[13] Lessons in Failure
Gojo stood behind the table, his ever-present sunglasses hiding his eyes. "Welcome to Practical Application, kiddos. Today, we're diving into the world of cursed tools."
He picked up a wicked-looking dagger. "These babies have been around for centuries, playing a crucial role in jujutsu. They're not just fancy accessories – they can mean the difference between life and death when facing powerful curses."
Itadori leaned forward, practically vibrating with excitement. I hung back, eyeing the weapons critically.
"Now, before we get hands-on, let's cover some safety guidelines," Gojo continued. "Rule number one: Respect the tool. These aren't toys. Treat them with the same caution you'd give a loaded gun."
He went through a list of handling instructions, demonstrating proper grips and stances. I absorbed the information, noting where his techniques differed from what I'd picked up on my own.
"Alright, time for some practice!" Gojo clapped his hands. "Pair up and grab a weapon. We'll start with basic forms."
I partnered with Megumi, selecting a bo staff that felt balanced in my hand. We ran through the drills Gojo called out, our movements becoming more fluid with each repetition.
"Nice form, Kantaro," Gojo commented as he passed. "You've clearly handled weapons before."
I nodded, not elaborating. From across the field, I heard a yelp followed by a crash. Itadori had managed to tangle himself up in a chain whip, his enthusiasm outpacing his coordination.
Nobara, meanwhile, was excelling with her Straw Doll Technique. She'd incorporated two cursed hammers into her usual nail-based attacks, her precision deadly accurate.
After individual practice, Gojo gathered us for a group challenge. "Time to put those skills to the test! You'll work as a team to complete an obstacle course, using cursed tools to overcome various barriers."
He divided us into pairs – me with Nobara, Megumi with Itadori. We faced off against a series of targets and magical barriers, having to coordinate our attacks to progress.
"Kantaro, on your left!" Nobara called out. I ducked, allowing her hammer to sail over my head and shatter a barrier. I followed up with a quick strike, taking out the exposed target behind it.
We fell into a rhythm, covering each other's blind spots and combining our techniques. By the end of the exercise, even I had to admit we made a decent team.
After a break for lunch, we reconvened in the classroom for a lecture on curse classifications. Gojo paced in front of the whiteboard, outlining the grading system.
"Curses are ranked from Grade 4 to Special Grade," he explained. "Grade 4 is your garden-variety spook – annoying, but not too dangerous. Special Grade, on the other hand..." He paused for dramatic effect. "Let's just say you don't want to run into one of those unprepared."
He went through examples of each grade, illustrating the increasing levels of power and intelligence. I found myself nodding along, recognizing descriptions of curses I'd encountered in my past.
"Kantaro," Gojo called out suddenly. "You've got some experience with curses, right? Care to share?"
I hesitated, then shrugged. "I've taken down a few grade 1's. They're tough, but not unbeatable if you know what you're doing."
Itadori's eyes widened. "Whoa, really? That's so cool! How'd you do it?"
"It's not about being cool. You have to be smart, use their weaknesses against them… Or you can just be so powerful that your curse technique is enough."
Gojo nodded approvingly. "Exactly. If you're not a genius, brute force alone won't cut it against higher-grade curses. Strategy is key."
The discussion continued, with Nobara and Megumi chiming in with their own knowledge. Gojo presented hypothetical scenarios, challenging us to come up with solutions.
"A Grade 2 curse is terrorizing a crowded shopping district," he proposed. "How do you handle it?"
Itadori immediately suggested a head-on attack. Nobara argued for evacuating civilians first. Megumi proposed using shikigami for reconnaissance before engaging.
I considered the options. "Lure it away," I said finally. "Use a cursed object or talisman as bait to draw it somewhere isolated. Then take it out without risking collateral damage."
Gojo grinned. "All valid approaches. The key is adapting to the specific situation."
As classes wrapped up, talk turned to evening plans. Nobara mentioned hitting up some shops in Harajuku. Megumi muttered something vague about private training.
"I usually hit the gym around 5:30," I said, not really expecting anyone to care.
Itadori perked up. "Oh man, can I join you? I've been wanting to work on my stamina!"
I blinked, caught off guard by his enthusiasm. "Uh, sure. If you think you can keep up."
His grin widened. "Challenge accepted!"
At 5:30 sharp, I entered the gym to find Itadori already there, bouncing on his toes. I raised an eyebrow. "Ready to regret this decision?"
He laughed. "Bring it on!"
