Let's make a binding vow!

By the time Suguru Geto realized things had taken a wrong turn, his thinking had already been dragged into a deep pit.

After all, as someone who also disliked those shriveled old fossils among the Jujutsu Higher-Ups, Suguru Geto found the enticing proposal very tempting.

But he still had his own grand cause to pursue!

Satoru Gojo seemed to see what Suguru Geto was thinking and spoke up decisively.

"No, Geto. Once you've agreed to something, you have to see it through properly."

"When did I ever agree to anything?!"

"Didn't you just agree?"

Satoru Gojo said it as though it were perfectly natural, utterly confident that he was right.

"Doesn't your grand cause include making 'jujutsu sorcerers' happy? In that case, reforming Jujutsu Society with me would definitely make everyone's lives better! Or do you want to stand in the way of everyone's happiness?"

"I-"

Suguru Geto wanted to argue, but he also felt that Satoru Gojo might have a point.

Still, he couldn't bear to abandon his old plans outright. He couldn't simply let them go...

"It seems Mr. Geto once cooked up a plan he thought was terribly impressive."

Of course, Aikawa Kaze knew what Suguru Geto's original plan was, and he had never intended to simply make the important Night Parade of a Hundred Demons disappear.

Not only was that incident a crucial opportunity to break the curse binding Yuta Okkotsu and Rika, but although Suguru Geto was currently classified as a special grade curse user, he had yet to commit any "major crimes."

The Jujutsu Higher-Ups might find this version of Suguru Geto an eyesore, but he was nowhere near being a "serious threat."

Suguru Geto needed to pull off something big before the Jujutsu Higher-Ups would take this "terrorist's" strength and forces seriously. Only then would they turn to Satoru Gojo for help when they felt threatened in the future.

"Letting Mr. Geto's plan proceed would undoubtedly benefit us more."

Without hiding anything, Aikawa Kaze laid out the pros and cons, along with the causes and consequences.

By the time he had finished his analysis, not only Suguru Geto but even Satoru Gojo was looking at Aikawa Kaze differently.

Setting his strength aside, Aikawa Kaze was ruthless enough when it came to scheming.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Didn't I tell you? I'm serious about giving everything I've got to make my dream come true."

After receiving the system and speaking with the world's consciousness, a vague suspicion had formed in Aikawa Kaze's mind. But he was too weak at present to have the confidence to get to the bottom of it, so he had buried it deep inside and never brought it up again.

That was why he meant it when he said he would spare no effort in pursuing his goal.

"Of course, it's best not to drag ordinary people into Jujutsu Society's affairs. Mr. Geto's grand cause sounds awfully melodramatic anyway, so declaring war on Jujutsu High-or Jujutsu Society itself-would be perfectly in character, wouldn't it?"

Aikawa Kaze did have something of an "ends justify the means" attitude, but ultimately, he was still an ordinary person who had grown up in a peaceful environment.

With a normal worldview, he wasn't about to encourage someone to hurt or even kill ordinary people. But to achieve his goal, certain sacrifices would inevitably have to be made.

Setting foot on the path of a jujutsu sorcerer already meant facing danger. Besides, even without Aikawa Kaze, those jujutsu sorcerers would have been swept up in the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons anyway, so he had no hesitation on that front.

"Whatever approach you take, Mr. Geto, if you announce the time and location of your attack beforehand, we can evacuate people in advance, set up a Curtain, and keep the damage to a minimum."

Aikawa Kaze watched Suguru Geto, recalling his arrangements. Instead of spelling them out, however, he only alluded to them vaguely.

"Or you could create a diversion. For example, have your subordinates attack one place while you head straight for Kyoto or Tokyo Jujutsu High."

"..."

A fine layer of cold sweat broke out on Geto's back. Under Aikawa Kaze's calm gaze, he felt an inexplicable chill.

When he had seen the Queen of Curses beside Yuta Okkotsu, the thought of taking Rika had indeed arisen in his mind. He had also vaguely considered having his subordinates cause trouble while he seized the opportunity to attack Yuta Okkotsu.

But that plan had only been a hazy idea. He hadn't refined it or worked out the details, much less mentioned it to anyone, yet now it felt as though he had been seen through.

If he hadn't known Aikawa Kaze's cursed technique was "Heroic Spirit Summoning," he would have suspected that he possessed some special eye technique.

Was it his imagination? Or had he really been anticipated?

Suguru Geto kept studying Aikawa Kaze's expression, but he couldn't find an answer.

Yet he also knew perfectly well that if Aikawa Kaze didn't join him and he failed to obtain Rika, his dream wouldn't have even the slightest chance of coming true.

If he wanted to fulfill his ideal, then with Aikawa Kaze out of reach for now, his only option was to try to seize the Queen of Curses.

"Then, Gojo Sensei, why don't you make a binding vow with Mr. Geto?"

Aikawa Kaze proposed that the two of them establish a [binding vow].

Binding vows in Jujutsu Society were absolutely inviolable. Unless someone was prepared to pay with their life to break one, they were the most reliable contracts there were.

"I don't have much experience with this, but you could probably try agreeing on something..."

Although Aikawa Kaze knew binding vows existed, he had no experience with how to formulate one or avoid leaving loopholes. He could only offer a rough suggestion.

"For example, let Mr. Geto try to realize his grand cause? Once he fails, Gojo Sensei spares his life, and afterward, Mr. Geto has to act according to Gojo Sensei's judgment. Or he can't hurt ordinary people unless they've hurt him first, something like that?"

Grrrumble...

"I'm hungry."

Aikawa Kaze rubbed his stomach. If Suguru Geto hadn't barged in, he would have been enjoying a delicious meal by now.

He stood up and called over to Panda, who had curled himself into a ball in the corner, trying to make himself inconspicuous.

"Come on, Panda. Let's go eat somewhere else!"

Panda: ... Could you pretend you don't see me?

Panda now understood Aikawa Kaze a little better, and his feelings grew even more complicated.

Wasn't this classmate of his a little terrifying? It felt like he was practically leading Gojo Sensei and that Special Grade Curse User around by the nose.

Panda hesitantly poked his head out, looking at the two special grades and then at Aikawa Kaze. He was clearly surprised that Aikawa Kaze wasn't staying until the end to witness their contract.

Aikawa Kaze shook his head, took Panda's hand, and headed outside.

"Then I'll leave everything that follows to our incredibly reliable and powerful Gojo Sensei."

Although he wanted to find out how things ended, his relationship with the two of them clearly wasn't close enough for that.

Judging by the atmosphere between Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, there was simply no room for him to step in. With him present, neither of them seemed able to communicate properly.

They might even have some private things to whisper to each other!

With everything laid out this clearly, if Satoru Gojo still couldn't handle Suguru Geto, he would be utterly useless.

Anyway, even without taking part, Aikawa Kaze could roughly guess what direction their binding vow would take, so there was no need to worry about the finer details.

Oh, perhaps today's performance would make Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto want to investigate his past again?

At that thought, Aikawa Kaze couldn't help wanting to ping the system and confirm that his background was in order.

But with Panda around, communicating wasn't very convenient. That could wait until later!

Right now, eating was what mattered most!