Culling Games XIII

Gojo sighed and sat down on a bed in the medical facility. His sigh came from the news he had just received from Ijichi, Shoko, and Arai.

"So it's just us four left, I always thought Nanami would be the type to survive one way or another," Gojo said as he rubbed his hair in frustration though his face didn't show it.

Following him, Arai sat down in his chair. "Although I'd like to say I avenged him, the truth is that the cursed spirit that killed him was exorcised by Sukuna. At least Ino will inherit his legacy with that blade of his."

"Heh! It's just so odd looking at you in a girl's body. I just can't get used to it."

"Is this the time to talk about such things, we have urgent issues to address." The displeased look on Arai made Gojo smile but turn serious in an instant. Now was not the time to smile, especially after all the news he had been told.

'Seems you've changed.' Arai thought silently seeing this change.

"He was 15-fingered in Shibuya, right? Tell me what you think of Sukuna after fighting him." Gojo asked Arai as he was the only one that was alive after all of this.

The three looked at him and he pondered over the question. After a moment, he looked up and answered. 

"He was strong, unbelievably so. His slashes exceed the speed of sound and he has a technique to conjure fire capable of reducing Shibuya to ashes. His domain expansion has no barrier and its range is much greater than most domains. His skills in hand-to-hand combat exceed mine as well as his cursed energy output."

"Then what are the chances you think I have." 

"I won't lie. It doesn't look good for you. Assuming he gets up to the 19 fingers that he needs and the 10 Shadows Technique now in his arsenal. I'd say you've got a 2/5 chance to win and that's not counting any other secret techniques he may have."

"That low?" Ijichi muttered in shock.

The invincible image that Gojo had made throughout the years was slowly falling apart.

He was no longer the undisputed strongest. There was now a contender to challenge him.

"Then I guess I simply need to get stronger."

But instead of being worried or afraid, Gojo seemed instead to be smiling. He was the strongest modern-day sorcerer and he had to live up to that title.

"Are you the strongest because you're Gojo or are you Gojo because you're the strongest?" The words of his only best friend reverberated inside his mind.

Which one was he?

To this day, Gojo still wasn't sure.

But if he didn't even have the title of strongest, how could he ponder over that question?

He clasped his hands making an audible clap gaining everyone's attention.

"No need to ponder over probabilities! It's time we go make a world that our students can live in comfortably. It's our duty as teachers, adults, and sorcerers."

This earned a smile from them.

"I'm not even a teacher, Gojo," Arai said as he leaned on the wall.

"Same here. Technically I'm the medic."

"I-I'm not a sorcerer too. Technically I'm a window."

Were they afraid that Gojo would lose this fight?

Of course, they were.

But they all needed to focus on winning and not think about losing. They were going to win and bring a future where the next generation wouldn't need to suffer. This was their duty, their calling, and their purpose.

Though everyone had looks filled with determination, Isao Arai silently closed his eyes as if he was pondering over something, that was to the outside eyes. Inside his mind, Eino Haibara stood in front of him.

He walked to the door and was about to leave, but he was caught.

"Leaving already?" Shoko said as she stood next to him.

"Yeah, I've got some things to discuss with Eino. It's better if we're alone." 

"Hm, not confining us into what's going on. That's just like you, Arai."

Arai denied this. "I'm not hiding anything. It's just more personal so I'll talk to her alone."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll leave you alone."

As Arai left the room, Shoko looked at him with a frown. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something, but then closed. She turned back and joined Gojo and Ijichi.

"What is it, Arai?" 

Eino asked inside their linked mind. 

"I want you to leave this place before the fight begins." 

"What?! I'm going to stay and fight." Eino tried to rebuke but Arai was firm in his decision.

"No, you won't. I've already broken my promise to your brother by forcing you to participate in the Culling Games. You've done and seen enough. There is nothing that can change my mind."

"Tch!" She clicked her tongue. "Then how are you going to fight against Sukuna, huh? If I'm not there then neither will you be!"

"I've got my own plans when that happens. When the day comes, Noritoshi Kamo will bring you with him and get you out of the city. It's pointless to argue."

Arai had already made plans. If they lose this fight, the best and safest place would be with a capable sorcerer. Although Noritoshi Kamo may not be a grade 1 sorcerer, he is capable enough to keep up with most sorcerers of the past.

'He already intended on leaving me.'

As if reading her thoughts, Arai said, "Don't think that I'm abandoning you. Although I did block some of your consciousness during the Culling Games, I couldn't block everything. All the killings and deaths that happened were because I controlled you. Your brother is going to curse me in the afterlife for everything I've done, but you can say it was inevitable when fighting sorcerers. However, there is no longer any need for me to do this."

She wanted to retort, but what he said was true. In fact, she was never even supposed to know about the Jujutsu world, but Arai had told her despite her brother's wishes.

"*Sigh* You're right. I won't involve myself anymore since I know you'll stop me."

"You're damn right I will."

Eino didn't bother protesting, knowing it wouldn't change the outcome. She had accepted what was about to happen.

"I'll go tell Kamo that you've agreed. The day before the fight, he'll bring you outside of Shinjuku. All you need to do is cooperate with him."

"I got it, I got it."

"Then I'll be going."

Arai said as he prepared to leave the linked mind between the two. She was satisfied with just helping Arai, but there was something. Something that she felt she needed to say to Arai.

"But there is one thing I'm curious about." 

Arai stopped his actions and turned to her. "What is it?"

"You're planning something, right?" She asked but Arai could tell that she was looking at something deep within him. Something that he is trying to hide.

"Well obviously we need a plan to defeat Suku-"

"I'm not talking about him. I'm talking about the plan after defeating him."

Her words made him stop moving completely. He looked at Eino and saw her looking at him with eyes full of conviction.

Eino and Arai shared a profound connection, almost as if they were one being. Though their minds were not completely merged, a special key existed that allowed them to access each other's thoughts. They had not fully embraced this union, preferring to maintain their individuality, but a deep sense of resonance was established between them. The truth would soon become apparent even when they attempted to hide something from each other.

And that was what Eino was currently experiencing.

"I'm leaving Eino." Arai said not wanting to confront her accusations. 

"Wait!" She grabbed him before he left and looked straight at him. Arai tried to avert her gaze but gave up and looked at her too.

"Just... just don't do something you'll regret." She said before letting him go.

He smiled gently and patted her head. "Don't worry, I won't regret anything anymore."

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{AN: Next Chapters are the final arc of the manga. I'll be going my own way now since it is still on going so don't expect to see the same thing. At least, it won't be the same ending. See you Thursday!}