Akesato's "trip" was no misnomer at all.
The Gojo family was in Tokyo, and Satoru Gojo was in Tokyo, but his adopted son, Megumi Fushiguro, was not. He was in Saitama Prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo Metropolis.
Known as the Colorful City, it was a place with not only thriving agriculture and forestry, but also outstanding culture and art. It was well worth visiting.
Since this was Satoru Gojo's request, Akesato and the others naturally did not need to worry about the itinerary or accommodations.
As the Gojo family's Family Head, Satoru Gojo commanded resources no less extensive than those of Japan's traditional financial conglomerates. The clothes he wore and the things he used were all custom-made luxury brands, and his cars were all luxury cars.
The moment Akesato agreed, Satoru Gojo summoned a luxury black sedan. They did not even need to pack their luggage; they could always buy what they needed once they arrived.
The driver was Jitako Ijichi, a short, thin adult man who perfectly fit the stereotypical image of a Japanese office worker.
He was an Assistant Supervisor at Jujutsu High, responsible for assisting Jujutsu Sorcerers. His main duties included driving, deploying Curtains, evacuation guidance, intelligence gathering, and other miscellaneous work. According to Satoru Gojo, he was an unlucky guy stuck between the higher-ups and the Jujutsu Sorcerers, taking grief from both sides.
In truth, the only person who really gave supervisors a hard time was the foul-tempered Satoru Gojo. Akesato and the others respected this hardworking employee a great deal. They were always polite whenever they met him, and every so often they would take a jab at Satoru Gojo to help Ijichi vent. Ijichi thought very highly of Akesato; if their ages had been more appropriate, he would have wanted to drag him to an izakaya for drinks after work.
In less than three hours, the group had arrived in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture.
After entering the city, Satoru Gojo did not head for the Fushiguro residence. Instead, he first went to a private hospital.
And the first person they met was not Megumi Fushiguro, but a young woman radiating a delinquent aura.
Her looks and figure followed the rule of birds of a feather flocking together—unmistakably Jujutsu High standard—but upon closer inspection...
She had dark circles rivaling those of a Playful Panda, so severe that she concealed them with smoky eye makeup.
There was a faint scent of alcohol on her, and the space between her right index finger and thumb bore marks left by long-term smoking.
The moment he saw her, Satoru Gojo stepped forward and asked, "How is she?"
"Not good. We know she was cursed, but my Reverse Cursed Technique isn't working. There's nothing I can do that an ordinary doctor couldn't."
The woman shook her head. She instinctively reached for her pocket, but ultimately took nothing out and flicked her hand away in irritation.
Her gaze shifted to Akesato and Maki behind Satoru Gojo.
"These are this year's new first-years?"
"That's right." Satoru Gojo introduced them in passing. "Akesato, Maki Zenin. You've read their files, so I won't go into detail. This is Shoko Ieiri, Jujutsu High's school doctor. If you get injured in battle, remember to find her. As long as you're not dead, she can save you."
"Don't make it sound so absolute. Didn't I fail to save someone this time?" Shoko Ieiri said casually. "Try to take better care of yourselves. I'm only a doctor."
"Yes, Miss Ieiri." Akesato nodded respectfully.
Though Shoko Ieiri drank and smoked—though she had actually quit smoking—she was truly a good girl, renowned as Jujutsu High's High School Treasure. Her importance rivaled Satoru Gojo's.
"If possible, could you tell me what happened?"
"It's Megumi's sister. Tsumiki was cursed, just yesterday." Only then did Satoru Gojo explain. "Where is Megumi?"
"He went out. He said he was looking for a way to lift the curse," Shoko Ieiri replied.
Satoru Gojo did not say something like, "One of us is invincible and the other is a treasure, and neither of us can solve it. What can a kid like him do?" He merely fell silent for a moment before saying, "It's fine to let him go vent some emotions. I'll take you to the hotel first. We'll talk after he comes back."
"Could I meet Miss Tsumiki?" Akesato looked up and asked.
Shoko Ieiri halted. "You... know something about curses?"
"A little. My partner and I are somewhat unusual. We might be able to give it a try."
Shoko Ieiri let out an oh, while Satoru Gojo carefully "examined" Akesato and the inseparable Gardevoir through his blindfold. Only after a long while did he nod.
