"This place is…"
As the car rolled to a stop in front of the high school gates, Mukuro and the others stepped out, momentarily stunned by the sight before them.
People were everywhere. Students poured out of the gates non-stop in groups, chatting and laughing. That alone was strange. There shouldn't be this many ordinary people at the site of an exorcism.
Even more puzzling, there wasn't the slightest trace of a cursed spirit's presence anywhere, and the assistant manager didn't seem to be preparing to clear the area or set up a barrier either.
"According to Jujutsu High's investigation, there have been nearly a hundred murder cases in this area over the past few months, all centered around this school. One of the students here even gained fame as a 'high school detective' for solving cases at an incredible pace."
After stepping out of the car, the assistant manager held a file and began explaining the reason for their visit and their objective in detail.
Normally, having such a talented student would be something to celebrate. But the fact that the boy kept appearing at crime scenes made people uneasy.
Because of that, the school principal had used his connections to ask Jujutsu High to investigate whether the school, or that boy himself, had attracted something unclean.
Following a preliminary check, the Window from Jujutsu High confirmed that there were indeed traces of cursed energy lingering in the area.
However, the source couldn't be pinpointed, and the residue was too faint to determine the curse's strength. That was why this mission was assigned today.
"So basically, you want us professionals to go in and take a look, right?" Haibara asked, the only part he actually understood from the long explanation.
"Uh… yes, that's about it. We've already coordinated with the school, so you can go in and out freely today. But if you find anything serious and need to use a barrier, please contact me first."
The assistant manager handed over the file to Ijichi and nodded. "Good luck."
"'Teitan,' huh? That's a surprisingly common name for a school," Nanami muttered as he glanced at the plaque that read "Teitan High School."
After all, he, Mukuro, and Mei Mei had all attended schools with that same name for nine long years.
"Who knows?" Mukuro replied casually as he and the others began walking in.
Behind them, Ijichi followed with a small notebook in hand, ready to jot down whatever lessons his seniors might share.
He didn't realize the three of them were just wandering around aimlessly.
"Excuse me, handsome guys! You don't look like students here. Are you looking for someone?"
A lively, excited voice called out behind them.
They turned to see a short-haired girl with a headband holding her bangs back. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at them.
So handsome!
The moment her gaze landed on Mukuro, her eyes practically turned into stars.
"Sonoko!"
Another girl with a strange, horn-like hairstyle rushed over and grabbed her friend before she could start drooling.
"Horns?!"
Everyone present was taken aback. The girl's hairstyle looked like something out of another world.
"I'm so sorry! My friend gets… a little too enthusiastic sometimes. I hope she didn't bother you," the girl apologized quickly.
But the group's attention wasn't on her; it was on the boy walking behind her, hands in his pockets.
A faint trace of cursed energy flickered around him.
"That's him. The famous high school detective, Shinichi Kudo," Ijichi whispered after flipping through the documents the assistant manager had given him and finding the boy's photo inside.
"Hmm? Don't tell me you guys are all my fans? Really now, following me all the way to school just to get an autograph—"
Shinichi walked over with a smug grin, but when he saw their faces clearly, that smile froze.
Except for the man in glasses, who just looked more mature, the other three were tall, intimidating, and gave off an unsettling aura.
He knew it wasn't fair to judge people on first impressions, yet something about them made his instincts scream that their presence meant trouble.
"Nothing like that. We've just heard of you, that's all."
To everyone's surprise, Mukuro said that calmly, then turned away and led the group off without another word.
"...What weird people."
The trio of students could only watch them go while exchanging puzzled glances, whispering among themselves.
* * *
Once outside the school gate, Ijichi couldn't hold back anymore, asking the question in his mind eagerly, "Senpais, does this mean our target is confirmed to be that boy?"
"Most likely…" Nanami said, his brows furrowed. "But this is really strange. I've never encountered anything like this before."
For a brief instant earlier, they had indeed sensed cursed energy from Shinichi's body, but it vanished just as quickly.
The boy didn't seem to be a sorcerer, and Nanami hadn't spotted any cursed spirit nearby.
'Could it be hiding inside his body?'
That possibility made his brow tighten further. He had never encountered such a case in his entire career.
And if the curse was truly inside the boy, how were they supposed to exorcise it if it didn't show itself?
"There's no need to rush. Since things have come this far, let's go eat first."
Mukuro's tone was calm as his eyes followed Shinichi walking out of the school gate. The boy and his friends headed into a fancy restaurant, and Mukuro led his team in right after them.
"Bring us your ten most expensive dishes," he ordered inside the restaurant, not even bothering to look at the menu.
"Uh, Fushiguro-senpai… are you sure? This place looks really pricey…" Ijichi murmured, glancing around at the luxurious setting.
"Don't worry," Mukuro said reassuringly. "All mission-related expenses are covered by Jujutsu High."
He rarely had anything good to say about the institution, but that particular policy he appreciated.
To his amusement, Ijichi actually started writing that down in his notebook.
"Listen carefully, Ijichi," Haibara added seriously as the dishes began arriving. "Battles for jujutsu sorcerers don't only happen against curses. They happen at the dining table too. You'll need to eat well to fight well later!"
"Yes, sir!"
And so, in the elegant restaurant, two of the four person group ate gracefully while the other two devoured their food like starving wolves.
"Ahhh!"
Suddenly, a woman's scream shattered the calm atmosphere of the restaurant.
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