A Smile in the Classroom - Chapter 57

A Smile in the Classroom—Chapter 57

The hallway to the First-year classroom wasn't particularly long, but the way Ren walked it—slow, hands in pockets, head slightly lowered—made it feel like a procession. He had no expectations. Not of the room, not of the students, not of the curriculum. He was here for one reason: information.

He was just a few steps away from the sliding door when—

Woosh!

A blur in black zipped in front of him, nearly knocking him backward.

Gojo.

Ren blinked, taking a step back as Gojo skidded into view like a delinquent with too much sugar and no brakes.

"What the—aren't you the teacher?" Ren asked, raising a brow.

Gojo laughed like he forgot he had bones. "Oh yeah! Aha… I am, huh? I forgot for a second!"

Ren stared.

Gojo grinned and held something out with a flick of the wrist. "Here, take this, dummy. Your ID card! Without this, you're just a cursed-energy-using hobo. This makes you official."

Ren snatched the card, giving it a skeptical once-over.

Name: Ren Sato 

Age: 16 

Blood Type: O 

Grade: Special Grade

Ren blinked. 'Special Grade? What the hell…?'

Gojo just gave him a thumbs-up and turned back toward the classroom.

Ren thought, 'He's not even going to explain what that means? Seriously? This man is as unfiltered as he was in the show…'

And worse? Ren couldn't even react the way he wanted.

He had to play dumb.

Act like this was his first time seeing these things. Like he didn't already know what a "Special Grade" meant. Like he hadn't watched Gojo blow up curses in the anime ten different ways.

'Fuck… talking to people is going to be such a drag. I already know so much about them. I'll have to act like I don't.'

The classroom door slid open.

Gojo strutted in first like he was on a fashion runway. "Everyone~! Meet your new classmate! He's edgy, has great hair, and might be more annoying than me—Ren Sato!"

Ren followed, hands in his pockets, posture lazy.

The eyes of three students hit him immediately.

Maki Zenin. Cold eyes. Arms crossed. A sharp expression that screamed, 'Don't fuck with me.'

Toge Inumaki. Calm, composed, sipping from a juice box, half his face covered.

Panda. A literal talking panda. Sitting relaxed, one leg bouncing.

All three scanned Ren from head to toe.

Uncut, unruly hair. Slouched stance. No weapon. His cursed energy felt… average. Too normal.

Honestly?

He looked like some transfer student who got lost.

Maki's brow twitched. 'Is this the wrong guy? There's no way this is the kid who supposedly fought a special grade.'

Gojo clapped dramatically. "So, Ren! Want to say something?"

Ren glanced around the room slowly.

Then shrugged.

"I expected more," he said flatly. "Only three students? You only teach them? How much do you even get paid?"

Silence.

A record scratch, if one existed in real life.

The students all froze, stunned. Even Panda looked mildly offended.

Gojo blinked.

Maki narrowed her eyes. Inumaki sipped his drink slower. Panda tilted his head.

Gojo pointed dramatically. "HEY! Call me Sensei!!!"

Ren rolled his eyes. "Okay, Sensei, then tell me—why team me up with them? You do know I don't have time to study with weaklings."

The class inhaled sharply.

And even Gojo was taken aback.

Maki's eyes twitched.

Inumaki choked on his drink.

Panda whispered, "Did he just call us weaklings?"

Ren just stood there, hands still in his pockets, looking utterly unfazed.

In his mind?

'I'm not even joking. Compared to me right now, they're weak. Too many flaws, too many openings. I'd be better off spending my time perfecting hand signs and chants. This? This is a delay.'

Gojo, though amused, frowned.

'This kid's got some serious ego issues… reminds me of me at that age. Smug. Sharp. Unfiltered. Shit, he's even worse because he hides it behind that lazy face.'

He sighed.

"Ren," Gojo said, this time in a stern voice. "You just saw them. Your classmates. Why do you think they're weaklings? Care to explain that?"

Maki was watching.

So was Panda.

So was Inumaki.

Ren just smiled.

Eyes half-lidded.

Smile unreadable.

Like a man with a secret.

Like someone with all the cards hidden in his sleeve.

And he said nothing.