I launched into my usual routine – a brutal mix of strength training, cardio, and cursed energy exercises. Itadori struggled at first, gasping for breath as he tried to match my pace.
"You can tap out anytime," I called over my shoulder as I started my third set of pull-ups.
"No... way..." he panted, hauling himself up with sheer stubbornness.
To my surprise, he adapted quickly. By the time we hit the treadmills, he was keeping pace, that irrepressible grin back on his face.
"Last one to finish five miles buys protein shakes?" he suggested.
I smirked. "You're on."
We pushed ourselves to the limit, our competitive spirits taking over. In the end, I barely edged him out, both of us drenched in sweat.
"Damn," Itadori laughed, collapsing onto a bench. "You don't mess around, huh?"
I tossed him a towel. "Can't afford to slack off in this line of work."
As we cooled down, the conversation drifted to our backgrounds. Itadori talked about his grandfather, the influence that led him to become a jujutsu sorcerer.
"What about you?" he asked. "How'd you get into all this?"
I paused, weighing how much to reveal. "Necessity," I said finally. "Had to get stronger to protect what matters."
Itadori nodded, seeming to understand the weight behind my words. "Well, I'm glad you're on our side now. We make a pretty good team, don't you think?"
I grunted noncommittally, but found myself not entirely disagreeing. Maybe there was something to this whole teamwork thing after all.
As we left the gym, I felt a mix of physical exhaustion and... something else. Not quite friendship, but maybe the beginning of mutual respect.
"Same time tomorrow?" Itadori asked hopefully.
I hesitated, then nodded. "Sure. Try to keep up this time."
His laugh echoed down the hallway as we parted ways. I headed back to my room, muscles aching but mind clearer than it had been in a long time.
I hunched over a massive tome, its pages yellowed with age, my fingers tracing arcane symbols. Three weeks into my crash course on Jujutsu, and my brain felt ready to explode. But I couldn't stop. Wouldn't stop. Not when there was so much power waiting to be unlocked.
A diagram caught my eye - a perfect sphere of cursed energy. My mind raced with possibilities. What if I combined that with my own technique? The potential was staggering.
"You look like you're trying to set that book on fire with your eyes," a familiar voice drawled.
I glanced up to see Gojo leaning against a bookshelf, his ever-present blindfold hiding his gaze.
"Just thinking," I said, closing the book with a soft thud. "About pushing the limits of what's possible."
Gojo's lips quirked into a smirk. "Dangerous territory, Akuma. But that's where the real breakthroughs happen."
I stood, stretching muscles stiff from hours of study. "Speaking of breakthroughs, I've been reading about reverse cursed technique. It's... intriguing."
"Ah," Gojo said, his tone shifting to something more serious. "RCT isn't something to be taken lightly. But if anyone could grasp it quickly, it'd be you."
His faith in me was both exhilarating and terrifying. I cleared my throat. "Think you could introduce me to someone who specializes in it?"
Gojo nodded. "I know just the person. Follow me."
We wound our way through the labyrinthine halls of Jujutsu High, finally arriving at a small, cluttered office. A woman with long dark hair and a no-nonsense expression looked up as we entered.
"Shoko," Gojo said, "This is Akuma. He's interested in learning about RCT."
Shoko Ieiri's eyes narrowed as she studied me. "Another prodigy, Gojo? You collecting them now?"
I bristled at her dismissive tone, but Gojo just laughed.
"Give him a chance, Shoko. He might surprise you."
She sighed, then stood. "Alright, kid. Pay attention."
What followed was the most confusing demonstration I'd ever witnessed. Shoko's hands moved in intricate patterns as she spoke rapid-fire instructions.
"First, you go 'fyoo,'" she said, her fingers twisting in ways that seemed to defy anatomy. "Then 'hyoi,' and finally, you can use RCT."
I blinked, completely lost. Turning to Gojo, I didn't bother hiding my confusion. "I don't understand a word she just said."
To my surprise, Gojo nodded sympathetically. "Trust me, I didn't either when I first learned. Mastering RCT takes time and practice, but I have no doubt you'll get the hang of it with dedication and perseverance."
Shoko rolled her eyes. "It's not about understanding with your head. It's about feeling it in your gut. Your cursed energy needs to flow backwards, like..." She paused, searching for the right words. "Like trying to push a river uphill."
I closed my eyes, focusing on the well of cursed energy within me. Trying to make it flow backwards felt like trying to breathe underwater. Impossible. Suffocating.
