Inside a quiet office, the higher‑ups watched the large broadcast screen intently.
Thanks to the perceptive clarity granted by the Six Eyes, Shion Gojo and the others located the hiding Grade 2 Cursed Spirit within the competition grounds almost instantly.
Then Satoru Gojo, with effortless precision, exorcised the Grade 2 spirit using his Blue technique, hardly breaking a sweat as the spirit dissolved into nothingness.
Yuki Tsukumo watched with interest. "That Cursed Technique is quite fascinating. Is it an advanced application of the Limitless technique?" she asked.
The Gojo Family representatives beamed and began explaining the mechanics of Blue enthusiastically — not out of arrogance but simply because someone asked and they were happy to share.
"Since the Grade 2 Cursed Spirit has been exorcised, the outcome is already decided!" Yoshinobu Gakuganji announced, tapping his cane on the ground twice. Almost immediately, the whistle signaling the end of the match echoed over the broadcast.
Across the competition grounds, the remaining Kyoto students — still locked in battle with lesser Cursed Spirits — froze in confusion at the sudden announcement.
A Grade 2 spirit had already been defeated? By whom? Was it one of their classmates, or those three from Tokyo Jujutsu High?
When they finally returned to the starting point, they were stunned to see more than twenty of their peers being carried off on stretchers toward the infirmary.
"The winner, Tokyo Jujutsu High!" Gakuganji's aged voice crackled through the speakers.
But then he stopped abruptly, brow furrowed. "Where are Shion Gojo and the others?"
The Kyoto students looked at each other blankly. "We… we didn't see them leave."
Panic flickered through the Gojo Family elders. "How could the young masters have vanished?"
"Did the surveillance recordings catch anything?" someone asked.
"The last footage shows all three of them exorcising the Grade 2 spirit," another replied.
"Yuki!" Gakuganji called out.
Yuki Tsukumo shrugged. "I'll look for them. With their strength, nothing serious should have happened."
Then Masamichi Yaga's phone began to beep rapidly.
He glanced at the screen, then exhaled in frustration.
"Principal Gakuganji, they're already back at Tokyo Jujutsu High," he said, holding up the phone for everyone to see. On the screen was a photo of Shion, Satoru, and Geto grinning at the camera with their arms over each other's shoulders, Tokyo Jujutsu High clearly visible in the background.
"…Those three brats really are impossible," Yuki Tsukumo muttered, rubbing her face.
Another elder grumbled, "this is just a lack of discipline, especially for the legitimate heirs of the prestigious Gojo Family."
Zen'in Ogi immediately launched into another long lecture, his voice echoing with pride and irritation.
---
Meanwhile…
Deep inside a dilapidated mansion, Utahime Iori, wearing traditional shrine maiden attire and gripping a flashlight, nervously scanned her surroundings.
Suddenly, a cold hand rested on her shoulder, making her scream.
"Aaaah!"
She turned around and saw it was her companion, Mei Mei.
At this point in time, Mei Mei's hair was in a simple ponytail with two long tendrils framing her face, rather than her later signature braids. Her stylish corset and skirt accentuated her figure.
Mei Mei was currently pinching her chin in thought, purple‑painted nails clicking softly against her skin.
"Mei Mei‑san, weren't you on the first floor?" Utahime asked.
Mei Mei pointed at discarded cans, chairs, and a broken vase. "This is the first floor."
Only then did Utahime notice markings on the wall — apparent signs of where Miriam landmarks had been carved decades ago.
"We've been walking for thirty minutes and we're still in the same corridor. Could this be some kind of barrier loop?" Utahime guessed.
Mei Mei analyzed calmly, "It doesn't look like a true Circular Barrier. More likely this Cursed Spirit's barrier stitches corridors together based on our movements. When we finish one section, the previous section shifts in front again."
Utahime's eyes widened with realization. "Then if we run in opposite directions, the spirit might not be able to stitch both paths at once. One of us might break out!"
"Whether to escape or to get help, it's worth trying."
"Ready, go!"
With a shared nod, the two ran in opposite directions at full speed.
Utahime's confidence wavered when suddenly the floor beneath her began to crumble, the corridor dissolving piece by piece until it defied gravity and soared skyward.
"Eh?"
The loud crash reverberated as sunlight streamed in, revealing the ruins of the old mansion — and standing atop a nearby tree was none other than Satoru Gojo, sunglasses off and a cheeky grin plastered on his face.
"I'm here to save you. Utahime, are you crying?" he teased.
Utahime, furious, declared she was not crying, her face reddening like a cartoon character with steam shooting out of her ears.
Mei Mei, for her part, thanked him politely.
Satoru waved it off, though he clearly thought Mei Mei was strong enough to handle the situation herself — even with Utahime in tow.
Angered by his teasing, Utahime pointed a finger at him and roared her frustration.
Suddenly, a massive Cursed Spirit burst from the ground behind her — but before it could react, a giant, worm‑like Cursed Spirit swallowed it whole.
Suguru Geto stepped forward from the shadows, the sand spirit he had summoned towering behind him.
"Satoru, bullying the weak isn't good behavior," Geto joked with a smile.
"What kind of fool bullies the strong?" Satoru shot back with a grin.
From above, Shion descended wearing sunglasses that matched Satoru's and sporting the same mischievous smile. Truly, there was no mistaking that they were brothers.
"Utahime‑senpai," Shion teased, "you're Grade 2 and took on a Grade 1 mission. You might've overestimated yourself."
"You… you Gojo Family members are all bastards!" Utahime snapped, unable to hide her irritation.
Not far off, Shoko Ieiri waved to them cheerfully. "Utahime‑senpai, are you okay?"
"Shoko~ Sho" Utahime cried with relief as she practically tackled Shoko in a hug.
"Just don't ever become like those three scoundrels," Utahime warned.
Shoko merely smiled softly. "Don't worry, I won't."
"Geto! That path Utahime just ran across is collapsing!"
"Shut up," Geto replied flatly.
In the blink of an eye, Shion flicked his fingers and the staircase crumbled in a controlled collapse.
Geto sat atop a flying manta‑ray spirit with a resigned expression. "Satoru, stop pretending you didn't see that."
Satoru giggled.
"By the way, you've been out of contact for two whole days on this mission," Shion said.
"Two days?" Satoru shrugged. "Obviously this spirit's barrier distorted time. Rare, but it happens."
Mei Mei nodded with a serious expression. "So technically I've worked two days. I should demand extra compensation."
Utahime blinked in disbelief. "That's extortion."
Mei Mei merely smiled.
"But back to the point: did you guys set up a curtain?" she asked.
The group froze, uneasy premonitions rising in their chests.