Chapter 87 — Kusakabe's Great Escape, Day One
"Which way's the fifth underground floor?"
Panda leaned over the railing, looking down at Kusakabe.
"Since Maki confirmed the seal is real, we should head there right now!"
Gojo Satoru had been sealed — there was no time to waste wandering through random buildings. They needed to regroup and rescue him immediately.
"Gojo, Gojo, Gojo! That's all anyone ever says," Kusakabe snapped, glaring at the talking panda. "He's not the only human being on this planet, you know!"
He jabbed a finger toward the city beyond. "There might still be survivors — terrified, hiding somewhere in Shibuya! Think about it — like a bunch of elementary school girls, lost and crying. If we don't find them, their futures are ruined… and we'll be the accomplices!"
"Uh… huh?" Panda blinked, clearly thrown off.
"Now that you mention it," he admitted, "that… actually sounds kinda reasonable."
"Exactly!" Kusakabe puffed out his chest, trying to look righteous. "So we're checking every floor, every corner, even the bathrooms. Thoroughly!"
"Roger that!" Panda immediately resumed searching the building with eager determination.
Meanwhile, Kusakabe sighed deeply, hands in pockets, a toothpick dangling from his lips.
Damn. I'm running out of excuses.
He had no intention of setting foot on the fifth floor. Not a chance.
Even Gojo got sealed — why the hell would he go down there to die?
He looked toward the darkened stairwell, muttering, "Zen'in-sensei, hurry up and finish this mess already… please."
The whole "saving terrified schoolgirls" thing? Yeah, pure fabrication. Just an excuse to stall.
Kusakabe simply didn't want to face anything that could be labeled "special grade."
He hadn't told Panda where the underground levels actually were, because he knew what would happen — the big guy would charge down there alone without hesitation.
No way was Kusakabe letting that happen. Not because he was brave — but because he refused to be left alone in this nightmare.
Watching Panda clumsily search every hallway, he felt a small twinge of guilt.
Damn it… he's a panda, but he's acting more human than I am.
Luckily, being a panda had one big advantage: the guy had zero sense of direction. Panda had no idea that the entrance to the fifth underground floor was literally right in front of them.
Just a couple more laps around the building, Kusakabe thought. Pretend to be lost. Easy.
The massive cursed energy from earlier had faded, but that didn't make it any safer down there. He valued his life too much to risk it.
"Huh?"
Kusakabe froze, turning sharply. A man and a woman stood on the skybridge connecting the upper levels, staring down at him and Panda.
"You're Jujutsu High sorcerers, right? We don't want to kill you," the man said coolly. "Surrender, and we'll let you live."
Kusakabe didn't flinch. Panda's voice rumbled beside him, calm and analytical: "There are three more hiding nearby. Maybe more."
"Cursed users, huh?"
Kusakabe smirked faintly. "Well, I don't want to die… but I can't just kneel and beg, either."
Inside, however, he was thrilled. Perfect timing!
These cursed users had shown up at exactly the right moment.
A great opportunity to stall.
"Alright, alright," he said cheerfully. "Let's talk things out. Slowly. Take your time — I've got plenty of patience."
If he could keep them chatting, it'd eat up more precious minutes.
As long as he wasn't heading to the fifth floor, he could deal with as many cursed users as necessary.
"Are you surrendering or not?" the man demanded coldly. "I hate indecisive people."
"…You're not talking to me, right?" Panda raised a paw innocently. "I'm technically not human."
"Idiot!" Kusakabe hissed. "At least say something intimidating!"
He sighed, drawing his blade lazily. "Fine, whatever. You'll do nicely to kill time."
For all his reputation as one of the strongest Grade 1 sorcerers, Kusakabe was also famous for being a complete coward. He only fought enemies weaker than himself — the moment he sensed a powerful opponent, he'd bolt without hesitation.
"Hey! Panda! What the hell are you two doing?!"