"Don't force it," Shoko's voice cut through my concentration. "You can't strong-arm RCT. It's about finesse, not brute force."
I opened my eyes, frustration building. "How am I supposed to do something I can't even conceptualize?"
Gojo placed a hand on my shoulder. "Baby steps, Akuma. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is mastery of Jujutsu."
I nodded, but inwardly, I seethed. I wasn't used to things not coming easily to me. It was... unsettling.
"Thanks for your time," I said to Shoko, my tone clipped. "I'll keep working on it."
As we left her office, Gojo spoke quietly. "Don't let it get to you. RCT is advanced stuff. The fact that you're even attempting it this early is impressive."
I shrugged off his reassurance. "I don't like failure."
"It's not failure," Gojo countered. "It's part of the learning process. Embrace it."
Easy for him to say. He was Satoru Gojo, the strongest Jujutsu sorcerer alive. Failure probably felt like a distant memory to him.
By the time 5:30 rolled around, I was more than ready for a physical outlet for my pent-up energy.
I made my way to the gym, finding Yuji already there, warming up with some light stretches.
"Hey, Akuma!" he called out, his perpetual enthusiasm grating on my already frayed nerves. "Ready to get your ass kicked?"
I managed a tight smile. "In your dreams, Itadori."
We fell into our usual routine, trading punches and kicks, our movements becoming more fluid as we warmed up. Yuji was a powerhouse, all raw strength and endurance. But I had technique on my side, years of martial arts training honed to a razor's edge.
"You're extra intense today," Yuji commented between rounds, wiping sweat from his brow. "Everything okay?"
I was about to brush off his concern when the gym door opened, revealing an unexpected face.
Megumi Fushiguro stood there, looking as if he'd rather be anywhere else. "Room for one more?" he asked, his tone carefully neutral.
Yuji's face lit up. "Fushiguro! You actually came!"
I raised an eyebrow. This was new. Fushiguro usually kept to himself, preferring solitary training to group workouts.
"Don't make a big deal out of it," Fushiguro muttered, dropping his bag and joining us on the mats.
We adjusted our routine to accommodate the newcomer, and I found myself studying Fushiguro's movements with interest. He was precise, economical in his motions. A stark contrast to Yuji's exuberant style.
As we sparred, I felt some of my earlier frustration melting away. There was something comforting about the physical exertion, the way it forced me to stay present in the moment.
"So," Yuji said between bouts, his breathing heavy but his eyes bright, "what made you decide to join us, Fushiguro?"
Megumi shrugged, but I caught a flicker of something in his eyes. Uncertainty? "Thought it might be... helpful. To train together."
I smirked. "Afraid we're getting ahead of you?"
Fushiguro's eyes narrowed. "Hardly. Just figured I should keep an eye on you two. Make sure you're not slacking off."
Yuji laughed, clapping Fushiguro on the back. "Admit it, you just missed us!"
"Like a hole in the head," Fushiguro grumbled, but there was no real heat behind his words.
As we continued our workout, I found myself relaxing, almost enjoying the camaraderie. It was... nice, in a way I wasn't entirely comfortable acknowledging.
Later, as we were cooling down, Yuji broached the subject I'd been avoiding all day. "How's the research going, Akuma? Find anything interesting?"
I hesitated, weighing how much to reveal. "It's... challenging. There's so much to learn, and some of it feels just out of reach."
Fushiguro nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Jujutsu isn't something you can master overnight. It takes time, practice..."
"And a whole lot of failure," Yuji chimed in, grinning. "But that's what makes it fun, right?"
I forced a smile, but inwardly, I bristled at the thought of failure. It wasn't an option. Not for me.
"Speaking of practice," Fushiguro said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, "I heard you were looking into reverse cursed technique."
I stiffened. "Where'd you hear that?"
He shrugged. "Word gets around. It's pretty advanced stuff."
"Yeah, well," I said, aiming for nonchalance, "I like a challenge."
Yuji's eyes widened. "Reverse cursed technique? Isn't that what Gojo-sensei uses?"
I nodded. "Among other things. It's... complicated."
"Understatement of the century," Fushiguro muttered. "You really think you can master it?"
"I don't see why not. It's just another technique, right?"
Fushiguro's expression darkened. "It's not just another technique. It's dangerous if you don't know what you're doing."
"I appreciate the warning," I said, my voice carefully neutral. "But I can handle myself."
Yuji clapped his hands together. "Great! Now that that's settled, who's up for some food? I'm starving!"