Chapter 2

The rain had stopped, leaving the streets wet and glistening under the streetlights. The air was still cold, the scent of wet asphalt mixed with the lingering smell of iron from the previous battle.

Shirou walked beside Nanami, following the man without asking many questions. Their steps were steady, but Shirou could feel Nanami's gaze occasionally directed at him—full of judgment.

Silence.

That was the atmosphere between them.

However, the further they walked, the more Shirou realized something.

The air around them... was changing.

Just like before, something was lurking in the darkness.

And this time, its aura was much stronger.

—KRRAAAKH.

A strange sound echoed from the end of the street. Shirou immediately stopped, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the darkness.

On the other side, Nanami had also stopped walking. But unlike Shirou, who instinctively tensed up, the man simply sighed with an annoyed expression.

"Again?" Nanami muttered, adjusting his glasses.

Shirou didn't need to ask.

From the shadows of a narrow alley, something crawled out.

The creature was larger than the previous one—its body was a mix of black mist and rotting flesh, with elongated arms ending in sharp claws. Its mouth was formless, just a row of teeth vibrating like a chainsaw ready to tear into its prey.

The air grew heavier.

Even without experience in this world, Shirou knew one thing—this was far stronger than the first curse.

"GHHRRAAAAHH!!"

The curse roared, then lunged at them with a speed that something of its size shouldn't possess.

Shirou moved first.

His hand rose, his instincts immediately calling for the weapon that should be in his grasp.

"Trace—On!"

A blue light flashed in his palm.

A sword began to form... then shattered.

Cracks spread through the air, like glass that had failed to be forged.

Shirou froze for a second.

And in that one second—the curse was right in front of him.

Its black claws shot forward, ready to slash through his body.

However, something stopped it.

—SLASH!

Black blood sprayed into the air.

The curse's arm was severed without warning.

Behind it, Nanami stood calmly, his blunt sword still dripping with black liquid.

His expression remained the same—cold and indifferent.

"Take cover," the man said as he adjusted his glasses.

Shirou clenched his teeth.

He knew it.

In his current condition, he couldn't fight.

But the feeling of being useless was incredibly frustrating.

Nanami didn't give the curse a chance to recover. With one long step, he charged forward, swinging his sword with a clean motion.

"Ratio 7:3."

In an instant, the curse's body was split with perfect precision.

One slash. One death.

Black blood sprayed again, and the creature let out a final scream before its body disintegrated into dust.

Silence returned to the air.

Shirou clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.

He couldn't let this continue.

Even if his body was still weak, even if his projections were unstable...

He had to fight.

—And he couldn't keep relying on others to save him.

"I want to be useful," he murmured softly.

Nanami glanced at him. "Good, then."

The man sheathed his sword, then turned around.

"Let's go. The longer we stay here, the more curses will appear."

Shirou stared at the remnants of the battle that had just taken place.

Then, he followed Nanami in silence.

But one thing was clear.

Tonight, he realized that this world wouldn't wait for him to adjust.

If he couldn't survive—

He would only become the next prey.

—

The night felt even longer.

Their footsteps sounded softly on the still-wet pavement, the echo of their shoes blending with the fading sounds of the city. Tokyo, though still alive with its glittering lights, felt quieter than before.

Shirou walked behind Nanami, remaining vigilant even though his body still felt tired. That feeling was still there—something was watching them.

It wasn't just a hunch.

This was a survival instinct.

Since coming to this world, his body hadn't returned to how it should be. His Tracing was still shaky, his reflexes slower, and what bothered him the most—there was something in the air that kept seeping into him, something that felt foreign but was slowly merging with him.

He tried to ignore it, but now...

The pressure was growing stronger.

They weren't alone.

—

On the roof of one of the tall buildings, that figure was watching them.

A thin man with silver-white hair and a small smile that never left his face. He leaned against the iron railing, his fingers tapping slowly as if counting something.

His eyes glinted under the moonlight.

"Emiya Shirou, huh?" he murmured.

His smile widened.

"Interesting."

—

Shirou turned quickly.

For a moment, he was sure there was something up there—among the shadows of the tall buildings. But when he raised his gaze, only the night sky greeted him.

Too fast.

Was he just imagining things?

Or...

Nanami stopped walking.

"What's wrong?" he asked without turning around.

Shirou furrowed his brows, still staring at the rooftop. "I feel like someone's watching us."

Nanami paused for a moment, then continued walking without changing his expression.

"You're not wrong," he said casually.

Shirou turned to him. "So you feel it too?"

Nanami didn't answer immediately. He pulled out his phone, read something on the screen, then put it back in his coat pocket.

"There's someone who wants to meet you."

