So, there I was, tied to the chair in a room illuminated by Japanese lanterns, with thousands of seals covering the walls. In front of me sat the blindfolded man, calm and collected. He was spinning an absurd tale about how the two of us met, as if I had forgotten.
"... so basically, you threw yourself into my arms," he concluded with a smile.
I grumbled before responding.
"Liar!" I said, seething with anger. "That's not at all what happened."
He seemed embarrassed.
"Oh, come on! I put so much effort into that story."
I took a deep breath.
"You said your name is Satoru Gojo, right?" I asked, he nodded. "Well then, Satoru Gojo, please tell me where we are and what you want from me?"
"This is the interrogation and sealing room. It's practically new, but it already looks old."
"Why am I here?"
"I've already told you; a secret execution has been ordered for you. It was something for your own government to handle. But, due to difficulties, the strongest sorcerer and the Jujutsu school of Japan were requested."
"So, you're here to kill me?" I asked, calmly.
"Yes!"
"And why did it have to be you?" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Basically, because no one else has been able to do it so far!"
"I don't believe his smile." I thought.
"But I'm not dead yet," I said seriously. "So, just tell me what you want from me."
"It was complicated to find you at first," he said. "But it didn't take long for your actions to be noticed. By the way," he took out his phone from his pocket, "I found your advertising on social media interesting."
I laughed sarcastically.
"Look, everything I've tried to do was to help people get rid of these creatures. That's it! That's all I've been doing and have done so far."
"Do you do that for money?" he asked, this time, serious.
"I need to survive somehow in this capitalist world, you know!"
"That makes perfect sense!" he put his phone back in his pocket. "You must have learned everything on your own, haven't you?"
When he said that, I paused for a moment and realized that I didn't know much about my abilities. Everything I learned about them was on my own, without anyone to show me a way. All my life, I managed to take care of myself, living in a world hostile to me in every way. I looked at him, pursed my lips, and nodded in agreement.
He showed the gun.
"What about this, huh?" he asked.
When I saw my revolver, I clenched my teeth in anger. If I weren't tied up, I would have leaped at him and taken it back.
"Give that back to me!" I growled.
Gojo pouted curiously.
"This seems very important to you," he smiled. "I mean, not just as a work tool."
I took a deep breath to calm myself before responding.
"This gun belonged to my stepfather, it's one of the few things I have from my old life."
"He gave it to you?"
"No. He would never give this to me."
"You stole it from him?"
"Of course not! Hunf!"
"..."
"I borrowed it," I replied, turning my head to avoid eye contact. "He just didn't know that," I turned to face him again. "It's much more useful with me, don't you think?"
"Probably," he said seriously.
"I took it from his drawer before leaving home."
"I see..."
"Look, I don't know what your intentions are with me or why I'm still alive. But I'm fed up," I sighed deeply. "I'm tired of this disgusting and unfair world. So, strongest sorcerer, cut the crap and do what needs to be done! Come on, execute me!" I stared seriously. "I have nothing else to say."
"Wow!" He finally seemed a bit scared. "You're dark! I thought it was just the look."
"Ugh!"
"Calm down!" he laughed, putting the gun back in his pocket. "I'll explain why I haven't executed you yet, as requested by the Brazilian and Japanese authorities."
"Then explain!"
"Well, for starters, these creatures you fight are actually curses."
"I know they're cursed."
"No. They are literally cursed spirits. In Japan, the number of people who die and disappear under mysterious circumstances is at least ten thousand per year. This is caused by curses, which are beings born from humans' negative emotions."
"They're born from humans' negative emotions?"
"Yes. When cursed energy leaks from ordinary people, curses are created. So, places where more negative feelings are generated, more curses are created, and they become stronger. Places like schools and hospitals, for example."
"So, we're the ones creating the curses?"
"In the case of sorcerers, it's different; we have control over our energy, almost nothing is released without the sorcerer's consciousness."
"I see. It makes sense, but what does this have to do with me?"
"Relax, let me continue explaining. Here in Brazil, there's an infestation of curses; after all, it's a larger territory, with almost twice the population, a variety of cultures, and huge social inequality. Here, curses are on another level. The number of people affected by them, who die or disappear under mysterious circumstances, triples! It's something out of control."
