Curse Returns, a gamble from the start, I awaken dual spells

The next day, at six in the morning.

When the alarm clock rang, it was still a hazy gray outside the window.

Liren has never had the habit of sleeping in; she gets up immediately the moment the alarm rings.

Furthermore, Kugizaki specifically reminded her yesterday that Maki-senpai hates being late the most, which is almost identical to the original work.

The thought of being late on the first day as a freshman is chilling.

She washed up, changed into her school uniform, and then called out to the side.

"Itari, it's time to get up."

After a long while, Huzhang's voice finally rang out slowly.

"Hmm—Rito, good morning!"

With difficulty, Huzhang got out of bed, rubbed his eyes, and looked like he hadn't slept well.

"Itadori, if you don't get up soon, you'll be late for Maki-senpai's place."

"Maki...senpai!" Upon hearing this, Itadori instantly snapped out of his daze.

Maki-senpai is the person who hates being late the most in the entire high school, without exception.

Last time, because I was five minutes late, she punished me by making me run 10 laps around the track while doing a handstand. After that, I had to have a 1v1 physical training session with her, and she didn't hold back at all.

Afterwards, I saw my face bruised and swollen in the mirror, and I almost didn't recognize myself.

"Here it comes!"

After saying that, Huzhang got up as quickly as possible.

After getting ready, she and Rito walked towards the playground.

The college in the early morning has a completely different feel from that during the day.

The grass blades on the playground were covered with dew, shimmering in the newly brightening sunlight.

The air was cool and refreshing, and when I breathed it in, it carried the scent of plants and earth.

Rito thought he and Itajō would be the first to arrive.

But he was wrong.

In the very center of the playground, a figure was already standing there.

Her dark green hair was tied in a high ponytail, and she wore a pair of specially made glasses on her nose.

Wearing a purple tracksuit, white shorts, and black leggings, he held a long-handled naginata in his hand.

With the tip of the knife touching the ground, the whole person looked like a knife that had been casually stuck into the ground.

"You're Sato Rihito?"

Her voice was not loud, but very clear, piercing through the morning mist.

"it's me."

Maki glanced at him, her gaze sweeping from his shoulder to his arm and then to his posture, the whole process taking no more than two seconds.

"Fuhei mentioned you to me yesterday, saying that your spells are very strong, but your foundation is not good enough."

She raised her naginata and pointed the tip at the open space opposite her.

"Move over there."

Without asking any further questions, Li Ren walked to the spot she had designated and stood there.

Maki put the naginata aside and stretched her wrists.

"Teacher Gojo asked me to lead you in basic training. Itajiro, go to the side and observe his level separately."

She spoke calmly to Itadori, then turned her gaze back to Rito.

"Maki-senpai, shouldn't we wait for Fushiguro and the others?"

"We can add them in when they arrive. When it comes to basic training, every minute earlier is a minute more."

She assumed a starting stance.

"Come on, hit me."

Li Ren hesitated for a moment.

"...Should we use a spell?"

"casual."

Li Ren didn't hesitate for long.

Maki's physical abilities are second only to Yuujin Itadori among the students of the Jujutsu High School, and her Jujutsu power is so weak that she needs to wear special glasses to see Jujutsu spirits.

But precisely because of this, she possesses physical abilities far exceeding those of ordinary people, a completely opposite "heavenly bondage" obtained through cursed power.

There's no point in being polite when facing such an opponent.

A surge of azure magical energy coursed through his right fist.

Rito lowered his center of gravity and charged towards Maki.

A punch was thrown.

Maki shifted her body slightly to the side.

Just for a moment.

Rito's fist grazed past her shoulder without even touching the fabric of her tracksuit.

"Too straightforward."

Maki's voice came from his right.

Before Rito could retract his fist, a hand had already landed on his shoulder.

The next second, the world spun around.

He was thrown off balance and slammed his back heavily onto the grass of the playground with a muffled groan.

"Your techniques are very powerful, I've heard it from Fuhei, but do you know what your biggest problem is right now?"

Li Ren got up from the ground.

"Every time you make a move, you're thinking about 'how to hit him with the spell' instead of 'how to actually hit him'."

Maki's tone was not sarcastic at all; she was simply stating a fact.

"A spell is a weapon, not your hands and feet. If you don't even know how to get close to your opponent, even the most powerful spell is useless."

She assumed a starting stance.

"Again."

Rito took a deep breath and lowered his center of gravity again.

This time, he didn't rush in, but instead moved half a step around Maki.

The azure magical energy still surged in his fist, but his gaze was no longer fixed solely on his right hand; instead, it was fixed on Maki's shoulders, knees, and center of gravity...

