The first mission

The last class of the morning was Japanese.

When the elderly teacher in reading glasses finally closed his textbook and said, in his slow, measured voice, "That will be all for today," something seemed to loosen throughout the classroom.

The moment the door closed, three figures slumped at once.

Shoko leaned sideways, resting limply against Zhiyan's shoulder. Her eyes were half closed, her long lashes casting small shadows beneath them. She looked so languid that she might fall asleep at any moment.

Her hand, however, was remarkably nimble.

It slipped into Zhiyan's uniform pocket and, with practiced ease, fished out two lollipops-strawberry and apple. Her slender fingers deftly peeled off the wrappers. She popped the strawberry one into her own mouth first, then held the apple one to his lips.

Zhiyan turned his head slightly to look at her.

Shoko still had her eyes half closed. Without even looking at him, she gently tapped the lollipop against his lips.

The gesture came as naturally as if she had done it countless times.

Zhiyan's gaze softened. He opened his mouth and took the lollipop between his teeth.

Only then did Shoko withdraw her hand in satisfaction and settle back against his shoulder. With her cheek slightly puffed out around the candy, her profile looked a little more childish than usual.

Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing them both in a warm glow.

Things were nowhere near as peaceful on the other side.

Satoru Gojo sprawled across his desk, his face pressed against its cool surface and his arms spread wide, like a big white cat melted by the sun. His white hair lay in a disheveled fringe across his forehead. His eyes were barely open, and feeble groans escaped his mouth.

"Ugh... it's finally over... I'm dying..."

Wana was hardly doing any better.

She lay across her desk with her head buried in her folded arms, leaving only her eyes visible. They were utterly lifeless, staring blankly ahead as though her soul had already drifted out of her body.

"I thought... Jujutsu High would be different from home..." Her muffled voice held a trace of utter despair. "But there are still so many... boring classes..."

Satoru Gojo lifted his head a little off the desk and turned toward her with difficulty.

"Right? Right?! I thought we'd get to fight and exorcise cursed spirits every day once we got here! But what did we get? Japanese! History! Ethics! What the hell is all this?!"

Wana agreed weakly.

"Exactly... if I'd known, I wouldn't have come..."

They exchanged a glance and, for once, reached a shared conclusion-

Classes were the most painful thing in the world.

Sitting nearby, Suguru Geto couldn't help laughing at the two boneless heaps.

He turned toward Xian Di.

"What do you think, Kamo?"

Kamo Xian Di sat upright in his seat. He took a packet of good-quality goji berries from his pocket, poured some into his cup, added hot water, and blew gently before taking a sip with obvious enjoyment. For once, he wasn't stubbornly sticking to tea.

His bearing was as composed as ever, his expression as calm as ever, as though the two Japanese lessons had left him entirely unaffected.

"It was all right," he said leisurely.

Suguru Geto smiled. This guy really was an expert in healthy living.

"You really are... unflappable, Kamo."

He looked over toward Zhiyan.

With the lollipop in his mouth, Zhiyan was looking down at something-probably his notes from class. His expression was calm, without the slightest hint of fatigue, as though Japanese class had been just another part of his day.

Shoko leaned against his shoulder, her eyes now fully closed, her breathing long and even.

Had she fallen asleep?

Suguru Geto raised his eyebrows slightly.

There was something indescribably harmonious about those two, and something indescribably... enviable.

Satoru Gojo finally struggled upright and rubbed his stiff face.

"Hey, why do you think we have to take these classes at Jujutsu High?" He looked at Suguru Geto. "Shouldn't they just teach us how to exorcise cursed spirits?"

Suguru Geto considered it before answering gently.

"Probably because they don't want us becoming meatheads who only know how to fight."

Satoru Gojo blinked.

"Meatheads? Do I look like a meathead?"

Wana lifted her head from her arms and glanced at him.

"Yes."

Satoru Gojo hastened to defend himself.

"No, I don't!"

Wana stuck out her tongue and lay back down.

With Wana ignoring him, Satoru Gojo had no choice but to resume complaining.

"Even if they don't want us becoming meatheads, do we really need this many theory classes? What good is Japanese? It's not like I'm going to become a writer!"

Suguru Geto explained patiently.

"Jujutsu sorcerers have to write reports too. We need to write summaries after missions, keep records of exorcisms, and submit those documents for promotions and grade assessments later on. If your Japanese is so bad that nobody can understand what you write, you're the one who'll have to deal with the trouble."

Satoru Gojo froze.

"...That's a thing too?"

Suguru Geto nodded with a smile.

"It is."

