At the Yukinoshita family estate, late at night...
Normally, Yukino lived alone in a rented apartment away from her family home. Returning here was rare and hardly something she looked forward to.
But tonight, she had received an unexpected message from her mother, asking her to come back immediately. Her first instinct was to refuse, she'd rather use the time to continue training alone. Frankly, despite being related by blood, Yukino felt little affection for her mother. It was precisely this strained relationship that had driven her to live independently.
However, her mother had claimed that it was a matter of life and death for the family. With no other choice, Yukino returned home.
As she entered, the first person she ran into was her older sister, Haruno, who had just arrived as well.
"Yukino!" Haruno called out, waving. She looked tired likely from handling the company's affairs recently but her exhaustion faded the moment she saw her sister.
"Hm," Yukino responded quietly. Among her family members, her sister was the only one she felt any real attachment to.
In the past, Yukino had complicated feelings towards Haruno: part admiration, part jealousy. She had always wanted to surpass her sister. Now, as a sorcerer, she had finally gained abilities that set her apart. But strangely, that sense of accomplishment she once craved wasn't there anymore.
Maybe we're just on different paths now, Yukino thought, shaking her head to dispel these thoughts.
"What's on your mind?" Haruno asked, noticing the change in her sister's demeanor. She had always been sharp, and it seemed to her that Yukino was acting… different.
"Nothing," Yukino replied, brushing it off. Her gaze shifted to the Yukinoshita family mansion. "Did… someone in the family pass away?"
The mansion had been decorated in a way that suggested mourning, something Yukino hadn't expected.
"I don't know either," Haruno replied with a frown. "I've been buried in work at the company lately, practically living there." She sighed, her expression momentarily softening as she thought of Ryuji. "I haven't even had time to see Ryuji…"
Yukino glanced at her sister with sympathy. "You should take a break, sister," she said quietly. "If you ever need help with anything, you can come to me."
Haruno's eyes widened slightly. Yukino offering to help? In the past, such words would never have come from her sister. Yukino had always been stubbornly independent.
"It's not an illusion," Haruno mused, smiling. "You really do seem different, Yukino."
"People grow up," Yukino replied, her voice steady and mature. Haruno had initially intended to tease her, but seeing the composed look on Yukino's face, she held back.
"Growing up suits you, but I miss the Yukino who'd get flustered whenever I teased her," Haruno sighed. "What happened to the little sister who'd panic at my jokes?"
Yukino allowed herself a small smile. "Maybe it's my turn to tease you now, sister."
"Tsk! Go ahead and try, then!" Haruno challenged, grinning. No matter how much Yukino had changed, she was still her beloved little sister.
The two walked side by side into the ancestral house, exchanging playful words. Soon, they found their mother, Fumino Yukinoshita, kneeling in the hall, dressed in mourning attire.
"What's going on?" Haruno asked, her voice serious as she and Yukino shared a wary look.
Fumino met their eyes, her expression stoic. "As you can see, your father has passed away."
Both sisters froze, momentarily speechless. Of all the things they'd expected, this was not one of them. Their father had always been a quiet, almost invisible presence in the household. He was a man who had married into the Yukinoshita family and, due to Fumino's dominant personality, often seemed more like a shadow than a head of the family. Yet, despite their lack of a close bond with him, the news of his death was still shocking.
"What… happened?" Yukino asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Fumino didn't respond immediately. Instead, she gestured to a maid, who soon returned carrying a laptop. She placed it in front of the sisters, who exchanged a puzzled glance before focusing on the screen.
A surveillance video began to play. In the video, they could see their father alone in one of the rooms, drinking. Then, out of the shadows, several twisted, hunched figures emerged—cursed spirits, their grotesque forms barely humanoid.
Their father looked terrified, but being an ordinary man, he had no means of escape or defense. Within seconds, the cursed spirits closed in on him, and the screen went dark.
"Those were cursed spirits…" Yukino whispered, horror spreading across her face.
