This isn't like me, Arisu thought wryly as she continued cooking.
Making lunch boxes—what a strange idea. She had agreed to Kamuro's casual suggestion on a whim.
Arisu knew it wasn't something meant to change her relationship with Mamoru in any dramatic way. Still, if doing something as simple as showing affection could soften his impression of her, even a little, that was reason enough.
Mamoru probably saw her as a calculating, devious woman right now. That much, she was aware of.
What she didn't expect, however, was just how difficult making a bento would turn out to be.
To put it bluntly, Arisu had terrible taste in cooking.
She had always considered herself quite capable—resourceful, even—and thought that with enough effort, she could make something decent. But when she actually tried, every single step seemed to go wrong.
She had started casually, but before she knew it, she was completely absorbed in it.
And the more she struggled, the more her thoughts wandered.
(What kind of face will Mamoru-kun make?)
Mamoru was usually so composed that he'd probably brush it off.
Still, just imagining the moment she'd hand it to him made her heart flutter—a small, innocent curiosity, like a child plotting a harmless prank.
A gentle smile crossed her face as she packed the finished food into the lunch box.
Just then, the phone on the table chimed.
It was still early morning. Wondering who would message her at this hour, she set down her chopsticks and picked it up.
"Mamoru-kun?"
Seeing the name she had just been thinking of made her chuckle at the coincidence—until she opened the message. Her smile vanished instantly.
"I'm not feeling well, so I'll be absent from school today.
I'm sorry, but I can't go with you this morning. Please invite someone else."
"...What?"
Stunned, she muttered to herself.
Her mind went blank for a moment, refusing to process the words.
But only for a moment. Arisu quickly regained her composure and reread the message carefully.
(It wouldn't be strange if he really were sick, especially since he hasn't been reachable since Saturday...)
Even so, something about it felt off.
Mamoru was the kind of person who always thought of others. The fact that he specifically mentioned inviting someone else showed that he was being considerate of her feelings. But that only made it stranger that he hadn't replied to her earlier calls.
(Unless... he wasn't unable to contact me, but deliberately avoiding it?)
Of course, it was possible he was simply too unwell. But another thought surfaced—something Mamoru had asked Mashima on the very first day of school.
"How many points are deducted for being absent?"
As if he had anticipated the need for it.
There was no clear evidence, but Arisu's instincts told her this wasn't just about being sick.
"Either way," she murmured, her lips curving into a faint smile, "I have no intention of letting it end like this, Mamoru-kun."
She looked down at the finished lunch box before her.
It was the same kind of smile she'd worn earlier—a smile like a child planning a prank.
Except this time, there was nothing innocent about it.
◆◇◆
"Huh..."
In his dorm room, Mamoru suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
It wasn't killing intent, nor any curse—just a vague, uneasy premonition.
"…More importantly, I need to hurry."
He glanced around, as if searching for the source of that strange feeling, but quickly shook his head. This wasn't the time to dwell on it.
He formed a hand seal.
"Open gate."
A pure white wall appeared before him. Mamoru stepped through it, chanting softly as he opened another door that connected to a different place.
He emerged on the rooftop of a high-rise building, beneath the pale night sky—where a panda was already waiting.
"Oh, that was fast."
Noticing his arrival, the panda turned with a lazy grin.
"I just sent you the email. Oh, and I brought a midnight snack—well, maybe breakfast? Either way works."
He tossed a small shopping bag his way. Inside were a sweet bun and a carton of milk.
"Thanks. I don't really need to eat, though."
"Even if you're fine, I'm hungry," he said with a smirk. "It feels weird to eat alone."
"He's surprisingly well-mannered," the panda mused. "Hard to believe you're Satoru's younger brother."
"…I'll take that as a compliment."
He felt a bit awkward being praised while his brother was insulted at the same time, but he couldn't really deny it. So, choosing to take it positively, Mamoru gave a light, nonchalant reply.
Sitting beside Panda, the two tore open the bag of sweet buns and took a bite.
