Chapter 34 — Thirty-Four Punch
Late at night.
With a creak, the apartment door slowly opened. Silver moonlight streamed in from outside, casting a long shadow across the floor.
Sitting in the darkened apartment without the lights on, Suguru Geto turned his head toward the doorway, a faint glimmer of light reflected in his pupils.
Mahito supported himself against the doorframe as he limped inside. His clothes had been shredded by the force of punches, reduced to a few tattered strands barely clinging to his shoulders. The blue-haired young man lowered his head and staggered to the sofa across from Geto. The moment he let go, he collapsed onto it with a heavy thud.
"So the hunter ended up becoming the hunted, huh, Mahito?" Geto asked softly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "How did you end up in such a sorry state?"
Silence lingered for a moment. Then Mahito lifted his head and suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Ha! Hahahahahaha…"
In the stillness of the night, his laughter echoed like the cry of a night owl—chilling and unsettling. After laughing wildly for a while, he suddenly hissed in pain, curling forward before casually flopping back onto the sofa.
"It was just like a dream…"
Lying flat on his back, Mahito raised one hand toward the ceiling and murmured dreamily, "I met Sukuna's vessel."
"The moment I moved to attack him, I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I found myself already smashed through to the other side of a wall."
"It was an attack that could strike the soul directly. Even now, my soul is still in excruciating pain."
"There's no doubt about it—that was the power of Ryomen Sukuna."
"The timing of his attack, the method… none of it turned into usable information. I have no idea when he made his move. Everything about him is still a mystery."
At this point, Mahito's voice began to tremble. The stitched hand he had raised twitched slightly in the air, as if trying to grasp something.
"I understand now, I finally understand, Geto," he said in a quivering voice. "Why you said we should recruit Ryomen Sukuna…"
"He's practically a… bottomless monster."
"As for the plan during the Goodwill Event… I'm starting to look forward to it more and more."
Watching Mahito mutter to himself, the smile on Geto's face faded slightly.
He had always known that Ryomen Sukuna was far stronger than special-grade cursed spirits like Mahito. But the fact that merely absorbing two fingers was enough to make Mahito speak in such awe—that was beyond his expectations.
According to their original estimates, Jogo's strength should have been equivalent to eight or nine of Sukuna's fingers. But judging from this, Sukuna's actual power was far greater than anticipated. Jogo might only measure up to two or three fingers at most.
Geto lowered his gaze, deep in thought.
He would have to reassess Sukuna's strength.
---
The morning of the exchange event, inside the principal's office at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Tokyo's principal, Masamichi Yaga, sat facing Yoshinobu Gakuganji, the principal of Kyoto's school. The two men were silent, the atmosphere unbearably awkward. Dressed in white-and-red miko attire, Kyoto teacher Utahime Iori stood quietly behind Gakuganji, eyes lowered, still as a statue.
In the midst of this heavy silence, the office door was suddenly flung open with a bang. Startled, Utahime—standing closest to the door—let out a sharp "Ah!" Her neatly ribbon-tied hair nearly sprang upright.
"Yo! Looks like everyone's here!" Satoru Gojo leaned his head into the office with a grin. "So that means the Kyoto students are already waiting in the lounge, right?"
"You're late, Gojo," Yaga said gravely, lifting his head.
"Sorry, sorry! Preparing the lottery took more time than I thought!" Gojo squeezed into the room carrying an enormous raffle box and dropped it onto the table with a heavy thud.
"Let's draw lots!" he announced enthusiastically. "Time to decide the first day's event for the exchange!"
Yaga and Gakuganji both fixed their gazes on the massive raffle box.
"Why is it so large…" Gakuganji asked slowly.
"Because that makes it more fun!" Gojo patted the box and added casually, "Alright, let's not waste time. Principal Yaga, Old Man—who's drawing?"
Silence hung in the air.
"No matter which of us draws, it will arouse suspicion from the other side," Yaga said calmly. "Since Gojo prepared the box, let Utahime handle the draw."
"Eh? Me?"
Utahime had intended to remain quietly on the sidelines as decorative background. Being suddenly called out, she instinctively glanced at Gakuganji.
The old man gave her a nod.
"Very well… excuse me."
Utahime stepped forward to the raffle box, rolled up her sleeve, revealing a fair arm. Just as she was about to insert her hand into the opening at the top, she paused and shot Gojo a wary look.
"You didn't say it's a raffle box and then secretly put snakes, bugs, or frogs inside to scare me, did you?" she asked suspiciously.
The ever-present smile vanished from Gojo's face, replaced with an almost wounded expression. "Utahime, do you really think I'm that kind of person?"
That trick might work on Kiyotaka Ijichi, but not on Utahime. She nodded without hesitation. "You absolutely are."
Gojo: "…"
Despite her complete lack of trust in him, Utahime took a deep breath and slid her hand into the box, her fingers carefully feeling around inside…
She found something! The texture of a hard card! Not a caterpillar or frog!
Utahime let out a sigh of relief and immediately pulled out the first card she touched, opening it.
