Roses and Rope Tricks - Chapter 48
Ren sat still, legs crossed, eyes quietly scanning the man sitting across from him.
Gojo Satoru.
One of the strongest, if not the strongest, sorcerers in the world. That was what the manga had told him. What the anime hinted at. What every ridiculous fight scene made clear.
But now, sitting here in his tiny apartment, Ren didn't need a wiki page to tell him.
He could feel it.
Gojo was giving off something—an aura, a pressure—so casually oppressive that it almost made the air buzz. Ren didn't know how to sense cursed energy properly. Not yet. But even without it, he knew.
This guy wasn't just strong.
He was terrifying.
Ren's eyes narrowed.
I wonder...
Is he can use his domain right now?
Maybe. Maybe not. Hell, maybe he's always got it one flick away from snapping into place.
He didn't move.
He didn't breathe too loudly.
Just watched.
---
Across from him, Gojo stared back.
And he was beginning to feel... weird.
Why the hell is this kid looking at me like that?
He didn't blink. Didn't twitch. Didn't fidget like a normal kid his age should. Just sat there, staring, unafraid.
Gojo shifted slightly, lips twitching into a small smirk.
Wait, don't tell me...
No. No, no, no, no way. Is he into me or something?
He coughed once and tilted his head.
This teen was giving off barely any cursed energy, but the fact that he could leak so little meant one thing.
Control.
Was this kid truly self-taught?
World-breaking potential.
Gojo leaned back slightly and decided to break the silence.
"So are you going to say something or just keep looking at me?" he said, smiling. "I know I'm handsome and stuff, but like… uhh…"
He was cut off.
"What do you want, Gojo?" Ren asked, tone flat. "Why are you in my apartment? Also, why can I feel you giving off that energy?"
Gojo blinked.
That energy?
Wait—*he doesn't even know what it's called?*
"You don't know?" Gojo asked, eyebrow lifting. "It's called cursed energy. And kid, I asked first. Who are you? How did you meet Utahime? And... you took a finger, right? Where is it?"
Ren gave him a long, lazy look.
Gojo could feel it—the gears turning behind those half-lidded eyes. The boy was thinking. Calculating.
He's playing dumb, Gojo realized.
Ren closed his eyes.
Opened them again.
"Cursed energy, huh? Makes sense. It does feel kind of... evil."
He leaned back slightly, resting his hands behind him.
"And who am I? I'm Ren Sato. Everything else?" He shrugged. "None of your business."
Gojo frowned.
Ren smirked.
"And how did I save Utahime? Why don't you ask her that? Also, the finger? Yeah, I took it. But why do you want it?"
Gojo's eyes narrowed behind the blindfold.
Ren tilted his head and added, "Who even are you, anyway? Why are you wearing bandages on your eyes? Why are you dressed in all black? Why are you six feet tall? Why do you smell like roses? Why do you look like a pop star? Why do you talk like a teen idol?"
Silence.
And then—
"Ugh, stop it, kid," Gojo groaned. "First of all, I don't smell like roses—I smell like fresh linen."
Ren blinked. Unimpressed.
Gojo continued, "Second, what kind of question is 'Why am I six feet tall?' Ask my mom and dad! And a pop star?! I look better than a pop star! And I do not talk like a teen star—"
Ren just stared.
Gojo was actually breathing hard.
Frustrated.
He didn't like it.
He loved it.
This was the first time in a long while someone had matched his absurd energy with more absurd energy.
He pointed at Ren. "You're messing with me on purpose."
Ren didn't deny it.
He smiled.
He's as silly as ever, huh? Ren thought. But this little chat should've told him a lot about me… or at least what I want him to think about me.
Talking to Gojo is like playing chess.
Good thing I know how to play chess.
Ren stretched slightly and yawned for effect.
"Alright, we're getting nowhere," he said, voice calm. "Let's do an exchange. You answer one of my questions, and I'll answer one of yours. That sounds fair?"
Gojo blinked.
Then smiled.
A slow, genuine grin.
"I like that," he said.
"Of course you do," Ren muttered.
And then—
It began.