The Strongest's Defeat

Upon hearing that, Gojo Satoru's smiling face froze. A few seconds later, he spoke with some irritation.

"Seriously, that question again? Aren't you being a little too impatient?"

Of course, he could not answer.

Who was he? What goals did he have? What kind of future did he want? What path did he want to walk in the future?

Having not gone through everything that came later, he simply could not figure out those questions.

In Toho Tetsu's view, although the original Gojo could not understand it at this point, he could vaguely sense it.

That was why he decided to enroll in Jujutsu High. The price was undergoing the coming-of-age ceremony, and only then did he temporarily escape the cage of his clan.

Then, he met Geto Suguru—the first person who might become his companion and understand him.

In truth, he hated that self-righteous notion that Sorcerers should protect the weak, but he did not object to protecting the weak itself.

Then, he encountered the event that changed everything—the Star Plasma Vessel Incident.

Although that incident made him the strongest, it also made him realize that even the strongest had things they could not do.

But at the time, he only thought that perhaps he could not accomplish all of it because he was not strong enough. So he threw himself into even more missions and training.

The long-simmering clash of ideals continued to ferment, and the distance between them silently spread. By the time he noticed the crack had become impossible to mend, Geto Suguru had already gone to extremes, slaughtering ordinary people and even killing his own parents with his own hands.

Only after breaking with his closest friend on the streets of Shinjuku and returning to Jujutsu High did Gojo Satoru realize that no matter how strong he was, he could not change any of it. That was when he set foot upon the path he would later walk.

Of course, none of that was known to him now.

After Toho Tetsu's single remark had stunned him that day, he went home and thought about it for a long time, yet still found no answer. For the first time, he felt a faint sense of curiosity and confusion.

Just who was that unfamiliar boy?

Why had he been able to ask, upon their very first meeting, a question Gojo could not answer?

In response to his accusation, Toho Tetsu merely turned another page.

"Didn't you expose my shortcomings first? Consider this returning the favor. We're even now, right?"

Seeing that his expression had not changed in the slightest, Gojo Satoru smiled again. This time, however, it was no longer mocking or dismissive. He genuinely found it interesting.

"You really are an interesting guy. The next few years at Jujutsu High probably won't be too boring."

Toho Tetsu shook his head noncommittally.

"Not necessarily. What if I'm only pretending to be interesting, and it gets exposed later?"

"That is far more interesting than those old men putting on airs."

Watching their somewhat strange yet remarkably harmonious exchange, Geto Suguru felt puzzled.

Just moments ago, that Gojo Clan genius had been arrogant beyond belief, yet a single sentence had turned him into this. He even seemed to be... enjoying the conversation.

What exactly had happened between them?

And what, exactly, was that question?

All of a sudden, he developed a strong interest in these two fellow first-years.

Shoko Ieiri also shifted her gaze in their direction.

After all this time, it was her first time encountering someone like this.

When facing her, he responded with quietness and distance.

When facing the freshman named Geto Suguru, he responded with politeness and gentleness.

And when facing the incomparably arrogant heir of the Gojo Clan, he delivered a blow straight to the soul.

He was like a mirror, precisely reflecting something different depending on each person. But... how could a human being possibly be a mirror?

What kind of secret was that guy hiding?

Her fingers paused over her phone, unmoving for quite some time.

From three different perspectives, the three of them engraved the name "Toho Tetsu" firmly in their hearts at that same moment.

Meanwhile, the person being watched merely turned another page of his book, as though he did not care in the slightest about their earlier clash.

The classroom's atmosphere also shifted from its initial unfamiliar silence into a subtle quietness, with each of them weighing the others.

Soon, someone broke that atmosphere.

Yaga Masamichi pushed open the door and entered. When he saw their differing positions and the atmosphere that seemed to have already begun changing, his eyes flickered.

"Looks like you're all here. Perhaps you've already introduced yourselves before I arrived, correct?"

As he spoke, he glanced at the shattered Window beside them.

Gojo Satoru raised his hand high, his tone carrying its usual nonchalance.

"Yes, we've already gotten to know each other, so there shouldn't be any need for introductions. Let's get to the main point, Yaga-sensei."

Yaga Masamichi looked at him but did not respond. He merely walked to the podium and opened the folder in his hand.

