CHAPTER THREE

【teacher and student bonding】

The sound of splintering wood filled the training ground as Yaga's puppet lunged at Momo. She dodged, narrowly avoiding a strike that would've knocked her off her broom for good. Rina watched intently, her eyes tracking every movement.

"Focus," Rina commanded, her voice sharp. "Don't just anticipate its next move-make it react to you."

Momo nodded, sweat glistening on her forehead. She took a shaky breath, raised her broom, and channelled her cursed energy into it. The air around her began to hum faintly. She muttered a quick incantation, and the broom's bristles ignited with a concentrated stream of cursed fire.

Rina tilted her head slightly, curious but far from impressed.

Momo advanced, her speed increasing as she closed in on Yaga's puppet. She swung her broom in a tight arc, the cursed fire trailing behind in a bright streak. The puppet pivoted, blocking her strike, but Momo wasn't finished. She adjusted her grip and twisted her wrist, releasing a flurry of smaller fire bursts that struck the puppet's joints.

The puppet stumbled, its movements jerky and disoriented.

"That's more like it," Rina murmured, her lips curling into the faintest hint of a smile. "But don't let up. Even if you want to battle on your terms, find new angles. Engage in close combat if you have to. I don't like my students having openings."

Behind her, Utahime watched with folded arms, a mix of concern and awe on her face. She could see how hard Rina was pushing these students, demanding not just their best, but something beyond-a threshold that most of them had never considered.

At the far end of the training ground, Mai Zenin was facing off against two of Yaga's puppets. Her usual smirk was gone, replaced by intense focus. She held a cursed rifle, a sleek weapon she'd refined over months of trial and error. Rina had told her to innovate-to transcend her limits. But Mai was struggling, and still, she didn't back down.

With a quick shift, Mai switched the rifle's configuration, pouring cursed energy into the barrel. She fired, the shot not a single bullet but a shockwave that blew the puppet's legs out from under it. Rina raised an eyebrow, mildly impressed by the unexpected tactic.

"Good," Rina acknowledged, her voice carrying across the field. "But if you miss, you're dead. Remember that."

Mai gritted her teeth, not responding, and adjusted her aim, lining up a final shot. Rina watched closely, noting every flaw, every hesitation. Her students were improving-just not fast enough.

"They're still weak," she muttered under her breath as she moved past each one.

"Rina." She turned, slightly surprised to hear her name without the usual honorific. Utahime had stepped closer, her brow furrowed. "Don't you think we've overworked them?"

"No. If anything, I'm underworking them," Rina replied, her voice even and unyielding. "Every mistake they make here is one less mistake they'll make out there."

Utahime sighed but didn't argue. She knew that trying to reason with Rina when she was in this mode was pointless. Still, there was something in her eyes-a flicker of empathy that she kept hidden beneath her icy exterior.

Utahime raised an eyebrow, her expression deadpan. "You sound just like someone I know."

Rina stiffened slightly, knowing exactly who she meant. Her gaze returned to the struggling students. "I'm nothing like him," she muttered.

Another round of strikes, another series of dodges, and more attempts to break Yaga's relentless puppets. Hours wore on, but Rina's demands didn't waver. She expected perfection, and anything less was met with steely silence or sharp rebukes. It wasn't that she was harsh-she just refused to coddle them. This world was cruel, and she knew there was no sense hiding that truth.

Finally, when she saw enough progress, Rina called a stop.

"Enough," she ordered, her voice echoing across the training ground. The students halted immediately, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and relief. "Tomorrow, we refine what worked and discard the rest."

Her tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

As the students dispersed, helping each other to their feet, Utahime approached Rina again. "You really have a weird way of showing care for these kids," she said softly, her voice almost pleading.

Rina glanced at her, a shadow of something unreadable passing behind her eyes. "If I'm not hard on them, Utahime, they won't survive," she replied, her tone softer but no less resolute.

Before Utahime could respond, a voice interrupted.

"Ririii~!"

Rina's eyes twitched in annoyance. Of course.

Satoru Gojo strolled into view, his grin as wide and infuriating as ever. His snowy white hair framed his face, and his blindfold was conspicuously absent, replaced with dark shades, allowing his brilliant blue eyes to pierce right through her.

