God and the Young and Dangerous

October 31, 2018.

Halloween, Shibuya.

In previous years, the crowds on Shibuya's streets on Halloween night had been so dense they lifted people clean off their feet.

Vampires, witches, clowns, Pikachus-revelers in every kind of costume flooded the streets.

But tonight, only a few hundred people were scattered sparsely across Shibuya's broad streets.

A young man wearing a vampire cape and fake fangs tilted his head back to look at the enormous screen on the building opposite him.

There were no advertisements on the screen, only cold red text scrolling over and over.

[All commercial facilities in Shibuya are closed today. All subway services are suspended. Notice of reopening will follow.]

[Citizens are advised to avoid going out whenever possible. For assistance, please call the police hotline at 5438****.]

"I just don't get it!"

The Egyptian Mummy girl beside the vampire complained, "It's Halloween! It only comes once a year! Closing the malls is bad enough, but shutting down the subway too?"

"I had to ride my motorcycle here from Ikebukuro. My face went numb from the wind!"

The vampire curled his lip. "They've been going on about it on TV for days. Something about rising public safety risks, protecting the public, and a whole load of other bullshit. Their announcements make it sound like the world's about to end!"

"Halloween only comes once a year. Not putting on something cool and hitting the streets... how's that any different from America banning our black brothers from shopping for free? Completely impossible!"

Despite the official warnings issued days in advance, and even the multiple police cordons around Shibuya, nothing could stop these hot-blooded, rebellious youths.

"So men really do stay edgy kids until they die. All I can do is respect their choices... amen."

Jiahao said this as he walked past them.

He wore a pitch-black robe, with a length of silver cross necklace showing at his collar.

White gloves covered both hands. In his left was a thick, black leather-bound Bible; in his right, a long, slender machete polished to a gleam.

He had already announced the date of his planned mayhem, and had even given Jujutsu High the approximate location several days ahead.

He had done everything anyone could reasonably ask of him. If even that couldn't stop people from gathering, then it could only be fate.

"Amen... may Emperor Hao watch over you."

Behind Jiahao stood Kenjaku in a black suit, carrying an identical machete, with a slender Lady Cigarette between his lips.

"A machete priest and a teenage gangster girl? That combination's so cool!"

A middle-aged man nearby, sporting white wings and exposing his thighs in fluffy white stockings, exclaimed in admiration.

To non-sorcerers, only Father Jiahao and the gangster Kenjaku were visible, walking one behind the other.

But to jujutsu sorcerers...

Behind Father Hao, three special grade cursed spirits in suits stood in a row, machetes in hand.

Though the cursed spirits looked like gangsters who had accidentally wandered into high society, the soul-shaking aura of cursed energy they gave off...

There was no mistaking it.

"The Disaster Cross Society!!!"

The jujutsu sorcerers who had staked out Shibuya's streets immediately relayed the information to the Higher-Ups.

Kenjaku's gaze swept across several hiding places occupied by jujutsu sorcerers. He exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "I can't let my identity be exposed yet."

Kenjaku had just decided to silence them when Father Hao extended his machete to stop him.

"Look in a mirror. Dressed like that, never mind Satoru Gojo-even if your own mother came back to life, she wouldn't recognize you as Suguru Geto."

At that moment, apart from the ring of stitches around his forehead, Kenjaku's face and presence were completely different from before.

His long black hair had been slicked back. Heavy smoky makeup covered his face, and glittering earrings hung from his ears.

"Don't get it wrong," Father Hao said. "The role you're playing today is Shibuya Thirteen Heroes."

Shibuya Thirteen Heroes: based on Thirteenth Sister of Hung Hing from Young and Dangerous.

No spirit could pull off that tomboy role except Kenjaku, who had actually given birth.

Next, Jiahao pointed his machete at Mahito. "You're playing True Kun today!"

True Kun: based on Lame Kun from Young and Dangerous.

A lunatic who was always saying he was all hot and bothered, and thought of nothing but getting closer than close to other people.

The role suited Mahito pretty well. After all, he also liked getting closer than close, reaching through flesh to touch souls.

The machete pointed at the suited Jogo. "You're playing Leak Crow today!"

Leak Crow: based on Crow of Tung Sing from Young and Dangerous.

Always flipping tables and flying into a rage-a perfect match for Jogo.

Finally, the machete pointed at Dagon. After racking his brains for a long time, Father Hao said, "Hmm... you can play Little Mute!"

Wearing a specially tailored oversized suit, Dagon tilted its head. "Puh?"

"Little Mute! I know that one!"

True Kun chimed in, "Chan Ho-nam's girlfriend from Young and Dangerous! The little mute who can't talk, right?"

"Well, there's no helping it, Dagon. You're the one who can't speak human language. You're the only one who can play Little Mute."

Before assigning their roles, Jiahao had taken the spirits to watch the relevant films.

Over the past month or so, Mahito and the other spirits had watched no fewer than three hundred films in all kinds of genres at the Cinema booked out by the Black Dragon Society.

Remembering the film, Dagon nodded with extreme reluctance.

Looking at the aggrieved, teary-eyed Dagon, Father Hao's mouth twitched. "Seriously, you're an octopus and a cursed spirit. Do you really need to care about being male or female?"

"Keep crying! I'll take away your Little Mute role too!"

Thirteen Heroes stood quietly to the side, watching the human and the spirits make fools of themselves.

Only after a good while did Thirteen Heroes blow a smoke ring and remind them, "Chan Ho-nam's girlfriend isn't Little Mute. She's called Little Stutterer."

"She isn't mute. She just stutters a little."

"When men are talking, women should keep quiet!"

Father Hao glared at Thirteen Heroes, then patted Dagon on the head. "Let's go, Little Mute!"

Dagon also glared at Kenjaku, who had nearly cost it its role, then wriggled after the priest.

"Wait for me, Brother Hao!"

Having been corrected, True Kun glared at Kenjaku yet again. "Little Stutterer, huh... look at you, being so clever!"

Leak Crow, who had been silent for a long time, glanced at Kenjaku and shook his head as he brushed past. "It's just a character's name. Is there any need to nitpick?"

Kenjaku: "..."

So it's my fault I have a good memory?

Come to think of it, had these three cursed spirits watched so many movies that their acting was getting better and better?

In the past, the three cursed spirits couldn't hide their murderous intent when they looked at Jiahao.

Now, they were doing a pretty convincing job of playing his bootlicking lackeys.

Kenjaku shook his head and followed them.

Who knew how many members of this Disaster Cross Society would still be alive after tonight?

"Brother Hao, I have a question."

Following close behind Father Hao, True Kun asked uncertainly, "You're playing that hidden boss in Young and Dangerous, the Pastor, right?"

Dressed as a priest, Jiahao shook his head and solemnly opened the Bible to a page. "Tonight, I'm not the Pastor. I am... God."

Mahito: "..."

God the master and his gangster lackeys?

What kind of role-playing was this?

We're playing Young and Dangerous, and you're pretending to be God?

Are we even in the same fucking universe?

"It's about time."

The merciful God Hao had given the sorcerers hiding inside their barriers more than enough time to pass on the information.

At the deserted subway entrance, God Hao tore a glowing page from his Bible.

As the wind swept in from the alley, God released his fingers, and the page shattered in midair into countless tiny fragments of starlight.

The starlight drifted toward the surrounding walls, ground, and air, condensing into silver threads as fine as spider silk that linked together.

Seconds later, a barrier shimmering with starlight enveloped the entire subway entrance.

God stepped into the starlight, and the spirits behind him followed one after another.

"Tonight, the world will know of our existence."