Chapter 26: Tokyo

[Third Person's Point of View]

Covering more than a thousand hectares of land, Narita International Airport served as the gateway to Japan's capital, boasting two asphalt runways, with the main one stretching an impressive 4,000 meters, sharing the record for the longest runway in Japan.

It was a city within a city, teeming with passengers from all corners of the globe and handling an immense flow of international cargo. Despite its proximity to residential areas necessitating noise-related operating restrictions, Narita stood as Japan's busiest airport for international passengers and cargo traffic, a testament to its pivotal role in global connectivity.

Amidst the crowded Arrival terminal, August's dark hair could be spotted as he made his way towards the sea of people holding signs for incoming travellers.

August Blackwood

As he walked among the signs and placards written in English, he spotted the one with his name printed on it. He made his way towards the formally dressed Japanese man standing next to it.

The man's eyes brightened with recognition as he saw August approaching and gave a courteous bow.

"Welcome to Japan, Blackwood-san"

Even though the man pronounced his name as 'burakkuuddo', it didn't bother him as he was used to it by now. He had a cover story that he was fluent in Japanese, but the truth was that his Devil abilities gave him the gift of understanding any language spoken to him and being understood in return.

August exchanged a greeting with the man, who introduced himself as Saeki Masa, the person hired by his 'father' to basically chaperone him around.

"Then I'll be in your care Saeki-san"

The man smiled professionally and relieved him of the luggage - a trolley and backpack - as they made their way to their car in the parking lot.

The city of Tokyo was painted in shades of greens and greys as the rainy season descended upon it. Despite this, the sun shone brightly, casting a golden glow over the city and illuminating the buildings and streets below. Augustus could see the bustling crowds of people, vibrant neon signs waiting to be lit, and the blurred images of vehicles and buildings as they zoomed by in their car.

After nearly an hour and a half ride through the busy streets of Tokyo, August reached the place where he would call home for the foreseeable future.

Located in the affluent Aoyama district which lies in the northwest area of Minato Ward, this neighbourhood boasts some of the most opulent apartments in all of Japan.

Their Toyota came to a halt in front of a towering condominium. The air was heavy with the odour of rain and damp pavement, mixed with the delicate aroma of newly blossoming flowers from nearby trees that filled his nose as they stepped out of the car.

The structure before them was a stunning feat of architecture; a towering 20-story complex of luxury condominiums. It stood as an iconic landmark in the Aoyama-itchome area, aptly named 'Valley Court The Tower'. Its bold design featured graceful curves and expansive glass walls, carefully planned to provide breathtaking views from every angle of the building.

Nestled in a quiet residential area surrounded by lush greenery in central Tokyo, this building had excellent accessibility with just a 3-minute walk to Aoyama-itchome Station and within walking distance to two other stations serving four train lines. There were also plenty of grocery stores and convenience stores in close vicinity, and popular commercial centres like Omotesando Hills, Akasaka Sacas, and Tokyo Midtown were easily accessible on foot.

August chose this building not only for its luxurious amenities but also for its convenient location near the prestigious University of Tokyo - just 8 kilometres away or a short 20-minute drive by car.

August and Saeki entered the building, with Saeki carrying the luggage stubbornly despite August's insistence.

As the elevator dinged to a stop on the 21st floor of the 26 floor building, the duo stepped off and made their way towards the door with '2102' written on it.

With a swift movement, the Japanese man tapped in the pin-code on the lock, pushed open the door using his free arm and stepped inside the apartment.

The first thing that greeted him as August stepped inside was a vast living space flooded with sunlight, courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a stunning panoramic display of Tokyo's cityscape.

The modern kitchen was seamlessly connected to the open-plan living space, featuring top-of-the-line appliances and chic cabinetry. The dining area beside it was perfect for intimate dinners or hosting guests against the backdrop of twinkling city lights. 

He walked around the apartment while Masa stored his luggage, exploring the two rooms just at the end of the short walkway.

The master bedroom and en-suite bathroom rivalled any 5-star hotel room with its plush carpeting and luxurious fixtures, including a deep soaking tub and glass-enclosed shower with horizon views.

