Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
Spring 2005
The late afternoon sun bathed the classroom in golden light, filtering through the large windows of the Tokyo Jujutsu High. Worn wooden desks were scattered around, some still cluttered with occult textbooks and half-scribbled notebooks. The smell of ink and old wood hung in the air, mingled with a light summer breeze that filtered through a half-open window.
Utahime sat at a table by the window, her black uniform slightly wrinkled after a day spent cheering on her favorite team, the Saitama Seibu Lions, at a game. In her hands, she held a baseball, autographed by the team's players. Her eyes shone with an almost childlike joy as she twirled the ball between her fingers, admiring the signatures carefully traced on the white leather.
A radiant smile lit up her face.
"I can't believe it... a Lions autograph! It's... perfect," she muttered to herself.
She considered herself incredibly lucky to have obtained this precious object after hours of waiting at the end of the match. A symbol of her passion, a treasure she would cherish more than anything.
"Utahime, are you really drooling over that ball?" said Shoko. Slipping one foot into a shoe, she glanced at Utahime with a raised eyebrow. "Put it away before someone steals it or Yaga comes by."
Shoko, who had accompanied her to the stadium, had just taken off her loafers and slipped into a more comfortable pair of sneakers. Her feet had barely settled into the new pair when they already seemed relieved by the pain.
Looking at her, Utahime giggled, rolling her eyes.
"Yaga? Confiscate my ball? Phew, he has better things to do than go after a treasure like that," she retorted, proudly brandishing her treasure. "And besides, who would dare touch my things here?"
"If you say so." Shoko shrugged, finishing tying her sneakers. "But don't come crying if someone steals it."
Utahime hadn't taken the warning seriously, too absorbed in her precious trophy. But at that same moment, the door to the room opened with a theatrical creak. Satoru Gojo entered as if he were the master of the place, his uniform worn casually, collar unbuttoned, round black glasses perched on his nose. His white hair caught the sunlight, and his smirk already announced that he was looking to stir up trouble. His piercing blue eyes had immediately spotted Utahime and the ball she was holding.
Seeing him approach, Utahime immediately frowned, instinct telling her that her moment of peace was over.
"Oh, what do we have here?" Gojo called out, his drawl brimming with mischief. In the blink of an eye, he snatched the ball from her hand with annoying speed, twirling it on his index finger like a basketball player.
Utahime leaped from her chair, her cheeks burning, anger rising like a wave.
"Gojo! Give that back right now! It's mine!"
Shoko, watching, sighed. "I warned you, Utahime-senpai."
Gojo tilted his head, feigning innocence, but his defiant smile betrayed him.
"Wow, easy, Utahime. It's just a ball. What's so special about it?" Oh, wait…” He narrowed his eyes, examining the signatures. “The Saitama Seibu Lions? Seriously? Are you a fan of those losers?”
The remark made Utahime seethe. She clenched her fists, her eyes flashing.
“First of all, call me Utahime-senpai. Second, they’re not losers, you idiot! And third, that ball is worth more than anything you have in your life, so give it back!”
Shoko, still half-focused on her sneakers, chuckled softly. “You really have a knack for getting into trouble, Gojo.”
Ignoring Shoko, Gojo chuckled and then took a step back, holding the ball out of reach of Utahime, who was trying in vain to retrieve it. He raised an eyebrow, his smile widening.
"You want it back? Fine. Then let's play a game."
Utahime crossed her arms warily. "A game? With you? You'll cheat again, like usual."
"Me, cheat?" Gojo feigned indignation, a hand over his heart. "I'm hurt, Utahime. No, no, it's a simple game. Dare or not. You know the game, right? We challenge each other, and whoever refuses a challenge loses. And the loser..." He held up the ball with a smirk. "...will lose this precious little ball. It will become the game master's trophy."
Utahime's heart sank at the thought of losing her treasure, but her competitive nature won out. She hated the idea of giving in to Gojo, who always thought he was superior.
"Do you really think I'm going to let you win that easily?" she replied, her eyes narrowing. "Fine, Gojo. But if I win, you give me back my ball, and you stop bothering me for at least a week."
Gojo burst out laughing, visibly delighted.
"One week? You're ambitious! Deal. But if I win, I'll keep the ball... and maybe hang it on my bedroom wall as a souvenir."
Utahime paled at the thought, but she squared her shoulders, determined not to be intimidated.
"Very well. Go ahead, then. What's your challenge?"
Next chapter…