Settle the Score

In the forest.

"I didn't see a single cursed spirit."

The petite, adorable Momo Nishimiya slowly landed on her broom and reported her scouting results to the others.

Kamo Noritoshi remained expressionless. "It seems Araki Itsuki killed all the Grade 3 cursed spirits."

Miwa sighed helplessly. "What do we do, then?"

Kamo Noritoshi thought for a moment. "The Goodwill Event is still going, which means the Grade 2 cursed spirit hasn't been exorcised. We still have a chance to win."

"But I don't think Araki Itsuki would leave such an obvious opening, so we only have one option left."

Mai looked pained, as though a headache was coming on, and finished Kamo Noritoshi's thought:

"Follow the direction of that burst of cursed energy and find Araki Itsuki."

Everyone fell silent at that. He was a Special Grade Sorcerer, after all.

"There's no other way. Let's go!"

Todo turned and left without hesitation. He couldn't wait to see his best friend and that powerful man.

Following the direction of the earlier burst of cursed energy, they soon reached their destination.

Araki Itsuki and the others were sitting on the grass, playing games as though they were on a picnic. There wasn't a hint of tension about them.

"You're here."

Araki Itsuki clapped his hands and stood up, looking over the group opposite him.

"I've hidden the Grade 2 cursed spirit. If you want to win the match, come challenge me."

"And to make things more interesting..."

Araki Itsuki turned to Fushiguro and the others, who looked surprised. "Want to see how big the gap is between you and a Special Grade?"

"After all, those few alone won't be enough to hold my interest."

"Of course..."

Araki Itsuki knew there were grudges among these people that wouldn't be resolved without a fight.

"If you've got a problem with someone else, do as you please."

Their expressions varied at his words.

Todo, Itadori, and Maki all looked excited, itching to fight Araki Itsuki.

Kugisaki, on the other hand, shook her head furiously. Living alongside Araki Itsuki day in and day out, they knew just how terrifying that prospect was.

Yet, to everyone's surprise and bewilderment, the blue-haired Kasumi Miwa was the first to walk toward Araki Itsuki.

Among all the distinctly eccentric talents at the Kyoto school, she was one of the few who had common sense and an honest, down-to-earth nature.

Miwa stood ready, staring firmly at Araki Itsuki.

"I know you're very, very strong, Araki, but I'm not going to hand over victory in the Goodwill Event."

"As you know, jujutsu sorcerers are promoted through recommendations. Even sorcerers higher up the ranks who have no contact with us will hear about what happens at the Goodwill Event."

"Students who distinguish themselves at the Goodwill Event get more chances for promotion while they're still in school. I want to become financially independent and start earning money as soon as possible."

Araki Itsuki knew Miwa's reason for becoming a jujutsu sorcerer was simple: her family was poor, and she had two younger brothers.

She was a bit like Kobeni Higashiyama.

A gentle smile crossed his face. "Miwa, by finding the courage to be the first to draw your sword against me, you've already proven your bravery."

"Now show me your strength."

Miwa bent forward in readiness, Tachi concealed in its sheath, poised to strike.

She knew she would only get one chance to attack.

She channeled her cursed energy over the hidden blade, accelerating it inside the sheath behind her.

The muscles in her right arm stood out, and veins bulged on the back of her hand.

"New Shadow Style: Batto!"

Her all-out draw slash flashed toward Araki Itsuki like a bolt of lightning.

Yet Araki Itsuki neither dodged nor evaded. He punched straight at Miwa's rapidly approaching Tachi.

At the sight, Miwa hesitated.

On one hand, knowing Araki Itsuki possessed Special Grade strength meant she could strike without worry. On the other, she noticed there was very little cursed energy protecting his hand.

Bang!

Her moment of distraction left an opening in her draw slash. Araki Itsuki punched the flat of the blade, forcing Miwa to retreat to absorb the force.

Mai sighed. Miwa was far too honest and softhearted, actually worrying that Araki Itsuki might get hurt.

Special Grades were all utterly terrifying monsters.

The instant she was knocked back, Miwa sensed danger and immediately began retreating.

"New Shadow Style: Simple Domain!"

A bare-bones domain rose around her feet, allowing her to launch fully automatic reflexive counterattacks against anything within a radius of 2.21 meters.

However, it would cease to function if both her feet left the positions where she had activated it.

