Chapter Text
Utahime was a sorcerer known for her low cursed energy, and a technique meant mainly for support.
Many believed she couldn’t stand on her own. With low physical power and an inability to move or punch hard enough to make up for her lack of cursed energy, most assumed she would always need someone beside her.
Or so they thought.
Utahime Iori was a well-mannered girl who valued manners above all else. She was kind, patient, and slow to anger.
So it took a lot to truly piss her off.
That was until she met the holder of the Six Eyes.
| ~ 2005, JULY 13 ~ |
It was a cool day on campus. Utahime strolled toward the area where she and Mei Mei had agreed to meet, curious to see the new first-years.
As the cool gentle breeze flew to her face she relaxed, slowing her steps. She then decided it was fine to be a little late that couldn't hurt right?
As Utahime turned the corner, she suddenly bumped into a rock-solid object.
“Ow,” she grumbled, rubbing her forehead.
I must not have gotten enough sleep if I’m bumping into walls.
She blinked her eyes open and looked forward to what she hit. It had to be a wall… right?
Black uniform.
Huh? Weird.
Her eyes widened.
Shit. I bumped into a student… a super tall one if I bumped into his shirt.
Slowly, she tilted her head upward.
White hair.
Sunglasses so black you couldn’t see his eyes.
The boy’s face was pointed straight at hers, close enough that she could feel the awkwardness crawling up her spine. Utahime’s ears flushed pink as she quickly bowed slightly.
“I’m so sorry! Are you alright?”
The boy’s face stayed completely neutral for a moment. Then he tilted his head, examining her like she was some strange little bug he’d found on the pavement.
“Ur super weak.”
…Huh?
Did she hear that right?
Her brows furrowed.
“Excuse me?”
The boy suddenly laughed. He leaned back slightly, shoulders shaking with amusement, like he’d just discovered the funniest joke of the day. Meanwhile Utahime stood there, blinking up at him, the apology still hanging in the air… slowly being replaced with irritation.
“Ah, your cursed energy is barely there.
Pft—HA!”
Who was this little brat?
Utahime felt a vein pulse on her forehead.
He had to be a first year. She had never seen him before, and she definitely would have remembered someone this… loud.
And her weak? Sure, her technique wasn’t exactly made for combat, and yes, her cursed energy wasn’t impressive compared to most sorcerers.
But she was not super weak.
Her fingers twitched slightly at her side.
Ah, fuck.
Utahime had always been taught to be a proper girl. Polite. Composed. Refined. The type who bowed first, apologized first, and absolutely did not hit people just because they were obnoxious.
She learned that lesson the hard way years ago.
A vivid memory flashed in her mind.
Her cousin sneered at her during a family gathering.
“You’re so weak, Utahime. A good-for-nothing sorcerer!! Blehh!!.” the young boy said, punctuating his words by sticking out his tongue at her.
And younger Utahime, fists clenched.
Then the satisfying thwack of her punch connecting with his jaw.
“ DIEE BRATT!! ” the young utahime yelled
…followed by the much less satisfying lecture from her parents.
“Young ladies do not hit people just because they are rude.”
Utahime inhaled slowly.
Exhaled.
Calm. Be calm.
Across from her, the tall white-haired boy was still grinning like he had just watched a comedy show.
He leaned down slightly, peering at her face through those dark sunglasses like she was a curious specimen.
“Wow,” he said casually. “It’s even worse up close.”
Utahime’s eyebrow twitched.
“Your cursed energy is tiny,” he continued, holding his fingers close together to demonstrate. “Like… this tiny.”
He snorted again, clearly amused with himself.
“Are you even a sorcerer?”
Utahime’s polite smile slowly appeared.
The kind of smile that looked pleasant on the outside. And absolutely murderous on the inside.
“I am,” she said calmly.
The boy hummed.
“Really? That’s crazy.”
Utahime felt another vein throb in her forehead.
The boy straightened up to his full height again, towering over her easily. Up close, she could tell he was around her age… maybe younger.
Definitely a first year.
He stuck his hands into his pockets lazily.
“Oh right,” he added. “I’m new here.”
No apology.
No manners.
Just pure, unfiltered arrogance radiating off him like sunlight.
“My name’s Gojo,” he said casually. “Gojo Satoru.”
Utahime stared at him.
Gojo.
The Gojo clan?
Before she could react, he leaned closer again with a grin.
“So,” he said cheerfully, “are all the upperclassmen this weak, or did I just get lucky and find the worst one first?”
You know what?
Who cared if he was some damned brat from the Gojo clan?
Before that, he was her junior.
And as a good senpai… she should correct him.
Utahime’s fingers curled slowly into a fist.
Just this once.
She straightened slightly, gathering what cursed energy she had and focusing it carefully into her arm. Her technique hummed faintly as she pushed the energy into her fist, amplifying the strength behind it. It wasn’t a massive amount, but concentrated properly, it would be more than enough to knock the smug grin off a first year’s face.
Gojo, meanwhile, was still standing there lazily with his hands in his pockets.
