Team Battle (1)

Since this was merely an introduction between students, the teachers were not present. For a moment, the atmosphere became awkward.

Maki and Shen Yuanyi both looked completely unconcerned. Even if Inumaki Toge wanted to say something, he could not, while Panda indicated that he was just a panda and could not understand what they were talking about...

Honest Okkotsu Yuta had no idea what to do. If he tried to explain to them, would saying that the upperclassmen had matters to attend to and could not participate only sound like a flimsy excuse?

The Kyoto students also fell silent. Perhaps they agreed with Todo Aoi deep down. Then Kamo Noritoshi cleared his throat and spoke up anyway. "Todo, perhaps they really do have something to attend to."

Todo Aoi planted both hands on the table and said with immense pressure, "It doesn't matter. As long as I can have a good fight when the time comes."

Maki raised a brow and was just about to say something when Shen Yuanyi stepped forward first, grinning. "Hey, big guy. Is strength determined by school year? I seem to recall that sorcerers are ranked by grade. I'm a kind person, so I can't help giving you a heads-up—you're definitely going to lose!"

Before the Kyoto students could react, Shen Yuanyi casually pulled Okkotsu Yuta over. "Because our big brother Okkotsu is a Special Grade!" Then he feigned surprise. "Oh? Don't tell me you have a Special Grade Sorcerer over there too?"

Todo Aoi, who had been on the verge of exploding, immediately turned serious. Special Grade. That was synonymous with power! After all, his mentor—Tsukumo Yuki—was a registered Special Grade Sorcerer. Was this guy before him one as well?

"Huh?"

Having become the center of attention for every student at Kyoto Jujutsu High because of Shen Yuanyi's words, Okkotsu Yuta was at a loss for a moment. Then Panda stepped forward beside him and said, "That's right. Big brother Okkotsu is really strong!"

Maki also saw through the plans of those two assholes. A smile curled across her lips as she added, "Good luck. Don't get scared before it even starts."

"Salmon!"

Okkotsu Yuta looked at Inumaki Toge, who had joined in, and nearly turned to stone. Maki-senpai saying that was one thing, but Inumaki, why were you saying it too? Yet he did not know how to explain it. He really was registered as a Special Grade, but much of that was because of Rika...

"Ha ha!"

After a moment of silence, Todo Aoi raised his head. Instead of the expected gravity or panic, he revealed a heartfelt smile. Staring intently at Okkotsu Yuta, he said, "I'm looking forward to it! I'm looking forward to fighting you. It will definitely be a truly satisfying battle!"

"Okkotsu Yuta, right? Let me ask you..."

Todo Aoi asked with utmost seriousness, "What... type of woman do you like?"

The inexplicable question left Okkotsu Yuta too confused to know what to say, but Shen Yuanyi naturally knew what Todo Aoi was doing.

There was not actually any deeper meaning to it. He simply used it to judge whether someone was qualified to be his friend, apparently influenced by his teacher—Tsukumo Yuki.

Later, he would apparently resonate with the protagonist Shen Yuanyi had seen in a work from his previous life—Itadori Yuji—and recognize him as his best friend. Incidentally, both Todo and Itadori liked tall women with big butts.

Shen Yuanyi patted Okkotsu's shoulder. "Okkotsu already has a girlfriend, you know. I'd advise you not to meddle, or... you'll die an ugly death."

Okkotsu Yuta naturally knew Shen Yuanyi was referring to Rika. Come to think of it, Rika should be about as tall as him by now, right?

"Tomorrow! Let me witness the strength of a Special Grade."

After saying that, Todo Aoi shoved his hands into his pockets, turned, and left. The students had gotten a preliminary introduction out of the way, and most of the teachers had arrived as well. Shen Yuanyi even spotted Ieiri Shoko and Mei Mei, whom he had not seen in a long time.

The two of them were sitting with Iori Utahime, chatting about something. Meanwhile, Gojo Satoru had gone over to Principal Gakuganji again and said something to him, making the latter's expression look grim and terrifying.

Yaga Masamichi stepped forward at that moment to announce the specific format of tomorrow's Exchange Event: a team battle. It was the same old format. A Semi-Grade 1 Cursed Spirit and quite a few Grade 3 Cursed Spirits would be released into a designated area within the school grounds. The team that exorcised the Semi-Grade 1 Cursed Spirit first would win. If no victor was decided before nightfall, then the side that exorcised more Cursed Spirits would win. Other than that, there were no rules.

"So, interference is permitted. But you are all comrades fighting curses together. The purpose of this Exchange Event is to help you understand your companions—and yourselves. Do not kill your opponents or inflict irreversible harm upon them. The match will begin promptly at noon tomorrow."

Before returning, Shen Yuanyi went over to greet Mei Mei and the others. Utahime had quite a favorable impression of this polite boy. He was unlike that bastard Gojo, who had no respect at all for his senior.

Shen Yuanyi did not try asking Shoko about his doubts regarding the Reverse Cursed Technique. In a sense, Shoko's guidance in that area was even worse than Gojo Satoru's... Besides, he had already asked everything he needed to ask. He was only there to say hello.

After returning to the dorms, they did not train much more that day. What they needed to do now was conserve their strength, rest well, and prepare for tomorrow's match.

The next day.

Once both sides had finished preparing, they headed to their respective starting points after Yaga Masamichi gave a speech. Shen Yuanyi's group stood in a forest.

Maki carried her long naginata on her back and looked at the prepared group. "You all remember the plan, right? Toge and I will clear out the low-grade Cursed Spirits while searching for the Kyoto students. If they encounter Toge's Cursed Speech for the first time, there's a good chance we can reduce their numbers immediately."

