At the gates of Tokyo Jujutsu High, banners and ribbons fluttered in the air, saturating the entrance with an unmistakably festive atmosphere.
The head of the Gojo family stepped out of the car and was the first to notice the bold words emblazoned across one of the banners: "Celebrating Gojo Satoru's 16th Birthday."
"Tokyo Jujutsu High prepared all of this specially for Lord Satoru?" the Gojo family head exclaimed in astonishment. He had fully expected the campus to be quiet and deserted during winter break, yet the blazing enthusiasm before his eyes looked no different from a school anniversary celebration.
Before Gojo Satoru even got out of the car, he had already taken in every single banner surrounding them.
Cold sweat seeped down Gojo Satoru's cheeks. "Did I… see this wrong?"
He manually lifted his eyelids and widened the Six Eyes. The Six Eyes answered him without mercy: You are not mistaken. Your vision is excellent. Everyone is joyfully welcoming Gojo Satoru back from a parallel world.
Outside the car, the sound of conversation drifted in.
The Gojo family head asked, "Mr. Yaga, did you know in advance that we would be coming?"
Yaga Masamichi replied, "No. This was something my students prepared specifically for Gojo Satoru's birthday. The cake was just delivered, but he left halfway through. The entire school has been waiting for him to come back so we can continue the celebration."
The Gojo family head smiled. "Thank you for your consideration toward Lord Satoru, and for Tokyo Jujutsu High's care."
His impression of Tokyo Jujutsu High rose noticeably. Then he explained his purpose for coming, "The birthday banquet can wait. Lord Satoru is feeling unwell. May I ask if Miss Ieiri Shoko, who possesses Reverse Cursed Technique, is currently on campus?"
Yaga Masamichi answered, "Shoko is in the classroom. We can go together."
As he spoke, Yaga Masamichi quietly farmed goodwill with the Gojo family head, while casting a glance toward the luxurious Gojo family car.
"Lord Satoru?" the Gojo family head prompted, feeling that Lord Satoru ought to make an appearance.
After all, this grand celebration before them was in no way inferior to the birthday banquet the Gojo family themselves had planned for Gojo Satoru.
"Tap, tap—" The head of the Gojo family knocked on the car window. The tinted glass completely blocked any view from outside; all that could be heard was a strange grrk, grrk sound from within, suspiciously like Lord Satoru grinding his teeth as he endured a splitting headache.
Unable to suppress his worry, the Gojo family head spoke with concern, "Lord Satoru, we have arrived at Tokyo Jujutsu High."
Just moments ago on the phone, Lord Satoru's mind had been so scrambled that he'd even talked about repeating an entire school year—so why had he suddenly gone silent now?
"Your teacher is waiting for you outside the car, and your classmates have prepared a birthday cake for you in the classroom."
That single sentence dealt a devastating blow to Gojo Satoru's fragile composure.
"Go back!"
"I'm going back! I'm not getting out!"
Gojo Satoru refused to let the Gojo family head open the door, clutching the handle with a death grip as he let out a shrill cry.
"Are you… feeling shy?" the Gojo family head asked, utterly baffled.
"Driver, open the rear door," he ordered calmly, deciding it was necessary to correct Lord Satoru's sudden bout of extreme social anxiety.
"No!!" Gojo Satoru wailed in despair.
Before he formally inherited the family, there were very few people in the entire Gojo household who dared to defy Gojo Satoru's orders—and the Gojo family head was one of them.
The driver, trained to prioritize the family head's commands, obeyed at once. With a soft electronic click, the rear door unlocked. Inside sat a white-haired boy with flames practically shooting from his eyes.
That face, sculpted by heaven itself, was now stricken with panic. His arms were crossed tightly over his body in a futile attempt at concealment, his cheeks flushed a vivid crimson that spread from the roots of his ears down his neck, disappearing beneath the collar of his school uniform.
Yaga Masamichi walked over as if nothing were amiss and said evenly, "I'll help you, Gojo family head."
The serious homeroom teacher proved himself utterly reliable. Strong and decisive, he dragged the fiercely resisting Gojo Satoru—struggling like an unruly calf—straight out of the car and hoisted him onto his shoulder.
"Young master Gojo, don't panic," Yaga said steadily. "Headache, dizziness, is that it? I'll take sir to get treatment."
From start to finish, Yaga Masamichi addressed him with impeccable politeness, calling him "sir" and repeatedly referring to him as " young master Gojo."
Those forms of address stirred the shame Gojo Satoru felt after realizing he'd been duped.
He—no, they—had joined forces to set him up, tricking him into coming to a parallel world on his own birthday!
Gojo Satoru, who ordinarily would never have found himself in such an awkward position, was now being carried straight into Tokyo Jujutsu High in full view of the Gojo family head.
The Gojo family head hesitated, as if wanting to say something yet holding back.
But when he saw that Gojo Satoru had stopped struggling and was instead staring at him in sheer disbelief—like someone who'd just witnessed an unforgivable crime—the wave of guilt and heartache he'd felt instantly ebbed away.
Lord Satoru, he thought to himself, embarrassment is just embarrassment. You're lively enough at school.