"I think you can understand now why I called you both back," Fumino said, closing the laptop. "The existence of cursed spirits and sorcerers is becoming widely known. Some families have already started hiring sorcerers for protection."
Haruno frowned, piecing together her mother's intentions. "You want us to…?"
"Yukino. Haruno," Fumino continued, her voice cold and direct. "This is about the survival of our family. Haruno, I believe you know what you need to do."
Haruno clenched her fists. She understood what her mother was implying, that she should use her relationship with Ryuji to secure his protection for the family.
In the past, Haruno had always obeyed her mother's orders, but this time she hesitated. Her feelings for Ryuji were genuine, and she didn't want her relationship with him to become tainted by her family's expectations.
"I'm with Ryuji because I chose to be, not because of the family," Haruno said firmly.
Fumino's expression darkened. "Do you understand what you're saying, Haruno?"
"Yes, I do." Haruno's voice was unwavering as she looked her mother in the eyes, defiant for the first time. She wasn't willing to sacrifice her feelings for the sake of family obligations.
Yukino, watching her sister stand up to their mother, felt a swell of admiration. She's amazing, she thought, allowing a small smile to form.
But Fumino's attention soon shifted to her younger daughter. "Yukino, you've grown up, but now it's time for you to repay the Yukinoshita family. Times have changed, and we need strength more than ever."
In the past, Fumino had been content to let Yukino live independently, with plans to bring her back into the family fold once she graduated college. But the rise of cursed spirits had shaken her sense of security, and now, she wasn't willing to wait.
Haruno immediately intervened. "Mother, Yukino is still young, and she needs to focus on school. If anyone has to take on this responsibility, it should be me."
But before Haruno could continue, Yukino gently placed a hand on her sister's arm, stopping her.
"Yukino?" Haruno looked at her, concerned.
"Thank you, sister," Yukino said softly. "But neither of us needs to make a sacrifice."
Haruno's eyes widened. She'd noticed that Yukino seemed different tonight, but she hadn't realized just how much she had changed.
Meanwhile, Fumino frowned, sensing a hint of rebellion. "Yukino, do you even know what you're saying?"
"Yes, I do." Yukino's expression was calm but resolute. "Neither I nor Haruno need to give up anything for this family."
"What do you mean?" Fumino demanded, anger simmering beneath her cool exterior.
"If it comes to that," Yukino said confidently, "we don't have to stay with the Yukinoshita family."
The weight of her words hung heavily in the air. Haruno's surprise turned into a proud smile, her little sister was standing up for herself in a way she never had before.
Before Fumino could respond, her expression shifted to one of horror. Her gaze was fixed on the shadows around the room, where twisted, hunched figures had begun to materialize.
Yukino and Haruno turned, their eyes widening as they recognized the cursed spirits from the surveillance video, the same spirits that had killed their father.
"Haruno!" Fumino's voice was filled with panic as she turned to her eldest daughter. "Call Ryuji! Now!"
Haruno's heart sank. She hadn't anticipated something like this. "I… I left my phone at the office. I rushed over so quickly, I didn't bring it with me!"
The cursed spirits continued to close in, their distorted forms casting long shadows across the floor.
Yukino clenched her fists, feeling the weight of her newfound power surge within her. It's time to put my training to the test.
With a calm but determined look, she stepped forward, positioning herself between her family and the advancing cursed spirits.
"Yukino, no!" Haruno reached out, but Yukino shook her head.
"It's okay, sister," Yukino said firmly, her eyes sharp and unwavering. "I'm not the same person I used to be."
Yukino stood calmly, assessing the cursed spirits around her, while her mother and sister looked on in shock.
"Grade 4 cursed spirits?" Yukino murmured. Thanks to her training with the Service Club members and the guidance of Ryuji and the Hasaba sisters, she could now recognize cursed spirits and their classifications. Grade 4 cursed spirits were the lowest rank under normal circumstances, an average adult could beat them with a sturdy stick. But there were simply too many of them here.
"Yukino!" Haruno shouted as she saw the cursed spirits rush towards her sister, assuming Yukino was frozen in fear.
