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Just as he expected. In these slice-of-life worlds, unless someone was truly crazy, most people weren't actually bad at heart.
Even though Mai's mother became focused on money after splitting up with Mai's father, she still cared about her daughter deep down.
Kai nodded slightly, then took out his phone and dialed.
"My, my! Why the sudden call?" Satoru Gojo's signature cynical drawl came through the speaker the second the call connected. "Don't tell me you ran into a Cursed Spirit you couldn't handle and finally remembered the strongest, most handsome Satoru Gojo?"
He spoke like he had the whole world in his hand. That was the kind of confidence that came from being the strongest.
"Do me a favor," Kai said flatly, skipping the pleasantries.
"Hmm?" Gojo paused on the other end, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
'Did I actually hit the nail on the head?'
Did Kai really run into a tough Cursed Spirit?
Gojo knew what Kai could do. If something was giving him trouble, it had to be serious.
"Let's hear it!" Gojo's voice became a little more serious, losing some of its usual playfulness.
Kai quickly explained the situation. In short, he wanted Gojo to pressure a few big companies into sending entertainment opportunities to Mai Sakurajima.
Given Gojo's status as the strongest modern Sorcerer and the head of the Gojo clan—one of the Big Three Sorcerer Families—pulling strings like that would be effortless.
But then—
When Kai finished, there was a heavy silence. After a moment, Gojo spoke, sounding completely shocked.
"That's it?"
"Yep!"
"..."
'Is this a joke?' That was Gojo's first thought. He had prepared for a huge fight with a dangerous Cursed Spirit, but it turned out to be... this?
Securing gigs for a teen idol.
Who did Kai think he was talking to? He was Satoru Gojo! The Strongest Modern Jujutsu Sorcerer! Did this guy even understand the weight of that title?
Asking the strongest Sorcerer alive to play talent agent... Where was his dignity?
"You do realize you're talking to Satoru Gojo, right?" Gojo asked.
"Obviously. Why else would I call you?" Kai answered without missing a beat.
Kai's answer was so straightforward that Gojo started to wonder if maybe he was the one being unreasonable.
"You..." Gojo rubbed his temples, genuinely at a loss for words. "You're a Special Grade Sorcerer now too. Why don't you just do it yourself?"
Top companies already knew about Cursed Spirits. Everyone in those circles understood how powerful Jujutsu Sorcerers were.
As a Special Grade Sorcerer, Kai only had to mention his name. Hardly any company would dare say no to him.
"Because it sounds like a hassle. That's why I called you!" Kai said.
"..."
'Great! What a flawless excuse!'
"Fine! I got it!" Gojo sighed, trying not to punch the wall. Even if it was ridiculous, this was the first time Kai had ever asked him for help. If he refused, he'd just seem petty.
"BUT DON'T CALL ME FOR TRIVIAL GARBAGE LIKE THIS AGAIN!" With that final shout, Gojo hung up the phone.
——————————
Back at Tokyo Jujutsu High, Gojo stared at his phone, looking completely worn out.
"What's wrong?" Shoko Ieiri and Masamichi Yaga glanced over, noticing Gojo suddenly deflate after his call.
They had just been talking about the recent rise in Cursed Spirits. Seeing Gojo react this way made them worry something bad had happened.
"It's nothing. Just some guy asking me to pull strings with the conglomerates to score his little girlfriend some gigs in the entertainment industry!" Gojo grumbled.
He wasn't clueless. He didn't know who Mai Sakurajima was, but if Kai was calling in a favor for her, she had to be his girlfriend—or something close.
"???"
Shoko and Yaga were caught off guard. They stared at him for a moment before the absurdity of it all sank in.
Yaga kept his composure, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
Shoko, meanwhile, burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA! Asking you to act as an agent? HAHAHA! He sure knows how to pick the right guy for the job!"
"Hmm?" Gojo lifted an eyebrow and shot her a glare.
"HAHAHAHA!" Shoko ignored him. Most people might be scared of Gojo's strength, but not her. They had been classmates, after all.
Gojo wasn't really mad. Seeing Shoko laugh so much, he just gave up and shrugged.
"Are you talking about Kai? That wild Special Grade Sorcerer you recommended, the one who saved Panda and the others recently?" Yaga adjusted his sunglasses, getting back to business.
"I didn't expect him to be such a romantic."
The Jujutsu world was full of strange and wild people. The stronger the Sorcerer, the crazier they tended to be. Compared to them, even Satoru Gojo seemed pretty normal.
They didn't know much about Kai yet. But hearing he'd do all this for a girl... maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after all.
"Yeah, yeah, it's him. Anyway, you two keep talking. I have to make some calls!" Gojo waved them off. He had promised to help, so he wasn't about to back out.
He stretched lazily and walked out of the room. Taking care of this just meant making a few quick calls.
"What's wrong?" Shoko's laughter faded as Gojo left. Seeing Yaga deep in thought, she couldn't help but ask.
"Nothing," Yaga said, shaking his head. "It just made me think. There's a new Special Grade Sorcerer in the Jujutsu world now. The higher-ups must be nervous. Before, Gojo was like a shield, protecting him."
"But if they find out that this new Special Grade is getting close with Satoru, they might do something reckless!"
Gojo was incredibly strong, but he was still just one person. If another Special Grade teamed up with him, the higher-ups might finally lose it. They barely put up with one Satoru Gojo, so they definitely wouldn't accept a second.
"Tsk!" Shoko quickly grasped the political danger. She clicked her tongue in disgust. "Those old fools are as repulsive as ever."
The conservative higher-ups only cared about keeping their power. Whether the Jujutsu world lived or died didn't matter to them, as long as they kept their positions. Everything else came second.
"Shoko!" Yaga warned her sternly. Some things couldn't be said out loud. Gojo could get away with trashing the higher-ups because he had the strength to back it up.
"Whatever. I'm heading back!" Shoko waved her hand, not interested in arguing. She was just a medical Sorcerer anyway, with no desire to get involved in their messy politics.
——————————
Meanwhile, back with Kai.
"Done!" Kai tossed his phone onto the table after hanging up.
"Is... is that it?" Mai's mother stared at him, confused. He had barely done anything.
"You should start getting calls very soon," Kai said.
Mai's mother was still her official manager, so if the companies called, they'd reach out to her. With that, Kai turned and walked into the living room.
"This..."
'Isn't this way too casual?' Mai's mother wanted to ask more, but Mai quickly interrupted.
"Mom! If Kai says it's fine, then it's fine! Stop doubting him! I know Kai wouldn't lie to me!" Mai said, standing up for him.
"..."
'Where did you get this cheap, desperate attitude from??'
Seeing her daughter acting so hopelessly lovestruck left Mai's mother with a sour expression. She was totally speechless.
Just then—
"Mai-senpai! I'm starving. Do you have anything to eat?" Kai's voice drifted out from the living room.
"Coming!" Hearing his voice, Mai immediately abandoned her mother and trotted happily back inside. "I'll cook something for you right now! Just wait a minute!"
"..."
Watching her precious daughter happily rushing around like a maid while Kai lounged on the couch like a lord of the manor... Mai's mother felt her blood pressure rise.
But remembering what he had promised on the phone, she forced herself to stay quiet.
'Whatever. I'll wait and see.'
Since he sounded so sure, she decided to wait. But if her phone didn't ring today, she wouldn't let this brat off the hook! Treating her precious daughter like a maid—he clearly didn't respect her as a mother at all!
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