The midsummer of 2006 seemed inescapably scorching, and the stories unfolding within it stirred everyone at Jujutsu High.
Several months had passed since the new school year began. The four jujutsu sorcerers had all entered their second year, and two new students had joined them.
"The one with pale blond hair is Kento Nanami, and the boy with the gray bowl cut is Yu Haibara."
Ze Zenin spoke evenly to Satoru Gojo, who stood before him looking thoroughly disgruntled.
"It's been this long, and you still haven't learned their names?"
Outside the classroom, the cicadas never stopped calling. Inside, the boys' discussion continued unabated.
Shoko sat beside Ze Zenin, quietly watching the three guys she had spent the past year with. By now, they knew one another inside out.
Shoko stayed out of their discussion, a lollipop in her mouth. Her gaze remained fixed entirely on Ze Zenin, though she hadn't even noticed it herself.
"Geto, you seem to think pretty highly of that Yu Haibara, right?" Satoru Gojo asked Suguru Geto. "I don't get why that guy's so fired up all the time."
"Gojo..." Suguru Geto paused, then told him earnestly, "Being passionate is a good thing. It helps you stand up to the powerful and support the weak... We should protect those who are weaker than us!"
"There you go again." Satoru Gojo scoffed, turning around and resting his hand on Ze Zenin's desk. "People as strong as Ze and me don't need to worry about the weak at all, okay?"
Suguru Geto's expression darkened. He glanced at Satoru Gojo. "Let's take this outside."
"I'm not going-"
"Gojo and Geto are at it again." Shoko smiled at Ze Zenin. "Aren't you going to stop them?"
Ze Zenin: "..."
"You two..." Ze Zenin held his head. "Do you want