Chapter Text
Muta Kokichi, as it turns out, uses a puppet to interact with others.
“Wow, is that an actual robot?”
… The boy uses a ‘robot’ to interact with others, then. But even though the term might be unfamiliar, Shiki still recognizes puppetry when she sees it. There’s no mistake. This machine before them moves not because of the technology itself, but instead because of the cursed technique piloting it.
After all, it’s clear at a glance that there are numerous ‘hooks’ of cursed energy embedded throughout the body to control its every motion. This is the typical method that sorcerers practicing some form of puppetry use in order to manipulate their puppets.
On a related note, it’s why Yaga-gakucho’s way of controlling cursed corpse dolls stands out so much: The man’s dolls all share a considerable degree of autonomy unto themselves, and are each capable of operating independently of Yaga-gakucho’s direct control. If he were ever so inclined to, Yaga-gakucho could easily raise and command an entire army of cursed corpse dolls. There had been a time when Yaga-gakucho was feared for the dangers that his abilities posed, although Satoru-niichan had been able to intercede on his teacher’s behalf…
That was a slightly different matter, though.
Unlike Yaga-gakucho’s unique methods, Muta Kokichi clearly follows a more traditional approach in terms of his puppetry technique. As expected of a Kyoto student, perhaps. It did tend to be the case that the Tokyo school was more accepting of pioneering and developing new techniques, while the Kyoto school focused on honing and refining longstanding sorcery arts that had been passed down generation after generation.
Shiki thinks that this might’ve been part of the reason why Iori-sensei had brought Muta-san’s innovations with Simple Domain to Satoru-niichan’s attention, instead of directly reporting it to her superiors in the Kyoto school. If she had done that, then in all likelihood the Kyoto school would’ve immediately ordered Muta-san to cease such experiments in consideration of the Yagyu Clan.
It was a different story if Gojo Satoru had simply happened to chance across a boy who was ignorant to the implications of what he was making, though.
Shiki looks towards Iori-sensei. “Is Satoru-niichan the only one that you’ve informed of Muta-san’s experiments?”
“Yes,” the older woman nods. For a moment, it almost seems as if she is about to fidget anxiously with her hands, but Iori-sensei forces herself to stop the motion. Iori-sensei believes in the importance of maintaining one’s composure, after all. More than that, Shiki can also see that she desires to present herself as a reliable figure of authority for her students.
The Kyoto students are lucky to have someone like Iori Utahime as their teacher. Had it been any of the previous traditionalist Kyoto teachers in her position, Shiki has no doubt that Muta-san would’ve been strictly reprimanded for ‘overstepping.’ Iori-sensei, on the other hand, had turned around and reached out to Satoru-niichan. Both to protect and to support her student.
“I didn’t expect that I’d be hearing back again from Gojo so soon about this, though,” Iori-sensei admits quietly. “When he saw my student’s work… he was still smiling and joking his way through everything, like usual. It didn’t seem like Gojo was particularly impressed by anything.”
Really? As far as Shiki knows, there are ways to imbue a cursed technique into a cursed tool, and ways of inscribing spells into them as well –but for something with more nuance to it like Simple Domain, the process didn’t translate very well. What Muta-san has accomplished –is still in the process of refining and accomplishing– is something that is impressive.
“If Satoru-niichan wasn’t impressed by the potential of Muta-san’s project, then he would not have suggested for Tokyo students to seek contact with Muta-san,” Shiki points out to Iori-sensei.
“I know, I know,” Iori-sensei sighs. “It’s just… hard to discern what he’s thinking sometimes, and I can never tell when that guy is being serious or not. He usually isn’t.”
The distinctly aggrieved note to those words indicate that there might be a story behind this. Shiki would not be surprised, knowing the relationship between Iori-sensei and Satoru-niichan. Iori-sensei was under the impression that the laid-back flippancy in Satoru-niichan’s demeanor whenever they interacted was a sign that he did not respect her.
But the thing was, Satoru-niichan did respect her, in his own way. It just so happened that he was also amused by the indignant way that Iori-sensei reacted to his attitude, which was why he kept riling her up whenever they met…
In the past, Shiki had tried explaining to Iori-sensei that it was only because Satoru-niichan found her reactions amusing that he needled her as he did, and not because he held no respect for her as a fellow peer and sorcerer. Unfortunately, Shiki’s well-meaning attempt to resolve misunderstandings between the two adults ended up backfiring. Iori-sensei, already irritated by Satoru-niichan’s behavior in general, did not take very well to the newfound realization that the man was in fact acting like this entirely on purpose for his own amusement.
