All that remained were fragments of memories: the deafening explosions, the flames, the chaotic crush of the crowd, and the "reasonable" figure reported in the news.
"Reiko... Reiko disappeared in the explosion..." A middle-aged man stood dazed outside the cordon, staring at the vast, suffocating "plain" in the distance. His eyes were vacant as he repeated the implanted memory.
His daughter had excitedly gone out last night to attend Shibuya's "super-sized Halloween parade." She had never come home.
Deep down, he felt that something was wrong. Overwhelming grief and unease gnawed at him, but the tiny flame of suspicion was firmly smothered by the ever-present correction of his memories.
"A natural gas pipeline explosion?" Zenin Maki pushed up her glasses. Standing atop a relatively intact high-rise, she looked down at the hellish scene below, the corner of her mouth curling into a chilling smile.
She could clearly see Jujutsu Sorcerers darting through the depths of the rubble like ghosts, clearing away the all-too-obvious severed limbs and traces of curses.
In the distance, huge construction machines had already begun symbolic work along the edge of the "plain," driven by the authorities. "What... a spectacular fireworks display."
Nanami Kento walked silently down an alley filled with the smell of disinfectant and blood. Glass shards and bits of synthetic fiber crunched underfoot.
A few bloodstained Halloween decorations were caught in a twisted window frame, swaying in the breeze. He straightened his crooked tie, his eyes behind the lenses weary yet sharp.
If the mastermind behind the Shibuya Incident survived, similar events would happen in Tokyo again.
"Ugh, when can I take a vacation to Malaysia?" Nanami Kento rubbed his brow wearily.
"Reconstruction! Tokyo Metropolis governor announces the establishment of the Shibuya Special Reconstruction Headquarters!" "Experts say rare geological activity, combined with aging utility pipes, caused the tragedy!" "A memorial event for citizens will be held tomorrow!"...
One news report after another scrolled across the screen, like thick layers of paint trying to cover up those 23,411 silent cries.
None of this had disturbed Chen Tian and Kitagawa's sweet morning in the slightest.
Kitagawa raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight slipping past the curtains and slowly opened them. "Ahh~ It's morning already~"
She let out a drowsy murmur, then reached to the side, hoping to hug her boyfriend and fall back asleep. Her hand met empty space.
Kitagawa opened her eyes when she felt no sign of Chen Tian beside her. He was already out of bed, and the realization brought her fully awake. Only then did she catch the faint scent of food.
"Tian Jun?" Kitagawa called softly, her voice still thick with sleep.
She threw off the covers and padded barefoot across the soft carpet, following the aroma toward the kitchen.
Chen Tian was wearing an apron, focused on cooking at the stove. The pan-fried dumplings sizzled in the pan as their white wrappers slowly turned golden brown, glistening enticingly.
"You're awake." Chen Tian noticed her and smiled over his shoulder. "Go wash up. Breakfast will be ready soon."
Kitagawa walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his back. "Why are you up so early? You were so tired last night..."
Chen Tian turned slightly and kissed her forehead. "I wanted to make you breakfast. You were sleeping so soundly last night, I didn't want to wake you."
By the time Kitagawa finished washing up and returned to the dining room, the table was already covered with an array of delicacies: pan-fried dumplings, buns, a fruit and vegetable salad, and steaming milk.
They sat across from each other and enjoyed the peaceful moment. Kitagawa took a bite of a bun and said contentedly, "This is so good! Your cooking's gotten even better, Chen Tian."
Chen Tian smiled at her. "If you like it, eat as much as you want."
Outside, people went about their business as usual. No one knew what had really happened behind the scenes in Shibuya last night.
Kitagawa happily bit into a pan-fried dumpling. Its golden, crispy wrapper crumbled between her teeth, and the savory juices, mingled with the sweetness of cabbage, filled her mouth.
Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, warming the freshly laid linen tablecloth.
"...The latest developments in the Shibuya natural gas explosion: the death toll has risen to fifteen..."
The calm, almost cold voice of a female news anchor cut in without warning.
Kitagawa abruptly stopped chewing.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her chopsticks, turning her knuckles white.
She lifted her head and looked across the steam at Chen Tian.
"Tian Jun," she said more quietly, her voice still languid from breakfast, yet tinged with tension. "Last night... even after you went there, so many people still died?"
When Chen Tian returned last night, the faint metallic smell and chill clinging to him had been easily covered by the steam in the bathroom and his burning embrace.
He hadn't even touched the late-night snack she'd carefully prepared. Instead, he'd swept her into the warm water and an even more intense whirlpool, melting every question she wanted to ask into gasps.
Chen Tian's hand holding the glass of milk paused for an instant. The light along the rim flickered between his fingers.
