Toji sighed as he answered the phone.
"What is it?"
—Ah, well… Toji-kun. Sorry for the late hour. I was a bit impatient, so forgive the intrusion.
Naoya's voice crackled through the speaker. It was loud enough to be perfectly audible to everyone in the room.
"Fine. I'm still awake, so talk."
—It's nothing else, but is that person there? You know, the pink-haired one…?
"You mean Koyanskaya? She is. Right next to me, in fact."
—Really? That's perfect.
Naoya's voice instantly brightened. It seemed he had something to say specifically to Koyanskaya of Darkness.
"She's listening, so go ahead."
—Uh, right. Well, I was calling to ask if I could see her again. I… I want to get stronger.
He was calling because he wanted to get stronger. It wasn't hard to read between the lines.
"Master? What should I do?"
Koyanskaya of Darkness—the Foreigner—asked. Since she was the one in charge of Naoya's 'education,' it was only right for her to take the lead.
"I'm fine with it. What about you, Foreigner?"
"I don't particularly mind either. Shall we accept, then?"
"It's good to accept. It feels like he's actually improving, doesn't it?"
"Understood."
As Foreigner nodded, Toji spoke back into the phone.
"She says it's fine."
—Seriously?! I'm really grateful!
"No need to thank me. But can you even come here quietly? You're under a Binding Vow, aren't you?"
—I reckon it'll be tough to come right this second. I've still got school, after all.
The words 'going to school' sounded incredibly jarring coming from him. It felt fundamentally wrong. Toji blinked, looking equally bewildered. There wasn't really much he could say to refute that, though.
"I suppose. Then there was no reason to call right now, was there?"
—But there's the weekend, isn't there?
"So you're planning to commute back and forth over the weekend?"
—I'll just tell my father I'm looking for you, Toji-kun. That's a decent enough excuse, isn't it?
Naoya asked in a chipper tone. Naoya's father was the head of the Zenin clan—Zenin Naobito, a man who boasted a stellar personality score of 3.8 out of 5. He was as mad as any jujutsu sorcerer, but he wasn't human trash. He even possessed a degree of tolerance. That was why he stood out so much in the filth-ridden Zenin family.
"Just don't get caught."
—I'll be moving alone, so don't worry. Anyway, where should I go?
"Uh. Good question."
Toji glanced at me. He was leaving the decision up to me.
'Where would be best?'
After a moment's thought, I settled on a suitable location. We were going to be seeing a lot of him anyway.
"Toji. Why not just guide him to our hotel?"
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes. We have the Binding Vow in place, and I think he'll only get better as we keep restructuring him."
"If the boss has decided, then that's that."
Toji turned back to the phone and relayed the hotel's name and address.
—Ah, so I just head there?
"Yeah. Room 1201. Contact us through the lobby desk or just come up. Do whatever you want."
—Understood. I'll see you then.
Naoya offered a polite farewell and hung up. Had he really improved? I couldn't be sure yet. I'd know for certain once I saw him in person.
When the weekend arrived, Naoya visited Room 1201. Only a short while ago, his pride had been utterly shredded and his body battered. He remembered the blunt, searing pain and the stinging sensation of skin being flayed. Though his body had fully healed, the memory of that agony remained vivid. Yet, as he revisited that pain, a strange sense of euphoria welled up within him.
Naoya was intoxicated by that sensation, but that wasn't all. He felt himself becoming better. His mind, his senses, and his manipulation of Cursed Energy—all of it was sharpening. He had sought out this hell of his own volition for the sake of that improvement.
"Excuse me. Is anyone here?"
"Wait a moment."
A few moments after Naoya knocked, Foreigner emerged from the room.
"We're moving to the rooftop. Follow me."
"Yes. I look forward to it."
Foreigner led the way, with Naoya trailing behind. As soon as he heard they were heading to the hotel rooftop, Naoya's heart began to race. Once they arrived, it throbbed even more violently—as if he were meeting his first love. Foreigner sighed as she laid down Magecraft barriers across the roof. Now, all she had to do was strike.
'The arrogant light in his eyes has faded, but in its place…'
Foreigner tilted her head in confusion. Oppression, cultivation, discipline—these were all things she enjoyed, but her current feelings were complicated. It was one thing to do this at the Master's request, but the subject himself… Naoya was enjoying it. The moment she caught a glimpse of his blossoming masochistic tendencies, Foreigner's enthusiasm cooled instantly.
"Let's begin. I hope you'll show me something different this time."
"Yes!"
Naoya replied energetically as he activated his cursed technique. Even in his excitement, he remained calm. Without a trace of his former arrogance, he doggedly searched for Foreigner's weaknesses.
"Gugh…!"
On the third exchange, Naoya, who had attempted to take Foreigner's back, was sent tumbling across the rooftop floor. Across his bare chest, a bright red lash mark was etched, looking as if it had been branded there.
"Haa…! Please, continue!"
"Very well."
