"Currently, it's suspected to be a Grade 3 Cursed Spirit attack."
"A Grade 3, huh? Then let's leave this one to Itadori."
"Ehh, Grade 3…"
Itadori Yuji looked a bit listless. Lately, he believed he could handle Grade 1 or even Semi-Grade 1 Cursed Spirits, so being assigned to deal with just a Grade 3 really didn't excite him.
Gojo Satoru continued, "Don't underestimate Cursed Spirits. Besides, the 'Grade 3' is just Ijichi's assumption. There's a good chance the spirit is far stronger than that. So, I called in someone reliable to teach you."
"Huh? Isn't it going to be Big Sis?"
"Lumine has her strengths, but also areas she's not great at. For this mission, exorcising the spirit is only part of the task — the other part is helping you become stronger."
"What about Fushiguro and the others? Aren't they coming?"
Fushiguro Megumi replied, "Unlike you, I don't need to take part in beginner-level training like this."
"What!?"
Gojo, ever the instigator, chimed in, "Well, you know, Megumi did enroll as a Grade 2 Sorcerer — a real prodigy. Meanwhile, Yuji only just joined. Of course he's a bit behind."
"Hey! Don't look down on me, Sensei! Sure, I joined late, but I'm really strong!"
Gojo nodded, "True, true. Even though Yuji joined later, he's already stronger than our dear Megumi~"
Veins popped on Fushiguro's forehead. "Gojo-sensei, can you not stir up trouble?"
"Exactly! All I said was that I'm strong, not that I'm stronger than Fushiguro!"
"Ohh? So you admit you're weaker than him?"
"Hah? No way! That broody guy is not my match!"
Fushiguro threw a punch. "I've tolerated you long enough!"
Nobara Kugisaki sighed, "Ugh. Even though it's obvious Gojo-sensei is stirring things up, they still fall for it. Are all boys this dumb?"
"Mhm, as expected, us girls are just smarter. Right, Big Sis~?"
Lumine gave a gentle smile and nodded.
"Ahhh I'm so happy, Big Sis smiled at me~"
Zephyr pulled a straight face and said, "Nobara, go buy me a drink."
"Got it!"
Gojo stood up. "I'll introduce the person to you in a bit, then I've got to run."
Zephyr added, "You might not be able to leave this time."
"This incident might be related to that organization..."
…
Gojo Satoru furrowed his brows. "That organization—you're serious?"
"Yeah."
"This incident is most likely orchestrated by a Special Grade Cursed Spirit named Mahito. Eliminating it is my main mission objective. So for this case, you have to stay with us the entire time—just in case anything unexpected happens."
"If it really is connected to that organization, then of course, I'm in."
"But don't make a move right away. I'll fight it first. If I can't win, then you step in."
"Alright. Given my current condition, it's actually better if I don't have to step in at all."
Gojo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Why do I feel like I'm just some emotionless corporate drone?"
"Because you are. Now are you going or not?"
"Actually, I just got word from overseas—two Special Grade Cursed Spirits have shown up, and they want me to help out.
But hey, Lumine is my student. Of course protecting my student is way more important!"
Paimon exclaimed, "Uuuwah, Paimon is so touched!"
Gojo mimicked, "Uuuwaaah, me too, I'm super touched."
"…Could you maybe try saying that with a little more emotion next time?"
"Sure thing."
"…"
Zephyr added, "Also, Ijichi, help me find that boy named Junpei—the one who survived the movie theater incident. He's innocent."
"Roger that!"
…Wait a sec, something feels off. Miss Lumine isn't even my superior, so why did I just instinctively agree like that?
Gojo sighed dramatically, "Poor Ijichi-san."
Ijichi casually wiped a fake tear. "All in the name of survival…"
"Whoa, Gojo-sensei made Ijichi-san cry!"
Gojo snapped, "Hey hey! Don't say it like that! People are gonna get the wrong idea!!"
…
The group didn't head straight to the movie theater. Instead, they first stopped by the underground training room where Itadori Yuji had trained before—because it was time to introduce him to a reliable big bro.
"…Why are we meeting in a basement?"
Itadori Yuji seemed a little uneasy about the place, clearly having some trauma associated with it.
"Well," someone whispered, "I'll let you in on a secret—it's because the guy you're meeting is kind of a shady person. He has a thing for dark, creepy places like this."
A deep voice rumbled from behind the door.
"I heard that."
"Ah-re? Majiyabakune… (Oops, my bad~)"
Standing inside the room was a blond… boy? Wait, no—a blond middle-aged man.
He looked a bit like a delinquent, but Zephyr knew—this was a dependable adult, through and through.
Paimon muttered quietly, "He's clearly a middle-aged man, why is he still bleaching his hair?"
The man calmly replied, "Because I like it."
"Ahh—he heard me!"
Gojo Satoru laughed, "Haha, no worries! Alright, let me introduce you all—this is a junior I trust deeply. A sorcerer who left his salaryman days behind—Nanami Kento."
"…You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Although phrased as a question, the tone was certain.
Cough cough "Sorry, sorry. I meant Nanami Kento!"
"There are a lot of weird people among jujutsu sorcerers, but this guy? He's actually worked a legit office job before. He's solid and dependable—and a Grade 1 Sorcerer."
Itadori Yuji's eyes widened. "Grade 1? Like Nobara?"
"Oh?"
Nanami glanced at Paimon and said, "Judging by the aura, she seems like a completely ordinary person. But from that special form—and being Gojo's student—it's not impossible that she's Grade 1."
Itadori looked speechless. "Who are you looking at? That's Paimon—a powerless little sprite. I'm talking about the person next to her!"
Gojo covered his face. "Nanami… You're the first sorcerer I've ever seen mistake Paimon for a powerhouse. Shameful. Please leave the group chat."
Unfazed, Nanami adjusted his glasses and said, "How rude. It seems my glasses are starting to fail me. I'll need to get a new pair."
"Wow, he just blamed the glasses," Zephyr commented dryly.
But then, suddenly, Paimon floated forward.
"Enough! Don't you dare insult Paimon's partner like that!"
She flew up beside Nanami and declared, "You're the only one who saw Paimon's true power!
Everyone else, including the Traveler, always underestimates Paimon! They have no idea how powerful Paimon really is—and they joke around all the time! They don't know how scary Paimon can be when Paimon is serious!
But you—you saw through Paimon. You get Paimon. You're Paimon true friend!"
"Goodbye, Traveler! You used to ignore Paimon—now you can't even reach Paimon! Goodbye forever!"
"Wait—"
"Don't. It's over. Let it go."
"Wait—"
"Paimon is sorry. You're a good person."
//END