Satoru Gojo's expression grew complicated.

He fell silent for a few seconds, then muttered under his breath.

"Then I'll get someone to write them for me."

Wana lifted her head. This time, instead of snapping at him, she gave it some serious thought.

"...That actually sounds like a good idea."

Satoru Gojo's eyes lit up.

"Right? Right?! Great minds think alike!"

They exchanged a glance, wearing matching expressions of rare mutual appreciation.

Watching them, Suguru Geto shook his head helplessly.

He was about to speak when the classroom door suddenly slid open.

Whoosh-

The sound wasn't loud, but everyone stopped what they were doing.

Someone walked in.

Tall, broad, and wearing sunglasses.

Masamichi Yaga.

The lazy expression on Satoru Gojo's face instantly froze.

He hadn't yet had time to straighten up from his sprawl in the chair. He remained halfway between sitting and reclining, his mouth still open, ready to continue complaining.

Now he simply froze in place.

Masamichi Yaga entered the classroom and stopped in front of the lectern.

His gaze swept across the room.

Across Satoru Gojo.

Across Wana.

Across Shoko, asleep against Zhiyan.

Across Kamo Xian Di, holding his teacup.

Across Suguru Geto, smiling gently.

Across Zhiyan, studying his notes with a lollipop in his mouth.

Then he removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of sharp eyes.

There was a measure of resignation in his gaze, and a measure of understanding.

"Looks like this morning's classes put you through the wringer."

Satoru Gojo immediately sat bolt upright, as fast as if he were spring-loaded.

"N-no! We're not tired at all!"

Wana straightened up too, nodding emphatically.

"Exactly! We're full of energy!"

Watching their painfully obvious attempts to cover up, Masamichi Yaga raised a hand to signal that they could relax. These two little menaces could stop pretending to be well-behaved. He would sooner believe cursed spirits would cease to exist than believe they had paid attention in class.

"All right, drop the act."

Satoru Gojo and Wana exchanged a glance, then slowly slumped back down.

But Satoru Gojo's eyes remained bright as he watched Masamichi Yaga.

"Mr. Yaga, if you're here at this hour, does that mean something important's come up?"

Masamichi Yaga glanced at him.

"How do you know it's important?"

Satoru Gojo answered with absolute confidence.

"Because you normally come during the first class of the morning! If you're here now, something unusual must have happened!"

Masamichi Yaga was silent for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"Something has, yes."

Satoru Gojo's eyes grew even brighter.

"What is it? What is it?"

Rather than answer directly, Masamichi Yaga looked at everyone.

"Sit up straight."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an authority that brooked no defiance.

Satoru Gojo was the first to straighten up.

Wana sat upright too.

Suguru Geto's eyes widened slightly, and he adjusted his posture.

Xian Di set down his teacup and shifted slightly in his seat as well.

Zhiyan gently moved his shoulder.

Shoko blearily opened her eyes.

"...Hmm?"

Zhiyan looked down at her.

"Mr. Yaga's here."

Shoko blinked and slowly sat upright. The lollipop was still in her mouth, making her cheek bulge slightly and leaving her looking a little cuter than usual.

Masamichi Yaga looked at the boys and girls before him, a touch of emotion in his gaze.

A month had passed since school began.

He had watched them grow, watched them learn to work together, watched them doze through classes, and watched them sweat on the training ground.

He knew they had been waiting a long time for this moment. If they had to wait any longer, he genuinely feared Satoru Gojo and Wana would tear the school apart.

He spoke.

"We have a mission."

The classroom fell silent for a moment.

Then-

"Really?!"

Satoru Gojo shot to his feet, his eyes shining like two stars.

"What kind of mission? Where are we going? What cursed spirits are we fighting?"

Wana stood up too, her small face brimming with excitement.

"Finally! We finally have something to do!"

Suguru Geto remained seated, but a new spark lit his gentle eyes.

The corners of Xian Di's lips lifted slightly.

Zhiyan's expression barely changed. He simply gave Shoko, who was about to drift off again, a gentle shake to wake her.

Shoko rubbed her sleepy eyes, then took the lollipop out of her mouth and looked at Masamichi Yaga.

Looking at the students who had finally "come back to life," Masamichi Yaga smiled.

"Sit down," he said.

Satoru Gojo obediently sat, but his eyes remained startlingly bright.

Only then did Masamichi Yaga begin his explanation.

"The mission site is an abandoned factory within Tokyo. According to reports, there have been signs of cursed spirit activity over the past few days, and nearby residents have reported hearing strange noises. A preliminary investigation indicates several grade 2 cursed spirits."

