Chapter 4 — Fourth Punch
"Ahem. No need for compensation." Masamichi Yaga raised a fist to his lips and coughed, putting on a stern expression. "After all, I was the one who told you to go all out."
Hearing that, Saitama—his head covered in sweat—pressed a hand to his chest and let out a long breath of relief, his face visibly relaxing.
"In any case… you pass!" Yaga felt a little awkward himself, so he lowered his fist and quickly changed the subject as he made the announcement.
Saitama froze for a moment, then broke into a delighted smile. But in the very next second, Yaga loudly declared, "Starting next week, you'll be studying here as a first-year probationary student. Congratulations, Saitama. Gojo, take him to familiarize himself with the campus."
"Alright, I'll be in your care…" Saitama said eagerly—then suddenly paused.
"…Huh? Probationary student?"
…
"A probationary student refers to someone who hasn't yet obtained official enrollment status in the school registry, but can still participate in all teaching activities just like a regular student," Satoru Gojo explained while leading Saitama around the Jujutsu High campus. "Even if you didn't become a full student, being a probationary student is already pretty impressive. After all, you have zero cursed energy, Saitama-kun."
"…Oh." Saitama trailed behind him absentmindedly. After zoning out for a moment, he suddenly thought of something. "Then what about the student stipend…?"
"As for that—"
Noticing Gojo deliberately dragging out the word, Saitama nervously raised his fist near his chin and stared at him intensely.
"Of course! Probationary students get a stipend too!" Gojo finally turned around after teasing him enough, waving cheerfully like a fluffy mascot.
"Ah, that's good." Saitama lowered his hand, looking relieved.
"The stipend for probationary students is 100,000 yen per month!" Gojo announced loudly. "Well… about half of what regular students get. And it'll only be issued after enrollment."
"…Eh." Saitama instantly looked a little disappointed.
"Also, the dormitories are facilities reserved for official students. Probationary students can't apply for housing. The cafeteria, however, is open for you to use freely. But that's just how it is. If you want to become a full student, you'll need to generate at least a little cursed energy."
As they walked, Gojo continued his explanation. "Among the students who just advanced to second year this year, there's a girl with a situation similar to yours. She also has a Heavenly Restriction physique—so little cursed energy that she can't even see curses on her own and has to use cursed tools to exorcise them. But at least she can still produce slight cursed energy fluctuations. Unlike you, who has absolutely none—like a total invisible man. Based on past examples…"
He paused briefly before continuing, "No, actually, since you can defeat curses with your fists alone, you're probably stronger than that previous case, Saitama-kun."
"Ah, that building up ahead is the athletic field…"
"Saitama-kun, are you even listening? If you don't learn the layout, I'm not responsible if you get lost later."
"…"
Saitama kept a blank expression as he followed behind Gojo out of habit.
This is bad. Only 100,000 yen a month, and I still have to attend classes? That'll take up most of my time—there won't even be time for part-time work. And since I can't stay in the dorms, I'll have to rent outside. Rent, utilities… and commuting every day from the city to this school out in the suburbs. This feels even worse than before…
I'm so distracted I can't hear a single word this guy's saying…
"Um…" Saitama finally snapped back to attention and spoke up.
"Hm? Got a question, Saitama-kun?" Gojo leaned in enthusiastically. "What is it, what is it?"
"To become a full student, I need cursed energy, right?" Saitama asked. "From the start, you've all been talking about cursed energy this, cursed energy that. What exactly is cursed energy?"
…
"Cursed energy, put simply, is 'the power of curses.' It's a force born from negative human emotions."
Bringing Saitama to the center of the athletic field, Gojo explained leisurely, "In Japan, cursed energy is something even ordinary people produce. But what they generate is extremely weak and uncontrollable. And the vast majority of ordinary people can't see curses. Jujutsu sorcerers, on the other hand, are usually born with innate techniques and, through training, learn to control their cursed energy and techniques. Generally speaking, only cursed energy can effectively attack curses."
Gojo raised a finger. "As for the difference—cursed energy is pure power, while jujutsu is the method of applying that power to achieve various effects. You can think of jujutsu techniques as different kinds of superpowers."
"But you said I don't have any cursed energy." Saitama looked down at his fists. "Yet I can not only see curses, I can also defeat them in one punch."
Hearing that, Gojo slipped his hands into his pockets, bent slightly at the waist, and chuckled.
"That's why, Saitama-kun, you're special."
"…Eh."
Saitama still looked confused. At that moment, Gojo suddenly seemed energized. He stepped forward, leaning in close to Saitama.
