Chapitre 38: New Steps
As summer break drew to a close, the air was thick with that bittersweet feeling that accompanies every end of a season. In the passenger seat of his aunt's car, Ryosuke stared at his phone screen, reading through his mother's words of encouragement. Despite the hint of nostalgia creeping in, he couldn't help but smile when he read the part about his little sister. His mother mentioned how she was already pouting, unable to accept that he'd be gone for so long. The thought made his smile grow.
At the wheel, Yuki stole a glance at him.
"Will you be alright?"
Ryosuke looked up, meeting her eyes with confidence. "Yeah. It's only goodbye for now. I'll do everything I can to come back and see them as soon as possible."
Yuki nodded, amused by his serious tone, almost grown-up. "Besides, you know they can always visit you too. That school's got more than enough resources for a little family trip." She shrugged, adding with a playful smile, "Not that I usually go out of my way for family. But seeing as my nephew's decided to become… a jujutsu sorcerer, I figured I'd better show a little support, don't you think?" She gave him a mischievous wink. "Though, let's be real, you'd have done just fine without me. With your… absurd talent."
Ryosuke stifled a laugh. Then, with a softer tone, he asked a question that had been weighing on him for a while. "So, what am I really supposed to do there?"
Yuki's face softened, her gaze turning serious. "Listen, Ryosuke. Your current level already places you among the special grades. You're talented—extremely so. But strength alone isn't enough. You still need to learn to make allies, to build connections, to create a network. It's not just a bonus; it's essential. In the jujutsu world, knowing who you can count on is just as critical."
Ryosuke nodded thoughtfully. He understood her reasoning, even if he struggled to picture himself in that world of social strategies and alliances. To him, power had always been something personal, almost solitary.
For a long while, he stared out at the road ahead, lost in thought. The past few weeks had been intense. He had worked tirelessly, diving into techniques and concepts, pushing himself to what he considered monstrous levels. Yet, alongside his progress, there was an unsettling fear lodged in his chest—the fear of losing himself, of letting his power consume him. To prevent that, he had set strict, almost ritualized rules for himself to maintain balance.
But even with that discipline, a part of him stayed cautious. Sometimes, he felt like he was walking on an invisible tightrope, as fragile as a shard of glass. He wondered if, deep down, he'd eventually question everything. And then there were his goals, which had evolved with him. It wasn't just about protecting his family and friends, or even ensuring their safety anymore. There was something else, a more personal, almost selfish motivation that he barely dared to admit to himself. The truth was, he was looking to escape boredom.
And so, Ryosuke began to accept a reality that belonged to the strongest: a strange, often misunderstood mindset where one constantly sought to push their limits—not out of duty, but out of an intrinsic need to transcend the ordinary. Because, ultimately, power had that unique quality. It shaped those who held it, driving them to become more, to evolve into someone they never imagined they'd be.
The car sped along the winding road, surrounded by rolling green hills and fields fading from green to yellow.
"You know," Yuki spoke up after a moment, "I know a thing or two about feeling… different when you have exceptional abilities. But you know what? That's no reason to shut yourself off, you stubborn mule."
Ryosuke shook his head with a smile. "I'm not shutting myself off, Auntie. I just… want to figure this all out, in my own way."
"Your own way, huh? Interesting," she replied with a knowing smile. "But trust me, strength alone won't be enough. Over there, you're going to need to open up, to trust people." She added with a wink, "It's not so bad, believe me. You might even make some cool friends. Who knows, maybe one of them will have an even stranger talent than yours!"
They laughed together, a warm moment that melted into silence as Ryosuke's mind drifted back to his thoughts.
Unfortunately for his aunt, he already knew exactly what awaited him.
"The only one who might be interesting is Mr. Gojo—and he's not here."
It wasn't arrogance, just a reflection of Ryosuke's current level.
"Anyway, let's build connections like Auntie says. You never know."
Though there wouldn't be anyone quite like him, Kyoto didn't lack troubled souls for whom Ryosuke could play the hero.
Finally, the car slowed, and in the distance, he saw a building. It stood tall, imposing, almost intimidating, with its massive architecture and walls seemingly reaching for the sky.
Yuki cut the engine and looked at him with a smirk. "Well, here we are."
Ryosuke took a deep breath, smiled at his aunt, and nodded. He opened the car door, grabbed his bag, and stepped out with purpose. Together, Ryosuke and Yuki passed through the large stone gate that marked the entrance to the jujutsu school grounds. A long stone staircase stretched ahead of them, ascending in an endless series of weathered steps.
Before him, a vast forest of cedar and pine trees sprawled, with towering trunks reaching dizzying heights, forming a natural canopy above the stone paths. Overhead, a deep blue sky peeked through the foliage, casting a gentle light that filtered down to the ground in a mosaic of bright patches. From where he stood, Ryosuke could see the rugged landscape of the mountains, their peaks shrouded in low-hanging clouds, as if secluded from the rest of the world. Crystal-clear rivers wound their way below, twisting between polished stones.
Ryosuke paused, taking in the view of distant waterfalls cascading down the slopes, the water sparkling under the sun's rays. Moss-covered rocks and wildflowers emerged from the undergrowth, adding splashes of color here and there. Finally, they reached the top of the steps. Before them stood a grand traditional wooden gate, and leaning against the wall nearby was a woman.
She wore a dark purple baseball cap, white overalls over a black long-sleeve shirt, and simple dark shoes. Her hair, black with purple highlights, flowed down her back, with a few strands tied behind her head. A thin scar ran across the right side of her face, just above the bridge of her nose, adding a hint of mystery to her warm gaze.
At the sight of her visitors, she greeted them with a cheerful smile. "Well, well, it's been a while, Miss Tsukumo!" she exclaimed.
Yuki responded with a wave and an amused smirk. "Still the same, Utahime. This is my nephew, Ryosuke."
Ryosuke bowed politely. "Nice to meet you, ma'am."
The woman gave him a wink and a playful smile. "Ah, Ryosuke! Your aunt has told me quite a bit about you."
Ryosuke scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. He could feel his aunt's eyes on him, and he knew all too well she'd probably shared plenty of embarrassing stories. Before he could respond, Yuki waved goodbye, already ready to leave. Utahime looked at her in surprise.
"What, leaving already? It's so rare to see you here!"
But Yuki didn't seem to hear her and quickened her pace without a glance back. Ryosuke chuckled as he watched her walk away, but then a shout rang out, and a figure dropped from the sky, landing right in front of Yuki.
She stopped short, muttering a curse.
"What's with the dramatic entrances?" she grumbled.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Next Chapter: The First has become the Last?
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