Shirou narrowed his eyes.

"Who?"

Nanami finally turned, his gaze sharper than before.

"Gojo Satoru."

Shirou didn't know why, but hearing that name... his body felt a strange sensation—as if something within him wanted to resist.

However, before he could ask more—

The sky changed.

—KRRAAAAKH!

From the rooftop, something jumped down with a speed that no ordinary human could possess.

The wind swirled wildly as the figure landed on the ground in front of them, creating small cracks in the pavement.

The man smiled widely.

"Yo!" he said cheerfully, as if they had just met on the side of the road like ordinary people.

Shirou immediately took a step back, his fighting instincts reacting spontaneously.

Meanwhile, Nanami simply adjusted his glasses.

"Why are you here?" he asked emotionlessly.

The man shrugged. "Don't be so serious, Nanami~ I just wanted to get a closer look at our new guest."

Shirou watched him warily.

This person... his aura was different.

He wasn't an ordinary human.

And for some reason, even compared to Nanami, he felt more dangerous.

—

The rain began to fall again. A light drizzle wetting the asphalt, reflecting the dim glow of the streetlights. The quiet atmosphere of Tokyo's night contrasted with the tension hanging in the air.

Shirou remained silent, his eyes fixed on the man in front of him. A figure with a relaxed smile, a posture that seemed casual but full of calculation, and eyes hidden behind a black blindfold that prevented anyone from seeing into them.

Gojo Satoru.

Even without knowing him, Shirou could sense something different about this man. A presence that seemed to transcend the world around him.

Nanami stood beside him, hands in his coat pockets. "Don't talk too much, Gojo. We need to take him to the academy soon."

Gojo shrugged. "Relax, Nanami. It's not every day we find someone who isn't a jujutsu sorcerer but can survive this far."

Shirou's eyes remained wary. "Why are you interested in me?"

Gojo grinned, stepping closer. "Well, let's say I'm curious. A kid who can see curses, fights without cursed energy, and is still alive after such a rough night? That's not normal, is it?"

Shirou stayed silent.

Gojo grinned wider. "Besides, if you're really not from this world, isn't that even more interesting?"

Shirou tensed.

Nanami sighed. "Gojo, don't complicate things."

Gojo raised both hands with a playful expression. "Alright, alright. I won't dig any deeper. Besides, I have a feeling that he himself doesn't know much about his current situation."

Shirou clenched his fists. That was true. Since he arrived in this world, there had been no clear answers. Only more questions piling up.

—

And now, this person seems to know something—or at least, is interested in finding out more.

"I'll take you to the academy," Gojo said casually. "A place where all jujutsu sorcerers gather. If you want to know where you are now, that's the best place to get your answers."

Shirou stared at him. "And if I refuse?"

Gojo chuckled. "If you refuse, I can leave you here. But judging by the way you fought earlier... I doubt you'll last long on your own."

His tone was casual, but there was firmness behind it.

Shirou thought for a moment.

On one hand, he didn't like being pushed into a situation he didn't understand. But on the other hand, he did need answers. If this so-called academy could provide clues about what was happening to him, then there was no reason to refuse.

"Fine," he finally said. "I'll come with you."

Gojo grinned widely. "Great! I knew you were a smart kid."

Nanami just shook his head and stepped forward. "Let's go before something else attacks us."

Shirou followed them. However, as he moved, that strange feeling returned—the sensation that someone was still watching him.

He glanced towards the towering buildings around them.

In the distance, on top of one of the rooftops, someone was still standing there, staring at him.

A faint smile formed on their face before the figure disappeared into the darkness.

Shirou felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

This wasn't over yet.

—

Their footsteps echoed on the wet streets. Tokyo at night still shone with its lights, but to Shirou, something felt... empty. As if there was a layer of the world that only he could sense, something that others couldn't see.

Gojo walked ahead casually, his hands tucked into the pockets of his long coat. Nanami remained calm by his side, though he occasionally glanced around, making sure they weren't being watched.

But Shirou knew.

They were being watched.

That feeling hadn't gone away since earlier. Something in the air told him that there was someone out there observing him.

And not long after—

The air around them shifted.

—

In the distance, on top of an old building, the figure was still standing.

They watched the three people walking below, then smiled faintly.

"I think I've seen enough for now," they murmured.

With a light movement, they disappeared into the darkness, leaving only a faint trace of energy behind.

—

Gojo stopped.

Nanami immediately reacted, his gaze hardening. Shirou could also feel the change in the air—a subtle pressure that lasted only a moment before fading.

"Someone's here," Shirou said.

Gojo turned to him, his smile still present, but this time it felt a bit more serious. "Oh? You felt it too?"