"But that technique of yours is really convenient. You can travel from here to Japan in under five minutes."
"Well, that's exactly why I keep getting dragged into unreasonable missions like this—sent here, sent there, nonstop."
"Haha, if you think about it, it kind of balances out. You can travel abroad anytime you want."
"You can't even go through immigration, so sightseeing's off the table," Mamoru grumbled. "Before coming here, I couldn't even use normal transportation."
He shot a weary look at the laughing Panda.
Their current location was Egypt. The local time—just past 11 p.m.
The reason the two of them were there traced back to when they first met at Jujutsu Technical College two days earlier.
◆◇◆
"Come on, everyone. It's bad for your health to lie down right after eating."
After Rika orimoto rampage, the homeroom teacher stood casually among three students sprawled across the ground, clapping his hands as if nothing had happened.
He had no right to say that, considering he was the one who provoked the situation—but Mamoru couldn't help thinking his brother's methods were effective, if reckless.
Still, his immediate concern wasn't his brother, but Okkotsu, who looked pale beside him. Mamoru turned toward him.
"Sorry. I underestimated things. From what I'd heard, I didn't think it would get that bad—I was careless."
Mamoru hadn't provoked Rika just for fun. With his brother there, he'd been half-confident the situation wouldn't spiral out of control. He had simply wanted to witness Rika's power firsthand.
But that didn't excuse what happened. From Okkotsu's perspective, it must've felt as though his own power had hurt his classmates. Mamoru sincerely regretted his lack of consideration.
Okkotsu shook his head, embarrassed.
"…No. It's my fault I couldn't stop Rika-chan."
He blamed himself entirely. Seeing that only made Mamoru feel guiltier. Poorly timed comfort would only make it worse, so he hesitated to speak—until a sharp kick landed on Okkotsu's back.
"Stop whining, you wimp"
"Maki-san!"
Okkotsu staggered, turning to see Maki standing there, seemingly unscathed despite the earlier chaos.
Though her uniform was a bit dusty, she didn't look injured or even tired. Okkotsu visibly relaxed.
"Don't worry about something like this," she said bluntly. "None of us are that fragile. You're worrying over bean sprouts."
Her glare was sharp, but her words were oddly reassuring.
Panda and Inumaki followed a moment later, lagging behind.
"That's not exactly the most encouraging way to say it," Panda sighed. "You could try being nice for once."
"Salmon," Inumaki added with a nod.
"Huh? Since when do you two need encouragement?" Maki shot back, frowning.
Watching their exchange, Mamoru suddenly sensed someone behind him and instinctively stepped aside.
"…They're all good people," he murmured quietly, so only his brother could hear.
Maki's bluntness, Inumaki's cryptic kindness, Panda's humor—it all showed how deeply they cared for one another. Sorcerers usually kept a cold distance, even among family, but these three were different.
"Right? I am a great teacher, after all."
"You really said that out loud?" Mamoru deadpanned.
Their banter drew a faint smile from Mamoru—until his brother's tone shifted.
"So, what did you think of Rika, Mamoru?"
The sudden seriousness in his voice made sense. He'd clearly realized that Mamoru had provoked Rika deliberately to gauge her strength.
After confirming Okkotsu and the others were out of earshot, Mamoru replied in a low voice.
"…At the very least, I can't exorcise her. The difference in cursed energy is too vast. Even if I kept chipping away at her, I'd burn out long before she would. Basically to make it simple, Okkotsu kun feels like someone who carrying nuclear reactor or nuclear tank in the form of curse. It's so ridiculously creepy, no offense okkotsu-kun"
"It- it's fine"
Of course, his brother already knew that. What he really wanted to hear was Mamoru's assessment.
"But," Mamoru continued, "I might be able to seal her. Since she's possessing Okkotsu-kun, if I can draw him into my 'room,' I can isolate her easily."
