February 13, 2013, Wednesday, 5:00 pm, Nakameguro High School...
As the final bell echoed through the halls of Nakameguro High, students poured out of classrooms, eager to leave the day's lessons behind. Among them, Elric subtly guided his students toward the front gates, keeping a watchful eye on Aoi Matsunaga. His demeanor was calm, but beneath it lay a calculated precision.
A few paces away, leaning against a black sedan parked discreetly near the school entrance, Ryosuke stood with his arms crossed. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, though he maintained his usual aloof posture. Elric had called him earlier, instructing him to pick up Aoi under the pretense of a family matter.
Aoi approached cautiously, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Ryosuke-san? What are you doing here?" she asked, adjusting the strap of her schoolbag.
Ryosuke scratched the back of his head, avoiding direct eye contact. "Your grandfather, Takahiro, needs your help with something," he said, his tone carefully neutral. "He asked me to pick you up."
Aoi blinked, tilting her head slightly. "Grandfather did? He usually calls me directly..."
Ryosuke forced a chuckle, waving off her suspicion. "He's probably busy, you know how he is." His voice was casual, but his eyes flickered with something more, an underlying tension. He couldn't let her know that Elric-sensei had orchestrated this meeting. If Aoi suspected her teacher had Ryosuke's number, questions would arise, and answers wouldn't come easy.
After a brief pause, Aoi nodded, her concern easing. "Alright, let's go then," she said, slipping into the car without further questioning.
As the vehicle pulled away from the curb, Elric watched silently from the shadows of the school building, ensuring Aoi was safely on her way. His focus, however, shifted when he noticed Miruko Horigawa lingering nearby, scanning the crowd with a puzzled expression.
Miruko's gaze darted around. "Where is Elric-sensei?" she muttered under her breath, frowning as she failed to spot him among the students leaving the campus.
As Nakameguro High School settled into the quiet of closing hours and the sun dipped closer to the horizon, Elric sat in solitude on a worn-out chair atop the classroom building rooftop. A paperback novel rested in his hands, its pages turning slowly under the dimming light. The wind tugged at his wrinkled shirt and unkempt hair, and his poor-looking glasses sat crooked on his nose, an image of a teacher too disheveled to inspire discipline.
He wasn't reading. Not really. His focus lingered elsewhere, anticipating the arrival of two individuals who would soon step onto the rooftop. Right on cue, the creak of the stairwell door announced their presence. Kento Nanami and Takuma Ino entered with measured steps, their gazes locked onto Elric with calculated precision.
Elric shifted his glasses, sighing inwardly. This is going to be interesting.
Ever the professional, Nanami adjusted his tie before speaking in his signature monotone.
"I am Kento Nanami, Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer," he stated plainly. "This is Takuma Ino, Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer."
Ino, more relaxed but still wary, gave a curt nod. "We're here under orders from Jujutsu Headquarters to investigate potential cursed activity within Nakameguro High School."
Elric blinked, tilting his head. "Grade 1? Grade 2? Is this some sort of ranking system? Sounds like corporate nonsense."
Nanami's lips twitched slightly, unimpressed. "It's not nonsense. It determines our capabilities and authority." His gaze sharpened. "Now, Mr. Elric, let's not waste time. What can you tell us about the current situation in this school?"
Elric leaned back, placing his book down beside him. "I could tell you a lot. But before that…" His eyes narrowed. "You do realize you're trespassing with false identification? If the principal finds out, there'll be an uproar."
Ino raised his hands in defense. "Hey, we had to..."
Elric cut him off, his voice colder. "You're walking around here like you own the place, flashing fake credentials, and you expect me to trust you?"
As he spoke, a faint pulse of cursed energy rippled through the rooftop, intentional but restrained. Its weight hung in the air, thick and undeniable. Ino stiffened, eyes widening in surprise. "Whoa... this guy's cursed energy is no joke!"
Nanami, however, remained composed, though his brow furrowed slightly. "Enough. As a jujutsu sorcerer, I can read you your rights under the Jujutsu Sorcerer HQ's jurisdiction. You will comply and surrender to our investigation."
Elric frowned, the unfamiliar terminology stirring confusion within him. "Jujutsu laws? Since when did magic get a legal system?" He stood up slowly, carefully setting his novel onto the chair.
With a sigh, Elric ran a hand through his messy hair, smoothing it back into place. The glasses were removed, revealing sharp, focused eyes that spoke of experience far beyond that of a simple high school teacher. He shrugged off his worn-out jacket and placed it beside the chair, revealing a well-toned physique hidden beneath his scruffy exterior.
Ino's jaw dropped slightly. "No way... He looks completely different!"
