Chapter 6 : Kurosaki Ichigo! You're dead!
"Time to call back a wandering soul."
A toy bear wearing a frilly dress suddenly popped out from the arms of the orange-haired man.
…A toy bear?
Before anyone could comment, the man slammed the bear's head down, making it yelp.
"I told you not to talk to strangers. A talking bear is going to freak people out."
Gojo Satoru crossed his arms, unimpressed.
Child?
Did this guy just call him a child?
Sure, his body was technically 17, but his soul and mind were 29.
Ieiri Shoko, lighting another cigarette, remained unbothered. "Bold words from someone who carries a toy bear around."
Gojo silently gave Shoko a thumbs-up.
The orange-haired man scratched his head awkwardly, then sighed. "Right, that was rude. Name's Kurosaki Ichigo. I'm a Shinigami. That thing you just fought was my target."
Gojo tilted his head, smirking. "Gojo Satoru. This is Geto Suguru. You're a little late, buddy."
His smirk widened. "And because of your timing, I'm probably getting yelled at by my teacher. Again."
Ichigo chuckled apologetically. "Want me to explain it to your teacher?"
Gojo snorted. "Forget it. If Yaga thinks I was hanging out with weirdos, he'll probably make me copy the Sorcerer's Code 100 times."
"Since this has nothing to do with me, I'm leaving." Geto's tone was curt as he turned to go.
Gojo immediately latched onto his collar. "Geto, are you abandoning me again?"
Geto pulled away, annoyed. "I don't even know you."
Ichigo, amused, waved at Geto. "Hey, that dragon you summoned earlier—what was that? It was cool!"
"Cool?!" The bear in his arms shuddered. "That thing almost tore the theater apart!"
Gojo pushed his sunglasses down slightly, flashing his pale blue eyes. "Nonsense. The Hollow did the damage. Geto's Rainbow Dragon has perfect control."
Shoko exhaled a long puff of smoke, shaking her head. "Men. No hope for them."
"…"
Ichigo cleared his throat. "I can help clean up, if that helps."
Gojo waved him off. "Nah. Jujutsu Headquarters will handle it. Just don't let me catch you causing problems again."
With that, he threw an arm around Geto's shoulder and dragged him toward the exit. Shoko followed behind, still smirking.
Just as they stepped outside, Gojo's eyes flicked toward a young man in a blue shirt standing in the crowd.
A little girl in a red dress stood in front of him.
Shoko stubbed out her cigarette on a nearby trash can, staring openly. "Who's that?"
Gojo's expression darkened. "A ghost. Geto and I saw him here yesterday."
His Six Eyes had analyzed ghosts for over a year now. Both Hollows and Cursed Spirits originated from regular ghosts—but something about this one felt… off.
The moment Gojo turned his gaze back toward the crowd, the ghost and the little girl were gone.
"Alright, I'm out." Geto stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets, looking over his shoulder. "Tomorrow's my first day at Teitan High. I can't be late. Besides, Nanako and Mimiko will be upset if I'm not there when they wake up."
With that, he disappeared into the crowd.
Shoko glanced at Gojo. "Not gonna stop him?"
Gojo shrugged. "Where's he gonna go that I can't find him? Let him play high schooler for now."
The Next Morning
Yaga slammed a report onto Gojo's desk.
"Can you go ONE DAY without causing me stress?"
Gojo picked up the report, scanning it.
"'A shopping mall display car lost control and crashed into the theater, causing severe damage…'"
Yaga's voice boomed. "Did you REALLY think I'd believe this nonsense?! A theater wall just 'accidentally' gets obliterated?!"
Gojo gritted his teeth.
This is how the Shinigami handled things?
Where was the basic level of common sense?!
Shoko, seated nearby, could barely contain her laughter.
She almost reached for another cigarette—then remembered Yaga hated her smoking in front of him. She sighed, defeated.
Yaga glared down at Gojo. "You're copying the Sorcerer's Code. 100 times!"
Far Away…
Kurosaki Ichigo shivered for no reason. "Weird… I feel like I'm being cursed."
That Afternoon
While everyone else was training outside, Gojo was stuck inside, lazily copying the Sorcerer's Code.
He chewed his pen, bored out of his mind.
The old Yaga wasn't this creative.
Back then, he and Geto just got yelled at when they messed up.
…But now that he thought about it, copying as punishment was kinda effective.
Maybe he'd use this method on his future students.
Gojo's eyes gleamed.
Speaking of which…
Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and Nobara Kugisaki should have been born by now.
Maybe it was time to meet them.
Especially Itadori.
If his mother really was Kenjaku, then Gojo had to intervene before it was too late.
And no matter what—
He wasn't letting Geto fall for that righteousness bullshit again.
By the time Gojo finished his punishment—all 180 copies—he was in a foul mood.
He needed sugar. Badly.
Huh?
It was just about time for regular high schools to let out.
If he hurried, he could intercept Geto after class.
Perfect.
He'd demand that Geto buy him some Kikufuku mochi.
Totally justified, considering all the suffering he'd endured because of him.
Wait.
What year was it? 2006?
Crap.
Kikusuian hadn't started making Edamame Kikufuku yet.
…Oh well.
Any flavor would do.