"Toge?"

You rub your eyes, brows furrowed. You were taking a nap when someone had knocked on your door. The mission with okkotsu had ended a few hours ago, and the moment the three of you arrived at the dorms, you fell face first to your bed.

"Tuna." the boy says, jabbing a finger to the empty hall. Was it already time for dinner?

Still half asleep, you shake your head.

"Skipping.. Don't feel like it." you say, "Goodnight, Toge-"

The boy suddenly takes your arm, a pout on his face. How can you ignore your health like that? Inumaki knew you weren't much of a foodie, but you do enjoy homemade meals.

He's eager to get you to eat since he had helped with preparing dinner.

"Oh, okay. okay." you curse yourself for being so submissive. You don't dare to remove your arm despite having the strength to.

You're weak againts him even if you only have a silly crush.

"Ohoho?" you raise a brow, sniffing the air, "Did you cook again, Toge?"

"Mhm!" the boy hums, making you smile.

"You should've told me earlier. I'm down to eat anything you make." you say effortlessly, not noticing how heat rises to the boys cheek. Was that a compliment? Inumaki knew how you almost had no filter for your mouth but it still caught him off guard.

The two of you then walked to the dining area where you're surprised to see your classmates. It's rare to see everyone together.

"Maki." you call, "Is that gyoza?"

Your fellow first year, with a plate of her own, nods. She's obviously pleased with how the food on the table turned out. Nothing looks burnt, raw, or unpleasant.

You take a seat beside Okkotsu, not batting the boy an eye. He gulps nervously.

"Nice to see you, uhm, Hokori.."

He greets. You hum as a response. You were in a good mood so you might as well show a bit of respect.

"I saw you earlier." you cringe at your reply, yet you kept a straight face, "Maki, can i have a bowl? Thanks."

The girl frowns.

"Grab it yourself!"

"Wha? So impolite.."

Okkotsu sweatdrops, still not getting used to yours and Maki's bantering. Though the two of you are a great duo sometimes, fights were unavoidable.

Inumaki and panda, on the other hand, continues to feast on the delicious meal.

four months before

Okkotsu's arrival

"They'll fit right in!"

"I'm happy to hear that.."

It's the day.

You're finally free from the people you call family. No more gruesome training and no more insults thrown your way. You breathe in the fresh air while the wind blows, the heavy feeling in your heart now starting to disappear. You look around, wondering if you'll get used to seeing the multiple plants surrounding the school.

You never knew leaving Kyoto would bring you so much relief even though you didn't have plans on what to do next except for enrolling at Jujutsu High schools Tokyo branch.

Why even move to Tokyo? It's obvious that you wanted to be nowhere near your clan. That's for sure.

While your new sensei, Gojo, talks to your parents about school related topics that you aren't too interested in, you decide to take a walk. You tug at your mothers sleeves and when she turns to check on you, you jab a finger behind you. She nods, silently giving you permission to roam around.

With that, you began your stroll.

'It's so clean here.. And quiet.' you have a feeling you're going to like your stay here..

You would then turn a corner, seeing steps leading to another part of the school. Something catches your attention-a boy sat on top of the stairs, leaning back with his arms supporting him as he stared at the sky above.

'Maybe he's a student.' taking a break from training, perhaps.

You decide to approach him.

'Look.'

Inumaki thought to himself, eyes focused on the patch of blue he can see through the leaves. He turns his head in different angles, trying to catch a glimpse of the clouds.

He then hears footsteps coming from behind him. The boy turns around, seeing an unfamiliar face standing in front of him, hands in the pockets of their pants.

The person crouches down, eyes meeting with his.

"You a student here?" they ask.

Inumaki could only nod, turning his body to face them.

"Grade what?"

Oh god he wished he can talk. His phone isn't on him either-he took a break from sparring with his classmates and it's not like Inumaki expected to meet someone new today. The boy can only raise two fingers, hoping that this person would get it.

"Second grade? Huh.." you mutter, "What's your name? Why aren't you talking to me?"

The boy shakes his head, now feeling a bit overwhelmed with the questions you're asking him. Should he go get Maki to help?

'Ah.' the cogs in your head starts to turn, 'Maybe he's mute or it has something to do with his technique..'

You raise a hand to your head, cursed energy covering your ears, "I'm gonna ask you again but you're free to not answer.. What's your name?"

Inumaki's eyes slightly widen, surprised that this stranger knew what to do againts his cursed speech. Was it a wild guess? The boy gulps, still hesitating to speak up.

"Inu.."

'Dog?' you patiently wait for him to finish talking.

"Inumaki Toge."

The name sounded familiar to you but you couldn't remember where you heard it. You nod, "Nice to meet you. I'm Hokori Y/N."

Inumaki then excitedly holds out his hand. The corners of the boy's eyes crinkles, making it clear to you that he's smiling from behind the collar of his shirt.

You saw the nervousness in his eyes when you started asking him questions. You wanted to just turn away and leave him alone, but a part of you wanted to continue speaking to Inumaki. Maybe you wanted to make friends already-after all, it's your first time attending a school for sorcerers like you.

Your lips tug into a small smile as you accept his handshake.

"Nice.. Meeting you too!" Inumaki forces out, voice sounding a bit raspy. You could sense his excitement though you can also see that talking normally is hard for him.

The cursed energy surrounding your ear slowly disappears.

"Okay, that's enough talking. Don't wanna hurt you more."

