SERIES: "Bomb's Away!!" - Chapter 2 : So, What If I Misbehave?
Your footsteps echoed through the empty corridors as you led Yuji to one of the training rooms tucked away in the east wing of the school. The room was a personal favorite of yours—far enough from the main building to avoid drawing attention but close enough for a quick exit if things went sideways. Not that you anticipated anything going wrong; you just liked to be prepared.
Yuji followed behind, his pace brisk and his expression a mixture of curiosity and determination. You glanced back at him and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Ya look like yer headin' to your first day of school,” you teased. “Relax, kid. It’s just trainin'.”
“Yeah, but with you?” Yuji replied with a grin. “I get the feeling this is going to be… intense.”
“You have no idea,” you shot back with a smirk.
You both entered the training room, a spacious area lined with mats and equipped with all manner of training equipment. The walls bore the scars of years of use—cracks, dents, and the occasional scorch mark, courteous of you. You moved to the center of the room, rolling your shoulders to loosen up.
“Alright, first things first,” you began, “I want to see what you’ve got. No holdin' back. Show me how ya fight.”
Yuji nodded, his expression serious now. He dropped into a fighting stance, his fists raised, and waited for your signal. You didn’t bother to take a stance yourself. You simply stood there, hands on your hips, watching him with an almost bored expression.
“Anytime yer ready, Itadori.”
He hesitated for a moment, then launched himself forward, aiming a straight punch at your midsection. You sidestepped with ease, your movements fluid and precise. You barely seemed to exert any effort, your eyes never leaving Yuji.
“Too slow,” you said, almost lazily. “Again.”
Yuji tried again, this time going for a roundhouse kick aimed at your head. You ducked, spinning on your heel to avoid the attack. “Predictable,” you chided. “Yer thinkin' too much. Stop trying to be a martial artist and start being a sorcerer.”
Yuji frowned, dropping back into a defensive stance. “What do you mean?”
You sighed, rubbing the bridge of your nose. “I mean, yer focusing on the physical. Which is fine 'n all, but you’re forgetting who you are. What you are. You’re a Jujutsu Sorcerer, not some street brawler. Use your cursed energy. Channel it. Make every move count.”
Yuji nodded, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, there was a faint glow. You could feel the shift in his energy, the way it seemed to vibrate in the air around him.
“Better,” you said with a nod. “Now, come at me again.”
This time, when Yuji moved, it was faster. His fists glowed with cursed energy as he threw a series of rapid punches, each one more powerful than the last. You weaved between his strikes, your movements a blur. You could feel the force behind his attacks now, the raw power he was channeling.
“Good,” you encouraged, your own energy flaring to life. “But not good enough.”
With a flick of your wrist, you deflected his next punch, sending him stumbling back. Before he could recover, you were on him, your foot sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the mat with a grunt, but to his credit, he bounced back up almost immediately.
You grinned, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline. “Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. But you’re still holding back. Afraid of hurtin' me?”
Yuji shook his head, panting slightly. “No, just… don’t want to lose control.”
Your grin widened. “Good. Control is important. But so is knowin' when to let go. You’ve got power, Itadori. Now show me you can use it.”
Yuji nodded, determination burning in his eyes. He launched himself at you again, faster this time, his strikes more precise. You matched him blow for blow, pushing him harder, testing his limits. You could feel his frustration building, the tension in his muscles as he tried to keep up.
Then, just as he was about to break, you felt it—a surge of cursed energy, raw and untamed. For a moment, Yuji’s eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous. Your own energy flared in response, your instincts kicking in.
You lashed out, your fist colliding with his just as Sukuna’s energy began to seep through. The impact sent you both skidding back, the air crackling with power. Yuji’s eyes widened in shock, and he stumbled back, struggling to regain control.
You straightened, a satisfied smile on your lips. “That’s more like it,” you said. “Feel that? That’s yer potential. But you’ve got a long way to go before you can master it.”
Yuji nodded, still catching his breath. “I… I’ll get there,” he said, determination in his voice.
You smile softened, just a fraction. “I know ya will, kid. Just remember—control isn’t about holding back. It’s about knowin' when to unleash everything you’ve got.”
Before you could say more, the door to the training room swung open, and a familiar voice called out. “Oi, (Y/n)! Got a surprise for you!”
You turned to see Gojo Satoru striding in, his trademark grin plastered across his face. Behind him, two students followed—a dark-haired boy with a serious expression and a girl with short, auburn hair and a confident stance.
Yuji brightened at the sight of them. “Fushiguro! Kugisaki!”
You arched an eyebrow, crossing your arms. “'nd who are these two?”