"Still torturing the kids, I see," he teased, leaning against a nearby railing with casual grace.

"Gojo," Utahime interjected sharply, giving him a pointed look. "You didn't even acknowledge your elder before speaking to Rina. Some manners, please." She gestured loudly.

Gojo blinked, as if truly surprised. "Oh, Utahime! I didn't see you there-my apologies, truly," he said, his voice dripping with feigned sincerity.

She rolled her eyes. "Tch, sure." She turned to walk away. "I'll go check on the students."

Rina felt a light poke on her cheek.

"Tch. You wanna lose an arm?" Rina growled, her voice dripping with irritation.

"Is that any way to greet a friend, Riri?" he teased, unfazed.

Rina didn't respond immediately. Her fingers traced the edge of her blindfold as she took a steadying breath. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice low and controlled.

Utahime crossed her arms, watching the exchange with a knowing look.

"Happy to see you too, angel!" Satoru protested.

"I'm not," she replied coldly.

"You wound me." He sighed dramatically, his voice relaxed, almost mocking.

"Go away, Satoru," Rina muttered through clenched teeth.

"But I came all this way to see you!" he pouted, clearly enjoying himself.

"Go. Away." Rina's voice was flat and devoid of patience.

Satoru chuckled, his grin widening. "Oh, come on. I even brought you sweets!" He held up a small box of pastries, waving them enticingly.

Rina's expression shifted, a slight softening that he didn't miss.

"Why are you really here?" she asked, cutting to the point.

Satoru's playful demeanour didn't fade. "I need a favour," he said.

Rina clenched her fists but didn't argue. There was always a reason with him. "Well?"

"It's a surprise," Gojo continued, placing a finger to his lips.

Rina didn't respond, her focus momentarily drifting back to her students as they regrouped, sharing quiet words of encouragement.

She shot him a flat, unimpressed look and let out a slow breath, raising an eyebrow.

"Surprise! Teacher-student bonding time!"

Rina rubbed her temples, her frustration simmering as she surveyed the small, dimly lit restaurant filled with chatter and the clinking of glasses.

"Satoru, what the hell are we doing here?" she exclaimed, glancing at him with a mix of confusion and irritation.

He held up a finger, a playful grin on his face. "I thought this would be a perfect way for you to explain some important lessons about curses to Yuji."

Yuji stood beside them, curiosity lighting up his face as he observed the atmosphere. "Uh, so what's going on? Why are we at an open mic?"

"This is a place where people share their stories-expressing emotions, regrets, and experiences. It's a chance to connect with others through their art," Satoru explained, motioning toward the small stage where a woman was preparing to speak. "Tonight, we're going to listen closely. The emotions shared here might give us insight into curses."

Rina crossed her arms, trying to shake off her irritation. "....not a bad idea."

They all sat down at a table, preparing to listen.

As the woman stepped up to the microphone, the restaurant fell quiet. The three sorcerers noticed a grotesque-looking creature perched on the woman's shoulder. It was dark green, with four spindly legs and two bulging eyes that swirled in a grotesque manner.

Yuji instinctively tensed, ready to get up. "Sensei-"

"Wait." Rina held him back, her tone firm. "We're here to watch, remember?" A moment of silence passed as Itadori looked at both his teachers, confusion etched on his face.

"But-"

"We'll deal with it when she's done," she assured, glancing at the creature with a mix of disdain and concern.

Itadori took one more glance at his mentors, then breathed deeply, relaxing back into his chair.

"Nasty-looking thing, isn't it?" Satoru commented, amusement dancing in his voice. "I bet her shoulder is killing her."

The woman on stage took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the audience before she began to read a poem.

"I thought I was helping, but I was merely a thief,
Stealing a love that never belonged to me.
Each day, the weight of my choices crushes my heart,
Haunting me with shadows of what could have been."

Yuji leaned closer, his expression serious as he listened intently, absorbing the weight of her words. Rina and Satoru remained calm, their postures contrasting sharply with the intensity of the poem. Satoru rested his chin on his hand, eyes glimmering with interest, while Rina sat straight, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, feeling the emotional pull of the performance.

