Shoko Ieiri, Tsumiki Fushiguro

What Akesato said about "travel" was completely accurate.

The Gojo family was in Tokyo, Satoru Gojo was in Tokyo, but his adopted son, Megumi Fushiguro, was not in Tokyo. Instead, he was in Saitama Prefecture, which bordered Tokyo Metropolis.

It was a place called Colorful City, known not only for its developed agriculture and forestry but also for its outstanding culture and art. It was a great place worth visiting.

Since it was Satoru Gojo's request, Akesato and his group didn't have to worry about the itinerary or accommodation.

As the head of the Gojo family, Satoru Gojo possessed resources comparable to Japan's traditional zaibatsu. The clothes he wore and the items he used were all custom-made by top brands, and his cars were all luxury cars.

As soon as Akesato nodded, Satoru Gojo immediately summoned a Luxury Black Sedan. There was no need to pack luggage; they could buy new things once they arrived.

The driver was a short, thin adult male, Jitako Ijichi, who fit the stereotypical image of Japanese corporate employees.

His position was Assistant Supervisor at Jujutsu High, responsible for assisting Jujutsu Sorcerers. His main duties included driving, setting up Curtains, guiding evacuations, and collecting information – essentially, miscellaneous tasks. According to Satoru Gojo, he was an unlucky fellow caught between the higher-ups and the Jujutsu Sorcerers, taking all the flak.

In reality, the only one who truly gave the supervisors a hard time was the ill-tempered Satoru Gojo. Akesato and the others, however, greatly respected this hardworking individual. They were always polite when meeting him and would occasionally mock Satoru Gojo to vent Jitako's frustrations. Jitako's impression of Akesato was extremely good. If not for the age difference, he would have loved to invite Akesato for drinks at an izakaya after work.

In less than three hours, the group arrived in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture.

Upon entering the city, Satoru Gojo did not head to the Fushiguro residence. Instead, he first went to a private hospital.

The first person they met was not Megumi Fushiguro, but a young woman exuding a delinquent aura.

Her appearance and figure followed the principle of "birds of a feather flock together," fitting the standards of Jujutsu High. However, upon closer inspection...

Her eyes had dark circles comparable to those of a Playful Panda, which were so pronounced that she used Smoky Eye Makeup to conceal them.

A faint scent of alcohol lingered on her, and the space between her right index finger and thumb bore marks from long-term smoking.

The moment he saw the woman, Satoru Gojo stepped forward and asked, "How is the situation?"

"Not good. Although I knew it was a curse, my Reverse Cursed Technique is ineffective. There's nothing I can do that a regular doctor can't."

The woman shook her head and instinctively reached into her pocket, but ultimately took nothing out, flicking her hand away in disappointment.

She then turned her gaze to Akesato and Maki Zenin behind Satoru Gojo.

"Are these the first-year students who just enrolled this year?"

"Yes," Satoru Gojo introduced smoothly. "Akesato, Maki Zenin. You've seen their files, so I won't elaborate. This is Shoko Ieiri, the school doctor at Jujutsu High. If you get injured in a fight, remember to find her. As long as you're not dead, she can save you."

"Don't speak so confidently. I couldn't save them this time, could I?" Shoko Ieiri said nonchalantly. "Take better care of yourselves. I'm just a doctor."

"Yes, Miss Ieiri," Akesato replied respectfully.

Although Shoko Ieiri drank and smoked (she had actually quit smoking), she was a good person, renowned as a "High School Treasure," whose importance was comparable to Satoru Gojo's.

"If possible, could you tell me what happened?"

"Actually, it's Megumi's older sister, Tsumiki, who was cursed, just yesterday," Satoru Gojo said then. "Where's Megumi?"

"He went out, said he was going to find a way to break the curse," Shoko Ieiri replied.

Satoru Gojo didn't say anything like, "We, one invincible and one treasure, can't solve it, what can you, a child, do?" He was silent for a moment, then said, "It's good for him to vent his emotions. I'll take you to the hotel first, and we'll talk after he gets back."

"Can I see Miss Tsumiki?" Akesato asked, looking up.

Shoko Ieiri paused. "You... study curses?"

"A little. My partner and I are a bit special, maybe we can try."

