Jujutsu High! Meeting!

The corridors of Jujutsu High were especially quiet that day.

Panda, Maki Zenin, and Inumaki were on their way to the classroom.

Panda tilted his head and spoke to Maki Zenin and Toge Inumaki beside him.

"Did you hear? We're getting a transfer student today."

"Hm?"

Maki was walking with her head down and didn't even look up.

"I heard he stuffed four of his classmates into a locker at his old school."

Panda lowered his voice a little, though with his build, it didn't get much quieter.

"Four. Every one of them. One of those metal school lockers. Just imagine."

Maki paused for a moment.

"...Did he kill them?"

Her tone was flat.

"No. I heard they were seriously injured."

Panda scratched the back of his head. "Not much different, though, right? They're all still in the hospital, anyway."

Maki clicked her tongue. "If he gets too cocky, I'll teach him a lesson."

Beside her, Toge Inumaki tugged at his collar, his voice muffled. "Bonito flakes."

Maki glanced at him. "You're too soft, Toge."

"Tuna mayo." Toge Inumaki made a small gesture, meaning things hadn't gotten that far yet, and they just needed to keep an eye on him.

Panda suddenly clapped his paws together, as if remembering something.

"Oh, right! Gojo-sensei said Wangchuan's coming today too."

Maki visibly paused for an instant.

She looked up, and her eyes lit up behind her glasses.

"Wangchuan? What's he coming for?"

Panda shrugged.

"No idea."

"Gojo-sensei said he invited him to meet the new student, but you know how it is."

"Wangchuan won't budge without money. Gojo-sensei must have paid some price again."

"Hmph." The corners of Maki's mouth lifted slightly.

"That money grubber... It's been ages since I saw him."

Panda glanced at her, a hint of warning in his tone. "Maki, you're not thinking of sparring with him again, are you?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Maki rolled her wrists. "Last time... Hmph."

"Last time, you couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes."

Panda said it bluntly.

"He pinned you to the ground with one finger. Did you forget?"

"Huh?!"

Maki's gaze instantly turned dangerous, and her grip tightened a little on her Cursed Tool bag.

Panda hurriedly took half a step back and raised both paws in surrender.

Beside them, Toge Inumaki chuckled softly and opened his zipper a crack. "Salmon roe."

"What are you so happy about, Toge?" Maki shot him a glare.

But she still couldn't suppress the slight curve of her lips. "...Whatever. We've got a transfer student today. Let's see how that goes first."

The three entered the classroom as they talked. Sunlight slanted through the windows, spreading a layer of warm color across the wooden floor.

Panda chose a seat by the window, and the chair creaked beneath him.

Maki sat in the middle, while Toge Inumaki waited quietly.

A few minutes later, the classroom door was shoved open.

"Hi, everyone! Long time no see!"

Satoru Gojo appeared in the doorway in an extremely exaggerated pose.

One leg stepped inside while the other remained outside, both arms spread wide as if he wanted to hug the entire classroom.

His sunglasses rested on his hair, and his white hair gleamed beneath the fluorescent lights.

"Today is a super-special day! Jujutsu High is getting some fresh blood! Let's get excited!"

The classroom was silent.

Panda stared at him expressionlessly.

Maki leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed.

Toge Inumaki tugged at his collar.

Satoru Gojo stood with his arms spread for three seconds.

"...You could at least give me some kind of reaction."

He lowered his arms, looking completely unembarrassed, and beckoned outside.

"All right, all right. Come on in, Yuta Okkotsu!"

A thin figure slowly shuffled in from the light outside the door.

Yuta Okkotsu wore the Jujutsu High uniform, a white jacket with a slightly wrinkled hem.

His face was pale, with deep, dark circles beneath his eyes. He looked as though he hadn't slept well in days.

He entered with his head lowered and his steps light, as if he wasn't sure whether he should set foot in this room.

The moment his first foot stepped into the classroom.

Maki, Panda, and Toge Inumaki all felt it.

It felt like ice water crawling up their spines.

The air suddenly grew heavy. A thick, malicious cursed energy silently seeped from Yuta Okkotsu.

Like an invisible hand slowly spreading open, it covered the entire space.

Maki's pupils contracted slightly.

Her hand involuntarily tightened on her sword for an instant.

Yuta Okkotsu walked to the blackboard and turned to face his three classmates. His gaze remained lowered, and his voice was soft and a little uneasy.

"My name is... Yuta Okkotsu."

The instant he finished speaking, a cold glint flew past his ear.

Clang!

A long sword embedded itself in the blackboard behind him, its blade still humming and trembling.

Chalk dust sifted down onto Yuta Okkotsu's shoulders.

He froze.

"Are you kidding me?!"

Maki remained in her throwing stance, her arm not yet fully lowered.

Her sharp gaze fixed on Yuta Okkotsu.

"Jujutsu High isn't a place for someone who's cursed."

Yuta Okkotsu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his throat felt blocked.

Leaning against the doorframe with a subtle curve to his lips, Satoru Gojo suddenly spoke.

"Hey, hey, hey. You'd better get away from him right now."

Maki frowned. "...What?"

"I said..."

Satoru Gojo's voice was as lazy as ever, but there was a glint of seriousness in his eyes. "Don't stand there."

Before he had even finished speaking.

The blackboard behind Yuta Okkotsu suddenly bulged.

"Don't do this!"

Yuta Okkotsu whipped his head around, panic in his voice. "Rika! Don't!"

But it was already too late.

A huge black shadow surged from the center of the blackboard, and an enormous arm reached out from within.

An enormous figure slowly emerged from the cursed spirit.

The Special Grade Cursed Spirit Rika Orimoto let out a shrill, loving roar.

"Don't... bully... Yuta!!"

The enormous palm slammed down toward Maki and the other two, carrying wind pressure powerful enough to crush walls.

Panda's pupils contracted sharply, and he put on his gauntlets.

Maki quickly retreated.

Toge Inumaki had already pulled down his collar.

But they all knew they were too late.

Boom.

A dull impact sounded.

The enormous palm stopped in midair.

As if it had struck an invisible wall.

The air between the enormous palm and the three of them distorted for an instant. Silver ripples silently spread outward, swallowing the entire violent impact.

Rika's arm hung there, all its force completely dissipated by an invisible power. Not even a breath of wind touched Maki's hair.

The classroom fell silent for a second.

Then a lazy voice tinged with amusement came from the doorway.

"Well, I didn't expect this... There's a Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit hiding in a Jujutsu High classroom."

Everyone looked toward the door.

Wangchuan was leaning against the doorframe.

One hand was tucked into his trouser pocket, while the other was casually raised, its index finger slightly bent.

The invisible Gravitational Field spread from his fingertip, holding Rika's enormous body firmly in midair.

A cup of coffee floated beside him.

He tilted his head and looked at Satoru Gojo, his lips curving.

"Gojo, can I take this one?"

"Call it overtime pay."