I Am Okkotsu Yuta

The classroom was quiet, save for the occasional groan or cough from the injured students.

Maki, with a band aid on her forehead and her right arm in a sling, looked like she had been through hell.

Toge, nursing a sore throat, drank down a bottle of throat medicine with a grimace.

Panda, looking more like a mummy than a giant panda, was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, leaving only his eyes visible.

Yuta glanced at them, his face filled with genuine remorse.

He hadn't intended for the spar to be that one-sided, but his overwhelming strength had made it impossible to hold back.

Gojo, on the other hand, sat on the sidelines with a satisfied grin, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

He leaned back in his chair, casually commenting on the battle.

"Well, that was completely one-sided. I expected you kids to lose against Yuta-kun in less than 2 minutes. But hey, it's all good. You managed to hold him off for more than that"

Gojo said, chuckling as he looked at the trio of injured students, who glared at him in annoyance. 

"And sorry about your wounds. Shoko is unavailable at the moment, but she'll be back later."

Gojo continued, completely unbothered by the glares. 

Maki, Toge, and Panda all exchanged glares, but then Gojo stood up, clapping his hands together as he made his announcement.

"Alright, everyone, for the rest of the afternoon, you're free to do whatever you want. I've got a date with the rest of the staff, so enjoy your day off. See ya!" 

With that, Gojo left in a rush as he disappeared out the door, leaving the remaining students alone.

Yuta glanced around the classroom, taking in the sight of his bruised classmates.

His gaze softened with a bit of guilt, and he opened his mouth to speak. 

"Sorry about that guys. I honestly didn't know-"

But before he could finish, Panda raised a hand, interrupting him.

"Don't mention it, Yuta-kun. We knew that we didn't have a chance, but still wanted to give it a shot. Right guys?"

Panda said with a grin, his voice a bit strained from the injuries. 

His eyes gleamed with a good-natured understanding, even as he winced slightly in pain.

Toge, still chugging his medicine, simply nodded and added in his usual monotone voice, indicating his agreement.

"S-Salmon..."

His face was a bit paler from the pain, but the sentiment was clear. He didn't hold it against Yuta.

Maki, however, remained silent as she stared down at her desk.

Yuta noticed her quietness, and it made him uneasy.

He shifted in his seat, glancing between Panda and Toge, but both of them looked away, giving him the silent cue that this was something he'd have to handle himself.

"Maki-chan?"

Yuta called softly, his voice a little uncertain.

Maki didn't respond immediately, her gaze still fixed on the window.

Panda leaned in slightly and whispered, trying to lighten the mood.

"It's all good, Yuta-kun. Maki-chan is just... you know... she's Maki-chan."

Panda said, his voice low but earnest.

Toge nodded in agreement, giving a thumbs-up to Yuta before taking another swig of his medicine.

Yuta sighed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

He had expected this, Maki wasn't the type to easily accept defeat, especially not in such an overwhelming manner.

Trying to salvage the situation, Yuta took a deep breath and spoke again.

"How about I make it up to you all? Dinner's on me. What do you say?"

At that, Panda's eyes lit up, and he sat up straighter in his seat.

"Oh? You don't have to do that, Yuta-kun. But, well, I'm not gonna complain!"

He said quickly, his expression suddenly brightening. 

Toge mumbled something that sounded like "Salmon" with a slight nod of approval, clearly agreeing to the offer. 

Maki, however, didn't immediately respond.

She stood up from her seat and walked toward the door without a word.

Yuta, feeling a sinking feeling in his chest, thought she was still upset.

Maybe she just needed some space. 

But then, to his surprise, Maki stopped at the door and turned back to face him.

"Where are we going?"

She asked, her voice sharp, but there was a hint of curiosity in her tone.

Yuta couldn't help but smile in relief.

"We'll all be eating at my place. It's easier than going out, especially since we can't just bring Panda in public."

He shot a friendly glance at Panda, who gave him a thumbs-up.

Panda grinned, showing no signs of offense.

"Appreciate you, Yuta-kun. No public appearances for me today."

Maki, who had started walking toward the door again, paused for a second time.

She looked back at Yuta, her arms crossed over her chest.

"What are we eating, anyway?"

She asked.

Yuta was taken aback by her willingness to join in, but he quickly recovered.

"It'll be revealed later at dinner. I'll send you guys my address later."

Maki glanced at the others, and after a moment of silence, she nodded.

"Alright."

Without another word, she stepped out of the classroom, leaving the door ajar behind her.

Panda and Toge exchanged looks and then both turned to Yuta.

Panda, his expression now more relaxed, leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly.

"Man, you really we're something else back there, especially Rika-chan."

Panda said, chuckling softly.

"But I'm more impressed with the fact that you managed to make Maki not to punch your face after all that."

