Greeting fellow readers, MasterW here
A new chapter for you guys
After seeing your votes, I will add our MC's backstory in Omakes. Thanks for voting everyone
Also, if you like Pokemon Fanfic I'm writing a new story called Pokemon: Fighting Spirit. Be sure to check it out
Without any further to do, enjoy!
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(Third Person's POV)
The sterile air of Shoko's mortuary was thick with the smell of antiseptic.
Shoko finished her final check on the two fighters, with Hana diligently assisting by passing her supplies.
Of course, Shoko had very strong opinions about what she had just witnessed.
"I can't believe you two idiots. are trying to kill yourselves?!" Shoko shouted. Her voice sharp in the quiet room. "Do you have any idea what you just did?"
"Umm, fight?" Gojo jokingly replied.
"You two forced your brains to go beyond their limits! You realize how dangerous that was?! You could have ended up with a brain tumor or worse!"
"Well, you said we had no health problems whatsoever," Gojo retorted, crossing his arms.
"That isn't an excuse to make yourselves brain dead!!"
"We knew the risk, Ieri-san," Akira finally replied, his voice calm. "It would not have been a respectful battle without pushing beyond our capabilities. Satoru and I knew that from the beginning."
'Satoru?' She noticed the familiar way Yoshioka referred to Gojo, but decided to wonder about that later.
"Fine," Shoko finally relented with a sigh. "So, how does it feel, Gojo? You lost."
Gojo stared at her and smiled. "You know, I thought I would feel more upset, but I actually feel kind of happy!"
"Oh, you do?"
"Yeah," Gojo nodded, then pointed a thumb at Akira. "Besides, did you see how this guy fought?"
"Yeah!" Hana exclaimed. "Sensei, that was amazing! I've never seen you fight like that with us."
"Why would I?" Akira replied flatly. "You are nowhere near the level."
"Let me down gently, why don't you?" Hana's expression turned sour.
"Ha," Gojo snorted. "He's the strongest now. What did you expect?"
"So, arrogance and obnoxiousness come with the title?" Shoko asked dryly.
"Might be," Gojo shrugged
"Nonetheless," Akira interrupted. "I would prefer to change out of these ragged clothes." He calmly stated.
"Unless you want a free view, Shoko-chan, Yurikawa-chan" Gojo joked while winking to the girls
"Ugh, we're leaving. Your spare clothes are on the table, Gojo" Shoko said, grabbing a now red-faced Hana and dragging her out of the room.
Now alone, Akira stood and began removing his torn shirt. Gojo did the same before asking, "Hey, do you need any spare clothes? I have a couple you could borrow."
In reply, Akira simply extended his hand. A dress shirt and necktie, perfectly pressed on a hanger and encased in protective plastic, materialized in his grasp.
"Oh, yeah..." Gojo trailed off, then remembered. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that. The fuck was that last technique you used?"
"Hmm," Akira hummed as he took off his torn shirt, revealing his back to Gojo. "It was another application of my technique. Did you notice where you were standing when I released it?"
"Standing..." Gojo thought about it, and his eyes widened. "Dude, that's so broken. So... anywhere?"
"Yes. But it requires a significant amount of calculation and planning."
"So, you were guiding me the whole battle..." Gojo then smirked. "You crazy bastard. You planned the whole thing from the beginning."
"Except for those twin 'Purples'," Akira said, looking over his shoulder at Gojo. "That caught me off-guard. Good job with that one."
"Thanks." Then Gojo's gaze fell on Akira's back, spotting a nasty scar on his lower back. "That's some scar, y'know."
Akira turned to see what he was looking at.
He then shifted, revealing the scar was actually a cauterized wound that went clean through his lower abdomen and out his back, as if he'd been impaled by something massive.
"Woah, what caused THAT?" Gojo commented.
"An enemy. An old man who wielded a powerful fire," Akira replied, shrugging as he buttoned his new shirt. "It was a long time ago. He's dead, so it won't be a problem."
"Bet." Then Gojo lifted his hair, showing a small scar on the side of his forehead. "I got this one in my second year. A mission that went terribly wrong. You know the Sorcerer Killer?"
"Fushiguro Toji," Akira nodded.
"Yeah, that guy. I thought I was invincible. I was young and arrogant. I guess it actually helped me figure out a lot about myself," Gojo commented, leaning back against a table. "But well, I came out stronger from that situation."