Nanami adjusted his wristwatch, his stance shifting subtly. "He's preparing for combat," he murmured, recognizing the shift in the air.
Elric exhaled slowly, stepping forward into a fighting stance. His posture shifted fluidly, one foot planted firmly while the other remained light, ready to pivot momentarily. Across from him, Nanami wasted no time, surging forward with his signature clothed blunt sword in hand. His movements were calculated, each swing carrying weight and precision without invoking his cursed technique.
Ino, meanwhile, pulled down his black beanie, transforming it into a snug ski mask that covered his face. As the fabric settled, a sudden surge of cursed energy pulsed from his body, crackling like static in the air.
Elric's sharp eyes flicked to him, intrigued. Interesting… his cursed energy changes when his face is covered.
Nanami's first barrage of attacks came swiftly, his blade cutting through the air with relentless momentum. Elric met him with a seamless blend of martial arts, his body shifting through a variety of styles: Karate for solid blocks, Kung-fu for fluid counters, Capoeira for evasive spins, Tae Kwon Do for rapid high kicks, and Silat for sharp, efficient redirections. Each technique flowed into the next with masterful precision, keeping Nanami's strikes at bay.
In the midst of the duel, Ino activated his cursed technique, summoning a levitating horn that hovered ominously in the air before launching toward Elric like a guided missile.
Elric's keen senses caught the incoming projectile just in time. With a quick kick, he forced Nanami back and narrowly dodged the horn's path. However, the projectile curved mid-air, relentlessly homing in on him with an eerie persistence.
Homing feature... figures, Elric speculated as he analyzed the trajectory. It won't stop until it hits something.
Nanami pressed his assault, attempting to capitalize on the distraction, but Elric maneuvered with speed and precision. Pivoting swiftly, he lunged toward his chair and snatched up his jacket. He wrapped the worn fabric tightly around his arm and braced himself in a single motion.
The missile-like horn closed in. With a thunderous stomp into a horse stance, Elric raised his wrapped arm and executed a powerful downward hammer strike. The impact echoed through the rooftop, shredding his jacket to ribbons upon contact but driving the horn forcefully into the ground. The floor cracked beneath his stance, the force dispersing through the rooftop like a miniature earthquake.
Ino stood wide-eyed, stunned that his First Auspicious Beast - Kaichi, was effortlessly neutralized. "No way... He stopped Kaichi with that?"
Elric, unfazed, shook off the remnants of his tattered jacket and fixed Ino with a deadpan glare. "That was a custom-made jacket. 500,000 yen. You owe me for this." His tone was calm but laced with irritation.
Ino blinked, momentarily thrown off by the trivial complaint. "Uh... what?"
Nanami, however, saw an opening and lunged, taking advantage of the distraction. His sword came down in a precise arc, but Elric was already moving. Maintaining his awareness, he sidestepped with fluid ease, countering with a swift roundhouse kick.
Nanami raised his blade in time to block, the impact reverberating through his arm. He skidded back slightly, recalibrating his stance.
Assessing Elric with a measured gaze, Nanami muttered, "Impressive. Your combat experience is evident."
Ino nodded, recovering from his earlier surprise. "Yeah, and his awareness... it's like he knew exactly how to neutralize my summon instantly."
Realizing the shifting tides of battle, Nanami's voice cut through the air with authority.
"Hina-san, deploy the veil now!"
Elric, shifting seamlessly from his wrestling to boxing stance, tensed as the atmosphere changed. The golden hues of the sunset dimmed unnaturally, and within seconds, the sky above them plunged into an artificial night. The once-fading daylight was now reduced to an eerie shimmer, barely visible beyond the strange darkness that engulfed the rooftop.
Startled, Elric narrowed his eyes. "What the hell is going on?" His tone carried a hint of frustration as his sharp gaze darted around.
Nanami, maintaining his ever-composed demeanor, adjusted his tie before explaining. "Another sorcerer is on standby. They are supplying cursed energy to this veil, which isolates everything inside from being detected by the outside world."
Elric furrowed his brows. "Veil? What is that supposed to mean?"
Ino, standing with his arms crossed, scoffed. "Man, your jujutsu knowledge is seriously below standard." His voice carried a smug tone, clearly enjoying Elric's ignorance.
The comment struck a nerve, and Elric's eye twitched slightly. Nanami observed the reaction with a silent assessment. His knowledge doesn't align with standard jujutsu practices... could he be a foreigner?
"Are you a foreigner?" Nanami inquired, his tone still calm but probing.
