The manager beside them quickly nodded in agreement, his tone urgent.
"Yes, yes! Thank you so much! What... what exactly happened? Was it a terrorist attack? Or..."
His voice trailed off. Whatever had happened inside the mall was completely beyond the understanding of an ordinary person.
Itadori scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Uh... this is... kind of a special emergency, I guess?"
He immediately looked at Megumi for help.
Megumi pressed his lips together and remained silent. Explaining the truth to normal civilians would only create more complications.
Meanwhile, Nobara openly studied the idols with curiosity. Even after the terrifying ordeal, they looked just as stunning as they did on their posters, their star quality completely intact.
Sol simply gave a faint nod in acknowledgment of their gratitude, showing no intention of joining the conversation.
The female team leader straightened herself and kept her gaze fixed on Sol.
The brief glimpse she had caught of him during her panic, combined with the overwhelming sense of security she had felt while clutching his sleeve, had left a deep impression on her.
After a moment of hesitation, she glanced toward the manager. The manager seemed to have reached the same conclusion and gave her an encouraging look.
Gathering her courage, she stepped forward and lowered her voice.
"Um... if it's not too much to ask, we feel like someone may be targeting us, and we're honestly very scared. Could you... especially you..."
Her eyes settled on Sol.
"...protect us for a while? At least until we leave here and know we're safe? We'll make sure you're properly compensated."
"Eh?! Protect you?!"
Itadori's eyes lit up instantly.
"Really? We're going to be bodyguards?"
Nobara leaned forward with obvious interest.
"Wow, temporary bodyguards for the super-popular idol group Stardust Echo? That actually sounds pretty cool."
Megumi frowned slightly.
The request was already drifting beyond the scope of their mission, and they still had to keep their identities as Jujutsu Sorcerers hidden.
He turned toward Sol, waiting to see what he would decide.
Sol's gaze swept across the anxious faces of the idols and their manager.
He had no particular interest in acting as a bodyguard.
However, staying close to them could provide an opportunity to determine whether the trouble from earlier would resurface. The Cursed Users clearly hadn't caused the incident solely for chaos. There was likely a deeper objective behind it.
After a brief pause, he nodded.
"Alright."
"That's wonderful!"
The female team leader and the manager immediately relaxed, grateful smiles appearing on their faces.
Beside them, Itadori and Nobara excitedly high-fived.
"Then it's settled!" the manager said immediately. "Our vehicle is waiting outside. Please come with us. We'll make the necessary arrangements."
Since Sol had agreed, Megumi offered no further objections.
"We can only ensure your safety temporarily," he reminded them. "Afterward, you should seek protection through the proper channels."
"Of course, of course! Thank you very much!"
The group soon left through a special passage inside the mall, accompanied by security personnel.
They entered a convoy waiting outside and departed for the hotel.
As the vehicles drove away from the still-chaotic shopping district, the atmosphere inside gradually eased.
The idols began speaking quietly among themselves, occasionally sneaking curious and grateful glances toward Sol and the others seated across from them.
Itadori and Nobara struggled to hide their excitement, whispering about Stardust Echo in low voices.
Megumi remained silent, calmly observing the streets outside.
Sol leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes.
His perception spread outward like an invisible web, quietly covering the convoy and the surrounding roads.
The journey continued smoothly.
Outside the windows, neon lights gradually illuminated the city as the last traces of sunset faded from the horizon, creating a hazy blend of light and shadow.
Inside the vehicle, however, an undercurrent of tension remained.
Once the initial excitement passed, Itadori and Nobara also began noticing something unusual.
Although the manager maintained a polite smile, the lingering anxiety between his brows and the wary glances he occasionally cast outside betrayed his true state of mind.
Megumi Fushiguro sat by the window, his sharp eyes scanning every intersection and every vehicle that might be following them.
Sol remained motionless with his eyes closed.
To anyone watching, he looked completely relaxed.
In reality, his perception had already encompassed everything within several kilometers.
There were no traces of obvious Cursed Energy.
No signs of pursuit.
No indication of an ambush.
Either their enemies had temporarily abandoned their plans or were waiting for a more favorable opportunity.
Hoshizuki Hikari, the team leader who had grabbed Sol's sleeve earlier, subtly turned her head and stole another glance at him.
With his eyes closed, his sharply defined profile appeared especially striking beneath the shifting city lights.
An unapproachable aura naturally surrounded him.
Oddly enough, that same aura made her feel both nervous and reassured.
After a brief internal struggle, she finally spoke.
"Um... thank you very much. Really."
Her voice was soft as she attempted to lighten the atmosphere.
"I'm Hoshizuki Hikari. This is Haruka Natsukawa, and this is Sora Mirai."
She introduced herself and the two teammates seated beside her, both of whom still appeared somewhat shaken.
Itadori immediately responded with enthusiasm.
"You're welcome! We're... uh... specialists who handle situations like this."
He nearly revealed too much and hurriedly corrected himself.
Nobara smiled.
"It wasn't any trouble. But have you offended someone recently? This doesn't feel like a normal accident."
The manager sighed heavily and rubbed his temples.
"Honestly, we have no idea. We've received some extreme fan letters recently, but that's happened before. Nothing has ever escalated to this level."
His expression darkened.
"What happened today... it doesn't seem like something ordinary people could have pulled off."
Confusion and fear filled his voice.
Even now, he couldn't comprehend the supernatural nature of what had happened.
Megumi finally spoke.
"Try to reduce unnecessary public appearances for the time being. After events, return directly to your company or residence. If you notice anything unusual, contact the authorities immediately."
He deliberately avoided mentioning anything related to the world of jujutsu.
The manager nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, absolutely. We've already informed the company and increased security measures. We originally planned to hold a small celebration party tonight, but it looks like that'll have to be canceled."
As the conversation ended, the convoy entered an upscale hotel district.
A few moments later, the vehicles slowly descended into the underground parking area of a luxurious five-star hotel.
More than ten bodyguards dressed in black suits were already waiting there.
Their vigilant expressions made it clear they had received advance notice and were prepared for any emergency.
"We're here."
The manager finally released a long breath of relief.
"Please follow us upstairs using the private elevator. The rooms have already been prepared."