Being different

POV Kamo

My head… oh shit it hurts.

What happened to me? I remember fighting.. what was his name? Ryoko Jikan?

Yes, thats it. I was trying to go easy on him, seeing his lacking level of skill. Not enough to let him win, but enough so he wouldn't want revenge.

Making enemies with a cursed energy monster was not good for the Kamo clan. And with his unknown cursed technique, I could potentially make an enemy with a future Special Grade.

But I did not expect for him to manage to knock me down. And why did he choose the more risky option of knocking me out in a few hits instead of the assured option of a continuous barrage? Does he know about the Kamo clan's cursed technique?

My head started to pound faster because of all my thoughts.

Just calm down, it doesn't matter does it? You don't have a vain sense of pride that would make you attempt the same fight over and over again do you?

It's not like your classmates care, assuredly they would be on your side. My side? Why are there sides to the fight now.

I just want to rest.

———

POV Ryoko

Beating a Jujutsu sorcerer was easier than I expected. After everyone from class had turned away from me, I also spat on Kamo's prone form.

Serves him right for beating me in a fight. I probably broke whatever vain pride he possessed.

——

Kamo had been taken to the infirmary, where the blond haired boy, Arata Nitta, had used his cursed technique to stop Kamo's wounds from getting worse.

After the class confirmed that Kamo wouldn't have any lasting damage, we went on like I assumed to be the usual.

Utahime seperated the third and second years from us, sending them away to their respective classrooms. While me and Nitta were left with her. Leaving me confused on why they were there to begin with. Perhaps because a new student had arrived.

"Jikan, since you didn't join the school on time, you are quite behind in the curriculum. Luckily, you have the perfect cursed technique to mitigate this. Nitta will be given free time for the next week, while I tutor you at an increased pace."

Utahime looked stern, more so than any other time I had seen her. Even when she was planning on getting me beat up.

Nitta suddenly spoke, "Sensei Utahime, what is Jikan's cursed technique?"

Utahime shot a quick glance at him, "That.. is quite confidential. He could be targeted by all sorts of curse users if its information was to leak."

Nitta, although confused, nodded. He wouldn't want to indirectly harm a classmate if he were to accidentally slip up.

Utahime looked back to me, "For the next 'three hours' I shall personally tutor you on all there is to know on cursed spirits, jujutsu sorcerers, and curse users along with the applications of cursed energy."

Utahime spoke in a fluid manner, as if she had spoken it a hundred times over. Shooing Nitta away, it was just us two in the first year classroom.

Walking over to her desk, Utahime pulled out a sheet of paper. Seemingly having the basics of what she was going to teach me on it.

"First things first, you do know what a cursed spirit is, correct?"

"Kinda. Aren't they just evil things that get born and want to kill humans?"

"Well, in layman terms that is what they are. But more specifically, they are beings born from the negative emotions of, excluding jujutsu sorcerers, all humans."

Storing this information inside my brain, I continued to listen intently. She explained about how exactly the negative emotions left the body of non-sorcerers, and how long it usually took for the negative emotions to condense. Taking 20 minutes.

In the next 20 minutes she explained why negative emotions didn't leave jujutsu sorcerers and a small bit of theory on why cursed spirits were born.

In the next 30 minutes, she explained the basic political world of jujutsu society and how I really should not beat up Kamo again.

And taking up by far the longest portion of the class was basic battle theory. In fact it took up the remainder of the class.

It went along the lines of how to keep your head cool, and how to make your opponent lose their cool. And it also covered the basics of how to predict your opponent's moves, and how to cover what you yourself were going to do.

With the three hours up, it seemed like I would have to come back another few days to barely learn anything.

Not.

My maximum tank allowed me to rewind exactly three hours. And I had used up 1 minute three hours ago, but it had recovered since then.

Huh, it was odd how Utahime chose the exact amount I could rewind? My mind flashed back to the mysterious person in the alleyway.

I really wished I could rewind to back then and figure it out. Actually, I could do that. But was it worth all the effort? Maybe some other time.

Alright then. Enough pondering here. I could do that later, or earlier? Fucking with spacetime really messes up phrases that refer to time.

"Hey, Utahime."

"Yes?" She mock glanced at me, as if she forgot about the three hour time limit. She continued to glance at me questioningly.

Oh, had she actually forgotten?

"Three hour time limit."

"Oh. I forgot." She said sheepishly while scratching the back of her head.

Was she… having fun? Although I hadn't mentioned it previously, around 30~ some minutes were spent making jokes. Instead of actually teaching and learning.

And I would be erasing all of that, all of those memories merely because I wanted to learn faster. Although I would remain and remember, Utahime would not.

A weight descended upon my shoulders. Was it worth it? To carry these memories on my back. Was learning more theoretical knowledge worth friendship?

My thousand yard stare made Utahime slightly panic, thinking she had been left with an empty shell Jikan. While I went on forever unknowingly leaving realities without me.

Shit.

I just found the philosophical repercussions of my cursed technique, didn't I?

What truly happened after I 'reemerged'? Was the reality I left behind destroyed? Or was my existence erased and transmitted to another reality.

Perhaps it was the most stomachable option, that I truly rewound time on a universal scale. Or maybe it was none of the options listed. And I was just a fool trying to comprehend something grander than myself.

"Jikan?"

How many lives had I ended? How many realities had been destroyed merely because I wanted to win a fight against Kamo. Merely because I didn't want to sacrifice myself and become a human sex slave.

"Jikan."

Was… Was I truly the monster they said I was? Was I destined to kill billions merely because I was selfish? Selfish because I wanted to win a fight. Selfish because I-

"Jikan!"

Because I… because I merely wanted to lice freely. Free from the restrictions that had been placed upon me by others. Restrictions that had been placed upon me by myself.

Two hands placed themselves on my shoulders, shaking me rapidly. Looking up at my 'shoulder hand placer', I found Utahime looking at me worriedly.

Upon seeing me look up at her, her face softened. "Jikan, whats wrong?"

I could tell her. I could speak freely. But, that wouldn't convey nearly enough for anyone to understand how I'm feeling. Understand the core of my being.

So, I simply cried. Cried into the embrace of the first person who might possibly understand me. The pain, the pain of being…

Different.

There was no words for a long period of time, as Utahime simply let me cry. No words of soothing were needed. Actually, no words at all were needed.

The only thing that was needed was understanding. Understanding that came from shared memories and experiences. Once again leading me down the rabbit hole of is it ethical to use my powers?

Eventually after crying for what seemed like an eternity, yet somehow still felt too short, I could finally speak.

"Hey, Utahime."

Although I couldn't see Utahime's expression, I could see and hear the worry on her face. "What is it, Jikan?"

For the first time in a while, about 16 years while, I smiled. "Let's continue this, alright? No using of my spacetime bending powers."