Outside, Satoru was giving his final instructions.
"...Remember, safety first. Megumi, look after them. Especially the three newcomers, stay close to Megumi and Kugisaki. Well then, let's head out."
"Yes!" Everyone responded.
Eriri's hand clutching Utaha's arm was still trembling, her voice tearful. "Ka-Kasumigaoka... I-I've only trained in physical techniques and Cursed Energy control for a few days. I'm okay at drawing talismans, but do I r-really have to go in and fight those things? I heard juvenile detention centers are very scary."
Nobara rolled her eyes, complaining speechlessly, "Hey, blondie, now you're scared? Going out on missions is a Jujutsu Sorcerer's daily routine. Did you think you came to Jujutsu High for a vacation? I still wanted to go shopping in Tokyo."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing "shopping in Tokyo," Eriri suddenly turned her head. Although her eyes were still a bit red, a certain instinct of a "local young lady" was triggered, and she retorted subconsciously, "I-I know Tokyo very well. Where do you want to go? Ginza? Omotesando? Or Akihabara? I know many great shops. As long as... as long as we can come back safely, I-I can treat you."
She tried to dispel her fear with things she was familiar with.
Nobara's eyes lit up, and she instantly threw her complaints about the mission to the back of her mind. She lunged forward and enthusiastically threw an arm around Eriri's shoulder, startling the latter.
"Really? A local Tokyo young lady? And you're treating? Why didn't you say so earlier? From today on, you're my best sister."
She slapped Eriri's back, making Eriri cough, and announced grandly, "Don't worry, sister. With me around, I guarantee those blind Cursed Spirits won't get near you. I'm very strong."
This sudden "sisterly bond" made Fushiguro Megumi's lip twitch, Yuji burst out laughing, Kato Megumi remained calm, and Utaha sighed helplessly, though her tense mood relaxed slightly because of this banter
...
The black van came to a smooth stop in front of the boy.
The door slid open, and the Assistant Supervisor, Ijichi Kiyotaka, who had been waiting there, immediately stepped forward to greet them.
He wore a neat dark suit, holding a tablet and a thick folder in his hands. His face bore its usual tension and seriousness, but as he saw the six people getting out of the car, a flicker of worry crossed his eyes—the composition of this team was truly "novel".
"Everyone, please come this way."
Kiyotaka guided them to a relatively quiet spot under the shade of a tree near the school gate, where a portable tactical board had already been set up.
He pushed up his glasses, trying to make his voice sound steady and professional. "Before we begin the official briefing, I need to confirm the mission personnel list."
Kiyotaka opened his tablet and began reading against the screen. "First-year, Fushiguro Megumi."
"Present." Fushiguro Megumi nodded calmly.
"Itadori Yuji."
"Right here!" Yuji raised his hand vigorously, his voice loud and clear.
"Kugisaki Nobara."
"Here." Nobara responded with a drawl, somewhat absentmindedly fiddling with her hammer.
Kiyotaka's gaze moved to the three new first-year students. "First-year, Kasumigaoka Utaha."
"Present." Utaha responded softly, her expression somewhat complex.
"Sawamura Spencer Eriri."
"I-It's me..." Eriri's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and she instinctively leaned closer to Utaha's side.
After Kiyotaka finished reading the five names, his gaze shifted between the list and the people present, his brow furrowing slightly as if confirming something.
He looked at the tablet again, then scanned the students present once more. His lips moved slightly, as if he felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
He subconsciously assumed he might have missed someone, or perhaps a student hadn't arrived yet?
But the number of people present clearly seemed complete... probably.
"Um... Ijichi-san?" A calm and gentle female voice spoke up.
It wasn't loud, yet it strangely pierced through Kiyotaka's subtle confusion.
Kiyotaka snapped back to his senses and finally "saw" Megumi, who was standing quietly half a step behind Eriri, almost blending into the shadows of the trees.
She had been standing there at some point, as if she had always been there, but his perception and sight had "filtered" her out.
"Ah! M-My apologies!" Kiyotaka's face flushed as he quickly added the name on his tablet.
"Kato Megumi."
"Yes, I'm here." Kato Megumi nodded gently, her tone remaining steady as if she were long accustomed to being nearly overlooked.
Kiyotaka cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment and quickly got to the point, "Alright, personnel confirmed. Next, I will explain the details of this emergency rescue mission—the 'Eishu Juvenile Detention Center Special Operation'."
He operated the tablet, and a structural diagram of the detention center, satellite photos, and some Cursed Energy monitoring waveforms were immediately projected onto the tactical board.
"Mission location: Tokyo Metropolitan Eishu Juvenile Detention Center, located on the edge of Koto Ward, Tokyo. It is a medium-security juvenile correctional facility. Approximately fifteen hours ago, the facility was completely covered by a powerful Curtain generated by unknown causes, and all internal communications have been cut off."
"Window's preliminary observations show continuous fluctuations of strong Cursed Energy reactions inside, consistent with the characteristics of the middle to late stages of Cursed Womb gestation."
Kiyotaka pulled up several blurry, thermal-like images showing a pulsating dark red core deep within the building.
He explained what a Cursed Womb was and then looked at everyone, paying particular attention to the three new students.
"Your mission priorities are as follows."
"First, under the premise of ensuring your own safety, search for and rescue any surviving staff and security personnel. According to the last information before contact was lost, there are at least five adults inside."
"Second, confirm the specific status and location of the Cursed Womb, as well as the maintenance mechanism of the Curtain."
"Third, if after evaluation, it is deemed possible to safely exorcise or stabilize it before reinforcements arrive, you may attempt preliminary purification and intervention, but you are strictly forbidden from overreaching."
"If the Cursed Womb shows signs of hatching or if you encounter uncontrollable danger, retreat immediately. I will be waiting outside to provide support and call for reinforcements. Is that understood?"
"Understood." Yuji and Fushiguro Megumi replied immediately.
Nobara curled her lip. "Got it. So it's just saving people and checking things out, and if we can't win, we run."
Utaha listened seriously, silently noting the key points.
Eriri's face grew paler as she listened, her palms sweating as she held onto Utaha's arm.
Kato Megumi listened quietly, her gaze sweeping over the structural diagram on the tactical board, seemingly memorizing the route in silence.