Mamoru's room—a technique far beyond a mere teleportation relay. It was an isolated space accessible only to him, functioning as a perfect sealing domain.
But it wasn't without risks.
"Still," Mamoru added cautiously, "I don't fully understand what that space really is. So don't rely on it too much, okay?"
Even he, its creator, couldn't grasp its full nature.
The room hadn't been intentionally created—it had emerged by accident, during an experiment involving spatial formulas. From that anomaly, Mamoru had learned to construct space itself.
He'd managed to infer some of the underlying principles, but the true essence remained unknown.
There could be vulnerabilities even he wasn't aware of—or worse, unknown consequences for anything sealed inside it if he were to die.
Because of those uncertainties, Mamoru refused to overestimate his own sealing technique.
"I know. I'm not counting on you for that," Gojo replied easily. "But Yuta's execution has only been temporarily suspended. If he ever loses control, he'll need somewhere to hide."
The reason Yuta Okkotsu—once sentenced to death—was still alive was likely because the higher-ups hadn't yet grasped the true danger of Rika Orimoto. They weren't the type to show mercy simply because she was a child, curse still a curse.
How much destruction would it cause if they tried to kill Okkotsu? And even if they succeeded, would Rika disappear with him? With the risks completely unquantifiable, the higher-ups had chosen to stand still.
However, if Rika ever went berserk again, they would have no choice but to act—even if it meant making sacrifices.
That was probably what Gojo was worried about.
"Well, rather than focusing on how to hide it," he said, "it'd be better for him to learn to control it quickly. I'll be counting on you for that part, Mamoru."
Clapping his hands with exaggerated enthusiasm, Gojo suddenly raised his voice.
"Alright, everyone! Gather up!"
Maki, who was clearly ready to make fun of him again, grabbed Panda and Inumaki by the collars to shut them up, while Okkotsu tried awkwardly to mediate. The four of them eventually quieted down and turned toward Gojo.
"Now that you've finished your post-meal exercise," he said cheerfully, "it's time for a fun little quest."
It sounded like he was inviting them to play a game.
But those who knew him well immediately sensed what that tone actually meant, and their expressions tightened.
"I'm still in the middle of explaining Mamoru's technique," Gojo continued, "but it'll be faster if you just see it for yourselves. You heard me, Mamoru—show them."
"Hm? Alright then—open gate."
Mamoru formed a hand sign and chanted softly.
A white wall materialized before them.
"For now, everyone, please follow me."
To reassure them, Mamoru entered first, demonstrating that it was safe. Sorcerers were naturally wary of unknown phenomena, so he made sure to lead by example.
Inside was the familiar white void of his room. Mamoru waited quietly until the others stepped in after him.
Maki entered first, the others close behind, and Gojo was last. Once everyone was through, Mamoru closed the entrance.
"…Is this some kind of barrier?" Panda muttered, sniffing the air curiously. "Feels weird."
"It's a little different from a barrier," Mamoru explained. "A barrier isolates an existing space—but this is a space constructed outside the world entirely. If I had to describe it… it's closer to another world."
"Another world?"
"Stop looking at me like that, I'm not talking about another world in the literal sense like in a cliche light novel setting"
At that phrase, Maki, Panda, and even Inumaki (who didn't voice it) all looked skeptical.
Seeing their expressions, Mamoru scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…Well, that's just an approximation," he admitted. "Honestly, there's a lot about this space I still don't fully understand myself. Just remember—it's a separate dimension that only I can open."
"Another dimension, huh…" Panda tilted his head. "But the explanation you gave earlier about your magic formula doesn't really match up with this. What's the actual principle behind it?"
Apparently, Panda was the sharpest of the first-years.
"I told you—I don't even fully understand it myself. This happened by accident during my training. I don't know the exact mechanism."
That was only half true.
As Panda guessed, this space operated under a completely different logic from the technique Mamoru had previously explained.
It was true he didn't understand every detail, but he could at least give a simple outline.
His usual technique involved cutting off a portion of existing space and manipulating it internally.
