Enrolling at Jujutsu High

Ze Zenin sat beneath the large tree on the mountain behind the Zenin Clan estate, staring blankly down at the estate, at a loss for words.

My teacher's gone... and he left so decisively. I couldn't even stop him.

An unfamiliar feeling welled up in his heart. Ze Zenin couldn't help shaking his head as he said:

"We spent three years practically inseparable, and he just left like that. How heartless."

Just then, a cool voice reached Ze Zenin's ears.

"Zenin, what are you thinking about?"

He looked up to find that Satoru Gojo had arrived at the Zenin Clan estate without him noticing.

"What are you doing here? And so openly, too?" Ze Zenin wasn't bothered by Satoru Gojo's sudden appearance.

"Those half-baked idiots think they can spot me?" The young, short-haired Satoru Gojo curled his lips in disdain, then looked at Ze Zenin and said:

"Zenin, I found a few interesting cursed spirit exorcism missions. Come with me."

"No." Ze Zenin lay down on the grass, utterly uninterested.

"Come on. If you don't, I'll keep bugging you..."

For ten years, Satoru Gojo and Ze Zenin's voices continued to echo across the mountain behind the Zenin Clan estate...

Mid-April, 2005.

Today was the first day of classes for the first-years at Jujutsu High.

Ze Zenin stood at the gates, looking down at his Student ID.

"Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer, and Jujutsu High..."

Ze Zenin gave a disdainful chuckle. These empty titles were rather pointless.

He walked slowly onto campus. Looking at the scenery around Jujutsu High, he found himself recalling his university days in China.

His gaze was cold as he walked through campus with his hands in his pockets.

Jujutsu High didn't have many students. Most were recruited from ordinary society.

Satoru Gojo had chosen to join Jujutsu High out of rebelliousness, while Ze Zenin had only come because Gojo had pestered him relentlessly a few days earlier.

"Um... senpai?"

A languid voice sounded behind Ze Zenin.

He turned in puzzlement and saw a girl with short brown hair and a beauty mark beneath her left eye.

"Do you need something?" Ze Zenin asked indifferently. "If you're lost, I can show you the way."

"Thank you, senpai." Unaware of what she'd gotten herself into, the girl followed Ze Zenin, quietly studying the boy in front of her.

He seems like a pretty aloof person...

"My name is Shoko Ieiri. I look forward to learning from you, senpai."

"My name is Ze Zenin."

Ze Zenin didn't turn around, keeping his eyes on the path ahead.

Although he had more or less guessed who she was by now, that had nothing to do with him for the moment.

"Ze Zenin?" Shoko murmured.

That name sounds so familiar... have I heard it somewhere before?

"Senpai, do you know how many first-years there are?"

Ze Zenin glanced at Shoko Ieiri, then answered flatly, "There should be about four first-years this year."

"The Gojo Clan's Six Eyes, the wielder of Cursed Spirit Manipulation, and you."

"What about the fourth?" Shoko Ieiri stared intently at Ze Zenin.

"You'll find out soon." Ze Zenin didn't explain further. Letting her figure it out herself would probably spare her some embarrassment.

As they spoke, the two arrived at a classroom.

Four desks and chairs were neatly arranged inside, clearly prepared for the new students.

A boy with his hair in a neat bun and oddly shaped bangs already occupied one of the seats.

Hearing them, the boy turned and saw Ze Zenin and Shoko enter the classroom together.

He introduced himself warmly. "Hello. My name is Suguru Geto. I look forward to getting along with you."

"Hello, my name is Shoko Ieiri."

Shoko spoke languidly, glancing at Ze Zenin.

He doesn't look like he has the Six Eyes... did this jerk lie to me?

"And you?" Suguru Geto asked Ze Zenin with a smile.

"Ze Zenin. Nice to meet you." Ze Zenin kept it brief, wasting no words.

Suguru Geto shook hands with Ze Zenin, and they exchanged smiles.

Powerful cursed energy, and a strong body.

Suguru Geto narrowed his eyes. The instant they shook hands, he had felt that immense cursed energy and formidable physique.

His own taijutsu and grip strength had already undergone extensive training.

Otherwise, he couldn't have kept subduing those strange monsters...

Zenin, is it? Interesting.

As Suguru Geto pondered this, an exceedingly cocky voice suddenly rang out.

"Ze Zenin! You ditched me and came to register all by yourself, huh?"

Outside the classroom, a tall, slender, white-haired boy leaned against the window, shouting arrogantly instead of using the door.

