The Exchange Game - Chapter 49

"So," Gojo began, leaning forward, elbows on knees, "did you actually learn cursed energy by yourself?"

Ren smiled.

"Yeah," he said easily. "All by myself."

He paused.

"Rika did show me the spark first, though."

Gojo's brow twitched.

Rika…?

Who the hell was Rika?

Gojo was quiet, keeping his thoughts behind his usual lazy smirk.

Then Ren raised an eyebrow. "My turn. What is the weird thing you call 'cursed energy'?"

Gojo's smile faltered for a second.

That was… a tough question. Harder than it looked.

He leaned back.

"Cursed energy," he said, snapping back into gear, "is negative energy born from human emotions—fear, anger, hate, all the usual dark stuff. It's the source of curses. Sorcerers can manipulate it to fight, to create techniques, and to protect themselves and others."

Ren's eyes didn't blink once.

"Now my turn," Gojo said, voice a little sharper. "Who is Rika?"

Ren answered without missing a beat.

"Rika? She's the one I summoned. The one Utahime was talking about."

Technically true.

Vague as hell.

Gojo blinked behind his blindfold.

That's it? That's the answer?

Ren wasn't just sharp.

He was prepared.

This kid's supposed to be a teenager, Gojo thought. He talks like someone who's trained for this. Like he's been rehearsing.

And that smug smile…

"Now my turn again," Ren said casually. "Cursed energy—can everyone use it? And what are the applications of it?"

Gojo almost leaned back in surprise.

Another good question.

He folded his arms, taking a second longer than usual.

"Not everyone can use cursed energy," Gojo said. "Some people are born with the potential. Others train into it. Most never get it at all. Applications? Well… it's used for fighting, obviously. For techniques. You can reinforce your body, sense curses, build domains…"

He trailed off.

That was the safe answer.

Then he shot forward again. "My turn! Where is the finger you took?"

Ren smiled.

"Rika has the finger now."

And then, in the same breath—

"My turn. What's your age?"

Gojo's smile shattered for half a second.

He almost threw the low table into the ceiling.

"…What kind of question—ugh."

He exhaled slowly. One breath in. One out.

"I'm twenty-six."

Ren tilted his head.

"Cap," he muttered internally. "You're, like, twenty-nine right now, aren't you? I didn't know lying was allowed. Good to know."

Gojo narrowed his eyes.

"Are you being controlled by Rika?"

The question wasn't loud.

It wasn't dramatic.

But the tone was different.

Gone was the silly chatter.

This was Gojo's serious voice.

Ren mirrored it perfectly.

"No," he said. "Rika can't control me. And also—I thought lying wasn't allowed. Why did you lie about your age?"

Gojo blinked.

Tch.

"Uh, what? I didn't lie. Don't say random things."

Ren giggled softly, leaning back and resting an elbow on his knee.

"You know, I should really blow you up right now."

The words were light.

Casual.

Not a hint of threat in his voice.

Gojo smiled wide.

He was trying to be scary.

Ren wasn't scared.

Not even a little.

Gojo's thoughts turned.

He doesn't think like a teenager. Doesn't speak like one either. No fear. No hesitation. And somehow, he caught me lying? With no cursed technique? No reading of my flow or aura?

It's like he's the second coming of Sherlock Holmes...

Gojo's grin widened.

He noticed I lied. Picked up on it with just one detail. That's almost impossible.

Gojo's grin softened.

He's reading me like a damn book. Just from a conversation.

He sat back, one hand resting lightly on his knee.

Genius.

That's what this is.

He speaks like someone who already knows I won't hurt him.

He's calculated that far ahead?

Gojo leaned forward again.

This kid…

He was dangerous.

Smart.

Careful.

And definitely not what he seemed.

Learning cursed energy without a teacher.

Summoning Rika—whatever that meant.

Acting like this wasn't even unusual.

Gojo let the silence sit between them for a moment.

Then he finally said, "Well... if we're done with the game, let's take a step back."

He smiled.

"Tell me your story. I swear you won't get in trouble for what you did. But you do have to give me the finger you took."

His voice was still playful.

But the room had gone quiet.

And the game, for now, had paused.