But the next moment, Yukino moved with precision and strength, her leg snapping out in a powerful kick that sent the nearest cursed spirit flying. Enhanced by her cursed energy, her physical abilities were far beyond those of a regular person.
"Yukino... what are you doing?" Haruno's voice trembled with both amazement and confusion. She hadn't expected her younger sister to handle herself so well against these monstrous apparitions.
Ignoring the stunned looks from her sister and mother, Yukino called out, her voice sharp and clear. "I know you're here. Show yourself."
In the surveillance footage earlier, it was clear that someone was controlling these cursed spirits. If they'd come here tonight, it was likely their handler was nearby as well.
After a few moments of silence, a slow, mocking applause echoed through the courtyard. An old man with a haggard face and shrewd eyes emerged from the shadows, hunched and unassuming—yet his gaze was cold and calculating.
"Well, well," he sneered. "The second daughter of the Yukinoshita family is a sorcerer. Quite the surprise."
Yukino's eyes narrowed. "You're not here just to kill my father, are you? This is about taking down the entire Yukinoshita family."
The old man chuckled, making no attempt to deny it. "Clever girl. Saves me the trouble of explaining. Yes, someone paid handsomely for your entire family's lives. And I simply couldn't refuse."
"Who sent you?" Yukinoshita Fumino demanded, anger simmering beneath her composed exterior.
The old man shrugged. "Apologies, madam. Professional ethics." His smirk widened. "In this day and age, with so many cursed spirits around, sorcerers are too busy to pay attention to us curse users. We can operate however we like."
Yukino realized what he was. He wasn't a true sorcerer, but a "curse user"—someone who used curses for personal gain, often to commit crimes. And judging by his words, he thrived on the recent chaos.
After surveying the scene, his gaze settled on Yukino. She was the only sorcerer here, and the only real threat. "For a sorcerer, there's always a price," he muttered, almost to himself.
The old man wasn't strong; his power barely reached Grade 3. But against ordinary people, that was more than enough.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he said with mock politeness. "My technique allows me to control weaker cursed spirits, though only a limited number of them at once." He gestured to the Grade 4 spirits surrounding him. "But thanks to the binding vow of explaining my technique, their strength will increase."
As soon as he finished speaking, the cursed spirits around him began to grow larger and more menacing, swelling from Grade 4 to Grade 3.
"Attack!" he commanded, sending the spirits charging toward Yukino.
"Yukino!" Fumino and Haruno both shouted, terrified. But Yukino stood her ground, calm and focused.
She clasped her hands together, summoning a chill in the air. Frost began to gather around her fingertips.
"Ice Convergence: Frost."
With a controlled exhale, she unleashed a frigid wind that swept over the cursed spirits, freezing each one in place. They stood immobilized, turned into ice sculptures.
The old man's smug expression vanished, replaced by shock.
"Run!" he stammered, attempting to flee. But Yukino wasn't about to let him escape. She knew if he got away, tracking him down later would be nearly impossible.
Despite her exhaustion, she pushed through the fatigue, channeling cursed energy into her hand to form an ice-covered fist. She struck him as he turned, her icy punch landing squarely on his back.
The old man collapsed, his eyes wide as he slipped into unconsciousness, his mind flashing back to long-buried memories—a phenomenon known as the "revolving lantern," a final vision before death.
With a deep breath, Yukino straightened, the ice around her dissolving. The frozen cursed spirits shattered into pieces, vanishing one by one.
In the silence that followed, Fumino and Haruno stared, too stunned to speak. They could hardly believe that Yukino, their quiet, restrained Yukino, had handled the entire ordeal alone.
"Yukino... you..." Haruno stammered, her usual confidence shaken.
Yukino managed a tired smile. "As you can see, sister, I'm not the same as I used to be. I've changed, and from now on, I'll live life on my own terms."
Fumino's initial reaction was relief, if her daughter had such power, then the Yukinoshita family's future was secure. But as she listened to Yukino's words, her satisfaction quickly turned to shock.
