Again!

The next morning, at six.

When the alarm rang, everything outside the window was still gray.

Rihito had never been one to linger in bed. He got up the moment the alarm sounded.

Besides, Kugisaki had specifically warned him yesterday that Maki hated lateness more than anything. That was almost exactly how she had been in the original story.

As a new student, if he was late on his first day, just imagining the consequences sent a chill down his spine.

He washed up, changed into his uniform, then called over to the next room.

"Itadori, time to get up."

A long while passed before Itadori's voice finally drifted out.

"Mmm... Rihito, morning!"

Itadori struggled out from under his covers and rubbed his eyes, looking as though he hadn't slept well.

"Itadori, if you don't get up now, we'll be late for training with Maki."

"Maki...!" At those words, Itadori snapped awake.

Of everyone at Jujutsu High, Maki hated lateness the most. No contest.

Last time, he'd been five minutes late, and she'd made him do ten laps around the field on his hands. After that, he'd had to spar with her one-on-one in hand-to-hand combat, and she hadn't held back at all.

Afterward, his face in the mirror had been so bruised and swollen that he'd barely recognized himself.

"Coming, coming!"

With that, Itadori got out of bed as fast as he could.

Once he was ready, he headed to the field with Rihito.

Jujutsu High felt completely different in the early morning than it did during the day.

Dew clung to the grass on the field, shimmering faintly in the first light.

The air was cool, carrying the scent of plants and earth into their lungs.

Rihito had thought he and Itadori would be the first to arrive.

But he was wrong.

A figure was already standing in the middle of the field.

Her dark teal hair was tied in a high ponytail, and a pair of specially made glasses rested on her nose.

She wore a purple tracksuit top, white shorts, and black shin guards, and held a long-handled naginata.

With its tip resting on the ground, she looked like a blade someone had casually driven into the earth.

"You're Rihito Sato?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear, carrying through the thin morning mist.

"That's me."

Maki looked him over, her gaze sweeping from his shoulders to his arms, then to his stance. The whole process took less than two seconds.

"Fushiguro told me about you yesterday. He said your cursed technique is strong, but your fundamentals need work."

She lifted her naginata and pointed its tip toward the empty space opposite her.

"Stand over there."

Without asking questions, Rihito walked over and took his place.

Maki set the naginata aside and loosened her wrists.

"Gojo asked me to put you through basic training. Itadori, step aside for now. I want to see what he can do on his own first."

She spoke calmly to Itadori, then turned her attention back to Rihito.

"Maki, shouldn't we wait for Fushiguro and the others?"

"They can join in when they get here. With basic training, starting a minute earlier means getting another minute in."

She assumed a fighting stance.

"Come on. Hit me."

Rihito hesitated for a moment.

"...Can I use my cursed technique?"

"Whatever you want."

Rihito didn't hesitate for long.

Among the students at Jujutsu High, Maki's physical ability was second only to Yuji Itadori's, while her cursed energy was so weak that she needed special glasses to see cursed spirits.

But that was precisely why she possessed physical abilities far beyond those of ordinary people-a Heavenly Restriction that traded cursed energy for its complete opposite.

Against an opponent like her, holding back out of courtesy was pointless.

Azure cursed energy surged around his right fist.

Rihito lowered his center of gravity and charged at Maki.

He threw a punch.

Maki shifted slightly to the side.

Just slightly.

Rihito's fist passed by her shoulder without even brushing the fabric of her tracksuit.

"Too straightforward."

Maki's voice came from his right.

Before Rihito could pull his fist back, a palm pressed against his shoulder.

The next second, the world spun.

He was thrown through the air, his back slamming into the grass with a muffled grunt.

"Your cursed technique is strong. Fushiguro told me. But do you know what your biggest problem is right now?"

Rihito climbed to his feet.

"Every time you attack, you're thinking, 'How do I hit them with my cursed technique?' instead of, 'How do I hit them?'"

There wasn't a trace of mockery in Maki's tone. She was simply stating a fact.

"Your cursed technique is a weapon, not your hands and feet. If you don't even know how to get close to your opponent, it doesn't matter how powerful a technique you have."

She assumed her stance.

"Again."

Rihito took a deep breath and lowered his center of gravity once more.

This time, he didn't rush in. Instead, he circled half a step around Maki.

Azure cursed energy still surged around his fist, but his gaze no longer stayed fixed on his right hand. He watched Maki's shoulders, knees, center of gravity...

