I walked through the entrance of the institute with a confident step, the soft light of the Japanese corridors reflecting the polished wood under my shoes. Gojo preceded me, hands in his pockets, relaxed as if we were going to get a coffee.
<< I'll take you directly to the training room. The others are already there.>>
I nodded, while my eyes ran over every detail of that place that for a long time I had only imagined in photos or in the stories of Principal Viviani. The walls were simple, but there was a very strong energy that hovered everywhere, as if time itself was denser, in there. We stopped in front of a sliding wooden door. Gojo sensei smiled and, with a theatrical gesture, threw open the doors.
<
Five pairs of eyes turned towards me.
<
He said the last sentence adjusting his sunglasses with one hand and chuckling to himself.
<< She was the number one in her school. Great technique, high potential and a beautiful presence – which doesn't hurt! Please, give our new classmate a round of applause!>>
I stood still. Then I took a step forward. A half bow.
<< Nice to meet you, my name is Rebecca... I hope I can learn a lot from you.>>
The silence lasted a moment. Then:
<
It was the deep, sarcastic voice of a girl with green hair and purple glasses, sitting with a composed air. She looked at me, she didn't seem enthusiastic or hostile. She was simply assessing.
<< A foreigner, huh?>> said a Giant Panda, leaning forward. << If you can also talk to spirits like you speak Japanese, then we're in good hands.>>
He made me smile halfway.
A boy was watching me silently, with his kind eyes. He sketched a small nod with his head. A sort of silent welcome. I returned it. Finally, there he was. A boy with silver hair, a short, slightly messy cut. Amethyst-colored eyes. He was staring at me expressionlessly, the collar of his uniform pulled up to cover his mouth.
<< Shake.>> he said.
I paused for a moment. Then I nodded, even though I didn't understand. That tone... it seemed like a word of peace. Gojo sensei stood in the center of the room, folded his arms behind his back, and smiled with that comedian look that seemed to belong to him like breathing:
<
He turned halfway around and pointed his finger at the girl with the sharp face.
<
Maki raised an eyebrow, saying nothing. But a small smile escaped her.
<< Next to her is our favorite bear: Panda! And yes, he really is a Panda. No, it is not a curse. And no, you cannot hug him without his consent. He is a loyal companion, very strong in hand-to-hand combat and a gigantic heart. Don't let his appearance fool you.>>
Panda waved a paw in a friendly manner.
<< Nice to meet you, Rebecca! I heard you are from Italy... Pasta or pizza?>>
<< Pizza>>
<< My friend!>> he answered immediately.
Gojo sensei chuckled and turned to the dark-haired boy with a calm expression.
<< This is Yuta Okkotsu. One of the strongest sorcerers of his generation. And also one of the kindest, thankfully. He has a huge heart, a curse that protects him... and a spirit of sacrifice that would leave you speechless. Oh, and we are also distant relatives.>>
Yuta smiled softly, eyes gentle.
<< Welcome, Rebecca.>>
And finally, Gojo-sensei pointed to the light-haired boy standing by the window with his hoodie pulled up to his nose.
<< This is Toge Inumaki. An expert in the cursed speech technique. Every word he says has destructive power. For this reason, he almost never speaks. He uses terms related to the filling of onigiri so as not to curse anyone. But he has more sensitivity and intelligence than he shows.>>
Toge's amethyst-colored eyes rose to me. With his head slightly tilted, he gave me a small bow.
<< Kombu.>>
A greeting... maybe it meant "hello." Maybe "nice to meet you." Or maybe it was just his polite way of saying "welcome among us."
<< Well, now that the tour is complete... let's welcome her properly. Oh, and remember: Rebe is under my direct supervision. If you treat her badly, I'll make you stack the practice room chairs for a week.>>
Panda's eyes widened:
<< Again?!>>
---------------------------- Curious eyes, gentle silences--------------------
I had always had the impression that people saw me first for my aura and only then for who I really was. In Europe, they called me "The Bright One," because of my peculiar way of using cursed energy: I made it shine, almost pulsate like a living light, concentrating it in the palms of my hands and in my eyes at critical moments. Physically, I was taller than the average Japanese, which I noticed right away, but not by much. My back was straight, my posture trained by years of hand-to-hand combat and formal ceremonies.
My hair, which reached halfway down my back, was light brown, tending to honey in the sunlight. I wore it loose that day, slightly wavy at the ends. My eyes, however, were a point on which everyone seemed to linger: an intense green, almost emerald, with a decisive, penetrating cut. Those who knew me well said that you could read all my thoughts just by looking at my face. But I had learned to shield myself – at least a little.
I was wearing the institute uniform at the time, tailored to fit. Sleeves rolled up to the elbows, a belt tightened at the waist, and combat boots worn by time. A small silver pin with the European institute crest shone on my left chest: a detail I didn't want to forget.
I watched them all as they approached, their eyes resting on me with a mixture of curiosity, attention, and, in some cases, a hint of distrust. No one spoke too much, and yet... there was already something that made me feel like I was at the center of a plot.
I had already noticed him... Toge Inumaki.
Aloof and silent, but not by choice. He was smaller than me, albeit slightly, both adults, yet he carried the weight of a power that forced him to silence. His platinum hair, carefully tousled, seemed to almost fall lightly over his eyes, but it hid nothing.
His eyes... were the only part of his face that was always visible, and they said more than the words he couldn't say. Clear, precise, sharp as blades, but incredibly sweet. His skin was pale, almost lunar. On his neck and at the height of his left jaw, I glimpsed part of his cursed tattoo: thin, black, ancient lines that seemed to pulse with mystery. He wore the classic dark uniform, with the zip pulled up to his mouth... and he didn't speak.
And yet, it didn't take much: the way he looked at me, the lowered gaze when our eyes met, the slight crease of his eyebrows when he laughed with the others... It was a silence full of life. It was his way of communicating.
But he wasn't the only one.
Maki Zen'in had an aura all her own. She often stood with her arms crossed, with a stern and proud expression. Tall, slender, with an impeccable posture. Her long green hair gathered in a high ponytail, two side locks that framed a beautiful, sharp, yet feminine face.
She wore thick-framed glasses that she never took off, but it was her gaze that was scary: determined, sharp, never uncertain. Her strong arms were marked by small, barely visible scars, and her every gesture was measured, powerful, calculated. It was clear: Maki was a warrior. One of those who didn't wait for you to notice their strength. They threw it in your face at every step.
Panda, on the other hand, was a world apart. Massive, soft, at first glance he seemed like a creature to cuddle, but you only had to hear him speak to understand that he had the mind of a veteran and the humor of an older brother. He walked with a natural confidence, as if his outsized body was an extension of his spirit. He had his own way of looking at you: full, direct, but never judging. With him it seemed like there was no need to pretend to be yourself.
He would understand.
Yuta seemed the opposite of what I knew of him. One of the most powerful sorcerers of his generation, and yet... he had an almost disarming kindness. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his eyes... those eyes seemed to ask you if you were okay before you even said so. His face was thin, pale, with a delicate jawline and pale lips. He walked lightly, silently, like someone who didn't want to disturb anyone.
But all it took was for someone to be in danger and, according to sensei, that boy would turn into a lethal wave. I had only seen him for a few minutes, but his spirit... seemed like one that would stick in your mind even in a crowd. He greeted me with kindness and respect, and I felt like I had met a noble spirit.
Gojo sensei, leaning against a column with his arms crossed, chuckled to himself:
<< Welcome to the most interesting chaos of your life.>>
And I smiled. A small smile, but a real one. This was no longer just a school.
It was a crossroads of destinies.
And mine was just starting to intertwine with theirs.