"Yukino, what are you talking about? Don't forget, it was this family that raised you!"
Yukino's eyes hardened. "And I just saved all of you, didn't I?"
"You…!" Fumino was momentarily speechless, thrown off by Yukino's sudden defiance.
"I'm not abandoning the Yukinoshita family," Yukino continued, her voice calm but resolute. "If the family needs me, I'll help. But if you expect me to sacrifice myself for your ambitions, or force Haruno to do the same, then you're wasting your time."
"Yukino!" Fumino's voice held a mix of anger and disbelief. She wasn't used to being defied by either of her daughters.
"I'm not a puppet, Mother. I have my own life to lead," Yukino said, turning her gaze toward Haruno, who looked at her with pride.
Without waiting for her mother's response, Yukino turned and walked away from the house. She felt an overwhelming sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. In her mind, she thanked Ryuji. Without him, she might never have found the courage to break free.
"Yukino! Yukino!" Fumino called after her, desperation creeping into her voice. But Yukino didn't look back.
Behind her, Haruno watched with a smile. For the first time, she felt no need to worry about her younger sister. Yukino could handle herself just fine.
"Is this amusing to you?" Fumino snapped, glaring at her eldest daughter.
Haruno met her mother's gaze with a calm smile. "It is, actually. Yukino's grown up, and she deserves to live her own life."
Fumino bristled. Haruno had always been the dutiful daughter, the one she could rely on. But now, even she was slipping from her grasp.
Haruno shrugged. "I'll still handle some responsibilities at the company, but from now on, I'll be taking more time for myself. It's long overdue."
Fumino's face twisted with frustration, but she said nothing as Haruno turned to leave. Her daughters were slipping away, each of them determined to carve out their own path.
Once alone, Fumino sat down in silence, a bitter realization settling over her. Somewhere along the way, she had lost her daughters. They no longer looked to her for guidance, and she had no one to blame but herself.
Late at night, there was a soft knock on Ryuji's door.
Surprised, he got up and opened it to find Yukino standing there, looking a little weary but determined.
"Yukino?" Ryuji asked, raising an eyebrow. "What brings you here at this hour?"
Before he could say anything else, Yukino stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.
"Thank you… thank you so much," she whispered.
Ryuji was now fully awake, his surprise turning to curiosity. "So, what happened?" he asked gently, noting the faint depletion in her cursed energy. It was clear she had gone through something intense.
Taking a breath, Yukino recounted everything that had happened with her family, the curse user, the attack, and the confrontation with her mother. She told him how she finally stood up to her family's expectations, finding the courage she hadn't known she had.
"So it was a curse user, huh?" Ryuji nodded thoughtfully as she finished. He wasn't surprised. The surge in cursed energy around the world meant that sorcerers and curse users alike were becoming more active. He was grateful that Yukino had learned enough to protect herself and her family.
"Looks like I was right to teach you all how to handle yourselves. I can't be everywhere at once," he murmured, half to himself. A fleeting idea crossed his mind, maybe he should just buy a huge place where all of them could live together. It would certainly make things easier.
"Ryuji?" Yukino's soft voice brought him back to the moment. She looked up at him with a warmth and trust that made his heart skip.
"What is it?" he asked, smiling as he met her gaze.
"I just wanted to say… I wouldn't have been able to stand up to my family without you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had the courage," she said, her voice quiet but sincere.
Ryuji chuckled, brushing a stray hair from her face. "You give me too much credit. You put in the effort, Yukino. You've been working hard to build your strength, and that's what helped you tonight."
She didn't argue, just leaned into him with a sigh of contentment. "I don't want to leave tonight," she whispered.
A grin spread across Ryuji's face. "Well, it's a bit late to be saying that, don't you think? You're already here."
With that, he lifted her gently, and Yukino let herself relax completely, holding him with trust and affection.
---
The next morning, Yukino was up early, preparing breakfast in Ryuji's kitchen with surprising energy. She looked perfectly calm and composed, even as Nanako and Mimiko walked in, rubbing their eyes sleepily.
