The hotel room was not large. The curtains were drawn tightly, with only the bedside lamp providing light.
Hajime Kashimo sat at a table, clutching a hamburger in his hand, stuffing it into his mouth in large bites.
"Mhm..."
He swallowed a mouthful of hamburger, then picked up a piece of fried chicken, biting into it with a crunch.
"This is good. This is delicious too."
A four-hundred-year slumber made everything in the modern world feel novel to him. Especially the food.
"How is it? Modern food."
Kenjaku stood not far beside him, staring at Hajime Kashimo with interest.
"Truly interesting!"
"Much better than in our era. Four hundred years ago, where could you find such good stuff?"
Hajime Kashimo praised.
Kenjaku smiled upon hearing this. He walked over to a chair in front of Hajime Kashimo and sat down.
"So—"
He crossed his legs and intertwined his fingers, resting them on his thigh.
"Don't you want to ask me why I resurrected you early?"
Hajime Kashimo paused his eating.
He looked up, staring at Kenjaku with his azure eyes for two seconds, then lowered his head and continued gnawing on the fried chicken in his hand.
"It's probably nothing good anyway."
"You never do anything without a purpose. I knew that four hundred years ago."
"Hehe."
Kenjaku chuckled, not denying it.
"You're right. I do have a purpose. And this purpose concerns you."
"Oh?"
"Like you, Sukuna has also incarnated. But his vessel is unusual. I originally just considered him a tool—a vessel to resurrect Sukuna—but that guy's talent far exceeded my expectations."
Kenjaku said with a grave expression. "He exorcised a Special Grade curse on his first day of contact with jujutsu..."
"Alright, alright. Stop listing off your menu."
Hajime Kashimo waved his hand, interrupting Kenjaku.
"Just say it straight. What do you want me to do?"
Kenjaku said: "Hajime Kashimo, haven't you always wanted to fight Sukuna?"
"Now is your chance. Sukuna's vessel has currently consumed five fingers. Although there's still a ways to go before full resurrection, Sukuna's consciousness has awakened."
"Our goal is also to fully resurrect Sukuna—aligning with yours. But because Sukuna's vessel is too powerful and has killed many of my subordinates, my plan has been hindered."
"..."
Hajime Kashimo was silent for a moment. He stared at Kenjaku for a while, then revealed a mocking smile.
"Kenjaku. You want to use me to do your bidding?"
"I can find Sukuna's vessel myself. I don't need your help."
Kenjaku shook his head. "Finding Sukuna's vessel is useless. Sukuna doesn't have control over that body, and Sukuna's vessel is a righteous boy who has already mingled with the jujutsu sorcerers. Besides—Satoru Gojo is there."
"Satoru Gojo?"
"The strongest modern sorcerer. A man who can rival Sukuna."
"Bullshit."
Hajime Kashimo snorted coldly, crumpled the napkin he used to wipe his mouth into a ball, and casually tossed it aside.
"Since four hundred years ago, cursed spirits and jujutsu sorcerers have been continuously weakening. They're probably getting even weaker now. The so-called 'strongest modern sorcerer' is highly likely nothing special."
Kenjaku didn't argue, simply following Hajime Kashimo's line of thought. "But with that guy around, your duel with Sukuna can't take place, can it?"
"I need you to cooperate with me to initiate the Shibuya Incident, seal Satoru Gojo, and 'snatch' Sukuna's vessel to our side."
Kenjaku's ultimate goal was to have everyone participate in the Culling Game.
He originally thought Yuji Itadori was just an insignificant existence. Even if left to train at Jujutsu High, he wouldn't affect the plan and could even contribute some cursed energy to the Culling Game. But looking at it now, he had miscalculated.
Hajime Kashimo was a very strong fighter. Not only could he restrict Yuji Itadori, but he could also help seal Satoru Gojo.
"...Why should I listen to you?"
Hajime Kashimo asked.
"I can make Sukuna's vessel defect to our side while avoiding Satoru Gojo. Why don't you hear my plan before making a decision?"
"...Speak."
Hearing this, a wicked smile appeared on Kenjaku's face.
"Hundreds of years ago, I successfully created an 'artificial cursed spirit.'"
"It's a masterpiece even more successful than the Death Painting Wombs."
Its strength was comparable to Jogo's, and the potential of its innate technique was extremely high...
"Unfortunately, because that cursed spirit had a violent temper and suffered from severe mental disorders—making it difficult to control—I sealed it away."
"I named it 'Shanmei.'"
The innate technique of the artificial curse "Shanmei," created by Kenjaku hundreds of years ago, was a superior substitute for Hanami's plant-manipulating innate technique.
"The technique of this curse is extremely compatible with my Cursed Spirit Manipulation. By combining them, we can achieve very... unexpected results."
Meanwhile, inside the internet cafe.
"Alright, alright. It's just a pistol round. Everyone adjust—we'll get it back next round."
Despite witnessing a wave of terrible gameplay from Yuji, Junpei still comforted everyone.
Although the Counter-Terrorists won the last round, the Terrorists received a money bonus for planting the bomb, so the Tokyo school members had enough money to buy rifles this round.
Yuji bought a $1800 Galil AR. Like the last round, they chose the tactic of attacking A Short.
