"Jujutsu Goodwill Event?"
Yuji Itadori scratched his head, looking bewildered. "What the heck is that?"
Megumi and Nobara simultaneously covered their faces with their hands, sighing in unison.
Maki stepped forward to explain. "To put it simply, it's a friendly competitive match between the two Jujutsu colleges—Tokyo and Kyoto."
"Oh! That sounds intense!"
"Don't sweat it. Tokyo has a history of crushing them."
"Who won the last one?" Yuji asked innocently.
At the question, Maki, Panda, and Toge shared a weary, synchronized sigh.
"Last year," Maki muttered, "Yuta Okkotsu participated alone. It was a total, humiliating landslide."
Yuji's eyes widened. "Oh! The Special Grade guy! But... isn't that kind of bullying?"
Megumi nodded. "That's why they changed the rules. Anyone ranked Special Grade, even if they're technically a student, is banned from participating." He shrugged. "To be honest, I'm actually jealous of Nanako, Mimiko, and Riku. Master Geto headed to Hokkaido to suppress the curse surge and took them along for the ride."
"I'd take real field experience over a school tournament any day," Megumi added.
"BEST FRIEEEEEND!!!"
A boisterous, earth-shaking voice cut through their conversation. Yuji turned, his face lighting up. "Todo!"
The two sprinted toward each other, their right hands meeting in a mid-air grip that sounded like a gunshot. They locked arms in a fierce, theatrical display of camaraderie.
"Brother! It's been too long!"
"Indeed, my soul-brother! How was that Jennifer Lawrence photobook I sent you?"
"Top-tier! Exquisite! As expected, only your taste truly resonates with my own!"
The rest of the group watched the display of "bro-mance" with varying expressions of secondhand embarrassment and flat-out judgment.
"Maki."
The cold, familiar voice drew Maki's gaze. Mai Zenin stood a few paces away, her eyes fixed on her sister with a mask of bitter mockery.
"Mai." Maki stared back, her expression a calm, unmoving pond.
Mai let out a sharp, derisive snort. "A mere Grade 4 sorcerer. Even if you used your teacher's connections to play captain of a squad for some 'polish,' a failure is still a failure."
Maki's promotion to Grade 1 was still winding its way through the bureaucratic machine; on paper, she was still the lowest rank. However, Maki offered no defense. Perhaps it was the time spent around someone as sharp as Souma Gojo, but Maki saw things differently now.
In the past, she only saw Mai's hatred. Now, peering through the cracks of that mask of spite, Maki saw nothing but a fragile, lonely little girl.
"What is that look in your eyes?" Mai snapped, her irritation flaring. Before she could continue her tirade, Nobara interjected.
"You know, at first glance, I thought you two looked alike."
"Hah?"
Nobara flashed a smirk that was pure provocation. "But looking closer, Maki-senpai is way prettier. What's up with your skin? Not getting enough beauty sleep?"
"..."
Mai's jaw tightened. The barb had hit home. "You brat... I'll make sure to settle your tab first during the event!"
"I'd love to see you try, you old hag!"
The two girls lunged at each other, grabbing collars, their foreheads pressed together as veins throbbed in their temples.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
The group froze, staring at the sudden appearance of Souma Gojo.
"Souma... Souma-sensei? Why are you here?"
Souma was squatting on the ground, holding a large slice of chilled watermelon, watching Nobara and Mai with genuine, unbridled interest.
"Never mind that! Why aren't you throwing punches yet? I want to see a brawl! Fight!"
Nobara and Mai's eyes twitched in unison. With a huff, they released each other and turned away.
"Eh? That's it?" Souma looked genuinely heartbroken. "Boring! I wanted to see blood in the streets!"
"..."
Maki rubbed her temples. "Souma-sensei, you're a senior staff member of the college. Could you please try to be a better influence?"
