"Zenin-sensei, what is going on between those two sisters?" Utahime stared at the monitor, puzzled as Maki and Mai glared each other down like sworn enemies.
"Yeah, old man, I remember those two being super close. Why are they acting like they want each other dead now?" Riko frowned, just as confused. She had practically watched the sisters grow up—inseparable as children, always together, like two halves of the same soul. But as they got older, it was as if they'd turned into rivals.
Jinsuke stroked his chin. "Ah. Must be the troubles of adolescence."
"…Ew. Old man, hearing you say that gave me goosebumps." Riko shuddered, disturbed at a middle-aged man describing teenage emotional drama.
"Zenin-sensei, who do you think will win?" Utahime leaned forward, staring at the violent clash on screen. She knew Mai well — how hard she'd pushed herself, how much resolve she forged growing up in a family like the Zenin. It was admirable.
"Of course my disciple will win. Why is that even a question?"Shinsuke knew Mai's condition. Her Construction Technique was absurdly powerful—anything she created with cursed energy became a real, permanent object. But that blessing came with a curse: the technique devoured cursed energy. Before, Mai could barely create a single bullet per day. Even after fixing some of her defects, she'd still be drained after a few rounds.
Unless Mai's physical combat was on par with Maki's, she was fighting a losing battle.
"Zenin-sensei, don't underestimate Mai. She's really been trying." Utahime spoke warmly in her defense—
CLANG!
On screen, Maki had already closed the distance and sliced Mai's incoming bullet clean in half.
"Mai, that's the seventh round you've fired, right? Your limit is one bullet. You should give up."
Maki still assumed Mai could only construct a single round.
Her revolver was empty. Her conjured bullets should be spent. At this point, Mai should have no means to fight back.
"You're full of yourself, sis. The one losing… is YOU."
BANG!
A glowing blue bullet blasted from Mai's barrel.
"Hm?" Maki froze for a fraction of a second — just enough for the bullet to reach her face.
Of course. She should have known Mai would improve after a whole year. Fine. Second bullet. That had to be her limit.
Maki lifted her arm.
CRACK!
Her hand closed around the cursed bullet, which detonated against her palm. Maki gritted her teeth.
"Tch—guess catching bullets barehanded still hurts."
She flicked away the bullet fragment and shook out her stinging hand.
In the observation room, Riko whistled.
"Damn, she really is your student. That move was exactly like yours."
Jinsuke waved her off. "Calm down. It's just a bullet. It's not like she grabbed a nuclear warhead."
On screen, Maki advanced.
"You've lost."
She flipped the blade to strike with the back, fully intending to smack her sister into the dirt—
BANG!
A third bullet.
"…"
Maki stared.
Mai smirked. "You're being self-important again, dear sister."
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Four more cursed bullets erupted from the muzzle, cutting off every angle of retreat.
Let's see you catch four at once!
"Tch… hiding this from me, huh, little sis?"
But Maki wasn't angry — she was proud. She knew better than anyone how hard Mai had worked. Getting this far meant Mai had pushed herself almost to breaking.
"…Good thing I have a master," Maki whispered.
Her expression sharpened. Veins bulged across her forehead. White steam hissed off her skin. Her blood roared like fire.
Her entire physical ability skyrocketed — senses, strength, speed.
Time around her seemed to slow.
She moved.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Her blade blurred, deflecting all four bullets like swatting flies.
Maki vanished and reappeared at Mai's side. The flat of her blade slammed into Mai's back—
THUD!
Mai flew, rolled across the grass, and came to a stop coughing blood, her nose bleeding.
"Shhhk—"
Maki pointed the blade before her sister, smiling. "Little sis. You lost."
Mai glared up at her, pouting."…Liar."
"…"
Utahime stared, speechless. "What was that? Why did Maki suddenly get so fast?"
Gojo crossed his arms. "Your technique, right? Didn't think something like that could be taught."
He knew Jinsuke didn't rely on cursed energy. His power was something else — something primal, overwhelming.
Gojo leaned closer. "So… can we learn it?"
If sorcerers could master that art, the entire jujutsu world would change.
Jinsuke shrugged. "It's a martial art meant for people born without cursed energy. If you can make yourself produce zero cursed energy, feel free to learn."
"…yeah, never mind." Gojo backed off immediately.
Jinsuke smirked. "Just enjoy the match."
The others turned their attention back to the screens.
The talismans lining the walls — alarm seals — had burned through only two in all this time. That meant most students weren't even focusing on fighting.
But soon—
BOOM!
Every talisman ignited at once, erupting in bright red flame.
ZZZZT—
The monitors glitched and went dark.
"All red… Does that mean we won?!" Gojo threw up his hands in celebration.
"…Or it means intruders exorcised them." Utahime's tone dropped.
"Curses invaded Jujutsu High? Impossible — did the barrier around Master Tengen fail?!"
"Regardless, this is an emergency," Yaga said firmly.
He pointed to the teachers.
"Gojo, Riko, Utahime, Jinsuke, Yoshinobu — you five will enter the battlefield and secure the students. Mei Mei will remain here and guide you using her crows' vision. I'm going to see Master Tengen."