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After four long days of school life, the eagerly anticipated Friday finally arrived. Once they endured the day, two days of joyful weekend would follow immediately.
For this reason, Kuoh Academy usually had few classes on Friday. Aside from a few cultural courses in the morning, there were only two self-study periods in the afternoon.
Of course, while they were called self-study periods, they were essentially no different from dismissal. Because there were no teachers supervising, students who headed straight home could play on their phones for diversion while waiting for the two periods to end, and students with club activities could start their activities earlier. Start early, end early, they could still get home sooner.
The scene was exactly the same as their last meeting. When Hanakain Reiji received the message and walked out of the school, the Kendo girl stood quietly by the guard booth at the school gate at dusk, holding a sword bag containing her katana and gazing at the setting sun dipping toward the horizon in the distance.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting, Senpai."
"No, it's nothing..." Saeko Busujima gently shook her head, turning toward the young man who had approached, and drew a calm, water-like smile at the corner of her lips. "Hanakain Reiji, I actually just arrived a moment ago. Since this was a last-minute notification, I thought that without setting an appointment in advance, Hanakain Reiji, as Acting Head, might only see the message when he was free. That would have meant a longer wait, but I'm quite surprised, or rather, delighted, that you came out so quickly."
"Acting... Head?" A question mark slowly rose above the young man's head. "If I recall correctly, the last time Senpai Busujima came, your form of address was still 'classmate'..." They say familiarity breeds comfort, but this is our second meeting; why are you acting more distant than the first time?
"Ah, this is actually..." When this topic was brought up, the Kendo girl, with her beautiful features and serene expression, rarely showed a hint of awkwardness. "The last time I came, I didn't know your identity, Hanakain... kun. In fact, my father has always taught me to treat people with courtesy, and this time the Sorcerer Association emphasized that I must adopt a formal, professional attitude for this official business."
Ugh, why does that sound so awkward? Hanakain Reiji pondered silently for a moment, then scratched his head and clicked his tongue. "Ugh, forget it, forget it. Don't make it so troublesome. I'm not one of those old fogeys in my family. Just be casual with me. Being too formal actually makes me uncomfortable. If Senpai doesn't mind, you can just call me Reiji. No need to make it so complicated."
"Hmm, in that case, I will take your suggestion." Hearing the young man say this, Saeko Busujima immediately dropped her previous reserved attitude and slightly lifted her chin toward the student street at the intersection west of the school gate. "Then, just like last time, let's find a place to talk slowly."
"Mhm, let's go."
Although it wasn't the same time, it was the same location. Ten minutes later, inside the familiar coffee shop. Saeko Busujima still ordered a coffee, while Hanakain Reiji switched to an orange juice and a Tiramisu.
The Kendo girl took a sip of coffee and got straight to the point. "Regarding your destruction of Sukuna's finger, Reiji, I reported it to the Sorcerer Association the same day I returned to the College, and the Association gave me their answer this afternoon."
"Ugh, they're not going to make me pay for it, are they?" Hanakain Reiji asked vaguely, biting on the straw.
"Of course not." The Kendo girl couldn't help but smile upon hearing this. "The Association hopes that Reiji will discuss the details face-to-face. It just so happens that next month is the exchange event between the Tokyo and Kyoto sister schools. Principal Gakuganji of the Kyoto Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical College will be coming to the Tokyo Jujutsu Technical College main campus along with the exchange students from Kyoto."
Ah, so that's it. Hanakain Reiji thought to himself. Now I understand. Although Saeko Busujima didn't completely spell it out, the implication was already clear. Frankly, the Sorcerer Association wanted to send the principals of the Tokyo and Kyoto Jujutsu sister schools to talk to him as negotiators.
This in itself was not a problem. The names of Kyoto and Tokyo together were enough to represent more than half of Japan's power structure. It was like how the number one ranked university in Japan is the University of Tokyo, and the second is Kyoto University. It wasn't that Tokyo and Kyoto were inherently abundant in talent, especially Kyoto, which has historically been Japan's Ōma no Chi (Demon-Haunted Land), a strategic location a thousand years ago where all manner of Great Yōkai fought to become the Master of all Spirits and Monsters—the Yin energy there is extremely heavy. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many temples built, as if the place were littered with torches like in MC (Minecraft) to prevent zombies from spawning. It's simply that one is the current capital and the other is the former old capital, giving them a natural political and topographical advantage. In other words, it's not that Tokyo and Kyoto are powerful; it's that the powerful people are deployed to Tokyo and Kyoto. Of Japan's total resources, Tokyo takes four parts, Kyoto takes three, Osaka takes one and a half, and the remaining areas share one and a half. Of course, this is theoretical; in reality, the proportion might be even more exaggerated.
"Hmm, but come to think of it." Hanakain Reiji put down the spoon he was using to eat the Tiramisu and slightly raised an eyebrow. "Since this is such an important occasion, dealing with such important matters, are those individuals from the Big Three families not planning to make an appearance?"
"That... I wouldn't know." Saeko Busujima shook her head hesitantly. Although, theoretically, the principals of the two sister schools in Tokyo and Kyoto were enough to represent half of the Sorcerer Association's power, that was only in theory. Essentially, the Sorcerer Association was still controlled by the Sorcerer Big Three families: Gojō, Kamo, and Zen'in. Compared to them, the two principals are merely representatives pushed to the forefront, like Jim Hacker... No, even less than that. At the very least, if the position of British Prime Minister was determined to get something done, even the Cabinet Secretary would have to comply honestly. But if the two principals were determined to do something, the Sorcerer Big Three families had countless ways to melt and recast the iron. In that case, there was only one answer: the Big Three families were preparing for a loss of sovereignty and face. Just like the episode in Yes, Prime Minister where Britain and France redefine their borders, Jim Hacker initially wanted to negotiate with France himself but was hit by a combination of maneuvers from Humphrey, eventually deciding that if a loss of national prestige was unavoidable, such a thankless task should be left to the Foreign Office. The Big Three families were likely operating under the same notion this time. If they had to lower their heads and lose face in front of the Onmyōji, then let the two principals do the embarrassing job. Although there was essentially no difference, it looked better on the surface.
Since he understood the situation, Hanakain Reiji didn't press the matter further, taking a big bite of cake and agreeing. "Understood, then it's settled."
"Then I will message you in advance to set up the meeting time." The Kendo girl nodded and smiled.
...Meanwhile, in another coffee shop in Tokyo, far from the student street, in an unoccupied, quiet corner.
"So, you think my strength is roughly equivalent to how many of Sukuna's fingers?"
"Hmm, at most, probably around eight or nine fingers."
"Ugh, eight or nine fingers, that should be enough... So, it's agreed. The operation during next month's exchange event will be my responsibility to kill Satoru Gojō. None of you are allowed to interfere. Once it's done, you will give me the Prison Realm. I want it for my collection."
"Mhm, of course, provided you can do it."
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