The Gojo household.
After taking his classmates abroad for a trip and finally returning, Gojo Satoru asked a servant for paper and a pen. He sat down at his desk, yet not a single word appeared on the page. Instead, he was wholly absorbed in his phone, scrolling and searching online for one very serious question: how to become a big-name celebrity.
When they had been talking about it, inspiration had overflowed effortlessly. The moment he actually tried to write, however, his mind went completely blank.
Realizing that the vast wisdom of the internet was not, in fact, all-powerful, he decisively chose a more reliable option—asking the Gojo clan head, who had always indulged him and never refused his requests.
A rush of footsteps echoed down the corridor as Gojo Satoru dashed toward the tea room where the "old tangerines" were gathered.
By coincidence, two of those very old tangerines were in the middle of a conversation, and the topic happened to concern Tokyo Jujutsu High. One was the head of the Gojo clan, the other the Grand Elder. There was not the slightest trace of the pure, uncomplicated goodwill Gojo Satoru liked to see on their faces—only careful calculation and long-term planning for the jujutsu world.
Gojo Satoru kicked the door open and barged in, cutting straight through their discussion.
"I've got a question for you," he announced. "If I don't become a jujutsu sorcerer, how do I become a huge celebrity instead?"
The words struck the Gojo clan head and the Grand Elder like a thunderbolt exploding in broad daylight.
A… celebrity?
You don't want to be a sorcerer—and instead you want to run off and become a superstar?
The Gojo clan head was inwardly horrified. Seeing that the Grand Elder remained terrifyingly composed, he finally managed to steady the hand holding his teacup, which had been on the verge of trembling.
The Grand Elder spoke gently. "Lord Satoru, you have just proposed a truly frightening hypothetical."
The Gojo clan head immediately ceded the floor, nodding frantically in his heart. Too scary. Way too scary. Please let the Grand Elder handle Lord Satoru.
Leaving aside whether the Gojo family would ever agree to such a thing, Lord Satoru's personality alone was fundamentally unsuited to any profession outside of being a jujutsu sorcerer.
Even if he truly did not wish to shoulder the hardships of that path, he could still remain at home and live in comfort as the pampered divine child of the "Six Eyes."
Gojo Satoru, however, could not have cared less about whether the idea was frightening or not. Determined to see this birthday gift through to the end, he pressed on relentlessly.
"Don't you think my face is perfect enough, my figure tall enough, that I could crush those male celebrities in seconds?"
The Grand Elder did not even need to study Lord Satoru's expression to know how to respond.
"My understanding of on-screen celebrities is limited," he said calmly. "But if we take Ichikawa Somegorō, a kabuki actor, as an example—he was born into a kabuki family, honed his acting skills from childhood, trained in dance, learned to control his emotions, mastered body language, refrained from anger, and avoided exposing his private life…"
Gojo Satoru waved off the mention of dance, utterly unconcerned.
"So what? I can start learning now."
The Grand Elder: "..."
Is that really the issue here?
The Gojo clan head: "..."
You're only hearing what you want to hear, aren't you?
The Grand Elder turned to glance at the Gojo clan head. An invisible pressure settled on the latter's shoulders, and he forced himself to speak.
"Lord Satoru, being a celebrity is not a particularly honorable profession. You should understand your own temperament—you are not skilled at pleasing an audience."
Gojo Satoru replied briskly, without missing a beat.
"Then I'll just find someone else to help me please them."
With only a hazy understanding, he added thoughtfully,
"That kind of person is called a 'stand-in,' or is it a 'publicist'?"
The Gojo clan head felt a violent urge to grab someone by the throat.
"Please give it up. You are not suited for this."
Gojo Satoru pointed at his own face.
"How am I not suited? Back when I walked around outside, I even got approached by talent scouts!"
The Gojo clan head, off guard, blurted out the truth.
"You only have the face—"
The Grand Elder coughed sharply, cutting him off.
The Gojo clan head broke out in a cold sweat—having spoken so bluntly, hadn't he just provoked Lord Satoru's rebellious streak?
The Grand Elder asked tactfully,
"You have just returned from overseas. Did you see celebrities abroad and wish to experience that world for yourself? If it is only to that extent, the Gojo family could still help you and your classmates fulfill a one-time 'celebrity dream.'"
