September 16th, a Saturday. The 18th Jujutsu High Sister-School Goodwill Event was held in Tokyo, with Tokyo Jujutsu High serving as the host.
The first day of the event was dedicated to the team competition.
Kyoto Jujutsu High would be facing three first-year students and four second-year students from Tokyo. After looking over the roster, the students who had traveled all the way from Kyoto fell into collective silence. Every one of them obediently accepted the arrangements, not a single troublemaker dared complain or challenge them.
It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight.
The second years alone had two Special Grade sorcerers!
And among the first years was the young heir of the Zen'in Clan, who had entered school already as a Grade 2 sorcerer!
There were only three Great Jujutsu Clans in the entire world, and Tokyo Jujutsu High alone had heirs from two of them. Offending either of them was practically the same as giving up any future in the jujutsu society, so who would dare make a scene? Who would dare show off their strength?
With a lineup like this, Tokyo could practically steamroll the entire jujutsu society this year.
Haibara Yu put his natural sociability to work, making friends before cheerfully declaring, "The Kyoto students are all really nice people!"
Nanami Kento offered no comment. He had already seen through the nervous apprehension hidden beneath their polite behavior.
It wasn't that Kyoto was full of good people, it was that our side had the Boss keeping everyone in line.
"We're teaching them a lesson this year, Suguru."
"We're the host this year, after all; We should be a little courteous on the first day."
Neither Gojo Satoru nor Getou Suguru looked the slightest bit bored. From the way they spoke, they had already claimed the school as their own territory. They also shared a bizarre fondness for bullying Kyoto Jujutsu High, thoroughly ruining Asou Akiya's hope of keeping them out of the team event.
With an apologetic smile, Asou Akiya turned to his two juniors.
"I'm afraid there won't be any room for us to step in during the team competition."
Haibara Yu sighed in disappointment, while Nanami Kento simply said, "Let them do whatever they want."
Asou Akiya reassured them, "You'll have your chance next year."
Nanami Kento was once again reminded what a genuinely good Asou-senpai was; he's someone who would never drag others into his own antics.
Haibara Yu clenched his fist enthusiastically. "Got it, Asou-senpai! We'll wait until next year!"
Zen'in Naoya tossed out a dismissive, "Boring," before strolling off to lean against a tree, content to wait for the team event to end.
As expected, they didn't have to wait long.
Gojo Satoru and Getou Suguru returned from opposite directions, having set a new record for the fastest victory in the history of the exchange event.
"In today's team competition, everyone fought decisively and efficiently. Of course, we should always remember that friendship comes first, competition second..."
Ten minutes later, Yaga Masamichi awkwardly delivered the winner's speech, feeling that the two troublemakers hadn't left Kyoto Jujutsu High even the slightest shred of dignity. Kyoto's principal, Gakuganji Yoshinobu, remained expressionless, leaning on his cane as he listened before quietly making his way to the rest area.
Ieiri Shoko was in charge of treating the injured, all the while cursing the idiots who had gone out of their way to create more work for her.
Sunday, September 17th.
The second day of the Goodwill Event had arrived—the individual matches.
Gakuganji Yoshinobu ruled that there was no need for Special Grade sorcerers to demonstrate their individual strength, and barred the two of them from competing.
Somehow, Gojo Satoru and Getou Suguru had gotten their hands on cheerleading gear. Instead of competing, they devoted themselves to cheering for Akiya and their kouhai. Ieiri Shoko gave them an approving thumbs-up, then raised her phone and began recording everyone.
"A-ki-ya! A-ki-ya! Go! Wipe the floor with them!"
"A-ki-ya! A-ki-ya! If you lose, you're wearing a girl's outfit!"
On the arena stage, Asou Akiya fought with the shameless shouting of those two serving as his background music, putting pressure on both friend and foe alike.
His opponent, a Semi-Grade 1 sorcerer, was already drenched in sweat.
Winning would be a disaster, and losing and going home would be a disaster too.