The fourth attempt at her legs failed. The fifth attempt to grab her heel and throw her failed. He was ensnared by her whip, kicked, and tossed aside. It was a level of humiliation he had never known. Yet, with every indignity, Naoya's expression grew brighter, and a fire flickered in his eyes.
'I can feel his resolve, but this is truly…'
Foreigner wore a troubled expression as she swung her whip. The joy of growth? If it were just that, it would be fine. But it was more than that. The inclination to feel pain as pleasure—the flower of a masochist was in full bloom.
"Haa… haa…. T-Thank you very much."
After the training ended, Naoya, his cheeks flushed, smiled contentedly. To think that vicious brat was a masochist. It was absurd, but still far better than him being purely malicious.
'I suppose this, too, is a process of human change.'
Today, Foreigner learned a deeper lesson about humanity. From then on, Naoya visited the hotel every single weekend. Despite the distance from Kyoto to Tokyo, he never missed a session. With every visit, he became more humble, more powerful, and his aura grew noticeably more composed. In a word, he was evolving—and in a very positive direction. It was a bit strange how he seemed excited just looking at the two Koyanskayas, but knowing the reason, it only invited pity.
"I'd like to call you my Big Brother. Would that be alright?"
"What?"
He even started treating me with utmost respect. It was ridiculous and a bit unsettling, but I couldn't bring myself to hate him. Thus, as December approached and his personality reconstruction was nearing its successful conclusion, a call came in on a Thursday. The caller was Yaga Masamichi. His business was a request for us to head to Cape Ashizuri in Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku.
"A Special Grade?"
—Yes. According to the investigation, there's a high probability it's a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. I'm the only one with this information so far. It's unregistered, of course.
The current Yaga Masamichi was still just a Grade 1 Sorcerer. He wasn't a teacher at Jujutsu High yet. Did he become a teacher when he started instructing Gojo Satoru? Or was it before that?
"Thank you. I'll have to go and have a delicious feast."
—Describing a Cursed Spirit as a feast… that's a deranged thought. Very much like a sorcerer.
"Thanks for the compliment. I'll be going now."
Outside Kochi Airport, I returned the phone Toji had lent me and hurried along. A cape was, essentially, a cliff. Apparently, whirlpools had been forming recently, and the wave patterns were abnormal. An investigation revealed a Cursed Spirit—and a Special Grade at that. With my heart pounding in anticipation, I climbed into the car. We arrived sooner than expected. The vast blue sea and sky stretched out before us, alongside jagged cliffs and a lighthouse visible in the distance.
"Welcome."
As we stepped out to admire the beautiful scenery, someone greeted us. It was Yaga.
"Oh? You contacted us yesterday, yet you're still here?"
"I stayed because I wanted to watch. It doesn't violate our Binding Vow, and I need to confirm the results."
"You're very diligent."
I felt a surge of respect for Yaga's sincerity. Was it because he was this kind of man that he could face death so calmly?
"Besides, I need to cast the Curtain."
Yaga raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together while folding the rest. It was a pose inseparable from jujutsu—the stance for casting a Curtain.
—Emerge from darkness, blacker than the abyss. Wash away the impurities and sanctify.
Immediately after Yaga's voice echoed, a black dome descended over the wide area including the cape. It covered not only the land but a significant portion of the sea as well. It was incredibly vast.
'Is he okay?'
I glanced at Yaga, but he looked perfectly fine, showing no signs of exhaustion. I wasn't sure if a Grade 1 Sorcerer could cast such a wide Curtain without issue, or if the Curtain itself didn't consume much Cursed Energy.
"It's coming out."
The moment Yaga lowered his hand, something writhed beneath the indigo waters. A shadow grew larger and more distinct as it rose from the depths toward the surface. Was it a whale? Or some other creature? I didn't know what it was, but I planned to hit it before it fully emerged. Beating them down before they can even make an entrance is the best way.
"Assassin."
"Yes, Master."
"Let's use your Noble Phantasm. Get ready."
I called upon Assassin to prepare her move. Foreigner had handled the tunnel, so it was Assassin's turn now.
"Oh my? It really has been a while since I've used my Noble Phantasm."
As expected, Assassin's eyes sparkled. She seemed thrilled at the prospect of putting on a firepower show after so long. The current Assassin, Koyanskaya of Light, was the 'Great God of Weaponry.' She could literally become a goddess of arms. She possessed the skill 'Goddess Metamorphosis,' which allowed her to transform into a divine being. However, being a god didn't make her omnipotent, much like the gods in the Fate universe like Zeus or others.
"Well then… shall we begin?"
Assassin grinned as she projected a smoke grenade and dropped it at her feet. *Ssssss.* In an instant, a thick, heavy shroud of smoke billowed out, blanketing the entire area.
'Here it comes.'
The moment I sensed the Noble Phantasm was about to trigger, a heavy, resounding *THOOM* rattled the cliffs.