Shirou nodded. "Since earlier."

Nanami adjusted his glasses. "They didn't attack. Just observed."

Gojo chuckled softly. "Well, that makes things more interesting, doesn't it?"

Shirou remained silent, but his mind was working quickly.

Whoever was watching them, they were skilled enough to not be fully detected by Nanami and Gojo.

And that meant...

This person was no ordinary enemy.

—

Finally, they arrived at an area much quieter than before. A large gate stood firmly in front of them, with old wooden carvings creating a contrast to the city lights behind them.

Tokyo Jujutsu High.

Shirou could feel something strange about this place. As if the world inside was different from the outside world.

Gojo turned to him, grinning widely. "Welcome to our new home!"

Nanami just sighed.

And Shirou, though still filled with questions, knew that this was only the beginning of something much larger.

—

Tokyo Jujutsu High stood majestically before Shirou.

The old building with its traditional temple-like aura seemed to contrast with the hustle and bustle of the city he had left behind moments ago. Shirou could feel something strange about this place—as if the world inside was separate from the outside world.

Beside him, Gojo walked casually, his hands still tucked into the pockets of his long coat. Nanami followed behind them with a flat expression, as if Shirou's presence was still an unnecessary disturbance.

"Doesn't it feel strange?" Gojo suddenly asked, turning to Shirou with his trademark smile.

Shirou glanced around. "I feel... pressure."

Gojo chuckled. "That's normal. This place is filled with jujutsu sorcerers. It's not strange for the aura to feel different."

They passed through the large gate made of old wood. As soon as Shirou stepped through it, the sensation of heaviness grew stronger. As if the air around him was denser, heavier, more—isolated.

Shirou clenched his fist.

This world was truly different.

Inside the academy, the atmosphere was calmer.

Shirou was led to a large hall, where the evening sunlight slipped through the tall windows. The room was empty, except for one figure standing in the center, waiting for them with arms folded across his chest.

A man with a sturdy build, a serious face, and dark glasses that reflected an undeniable authority.

Yaga Masamichi.

The principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High.

His sharp gaze immediately focused on Shirou as they entered.

"So, this is the guy?"

Gojo nodded casually. "Yep. The kid who can see curses but doesn't have cursed energy."

Nanami stood beside Gojo, adding in a calm tone, "He also fought a curse without jujutsu energy. That's not something an ordinary human can do."

Yaga didn't respond immediately. He stared at Shirou for a long time, as if searching for something invisible.

"Who are you?" he finally asked.

Shirou raised his head, looking directly at the man.

"Emiya Shirou."

Yaga observed his expression. "Where are you from?"

Shirou hesitated. That was a question even he didn't know the answer to.

"I don't know," he said honestly.

Yaga showed no significant reaction, only staring at him more deeply. "Do you have any cursed techniques?"

Shirou shook his head. "I don't know how to use them."

For the first time since they arrived, the room fell silent.

Gojo remained smiling, but his eyes were tightly closed behind his dark blindfold, as if letting this conversation proceed without intervention.

Nanami stood firm, his expression unreadable.

Yaga, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking. Then, he sighed.

"You're not a jujutsu sorcerer, but you can see curses."

Shirou nodded slowly.

"You can fight them without cursed energy."

Shirou nodded again.

"And you don't know why you can do all that?"

"Yes," Shirou said.

Yaga finally took a deep breath, then shifted his gaze to Gojo.

"Do you think he can be trusted?"

Gojo chuckled, shrugging. "If he were dangerous, I would've taken him down already."

Yaga still seemed unsure.

Nanami spoke, his voice more serious than before. "I don't fully trust him either. But if he can truly fight without cursed energy, killing him just because we can't explain it doesn't seem wise."

Shirou remained silent, but his mind was working quickly.

They were considering whether he was a threat or not. If he couldn't prove himself, they might just eliminate him.

This world wouldn't accept him so easily.

Yaga finally made a decision.

"I can't let someone like you roam around freely."

Shirou tensed.

"You'll be watched," Yaga continued. "And to prove that you're not a threat, you'll be tested in a battle that we'll determine later."

Shirou clenched his fist.

"I understand."

Gojo grinned widely. "Great! I like a kid who doesn't complain much."

Nanami just sighed softly.

Yaga looked at Shirou once more. "From now on, you'll stay at this academy. But don't misunderstand—this isn't a sign that you're accepted. If we find a reason to eliminate you in the near future, we won't hesitate."

Shirou nodded, accepting that reality without protest.

Because behind all of this, there was one thing he knew for sure—

If this world wanted to reject him, then he only had one choice.

To prove that he deserved to live.