Yuta fell down to the floor with some scabs and bruises across his arms. He let out a hoarse breath while Tamaki stood right over him, blades pointing at him.

When he said he wasn't going to go easy, he meant it. Taking his father's steps, he took Yuta into brutal training this week and, every time, when defeated, a shred of encouragement was lost from the newbie.

"You let your guard down easily." Tamaki points out before withdrawing his swords to his belt, a hand heading towards him. "Firmly plant your feet to the ground and have a tight grip on that sword of yours."

Gojo had suggested a katana for the new first-year but for Yuta, it made him a nervous wreck to wield a sharp blade in his grip. He watched Tamaki spar with Maki earlier and can't believe how impeccable he is with the blades he bestowed. Maki was strong too, deflecting his dual swords and fighting back with her pole arm. Both always at a tie but sometimes the occasional smirk or flirtatious joke she made would get her to best Tamaki.

Yuta scowls and gets back up on his feet, holding his sword before Tamaki charges at him with full force. Metal clashes in the air and both remain quiet with the exception of grunts slipping out of their lips when one overwhelms the other. Tamaki narrowed his eyes and every time he hits, Yuta's grip loosens around the hilt.

"Hold it like your life depends on it!" He screams, a harsh tone never heard from Yuta's ears.

"E-ek!" The boy squeaks when his sword flies into the air before landing back on the ground, its sharp blade piercing the ground dirt beneath them. Tamaki huffed before sheathing his swords back.

He completely dismantled him with one swift.

Tamaki brushes his raven hair back before letting out an exhaust sigh. Even his Shikigami, Suki watched and looked disappointed to see Yuta on the floor.

"Yuta, are you even trying?"

His eyes widened,

"W-Well, I am, it's just-you're going a bit too brash on me-"

"No, that's not it." He shakes his head at him. "Fighting is more than just doing a few moves and making sure you get it all perfected..

But it's also about having a dream. A mindset." He adds, a step taken forward.

"Yuta, do you have a dream?"

He nearly gasped at the question because the moment he said it, he let his mind wander and tried to grasp the answer to it all.

But nothing shows up.

"I..don't know.." He barely whispers but Tamaki could hear brief points to understand what he said. "To be honest, I never really thought of it.."

"I see." His instructor tells him, closing his eyes for a bit before looking at him. He smiles, "I was the same like you back then. Middle school was a pain in the ass and to be honest, I never found myself going to college or taking on an office job afterwards."

"Tamaki, why did you become a sorcerer?" He might as well asked to get some sort of idea on what he wants too. Tamaki looks from the distance, seeing Panda committing his antics towards Maki. He laughs at the sight of Panda pouncing his butt right at Maki's face, launching her down to the floor. She gets up, all riled up before charging at him. Inumaki is taking points.

"At first, when I heard about the existence of sorcerers, I had to join." He grins. "I wanted to be apart of the "conspiracy" that everyone thought it was. Plus, all I imagined it to be was like being a superhero. To save people, a good cause you know."

He then laughs as memories of him and Maki together. "But that's only half the truth. The full truth would sound a bit shallow to you, maybe."

Yuta is now curious. He stammers,

"Tell me, Tamaki!" He gulps. "I-I don't think your reason would be shallow."

"Well you see." He starts, "I really mostly came cause of Maki."

"Maki?"

"Yeah. I love her." He confesses, blushing to himself. "I thank god everyday for making us meet that fateful day. If I never met her, maybe we would've never met. But she..she opened my eyes. She didn't make me feel alone, made me sane. Everyone at school always looked at me weird for not having interest in boring pursuits and I just..I just wanted to do more."

He looks back at his friends, his heart jump at the sight of them having fun all three of them, together. "And once I joined, my goal was finally determined. To always be surrounded by real people who genuinely care. To fight and work hard not just for them, but for the people who can't defend themselves."

"Woah.." Yuta was speechless. He looked down to his feet with his life recounting his head from the very beginning.

'What do I want to do?'

-

"Yutaaa, we got an assignment!" The boy was quietly eating during their lunch break but immediately the silence on the porch broke as Tamaki came with a big smile on his face. Maki walked behind him with a bored expression.

"A-A mission? What type of mission?" He blinks, putting the lid over the bento box.

"Yeah, we're going to an abandoned school." He chimes. He nudges the boy harshly and Yuta nearly loses his balance. "Ah man, your very first mission. Reminds me of the old days."

"Can't believe he has to come with us." Maki grumbled, annoyed Gojo assigned her and Tamaki with Yuta. The two can easily clean shop without him.

"H-Hey.." She looks and sees Yuta staring at her. "I look forward to working with you."

She narrowed her eyes before rolling them, back turned against the two,

"Tch, whatever."

"What's her problem?" Yuta asked Tamaki and the boy nervously smiles,

"Sorry, she's like that with new people. But she's a bit hostile with you, seeing as you have a spirit residing in you."

"Oh, right."

-

Gojo took the three students to the abandoned school. With one command, he puts the curtain over and let his students begin their task.

Tamaki bend down to Suki's level, petting his shikigami before ordering her to stay behind in case they don't come back on time. Plus, she'd sense if he needed her.

