After the events at the ruined temple, Aiko felt it. Like something within her had been unlocked—an untapped force crackling just beneath her skin. Cursed energy didn't just swirl around her; it obeyed her.
It bent, it moved.
It listened.
---
The Discovery
Inside the Jujutsu High training arena, Aiko stood facing off against three animated cursed dummies. Gojo leaned against the wall, arms folded, his blindfold pushed slightly up to watch with interest. Yaga watched from above, clipboard in hand.
"Let's see what you've got," Yaga said.
Aiko took a slow breath. Her hands remained by her sides.
The dummies charged.
But they didn't get far.
With a subtle flick of her eyes, the sword racked against the far wall lifted on its own—no hands, no strings. It hovered in the air like it was tethered to her soul.
With a loud crack, the blade surged forward and sliced clean through the first dummy.
She shifted her gaze again—two other spears twisted off the wall and danced in the air. In a sweeping arc, they spun like deadly satellites around her, lashing out. The remaining dummies fell in seconds, shredded.
She never moved her feet.
Gojo whistled. "Damn, princess. You sure you didn't transmigrate from heaven?"
---
Her Technique: Phantom Armament
Core Ability: Telekinetic Cursed Weapon Control
Aiko can psychically control cursed tools and weapons as extensions of herself using her cursed energy. The more she connects to an object, the deadlier and more precise it becomes.
Spectral Arsenal: She can summon a floating set of cursed weapons around her and use them all simultaneously.
Cursed Grip: Pulls weapons from her surroundings instantly, even from long distances.
Invisible Slash: Moves blades so fast they become impossible to trace by the eye.
Iron Orbit: Keeps weapons floating in a ring around her, like a protective shield and offensive trap.
And it didn't end there.
Special Grade Announcement
Yaga called for a closed-door meeting.
When Aiko entered, she found herself seated across from Shoko, Nanami, and surprisingly—Yuta Okkotsu himself. Gojo stood behind her, grinning like the proudest man alive.
"She's not just good," Yuta said after watching a recorded clip. "She's insane. That kind of telekinetic mastery, I've never seen before."
"She's not stronger than Gojo," Nanami said bluntly.
Gojo raised a brow. "No one is. But she deserves the title."
Shoko nodded. "Special Grade."
The room fell silent.
Aiko blinked. "Wait… what?"
"You're officially ranked among the strongest," Yaga said. "Special Grade. Welcome to the top."
---
Quiet Moments, Quiet Bonds
Later that night, Aiko sat on the balcony of her dorm, letting the breeze tease her hair. Gojo joined her, slipping beside her like a shadow.
"You're calm for someone who just got labeled a Special Grade," he said.
She chuckled. "Maybe I'm still in shock."
He leaned closer. "You know what I see when I look at you?"
She looked at him, eyes curious.
"I see someone who had her life stolen, thrown into a new world—and still chose to fight. That's not power. That's strength."
Aiko blushed. "You always know what to say."
He leaned in, barely brushing her cheek with his lips. "Because I see you. Every inch of you—flaws, fears, fire. And I like all of it."
Their fingers intertwined.
And in that moment, floating blades behind her, blue flames in his eyes—they looked like gods made human.
Aiko hadn't expected the special-grade title to change her life so quickly. Just days after her announcement, she was summoned by Yaga, who had something important—and dangerous—for her to handle. Gojo was busy with his usual duties, and while Aiko was still finding her balance, this was the first real challenge she'd face on her own.
She didn't mind, though. In fact, she felt a strange sense of excitement.
---
The Briefing
Yaga was standing in front of a large map when she entered the briefing room. "Aiko," he said, tone serious. "We've had a disturbance on the outskirts of Tokyo. A high-level curse, possibly multiple, is terrorizing the city. We need a Special Grade sorcerer to deal with it."
Her heart quickened. A high-level curse?
"You'll be working solo on this," Yaga continued, not even looking up. "The situation requires precision—Gojo is unavailable, and you've got the necessary abilities to handle this."
Aiko nodded, suppressing the knot of nerves that suddenly twisted in her stomach. Solo mission. This is it.