The question was phrased with deliberate care, and it coaxed the truth from Gojo Satoru.
"I'm writing a novel about being a celebrity."
The Grand Elder was taken aback.
"A novel? One where you are the protagonist?"
Seeing that this wrinkled old mandarin actually understood what a novel was, Gojo Satoru sat down cross-legged and spoke with unrestrained enthusiasm.
"Yeah. I want to write a story set in a world with no cursed spirits and no cursed energy, where I become a top celebrity purely through my own abilities!"
The Gojo clan head narrowed his eyes slightly. No cursed spirits was one thing—but no cursed energy at all? In that case, the Gojo family would lose its overwhelming prestige.
The Grand Elder had arrived at the same thought. His expression grew troubled as he asked,
"Lord Satoru, what kind of background do you plan to give yourself? Without cursed energy, there would be no Three Great Families. Even if you are outstanding, the assistance we could provide would be limited."
Gojo Satoru began outlining his plan with gusto.
"My parents die early! The family fortune collapses! I'm a mathematical prodigy from a young age, carrying the dream of becoming a star!"
Parents die early?
The Gojo clan head took a metaphorical bullet straight to the knee.
Family downfall? Mathematical prodigy?
The Grand Elder genuinely did not know what to say to that.
Still, it was rare for Gojo Satoru to willingly discuss something so personal with them. The Gojo clan head and the Grand Elder therefore cooperated fully, helping the woefully common-sense-deficient Satoru flesh out the worldbuilding of his novel and gain a clearer understanding of just how difficult it was to become a major celebrity.
Gojo Satoru grew increasingly intrigued.
"So it's actually interesting—turns out being good-looking isn't enough?"
The Gojo clan head asked casually, without expecting a real answer,
"Does Lord Satoru have a favorite celebrity?"
Gojo Satoru replied without hesitation,
"Yeah. Inoue Waka."
The Gojo clan head was startled.
Hearing the name of a female celebrity—nothing strange or questionable about it—the Grand Elder felt relieved and said warmly,
"Lord Satoru has developed an aesthetic preference for the opposite sex. That is very good."
The Gojo clan head was about to ask for more details when Gojo Satoru spoke again,
"Lately, I've also been thinking that Kawakami Tomie looks pretty good."
Grand Elder: "Do you have any photos?"
Gojo Satoru pulled up images on his phone and showed them to them, grinning.
"Hehehe…"
Inoue Waka—a three-dimensional, real-world beauty.
Kawakami Tomie—a two-dimensional beauty from fiction.
The Gojo clan head finally let out the breath he had been holding. Lord Satoru had grown up. This time, he really had awakened to it.
Wait—hold on a second.
If he was interested in women…
The Gojo clan head tested the waters carefully.
"Should we transfer some maids back to Lord Satoru's side?"
After all, over in the Zen'in family, Zen'in Naoya had clearly grown up surrounded by maids, making him less susceptible to being deceived by unsavory women outside.
Gojo Satoru's expression flipped faster than a page turning.
"I hate the women in this house."
The Gojo clan head: "..."
The Grand Elder, however, did not mind. Taking the Six Eyes users of the Warring States period as precedent, the fact that Lord Satoru could even take an interest in women at all was already good enough.
All thanks to gender equality in modern society—otherwise, this would have been yet another headache-inducing problem for the clan.
With the old tangerines lending their support, Gojo Satoru happily carried a thick stack of entertainment-industry materials back to his room and instructed the servants not to disturb him.
When he finally sat down to write, he once again bit the end of his pen, torn over whether to use first person or third person.
"Someone as handsome as me? Obviously first person!"
Gojo Satoru wrote the opening of his novel in a sweeping, unrestrained hand.
[I am Gojo Satoru, the man who wants to become a top star!]
[At fifteen, my parents died, my family fell into ruin, and I was saddled with enormous debt. The first time I ever went out, I was scouted by a talent agent. Just so I could afford sweets, I joined the entertainment industry from that day on, beginning my legendary journey as a superstar.]
He sent the opening of his novel to the newly created chat group, the "Tokyo Jujutsu High Writing Trio."
[Getou Suguru: Hahahaha, Satoru, are you serious? You joined the entertainment industry just to afford desserts? Thanks to you, I need to revise my own concept—a poor, fallen noble Gojo Satoru.]