The second bedroom was just as well-furnished and could serve multiple purposes, such as a guest room or a home office, providing versatility and cosiness.

He came back to the living room after a brief tour of the 2-bedroom apartment and found Masa standing beside the sofa, with his back straight.

"Blackwood-san, it's better if we leave for Todai to get your paperwork done today."

August was officially finished with the admission process, but there were still a few paperwork he needed to attend to. It was Thursday, June 2nd, and classes for the International Section weren't scheduled to begin until Monday. However, he was eager to visit the renowned university before then.

"Sure"

*

The campus was alive with voices of students from all corners of the globe as August stepped onto the grounds of the University of Tokyo, the cool air with a faint scent of rain lingering in the atmosphere greeted him with a crisp embrace. The campus was a tapestry of history and modernity, where ancient ginkgo trees lined the paths, their leaves a golden cascade that crunched softly underfoot. The iconic Akamon or the Red Gate, stood as a portal between the bustling city and the serene academic world, its vermilion pillars a testament to the legacy of the Edo-era feudal lords who once called this place home.

The Yasuda Koudo Lecture Hall came into his view as he walked passed it, towards the administrative building. The rather recently made three-storied building, boasted of red brick exterior to match the aesthetics of the surroundings.

He stepped into the building and made his way up to the second floor, where the International Students Administration office was situated. He knocked on the door with a nameplate that read 'Prof. Miyara Yoritoki'.

"Come in" a male voice responded from within the office as August turned the knob and stepped inside. A man in his forties sat at a desk, sifting through various documents. He lifted his head to acknowledge the new arrival with a quick glance.

"Good day, sir. I am August Blackwood. We discussed my admission over the phone a few days ago." Approaching the man, August greeted him with a polite little bow and introduced himself.

It has been a week since he received his acceptance letter from Todai, which included contact information for the Professor in charge of international students.

"Ah yes! Blackwood-san. Please have a seat" The man pointed at the seat in front of him with a smile.

For 20 minutes, they went through the final paperwork, making sure everything was in order. As the last signature was added to the stack of papers, Prof. Yoritoki smiled genuinely at the student sitting in front of him and said, "Congratulations, Blackwood-san. You are now an official student of Tokyo University."

"It's all thanks to your patient guidance, professor." His tone was filled with gratitude as he spoke. "I do have a small request if you don't mind?"

Miyara Yoritoki let out a hearty laugh at the student's polite request. "Of course not," he replied, "It is the teacher's responsibility to assist their students."

"Well then--"

[Light Hypnonis]

"I have a great interest in Japanese culture and am eager to learn more about it. With that in mind, I was wondering if you could possibly refer me for a position as an English teacher at a high school."

Yoritoki looked intently at the raven-haired boy for a second before he nodded approvingly.

"Very good choice Blackwood-san. I would be delighted to help you"

Light Hypnosis worked very differently from its normal counterpart; instead of completely hypnotising the target, and making them forget everything afterwards, it let the target retain control over their own consciousness, just occasionally influencing their decision to the caster's whims.

If he were to be investigated, there would be no discrepancies in the professor's recollections; only a concerned educator aiding his polite student.

"If possible, I want to teach at a specific school that's near my neighbourhood."

*

Night descended as the streets of Tokyo were illuminated by dazzling lights all around. The landscape zoomed by beneath him as August flew above the skies of the city, his destination the graveyard near the outskirts of the city.

Saeki went home after dropping him back to his apartments, not before sharing his extensive knowledge of navigating Tokyo with August through a quick memory copy & paste.

He had reached a critical point in his plan, where every step needed to be executed flawlessly in order for him to avoid drawing suspicion when he eventually made contact with the main cast.

His silhouette loomed over the abandoned graveyard, the only opening leading to a dense forest with a hill nearby and cast [Negative Sense] along with [Arcane Eyes] to appropriately get a feel of the negative energy running in the area.

Dark, cold, and murky trails appeared in his line of sight, accompanied by a sharp and chaotic energy in a dark blue hue - the cursed energy.

Only Jujutsushis possessed the ability to truly sense the essence of cursed energy, while to others it appeared as just another type of esoteric energy. However, for him, this task was effortless thanks to his innate technique.

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