Jujutsu High's three forms

Soon, the rich aroma of coffee filled the room. Afraid of getting hit, Panda timidly approached Tsukasa Hatayama's feet.

"Is... is it good?"

He tipped his adorable little head back, watching hopefully as Tsukasa Hatayama raised his cup for a taste. The rich fragrance wafting from the cup made him swallow repeatedly.

Noticing this, Tsukasa Hatayama affectionately rubbed Panda's fluffy head, then thoughtfully poured him a small cup.

"Thank you."

Panda shyly accepted it. The blush spreading across his furry face amused Tsukasa Hatayama. This Panda was nothing like the lively, dirty-joke-loving one from the original story.

Watching this heartwarming scene, Masamichi Yaga smiled. "Tsukasa, if you like Panda, I can give him to you to play with."

"Are you sure you could bear to part with him, sir?" Tsukasa Hatayama's red eyes regarded the generous Masamichi Yaga teasingly.

Masamichi Yaga hesitated under his beloved student's teasing gaze, then stubbornly insisted, "Of course I could. Why couldn't I? I can always make another."

"Never mind, sir. I appreciate your generosity."

Tsukasa Hatayama dropped his teasing look and gently declined. "As they say, a gentleman doesn't take what another cherishes. Panda is better off staying with his dear old dad."

Masamichi Yaga's tense heart relaxed. He chuckled. "Since you don't want him, I won't force him on you."

"If you ever want one, just come and tell me. I'll make you another, and you can choose whichever sex you like."

"All right."

This time, Tsukasa Hatayama smiled and accepted. Then he pushed the notebook he had brought over toward Masamichi Yaga.

"This is..."

Masamichi Yaga picked it up curiously. The four large characters written on the cover made the grown man's breath catch, and he opened it in astonishment.

Shave.

Finger Pistol.

Iron Body.

The detailed training methods recorded inside fired Masamichi Yaga up so much that he wanted to tear off his clothes and start training on the spot.

But when he reached the last page, a trace of confusion crept in. "Tsukasa, this clearly says Six Powers. Why are three forms missing?"

Tsukasa Hatayama made no attempt to hide it. "Because I have my own selfish concerns. These three forms are enough to bring someone up to the level of a Grade 2 Sorcerer. Developing all six could cause upheaval in Jujutsu Society."

"Besides, I created these three forms for the students at Tokyo Jujutsu High, to give them strong bodies and a chance of surviving when they exorcise curses."

Masamichi Yaga understood that better than anyone. Rather than criticize him, he praised him. "I support your thinking. Tomorrow, I'll teach these three forms to the students here in Tokyo!"

Tsukasa Hatayama nodded, then rose to leave without another word. Yet when he reached the door, he stopped as though something had occurred to him.

The light stretched his tall silhouette into an imposing figure. His tone was calm. "Sir, if the Higher-Ups or certain other people get greedy for something they shouldn't, tell them the three of us at Jujutsu High wouldn't mind visiting their homes to defend our rights."

Masamichi Yaga waved him off in exasperation. "I know, Tsukasa. I know what to do. I've learned how to borrow someone else's clout."

With the three strongest men in Jujutsu Society backing him, even the Three Great Families and the Higher-Ups had to show Yaga considerable respect. What remained was pure envy.

One look at Gakuganji in Kyoto made that clear: nothing but envy, jealousy, and resentment.

With these three beloved students around, even if the Higher-Ups discovered Panda's existence someday, they might want to threaten him into surrendering the method of making him, but they wouldn't dare.

"In that case, I won't interrupt your fun, sir." Tsukasa Hatayama waved and left, thoughtfully closing the door behind him while Masamichi Yaga lost himself in the three forms.

One year later.

Early morning, August 10, 2007.

"Here goes."

At the Training Ground, a languid-looking Shoko Ieiri called out softly, then threw an eraser and a pencil at Satoru Gojo in front of her.

Yet as the two objects approached Satoru Gojo, the pencil, which posed a threat, froze in place, while the harmless eraser bounced away.

"Automatically selecting the technique's targets?"

Sitting on the stone steps, Suguru Geto immediately understood the principle. Beaming, he praised him. "If Tsukasa weren't around, you might hold the title of the strongest. You really were born at the wrong time."

With Satoru's automatic Inviolability alone, he could be called untouchable by any technique in Jujutsu Society-provided he didn't run into Tsukasa, who could make anyone despair.

Sipping his bitter jasmine tea, Tsukasa Hatayama silently gave Satoru Gojo an approving look.

Limitless's Inviolability might be an overwhelming advantage against anyone else, but to him, it was merely a turtle shell he could crack at will.

Satoru Gojo curled his lip and pretended not to hear, then said cheerfully, "Before, I always operated Limitless by following the instruction manual. But now that I've grasped Reverse Cursed Technique, I can switch it to automatic."

"Besides the strength of cursed energy, I can use mass, speed, and shape to filter out every dangerous object approaching me."

Satoru Gojo sighed as he spoke, looking deflated. "It'd be great if I could filter out poisons too, but that's still difficult right now."

"There are still a few flaws, but this brings energy consumption down to a minimum, which means I can keep Limitless active all the time."

Shoko Ieiri, who also worked dissecting bodies, couldn't resist commenting, "Keep Limitless on all the time, and you might fry your brain."

Unconcerned, Satoru Gojo twirled the pencil. "I keep a self-repairing Reverse Cursed Technique running constantly, so my brain stays fresh."

"I used to need hand signs to activate my technique, but now I can skip them entirely. I'm also gradually getting able to activate several Reds and Blues at once."

"Next on the curriculum are a domain and long-distance instantaneous movement using Blue. Shoko, lend me a few lab mice later."

"Sure."

Shoko Ieiri agreed without objection.

Suguru Geto sighed softly. "Looks like I'm firmly stuck in third place. I thought mastering Reverse Cursed Technique would let me move up a seat."

As he spoke, he narrowed his eyes slyly at Tsukasa Hatayama, who showed no sense of urgency. "Tsukasa, if you don't work harder, Satoru might eventually surpass you."

Tsukasa Hatayama took a long sip of his bitter jasmine tea, utterly untroubled. "Satoru is growing, but so am I. There's already a subtle gulf between us, and it will only widen with time."

"Stop saying things like you're some invincible ruler who stands above all of history. It makes me want to punch you."

Suguru Geto thumped Tsukasa Hatayama irritably, then asked with curiosity, "Be honest with me. Did you figure out a domain this past year?"

Tsukasa Hatayama silently chewed his straw, his brow furrowing at the question. Only after a long while did he speak. "I did master a domain this year, but Dark Manipulation still feels like it has more to offer."

"Huh?"

Suguru Geto froze, then said blankly, "You've already developed your technique all the way to its ultimate domain. How can it still feel like there's more?"

"Unless..."

At that thought, inspiration suddenly struck Suguru Geto, and an utterly absurd idea surfaced in his mind.

He had been overlooking one thing all along... Tsukasa had two Maximum Techniques!

Suguru Geto shot to his feet in disbelief, his voice breaking with shock. "Don't tell me you're figuring out and developing a second domain?!"

At those words, Shoko Ieiri and Satoru Gojo, who had been chatting, felt their hearts jolt. Both fixed Tsukasa Hatayama with incredulous stares.

Was he a freak?