Toge gave a thumbs-up, still focused on his medicine, but his expression was approving.

"Bonito flakes."

Yuta smiled sheepishly, his guilt easing up a little now that Maki had agreed to the dinner.

XXX

The evening had settled over the horizon, and the air was crisp and cool.

Maki, Panda, and Toge stood in front of a grand yet understated Japanese mansion.

The traditional design was seamlessly blended with modern elements, exuding both elegance and warmth.

The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the pathway leading to the front door.

Maki tilted her head, skepticism written all over her face.

"This... is Okkotsu's place? Are we sure we're at the right address?" 

Panda, looking at Toge's phone, glanced at the screen and shrugged.

"Yep, that's what his message says."

He gestured to the phone as if to prove his point.

"Special Grade perks, maybe? Not bad, huh?"

Maki crossed her arms, looking up at the impressive structure.

"Must be nice."

She muttered, though her curiosity was evident.

Toge, ever the man of few words, simply nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the front door.

They knocked, and barely a moment passed before the door swung open. Yuta stood there, his usual warm smile lighting up his face.

"Hey, you made it! Come on in!"

He said cheerfully, stepping aside to let them enter.

The three exchanged polite nods and murmured thanks as they removed their shoes and stepped inside.

The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, an open-concept living room with a perfect balance of traditional Japanese aesthetics and modern minimalism.

Soft lighting, sleek furniture, and tasteful decor made the space feel both luxurious and inviting.

Panda whistled in admiration, spinning around to take it all in.

"Whoa, Yuta-kun, this is your place? You're living the dream!"

Toge made a beeline for the plush sofa, plopping down and grabbing the remote.

He switched on the flatscreen TV, flipping through channels until he found the news. 

Yuta chuckled as he carried a tray of steaming cups into the living room.

"I wouldn't say that, but thanks. Here, have some tea while we wait for the food to arrive."

He set the tray down on the coffee table.

Maki hesitated for a moment, then sat on the other sofa, across from where Toge was sprawled.

She took a cup of tea and sipped it, glancing at Yuta.

"Delivery? You didn't cook?"

Yuta laughed, scratching the back of his neck.

"I thought about it, but I figured takeout would be easier and I didn't want to risk making something that didn't turn out well."

Maki smirked faintly, shaking her head as she took another sip.

Panda, meanwhile, joined Toge on the sofa, quickly commandeering the remote.

He switched to YouTube, and before long, they were engrossed in a video of MrBeast microwaving a microwave that was microwaving another microwave. 

"Why do people watch this?"

Maki muttered, her eyes narrowing at the screen.

"Because he's awesome."

Panda replied, completely serious.

Yuta chuckled and took a seat beside Maki, cradling his cup of tea.

The comfortable silence was only broken by occasional laughter from Panda and Toge as they watched the video. 

Before long, the doorbell rang.

Yuta stood up and walked to the door, returning moments later with several bags of food.

"Dinner's here!"

He announced, carrying the bags to the dining room.

They all followed him, their mouths watering as the familiar aroma of fried chicken filled the air.

Yuta had gone all out, ordering an impressive spread from buckets of chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes, and large sodas.

The dining room was just as impressive as the living room, with a large wooden table and a view of a small, beautifully maintained garden.

They sat around the table, digging into the food with enthusiasm.

As they ate, the conversation turned light and playful. 

Yuta grabbed another piece of chicken.

"... why don't you like bamboo? Isn't that... I don't know, your thing?"

Panda paused mid-bite, setting his chicken down to address the question.

"You ever tasted bamboo? It's like eating a mouthful of wood shavings and splinters. It's awful."

He leaned back, gesturing dramatically.

"Bamboo shoots, though? Those I can handle. But regular bamboo? Never again."

Yuta laughed, his curiosity satisfied.

"Fair enough. What about you guys? Any foods you can't stand?"

Maki smirked, pointing her fork at Toge.

"Inumaki hates fish eggs."

Toge's eyes widened in embarrassment, and he muttered.

"Caviar."

Yuta gave Toge a reassuring smile.

"Hey, no shame in that. We all have things we don't like. For me, it's plain cabbage. Can't stand it."

Panda burst out laughing, almost choking on his food.

"Cabbage? Seriously? Of all things?"

Even Toge chuckled, his earlier embarrassment fading. 

Maki shrugged.

"I hate vegetables. All of them. Don't care what they are."

"Not even broccoli?"

Yuta asked, feigning shock.

"Especially broccoli."

Maki shot back, smirking as she reached for another biscuit.

As the conversation continued, Yuta felt a sense of joy and peace.

The tension from the sparring session earlier that day was gone, replaced by laughter and camaraderie.

For the first time in a long while, Yuta felt like he truly belonged in this world.

