The warmth that had briefly floated between Gojo and Senji evaporated in an instant. Gojo stiffened, shoulders tight, every nerve in his body hyper-focused on the man behind the desk.

Damian’s gaze was steady which suggested that he always saw far more than what was on the surface.

Gojo swallowed.

Senji, still relaxed in his seat, glanced between the two of them with mild curiosity, almost as if he could feel something unspoken passing through the air.

Dominic stayed where he was, closing the door gently but remaining beside it, hands tucked behind his back. He was clearly meant to witness every part of whatever was coming next.

Damian folded his hands atop the desk and finally broke the strong silence and tension in the room. 

Damian: Gojo Masaki… Your work has caused quite the disruption these past few weeks.

Gojo: (tries to smile) Um… thank you?

Damian didn’t return the smile. He simply studied the young boy, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly before he continued. 

Damian: You’ve proven that you have what it takes in this industry. That much is clear, but before we talk about contracts, deadlines, or any numbers....

He paused.

A long, deliberate silence.

Damian: ....I want to ask you something.

Gojo felt his heartbeat quicken.

Damian leaned forward, elbows on the desk, his voice low and controlled.

Damian: Your name, Masaki Gojo. You don’t happen to be related to—

Senji suddenly cut in gently, intervening just before the conversation derailed.

Senji: Damian… we can get to that later, can’t we? The kid’s nervous enough as it is.

The fact that Senji Noda called his name so casually made Gojo realize that they must've been friends for a long time to get to that stage. 

On the other hand, Damian’s jaw tightened, and then he continued.

Instead, he exhaled through his nose, leaned back in his chair once more, and shifted the conversation with a professional, practiced tone.

Damian: Very well. Then let’s start simple. Gojo Masaki… tell me, what exactly do you want from this industry?

Gojo thought for a few moments, then straightened, pushing through the anxiety weighing in his chest.

Gojo: What do I want? (pauses) I want… to make something that lasts. Something people remember. Something they feel connected to. I want to draw manga because I love it.

Dominic looked at him and smiled while Senji’s expression softened.

But Damian froze for a second, long enough for Gojo to notice.

Then Damian closed his eyes briefly, as if steadying something inside himself, and opened them again.

Damian: …Very well.

His voice was softer now, stripped of its earlier edge.

Damian: Then let’s see if we can make that happen. Dominic will give you the contract to sign in the next few days and—

Gojo: Actually... I don't think you'll need to do that, sir. 

This took everyone by surprise as it felt kike he was contradicting the words he had spoken earlier.

Senji: What do you mean?

Gojo: I mean... Mr Noda, ever since Mr Dominic told me that you wanted to see me, I knew that this was going to come sooner or later. That's why I've been trying to come up with a new story. I've been trying ever since HLC reached the Diamond rank. But I have been able to come up with anything. 

Dominic: Nothing? 

Gojo: No...

Damian rested back on his seat and looked at Gojo as he adjusted his glasses and looked downward, unable to look up at everyone. 

Damian: So... Now that you've told us this, we can't give you a contract and you know this was going to happen and you still did it. Why? 

Gojo thought for a while.

Gojo: I did it because, if I signed that contract without proper preparation, I'd end up making something rushed and unrefined and that wouldn't be fair to the fans and people who love drawing manga.

These words shook everyone in the room especially Dominic as he was surprised at the mature comment Gojo had just made. Damian's face remained the same but he was impressed by the words Gojo had just spoken and he pondered on them for a while before he responded. 

Damian: Then... How about you enroll into the Mugen Manga Academy?

Dominic and Senji were caught off guard by this statement but for different reasons while Gojo was more puzzled than surprised. 

Gojo: Manga Academy? 

******

A few minutes later, Dominic and Gojo had left the office and only Damian and Senji remained. Senji looked at Damian in shock because of what he had just done.

Senji: You told him about the Academy thing? Is that even set in stone? 

Damian: Yes. We purchased a property a few days ago and that is going to serve as the school premises by the time we're done with it. 

Senji thought for a while and then sat down on his seat as he had been standing for a while now. 

Senji: You did that because you wanted to keep him around, didn't you?

Damian: Well, after you told me who he was, why wouldn't I? But this doesn't change what happened in the past.

Senji 's face saddened at the mention of this. 

Senji: Yeah I know. (pauses) But... You mentioned the past, isn't that a reason for you to not want him around?

Damian: The boy has talent and he needs to nurture it and learn how to harness it. That's why I told him about the academy. Whether he enrolls when the time comes or he doesn't, is completely up to him now. 

Senji: I See. 

Meanwhile, Gojo was walking back home on his own, thinking about everything that he had just heard and wondered if he was ready to finally start striving for something.

But then, he remembered the feeling he felt when he drew HLC and how exhilarating it felt to see it succeed. He looked up at the sun shining in the sky and stretched his right hand as he wanted to catch it in his hand and then he smiled. 

Gojo: Yeah, I'll do just fine.