Behind the campus—
Hidden deep within the woods—
Lay the ruins of an old shrine.
The stone steps were cracked.
The wooden structures had long collapsed.
Only a broken torii gate still stood, leaning slightly to one side.
Normally—
No one came here.
Occasionally, Utahime Iori would visit to perform small purification rituals.
But today—
There was an uninvited guest.
Sora's Call
"Come out."
"Stop hiding."
"Your heartbeat sounds like thunder."
Yagami Sora leaned casually against the broken torii pillar.
A 100-yen coin spun lazily between his fingers.
Clink.
Clink.
The metallic sound echoed softly in the quiet shrine.
From the shadow of the trees—
A figure stepped forward.
Dressed in shrine maiden attire.
It was Utahime Iori.
She frowned slightly.
"You asked to see me."
"Gojo said you had something important."
"And you insisted we meet in this abandoned place."
Sora stopped spinning the coin.
"Of course."
"We don't want certain people overhearing."
His eyes sharpened.
"Utahime-sensei."
"Do you believe there's a traitor inside Jujutsu High?"
Suspicion
Utahime froze.
"A traitor?"
Her expression became serious immediately.
"You can't say something like that lightly."
"Do you have proof?"
"Proof can always be found later."
Sora spoke calmly.
"Think about it."
"The Kyoto Exchange Event."
"Hanami's perfectly timed intrusion."
"The Juvenile Detention Center mission."
"All of them share one pattern."
"Someone is opening the door from inside."
Utahime's eyes narrowed.
"You're saying information about the school is being leaked."
"Not just leaked."
Sora corrected quietly.
"Leaked by someone who understands the school's barrier system."
"And someone who knows student movements."
That meant—
An insider.
Narrowing the Suspects
"So who are you accusing?"
Utahime asked.
Her hand unconsciously tightened.
"I won't say names."
Sora raised one finger.
"But I can give you a range."
"More than one."
"One faction is manipulating the Jujutsu Headquarters elders."
"Another faction is cooperating with curse users."
"And one of the collaborators…"
"…is a student."
"Impossible!" Utahime said immediately.
"All of our students—"
"—are good kids?"
Sora scoffed.
"You're too idealistic."
"In the jujutsu world, everyone carries their own hell."
"And sometimes…"
"…the only way out of hell is to sell your soul."
The Hint
"For example…"
Sora said quietly.
"Someone born with a Heavenly Restriction."
"Someone whose body is so fragile that they can only experience the world through remote puppets and machines."
Utahime's pupils shrank.
One name surfaced immediately.
Kokichi Muta.
The student known as Mechamaru.
A sorcerer cursed with a body so weak he had to remain inside a life-support chamber.
"You think…"
"…it's Mechamaru?"
Her voice shook slightly.
Sora shrugged.
"I didn't say that."
"I only suggest you pay attention to Kyoto's remote-controlled devices."
The Real Plan
"And don't confront him yet."
Utahime frowned.
"Why?"
"Because we need him."
Sora's voice became colder.
"He's bait."
"A way to lure out the real masterminds."
Utahime's expression stiffened.
"The masterminds…"
"You mean the cursed spirit with the stitched face?"
"Mahito."
Sora nodded slightly.
"And the one with the stitched forehead."
Utahime's eyes widened.
"You mean…"
Sora's gaze turned sharp.
"Yes."
"The one wearing Suguru Geto's body."
A Dangerous Strategy
Utahime felt a chill run down her spine.
"So what exactly are you planning?"
Sora waved dismissively.
"Relax."
"You just need to act normally."
"Pretend you know nothing."
"But when the right moment comes…"
He leaned close to her ear.
And whispered several instructions.
Utahime's expression changed gradually.
Confusion.
Shock.
Then—
Deep unease.
She suddenly realized something terrifying.
This boy—
Barely a teenager—
Was planning moves several steps ahead of ancient curse users who had lived for centuries.
Absolute power.
And terrifying calculation.
A dangerous combination.
The Agreement
"…Fine."
Utahime exhaled slowly.
"I'll cooperate."
"But if your suspicion is wrong—"
Sora grinned.
"I'll buy you barbecue for the rest of your life."
"But if I'm right…"
He snapped his fingers.
"You owe me a favor."
With that—
He turned and walked away.
His figure disappeared into the trees.
Utahime's Thoughts
Utahime watched him go.
"…What a terrifying kid."
She whispered quietly.
Even compared to Gojo—
Sora felt different.
Gojo was overwhelming.
But Sora…
Was calculating.
Nightfall
Sora walked alone along the path back to the dormitory.
Fireflies flickered faintly in the grass.
He flipped the coin again.
The familiar 100-yen coin spun through the air.
Inside his mind—
Information flowed rapidly.
Mechamaru.
Mahito.
Kenjaku.
And the memory of 2006, when Suguru Geto defected.
Too many variables.
Too many moving pieces.
System Warning
A notification suddenly appeared in his vision.
[System Warning: Cognitive load approaching critical levels.]
[Immediate rest recommended.]
Sora sighed.
"Understood."
He looked up at the sky.
Tokyo's lights drowned out the stars.
But he knew they were still there—
Hidden behind the glow.
Just like the enemies hiding in the shadows.
The Future
He murmured quietly.
"Shibuya."
"Prison Realm."
"Evolution."
Each word felt like a mountain pressing down on the future.
Then Sora asked the system a strange question.
"If someone travels from the future to the past…"
"…and changes history…"
"What happens to their original timeline?"
The system paused.
Then responded:
[Unable to answer. The question exceeds system logic parameters.]
Sora chuckled softly.
"Figures."
Coin Toss
He flipped the coin into the air.
It spun through the darkness.
Reflecting the faint glow of dawn.
Then—
He caught it.
And slapped it onto the back of his hand.
He lifted his palm.
Heads.
"Boring."
He stuffed the coin into his pocket.
Then pushed open the dormitory door.
Tomorrow—
The night of evolution would begin.
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