But this "room" was the opposite—it was a space constructed outside the existing world altogether.
Still, explaining that in full would only confuse them further, so Mamoru brushed the question aside.
"…Anyway," Maki interjected impatiently, "why exactly did you drag us into this weird place? It's not just for secret conversations, is it?"
Mamoru smiled faintly. She was direct, as always.
"You're right. I'll get to the point," he said. "As long as I've marked someone with my cursed energy, I can teleport from this space to anywhere in the world."
"...Hah?"
All three first-years stared at him, stunned. "very useful cheat for traveling"
Even Okkotsu, who was still new to sorcery, understood how outrageous that sounded.
Mamoru continued calmly.
"I said before that I can teleport through space, but normally, I can only move within the range of where I can sense my own cursed energy.
However, in this room, I can sense every place in the world where I've left a trace of my energy—and open a door to any of them."
He paused, glancing around to gauge their reactions.
But silence followed.
Maybe the explanation had been too abstract. Just as Mamoru wondered if he should elaborate, Gojo cheerfully cut in:
"Well, to put it simply, it's like Goku using Instant Transmission from King Kai's planet"
"You really using shounen protag as example?"
Mamoru sighed, caught off guard by the dumb comparison.
"Why do you always explain things with Jump manga references?"
"Because Jump is great! It's the bible of youth—friendship, hard work, victory! From tomorrow i will add jump in our curriculum!"
"…Says the guy who only ever learned 'victory'"
"Oi oi, even me also experience losing you know..." Said gojo but nobody believing him and they are just brush his word.
Maki groaned. "If the older brother's like that, no wonder the younger one's just as insane"
"Salmon," Inumaki agreed.
"Hey, why am I being insulted here?!" Mamoru protested.
"I think it's weirder that you took it as an insult at all," Panda added dryly.
Mamoru could only sigh. Being lumped together with his brother as "equally insane" stung a little—but he couldn't really deny it.
After all, the magic theory he had just revealed was so extraordinary that it completely defied common sense. It wasn't unreasonable that they'd see him as cut from the same cloth as Satoru.
"…But," Panda said after a moment, his tone softening, "if your technique really covers that kind of range, there must be a huge restriction on it. Are you sure there aren't any drawbacks?"
It sounded like a simple question—but there was genuine concern in his voice.
Normally, to extend the range of a technique beyond one's capacity or to achieve an exceptional effect, a sorcerer must impose some form of restriction.
If a technique's reach truly spanned the entire world, the backlash or conditions required would be unimaginable.
However, those concerns didn't apply to Mamoru.
He answered lightly, as if it were no big deal.
"There aren't any particular restrictions. Honestly, when it comes to this teleportation, the idea of expanding the range doesn't really fit."
This was the first time Mamoru had ever spoken to outsiders about this "room."
He paused briefly, searching for words that would make the concept easy to grasp.
"Well… try picturing a world map. If you mark two points on it—no matter how far apart they are in reality—they look close when viewed from above, right?
In other words, this space exists off the map. So the concept of stretching distance doesn't apply here."
The rules themselves were different from the start.
A magic formula is a sorcerer's personal set of laws and principles.
If you attempt to do something extraordinary within those existing laws, then yes—there will always be a price to pay.
But Mamoru wasn't breaking any rules.
Both spatial transition and spatial construction were already built into the logic of his technique.
Since he wasn't violating any boundaries, there was no reason for a penalty to exist.
"…No risk, huh. I can see why Satoru would want to keep this a secret," Panda muttered.
"If the higher-ups ever learned you had this kind of ability, they'd definitely try to put a leash on you."
Mamoru's brother nodded with a grin.
"Exactly. And just to make it clear—you mustn't tell anyone about this room. The only people who know are the ones standing here right now."
"Not even Masamichi?"
"Of course not. It's not that I don't trust him, but he's close to the higher-ups, remember?
I'd rather not saddle him with an unnecessary secret—and risk his hairline suffering for it."