"Hmm," Akira hummed in agreement.
"Y'know, the Jujutsu world will shift now. There's a new 'Strongest,' so people will likely try to rely on you for everything."
"I knew that the moment I won. But the same was true for you. And we both know how you reacted to that."
"Hahaha, of course!" Gojo then smiled widely. "We are both the Strongest. They could try to control us, but we both know how that would turn out."
Akira simply nodded.
Gojo, now fully changed, patted Akira firmly on the shoulder. "Let's go. They're all probably waiting for the man of the hour"
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Now changed and outside the morgue, they saw the large group of students and teachers as they waited in the main entrance of the school.
The air was a mix of relief and lingering tension as they exchanged quiet words about the fight they had just witnessed.
"Yohoo!" Gojo exclaimed, his voice cutting through the murmurs and calling everyone's attention. "We are here!"
Akira walked out calmly behind him.
The first to react was Mei Mei.
Who, upon watching Akira, immediately trotted towards him with her arms open. "You strong, handsome man~!"
As she got close, she grabbed his face and pulled it downwards, leaning in to kiss him.
"Eh?!" Sakurajima Mai exclaimed. Her eyes wide.
"EEEH?!" Miko shrieked, her face flushing.
"NEE-SAMA?!" Ui Ui cried out in confused betrayal.
"EEEEEEH?!" chorused the rest of the students.
Saeko, on her part, just lowered her head, her bangs obscuring her eyes, while her knuckles whitened from how tightly she gripped the sheath of her katana.
The adults were also surprised but more subdued, merely widening their eyes at the bold display.
Mei Mei, however, opened her own eyes in surprise. She wasn't feeling what she expected. She expected to feel a pair of warm lips, maybe even some tongue. But instead felt the rough texture of skin.
She pulled back slightly and saw Akira had blocked her kiss with his own hand, her lips pressed against his palm. Calmly, he pushed her away.
"Was there any logical reason for that gesture?" Akira asked, his tone flat and unreadable.
"What else other than to reward the man who just made me incredibly rich?" Mei Mei replied smoothly, a predatory smile on her face. "I had to give you a reward somehow. And what better way than a kiss from this beautiful woman?"
"Your reward is unnecessary, Mei-san."
"Call me Mei-chan, Akira-kun," she purred, licking her lips. "Joking aside, I managed to make a fortune, even more than predicted. I can feel many of the spectators who bet on the fight are pulling out their hairs, many of those being part of noble families. And of course, I'm grateful for that"
"I am sure you remember our accord," Akira replied, his voice still devoid of emotion.
"Yes, yes. I will withhold the information about you. Even if I look like a greedy woman, which I am, I'm also a woman of my word." She then glanced sideways. "Well, I'd better go now, before your students decide to backstab me."
Turning slightly, she saw several of Yoshioka's students wearing serious, murderous expressions. Sakurajima Mai's glare was icy, but Saeko's was pure, unadulterated fury, her head still lowered but her intent to kill screaming from her posture.
"Goodbye. If you ever need me, don't forget to call," Mei Mei said, producing a business card and tucking it neatly into his shirt's pocket before turning to leave. She swayed her hips exaggeratedly as she walked away. "Let's go, Ui Ui."
"Yes, Nee-sama."
A heavy silence hung in the air as Mei Mei departed with her brother, the two aforementioned students watching her every step until she was out of sight.
"Well, that was amusing" Gojo declared, breaking the silence.
"I'm glad my life seems amusing to you, Satoru," Akira replied dryly
"Hey, lighten up!" Gojo slung a friendly arm around Akira's shoulders, grinning at the assembled crowd. "Well, now that that is out of the way, how about we celebrate our new strongest with a Yakiniku party? I saw a new place and I've been dying to go!"
"I will do something, and then we can go" Akira said
"Huh? What do you need to do?"
"I need to speak to Tengen-sama"
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The scent of sizzling meat and charcoal filled the air as the large, eclectic group filed in, drawing a few curious glances from other patrons.
Just as they entered, a familiar, energetic voice cut through the din.
"Ahh, Sensei?!"
A particular brown-skinned blonde girl, wearing an apron over her school uniform with a cloth neatly tied over her hair, stopped in her tracks, a tray of empty dishes balanced on her hip.
It was Sakura Hibiki.
"Sakura-san," Akira acknowledged with a slight nod, his usual calm demeanor unchanged.