"Typical Brazil!" I said, flashing a sarcastic grin.
"We Jujutsu sorcerers are trained to combat these curses. This has been happening for over a millennium in Japan."
"Jujutsu sorcerers? Wait! You said trained?"
"Our cursed techniques are passed down through generations by the main Jujutsu clans in Japan, but there are other ways to become a sorcerer. Like recommendation, for example. That's where you come in!" he pointed at me with a big smile. "You have all the potential to be a Jujutsu sorcerer. That's why I didn't kill you."
"You..." I stuttered. "Did you, by any chance, tried to explain to the authorities that none of this is my fault?"
He laughed loudly.
"I tried, but this is Brazil. They want someone to blame. Seems like that blame fell on you."
"But that's not fair!" I shouted.
"No, it's not," he said, still smiling. "But by reaching out to the Jujutsu school to handle this job, we realized how the country is left to its own curses. This shouldn't be our problem, but this information got everyone worried. There's no one here specifically dealing with this. There are no protection barriers like those made by Tengen in Japan. This country is almost like a ticking bomb."
"What? But who is Tengen? What are these barriers?"
"Oh, that's a complicated explanation I'd rather save for later. The important thing is, I talked to the people involved in this area and managed to convince them to establish a branch of the Jujutsu school here in Brazil. That way, we would teach people like you how to deal with this kind of problem. After all, it would be a waste to kill someone like you, don't you think?"
"So... I won't be executed?" I furrowed my brow.
"I managed to get your execution canceled," he showed a wide smile. "However, for you to remain alive, you must accept the condition of being under my tutelage."
"What? Just that?"
"Just that. You would be under my supervision and that of the Jujutsu school. We're taking responsibility for you."
"Satoru Gojo, right?" I asked. He nodded with a proud smile. "Please, I want you to tell the truth, be serious in the answer to the question I'm about to ask. Why? Why are you doing this?"
"Hmm?"
"Nothing in this world, I mean nothing at all, is for free. Do you really expect me to believe that your decision wouldn't come with a price? What do you want from me? Why would you do this if it's not your problem? Wouldn't it be much easier just to execute me and go back to your perfect country?"
He became serious and thoughtful for a second, then said:
"Despite the concern the Jujutsu school has with the curse's unrest here in Brazil, I have my own reasons. Our countries and our cultures are completely different. But there's one thing in common." He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs as he stared at me seriously. "Old, lazy men who lead and want to deprive people of their lives, deciding for them, just because they fear or don't know how to deal with situations that should be their responsibility. They're cowards, to them everything is easier when they simply eliminate what bothers them or order someone else to do the dirty work for them. It disgusts me. They're rats, rotten oranges. I wish I could get rid of them... I could just... kill them all!" he said very seriously and seemed to carry anger in his words. "But if I did that, which wouldn't be even a little difficult for me, others like them would soon take their place and nothing would change."
"And how do you plan to change the system if not by killing all the old men who control it?"
"I want to change the Jujutsu world from the inside out. That's why I became a teacher, even though this profession is not my style."
"Very noble of you, but don't think I'll blindly trust you. I find it very strange that someone wants to help me after all this time. Still meddling in diplomacy between two countries."
"When you become a sorceres, you can pass on the teaching. Soon, you Brazilians will be able to fend for yourselves, so you won't become a danger to the world and to yourselves."
All of that was like a shower of information. So much to think about and decide in such a short time. But he didn't seem to be in a hurry. On the contrary, he returned to his relaxed and confident position.
"So, basically, I have two options," I finally said. "One is to be executed now by the self-proclaimed strongest sorcerer” which wouldn't be impossible, considering he defeated Calamity with just one blow. “The other option is to become a student at this Jujutsu school and maybe still be executed anyway?" Of course, I wouldn't trust that there wasn't something wrong with that offer.
"Sharp girl! So, what's your choice?"
I flashed a sarcastic smile.
"What do you think?"
"Great!" He stood up with excitement. "This is the first branch of the Jujutsu school in Latin America," he crouched in front of me and raised a finger. "And you'll be my first student here."
