JJK: Hourglass - CH8

[Nanashi POV]

Today, Gojo had decided to take me on a field trip, alone.

A bit concerning, not going to lie.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, knowing the guy and how out of the top he was, but I supposed there was no point wondering where I was going.

I mean, it’s not like I could stop the guy from kidnapping me… again.

“How does the bag over your head feel?” Gojo asked, his voice laced with a mirth that suggested he was thoroughly enjoying this. The question was rhetorical, of course. How did he think it felt? Like the latest fashion trend from the Paris runways, obviously.

“Oh, you know, it’s quite the statement piece. I’m thinking it’ll catch on. ‘Mystery Chic’ or ‘Kidnap Couture,’” I replied, my voice muffled by the fabric. I tried to adjust the bag for the umpteenth time, only to remember my hands were loosely tied. "You really know how to treat a person, Gojo-sensei. Is this part of the Jujutsu High deluxe package?"

I could almost hear the shit-eating grin in his voice as he replied, "Only for my favorite students. Consider yourself lucky. Most people have to book months in advance for this kind of personalized experience."

God.

If you hear me, all I ask is that my curse technique can bypass his, I just want to punch the guy.

“So, where are you taking me this time?” I asked.

“To a very abandoned and very cursed school a few miles north, why?” Gojo responded with the kind of nonchalance usually reserved for discussing the weather or what to have for lunch, not, you know, potentially life-threatening field trips.

"Oh, no reason," I said, wondering why he was taking me, instead of one of the other students who were very much more capable than me. "Just curious about today's flavor of 'near-death experience' à la Gojo. Abandoned and cursed, you say? Sounds delightful. Do they also offer complimentary burials, or is that extra?"

The car came to a gentle stop, and I felt the bag being lifted off my head. The brightness of the day momentarily blinded me, and when my eyes finally adjusted, I was indeed staring at what looked like the setting of every horror movie ever made.

The school loomed before us, its dilapidated structure casting long, ominous shadows even in the daylight.

Gojo clapped his hands together, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Isn't it just the perfect place for a little practical curse energy training?"

I glanced at him, then back at the school. "If by 'perfect' you mean 'perfectly horrifying,' then yes, absolutely. Very effective teaching method, really. Instill mortal fear in your students to boost their powers."

Gojo laughed, clearly pleased with himself. "Exactly! You're catching on. Fear is an excellent motivator. Plus, I've arranged a little surprise for you inside."

"A surprise?" I echoed, feeling like I wasn’t going to like the surprise. "Is it pancakes? Because you mentioned pancakes last time, and I've been thinking—"

"No, not pancakes this time," he interrupted, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "But let's just say you won't be disappointed, or you will, I honestly don’t care. But, who knows? If you survive, maybe we'll get pancakes as a reward."

"Survive?" I repeated, blinking slowly. “Why wouldn’t I survive?!”

“No reason, I mean… if you kill the curses inside the school that is,” Gojo giggled, kicking me out of the car. “You’ll be alone in this school, so good luck Nanashi-kun~”

Say what now?

As the realization dawned on me, the car, or as he liked to call it, the handsome mobile sped away, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.

And there I was, standing alone in front of an abandoned school that looked like it had been the setting for at least three different horror movie franchises. Alone. Completely alone. Without Gojo's overwhelming power or quirky commentary to keep me company. Just me, and, according to Gojo, a building full of curses that apparently needed exterminating.

“Fuck,” I muttered, dragging a hand across my face.

The way I saw it, I had two options.

One, try to do what Gojo was asking, despite having no idea how to use curse energy yet.

Or two, run away from here.

Hmmmm.

Option two seemed like the smarter choice. I mean… running away seemed like a much healthier option than facing whatever horror movie extras were waiting for me inside that decrepit building.

So, I turned on my heel, ready to sprint away from the cursed school and into the safety of... well, anywhere else but here.

However,

I took exactly one step forward when I slammed face-first into something hard yet invisible. Recoiling in surprise and more than a little pain, I stumbled back, rubbing my nose. "What the—?"

It seemed Gojo had anticipated my flight response and had set up a barrier around the school. An invisible, solid wall that now had me rubbing my face and reconsidering my life choices.

I had read about barriers a little bit, but enough to know what that bastard had done.

"Of course, he did," I grumbled, glaring at the seemingly empty air in front of me. "Because why make it easy to run away from a death trap?"

I really hated that blindfolded moron.

Taking a deep breath, I gingerly reached out, my fingers touching the invisible barrier, confirming it was indeed there and not just a product of my imagination. "Great. Trapped by an invisible wall. This is just perfect."

I could almost hear Gojo's laughter, carried in the wind. "Think of it as motivation, Nanashi-kun! Overcome this challenge, and you'll be one step closer to those chocolate chip pancakes!"

With no other option available, I squared my shoulders and headed toward the entrance of the school. If I had to face a horde of cursed spirits to earn my freedom and apparently my breakfast, then so be it. I'd just have to channel my inner action hero and hope for the best. After all, how bad could it be?

Famous last words, I know. But what other option did I have?

"Alright, cursed spirits," I called out, stepping through the doorway into the dark, musty interior of the school. "Let's make this quick. There are pancakes waiting for me on the other side of this nightmare."