Ichiro slowly walked toward them, his heavy footsteps echoing through the courtyard. The sound drew everyone's attention, including Geto's.
"Oh? To think Satoru has another talented student. I'm truly pleased," Geto said with a smile stretching from ear to ear.
"Hey, would you also like to joi—"
Before Geto could finish his sentence, Yuta instantly vanished from his side and reappeared behind Gojo. But what shocked everyone—including Gojo—was that Ichiro was now standing beside Yuta.
With the sole exception of Gojo, everyone thought the same thing.
*'So fast.'*
The movement happened so quickly that even Geto failed to process what had just occurred.
"Bold of you to assume I'd join you. You're not even on my level," Ichiro said calmly as he looked at Geto. "And to think you'd show up at our front door bringing some liability".
"Hahaha... You really are amusing. It only makes me want you even more."
Geto laughed, but before he could continue his grand speech, Gojo interrupted him.
"What exactly are you here for?"
Gojo's voice carried an unusual seriousness.
"To declare war."
Geto calmly delivered his declaration about unleashing thousands of cursed spirits across the two city.
"Ahhh, Geto-sama! The café is about to close. Let's hurry."
The girl in the miniskirt nudged him impatiently.
"Oh? Is it that late already?"
Geto glanced at Gojo with a carefree smile.
"I'll be taking my leave now."
"Did you think we'd just let you leave?"
"You don't want to do that."
Without even turning around, Geto summoned a gigantic cursed spirit.
"All your precious students are within my range."
Countless cursed spirits surrounded everyone, causing Yuta to tense up. However, he soon noticed something peculiar.
The cursed spirits closest to Ichiro were visibly trembling.
As Geto stepped onto the giant bird-like cursed spirit, he looked back one last time.
"Well then, everyone... see you on the battlefield."
As they flew away, the cursed spirits surrounding the school gradually disappeared.
------------------------------------------------------------
A short while later...
On a bench sat a young man whose tall stature could easily make anyone mistake him for an adult. Calmly sipping a can of hot coffee, Ichiro sat beside a troubled Yuta.
"Hey."
Ichiro's voice immediately caught Yuta's attention.
"You alright?"
His calm eyes hadn't changed since the moment Geto arrived.
"Ah... yes, Ichiro-senpai," Yuta replied meekly. "I'm just... still shocked by everything that happened."
"Hmm."
Ichiro thought for a moment before answering.
"I think anyone would've reacted the same way. So don't worry about it."
He casually raised the coffee can to his lips.
Yuta watched him and couldn't help but admire Ichiro's composure.
*'It must be nice... being one of the strongest.'*
The two quietly remained seated on the bench.
---
**December 24 – Shinjuku, Tokyo**
Numerous sorcerers dressed in Jujutsu High uniforms had gathered. Some stood with determined expressions, while others struggled to hide their fear.
Standing atop a nearby building was a young man with black hair and equally dark eyes, quietly observing the scene below as though he were merely watching a movie.
"Griffin."
The moment Ichiro spoke, his shadow expanded.
From within it emerged a gigantic shikigami with the body of a lion, the front legs, wings, and head of a majestic eagle.
Ichiro leaped onto its back, and the Griffin descended toward the streets below.
As he landed, he was greeted by Nanami.
"Ichiro?" Nanami called.
"Hello, Nanami-san."
Ichiro casually waved as though he were simply taking a stroll through the park.
That carefree attitude reminded Nanami of a certain someone who never seemed bothered by anything.
"How many cursed spirits do you think are roaming the streets, Nanami-san?" Ichiro asked.
*'If we're going by the movie, there should only be around a thousand—'*
Before he could finish his thoughts, Nanami answered.
"At least three thousand."
Nanami's grim expression made the surrounding students stiffen. Some trembled uncontrollably, while others turned deathly pale.
Ichiro blinked once, momentarily processing what he had just heard.
"I beg your pardon?"
Nanami raised an eyebrow at Ichiro's rare reaction.
"I said there are at least three thousand cursed spirits roaming the city. Given the number of students we have here, I'd say this is a losing battle. To make matters worse, fifty of those cursed spirits have already been confirmed as special grade. There's a high chance that number is even higher, considering some of the sorcerers responsible for assessing them have already been killed."
Nanami clenched his fist as he spoke, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
"Hmm..."
*'That is certainly bad.'*
As Ichiro pondered, he noticed Gojo speaking with Panda and Inumaki.
*'It seems Geto has already arrived at the prefecture.'*
Time slowly passed, and the atmosphere grew heavier by the minute.
After giving it some thought, Ichiro made his decision.
He walked away from the students and instructors before speaking loudly enough for everyone—including Yaga—to hear.
"Sköll. Hati. Shuten-dōji."
The instant he called their names, his shadow expanded once more.
Everyone nearby turned toward him, including Gojo, who had just finished giving instructions to Panda and Inumaki.
Two enormous wolves emerged first. Even while standing on all fours, they towered over Ichiro.
Beside them rose a ten-foot-tall oni carrying an enormous gourd on its back, radiating an overwhelming and menacing presence.
"Divine Dogs?"
Gojo stared in confusion.
"But that can't be... Megumi already possesses the Ten Shadows Technique."
"They're not Divine Dogs, Gojo-sensei," Ichiro replied. "They're wolves."
Gojo walked toward Ichiro and immediately sensed the immense amount of cursed energy emanating from the towering oni.