(If you're that concerned about it, you should probably start taking better care of yourself…)
That thought passed through everyone's mind almost simultaneously.
Ignoring the silent stares that followed, his brother continued.
"Anyway, now that the explanation's over, let's get to the main point. Though I'm sure you can guess without me saying it, right?"
"You're saying we'll use this guy's technique to take care of the missions that've piled up, huh?"
Maki pointed her thumb toward Mamoru.
Given the timing of the reveal, the intent was easy enough to read.
"Exactly. With Mamoru's technique, distance stops being a problem—it's perfect for quick deployments. Of course, if you reported every mission you completed, it'd raise suspicion with the higher-ups. So it won't do much for your record or your pay… but you're still in?"
The number of exorcisms and missions completed affects a sorcerer's rank and salary.
By that logic, this plan was terribly inefficient.
If they cleared too many missions too fast, the administration would notice immediately.
The question had a teasing edge to it, but the others answered without hesitation.
"Do it."
"Salmon."
Maki, Panda, and Inumaki spoke almost in unison, and everyone's eyes turned to Okkotsu.
It wasn't about ambition—Yuta was simply nervous. It was natural for someone so new to the world of jujutsu.
But his hesitation lasted only a moment.
"I'll do it!"
Despite the fear in his eyes, his resolve shone even stronger.
"…That's how it should be."
His brother smiled, corners of his mouth curling upward.
"Alright, then. Let's start dividing the missions."
From somewhere—no one knew where—he produced a stack of thin folders and handed them out.
"For now, Toge can handle his own. Maki, you'll team up with Yuta. I'll accompany you, but I'll try not to interfere. Mamoru, you're with Panda."
As he spoke, he handed Mamoru and Panda not a file—but a folded newspaper.
The newspaper was entirely in English. Mamoru had a rough idea of the content, but he still turned to his brother for confirmation.
"…This is?" he asked.
"An American paper that collects occult reports. Read that page," Gojo said, pointing.
Mamoru glanced down at the article. Panda shuffled closer to peer over his shoulder.
"What does it say?" Panda asked. He couldn't read the English text himself.
Mamoru skimmed the article and summarized the gist.
"…To sum up: a newly discovered chamber was found in an Egyptian pyramid, and the whole research team later went insane and died."
A research team collapsing and dying for unknown reasons—an occult headline like that was cliché enough, but from a sorcerer's perspective it was never something to shrug off.
"Is it a curse?" Panda asked, suspicious.
"From this newspaper? It just simply conspiracy theories about UAP... There is no way something like Ufo or alien exist right? So, definitely a curse" said mamoru nonchalantly
No wonder they were wary. Reports like this were often sensationalized, and cursed spirits overseas were far rarer than in Japan. With Japanese sorcerers short-handed and busy dealing with domestic threats, foreign incidents tended to remain remote, more the stuff of news stories than real duty.
For Mamoru, however, it wasn't particularly unusual. Outside the watchful eye of the Technical College, his mobility was an advantage—the nature of his technique made overseas work practical, even desirable, for gaining experience.
He'd also learned enough English to read foreign papers; travel and strange missions had made basic language ability necessary.
"If the article isn't lying, it's at least not just hype," Mamoru said, scanning the finer details. "The appraisal team that handled the excavation items also died. Sounds like there might be a cursed object among the finds."
Gojo added some context. "Those items are scheduled to be exhibited at a museum soon. I want you two to check them before they go public. If something's dangerous, destroy it. If you can't destroy it, retrieve it."
"That's an important cultural property," Okkotsu muttered, sweat beading on his forehead.
In practice, what they'd be doing—smuggling into another country, breaking into a museum, and removing historical objects—was straight-up illegal. To a newcomer like Yuta, the ethical dissonance was jarring.
"I don't care," Gojo said lightly. "If we leave it be, more people will get hurt. Historical value doesn't matter if it's a bomb."
