I'm Special Grade, You Know

After several left and right turns, the two finally followed Satoru Gojo into the packed main hall.

At the three boys' unexpected arrival, the guests chatting inside fell silent in unison, staring at them without daring to make a sound.

Once they sensed the cursed energy within the three firsthand, every guest was deeply shaken, inwardly calling them freaks, monsters, and absolute anomalies.

These three boys had more cursed energy than old-timers like them.

Especially the one wearing a cross-his cursed energy was almost comparable to an ocean. Was he really human, rather than a cursed-energy monster wearing human skin?

Satoru Gojo dismissed them with contempt and led his two closest friends up to a man over fifty, his manner arrogant and haughty.

Tsukasa Hatayama calmly studied the middle-aged man. He bore some resemblance to Satoru Gojo, but their temperaments were polar opposites.

If Satoru was wild, willful, and afraid of nothing, the man before them was steady and composed, the sort whose presence alone gave everyone an anchor.

Unless he was mistaken, this man was Satoru's father, Yuto Gojo, the head of the Gojo Clan and its strongest elite Grade 1 Sorcerer.

Satoru Gojo said flippantly, "Hey, old man. I brought my two best friends home from Jujutsu High. Make sure you treat them right."

Suguru Geto, who had visited before, pressed a hand to his forehead in speechless exasperation. Tsukasa Hatayama, here for the first time, felt his lips twitch hard and shot Satoru a somewhat admiring glance.

Talking like that to your own father? Satoru, you really aren't afraid of getting what's coming to you.

Yuto Gojo showed no discomfort whatsoever. Wearing a refined smile, he indulgently listened to his son's instructions, then exchanged a few friendly words with Suguru Geto.

Afterward, Yuto Gojo turned his deep gaze toward Tsukasa Hatayama and said mildly, "You must be Special Grade Sorcerer Hatayama?"

His voice was quiet, yet it stirred up waves like a boulder crashing into the sea. Countless covetous, greedy gazes converged on Tsukasa Hatayama.

Who in Jujutsu Society had not heard of Tsukasa Hatayama by now? He had entered Jujutsu High as a Special Grade Sorcerer, then defeated the once-in-a-century Child of God with the Six Eyes and claimed the title of strongest.

During February's curse outbreak, he had single-handedly suppressed and exorcised the curses, leaving casualties among the sorcerers of both schools close to zero.

Even more astonishingly, a few days ago, he and his companions had exorcised a special grade cursed spirit without relying on a domain. His strength defied description.

Among all these accolades, however, his honorary title of Jujutsu Professor rang the loudest, because he had created unusual techniques that rivaled innate cursed techniques.

If they could obtain an unusual technique from him, they might raise their family's strength to new heights. Becoming one of the Four Great Families might not even be a problem.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

Tsukasa Hatayama calmly offered the courtesy due from a younger man, unafraid of the countless greedy gazes behind him.

From the moment he had begun teaching Satoru and Geto Cursed Pressure, he had prepared himself to become everyone's target. Humans were greedy creatures, all the more so once they gained a little power.

But isn't it a little presumptuous to bare your fangs so openly?

Tsukasa Hatayama looked coldly toward the guests. His cross earring flashed red, and cursed energy erupted from his body, crushing these prominent figures to their knees as though gravity itself had descended from the sky.

His two best friends, never ones to shy away from stirring up trouble, immediately followed suit. Together, they glared and unleashed Cursed Pressure, making things a little harder for the guests.

If Satoru had not inadvertently used Cursed Pressure and the Rasengan within the clan during his last visit home, he might not have brought this trouble down on Tsukasa. Naturally, he had to back his best friend.

At that moment, cursed energy raged through the hall, pressing these greedy people into terror. It made a splendid tableau of subjects worshipping three kings.

"Satoru, why aren't you even sparing your own father?"

Seeing Yuto Gojo kneeling at his own son's feet, Suguru Geto could not bear it and reproached Satoru Gojo. Then, looking slightly embarrassed, he went to help Yuto up.

Satoru Gojo curled his lips and obediently withdrew the cursed energy pressing down on his father. He drew a clear line between love and hate-how could he possibly give his father special treatment?

Still shaken, Yuto Gojo wiped away his cold sweat and looked warily at the figure whose energy was running rampant. With his strength, he could easily have withstood his son's Cursed Pressure.

Yet he could not withstand even the residual force of Tsukasa Hatayama's erupting cursed energy. It was not even aimed at him. If it had been, he might have ended up on the floor, foaming at the mouth.

