Ch 53 Realization

As morning arrived, Ichiro found himself lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, seemingly bored out of his mind. The silence of the room was broken only by the occasional chirping of birds outside his window.

"Ughhhh, there's nothing better to do," he groaned, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet room. "Gojo Sensei went out with Yuta and Maki."

With a sigh, Ichiro rose from his laying position into a sitting one, his bed creaking softly beneath him. His hair was tousled, and his eyes had a sleepy glaze, reflecting his disinterest in the day's prospects.

"It must be that school incident in the movie," he mused aloud, rubbing the back of his neck. "Where Maki and Yuta go to a school and Maki got injured."

Ichiro's gaze shifted towards the door, his expression blank and unfocused. The room was bathed in soft morning light, casting shadows that danced gently across the walls. Suddenly, breaking his reverie, Ichiro felt two presences approaching from the hallway. The familiar energy signatures were unmistakable, and he immediately surmised who they belonged to.

After a few seconds, a knock suddenly rang out, echoing through the quiet room. A voice followed almost immediately.

"Hey Ichiro, are you free?" called Panda from the other side of the door.

Ichiro straightened up, recognizing the voice instantly. He responded, "Yeah, I'm free. Why?"

Panda's voice was cheerful and slightly teasing. "Well, we're free as well and we got nothing better to do here, come on let's spar."

The suggestion instantly ignited a spark of excitement in Ichiro. He was always eager for a good fight. Without a second thought, he jumped off his bed, grabbed his uniform from the chair next to it, and quickly changed.

In a matter of moments, Ichiro was dressed and ready. He walked towards the door and opened it, revealing a peculiar but familiar sight: a panda standing on its hind legs and a guy whose face was half-covered.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Ichiro exclaimed, his voice filled with newfound energy.

Without waiting for a response, he led the way down the hall towards the training ground, with Panda and Inumaki following close behind. Their footsteps echoed through the corridors, blending with the soft hum of morning activities around the school.

As they arrived at the training ground, the wide, open space welcomed them. Ichiro turned to face Panda, who stood towering and ready, while Inumaki took his place on the sidelines, his eyes keenly observing the scene.

"Are you sure you won't use your sword, Ichiro?" he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and challenge.

Ichiro shook his head, his expression determined. "Yeah, I'm sure."

Panda nodded, accepting Ichiro's decision. "I see. Well then,".

Without warning, Panda lunged forward, his massive frame moving with surprising speed. He delivered a powerful jab aimed directly at Ichiro's face. The force behind the punch was evident, but Ichiro was ready.

With quick reflexes, Ichiro grabbed Panda's incoming fist, feeling the weight and power behind it. Using Panda's momentum to his advantage, Ichiro twisted his own body, executing a fluid movement that allowed him to dodge the brunt of the attack. As he spun, he brought his elbow up and delivered a sharp, precise elbow strike to Panda's head.

but Ichiro wasn't done yet. He swiftly grabbed Panda's head with both hands, feeling the coarse fur beneath his fingers. With a determined grunt, he pulled Panda's head towards him and delivered a powerful knee strike straight to Panda's face.

From the sidelines, Inumaki watched intently, his eyes following every movement. "Sujiko," he muttered, a sign of approval for Ichiro's quick thinking and execution.

As Panda received the initial barrage of attacks, he couldn't help but step back, his heavy footsteps echoing through the training ground. but to his disappointment, Ichiro didn't give him any respite.

With a burst of energy, Ichiro tackled Panda, his shoulder driving into Panda's midsection with immense force. Despite Panda's larger frame, Ichiro managed to lift him off the ground, displaying a surprising strength. The sudden lift caught Panda off guard, and before he could regain his footing, Ichiro swiftly grabbed both of Panda's legs, executing a sweeping motion that brought the massive creature crashing down.