Tsumiki, after she’d finished laughing at Shiki, advised her to ‘leave them to their own devices.’ Either they would be able to sort this out or they wouldn’t, but either way Shiki would be better off staying out of it.
So Shiki does not remark on Iori-sensei’s comment of Satoru-niichan being difficult to read. Instead, she changes the subject back to Muta-san.
“How many are aware of this Simple Domain project of his?” Shiki asks the older woman.
“Specifically? I’m the only one keeping track of his individual projects, as both his teacher and his supervisor,” Iori-sensei responds. “But pretty much everyone already knows that Mechamaru spends a considerable amount of time tinkering away on his own puppets and cursed tools. His puppets were recognized for their quality, and he was officially granted an exemption as a student to receive his own workshop for his projects.”
Hmm. It’s clear that Muta-san is remarkably talented as a craftsman, then. Because generally, only trained craftsmen who have demonstrated themselves to be of a certain skill level are able to receive permission from the jujutsu school to use their facilities and resources. This is a non-issue for those belonging to sorcery clans capable of training and funding their own craftsmen, of course, but for those who do not possess such connections and are unable to procure necessary materials, the only real choice left for them is to give up on crafting cursed tools.
The cursed energy requirement for becoming a craftsman is far less stringent than what’s expected of a sorcerer. And yet, there are cases of craftsmen candidates turning towards the path of a sorcerer even despite their insuitability –or even despite not wanting to become a sorcerer at all– because becoming a craftsman simply is not a viable option.
The education provided at the jujutsu school is highly specific. Excellent for aspiring sorcerers and related work, perhaps, but not so much in regards to preparing for a normal career path independent of sorcery. Becoming a Window or an assistant manager are also valid options, certainly, but the salary is far lower than what a sorcerer would earn.
Shiki has had it pointed out to her that, even for those who do not belong to sorcery clans, sometimes one does not have any choice but to become a sorcerer. A lack of other opportunities is quite restrictive in its own way, and makes it that much harder to find an acceptable alternative.
In a sense, this might even be considered a deliberate tactic used to encourage those with potential to become sorcerers. Regardless of whether or not they possessed the potential as successful sorcerers, instead of faceless, nameless sacrifices. Because even if they were not suited for it… there was always a desperate shortage of manpower when it came to sorcerers’ numbers.
… This issue is but one of several longtime problems that Satoru-niichan has spoken of addressing through his planned reforms. Although, perhaps these goals now come secondary to the matter of Geto Suguru.
In hindsight, Shiki strongly suspects that Satoru-niichan’s desire to change the way that things worked in the jujutsu world was strongly motivated by how Geto Suguru left in relation to these issues. If Geto was so affected by the pointless deaths of sorcerers, then as long as Satoru-niichan changed things, then–!
… There’s no point in thinking such thoughts right now.
Shiki silently regathers her wandering thoughts, and turns her attention back towards the conversation at hand.
According to Iori-sensei’s words, Muta Kokichi is very specifically a sorcerer instead of being categorized as a craftsman or placed into any other auxiliary role. This means that, despite the disadvantages of his disabled body and the fact that he has been allotted the resources that one would a skilled craftsman, Muta Kokichi is regarded by the Kyoto school as a sorcerer first and foremost.
Satoru-niichan had recognized the boy’s skill in creating innovative cursed tools, and for his demonstrated willingness to challenge tradition despite being a Kyoto student. In contrast, if the Kyoto school still viewed Muta-san as a sorcerer before anything else… then this either meant that he was downplaying his skills as a craftsman or he really was a sorcerer through and through.
Perhaps both?
The robot that she sees moving around before them does not provide any clues. Shiki is familiar with cursed corpse dolls and puppets, but she is more used to… the traditional varieties, like shikigami, rather than these mechanical ones that Muta-san evidently favors. It’s quite novel. Odd, but novel. Though if it works well enough for Muta-san, then far be it for Shiki to say anything about that.
“I still can’t believe you get to make an actual robot, that’s really cool,” Kinji prods Muta-san –well, not Muta-san, exactly. Muta-san’s robot? ‘Mechamaru,’ Iori-sensei had called it earlier? Both the name of his robot, and a nickname that Muta-san himself used? “Hey Shiki, is the Tokyo school well-funded enough to get us robots, too?”
