JUJUTSU STROLL

The first-semester results had arrived, bringing with them a mix of emotions—determination, frustration, and in Satoru's case, sheer apathy.

Sana had promised herself she'd work harder, buckle down, and actually focus this time. But with her friends around, that was proving to be a distant dream.

"Alright, Sana, let's go over this again," Suguru said, tapping the open textbook in front of them. "Cursed energy manipulation—"

"—Is something Satoru never formally studied and yet somehow mastered," Shoko interrupted, sipping lazily from her juice box.

Satoru beamed, stretching like a cat. "Exactly! So why stress so much? Just be naturally talented like me."

Sana shot him a deadpan look. "If I had cursed energy, I wouldn't be fourth."

"I still think fourth is great," Shoko said thoughtfully.

Sana groaned. "There are only four students in the class!"

Satoru barely held back a snort as Suguru sighed, rubbing his temples. "Okay, focus. Cursed energy follows emotion, but controlled application requires—"

"Discipline and refined technique," Sana recited with the enthusiasm of a brick wall. "I know that. But I got a zero in cursed energy and technique."

Satoru, ever the menace, propped his chin on his palm. "Well, duh. You're not a shaman." He paused before flashing a grin. "But you did great in athletics! Second place, right? And you crushed English! highest marks! And You nearly stole third place from Shoko—she barely held on by, what, three marks?"

Shoko let out a dramatic sigh. "And here I thought I was securely third. Thanks a lot, Sana."

"Hey, at least you still beat someone," Satoru teased, throwing Sana a playful look.

Sana narrowed her eyes. "You realize that means I'm last, right?"

"Technically last," Satoru corrected. "But spiritually? You're like... second and a half."

"Oh wow, that's so reassuring," Sana said dryly.

Before she could launch her textbook at his face, Suguru smoothly closed it. "You know what? Let's take a break before Sana actually murders Satoru."

Minutes later, they stood outside in the training area, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink. Suguru adjusted his stance, Satoru grinned like he was about to cause problems, and Sana took a deep breath, cracking her knuckles.

"Alright," she said. "Let's see if I can move up from fourth place after this."

Satoru smirked. "That's the spirit!"

The air buzzed with anticipation, and as the match began, it didn't really matter who placed where. They pushed each other—stronger, smarter, better.

And most importantly, together.

Later that evening, as Sana stretched out after training, Satoru plopped down beside her, looking unusually thoughtful.

"Wanna go running in the evenings?" he asked suddenly.

Sana blinked. "What?"

"For your training," he said, shrugging. "I mean, second place is good—"

She raised a brow.

"—but first is better," he added with a smirk.

Sana scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Let me guess. You'll just float beside me the whole time?"

"Hey, I could run normally."

"I highly doubt that."

Satoru grinned, pushing up his blindfold. "Guess we'll find out tomorrow."

Sana sighed, but a small smile tugged at her lips. Maybe being last in class wasn't so bad after all.