Gojo appeared in the doorway, his signature smug grin on his face. "I'll be keeping an eye on you," he said casually. "Just don't get yourself killed, alright?"
"You're always there, aren't you?" Aiko teased, the tension breaking for a moment.
"Someone has to keep you out of trouble," Gojo shot back. He tossed a cursed tool at her. "Take this—just in case. A little backup."
It was a glowing, multi-pronged spear—one that could slice through cursed spirits if needed.
"Thanks," Aiko said, taking the weapon.
---
The Encounter
Aiko arrived in the district of Ueno—a busy area in Tokyo now in ruins. The streets were littered with debris, and the buildings appeared to have been crushed or twisted by something with tremendous power. Her senses were on high alert.
Her telekinetic powers hummed beneath her skin, instinctively pulling at the cursed energy around her, but it wasn't just the atmosphere she could feel—it was them. She was being watched.
The cursed energy felt strange. Dark. Twisted.
As she made her way through the eerily quiet streets, she could feel the intensity building. Then, in an alleyway ahead, she saw it—a curse. Massive, towering over her, its skin was as dark as midnight, and its limbs were covered in jagged spikes. Its eyes were glowing crimson as it spotted her.
"Is this the one causing the destruction?" Aiko murmured to herself.
The curse roared, charging toward her at blinding speed.
---
Her First Strike
Aiko didn't hesitate. She threw out her hand, the telekinetic surge flowing through her like an extension of her body. The curse's forward motion stalled as she grabbed it by the limbs, holding it in midair.
It's strong, she thought, narrowing her eyes. But it's nothing I can't handle.
The cursed weapon Gojo had given her materialized in the air beside her, swirling around her in an arc. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the spear flying toward the curse. The blade slashed through the air, embedding itself in the curse's body with a sickening thud.
The creature screeched in pain, but it was far from finished.
---
The Real Threat
As she prepared to finish the job, the ground beneath her suddenly cracked open. From the fissure, a second curse emerged—this one smaller, but far more agile. It moved so quickly that Aiko barely had time to react.
Her telekinesis was strong, but she wasn't used to this kind of combat—where two powerful curses attacked from different angles. She pulled at the cursed weapon in the air to block one, but the smaller curse darted in, slashing at her side with sharp claws.
Aiko stumbled back, her concentration wavering as the pain shot through her. But before the curse could land another blow, she reached deep within herself.
Her eyes glowed silver as her telekinetic ability flared. The air around her seemed to shimmer as she formed an invisible barrier, holding the curses at bay for a brief moment.
I can't just fight. I need to think. I need to stay calm.
The first curse, now enraged, charged again, but Aiko's telekinesis moved faster than it could react. She slammed it into the ground with a single motion, the pressure of her energy breaking its limbs and forcing it into submission. It let out a gurgled scream before falling silent.
She then turned to the smaller curse, which had begun to circle her again. This time, she had a plan.
Aiko reached into the ground beneath her, feeling the earth vibrate as she tapped into its energy. Her telekinesis expanded, pulling up the dirt and debris from around her, creating an arena of floating rocks and stones. The smaller curse charged, but Aiko held her ground.
With a swipe of her hand, the floating debris shot forward, trapping the curse in a cage of rocks.
"Got you."
---
The Aftermath
The curses were defeated, but Aiko was exhausted. The wounds from the smaller curse stung, and her head was pounding from the strain of maintaining her telekinetic control.
But as she stood in the center of the destruction, she couldn't help but feel a surge of accomplishment. She had done it. Solo. As a Special Grade.
Her breath was still shallow when a familiar voice broke through the silence.
"Well, well," Gojo's voice echoed, playful yet filled with a quiet pride. "Not bad for your first solo mission. I'm impressed."
Aiko smiled, wiping a bit of blood from her lip. "Thanks. But I couldn't have done it without this," she said, motioning to the cursed weapon in her hand.
"You're a natural," Gojo said, walking up beside her. "But you've still got a lot to learn."
"I'm ready."
He glanced at her with a rare, almost sincere expression. "I'll always be here to watch you grow."
Aiko's heart skipped a beat. There was something more in his eyes than just the teasing arrogance.