"In the quiet moments, guilt wraps around me,
An unyielding chain, dragging me deeper into despair.
I see their smiles and hear their laughter,
Yet all I feel is the emptiness of my actions.
I thought I was a savior, a beacon of light,
But now I realize I was a thief in the night.
How do I atone for the warmth I've stolen,
When the fire of their love burns in someone else's soul?"

The woman wiped away the tears that had started to prick at her eyes as she finished. The crowd in the restaurant broke into applause, taken by the intensity of her words. "Thank you," she whispered, bowing slightly before leaving the stage.

"Satoru," Rina called quietly.

"On it," he replied. As the woman passed, he flicked his wrist subtly, and the small blast of energy caused the curse to disintegrate into fragments.

Rina, still facing forward, turned her attention to the teenager. "Yuji."

"Yes, Akumu-sensei?" he responded almost immediately.

"Do you understand what the poem meant?" she asked, her tone expectant.

"Well, um..." He glanced at the floor, gathering his thoughts before looking back up at her. "She talked about being a thief, stealing a love that wasn't hers to begin with." He placed a hand under his chin, deep in thought. "So, she must've felt bad about taking someone else's boyfriend?" He paused, scratching his head. "Or maybe there's more to it... like did she actually date the guy when he was still-?"

"Not the point," Rina interrupted with a deadpan expression.

"Right!" He shook his head, clearing his unnecessary thoughts. "So, she felt guilty for taking someone's boyfriend?"

Rina gave a small nod. "Good. And you know how curses are created, right?"

Yuji furrowed his brows, trying to recall the information. "They... are created from negative emotions," he said, drawing out the words as if testing their truth.

"Correct," she confirmed. "So?"

Yuji's eyes widened in realization, and he snapped his fingers. "The curse was created from her guilt!" he exclaimed.

Rina nodded approvingly. "Exactly. When negative emotions linger unresolved, they become fertile ground for curses to form. Normal humans are different from us. They can't control cursed energy like we do. For them, it's just a normal day of feeling; for us, it's the source of our abilities."

He looked at her thoughtfully. "I think I get it even more now."

Rina watched as Yuji processed the lesson, a spark of determination lighting up in his eyes. She felt an unexpected warmth inside, realizing that perhaps Satoru's unorthodox methods were effective after all.

A small smile touched her lips. Her moment of reflection was interrupted by enthusiastic clapping.

"Wonderful!" Satoru exclaimed. "I knew this would pay off. Teacher-student bonding time accomplished."

The three were walking back to the school when Rina broke the silence.

"I can't believe you dragged me all the way out here just to teach one student," she muttered, shaking her head. "You could've handled that yourself."

Satoru adjusted his glasses with a carefree grin. "Understanding my methods was never your strong suit."

"At least we can agree on that," she shot back without missing a beat.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It means your teaching style is questionable at best," she replied bluntly. "Sending students on dangerous missions without proper supervision-need I remind you of Megumi?"

"Are you still holding that against me?" he asked, his tone caught somewhere between amusement and exasperation.

Her eyes narrowed beneath her blindfold, silently conveying that she absolutely was.

He glanced at her, then back at Itadori, before his voice softened. "I brought you here because I know how good you are with teaching. You're patient when it counts and firm when necessary. The students need that balance," he said, dropping his usual playful tone. " I need him to have someone to turn to if I'm not around."

Rina turned her head slightly, searching his face for the faintest hint of mockery. When she found none, she sighed quietly. "Sat-"

"We both want the best for them," he continued. "Not every teacher has perfect methods, but as long as they're effective, that's what matters." He stopped walking and turned to face her, causing Rina to stop as well. "You understand that, right? It's important to me that you trust me."

Rina's thumb unconsciously scratched at her index finger, displaying her unease..

Satoru's voice softened even more. "Though... I doubt that's possible anymore," he admitted, and for the briefest moment, there was a crack in his voice. It was subtle, but Rina heard it, and it sent her mind wandering.
































✵AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Ring...Ring!

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Hey! You've reached rieberly! We're getting more insight on Rina and Satoru's relationship. Intriguing right?
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