Chapter Summaries

As winter arrived at Jujutsu High, Qingxiao reminded Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto that Shoko Ieiri's birthday was approaching and prepared a silver Cursed Tool lighter as her gift. November seventh arrived after the three quietly made their preparations, leaving Shoko's birthday celebration about to begin.

• Qingxiao decided to make Shoko's birthday special and chose a silver Cursed Tool lighter from the Cursed Tool Repository as her gift.
• Qingxiao told Suguru Geto and Satoru Gojo that Shoko's birthday was in a couple of days; Geto had already bought practical presents, while Gojo realized he had forgotten to prepare one.
• Qingxiao kept his gift secret, and Geto and Gojo agreed not to reveal their own birthday plans.
• Over the next two days, Gojo secretly left Jujutsu High to gather supplies, Geto followed his usual routine, and Qingxiao polished the lighter and kept it in a black gift box.
• November seventh arrived, marking Shoko's birthday.

On her birthday, Shoko woke late and wondered whether Qingxiao would visit her as usual. Instead, Qingxiao, Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto surprised her outside her dorm with birthday wishes and gifts, leaving everyone waiting to see what Qingxiao had prepared.

• Shoko woke late, got ready, and thought about her evening chats with Qingxiao at the infirmary.
• Shoko opened her dormitory door and found Qingxiao waiting with a bouquet alongside Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto.
• Qingxiao, Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto wished Shoko a happy birthday together.
• Satoru Gojo gave Shoko a box of sweets and figurines, and Suguru Geto gave her a cashmere scarf.
• Everyone turned to Qingxiao, curious about the gift he had kept secret.

Qingxiao gave Shoko a silver lighter that was actually a Grade 1 cursed tool capable of concealing her presence, and Shoko warmly accepted it. After the group decided to celebrate her birthday at an amusement park, the four left Jujutsu High together.

• Qingxiao gave Shoko a silver lighter, and she revealed that she smoked and genuinely liked the gift.
• Qingxiao explained that the lighter was a Grade 1 cursed tool that used cursed energy and concealed its user from cursed spirits of Grade 1 and below.
• Suguru Geto recognized the tool from Qingxiao's earlier application, while Satoru Gojo reacted with surprise to Shoko's smoking and teased Qingxiao about his heartfelt words.
• Qingxiao told Shoko he hoped the tool would help protect her when he could not be by her side, and Shoko thanked him sincerely.
• Satoru Gojo suggested an amusement park, Shoko agreed, and the four left Jujutsu High together.

Qingxiao joined Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, and Shoko for her birthday at an amusement park, where he slowly let go of his embarrassment and helped the others enjoy the day. After Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto left them alone, Qingxiao faced the unfamiliar amusement park with nervous uncertainty.

• Qingxiao tried to hide his embarrassment after Satoru Gojo called attention to his protective words about Shoko.
• Satoru Gojo led the group through thrill rides while Suguru Geto and Shoko joined him and Qingxiao quietly looked after everyone.
• The four shared snacks and warm drinks on the carousel, and Qingxiao relaxed when he saw Shoko enjoying her birthday and appreciating her silver lighter.
• Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto pretended to seek out a dessert stand and left Qingxiao and Shoko alone together.
• Qingxiao realized that his first amusement park visit left him unsure how to act among the unfamiliar rides and lively crowds.

Qingxiao spent his first visit to an amusement park with Shoko, who showed him around and rode the Ferris wheel with him. The quiet ride relaxed him and left him appreciating the peaceful time he shared with her.

• Shoko noticed Qingxiao was unfamiliar with the amusement park, and he explained that he had never had the time or anyone to visit with before.
• Shoko offered to show Qingxiao around, then took him to the Ferris wheel for a birthday ride.
• As their cabin rose above the park, Shoko reassured Qingxiao, who gradually relaxed and enjoyed the view of the city.
• At the Ferris wheel's highest point, Qingxiao and Shoko met each other's gaze, and both became flustered.
• After the ride, Qingxiao reflected that spending peaceful time with Shoko and enjoying the world felt precious.

Shoko celebrated her birthday with Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, and Qingxiao after an afternoon at the amusement park. Her secret birthday wish seemed to concern Qingxiao, leaving him quietly stirred as their evening together drew to a close.

• Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto reunited with Shoko and Qingxiao after they finished exploring the amusement park.
• Satoru Gojo suggested dinner, and the four went to a nearby Japanese izakaya.
• Satoru Gojo teased Qingxiao about his earlier promise to protect Shoko, and Qingxiao joined in the joking.
• Satoru Gojo surprised Shoko with a birthday cake, and she made a wish before blowing out the candles.
• Shoko refused to reveal her wish, saying it would not come true if she told them, and Qingxiao suspected it had something to do with him.

Qingxiao, Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto set out before dawn for an urgent Grade 1 mission while Shoko came to see them off. As their car left, Qingxiao felt a quiet concern despite expecting an ordinary mission.

