Chapter 14: Oh it went wrong {14}
Keitaro started to walk toward his class early in the morning, he wanted to get to the training ground to get some early training done, he had done some good deeds yesterday.
Keitaro's dreams have been giving him a bunch of ideas and one of those ideas, one of them being sticking to walls or surfaces in general.
Keitaro found a nearby wall and looked at it.....he was going to do something very stupid. Even if this might be the most stupid thing he would do, he decided to experiment with creating temporary markings on the surfaces he wanted to stick to.
With a focused intent, Keitaro modified the flow of his curse energy. Instead of teleporting, he channeled the energy into creating subtle, adhesive pulses on the targeted surfaces. These pulses, invisible to the naked eye, acted as temporary marks that generated a clinging effect.
Testing his newfound ability, Keitaro approached a vertical surface and applied his curse technique. To his satisfaction, he found himself sticking effortlessly to the chosen surface. Adjusting the intensity of the pulses allowed him to control the level of adhesion, providing versatility in different scenarios.
"...I am a genius," Keitaro whispered to himself, a broad smile spreading across his face. The gamble he took in experimenting with his curse technique had paid off, revealing a new and innovative application for his ability.
Grateful for the rigorous training in curse energy control, Keitaro recognized that executing this new technique required a precise manipulation of his curse energy. One misstep could lead to disastrous consequences, but his successful experimentation left him elated.
Strolling up and down a tree with giddy excitement, Keitaro reveled in his newfound skill. Suddenly, a voice from below caught his attention. "Yow."
Looking down, he spotted Shoko waving at him with an amused expression. Keitaro grinned back, proud to showcase his inventive use of the curse technique.
Keitaro, still perched on the tree, greeted Shoko's nonchalant "Yow" with an amused chuckle. Shoko, known for her laid-back demeanor, tilted her head and remarked, "Nice trick. What's got you all excited up there?"
Keitaro, still reveling in his discovery, descended from the tree with a grin. "Just found a new way to use my curse technique. Check this out," he said, demonstrating his ability to stick to surfaces by effortlessly scaling the tree vertically.
Shoko raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed, but a faint smile betrayed her curiosity. "Well, ain't that something. Practical, I guess. Now you can sneak up on enemies from any angle."
Keitaro nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! Opens up a whole new set of possibilities." Shoko, true to her nonchalant nature, simply shrugged. "Cool. Let me know when you've got something that can make me coffee without getting off the couch."
"By the way, did you catch that movie last night?"Shoko said nonchalantly.
Keitaro scratched his head, "Ah, no. I was too caught up experimenting with the curse technique. What did I miss?"
Shoko recounted the plot with her trademark laid-back commentary, making even mundane details sound amusing. Keitaro laughed at her retelling, realizing he missed more than just a movie.
As they approached the classroom, Shoko smirked, "You need to balance work and play, Keitaro. Maybe I'll teach you my secret of mastering both."
Keitaro grinned, "I'm all ears."
Shoko leaned in conspiratorially, "It's called selective laziness."
Keitaro confessed with a sheepish grin, "Huh, it seems like a great skill that I unfortunately can't have as I may or may not have drawn on Gojo's face last night with a marker." He scratched the back of his head, a hint of guilt was evident.
Shoko, momentarily stunned, blinked before responding, "For real?"
"Yeah," Keitaro affirmed, continuing to scratch the back of his head.
Shoko, deadpan, retorted, "So, do you want your funeral closed casket or open casket?"
Keitaro chuckled nervously, realizing the gravity of the situation. "I mean, you can heal me, right?" he said, looking at Shoko with a hopeful expression.
Shoko rolled her eyes, "Fine, I guess I'll save you from the wrath of Gojo."
"Thank you, Shoko, you're a lifesaver," Keitaro expressed gratitude with a relieved smile."Yeah, sure," Shoko replied nonchalantly as they both entered the classroom and took their seats.
As Keitaro settled into his chair, Gojo entered the classroom, sporting the face marking that Keitaro had playfully drawn on him the night before. Keitaro, attempting to play it cool, averted his gaze, as if not seeing Gojo would somehow make the situation more manageable. Gojo, however, wasn't one to go unnoticed. He strode confidently into the room, catching Keitaro's eye. A mischievous grin played on Gojo's face as he greeted the class, seemingly unfazed by the artwork on his face.
Keitaro squirmed in his seat, wondering how Gojo would react. Meanwhile, Shoko remained unfazed, focusing on her own business with an air of detached amusement.
Gojo scanned the room, his eyes locking on Keitaro. The mischievous glint in Gojo's eyes intensified as he approached Keitaro's desk. Keitaro continued to look away, hoping that his nonchalant act would somehow shield him from the impending storm.
Without a word, Gojo reached Keitaro's desk and leaned in. He peered at Keitaro from the side, a theatrical pause hanging in the air.
Finally, breaking the silence, Gojo burst into laughter. "Nice art, Keitaro! I didn't know you had such skills. Maybe you should consider becoming a tattoo artist," he quipped, drawing a mix of relieved and amused chuckles from the students.
Keitaro, surprised by the unexpected response, turned to face Gojo. "Uh, yeah, just thought you needed a makeover," he replied, trying to match Gojo's playful tone.
Gojo grinned, wiping away imaginary tears. "Well, consider me impressed. But remember, revenge is a dish best-served cold."
As Gojo walked away, Keitaro couldn't help but exhale a sigh of relief. Shoko, still nonchalant, shot him a glance as if to say, "Told you so."