7:30 p.m., October 31, 2018.
Tokyo's Shibuya Ward was bustling with noise. It was Halloween, and the streets were filled with people in all kinds of bizarre costumes.
"Look!" A man pointed up at the sky. "Is there something up there?"
His voice drew the attention of everyone around him, and they all looked up.
At the same time, another man inexplicably fell where he stood. He pointed in confusion at the seemingly empty space ahead of him. "I think I hit a wall!"
What these ordinary people did not know was... Curtains, each with a radius of roughly eight hundred meters, had silently descended, dividing Shibuya Ward into eastern and western sections. A massive conspiracy awaited them.
"'Bring Ze Zenin and Satoru Gojo here'... That's what they're saying."
Akari Nitta's expression was grave as she spoke. "With Curtains this enormous, there must be curse users involved."
"Tch, a bunch of scum." Naoya Zenin spat disdainfully beside her. "Who do they think they are, demanding my cousin come here?"
"We're supposed to help them clear the perimeter, right?" Maki asked in a low voice, a long case strapped to her back.
"Maki, my cousin told you not to come. Why couldn't you listen..." Naoya Zenin glanced back at Maki, his tone faintly hostile. "I don't want anyone defying him."
"This is my responsibility as a sorcerer!" Maki refused to back down, facing Naoya Zenin head-on.
"Then don't die, or he'll be very unhappy." Naoya Zenin did not press her any further and turned his gaze elsewhere.
Nobara Kugisaki paid no attention to their argument. "So our squad is called Team Zenin?"
"That's right!" Akari Nitta smiled. "Every team is led by a Grade 1 Sorcerer!"
In a slight departure from the original course of events, Naoya Zenin had become Team