"Saitama-kun, want to see it? The pinnacle of jujutsu combat—Domain Expansion."
"The pinnacle? You mean the strongest kind of battle?" Saitama froze briefly, then clenched his fists, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Oh, bring it on!"
"…Huh?"
Gojo let out a short sound of surprise, then maintained his posture and asked, "Wait… are you saying you want to personally experience the pinnacle of jujutsu combat?"
"Isn't that what you meant?" Saitama replied fervently. "Ever since I became too strong, no matter what enemy I face, it ends in one punch. I've gradually lost the thrill of fighting—no matter who I battle, I don't feel anything anymore. But if this is the pinnacle of jujutsu combat, then it must be strong, right?"
"Come on—let me see it!"
Gojo slowly straightened up as he looked at the excited Saitama. "Oh," he responded softly.
Originally, he had only intended to let Saitama enter the domain as an unharmed "ally," just to take a look. As long as he maintained contact with Gojo, he could be exempt from the domain's attack. But since Saitama was this eager…
With a body that strong, even if he entered the domain as an "enemy," as long as Gojo didn't actively attack him, it should still be fine.
Under Saitama's expectant gaze, Gojo pressed his lips into a thin line. He raised a hand and slowly hooked a finger under the edge of his black blindfold.
The pitch-black blindfold slid down the bridge of his nose. With it fell his silver-white hair, no longer held upright by the cloth. Freed from its restraint, the strands dropped softly across his forehead—an unexpectedly gentle contrast to his tall, upright frame.
The blindfold continued downward, revealing handsome brows, long lashes like snow-dusted feathers, and a pair of crystal-clear blue eyes as vast and endless as the open sky.
It was Saitama's first time seeing Gojo without the blindfold. His brows furrowed slightly, his expression turning more serious.
That's it! Come on! Bring it on!
After all, he could tell Gojo was serious too. When facing a serious opponent, one should respond in kind.
Gojo's lips curved faintly. As if deliberately giving Saitama time to prepare himself, he slowly raised his right hand, extending his index and middle fingers together.
"Domain Expansion," he murmured softly. "…Unlimited Void."
…
The vast athletic field. The traditional Japanese buildings stretching to the edge of the campus.
The lush green trees. The chirping birds. The clear sky.
It was as if everything vanished in an instant.
In its place was a silent, silver-gray expanse like outer space itself. It seemed pitch-black, yet illuminated; empty, yet densely packed with something indescribable.
Seeing and not seeing, hearing and not hearing, sensing and not sensing… motion and stillness intertwined beyond the laws of physics, forming a paradoxical yet harmonious chaos.
Amid this chaos, the crisp sound of leather shoes echoed. Gojo walked slowly toward Saitama, hands in his pockets.
"Welcome to my domain—Unlimited Void."
He circled halfway around the dazed Saitama and spoke softly, "My innate technique is 'Limitless.' This is the inner world of the Limitless."
"A 'domain' is a territory where, once you enter, you are guaranteed to be hit by the domain owner's attack. Within my domain, the enemy is flooded with infinite information. You'll know everything. You can clearly hear what I say. All sensations necessary to sustain life are forcibly maintained. But your body is completely unable to move."
"But I, as the domain's master, am completely unrestricted," Gojo said with a smile. "So right now, I could do anything to you, Saitama-kun. You can't resist. Even the strongest enemies are finished at this stage."
"Of course, I won't attack you. This is just a demonstration for teaching purposes. So, Saitama-kun, now you should understand the essence of Domain Expansion—"
Gojo suddenly stopped mid-explanation. Beneath his silver bangs, his brilliant blue eyes flickered with surprise.
Was it just his imagination? That bald head… had it just moved?
Could he actually move inside Unlimited Void?
After the brief shock, Gojo stepped closer to confirm. Standing behind Saitama, he looked down at the back of his head.
The smooth, reflective scalp clearly mirrored Gojo's own handsome face—slightly distorted by the curve.
…Must have been my imagination. No enemy has ever been able to move inside Unlimited Void.
Thinking this, Gojo stroked his chin, staring at his reflection on Saitama's head.
"I really am a nice guy," he mused.
Suddenly, the reflection on Saitama's scalp wobbled.
In the next instant, the previously motionless bald man abruptly turned his head and glared at him, slightly annoyed.
"Don't use someone else's bald head as a mirror. That's rude," Saitama complained. Then he glanced around. "It was interesting at first, but you just keep talking and won't fight me. And what you're saying is all vague and hard to follow. It's getting kind of boring."
The bald man turned fully to face Gojo and asked matter-of-factly:
"Can I go back now?"