”Wow,” he said, leaning forward a little. “Are you powering up? That’s kinda cu—”
Utahime swung.
Or at least she tried to.
Before her fist could travel more than a few inches, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her waist from behind.
In one swift motion—
Utahime was pulled backward.
Then down.
Thud.
“?!”
“...Oh?”
The voice behind her sounded mildly surprised.
Utahime froze.
“Mei Mei?!”
The older girl stood behind her, arms still hooked neatly around Utahime’s waist to keep her from launching forward like a missile. Mei Mei’s braid slipped over her shoulder as she calmly looked down at the scene.
Her expression wasn’t alarmed.
If anything, she looked… curious.
Because the girl currently trying to throw hands was Utahime Iori.
Utahime Iori.
The same Utahime who bowed to teachers twice.
The same Utahime who once lectured an entire group of students about proper hallway etiquette.
And now she was on the ground, trying to punch someone.
Mei Mei tilted her head slightly, assessing the situation like it was an interesting little puzzle.
“Well,” she said calmly, “this is unexpected.”
Utahime squirmed in her hold.
“Let me go!”
Mei Mei didn’t tighten her grip aggressively, but she definitely didn’t let go either.
Across from them, Gojo had stepped back slightly and was now watching with open amusement.
He crouched down a bit, elbows on his knees like he had front-row seats to a show.
“Oh wow,” he laughed. “She really tried to punch me.”
Mei Mei’s eyes shifted to him.
White hair.
Tall.
Arrogant posture.
First year.
Definitely Gojo Satoru.
She hummed thoughtfully.
“And you,” she said calmly, “must be one of the new students.”
Gojo gave a lazy little wave.
“Yep.”
Utahime pointed at him furiously from where she was being restrained.
“The brat called me weak!”
Gojo immediately snorted.
“I mean… you kinda are.”
Utahime made a sound that was dangerously close to a growl.
Mei Mei blinked slowly.
Then she looked back down at Utahime.
Now that was interesting.
Because Utahime wasn’t someone who got angry easily.
Annoyed? Sure.
Embarrassed? Often.
But angry enough to throw a punch?
Mei Mei’s eyes drifted back to the white-haired boy.
“…What,” she asked calmly, “did you say to her?”
Gojo grinned, completely unbothered.
“I just said her cursed energy is tiny.”
He held two fingers close together for emphasis.
“Like this tiny.”
Utahime thrashed again.
“MEI MEI LET ME GO—”
Mei Mei sighed softly.
And that was how their first meeting went.
Later that day, Utahime finally met the rest of the new first years.
Geto Suguru.
And Ieiri Shoko.
Geto was polite. Much more polite than Gojo, at least. Shoko seemed calm, quiet, almost bored with everything around her.
| TIMESKIP SUMMER|
By the time the school year ended, frustration had settled into a constant weight she carried everywhere.
She had trained. She had focused. She had polished every ounce of cursed energy and refined her technique.
Yet, compared to the other students, she knew
the truth.
She was the weakest.
Not useless. Not incapable. Just… weak.
That afternoon, she slumped onto the couch in the living room, legs curled beneath her, glaring at the ceiling like it had personally offended her. Her brother lounged across from her, one leg draped over the armrest, lazily scrolling on his phone.
Normally, Utahime carried herself with the poise and seriousness of a third-year—calm, collected, untouchable. But around her family, all of that melted away. Here, she could throw herself onto the couch, stomp her feet, and scream her frustrations without a care.
“I just… I train all the time! I push myself! I focus! I do everything right!” she huffed, flopping onto her side for dramatic effect, like a little kid throwing a fit. “And I’m still… STILL the weakest! It’s so unfair!”
Her brother didn’t even look up. He tapped the screen lazily.
“I’ve been working so hard!” she continued, voice climbing. “Everyone else is strong! Everyone else can fight and move and—Ugh! Why can’t I just be… strong?!”
She stomped a foot, flopped back onto her stomach, and groaned, the way she never would in front of her classmates. “It’s not fair! Not fair, not fair, not fair!”
Finally, her brother glanced up, eyebrows raised. “Uh-huh. Sounds rough. But… have you tried thinking differently?”
Utahime groaned again. “Thinking differently? I think all the time! And I’m still weak!”
He leaned back casually, hands behind his head like this was all just a minor inconvenience. “Okay… okay. Let’s say it’s a game.”
“A game?” she said, tilting her head, suspicion and curiosity warring in her expression.
“Yeah. Your cursed technique buffs other people, right?” he said, calm as if explaining the obvious. “Makes them stronger, faster… better. So why not… you? Just power yourself up.”
Her eyes widened like a beam of hope had just shot straight into her soul—but just as fast, her brows furrowed.
“It’s not that simple! I can amplify their techniques and stuff to make them stronger, but my technique is…already amplification! Even if I amplify it, it wouldn’t make a difference—urgh…” she grumbled, flopping onto her side like the weight of the world had landed there.
Her little brother let out a long, exasperated sigh. “Can’t you just… I don’t know, like… amplify your strength and like uh speed?” His tone carried the frustration of someone who had endured far too many of his older sister’s tantrums.
