Inside the first-year classroom at Tokyo Jujutsu High, Megumi Fushiguro sat by the window, staring blankly at the sky.
Compared to Noritoshi Kamo, Megumi had merely exhausted a large portion of his Cursed Energy. Physically, he was unharmed.
Tokyo Jujutsu High originally had no third-years. Now, after the Exchange Event with Kyoto Jujutsu High, the second-years had been completely wiped out.
The impact of this was no less than when he was forced to personally finish off the cursed Ijichi.
Megumi could not help but wonder, in a world where even the strongest sorcerer, Gojo sensei, could not prevent tragedy, was it truly possible for him to create a future where Tsumiki could live happily?
Nobara Kugisaki seemed slightly less affected. Unlike Megumi, she had only known the second-years for a short time.
Moreover, during the Exchange Event, Nobara had mostly been wandering around and had not directly experienced intense combat. She had only learned of the full situation afterward, which left everything feeling strangely unreal.
Out of boredom, she scrolled through posts on X and suddenly saw one about a potential eruption of Mount Fuji.
"It says here that Mount Fuji might erupt. If something like that happens, do you think all that panic would create powerful Cursed Spirits?"
"Mount Fuji? Definitely. The scale alone would generate enormous fear," Megumi replied absentmindedly.
Nobara shifted into a more comfortable position and continued.
"If something like that happened and Gojo sensei stepped in, do you think he could stop it?"
"I do not know whether he could stop Mount Fuji from erupting. But if he did, it would not just be Japan that learned about Jujutsu Sorcerers. The whole world would find out. The Higher-Ups would never allow that. It is written clearly in the regulations regarding the duties of sorcerers," Megumi answered helplessly.
Nobara wore an expression of disdain. They were only casually speculating about Gojo's abilities, so why analyze the political consequences so seriously? Unfortunately, Megumi did not notice her look.
She sighed.
"I know. A Jujutsu Sorcerer's duty is to prevent Cursed Spirits, Cursed Objects, and jujutsu incidents from causing disasters, and to maintain social stability. But if Mount Fuji erupts, countless people will die. Knowing that it will lead to massive casualties and produce more curses, yet still being forced to let it happen, sorcerers really are twisted."
"Yes. Sorcerers are twisted," Megumi agreed quietly.
At that moment, a stranger entered the classroom.
The man had white hair and was drinking from a gourd. His flushed face made it obvious that it contained sake.
"It smells awful," Nobara complained, pinching her nose. "Hey, old man, you got the wrong classroom."
Hearing her, Megumi turned and immediately recognized the man.
It was Naobito Zenin, head of the Zenin Family, whom he had met before.
"You are..."
Naobito's gaze landed on Megumi. He let out a drunken hiccup and muttered.
"So you are still alive. Talent really does make the difference."
Before coming here, Naobito had stopped by the morgue to see Maki.
Although he was in his seventies, only slightly younger than Gakuganji, he was far more composed than the irritable former principal.
He had stood silently for a long time before leaving without a word. There had been no dramatic outburst, only a quiet desire to drink.
Normally, even if he thought something like that about Megumi, he would not say it aloud. But today, the alcohol loosened his restraint.
"Fushiguro, do you know this old guy?" Nobara asked.
Before she could press further, Satoru Gojo pushed Yuji Itadori into the classroom.
"Sorry I am late," Gojo said cheerfully.
"Itadori? Was he not supposed to be confined and forbidden from leaving?" Nobara asked in confusion.
"That was before. Not anymore. From now on, Itadori will go on missions with you. And the current head of the Zenin Family, one of the Big Three Families, the fastest Grade 1 sorcerer, Naobito, will temporarily accompany you as well."
Gojo spoke in an exaggerated, playful tone, even gesturing dramatically toward Naobito as if nothing had happened, as if the Exchange Event had never ended in tragedy.
Naobito ignored him and calmly took another drink.
He was human, after all. And even Gojo maintained circles of closeness and distance in his heart.
Arranging for Naobito to temporarily lead Megumi and the others was a deliberate decision.
Naobito possessed the highest speed among Grade 1 sorcerers. Even if they encountered an opponent they could not defeat, they would at least have time to respond.
With Megumi's Ten Shadows Technique, they could secure enough time to notify Gojo.
Only now did Nobara fully realize Naobito's identity. She still found it difficult to believe that this drunken old man was the head of one of the Big Three Families.
"Megumi, since you know him, have a proper conversation. I am busy today, so I will leave you to it."
As soon as Gojo finished speaking, he disappeared without a trace.
The scene shifted.
Kento Nanami stood before the bodies of the Kyoto group.
His gaze passed over Panda's shattered form, Toge Inumaki's decapitated body with his tongue torn out, and finally Maki, whose head was no longer intact.
Nanami's fists clenched tightly. His body trembled faintly.
His thoughts returned to two hours earlier, when he had received a phone call from Gojo.
"Who is this?"
"That is definitely Hakari's voice. Mei Mei is as efficient as ever," Gojo's voice sounded from the other end.
Hearing Mei Mei's name and recognizing Gojo's voice, Hakari quickly understood the situation.
Since he ran an underground gambling establishment, he naturally had dealings with the money obsessed Mei Mei. Gojo must have obtained his contact information from her.
" Hakari did not hate Satoru Gojo. But he had once harbored resentment over how Gojo handled the incident with the Higher-Ups.
Later, however, he had reflected on it. They had not been entirely in the right.
Gojo had done what he could to mediate. As someone who had once protected them, Gojo was still someone Nanami trusted.
He simply was not the type to express such feelings openly. On the surface, their relationship remained restrained.
Gojo spoke directly.
"It is me. I am calling because I want you to return to Jujutsu High."
Before Gojo could finish, Hakari refused.
"I have no intention of returning. My career after leaving the jujutsu world is going well."
"I understand," Gojo replied calmly. "However, if you are free, come back to Jujutsu High today."
Gojo had clearly anticipated this answer. After getting Hakari's number from Mei Mei, he had naturally learned about his current situation. Having known him for years, he understood Nanami's temperament.
Hakari, however, found Gojo's reaction strange. If persuading him to return was not the main point, then what was?
"Why should I return?"
"To see Inumaki, Panda, and Maki one last time."
"What did you just say?"
...
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