A Mission?

"Brat, you asking for a beating?"

Shinsuke Zenin set down the stone he'd been carrying on his shoulder and strode toward Maki, who was making faces at him, his expression fierce.

"If I don't beat your butt black and blue today, you'll never learn why the flowers are so red."

She'd gotten bold enough to pull faces at him now, too.

"Ah! Sis, save me!"

"Ow!"

Maki turned to run, but accidentally bumped into someone.

She stumbled and fell on her bottom.

Maki scratched her head and looked up. It was Naoya Zenin, who often bullied the sisters. Her face went pale with fright, and she hurriedly scrambled up and ran to Shinsuke, wrapping her arms around his leg.

Shinsuke only liked scaring her. Naoya, on the other hand, really did bully them.

Naoya glanced at Maki and Maki, a trace of jealousy flashing in his eyes.

Why could those two useless sisters get so close to Big Brother Shinsuke?

The next moment, Naoya shifted his gaze to Shinsuke.

Shinsuke looked back at him, wondering who the kid was.

"B-Big Brother Shinsuke, hello. I'm Naoya Zenin. I came to deliver a message from the Family Head. He said Jujutsu High has assigned you a mission, and you can decide for yourself whether to take it."

Naoya's hands trembled as he held out the message to Shinsuke, a fervent look in his eyes.

That look—perfect. No wonder he was Big Brother Shinsuke. He was just as terrifying as ever.

"A mission?"

Shinsuke paused. Had they already gotten tired of paying him after only a year?

Ignoring Naoya's strange expression, he took the paper from him and scanned it.

"Heh."

"Interesting."

"Got it. You can go back now."

Shinsuke waved him away.

He also remembered that the kid was the son of that old man Naobito.

If he recalled correctly, the boy was a die-hard Toji fan.

"O-Okay."

Naoya turned to leave, walking stiffly.

He was practically bursting with excitement. He'd actually spoken with Big Brother Shinsuke!

Naoya's admiration for the strong had gotten a little too intense.

Maki had just breathed a sigh of relief when Naoya left, only to be lifted into the air by a large hand.

"Ah~ Cousin, I'm sorry!"

Maki's little feet swung in the air as she lowered her head and nervously poked her fingers together, looking sincerely apologetic.

"Bonk."

"If you make faces at me again, you won't get off so easily."

Shinsuke flicked her forehead with a bent finger before setting her down.

Maki covered her forehead, tears welling in her eyes—not because she felt wronged, but because it really hurt.

After dealing with Maki, Shinsuke finally turned to the mission Jujutsu High had given him.

They wanted him to take two students along on a curse-exorcism mission.

Was this a joke?

Still, he didn't refuse.

For one thing, he'd been taking Jujutsu High's salary for a year without doing anything, so he felt just a tiny bit bad. For another, this mission was easy, but the pay was good.

All he had to do was lead an exorcism mission. The students could handle the whole thing themselves, while he stepped in only if something went wrong and their lives were in danger.

Someone's birthday was coming up soon, so he could earn some extra cash and visit his nephew and niece while he was at it.

The next day, dressed simply in a black shirt and white pants, with three rods tucked into his waistband, he headed to Jujutsu High.

Meanwhile, two figures had already been waiting for a long time at the entrance to Jujutsu High.

"Why hasn't he shown up yet? Don't tell me he's stood us up."

Riko Amanai squatted down and plucked at the foxtail grass by the road, looking bored.

"He probably hasn't."

Kento Nanami stood perfectly straight, his side-parted bangs hanging over his forehead. His eyes were listless, and even as a student, he radiated the weariness of an office worker.

"So you're the two."

Shinsuke Zenin had appeared beside them at some point.

Nanami's normally listless eyes contracted.

When did he get here?!

He hadn't noticed him at all.

Nanami was already a Semi-Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer. After this mission, he would practically be guaranteed promotion to Grade 1.

Yet he hadn't sensed the man's presence in the slightest.

"Ah! It's you!"

Riko stood up and looked at Shinsuke, growing excited. "Y-You're the teacher leading this mission?"

Shinsuke turned his head toward Riko. "It's you, flower girl."

"You became a sorcerer?"

Shinsuke was a little puzzled. Weren't Star Plasma Vessels unable to awaken Cursed Techniques?

Well... there were exceptions, like that woman, Yuki Tsukumo.

"Hmph! Of course! A Special Grade Sorcerer helped me awaken my Cursed Technique! It's amazing!"

Riko raised her head proudly. At first, she'd planned to go back and live an ordinary life with Kuroi.

But Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru had worried that the Banjin Cult wouldn't give up, so they'd brought her to Jujutsu High and kept her safe.

Later, through a series of coincidences, Yuki Tsukumo helped her awaken her Cursed Technique. That was how she ended up becoming a sorcerer.

"Oh."

Shinsuke gave a brief reply and looked at Nanami.

"I'm Kento Nanami. And you are...?"

Nanami didn't recognize Shinsuke. He'd met most of the teachers at Jujutsu High, but he honestly didn't know this one.

"Shinsuke Zenin."

"I know, I know! You're the older brother of the guy who tried to assassinate me last time, right? Gojo and the others already told me."

Riko chimed in.

"You've done your homework. All right, enough chatter. Let's go. But first, I'm only here to lead the team. Whatever happens, don't factor my strength into your plans.

"I'll only step in one second before you die."

"Yeah, yeah, we know. You're acting like we can't handle it ourselves. If it weren't for..."

Riko seemed to remember something and trailed off, her eyes dimming slightly.

If not for what had happened to Yuu Hayama and Geto Suguru, they wouldn't have been assigned a teacher to lead them.

Shinsuke glanced at her but said nothing, turning to head for their destination.

He could more or less guess why.

Yuu Hayama's death had made Jujutsu High worry that their mission might take an unexpected turn—for example, a mission to exorcise a Grade 2 Curse could end up involving a Grade 1 Curse.

The mission was in a remote village. Villagers had reported that every night, terrifying sounds rang out through the village, like a beast tearing into something.

By the next morning, several villagers would be missing.

The initial assessment was that a curse was responsible, and that its grade was no higher than Grade 1.

Before long, the three of them reached the sparsely populated village. Since nightfall was still some time away, Riko and Nanami went to ask the villagers about the situation.

"Ma'am, could you tell us about the strange things that have happened around here lately?"

Riko, who was very outgoing, asked an old woman sitting beneath a tree in her courtyard.

"Huh?"

The old woman seemed hard of hearing and looked at Riko in confusion.

"Strange things, ma'am! Has anything unusual happened around here lately?"

Riko shouted.

"Oh, I've already eaten. Thank you, dear."

The old woman answered with complete seriousness.

"Oh, I said strange things! Have you seen anything like a monster?"

"Oh, I see. Poor girl, losing your parents so young. It's all right. There's no hardship in life that can't be overcome. Look at me—I'm an old woman living all alone, and I'm doing just fine."

The old woman looked at Riko with a hint of sympathy.

Such a lovely girl, and she'd lost her parents at such a young age.

"Pfft."

Leaning against the doorway, Shinsuke couldn't help laughing.

Nanami turned away, trying to hold it in.

"Oh, forget it! I'm done asking!"

Riko stamped her foot in frustration. "We'll just deal with it tonight!"

She'd finally worked up the nerve to take the initiative, only to get shut down this badly!

That damn curse—she'd tear it to pieces!