"Oh Okkotsu!" Gojo calls to the new kid as the other two walked ahead. He smiles innocently,

"Try not to die, okay?"

The boy gulps.

"Easier said than done."

The school grounds are dark but with every step they take, Tamaki can feel the presence of curse spirits hiding behind walls, awaiting to ambush the three.

"Three on the left, three on the right." Tamaki whispers to Maki and she readies her weapon. She turns to look at Yuta.

"Pay attention." She instructs before the spirits on her side phase through the wall. Before they can attack, Maki spins and cuts all three of them in one swoop. On the right, Tamaki unsheathes his swords, countering with his batto sword technique in seconds. The spirits had no idea what happened before turning to dust.

The two did it without a sweat. Tamaki smiles,

"Nice work, babe."

"Don't I always?" She smiles back, side bump to the hip before walking up to Yuta.

"See that, newbie. Team up if they're weak. Fighting a group of curses with someone is always better than fighting alone.."

"A-Amazing.." He says before the three resume their walk. It's all eerie, dark and quiet. Too quiet.

The boy looks at his companions,

"Aren't you guys scared? Tamaki? Zenin?"

"Don't call me that!" Maki snapped with a growl. Tamaki turns his body, waving him off with a chuckle.

"Yeah, don't call her. Probablyy for that best."

"Anyways." The girl interrupts. "What grade are you, by the way?"

"Grade?" He asked with a dumbfounded expression.

"Everyone's got one. It's a rank depending on your capabilities and powers."

"Yeah. Maki is Grade 4, though she really should be a higher already." Tamaki mutters the last part, pointing at her as he does so. He then points at himself,

"I'm only a second grade. Come on, should say in that I.D of yours." Yuta looks for a moment before his sweaty hand slips down to his pockets, reaching for the card. Maki pulls it from his grasp and looks at it. She nearly gasped,

"Special grade?"

Tamaki chuckles,

"Well, what do you know.." He starts off, looking at Yuta who gets incredibly nervous.

"I-I can't be that high in rank, can't I?!"

He was pacing around, all nervous over it as Maki watched with slight jealousy. She turns her back around, annoyed but Tamaki reaches for her. She nearly dropped her shoulders at the comfort hand.

"Ranks are only ranks, Maki." He shrugs at her, "So what if he's a higher rank? Doesn't mean you're not any better.."

"Yeah but-"

"No buts." He shushes with a reassuring smile. "I know you, Maki. You're strong. Inumaki, panda, even Gojo can attribute to that. We all know your potential." He kisses her slightly on the forehead and she tries to contain her bashful blush. She does a little nod at him,

"Thanks, Tamaki."

"ZENIN! TAMAKI, WATCH OUT!" Tamaki turned his heel and him and Maki immediately jumped up high to dodge the spirits blow to the ground.

"That's one giant spirit!" Maki smirked at the enormous sight as her and Tamaki ascend to the air, with Yuta's body tumbling over.

She immediately tries to swing at him but then a tendril comes shooting from the sides, piercing some liquid into her leg. She hisses from the pain and loses guard. She drops her weapon by mistake and finds her body falling into the spirits mouth.

"MAKI!" Tamaki instantly launched his body to her, grabbing her tightly with Yuta falling after them. He held her by the head as they fall to the base of its tongue. It was rather soft so no casualties were made. Still, Tamaki let go of Maki and looked around to see the mouth decorated like caves.

"Yuta, you alright?"

"I think so!" He says, dusting the dirt off his pants.

"GAHH! LET US OUT." Maki yells at the spirit. "Shit, I can't believe I dropped my weapon."

"No worries, Maki. I can cut us outta here!" Tamaki said and walks directly to the contact of its skin. He takes out his curse blade and cuts into it, but his eyes widen in surprise when it regenerates right away. As if he never got cut.

"What spontaneous healing..." He whispered before looking back at the two.

"Yuta, how about we use that Rika of yours?"

"What?! B-But Gojo said I can't release it."

"You can, as long as you can control her."

"But I don't know ho-"

"Help us." All three turn and see two young children, stuck in a corner. The two cling to each other, helplessly, with tears in our eyes.

"Help us, please, or we'll all get eaten!" The boy says with a girl, barely unconscious in his embrace.

"I didn't think there'd be students still here." Tamaki thought before looking back at Yuta.

"Come on Yuta. Rika can easily pull us all outta here! Just think, concentrate on her power."

Yuta takes a step back. This was all too much to handle.

"I-I don't know! I can't do it, Tamaki!"

"No, can!" Yuta darts his eyes to the sound of the voice and its a worn Maki, trying to stay on her feet as she grabs him tightly at the collar. She looks at him harshly,

"Why bother even coming to Jujutsu, huh? If you're just going to give up so easily, why do you bother to waste Tamaki and Gojo's damn time?"

Yuta is close to tears as she yells at him.

"Come on, damn it!"

"Maki, please.." Tamaki pleaded. He tried to intervene and Maki looked directly into his eyes, a warning in them not to draw near. He bit his lips and retracts his hands. She mutters,

"Please, just let me talk to him." Tamaki tilts his head a bit in confusion but all of the answers began to draw near.