"I'm your homeroom teacher, Yaga Masamichi. From now on, I will be responsible for your mission assignments, Sorcerer grade evaluations, and daily training."

Though his voice was not loud, it carried a steady, solemn weight.

"Jujutsu High is not an ordinary school. Anything you learn here may determine whether you survive in the future."

His gaze paused briefly on a certain white-haired figure.

"I know that some of you have already learned about these matters in advance, but that does not mean you have fully absorbed them. So you'd best put away any thoughts of half-assing this."

His eyes swept across the faces of the four students one by one.

"I have only one requirement for you: come back alive after every mission. The rest, you can learn slowly."

Though he said it plainly, his words carried an impossible-to-ignore weight, causing the classroom's loose atmosphere to turn serious and solid.

Even Gojo Satoru put away that infuriating smile and sat a little straighter than before.

Over the following period, he briefly explained matters related to the school, such as the mission system, Sorcerer grades, the relationship between the school and Jujutsu Headquarters, and arrangements for their upcoming adjustment period.

Toho Tetsu listened and nodded.

Although they had not interacted much, Yaga Masamichi truly was as he had appeared in the original work: serious and conscientious, responsible toward his students, though not very skilled at expressing himself due to his personality.

He wondered whether Yaga had already started making Panda by this point.

Thinking of that stern teacher carving an adorable panda with a straight face, the corner of his mouth could not help twitching upward.

That made Gojo Satoru, who had been watching him, somewhat curious. It was rather strange to suddenly make that sort of expression in such a serious setting.

Just as he was about to ask, "What are you laughing at?" Yaga's gaze pinned him back in place.

"That is roughly everything. Specific mission assignments will be issued after your adjustment period ends."

As he spoke, he closed the folder.

"That will be all for today. You may move freely."

Upon hearing that it was finally over, a certain white-haired boy let out a breath of relief. He immediately stood up from his seat and stretched.

"Finally. Then I'll be going first. See you tomorrow?"

As he spoke, he prepared to turn and leave, but Yaga Masamichi suddenly stopped him.

"Wait. There is one more thing before you leave."

"Hm?"

The four of them cast puzzled looks at him, while he merely pointed at the smashed Window at the front of the classroom.

"Before leaving, fix that Window for me. I don't care how you do it. Tape it together, fill it with glue, nail a wooden board over it—whatever. In any case, when you come tomorrow, I need to see it intact."

After saying that, he added as if for emphasis.

"No cursed techniques, and no asking an Assistant Supervisor for help. Just the four of you."

"..."

The classroom fell silent for a moment.

The smile on Gojo Satoru's face cracked for the first time, nearly failing to hold. Geto Suguru's mouth twitched slightly as well, while Shoko sighed resignedly and slipped her phone into her pocket.

Though he felt somewhat like an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire, Toho Tetsu could only put away his book.

Once the culprit realized Yaga was not joking, he opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something. In the end, however, he merely sighed helplessly and made a resigned declaration.

"Fine."

Yaga Masamichi nodded and left the classroom, leaving the four of them silently staring at the damaged Window.

After a long while, Gojo Satoru finally spoke somewhat awkwardly.

"So... what do we do?"

Because of his exceptional talent and unique status, he had never done any mundane task related to daily life. Now that he was forbidden from using cursed techniques, he genuinely had no idea where to start.

The matter left him feeling a little lost.

Seeing his blank look, Geto Suguru unexpectedly found it somewhat amusing.

He realized that this guy, who had just arrogantly declared himself the strongest, seemed to have a side no different from an ordinary person.

Toho Tetsu had already walked over to the Window.

"Whatever the case, let's gather up the fragments first. Then we can buy some tape, or maybe transparent acrylic sheets, and find a way to patch it up."

"Fine."

Gojo Satoru sighed and went to find a suitable container. Shoko Ieiri had already crouched down and begun picking up the shattered glass scattered across the floor. Without lifting her head, she said, "We'd better hurry. I don't want to be stuck here until dark."

Geto Suguru rolled up his sleeves and walked over as well. He smiled and nodded at them, his smile much more natural than it had been at the beginning.

Looking at the three of them, Toho Tetsu's eyes flickered. He suddenly felt that... perhaps even many years from now, he would not forget the sight of this day.