Utahime’s back was still to him, hiding the slow, mischievous grin forming on her face.
‘So troublesome,’ her brother thought.
Then, like a kid who just got the perfect idea, she spun around, tackled him in a hug, and ruffled his hair, laughing like a maniac. “Thank youuu!!” she squealed, planting a kiss on his forehead.
“Urgh,” her brother grumbled, though he couldn’t hide the faint smile tugging at his lips.
“I KNOW NOW!!” she shouted, bouncing up and down like a sugar-crazed child. “I just have to train my body to be really strong and fast—then kapow!” She waved her hands dramatically in the air. “Technique amplification! So I get a hundred times stronger and faster, heheh!”
Her childish giggles filled the room as she bolted out of the house, only to return moments later in a flash, dashing to her room to grab a black tank top and shorts. She reappeared fully geared for training and shot off again like lightning.
“What?” her brother blinked, left behind in the whirlwind of her fast-talking enthusiasm. All he could make out was strong and fast.
Over the summer, Utahime Iori went all-in.
She trained at the gym near her house every morning, sometimes before the sun even woke up. Taekwondo masters drilled her kicks until her legs burned, boxing instructors slammed power punches into her arms and shoulders, and other martial arts teachers pushed her through flips, throws, and fast combinations she’d never tried before.
She sprinted laps until her lungs screamed, jumped onto platforms, dodged imaginary attacks, shadow sparred with furious energy, lifted weights, twisted with resistance bands, her body moving like a blur. Every punch, kick, and flip made her faster, stronger, sharper.
She groaned dramatically when a move went wrong, flopped onto the mat when she was exhausted, and sometimes laughed at herself mid-drill. No one was watching anyway.
By the end of summer, she was taller, leaner, and stronger. Her body had leveled up, a problem arose: how could she keep training at school? It's not like she could go out everyday after school to the gym it would be too tedious since the nearest gym was pretty far
Utahime groaned and flopped onto the training mat, rolling around dramatically as she tried to think. Her arms spread out like a defeated starfish while she stared at the ceiling.
A moment later the gym door creaked open.
“Oh, Iori, you look upset,” said a deep, calm voice.
Her boxing instructor had just walked in. The very tall man had a gentle face, the kind that made him look like he’d be more interested in knitting sweaters than teaching people how to punch.
Utahime quickly rolled onto her feet the moment she saw him. She straightened up and bowed slightly.
“Good afternoon, Takahashi-sensei.”
The man lifted a hand, signaling for her to relax, so she raised her head again.
“I’m just wondering how I can keep my training up,” Utahime admitted with a sigh. “Since I can’t go out after school each day to go to the gym. It’s really far.”
Takahashi-sensei nodded thoughtfully, folding
his arms.
“Does your school have a gym?”
Utahime tilted her head, thinking.
…Oh yeah.
They did.
It was barely used too and it has good equipment.
But she didn’t want to go after school. Because
if Gojo saw her there, he would absolutely start bothering her. And if he found out she was secretly training to get stronger?
He would laugh his ass off.
Probably mock her too.
Maybe even announce it to the whole school.
Just imagining it made her blood boil.
Takahashi-sensei watched her expression shift through several emotions in three seconds flat and spoke again, almost like he could read her mind.
“If they do,” he said calmly, “then how about waking up really early and training secretly?”
Utahime blinked.
“Or,” he added with a small smile, “you could go when everyone is busy. But if you want it to stay secret, early mornings work best.”
Utahime slowly straightened.
Early mornings…
A gym with no people.
No Gojo.
Her eyes lit up like she had just discovered treasure.
“Oh.”
Then she grinned.
“Oh that’s perfect!”
|~ 2006 JULY 12 ~|
Utahime Iori arrived back on campus three days before the rest of the students.
The school grounds were quiet, almost peaceful. No loud students, no arguments echoing down the halls, no familiar white-haired nuisance leaning around corners waiting to bother her. Just a few staff members here and there preparing the campus before everyone returned.
Utahime liked it that way.
It gave her time to adjust.
After settling into her dorm room and unpacking some of her things, she stood in front of the mirror for a moment, studying herself.
Summer had changed her more than she expected.
Before, she had been pretty skinny. The kind of skinny that came from constant training but not always eating enough to keep up with it.
That wasn’t the case anymore.
Between the strict training schedule, proper meals, and an actual sleep routine, her body had filled out in a healthier way. She had grown a little taller, and there was more weight on her now—but in the right places.
Her arms and legs had lean muscle from the endless sprints, kicks, and boxing drills. Her posture was straighter too, naturally balanced from months of martial arts training.
But it wasn’t just muscle.
Her chest had filled out more than before, and her hips were a little wider now. Even her butt had gained some weight from all the leg workouts and jump drills she had been doing all summer. It gave her frame a stronger, more balanced look compared to the skinny girl she
had been before.
Utahime blinked at her reflection, tilting her head slightly.
“…Huh.”
She turned sideways, then turned back again, inspecting the changes with mild curiosity.
