Jujutsu High — One Week Later
The halls of Jujutsu High were quieter than usual.
Not the usual kind of quiet. This was the kind that lingered in the corners, in the untouched chairs and the way students avoided eye contact.
A quiet that echoed.
Kishibe sat outside, half-shaded under the camphor tree, a bottle in his hand. Not hidden. Not secret. Just there. He stared at the sky like it owed him something.
Shoko stood at the doorway behind him, arms crossed.
"It's not even noon."
"Sun's up," Kishibe muttered. "Close enough."
She didn't respond. Just walked over and took a seat beside him. Her eyes drifted to the long scar under his collarbone.
"You should still be resting."
"I'm sitting down, aren't I?"
Silence.
Kishibe took another drink. "You here to scold me or check if I'm still breathing?"
"I'm here because I know what it looks like when someone wants to disappear," she said.
His lips twitched into a humorless smile.
"Guess I'm not subtle anymore."
---
Elsewhere — Gojo and Geto
In the training yard, Gojo stood with his blindfold down, arms folded. Geto leaned against the far wall, watching him with a cautious gaze.
Neither spoke at first.
Geto finally broke the silence. "You've been avoiding everyone."
Gojo didn't look at him. "I needed to think."
Geto nodded slowly. "And?"
"I wasn't strong enough. Not then."
"You're strong now."
Gojo finally turned to him. "At what cost?"
Geto's throat tightened.
They were both carrying something they didn't know how to put down.
---
Later — The Office
Yaga looked over the mission report again. He didn't say a word for a long time. His fingers were tight on the folder.
Kishibe stood across from him, eyes hollow.
"She was just a kid," Kishibe finally said. His voice didn't crack. It was too dry for that.
"I know."
"Tell me it wasn't for nothing."
Yaga stared at the pages. "I can't."
Kishibe nodded. Once. Then left.
---
Nightfall
The dorm room was dim. Kishibe lit another cigarette, shirt off, scars catching the lamplight. An empty bottle rolled across the floor.
He opened a small drawer beside his bed.
Inside: a photo.
Gojo, Geto, Shoko, Riko.
And him.
All smiling.
He stared at it for a long time.
Then turned it face-down.