A true strong person dares to face any and all social calamities.
With that settled, the Gojo family head strolled unhurriedly into Tokyo Jujutsu High, prepared to finally meet Lord Satoru's classmates.
Inside the school, along the way, staff members burst into laughter one after another at the sight of the white-haired student playing dead on Yaga Masamichi's shoulder, the sound echoing through the corridors. The scene, surprisingly, caught even the Gojo family head off guard.
The assistant supervisors gathered in small groups, deliberately coming over to get a good look at Gojo Satoru. They bowed and called out in unison, "Young master Gojo! Happy birthday!"
Every single time they shouted their congratulations, Gojo Satoru ducked his head lower, so mortified he couldn't bring himself to lift his face.
Soon after, two upperclassmen appeared.
Utahime Iori pointed at Gojo Satoru and burst out laughing, then hurriedly forced herself back into the posture of a refined lady.
That was because Mei Mei reminded her calmly, "The man beside him is the head of the Gojo family, one of the ruling figures of the Three Great Sorcerer Clans."
Utahime dared to offend Gojo Satoru, but she didn't have the courage to offend the composed, inscrutable Gojo family head. Mei Mei, meanwhile, offended neither side. She caught sight of Gojo Satoru's ears, red clear to the roots, smiled knowingly, offered a brief greeting, and then led Utahime away.
Everyone present carried smiles brimming with goodwill.
Throughout Tokyo Jujutsu High, everyone knew it was Gojo Satoru's birthday. Everyone had come especially to wish him a happy one.
The Gojo family head did not step into the classroom. He lingered outside for a moment instead, tilting his head to listen. Inside, the moment the boys and girls caught sight of their own Lord Satoru, exaggerated laughter erupted at once, overflowing with the raw vitality of youth.
"Hahahaha—who is this guy? The Gojo family's young master is back!"
"Akiya! Shoko! Our birthday star is back!"
"Sorry, I really didn't want to laugh, but everyone else is laughing, so I'm just trying to fit in—hahaha!"
Gojo Satoru, who had been playing dead in stubborn silence, finally broke free from Yaga Masamichi's grip. He sprang up, furious and mortified beyond endurance.
"Bastards! Whose idea was this?!"
"Him." Getou Suguru pointed at Asou Akiya.
"Him." Ieiri Shoko laughed so hard she could barely stand straight, also pointing at Asou Akiya.
"Me." Asou Akiya pointed at himself. "All to give you a birthday banquet you'll never forget for the rest of your life."
Yaga Masamichi pushed over the cart that had been tucked away in the corner and lifted the cover. A massive six-tier birthday cake was revealed—snow-white frosting adorned with ruffled edging and pearl-like decorations. Once cut open, it would reveal rainbow-colored sponge layers inside.
Gojo Satoru's limbs went rigid as overwhelming embarrassment and sheer delight crashed into him at the same time.
"Happy sixteenth birthday!"
Teachers and students alike turned to look at Gojo Satoru, speaking in perfect unison, their voices overlapping until they felt like a single whole with him at the center.
Gojo Satoru, still unwilling to give up, demanded, "There's no parallel world? I didn't come to the wrong place? This is all just one of your pranks?"
Getou Suguru said, "No."
Ieiri Shoko said, "No."
Gojo Satoru angrily jabbed a finger at Asou Akiya. "Why aren't you saying anything? Feeling guilty now?"
Asou Akiya replied with innocent composure, "Yaga-sensei didn't answer you either. This kind of question falls under free debate, doesn't it? When scientists proposed the theory of parallel worlds, no one was able to provide definitive proof either."
Gojo Satoru snapped, "But you—"
For an instant, a completely different image of the other person flashed before his eyes, dark and gloomy, utterly unlike the one standing here now.
Asou Akiya calmly tore apart the script of that imagined setting. "This world doesn't have a 'Book.' That's the thing that's fake."
Asou Akiya smiled brightly. "But we have you. We have our classmate Gojo Satoru. I don't need anyone to save me. You're right here by our side. Today, you are the most important and the most handsome person in all of Tokyo Jujutsu High."
Gojo Satoru fell silent. "..."
Outside the classroom, the Gojo family head finally pushed the door open and stepped inside.
At first glance, he witnessed the scene of the Six Eyes' chosen child descending into the mortal world, no longer gazing coldly down upon the jujutsu world from above—Gojo Satoru clutching the sleeve of his school uniform, face drawn taut with effort, yet unable to suppress the upward curve of his lips.
With a single sentence, the Gojo family head set the mood. "Lord Satoru, everyone is celebrating your birthday."
Gojo Satoru completely lost control. He tried to shove the Gojo family head back out. "Who told you to come in? You're not allowed in here! Get out! Go back to your rotten tangerine household! Don't you dare turn my classmates into tangerines!"
The Gojo family head's gaze settled on one man and one woman as he continued walking forward, asking casually, "Which one of you is the Cursed Spirit Manipulator?"
