Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event

"So, Dai Li and Yuta Okkotsu will be representing our first-years at this Goodwill Event."

"No objections, right?"

The date of the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event was drawing near, and Satoru Gojo had chosen two first-year participants.

"I propose we kick out another second-year and let Maki compete."

Although Dai Li was always bickering with Maki Zenin, there was no real animosity between them. He still hoped Maki could prove herself and show the Zenin Clan what she was capable of.

"Maki went back to the Zenin Clan a few days ago. She said it was her own business and that we should leave her alone.

I wouldn't have minded lending her a hand. How cold of her."

"Maki will definitely sort things out with the Zenin Clan herself. She's a very strong person."

"Salmon."

"Mm-hmm, Maki really is strong. You seem pretty concerned about her too, Yuta~"

Yuta Okkotsu had already learned about Maki's background. She had been bullied every day in the Zenin Clan, that cesspool of Jujutsu Society, yet her personality had never become twisted. He truly respected her for that.

"So, what do you say, my boy Okkotsu? Can you keep Rika in check now, so she won't come out and pound everyone else into mincemeat?"

"Uh... probably. Rika isn't as wild now. She listens to me properly, and I'll do my best to keep her from going berserk."

After several missions, Yuta Okkotsu had become adept at using Rika's curse, which had been imbued into his cursed tool. But he had not manifested Rika again, and he could not be certain she would not lose control once more.

"Don't worry. I'll be going to Kyoto Jujutsu High with you. Young people should cut loose and make some noise.

Back when I competed in the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event..."

"I'm out."

The moment Dai Li heard Satoru Gojo start talking about his past again, he turned and left. Inumaki and Panda followed him. Only Yuta Okkotsu looked back at their retreating figures, his mouth open in surprise as he silently remarked:

Huh?! They all left? They're not giving Gojo-sensei any respect at all. He looks so dejected.

Beside him, Satoru Gojo crouched on the ground, his white hair drooping as though it had wilted. Sulking, he traced circles on the ground with a finger. A little rain cloud seemed to have appeared above his head.

The day of the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event arrived.

Satoru Gojo led the students of Tokyo Jujutsu High through the gates of Kyoto Jujutsu High.

"Yo, long time no see, Utahime. You too, old man Gakuganji."

"Our kids from Tokyo Jujutsu High are here right on time."

Yoshinobu Gakuganji looked over the students from Tokyo Jujutsu High. He had heard a little about most of them, but even Yuta Okkotsu-the one he knew best and feared most-was competing!

The Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit Rika Orimoto behind Yuta Okkotsu was so terrifyingly powerful that the Higher-Ups had wanted him executed outright. Satoru Gojo had saved him, but now he actually dared to bring him to the Goodwill Event?

Gakuganji ignored his greeting and immediately demanded an answer, his voice cold, low, and heavy with warning:

"Satoru Gojo, you have some nerve. The Goodwill Event is a proper occasion for students of our two schools to spar, yet you dare bring Yuta Okkotsu, who harbors a special grade vengeful spirit."

Gakuganji's gaze swept over Yuta Okkotsu's slightly tense profile, and his tone grew harsher:

"If the cursed spirit behind Yuta Okkotsu loses control and goes berserk, students from both Kyoto Jujutsu High and Tokyo Jujutsu High could die because of him. Can you bear responsibility for that?"

Utahime Iori immediately chimed in, fixing Satoru Gojo with a sharp look and showing him no courtesy whatsoever:

"Satoru Gojo, you've caused more than enough trouble over the years. If your recklessness gets any of our students injured or killed, I'll come after you myself. I won't need to wait for orders from the Higher-Ups."

Satoru Gojo chuckled, his tone casual yet brimming with confidence:

"Oh, come on. Don't be so tense.

Rika's a very good girl now. Besides, Okkotsu is a bona fide first-year at Tokyo Jujutsu High. It's perfectly reasonable for him to attend the Sister-School Goodwill Event."

He tilted his head slightly and tapped his blindfold with a finger, his smile carrying a hint of provocation. "But Principal, Utahime, if you're this afraid of one child and his cursed spirit, aren't you underestimating our ability to keep our students in line?"

Gakuganji's expression darkened, and his hand tightened slightly beneath his sleeve.

"Such a sharp tongue. You had better keep your word. If that cursed spirit dares harm the innocent, the Jujutsu Higher-Ups will show no leniency."

He stepped aside stiffly to let them through, without a trace of hospitality. "Go in. Follow the rules throughout the event. Step out of line even once, and don't expect any mercy from me."

Utahime Iori said nothing more. She merely gave Satoru Gojo a cold glance before turning to lead the way. The trouble that idiot had caused over the past few years had only grown worse and worse. If it had not been part of her job, she would never have wanted to receive him.

Satoru Gojo followed Utahime Iori with his five students.

"Um, the people here don't seem very happy to see me," Yuta Okkotsu whispered, leaning closer to Dai Li.

"They probably see you as a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment. Don't worry about what that old man said."

"I see... Am I causing trouble for everyone too?"

Everyone at Tokyo Jujutsu High had always treated Yuta Okkotsu well, so he had almost forgotten that the rest of Jujutsu Society saw him as a huge problem. After all, the Jujutsu Higher-Ups had secretly sentenced him to death in the first place.

"What are you thinking, Yuta Okkotsu? Has your fever already cooled?"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't bother with that stuffy old man. A guy like him probably doesn't even know what's trendy."

The speakers were the second-years attending the Goodwill Event alongside Dai Li and the others-Kinji Hakari and Kirara Hoshi.

Both of them also deeply disliked the way the Jujutsu Higher-Ups operated. After all, they had both endured the Higher-Ups' revolting treatment because of their cursed techniques.

"Oh, there they are, there they are.

Everyone from Kyoto Jujutsu High, let's all get along."

Dai Li and the others arrived behind Satoru Gojo. Dai Li sized up Kyoto Jujutsu High's competitors, while the Kyoto students studied them in turn.

Let's see. There's Aoi Todo, Noritoshi Kamo, Momo Nishimiya,

and Mechamaru's pilot, Kokichi Muta, who's still a first-year. I don't recognize the other one.

Five of them, just like us at Tokyo Jujutsu High.

Meanwhile, Kyoto Jujutsu High's Noritoshi Kamo had already finished discussing the matter with his companions:

"Todo, those two first-years must not be underestimated. They're even more troublesome than the others."

"Yuta Okkotsu is a Special Grade Cursed Human, with a Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit behind him. She's far stronger than an ordinary special grade cursed spirit, and we're no match for her. Principal Gakuganji should keep Yuta Okkotsu under control, but we can't rule out Satoru Gojo letting the cursed spirit loose on a whim."

"And that lazy-looking fellow over there is a Semi-Grade 1 Sorcerer, just like you. According to intelligence from the Three Great Families, he exorcised the only cursed spirit known so far to be capable of Domain Expansion. He's the opponent we need to watch most closely in today's team battle."

Aoi Todo, however, merely smiled at that.

"Looks like this Goodwill Event is packed with interesting people!"