Ignoring his friends' relentless cheering, Asou Akiya smiled at the Kyoto senpai he had met the previous year. "Don't worry, I changed cursed tools this year. This one won't leave wounds that are difficult to heal."
"This is a Special Grade cursed tool, the Split Soul Katana; Its cursed technique ignores hardness." With that, Asou Akiya removed the sealing strips from the weapon in full view of everyone, revealing a Special Grade cursed tool.
The Semi-Grade 1 sorcerer's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
So this was the world of the rich? Casually pulling out a Special Grade cursed tool as if it were nothing!
Asou Akiya looked toward the white-haired boy below the stage.
"Thanks to Gojo for giving me this trophy."
Getou Suguru instantly understood what Akiya was doing—giving the weapon a legitimate public origin. Playing along, he added, "Satoru, the Special Grade cursed tool Playful Cloud that I used before was one of your trophies too, wasn't it?"
Gojo Satoru, completely oblivious to the roundabout thinking of his friends, answered without hesitation. "Yeah."
The principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High and the supervising teacher both drew in a sharp breath.
That spendthrift brat from the Gojo Clan! The gifts he casually handed to his classmates were all Special Grade cursed tools!
With Getou Suguru, one of the two Special Grade sorcerers, providing cover, Asou Akiya's situation no longer seemed exceptional. Most people's attention shifted to Getou Suguru instead. After all, it was only natural for a Special Grade sorcerer like him to possess a Special Grade cursed tool.
The match between Asou Akiya and the Semi-Grade 1 sorcerer quickly turned into more of a performance than a real fight.
Neither side wanted to go all out. Akiya feared that the Split Soul Katana might injure his opponent's soul, while the Semi-Grade 1 sorcerer worried that his own cursed technique might seriously hurt the classmate of two Special Grade sorcerers.
After an elaborate exchange of flashy techniques, the Semi-Grade 1 sorcerer deliberately left an opening, allowing Asou Akiya to kick him off the platform.
And with that, both of their individual demonstrations came to an end.
Gojo Satoru: "Tch."
Getou Suguru shot him a look. "No 'tch.' Come on, let's keep cheering for the juniors."
The next person to step onto the stage was Zen'in Naoya. The arrogant heir of the Zen'in Clan brushed past Asou Akiya without so much as a glance, as though Akiya's strength wasn't even worth acknowledging. His ambitious green eyes were fixed solely on the opponent waiting for him in the arena.
Naoya's opponent was a Grade 2 sorcerer—the same rank as himself. It was Kyoto Jujutsu High's way of showing respect to the Zen'in Clan.
Against someone of the same grade, Zen'in Naoya completely dominated the fight.
After venting his frustrations with a thorough beating, he tossed out a few cutting insults, sneered at his opponent one last time, and walked off the stage.
Next up were the Grade 3 sorcerers, Nanami Kento and Haibara Yu.
The Kyoto students, who had been holding back a mountain of frustration, promptly beat the two of them flat.
"This is so unfair!!!" x2
The individual matches ended with two wins and two losses.
For once, the two schools were tied.
Yaga Masamichi proposed, "Let's settle it with a friendly tiebreaker. Something completely different."
Gakuganji Yoshinobu nodded in agreement.
"Very well, we'll follow Yaga's suggestion and draw lots to decide the next event."
Asou Akiya carried over an old cardboard box that had been repurposed as a lottery box. Inside were paper slips, each containing a different challenge.
With a polite smile, Yaga Masamichi invited Gakuganji Yoshinobu to do the drawing.
Gakuganji accepted the gesture and read the result aloud.
"The event is—no cursed energy or cursed techniques allowed. Everyone will pair up in teams of two, have one leg tied together, and compete in a three-legged race. The first team to cross the finish line wins."
Gojo Satoru shot his hand into the air. "Hey, old man! You're not banning us this time!"
Getou Suguru immediately sensed trouble.
"Wait, I'm teaming up with Akiya, you can find someone else."