The ground shook slightly from the impact, dust rising around them. Ichiro, seizing the opportunity, performed a graceful front flip and landed directly on Panda's chest, his knees digging in for leverage. With swift precision, he delivered a powerful downward punch that connected solidly with Panda's head, the force reverberating through out the ground.

but Ichiro wasn't finished. He pulled his fist back and delivered a second punch, aiming for the same spot. However, this time, Panda was ready. Using his considerable strength, Panda retaliated, swinging his arm in a wide arc. His massive fist connected with Ichiro's side, sending him flying.

Despite the force of the blow, Ichiro managed to react swiftly, using his arms to absorb some of the impact and rolling to his feet. He slid to a stop, his breath coming in quick bursts, his eyes scanning the area for Panda.

But Panda was nowhere to be seen.

Ichiro's heart raced as he looked around, his senses on high alert. He strained to hear any movement, but the training ground was eerily silent. Ichiro then noticed a presence shifting above him. His instincts kicked in, and he immediately realized the danger.

With a quick glance upward, he saw Panda descending upon him from above, his large frame casting a shadow over Ichiro. Panda had used the moment of distraction to leap high into the air, aiming to land a crushing blow from above.

Ichiro jumped to the side, completely evading Panda's attack. As he looked towards the impact zone, he saw a gorilla-like creature with black and white fur and a pair of giant lower canine teeth protruding menacingly. The sight of Panda in his more beastly form was both impressive and intimidating.

Panda wasted no time and leaped towards Ichiro, aiming a powerful jab at him. Anticipating this, Ichiro responded with a jab of his own, their fists on a collision course. However, just before impact, Panda spread his fist into a palm, catching Ichiro's punch squarely.

With a swift and powerful motion, Panda pulled Ichiro towards him, unbalancing him. In the blink of an eye, Panda's other fist drove into Ichiro's abdomen with incredible force. The blow was so powerful that is sends Ichiro skidding across the ground.

Ichiro stood up, his eyes filled with determination and eagerness.

As the training ground became a flurry of movement as they clashed repeatedly. Each strike, dodge, and counter filled the air with the sounds of exertion and impact. Dust and small debris were kicked up by their movements, creating a chaotic battlefield around them.

After several intense minutes, both fighters backed away.

"You're strong, Ichiro-kun," Panda complimented, his voice carrying a genuine tone of respect.

"Thanks, Panda-kun," Ichiro responded, a slight smile tugging at his lips despite the exhaustion.

Panda took a deep breath, his expression becoming more laid back. "By the way, Ichiro-kun..."

"Yeah, what is it, Panda K—" Ichiro started to say, but before he could finish, Inumaki's voice cut through the air.

"Okaka!" Inumaki shouted, his tone urgent.

Both Ichiro and Panda immediately turned their attention to him. Panda was the first to react, a worried expression crossing his face as he reverted to his more docile panda form. The sudden change in Inumaki's demeanor was enough to alert them that something serious was happening.

"What! Really, Inumaki?" Panda asked, his voice laced with concern. He quickly moved towards Inumaki.

'I guess this will be it for our spar, huh,' Ichiro thought, looking up at the sky, the morning light now turning to the soft hues of midday.

He sighed, lost in thought. 'It seems that this is the time when Maki got hurt by a cursed spirit. Gojo-sensei must have notified the two of them.' He then turned his attention back to Panda and Inumaki, who were both visibly worried.

Ichiro approached them, "What's going on, guys? What happened?" he asked. despite already aware of what had happened.

Panda's face was serious as he began to explain."Maki got hurt while they were exorcising a curse spirit.

Ichiro nodded "I see"

As the day concluded, Ichiro couldn't help but notice the worried expressions Panda and Inumaki wore. It was clear they were deeply affected by Maki's injury. Ichiro sighed inwardly, feeling the weight of the situation. 'Well, things are going to be rough from now on,' he thought.

With the sparring session cut short and the news of Maki's condition weighing heavily on their minds, the three of them headed back. The day slowly came to an end, the sun dipping below the horizon and casting long shadows across the school grounds.

