The audience's impression of Aoi Todo had undergone a massive shift.
Initially, when he had beaten Megumi Fushiguro until he coughed blood, the internet viewed him as a classic school bully. But as the "Goodwill Event" began, they realized he wasn't a villain, he was just a force of nature with zero filters.
At the same time, many American viewers finally recognized the actor playing Todo: Ashton Stone.
[Wait, I just realized... is that Ashton Stone? My childhood crush!]
[I remember him being this tiny, adorable kid with a bowl cut. How did he turn into a literal human tank?]
[Who is he? I'm Gen Z, I've never seen this guy before.]
[You kids wouldn't know, but Ashton was the biggest child star of the early 2000s. He was everywhere!]
[I've watched all his old stuff. He fell off the radar for a decade, and now he's back and he's... well, he's 'Gojo-tier' buff. Leo Vance really knows how to find hidden gems!]
After the seventh episode aired, and in the agonizing three-day wait for the eighth, Leo Vance had been busy.
He used his newly solidified connections to lease a skyscraper in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. The annual rent was a staggering five million dollars, a "budget" price considering his current cash flow, but Leo was being careful. He needed to save his war chest for the upcoming NAC Tournament.
Once his new project, The Outcast, finished its first season, Leo planned to simply buy the entire building for three hundred million.
His backend profit share from Global Stream had finally hit his account. With Jujutsu Kaisen surpassing five billion total views (including re-watches), his cut - combined with the massive advertising revenue and licensing deals, was roughly $200 million.
Added to the initial $120 million licensing fee, Leo Vance was sitting on a cash mountain of $320 million. He was no longer just a "Hollywood Scion" living on an allowance; he was a self-made millionaire.
In the past few days, Celestial Peak Entertainment had been flooded with resumes. They ranged from eighteen-year-old UCLA students to sixty-year-old industry veterans. Leo spent his evenings reviewing the Actor and Influencer departments.
Some of the applications were... unconventional.
"Instructor Gojo, my name is Bunny Madison. I'm a freshman at USC. Can I intern? My major is Communications, but I have a great figure and I'm very 'flexible' with my schedule. I have 50k followers on Instagram and a growing OnlyFans. Here's my private number, no one has to know. (Attached: one photo in black lace.)"
"Leo, I'm Sunny S. I've been a catalog model for two years. I think I'm 'Main Character' material. I'd love to join your Influencer team. I can cook for you, or you can cook for me. (Attached: one photo in a red bikini.)"
"Dear Mr. Vance, I'm 'Ms. C.' I have 20k followers on TikTok but over 100k on my private Twitter. I'll do whatever you ask if you let me join the Celestial Peak family!"
Leo looked at these "resumes" and felt a massive headache coming on.
Good lord, he thought. Do people think I'm running a dating service? I'm trying to build a Cinematic Universe here! Am I really the kind of man who falls for thirsty eighteen-year-olds?!
Cough, cough... well, maybe he'd call a few in for an "interview" just to see what kind of chaos they were bringing. If they were truly "vixen spirits," he'd have to act on behalf of heaven and strike them down (professionally).
Jokes aside, Leo had the HR department filter out the "thirst traps" and focus on raw talent. He was preparing for the official scouting trip to the USC and UCLA campuses. He'd already coordinated with the deans to hold open auditions for his next project, The Outcast.
He also wanted to see his sister, Chloe Vance. It had been a long time, and he genuinely missed the bratty girl.
The announcement of Leo's campus auditions caused a sensation. Students at film schools across the country were practicing their "Gojo-style" walk and memorizing lines. The trend had even infected the general public.
A news story went viral that morning: A thief in San Francisco, while being chased by police after stealing an e-bike, actually turned back and shouted, "You guys are so weak~!" The police officer, a JJK fan himself, felt a surge of "Black Flash" energy, chased the thief down in record time, and rewarded him with a pair of "Silver Domain" handcuffs.
7:00 PM. Episode 8 Premiere.
In this episode, one of the most iconic comedic moments in the series was about to unfold.
The Goodwill Event officially began. The forest of the New York Academy was the battlefield. Aoi Todo (Ashton Stone) and Yuji Itadori (Lucas Miller) clashed almost immediately.
Facing Itadori's stubborn, high-speed resistance, Todo became genuinely intrigued. He stopped his assault, looking at the boy with a strange intensity. "What's your name?"
"Yuji Itadori!"
"Itadori... let me ask you a question." Todo smiled, his muscles rippling under the sunlight. "What kind of women do you like?"
Itadori was stunned, his combat stance faltering. "Women? Why are you asking that now?"
"Don't worry about the timing. I'm just curious. A man's taste in women reveals his soul," Todo said, looking at him with desperate anticipation.
Itadori pondered for two seconds, stroking his chin. "I'm not sure... I guess, if I had to say..."
"I like tall girls with big butts... like Jennifer Lawrence!"
The world seemed to stop.
Todo's entire gaze changed. The aggression vanished, replaced by a look of profound, cosmic brotherhood. A single tear might have even formed in the corner of his eye.
The live chat erupted: ["LIKE JENNIFER LAWRENCE!" HE SAID THE LINE!]
[The Brotherhood of the Big Butt! I am crying!]
[Todo just found his soulmate. This is the best bromance in history.]
[Ashton Stone's face when he hears 'Jennifer Lawrence' is the funniest thing I've seen all year. Oscar now!]
The stage was set. The tournament was no longer just a fight; it was the birth of a legend. And Leo Vance was watching the numbers climb, knowing that his "Universe" was finally taking shape.