Jujutsu High

The sound of footsteps striking the floor rang out without pause as the two walked one behind the other through Jujutsu High's corridors. Neither spoke, leaving the atmosphere strangely silent.

What Utahime Iori was thinking about were the data she had just seen, along with the whole pile of troublesome tasks she had been assigned.

As for Toho Tetsu, he was considering how to strike up a conversation with her.

After leaving that office, he had noticed that Utahime seemed to be in a somewhat bad mood for some reason. He could understand it, though. Being suddenly saddled with a newcomer she was required to guide was certainly a headache.

He had encountered situations like this in his previous life while working. A low-maintenance newcomer was fine, but a troublesome one could make a person want to cry without tears.

Still, no matter what, he wanted to build a good relationship with Utahime Iori.

With that in mind, he spoke first.

"Senior, I'm really sorry to trouble you with my matters."

Hearing him, the preoccupied girl snapped back to her senses.

"What did you call me?"

"Senior, of course."

Seeing how earnest he looked, Utahime's heart gave an inexplicable little tremor. Only then did she realize she had been silent for so long that she had forgotten everything Yaga Masamichi had told her.

Thinking of that, she gave an embarrassed dry cough.

"Sorry, I was thinking about something. I didn't mean to leave you hanging."

"It's all right, Senior. I understand. Being suddenly entrusted with such a complicated and troublesome task would make me feel helpless too."

Toho merely smiled, but his use of "Senior" and his understanding words brightened her mood again.

She hurriedly turned her gaze aside and began somewhat stiffly introducing matters related to Jujutsu High.

"First, I think I should make a formal introduction. My name is Utahime Iori, and I'm a second-year student at Jujutsu High. So calling me Senior isn't really a problem."

As she said this, she seemed to be explaining something—or perhaps finding a suitable reason for his earlier form of address and her own reaction.

But that only made Toho smile again.

That left her a little dissatisfied, though she continued introducing the school.

"Jujutsu High has three grades. Though that may sound like a lot, there are only a little over ten students in the school right now.

"Most of the third-year seniors are away from school and won't be returning. There aren't any first-years at all, and there are only Mei Mei and me in the second year."

When she mentioned that classmate, she deliberately added a few more words.

"As you heard in the office earlier, Mei Mei is your other supervisor. She'll be responsible for supervising you and teaching you alongside me."

She tilted her head to glance at Toho, her gaze carrying an indescribable meaning.

"She's very strong, much stronger than I am. She just likes money a little too much. I'm not really sure why, but you'd better not act too strangely because of that."

Halfway through, she seemed to recall something and added,

"Teacher Yaga was busy recruiting students for a while before this. I heard from some Assistant Supervisors that they'd probably settled on three in the end. So if you can enroll this year, you'll have three classmates. That's already pretty good."

Listening to her, Toho fell into thought.

Yaga Masamichi had recruited three students, which happened to match the trio from the original story. Then the current time should be before the Hidden Inventory Arc.

That was good. It would be easier for him to form relationships with them, and easier to change certain things.

Unaware that he had drifted off, Utahime continued her introduction on her own.

"Next is an introduction to some of the facilities and locations."

She raised a hand and pointed toward the other end of the corridor.

"That way is the training ground. There are two in total, one indoor and one outdoor. They're mainly used for practical combat classes, though students can also practice freely there in their spare time. Just pay attention to the usage order on the notice board."

After walking a few more steps, she saw a somewhat run-down building in the distance, and a trace of reminiscence appeared in her eyes.

"That's where paper-based knowledge is taught. Theory classes and Jujutsu knowledge classes are both held there. The cafeteria is behind that building. Meal times are fixed, so if you miss them, you'll have to figure something out yourself."

When they reached the middle of the corridor, two separate buildings standing far apart from each other could already be seen in the distance.

"Those are the dormitories. According to the rules, all Jujutsu High students must live in the dorms, but since the number of students has never been very high, they're actually quite empty.

"You can contact the dorm manager later. They should have already received word that a new student is arriving."

After finishing the easy part, Utahime's expression immediately turned serious, and her voice took on a note of earnest warning.

"However, there are a few places you need to be especially careful about. First is the tower in the northwest. That's where the higher-ups of the school and the Jujutsu Society hold meetings and discuss important matters. If you enter it, you'll immediately receive a demerit."

"Then there are the woods around the outer edge of the back mountain. There aren't any wild animals inside, but there are a large number of wild low-grade Cursed Spirits. Students are not allowed to enter alone. It is only open during practical combat training led by teachers."

After saying that, she hesitated, as though she wanted to say more, but ultimately held it back.

She had originally wanted to talk to the junior before her about the Cursed Warehouse and the Tombs of the Star Corridor, but he could not come into contact with those things yet. She would tell him when there was a chance later.

By then, the two had reached the end of the corridor. The basic introduction was complete, and it was time to part ways.

Yet after falling silent for a moment, Utahime suddenly spoke in a tone of curiosity and probing.

"By the way... how exactly did you land a Black Flash at the subway station?"

Hearing the question, Toho looked at her and saw the curiosity and anticipation in her eyes. After pausing, he replied in an equally probing tone.

"I think I already answered Teacher Yaga's question about that. I truly don't know why I was able to do something like that. But why are you suddenly asking, Senior?"

Hearing his question, Utahime instinctively fell silent. She wanted to skip over the topic, but after hesitating, she looked at him again.

Over the past few years, she had accumulated many questions and emotions in her heart, yet she was too embarrassed to tell Mei Mei, her classmate, and unable to confide in anyone else.

This Toho Tetsu... somehow looked unexpectedly pleasing to the eye. He also seemed like the sort who was good at keeping secrets. Besides, she might graduate directly next year. Perhaps she could discuss it a little?

With that thought, she quietly revealed her feelings.

"Because... it's already been two years. My classmate's strength is now close to that of a Grade 1 Sorcerer, but I'm still stuck at Semi-Grade 2. My Cursed Technique only boosts other people. If possible, I want to gain more ways to become stronger."

As she spoke, her low spirits seemed almost thick enough to burst from her body.

Looking at her like this, Toho felt somewhat moved.

In his previous life, when many people spoke of Utahime, they thought of a buff master: cold on the outside but warm within, tsundere and sharp-tongued, highly self-respecting, professional and rigorous, yet somewhat rigid and conservative.

But he saw her somewhat differently.

Because Utahime's ability could not be directly used in combat and could only help others, she had to act alongside other people most of the time.

Over time, she would begin doubting herself, wondering whether her existence was useful. It might not reach the point of inferiority, but she definitely had a tendency toward lacking confidence.

That was apparent from how excessively she emphasized her status as a senior, and how she would get angry and flustered whenever Gojo Satoru mocked her for being weak.

But he believed that way of thinking was wrong.

"Senior, you're actually very strong."

"Eh?"