Ichiro resumed his daily life, which had become a routine of going on missions every day, exorcising cursed spirits, training with his juniors and returning home to spend time with his siblings. The missions were relentless, each one demanding his full attention and strength. Despite the exhaustion, Ichiro cherished the moments he spent with his siblings, finding solace in their company.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Without Ichiro even realizing it, three months had already passed since that fateful day. The constant battle against cursed spirits and the effort to balance his responsibilities kept him occupied, the passage of time slipping through his fingers.

Ichiro found himself at the training ground, standing alongside Gojo, Panda, and Inumaki. The four of them watched intently as Yuta trained with Maki, their focus entirely on the spectacle unfolding before them.

Yuta, with his sword drawn, was engaged in a high-intensity practice with Maki. His movements were precise and controlled, each swing of his weapon aiming to improve his technique and reaction time. Maki, agile and focused, demonstrated her impressive skills and formidable combat abilities.

Ichiro's gaze was fixed on the two combatants. Yuta launched a swift slash at Maki as she descended from a high jump. To Ichiro's surprise, Maki performed an unexpected maneuver—she executed a perfect split, her legs stretching wide as she descended into the ground, completely dodging Yuta's attack. With remarkable speed and precision, she pinned Yuta to the ground, her hold firm and controlled.

Ichiro's eyes widened in amusement. 'So this is what those Jujutsu Kaisen fans were so obsessed about— Maki's split,' he thought inwardly.

"It's been three months since Yuta came to Jujutsu High. His movements have gotten a lot better," Panda remarked, his tone reflecting a mixture of happiness and observation as he watched Yuta in action.

Inumaki nodded in agreement, his eyes following Yuta's every move. "Konbu," he affirmed, indicating that Yuta's progress was indeed noticeable.

Gojo, standing next to them, added with a grin, "His personality is more positive now too."

"Yeah, he's totally different from how he was three months ago," Ichiro chimed in, adding his own perspective.

Inumaki responded with a simple, "Sujiko," acknowledging the change in Yuta's demeanor.

As they watched Yuta and Maki spar, Panda commented further, "Maki looks like she's having fun too. Before now, she didn't get to spar much with a fellow weapon—"

Suddenly, Panda seemed to have an epiphany. He straightened up and, with a burst of energy, called out to Yuta. "Yuta! Hey, come here! Come on!"

Yuta, taken aback by Panda's sudden enthusiasm, looked up and approached the group. "Huh? What's up, Panda-kun?"

Panda, wrapping his arm around Yuta's shoulder in a friendly manner, grinned widely. "I have a super important question for you! Listen closely."

Yuta looked a bit puzzled but curious. "Okay, what is it?"

Panda leaned in and asked with an overly serious expression, "Do you prefer small boobs or big boobs?"

The question caught Yuta completely off guard. His face turned a shade of red as he stammered, "I've never really given it much thought... But I suppose prefer them somewhat big."

Panda's eyes lit up with a knowing smile. "I see. Maki!"

Panda turned his attention to Maki. "Huh?" she responded, looking over panda's way.

"You got a chance!" Panda announced, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

As maki stood still, processing what panda said, as the realization dawned at her, she retort. "What crazy idea are you getting?, I'll kill you!"

As such their banter start once again, with Maki beating the shit out of panda while panda tried dodging and evading maki's attack.

Meanwhile, Gojo gathered everyone around, his demeanor that of a carefree teacher. "Toge, you've been requested—"

As Ichiro, already aware of the unfolding events, prepared to leave the training ground, but he was suddenly called out by Gojo.

"Also, Ichiro, I have a mission for you," Gojo announced, drawing Ichiro's attention.

"Huh? For me?" Ichiro asked in surprise, his disbelief evident. His reaction caused everyone on the field, including Gojo, to take notice.

Gojo ask clearly curious about Ichiro's response. "Hmm? What's wrong?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Ah, nothing, Gojo-sensei," Ichiro quickly replied, attempting to regain his composure. "So, what is this mission about?"

