In the office, higher-ups stared at the big screen.
Under the Six Eyes' perception, Sawa Gojo's trio quickly located the Grade 2 cursed spirit in the competition arena.
Satoru Gojo unleashed Blue, exorcising it effortlessly.
Yuki Tsukumo's eyes sparked with interest.
"That technique's intriguing. An extension of Limitless?"
Gojo clan members beamed, eagerly explaining Blue's mechanics.
They weren't bragging—just sharing knowledge in the spirit of learning when asked.
Totally not bragging!
"With the Grade 2 cursed spirit exorcised, the match is decided!"
Gakuganji Yoshinobu tapped his cane twice, and a whistle blared over the broadcast, signaling the end.
The few remaining Kyoto High students, still grappling with Grade 3 spirits, froze at the sound.
The Grade 2 was exorcised that fast?
Their classmates or Tokyo High's trio?
Returning to the starting point, they saw over twenty classmates being stretchered to the infirmary.
"Winner: Tokyo Jujutsu High!"
Gakuganji's raspy voice croaked like a duck.
But he paused. "Where's Sawa Gojo and his team?"
Kyoto students exchanged looks. "No idea. We never saw them!"
Gojo clan higher-ups panicked. "Where are the young masters?"
"Did the cameras catch them?"
"Last footage shows them exorcising the Grade 2 spirit!"
"Yuki!"
Gakuganji glanced at Yuki Tsukumo, who shrugged. "I'll look. With their skills, they're probably fine."
Beep beep beep…
Yaga Masamichi's phone buzzed.
He checked the message, sighing deeply.
"Principal Gakuganji, the three are back at Tokyo High!"
He held up his phone, showing a photo of the trio arm-in-arm, grinning goofily at the camera, Tokyo High in the background.
"…Those three brats are way too rebellious!"
Yuki covered her face.
"Rebellious? That's just bad manners! Gojo clan heirs…"
Zenin Ogi launched into another nagging lecture.
…
Inside a creepy haunted mansion.
Utahime Iori, in a miko outfit, clutched a flashlight, trembling as she scanned her surroundings.
A hand touched her shoulder.
"AHHHH!"
Utahime nearly died of fright.
Turning, she saw her partner, Mei Mei.
Mei Mei hadn't yet adopted her signature braided bangs, sporting a simple ponytail with two strands framing her forehead.
Her fitted corset and black skirt highlighted her striking figure, white hair hinting at a possible Gojo connection, purple-polished fingers stroking her chin thoughtfully.
"Mei Mei-nee, weren't you on the first floor?"
Mei Mei pointed at rusty cans, a broken chair, and a shattered vase. "This is the first floor!"
Utahime noticed Mei Mei's wall markings.
"We've walked nearly thirty minutes and haven't left this hallway. A looping barrier?"
Mei Mei analyzed, "Not quite. Even the walls are unbreakable. The cursed spirit haunting this mansion likely stitches hallways based on our movements, reattaching the section we pass to the front, trapping us in a cycle."
Utahime had a flash of insight. "Then, if we run in opposite directions at the same time, the spirit can't stitch both paths. One of us will escape!"
"Whether to break the barrier from outside or get help, it's our best shot."
"Let's do it!"
"Ready, go!"
They sprinted in opposite directions, running full tilt.
But Utahime felt the floor crack beneath her, the hallway disintegrating, then floating upward in anti-gravity.
"Huh?"
BOOM!
Sunlight poured in as the mansion collapsed into rubble.
Utahime poked her head from the debris, looking up at that infuriating face.
"SATORU GOJO!!!"
Satoru, perched on a tree, removed his sunglasses, flashing a smug grin. "I saved you, Utahime. You crying?"
Utahime lost it, hissing like a spooked cat.
"I'm not crying!"
Mei Mei stepped forward, smiling. "Thanks a lot!"
Satoru waved it off, believing Mei Mei's skills would've handled the mission eventually, even with a tagalong.
Catching Satoru's disdainful look, Utahime roared, pointing at him.
"You jerk, Gojo! I didn't need your help!"
BOOM!!!
A massive cursed spirit erupted from the ground behind her.
Before it could act, a giant worm cursed spirit swallowed it whole.
Suguru Geto, controlling the sandworm, emerged from the shadows, smirking.
"Satoru, bullying the weak's not cool."
Satoru shrugged, unfazed. "Who's dumb enough to bully the strong?"
"Don't be so sure."
Sawa Gojo dropped from the sky, wearing the same sunglasses and smug grin as Satoru—classic brothers.
"Take Utahime-senpai. A Grade 2 sorcerer taking a Grade 1 mission? Talk about biting off more than you can chew!"
"You… all you Gojos are jerks!"
Utahime seethed, grinding her teeth.
Nearby, Shoko Ieiri waved. "Utahime-senpai, you guys okay?"
"Shoko~ Shoko"
Utahime, spotting her savior, bolted down the stairs, hugging Shoko tightly.
"Shoko, don't ever turn into those three scumbags!"
Shoko chuckled helplessly. "Don't worry, I won't become a scumbag like them."
"Suguru! The path Utahime walked is gonna collapse!"
"No way!"
Their art styles shifted to chibi.
Sawa sneakily flicked his fingers, and the stairs crumbled.
Suguru, perched on a flying manta ray, deadpanned, "Sawa, don't play dumb—I saw that!"
"Ehehe~"
"By the way, you two have been MIA for two days!"
"Two days?"
Sawa shrugged. "Yup. Clearly, this cursed spirit's barrier was a time-distortion type. Rare, but it happens."
Mei Mei nodded. "Makes sense. So, I've been working two days. I'll need extra pay!"
Utahime gaped. "That's extortion, right? It's gotta be!"
Mei Mei smiled faintly. "Back to business. Did you guys set up a curtain?"
"Huh?"
They froze, a bad feeling creeping in.