Chapter Four: Beneath the Surface

The mission briefing was brief, and everyone filed in with the usual routine. Gojo Satoru had been assigned to oversee a standard mission—nothing too extraordinary, just a cursed womb lurking in an abandoned hospital.

Aika had been assigned to the mission too, though she didn’t think much of it. No fanfare. No excitement. It was just another day.

She observed the room quietly as Gojo began speaking. His presence filled the space easily, even when he wasn’t trying to make a scene. The students were already chatting amongst themselves, mostly Yuji and Nobara. Aika took a step back, letting their energy fill the space while she remained calm and collected.

Nobara leaned toward Yuji with a playful grin. “She looks like she’s already figured this all out, huh?”

Yuji snickered quietly. “Guess that’s what happens when you don’t hear her talking all the time.”

Aika glanced over, her eyes soft but present. She offered a small, polite smile, acknowledging them without feeling the need to engage more than necessary.

Megumi, ever observant, gave her a quiet nod. It was brief, but it was a gesture of understanding. He didn’t need words to connect with her—he simply got it.

Gojo spoke again, pulling everyone’s attention. “Alright, kiddos, time to do some ghost hunting. Let’s not make this boring.”

Yuji grinned. “Let’s hope we get some action.”

Nobara cracked her knuckles, her usual bravado showing. “Don’t worry, I’m ready.”

Aika’s response was a slight, quiet smile as she silently prepared herself. She didn’t speak much, but she wasn’t cold. Her presence was calm, steady. She just was—nothing more, nothing less.

---

The abandoned hospital was unnerving, even more so when the team stepped inside. Old, broken windows let in little light, casting the hallways in shadows. The air was thick with dust and the faint odor of decay. Curses liked places like this—forgotten, lost to time.

Gojo let the students lead the way. He remained behind, ever watchful, but not worried. They were strong in their own right. Aika, moving in the same quiet, controlled manner, followed them closely.

She stayed near Megumi, and he glanced over at her after a few moments of silence. He wasn’t sure why, but something about the way she moved was different. She wasn’t fast or loud, but every step she took was calculated. She was in control of herself, and that quiet confidence made her someone worth paying attention to.

"Can you feel it?" Aika's voice broke the silence.

Megumi nodded. “Yeah, it’s close.”

A pause. Then, without warning, the cursed spirit lunged from the ceiling—a grotesque mass of writhing limbs and distorted features, aiming straight for Nobara.

Aika didn’t hesitate. She moved so quickly that it was almost imperceptible—two daggers, one in each hand, flashing through the air in a seamless arc. The creature didn’t even have time to screech before it crumbled into cursed ash.

Nobara blinked, watching the body disintegrate. “Well, that was… fast.”

Yuji’s eyes widened. “What the hell? Did she just—?”

Gojo’s voice was casual, but there was a hint of surprise in it. “Didn’t know you were that quick, Aika.”

Aika wiped the daggers clean and glanced up at Gojo. There was no pride in her eyes, just a soft, almost unnoticeable acknowledgment. She didn’t need his praise, but it didn’t hurt to know it was there.

“More,” Aika said, her voice steady, her focus already shifting back to the task at hand. “Deeper in.”

Gojo nodded and gave a brief smile. “Right. Let’s move.”

---

The rest of the mission went without incident. Aika didn’t seek attention. She wasn’t there to steal the spotlight. She simply did her job, moved with grace, and remained focused on the task at hand.

But as the group made their way out of the building, she noticed something subtle. Yuji gave her a quick, grateful glance, and Nobara offered a faint, approving nod. Even Megumi, who had stayed largely quiet, shot her a brief smile as they left.

She didn’t need their words. She knew what they meant. And, for once, it felt like she was exactly where she needed to be.

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