They both froze at the sight of Yukino bustling around, and then exchanged knowing looks.
"Wait… did you stay here all night, Yukino?" Mimiko asked, her eyebrow raised.
Yukino glanced over at them, unfazed. "Yes," she replied simply, shrugging as if it were no big deal.
After a moment of silence, the sisters just shook their heads. "Well, you're certainly not the first," Nanako muttered under her breath, chuckling as she took a seat. "Breakfast smells good."
Soon after, they all sat down to eat together. It felt strangely natural, like they'd been doing this for ages.
---
At school later that morning, Ryuji walked into the classroom, only to be greeted by Miura Yumiko and the others with bright smiles.
"Morning, Ryuji-kun!" they chorused.
He greeted them with a nod, taking his usual seat near them. Thanks to some "special arrangements" by their homeroom teacher, Shizuka, Ryuji now had a permanent seat near his friends, which made things much more convenient.
"Ryuji-kun! Have you heard the news?" Yumiko asked, leaning over with excitement.
"News?" Ryuji asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yui jumped in. "Yeah! It's all over social media, people are talking about sorcerers and cursed spirits now!"
Ryuji blinked. "Wait, sorcerers too? I knew people were talking about cursed spirits, but how did sorcerers get brought up?"
Hina, sitting nearby, adjusted her glasses with a knowing smile. "It was announced this morning. Jujutsu High released a statement explaining cursed spirits and sorcerers. Looks like they're trying to get people to understand what's really going on."
Intrigued, Ryuji took Hina's phone and skimmed the announcement. It detailed the existence of cursed spirits, explained the dangers, and categorized them into different threat levels. There was even a section describing sorcerers and how they worked to protect people from these malevolent entities.
"Huh. Pretty thorough," he muttered. "I guess they're trying to give people a sense of security, to make sure they don't panic."
He scrolled further and noticed something else: an announcement about a live demonstration set for noon, where one of the "strongest modern sorcerers" would show how they handle special-grade curses.
"The strongest in modern times, huh?" he mused, guessing who it must be.
"Do you know who that is?" Yui asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
Ryuji nodded. "Yeah. That's Gojo Satoru."
The girls looked at each other, impressed but still curious. "Is he really that strong?" Yumiko asked.
"He's definitely powerful," Ryuji confirmed with a slight smile. "Let's just say he lives up to the title."
Yumiko, however, leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Doesn't matter how strong he is. Ryuji-kun is the strongest to us!"
Yui immediately nodded in agreement. "Right! Ryuji-kun is way cooler than any sorcerer they could show on TV!"
Hina chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Agreed. I'm sure Gojo's strong, but… he's not our Ryuji."
Ryuji just shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. He didn't care about titles like "the strongest." To him, it was all just noise.
"Honestly, being 'the strongest' doesn't matter to me. I just want to live my life," he said casually. "As long as everyone stays safe, I'm good."
The girls laughed, each one finding his laid-back attitude charming.
Around them, other students were excitedly discussing the live broadcast, theorizing about what a sorcerer might be able to do.
"I bet this 'strongest sorcerer' can punch through a wall with one hand!"
"Nah, I think he's as strong as a tank! Maybe even a missile!"
"Come on, guys, be realistic. He's still human, isn't he?"
"How can a human be more powerful than a missile? That's a huge exaggeration!"
"Yeah, totally!"
"Well, I was just saying it casually!"
Seeing so many people disagree, the person who spoke just shrugged, not really bothered. He didn't know much about these so-called sorcerers or what kind of people they were, so there was no need to argue about it.
"But, if there are sorcerers who can specifically deal with those cursed spirits, then we won't have to worry about getting attacked by cursed spirits in the future, right?"
"That sounds about right!"
"That's a relief. My teacher was worried that we might get targeted by cursed spirits!"
"You tell me, if there's someone who's considered the strongest in modern times, wouldn't there have been someone like that in ancient times too?"
"Even if there was, so what? You don't actually think people from ancient times could still be alive today!"
