The atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.
Maki Zenin gripped her cursed polearm, her knuckles turning white from the sheer force of her hold.
Across from her stood a short-haired girl with a habitually spiteful gaze: Mai Zenin, looking down on her with disdain.
"What's the matter, Maki?"
Mai toyed with her revolver, idly waving the dark muzzle past Maki's face.
"I heard you're still clinging to that delusion of becoming the Zenin clan head?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"A failure with zero cursed energy who can't even see cursed spirits belongs in the mundane world."
"Why insist on staying in the jujutsu world just to bring shame to the Zenin name?"
Every word was a jagged blade, twisting deep into Maki's heart.
This was the curse she had endured since childhood, the very fate she sought to shatter.
"Shut up."
Maki spoke coldly, her gaze as unyielding as steel.
"I'll prove it to all of you."
"Prove it?"
Mai burst into laughter as if she'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"With what? Your pathetic little physical skills?"
"Maki, you're so hopelessly naive."
"In this world, lacking cursed energy is the ultimate sin!"
Suddenly, Mai's gaze turned frigid.
She slowly raised her arm, leveling the revolver between Maki's eyes.
"Since you're so persistent in your delusions, let me give you a wake-up call."
*Vree—*
Cursed energy surged.
Mai's innate technique was Construction, allowing her to manifest physical matter out of cursed energy.
Though her limited reserves only allowed her to create a single bullet per day.
However, the round currently chambered was a genuine cursed tool; if she pulled the trigger, even Maki would be gravely injured.
"Stop it!"
A sharp, furious cry rang out from a distance.
Nobara Kugisaki and Megumi Fushiguro were sprinting toward them, but they were too far away to intervene in time.
Nobara's eyes blazed with rage.
'Is this woman insane? Using live ammunition on an ally?!'
"Too slow."
Mai's lips curled into a cold smirk.
Without even glancing at the approaching underclassmen, her finger began to squeeze the trigger.
A distorted sense of satisfaction flickered in her eyes.
It was jealousy toward her "perfect" sister, fueled by the self-loathing of her own weakness.
'If I just break you...'
'...I won't have to suffer trying to chase your shadow anymore!'
Maki clenched her teeth. Lacking cursed energy, she could only rely on raw instinct to attempt an evasion.
But against the speed of a bullet...
But at the exact moment the trigger reached its breaking point—
*Zzt—!*
A streak of golden lightning, as brilliant as the sun, tore through the oppressive air alongside a deafening crack of thunder.
It was blindingly fast!
Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash—Godspeed!
In the heartbeat that the searing golden bolt descended, a pitch-black scabbard was precisely lowered onto the cold barrel of the gun.
Time seemed to freeze.
Mai's finger locked in place.
To her horror, she realized that no matter how much force she applied, that seemingly ordinary scabbard remained as immovable as a mountain.
"Who's there?!"
Mai whipped her head around.
In the next second, she felt as though she were plummeting into a bottomless abyss.
There was no killing intent, no cursed energy—she couldn't even hear the sound of breathing.
Standing beside her was a tall figure silhouetted against the light, a young man wearing the Jujutsu High uniform.
He had black hair and crimson eyes, with hanafuda earrings dangling from his ears.
His expression was tranquil, as if he were merely looking at a pebble on the side of the road.
Yet it was that very composure that sent a primal shiver through the depths of Mai's soul.
It felt as though if she so much as twitched a finger, her head would leave her shoulders in the blink of an eye.
"Pointing a gun at an ally..."
Yoru spoke softly. His voice wasn't loud—it was almost gentle.
But to Mai, the words detonated in her ears like a thunderclap.
"...is a very dangerous thing to do."
*Creeaaaak.*
The agonizing screech of metal being deformed rang out.
Under the horrified gazes of everyone present...
...the custom revolver in Mai's hand was being physically crushed and bent by the scabbard!
This was a cursed tool forged from a specialized alloy!
Yet it was being flattened like modeling clay. What kind of monstrous strength was this?
"Ah..."
Mai's hand trembled, and the mangled firearm clattered to the ground.
She stumbled back a few steps, her legs giving way as she collapsed onto the pavement.
Cold sweat instantly drenched her back.
"Who... who are you?!"
Mai's voice shook uncontrollably; she had never encountered anyone so terrifying.
He clearly lacked cursed energy, yet the pressure he exuded was more overwhelming than any Special Grade cursed spirit she had ever faced.
"Yoru."
The young man retracted his scabbard, not sparing her another glance as he turned toward a stunned Maki.
"Maki-senpai, are you okay?"
Snapping out of her daze, Maki looked at the back of the boy standing before her, her expression shifting with complex emotions.
'Saved again...'
'...and by a junior who, like her, possessed no cursed energy.'
"I'm fine."
Maki took a deep breath, tightening her grip on her polearm.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Yoru shook his head.
He turned back, looking down at the slumped Mai.
In those crimson eyes, there was no anger—only a faint, quiet pity.
"Power isn't meant for hurting your allies."
"Nor is it a tool to hide your own weakness."
Yoru's words were like a needle, piercing straight into the center of Mai's heart.
'Hiding my weakness...'
'Did he see right through me?'
Mai bit her lip, tears beginning to brim in her eyes.
She wanted to lash out, to scream at him, but in the face of those eyes that seemed to see everything, she couldn't even form a coherent sentence.
He was too strong.
This strength wasn't just physical—it was a sheer force of will.
'Is this the legendary Yoru... the one who actually killed a Special Grade?'
"Let's go."
Ignoring Mai now, Yoru waved his hand toward Maki and Nobara.
"That Todo guy already left."
"Let's head back as well."
As she watched Yoru's retreating back, Mai remained frozen on the ground, unable to move.
Her hand was still trembling.
In that split second, she had truly believed she was going to die.
That sensation of being stared down by a primordial beast was something she never wanted to experience again.
"Yoru..."
Mai stared fixedly at his silhouette, etching that name deep into her memory.
Elsewhere.
Nobara caught up to Yoru and slapped him on the shoulder, looking excited.
"Hey! Yoru!"
"That was incredibly cool!"
"How did you even do that? You literally crushed the barrel! Are you some kind of monster?"
Yoru rubbed his nose, blinking with an innocent expression.
"I just used a little bit of force."
"A little?!"
Nobara rolled her eyes.
"Do you have some kind of fundamental misunderstanding of the word 'little'?"
Maki walked alongside them. Though she remained silent, her gaze toward Yoru held a newfound level of respect.
It wasn't just because he had saved her, but because of the words he had spoken.
'Power isn't meant for hiding your weakness.'
"It looks like this Goodwill Event..."
Maki clenched her fist, a confident smirk playing on her lips.
"...is ours to win."
"And we're going to win in style."
Because they had Yoru.
The sun that walked in the darkness.
The ultimate wild card.