Leon's campus life officially began.
Calling it "campus life," however, felt a bit exaggerated. In practice, it wasn't that different from living at home. The student population at Tokyo Jujutsu High was so small that there were no separate dormitories for boys and girls—just a single residence building where everyone could choose whichever room they liked. Each unit had its own bathroom, and some even came with kitchens for those who preferred cooking for themselves. Aside from not being allowed to remodel the building, residents were free to arrange things however they wanted.
Leon and his mother, Kamo Mayumi, simply occupied an entire floor together.
As for the fourth member of their household—Pancham—he had effectively become the mascot of the entire school. At this point, the whole campus was his territory. Between his natural charm and the universal appeal of pandas, it was impossible for anyone to resist him. If not for the tracking function built into Leon's Trainer System, he would probably spend most of the day searching for the little troublemaker.
Pancham's daily routine was surprisingly energetic.
At dawn every morning, he and Panda could already be found sparring in the open courtyard, practicing punches while shouting exaggerated battle cries. Occasionally, Principal Yaga Masamichi—Panda's creator—would even join them, turning the session into a noisy three-way boxing practice. Since Pancham was naturally a Fighting-type Pokémon, physical training came instinctively to him, and under Panda's guidance his progress was rapid.
Before long, the rest of the students would begin filtering out of the dorms and joining the morning training.Zenin Maki, Inumaki Toge, Panda, Leon—sometimes sparring one-on-one, sometimes in chaotic free-for-alls depending on mood and energy.
After breakfast, classes officially began.
In the past, the schedule had depended entirely on Gojo Satoru's availability—if he showed up, there was class; if he didn't, students trained independently. Now that Leon and Mayumi had joined as assistant instructors, the routine had stabilized: theoretical lessons in the morning, practical combat training in the afternoon.
Leon soon realized that while his mother might not have possessed overwhelming combat talent, her theoretical knowledge was exceptional. She explained concepts clearly, reorganized complicated material into structured lessons, and approached cursed energy theory with remarkable precision.
"When I was young," Mayumi once said with a faint smile, "I had dreams too."
Leon didn't ask what had happened afterward. Some questions didn't need answers. As long as she looked happier now than she had during their quiet years in the countryside, that was enough.
Dreams, after all, had a way of making people shine.
The same was true for Zenin Maki.
Her personality was blunt—sometimes painfully so—and she had an unfortunate tendency to step on conversational landmines without realizing it. Once, she had casually asked Leon whether his father was dead. Another time, she had openly challenged Mayumi to a sparring match. Moments like those made Leon fully understand why people sometimes described her as "dangerously straightforward."
Yet when she trained, everything about her changed.
Her focus was absolute, her determination fierce. Neither Leon, Panda, nor Inumaki could match the intensity she displayed during combat practice. That purity of intent—her refusal to look away from her goal—made her presence almost dazzling.
Even Gardevoir seemed drawn to her.
Because Maki was working to learn how to sense cursed spirits without relying on sight, Gardevoir often assisted her training sessions, using telekinesis to help control the battlefield while ensuring her safety. Any minor curses captured for practice were defeated afterward, conveniently doubling as experience for the Pokémon involved. Pancham participated enthusiastically as well, quickly leveling into the double digits and reaching the basic combat standard equivalent to a Grade-4 sorcerer.
Life settled into a steady rhythm:training, classes, assignments, conversations, shared meals, laughter—and occasionally teaming up to torment Gojo Satoru.
For Leon, blending into the group was surprisingly easy. Despite his adult mind, being surrounded by straightforward, earnest people made daily life feel lighter than it had in years.
Of course, he still had responsibilities beyond school.
His novel publication was moving forward rapidly. Gojo—acting as a surprisingly competent editor—had already arranged printing contracts, promotional campaigns, and bookstore distribution. The first print run alone would reach fifty thousand copies. Even Leon had to admit that when Gojo took something seriously, his efficiency was terrifying.
Naturally, that didn't stop Gojo from being Gojo.
One evening, as the students finished training, a familiar voice called out from the distance:
"Miss me, everyone? Your favorite teacher has returned!"
He appeared instantly in front of them, grinning, holding a large shopping bag.
"No thanks," Maki said flatly. "I lose my appetite just seeing you."
"Cold-hearted!" Gojo declared dramatically. "I even brought gifts—Kyoto specialty desserts!"
The group barely reacted.
Leon sighed. "Alright. What do you want this time?"
Since enrolling, he had already learned a pattern: whenever Gojo showed up smiling like that, it meant trouble—or at least extra work disguised as "training opportunities."
Gojo scratched his cheek sheepishly. "You saw through me already? Well… this is actually a personal request. My kid's going through a rebellious phase and refuses to talk to me. I was hoping you could help."
Leon blinked.
"…Wait. You have a kid?"
The entire group froze in collective disbelief.