“Woah im hottt…Training really does work, I guess.”
Satisfied, she grabbed the workout clothes she had set aside earlier.
The next morning, her alarm buzzed quietly beside her bed.
She didn’t have to wake up this early yet. No one else was even on campus.
But she wanted to get used to it.
If she planned to sneak out and train every morning once everyone arrived, she needed to get used to the routine now.
Utahime rolled out of bed and changed into her training outfit: black athletic shorts and a fitted black tank top. The tank top hugged her frame comfortably, showing the toned strength in her shoulders and arms, while the shorts gave her legs full freedom to move.
She tied her hair back tightly, stretched her arms over her head, and quietly slipped out of the dorm.
The campus was still dim with early morning light. A few staff members were already moving around in the distance, but otherwise the place felt completely empty.
Perfect.
When she pushed open the doors to the school gym, they creaked softly.
Inside, the room was silent.
No students.
No stupid gojo.
Just her.
Utahime stepped inside, rolling her shoulders as she walked toward the center of the floor.
A grin slowly spread across her face.
“Alright,” she muttered, stretching her legs.
Her fists came up instinctively, her stance settling into place.
“Let’s get to work.”
And with that, Utahime Iori’s early-morning training routine officially began.
The gym was quiet enough that every movement echoed.
Utahime liked that.
The faint thud of her shoes against the mat.
The soft squeak of rubber soles pivoting.
The rhythmic thwack of gloves against the heavy bag.
It made everything feel focused. Clean. Like the world had shrunk down to just the sound of her breathing and the next punch waiting to happen.
She rolled her shoulders once.
Then twice.
Then she started moving.
Left step. Right step.
Her fists snapped forward in quick succession.
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
The bag swayed slightly.
Utahime inhaled through her nose, steady and controlled.
Then she sped up.
A jab.
A cross.
A hook that twisted her hips sharply.
Her body moved with the muscle memory burned into it after an entire summer of drills.
Every punch carried more weight than it used to. Not monstrous strength like some sorcerers had.
But real strength.
Earned strength.
Her breathing deepened.
Sweat gathered along her temples as she increased the tempo, adding kicks between strikes.
Her leg whipped up.
THUD.
The bag swung harder this time.
Utahime landed lightly on her feet and immediately pivoted again.
She imagined something tall in front of her.
White hair.
Smug grin.
Dark sunglasses.
Her fist shot forward harder.
THWACK.
“Ur super weak.”
Her eyebrow twitched.
Another punch.
THWACK.
“Your cursed energy is tiny.”
Kick.
THUD.
“Are you even a sorcerer?”
Utahime’s eyes narrowed.
Her movements sharpened instantly.
Her body dropped low as she spun into a
sweeping kick that slammed into the bag.
BOOM.
The bag swung wildly.
Utahime stepped back, breathing heavier now.
“…Shut up,” she muttered to the imaginary Gojo.
For a moment she stood there, hands on her hips, watching the bag sway.
Then she lifted her fists again.
“Again.”
Weeks passed like that.
Every morning before sunrise.
Utahime slipped quietly out of the dorms while
The rest of the campus still slept.
Sometimes the sky outside was dark blue.
Sometimes pale orange.
Sometimes it rained softly against the gym.
windows while she trained.
But every morning she was there.
Running laps around the gym floor.
Jumping rope until her calves burned.
Shadowboxing in front of the mirrors.
Practicing combinations she had memorized from her instructors.
And once she was fully warmed up
She practiced the real part.
Her cursed technique.
Utahime inhaled slowly, standing still in the center of the mat.
Her technique hummed faintly beneath her skin.
Normally it worked best when supporting someone else.
Amplifying them.
Boosting their output.
But now she focused the energy inward.
Her cursed energy flowed along her muscles like invisible threads tightening across her body.
Her arms felt lighter.
Her legs felt quicker.
She moved.
Just one step.
But the step was fast.
Utahime blinked.
“…Oh.”
She tried again; this time she ran.
Her feet moved quicker than they should have.
Not ridiculously fast.
But noticeably faster.
Her grin slowly spread.
“It works.”
She clenched her fists.
Her muscles already felt stronger from months of physical training.
But with her technique amplifying that strength
Her next punch slammed into the heavy bag hard enough to send it flying backward.
BOOM.
Utahime stared.
The bag swung violently from its chain.
Her eyes widened.
“…Oh my god.”
Then she burst into delighted laughter.
“HAHA! IT WORKS!”
She ran forward again, throwing another punch.
THUD.
The bag shook.
Utahime practically vibrated with excitement.
Her little brother’s voice echoed in her head.
“Just amplify yourself.”
She laughed again.
“GENIUS!”
She bounced on her feet, throwing a rapid series of punches and kicks, each one stronger than before.
Sure, her cursed energy pool was still small.
But if she used it efficiently…
If she amplified what she already built…
Then suddenly
She wasn’t weak anymore.
She was strong.
By the time the new school year approached,
Utahime’s routine was perfectly set.
Wake up before sunrise.
Train for two hours.
Shower.
Act normal.
No one suspected a thing.