"Oh, how wonderful!" I replied in a sarcastic tone.
As if I really had a choice. Well, initially, I thought I'd give the albino Japanese with blindfolded eyes a chance. I wanted to see what he had to teach me, since he claimed to be the strongest. But I had it in my head that if I realized I was getting into trouble, I'd find a way to get out of there and disappear again.
"From now on, you can call me sensei, which means teacher in Japanese," he said after releasing me.
"I know what that word means, I watched Naruto," I replied as I got up, massaging my sore wrists.
"Oh, before I forget!" He took my revolver from his pocket again and offered it to me, with the grip frame facing me. It was a simple gesture, but hard to believe; he was returning my gun.
"Go on, take it. It's your work tool, isn't it?"
I tried to kill that man, shot at him several times, and blew his face off; any other person wouldn't trust me. They'd think I was really dangerous and at the very least I should be locked up in a cage. But he simply returned the gun. He didn't question its ownership, registration, or the danger of me remaining armed. He didn't fill me with warnings or threats. Nothing! I took the gun, perplexed, and slowly put it back in the holster.
He laughed at my astonishment, put his hands in his pockets, and walked towards the exit of the room. He turned his back to me without any concern that I might try to escape or shoot him again. But, incredulous and not sure exactly what to do, so I followed him.
"This is going to be a lot of fun," he chattered. "It’s an opportunity to stroll around São Paulo, I want to try Brazilian cuisine. They say the sweets here are too sweet, I can't wait to try them."
There was a man waiting for us outside, he was standing next to the black car. It was the same man who accompanied him when I first saw him.
For some reason, Alex visited my thoughts, but it was fleeting. The influence of that man, I don't know why, maybe it was because of the way he dressed or carried himself.
Satoru Gojo stood in front of him and waited for me. It was when I stepped out of the building that I realized where we were. I looked one way, then the other. Those red posts that look like Japanese lanterns, it’s impossible not to recognize the Liberdade neighborhood. I felt relieved I still in a place I knew.
"I can't forget to introduce you," he said, then looked at the man. "This is Ijichi Kiyotaka," then he took his hand out of his pocket and pointed to me. "Dandara Majo!"
"What?" I thought, once again astonished. "Is that all he has to say?" My face burned when my eyes the man's met. So, I started to panic. "What's his name again?” I thought. “Gojo said it too fast."
The man also seemed uncomfortable with the situation. So, I decided to take the initiative and approached. I was going to offer my hand to greet him, but he straightened up in front of me, clasped his hands to his sides, and bowed.
"Good evening, Miss Majo," he said. "My name is Ijichi Kiyotaka, I am the secretary of the Jujutsu school in Japan and was sent to assist Satoru Gojo in your case."
I was momentarily at a loss for what to do, then, a little shyly, I decided to do the same as him, a bow.
"Thank you very much, sir..." I couldn't remember the name.
"Kiyotaka," he repeated gently.
"It's a pleasure to meet you.” I lifted myself. “I'm sorry to ask, but by 'my case,' did you mean my execution?"
"Huh? Satoru Gojo is very influential, he managed to annul your sentence. You just needed to approve."
"So, the strange guy with bandaged eyes already had the plan to be my teacher," I thought.
"Miss?" said Mr. Kiyotaka.
The way he addressed me also reminded me of Alex.
Satoru Gojo was waiting for us next to the car, he looked around smiling with the excitement of a tourist. Mr. Kiyotaka became anxious when he was near Satoru Gojo, and unlike him, seemed to show no danger. They both were so different; I didn't understand how they could be together.
"We're going to take you to a hospital," said Kiyotaka, stepping aside as if to indicate that I should get into the vehicle. Gojo had already entered. Kiyotaka opened the door for me to get into the back seat next to Satoru Gojo.
"Thank you," I whispered, shy with the secretary's gesture of kindness.
Inside the car, I finally relaxed, although I had that man sitting next to me. I rested my head on the headrest and closed my eyes. After Mr. Kiyotaka said I would be taken to the hospital, all my pains flared up. But I endured silently, just wiping away a tear or two. I really needed to go to the hospital, I needed medicine and bandages.