After the meal, the table was cleared, and Yuta stood at the sink, washing a few dishes.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group lingered around the dining table, their attention fully captured by Rika-chan, who stood silently in the corner at their request.

Her imposing figure and the faint aura of menace radiating from her left an impression that couldn't be ignored.

Panda circled Rika, inspecting her closely, his expression equal parts curiosity and disbelief.

"Woah... Is this really your childhood friend?"

He asked, his voice tinged with incredulity.

Yuta, glancing over his shoulder, nodded as he scrubbed a plate.

"Yep, that's Rika-chan. Hard to believe, right?"

Panda scratched his head, still staring at the manifestation.

"Man, if someone told me their childhood friend turned into a walking nightmare, I'd call them crazy. But here she is."

Maki, who sat with her arms crossed, kept her gaze fixed on Rika, her brows furrowed.

"Even after seeing her in action, I still can't get used to her. It's not just her appearance, it's the aura she gives off. It's like she's staring into your soul."

Yuta chuckled, rinsing off another plate.

"Don't worry. As long as no one harms her object of affection, which is me, she's harmless. She might even warm up to you."

Toge, sipping water, simply added.

"Tuna."

Maki, her curiosity piqued, leaned forward.

"But how did she end up like this in the first place? She was a normal girl, right? How did she become... this powerful?"

Yuta's hands stilled for a moment as he thought.

"It's probably because of me."

He said finally.

The three at the table exchanged confused looks.

"What do you mean?"

Panda asked.

Yuta turned off the faucet and dried his hands before turning to face them.

"It's due to my very distant relation to the Gojo Clan. Specifically, to Sugawara Michizane, one of the Big Three Vengeful Spirits who founded the Three Great Clans."

Maki's eyes widened, and she leaned back in her chair.

"So that's why... That's why you're so powerful. And why you have so much cursed energy."

Yuta nodded modestly.

"It's not something I'm proud of or flaunt. But it's probably the reason Rika's curse is as potent as it is."

As Yuta returned to washing the last few dishes, Panda rested his chin on his paw, his curiosity still unsatisfied.

"Alright, but how much cursed energy do you actually have?"

Yuta paused and considered how to explain it in a way they'd understand.

Wiping his hands, he reached for a glass pitcher and a set of plastic cups from the kitchen.

"Alright, let's break this down."

He set the pitcher and cups on the table.

"Imagine the standard Grade 4 Sorcerer has enough cursed energy to fill 1 cup."

He began, pouring water into a cup until its full.

"A Grade 3 Sorcerer would have about 5 cups' worth."

He said, pouring more.

"Grade 2 would have 10 cups, and Grade 1 about 20."

He filled the cups accordingly.

"And a Special Grade Sorcerer?"

Panda asked, leaning forward.

Yuta smiled as he filled another cup to the brim, then lined up ten more.

"A Special Grade Sorcerer would have 100 cups' worth of cursed energy. That's roughly equivalent to 2 of Sukuna's fingers."

Panda and Toge exchanged glances, intrigued by the visual demonstration, while Maki remained silent, her gaze fixed on Yuta. 

"But that's just the baseline..."

Yuta continued, disappearing into the pantry.

He returned with a package of Calpas sausages, dumping them onto the table.

"Let's use these to represent Sukuna's fingers."

He separated 20 Calpas into 2 piles.

"10 Calpas here represent Gojo-sensei's cursed energy. Each finger is 50 cups, so this is 500 cups in total."

Panda's jaw dropped.

"Gojo-sensei has that much cursed energy?"

"Yep."

Yuta replied, nodding.

Panda then pointed at the remaining Calpas.

"And what about you?"

Yuta smirked, slowly sliding all twenty remaining sausages into a single pile without a word.

The room fell silent.

Maki's eyes widened, Toge froze mid-drink, and Panda looked like his brain had just short-circuited.

"You're kidding."

Panda finally managed.

"Nope."

Yuta said, gesturing to Rika.

"And here's the kicker. I'll never run out of cursed energy."

"How is that even possible?"

Maki demanded, still trying to process the sheer magnitude.

Yuta tapped the table for emphasis.

"If I'm equivalent to 20 fingers, that's 1,000 cups of cursed energy. But Rika-chan here is like the pitcher itself. She continuously siphons cursed energy from her surroundings and stores it for later use. Also, if she consumes anything with cursed energy, her output increases even more."

The three stared at Rika, their awe now tinged with a hint of fear. Panda gulped, scratching the back of his head.

"Well... good thing we're friends, huh?"

Yuta laughed, sitting back down.

"Don't worry, Rika and I are on your side."

The room was silent for a beat, then Panda asked Yuta.

"Can I have some Calpas, please?"

XXX

Hello readers!

Comment if my interpretation of a Sorcerer's Cursed Energy is good or not.

Thank you everyone and see you later!