"Yuta, you're up."
Gojo Satoru gestured for Yuta Okkotsu to step forward.
Beside him, Panda—who had just dragged Tokiya Shingen back—shouted loudly:
"Yuta! You've got this! Take down Gojo-sensei!"
Yuta gripped his wooden sword, visibly nervous. Hearing Panda's encouragement, he gave an awkward smile.
He had watched the previous fights closely.
His control over Rika's curse was still unstable…
And thinking about that dazzling, overwhelming battle just now—
With his current strength alone…
But—
I just need to give it everything I've got.
He tightened his grip.
His heart steadied.
Scenes of past training flashed through his mind…
A surge of cursed energy burst from Yuta's body—
Then gradually drew back under his control.
Gojo raised an eyebrow.
That's… an unusually massive amount of cursed energy.
Perhaps—
Yuta's idea was correct.
Maybe it wasn't Rika who cursed him…
Maybe—
He had unknowingly cursed Rika.
Yuta exhaled.
Then—
With cursed energy reinforcing his body—
He moved.
A blur.
His wooden blade cut toward Gojo's face—
And in that same instant—
Gojo vanished.
"Here it comes! Gojo-sensei's teleport!"
Yuta reacted instantly—
Spinning—
Sweeping his blade in a full arc.
Just as expected—
Gojo appeared behind him—
And effortlessly avoided the strike.
"You've improved quickly."
"You look much more confident than before."
"As expected of my dear student."
Gojo casually dodged—
Then suddenly—
Hooked his leg.
Yuta was tripped—
Rolled twice—
And dropped into a crouch.
Without hesitation—
He drew his blade back—
Then slashed again with explosive force.
But—
Gojo caught it.
Palms pressed together—
Stopping the blade cold.
"I told you—treat me like an enemy."
"You're still hesitating."
"Not enough power either."
"That'll cost you in real combat."
Yuta froze for a split second—
And was kicked away.
His body nearly fell apart midair.
He forced himself back up—
Only to see Gojo beckoning again.
"Again."
...
The entire afternoon—
Gojo fought like a machine.
No fatigue.
No slowing down.
One-on-one fights.
Team battles.
Until it turned into—
A brutal test of their limits.
Bodies pushed to the brink.
Cursed energy drained dry.
Even Shoko Ieiri, who had come to observe—
Couldn't help but complain.
She had already treated them multiple times.
"The situation is getting worse."
"Curses are increasing across multiple regions."
"Grade 2 and Grade 1 curses are becoming more common…"
"Even Special Grade sightings have been reported."
Gojo spoke calmly—
But the weight of his words was heavy.
He wasn't worried about defeating Special Grades.
He was worried—
This was only the beginning.
A storm—
Before it truly broke.
Shoko's expression darkened.
Gojo clapped his hands—
Calling the resting students over.
"As I was saying…"
"The burden on you young ones is getting heavier."
"While we're still here to protect you—"
"I hope you grow strong enough to stand beside us."
And just like that—
Another round of Gojo's "loving instruction" began.
Tokiya Shingen took the opportunity—
To refine his techniques.
With Gojo's Six Eyes—
He received instant, precise feedback.
And through repeated use—
Shingen discovered something new:
When he used Technique Reversal on himself—
His cursed energy and condition returned—
To the exact point he selected.
"A reload mechanic, huh?"
But—
There was something that couldn't be reset.
His consciousness.
His mind retained everything—
Before the reset.
He called it—
mental strain.
Because after repeated reversals—
He felt:
dizziness
fatigue
headaches
mental haze
And the more he used it—
The worse it got.
Though—
After treatment from Shoko—
It improved.
Which shattered one of his ideas.
He had originally thought—
He could abuse reversal—
To endlessly reset himself in battle.
No damage.
Infinite cursed energy.
A complete exploit.
But—
That wasn't possible.
"At best… it's a cooldown-based recovery."
