The next day.
Since the individual matches had been changed into a baseball game, students from both Jujutsu High schools gathered at Tokyo's baseball field.
"Alright. Useless Miwa is ready to go on the field again."
The blue-haired girl wore a baseball uniform and held a custom wooden bat made by Mechamaru. As she put on her cap, she quietly talked to herself while stepping onto the field.
'Maybe I'm not that useless… Yesterday's team battle, I didn't get to fight anyone, but I did help everyone win in the end…'
But in her head, she told herself something different.
She clearly understood her own weakness, yet she didn't let that awareness crush her. That was Kasumi Miwa.
"Miwa, you're not useless. You helped us win the team battle. Keep it up today too."
Mechamaru had been walking behind her for who knows how long. When he suddenly spoke, she flinched without meaning to.
His wooden shell didn't show any expression, but his steady words carried his feelings.
"Thanks, Mechamaru!"
Miwa smiled brightly at him. After pressing her cap down, she ran off proudly to her position.
As for him, it still wasn't his turn yet, so he had to step off the field for now.
But unlike the others, he didn't sit on the shaded benches by the sidelines. Instead, he stood somewhere nearby where the sunlight could reach him.
Basking in the sun, Mechamaru listened quietly as his teammates shouted passionately about the game. He didn't say a word.
"Don't like sitting down?"
Just as he was feeling happy that Miwa had managed to hit the ball, Mukuro appeared from behind with his arms crossed.
"Fushiguro-sensei… I just like the sunlight," Mechamaru turned his head slightly and answered him.
He said he liked sunlight, but he didn't even know if that was true.
His real body was so fragile that even moonlight could burn him. And this real brightness, along with Miwa and everyone at Jujutsu High… it all felt impossibly far away to him.
Something ordinary to others was a luxury to him. Even if it meant doing something unforgivable, he still wanted to reach for it.
All he needed was a binding vow. As long as what he did didn't indirectly hurt anyone, Mechamaru was willing to give everything.
"Yeah? Just don't get heatstroke. When we get the chance, we'll all grab a meal together."
Mukuro didn't say much. He simply patted his shoulder, then walked over and sat with the others to watch the heated game.
"Yo~ heterochromatic bastard~ Wanna swing a bat too? If you won't, Utahime can go instead. Don't worry, I'll go easy on her~"
Tokyo had taken the lead for now.
Satoru stood behind Yuji, trading his blindfold for sunglasses. When he saw Mukuro arrive, he shouted toward the Kyoto side.
He looked exactly like the troublemaker he used to be back in school. Even Nanami behind him couldn't help shaking his head before lifting his newspaper again.
"I swear, this guy… Fushiguro, go! Teach that idiot a lesson!"
Utahime, usually gentle and sweet in everyone's eyes, always snapped after enough of Satoru's shameless jokes. Now her face was red with anger.
She stormed to the rest area behind them, poking Mukuro's shoulder again and again, demanding he punish Satoru for her.
"A kid's game like this. What's the point…"
He complained, but under the students' hopeful stares, Mukuro still stood up and stretched.
Then he took the baseball from Mai, who had been about to go on the field.
"I don't really know how this works… but basically, I just throw it into my teammate's glove, right?"
"Uh… that's close enough. Just make sure that idiot can't hit it!"
Utahime stood behind him, massaging his shoulders like a little assistant helping a fighter loosen up before stepping into the ring.
Her face was full of smug, adorable confidence.
"But… who's going to catch the ball Cousin throws?"
The moment Mai spoke, the atmosphere went quiet. In their imagination, Mukuro was wrapped in dark energy like some demon king.
"It's just baseball. I, Aoi Todo, will catch it and show you!"
Todo stepped forward like a real man, then ripped off his shirt, exposing his huge muscles.
It was only a baseball. He should be able to catch it… right?
"Then let's do it."
Students from both schools took their positions. Satoru finally took the bat from Yuji and stood in front of Todo.
After lightly pushing up his sunglasses, he curled his finger at Mukuro. At the same time, thick cursed energy poured from his bat.
Mukuro didn't respond. He only rolled his right arm a little, the one holding the ball, adjusting his stance.
Boom!
The next moment, he threw.
The baseball spun like a beam of light, tearing through the air. The wind pressure even caused sharp booms, kicking up waves of air around it.
Everyone stared in shock. It looked like a small sideways tornado, charging straight at Satoru at insane speed.
Bang!
The ball slammed into the top of the bat.
Satoru gripped the bat with both hands. Sea-blue cursed energy wrapped around it as he fought back against the spinning force.
This was a clash between pure strength and pure cursed energy.
But it didn't last even a full second.
Less than a second after the impact, the baseball couldn't handle the pressure and exploded like a tiny cannon shell.
"He… crushed it?!"
The students' eyes went wide with disbelief.
"Told you. Not interesting."
Mukuro shook his head and walked off the field.
The result was exactly what he expected. He could have used his ability to create a ball that wouldn't break, but that would be even more boring.
"So it really ends like this…"
Satoru handed the bat back to Yuji and returned the field to the younger students.
This small little clash between two special grade teachers ended in a draw.
"Hehe! Got what you deserved!"
Even without a winner, Utahime covered her mouth and laughed at him anyway.
"They get along pretty well. Are you still worried Yuji and the Death Paintings might cause trouble?"
Masamichi sat nearby, watching the three brothers cheer for Yuji. The baseball field was full of competition, but it still felt warm and lively. He asked calmly.
"Jujutsu society doesn't allow it in principle. But since those two are willing to take responsibility, I'm not going to interfere anymore."
Beside him, Gakuganji answered in a low voice.
"Let the young handle the young. If anyone has to regret it, we adults should regret it first."
The two principals lowered their heads together, looking at the ants below. They were carrying objects far bigger than their bodies, like they were fighting fate together.
"Beep!"
The game ended. Tokyo won.
The overall score between the two schools was one to one. A rare draw.
"Mm, mm."
Suddenly, Gojo hummed to himself and walked past them with his hands in his pockets, stepping right through the ant swarm.
"Ah!"
Both principals cried out at the same time, completely caught up in the moment.
Luckily, Gojo's Infinity was always active. It looked like he had crushed them, but the ants were perfectly unharmed.
"Yaga, go control Gojo already."
After letting out a breath, Gakuganji complained.
"Same to you."
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