When Jinsuke arrived at Tokyo Jujutsu High, most of the teachers were already present. Even several instructors from Kyoto Jujutsu High had made the trip.
"Well, this is lively. All this fuss for just one special grade?" Jinsuke took his seat, slightly surprised. Special grades were indeed powerful, but was it really necessary to gather so many sorcerers?
"It's not just a special grade curse" Gojo spoke up, his face unusually serious. "This also involves the curse-user organization."
Cursed spirits he could dismiss with a laugh, but if it was tied to his best friend — Geto — then he had no choice but to take things seriously. Even now, he still held hope that Geto could be brought back. If Geto was willing, Gojo could deal with the higher-ups, no matter how much they opposed it.
At that moment, Shoko entered, pushing a wheelchair. Sitting in it, bandaged from head to toe, was Riko.
Riko gave a polite nod to the room full of sorcerers."Sorry to trouble you all with this."
"Old man? You're here too?" Spotting Jinsuke, she froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing. Just days ago she had been freeloading meals at his place… and now she sat wrapped up like a mummy. Embarrassing.
"Tsk, tsk. Looks like you still need more practice. Only a few days apart and you end up like this…"Jinsuke shook his head at her sorry state.
Still, if even a grade one sorcerer like Riko could be beaten down so badly, that meant the special grade spirit had some real skill.
"Cough, cough. Riko, explain the situation to everyone." Yaga cleared his throat, steering the meeting back on track.
Riko nodded and began.
"This mission was in Shibuya. I encountered a curse-user… Suguru Geto. When I arrived at the scene, he was already fighting that special grade curse…"
She recounted her mission. Originally, it was supposed to be a simple exorcism. After finishing that, she sensed a powerful cursed energy nearby. Assuming it was another curse, she decided to deal with it too.
What she saw instead was Geto locked in battle with a cursed spirit. And the fact that even he couldn't immediately defeat it told her its strength was at least special grade.
Since her mission was to eliminate curses anyway, she planned to strike from the shadows — waiting for the right moment while Geto was occupied, and then finishing the spirit off with a decisive blow. The last thing she wanted was for Geto to capture such a monster and use it to fuel his world-destroying cause.
But the plan fell apart instantly. Before she could finish charging her attack, both Geto and the spirit noticed her. The cursed spirit immediately turned its aggression on her, leaving her gravely wounded. If not for Geto's presence, she likely wouldn't have survived.
"To injure Riko this badly… definitely not an ordinary special grade."
"Was it already absorbed by Geto?"
Questions filled the room.
Riko shook her head.
"No. It fled. According to Geto, this spirit isn't like normal special grades. Its power grows with every passing moment. He admitted that, soon, even he might not be able to defeat it."
Her words drew silence over the meeting room. Even though Geto had become an enemy, none here underestimated him. For even him to struggle meant this curse was truly dangerous.
"Growing stronger by the moment, huh…" Jinsuke narrowed his eyes.
"Don't tell me it's one of those natural prodigy types, like Mahito."
A special grade like that could provide him with a tremendous amount of Blood Qi…
"The real issue" Yaga continued, "is that we don't know the curse's current location, nor when or where its next clash with Geto will happen. If it appears in a populated district, the panic and damage would be catastrophic."
That was why so many teachers had been called in. Geto certainly wouldn't care about civilian lives—and cursed spirits, even less so.
"At present, it's highly likely the curse is still in Shibuya. So, your mission is to split into groups and search every corner of the district. Once the curse is found, it must be exorcised."
"Gojo, you'll operate solo. The rest of you — two grade ones per team. If you locate the spirit, do not act immediately. Report first."
The plan was simple: locate the special grade, concentrate everyone's firepower, and wipe it out fast—minimizing the fallout.
Because Geto was involved, there was a high chance of running into his followers as well. That was why every available instructor had been called in.
"I'll head out first. You can take your time." Gojo stood, clapped his hands, and teleported away in an instant—already itching to meet Suguru.
"Such an ill-mannered brat. Doesn't even send his seniors off." Jinsuke rose leisurely, heading outside.
In terms of short-distance speed, he might be able to rival Gojo. But with spatial teleportation? No chance. He'd just take the car at his own pace.
"I'll team up with Mei Mei!" Utahime rushed to Mei Mei's side, clinging to her arm.
That left Atsuya Kusakabe. He glanced at Yaga, about to speak, but Yaga cut him off.
"This time, I won't be participating."
"Eh…? Then… uh— Jinsuke-sensei! Wait up!" With no other option, Kusakabe hurried after Jinsuke.
The truth was, they'd never interacted much. From the outside, Jinsuke looked cool, sure — but also intimidating. Still, what could he do? Better to partner with him than go alone.
Meanwhile, Yaga had already sent multiple grade two sorcerers to assist in Shibuya as backup.
"Jinsuke-sensei, wait for me!" Kusakabe finally caught up to Jinsuke, panting slightly.
"Hmm? Kusakabe-sensei, is something the matter?" Jinsuke turned with a puzzled expression.
He vaguely remembered hearing of this guy—supposedly the strongest among grade ones.
"Didn't you hear Principal Yaga just now? Grade ones move in pairs. You and I are a team." Kusakabe repeated the assignment firmly.
"Oh, I see. My bad. Nice to meet you." Jinsuke chuckled, extending a hand for a shake.
The truth was, he hadn't been paying attention at all. His thoughts had been elsewhere — specifically, on how he was going to snatch this cursed spirit's fate from under everyone else's noses. After all, with his unique existence as a "special grade–equivalent" his position basically matched a grade one.
"Uh… y-yeah. Nice to meet you too!" Kusakabe quickly shook his hand, still taken aback by the man's casual demeanor.
"Let's get moving, then."
"Y-Yes, let's."
Maybe Jinsuke wasn't as hard to get along with as he looked. Still… something about him made Kusakabe strangely nervous.