EPISODE 3: The Strongest Tests The Strange

Group Chat — Morning After Mission
Yuji
Yuji
Arisa!! You did amazing yesterday 🤩
Nobara
Nobara
She almost got shredded by a grade 3.
Megumi
Megumi
She did hold her own.
Arisa
Arisa
Thanks? I think?
Yuji
Yuji
Don’t worry. First missions are always rough. Mine was way worse.
Nobara
Nobara
You swallowed a cursed object, Yuji.
Yuji
Yuji
Fair point. 😂
Arisa smiled faintly at her phone. Their banter almost felt normal. Almost. Then a new message popped up.
Gojo
Gojo
Arisa, meet me at the training field. We need to talk.
Her stomach flipped. When Gojo Satoru said “we need to talk,” it couldn’t be good.
Training Field The training field stretched wide, sunlight glinting over the dirt. Gojo stood there waiting, hands in his pockets, blindfold tilted lazily like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Gojo
Gojo
Morning, Arisa~!” Sleep well after blasting a curse to pieces?”
She shifted awkwardly
Arisa
Arisa
Not….really
Gojo
Gojo
Didn’t think so. That’s why we’re here. I need to know what you are.”
The words sent a chill through her. “
Arisa
Arisa
“I’m… just me. Arisa Kurobane.”
Gojo
Gojo
Maybe. But normal sorcerers don’t make curses abandon fights to come at them. Your energy? It’s sticky. Heavy. Curses love it. And it’s not cursed energy I’ve seen before.”
Arisa’s throat tightened
Arisa
Arisa
So what does that mean?”
Gojo
Gojo
That’s what we’re gonna find out.”
Training Test 1 — Cursed Energy Flow
Gojo
Gojo
focus cursed energy into your hand. Like this.”
He raised his palm, shimmering blue energy coating it smoothly.
Arisa copied him. Dark sparks crackled instantly, but instead of wrapping her hand, they crawled outward in jagged lines, leaking like smoke.
Gojo whistled.
Gojo
Gojo
Not bad. But see? Your energy doesn’t contain itself. It’s aggressive.”
Arisa
Arisa
Aggressive?
Gojo
Gojo
Like it wants to consume instead of protect. That’s… unusual.”
Training Test 2 — Resistance Gojo suddenly stepped closer.
Gojo
Gojo
try to push me back with your energy.
Arisa hesitated.
Arisa
Arisa
Push you? You’re Gojo—”
Gojo
Gojo
C’mon. Don’t hold back. I’ll be gentle.”
She focused, letting her cursed energy swell. A blast of black static erupted toward him— And stopped. Inches from his chest, it fizzled, pressed flat against an invisible barrier. Gojo’s Infinity shimmered faintly around him. He didn’t even blink.
Gojo
Gojo
See? This is what control looks like. Yours is raw power. A lot of it, actually. But messy.”
Arisa’s cheeks burned.
Arisa
Arisa
So I failed
Gojo
Gojo
Not failed. Just… dangerous
Training Test 3 — Pressure Sparring Gojo clapped his hands once. “
Gojo
Gojo
Final test. Fight me
Arisa’s eyes widened.
Arisa
Arisa
What?!
Gojo
Gojo
Don’t worry, I won’t break you.
She swallowed, lifted her fists awkwardly, and let the energy spark around her again
Gojo stepped casually into range
Gojo
Gojo
Hit me.
Arisa struck. Sparks flew. The ground cracked where her energy spilled over. But every swing met empty air, Infinity stretching the distance.
Her frustration grew, power leaking sharper, darker. The static spread like claws across the dirt.
For just a second, her vision blurred — black shapes coiling at the edge of her sight, like shadows whispering.
Gojo’s smile flickered. Just slightly.
Then he raised his hand, tapping her forehead gently.
Gojo
Gojo
That’s enough.
The energy cut off, leaving her gasping, heart racing.
Gojo
Gojo
“Not bad. But that wasn’t normal cursed energy. It’s old. Feels… wrong.”
Arisa shivered.
Arisa
Arisa
Wrong how?
Gojo’s grin returned, but it didn’t reach his tone.
Gojo
Gojo
Let’s just say, if I didn’t know better, I’d think your energy belonged to a curse, not a human.”
Her stomach twisted.
Arisa
Arisa
But I’m not—
Gojo
Gojo
I know,” . “That’s what makes it interesting.”
He turned away, hands in his pockets again. “
Gojo
Gojo
Don’t tell the others yet. No need to make them nervous.
As he walked, Arisa stood frozen, his words echoing in her chest.
Subtle Sukuna Foreshadowing Back in the dorms, Yuji jolted awake from a nap, clutching his chest. Sukuna had stirred again, more sharply this time, like a predator scenting prey. Yuji rubbed his head, uneasy. “Weird. It’s like… something’s calling him.” He didn’t say who. But if Sukuna was starting to notice Arisa, it was only a matter of time before the King of Curses opened his eyes.

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