His eyelids lowered slightly, his gaze resting on the milky liquid swaying in the glass. His voice was as calm as if he were describing yesterday's weather.
"By the time I got there, things had already descended into chaos."
He didn't explain the grotesque Cursed Spirits, the rampaging King of Curses, the terrifying Domain that had annihilated half a city block, or the spatial slash that could cut through anything. He used only the vague word "chaos."
The glow that food and sunlight had just brought to Kitagawa's face was instantly wiped away, leaving her crestfallen.
Her boyfriend might be a "hero" with extraordinary powers, but he still couldn't stop the death toll from climbing relentlessly.
A small, helpless disappointment gnawed at her heart. She looked at Chen Tian's flawless profile. He was so calm, as if the news on TV were about some distant, unfamiliar country.
Chen Tian set down his glass of milk.
He hadn't cared about the figure of fifteen on the TV. Whether it was ten or five thousand, it was all just background noise to him. But the sight of Kitagawa's downcast face and whitening knuckles made his brows knit almost imperceptibly.
He stood up, walked around the table, and, as Kitagawa lowered her gaze, slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back. He lifted her effortlessly from her chair.
"Ah!" The sudden loss of balance made Kitagawa gasp. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
Chen Tian carried her back to his chair and settled her on his lap, as gently as if she were a fragile treasure.
His strong arms encircled her. He brushed his chin against the crown of her head, warm breath passing over her ear.
"Marin," he said in a low voice, his steady tone soothing her like a balm and drowning out the news anchor's formulaic report. "At least the others were saved."
The simple words flowed into her heart like a warm current.
Her little flicker of disappointment and uncertainty was swept away by his reassuring embrace and the conviction in his voice.
Her carefree nature immediately took over again. Her eyes lit up like stars.
"Of course!" She waved her little fist, a big smile blooming on her face as her earlier gloom vanished. "Tian Jun is the best!"
She wriggled excitedly, settling into a more comfortable position on Chen Tian's lap. Looking up at him with shining eyes, she said, "Oh, right! Are you going to keep your Superhero identity a secret? Like Batman and Spider-Man? That's so cool!"
Chen Tian laughed at her sudden leap in thought, his chest trembling slightly.
He lifted a hand and affectionately ruffled her fluffy hair with his callused fingertips, making her head wobble.
"Eat up." He picked up the half-full glass of warm milk and put it in her hand, interrupting her musings about keeping a Superhero identity secret. "The milk's getting cold. Don't forget, you have a stage rehearsal today."
"Oh, right!" Kitagawa finally remembered what she had to do. She hurriedly hugged the glass and took a big gulp, leaving a faint white ring around her lips.
She obediently slid off Chen Tian's lap and sat back in her chair.
Outside, the sunlight was beautiful, and the news continued reporting the "tragedy" that had claimed fifteen lives.
In the dining room, the two exchanged smiles, as if the brief gloom had never been there.
The aroma of pan-fried dumplings, the warmth of milk, and the way Chen Tian's eyes focused only on her made up a small but unbreakable world.
The sweet morning carried on.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, in a hidden place.
Paper doors stood like silent silhouettes in the darkness. The only light pierced the murky air below, illuminating a small patch of emptiness.
Several aged voices clashed in the dark.
"Any reliable information on the man who appeared in Shibuya?" one voice rasped, like dry leaves scraping together.
"That Zenin girl let something slip... He's a celebrity," another voice drawled.
"We can't find out much. There's no Cursed Energy coming off him. Usually... he's just an ordinary person."
"An ordinary person?" A third voice suddenly rose, sharp and shrill. "Fushiguro Megumi saw it with his own eyes! That guy sliced Mahoraga into mincemeat! Kusukabe sent word, too. Even Sukuna couldn't get the better of him!"
"So what do you want to do?" asked the first voice.
"Exorcise him? Ha!" The shrill voice was full of mockery. "Who's going to do it? Satoru Gojo is still stuck in the Back of the Prison Realm! Or are we supposed to beg Sukuna to step in? Do you think he can do it?!"
The argument swelled in the cramped darkness, like a pack of vultures fighting over scraps. Just then, a deep voice, resonant as an ancient bell, crashed over them.
It wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of a thousand jun, instantly silencing all the clamor.
"Bickering like common rabble." The deep voice rebuked them coldly. "Have you forgotten who you are? Where is your dignity?"
Silence fell in the darkness. Only the dust beneath the light remained, suspended uneasily under the invisible pressure.
In the dim light, the murky air seemed to freeze. The deep, aged voice crushed the silence, carrying unquestionable authority.
"Regarding that 'Nero,'" the voice paused. "Have Zenin Maki and Nanami Kento make contact. As for Sukuna's vessel and Satoru Gojo..."
