Jujutsu Kaisen: The Sorceress of Control

50 PS

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Geto heard that Gojo was on his way. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. What the hell is Tsukumo Yuki doing here? he thought, glancing at Makima, who was observing Yuki with analytical eyes. This isn't good. Facing Makima without fully understanding her technique was already complicated, but with Yuki present, it would be an almost insurmountable challenge. And with Gojo on his way, the situation was becoming impossible.

Sighing, he decided to cut the interaction short. "Well, looks like the meeting is over," he said as he began to leave. However, Yuki, with overwhelming speed, moved toward him.

"Well, old friend, what are you doing bothering my dear students?" he heard that familiar voice.

And then he felt it: that unmistakable presence. That fast? He looked up at the sky, where a figure floated effortlessly. Satoru Gojo's clear eyes stared at him with the same intensity as when they had parted. Makima also shifted her gaze toward him, this time with slight annoyance. He always shows up just when I'm about to do something important, she thought, beginning to suspect that Gojo might be following her.

Gojo descended next to Yuki, landing gracefully. He looked back, offering Makima a brief smile. "Makima-chan, go with Inumaki and Okkotsu outside the barrier. We'll take care of this."

Makima sighed before stepping back. Geto seized the moment to make his last move. "Consider my offer," he said, looking directly at the girl.

That phrase made Gojo frown. Makima, for her part, observed him for a second before turning and, without a word, leaping off the rooftop, landing softly to join the other students.

Gojo, meanwhile, sighed internally. Everything went wrong. Knowing that girl's sharp mind, she surely already suspected him. Irritated, he turned his attention to Geto. "What are you planning, Suguru?" he asked sternly.

Geto closed his eyes, showing a calm smile. After a moment of reflection, he decided to drop the bomb. "You know, Satoru... I have something to tell you, or rather to all sorcerers: on December 24th, there will be a war. I'll release hundreds and hundreds of curses across Japan, and my allies will join them."

Gojo clenched his fists at those words, but before he could respond, Yuki stepped forward, attacking Geto furiously.

"Come on, it's not time for you to settle the score with me yet," Geto taunted, retreating gracefully. "Besides, if I don't return to my base, my people already know what to do."

Gojo remained still, his gaze fixed on his old friend. Frustrated, Yuki looked at him, waiting for some reaction, but he didn't move.

"We'll meet again," Geto finally said, leaving calmly.

When he disappeared, Yuki couldn't contain her anger. "What's wrong with you? We could've captured him!"

Gojo looked at her seriously. "His target is Makima," he said gravely.

"Huh? Why?" Yuki asked, confused.

Gojo sighed as he adjusted his blindfold. "You know it almost as well as I do. She has a unique technique, arguably the most powerful. And from what I just inferred, it's much more than everyone thinks."

"But she's your student, right? And she's about to enter the sorcery school?" Yuki insisted.

Gojo paused before responding. "Why do you think she lives on the school grounds?"

Yuki blinked. "To gain better knowledge?"

Gojo nodded. "Partly, yes. She spends much of her time reading books in the library, but it's not just that. I shouldn't tell you this, but I think it's necessary. Tengen made a binding vow with her to ensure she's on our side. He hasn't told me what he gave her in return, but we know vows probably don't work on her the same way they do on others."

Yuki's eyes widened in astonishment. "Are you saying that...?"

Gojo nodded again. "I deduce that her technique can break vows without receiving the corresponding punishment. In retrospect, she isn't loyal to the sorcerer society. She might just be pretending for convenience."

He sighed once more, muttering almost inaudibly: "I hope that's not the case."

Makima met Inumaki at the curtain's exit. Yuta, still unconscious, rested on Toge's shoulder, who seemed exhausted but focused. "The mission is canceled," Makima announced calmly, though her tone was firm. "Even though we solved the problem, Gojo is here."

Inumaki's eyes widened at the mention of that name, a mix of surprise and concern reflected on his face. Without a word, he quickly nodded. "Let's go," she ordered, and Toge, carefully carrying Yuta, followed her out of the curtain.

A car was waiting nearby. The three got in silently, and the vehicle quickly headed toward the school. During the ride, Makima remained silent, gazing out the window as she processed the recent events. Beside her, Inumaki was focused on Yuta, occasionally checking his breathing and pulse.

When they arrived at the facility, Yuta woke up, a bit dazed but conscious. They separated at the entrance, each heading their own way. Makima walked toward her house, her footsteps echoing in the halls as her mind filled with conflicting thoughts. Something about the mission's outcome deeply unsettled her.

Just as she turned a corner, a familiar figure appeared in front of her, as if waiting for her. It was Satoru Gojo, who looked at her with his characteristic smile.

"All done?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Something like that," Gojo replied, though his tone was laden with exhaustion. He immediately noticed something was off. Before he could say anything, Makima looked at him directly, with a chilling intensity that made him tense up. "Everything turned out very conveniently, don't you think?" she said, her gaze piercing through Gojo's relaxed façade.

"Convenient?" he repeated, trying to maintain his smile, though his tone betrayed some discomfort.

Makima took a step toward him, not breaking eye contact. "First, Suguru Geto appears. Then, someone interrupts saying you're on your way, when this mission wasn't even important enough to require your presence. Why was a special-grade sorcerer on a mission meant for beginners?"

For the first time in a long while, Gojo felt his mouth go dry. He tried to deflect with his usual carefree attitude, scratching his cheek. "Well, I..."

"Don't lie to me, Gojo," she interrupted with a sharp tone that left no room for excuses.

Gojo's smile vanished completely. He sighed, giving in. "I sent her to follow you."

The silence that followed was deafening. Makima didn't react immediately, but her gaze grew even colder. "Reason," she demanded simply, her voice low but brimming with authority.

Gojo knew he couldn't hide anything anymore. With a slight sigh, he confessed, "I wanted to know more about you. It was simple: if you fought someone like Yuki, you'd be forced to use your full potential. That way, I could see what you're really capable of."

Makima didn't look away, but something in her expression changed, though it was barely perceptible. "Your best option to 'know more about me' was to spy on me and make me fight a special-grade sorcerer," she said, without raising her voice but with a tone that made every word feel like a stone.

Gojo ran a hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. "Look, I did it for you," he tried to justify. "I need to know everything you can do. The elders are constantly watching you, and at the slightest misstep, they wouldn't hesitate to lock you up. I just wanted to be prepared, to make sure no one could use you against us."

Makima let out a sigh, but it wasn't one of relief—it was one of weariness. "Thank you, Gojo... You've just confirmed something I already suspected."

Gojo frowned, confused. "What?"

She turned away, starting to leave as her words resonated with icy finality. "That I can't trust anyone."

Gojo stood still, watching her walk away. Her words hit him harder than he expected. He had spent almost two years trying to earn her trust, trying to get closer to her, and now all that effort seemed to have vanished in an instant.

He sighed deeply, bringing a hand to his face. "Well, I won't give up," he murmured to himself, as if trying to convince himself. Then he looked up at the dark sky. "Though now I also have a war coming."