'Ah, I know what's she is doing now.'

It was excessive but Maki's forceful words of wisdom could be the key to bringing Yuta's confidence in. To be able to convince himself that he can save everyone.

"Tell me, Yuta, what's your endgame? What do you want to do, huh?

Just spill it out,

What is that dream of yours?"

His eyes turn blurry from the brink of tears. He gulps and looks deeply at the girl,

"I-I don't want to harm anyone anymore! I want to be able to protect you guys..and also, think it's okay to keep on living..that is my dream."

Tamaki gently smiles at that. Finally, he proclaimed his wish. Maki scoffs at his answer before stifling a tired smirk.

The poison the spirit shot in her leg was kicking in. It was making her sleepy.

"Damn right, that's your dream. Now get out there and help us escape." Her eyes slowly shut and her knees fell down to the ground. Tamaki was quick enough to catch her from her face slamming to the hard surface.

He looked over the poison and now looked at Yuta with concerned eyes,

"Yuta..it's time."

He nods at him, now determined to saving them.

"Rika.." He looked into the ring. "I have one request..please, get us out of here!" He closed his eyes, concentrating on her power.

And then it happened,

The spirits mouth ripped wide open, revealing the mighty queen of curses, Rika who splits it open with her vicious claws.

She sings Yuta's name as she kills. Tamaki carries Maki by the back with Yuta following, carrying the two children behind his two.

He huffed and panted from the load but Yuta could not give up.

"I have to keep going!"

'You can do it.' He hears Rika's soft, true voice rang in his head.

He looks towards Maki and Tamaki. Thinks of Gojo, Panda and Inumaki.

"I'm going to unravel Rika to Jujutsu high." He says to himself. He's going to make sure to battle every learning curve to use her.

-

Tamaki felt like the proud, big brother Yuta never had. When he used Rika, he cheered afterwards and ruffled Yuta's hair into a mess. Maki, after some time returning to her conscious, actually grinned at the fact he was no longer useless.

The next three months were good to Yuta. After a few upsetting trials, Yuta was able to advance with his katana.

He fought Tamaki and Maki all at once, and while he still falls on his ass at the end, he lasted longer than ever before.

"You're going to land a mark on me, today. Is that right?" Maki barked at him.

"Yes ma'm!" He said, readying his sword.

"You better. If not, a thousand pushups for you. Does that sound good to you?" Tamaki asked with a determine stare.

"No sir! I won't falter."

The three fight but it goes short when Maki ducks his sword and kicks his feet in the air. Tamaki takes the opportunity to hit him in the back, knocking him down. He scratches his head from the pain and the pair points their wooden weapons at them.

"You're dead." The two said and Yuta groaned, taking Tamaki's hand once more. Toge, Panda and Gojo watched from afar with pleased expressions on their face.

"The boy has grown a lot." Gojo notes as Toge responds with a salmon and Panda laughs.

"I haven't seen Maki and Tamaki this excited before. Probably because they get to have another weapon-wielding person on the team!"

Gojo smiles to see Toge and Panda excitedly run to Yuta after their spar. Everyone was patting him, showering him with compliments. Suki jumps on his shoulder and he laughs in a long time, after she rubs against him. He looks around and sees the people giving him an unfamiliar affection.

He then looks at Tamaki.

'So this is what he meant by surrounding oneself around real people.' He thought before chattering up with the others.

'I like this. This feeling, almost like we're a family.'

-

Toge would become his closest buddy after their lonely mission together. Panda would be the chaotic friend who loved to cause a ruckus or pranks, especially on Maki.

Maki, while hardened and hides her feelings a lot, there's some moments where she thrives through training and the slight compliments she'd give.

Then there's Tamaki.

After another mission with Toge, he runs over to the front of the dorm building. He sees Tamaki chatting with Maki all alone but he can't help but burst with excitement.

"Tamaki! You could never guess what just happened?!"

"Hey, you're back!" The other raven hair boy waves with a big grin on his features. "And what happened, my dear friend?"

"I-I did it! That batto sword technique you taught! It all happened so fast but I did it without a second thought!"

"Holy shit." Tamaki says, completely starstruck by the news. "That's wonderful, Yuta! Come over here!" He gives him a big hug before pulling away, looking away from him a bit, before ruffling his hair all over again.

"You're becoming lots stronger, Yuta! I can see it in your eyes. I'm so proud, we all are."

Yuta's heart jumps and his face turns flush.

'It's all because of you,' he thought.

"Thank you, Tamaki."

"Hey, what are friends for, right?" He nudged him playfully. "We're in this, together."

Yuta smiles brightly before Tamaki changes the subject,

"Now, you two must be hungry." He says, turning to look at Maki. "I was just going to make Maki's favorite recipe if you guys want to tag along."

Yuta and Inumaki look at each other.

"Yeah!"

"Salmon!"

"Great, also bring Panda too!"

They all meet at the dining room. It almost made Yuta laugh to see Tamaki in an apron as he cooked up something in the kitchen.