"Let's see…"
Yaga and Gakuganji leaned in at nearly the same time, one from each side, their three heads crowded together as they stared at the card.
Bold characters were written across it:
Maze Speed Competition.
"…What is that?" Utahime asked blankly.
"What, what, let me see…" Satoru Gojo leaned over to take a look at the card. "Utahime, you really drew a lucky one!"
"Huh? My fault?" Utahime asked, her expression uneasy.
Before she could protest further, Gojo snatched the card from her hand and flipped it over.
Maze Speed Competition
**[Members from Tokyo and Kyoto schools will be scattered, each starting individually from different entry points. The goal is to reach the maze's central exit. The team with the fastest member to exit earns 100 points.
Inside the maze, several cursed spirits of grade three and below will appear, including one grade-two cursed spirit. The grade-two spirit is fixed at the maze's exit and must be defeated to leave successfully. Each grade-three cursed spirit defeated awards 20 points; cursed spirits below grade three grant 10 points each.
During the competition, any flying behavior exceeding the maze's height restrictions is strictly prohibited.]**
"I see," Utahime muttered to herself. "It's a test of both combat ability and sense of direction… If you can't navigate and memorize the maze, you won't find the exit. And if your cursed energy isn't strong enough, even if you reach the exit, you won't be able to defeat the grade-two spirit and leave…"
"On top of that, flying is prohibited, so neither Nishimiya from our school, who excels at broom flight, nor Fushiguro from your side, who can use shikigami for flight, can cheat their way through…"
"…Gojo, this was deliberately set up for Yuji Itadori, wasn't it?" Utahime's words hadn't even finished when Yoshinobu Gakuganji suddenly spoke from the side.
"Huh?"
Utahime jumped slightly. Gojo tilted his head. "Old man, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
"…You knew we'd target Yuji Itadori, so you deliberately designed the maze to reduce the chances of Kyoto students encountering him. Having everyone start from different points ensures that our students won't all cluster together to gang up on him."
Gakuganji snorted coldly. "Playing little tricks. It's probably no coincidence Utahime drew this card—did you tamper with it? There's no trace of cursed energy in the box; did you use some sort of magic trick?"
"Huh… what exactly is going on?"
Gojo casually flopped onto the sofa, a relaxed smirk beneath his blindfold.
Of course—it was simply that he had only placed the Maze Speed Competition card inside such a massive lottery box.
Although the competition was subtly rigged, the rules fully complied with the requirements for a team-based event. So even knowing the setup favored Yuji, Gakuganji had no objection.
It was only natural—after all, the exchange event was about youth and fun, not wasting time on boring things.
---
By afternoon, Tokyo students had arrived at the Jujutsu High campus, standing before the enormous maze Gojo had built. Their faces were full of astonishment.
"So that's it. The team event is a maze race, and the location is this huge maze personally constructed by Gojo!"
"By the way, the stones forming the maze are enchanted with Master Tengen's defensive techniques—they can't be destroyed, and flying above the five-meter wall limit is impossible. The walls are as sturdy as cursed energy testing stones, so everyone can act freely inside without worrying about breaking the maze!"
Gojo's confident voice boomed through the speakers: "Now, the rules: members from Tokyo and Kyoto will be scattered and act individually, each starting from a different entrance. Whether you encounter teammates or opponents is entirely up to luck…"
"This has to be Gojo's doing. It lowers the chance of Yuji getting surrounded, but we also can't protect him at all," Panda said, scratching his ear.
"Salmon," Toge Inumaki nodded solemnly in agreement.
"But that also means, once members from the two schools meet, it'll immediately turn into one-on-one combat," Maki Zen'in said with a smile. "I like that kind of development."
"The team whose members are eliminated first loses. The remaining time can be spent searching for the exit," Megumi Fushiguro explained.
"Maki-senpai, if I happen to meet your sister first," Nobara Kugisaki said, "I'm not letting her go to you."
"I absolutely will not be taken down here," Yuji Itadori said, clenching his fists with resolve.
"I'm going to the bathroom first," Saitama said.
"…"
Silence fell. Everyone turned in disbelief to look at Saitama.
"I feel like if we don't settle this, I won't even be able to pay attention to the instructions. There's still time before the competition starts, right?" Saitama asked blankly.
"…Five minutes. Hurry back," Fushiguro instructed.
As Saitama jogged toward the restroom, footsteps gradually echoed from the other end of the path.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the tree-lined road, casting irregular shadows, and moving through the light were Kyoto students wearing uniforms similar to Tokyo's. There were six of them, each with a serious expression, alert and ready for anything.
"They're here," Maki whispered.
From the Tokyo students' perspective, the Kyoto students reached the gathering point and stopped. About three meters separated the two schools' teams, standing opposite each other, clearly divided.
Among the Kyoto team, Mai Zen'in scanned the Tokyo competitors. Arms crossed, chin raised, she wore a teasing smirk.
"Where's Okkotsu this time?" she asked knowingly. "What's with Tokyo sending these people—half of them first-years? And where are your third-years?"