"It's been a while, sensei!" she exclaimed, quickly setting the tray aside and trotting over. "You haven't been at the gym for a long time. Did something happen?"
"Just busy, Hibiki-san," he told her simply.
"Yeah, I get that, teachers have it rough sometimes"
"Well, I gather you work here?" he asked, though his tone suggested he'd already knew the answer.
"Yep! This is a side joint my brother started up. I help out when they're short on staff," Sakura explained cheerfully. She then gestured with her thumb towards a nearby booth. "I actually came here with my friends. You know 'em."
Akira turned to see the gym group sitting together. They were Akemi, Ayaka and the new addition of the Russian girl Gina Boyd from the arm-wrestling tournament. They noticed their teacher and greeted him with warm, casual waves.
"Good afternoon, Sensei!"
"How've you been?"
"Добрый день!" [Good afternoon]
Akira's crimson eyes scanned the group, pausing on a new face. "I see the girl from the arm-wrestling contest joined your group"
"Yeah, long story" Sakura replied, scratching the back of her head with a sheepish grin. "So, what can I get for you all?" Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the massive group composed of multiple teenagers and a handful of adults. Her gaze then flicked to Gojo, who was standing conspicuously beside Akira. "Huh, is he related to you, Sensei? You both look... similar."
"Yep! Nice to meet'cha, Sakura-chan!" Gojo chimed in instantly, slinging a friendly arm around Akira's shoulders. "I'm Gojo Satoru, this grumpy dog's cousin!"
Akira simply stood quiet, a faint, almost imperceptible sigh escaping his lips as he let Satoru have his fun.
"Oh, I see," Sakura said, a little bewildered but accepting the explanation "So is this some kind of family reunion?
"More adequate would be a field trip between staff from other schools and their students" Akira then got straight to the point. "Can we get a large private table and a medium private one for our group?"
"Sure, we have plenty of tables available right now!" Sakura said, her professional demeanor returning as she skipped forward to lead the way, the large group trailing behind her
"So, why two tables?" Gojo asked, leaning in towards Akira with a curious smirk.
"For starters, to keep the adults separated from the students," Akira replied, his voice low and practical. "If my guess is correct, some will order alcoholic beverages. It's best to prevent any... incidents."
From just behind them, Kusakabe grunted in agreement. "Yeah, after watching that fight, I need something strong"
"Me too," Nanami added, adjusting his tie.
"Me three," Shoko completed, the exhaustion clear in her voice.
Then, from within the crowd of students, Sakurajima Mai subtly maneuvered her way to the front.
Her sharp, observant eyes watched the entire interaction between Akira and the waitress, and a sharp, unwelcome spike of jealousy pricked at her heart.
She couldn't help but ask, her tone carefully neutral, "You seem to know that girl, and the others at that table, Sensei."
From behind her, Saeko, with her enhanced senses, instantly zeroed in on the conversation, her grip tightening slightly on the sheath of her new sword wrapped in black cloth to make it look like she is carrying a shinai.
"They go to the same gym I frequent," Akira replied without any inflection in his voice, not even turning to look at her. "That is how I know them."
"You? The gym?!" Gojo instantly joked, unable to resist. "Ha! Are you feeling self-conscious about your muscles, old man?"
"A colleague gave me a flier with a bonus subscription to the place. I decided to oblige. Nothing more, nothing less," Akira stated flatly. "Besides, regular exercise is beneficial, Satoru."
"Sure, maybe I'll join you sometime," Gojo mused, already plotting his next source of entertainment.
"Here you are, sensei! The medium private booth" Sakura announced, gesturing to a sunken tatami area enclosed by sliding paper doors "It's also a smoking area so there is no problem if anyone wants to smoke"
"Oh that's just nice" Shoko said
Akira nodded and moved to sit on the cushions arranged around the central grill. "We shall take this one. Please guide the students to the larger one."
"On it! Right this way, guys!" Sakura called out, shepherding the massive group of teenagers further into the restaurant.
As the adults settled into their booth, an unspoken seating arrangement fell into place. Gojo planted himself right beside Akira, with Shoko taking the spot next to him, and Utahime sitting beside her.
On the other side of the low table sat Principal Yaga, his massive frame seeming to fill the space, followed by Kusakabe, Nanami, and the ever-nervous Ijichi.
