In the blink of an eye, the day of the Sister School Goodwill Event between the Tokyo and Kyoto branches had arrived.
Tokyo Jujutsu High, school gates.
The sunlight was a bit piercing today, and a restless energy hung in the air.
Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki were waiting early, both wearing serious expressions.
"Say, is this so-called Kyoto school really that impressive?"
Nobara toyed with her hammer, her face etched with impatience.
"I heard they have members of the Big Three families, and then there's that one guy..."
Megumi frowned as an image of a muscular man who constantly asked 'What kind of woman is your type?' flashed through his mind.
"Bottom line, they aren't here to play nice."
As they spoke, the sound of footsteps echoed from the distance.
A group of students in dark uniforms was walking toward them.
Leading them was a tall man with bulging muscles and a short-haired girl with sharp eyes.
The Kyoto school group had arrived.
"My, my, so this is Tokyo High?"
The short-haired girl—Mai Zenin—stopped and let out a contemptuous sneer.
Her gaze swept over Megumi and Nobara, her eyes filled with undisguised provocation.
"Why are there only two of you? I understand Okkotsu-senpai being away, but even the legendary vessel of Sukuna didn't come to greet us?"
"Or could it be..."
Mai intentionally trailed off, her eyes lingering on the slight pilling on Nobara's tracksuit. A malicious curve formed at the corners of her mouth.
"He's already dead? If that's the case, your shabby outfits are quite fitting for the occasion."
The air instantly froze at those words.
Veins bulged on Nobara's forehead, and her grip on her hammer tightened until it creaked.
"Hey, you short-haired brat."
"Did you eat garlic for breakfast? Your mouth stinks."
"And for your information, this is a brand new limited edition! What would a country bumpkin like you, who only knows how to wear a uniform, know about fashion!?"
"Hah?"
Mai's face darkened, and she instantly raised her revolver, the dark muzzle pointing directly at Nobara's forehead.
"Is this how you treat guests at Tokyo High? You lower lifeform."
Simultaneously, Megumi quickly dropped into a combat stance, shadows stirring beneath his feet.
"Put the gun down, Mai Zenin."
Megumi's voice was ice-cold.
"This isn't Kyoto."
Just as both sides were at each other's throats and a conflict seemed inevitable...
The tall man who had been standing silently nearby, Aoi Todo, suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Boring! This is so boring!"
He suddenly ripped his uniform top open, revealing muscles as hard as granite.
"I have no interest in the squabbling of weaklings!"
Todo's gaze swept around like a searchlight, seemingly looking for something.
"Hey, Fushiguro!"
He pointed at Megumi and roared.
"Where's the guy from the rumors?"
"The monster who can cut down Special Grade Cursed Spirits without using cursed energy!"
"Yoru! Where is he?!"
At the mention of the name 'Yoru,' even the aggressive Mai showed a flicker of wariness in her eyes.
After all, that name had been making waves in the jujutsu world recently.
No cursed energy, slaying Special Grades, personally favored by Satoru Gojo...
Every single label was enough to make anyone take notice.
"He's not here," Megumi replied coldly.
"If you're here to pick a fight, I'll oblige."
"Tch."
Todo clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Lame."
"Since the main attraction isn't here, I'll just use you guys for a warm-up!"
With that, the ground beneath his feet shattered.
He lunged at Megumi like a cannonball, his oppressive fist whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Megumi's face.
'So fast!'
Megumi's pupils shrank, and his hands quickly formed seals.
"Divine Dog!"
Two shikigami dogs leapt from the shadows, blocking his front.
However, before Todo's absolute power, even the shikigami were sent flying instantly.
Boom!
Megumi skidded back several meters before barely managing to steady himself.
"Too weak! You're way too weak!"
Todo shook his head in disappointment.
"At this level, you can't even make me break a sweat!"
"Since that Yoru doesn't dare to show his face, I'll beat you guys into the dirt first before I go find him!"
As he spoke, he raised his fist again, his cursed energy erupting as he prepared to deliver a finishing blow to Megumi.
Just then.
A voice, so calm it felt out of place, suddenly drifted from the tree-lined path inside the school gates.
"This is Tokyo High."
The voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity.
Everyone instinctively turned their heads.
There, beneath the dappled shadows of the trees, a youth in the school uniform was slowly walking toward them.
He carried a black guitar case on his back, and his red earrings swayed gently in the breeze.
Sunlight fell upon his face, reflecting in eyes as clear as rubies.
His pace wasn't fast—leisurely, even.
But as he approached, the restless air miraculously settled.
Even the previously rampaging Todo froze the moment he saw the youth.
A primal instinct told him:
This was an absolute powerhouse.
'This presence...'
Todo's pupils constricted violently.
'He's strong! His energy is even purer than Okkotsu's!'
Yoru stopped in front of Megumi and Nobara, his gaze drifting calmly over the Kyoto students.
Finally, his eyes settled on Todo.
"This isn't a place for you to run wild,"
He said softly.
His tone was gentle, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.
Seeing Yoru's back, Megumi and Nobara felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
Without them even realizing when it started...
As long as this man was present, they felt a profound sense of security.
"You..."
Todo looked at Yoru. The disappointment in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an unprecedented fervor.
He could sense that while the youth didn't have a shred of cursed energy...
The aura hidden beneath that calm exterior was sharper than any sorcerer he had ever encountered!
"Are you Yoru?"
Todo grinned, revealing a savage and excited smile.
"Finally, I've found you!"
Yoru didn't answer. He simply reached back and unslung the guitar case, placing it gently on the ground.
The zipper slid open.
It revealed a black-and-red longsword—unassuming at first glance, but radiating a heart-stopping pressure.
Shiranui.
He gripped the hilt and slowly drew the blade.
Clang—
The crisp ring of the sword echoed through the silent school gates.
"If you want to fight,"
Yoru looked up, his red eyes calmly meeting Todo's.
"I'll oblige."
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