Not Mei Mei.
Not the teachers.
And most importantly
Not Gojo.
|~ 2006 JULY 13 ~|
The new school year returned like a storm of noise.
Dorm doors slamming.
Utahime Iori walked through the courtyard carrying a stack of reports for one of the instructors, posture straight as always.
But today something was… off.
People were looking at her.
Not rudely. Not staring exactly.
Just little pauses.
A second glance.
Utahime slowed slightly.
“…What?”
Across the courtyard, Shoko Ieiri sat on the steps with her usual sleepy expression, cigarette resting between two fingers. Her half-lidded eyes followed Utahime for a moment.
Then one corner of her mouth lifted.
“Well. That’s new.”
Utahime approached her.
“Shoko?”
Shoko took a slow drag and looked Utahime up and down without shame.
“…You got taller.”
Utahime blinked.
“I did?”
“A little.”
Shoko flicked ash onto the pavement.
Then she tilted her head again.
“And hotter.”
Utahime choked on air.
“I— what..??”
Shoko shrugged lazily.
“Just saying.”
Utahime’s ears turned pink instantly.
“Thank you..??”
Before Shoko could reply
A voice suddenly dropped from above them.
“Hey.”
Utahime froze.
Slowly.
Painfully.
She looked up.
White hair leaned over the second-floor railing.
Gojo Satoru stared down at her like he had just spotted something mildly interesting.
“…Did you get taller?”
Utahime’s eyes twitched.
“Go away.”
Gojo hopped down the stairs two at a time anyway.
Geto followed behind him, hands tucked in his sleeves like this was just another normal day.
Gojo stopped in front of Utahime and squinted slightly behind his sunglasses.
“…Huh.”
Utahime crossed her arms.
“What.”
He tilted his head.
“Something’s different.”
Shoko muttered, “You’re late.”
Gojo ignored her and leaned a little closer, studying Utahime like a curious cat.
“Did you grow?”
Utahime stepped back immediately.
“Personal space exists.”
Geto smiled faintly.
“I noticed you look a bit taller.”
“Why is everyone analyzing me today?!”
Shoko spoke through a puff of smoke.
“Because you got hotter.”
Utahime made a strangled noise.
“STOP SAYING THAT.”
Gojo looked between them.
“…What.”
Shoko pointed lazily at Utahime.
“She glowed up.”
Gojo looked back at Utahime again.
Then shrugged.
“Yeah but her cursed energy is still blegh.”
Utahime’s fist twitched violently.
“There it is,” Shoko said calmly.
Gojo stuck his hands into his pockets.
“You’d think if someone got stronger their cursed energy would grow too.”
Utahime smiled politely.
Even though you could see her brows slowly start to furrow.
“I am not weak.”
Gojo tilted his head.
“You’re not strong either.”
Geto covered his mouth to hide a laugh.
Shoko snorted.
Utahime inhaled slowly.
Exhaled slowly.
<
|~ 2006 JULY 13 ~|
The new school year returned like a storm of noise.
Dorm doors slamming.
Utahime Iori walked through the courtyard carrying a stack of reports for one of the instructors, posture straight as always.
But today something was… off.
People were looking at her.
Not rudely. Not staring exactly.
Just little pauses.
A second glance.
Utahime slowed slightly.
“…What?”
Across the courtyard, Shoko Ieiri sat on the steps with her usual sleepy expression, cigarette resting between two fingers. Her half-lidded eyes followed Utahime for a moment.
Then one corner of her mouth lifted.
“Well. That’s new.”
Utahime approached her.
“Shoko?”
Shoko took a slow drag and looked Utahime up and down without shame.
“…You got taller.”
Utahime blinked.
“I did?”
“A little.”
Shoko flicked ash onto the pavement.
Then she tilted her head again.
“And hotter.”
Utahime choked on air.
“I— what..??”
Shoko shrugged lazily.
“Just saying.”
Utahime’s ears turned pink instantly.
“Thank you..??”
Before Shoko could reply
A voice suddenly dropped from above them.
“Hey.”
Utahime froze.
Slowly.
Painfully.
She looked up.
White hair leaned over the second-floor railing.
Gojo Satoru stared down at her like he had just spotted something mildly interesting.
“…Did you get taller?”
Utahime’s eyes twitched.
“Go away.”
Gojo hopped down the stairs two at a time anyway.
Geto followed behind him, hands tucked in his sleeves like this was just another normal day.
Gojo stopped in front of Utahime and squinted slightly behind his sunglasses.
“…Huh.”
Utahime crossed her arms.
“What.”
He tilted his head.
“Something’s different.”
Shoko muttered, “You’re late.”
Gojo ignored her and leaned a little closer, studying Utahime like a curious cat.
“Did you grow?”
Utahime stepped back immediately.
“Personal space exists.”
Geto smiled faintly.
“I noticed you look a bit taller.”
“Why is everyone analyzing me today?!”
Shoko spoke through a puff of smoke.
“Because you got hotter.”
Utahime made a strangled noise.
“STOP SAYING THAT.”
Gojo looked between them.