Shiki blinks at her classmate, “Why would you want a robot?”
“Are you being serious?” Kinji gives Shiki a look like she’s the one asking a strange question. Her reaction is perfectly normal, thank you very much. “Hello, it’s a robot! Haven’t you ever watched any –wait, no, of course you haven’t. Sheltered ojou-sama who doesn’t know anything about mechas, right? Space fights? Gundams? … Is anything ringing a bell here?”
… Shiki gets the impression that she’s being made fun of by her classmates, again. The way that the Tokyo first years beside them give startled coughs and –very badly– attempt to hide their laughter seems rather indicative.
She decides to ignore his comments for now, and answers his earlier question instead.
“The Tokyo school is less funded than the Kyoto school,” she confirms the obvious. “Kyoto is the Capital of Jujutsu, after all, and many sorcery clans all have their roots here. That being said, I believe the Tokyo school would still be able to provide any necessary materials to its students as long as they aren’t superfluous or for trivial reasons.”
“Geez, ‘superfluous.’ Who even talks like that?” Kinji makes a face at her.
“I do,” Shiki responds flatly.
“Okay, we need to get you–”
“If you’re all quite done,” a faintly mechanical voice interrupts with a distinct drawl, “May we move onto discussing how you’ll be testing the HZ-17?”
Shiki turns her gaze towards the robot.
‘Mechamaru’ is a mechanical humanoid puppet, although not a particularly complicated one based on appearances alone. Outwardly, the bronze-colored robot merely appears as a human-sized doll in possession of moving joints, with two small green lenses set into its ‘head’ to act as ‘eyes’ for its ‘face.’ Its ‘mouth’ is a contraption that opens and closes as the boy behind the puppet speaks, and each time its ‘mouth’ opens Shiki is able to glimpse the wires and machinery inside.
Shiki has no doubt that there’s more to this puppet –robot– than simply a humanoid shape, though. Hidden weapons, or perhaps other cursed tools. Muta Kokichi is a recognized craftsman in addition to being a sorcerer, is he not?
Besides, she’s sure that all the cursed energy that this robot is saturated in is not just for show.
“HZ-17? Is that what you’re calling the Simple Domain thing?” Kinji talks to the puppet like it’s an actual person. The sight seems a little odd to Shiki, knowing that the puppet is merely a stand-in for another sorcerer, but… perhaps this is only the polite thing to do?
If ‘Mechamaru’ is to be treated as Muta-san himself within the Kyoto school, then maybe it is normal and expected for the puppet to be treated like a person. To Shiki’s knowledge, Muta-san’s mobility is severely hampered by health concerns from his Heavenly Restriction.
"It is, yes.” The puppet nods. Its movements are unnaturally stiff and mechanical, merely an imitation of a human expression despite the very human sorcerer behind it controlling its words and motions. “The HZ-17 deploys a Simple Domain upon activation. Or rather, it should –I’m still trying to pinpoint the variables which are just causing them to fail sometimes. I believe that running more rigorous tests should help me identify and solve this issue.”
“Cool,” Kinji gives the puppet a cheerful thumbs-up. “And that’s where we come in, right?”
“Yes.” Once more, a mechanical nod. There is a distinct contrast between the rigid motion and the far more emotional inflections embedded in the sorcerer’s voice. “Having more data aside from my own tests would be very helpful.”
“Sounds good. Although, how come you’re not asking your fellow Kyoto students, if you don’t mind my asking?” Kinji leans forward curiously. “Like, we’re here mostly ‘cuz of Gojo-sensei, but if you need more ‘data’ then wouldn’t asking other Kyoto students be more convenient?”
Expression unchanging, Kirara lifts her foot and kicks Kinji in the shin.
“Ow! Hey, what was that for?”
“You know what the higher ups are like, Kinji, and you also know that their influence is strongest in Kyoto,” Kirara huffs. “He probably didn’t ask his classmates because the administration would come down on them like a hammer if they knew about it.”
It is as Kirara says. Even if Muta-san were to specifically work with fellow classmates who were able and willing to help keep his secrets, it would still be rather difficult to hide this endeavor from the other Kyoto students when they were attending similar classes in the very same school. All it would take is one slip-up, and then the higher ups would know exactly what Muta-san was up to.
… If they weren’t already aware of his activities, that is.