Yaga opened the bag he had, releasing the Maneki-neko doll that held the Turbo Granny
A heavy, awkward silence descended upon the table, thick with the unprocessed shock of the day's events
The clatter of dishes and distant laughter from the main dining area only seemed to accentuate the quiet among them.
That was until Kusakabe broke it, his voice gruff.
"Okay, can we address the elephant in the room?"
"Last time I checked, we're in a booth, not a room," Gojo quipped, his blindfolded gaze flicking around their enclosed space
"Focus, Gojo," Kusakabe snapped. "You lost. You actually lost, and I can't fucking believe it"
"Well, it happened. Big deal," Gojo said with a casual shrug "Besides, you were there. You saw it with your own eyes."
"That's not the point, Gojo," Utahime interjected, her brow furrowed with concern. "You were considered 'The Strongest' until a couple of hours ago, and you lost. Do you have any idea what that means?"
"That I'm no longer 'The Strongest'?" Gojo replied, feigning ignorance.
"That people will now see that you are vulnerable. That you can be defeated," Nanami finished the thought, his voice grim "One of the primary reasons the major clans and rogue curse users have behaved is because you were an untouchable deterrent, holding them back by your mere existence. But now, the knowledge that you can be beaten will spread. It will make every power-hungry fool believe they have a chance to alter the equilibrium of Jujutsu Society to their favor."
"Let them try, I lost to Akira, not to them" Gojo said, his tone losing its playful edge and gaining a sharp, cold undercurrent. "Besides, if you'd heard what Akira here was discussing with Tengen-sama, you'd understand that everything is going to be just fine."
"Oh really?" Utahime asked, her skepticism evident. "And what did they talk about?"
All eyes turned to Akira, who had been quietly observing the exchange. He met their gazes evenly, his expression unreadable
"I was talking to Tengen-sama," he stated calmly, "About opening my own school."
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Meanwhile, in the students' table, the cacophony of two dozen teenagers settling into a large, circular booth was a world away from the tense silence of the adults' room.
Chatter filled the air as they arranged themselves, a mixing pot of Tokyo Jujutsu High, Kyoto Jujutsu High, and Yoshioka's personal students.
They began to mingle, the initial awkwardness melting away as they talked about the only thing on anyone's mind: the cataclysmic fight they had just witnessed.
Of course, there was still some grievances, like Maki and Mai, sitting as far away as they could from each other, and the Kyoto and Tokyo students sitting on different sides with Yoshioka students in the middle.
"Wait, Kageyama-kun, you're a Special Grade?!" Nishimiya Momo exclaimed, nearly dropping her menu after overhearing a snippet of conversation.
That single question brought a lull to the entire table, as everyone turned to look at Shigeo, who instantly blushed under the intense scrutiny.
"For real?!" Miwa added, her eyes wide.
"You must be pretty strong, then" Panda commented, his stuffed animal head tilting curiously.
"Salmon," Inumaki nodded in agreement from beside him.
"I know, my Shigeo-kun is plenty strong," Lala said proudly, clinging to his arm.
"Well, that's according to Sensei," Shigeo explained meekly, shrinking into his seat. "But after watching their fight... I feel completely lacking."
"You don't say," Miko chimed in, crossing her arms. "Sensei told me I was pretty close to Special Grade as well. But after seeing the two of them go all out... I think there's a whole mountain range left to climb."
"I didn't even know what a sorcerer was until a couple of days ago. That was... superb. Like, totally," Ayase Momo commented, still trying to process the supernatural spectacle.
"Well, the idiot might be an idiot most of the time, but he is obscenely strong. But..." Maki added, a newfound respect in her tone. "Seeing your sensei go toe-to-toe with him, and win... I guess the world is a lot bigger than I thought."
"That doesn't matter!" a booming voice declared. Todo stood up, striking a dramatic pose that commanded the table's attention. "There is a true question to ask you guys! And it has been nagging me all morning!!"
"Oh boy, here we go again," Nishimiya Momo sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Took him long enough," Zen'in Mai muttered, taking a sip of her water.
"You four have been here for a while, but you haven't answered the most important question a man has to answer in his life!!" Todo exclaimed, pointing a commanding finger.
"What's going on?" Yuria whispered, confused.
"I have no idea," Hana replied, equally lost.
"Is this some type of comedy gag?" Sakurajima Mai asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Answer me! Inumaki! Kageyama! Zaimozuka! Takakura!" Todo's voice thundered, drawing the focus squarely onto the four boys. "...What kind of woman is your type?!"