“…What.”
Shoko pointed lazily at Utahime.
“She glowed up.”
Gojo looked back at Utahime again.
Then shrugged.
“Yeah but her cursed energy is still blegh.”
Utahime’s fist twitched violently.
“There it is,” Shoko said calmly.
Gojo stuck his hands into his pockets.
“You’d think if someone got stronger their cursed energy would grow too.”
Utahime smiled politely.
Even though you could see her brows slowly start to furrow.
“I am not weak.”
Gojo tilted his head.
“You’re not strong either.”
Geto covered his mouth to hide a laugh.
“Gojo.”
“Yeah?”
“If you keep talking…”
She smiled sweetly about to finish her sentence when Gojo abruptly cut her off.
Gojo grinned.
“Not like you can do anything.”
Then he leaned forward slightly.
“So what are you gonna try punching me again?”
Utahime turned and walked away.
“I’ve matured.”
Gojo watched her go.
“…That’s weird.”
Geto nodded.
“Very.”
Shoko exhaled smoke.
“She’s probably gonna attack you in your sleep.” she laughed
And from that moment on, Gojo had a new goal in life.
Getting Utahime to react again.
Because calm Utahime was weird.
Extremely weird.
Every day he tried something.
Every single day.
“Morning, useless weak ass senpai!”
Nothing.
Utahime walked past him calmly.
“Did your cursed energy shrink again?”
Nothing.
She kept walking.
One afternoon he leaned against a hallway wall as she passed.
“Hey.”
Utahime stopped.
“…What.”
He pointed at her.
“Say something mean.”
“No.”
“Throw something at me.”
“No.”
“Try punching me.”
“No.”
Gojo frowned.
“You used to be fun.”
Anyone watching probably guessed Gojo had a thing for a little degradation or maybe Utahime just started it off.
He squinted suspiciously.
“…sure.”
Shoko nearly laughed herself off the couch later when she heard about it.
That night the dorms were quiet.
Everyone is asleep except for one person inside the gym.
THUD.
The punching bag swung hard.
Utahime stood in front of it breathing heavily.
Her tank top clung to her shoulders with sweat.
THUD.
Another punch.
“You couldn't possibly hm? Cause yer weak.”
THUD.
“You're still a short tho”
Kick.
BOOM.
“Try punching me.”
Utahime stopped moving.
Her eye twitched violently.
“…Asshole.”
She kicked the bag again.
THUD.
Weeks of irritation bubbled inside her chest.
She had stayed calm.
Smiled politely.
Walked away.
But now no one was here.
Utahime rolled her shoulders slowly.
“…Alright.”
If she was going to punch Gojo someday…
She needed to know her full output.
Which meant using the annoying part of her technique.
The part she usually skipped.
Because it was tedious.
And complicated.
And honestly looked ridiculous.
Utahime stepped into the center of the gym.
“…Fine.”
She started the ritual.
First the stance.
Then the hand gestures.
Precise movements.
Her cursed energy stirred.
Then the steps.
A flowing sequence that almost resembled a dance.
Turn.
Step.
Hands crossing.
Her cursed energy built faster.
Stronger.
Utahime completed every step this time.
Her technique surged through her body.
Amplifying everything.
Her muscles felt lighter.
Her movements sharper.
Her eyes widened slightly.
“…Woah.”
She turned toward the punching bag.
Pulled back her fist.
“Let’s see.”
She punched.
For half a second
Everything was normal.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM.
The sound tore through the entire gym.
Utahime blinked.
The punching bag was gone.
The metal frame behind it was gone.
And the entire right side of the gym wall had been blasted clean open.
Moonlight poured through the massive hole.
Cold night air rushed inside.
Utahime stood there.
Arm still extended.
Her brain buffering like a broken computer.
“….”
A chunk of concrete outside crumbled off.
Utahime slowly lowered her arm.
“…I.”
Silence.
“…punched.”
More silence.
“…the gym.”
She stared at the enormous hole in the building.
Then whispered very quietly.
“ I punched the gym.. “
Silence
“ Shit “
Utahime panicked, her eyes darting around wildly, scanning every corner to see if anyone had witnessed what just happened.
Luckily… no one did.
Lucky!!
She gasped, her breath jagged, eyes snapping down to her fists.
A scorching red aura roared from them, crawling up her arms like fire.
“Ah!!”
Her scream cut through the air as she shook her hands violently, desperate.
‘What the hell is this!? Get off me!!’ she yelled, her voice trembling with terror.
The sudden noise echoed through the quiet morning campus, loud enough to wake someone who had been sleeping very peacefully nearby.
Shoko’s dorm door creaked open.
“...Hm.”
Shoko stepped out, hair messy, eyes barely open, still wrapped in the heavy fog of sleep. She blinked slowly, like her brain was buffering, and lifted her head just enough to make eye contact with Utahime.
Silence.
Long.
Confused.
Sleepy silence.
Shoko squinted, trying to figure out if her half-awake brain was hallucinating.
Was that really Utahime-senpai out this early?
Then her gaze drifted downward.
Her eyes widened.
