Troubled thoughts

The signal marking the start of the team battle burst above the forest. A white curtain of cursed energy slowly spread out, enveloping the entire area.

Rihito started moving the moment the signal sounded.

He did not rush deeper into the forest. Instead, he checked his communications equipment first, then quickly surveyed the surrounding terrain.

The early-winter forest was dense with tree trunks, and a thick layer of fallen leaves covered the ground, crackling softly underfoot.

Ground like this made it difficult to conceal his movements, but by the same token, no one else could hide theirs either.

"Itadori, Todo's definitely going after you. Keep that in mind."

Fushiguro's voice came over the comms, as calm as ever.

"Don't worry."

There was no trace of nervousness in Itadori's voice. If anything, he sounded a little eager.

"Everyone else, split up into your assigned groups. Hunt cursed spirits first to build a lead. If you run into anyone from Kyoto, don't rush into a fight."

After Fushiguro finished, two acknowledgments came through the channel in succession.

Rihito said nothing over the comms. His assignment was to act alone.

Fushiguro had suggested it before the match.

Rihito's cursed technique was most efficient in solo combat, and Kyoto Jujutsu High had almost no information on him.

Rather than tying him to a teammate and exposing his abilities, it was better to let him roam freely through the area, providing support wherever the battle demanded it.

"Rihito," Fushiguro called over the comms.

"I'm listening."

"Stay safe."

"Got it."

Rihito gave a brief reply, then switched off continuous reception, leaving only the emergency channel open.

He headed northeast at a steady pace.

The leaves beneath his feet rustled rhythmically, the sound unusually clear in the quiet forest.

He made no deliberate effort to hide the noise. With ground conditions like these, concealing every trace of his movements was impossible.

Rather than wasting energy on silent footsteps, he was better off concentrating on sensing cursed energy.

He extended his cursed energy perception ahead, far enough to detect an ambush in advance without consuming too much energy.

The area ahead was very "clean." For now, there were no signs of cursed spirits or cursed residue left by jujutsu sorcerers.

After about five minutes, the first cursed spirit appeared beside an abandoned electrical substation.

It was a Grade 2 Fly Head-shaped cursed spirit, curled up behind the substation's rusty iron door, its body somewhat distorted by the cramped space.

It reacted quickly, sensing the threat as soon as Rihito came within ten meters and lunging at him.

Rihito did not slow down.

The instant the Grade 2 Fly Head-shaped cursed spirit pounced, he shifted half a body-width to the left. Its claws swept past his cuff.

Then his right fist, wrapped in brilliant blue cursed energy, drove into the side of its skull.

Bang!

With a dull thud, the cursed spirit's body froze in midair for an instant.

Then its entire head burst like a crushed egg. Purple-black remains splattered against the substation's rusty iron door, hissing as they corroded it.

One blow, one kill!

Rihito withdrew his fist and shook off the lingering cursed residue.

When he had first enrolled, a Grade 2 cursed spirit might have required a little maneuvering. But after months of training and two actual battles at the Steel Factory and Scorpion Village, opponents of this caliber no longer posed a threat.

The comms remained silent. Occasionally, dull impacts of clashing cursed energy echoed from deeper in the forest. One of the groups had probably already engaged Kyoto Jujutsu High.

Rihito had no intention of going to support them.

His information advantage was his greatest asset right now.

The people from Kyoto Jujutsu High knew nothing about his capabilities. He might be able to give them quite a "surprise" later.

After a brief rest, Rihito continued northeast.

The second cursed spirit appeared on the roof of an abandoned tool shed. It had a lizard form and was Semi-Grade 1.

Without hesitation, Rihito charged again.

Just like the first time, it was a completely one-sided beatdown.

Then came the third, and the fourth. His combat rhythm grew increasingly fluid.

Meanwhile, his score quietly accumulated, climbing steadily.

But his mind was not entirely focused on the hunt.

Even as he exorcised cursed spirits, Rihito kept thinking.

Mahito should have infiltrated Jujutsu High by now. Mr. Gojo knows about the risk, but I don't know what he'll decide to do.

He'll most likely oversee the Goodwill Event like he did in the original story, but I can't rule out him staking out the storehouse himself.

If Mr. Gojo goes there himself, Mahito might be in trouble.

But if he doesn't take it seriously and sends someone else to keep watch, it'll only be a matter of time before Mahito gets what he wants.

As he thought, Rihito brushed aside a low-hanging dead branch without breaking stride.

And there's another very important thing. If the plot hasn't veered too far off course, Hanami should still appear in this forest.

The thought of Hanami made him slow for half a beat.

Hanami is Special Grade, not an opponent I can face head-on right now. Itadori, Todo, and the others are in the forest too, but I can't warn them in advance. I wouldn't be able to explain where I got the information.

Rihito's brow gradually furrowed.

If he wanted to keep Hanami from escaping, notifying everyone was the best option.

But doing so carried an enormous risk. One careless move could expose the fact that he had come from another world.

That was his greatest secret. He absolutely could not let it get out.

So that option was out!

I need a natural trigger, a signal everyone can notice.

Until then, all I can do is wait.

As he pondered, a fifth cursed spirit burrowed out from beneath a pile of dead leaves, thrusting six jointed limbs at him at once.

Rihito did not dodge. He released his cursed technique, Withering, from his palm, striking the cursed spirit's shell.

The decay spread nearly twice as fast as it had two months earlier. Within two seconds, the shell became brittle, then shattered under his cursed energy.

He withdrew his hand and steadied his breathing.

This is so frustrating. I know everything that's going to happen, yet all I can do is wait here.

At the end of the day, I'm still too weak.

Rihito sighed softly, then continued onward.

Just then, his cursed energy perception picked up something ahead.

Rihito stopped.

It was a mixed signal.

There was the presence of a cursed spirit, along with cursed residue from jujutsu sorcerers-more than one of them.

The cursed spirit's presence was strong, at least Semi-Grade 1, possibly close to Grade 1.

The sorcerers' cursed residue was scattered around the cursed spirit, as though they were fighting.

Someone's there?

With that thought, Rihito narrowed his perception further and quickly identified one of the signatures.

It was Kugisaki.

Another, sharper surge of cursed energy was rapidly approaching from farther away, carrying undisguised hostility.

Kugisaki was bearing the pressure alone.

And the cursed spirit with a presence approaching Grade 1 was still prowling within her combat area.

Rihito lifted his head. A few clear shafts of daylight filtered through gaps in the canopy.

A muffled boom sounded in the distance, startling a flock of birds into flight.

He abandoned the hunt, poured cursed energy into his legs, and instantly sprinted in that direction.