"...Hah?" Shigeo blinked
".... Eh?" Okarun stammered.
"...Caviar?" Inumaki offered, bewildered.
"....EH?!" Zaimozuka yelped, nearly falling off his cushion.
The four boys stared, utterly flabbergasted by the sudden, intense interrogation
"Answer me!" Todo shouted again. His presence overwhelming.
"Huh, here?!" Shigeo exclaimed, his face turning a deeper shade of red.
"I say you just tell him," Zen'in Mai advised dryly. "He'll hound you for the entire evening if you don't"
"Are you serious?" Okarun asked, turning to the students from Kyoto High for confirmation.
"Totally," Nishimiya Momo nodded with a grimace.
"I can tell you from first-hand experience," Kamo Noritoshi added with a resigned sigh
"Wait, why isn't he asking Hakari-san or Kirara-san?" Panda asked
"We already met on last year's Goodwill event" Hakari commented with Kirara nodding by his side
"That's right, Hakari and Kirara are men that know what they want!! Without any care of societal preferences!!" Todo commented "Now, go ahead, tell me!! By the way, my type is a tall woman with a big ass!!"
"Pssh, hey Miko-chan" Hana whispered to Miko
"Yeah?"
"Don't you think Hakari-san seems to be to close with Hoshi-san"
"I was thinking the same" She nodded
"Umm..." Seeing no escape, Shigeo took a deep breath and decided to answer first. "I guess... I would like a caring and cute woman."
Beside him, Inumaki nodded in firm agreement. "Salmon, ikura"
A wave of murmured reactions swept through the girls at the table.
"That's cute."
"So innocent."
"That's my Shigeo-kun," Lala beamed.
Then, Okarun, seeing the attention shift, gathered his courage. "Well, I guess I'm the contrary. I kind of like... aggressive and active women."
Ayase Momo, hearing his answer, allowed a small, pleased smile to touch her lips.
Todo, however, listened to their answers with a darkening expression. His face was shadowed as he spoke, his voice low and dripping with disappointment. "You...the lot of you are..."
Then he shouted, his voice exploding through the booth.
"You are fools!!!"
As it turned out, Todo wasn't the only one who shouted. Beside the other boys, Zaimozuka shot to his feet, his own cry echoing Todo's.
"YOU FOOLS!!"
Todo, looking at Zaimozuka's furious and passionate expression, felt a jolt of recognition. 'Could this man be... one of "My People"?'
"A man can't be defined by such vague, open-ended answers!" Zaimozuka declared, pounding a fist into his open palm. "A man has to be firm! He has to have a defined goal in mind! He cannot let himself be guided by a list of checkboxes in his dream!! A man has to know what he wants!!"
"Yes!!! Yes!!" Todo exclaimed, his spirit igniting. "That's right!! That's exactly it!!"
"So!!" Zaimozuka turned to face Todo directly, a fiery gleam in his eyes. "Todo-dono! You want to know what my type is?!"
"YES! TELL ME!!"
"Then the great Zaimozuka shall tell you!!" he proclaimed, striking a pose with his hand pumping his chest. "My type, is a tall, powerful, amazonian woman with thighs so thick and mighty they could crush my skull like a grape!! A warrior goddess of the ring!! Just like the magnificent Raquel Rodriguez!! That... is my type!!"
At that moment, Todo stood completely still. He looked at Zaimozuka, not with judgment, but with dawning revelation. A brilliant light seemed to shine in his eyes as his mind began to wander, constructing a perfect, shared past.
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(Todo's Vision)
A bright, sunny day at school. Todo leans against a row of lockers.
"Zaimozuka, are you doing something this afternoon?" Todo asks casually.
"Todo-san!" Zaimozuka greets him with immense joy, slinging a friendly arm around his shoulder. "I just so happen to have procured two front-row tickets to see the female wrestling championship tonight!"
"Two tickets? What for?"
"One for me and one for you, of course!" Zaimozuka declares, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "I can't experience such peak artistry without my hommie!!"
A single, manly tear rolls down Todo's cheek.
"Brotha!"
"Brotha!"
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Back in reality, Todo surged forward, tears streaming down his face as he engulfed Zaimozuka in a bone-crushing hug. "YOU... YOU ALWAYS GOT THE EXCLUSIVE TICKETS FOR THEIR MATCHES, BROTHA!" he sobbed. "IT SEEMS WE ARE BEST FRIENDS AFTER ALL!!"