The red aura radiating off Utahime’s fists flickered like angry flames.
Shoko blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then she slowly turned her head and looked around.
The right side of the gym…
Had been blown.
Just.
Gone.
Shattered wood, cracked walls, and dust still drifting lazily in the air like the building itself was sighing in defeat.
“Ehhh??” Shoko drawled out, mouth hanging open as she gaped at the sight.
Her brain finally finished loading the situation.
Utahime was probably the one who destroyed the gym.
But how??
Shoko looked back at Utahime.
Very slowly.
“…Senpai.”
Pause.
“…What did you do?”
With her technique still active, amplifying her speed, Utahime moved. In a flash, she was right in front of Shoko’s face.
“Shokoo!” she whined.
“Please don’t tell anyone. Not even Gojo or Getou please,” she said quickly, grabbing
Shoko by the shoulders.
Shoko blinked.
She had just woken up, hair messy and eyes half open. Her brain was still slow and foggy from sleep. For a moment, she simply stared at Utahime.
Was she dreaming?
Utahime-senpai standing there… fists glowing red?
Shoko blinked slowly, her sleepy brain trying to catch up with what her eyes were seeing.
Then her gaze drifted down.
“…Woah.”
Utahime’s usual miko outfit was gone. Instead, she was wearing a fitted tank top that hugged her curves and a pair of shorts that showed her thighs.
Shoko tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing in thought.
Her gaze lingered for a second.
Then another.
Her still-half-asleep brain supplied a very unhelpful thought.
…Looking pretty hot.
She blinked again and squinted harder, like she was trying to solve a math problem.
Was all that there before?
Because Utahime-senpai usually wore those loose miko robes that hid everything. Now that she wasn’t wearing them, Shoko was suddenly noticing things she had never really paid attention to before.Her eyes flicked up to Utahime’s panicking face.
Then back down.
Then back up again.
“…Huh.”
Shoko rubbed one eye.
“Uhh sure..” she nodded.
Utahime froze.
“Really?!” she asked immediately, leaning closer.
Shoko nodded again, still looking confused.
Then her eyes slowly shifted past Utahime.
To the gym.
More specifically…
The right side of the gym.
Which had been blown.
A huge part of the wall was gone, pieces scattered everywhere, dust still floating in the air.
Shoko stared at it.
Then she looked back at Utahime.
“...What happened?” she said slowly, gaping at the sight.
“Can we please go inside my dorm? I’ll explain,” Utahime said quickly, still holding Shoko by the shoulders.
Shoko blinked.“…Okay.” She nodded.
Utahime released her and turned toward her dorm, only a few steps away. Shoko followed behind her, swaying gently side to side like a sleepy ghost that had been dragged out of bed against its will.
Her steps were slow.
Unbalanced.
Her brain still floating somewhere between dream and reality.
Utahime, meanwhile, was thinking.
At first her thoughts rushed around chaotically.
Okay okay okay think.
Explain it.
Downplay it.
But then she paused.
Her shoulders slowly relaxed.
Honestly… who would believe she did it?
In everyone’s eyes, she was the weak one. The careful one. The one who scolded people for breaking things, not the one who blew up an entire wall.
If anything…
Gojo would probably get blamed.
A small, relieved breath left her.
…Yeah.
That actually made her feel a lot better.
By the time they reached her dorm, Utahime had already calmed down considerably. She slid the door open and stepped aside to let Shoko in.
The moment Shoko walked inside, she stopped.
Her nose twitched slightly.
“…Mm.”
Utahime closed the door behind them.
The room smelled warm and comforting, vanilla filling the air like the scent of fresh pastries or warm blankets straight from the dryer.
Shoko inhaled again.
“…Your dorm smells good,” she mumbled.
Utahime glanced at her, the tension in her shoulders easing a little.
“I’m glad,” she said.
Shoko stepped further inside, looking around slowly. The room was neat, everything in its place. Papers stacked carefully, blankets folded, the space tidy in that very Utahime-senpai way.
Utahime watched her for a moment before speaking again.
“So… about earlier.”
Shoko turned her head slightly to look at her.
Utahime rubbed the back of her neck, thoughtful rather than nervous now.
She frowned slightly, as if the situation puzzled her too.
Despite being prim and proper, she’d unlocked a skill she didn’t know she had turned out Utahime had a real talent for lying.
“I didn’t really see what happened.”
A small pause.
“…It might’ve been a curse.”
Shoko blinked slowly.
Utahime shrugged lightly.
“Or maybe something weird happened with my technique. I’m not sure.”
Another pause.
Utahime took a small breath, trying to organize her thoughts.
She didn’t look panicked anymore, just a little concerned… and very aware that Shoko looked like she might fall asleep standing up.
“So… I was in the gym,” Utahime began, speaking calmly. “Just getting some alone time. Thinking.”
Shoko sat there swaying slightly, eyes half-open, listening but clearly fighting sleep.
Utahime gestured with her hand as she explained.
“One second I was just standing there…”
She paused, then lightly motioned outward.
“And then the next second the wall went down and went kaboom.”