Okkotsu looked horrified, but the others treated it like just another job.
"What souvenir do you want?" Panda asked casually.
"Camel" came the immediate reply.
"Salmon" Inumaki murmured.
Mamoru blinked. Were they seriously talking about shopping while planning an illegal retrieval?
Advance nurturing highschool is already crazy. But, seems mamoru already forgot that tokyo jujutsu high is also another level of crazy too.
"And why is Panda coming along?" Mamoru asked, turning to his brother.
"What! you don't want me there!? Are you being petty!?" Panda feigned offense.
"Whether i'm petty or not doesn't matter. I can handle the infiltration alone," Mamoru said.
Gojo then start talking casually, "Mamoru, your sense of protective cursed energy is sharp, but you can't detect the presence of ordinary people. On the other hand, pandas have a keen sense of smell and can detect the presence of security guards, so they're perfect for infiltration, right?"
Mamoru "It just makes us both stand out!"
Although the explanation sounded reasonable, the disadvantages easily outweighed the benefits.
Even if Panda could sniff out the guards, there were still surveillance cameras—and with his size, there was no way he could hide.
Mamoru's barrier technique could also transfer others besides himself. With enough preparation, he could even distort visual perception to create the illusion of invisibility. If that was the plan, though, he might as well just infiltrate alone from the start.
He was thinking along those lines when Panda suddenly placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'm good at disguises."
"…Disguises?"
Mamoru blinked. Panda was literally a walking mascot; it was hard to imagine any disguise that would make him less noticeable.
Then, from out of nowhere, Panda pulled out a scrap of paper and a pen, scribbled something down, and slapped it onto his chest.
[MADE IN EGYPT]
"…Yeah, that was even more pointless than I expected"
("Seriously! You think egypt have panda as their mascot!!!")
In Advance nurturing highschool seems full of student who try acting beyond their age and act like dirty politician. But here in tokyo jujutsu high everyone who basically monster but acting like natural comedian... Both school is not normal!
Mamoru had braced himself for a dumb joke, but somehow Panda's punchline managed to fall below expectations. He gave him a flat, unimpressed look.
Panda's shoulders drooped, his expression crestfallen, and he trudged over to Inumaki.
"…Was it that bad?"
"Bonito flakes"
That single word made Panda sink to his knees in despair. Mamoru didn't know what Inumaki had said exactly, but he could tell it was a finishing blow.
Sighing, Mamoru turned back toward his brother.
"So, what's your real reason?"
Gojo put a hand to his chin, pretending to think. "Hmm… same as before, really. I know it'd be more efficient for you to go alone, but I want you to build teamwork. You'll need to learn how to coordinate sooner or later. Besides, it'd be bad if I showed my face around there, and Panda's nose will come in handy. I'll send the others out with you next time, but for now, this one's his turn."
His tone was casual, but the reasoning was surprisingly sound. Mamoru had expected something flippant—maybe that Gojo had just paired them together for fun—but this time, his brother actually had a point.
If that was the case, there was no reason to object.
"…Understood."
Mamoru nodded, and his brother smiled, satisfied.
"Good. Then let's get this mission started."
After that, Mamoru dropped each team off at the marking point closest to their respective missions, then opened another gate and departed for Egypt with Panda.
That's when the real trouble began.
Mamoru had placed markers all over the world, but of course, not everywhere.
He prioritized regions that frequently appeared in occult reports—Egypt among them—but each country's sheer size made pinpoint accuracy impossible.
It was Saturday afternoon in Japan, which meant morning in Egypt, when they arrived near their target—the museum.
From the teleportation point, they had to travel on foot for nearly an entire day. By the time they reached the museum, it was dawn again, local time.
Since they couldn't sneak in during the day, they waited until nightfall to scout the area. By then, it was already Monday morning back in Japan.
Naturally, there was no way Mamoru could make it to class. But thanks to jet lag, he didn't even remember school existed—until dawn broke in Japan and the realization hit him like a curse.