was hiding. As he reached the bottom, he found Itadori sitting on the couch, watching a movie. Next to him was a strange-looking teddy bear wearing boxing gloves. Hiro's sudden appearance startled Itadori, causing the bear to swing its gloved paw and strike Itadori in the face.

Hiro, his eyes wide with confusion, asked, "What are you doing?"

Itadori, rubbing his sore cheek, replied, "Training... or something like that. Gojo-sensei told me I need to control my emotions to improve my cursed energy. So, he's making me watch movies all day, and if I let my emotions get the best of me, this teddy bear punches me."

Hiro, his expression clearing with understanding, said, "I see. It's one of Yaga's cursed corpses." He glanced around the room, his brow furrowing. "By the way, where's Gojo-sensei? I want to show him something."

Itadori, his eyes still fixed on the screen, replied, "I think he said he was going to a meeting."

Hiro, his shoulders slumping in disappointment, sighed. "That's a shame. I really wanted to show him something." He plopped down on the couch next to Itadori, his gaze drifting to the TV. "Oh, this movie is good," he said, settling in to watch.

Meanwhile, Gojo sat in the back seat of a car, Ijichi at the wheel. Gojo had never enjoyed meeting with the higher-ups, but it was part of his job. The night was calm and dark, the car winding its way along the mountain road. In the distance, a beautiful lake could be seen, its surface shimmering in the moonlight.

Suddenly, Gojo sensed a presence. "Hey, stop the car," he said, his voice cutting through the stillness.

Ijichi slammed on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt. Gojo opened the door and stepped out, his expression serious. "Go on ahead," he said, his eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the road. "I have something to take care of."

Ijichi, his voice filled with concern, asked, "Are you sure?"

Gojo nodded, and Ijichi drove off, leaving him alone on the deserted road. Gojo, his voice calm and steady, called out, "Alright, are you going to come out now?"

As if in response to his challenge, a curse with a volcanic head appeared, its form materializing out of the shadows. Jogo, his voice dripping with malice, said, "You must be the famous Gojo Satoru. I'm sorry, but I've come to eliminate you."

Gojo studied the curse, his mind racing. A talking curse was unusual, and the volcanic head... he remembered Hiro mentioning a curse that had given him trouble. Gojo smiled, his expression one of anticipation. "I hope you're somewhat entertaining," he said, his tone light and carefree.

Jogo lunged at him, his movements a blur of speed and power. But Gojo dodged his attacks with ease, his body moving with a fluid grace that belied his incredible strength. As he evaded Jogo's blows, Gojo thought to himself, "He's fast. No wonder Hiro had trouble with him."

Suddenly, Gojo stopped, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I have an idea," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "Wait here."

And with that, he vanished, leaving Jogo standing alone on the road, his expression one of confusion and rage. But before the curse could even begin to process what had happened, Gojo reappeared, carrying Hiro and Itadori under each arm.

"I'm back!" Gojo announced, his voice filled with cheerful enthusiasm. "And I brought a friend."

Jogo's eyes widened in shock as he recognized Hiro. "Hiro Miller," he growled, his voice filled with hatred and anticipation.

Hiro, his expression one of surprise and excitement, said, "You again?"

Gojo, his smile widening, explained, "This guy is too weak for me, so I thought Hiro might want a rematch. And Yuji, learn something from this fight."

Hiro, a grin spreading across his face, cracked his knuckles. "I was just wanting to try out a new technique," he said, his voice filled with anticipation.

Jogo, his rage boiling over at Gojo's dismissal of his strength, snarled at Hiro, "This time, I won't play around with you. I'll kill you quickly, and then Gojo Satoru is next."

Hiro, his eyes narrowing, shifted into a fighting stance. "Bring it on, volcano head," he taunted, his voice filled with confidence and bravado.

Jogo lunged forward, his fist poised to deliver a devastating blow. But Hiro, his reflexes lightning-fast, sidestepped the attack and grabbed Jogo's arm, using the curse's own momentum to hurl him off the road and into the forest below. Jogo went flying, his body crashing through the trees and slamming into the ground with a sickening crunch.

Hiro, still standing on the road, placed his hands on the ground, his fingers digging into the hard-packed earth. Electricity surged from his palms, flowing through the soil and rock, seeking out Jogo's prone form. The curse let out a scream of agony as the lightning found its mark, his body convulsing with the force of the attack.

Hiro leaped down from the road, his body a blur of motion as he closed the distance between himself and Jogo. With a roar of effort, he delivered a crushing blow to the curse's midsection, driving the air from Jogo's lungs and sending him staggering backwards.

Jogo, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief, thought to himself, "This brat... he's gotten stronger!"

Jogo lashed out with a kick, but Hiro was ready for him. He ducked low, grabbing Jogo's leg and sending another surge of electricity coursing through the curse's body. Jogo, his teeth clenched in pain, couldn't help but marvel at Hiro's increased speed and agility.

Desperate to gain the upper hand, Jogo retreated, his hands coming together as he prepared to unleash his domain expansion. But Hiro was too fast, his hands shooting out to grab Jogo's arms, his grip like iron.

"Too bad," Hiro said, his voice filled with a mocking pity. "But no."

He drove his knee into Jogo's face, the curse's head snapping back with the force of the blow. Hiro, his grin widening, taunted, "Come on, hit me with some of that fire of yours."

Jogo, his anger and frustration mounting, leaped back, his hands coming together once more. A massive fireball began to form between his palms, the heat of it scorching the air and turning the surrounding trees to ash.