She frowned a little, still confused herself.
“I didn’t really see what happened either.”
Shoko blinked slowly at her.
Utahime studied her for a moment and noticed the way Shoko’s head dipped slightly, like gravity was winning.
Her expression softened immediately.
“…Shoko.”
She gently gestured toward the bed.
“You look exhausted. Just sleep there for a bit.”
The bed looked warm, soft, and ridiculously comfortable with its thick fluffy blankets.
Shoko didn’t argue.
“…Okay,” she mumbled.
She shuffled over and climbed onto the bed, the mattress sinking softly under her. The blankets were warm and plush, wrapping around her like a cloud.
“…Mm.”
She settled in almost instantly.
Utahime watched quietly, making sure she got comfortable.
Then Shoko’s nose twitched a little.
“…Your room smells nice.”
Utahime blinked.
“Does it?”
Shoko nodded sleepily, already half buried in the blankets.
“…Like warm vanilla.”
Utahime looked around her room for a second before a small smile appeared on her face.
“I’m glad you like it,” she said softly.
She leaned lightly against the desk beside the bed.
“You can come here anytime if you want to sleep.”
Shoko shifted slightly in the blankets.
Utahime chuckled quietly and added,
“I mean it. Anytime.”
Shoko gave a tiny nod from the pillow, clearly already drifting off.
Within moments her breathing slowed, her body relaxing completely into the warm bed.
Utahime looked at her for a moment, making sure she was comfortable, then pulled the blanket up a little higher over her shoulder.
Outside, somewhere far off, a piece of the gym probably finished collapsing.
Utahime glanced toward the window.
Then back to the sleeping Shoko.
“…I’ll deal with that later,” she murmured.
First, Utahime figured she needed a shower. She was sweaty, and the thought of climbing into bed like this made her wrinkle her nose. She grabbed a towel and her pajamas, thinking she could probably sleep a little longer afterward—it was only 4 a.m., and school didn’t
start until 6 anyway.
She stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her. Steam filled the bathroom, carrying a faint vanilla scent from the soap she liked. It was calming, and for a moment, she just let herself relax, letting the tension from the gym incident melt down the drain.
Then her thoughts wandered. How would Yaga-sensei react if he found out?
The thought made her shiver slightly. The possibility that someone even a teacher might suspect her of causing the gym wall to collapse was unsettling. She shook her head, trying to dismiss it. No, she thought. No one would believe it was me. They all see me as… careful. Weak. Careful and weak.
Still, the idea lingered in the back of her mind like a shadow. She let out a soft sigh, focusing instead on the warm water sliding down her back. She could deal with everyone else later. For now… a few more minutes of steam, vanilla, and silence.
After the shower, Utahime stepped out, wrapped herself in a towel, and dried her hair. The warm vanilla scent still lingered in the room, comforting and soft. She slipped into her pajamas, the fabric cozy against her skin, and let out a small sigh of relief.
Careful not to wake Shoko, she climbed onto the bed and settled in beside her. Shoko shifted slightly but didn’t wake, still curled up under the blankets. Utahime glanced down at her, a small smile tugging at her lips.
For a moment, the world outside the gym, the wall, the chaos didn’t exist. There was only this quiet, warm room, the vanilla scent, and the soft, rhythmic breathing of someone she cared about beside her.
Utahime closed her eyes, letting herself drift, thinking she could sleep for a little while longer. After all, it was still early, and for once, nothing urgent demanded her attention.
Well… except for one little detail.
Everyone else would start waking up soon, and Shoko would probably have a lot more questions once she was fully conscious.
Utahime’s eyes opened slightly as she thought about it, the blankets warm around her.
And then another thought hit her. How did no one wake up to the noise?
The gym explosion had to be loud walls crashing, dust flying and yet… silence. No shouting. No footsteps. No one burst in to see what had happened except Shoko, maybe everyone were just deep sleepers.
She frowned, letting the blankets tug her closer. Maybe it was a miracle. Or maybe… she wasn’t supposed to think about it too hard.
Shoko let out a small mumble in her sleep, curling slightly closer. Utahime watched her for a moment, letting herself relax just a little. For now, she decided, she’d worry about the gym, the curious questions, and the impossible silence later.
For now… sleep.
Just as Utahime was starting to drift off again, warm and cozy beside Shoko, a sharp beeping cut through the quiet. Her alarm. She groaned softly, rolling over to silence it, thinking she could probably sneak in a few more minutes of sleep.
But before she could even hit the snooze button, a familiar, annoyingly loud voice pierced the room.
“Woah! What happened to the gym?!”
Utahime froze mid-movement, eyes snapping open. Her heart skipped a beat.
Shoko stirred slightly beside her, blinking sleepily at the sudden outburst. Utahime’s mind raced—she hadn’t expected anyone to be awake this early, let alone so… energetic.
She peeked through the window, already guessing who it was. That voice… there was no mistaking it.
Gojo.
Her chest tightened a little, and she hugged the blanket closer around her.
“Not now…” she muttered under her breath, letting out a long, resigned sigh.