Chapter Text
With a call to his senior, Yaga, Nanami Kento had returned to the world of jujutsu-shi.
4 months of continuous training and hard-work, Nanami Kento was back in shape, ready to take whatever appropriate mission he would be assigned to.
Missions being taking down curses.
Not whatever this was supposed to be.
Just yesterday it had finally been announced that he was ready for the field, but that was not what he was hearing.
It had started out nicely, what with him being told he was Grade 2 now, but would likely be promoted quite soon after taking on a few missions.
One of those first missions, just happened to be teaching.
Nanami was flipping through a chart of what looked to be profiles of three young students, very powerful young students. Two of them already semi-grade 1 in just their 1st year of Jujutsu Tech and one who excelled in RCT beyond her years...something unheard of in the history of jujutsu-shi.
A promising future certainly, but Nanami was confused as to why this was being presented to him.
"...what is this Yaga-san?"
"That is your first and main mission. You'll be going out into the field of course, but the higher-ups want you to focus on...guiding these students before anything else. It's only for a week or so until we can find an appropriate full-time replacement and they know mostly everything so there won't be much to teach, so you won't have to do much."
"Then what exactly is the point of me 'teaching' them? I've never even taught anybody anything, let alone, have any credentials whatsoever in the field of teaching."
"You just have to hold down the fort."
"..."
"It's almost the end of the their 1st year here and, ahem, we are a bit short on staff."
And Nanami understood then. In a world where sorcerers were in short supply, and where strong sorcerers were in even shorter supply, the higher-ups needed this likely problematic bunch to get through their academics so they could officially be used for their true purpose.
Nanami imagined they had gone through many 'teachers' already and were on an even shorter supply in that aspect.
It wouldn't surprise him if they were just throwing him to the wolves to get more time.
Keep these children happy until they could find another new toy.
"...I'm sorry Nanami, if it were up to me I wouldn't put you in this situation at all."
Nanami looked at his obviously distressed senior who went from dry-washing his face to pinching his brow.
He had an inkling of why he seemed more upset than usual.
"...You don't have to worry about me quitting any time soon. I came back with the intent to stay this time." The weight of those words simultaneously lifted and grounded him. It was not an easy decision and he'd made that resolve some time ago, but saying it aloud seemed to cement it.
Nanami felt the tension leave the room as relief immediately colored his senior's face, who then coughed in embarrassment at having been too obvious. A small smile graced his face at that.
Kento imagined, no, he knew he would regret it at times, but he'd been through a lot. (Perhaps too much for someone still in their 20s...)
He'd experienced life in the world of jujutsu and the life of the corporate slave.
He'd been at death's door one too many times, he'd been beaten down physically, mentally and even spiritually.
He'd faced the ugly depths of humans and demons alike.
He'd experienced loss and learned to embrace it...
He was a proper adult now.
He just had to get through a week.
7 days of babysitting.
How bad could it be.
Born with everything anyone could ever wish for, status, looks, money, power etc., it didn't take much effort for Gojo to attain what he wanted whatever it may be, and so he got bored quickly.
To prolong his chosen entertainment, Gojo had started to research his targets.
He didn't much like relying on his clan, but it balanced out, knowing he was using powerful resources to do menial tasks.
Having been told he'd been divinely blessed all his life Satoru didn't think much of it until he'd met his fellow classmates, now best friends.
Sure they'd fought a lot initially and bantered even now, but that's what had brought them close; thick as thieves.
They didn't have much in common, but one such common proclivity of the trio, was their joy in tormenting "higher authority".
Their latest victim, the new substitute teacher, Nanami Kento.
A very interesting case.
A sorcerer who'd left, only to come back years later...something unheard of.
He knew the reason why he'd left, which was also all the more reason he should have never come back, and yet, here he was, back to cleaning the murk hidden within darkness...very interesting.
To add to that, he was of mixed Euro-Asian blood with natural blond hair and amber eyes. His height, something rare to find in the streets of Japan.
By far, the most exciting thing to happen since meeting his fellow classmates and making his first friends.
And so, he was honestly disappointed when he first saw this Nanami Kento.
Tall indeed, and wearing a business suit; not unheard of in this line of work, but what got him was the light color...beige?? Really??!?
He would wonder if his technique allowed him distance from the enemy, if he didn't already know Nanami was actually a close-combat fighter.
Maybe he was overly confident in his abilities to not get bloodied...unlikely, but still, possible.
And those obtuse, too small, tacky sunglasses...sure Gojo could pull it off, but Nanami Kento? Eh.
Gojo Satoru's first impression?
An uptight, stiff guy with no fashion sense.
Boring~~
"It is nice to meet you all, my name is Nanami Kento." Nanami bowed with his introduction. "As you may or may not know, I will be temporarily overseeing your studies for a week before you get a proper teacher. I will aid you as best as I can, but you will self-study for most of the material until then. Do you have any questions before we begin?"
As if he'd been waiting his whole life just for this moment, Gojo's hand shot up not even a second later to shout out, "Hey, Nanami! I heard some interesting rumors that said you left jujutsu and came back just recently!!"
Nanami cringed at the too loud voice and the casual use of his name, but he reeled in his irritation. Gritting his teeth he replied, "...It is true.
I learned one important thing while attending Jujutsu Tech...it's that jujutsu sorcerers are shit!"
'...What??'
"And when I worked at your typical run-of-the-mill company, I learned one thing...that work is shit!"
"..."
"Since both are equally shit, I decided to choose the job I'm more suited to."
The classroom filled with laughter at that.
As Gojo cackled almost falling out of his seat, even the more reserved Shoko and Getou were laughing out loud as well.
Gojo wiped the forming tears as he barely got out, "Oh my gosh Nanami, hahaha!! You'r gahhah, you're the best!!!"
'I take back what I said! Man, it's true what they say about not judging a book by it's cover!!'
Seemingly unfazed by the sudden outburst save for the obnoxious volume, Nanami crossed his arms over his chest as he waited for the students to calm down.
He had a reason for his sudden declaration.
He had once been a student himself and left for that very reason. He also knew these three were by far smarter, far more cunning than the world thought them to be.
They most likely agreed with his sentiment and so acted out against authority figures as such. It was wrong of course, and he himself would not tolerate it...but he understood.
There was no use beating around the bush, so he chose blatant honesty.
But there was one thing that bothered him.
"...Gojo-kun, though I only hold the title of your teacher for a week, you will address me properly as 'sensei' for that time being."
An ear-splitting grin spread across Gojo Satoru's face as he leaned back in his chair. "Of course, Nanami~"
Not bothering to correct him a second time, Nanami simply sighed to then turn to the blackboard. "Let's begin class."
He didn't expect Gojo nor the other two students to change any time soon nor was that his goal.
Kento's goal was simply this, getting through this week, as was his motto on the regular.
'Just another week.'
As her own laugh settled down to giggling, Shoko looked to her fellow classmates whose eyes were alert with undivided attention on their new temp.
'Oh my...'
Ieiri immediately recognized that glint in their eyes.
Sure she'd seen it many times in Gojo's eyes, but this time, there was a much darker gleam...and Suguru, it had been the first time she'd seen him take such a shine to someone, barely noticeable to anyone else, but Shoko could see it.
She almost felt bad for Nanami.
Almost.
A bigger part of her was in anticipation for the entertainment to come~