The two men then broke apart and performed an intricate, powerful handshake that seemed to tell a story of its own, before jumping around in a circle, their jubilant shouts echoing through the restaurant.
"They're both completely crazy," Sakurajima Mai deadpanned.
"Who even is that 'Raquel' person?" Yuria asked, utterly lost.
"Raquel Rodriguez? She's a famous female wrestler in the US," Miko provided helpfully, a hint of expertise in her tone.
"Wait, how do you know that?" Yuria asked, surprised.
"Oh yeah, Miko-chan is a huge wrestling fan," Hana explained to the others. "I even went with her to a meet-and-greet one time."
"It was to meet my favorite, Anaconda the Badger," Miko clarified, a faint blush on her cheeks. "I even managed to get a picture with him."
"...I guess everyone has different tastes," Yuria conceded, still looking a bit bewildered.
"I'm more partial to the Takakura Ken type, myself," Ayase Momo commented wistfully.
"Like Okarun?" Hana asked, glancing at the blushing boy.
"No," Ayase Momo clarified with a laugh. "I meant the actor."
Then Hana's eyes widened as a realization struck. "Wait! They're both named the same! I just noticed!"
"I know, right?" Ayase Momo exclaimed, sharing a moment of amusement as the chaotic, newfound camaraderie of the table continued to grow around them.
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Meanwhile, the adults' table was steeped in a heavy, contemplative silence, broken only by Akira's monumental declaration.
"Wait, a school? What do you mean?" Utahime asked, the words feeling inadequate for the scale of the proposal.
Principal Yaga's expression, already stern, deepened into a carved mask of seriousness as he locked eyes with Akira. "Explain."
Akira, completely unfazed by the weight of their stares, took a slow sip of his tea before continuing. "It is a simple situation. I have accumulated a significant number of students, and they require a dedicated place to train and commute. Scattering them is inefficient. Therefore, I decided to establish an institution myself."
"And Tengen-sama approved this?" Kusakabe asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
Akira gave a single, firm nod. "He saw the strategic benefit in forming another school for Jujutsu Sorcerers and placing my students there. The details are to be finalized, but the location and structure are set"
"And where would this school be located?" Nanami inquired, ever the pragmatist.
"Near Chiba. There was a shrine that housed a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. I dealt with it some time ago. Since the place had a high concentration of ambient Cursed Energy, it is suitable. Tengen-sama will help establish a dedicated barrier in the region, creating a new focal point for Cursed Spirits to gather. This should help deter their spread in other populated areas"
"That... sounds surprisingly reasonable," Yaga conceded with a slow nod. "In fact, it leads me to a proposition of my own."
Akira raised a single eyebrow, a silent command to proceed.
"A colleague of mine, Kensuke, runs the Fukuoka branch of Jujutsu High. He informed me that the branch is being discontinued, as the staff is now almost non-existent."
"Wait, there's a Fukuoka branch? This is the first I've heard of it," Kusakabe interjected, surprised.
"It is very small and largely autonomous, so it often flies under the radar. The budget assigned by the higher-ups is minuscule so it barely registers in the books" Yaga explained, his voice a low rumble. "Consequently, the students aren't being assigned any missions, and their finances have dried up completely."
"Damn, that sounds nasty," Kusakabe grunted
"There were talks of transferring the remaining students to either Tokyo or Kyoto, but they refused, and the situation has deteriorated. They haven't received a single mission in three months," Yaga continued, his gaze fixed on Akira. "However, if you were to open a new school, they might be more inclined to join. I will convince Kensuke to transfer his students and his own allegiance to your institution"
"That would be most grateful. Thank you, Yaga-san," Akira replied, a nod of genuine appreciation.
"So, you will be the principal of this new school?" Utahime asked, trying to map out this new school
"Sounds like a drag," Shoko commented flatly, already lighting a cigarette.
"No, I will not" Akira stated. "I have someone else in mind for Principal."
"Who?"
"Excuse me." A new voice, aged and firm, came from the other side of the sliding paper door.
The door slid open with a quiet shhh, revealing an elderly woman with sharp, intelligent eyes standing beside a young man with an easygoing smile.
"Takeda-san, Shindou-san," Akira greeted with a nod.