[Ieiri Shoko: Enormous debt? How much are we talking about? Even if the Gojo family fell on hard times, I won't accept anything less than one trillion yen.]
[Gojo Satoru: Shoko is so smart. I originally wanted to set a number with N zeros, but the old tangerines at home vetoed it. They said a superstar couldn't earn that much in a lifetime and told me not to set up something impossible.]
[Getou Suguru: This is bad—I'm starting to get led astray by him. I really have to work hard to keep my novel from turning into a gag story.]
[Ieiri Shoko: "Superstar Gojo Satoru,""Manager Getou Suguru," and "Makeup Artist Ieiri Shoko"—those names alone are already funny enough.]
[Getou Suguru: …You're right.]
[Gojo Satoru: Hurry up and start writing already, I want to read it!]
[Getou Suguru: Ah, something just came up. I'm slipping away for a bit—carry on without me.]
[Ieiri Shoko: I'm going offline too!]
…
The Getou household.
Because he had been unable to put a single word down for his novel, Getou Suguru took a deep breath, then went downstairs to find his mother, who was at home.
"Mom, the school assigned us homework—an essay imagining the future, the more unconventional the profession, the better. My classmates are writing about being a big celebrity and a makeup artist. I want to write about becoming a highly educated professional manager."
Getou's mother had been watching a television drama. When she heard her son's words, she froze for a moment.
A professional manager?
Wasn't that the sort of job one only ever saw mentioned in newspapers and magazines?
Getou Suguru continued in a perfectly serious tone, "I want to know which university would actually be useful for this kind of career."
Almost without thinking, his mother replied, "You're not becoming an actor, so any school should do, really. But if you can get into the University of Tokyo, people in any professional field will look at you with respect."
Getou Suguru asked, "The University of Tokyo? Do you like that school?"
Getou's mother fell silent.
Who wouldn't like that school?
Even the heroines in TV dramas dreamed of getting into it.
Getou Suguru seemed to see straight through his mother's unspoken thoughts. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "It's not like I couldn't get into the University of Tokyo…"
Ieiri Shoko could audit classes in the University of Tokyo's medical faculty, and Asou Akiya could apply for auditing privileges in its finance department; that alone proved that once he became a Special-Grade sorcerer, he would have access to special channels—his name could be attached to the University of Tokyo without difficulty.
Getou's mother shifted her gaze back to the television screen, yet she found herself utterly unable to sink back into the drama.
"Suguru-kun, you don't need to comfort me," she said quietly. "I've already prepared myself mentally for the idea that you might become a monk in the future. I've even asked friends about it recently—people who work in temples usually graduate from religious academies."
"A monk?!"
In the middle of what was supposed to be a discussion about careers, Getou Suguru was completely blindsided by that word.
He answered without hesitation, his tone firm and absolute. "Even if I end up too poor to afford food in this lifetime, I will never become a monk!"
What was so good about renouncing the world? Sorcerers were gods themselves—there was no need to bow before other gods or Buddhas!
Getou's mother could not help but try to make him think twice. "Suguru-kun, you're studying at a private religious school, so don't speak so decisively. If one day you truly can't afford to eat, don't regret it when your middle-school classmates have all gotten into prestigious universities."
Getou Suguru gave a soft, disdainful laugh, drawing in the sharp edge of his brows. "No matter how diligently they study for exams, they'll never compare to me—not even a little."
With that, he no longer intended to continue chatting idly with his mother. He went upstairs to begin outlining the framework of his novel.
He decided to learn from Gojo Satoru's writing philosophy.
[I am Getou Suguru, a graduate of a prestigious university whose parents do not understand him.]
[At eighteen, I was admitted to the University of Tokyo, where I met Asou Akiya from the neighboring finance department. He became my closest friend, the first true friend of my life. We talked about everything—and he fell in love with a big-name celebrity our age.]
[Influenced by my friend, I went abroad to study after graduation. I completed my studies in China, then returned, only to choose a path into the entertainment industry.]
[At twenty-six, I became Gojo Satoru's professional manager.]
[People online say I am the next male star who was "held back by being a manager." I do not agree with that assessment. My dream is to excel at my actual job—to clean up the messes left behind by Gojo Satoru, who has an uncanny talent for offending people wherever he goes.
