Don't call me senpai...

May 1.

The second-year classroom, usually so lively, was unusually quiet and deserted.

Separated by two clear boundaries, Tsukasa Hatayama and Shoko Ieiri kept to themselves, one studying and the other writing an autopsy report.

But the sound of the door opening made them both frown, disturbed by the sudden noise.

Still, both were famously good-tempered. They set down their pens and looked up without complaint, just in time to see their teacher, Yaga, walk in with an apologetic expression.

Standing at the podium, Masamichi Yaga gazed at his two prized students with immense satisfaction.

Though he would soon become the principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High, he would never dare throw his weight around with these two.

Both were treasures Jujutsu High cherished: one boasted unparalleled fighting prowess, while the other was an all-purpose healer.

If Jujutsu High didn't treasure them, was it supposed to treasure that ill-tempered Satoru instead?

Please. Satoru was constantly mouthing off about the Higher-Ups these days, thoroughly caught up in that bizarre notion of being the honored one throughout heaven and earth.

Without Geto there to guide him, he might go beyond badmouthing them and head straight to the Tombs of the Star Corridor to reward Tengen with a blast of Red he hadn't even mastered.

The two gave him a casual glance, then stopped paying attention and returned to their work.

Masamichi Yaga put away his smile and slowly walked over to Tsukasa Hatayama. Leaning down, he rested a hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Tsukasa, I've got a mission for you. It's absolutely perfect for you."

Tsukasa Hatayama kept writing without looking up. "Don't act so mysterious, sir. It ruins your macho image. Just tell me."

"Am I exorcising a troublesome curse, or looking after the first-years?"

Masamichi Yaga gave a quiet, sheepish chuckle. Looking rather embarrassed, he said, "Both. I'd like you to look after Haibara and Nanami for a few days."

Tsukasa Hatayama raised his head slightly, puzzled. "Don't new students get six months to study first? Why are those two suddenly taking missions?"

Masamichi Yaga sighed softly. "That's how it's supposed to work, but Haibara and Nanami applied early. They said they wanted to earn money on missions to support their families."

Then he added wearily, "You know the situation here. The third-years are away on assignments, and Satoru and Geto are out of town too."

"I have no choice but to ask you to look after them, so nothing irreversible happens while they're exorcising curses."

"Sure. I'll take the mission." Tsukasa Hatayama didn't refuse. After quietly agreeing, he lowered his head and went back to studying.

"They've accepted a Grade 3 curse mission and are waiting for you at the school gates. Gather your things and head over."

Masamichi Yaga patted Tsukasa Hatayama's shoulder appreciatively, looking completely relaxed and at ease.

Having such a strong, hardworking student was wonderful. Gakuganji next door would be green with envy.

"All right."

Tsukasa Hatayama still didn't look up. He carefully finished a few fill-in-the-blank questions, then returned to his dorm, took Kitetsu from the sword rack, and headed out.

At the school gates.

Yu Haibara and Kento Nanami had been waiting for quite a while and were chatting out of boredom.

Although Yu Haibara was the one chattering nonstop, Kento Nanami showed no impatience at all. In fact, he was happy to respond.

"Kento, who do you think our teacher will send to lead us? Could it be Geto-senpai? Or Gojo-senpai?"

Yu Haibara spoke hopefully, clenching his fists with boundless energy. "Oh, yeah! If it's Geto-senpai, I'll be fired up!"

"Geto-senpai, please hurry up and appear! I'm waiting for your guidance! I can't wait to fight alongside you and protect civilians!"

Kento Nanami pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly, somewhat reluctant to crush this hot-blooded idiot's hopes.

Anyone with eyes knew Geto-senpai and Gojo-senpai were away on assignments. Yet this hot-blooded idiot had no idea and was still foolishly looking forward to it.

Aside from their teacher, Yaga, the only people left at Jujutsu High were Ieiri-senpai and the renowned Hatayama-senpai.

