"Did he get away?" Suguru Geto, slumped in the corner, asked as soon as he saw Sōjun Minamoto return.
Sōjun Minamoto nodded, then shook his head. "Want me to heal you?"
Geto relaxed completely. At those words, he seemed to remember something and quickly shook his head.
Sōjun didn't mind and walked over to the Curtain...
From the inside, you couldn't see anything beyond it.
When the Curtain was lifted, Riko Amanai was sitting on the ground hugging her knees, chin tucked down like a frightened little animal.
The moment she heard movement, she jerked her head up—only to see a pale, naked man in a bone-white mask.
Still, the familiar clothing style gave him away.
She lit up, jumped to her feet, and threw her arms around him.
The chaos outside had terrified her. With no way to see what was happening, and no one coming to reassure her, she had been overwhelmed with anxiety. If anyone got hurt because of her… she couldn't forgive herself.
Riko let go of Sōjun, then spotted Geto slumped in the corner. Her expression immediately twisted.
Geto pushed his bangs back and gave her a smile. "I'm fine."
Footsteps echoed from the walkway.
Satoru Gojo and Misato Kuroi arrived in a hurry.
Sōjun released the flesh armor. A bit of Cursed Energy returned. His muscles softened, the mask dissolved—but his skin was still deathly pale, and his entire body ached.
Everyone exchanged glances. Then someone burst out laughing.
Everyone looked wrecked—except Riko—but they were all alive.
That was something worth celebrating.
"Did he get away?" Gojo suddenly asked.
Who could say?
"With any luck, he's dead," Sōjun replied.
Toji Fushiguro had his head halfway severed and his left arm torn off. Sōjun's attacks struck the soul directly. If the guy survived, Sōjun figured his luck must be downright cursed.
"No worries. I'll handle the rest," Gojo said brightly, eyes gleaming.
Geto stared at him for a moment, taking in the blood splattered all over, especially the deep gash on his neck. "I really thought you were dead."
"I was! Kind of!" Gojo grinned wildly, riding a post-battle high. "When my throat got pierced, I stopped fighting and focused all my nerves on the Reverse Cursed Technique."
He looked over at Sōjun.
"Cursed Energy is negative. It can strengthen the body, but not heal it. But if you multiply two negatives, you get a positive. That's Reverse Cursed Technique."
He laughed even louder.
"I'm pumped! This was my first time pulling it off. At the brink of death, I finally grasped the essence of Cursed Energy!"
Gojo looked like he'd shed all earthly burdens. His feet floated off the ground, arms spreading wide as he hovered midair.
"Man, the world feels unreal right now. It's like—"
"Throughout Heaven and Earth, I alone am the honored one," huh?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"Let's go. It's contagious," Geto muttered to the others.
Sōjun helped him up, and the group made their way toward the surface.
As they neared the exit, Sōjun suddenly paused.
"What is it?" someone asked.
He shook his head and continued walking into the night with the others.
Above, a full moon hung in the sky, stars scattered beside it, and moonlight bathed the earth in silver.
Tomorrow's weather would be great, he thought.
A voice had just asked him—can we meet?
...
The group headed toward Masamichi Yaga.
If you asked who the most trustworthy person at Jujutsu High was, everyone would agree—it was Yaga.
Tengen hadn't stopped Riko Amanai from leaving, but that didn't mean the higher-ups wouldn't take action. Today was the optimal assimilation date, but not the last. She was still in danger.
Sōjun got in touch with Shiko Mishima. As a stationed internal sorcerer, she could help them out.
Along the way, they encountered a few low-grade Cursed Spirits—mostly Fly Heads.
The one nesting on Sōjun's head seemed hyperactive, diving at every one of its kind it spotted, gnawing at them with unrestrained excitement.
Sōjun raised an eyebrow but didn't stop it.
Despite a few tense moments, they made it through safely and delivered Riko Amanai to Masamichi Yaga.
They gathered in a circle. Only Shiko Mishima and Misato Kuroi stood—one behind Sōjun, the other behind Riko.
Riko fiddled with Gojo's sunglasses, giggling as she glanced smugly around. When no one paid attention, she turned to Misato instead.
"..."
"So you brought her to me?" Yaga sighed, rubbing his forehead.
He'd been locked in a battle of wits with enemies in the shadows and was finally about to corner them—only for his beloved students to show up with a whole new problem. He could already picture his dying opponent suddenly rallying and dropkicking him into the dirt.
"Hmm..." Yaga thought for a moment. "Right now, Jujutsu High is dangerous for her, but outside, the Star Religious Group is watching like vultures…"
"…So the most dangerous place is the safest. At least here, we can keep an eye on her and act fast if anything happens. Riko and Kuroi will stay at the school for now."
"As for where they'll stay?"
Everyone looked at Sōjun.
He was still watching the Fly Heads closely, tracking subtle changes. When the room went quiet, he looked up to find everyone staring at him.
"?"
"Technically, we're all official Jujutsu High personnel. You're the only external hire. Doesn't your badge say 'temp'?" Yaga asked matter-of-factly.
"No thanks. Kids are a pain," Sōjun refused flatly, making Riko grit her teeth in frustration.
He turned to Shiko Mishima, tilting his head up. "Can she stay at your place for now?"
Shiko looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "Sure."
"There's still the Star Religious Group to deal with, and we need to confirm what's going on with Toji Fushiguro…"
Sōjun had his own plans. He also needed to meet with Tengen—an appointment of sorts.
In a way, it was a trade.
"I'll take care of Toji Fushiguro," Gojo said, cracking his knuckles.
"I'll handle the Star Religious Group," Sōjun added with a grin. "And Geto, you stay put and recover, alright?"
He laid out the plan. No one objected—though Geto looked like he wanted to say something but held back.
"Then it's settled." Sōjun clapped his hands lightly, then turned to Riko Amanai.
"When this is all over—"
"Riko, welcome to your new life."
...
The Cursed Spirits in Jujutsu High were finally cleared out.
Gojo stepped out for a bit. When he came back, he gathered everyone together.
"You what? You adopted a kid?" Geto said, stunned.
"You've got a kid out there?" The girls stared at him like he was scum.
"You found your long-lost biological child?" Sōjun jumped in, playing along.
"…"
"When I found Toji Fushiguro, he was half-dead and asked me to finish him off," Gojo said, holding out his hand. "I figured he didn't have long, so I asked if he had any last words."
"He just said, 'No... In two or three years, my son's gonna be sold to the Zenin Clan. Do whatever you want with him.' So I said I'd take care of the kid for now."
"…"
"Oh, right." Gojo walked over to Geto, pulled something out dramatically. "This is for you."
It was a half-destroyed Cursed Spirit in the shape of a bloated human face.
The spirit looked at Geto with a pitiful, affectionate expression, murmuring softly—
"Mom…?"