The voice showed no emotion as it issued one cold order after another.
"First, confirm that Geto Suguru is alive, then declare him dead once more."
"Second, designate Satoru Gojo a co-conspirator in the Shibuya Incident and permanently expel him from the Curse world. Anyone who attempts to release the seal will be treated as an accomplice."
"Third, designate Yaga Masamichi as having incited Satoru Gojo and Geto Suguru to cause the incident. Sentence him to death."
"Fourth, execute Yuji Itadori immediately."
"Fifth, assign Yuta Okkotsu to execute Yuji Itadori."
"Sixth, assign Zenin Maki and Nanami Kento to make contact with the variable in the Shibuya Incident—Nero."
The last word fell like a cold seal stamped onto an invisible verdict.
Not a sound stirred in the darkness. The dust settled.
After a faint stir of air, the gloom returned to complete silence. The decision had been made. No one answered, and no one questioned it.
Execution was the only way forward.
Jujutsu World's Two Paths
The dressing room reeked of hairspray, and the lights were painfully bright. Chen Tian was sprawled on the sofa, his long legs resting lazily in front of him. He held a document loosely in one hand, its edges already curled.
Two people stood opposite him.
Nanami Kento was dressed in a suit, his blond hair combed neatly into place. His expression was professionally stern, and his brow was habitually furrowed, as if he were always dealing with some aggravating problem.
Zenin Maki, beside him, was in a completely different state. She held her breath, all her usual aloof sharpness gone. Her eyes behind her glasses were glued to Chen Tian, shining like a charge light. Her fingers anxiously twisted the hem of her Jujutsu High uniform, and her face was suspiciously red. She looked exactly like a die-hard fan whose brain had short-circuited after seeing her idol.
Chen Tian glanced at the document, a token of the Jujutsu Higher-Ups' "goodwill." The corner of his mouth curled in a humorless smile. He didn't even lift his eyes.
"The Jujutsu Higher-Ups sent you to recruit me?" he asked the air.
"Yes." Nanami Kento's voice was flat and businesslike. "The higher-ups want to join forces against Geto Suguru." His tone was utterly emotionless, as if he were simply going through the motions and couldn't wait to be done.
Chen Tian scoffed, making no effort to hide his disdain. He flicked his wrist, sending the document in an arc. It smacked into the vanity and scattered.
"Not interested." The three words were cold and decisive.
Nanami Kento wasn't surprised. He even gave a barely perceptible nod—troublesome task over. Good.
Chen Tian stood up and stretched as if no one else were there, his bones cracking. He turned to Maki, his expression instantly switching to the bright, approachable smile of a celebrity greeting his fans, treating Nanami like thin air. "Since you're here," he said cheerfully, "stay and listen to the concert before you leave."
Before he had finished speaking, he walked over to the wall, grabbed the stylish electric guitar, and swung its strap over his shoulder in one smooth motion.
He pushed open the door, leaving the dressing room's bright lights behind. The corridor outside was dim. Only the faint roar from the stage ahead reached him—the frenzied cries of tens of thousands growing clearer by the second.
Chen Tian strode forward without slowing, like a leopard pouncing on its target, heading straight for the boundary between the darkness and light that was about to erupt.
The heavy curtain flew open!
A deafening roar of screams engulfed him. "NE—RO—!!!"
Blinding spotlights slashed down like swords, pinning him to the center of the stage.
Chen Tian had an electric guitar slung over his back, his face wearing his trademark wild smile, the look of someone in complete control.
No chatter. No hesitation. His fingers raked across the strings!
"TWANG—!!!"
A sharp, explosive note crashed like thunder, instantly crushing all the clamor! A heartbeat-thumping drumbeat followed, while the bass roared and shook the floor!
The stage lights burst into a dazzling display! White, red, and blue beams churned wildly, cutting across countless frenzied, contorted faces below. The giant speaker array blasted out deafening waves of sound, like invisible fists slamming into everyone in the crowd!
Chen Tian was the eye of the storm onstage! He whipped his head around, sweat flying beneath the harsh lights. His fingers became a blur across the fretboard, sliding, plucking, and scraping as a dense, vicious metal riff poured down like a torrential storm!
On the giant screen, the lights carved out his sharp profile. Sweat ran along his jaw, his eyes were like knives, and his lips held a smile that was almost wicked in its confidence.
The tense, mysterious, yet explosive intro flowed out. Chen Tian pressed his lips to the microphone, and his high, piercing voice tore through the sound. It was the opening theme from the Jujutsu Kaisen anime in his previous life, Kaikai Kitan:
Images of form and formlessness, born of human nature
False bravado, visions, and inhuman things
Before you continue