The summer of 2007 was undoubtedly hot and long.
That summer, Suguru Geto kept having the same dream.
In the world of his dreams, Ze Zenin did not exist at all.
He and Satoru Gojo were still best friends, but it seemed they had argued at some point, then gone ten years without seeing each other.
And when they met for the last time, Gojo had killed him with his own hands.
Suguru Geto rubbed his head and chuckled. He must have been too tired lately-
How could a world like that exist? A world without Ze-how could such a thing ever happen?
He glanced at the message on his phone and frowned in disgust. Another assignment to exorcise low-level cursed spirits disrupting human society.
He was already utterly exhausted by these tedious missions.
Every time he swallowed a cursed spirit orb, it was like eating a rag that had just been used to wipe up vomit...
Suguru Geto got dressed and opened his door. He froze. Five people were standing outside.
Ze Zenin wore an indifferent expression, Satoru Gojo was all smiles, and Shoko Ieiri had a cigarette between her lips.
Behind them stood the sunny Yu Haibara and an unconcerned Kento Nanami.
As though he had sensed something, Suguru Geto put on his familiar, gentle smile. "What brings everyone here?
"Ze, Gojo... you two mighty special grade sorcerers actually have time to keep me company?" Suguru Geto asked with a teasing smile.
Satoru Gojo waved a hand dismissively.
"It's all because of Ze. He said you seemed pretty busy lately.
"Plus, going on missions alone every time must get lonely-
"So we came especially to take you out with us."
"Ze?"
Suguru Geto looked at Ze Zenin, who acted as if this had nothing to do with him.
Something stirred in his heart. How could Ze possibly not exist?
"Let's go!"
Satoru Gojo reached out and pulled Suguru Geto from the shadows into the sunlight where they stood. "We're going to have a blast today!"
"Geto, what's with those huge dark circles? Been getting up to something naughty at night?!"
Satoru Gojo shouted, his tone downright obnoxious...
Suguru Geto narrowed his eyes and gave Satoru Gojo a hostile look.
"Geto, you can't beat me..."
Satoru Gojo kept grinning obnoxiously. "Don't stay all by yourself when you're lonely. You'll make yourself sick bottling everything up."
The group of teenagers laughed and tussled along the street in the summer sunshine.
Watching the others ahead of him, Ze Zenin felt a little dazed. He had already been at Jujutsu High for three years, and he would even be graduating soon.
But counting it up, he had spent almost seventeen years in this world. He had even begun to slowly forget his memories of his previous life, as though he had become completely part of this world...
He was doing everything within his power. Since he had come to this world,
Ze Zenin would not stand idly by while tragedies befell the people around him.
"You seem... pretty happy today?"
Shoko suddenly slipped up beside Ze Zenin and asked softly.
"Yeah."
Ze Zenin turned to look at Shoko's delicate, pretty face. For a moment, he was distracted, and the words slipped out before he could stop them.
"Shoko, I still hope you'll quit smoking..."
In truth, Ze Zenin had wanted to say it for a long time. He did not want to see Shoko become so haggard later on.
"Huh?"
Shoko looked at Ze Zenin in confusion, then gave him a knowing smile. "Why's that, Zenin?"
"Because I'm worried about your health..."
Before Ze Zenin finished speaking, he realized something was wrong, and his gaze instantly regained its composure.
He had been so relaxed just now that he had actually let his true feelings slip out to Shoko.
"Pfft..." Shoko covered her mouth and laughed.
This guy really couldn't be honest with his feelings.
Shoko could not help recalling their first day of school-
Ze Zenin had shown her around Jujutsu High.
Back then, looking at his ice-cold expression, she had even called him her upperclassman...
"When are you going to tell me more of that story about three men and a dog?"
"That one, huh." Looking at Shoko, Ze Zenin could not help remembering those days of his youth.
"Nine years ago, in North Yankton..." Shoko murmured, brimming with curiosity about what happened next.
"Sounds like a story with a lot of snow, doesn't it?" Ze Zenin chuckled. "Next, I'll tell you a story about cowboys in the Old West-"
"A story set in 1899, when the age of gunslingers and outlaws was coming to an end..."
"Want to hear it?"
"Of course." Shoko looked earnestly into Ze Zenin's eyes-
Ze Zenin's eyes could speak.
An unfamiliar feeling began to blossom in her heart.
We've been partners for a year now... Ze, how many more stories do you have?
If only I could always stay by your side and listen to your stories...
Unable to resist teasing Shoko, Ze Zenin said, "How about a thousand yen per session?"
"Sure." Shoko smiled like a little fox.
Ze Zenin: "..."
Why does it feel like I'm the one losing out?
Nanami and Yu Haibara walked side by side at the back of the group.
Haibara watched Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto bickering up front, then looked at Ze Zenin and Shoko, who looked like a couple out for a stroll. He could not help feeling a little surprised.
Something seems to be going on between Zenin, the most reliable third-year, and Shoko...
He tugged at Nanami beside him, only to find an expression of utter resignation on his face.
"Nanami? What's wrong?"
"Nothing..." Nanami suddenly returned to normal and covered his mouth, as though hiding a smile. "It feels like I'm slacking off at work."
"How is this slacking off?! This is an assignment from our upperclassman!"
Nanami helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead. Haibara was great in every other way, but he was far too enthusiastic.
If the supremely unreliable Satoru Gojo had invited him out today, Nanami would certainly have refused. But the one who had come to him was the legendary third-year...
"Let's stay out a little longer... the longer, the better... then we won't have to work," Nanami muttered to himself.
As they chatted, the group arrived outside a photo studio.
"Why don't we take a group photo as a keepsake?" Ze Zenin suggested.
"I never knew you were into this sort of thing."
Satoru Gojo gave Ze Zenin a curious look, then suddenly grinned wickedly. "You just want a photo alone with Shoko, don't you?"
"Are you asking for a beating?"
"What? I'm not scared of you. Geto and I'll take you on together!"
Ze Zenin and Satoru Gojo entered the photo studio, still roughhousing.
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
"Cheese!"
With a flash of white light, a photograph of the whole group appeared in the camera.
Then they split up to take a few more: a photo of the third-years... a photo of Suguru Geto and Satoru Gojo...
Shoko stood smiling beside the camera, holding a photograph that meant something truly special to her...
And just like that, the day came to an end.
"Geto, get some proper rest!" Satoru Gojo and Ze Zenin stood beside Suguru Geto and patted his shoulders.
"Geto, if something's bothering you, tell us. Don't keep it all bottled up."
Ze Zenin watched Suguru Geto closely, carefully studying his expression.
"Don't worry. I will."
Suguru Geto smiled gently, then said, "It's getting late. You two should head back too."
"See you next time, Geto!" Satoru Gojo waved.
"See you next time, Geto."
Suguru Geto closed his door. As always, he went straight to the bathroom to shower.
He was tired today too, but this time, unlike before-
There was no conflict or loneliness in his heart.
After his shower, Suguru Geto looked at the group photo with everyone from Jujutsu High on his bedroom desk and could not help smiling.
But then, a voice seemed to sound beside his ear-
"Cursed spirits are alive too. Why can't you protect them the way you protect non-sorcerers?"
"Jujutsu sorcerers and non-sorcerers-is there any difference between them?"
"Who's there?!"
"And what's the difference between humans and cursed spirits?"
Startled, Suguru Geto scanned his surroundings warily and said in a low voice,
"Quit playing games and come out!"
Only silence answered him.
Before you continue