Despite a few complications, the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event began as scheduled.
The vast forest in front of Tokyo Jujutsu High was designated as the competition grounds. A barrier rose silently, sealing the area off from the outside world.
Morning sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled light and shadows across the moss-covered ground.
Amid the birdsong lingered a barely perceptible hint of tension and anticipation.
As a first-year newcomer, Junpei joined the other students in the Goodwill Event.
This was his first official group activity as a "Jujutsu High student."
He wore a brand-new black Tokyo Jujutsu High uniform-although its design resembled his previous school's uniform somewhat, wearing it felt entirely different.
There was no longer that feeling of restriction and suffocation. Instead, it brought a strange sense of belonging.
However, Junpei's enrollment had been so sudden that only a few short days had passed between completing the paperwork and joining the Goodwill Event.
His second-year seniors-Maki, Panda, and Inumaki-still knew little about Junpei's abilities, personality, or fighting style.
During their hastily arranged strategy meeting, Maki folded her arms and looked at the nervous Junpei before finally making a decision.
"Your Cursed Technique summons a Shikigami that can release several kinds of toxins, right?" Maki confirmed.
Junpei nodded. "Yes. But I'm still practicing controlling their concentration and range. Sometimes they can be a little unstable..."
"Then improvise," Maki cut him off, her tone brisk.
"In these circumstances, forcing you to fit into our tactics would only make things more likely to go wrong.
Your job is to use the terrain and your Cursed Technique to disrupt the Kyoto Jujutsu High students, cause confusion, and create openings for us. As for exactly how you do that-"
She gave Junpei's shoulder a firm pat. "-adapt to the situation. Remember, protecting