Elric's irritation melted away into a moment of quiet reflection. His gaze softened, yet there was an unmistakable weight in his words. "Yeah. I'm a foreigner trying to start fresh here in Japan... away from the nasty legacy I inherited from my family." His voice was steady, but beneath it lay years of unresolved burdens. He cracked his knuckles. "And if anyone tries to interfere with my goal of attaining a normal life, I'll beat them up."
Nanami and Ino exchanged glances, silently acknowledging his resolve. Without another word, they readied themselves for the next phase of the fight. Now that the veil was in place, there was no need to hold back.
Nanami moved first, his blunt blade carving through the air with precision. Elric braced himself, but something felt... off. An instinctive sense of danger prickled down his spine. Reacting on pure instinct, he grabbed his nearby chair and folded it swiftly to block the incoming strike.
CLANG!
The expected dull impact never came. Instead, the chair sliced apart cleanly as if it had been cut by a razor-sharp blade. Elric's eyes widened in shock.
What...?!
Before he could recover, Ino closed in from behind with incredible speed, his masked face unreadable. Elric barely managed to tilt his body, narrowly dodging Ino's punch. His eyes darted downward, and there was water beneath Ino's feet, evidence of his enhanced mobility.
Elric swiftly backed away from the pincer attack, his mind racing. How did the glass man cut through solid metal so easily? Why does the masked guy move so fast after covering his face?
Nanami adjusted his grip and spoke with calculated precision. "Let me explain."
The air around him grew dense with cursed energy as he revealed his technique. "My cursed technique is called the Ratio Technique. It divides a target into ten lines and forces a weak point at the exact ratio of seven to three."
Nanami raised his weapon, a faint glow tracing along the blade's edge. "The target's lines don't have to match their proportions, whether their head, torso, arms, or legs; I choose what to divide." His voice remained steady. "And this applies to non-living objects as well, like your chair."
Elric, his eyes narrowing with understanding, clenched his fists. "I see..."
Nanami's cursed energy flared sharply, his presence becoming more oppressive. Elric instinctively took a defensive stance. "Hold on a second... how did your power suddenly spike after explaining your technique?"
Nanami adjusted his wristwatch, his eyes locked onto Elric. "Thanks to a cursed restriction known as Revealing One's Hand. It's a commonly used binding vow among jujutsu practitioners."
Elric, usually composed, suddenly blinked in confusion. "Binding vow? Cursed restrictions?" His once-confident expression faltered slightly.
Ino raised an eyebrow. "You seriously don't know?"
Nanami sighed, taking a brief pause before explaining further.
Nanami adjusted his tie, his eyes remaining locked onto Elric as he explained. "Cursed restrictions, also known as binding vows, are fundamental to jujutsu sorcery. To gain something, one must offer something in return. This isn't just a principle exclusive to sorcery; it applies to the world."
Elric crossed his arms, listening intently but clearly trying to piece it together. "So... you're saying there's always a trade-off?"
Nanami gave a slight nod. "Exactly. Alongside emotion, risk plays a critical role in cursed energy. The greater the risk to the user, the more their cursed energy will respond. For example, some sorcerers impose extreme conditions on themselves, dangerous stipulations that increase their power in return."
Ino chimed in with a grin. "It's like gambling with your life. The fastest way for a sorcerer to get stronger is by forming a binding vow that puts their life on the line."
Elric exhaled sharply, scratching his head. "Sounds reckless."
Nanami's expression remained unreadable. "Perhaps. But binding vows are considered one of the essential tenets of jujutsu sorcery. They are contracts, either with oneself or another person. By following the agreed-upon rules and restrictions, the user can gain significant power... or accomplish a particular goal."
Elric frowned. "And what happens if someone breaks this... vow?"
Nanami's tone turned grave. "Breaking a binding vow carries uncanny repercussions. Depending on the severity, it could mean losing access to cursed techniques, a backlash of cursed energy, or worse."
Elric's brows furrowed, his mind processing the implications. He couldn't help but smirk slightly. "So, let me get this straight... By announcing how your technique works, you make it stronger?"
Nanami adjusted his wristwatch, a subtle acknowledgment. "By revealing my cursed technique to an opponent, I impose a risk on myself, the risk of my enemies understanding and countering it. In return, my cursed energy output increases significantly in my next attack."
Elric took a moment to digest the information, then sighed. "Man... this jujutsu stuff is way more complicated than I thought."
Ino smirked beneath his mask. "Yeah? Well, you better catch up fast, scraggy-sensei. We're just getting started."
Elric straightened his posture, the determination in his eyes returning. "I don't need to know every rule... I just need to know how to win."
Nanami took a step forward, his cursed energy pulsing with renewed intensity. "Then let's see if your fighting skills can keep up with our knowledge."