Then, throw a punch.

Maki sidestepped, avoiding the attack again.

But this time, Rito didn't let her grab his shoulder.

As he threw the punch, his body tilted in the opposite direction, and he slid under Maki's arm.

Maki's fingers brushed against the hem of his clothes, but she didn't grab it.

"...That's interesting."

Maki turned around, and her brown eyes behind her glasses lit up slightly.

"Again."

Rito charged forward again, but this time, Maki didn't just defend.

boom!

Before Rito could even see her move, he was punched in the stomach.

He arched his back, his stomach churning instantly.

He clutched his stomach and kept backing away, but he stubbornly refused to fall.

"You turned to the side at too high an angle just now, and your center of gravity shifted."

"If your opponent is faster than you, you've already lost the moment you turn to the side."

Li Ren did not answer, but straightened up and resumed his stance.

His breathing was still uneven, and sweat slid down his forehead, but the look in his eyes remained unchanged.

Maki looked at him, paused for a second, and then assumed the starting stance again.

"Again."

……

The grass on the playground was trampled and bent over, and the morning light changed from a hazy gray to a pale gold.

Rito has lost count of how many times he has fallen.

Every time she falls and gets up, Maki says something.

It's not "Keep it up" or "You can do it," but something very specific.

"This punch was half a beat faster than your first one."

"You were right about the angle of your body, but you were too slow to retract your fist."

"The center of gravity is still too high."

And then it's: "Again!"

……

The sun rose higher, casting a long shadow over the playground.

Li Ren's school uniform was soaked with sweat, his hair was plastered to his forehead, and his breathing was heavy, like he was working a bellows.

But his posture was more stable than at the beginning, and his center of gravity was lower.

Maki looked at him, then tossed the naginata in her hand aside.

"Again."

Rito resumed his stance, his eyes burning with a flame.

Maki looked at him, her brown eyes behind her glasses narrowing slightly.

She took half a step forward and readjusted her starting stance.

"Excuse me, excuse me, just a moment."

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the edge of the playground. It wasn't loud, but everyone heard it.

Li Ren's movements stopped.

Maki withdrew her hand and turned her head to the side.

Gojo Satoru leaned against the railing, his hands in his pockets, his white hair swaying slightly in the morning breeze.

He tilted his head, a smile playing on his lips, as if he were looking at something very interesting.

"Gojo-sensei?" Maki frowned.

"Let's stop our morning exercise here." Gojo Goshin stood up and walked towards the center of the playground with a loose gait. "Now, let's get down to business."

Rito then noticed that Fushiguro and Kugizaki had arrived at some point.

Fu Hei stood with his hands in his pockets, his expression unchanged.

Kugizaki was carrying a plastic bag from the convenience store. When he saw Kugizaki looking over, he raised his hand and waved it.

It's a sports drink.

But Rito's gaze was drawn back by Gojo Satoru's words.

"There's a small matter that I need you to resolve. I believe Nanami mentioned it yesterday, right?" Gojo Satoru said, his gaze sweeping over Rito, Kugizaki, and Fushiguro.

"It's the cyborg incident!" Rito's eyes narrowed.

Yesterday, before leaving, Nanami handed over a matter concerning cyborgs.

It seems the real person is up to something again.

Gojo Satoru continued, "This mission will be undertaken by Rito, Kugizaki, and Fushiguro, with Nanami leading the team."

"With your capabilities, you should be able to resolve this quickly."

Before he could finish speaking, Itsuji impatiently blurted out, "What about me? What about me?"

Gojo Satoru smiled mysteriously: "Hihito-kun, keep it a secret!"

"What?!" Itadori let out a wail, and anyone could hear the dissatisfaction in his tone.

"But don't worry, Hisahito-kun, I'll tell you soon. Come with me!"

After saying that, Gojo Satoru walked out of the playground without looking back.

"Gojo-sensei, wait for me!"

Tiger Staff immediately followed.

Halfway there, he suddenly turned around and looked at the three of them, including Rihito.

"be safe!"

Watching Huzhang's departing figure, the others looked completely bewildered.

Only a rational person, beneath a calm exterior, harbors a turbulent undercurrent.

A key plot point is coming!

Itadori was taken away by Gojo Satoru at this time, presumably to participate in secret training, and then it was announced to the public that he had been executed.

He will return in two months, and the storyline of the Kyoto exchange meeting will then unfold.

Two months...

As Li Ren thought about it, his eyes gradually became firm.

He turned around abruptly, his eyes fixed on Maki.

"Again!"