Jujutsu Kaisen World.
United States.
The beach burned under the summer sun, alive with laughter and youth.
Bodies gleamed in the light, splashing through the waves, playing, flirting, showing off.
A tall, shirtless man lounged in a beach chair, sunglasses glinting as he soaked in the taste of summer.
"Yeah… this kind of place really does make things easy."
Jinsuke Zenin was picking out his next target.
No plain ones. No broke ones.
If he was going to live off someone, it had to be the best of the best.
With his six-foot-three frame, chiseled muscles, and unfairly handsome face, he'd long since perfected the art of the soft life.
"Perfect temperament, gorgeous face… that bracelet looks pricey too. Definitely not short on cash."
He'd already locked onto a well-off foreign woman. Just as he was about to get up and make his move, a familiar shadow blocked his line of sight.
The newcomer flipped her long hair, struck a teasing pose, and threw up a peace sign beside her sparkling blue eyes.
"So, what kind of women are you into?" the blonde girl asked with a grin.
She wore a fitted black crop top that hugged her curves and high-waisted denim jeans that screamed confidence.
The second Jinsuke saw her, he sighed and slowly lowered his sunglasses.
"Tell me you didn't actually put a tracker on me."
He knew this woman—had known her for years, in fact.
Yuki Tsukumo.
Special Grade Sorcerer.
Never accepted assignments from the Jujutsu Higher-Ups.
Spent most of her time messing around overseas instead of doing actual work.
Come to think of it, they'd known each other for, what, four or five years now?
"Do I look like the kind of woman who'd put a tracker on someone?"
Yuki grabbed the iced juice sitting next to him and took a long, satisfied sip.
"Ahhh—finally, I feel alive again! Damn this heat."
Jinsuke didn't even blink. At this point, he was completely numb to her antics.
"So how'd you find me this time? I've only been in this city a few days. Don't tell me it's another coincidence."
One of the reasons he never stayed in one place too long was to avoid her. Every few months, he switched cities—or countries.
And yet, somehow, this woman always managed to find him, like some clingy curse that wouldn't peel off. That's why he half-believed she really had planted a tracker on him.
Yuki blinked innocently, her tone playful. "Of course it's not a coincidence—it's destiny!"
"Don't you think we've got a special connection?"
She clasped her hands together and bowed dramatically. "So please, let me study your body again! I'm begging you!"
Her eyes lit up as she gazed at his scarred torso, like a researcher admiring a priceless artifact.
Jinsuke exhaled, sitting up a little, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
He knew exactly why Yuki was so obsessed with him.
Because of his Heavenly Restriction.
It had been over twenty years since he came to the Jujutsu Kaisen World. When he first realized he'd been born into the Zenin Clan—one of the Three Great Sorcerer Families—he'd actually felt proud. A noble lineage, endless resources, and as it turned out, he was even the older brother of the so-called Sorcerer Killer, Toji Zenin.
With that kind of background, he figured he'd have it made. Maybe even reach Grade 1 someday without breaking a sweat.
But life had other plans.
Maybe the universe had a twisted sense of humor, because the moment he was born, he was hit with a Heavenly Restriction—zero Cursed Energy in his body.
Still, that restriction gave him superhuman physical abilities, resistance to Cursed Energy, and incredible senses.
He couldn't exorcise Cursed Spirits himself, sure. But his raw power easily surpassed most Jujutsu Sorcerers. With a decent Cursed Tool, even taking down a weaker Special Grade Cursed Spirit wasn't out of reach.
He'd never really minded not having Cursed Energy.
What he did mind was how much the Zenin Clan despised him for it.
Their obsession with Cursed Techniques and inherited talent ran deep. Their disdain for someone like him ran even deeper.
After experiencing the same cruel treatment Toji once had, Jinsuke finally understood why his younger brother became the Sorcerer Killer.
As for why he was now living abroad like Yuki, well… that was a story for another time.
"Pay up."
Jinsuke stretched out a hand toward Yuki.
If she wanted to study his body, she could pay for the privilege. He was running low on cash anyway.
Her cheerful face immediately deflated.
"I don't have any money."
"Figures. Is that seriously all you ever think about?" she huffed, puffing out her chest. "Do I really have no appeal to you at all?"
She just couldn't understand this man. Didn't he know how broke she was? She was probably the poorest Special Grade Sorcerer in the entire Jujutsu World.
Sure, she could earn plenty if she took missions. But she couldn't stand the old geezers in the Higher-Ups, so she ignored every job they threw her way.
Even her clothes were from Jujutsu High—she just restyled them into her own fashion.
Still, aside from being broke, she was practically perfect!
Great body, top-tier strength, confident, charming, cool—what more could anyone want?
"No money? Then stop wasting my time. Don't mess with my meal ticket."
Jinsuke's interest vanished instantly. No money meant no soft life. And no, he wasn't about to let anyone freeload off him.
"C'mon, we've known each other for years! Can't you just let it slide this time?"
Yuki switched tactics, grabbing his hand with teary eyes, her voice dripping with fake innocence.
"No."
Jinsuke's tone was flat, unshakable.
Sigma male. Immune to charm. Eyes of pure financial conviction.
"I'll owe you! I'll pay later, alright?!"
Yuki bit back her pride, desperate. For the sake of her research, she'd play along—for now. One day, she'd make him pay back every damn cent he'd ever squeezed out of her!
"Now that's negotiable. But I'll be charging double."
"You—!"
"What? Ever heard of interest? Even loans have rates. You're no exception."
Jinsuke said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Yuki's face flushed red. She'd met shameless people before, but this man took the prize.
"Fine! Deal!" she snapped through gritted teeth.
So what if she had to take a few jobs to cover it? She was Yuki Tsukumo—a Special Grade Sorcerer. A little money wasn't going to defeat her.
"In that case," Jinsuke said, finally smiling, "come with me."
It was a rare, satisfied smile.
But to Yuki, that grin looked anything but friendly.
It was sly.
Scheming.
Predatory.