"We're counting on you."
With that, he led the group to the VIP Ward on the hospital's top floor.
The ward was elegantly furnished and fully equipped, but all the machines could do was maintain the patient's vital signs. They could not solve her problem.
The girl on the bed had long hair draped loose around her and delicate features. Though she was unconscious, one could still sense the gentleness and grace ingrained deep within her bones.
She was the second woman who had made Akesato think of a Yamato Nadeshiko. No wonder she could keep a troublemaker like Megumi Fushiguro in line.
A strange red pattern marked the girl's forehead. Centered between her brows, it covered half her forehead, and faint cursed energy could be felt emanating from it.
Without question, that was the source of the curse.
Akesato reached out and placed his hand over Tsumiki Fushiguro's forehead. He released a trace of cursed energy, but it was immediately repelled by the cursed energy within the mark.
Rubbing his fingers together, he carefully sensed the lingering cursed energy at his fingertips and came to a conclusion. "Such incredible precision. I've only seen a Cursed Technique this precise on Teacher Gojo."
"Special grade level?"
Maki's expression turned astonished, but Shoko Ieiri and Satoru Gojo showed no reaction. Clearly, they had already seen it.
"If it's only this, Satoru should be able to..."
"If it were only the Cursed Technique, it wouldn't be completely impossible. The problem is—"
"—her body. Tsumiki Fushiguro isn't a Jujutsu Sorcerer. Her body, especially her brain, doesn't have such a high tolerance for cursed energy. If we forcibly lift the curse, her brain could suffer irreversible damage."
The two adults took turns explaining the situation as concisely and plainly as possible.
Under normal circumstances, their conclusion was practically final. Their agreement to bring Akesato here had been more an attempt to treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
"Just as I thought." Akesato withdrew his hand. "It's not that the curse can't be lifted. The margin for error is simply too low. If we had enough time to fully decipher the other party's Cursed Technique and handle it accordingly, then theoretically, the curse could be lifted. Is that correct?"
"That's correct, but theory is ultimately just theory. Unless you—" Shoko Ieiri seemed to realize something.
Akesato took Gardevoir's hand. "Can you do it? It might be a little uncomfortable."
"Garde... garde..."
The first cry was an affirmative answer to her trainer.
The second conveyed her own feelings. Tsumiki Fushiguro was a good person, a good person like Ming Linmei. Gardevoir's initial impression of her was not low.
Akesato felt increasingly fortunate to be part of such a straightforward, unpretentious group. He gave the order, "Gardevoir, use Synchronize."
In the Pokémon games, Synchronize was not an active skill, but a passive Ability that transmitted abnormal statuses suffered by the user to the opponent.
However, Abilities had changed somewhat in reality. They could be controlled at will—whether to transmit the condition or not—since Gardevoir herself determined friend from foe. Beyond that, it could also be used in reverse, synchronizing another person's abnormal condition onto oneself.
In Akesato's understanding, it was more like a chain reaction of negative effects. You could give it to me, so naturally I could give it to you. Under normal circumstances, though, no one would voluntarily make themselves suffer.
Gardevoir intended to use this Ability to share the negative condition affecting Tsumiki Fushiguro—the curse—so that she could analyze it and later lift it.
As for Gardevoir's safety, there was no need to worry. First, she was far stronger than Tsumiki. Akesato also had a good grasp of the curse's effects. If the risk had been even slightly greater, he would never have allowed Gardevoir to try.
There was no special effect when the Ability activated. A gleam flashed through Gardevoir's eyes, and the same red pattern appeared on her forehead.
The Pokémon girl's slender body swayed slightly. Akesato hurriedly supported her and asked softly, "Are you all right?"
Gardevoir shook her head, gesturing with her hands as she spoke in soft cries.
Akesato understood and relayed her words. "The pattern itself isn't harmful, but it continuously releases cursed energy. Miss Tsumiki's brain has been affected by that cursed energy, which is why she hasn't awakened. If we can remove the cursed energy's influence, Miss Tsumiki's brain will gradually recover. I'll have Gardevoir complete it as soon as possible—"
At that moment, red light suddenly blazed throughout the ward.
Its source was the space between Gardevoir's brows.
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