Watching from the sidelines, Maki keenly analyzed Miwa's movements:

"There must be something else to a draw slash at this range. The right move would be a ranged attack to disrupt her Simple Domain."

Araki Itsuki nodded in agreement. "You're right, Maki."

"But that's how a grunt thinks."

"I'm going to break Miwa's absolute defense head-on inside this Simple Domain!"

Araki Itsuki flashed in front of Miwa and stepped into her Simple Domain. His right fist crashed down toward her head like an impossibly hard rock.

Clang!

Miwa's Tachi automatically blocked Araki Itsuki's iron fist, then swiftly counterattacked with a slash at his chest.

But Araki Itsuki gave a teasing smile. His iron fist blocked the counterattack, then struck at Miwa even faster.

In moments...

Araki Itsuki's punches grew faster and faster, his arms gradually blurring into afterimages.

He unleashed a relentless barrage on Miwa inside her Simple Domain.

Miwa's face was drenched in sweat, and her arms had already gone numb.

Experiencing Special Grade strength for the first time, she was driven beyond her limits by her cursed technique, automatically blocking and counterattacking.

She herself could no longer keep up with Araki Itsuki's attacks, but her cursed technique compelled her to defend.

She wanted to retreat, but she was already trapped in the storm of blows and could only struggle to hold on.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

A dense, deafening clamor of striking metal filled the clearing.

Miwa's rigid legs trembled slightly. Her arms were utterly numb, and sweat streamed down her entire body.

Finally, beneath Araki Itsuki's relentless barrage...

The Tachi in her hands groaned under the strain, then shattered with a bang.

Araki Itsuki's iron fist drove a tremendous blast of air toward Miwa's panicked face.

A figure flashed past.

Yuji Itadori scooped up the exhausted, numb Miwa and dodged Araki Itsuki's iron fist.

Boom!

The ground where Miwa had been standing cracked apart.

Yuji Itadori handed Miwa to Momo Nishimiya as she hurried over. He knew Araki Itsuki could pull his punch, but he had still rushed in out of worry.

"You seem really eager to fight today, Araki."

"Suddenly felt like throwing a few punches."

Araki Itsuki smiled, then turned to Todo, who was standing nearby, impatient and raring to go.

"So, are you going to show me that best-friend bond of yours next?"

Yuji Itadori knocked his fists together and stood beside Todo. Both eyed Araki Itsuki like predators.

"We've been preparing for a long time."

"Have you?"

Araki Itsuki regarded them with interest before finally smiling at Todo.

"Todo, if you bore me again, you'll have to get Itadori to wheel you to all of Takada-chan's events from now on."

Todo's face brimmed with fighting spirit. "I might have to disappoint you. A wheelchair doesn't appeal to me."

The moment he finished speaking, Araki Itsuki appeared before them and threw a punch at Todo.

"You don't get to decide whether you end up in a wheelchair!"

Watching the three trade solid blows, Maki smiled helplessly.

"They beat me to it."

Then she turned and headed toward the nearby forest. "Mai, bring one of your teammates. I don't mind taking you on two against one."

Mai picked up her pistol and followed. "There are plenty of ways to have fun. Rather than ganging up on you, I'd prefer to keep this juicy prize all to myself."

"Call me your big sister, little sister."

Watching the two leave, Panda scratched his head and extended an invitation to Mechamaru beside him:

"We're both cursed corpses. Why don't we get along?"

Mechamaru was furious at that, practically gritting his teeth.

"What would a lousy stuffed toy know?!"

Panda looked at his mechanical claw arms, which had become exceptionally sharp, without any fear. "Oh my, you're so angry you've transformed."

The two of them also left to find a suitable battlefield.

Kamo Noritoshi looked Fushiguro over approvingly, feeling deeply satisfied.

"I'm merely the Kamo Clan's next head. You're the one who must shoulder the Three Great Families."

Kamo Noritoshi was the son of a concubine in the Kamo Clan. Because he had inherited the clan's cursed technique, which the legitimate son lacked, he was publicly presented as the legitimate son.

He thought highly of Fushiguro, believing that Fushiguro should bear the responsibility of the Three Great Families, while he himself was merely holding it in trust.

But Fushiguro had his own experiences growing up and had no interest whatsoever in the Three Great Families:

"I'm not, I haven't, don't make things up."