Getou Suguru let out a soft "Eh," noticing that the man bore a faint resemblance to Gojo Satoru and guessing at a blood connection. He answered politely, "That would be me. May I ask if you are one of Satoru's relatives?"
"I am the current head of the Gojo family. Lord Satoru has no relatives; he is an existence enshrined and upheld by our entire clan," the Gojo family head replied. When he heard how the Cursed Spirit Manipulator addressed Gojo Satoru, a trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes. As he turned to leave, he added, "Thank you for taking care of Lord Satoru. Lord Satoru regards you as his most important friend."
"Miss Ieiri, regarding our Lord Satoru's headaches… we will need your assistance to help alleviate them…"
"And as for Mr. Yaga—"
"Bang!"
Gojo Satoru shoved him out and slammed the classroom door shut in time.
Turning back around, Gojo Satoru put his smile back on for his teacher and classmates, the white demon practically fluttering its little wings behind him.
"Well, damn, I really have to thank all of you!"
Having never in his life felt such overwhelming humiliation and indignation, Gojo Satoru regained his confidence right there in the classroom.
As long as I'm strong enough, I can take revenge on every single one of you!
Gojo Satoru swiftly cut the cake. Instead of going after the weakest target, he lifted a chunk of cake and launched the first attack at Yaga.
"Yaga! Take this!"
"Getou! If you've got the guts, stop laughing!"
"Shoko—what are you dodging for? Get back here and die like a man!"
"Akiya! A one-day tour of a parallel world? I'll let you take a swim inside the cake!"
Teachers and students alike, men and women without distinction, were all subjected to Gojo Satoru's indiscriminate cake assault.
The birthday banquet's cake war officially began.
With their strength clearly lacking, Asou Akiya and Ieiri Shoko clutched their heads and fled in panic. The classroom filled with whistling projectiles, the wails and howls of cursed spirits echoing everywhere, as chunks of cake tore through one bizarre summoned curse after another and slammed into teachers and classmates hiding behind them.
Getou Suguru charged head-on.
Yaga Masamichi directed the cursed corpses to join the battlefield.
Ieiri Shoko hoisted a chair as a shield, while Asou Akiya dove under a desk and discovered a party popper that had rolled across the floor.
Drunk on the frenzy, Gojo Satoru was blasted full in the face by the handheld party popper, showered in confetti.
"Ahhh!! Who ambushed me?!"
With a flying tackle, Gojo Satoru knocked down Asou Akiya, who was already smeared with cream, pinned him to the floor, and slammed cake mercilessly into his face.
Asou Akiya nearly suffocated inside the snow-white slabs of cake, his entire face smeared smooth with cream.
Amid the air thick with flying sweetness, Asou Akiya was pressed down by a long, heavy weight and heard Gojo Satoru ask in a lowered voice, "If the matter of the 'Book' is fake, then were the future events you saw fake too?"
Asou Akiya tasted a few mouthfuls of cake cream and licked the corner of his lips. "It was all just part of the script."
Endless parallel worlds? No—he had never seen such things.
What he had seen with his own eyes, experienced with his own body, and heard with his own ears—was only you, only the world where you truly exist.
"Were you happy?" Asou Akiya asked. Before Getou Suguru could pull him back up, he wrapped his arms around Gojo Satoru and smeared the cream from his own face onto him, breaking through the separation of the other's Limitless technique and turning the spotless Gojo Satoru into a little calico cat as well.
"The shadows of this world are illuminated by you alone."
"There's no need for anyone to cry—you saved ordinary people from cursed spirits, and you saved me too."
"Because of you, I am free."
Even if I am not your most important friend, that is still all right.
Their foreheads collided, and Asou Akiya delivered a curse-energy-empowered headbutt that sent Gojo Satoru reeling, stars bursting in his vision.
Grabbing the hand Getou Suguru extended to help, he scrambled to his feet and fled in high spirits.
Amid all the chaos, the birthday came to its curtain call.
At the Gojo estate, after spending his birthday at school during the day, Gojo Satoru returned in the evening to accept the clan's celebrations.
Seated in the place of honor, he ignored the singing and dancing performances, crossed one leg over the other, and wore a solemn kimono embroidered with the clan crest. His Six Eyes scanned, one by one, the printed scripts he had forced everyone at Tokyo Jujutsu High to submit.
He noticed something.
Most of these scripts had been written by Akiya—but Akiya himself had no script of his own.
In this grand, large-scale scenario, that person had commanded the overall situation, observed every detail, and improvised freely.
The one who had deceived him most thoroughly was also him.
Gojo Satoru reflected and identified the reason he had been taken in: [Akiya and Suguru were in cahoots, Yaga and Shoko were accomplices, and the mistake I should never have made was softening because of the tears in Akiya's eyes!]
Gojo Satoru set aside the script that had left the deepest impression on him—A Day Without Knowing Gojo Satoru.
To avoid ever falling for it again, he swore a silent oath.
"Akiya, even if you and Suguru gang up in the future and put on a whole pitiful act together, don't even think about tricking me again."
"I don't care about your tears at all!"
...
That night passed, and sixteen-year-old Gojo Satoru emerged with a newly strengthened awareness against scams.