• Satoru Gojo woke Qingxiao at 6:30 and told him they had an urgent mission rated Grade 1 or higher.
• Qingxiao quickly got dressed and readied his Cursed Tool, eager to test his training in a real fight.
• Qingxiao and Satoru Gojo met Suguru Geto and Shoko outside, where Suguru explained that Shoko had come only to say goodbye.
• Qingxiao urged Shoko to return inside and stay warm, but she wished them well and asked them to come back soon.
• Suguru Geto, Satoru Gojo, and Qingxiao boarded the designated transport car and left for the mission.

Shoko spent the day alone at Jujutsu High while Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, and Qingxiao were away on a Grade 1 mission. She realized she missed Qingxiao most and ended the day hoping he would return soon.

• Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, and Qingxiao left Shoko behind to go on a Grade 1 mission, leaving the campus unusually quiet.
• Shoko returned to her dormitory but could not sleep, then went to the empty infirmary and sorted the medical supplies.
• Shoko recognized that Qingxiao’s absence was the real source of her boredom and missed his daily visits and quiet care.
• Shoko spent the day watching the empty Training Ground and the path Qingxiao usually took, then wished for the mission to go smoothly and for him to come back soon.

Qingxiao, Suguru Geto, and Satoru Gojo discovered that the reported Grade 1 Cursed Spirit was actually a Special Grade Rainbow Dragon with nearly impenetrable scales. The fight began badly for Qingxiao and Geto, while Gojo’s Blue failed to seriously injure the dragon.

• Suguru Geto questioned the dragon’s reported Grade 1 classification, and Satoru Gojo identified it as Special Grade.
• Qingxiao resolved to fight the dragon and finish the mission quickly so he could return to Jujutsu High.
• Suguru Geto sent avian cursed spirits to attack, but their strikes failed to pierce the Rainbow Dragon’s scales.
• Qingxiao rushed the dragon, was struck by its tail, and skidded across the ground with his arms numb.
• Satoru Gojo drew the Rainbow Dragon’s attacks with Limitless, then fired Blue at its eyes, but the dragon evaded and suffered little damage.

Qingxiao endured Rainbow Dragon’s assault and struck its head twice with Black Flash, leaving the special grade cursed spirit near death. With Suguru Geto’s earth and stone holding it in place, Qingxiao pinned it down so Satoru Gojo could hit it with a fully charged maximum-output Blue, which began disintegrating its body.

• Qingxiao armored himself with cursed energy, took Rainbow Dragon’s impact head-on, and hammered the same spot on its body.
• Rainbow Dragon went berserk and focused its attacks on Qingxiao, while Suguru Geto slowed it with earth and rocks and Satoru Gojo secretly charged Blue.
• Qingxiao landed two consecutive Black Flash strikes on Rainbow Dragon’s head, shattering its scales and nearly destroying half its head.
• Qingxiao held Rainbow Dragon against its broken wound as Suguru Geto’s earth and stone trapped its body, leaving it unable to escape.
• Satoru Gojo released maximum-output Blue, which engulfed Rainbow Dragon and began tearing apart its scales and flesh.

After defeating Rainbow Dragon, Qingxiao collapsed from his injuries and woke in Jujutsu High’s infirmary after Shoko treated him. He found himself fully recovered and thanked Shoko for watching over him through the night.

• Qingxiao insisted he was fine after the battle, then collapsed as Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto rushed to support him.
• Suguru Geto prioritized the unconscious Qingxiao over the barely alive Rainbow Dragon.
• Qingxiao woke in the infirmary and realized Shoko Ieiri’s Reverse Cursed Technique and his passive recovery had healed his injuries.
• Shoko woke beside Qingxiao’s bed and carefully checked whether he still felt pain or weakness.
• Qingxiao assured Shoko that he felt great and thanked her for looking after him all night.

After Qingxiao woke from his injuries, Shoko scolded him for risking his life and made him promise to protect himself. Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto arrived, praised him for helping defeat Rainbow Dragon, then teased him about passing out after trying to look cool.

• Shoko told Qingxiao not to push himself so hard after treating his injuries through the night.
• Qingxiao apologized and promised Shoko he would protect himself and stay alive.
• Shoko called Satoru Gojo to say Qingxiao had woken up, and Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto hurried to the infirmary.
• Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto praised Qingxiao for helping defeat Rainbow Dragon.
• Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto teased Qingxiao for fixing his hair and boasting before passing out, making Shoko laugh.

Qingxiao secretly went into the city to buy Shoko warm accessories for the first snowfall, but his absence left her and his friends wondering where he had gone. The chapter ended as Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto saw someone approaching with cardboard boxes.

• After remembering Shoko's worry during his recovery, Qingxiao decided to buy her warm accessories for the coming cold weather.
• After training, Qingxiao left Jujutsu High alone and took the train into the city to shop before the snow began.
• Shoko waited in the infirmary for Qingxiao, then returned to her dorm disappointed when he did not appear.
• Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto searched Jujutsu High for Qingxiao but could not find him.
• Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto heard footsteps and saw someone approaching with cardboard boxes.

Qingxiao brought computers to the dorm and got Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto hooked on Counter-Strike, where they learned to use lag to detect nearby enemies before spotting a player flying across the map. The next morning, after the first heavy snowfall, Qingxiao went to Shoko's dorm with a winter gift and knocked on her door.