Yuji's gaze hardened—here it came: the pre-match trash talk between the two schools! And it was turn-based, one line at a time.
"Okkotsu is training abroad," Maki said, tightening her grip on her cursed tool bag strap. "Rather than worrying about our newcomers, you'd do better to pay attention to your own teammates. Like, figuring out how to comfort them if they lose later—stuff like that."
"Hmph, if you want to talk tough, now's your chance. We've got Aoi Todo on our side," Mai Zen'in said arrogantly. "Since the last pre-meeting, Todo's training has been several times more intense than before. The whole Kyoto school trained with him, so everyone's gotten noticeably stronger."
"For this exchange event, Todo really went all out. Honestly, even if you sent Okkotsu to compete, we wouldn't necessarily lose. And since you don't have Okkotsu… this time, we're guaranteed to win."
With Maki's words, the Kyoto students' morale visibly soared. Both Tokyo and Kyoto teams now focused their attention on Aoi Todo.
Yet Todo himself stared blankly at the Tokyo team, raising his fan-sized hand to scratch the back of his hair. "He's not here…"
"Huh? What do you mean he's not here?" Nobumasa Kamo, standing beside him, squinted.
"No, it's nothing," Todo replied, a hint of disappointment in his voice, saying no more.
"…Everyone withdrew their gaze, understanding silently. The person Todo was looking for had to be the second-year's only Special Grade sorcerer—Yuta Okkotsu.
The two schools stared each other down until Utahime's announcement over the speakers instructed everyone to take their positions. Gradually, the students dispersed toward their assigned maze entrances.
---
Aoi Todo, following his shikigami to his assigned maze entrance, walked while making up his mind.
Though Saitama was not among the Tokyo team, Todo was certain he would participate in the exchange event.
If Todo could encounter Saitama in the maze, he would fight him again.
Last time, when they fought outside the Tokyo campus, Todo used Black Flash but never got the chance to use his cursed technique Forced Play. Ever since being stunned by Saitama's combat power, Todo had trained intensely before the exchange, planning to face him again at this event. He hadn't told anyone about this training—out of sheer pride.
—The last fight had left Todo feeling unfinished. Now, he was unquestionably stronger than before.
This time, he would challenge Saitama with everything he had, at 100% Todo, leaving nothing behind!
…Yet even with this resolve, Todo's brow remained furrowed.
Before every battle, he could visualize his victory. But this time, even with all his tricks ready, recalling the last fight, he could not picture himself defeating Saitama.
---
Meanwhile, Maki Zen'in, carrying her cursed tool bag, stood before her assigned Maze A entrance, expression slightly darkened in thought.
Though she had spoken with confidence earlier, a hint of unease lingered in her mind.
Even though Gojo's manipulation of the maze selection reduced the chance of Yuji being targeted by the Kyoto team, this team event still posed considerable danger for Tokyo.
The reason was simple: Aoi Todo.
In Maki's eyes, Todo was undoubtedly the strongest participant of the event. Splitting everyone across the maze reduced the chance of teammates clustering, but also made encounters with Todo unpredictable.
The worst-case scenario: Todo eliminates Tokyo students one by one, eventually taking down Yuji.
In a one-on-one fight, Todo had absolute advantage. He had once caused massive destruction to the forest on the campus outskirts. And now, having trained even further for the exchange event… he was a monster.
—Yet curiously, while waiting to enter, Maki noticed Todo seemed unusually quiet. When Mai teased Tokyo, Todo didn't respond or engage, appearing distracted.
This behavior was abnormal for Todo. Something was happening with him.
But no matter what, their team wouldn't be completely helpless.
Except for one person.
Saitama, who couldn't even use cursed tools.
Maki's mind involuntarily pictured that bald, clueless face. Anxiety filled her chest. If Saitama encountered Todo, it would be trouble…
She could only hope that before that happened, Saitama would first meet a Tokyo student who could protect him.
---
At the same time, somewhere on the Tokyo campus path, a cloaked bald figure ran frantically like a headless chicken.
"…Damn, I finally found the bathroom, and now I can't find my way back. I should've actually paid attention when Gojo introduced the campus," Saitama muttered, sweat beading on his forehead as he ran and glanced around. "I'm gonna be late… hmm?"
Suddenly, from the bushes ahead, a small orange cat shikigami bounced out.
Saitama slammed on the brakes and looked down. The tiny cat hopped up a few steps in front of him, stopped, and tilted its head, gazing up with a ridiculously cute face.
They stared at each other for a few seconds, then a voice—deep and strong, completely at odds with the cat's adorable appearance—came booming from inside the shikigami.
"Saaaaaaitama—!!"
"Huh?" Saitama blinked.
"Where have you been running off to? The competition started five minutes ago!" The voice of Yaga Masamichi echoed from the cat's belly. "Come on! I'll take you in! I'll bring you to the field!"
Saitama's blank expression immediately turned serious. "Alright, you're in charge of bringing me to experience jujutsu then!"