Shoko Ieiri hummed, while Satoru Gojo, through his blindfold, carefully "sized up" Akesato and the Gardevoir that was inseparable from him. After a while, he nodded.

"I'm counting on you."

With that, he led the group to the VIP Ward on the top floor of the hospital.

The ward was decorated elegantly, with all kinds of equipment. However, these could only maintain the patient's vital signs, not solve her problem.

The girl on the bed had long, scattered hair and exquisite features. Even though she was unconscious, one could still feel the gentleness and magnanimity that permeated her bones.

This was the second woman who made Akesato think of a Yamato Nadeshiko, and it was no wonder she could suppress the troublemaker Megumi Fushiguro.

There was a strange red pattern on the girl's forehead. Starting from the center of her brow, it covered half of her forehead. One could vaguely sense the presence of cursed energy from it.

Undoubtedly, that was the source of the curse.

Akesato reached out and placed his hand on Tsumiki Fushiguro's forehead, releasing a little cursed energy. However, it was immediately repelled by the cursed energy within the mark.

Rubbing with two fingers, carefully sensing the residual cursed energy on his fingertips, Akesato concluded, "Such high precision. I've only seen such a high-precision cursed technique on Teacher Gojo."

"Special Grade Level?"

Maki's expression was surprised, but Shoko Ieiri and Satoru Gojo showed no reaction, clearly having already seen it.

"If it's just this, Gojo should be able to..."

"If it's just the cursed technique, it's not entirely impossible. The problem lies in--"

"--her body. Tsumiki Fushiguro is not a sorcerer. Her body, especially her brain, cannot tolerate cursed energy at such a high level. Forcibly breaking the curse might cause irreversible damage to her brain."

The two adults explained the situation as concisely and simply as possible, speaking one after another.

Under normal circumstances, their conclusion was basically a death sentence. They agreed to bring Akesato more out of a "treat a dead horse as if it were alive" mentality.

"It's as I thought," Akesato retracted his hand. "It's not that the curse can't be broken, but the margin for error is too low. If one can fully decipher the opponent's cursed technique and deal with it accordingly, it's theoretically possible to break the curse, isn't that right?"

"That's right, but theory is just theory. Or are you--" Shoko Ieiri seemed to realize something.

Akesato held Gardevoir's hand: "Can you do it? It might be a little uncomfortable."

"Sha~sha~"

The first sound was an affirmative response to her Master.

The second sound expressed her subjective attitude. Tsumiki Fushiguro was a good person, just like Akemi. Gardevoir's initial favorability towards her was not low.

Akesato became even more fortunate that he was in a simple and unpretentious group. He gave the order: "Gardevoir, use Synchronize."

In the Pokémon games, Synchronize is not an active skill but a passive ability that transfers status conditions received by the user to the opponent.

However, in reality, the ability had changed. It could be controlled voluntarily, deciding whether to transfer or not, as the enemy and ally were judged subjectively by Gardevoir. Besides that, it could also be used in reverse, synchronizing others' status conditions onto oneself.

According to Akesato's understanding, it was more like a chain reaction of negative effects. You can give it to me, and of course, I can give it to you, but normally, one wouldn't inflict suffering upon themselves.

Gardevoir was to use this ability to share the negative status Tsumiki Fushiguro was suffering from—the curse—in order to analyze it and subsequently lift the curse.

As for Gardevoir's safety, there was no need to worry. Firstly, she was much stronger than Tsumiki. Akesato was also aware of the curse's effects. If the risk were any greater, he wouldn't have let Gardevoir attempt it.

The activation of the ability had no special effects. A flash of light appeared in Gardevoir's eyes, and the same red pattern materialized on her forehead.

The Pokémon girl's slender figure swayed slightly. Akesato quickly supported her and asked softly, "Are you alright?"

Gardevoir shook her head, gestured with her hands, and spoke with a soft rustling sound.

Akesato understood and translated: "The pattern itself is not harmful, but it continuously releases cursed energy. Miss Tsumiki's brain is affected by the cursed energy, causing her to remain unconscious. If the influence of the cursed energy can be removed, Miss Tsumiki's brain will gradually recover. I will have Gardevoir complete it as soon as possible—"

Just then, the hospital room suddenly blazed with red light.

The source was the center of Gardevoir's brow.