Gojo’s grin widened. “These are my first-years—Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki. I thought it’d be good for them to meet you, (Y/n). You know, broaden their horizons a bit.”
Megumi nodded politely, though his eyes were wary as they flicked over to Yuji. Nobara, on the other hand, looked you up and down with open curiosity. “You’re (Y/n (L/n)?” she asked. “I’ve heard about you. Didn’t think you’d be so… colorful.”
You chuckled, flicking a strand of your (color) hair. “And you must be Nobara. I’ve heard about you too. The hammer and nails girl, right?”
Nobara smirked. “That’s me. You got a problem with that?”
“Not at all,” you replied, your smile turning sharp. “Just wondering if yew can back up the reputation.”
Megumi cleared his throat, stepping forward. “It’s nice to meet you, (L/n). Gojo speaks highly of you.”
Your eyes flicked to Gojo, who was now leaning casually against the wall, still grinning like a cat that had caught a particularly tasty mouse. “Does he now?” you said sarcastially. “Can’t imagine what he’d have to say that’s good.”
Gojo laughed. “Oh, plenty of things! But I’ll spare you the embarrassment. I brought these two here because I think they could learn a lot from you. And, well, I think you could use some fresh faces around here.”
You eyed the two first-years, your expression thoughtful. “Maybe. What do you think, Itadori? Think they can keep up?”
Yuji grinned, his confidence returning. “Yeah, I think so. They’re tougher than they look.”
Nobara rolled her eyes. “Gee, thanks, Yuji. Way to sell us.”
Megumi just sighed. “We’ll do our best. That’s all we can promise.”
You nodded, your decision made. “Alright, then. Let’s see what you’ve got, first-years. Training starts now. And trust me, I don’t go easy on anyone.”
Gojo’s grin widened, and he clapped his hands together. “Excellent! This is going to be fun to watch.”
You shot him a look. “Ya stickin' around, Gojo, or are ya just here to drop 'em off?”
He waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Besides, I think they could use some pointers.”
“Right,” you said, rolling your eyes. “Pointers. Sure.”
With that, you turned your attention back to the three first-years. “Alright, listen up. This isn’t gonna be yer usual training session. You’re here to learn how to survive. How to fight smart. So, get ready. Because I’m not gonna go easy on any of ya!"
Megumi and Nobara exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison. Yuji grinned, already bouncing on the balls of his feet, ready for more.
You couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement. Maybe Gojo was right—maybe this was exactly what you needed. New faces, new challenges. A chance to push yourself, and them, to their limits.
“Let’s see what you’re made of,” you said, your grin widening. “Show me what you’ve got.”
The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the training grounds. You stretched your arms above your head, feeling the satisfying ache in your muscles from hours of intense training. Sweat glistened on your forehead, but there was a triumphant gleam in your eyes as you looked over at the three first-years sprawled out on the ground, catching their breath.
Yuji lay flat on his back, staring up at the sky, his chest heaving with each breath. Megumi sat cross-legged, looking slightly less exhausted but still worn out, his dark hair sticking to his forehead. Nobara, meanwhile, was muttering under her breath, something about "insane third-years" and "not being paid enough for this."
You chuckled, walking over to where they lay. “Not bad, kiddos,” you said, your tone light but with a hint of approval. “You lasted longer than I thought you would.”
Nobara shot you a glare but couldn’t keep the corner of her mouth from twitching into a reluctant smile. “You really don’t hold back, do you?”
You shrugged, smirking. “What’s the point of holding back? Out there, the curses won’t. You’ve gotta be ready for anything.”
Megumi nodded in agreement, still catching his breath. “Yeah… makes sense. Still… that was intense.”
Yuji, ever the optimist, grinned. “I think it was fun! Painful, but fun.”
You laughed. “You’ve got a weird idea of fun, kid, but I like it. You’ve all got potential—that much is clear.”
Before any of them could respond, the door to the training grounds creaked open, and Gojo strolled in, his usual carefree smile on his face. “Looks like you all survived,” he said cheerfully. “Good! I’d hate to see my students taken out by friendly fire.”
You rolled your eyes. “Friendly, sure. You bring what I asked for?”
Gojo’s grin widened, and he held up several takeout bags. “I come bearing gifts! Fresh sushi, yakitori, and a whole lot of onigiri. Thought you could all use a good meal after that grueling session.”
Yuji’s eyes lit up at the sight of the food, and he scrambled to his feet. “Oh man, I’m starving! Thanks, Gojo-sensei!”
Nobara’s annoyance vanished in an instant, replaced by a hungry gleam in her eyes. “Finally, something good today!”
