Yuji Itadori sat in the back seat, watching the scenery flash by outside the window, and asked with a hint of concern.
"It's fine, it's fine!"
Satoru Gojo sat in the driver's seat, humming an unknown tune while steering with one hand.
His sunglasses were nowhere to be seen, revealing those azure eyes.
"That guy Ijichi is too long-winded. He goes on and on about regulations and procedures every single time. My ears were starting to grow calluses."
"Besides, today is a relaxation day after our special training!"
"Our target is a Sendai specialty—Kikufuku! I reserved the limited-edition edamame cream flavor at that shop. If we're late, they'll be all gone!"
Yoru, sitting in the passenger seat, was resting his eyes while clutching Shiranui.
Although he had been dragged along against his will, he didn't mind this brief moment of tranquility.
Since coming to this world, he had done nothing but kill cursed spirits or undergo special training. The experience of going to buy sweets like an ordinary person felt somewhat foreign to him.
"Yoru, try to be a little more excited."
Satoru Gojo glanced at Yoru through the rearview mirror.
"This is a social field trip I specifically arranged for you."
"...Does buying sweets count as a social field trip?"
Yoru slowly opened his eyes, his red pupils as calm as still water.
"Of course! Sugar intake is the key to keeping the brain running! Especially for jujutsu sorcerers..."
Before Gojo could finish, he slammed on the brakes.
*Screech!*
The black sedan left a sharp skid mark on the road, coming to a halt right in the middle of the highway.
"Oof!"
Yuji's head bumped into the back of the front seat.
"Teacher, what's wrong? Did the Kikufuku sell out?!"
"No."
Gojo unbuckled his seatbelt and pushed open the car door, a playful smile appearing on his face.
"We have a guest."
Yoru gripped the hilt of his sword at almost the same moment.
The air grew hot.
It wasn't the heat of summer, but a scorching sensation as if they were standing on the edge of a volcanic crater.
*Boom!*
A split second later, the smooth asphalt road suddenly exploded.
A pillar of glowing magma shot into the sky, sending their car flying into the air.
Immediately after, countless lava fragments—resembling meteorites trailing thick black smoke—rained down toward the three of them.
"Waaaaah! Magma?! Why is there magma?!"
Yuji flailed his arms in mid-air, shouting in terror.
"Don't panic."
A figure suddenly appeared behind Yuji, grabbing him by the collar.
It was Satoru Gojo.
He didn't bring Yuji back to the ground; instead, he hovered there in mid-air.
It was as if an invisible barrier surrounded them, keeping all the lethal magma exactly one meter away.
"Yuji, Yoru."
"Look closely."
Gojo pointed at the one-eyed cursed spirit standing in the center of the lava below with fire erupting from its head. His tone was as relaxed as if he were at a zoo.
"This is a true Special Grade Cursed Spirit—one with intelligence, capable of communication, and possessing a complete Cursed Technique."
"It's different from the one you encountered at the juvenile detention center."
Gojo raised a finger, wagging it against the backdrop of flowing lava.
"But before that, I want to give you a little test."
"Yuji, do you know the difference between Cursed Energy and a Cursed Technique?"
"Eh? That..."
Yuji scratched his head, looking completely lost.
"Cursed energy... is like electricity?"
"A cursed technique... is like an appliance?"
"Exactly! Full marks!"
Gojo snapped his fingers and then turned to Yoru.
"Then, Yoru, since you don't have cursed energy, what do you think Breathing Styles represent in this analogy?"
Yoru was slightly taken aback.
He looked down at the churning lava and fell into deep thought for a moment.
"Breathing Styles..."
"They are like internal combustion engines that burn fuel directly to generate power."
"They only need oxygen and fuel to erupt with the purest form of strength."
Gojo doubled over with laughter.
"An internal combustion engine? What a metaphor full of classic violent aesthetics!"
"Hahahaha!"
Below.
Jogo watched Satoru Gojo, who remained completely unharmed and was even holding a seminar up there. A flash of brutality crossed his single eye.
"Satoru Gojo...!"
"I will burn you to cinders and offer you to this earth!"
*Boom!*
Jogo swept his hand violently.
Several small hills nearby collapsed instantly, transforming into a rolling torrent of magma that swept toward the three in the sky.
The scene looked like the end of the world.
However, faced with such an apocalyptic attack, Gojo didn't just refrain from dodging—he actually pulled out his phone.
"Come on, Yoru, Yuji, look at the camera!"
"It's a rare occasion to meet such an enthusiastic Special Grade Cursed Spirit. Let's take a group photo as a souvenir!"
"Wait, right now?!"
Yuji was dumbfounded, but he instinctively made a peace sign.
Yoru, on the other hand, was expressionless as Gojo threw an arm around his shoulder. His red eyes remained fixed on Jogo below, as if he were contemplating exactly where to land his blade.
*Click!*
The flash went off.
The background was a sea of fire and erupting lava; the foreground featured Gojo's brilliant, laughing face, Yuji's bewildered expression, and Yoru's cold indifference.
"You bastard!!!"
Jogo completely lost it.
He was being ignored. Completely ignored!
He was the embodiment of the earth's wrath, a Special Grade Cursed Spirit with the power to destroy the world!
And this man was taking selfies with his students in the middle of a battle?!
"Who do you think you're looking down on?!"
Jogo let out a roar, slamming both hands onto the ground.
"Ember Insects! Devour him!!!"
*Bzzzzzz!*
Countless bizarre winged insects crawled out of the magma. Purple flames burned at their tails, and the sound they made was enough to make one's skin crawl.
These insects gathered in the air, forming a storm of purple fire. Carrying heat intense enough to melt steel, they lunged frantically at Satoru Gojo.
"Oh? An expert with bugs, I see."
Gojo put away his phone and casually snapped his fingers.
"But you know..."
"You're too slow."
In Gojo's eyes at this moment, all of Jogo's attacks were like a series of still paintings.
He even had the leisure to turn around and speak to Yoru.
"Yoru, if it were you, how would you handle an attack like this?"
Yoru watched the overwhelming swarm of Ember Insects, his fingers tightening slightly on Shiranui's hilt.
"It's too messy."
He gave a brief evaluation.
"If it were me..."
"I would cut them all down."
"Bingo! Spot on!"
Gojo snapped his fingers.
"However, as your teacher, I'll first demonstrate for you today what it means to be an untouchable distance."
At that moment, the sky full of purple fire completely engulfed the three of them.
Jogo watched the scene, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"It's over."
"Arrogant sorcerer, repent in my flames!"
But in the next second, his smile froze on his face.
Because from the center of the raging inferno, an incredibly annoying voice drifted out.
"Boy, it's getting a little warm, isn't it?"
"Wouldn't you agree, Yoru?"