Gojo Satoru's eyes sparkled. Stretching out his long right leg, he forcibly tied it to Getou Suguru's.
"Nope. I'm pairing with you. I don't mind your short legs."
Getou Suguru: "..."
With a cold sneer, Gakuganji Yoshinobu understood exactly what the rules allowed and happily permitted Gojo Satoru and Getou Suguru to participate.
"Three... Two... One!"
At the signal, Yaga Masamichi blew his whistle, officially starting the three-legged race.
Asou Akiya and Zen'in Naoya were about the same height, while Nanami Kento and Haibara Yu weren't too different either, so both pairs moved along relatively smoothly.
The real disaster was Gojo Satoru and Getou Suguru.
The two Special Grade sorcerers spent the race tripping each other, stepping on each other's feet, and descending into an all-out civil war.
"I can't stand the way you walk, Satoru!"
"As if you're any better! Stop hunching over! I'm not getting a hunchback because of you!"
Once the two utterly incompatible Special Grade sorcerers had their legs tied together, they became the biggest joke of the entire event.
After all their desperate efforts...
They proudly finished dead last.
The winners of the tiebreaker were Nanami Kento and Haibara Yu.
Their teamwork was flawless. They advanced and retreated as one, high-fived each other at the finish line, and secured the victory for Tokyo Jujutsu High.
The Kyoto students accepted the result wholeheartedly.
"I never expected those two to have the best teamwork."
Zen'in Naoya pressed his lips into a thin line, clearly displeased. He and Akiya had only managed to finish in third place.
"Akiya-kun, we weren't in sync enough."
As always, Naoya instinctively shifted the blame onto someone else.
"I wasn't aiming for first place anyway. Third is good enough."
Asou Akiya promptly untied the rope around their legs and walked over to Gojo Satoru and Getou Suguru, who were still bickering like a comedy duo.
Only then did Zen'in Naoya realize it.
Akiya-kun had never expected the two of them to work together in perfect harmony in the first place.
But why not?
If Akiya-kun had chosen him as his partner, that meant he was the best possible choice. They should have been aiming for first place!
Zen'in Naoya hurried after him.
"Akiya-kun, I was too impatient just now. Let's practice working together next time, I'm sure we'll beat Haibara and Nanami."
Gojo Satoru bared his teeth. "Dream on! There won't be a next time!"
After Asou Akiya untied him, Getou Suguru rubbed the top of his foot, which had been thoroughly stomped on. "Akiya, partner with me next time."
Asou Akiya rolled his eyes. "I'm partnering with neither of you— I'll choose Nanami and Haibara."
Behind them, Haibara Yu pointed at himself with an innocent look.
"Huh? Asou-senpai thinks Nanami and I make a better team?"
Nanami Kento immediately sensed danger. Clamping a hand over Haibara's mouth, he muttered, "Don't say things like that."
Gojo Satoru and Getou Suguru suddenly split up. One planted a hand on Nanami's shoulder, while the other rested one on Haibara's.
"Nanami~"
"Haibara-kouhai, your senpai would like to have a little chat. You don't mind, do you?"
Victory came at a price.
In this case, it meant being dragged away by two suddenly childish Special Grade seniors for a very "heart-to-heart" conversation.
Zen'in Naoya shivered.
Maybe not winning had actually been the right outcome. Otherwise, he would have become one of their targets too.
Asou Akiya helped Yaga Masamichi carry away the equipment used for the Goodwill Event, dutifully fulfilling his responsibilities as class representative. Spotting Zen'in Naoya standing around with nothing to do, he immediately drafted him into service.
"Naoya, what are you spacing out for? Come help."
Zen'in Naoya obediently picked up a table without another word of complaint.
Gakuganji Yoshinobu: "..."
Watching the scene unfold, Yaga Masamichi said proudly, "So, what do you think of Tokyo Jujutsu High's educational standards?"
Gakuganji Yoshinobu had no choice but to admit it. "They're excellent."
The 18th Jujutsu High Sister School Goodwill Event came to a perfect close, with Tokyo Jujutsu High successfully defending its championship title for a second consecutive year.