Ieiri-senpai couldn't possibly go on a mission. She was Jujutsu High's greatest treasure, after all. That meant Hatayama-senpai would most likely be leading them.

The thought of having the strongest lead them stirred faint ripples in Kento Nanami's otherwise calm heart.

Anyone who followed the Jujutsu Society knew about this peerless freak, who had debuted at the very pinnacle and was commonly called the Jujutsu Professor.

Absurdly, rumors about him were spreading like wildfire outside the school. People said he created one unusual technique every day without using a cursed technique, each with power approaching that of ten missiles.

Even more absurdly, some people believed it and were desperate to enter Jujutsu High and become his students...

Whether those rumors were true or not, they proved he had created many unusual techniques unknown to the public. Perhaps they could ask him to teach them a few tricks on this trip.

"Hello."

A brief, familiar voice suddenly sounded behind them without warning.

When did he get here???

Yu Haibara and Kento Nanami's hearts jolted. Their minds reeled as they imagined the alternative: if the person who had just arrived were a cursed spirit, they might have died on the spot.

They quickly turned around and saw Tsukasa Hatayama standing silently, as though he had blended into the world around him. With one hand, he casually held a sword bag resembling a longsword over his shoulder.

"Hatayama-senpai."

"Hatayama-senpai."

Both gave him a slight, heartfelt bow in greeting.

At the word "senpai," an unnoticed ripple passed through Tsukasa Hatayama's calm red eyes. He involuntarily recalled the starting point of a journey with a certain senior.

His lips curved into a genuine smile, nostalgia filling his eyes as he murmured to himself, "The same place, different people. Does this count as fate coming full circle?"

"Full circle?" Yu Haibara asked curiously. "Senpai, did seeing us here bring back memories of something?"

"More or less."

The tips of Tsukasa Hatayama's ears reddened as he admitted it. I was luckier than you two back then. The senior who led me was both powerful and elegant.

With that thought, Tsukasa Hatayama meaningfully corrected their form of address. "Call me your upperclassman Hatayama from now on. Try not to call me senpai."

"Sure, upperclassman."

Neither questioned it, and both agreed without actually following his instructions, simply assuming that "senpai" sounded a little old to him and that he wanted something nicer.

Looking satisfied, Tsukasa Hatayama said gently, "Let's go. We'll head to the location listed in your mission."

"Yeah!"

"Mm-hmm."

Their replies differed in enthusiasm, each highlighting his own personality. And with that, the temporary Hatayama squad had officially assembled.

That afternoon.

Shibuya.

Sunny Day Kindergarten.

Tsukasa Hatayama sat quietly on the hood of the car, playing with his phone. The little beeps of everyday messages kept drawing a smile to his lips.

Had anyone leaned closer to look, they would have seen the senders labeled "Mom" and "Mei Mei-senpai."

Nearby, Yu Haibara and Kento Nanami were discussing the mission with the assistant supervisor. By the time they returned to Tsukasa Hatayama, both looked utterly serious.

At a complete loss, Yu Haibara said, "Upperclassman Hatayama, what should we do? There's a cursed spirit inside the kindergarten holding three children hostage."

Accustomed to such things, Tsukasa Hatayama put away his phone. His gaze swept silently across their faces before settling on Yu Haibara's worried expression.

"Haibara, don't ask me for my opinion just because I'm your upperclassman. Set aside your worries and think. Apply what you learned at Jujutsu High."

"Think about what we jujutsu sorcerers should do before exorcising a curse."

"Stay calm, then lower a Curtain, then go in with our teammates to exorcise it." Kento Nanami was concise, not losing his composure because the cursed spirit had taken children hostage.

Realization dawned on Yu Haibara. He formed a hand seal and recited the incantation to lower a Curtain, then entered the kindergarten with Kento Nanami without delay.

"The weaker cursed spirits are, the more they like to gather in groups. And don't worry too much about the children. It'll throw your cursed energy into disarray."

Out of a senior's concern for his juniors, Tsukasa Hatayama still offered them a few pointers, so they wouldn't come back out as cold corpses.