Shiki has her suspicions regarding this matter. Perhaps no formal reports of Muta-san’s experiments with Simple Domain have been submitted to the higher ups in any official capacity yet, but she doubts that they are all completely unaware. And, the Yagyu Clan is also not without their own enemies. Though some may refrain from openly moving against the Yagyu Clan, Shiki could see them withholding information if it will be to the Yagyu Clan’s detriment.
That aside, the very fact that Shiki and the other Tokyo students are here in Kyoto again, so soon after the exchange event… it’s something that people will notice. Have already noticed, in all likelihood. But with Satoru-niichan’s name involved now, even the Yagyu Clan will have to think twice about what actions they’ll take regarding Muta Kokichi.
Considering the various factors involved, it makes sense why Iori-sensei had decided that introducing Muta-san to Satoru-niichan was a good idea. Even despite her personal grievances with the man which makes her reluctant to ask him for assistance.
But when it comes to the wellbeing of her students, it seems that Iori-sensei is willing to set aside her reservations.
“Simple Domain is a Shin Kageryu technique, and is strictly regulated by the Yagyu Clan,” Shiki reminds her classmates. “If the Yagyu Clan were to submit a formal complaint to the higher ups in the Jujutsu Headquarters, then they would be obligated to review the situation –and the most likely outcome of that is Muta-san being deemed guilty of ‘stealing clan secrets.’ Iori-sensei reached out to Satoru-niichan preemptively here to prevent this scenario from occurring; the Yagyu Clan might still have their complaints once they learn of Muta-san’s project, but they’ll need to address Satoru-niichan instead of Muta-san.”
“Huh,” Kinji scratches his chin. “… Wait a sec. Isn’t this just more politics? Why does everything always come down to jujutsu politics?!”
“Because everything is interconnected.” So it’s always best to be aware of what’s going on, and how it might relate to or affect one’s own position. For example, if Muta-san had decided to hide his project or if Iori-sensei decided not to contact Satoru-niichan for assistance, any higher up who discovered that Muta-san was ‘stealing clan secrets’ would gain considerable leverage over the boy.
Fortunately for them, Satoru-niichan was of the firm opinion that students should be left out of the political machinations of the higher ups as much as possible.
Iori-sensei coughs lightly into her hand. “So, getting back on track again about the testing, I would appreciate it if you could be… discreet about it, as much as possible. I know that it’s impossible to keep this a secret forever, but I don’t think we need to antagonize the Yagyu Clan by openly flaunting it.”
“Sure, I guess? But I think the Yagyu Clan is probably going to be antagonized anyways, just by the fact that a cursed tool version of their Simple Domain exists at all,” Kirara leans forward to study the surprisingly small cursed tool laid out on the table in the middle of the room. The ‘HZ-17,’ or so Muta-san had called it earlier. “Although I guess Gojo-sensei is volunteering to take the brunt of the heat for that…”
“Kusakabe-sensei might be placed in a slightly difficult position.” As both a teacher at the Tokyo school, and as a sorcerer closely affiliated with the Yagyu Clan. “But he could probably argue that his position as a teacher will allow him to monitor and control the situation for the Yagyu Clan.”
“I can’t believe I almost forgot about Kusakabe-sensei,” Kinji slaps himself on the forehead, then laughs. “I guess Kusakabe-sensei knows how to take care of things on his end, though.”
Kusakabe-sensei is far more well-versed in navigating jujutsu politics and sorcery clans than Kinji is. He should really consider taking lessons from the man on it.
“Speaking of Kusakabe-sensei,” the mechanical puppet’s mouth opens, and Muta-san’s voice sounds in the room. “If possible, I would like to prepare a ‘blank’ for him to ‘charge’ a Simple Domain into. Kusakabe Atsuya is one of the most well-known practitioners of Shin Kageryu, and I’d like to know if Simple Domains from different sorcerers will require me to adjust this.”
“Yeah, we can definitely ask him,” Kinji nods.
“Um, would Kusakabe-sensei be able to help us out like this, though?” Okkotsu asks hesitantly. “He’s affiliated with the Yagyu Clan, right? And this project isn’t something that the Yagyus would approve of.”
“… Good point.” Kinji is quiet for all of three seconds, before immediately whirling towards Shiki. “Hang on, you know how to use Simple Domain, right?”
“Yes.” Shiki picked up how to use Simple Domain properly from watching Kusakabe-sensei himself use the technique, in fact.