"Well, this is quite the gathering!" Shindou Romm commented cheerfully.
"Indeed," the old woman said, her gaze sweeping across the table before settling on the most recognizable figure. "It is nice to finally put a name to a face. A pleasure to meet you, Gojo Satoru"
"Do I know you?" Gojo asked, tilting his head.
"No, but I know of you. I am Takeda Mitsue, and this is my apprentice, Shindou Romm"
"Nice to meet you!" Romm waved.
"Takeda Mitsue?" Yaga's eyes widened with clear recognition. "Weren't you a senior teacher at Jujutsu High decades ago?"
"Yes, that was me," she confirmed, settling gracefully onto a cushion.
"I heard you were offered the position of Principal, but you rejected it."
She smiled, a sharp, knowing expression. "The one thing I grew to despise during my time at Jujutsu High was being a puppet on the higher-ups' strings. Becoming Principal would have only shortened my leash. That is why I left Jujutsu society altogether."
"Preach it, sister," Shoko said, raising her cigarette in a small toast
"Finally, someone close to my age for once" The Turbo Granny said, as she rested against the wall
"Oh my, and what would you be?" Takeda asked
"I will explain later" Yaga said
The pair found spaces at the table as Akira formally presented them. "I offered Takeda-san the position of Principal for the new Chiba Jujutsu High. I outlined the fundamental differences between this school and the others"
"The chance to properly guide the next generation while giving a collective middle finger to the higher-ups?" Takeda said, a glint of fierce joy in her eyes. "There was no conceivable way I could refuse that offer."
"The new Jujutsu High will operate under my influence, both financially and politically," Akira clarified. "Yet it will remain connected to Jujutsu Society, ensuring every graduate is a legally recognized sorcerer."
"Damn. Why didn't I think of that before?!" Gojo exclaimed, snapping his fingers.
"That's... very smart," Kusakabe admitted, a grudging respect in his tone.
Utahime, however, wore a concerned frown. "But do you truly believe the higher-ups will approve?"
"If there's one thing I know, it's that they respect and, more importantly, fear power," Shoko stated, blowing out a stream of smoke. "And Akira just gave them a masterclass in power, being the new "Strongest" and all"
"Yeah, I saw the fight, it was very good that I bet for you, I made a lot of money" Romm commented
"The real question is, can you even finance an operation of that scale?" Utahime pressed "You know the immense resources required to run the schools, and how much the clans and the higher-ups invest."
"I am certain," Akira said, his voice leaving no room for doubt, "That finances will not be a problem."
"Weeeeell," Gojo drawled, stretching his arms above his head, "All this talk about politics and pulling the middle finger to the Higher-ups is great and all, but I didn't come here for a stuffy board meeting. Let's order some food! I'm starving!"
"Very well then," Akira conceded, picking up the menu. "Press the button to call the waitress. Does everyone know what they wish to order?"
The mood shifted instantly from planning to mundane. Menus were rustled and browsed.
"I'll have the premium beef platter for two. To myself," Kusakabe declared without looking up.
"I'll have the tongue and the harami cut," Nanami added.
"And to drink?" Shoko asked, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Scotch. Neat," Kusakabe said.
"I'll have the same," Nanami nodded.
Shoko's smile widened. "In that case, we should just order the whole bottle. I plan on getting thoroughly wasted tonight."
Shindou Romm, looking slightly concerned, leaned forward. "Takeda-sensei, isn't she a doctor? A nurse? Isn't that... terribly bad for your health?"
Shoko gave him a lazy, lopsided grin. "Kid, the main reason I mastered Reverse Cursed Technique to the degree I have was so I could drink and smoke with the absolute certainty that I can regenerate my lungs and liver whenever I want. It's the ultimate cheat code"
Romm blinked, rendered speechless by the sheer, irresponsible genius of the statement
"See? She's an inspiration to us all," Gojo chimed in, flagging down the waitress who had just arrived. "Okay, listen up! We're going to need... everything. But start with that bottle of scotch, and a few rounds of your best beef. The world just got a lot more interesting, and we need the proper fuel to celebrate!"
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The large, circular grill in the center of the students' table hissed and sizzled, a chorus of appetizing sounds as the first waves of marbled beef and fresh vegetables were laid down.
"Alright, who wants the first piece?" Maki asked, expertly wielding the tongs. She was one of the few who seemed to have any real grilling prowess.