Elric stood in silence, his eyes narrowing as Nanami's words settled in his mind. The logic behind the sudden surge in cursed energy from Nanami and Ino was clear; they were preparing for combat. The concept of cursed restrictions and binding vows made perfect sense. Risk fueled strength. The greater the gamble, the greater the reward.
Without a word, Elric rolled up his sleeves, revealing a network of deep, jagged scars running along his forearms. Some were faint and old, while others looked disturbingly fresh. The grotesque sight made Nanami and Ino tense. They weren't ordinary wounds.
Ino instinctively took a half-step back, eyes narrowing behind his mask. "Those... those aren't from humans, are they?"
Nanami's analytical gaze lingered on the scars, his expression unreadable. "No... those are from something far worse." The marks bore a chilling resemblance to claw and bite wounds, remnants of battles fought against creatures far beyond the mundane.
Before either sorcerer could react further, Elric spoke up, his tone carrying an air of finality.
"I have a proposition. A binding vow." His voice was steady, yet the weight behind his words made it clear he wasn't bluffing.
Nanami's eyes narrowed. "A binding vow?"
Elric nodded. "Between the three of us. More than two users can be involved in a vow, correct?"
Nanami hesitated, his analytical mind already racing through the implications. "Technically, yes... but why? What do you gain from proposing a binding vow?" His tone was cautious, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Do you truly understand the weight of such an agreement? I have no reason to accept."
Elric met Nanami's gaze without hesitation, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by an unshakable resolve. His fists clenched slightly, and the intensity in his eyes spoke louder than any words. There was no humor, no bluff, only determination. The rooftop wind brushed through his hair, but his expression remained firm, unwavering.
For a moment, Nanami studied him in silence, his instincts honed by years of experience whispering that Elric was not joking. This man wasn't seeking an easy way out but fighting for something deeper.
With a quiet sigh, Nanami finally relented. "...Fine. I'm listening."
Ino crossed his arms, intrigued. "Alright, let's hear it."
Elric took a step forward, his gaze unwavering. "If I win this fight, you two must leave me alone and anyone connected to me. And you are never to reveal my identity to your higher-ups."
Nanami remained silent, but his jaw tightened.
"However," Elric continued, "if I lose, I will willingly surrender myself to you. No resistance. No running." His lips curled into a faint smirk. "Regardless of the outcome, I'll disclose all relevant details of what's happening at this school and work with you to resolve it."
The rooftop fell silent. Ino exchanged a look with Nanami, their shared understanding unspoken yet clear. They stepped aside to discuss privately, their voices low but measured.
"Seems like a fair deal," Ino muttered. "Win or lose, we still get the information we came for."
Nanami's eyes narrowed in thought. "It's not that simple. If we accept, even if we win, we'll be bound to keep his identity secret. That could mean shielding a potential threat from Headquarters."
"Yeah, but think about it," Ino countered. "Even if we can't report his identity, we can still solve the issue. Besides... it's not like we're letting him off the hook entirely."
Nanami exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Fine."
Turning back to Elric, Nanami's stern gaze locked onto him. "We accept your terms... on one condition."
Elric arched a brow. "Condition?"
"You will disclose the full truth about your arrival in Japan: who you are, where you came from, and why you're here. Regardless of the outcome of this fight," Nanami stated firmly. "That will determine whether you're a threat to this country. Of course, if you win, the identity condition will still be maintained."
Elric stared at him for a moment before letting out a small chuckle. "Fair enough. Deal."
A palpable tension filled the air as the binding vow was silently acknowledged between them.
Nanami adjusted his wristwatch. "Then let's settle this."
Elric cracked his knuckles, a determined smile forming. This is one step closer to my goal... a normal life.
Without another word, the battle resumed. Nanami surged forward with renewed intensity, his blunt blade cutting through the air with surgical precision. Elric, fully focused this time, reached for his broken chair, his movements fluid and deliberate.
In one swift motion, he gripped the mangled metal frame and, with a sudden burst of strength, tore it apart with his bare hands. The sharp screech of metal echoed across the rooftop as he effortlessly snapped the remaining pieces into two jagged lengths.
Ino's eyes widened beneath his mask, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Uh... Nanami-san, what the hell have we gotten ourselves into?"
Nanami, ever composed, kept his eyes locked on Elric, carefully assessing his next move. "His raw strength is on another level..."
Now gripping a makeshift combat baton in each hand, Elric twirled them experimentally, the jagged edges glinting under the artificial night of the veil. He smirked, rolling his shoulders in anticipation. "Now this... this is going to be a new experience."
The air grew heavy again, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a blade. Nanami adjusted his grip on his blunt sword, preparing to meet Elric head-on, while Ino subtly shifted his stance, ready to provide backup.
The fight was far from over.