“Then what do we need Kusakabe-sensei for? We can just test that out ourselves right now! Here,” a small object is pressed into Shiki’s hands. It looks a bit like a… syringe? A cylindrical tube, with a sharp protrusion towards one end. As Muta-san had demonstrated earlier, the Simple Domain ‘stored’ inside the object could be activated by directly stabbing it down into the ground, or by pressing an activation switch.
“Wait,” Muta-san’s voice crackles through the puppet’s mouth. “That one is already charged with a technique, it’s probably going to explode if you overload it. Use this one instead.”
The puppet rummages through one of the large drawers in the cabinet behind it, and procures a cylindrical tube that looks no different from the one that Kinji had pressed into Shiki’s hands, save for the differing levels of cursed energy that Shiki can sense from the tools.
She lifts her gaze and looks at the puppet. A mechanical arm is extended out towards her, jointed fingers splayed out so that it offers the ‘blank’ cursed tool to her.
… It is odd, facing and interacting with a puppet like this. Yes, strictly speaking, Panda is also a ‘puppet,’ albeit one categorized as a unique cursed corpse doll… but Panda and this ‘Mechamaru’ are different. With Panda, Shiki knows that she is clearly communicating with Panda the individual, and yet with Muta-san’s mechanical puppet… there is the sense that she’s interacting with something inhuman.
It’s not that Muta-san isn’t ‘human,’ the person speaking through the puppet is clearly human. But the puppet itself exhibits no characteristics of being human. It is simply a metal shell molded into a vaguely human shape, and the dissonance is… strange.
Yes, it’s strange. Shiki doesn’t know how to describe this feeling. Perhaps she feels this way because this puppet is clearly designed to mimic a human form, and yet it falls far short of being a convincing mimicry?
Despite these thoughts, Shiki knows how to be polite. Outwardly, she only glances at the puppet for a brief moment, before accepting the cursed tool from its hand.
“Just holding it and using Simple Domain will store the technique inside,” Muta-san explains. The mouth of his puppet opens, and closes. “That’s all there is to it.”
Shiki nods. Then, she raises her cursed energy the way she would to expand a Simple Domain, and allows her cursed energy to be absorbed into the cursed tool–
–which shatters instantly.
“Whoa!” The majority of the broken shards remain trapped inside Shiki’s now-bloody grip instead of flying wildly across the room. But even so, that does not stop Kinji from exclaiming in shock reflexively. “… I’m guessing that was not what was supposed to happen. You sure you didn’t pass her one that was already charged with a Simple Domain or something?”
“Of course not,” Muta-san snaps. Despite the burst of snappishness in his voice, the features of his puppet remain unmoving. “I keep all of my tools clearly organized. That was fine, it shouldn’t have…”
“Oh, wait a sec. I’ve got this.” A mischievous grin begins spreading over Kinji’s lips. “Shiki. Shiki. Did we just get to witness you mess up on a technique?”
“I didn’t mess up.” A Simple Domain isn’t that hard.
Kinji jerks his head towards the shattered cursed tool in her hand, still grinning. “I dunno, evidence seems to suggest otherwise.”
Shiki drops the broken pieces of the cursed tool onto the tabletop, and proceeds to use Simple Domain again, just to make plain the obvious.
“Okay, okay! I get it, it’s not on you,” Kinji raises his hands in surrender, snickering. “Any guesses for what went wrong then, Mechamaru?”
“… I’d have to analyze these pieces first, just to be sure. At a guess, the thresholds just weren’t high enough, so it ‘overloaded.’ I’ll have to adjust the calibrations,” Muta-san says after a slight pause. “My apologies for this, Gojo-san. Your hand, we have medical supplies in–”
“There’s no need.” Shiki turns over and extends the palm of her hand in demonstration, showing that the open punctures have already closed on their own. Aside from a bit of smearing blood, there’s nothing in her palm that indicates any injury. Reverse cursed technique is quite convenient this way.
“Miwa was always the one charging these for you, right?” Iori-sensei asks him. Then, upon noticing the questioning looks from other Tokyo students, “Miwa Kasumi is one of the other Kyoto first years; she’s a Shin Kageryu practitioner.”
Shiki blinks. “Is she not bound to the Yagyu Clan’s vows?”
“She is, but she’s not sworn to their strictest vows, from what I recall,” Iori-sensei hums. “Her Shin Kageryu mentor, Yagyu Konosuke, is from one of the Yagyu Clan’s more prominent lines. So she has a little more leeway there.”