"Yuta and Panda will take White Wolf to find the Semi-Grade 1 Cursed Spirit released in the central area. Yuanyi will act alone. His targets are that Cursed Spirit as well as reducing their numbers. If we find that Cursed Spirit first, we're guaranteed to win. Or... we can make all of them drop out!"

White Wolf had been permitted to enter the match because their side only had five people, all of them First-years. Though Okkotsu was a Special Grade, part of his combat strength currently rested with Rika.

The higher-ups on both sides certainly knew that, which was why White Wolf had been allowed to join them. In truth, White Wolf's role was mainly tracking, at most providing support from the side.

After all, the key to the competition was finding the Cursed Spirits and exorcising them, as well as dealing with opponents encountered along the way.

"Got it!"

The group split up and began moving. Though that Semi-Grade 1 Cursed Spirit had been released roughly in the center, it was not an inanimate object that would stay still. Its position had certainly changed by now.

This time, Shen Yuanyi did not bring Annihilation. The battlefield was a forest, where visibility was poor. He could not fly like Gojo-sensei, nor did he possess the Six Eyes' field of vision.

If he had to draw his bow only after encountering an opponent, he might as well rush in and fight at close range. So he carried only a blade.

Meanwhile, Maki and Inumaki Toge moved through the forest on the other side. Along the way, they encountered a Grade 3 Cursed Spirit that resembled a cross between a toad and a lizard.

To end the fight quickly, Inumaki Toge pulled down his collar and spoke an ordinary phrase. "Stop!"

Technique: Cursed Speech activated! Inumaki Toge's words became an ironclad decree. Those two softly spoken words carried an overwhelmingly oppressive restraint, and the Cursed Spirit stopped in place against its will. Maki, already prepared, rushed before it and cleanly slew it in one swift stroke.

At the observation post in the rear, the principal and teachers had all gathered. Several screens hung on the wall before them, displaying different parts of the arena.

This was the shared vision of crows controlled by Mei Mei's technique, "Black Bird Manipulation," which Mei Mei then projected onto the screens on the wall. That way, they could observe the details of the match in real time.

Of course, inviting Mei Mei over required payment. After all, Mei Mei was now an independent sorcerer, though she still maintained close cooperation with the school and the Higher-ups.

And the school had Gojo Satoru, the head of the Gojo Family—a genuine big spender. Since he never delayed payment and had once been Mei Mei's classmate, they often worked together and stayed in contact.

Gojo Satoru was chatting idly when one of the talismans pasted in a row on the wall suddenly ignited with red flames.

These talismans were used to record which side exorcised the Cursed Spirits in the field. Before being released, those Cursed Spirits had been marked, and both sides' Cursed Energy had also been registered here.

If someone from Tokyo Jujutsu High exorcised one, the Talismans on this side would ignite with red flames; Kyoto's would be blue. Because Maki was participating, unrecorded disappearance reactions had also specifically been set to red.

At the moment, Tokyo was ahead by one point. Gojo Satoru clapped his hands and cheered. "All right! We're ahead by one."

Iori Utahime, seated beside him, shot him a disdainful look. "You're a grown man. How childish!"

No sooner had she spoken than another Talisman began to burn, this time with blue flames. Just as a delighted expression rose on Utahime's face, her right hand, already lifted halfway, abruptly froze before slowly lowering again.

"No, I have to stay calm. I can't get carried away by praise or humiliation. This little result is nothing..."

Then Utahime, whose gaze had drifted slightly aside, saw that Gojo Satoru had somehow leaned right in front of her. After a brief stunned pause, she watched him move back before he spoke in an exceptionally punchable tone.

"Utahime's clearly happy too, so why pretend not to care? I heard that bottling up your emotions too often can cause premature aging. Don't end up like Principal Gakuganji, okay~"

Utahime finally snapped, and her furious voice immediately rang through the room. "I'm your senior! You bastard, show some respect!"

Having offended two people with one sentence, Gojo Satoru simply returned to his seat with a grin. Utahime was beside herself, yet there was nothing she could do about him. If she hit him, his technique would block everything, and she was even less of a match for that bastard when it came to words... So infuriating!

"All right, all right, don't lower yourself to Satoru's level," Ieiri Shoko comforted Utahime from beside her. Moved, Utahime hugged Shoko. "Thank goodness you're here, Shoko~"

Meanwhile, the grinning Gojo Satoru had already gone back to watching the match on his own.

The clock turned back to the previous night. Kyoto's side was discussing their strategy for the following day when Kamo Noritoshi said to the others, "I asked the principal and Utahime-sensei about it. That First-year really is Special Grade."

"But there seems to be some hidden complication. We don't need to concern ourselves with that—just follow the plan. Nishinomiya will still handle intelligence support from the air. Maki Zenin, Mechamaru, and Kasumi, exorcise Cursed Spirits while doing your best to disrupt their movements. Try to eliminate that dog and destroy their source of information."

"As for Todo..."

Todo Aoi, standing off to the side with his arms folded, said disdainfully, "Don't drag me into this messy nonsense. I'll find that First-year Special Grade. There is bound to be an exhilarating battle between him and me!"

Kamo Noritoshi nodded. "That is Todo's assignment." Todo Aoi clicked his tongue in irritation, but said nothing more.

"As for me, I'll find that Semi-Grade 1 Cursed Spirit and exorcise it as quickly as possible. Whatever the reason behind that Special Grade may be, we must not underestimate them because of their year. Avoid their edge and use our intelligence advantage to claim victory!"

Maki Zenin was silent for a moment before asking, "Won't that make us seem too weak?"

Kamo Noritoshi replied with a grave expression, "No! Never underestimate any Special Grade. In some respect, in some particular area, they're absurdly powerful..."