"Ahaha~ Daijoubu! They're just a bunch of problem children. Satoru, Suguru, Shoko, and I were exactly like this back in the day." He pointed a watermelon rind at Mai. "For bratty kids like this who act tough but are soft on the inside, a good scrap is the best medicine."
Mai felt as though her internal armor had been pierced. Her face flushed a deep crimson. "Shut up!" She turned on her heel and fled the scene.
"Sigh..." Maki watched her sister go. It seemed she would need to have a serious talk with her during the competition.
Todo suddenly walked up to Souma. "Souma-sensei, there's something I need to tell you..."
"About the higher-ups trying to assassinate Yuji?"
Todo blinked, then scratched his head with a resigned laugh. "So you already knew. Well, never mind then!"
Souma adjusted his sunglasses, his smile turning sharp. "Those old fossils really can't stay still, can they? I think I'll go give them a heart attack."
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Souma vanished.
Jujutsu High Conference Room
SLAM!
Gakuganji and Masamichi Yaga stared at the door, which Satoru Gojo had just kicked off its hinges.
"Yo! Old man! I heard you're planning to use my Goodwill Event as a cover to assassinate my student, Yuji? I'm here to see how that's going!"
Gakuganji's eye twitched, but he was far too seasoned to admit to anything.
Souma followed Satoru into the room. The two brothers promptly sprawled onto the sofa, throwing their legs up onto the coffee table with absolute, kingly arrogance.
Gakuganji looked at Yaga. His eyes screamed: Is this the result of your "education"?
Yaga looked pained, but his priority was the threat to his student. "Principal Gakuganji, is it true? Is there a plot against Itadori?"
Gakuganji gave no answer—neither a confirmation nor a denial. Instead, he offered a defensive deflection. "The event is monitored by cameras the entire time. An assassination attempt would be impossible."
Souma let out a mysterious chuckle. "Unless, of course, a Cursed Spirit was placed in the arena ahead of time?"
Gakuganji's face tightened. How? Did he guess, or was there a leak?
"But that's not important!" Souma stated suddenly. "Go ahead and try to kill him. We won't interfere."
"Eh?" Satoru looked at his brother, surprised.
Souma's voice remained calm. "Satoru, have faith in your student. However... the higher-ups still owe me an 'explanation' for this little stunt."
Gakuganji tapped his cane on the floor. "What do you want?"
Souma smiled. "The Cursed Womb: Death Paintings."
Shortly after, Souma and Satoru walked out of the meeting.
"Go-Go-Go... Gojo-sensei!"
Miwa Kasumi was standing by the door, looking like she had just seen her favorite pop idol. She was trembling so much she could barely form words.
Satoru gave a casual wave. "Yo! Miwa, right?"
"Satoru Gojo-sensei! And Souma Gojo-sensei! Could I—would it be okay to get a photo?"
The two brothers nodded. Click!
Miwa clutched her phone, a look of pure, fangirl bliss on her face. "I got it! I actually got it! Thank you so much!"
"No problem!" Satoru chirped, sauntering off.
Souma lingered for a moment. He looked at the starstruck Miwa, then reached out and rapped her over the head twice with his knuckles. Bonk! Bonk!
"Ow, ow, ow... Souma-sensei?"
"Stupid."
"A-le?"
"Following Satoru and me like we're some kind of boy band... it's just bandwagoning. Have some self-respect, you silly student."
Miwa froze, scratching her head awkwardly. "I just felt like... if I didn't, I wouldn't fit in."
"You have talent. Not just anyone can master New Shadow Style in a year or two. Sometimes, a genius shouldn't care so much about what others think."
Souma turned to follow his brother, stuffing one hand in his pocket and waving the other casually over his shoulder.
"I know about your family situation. I've already put in the paperwork for your financial aid. Just focus on becoming a Grade 1 sorcerer. I've got high hopes for you."
Miwa stared at Souma's retreating back, stunned. After a long moment, she bowed deeply, her voice echoing down the hall. "Thank you! Thank you, Souma Gojo-sensei!"
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