He then climbed through the window. A pair of sunglasses hid his eyes.

Ze Zenin closed his eyes, pretending he hadn't seen him.

"Hey, hey, hey! I can see you! Don't play dumb with me!"

The newcomer was none other than Satoru Gojo. By now, he had completely shed his aloof childhood demeanor and become a full-fledged goofball.

As he spoke, Satoru Gojo walked over to Ze Zenin and slung an arm around his shoulders.

Satoru Gojo glanced sideways at Suguru Geto and Shoko Ieiri, then said:

"And you two, I'm not interested in playing nice just because we're classmates..."

Suguru Geto frowned, already finding this rude fellow rather annoying.

Arrogant, conceited, and dismissive of everyone-that was Shoko's first impression of Satoru Gojo.

But remembering the classmates Ze Zenin had mentioned earlier, Shoko suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Hm?"

Satoru Gojo looked at Shoko again, suddenly seeming pleasantly surprised. In a spectacular change of expression, he immediately ran up to her and said:

"Your innate cursed technique is Reverse Cursed Technique..."

"Can you teach me?"

Hearing his tone and remembering what he'd just said, Shoko suddenly felt strangely irritated.

This guy really has no manners. What do I do about wanting to punch him?

Still, her expression didn't change. She even put on a slightly innocent look as she said:

"Reverse Cursed Technique?"

"It's really just..."

Shoko pretended to think for a moment, then raised her hands over her head and gestured. "You go whoosh, then you go swish, and that's it..."

Satoru Gojo gradually realized something was wrong. This girl...

"You don't get it? Just whoosh, swish, and you're done!"

"You really have no talent." Shoko Ieiri curled her lips disdainfully, amusement in her eyes.

Satoru Gojo: "..."

Suguru Geto, who had been secretly listening from the side: "..."

Ze Zenin gave a rare smile. He hadn't expected someone other than himself to make a fool of Satoru Gojo.

Thoroughly annoyed, Satoru Gojo shouted at Ze Zenin:

"Don't get smug yet, you bastard! I'm going to beat you someday!"

"You can try right now."

Ze Zenin raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "I can hold back."

"Bastard, quit looking down on me!" Satoru Gojo flew into a rage.

Over the past ten-odd years, Satoru Gojo and Ze Zenin had grown up together, even easing relations between the Zenin Clan and the Gojo Clan considerably.

They also frequently went out on cursed spirit exorcism missions together-though most of the time, Satoru Gojo dragged Ze Zenin along.

But Satoru Gojo wasn't the sort to admit defeat and get discouraged. One day, he would beat Ze Zenin again!

"Ahem..."

A cough sounded, and a muscular man stood in the classroom doorway.

He looked at the four teenagers with a headache brewing. It seemed he had another bunch of problem children...

Cursed Spirit Manipulation, the Six Eyes, Reverse Cursed Technique...

And that person.

Masamichi Yaga glanced at Ze Zenin, an inexplicable emotion stirring within him.

He walked to the lectern, paused as he looked them over, and said clearly:

"Since everyone is here, let me introduce myself..."

"My name is Masamichi Yaga. I'll be your homeroom teacher for the next three years."

Shoko: "..."

She could clearly tell something was wrong now, and shot a fierce glare at Ze Zenin, who sat beside her.

This jerk. If I'd known, I wouldn't have called him senpai-

How embarrassing!

Shoko silently took out her phone and sent an email to a contact saved as [Utahime Iori].

"Utahime-senpai, can you believe this?! Today I met this guy..."

Masamichi Yaga didn't comment on it. He said clearly, "Since this is your first day of school, I need to get a sense of your abilities."

Because of her cursed technique, Shoko didn't have to participate in combat.

"So, the three of you can discuss who you'll spar with."

Ze Zenin said nothing, but his gaze shifted to Satoru Gojo.

"Satoru, it's been a few months since we last sparred, hasn't it? Want to give it a go?"

Satoru Gojo: "..."

At present, he only had Cursed Technique Lapse. A fight would probably be rather difficult...

But naturally, Satoru Gojo wouldn't concede out of fear. He lowered his sunglasses, his azure eyes turning toward Ze Zenin.

"Sure. I'll fight you."

Curiosity filled Suguru Geto's eyes. He wanted to know just how strong these two fellows, who would spend the next three years with him-

Really were!

Shoko watched Ze Zenin with an inexplicable feeling. She suddenly found herself a little interested in this seemingly dependable fellow.

Gojo has Limitless. Does he have the Ten Shadows Technique?