Megumi gave a small smile, clearly appreciative as he got up to join them. You gestured for everyone to gather around, and they sat in a loose circle on the grass. Gojo began handing out food, and soon enough, the quiet training grounds were filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and the occasional argument over who got the last piece of sushi.
You watched them interact, a small smile playing on your lips. There was something about the easy way of speaking between the three first-years that reminded you of your own time as a first-year at Jujutsu High. The way they bickered, teased, and supported each other—you hadn’t realized how much you missed that. Not that you’d ever admit it out loud.
“You know,” Gojo said, sliding over to sit next to you, “I think they like you.”
You snorted. “Yeah, right. I just put 'em through hell for hours. I’m sure they’re thrilled.”
Gojo chuckled. “Oh, come on. You know how it is. You beat them up, make them stronger, and they start to respect you. Besides, I can tell they’re warming up to you.”
You glanced over at the three of them—Yuji was talking animatedly with Megumi about some manga they both liked, while Nobara was trying (and failing) to teach Yuji how to properly use chopsticks. There was an ease between them, a sense of trust that hadn’t been there this morning.
“Maybe,” you conceded, taking a bite of onigiri. “They’re not bad. For first-years.”
Gojo smiled, leaning back on his hands. “You know, it wouldn’t hurt to let them in a little, (Y/n). They’re good kids. And they could learn a lot from you.”
You shot him a sideways glance. “You trying to turn me into a mentor, Gojo?”
He shrugged, still smiling. “Who knows? Stranger things have happened.”
You rolled your eyes but didn’t disagree. Instead, you turned back to the first-years, your expression softening. “Hey,” you called out, getting their attention. “Not bad today. You’ve got a lot to learn, but you’re tougher than ya look.”
Yuji grinned at the compliment, while Megumi nodded, and Nobara looked pleased, though she tried to hide it. “Thanks,” she said. “You’re… not as bad as I thought you’d be.”
You chuckled. “Gee, thanks, kid. I’m flattered.”
Yuji leaned forward, his eyes bright with curiosity. “So, (L/n), how did you get so strong? I mean, you’re incredible! The way you move, the way you fight—it’s like you’re always a step ahead.”
You hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by the earnestness in his voice. You weren't used to talking about yourself, especially not with newbies. But there was something about Yuji’s genuine admiration that made you want to answer.
“It’s… a lot of things,” you said finally. “Experience, mostly. I’ve been doing this a long time. Seen alotta 'f crap. Ya learn to adapt, to think on your feet. And you learn to trust yer instincts.”
Nobara nodded, leaning in. “What about that move you did earlier? The one where you just… vanished for a second. That was insane!”
You grinned. “Ah, that’s my own little trick. Quickstep. It’s all about manipulating cursed energy to accelerate your movements. Takes a lot of practice, but once you get it down, it’s pretty damn useful.”
Megumi’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “I see… it’s like a controlled burst of energy. Interesting.”
You could see the wheels turning in his head, and you couldn’t help but feel a spark of pride. They were good kids. Eager to learn, eager to grow. You could work with that.
As the conversation continued, you found yourself relaxing, enjoying their company more than you’d expected. There was a warmth here, a sense of belonging that you hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe Gojo was right. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let them in a little.
“Alright, enough about me,” you said, waving a hand dismissively. “Tell me about you guys. Why’d you decide to become Jujutsu Sorcerers?”
Yuji went first, his expression earnest. “I wanted to help people. My grandpa always told me to do good, and… well, after what happened with Sukuna, I figured this was the best way to use what I’ve got. To protect others.”
You nodded, impressed by his sincerity. “Good reason, kid. 'nd you, Megumi?”
Megumi hesitated, then shrugged. “I… I want to make a difference. To protect those who can’t protect themselves. And… to make up for some things in my past.”
You could hear the weight in his words, the unspoken pain. You knew better than to push. “Fair enough. And you, Kugisaki?”
Nobara grinned. “I want to live in the city and make a name for myself! And if I get to smash some curses along the way, even better.”
You laughed. “Straightforward. I like it.”
Gojo, still lounging nearby, watched the exchange with a satisfied smile. “See? Isn’t this nice? Everyone getting along, sharing their hopes and dreams. Warms the heart, doesn’t it?”
You rolled your eyes but couldn’t hide your smile. “Yeah, yeah, don’t get all sappy on me, Gojo.”
He chuckled. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, the group continued to talk, to bond over stories of past missions, favorite foods, and terrible jokes. For the first time in a long while, you felt a sense of peace, of belonging.
Maybe, just maybe, you’d found something worth sticking around for.