Guess I still need Reverse Cursed Technique…
But if I fully master it…
And combine it with my technique reversal…
Maybe…
I could eliminate the drawbacks entirely.
The thought made his heart race—
But now wasn't the time.
He set it aside.
Gojo's special training didn't last long.
By the next day—
He was already called away.
Before leaving—
He pretended to wipe away tears.
"I know my dear students will miss me dearly!"
"Don't worry!"
"When I return, I'll bring even better training!"
"NOOOOO!!"
Ignoring their cries—
Gojo left with a grin.
In terms of strength—
He was unmatched.
He knew everything about jujutsu—
But teaching?
That was another story.
As he liked to say:
"It's simple! Didn't I explain it clearly?"
In reality—
No one understood a thing.
Even Shingen's mastery of reversal—
Though guided by Gojo—
Had taken immense effort.
So Gojo preferred—
Practical teaching.
"If your brain can't learn it—let your body learn first!"
Despite all their complaints—
The results were undeniable.
Facing an overwhelmingly powerful opponent—
Without real risk of death—
That experience—
Was priceless.
Days passed quickly.
During that time—
Shingen met two second-year students—
A man and a woman—
Who appeared to be a couple.
The man:
Kinji Hakari
Tall, wild hair slicked back—
Almost like… broccoli.
Stubble.
Cut eyebrows.
He looked more like a delinquent adult—
Than a student.
The other:
Kirara Hoshi
Stylish.
Piercings.
Midriff-baring outfit.
And her eyes—
Star-shaped pupils.
They didn't interact much.
Hakari seemed irritated—
About something.
Then left.
Soon—
The day before the exchange event arrived.
Kyoto Jujutsu High—
Had arrived.
The meeting hall filled with:
Principals
Teachers
Students
Kyoto's principal—
An elderly man—
Leaned on a cane.
White robes.
Bald head.
And—
Eyebrows so long—
They reached his face.
Truly bizarre.
Tokyo's side—
Led by Gojo.
Kyoto's teacher:
Utahime Iori
A shrine maiden outfit—
And a scar across her face.
Gojo immediately went over—
Teasing her.
Her expression—
Went from disgust—
To rage.
Meanwhile—
Shingen's attention shifted.
To a girl.
Short black hair.
She looked…
Exactly like Maki.
She was staring at Maki too.
Shingen whispered to Panda:
"Hey… you see that?"
"She looks just like Maki…"
Maki snapped:
"She's my twin sister. Mai Zenin."
"Stop whispering like idiots!"
"Ohhh—"
Shingen and Panda reacted together.
Maki nearly lost it.
Then Yuta whispered:
"Shouldn't we be more concerned about… that robot?"
"And that guy… he looks dangerous."
Shingen looked.
Kyoto had six students:
Two men
Three women
One… robot
The robot—
More like a cursed puppet.
The calm male:
Noritoshi Kamo
A traditional noble type.
The brute:
Aoi Todo
Massive.
Scarred.
Explosive presence.
The girls:
Kasumi Miwa (blue hair)
Momo Nishimiya (blonde, broom user)
Mai Zenin
Then introductions began.
"I'm Kasumi Miwa, first-year. Nice to meet you!"
"Second-year, Momo Nishimiya."
"Mechamaru. First-year."
"Mai Zenin. First-year. Oh? My sister never mentioned me? That's sad~"
"Noritoshi Kamo. Second-year."
Tokyo followed:
Yuta Okkotsu
Maki Zenin
Panda
Toge Inumaki
Panda drew the most attention.
Miwa and Momo—
Starry-eyed.
Then—
Shingen stepped forward.
Hair tied loosely—
A wild, effortless charm.
Miwa internally:
Another handsome guy!
"I'm Tokiya Shingen. First-year."
"Nice to meet you."
Finally—
Todo spoke.
"Aoi Todo. Second-year."
A pause.
Then—
He stared at them.
"…All first-years?"
"…Are you looking down on us?"