"That's true!"
Young people nowadays are quick to jump to conclusions.
In no time, the conversation had already shifted to other topics.
Ryuji, listening from the side, couldn't help but chuckle.
So, people still have such a shallow understanding of sorcerers.
Ignorance breeds arrogance.
After this live broadcast, I believe no one will dare to casually talk about such topics anymore.
Some will be too intimidated by the very idea of sorcerers.
Of course, there may be envy or jealousy too, no surprise there.
"Ha~"
Ryuji watched all of this with quiet amusement, choosing not to interrupt.
Let things unfold naturally.
During the lunch break, the atmosphere was noticeably different from usual. Everyone was uncharacteristically quiet, each person silently glued to their phones. Some looked curious, others excited, and some just seemed to be along for the ride.
But that didn't stop most people from being curious about the live broadcast.
Seeing this, Ryuji wasn't surprised.
He simply smirked and led Yumiko and the others to the Service Club.
The live broadcast was worth watching, but there was no need to do it in the classroom.
When they arrived, they found the room dimly lit, with the curtains drawn. Mai was setting up a projector, aimed at a blank wall.
"Ryuji! You're here!"
Noticing him walk in, she greeted him with a smile.
"What are you doing?"
Ryuji closed the door and looked over at the projector, intrigued.
"Hehe! I thought, since we're all watching together, it'd be better on a projector than crowding around a phone!"
This wasn't something Mai had bought just for today. As a former child star, she wasn't short on money and had previously bought a projector for watching movies at home during her downtime.
Today, she figured it'd be perfect to bring it to the club.
The other girls seemed to agree with her idea.
"Alright then!"
Ryuji just smiled.
"Better hurry, though. The live broadcast is set for noon, and it's almost twelve now!"
"Don't worry!" Mai made an OK gesture confidently. "It's just a quick setup. Won't take more than a few minutes!"
"Hmm."
Ryuji didn't say any more. He settled into an empty seat, surrounded by the girls, curious to see how this live broadcast would play out.
He had a feeling something interesting might happen. He was looking forward to it.
"Oh, it's my first live broadcast! I'm a little nervous!"
Meanwhile, Gojo made a big show of pretending to be anxious.
The other staff at Jujutsu High just looked at him flatly.
They were clearly used to his antics by now.
Seeing no reaction, Gojo looked exasperated. He was being serious!
"I'm not kidding, I'm really nervous!"
"Alright, Gojo."
Finally, the principal, Masamichi, stepped in to cut off Gojo's theatrics.
"You know why we chose you to be the first sorcerer to go live, right?"
Everyone present understood the reason for this arrangement.
"Yeah, yeah, of course I know!"
Gojo dropped the act, waving his hand dismissively.
"Obviously, it's because those uptight higher-ups are worried that people will freak out after learning about sorcerers. So, they need me, the strongest of our time, to show my power and put the masses at ease!"
…
Though Gojo's words were laced with disdain for the higher-ups, he wasn't wrong. Even Masamichi couldn't deny it.
Ultimately, he could only shake his head in resignation.
"It's to prevent public order from falling apart."
No one else could accomplish this like Gojo.
Only he was powerful enough to pull it off.
"I get it, I get it."
Gojo's demeanor was flippant, but he wasn't ignorant.
Though he rarely talked about grand ideals, he understood them well enough.
"Otherwise, why do you think I'd cooperate? Those uptight fools think they can boss me around?"
If he didn't see the potential benefit, he'd never have agreed to the higher-ups' orders.
Anyone trying to control him would have found themselves in serious trouble.
"Good, as long as you understand."
Masamichi didn't push further. Although he shared Gojo's distaste for the higher-ups, only Gojo had the strength to express such sentiments openly.
"It's almost time."
"Alright, alright!"
Not wanting to drag it out, Gojo waved his hand dismissively.
"Relax, I'm on it!"
And with that, he prepared to cast his technique, vanishing in an instant.
"Be careful. This time, your target is a special-grade cursed spirit, not some..."