"Me! Me!" Hana called out, practically vibrating in her seat.
"Patience," Miko chided, though her own eyes were fixed on the sizzling strips. "It needs to cook properly."
"Salmon" Inumaki agreed, pointing at a piece that was perfectly seared. He was actually the best cook in his year, so he was skilled at roasting the beef
Maki deftly distributed the first round, and a chorus of appreciative murmurs and happy sighs rose from the table.
"Oh wow, this is amazing!" Okarun said, his mouth full. "It smells so good"
"It really does" Ayase Momo agreed, daintily blowing on her piece. "A perfect reward after... well, after all that."
"So" Zen'in Mai began, leaning forward with a spark in her eyes. "Let's get back to the important stuff. The fight. More specially, Yoshika-sensei, where did he come from?"
"We don't know" Miko commented "He just showed up in school about four months ago to replace another teacher that was retiring"
"School, like a mundane one?"
"Yeah" Miko nodded "We go to Sobu High, well, most of us"
"I for my part go to Fujimi Academy" Saeko said as she gracefully grabbed a strip of meat, then blew it before eating it "I would be a third-year next year"
"Wait, you guys aren't from another Jujutsu School?" Nishimiya Momo asked
"No, we are not" Yuria replied
"Then how do you train or get missions?" Maki asked as she placed meat into another plate
"Sensei picked us up and started to train us" Sakurajima Mai said "Actually, Miko and I were his first students"
"There was just the two of us for a week of so, before he gathered Hana, Yuria. Then Zaimozuka-san, Kageyama-san and Busujima-senpai joined. Okarun and Momo-san are the last ones but we still don't if they are planning to join"
"Oh, we are" Ayase Momo nodded "After watching all that, I can't help but feel left out if I don't join. Besides, seeing that there are a bunch a people my age, I feel more comfortable"
"If Ayase-san joins, I will be joining as well" Okarun said "Besides, there is the deal with my…"
"Not on the table, Okarun! We are eating!" Yuria exclaimed while grumbling
"Sorry!"
"Now that I think about it, we didn't really went into deep about Lala-san" Nishimiya Momo commented, as she turned to Lala, who was feeding Shigeo a couple of strips with chopsticks "You are an alien right?"
"Yup" Lala cheerfully replied
"She is more than an alien. She is an alien princess" Yuria added
"Woah, that must be something. That mean Shigeo is going to become a King or something when he marries you?"
"Marry?!" Shigeo deeply blushed
"That's right" Lala grabbed Shigeo and held him tight "He is to become the Emperor of the Milky Way after we marry"
"I-I'm not sure about that" Shigeo said "I'm still to weak to even fight to the same level of Sensei"
"Don't sell yourself short" Todo boomed, slamming a hand on the table and making the dishes rattle. He had one arm firmly around Zaimozuka's shoulder "A man acknowledges his own strength! Right, Brotha?"
"Right! The great Zaimozuka agrees! We must all strive for the peak!" Zaimozuka declared
Miwa looked between them, a little overwhelmed. "You two became best friends really fast..."
"When you find a Brotha, you know!" Todo stated, as if it were the simplest truth in the world.
"Hey, pass the salt, would you?" Sakurajima Mai said, her tone cool as ever. She was seated a few spots away from Saeko, and a subtle, unspoken tension hung between them whenever their eyes accidentally met
"Here" Maki said, sliding it over with a friendly grin. "So, Sakurajima-san, your sensei is crazy strong. What's training with him like?"
Mai took the salt, her expression softening slightly at the question. "It's... demanding. He doesn't coddle anyone. He sees exactly what you're capable of and then pushes you beyond that. Every single time." She glanced at Saeko, who was silently watching the meat cook with intense focus. "He's the same with all of us."
Saeko's eyes flicked up, meeting Mai's for a brief second before returning to the grill. "He teaches efficiency. It is a beautiful, deadly art"
On the other side of the table, Lala gently tugged on Shigeo's sleeve "Shigeo-kun, you should eat more. You need your strength," she said, placing a perfectly cooked piece of kalbi on his plate.
"O-oh. Thank you, Lala-san," Shigeo stammered, his blush returning.
"See? That's what I meant," Nishimiya Momo said, gesturing with a piece of lettuce. "Caring and cute. He's living his ideal right now."
This earned a few giggles from the girls and a deeper blush from Shigeo, while Lala just smiled, unfazed