Hiro, his eyes sparkling with excitement, called out to Gojo. "Sensei, watch this!"

He pointed his finger at Jogo, his hand mimicking the shape of a gun. "Rotational ritual," he declared, his voice ringing out through the forest. "Red Lightning!"

A crackling sphere of red electricity began to form at the tip of Hiro's finger, the energy pulsing and surging with a life of its own. Jogo, his eyes widening in fear and desperation, hurled his fireball at Hiro with all his might.

But Hiro simply grinned, his red lightning shooting forth to meet Jogo's attack head-on. The two forces collided, the red energy repelling the flames and pushing them back towards their creator. Jogo let out a scream of agony as his own fire engulfed him, the red lightning surging through his body and sending him flying backwards, his form crashing through the trees and disappearing from sight.

Hiro, his laughter ringing out through the forest, exclaimed, "This is amazing! It can repel any kind of energy!"

Jogo, his body broken and battered, struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and awe. "If this is the power of that brat," he thought to himself, "I don't even want to imagine what Gojo Satoru is capable of."

With a roar of rage and desperation, Jogo lunged at Hiro once more, his claws extended, his eyes blazing with hatred. Hiro, his movements a blur of speed and grace, dodged the attack with ease, his fist slamming into Jogo's jaw with a sickening crunch.

Jogo, his vision swimming with pain, managed to land a glancing blow on Hiro's chest. But the young sorcerer simply grinned, his voice filled with a mocking pity. "Didn't even hurt," he said, his tone one of utter disdain.

Jogo, his teeth clenched in rage, could only watch as Hiro's fist began to glow with the crackling blue energy of his Blue Lightning. With a roar of effort, Hiro drove his fist into Jogo's chest, the force of the blow tearing the curse's arm from its socket and sending him flying backwards once more.

Jogo slammed into a tree, his body crumpling to the ground like a broken doll. Hiro, his eyes narrowing in concentration, hurled another blast of Red Lightning at the fallen curse, the energy tearing through Jogo's body like a hot knife through butter.

When the smoke cleared, all that remained of Jogo was his head, the curse's eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Hiro, a wicked grin spreading across his face, sauntered over to the severed head and began to juggle it like a soccer ball, his laughter ringing out through the forest.

Gojo, his expression one of pride and amusement, clapped his hands in approval. "Well done, Hiro," he said, his voice filled with warmth and affection. "I see you've created your own version of the Red technique."

Hiro, his chest puffing out with pride, replied, "It was easy. I already had the foundations of the Blue technique. I can repel attacks, and if it connects directly, well... implosion."

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "The opposite of the Blue technique, which crushes with its energy."

Gojo turned to Itadori, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "I hope you learned something from this, Yuji."

Itadori, his eyes wide with awe and admiration, could only nod, his voice failing him in the face of such incredible power and skill.

Hiro, his attention turning back to Jogo's severed head, asked, "What should we do with him?"

Jogo, his voice filled with impotent rage and humiliation, snarled, "Damn you, brat. Don't you dare mock me!"

But before Hiro could respond, the forest around them began to shift and change, the trees and undergrowth replaced by a field of gently swaying flowers. Suddenly, thick, twisting vines shot out from the ground, wrapping themselves around Hiro and Itadori and lifting them into the air.

Gojo, his reflexes lightning-fast, leaped forward and grabbed Itadori, pulling him to safety just as a cluster of wickedly sharp thorns erupted from the ground beneath them. Hiro, his body entangled in the vines, could only watch in horror as another curse emerged from the shadows, its form twisted and grotesque.

The curse, its movements swift and precise, snatched up Jogo's severed head and vanished into the undergrowth, leaving Hiro and the others standing in the middle of the strange, alien landscape.

Hiro's breath came in ragged bursts as he stared at the spot where the mysterious curse had vanished. His fists were clenched, and his face twisted with frustration and anger.

"HEY! That's not fair!" Hiro shouted into the empty darkness, his voice echoing through the trees. His frustration seemed to vibrate in the air.

From the shadows, Gojo stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, it looks like you won your rematch," he said, his tone light and teasing.

Hiro's eyes darted to Gojo, anger and confusion mingling in his gaze. "It doesn't feel like a victory," he muttered, shaking his head. The adrenaline was still coursing through his veins, but it was tainted with a deep sense of unease.

Itadori, standing nearby, tried to offer some encouragement. "But, senpai, you totally obliterated that insanely powerful curse! That was amazing!"

Hiro sighed, the sound heavy and filled with a mix of arrogance and resignation. "Yeah, but it wasn't about just winning," he said, his voice softer now. "I just wanted to give it a beating."

Gojo chuckled, stepping closer and placing a hand on Hiro's shoulder. "Sometimes, a good fight is all you need to feel better. But you still won. That's something."

Hiro looked up at Gojo, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "I guess... but it still doesn't feel right. It just disappeared. It's not over."

Gojo's smile widened, and he nodded. "Well, how about we celebrate your victory with some food? I'm starving."

Itadori's eyes lit up. "Really, Gojo-sensei? Where to?"

Gojo laughed. "There's a great ramen place not too far from here. My treat."

Hiro couldn't help but smile a little. "Ramen sounds good."

As they turned to leave the forest, the tension slowly ebbed away, replaced by the comfort of camaraderie and the promise of a warm meal. The night was far from over, and the road ahead was long, but for now, they had survived. And sometimes, that was victory enough.