How very fortunate for Miwa, then. Although if her teacher was a Yagyu… then that added a new layer to this entire situation. Did her Yagyu teacher know that Miwa was willingly participating in an ‘experiment’ that could potentially risk the secrecy of one of the Yagyu Clan’s secret techniques?
An interesting prospect, with interesting implications. Especially if he had deliberately prevented his young student from swearing herself to the Yagyu Clan’s service.
Shiki makes a mental note to ask Choki to look into ‘Yagyu Konosuke’ at a later point.
For now, though she tucks the thought aside, “I see.”
“Hey, if this Miwa can use Simple Domain, and is already involved with helping Mechamaru here develop his thing… think we could ask her for tips on how to make a Simple Domain work?” Kinji suddenly perks up. “Y’know, since Gojo-sensei was awful at teaching it and all.”
“Satoru-niichan’s instructions weren’t–”
“Let’s be honest here, Shiki. His instructions were basically useless!”
“… Inumaki-san made progress, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, and what about the rest of us?”
Iori-sensei raises her hand in front of her mouth, but the cursory gesture does nothing to hide the light little laugh that slips out. “So Gojo is still like that? He’s always been extremely fast to learn things, but not so much for explaining them to other people. Neither he nor Shoko were very good at that, really…”
“Shoko?”
“She means Ieiri-sensei,” Kirara elbows Kinji.
“Ooh, right,” Kinji mutters. “Sorry, that slipped my mind for a second.”
Kirara gives him an exasperated look, “Seriously?”
“Hey, she’s not one of our regular teachers!” Kinji protests weakly in his own defense. “And everyone’s always calling ‘Ieiri-sensei,’ sooo…”
“I should let Ieiri-sensei know about this once we’re back.”
“Please don’t, actually, I don’t want to get suddenly pulled into the morgue for no reason.”
As Shiki’s classmates become carried away with their own back-and-forth, Okkotsu casts a questioning look in her direction. Should we stop them?
It’s fine to just ignore them when they’re distracted like this. They’ll pull themselves together soon enough. Probably.
“If there are any further tests that we should assist with while we’re in Kyoto, then we should go ahead and take care of what we can,” Shiki looks towards Iori-sensei and Muta-san’s mechanical puppet. “As for field testing, we’ll probably need to make separate arrangements.”
“That makes sense. I think we should…”
Overall, the conversation continues smoothly beyond that. It doesn’t take long before they’re stepping outside of Muta-san’s workshop to continue performing additional tests–
–and in the process, end up encountering a few more of Iori-sensei’s students.
.
.
Extra.
.
It was the right decision to trust Iori-sensei, Kokichi thinks.
There aren’t very many people who Muta Kokichi trusts without reservation. But, Iori-sensei has proven not just through her words but also through her actions that she is deserving of being trusted.
Kokichi is used to hearing pretty, pitying words and meaningless platitudes from others. Oh, your condition is so very unfortunate, Muta. My heart goes out to you, truly. You know, there is an experimental medical procedure which I believe might be the cure that you and your family are looking for–
Ah, yes, it won’t be an immediate cure, I’m afraid. The process is quite long and there are numerous factors involved which might complicate–
Trust me, Muta. I’m on your side. I only want what’s best for you.
Kokichi is cursed.
… His entire life, he’s been cursed. Truly cursed, with a weak, fragile body that struggles to even sit upright. The skin that covers his body is wrinkled and dry and acutely sensitive to any sort of stimuli. Even light is enough to cause pain, and so Kokichi spends his days in perpetual darkness.
If it were not for the Kyoto school discovering him, Kokichi would’ve died a long time ago.
So… it’s fine that they want to use him. Kokichi isn’t oblivious to how the world works. In exchange for paying for all the medical devices keeping him alive, Kokichi will become a sorcerer. It’s a good deal. His parents believe that he died years ago, and… and this is for the best.
It wasn’t their fault that Kokichi had been born with a Heavenly Restriction that made him into a cripple. At least this way, they wouldn’t have to tear themselves into pieces over the costs of Kokichi’s endless medical bills and treatments. They wouldn’t have to suffer from the stress of caring for a sickly child who was cursed as a useless cripple.
You’re not a useless cripple, Muta Kokichi. Far from it. In fact, you’ve actually been blessed with a rare gift.
