Plans and Departure

In the mountains, at a hot spring inn.

Night mist crept up from deep in the valley, mingling with sulfur-scented steam around the bathing pool.

"Hey, isn't this water way too hot?"

Mahito pulled his foot out of the pool, steam rising from the top of it.

He narrowed his eyes at Jogo, who was soaking farther away with black smoke rising from his head, and frowned.

Jogo ignored him.

He reclined against a rock at the edge of the pool, his arms resting on either side, and let out a contented sigh like an old monk deep in meditation.

It looked utterly peaceful.

"I wonder what little Rihito's doing right now?"

Mahito dipped his foot back into the water. Having learned his lesson, he stayed well away from Jogo this time.

"That human you transfigured?" Jogo opened his eyes.

"Yeah." The corner of Mahito's mouth tugged upward, as though he had thought of something amusing. "He nearly killed me!"

"Mahito, you burned through quite a lot this time." Jogo closed his eyes again, a wisp of black smoke rising from his head. "Be careful you don't get carried away!"

"Oh? You noticed!" Mahito turned toward him. Mist drifted before his eyes, and an exaggerated grin spread across his stitch-covered face.

"But don't you think it's fun? Watching your favorite toy grow stronger, little by little, then destroying it with your own hands in the end... there's nothing better!"

A moment later, however, Mahito's tone shifted, taking on a hint of disappointment. "Too bad Sukuna's vessel spoiled everything. He's too good a counter to me."

"What are you planning to do?"

The voice came from the other end of the pool, drifting through the sulfur-scented steam.

Kenjaku leaned against a rock dampened by the mist, half his face hidden in shadow and a strand of wet hair hanging over his forehead.

Steam rolled past him, blurring his outline until only the stitched line across his forehead remained clearly visible.

Mahito turned toward him, his twisted smile returning.

"So... I made another toy. I'm going to use it to have some fun with little Rihito."

"In any case, let's carry out my plan first. Sukuna is worth the effort," Kenjaku suddenly said, his voice unhurried.

Collect all the fingers, then offer them to Sukuna?

Jogo couldn't help thinking that when he heard those words.

Then his mouth split into a sinister grin. "Let's do that, then. Even if we're all wiped out in the end, it won't matter."

"The one laughing in the wilderness a hundred years from now doesn't have to be me. As long as Sukuna is there, as long as curses can take humanity's place, everything will work out!"

"Oh? You're pretty reasonable." Mahito got dressed and left the hot spring.

"Then our first step is to get the six Sukuna fingers at Jujutsu High," Kenjaku said.

"Is that necessary? Aren't the sorcerers keeping Yuji Itadori alive so he can eat the fingers? Even if we leave them alone, won't he eat them eventually?" Jogo asked in confusion.

"The higher-ups at Jujutsu High are afraid too. What if Yuji Itadori loses control while swallowing a finger? That's why they'd rather collect all the fingers and have him swallow them in one go!"

Kenjaku paused, as though something had occurred to him. "Except for Satoru Gojo."

"The moment he gets a finger, Satoru Gojo has Yuji Itadori eat it. We can't afford to wait that long."

"If the worst happens, the higher-ups at Jujutsu High might have Yuji Itadori eliminated outright. That would be disastrous."

"I see. Then what should we do?" Jogo asked.

The corners of Kenjaku's mouth lifted, but he didn't answer Jogo's question.

He slowly turned, his gaze piercing the thick steam as he looked toward Jujutsu High.

Jujutsu High, the athletic field.

Rihito zipped his uniform all the way up and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

The bruises Maki had left during training a few days earlier had mostly faded and were barely visible now.

He rolled his shoulders, then headed toward the school gate once he was sure nothing felt wrong.

Kugisaki and Fushiguro were already waiting at the gate.

Kugisaki had a bulging bag slung over her shoulder and was looking down at her phone.

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

When she saw Rihito, Kugisaki stuffed her phone into her pocket.

"Rihito, you took forever." She looked him up and down, her gaze settling on his shoulder. "Your injuries okay?"

"They're fine."

"Good." Kugisaki looked away.

She had watched Maki put Rihito through intensive training over the past two days. At first, she hadn't thought much of it, since they had all gone through the same thing.

But her opinion soon changed.

Rihito pushed himself far too hard. Whenever Maki knocked him down, he never rested for more than five minutes.

He only gave up for a while if he truly couldn't get back on his feet. Otherwise, all he ever said was, "Again," before charging at Maki once more.

Still, that attitude was right up Maki's alley.

Beside her, Fushiguro pulled a hand from his pocket and tossed something to Rihito.

Rihito caught it. It was a can of pain-relief spray, with instructions and an expiration date printed on the packaging.

"Spray some on before we leave. It works well."

Rihito looked down at the spray in his hand, his hand pausing for a moment.

"...Yeah."

Just then, distinct footsteps sounded from the direction of the school gate.

It was Kento Nanami.

He wore a dark gray suit and a pale blue shirt, his tie cinched tight. He carried a black equipment case in his right hand, while his left rested in his trouser pocket.

After coming to a stop, he looked over each of their faces in turn.

"You've all read the mission briefing?"

"Yeah, it's a transfigured human incident," Kugisaki said. "At an abandoned steel mill on the outskirts of Kawasaki City. Just like the ones Itadori found last time."

Nanami nodded once.

"I've already investigated that abandoned steel mill. It's been deserted for a long time, making it an ideal place for cursed spirits to form."

"The layout is also complicated, and there may be unknown dangers. Our main objective this time is investigation, with the additional task of clearing out any transfigured humans left inside."

"If you encounter that individual, remember: the instant you see him, do not hesitate. Turn around and run immediately."

Of course, Rihito knew who Nanami meant.

Mahito!

Fushiguro and Kugisaki might not fully understand just how terrifying that cursed spirit had become.

With their current strength, if they ran into Mahito inside, they could very well be wiped out, even with Nanami leading them.

Nanami should have known

that...

As Rihito pondered this, Nanami gave him the answer.

"Since this mission was assigned to you, its danger level is undoubtedly manageable."

"Besides, some time has passed since the transfigured humans were discovered. The location has been under constant surveillance throughout that time, so there's no need to worry too much."

Just then, the sound of a car engine came from the school gate.

Nanami raised his wrist, checked the time, then turned and walked toward the gate.

"Let's go. It's time."

The others nodded, exchanged glances, and followed him.