Fortunately, the other two of the Three Great Families had not come. Otherwise, word that the residual force unleashed by a junior had driven him to his knees would have cost him every scrap of dignity.

A little while later, the three slowly withdrew the Cursed Pressure that had forced everyone into submission.

Meeting their frightened gazes as they looked up, Tsukasa Hatayama said softly, "I'm Special Grade, you know-someone you're supposed to respect. If you want to bare your fangs at me, wait until you've reached my level."

The guests flushed with shame. Too embarrassed to stay, they fled through the Gojo Clan's gates, moving as though they feared Tsukasa Hatayama would kill them on the spot.

That night, in the Gojo Clan's back garden.

Beneath the bright moon, five people sat happily together on stone stools. Exquisite fruit and an assortment of carefully prepared treats covered the stone table.

At the center stood a cake bearing a cartoon likeness of Satoru Gojo, giving it a cute, playful touch.

As his two best friends and his parents sang the birthday song together, Satoru Gojo, wearing a birthday crown, happily clasped his hands and made a wish.

"I wish to master Reverse Cursed Technique soon, surpass Tsukasa and beat him soon, and then work hard to change this rotten Jujutsu Society..."

After making his wish, Satoru Gojo blew out the candles with a radiant smile, then quickly reached out and grabbed the cartoon version of himself.

Grinning, he popped his cartoon self into his mouth. It tasted incredibly sweet.

"Honestly, you silly boy. It's not as though we'd fight you for it." The elegant, gentle woman beside him took out a handkerchief and wiped the cream from Satoru Gojo's hands, her voice fondly reproachful.

Satoru Gojo gave a rare, bashful smile and told her sheepishly, "I was just worried you'd eat the cartoon version of me..."

"Silly child. If someone else eats it, Mommy can make you another. You mustn't do this next time. You'll cause trouble for other people."

Her face full of affection, the beautiful woman gently chided her son as she tenderly wiped the cream from his hands.

"I know, I know." Satoru Gojo obediently listened, showing none of the rudeness or impatience he displayed toward his father, Yuto Gojo.

At this incongruous sight, Suguru Geto could not keep the corners of his mouth from lifting.

Smiling, he leaned close to Satoru Gojo's ear and teased, "Satoru, you're always calling Tsukasa a mama's boy, but I'd say you're no better."

"No wonder you two hit it off on the second day of school. Turns out you share the same interests. Hahaha... Satoru the mama's boy."

Satoru Gojo flushed and shot a vicious glare at Suguru Geto, whose shoulders were shaking with laughter. Then he guiltily glanced at Tsukasa Hatayama across from him.

Seeing Tsukasa staring distractedly at his mother, he could not help feeling jealous and raised his hands to block Sumi Gojo from view, silently declaring that she was his mother.

Tsukasa Hatayama apologetically withdrew his distant gaze. In Satoru's mother, he had seen a reflection of his own. Every word and gesture held the same gentle warmth.

Looks like I'll need to take some leave after the birthday celebration and go home to spend time with Mom. Once I'm older, I won't have time to spare.

With that thought, Tsukasa Hatayama turned to Yuto Gojo, who was sipping tea beside him, and said apologetically, "Sir, I owe you an apology for my rash behavior this morning. I ruined what should have been a pleasant gathering."

"It's all right."

Yuto Gojo waved it off and said with a faint smile, "The Gojo Clan has never liked dealing with outsiders. If not for Satoru's sake, we might not even have opened our gates."

"Those who came to the gathering were all insignificant little families. Let them leave. You needn't dwell on it."

"Besides, rather than blaming you, I should be thanking you. Without your selfless instruction, Satoru would never have become so strong."

Tsukasa Hatayama inwardly relaxed, then offered a compliment. "The little tricks I taught him hardly merit mentioning. It's all thanks to Satoru's remarkable talent."

Yuto Gojo shook his head in disagreement. "Spare me the flattery. What good is remarkable talent? He still lost to you."

"Honestly, that made me so angry I couldn't sleep. But being outmatched is being outmatched. We of the Gojo Clan accept that."

Tsukasa Hatayama thoughtfully refilled his tea. "It seems you're not nearly as rigid as people claim, sir. I admire your generosity of spirit."

"Hehehe... Tonight's tea is quite good."

Yuto Gojo chuckled and took a sip. I may be rigid, but that doesn't mean I'm blind. Why offend a rising star just to cling to my pride?

One had to look far ahead to ensure a family's lasting prosperity. Insular families like the Zenin and Kamo were destined to vanish in the flow of time.

In the future, Jujutsu Society would undoubtedly undergo an unprecedented reform. And the ones who would bring it about were surely the three boys before him...