Muta Kokichi is not blessed.
… But his life is not entirely devoid of blessings, either.
He’d met Iori-sensei. She was the first person who truly helped search for a cure for his condition, outside of his own parents. Most of the people who Kokichi had encountered to date said that they hoped his pain would ease, that his health would improve–
But that was a lie. It was more convenient for them to control Kokichi using his physical ailments as an inescapable leash.
It was Iori-sensei who had immediately sought out more details on the revolutionary breakthrough involving ‘organic puppetry’ when it was discovered. It was Iori-sensei who argued with the Kyoto school’s administrators to approve a workshop for Kokichi’s use, so that he would have greater freedom to work on what he wanted to, rather than what was demanded of him. And again, it was Iori-sensei who worked to get him the protection of Gojo Satoru when Kokichi showed her his preliminary success in weaponizing Simple Domain.
Words are not enough to express his gratitude for Iori Utahime as his teacher.
She also always worked to include him as one of her students. It was Iori-sensei who first brought up the idea that Kokichi could construct a puppet to act as an extension of himself out in the world, instead of only creating and using discreet surveillance puppets as the higher ups instructed.
If it were not for Iori-sensei, Kokichi would not have met Miwa.
Kokichi is glad for the opportunity to interact with his classmates, with his other peers, even if it’s through a remotely-controlled robot like this. But seeing the Tokyo students, and the way that they interact so casually with each other, even Gojo Shiki… he cannot help but wonder what it would be like, for Kokichi himself to walk among his own classmates. To walk alongside everyone. Together.
A dazzling, distant dream. One that shines so brightly, yet remains so far out of reach.
“I once spoke with Gojo Shiki on the matter of your Heavenly Restriction. I think… you should consider what I mentioned last time,” Iori-sensei had said to him, shortly before the Tokyo students’ arrival. “I know that you don’t like seeing people in person, due to your condition, but I believe this is worth considering meeting with her face-to-face.”
Gojo Shiki. The ‘blessed child’ of the Gojo Clan who possessed cursed eyes that allowed her to see ‘lines of fragility’ in all objects, and summarily destroy anything whose lines she severed. “Didn’t you say that when you asked her about it, she said that cutting my lines might kill me?”
“It’s not a guarantee –and you don’t necessarily need to ask her to experiment on you directly; there might be new information that she’ll be able to shed light on just by looking at you. Like Gojo Satoru and his Six Eyes.”
“… I’ll think about it.”
Gojo Shiki… rubs him the wrong way. It’s probably awful of Kokichi to say this, especially when he’s fully aware that he doesn’t even really know the girl aside from the rumors and her own achievements. But…
They’re basically two people belonging to two entirely different worlds. Gojo Shiki is someone who’s truly been blessed, who has everything. And her talent –gods, her talent. The Simple Domain that she’d used inside the workshop hadn’t so much as disturbed even a single sheet of paper in the range that it encompassed, and then she’d proceeded to use reverse cursed technique without batting an eye. Kokichi had watched it happen, and it still feels unreal to him.
… It’s hard not to be jealous of a person like that, especially when Kokichi knows that his own place belongs in the darkness.
Hey, Mechamaru. Do you think that we’ll be able to actually, really meet each other someday? And, um, just hang out together, or something? As friends?
Miwa…
Kokichi exhales. A rattling breath, one that causes a dull pain in his chest cavity as he breathes out. But that’s nothing new.
On the monitor of the glowing screen in front of him, the Tokyo students are exiting the room behind Iori-sensei and Mechamaru. They all seem so… upbeat, cheerful. None of them know what it’s like to be entrenched in darkness as Kokichi is, to suffer debilitating pain and be hooked up to countless machines just to survive another day–
Gojo Shiki pauses on the threshold of the doorway, and suddenly turns around. It’s only a slight turn of her head, but…
But for a single instant, Kokichi swears that she is looking directly at the camera. The camera that Kokichi himself is observing their group through right now. Eerie blue eyes stare straight at Kokichi, almost as if she can see him through the screen–
But that’s impossible. Kokichi knows it is.
“Hey, Shiki, are you coming along with us or not?”
“… Yes.”
The girl on the screen turns and disappears through the doorway.
Kokichi breathes out slowly, again. Another long, rattling breath, one that he hadn’t even realized that he’d been holding in.
For some reason, it almost feels like there’s a distinct chill lingering in the air.