A familiar voice echoed from behind. Maki and the others emerged from the staircase — battered, bloodied, and barely standing.
"Maki? Megumi? You're alive?!" Panda rushed over, worried.
"What happened to you guys?" Kusakabe asked, his face paling as he saw them. Three Grade 1 sorcerers — all wrecked. Even Naobito Zen'in, the special-grade veteran, was missing an arm.
Cold sweat trickled down Kusakabe's temple.
So that's what the fifth floor was like… Thank god I didn't go. Best case, I'd be maimed. Worst case— dead.
Maki shot him a look, then glanced at the cursed users. "Forget them! We're leaving — Sukuna's out."
"What?!" Kusakabe blanched. "Sukuna?! As in the Sukuna?!"
He sheathed his blade instantly. "What are we waiting for? RUN!"
Special grades were bad enough — but Sukuna? No way in hell.
"Don't think you can just walk away!"
From the upper bridge, three more cursed users appeared, blocking their retreat.
Kusakabe's eye twitched.
…This day just keeps getting worse.
The group of rogue sorcerers stared down the Jujutsu High sorcerers. Because of their past loyalty to Getō Suguru, none of them truly wanted to kill anyone from the school.
But their mission tonight wasn't mercy — it was disruption. Their goal was to stall, to interfere, to throw Jujutsu High's forces into chaos. Letting these people walk away was out of the question.
"Are you idiots?!" Kusakabe exploded, his voice cracking with panic. "Didn't you hear me?! Sukuna's here!"
BOOM!!!
Before anyone could respond, an entire building in the distance detonated into rubble.
Two overwhelming forces clashed, releasing a shockwave that ripped through the air like a hurricane. The pressure knocked everyone off balance, dust and debris filling the streets until they could barely open their eyes.
"That's Sensei—and Sukuna!" Maki shouted. "They've already started fighting! Get out of here, now!"
She didn't have to say it twice.
Everyone — sorcerers and cursed users alike — turned and bolted in the opposite direction.
Even the rogues knew better than to stay. Just the presence of that monstrous cursed energy was enough to tell them one thing: none of them were even qualified to watch this fight.
Kusakabe was the first to flee, sprinting faster than anyone else. The rest followed close behind, desperate to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the impending cataclysm.
---
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Shibuya, Ieiri Shoko had arrived.
"Shoko, this is far too dangerous for you," said Yaga Masamichi, standing beside her with his usual calm authority.
As one of the few healers capable of performing Reverse Cursed Technique on others, Shoko's presence on the battlefield was both invaluable and risky.
If the enemy realized she was here, she'd become their top target.
"He's right, Shoko-nee," said Amanai Riko, crouched nearby with a high-powered sniper rifle trained on the distance, eyes sharp and focused.
Because Shoko insisted on coming, Riko had returned with Yaga to protect her. Her cursed technique and long-range precision meant she could eliminate enemies hundreds of meters away before they ever got close.
"I had to come," Shoko murmured, leaning on the railing of the overpass. Her white coat fluttered in the night breeze, the tiredness in her eyes giving way to faint nostalgia.
"With you and the principal here, I'll be fine. But I couldn't just sit back after hearing what happened."
Gojo Satoru — sealed.
A fake Getō Suguru — walking freely.
How could she not come?
"What's wrong, Shoko-nee?" Riko asked softly, noticing her faraway look.
"Nothing," Shoko replied after a pause. "Just… thinking about the old school days."
BOOM—
A heavy explosion shook the city, followed by maniacal, echoing laughter that rolled through the night like thunder.
"...Sukuna's out too, huh?" Yaga muttered, frowning deeply.
With Gojo sealed, the balance of power had collapsed. Among Jujutsu High's remaining sorcerers, there was only one person who might be able to stand against the King of Curses now.
"Zen'in Shinsuke…" Yaga said under his breath.
Would he step in?
Or would even he fall before that ancient, malevolent power?