"So, want to come to Jujutsu High with me?"
Satoru Gojo sat on the sofa, legs crossed, happily polishing off the cake Ryder had bought.
On the TV, news anchors were excitedly reporting on the "mysterious collapse" at the construction site. Ignorant media outlets were already spinning wild theories about supernatural phenomena.
Ryder leaned back listlessly on the sofa, nursing a freshly opened can of cola. He took a sip, then answered casually.
"Pass. A place like school really doesn't interest me."
He shrugged. He'd heard of Tokyo Jujutsu High, of course.
But the idea of reincarnating just to be controlled by others and join a school system? Ryder had zero interest in that.
Besides.
The higher-ups in the jujutsu world were a bunch of stubborn, conservative old fossils. His abilities came from a system—completely unique and outside their understanding. Living under the same roof as people who clung to the shadows of tradition...
It would never be peaceful. Though he didn't fear them, there was no need to invite unnecessary trouble.
Even without joining Jujutsu High, with the Eight Mystical Skills, Ryder was confident he would eventually stand at the pinnacle of the world.
Even alongside the man next to him—the one destined to be called "The Strongest"—Ryder was confident he could stand as an equal, not a subordinate.
Hearing Ryder's answer, Gojo showed no surprise. Based on what he knew of Ryder, he hadn't expected him to agree. If Ryder had said yes, that would have been surprising.
"Fair enough. But this place isn't bad. Has the Zenin family really become this generous?"
Gojo took off his sunglasses and looked around with interest.
They were currently sitting in a luxury ocean-view apartment spanning several thousand square feet.
The place was fully furnished with high-end amenities. The paintings on the walls were tasteful, clearly the work of famous artists.
It was no wonder Gojo was curious.
As the future head of the Gojo clan, his personal assets were unimaginably vast, so a house like this was nothing to him. But...
Ryder was a discarded child of the Zenin family. Living in such an expensive ocean-view apartment completely contradicted the temperament of those old Zenin conservatives.
In that family, those without cursed techniques received absolutely nothing.
Especially since Ryder had completely cut ties with them.
"This has nothing to do with the Zenin family. This apartment is my payment."
Ryder rolled his eyes dramatically. He pulled a business card from his pocket and flicked it toward Gojo.
Whoosh!
It was a casual toss, yet the card sliced through the air with a sharp whistle.
Flying toward Gojo at incredible speed.
Gojo didn't even look up. His long fingers blurred slightly, leaving afterimages in the air.
The card was instantly caught between his fingers.
"Yorozuya?"
Gojo looked at the card in his hand. Three large characters were printed on the simple, somewhat crude card stock. He read them aloud.
"You opened an Odd Jobs store?"
Two years ago, after leaving the Zenin family, Ryder had unlocked Divine Forge. At the same time, he gained the ability to see the cursed spirits he'd previously been blind to.
Back then, with only a few thousand yen to his name, Ryder had unintentionally helped a convenience store owner plagued by "fly heads" (low-grade curses). He received a hefty thank-you payment.
Since then, he'd established this Odd Jobs business.
It allowed him to earn money while honing his combat skills by exorcising curses.
This ocean-view apartment was payment from a real estate developer after Ryder exorcised a Grade 2 cursed spirit from the property.
His Odd Jobs store, specializing in solving supernatural incidents, had become quite famous in the small city of Sugisawa.
However, Ryder's rules were a bit different from other businesses.
"Yep. I solve any supernatural incident. Pricing depends on my mood. No bargaining. Honest work for honest pay."
Ryder crushed the empty cola can and tossed it perfectly into the trash bin by the door. He raised an eyebrow at Gojo and flashed a strange, teasing smile.
"So, how about it? Want to consider joining my Odd Jobs store? I'm short an assistant right now."
"Sounds interesting. But 'pricing depends on your mood'? Are you running a scam or a business?"
Even Gojo couldn't help but sweat-drop at Ryder's business model.
Ryder pursed his lips in dissatisfaction. "How is it a scam? I take money to eliminate disasters. It's a consensual transaction. Go ask around Sugisawa—everyone knows I'm the most conscientious Odd Jobs boss in town!"
"You're probably the only Odd Jobs boss in Sugisawa. Besides, if the Jujutsu Association finds out about this unauthorized exorcism business, you're going to have trouble again."
"But... doesn't sound too bad. Still, Jujutsu High is already a done deal for me. Maybe after I graduate, I'll come back and work part-time."
Gojo suddenly stood up, put his sunglasses back on, and stretched his body. His joints popped like firecrackers.
"Alright, watch yourself. I'm heading out. Call me if you need anything. Oh, and..."
Before Gojo finished speaking, cursed energy flared around him. His figure vanished from the room, leaving only the curtains by the window swaying gently.
"Your cake wasn't sweet enough."
"Tch. Keep eating sweets like that and see if you don't get fat."
Ryder couldn't help but retort at the empty air.