Tokyo's performance this year had been so outstanding that even Jujutsu Headquarters acknowledged Yaga Masamichi's abilities as an instructor. After all, he had trained two Special Grade sorcerers while serving as a teacher.
At the end of the month, Yaga Masamichi was promoted to principal.
October 5th, Teachers' Day.
It was a day filled with smiles for Yaga Masamichi.
His students congratulated him on becoming principal with gifts. The three boys each gave him a pair of sunglasses, while the lone girl presented him with a wristwatch.
Yaga Masamichi hadn't wanted them to spend so much money on him, but he couldn't refuse their heartfelt intentions. Before he knew it, the four of them had dragged him to an upscale restaurant for a lavish meal.
By the time the feast was over, he was reeking of alcohol, his face solemn and dignified as ever despite the flush in his cheeks. He had drunk quite a lot—some of it from toasts offered by Getou Suguru and Ieiri Shoko, and quite a bit more thanks to Gojo Satoru mischievously pouring him extra drinks. The only one who had quietly handed him tea throughout the evening was Asou Akiya.
He loved watching his students laugh without restraint.
He loved listening to them speak their minds.
He loved the sense of fulfillment that Tokyo Jujutsu High had brought into his life.
Asou Akiya jabbed Gojo Satoru in the waist with his elbow, while Getou Suguru kept shooting him meaningful glances.
Hurry up! Say something that'll make him happy!
With both of them urging him on, Gojo Satoru finally spoke up of his own accord.
"Yaga-sensei, from now on, I'll stop calling you just by your last name!"
For a brief moment, Yaga Masamichi froze in stunned silence.
Gojo Satoru burst out laughing at Yaga Masamichi's stunned reaction.
"Heh-heh. Guess I'll go along with the crowd for once."
In this lifetime, Gojo Satoru had never called anyone "sensei."
Yaga Masamichi had earned that honor.
To Gojo, Yaga was like a respected elder who wasn't intimidated by the power of the Gojo Clan. He dared to lay a hand on Gojo, dared to reprimand him when he did something wrong, and treated him like an ordinary student rather than the lofty "Six Eyes."
Gojo Satoru thought school was a pretty great place.
There were good teachers, good classmates, and all kinds of fun things to do!
Ieiri Shoko watched the three boys' antics from the sidelines and realized that the young master of the Gojo Clan had completely integrated himself into Tokyo Jujutsu High.
They had a teacher they shared, the teacher protected his students, and the students in turn stood up for their teacher.
It was practically the perfect example of a teacher-student relationship.
Ieiri Shoko took a sip of wine and rested her chin in her hand as she gazed out the window of the private dining room. The moon hung among the branches, full and luminous like a perfect circle.
To her surprise, she felt her thoughts begin to drift, her heartbeat losing its usual steady rhythm.
The wine wasn't intoxicating her.
She was intoxicated all on her own.
Her thoughts wandered somewhere far beyond reason.
The sun is something dazzling and scorching. Naturally, it should be someone like Gojo and Getou.
Then what about the moon...? What kind of person would be like the full moon? Cool and distant, yet a symbol of reunion?
Ieiri Shoko looked toward the black-haired boy again. His figure was lithe yet straight and sturdy, and somewhere along the way, he had grown into someone truly dependable. His eyes were gentle and bright, but never harsh.
Asou Akiya had been tapping his chopsticks along with Gojo Satoru and Getou Suguru as they fooled around, but now he noticed Shoko looking a little flushed and turned an inquisitive gaze toward her.
"Shoko, are you drunk? Want some tea?"
She saw him.
But she merely smiled without a word, her eyes narrowing in quiet satisfaction.
Tomorrow was the Tsukimi Festival.
The fifteenth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar.
A perfect time, beneath a beautiful moon...
It should be like this.
Author's Note:
I completely forgot that the Sister School Goodwill Event takes place every year in mid-September, so I corrected the date in the previous chapter.
Good night.