• Qingxiao returned carrying three computers, and Suguru Geto helped him bring the boxes into the dorm.
• Qingxiao set up the computers and persuaded Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto to play Counter-Strike.
• Qingxiao and Suguru Geto realized that the game's lag signaled nearby enemies, and the three used the clue to win a round.
• Satoru Gojo spotted someone flying across the game map, and the three surrendered immediately.
• Qingxiao woke to the first heavy snowfall of winter, took a hat, scarf, and gloves he had prepared, and went to visit Shoko.
• Shoko let Qingxiao into her dorm after he knocked, speaking with morning grumpiness and lingering hurt.

Qingxiao apologized to Shoko for leaving her waiting in the infirmary all night and gave her winter accessories he had bought for the snowfall. Shoko accepted his apology and gift, leaving their close, tender relationship unchanged.

• Shoko teased Qingxiao for failing to meet her in the infirmary and admitted she had worried when she could not reach him.
• Qingxiao apologized and explained that his phone had run out of battery and that he had forgotten to contact her.
• Qingxiao gave Shoko a scarf, hat, and gloves he had chosen for her, and she accepted them.
• Shoko told Qingxiao to be more careful next time and said she would not talk to him if he disappeared again.
• Shoko and Qingxiao watched the snow together as Shoko quietly appreciated his thoughtfulness.

Qingxiao’s friends urged him to ask Shoko out, but when he later ran into her searching for food, he impulsively invited her to his room to cook. Shoko accepted, and they arrived at his tidy dorm room together.

• Qingxiao shared his umbrella with Shoko on the way to class, shielding her from the snow.
• After gaming, Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto encouraged Qingxiao to invite Shoko out shopping, leaving him unsure whether to do it.
• Qingxiao went downstairs for a drink and encountered Shoko looking for something to eat.
• Qingxiao impulsively offered to cook for Shoko in his room, and she agreed.
• Qingxiao let Shoko into his neat, warmly lit room, where she looked around with curiosity.

Qingxiao cooked Shoko a late-night meal and nervously invited her to walk with him on Shopping Street the next evening. Shoko agreed, and after finishing dinner and washing the dishes, she returned to her dorm, leaving Qingxiao looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.

• Qingxiao prepared noodles with eggs and vegetables for Shoko while she watched him cook and thought about learning to make him a meal.
• Qingxiao invited Shoko to take a walk on Shopping Street after their special training the next evening, and Shoko accepted.
• Qingxiao and Shoko finished their meal in shy silence, both privately flustered by the invitation.
• Shoko washed the dishes, declined Qingxiao's offer to walk her downstairs, and left for her dorm after saying they would see each other tomorrow.

Qingxiao and Shoko went on their first evening outing together, choosing matching winter clothes before watching a movie. They left the cinema hand in hand and walked back toward Jujutsu High, their feelings for each other growing clearer.

• Qingxiao and Shoko spent the night nervously anticipating their shopping date.
• After training, Qingxiao met Shoko, who insisted they buy him warmer clothes at the shop where he had chosen her outfit.
• Shoko picked a black set matching her beige winter clothes, and Qingxiao agreed to buy it.
• Shoko suggested they watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and they shared popcorn and hot drinks at the cinema.
• When their hands touched in the popcorn bag, Shoko held Qingxiao's hand, and he gently held hers in return.
• After the movie, Qingxiao and Shoko left with their fingers interlaced and walked back toward Jujutsu High.

Qingxiao tried to learn Reverse Cursed Technique from Shoko but came close without mastering it. Masamichi Yaga then assigned him to bring a prospective student, Nagayumi Jin, to Jujutsu High.

• Shoko explained Reverse Cursed Technique to Qingxiao, but her vague instructions left him to experiment on his own.
• Qingxiao used Heavenly Motion as a foundation for his attempt and nearly completed the conversion, but failed to produce stable healing energy.
• Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto summoned Qingxiao and Shoko to Masamichi Yaga's office for new assignments.
• Masamichi Yaga announced that the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event had been replaced by a joint Grade 1 Cursed Spirit mission.
• Masamichi Yaga gave Qingxiao a separate assignment to meet and bring a prospective student to Jujutsu High, naming the student Nagayumi Jin.

Utahime Iori led Gojo, Geto, and Shoko on a mission to exorcise the Slit-Mouthed Woman, though Geto’s frightening tale and Gojo’s teasing made her fear the curse. The team checked into a hotel to wait for nightfall, and Utahime arranged to share a room with Shoko, where she finally relaxed.

• Utahime met Gojo, Geto, and Shoko and learned that Qingxiao had gone to pick up Nagayumi Jin and would join them later.
• Geto described the Slit-Mouthed Woman’s deadly legend, and Gojo teased Utahime when she tried to hide her fear.
• A sudden car horn startled Utahime, who grabbed Shoko while Gojo laughed at her reaction.
• Utahime decided the team should rest at a hotel and head out when night fell.
• Utahime asked Shoko to share a room, and Geto stopped Gojo from teasing her further.
• Utahime and Shoko settled into a twin room, and Utahime’s nerves eased once they were alone together.