Gojo seemed unfazed by Ichiro's abrupt shift in demeanor. "I need you to head to a hospital. Since this mission is right up your alley."

" Alright, and where is this hospital that I'll be going?" Ichiro said, nodding in acceptance. He then inquired about the location of the hospital.

Gojo provided him with the details, and Ichiro set off towards his new assignment. As Ichiro departed, Yuta, still processing the unexpected development, turned to Gojo with a puzzled expression.

"Gojo-sensei," Yuta began, his curiosity piqued, "I just heard you say that this mission is right up Ichiro-senpai's alley. And why hospital of all places?"

Gojo turned to face Yuta, his expression thoughtful. "Well because ichiro is the most suited for this mission, and to answer your second question that hospital is currently gathering a massive amount of cursed energy. You see yuta hospitals, by their nature, are places where people experience a lot of negative emotions—depression, sadness, fear, anxiety, and so on. When all these negative emotions accumulate in one place, it creates a breeding ground for curses. There's a high likelihood that one or two special grades could be born from all this energy. And among hospitals in Japan the hospital in which I sent ichiro too, is the most dangerous one of them all"

Gojo said with a smile on his face.

Yuta's eyes widened at this explanation. "Huh? A special grade, and not just one but possibly two? Isn't that dangerous for Ichiro-senpai? I mean, I know he's a special grade like me, but isn't it a bit too much for him to handle alone?, and that hospital is also one of the most dangerous out there, is ichiro senpai will be fine?""

Gojo smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about Ichiro, Yuta. He actually requested it himself. He said that whenever there's a mission involving a special grade, he would accept that mission"

"Really? Wow, Ichiro-senpai is really amazing. I don't think I could handle it all by myself, though," Yuta said, his admiration for Ichiro evident in his voice. The thought of facing a special grade alone seemed daunting to him, especially after hearing about Ichiro's capability to take on such missions solo.

Another question bubbled up in Yuta's mind, driven by his curiosity. "I've been wondering for a while now, but just how strong is Ichiro-senpai really, Gojo-sensei?"

Gojo looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "Well, I can't give you a straightforward answer. I've never seen Ichiro go all out. He's always been reserved, even during intense battles."

"I see," Yuta said, his curiosity piqued but also tinged with a sense of respect for Ichiro's abilities. He turned his attention back to his own mission, his thoughts lingering on Gojo's words.

As Ichiro left the training ground, he mulled over the unexpected mission. *Sigh* "I didn't expect Gojo-sensei to give me a mission right then. It really caught me by surprise. I figured since only Yuta and Inumaki were the only one in the movie that were requested, so I thought the same thing would happen there but it seems that's not the case."

Ichiro continued walking towards the gate leading outside the school, the sound of his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet surroundings. As he stepped out, a warm breeze greeted him, and the sunlight washed over his face, momentarily lifting his spirits.

"It's probably my fault that I've been tasked with this mission," Ichiro mused. He walked through the bustling streets, where people occasionally glanced at him. Some blushed at his presence, while others began to gossip quietly.

Ichiro's thoughts drifted as he observed the growing number of cursed spirits. "I've noticed an increase in their strength lately. There are more of them compared to what I saw in the anime. My existence seems to disrupt the balance of this world, and the universe finds a way to restore that balance." His mind raced as he pieced together the implications.

*"Wait—"*

Ichiro suddenly stopped in his tracks as a troubling realization dawned on him. "Doesn't that mean there will be even more powerful special grades emerging in the near future?" He sighed deeply, a grim expression crossing his face. "This has turned into something worse."

The weight of the potential future threats pressed down on him. His thoughts were consumed by the possibility of even stronger curses arising, and the challenge they would pose not only to him but to the entire sorcerer community. As he resumed walking, Ichiro's determination solidified. He knew that facing these future threats would require not only strength but also careful preparation and strategy.