Not some weakling.
To showcase Gojo's power, they needed a cursed spirit of significant strength, not just any random creature.
But before Masamichi could finish, Gojo had already vanished.
…
Masamichi stood there silently.
Though he was used to Gojo's antics, it was still a bit exasperating.
"Huh!"
He decided to let it go. If he argued with Gojo, he'd just end up frustrated.
With a sigh, Masamichi turned to the other staff members.
"Let's go back and watch the broadcast."
This broadcast could shape the future era.
Naturally, they were all invested.
"So cool! I wonder when I'll get to do something like that!"
Yuji, a new recruit at Jujutsu High, was still full of youthful enthusiasm.
He imagined himself standing up to protect others and felt excited just thinking about it.
His classmates, Nobara and Megumi, looked unphased. Clearly, they didn't share his boundless energy.
"True."
The timeline had shifted. Although Yuta had lost his power after the special-grade cursed spirit, Rika, departed, he had since left for training abroad.
But Maki, Inumaki, and the others were still students at Jujutsu High at this time.
Suddenly, Maki turned to Masamichi with a thought.
"We've said before that Ryuji is a powerful special-grade sorcerer too. If more cursed spirits appear, wouldn't he also step in?"
"Hmm? Maki, that's unusual for you!"
Panda, a cursed corpse created by Masamichi, looked at her with a smirk.
"It seems like ever since he saved you, you've been acting strange. Even on missions, you seem distracted. Could it be… you've got a thing for Ryuji?"
"Salmon! (Hmm.)"
Inumaki, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.
After all, he'd been there too when Zenin was rescued, so he knew what was going on.
"Oh my! Maki, in love? This is a first! I thought you'd never fall for anyone, let alone a guy! You're always so focused on training…"
Maki used to think about nothing but honing her skills.
She was the definition of a martial arts fanatic.
It was hard to imagine someone like her developing feelings for anyone.
Panda, of course, couldn't resist teasing her, and the others couldn't help but look over.
…
Maki said nothing, refusing to react. Her fists just clenched tighter.
Inumaki, noticing this, wanted to stop Panda, but it was too late.
Bang!
In a flash, Maki's fist landed on Panda's head.
The room fell silent.
"Ahem!"
Masamichi cleared his throat, ignoring the scuffle.
In his view, bonds were forged through such banter and sparring.
Instead, he answered Maki's earlier question.
"Ryuji isn't officially part of Jujutsu High, nor has he joined us as a formal member. At most, we have a business relationship. We provide information and rewards for cursed spirits, and he takes care of them."
Masamichi had tried to recruit Ryuji, but he couldn't force the issue. Offending such a powerful sorcerer would be a loss.
Masamichi knew better than to push too hard.
"But even if he's not one of us, we can still work with him in the future if the opportunity arises."
For some of the students who hadn't met Ryuji, curiosity sparked.
"Although I've never spoken to him directly, I think Ryuji is genuinely passionate about what he does. Honestly, he's exorcised more special-grade cursed spirits on his own than we have as a school."
Just recently, Ryuji had been actively taking missions from the sorcery world, efficiently exorcising cursed spirits.
Masamichi had never seen anyone else who could handle cursed spirits at such a pace.
It was why he viewed Ryuji as a truly dedicated sorcerer.
Otherwise, who would go out of their way to deal with cursed spirits just for fun?
Of course, Ryuji himself might not see it that way. He was just using these cursed spirits to make himself stronger.
But Masamichi mistook it for a strong sense of justice.
"So that's why."
The others nodded, feeling a newfound respect for this sorcerer they'd yet to meet.
"I've decided. I'm going to become a sorcerer like him!"
Yuji declared with enthusiasm.
But Sukuna, the ancient curse dwelling within Yuji, scoffed at the notion.
"Justice? Only fools care about that."
As the cursed king from a thousand years ago, Sukuna had taken countless lives. Concepts like "justice" were meaningless to him, something he held in complete disdain.
To him, only the strong ruled, and only power mattered.