Paper Walls and Loose Tongues – Chapter 53

Darkness.

The kind that whispered instead of waited.

Ren blinked slowly.

The ceiling above him was covered in ofuda—paper talismans, dozens if not hundreds, hand-written and glowing faintly in soft yellow ink. His vision was blurry at first, like he'd just woken up from being drugged or… worse. But the moment his body adjusted, the reality set in:

He was tied to a chair.

Barefoot.

"…You've got to be kidding me," Ren muttered.

The cold floor pressed against his soles. He wiggled his toes. Yep—his shoes were missing.

They'd done it barefoot.

He tugged at the rope binding his wrists. It wasn't just rope—it was laced with cursed energy. Just enough to nullify his output without hurting him. A sealing technique, no doubt layered and bound by the ofuda surrounding the room.

Ren's eyes dropped down to his shadow.

Kai2.

Still there.

Still asleep—or maybe just playing dead.

Ren narrowed his gaze and then closed his eyes.

'Huh… Wow,' he thought. 'How funny I ended up here. This room… they never even explained this in the manga. No diagrams. No breakdowns. Just a weird secret room with mystery rules. Talismans are way cleaner than what I tried to make a month ago. Professional work, obviously…'

He sniffed the air. No mold. No dampness.

Even this underground cave had care put into it.

'Ugh… anyway. What was that back there? With Gojo. Did I hide myself a little too well?'

Ren's mind unraveled the events of the rooftop. Why he said what he said. Why he acted like an average genius teen.

'Two reasons,' he thought. 'One—Gojo can't know I know about the future. That's my gift. My edge. I'm not handing that to anyone, not even him. Two—I needed him to believe I'm smart. That I've got talent. Even if I really don't. Let him think I'm special.'

Ren opened his eyes.

The door opened.

"Hey! Are you awake?" Gojo's voice came casual as a breeze, echoing into the room.

Ren turned his head slowly. "What do you think?" he deadpanned. "Am I still sleeping?"

His tone was sharp.

Gojo strolled in wearing his usual black-on-black and smug smile combo, blindfold back in place.

"Why did you tie me up?" Ren added, annoyed. "I thought we had an agreement."

Gojo shrugged as if to say, Guilty as charged. "We did. We totally did! But see, I need time. There are protocols. The higher-ups. You know... adult stuff you won't understand."

Ren blinked.

Then raised a brow.

"Higher-ups?" he asked flatly. "There are people stronger than you?"

The question was so blunt, Gojo actually paused.

Just… paused.

And then said, "Nah. I'm the strongest."

Ren frowned and fired back, "Then why do you take orders? Shouldn't the strongest lead?"

Boom.

Gojo's smirk wavered.

The silence lingered for a second longer than usual.

He had no answer.

Not one that wouldn't sound like cowardice.

Ren exhaled.

"Whatever," he muttered. "Strongest or not—free my hands. And also... who the hell took my shoes?"

Gojo actually laughed. Loud and unfiltered. "You're so dramatic. I honestly don't know where your shoes went. Maybe the sealing room eats them? Anyway, it's been about ten hours since you passed out."

Ren blinked again. "Ten HOURS? What did you do? Drug me?"

Gojo leaned casually against the wall. "Your body was exhausted, kid. Seriously. I don't know what you've been doing the past month, but you needed rest. So... I brought you to this comfy underground cursed energy suppression vault so you could nap like a baby."

He struck a dumb pose.

Finger guns.

Peace signs.

Ren scowled.

And then slowly stood as Gojo untied him. He walked past the sorcerer, heading straight to the door.

He kicked it open.

Hard.

"Where are we now?" he asked.

Gojo followed, whistling a jaunty tune.

As they stepped into a long hallway—stone, damp, high ceilings laced with more talismans—Gojo spoke again.

"You're not even surprised," he said. "Is there anything that can shock you? Seriously? You're like... weirdly calm all the time."

He tilted his head dramatically. "It's almost like you can see the future or something."

Ren blinked.

Then said, "Don't overhype me."

Gojo raised an eyebrow.

Ren added, "I've seen you. That's enough. Nothing else can shock me."

Gojo actually looked offended. "Okay, rude."

Ren ignored him.

As they emerged from the hallway and onto stone steps that led into daylight, Ren paused. His eyes widened—not from shock, but from quiet, genuine awe.

It was Jujutsu High.

But bigger.

More beautiful than he ever imagined.

Sprawling buildings. Towering sakura trees in bloom. The main gates stretched like the entrance to some hidden temple out of a dream.

It wasn't just impressive. It felt… sacred.

He didn't expect that.

But before he could say anything, a familiar voice cut through the morning air.

"Hey, kid!"

Ren turned.

Utahime Iori stood across the courtyard with a very annoyed look on her face.

She marched toward them.

"I told you to stay, remember?" she snapped. "Why did you run away?"

Ren looked at her.

Then at Gojo.

Then back at her.

He shrugged.

"Gojo said to avoid weak people."

Gojo's jaw dropped.

Utahime's eyes lit with pure fire.

"What did you say?!"

Gojo panicked.

But Ren was already walking ahead, hands behind his back, whistling...

...

Gojo thought, This boy is going to get me into trouble. I'm going to have to lie for him, fake reports, and smooth over every situation. The higher-ups will eat me alive…

And yet, as they walked across the field of Jujutsu High, Gojo couldn't help but grin.

'He's trouble… but he's the right kind of trouble.'