Night had already settled by the time they reached Tokyo.
The city didn't sleep.
Lights stretched endlessly—buildings, roads, distant noise blending into a constant hum. It was nothing like Kyoto's quiet restraint.
Tokyo was more alive.
And obviously dangerous.
---
The gates of Tokyo Jujutsu High stood silent as they entered.
The place was hidden behind even more complex barriers than the zenin.
The place gave the feeling of outdated but still alive.
Like something that existed outside the flow of the modern world.
Sora's eyes moved once across the structure.
So this is it.
Tokyo high.
The hub where the strongest resides.
---
"Alright," Satoru Gojo stretched slightly, adjusting Yuji's unconscious body over his shoulder. "I've got some business to take care of."
His gaze flicked toward Megumi Fushiguro.
"Megumi, take Sora to his dorm."
"Understood."
No questions.
Gojo smiled again—too casually.
Then—
He disappeared deeper into the campus.
Carrying Yuji Itadori with him.
Silence returned.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
"Come on then."
Megumi turned.
Sora followed.
---
The path to the dorms was quiet.
Gravel crunched softly beneath their feet.
A faint breeze moved through the trees lining the walkway.
Tokyo Jujutsu High at night felt different.
Less like a school.
More like a boundary.
Between normal and the unseen.
---
After a while, Megumi spoke faintly.
"Your technique."
Sora glanced sideways.
"What about it?"
Megumi didn't look at him.
"It's not a traditional technique."
"Obviously."
"Unusual structure. Metallic manipulation… but not exactly cursed tool usage."
Sora gave a small shrug.
"I didn't learn it from anyone. My own experience shaped me to what I am today."
That made Megumi pause slightly.
"…Self-developed?"
"Yeah."
A little smug confirmation.
But still a fact.
Megumi's eyes narrowed faintly.
That alone made Sora abnormal.
Sorcerers didn't just develop techniques like that without guidance.
And the conservative higher will not favour him more compared to Itadori.
---
They walked a few more steps.
"You should be careful."
Sora raised an eyebrow.
"About what?"
Megumi stopped walking.
Finally looking directly at him.
"The higher-ups of the jujutsu society."
A beat.
"They won't like you for what you are and what you will represent."
Sora stared at him for a second.
Then—
"…I didn't ask them to."
Megumi had a visible twitch around his brows.
"That's not how it works."
A pause.
Wind moved softly between them.
"They decide what's dangerous. You won't be considered dangerous but even then you will not be liked or favoured."
Sora's gaze shifted forward again.
"…So?"
His voice was quieter now.
"Then they should try deciding that to my face."
Silence.
Megumi studied him for a moment longer.
His face was unreadable.
Then turned again.
"…We're here."
---
The dorm building stood simple.
Traditional.
Megumi slid the door open.
"This is your room."
Sora stepped inside.
Tatami flooring.
A low table.
Futon neatly arranged.
"…Not bad."
Megumi remained by the door.
"You'll be briefed tomorrow."
A pause.
Then—
"…And Sora."
Sora glanced back.
Megumi's expression hadn't changed.
But his tone had, just slightly.
"Don't cause problems."
Sora let out a quiet breath.
He stopped glancing back and simply waved his hand for to see.
"…No promises."
Megumi left.
The door slid shut.
---
Silence.
Real silence, this time.
Sora stood there for a few seconds.
Then slowly exhaled.
"…Tch."
He dropped onto the futon.
One arm over his eyes.
Tokyo.
Jujutsu High.
Higher-ups.
Sukuna.
Gojo.
Trouble.
All of it—
At once.
"…What a pain."
He should have joined the Kyoto High.
The place where trouble will be least expected.
But it contradicted what he wants to do.
Not living a bland life like his initial.
Avoiding trouble will only bore him.
And secondly, the protection he will receive for being Gojo's student was significant.
He didn't move from his spot.
Didn't leave.
Didn't hesitate.
Because deep down—
He already knew.
He wasn't walking away from this.
---
—Elsewhere—
Dim light.
A closed room sealed.
Hidden within the depths of Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Yuji Itadori woke up slowly.
Not like before.
No confusion.
No panic.
Just—
Awareness.
"…This place…"
A small, enclosed room.
Talismans and barriers.
Oppressive, in a way that pressed against the skin.
And in front of him—
Satoru Gojo sat casually on a chair.
But the chair was facing the opposite direction.
He was watching him.
"Yo."
Gojo raised a hand slightly.
"Awake yet?"
Yuji pushed himself up.
"…Where am I?"
"Sealed room."
A beat later.
"Or—containment room."
Yuji stiffened slightly.
"..."
Silence followed.
Then—
Gojo leaned forward just a little.
His tone changed.
Subtle.
"Let's confirm something first."
Yuji looked at him.
Gojo's blindfold hid his eyes.
But the pressure—
It was there.
"Right now…"
A pause.
"Are you Ryomen Sukuna?"
The silence was heavy.
Yuji didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"No."
Firm.
Clear.
"It's me."
Gojo didn't respond right away.
Just watched.
Measuring.
Then—
"Good."
The atmosphere loosened slightly.
Gojo leaned back again.
And then—
Said it plainly.
Without any buildup.
"You're going to be executed."
Silence.
Yuji froze.
"…why?"
A faint exhale left him.
He already had a guess.
He didn't deny reality.
Just accepted it.
Gojo continued.
"Because of Ryomen Sukuna. As a special grade cursed spirit who is known for his brutality, he needs to be exorcised.."
"..but."
That single word shifted everything.
"You've got two options."
Yuji looked up.
"Option one—"
Gojo raised a finger.
"You die right now."
Simple.
Clean.
Immediate.
"Option two—"
Another finger.
"You collect all of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers."
A pause.
"And then you die."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Gojo's voice remained calm.
"This is what I call a secret execution."
A faint smile.
"Officially? You're already dead."
Yuji's hands clenched slightly.
"…So either way…"
"Yeah."
Gojo didn't sugarcoat it.
"You're dying."
A long pause.
Then—
Yuji laughed softly.
"…That's messed up."
"Welcome to jujutsu society."
Silence again.
Then—
"…If I eat all the fingers…"
Yuji's voice was quieter now.
"…Will people die because of Sukuna?"
Gojo's answer came instantly.
"Yes."
There was no deception or comfort.
Yuji lowered his head.
Thinking.
Weighing something far heavier than himself.
"…And if I don't…"
"Someone else might."
That was enough.
Yuji looked up again.
His eyes were clear.
"…Then I'll do it."
"I'll eat them all."
Silence.
Then—
A small smile formed on Gojo's face.
A satisfied smile.
"I thought you'd say that..."
"...so welcome to Tokyo Jujutsu High."
And somewhere far above.
The night deepened.
The beginning of a dark survival has arrived.