Then he punched.

Maki turned sideways and dodged again.

But this time, Rihito didn't let her catch his shoulder.

As he punched, he was already leaning the other way, slipping beneath Maki's arm.

Maki's fingers brushed the hem of his uniform but failed to catch it.

"...Now that's interesting."

Maki turned, her brown eyes brightening slightly behind her glasses.

"Again."

Rihito charged once more, but this time, Maki didn't just defend.

Thud!

Before Rihito could even make out her movement, a fist struck his abdomen.

He doubled over, his stomach churning.

Clutching his stomach, he stumbled backward, but forced himself to stay on his feet.

"You turned too far just now. It threw off your center of gravity."

"If your opponent is faster than you, you've already lost the moment you turn like that."

Rihito didn't answer. He straightened and took his stance again.

His breathing hadn't settled, and sweat trickled down his temple, but the look in his eyes hadn't changed at all.

Maki watched him in silence for a second, then assumed her stance again.

"Again."

The grass on the field had been trampled flat in every direction, and the gray morning light had turned pale gold.

Rihito had lost count of how many times he'd fallen.

Every time he got back up, Maki had something to say.

Not "Keep it up" or "You can do it," but something very specific.

"That punch was half a beat faster than your first."

"You got the angle right that time, but you pulled your fist back too slowly."

"Your center of gravity is still too high."

Then came, "Again."

The sun climbed a little higher, casting a long shadow across the field.

Rihito's uniform was soaked with sweat, his hair plastered to his forehead, and his breath rasped like a bellows.

But his stance was steadier than when he'd started, and his center of gravity was lower.

Maki looked at him, then tossed the naginata in her hand aside.

"Again."

Rihito took his stance once more, a fire seeming to burn in his eyes.

Maki watched him, narrowing her brown eyes slightly behind her glasses.

She stepped half a pace forward and settled into her stance again.

"Sorry, sorry. Let me interrupt for a second."

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the edge of the field. It wasn't loud, but everyone heard it.

Rihito froze.

Maki lowered her hands and turned her head.

Satoru Gojo leaned against the fence with his hands in his pockets, his white hair stirring in the morning breeze.

He tilted his head, a smile curving his lips as though he were watching something very entertaining.

"Gojo?" Maki frowned.

"That's enough morning training for now." Satoru Gojo straightened and walked toward the middle of the field with a loose, easy stride. "Next, let's talk business."

Only then did Rihito notice that Fushiguro and Kugisaki had arrived at some point as well.

Fushiguro stood with his hands in his pockets, wearing his usual expression.

Kugisaki held a plastic convenience-store bag. When she saw him looking, she lifted it and gave it a shake.

Inside was a bottle of sports drink.

But Gojo's words drew Rihito's attention back.

"There's a little matter I need you to take care of. I believe Nanami mentioned it yesterday," Satoru Gojo said, his gaze passing over Rihito, Kugisaki, and Fushiguro.

"The transfigured human incident!" Rihito's gaze sharpened.

Before leaving yesterday, Nanami had passed along a matter concerning transfigured humans.

It looked like Mahito was causing trouble again.

Satoru Gojo continued, "Rihito, Kugisaki, Fushiguro, the three of you will handle this mission. Nanami will lead the team."

"With your abilities, you should be able to wrap it up quickly."

Before he'd even finished, Itadori blurted out impatiently, "What about me? What about me?"

Satoru Gojo gave a mysterious smile. "Yuji, that's a secret!"

"What?!" Itadori wailed, his displeasure plain for everyone to hear.

"But don't be impatient, Yuji. I'll tell you soon enough. Come with me!"

With that, Satoru Gojo headed off the field without looking back.

"Gojo, wait for me!"

Itadori immediately followed.

Halfway there, he suddenly turned back to look at Rihito and the other two.

"Stay safe!"

Watching Itadori's retreating figure, the others looked utterly bewildered.

Only Rihito had a storm raging beneath his calm exterior.

A crucial plot point was here!

With Gojo taking Itadori away now, he had to be going into secret training, while they announced to everyone else that he'd been executed.

In two months, he'd return, and the Kyoto Goodwill Event arc would begin.

Two months...

As Rihito thought it over, his gaze gradually hardened with resolve.

He abruptly turned, fixing his eyes on Maki.

"Again!"