Much to your surprise, you end up in the same class as Inumaki, where you find yourself making two more acquaintances.

"Toge had his cursed words since he was born, you see.."

Panda starts.

"So it seems he had his hardships in the past. Like cursing people when he didn't want to."

A day has passed.

Both Okkotsu and Panda looks out a window, watching as Inumaki waters some plants while you're crouching down, admiring the said plants.

"It's actually similar to your circumstances, Yuta. It seems he was concerned with you since he transferred." he continues.

"He's easy to misunderstand but he's a nice guy. Hope you can get along with him."

Okkotsu then replies.

"Yeah, me too.."

Someone suddenly hits the boy.

"Come on, time for day training!" Maki says.

"Ah, sure." Okkotsu says as he rubs the back of his head.

Maki then adds, "Stop laughing, Panda, i'll kill you!"

As the three of them were going to head outside were you and Inumaki are located, Okkotsu stops.

"Maki-san, one sec."

"Huh?" she turns to the boy.

Okkotsu takes a look of the ring on his finger, "I'm having some trouble pouring my curse on my sword. Is there like a trick to it?"

Pands stays quiet, knowing where this is going. Does Okkotsu not notice that out of all his other classmates, Maki isn't really the best to ask about cursed energy? He has never seen her blade light up like how his sword does.

"Dunno." Maki starts, "don't ask me about cursed energy. Try Y/N instead."

Okkotsu sweatdrops, "But they don't look like they're willing to tell me.."

Panda then pats the boy on the back.

"There's no harm in trying! Y/N may look intimidating, but they're nice." Panda reassures the boy.

"Really?" Okkotsu ask, "Wait.. What is their technique? From what i've seen it's all lightning."

Maki decides to answer this one since if Okkotsu did ask about it, he'll probably be electrocuted. She keeps her eyes on the hall as she began to explain.

"It's called Raijin. They can sense cursed energy very well." Maki tries keeping it vague, "They can make lightning strike any source of energy. It takes a lot of controlling to make sure their attacks don't scatter-this happens when they don't have a specific target."

Okkotsu recalls the events from yesterday where he felt electricity . You were a little worn out, so maybe that's electricity that you couldn't control?

"Got it?"

Maki ask.

The boy then replies.

"Yeah. I got it."

While the three first years were now on their way to fetch you and Inumaki so training can begin..

"These look pretty." you compliment, eyes on the slightly wet flowers, "Nice job, Toge."

The boy, holding the watering can, hides a smile.

"Shake."

You poke a leaf with your finger before pointing at a small patch of dry land surrounding a plant, "Toge, i think you missed a spot."

"Hm?" he hums as a response, crouching beside you to take a closer look. You gulp, scooting away when you see him leaning towards where you were pointing.

"It's right there! Jeez.." you huff, "No need to get all up on my face."

Inumaki turns to you, pouring out water from the watering can and pointing at it. You raise a brow. He didn't want droplets of water and dirt to splash you?

You look away, pink dusting your cheeks, "Oh. Okay."

Inumaki lets out a small chuckle, his eyes more focused on you rather than the plant in front of him.

He knew there's something he always liked about you. Under that tough and sly act you put on is someone who still gets embarrassed over the smallest compliment he gives.

Though he wonders if it's only him.

It's as if his words, which causes harm to people whenever he tries to speak, has a much more positive effect when used on you.

Inumaki's aware that you'll be more than happy to plug your ears with cursed energy if it meant being able to hold a conversation with him-the two of you have done it only a few times, but for Inumaki's own sake, he rarely asks you to talk with him normally.

You have the potential to talk with him without getting hurt. Inumaki wishes to be able to speak without harming himself. He'll train his voice if it meant being able to give you a long conversation.

You're so patient with him that it just makes the boy so thankful to have you as one of his beloved friends. Though does he want to stay as just friends?

That's a question he still has trouble answering. He's no fool- Inumaki has noticed the mixed signals you keep showing him. Well.. Maybe he's overthinking about what you said last night.. But still!

"Toge, c'mon. Let's go."

You then start to stand up, feeling the presence of your other classmates. An irk mark appears on your forehead, a bit annoyed that they had to ruin your moment with Inumaki.

The boy who's still crouching looks up at you, a hand raised as if asking you to pull him up. You roll your eyes playfully.

You grab Inumaki's outstretched wrist, taking out the watering can from his hand before pulling him up.

'..?' Inumaki swore he felt a small shock on his hand. The boy shrugs it off. You would then let go of him, not wanting to make it obvious that you unintentionally used yoir technique out of panic.

"Y/N! Toge!"

You can hear Panda's call. You turn to him, seeing Maki and Okkotsu waiting.

"Yeah we're coming!"

"I'm sorry."

Ijichi's nervous.

"Someone dropped a second class curse from above my curtain." the man says, bowing.

Him and Gojo were in one of the schools halls, secluded from the students so they can have a private conversation. The man with white hair has his hands folded across his chest as he leaned againts a wall.

"And it was even a quasi first grade level of curse that we didn't know was possible." Ijichi continues,

"This is all my responsibility. You can deal with me as you see-"

He was cut off by Gojo.

"No. It's fine. The other party was too much for you."

This catches Ijichi's attention.

"So that means.. You know the culprit?"

Gojo kept silent for a few seconds before he eventually tells what he knows.

"Geto Suguru, one of the only four special grades. He's killed over a thousand civilians with curses and was expelled from the school."

The sorcerer continues.