I stepped through the entrance of the institute with a confident stride, the soft light of the Japanese corridors reflecting off the polished wood beneath my shoes. Gojo walked ahead of me, hands in his pockets, as relaxed as if we were heading out for coffee.
"I'll take you straight to the training room. The others are already there."
I nodded, my eyes scanning every detail of the place I had only ever imagined through photos or Headmaster Viviani's stories. The walls were simple, yet a powerful energy hung in the air, as if time itself was denser inside these halls. We stopped in front of a sliding wooden door. Gojo-sensei smiled and, with a theatrical gesture, slid the panels open.
"Attention, class! Freeze! Quench the flames in your hearts, sheath your swords, and most importantly—Panda, stop chewing that can—we have a new classmate!"
Five pairs of eyes turned to look at me.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today we welcome into our glorious second year a student from the European Institute in Rome, personally selected by Headmaster Viviani to continue her path under my guidance. Not that this surprises anyone..."
He adjusted his sunglasses with one hand, chuckling to himself.
"She was the top of her class. Excellent technique, high potential, and—let's admit it—a striking presence. Please, give a warm round of applause to our new companion!"
I stood still. Then I stepped forward. A slight bow.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Rebecca… I hope to learn a lot from all of you."
There was a moment of silence. Then:
"Oh, interesting..."
The deep, sarcastic voice came from a girl with green hair and violet glasses, sitting composedly. She looked at me, neither thrilled nor hostile—just evaluating.
"A foreigner, huh?" said a giant panda, leaning in.
"If you speak to spirits the way you speak Japanese, we're in good hands."
That pulled a half-smile from me.
A boy watched me silently, his eyes gentle. He gave me a small nod. A sort of quiet welcome. I returned it.
And then there was him—a boy with short, silver hair, slightly tousled. Amethyst-colored eyes. He stared at me expressionless, his uniform collar pulled up over his mouth.
"Shake." he said.
I paused. Then nodded, even though I didn't understand. The tone… it felt like a word of peace.
Gojo-sensei stepped into the center of the room, arms crossed behind his back, smiling with that comic actor air that seemed as natural to him as breathing.
"Since we have such an exceptional new arrival… let's do proper introductions."
He spun halfway on his heel and pointed to the sharp-featured girl.
"That lovely girl over there is Maki Zen'in. Descendant of one of the most powerful families in our world… but don't make her mad by mentioning certain surnames, trust me. She's a master of cursed weapons and has aim so precise she'll put out the light in your eyes before you even blink. Oh—and she's as stubborn as reinforced concrete."
Maki raised an eyebrow, saying nothing. But a small smile slipped through.
"Next to her is our favorite bear: Panda! And yes, he's really a panda. No, he's not a curse. And no, you can't hug him without his consent. He's a loyal teammate, excellent in hand-to-hand combat, and has a huge heart. Don't be fooled by appearances."
Panda waved a friendly paw.
"Nice to meet you, Rebecca! I heard you're from Italy… pasta or pizza?"
"Pizza."
"My girl!" he replied immediately.
Gojo-sensei chuckled and turned to the calm-looking boy with dark hair.
"This is Yuta Okkotsu. One of the strongest sorcerers of his generation—and luckily also one of the kindest. He has a huge heart, a curse that protects him… and a selflessness that'll leave you speechless. Oh, and we're distant relatives, by the way."
Yuta smiled softly, his eyes kind.
"Welcome, Rebecca."
Finally, Gojo pointed to the boy by the window, hoodie pulled up over his nose.
"That's Toge Inumaki. Master of the Cursed Speech technique. Every word he says carries power, so he barely speaks. He uses onigiri ingredient terms to avoid accidentally cursing someone. But he's more sensitive and intelligent than he lets on."
Toge's amethyst eyes lifted to meet mine. 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 simply his gentle way of saying, welcome to us.
"Now that the tour is done… let's give her a proper welcome. And remember: Rebe is under my direct supervision. If any of you treat her poorly, you'll be stacking practice room chairs for a week."
Panda's eyes widened.
"Again?!"
---Curious Eyes, Gentle Silences...---
I'd always felt that people saw my aura before they saw who I truly was. In Europe, they called me "The Luminous", because of the unique way I channeled cursed energy—making it glow, almost pulse like living light, focusing it in my palms and eyes in critical moments. Physically, I was taller than the average Japanese girl, though not by much. My posture was straight, shaped by years of combat training and formal ceremonies.
My light brown hair, with honey undertones under sunlight, reached halfway down my back. I wore it loose that day, slightly wavy at the ends. But it was my eyes that drew the most attention: deep green, almost emerald, with a sharp and penetrating gaze. People who knew me well said 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's uniform, tailored to fit. Sleeves rolled to the elbows, a tight belt at the waist, and worn combat boots. A small silver pin with the European Institute's crest gleamed on my left chest: a detail I didn't want to forget.
I watched them as they approached, eyes scanning me with curiosity, attentiveness, and—at times—subtle wariness. No one said much, yet… there was already a sense of being woven into something.
I had already noticed him—Toge Inumaki.
Distant and silent, though not by choice. He was slightly shorter than me, though only just. We were both of age, yet he carried the burden of a power that forced him into silence. His platinum hair, artfully messy, seemed to fall lightly over his eyes but hid nothing.
His eyes were the only visible part of his face, and they spoke louder than any words. Clear, precise, sharp as blades—yet incredibly kind. His skin was pale, almost moonlike. On his neck and the side of his jaw, I glimpsed parts of his cursed markings: fine black lines, ancient-looking, pulsing with mystery. He wore the standard dark uniform, zipped up past his mouth… and didn't speak.
Yet it didn't take much. The way he watched me, the way his gaze dropped when our eyes met, the slight arch of his brows 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. Often standing with arms crossed, she wore a proud and stern expression. Tall and lean, with flawless posture. Her long green hair tied in a high ponytail, with two locks framing her sharp, striking—yet feminine—face.
She wore thick-framed glasses she never took off, but it was her gaze that was intimidating: focused, razor-sharp, never uncertain. Her strong arms bore faint scars, and every gesture was deliberate, powerful, calculated. It was clear—Maki was a warrior. One who didn't wait for you to notice her strength. She slammed it in your face with every step.
Panda was another world entirely. Huge, soft—at first glance he looked like a creature made to cuddle—but one word from him revealed the mind of a seasoned veteran and the humor of an older brother. He moved with ease, as if his oversized body was simply an extension of his spirit. The way he looked at you was full, direct, never judgmental. With him, there was no need to pretend to be yourself.
He just knew.
Yuta, on the other hand, seemed the opposite of what I'd heard about him. One of the most powerful sorcerers of his generation—and yet, his kindness was almost disarming. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his eyes… those eyes seemed to ask if you were okay even before you said a word. His face was slender, pale, with a soft jawline and pale lips. He walked lightly, silently, like someone who didn't want to disturb others.
But if someone was in danger, according to sensei, he turned into a lethal wave. I had only seen him for a few minutes, but his presence… it was the kind that stayed with you, even in a crowd. He greeted me with kindness and respect, and that day, I felt like I'd met a noble spirit. It made me glad.
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 wasn't just a school anymore.
It was a crossing of fates.
And mine was just starting to intertwine with theirs.