After all, my friend has been Gojo Satoru's devoted sasen fan for ten full years.
Besides, I believe Gojo Satoru is the only truly untainted person in the entertainment industry. The longer I spend with him, the more happiness I feel—and the more money I make.]
Getou Suguru tossed the opening of his novel into the group chat, and just like that, only Ieiri Shoko was left suffering.
[Ieiri Shoko: You two are incredible. You just start writing the moment you decide to. Give me some time—I need to think!]
[Getou Suguru: I suggest you go chat with someone casually. It helps stimulate the urge to write. That's how I managed it.]
[Gojo Satoru: Same here!]
[Ieiri Shoko: Fine. I'll go find Utahime. Wait for me a bit.]
Ieiri Shoko sought out Iori Utahime and explained the situation. Utahime patted her chest confidently, promising that she could definitely spark her junior's inspiration.
"Shoko, you're a beauty blogger and a makeup artist," Utahime said earnestly. "You must have tons of photos of big-name celebrities on hand, right? That Gojo guy—his face is the only thing worth looking at. Why not use his photos to attract followers on social media?"
"No way," Ieiri Shoko flatly rejected it. "I can't imagine relying on him to gain followers. His fans are all just look-obsessed fans, aren't they?"
"Junior Asou is his sasen fan?"
"Yes. That's the setting Getou, Gojo, and I discussed together. He doesn't know about it."
"Hehehe—then how about adding a plot point where junior Asou deliberately approaches you, starts dating you, and tricks you into getting photos of Gojo Satoru?"
"…" Ieiri Shoko fell silent for three seconds, then rejected the idea decisively. "He wouldn't do something like that."
She laughed softly. "If anything, I think I'd be the one giving him photos willingly, just so he could smile a little more."
Ieiri Shoko added lightly, "No matter where I am, I've never really cared about money."
If Asou's smile could always stay as bright and open as it was on his birthday, she wouldn't mind giving him photos for a lifetime.
Iori Utahime was utterly shocked. Shoko—weren't you supposed to be talking about pure friendship? You can't just fall like this!
[I am Ieiri Shoko, a beauty blogger with very few friends, and someone who enjoys drinking.]
[At ten years old, I met Asou Akiya, who lived next door. When my house caught fire, it was because of him that I survived.]
[Later, I dropped out of university and became a beauty blogger. Everyone opposed my choice—everyone except my friend. He supported me, gave me a place to live, covered my living expenses, and allowed me to pursue my dream.
With his help, I started from nothing, slowly building a following on social media, until I was finally able to support myself independently.
Because of my makeup skills, I was scouted by the entertainment company where Gojo Satoru worked and entered the industry as his makeup artist.]
[Gojo Satoru was the company's cash cow, explosively popular at the height of his fame. But because of his excessive narcissism and his habit of speaking too bluntly, this major star drove away many makeup artists. Only I stayed—because he thought the Christmas jelly lips I painted on him looked good enough to keep me around.]
[That was how I came to know Gojo Satoru, and Gojo Satoru's manager, Getou Suguru.]
[They call me "Shoko" and treat me as a friend.]
[I rationally draw a clear line between life and work, regarding them as friendly professional partners. Still, from time to time, I think of my friend in my private life—Asou Akiya. He truly likes Gojo Satoru on the screen, and after hearing that Gojo Satoru was burdened with enormous debt, he was heartbroken as a fan. More than once, while drinking, he told me that he wanted to help pay off those debts for him.]
[I feel pessimistic about this and urge him to chase idols rationally, to keep his distance from Gojo Satoru. Yet he is always so clever, so witty and humorous in speech, and somehow always able to find a way to realize his dreams, leaving me with nothing to refute.]
[The only thing I can do is help him fulfill his dreams, just as he once helped me fulfill mine.]
[I like Asou. I like Gojo. I like Getou. I hope they can become true friends.]
[Except for me—I don't want to squeeze myself into that crowded world of male friendship.]
Ieiri Shoko finished typing in her phone's notes app, reviewed the text with satisfaction, and sent it to the other two.
The opening of this story was now complete; how it would interact and develop from here was up to each of them.
Just like their lives.
They did not need to be the same. Seeking common ground while preserving differences was enough. Too much uniformity would only make things dull.