He paused.

"Your assignment is to go to the site, confirm the cursed spirits' grades, and exorcise them."

Satoru Gojo immediately raised his hand.

"I'll go! I'll go!"

Masamichi Yaga glanced at him.

"What's the rush?"

Satoru Gojo answered as though it were obvious.

"I've been cooped up for a whole month! If I don't get some action soon, I'm going to rust!"

Wana chimed in beside him.

"Exactly! I want to go too!"

Masamichi Yaga ignored their clamoring and looked at the whole group.

"You'll be going on this mission together."

Satoru Gojo paused.

"Together?"

Masamichi Yaga nodded.

"It's your first mission. You don't need to act alone. Go together and watch each other's backs. It'll be a good chance to test what you've learned this past month."

His gaze swept across their faces.

"Any questions?"

Satoru Gojo answered first.

"Nope!"

Wana followed right after him.

"Nope!"

Suguru Geto smiled gently.

"No questions."

Xian Di nodded.

"That works."

Zhiyan looked as calm as ever.

"All right."

Shoko popped her lollipop back into her mouth and raised her hand, her words muffled.

"Mr. Yaga, can I go along to keep an eye on them?"

Masamichi Yaga looked at her and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"You can... but you won't take part in combat. You'll handle support from the rear and emergency treatment. Can you do that?"

Shoko nodded.

"Understood."

Masamichi Yaga nodded in satisfaction.

"Good."

He glanced at the clock on the wall.

"You have one hour to prepare. Bring all your equipment and meet at the school gates in an hour."

He turned and headed out.

When he reached the door, he stopped again.

He looked back, his gaze settling on Satoru Gojo.

"Satoru Gojo."

Satoru Gojo immediately sat up straight.

"Yes!"

Masamichi Yaga looked at him and was silent for a second.

"Don't get too excited. Missions aren't a game. Don't do anything reckless."

Satoru Gojo blinked, then broke into a wide, sincere smile.

"Got it!"

Masamichi Yaga shook his head, opened the door, and walked out.

The moment the door closed, cheers erupted in the classroom.

"Finally-"

Satoru Gojo jumped up and punched the air.

"We finally get to fight!"

Wana jumped up too.

"I'm going too! I'm going too! I want to fight cursed spirits!"

The two exchanged a look and, for once, didn't argue. Instead, they high-fived.

Suguru Geto watched them. They really were full of energy.

He turned to Xian Di.

"Kamo, are you nervous about your first mission?"

Xian Di picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"No."

Suguru Geto raised an eyebrow.

"You're that calm?"

Xian Di set down his teacup and glanced at him.

"Are you nervous?"

Suguru Geto thought for a moment, then nodded.

"A little."

Xian Di spoke with understanding.

"It's fine. You'll get used to it after a few missions."

Meanwhile, Zhiyan stood up and looked at Shoko.

Shoko stood up too and tossed her lollipop stick into the trash.

"Let's go back and get ready."

Zhiyan nodded.

The two headed out together.

As they passed Satoru Gojo, he grabbed Zhiyan's sleeve.

"Zhiyan, Zhiyan! What kind of cursed spirit do you think we'll run into on this mission? Will it be really strong? Will the fight be exciting?"

Zhiyan glanced at him.

"We'll find out when we get there."

Satoru Gojo blinked.

"Can't you say a little more than that?"

Zhiyan thought for a moment.

Then he spoke.

"Don't get too excited. Missions aren't a game."

Satoru Gojo froze.

Why did that sound so familiar?

Then he remembered-Masamichi Yaga had just said that!

He stared at Zhiyan, his eyes wide.

"Naoya Zenin! You're brushing me off!"

Zhiyan didn't deny it. He simply looked at him with a faint smile.

Then he took Shoko's hand and continued out.

Satoru Gojo stood there, staring after him for several seconds.

Then he laughed.

"Tch. All reserved on the outside."

Wana came over.

"What did you say?"

Satoru Gojo glanced at her.

"I was talking about your brother."

Wana looked puzzled.

"What about my brother?"

Satoru Gojo shook his head.

"Nothing. Come on, let's get ready!"

The two rushed out together.

Suguru Geto and Xian Di followed behind. Watching the two figures ahead, who looked as excited as if they were going on a picnic, they exchanged a smile.

"Let's go," Suguru Geto said.

Xian Di nodded.

"Let's."

The six of them left the classroom one after another and headed toward the dormitory building.

Sunlight fell over them, warm and gentle.

In the distance, mountains rose and fell beneath a clear blue sky.

Their first mission.

They were on their way.