This time, Megumi finally threw the Mid Doors smoke grenade correctly. When the group rushed A Short together, Mid Doors was completely filled with smoke.
"The smoke grenade is finally thrown well this time."
Nobara glanced in Megumi's direction.
"That's more like it. At least the milk tea shop is closed."
"So annoying. It's my first time playing, okay?"
Megumi complained.
The five Terrorists arrived at A Short one after another. Junpei took the lead, followed closely by Yuji. Nobara and Maki provided support in the middle, while Megumi covered the rear.
"Everyone, let's take control of A Short first. Be careful of people coming from behind and Lower B Tunnels."
Junpei said in a low voice.
However, just as they arrived at the corner of the A Short stairs—
WHOOSH—!
Three Counter-Terrorist figures "flew" out from the top of the A Short stairs.
Because of the elevation difference in the terrain, from the perspective of Yuji and the others, the three Counter-Terrorists positioned higher up really looked like they were flying.
Yuji's pupils shrank violently.
Mom. They're flying.
CS:GO rifles require the character to stand still to maintain accuracy, but submachine guns do not.
He saw that each of the three held a very unique-looking firearm.
"Didn't expect this, did you, Itadori!"
Aoi Todo's sonorous voice came from afar.
"Priced at $1400—not only is it cheap and good, but you can also run and gun freely. The recoil is extremely stable, requiring almost no recoil control! Suitable for all beginners who know absolutely nothing about FPS games! A submachine gun with a super large 64-round magazine—"
"The PP-Bizon!"
"We'll take you all down at once!"
Before he finished speaking, gunfire erupted.
RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT—!
The three Bizons fired simultaneously, bullets raining down like a storm.
Junpei, who was at the very front, was picked off mid-air before the three even landed.
BANG!
Junpei widened his eyes, startled by the inexplicable kill sound effect.
"Nani?!"
Nobara quickly moved her mouse, locking her crosshair onto one of the Counter-Terrorists still in mid-air.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!
She fired several shots, but the Kyoto school members seemed to have discussed it beforehand. The three characters moved back and forth, left and right, causing Nobara—who was unfamiliar with recoil control—to miss most of her shots. Instead, she was taken out by two headshots.
The advantage of submachine guns is that you can run and shoot freely, while the rifles they held would spray bullets everywhere if they moved.
RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT—!
The Bizon bullets were still pouring down. All the Terrorists at A Short fell.
Mai killed Maki and Nobara. Kasumi directly jump-shot Junpei. Todo sprayed Yuji to death.
"Ahhhhh—What exactly is going on?!"
Yuji directly put on a mask of pain.
"How was that, Maki! This submachine gun tactic!"
After killing her older sister, Mai on the opposing team stood up from her chair and mocked.
"I... I actually got a kill too! I'm not the one holding everyone back anymore!"
Kasumi was also very excited.
"Tch, you just won two rounds!"
Nobara took off her headphones and shouted toward the Kyoto school's side.
"What are you so arrogant about! Just wait and see how we get it back later!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
Panda chimed in.
"Salmon, salmon!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Aoi Todo raised an eyebrow.
"Then bring it on. Let me see your strength!"
"Bring it on!"
Nobara put her headphones back on, gripping the mouse tightly with both hands, her eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"..."
An hour later.
Nobara stared blankly at the game's end screen.
Kyoto School 16 - 5 Tokyo School.
The scoreboard and stats popped up simultaneously.
Aoi Todo: 23-9-4.
Kasumi Miwa: 21-6-3.
Mai Zenin: 17-5-1.
The three of them combined for 60 kills, completely crushing the Tokyo school's fighting spirit.
As for the Tokyo school side...
Junpei Yoshino: 31-16-12. 31 kills, 16 deaths, a K/D ratio of nearly 2.
Nobara Kugisaki: 14-19-3.
Maki Zenin: 6-17-8.
Yuji Itadori: 4-21-18. Although he had few kills, he had many assists.
Megumi Fushiguro...
1-21-6.
His impact on the field was less than a chicken's.
"..."
The atmosphere on the Tokyo school side could no longer be described as "silent."
Throughout the entire match, it was just Junpei desperately trying to carry the team of four. The other four could only be described as non-human.
Pre-match laughter.
"Hahaha, it's just playing games—we can definitely win!"
Mid-match boastful words.
"Tch, you just won two rounds! Just wait and see how we get it back later!"
Post-match silence.
"..."
Nobara stared at the glaring "16:5" on the screen. Her lips parted slightly, then closed. Opened again. And closed again.
She was just about to say something to lighten the mood. After all, it was a best-of-three. They still had a chance for a comeback.
However, when her gaze fell on her companion beside her, she saw an astonishing sight—
Junpei was sitting in his chair, hunched over, hands resting on his knees, head bowed, eyes tightly closed. His black bangs were soaked with sweat, sticking to his skin in clumps. His face was covered in fine beads of sweat, glistening under the internet cafe lights.
He looked like he had just been carried out of a sauna.
Junpei Yoshino was burned out.
"Even 31 kills couldn't carry them... Who exactly invented this game..."
Junpei maintained that posture. Sweat dripping down drop by drop.
As if shedding tears for his non-human teammates.
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