The midterm exams had ended, and the next day was Saturday.
Though the results had yet to be announced, a wave of relief swept through the students. The tension of the exams had lifted, and a celebratory atmosphere filled the dorms. Some students were lounging in their rooms, while others gathered with friends to unwind. Everyone was enjoying their own form of freedom.
Meanwhile, what was Mamoru doing?
"--And so, cursed spirits are divided into four grades based on their strength, with rare cases being classified as special grade."
A simple lecture on sorcery was underway in Fuka room.
Mamoru still continued training through watching films, but with a training talisman, he could now practice alone. So, when both had free time, they held short lectures—and today was one of those days.
"Conversely, a sorcerer's rank is determined by the level of cursed spirit they can reliably exorcise. Their rank is certified after several evaluations by the Jujutsu Technical College. Any questions so far?"
In their hands were bound printouts, reference materials Mamoru had compiled to explain the fundamentals of sorcery.
Kaedeka looked thoughtful as she reviewed the material.
"Is the comparison of strength against cursed spirits by rank accurate?"
She pointed to a chart indicating how much force would be needed to take down a cursed spirit of each grade. According to the handout: a wooden bat could handle Grade 4, a handgun was safe for Grade 3, a shotgun for Grade 2, a tank might be barely enough for Grade 1, and a special grade required carpet bombing.
Given that Kaede had only encountered low-level cursed spirits so far, it was understandable she found it hard to believe.
"It might sound exaggerated, but it's fairly accurate. Still, don't misunderstand—that's the minimum force required. Special grades are beyond the usual framework; there's no upper limit."
"Even Grade 1 requiring a tank… If there were so many like that, society would fall apart."
"You're not wrong. But just like there are monsters, there are also sorcerers strong enough to deal with them."
Indeed, currently, there were only three registered special grade sorcerers. One wandered abroad. Another had killed civilians and become a wanted criminal. The last was Mamoru's older brother, Gojo Satoru.
"My brother is one of those three. If he hadn't been around, Japan might not look the way it does today."
It wasn't an exaggeration.
Mamoru, who was said to be equivalent to special grade by his brother, had sometimes taken missions in Satoru stead. But he never once thought he could truly replace him.
"So someone can have the power of a military weapon… This world really is like a manga. By the way, what level would you be?"
(I knew this was coming.)
The Technical College listed Mamoru around Grade 2 or 3. But Kaede had felt his full cursed energy before.
Mamoru put down the handout and looked at her directly.
"It's natural you'd be curious, Fuka-san. But I'm sorry—I can't tell you. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't ask again."
"Is there a reason?"
"Yes. It's complicated. For now, just think of it as family-related."
Fuka gave a faint, self-deprecating smile.
"So you don't trust me yet."
"That's not it. You haven't even decided how deep you want to go into this world. I can't involve you lightly."
Though she often teased others, Fuka was a good person. Mamoru did trust her—to an extent.
"Actually, I need a favor from you today. In connection to that, I'll explain a little about my technique. I don't share that kind of information with people I don't trust."
"Oho, now I'm interested. It's rare for you to ask for help. I'm always open to dates, though."
"This isn't a date."
Despite her earlier dissatisfaction, her curiosity returned, and she shifted back into her usual teasing tone.
"I'll be away from campus more often starting next week. So I want you to do some light patrols around the school."
Mamoru pulled out a school map marked with red circles and lines.
"These are the likeliest spots for cursed spirit appearances. Just walk this route and report anything odd."
"You'll be going off-campus?"
"Yes."
Leaving school grounds was usually grounds for expulsion. Mamoru nodded without hesitation.
Fuka was sharp; hiding the truth would be harder. He chose honesty instead.
"As you know, I'm assigned to exterminate cursed spirits at this school. But there aren't enough sorcerers. I can't always be here.
My technique allows teleportation under specific conditions. That's how I can move between campus and the outside."
Kaede blinked in surprise, then laughed.
"I figured you had outside contact, but teleportation? Sorcery really has no rules. Are you sure you want to tell me that?"
"I trust you. But keep it secret."
"Of course. You trusted me and asked for help. I won't betray that."
Mamoru took out an amulet and placed it on the table.
"This is a marker for my teleportation. If something happens while I'm gone, it will alert me. You can also activate it with your cursed energy."
"Can't I just call you?"
"School devices have GPS and can't connect outside. Even if I gave you a number, it wouldn't work."
"Ah, right."
"Also, from now on, please use this talisman to teleport in and out of your room. It's annoying trying to sneak in every time."
Mamoru muttered, annoyed. His striking appearance made him stand out too much.
Fuka picked up the amulet, eyes gleaming.
"So you can pop into my room whenever you want."
"Don't call it that. Sounds like I'm breaking in."
He realized the implications of his offer a moment too late.
"Sorry. I wasn't thinking. That was inconsiderate."
Fuka smiled and tucked the amulet away.
"Don't worry. If I minded, I wouldn't have invited you here in the first place. I should be thanking you for caring about my safety."
Mamoru stared.
(She looks like she just got a fun new toy.)
Something about that smile was worrying.
"Don't call me for dumb reasons."
"Of course. But how exactly does teleportation work? I'd rather not phase into my dresser."
"The tool targets the closest safe space within a two-meter radius of the marked spot. No people or solid objects. But I won't know the exact position until I teleport."
He didn't explain the more advanced mechanics—not yet.
"Finally, one more thing."
Mamoru looked Kaede in the eyes.
"No matter how weak a cursed spirit seems, never try to exorcise it alone. Prioritize escape."
Kaede could likely defeat a Grade 4 spirit already, but misjudging a situation could be fatal.
"...Understood. I'll be careful."
She responded solemnly. Mamoru nodded.
(With this, I can leave with fewer worries. Once the results are out, I can focus on my duties.)
He wasn't worried about failing—he had graded his own test already—but until the results were posted, he couldn't relax.
He glanced at the calendar.
And then, one week later.
The results were posted during morning homeroom.
A paper listed every Class A student, their scores ranked from highest to lowest. Nearby, another sheet showed the overall average for each class.
Mamoru scanned the list for his name.
Modern Literature: 86
Mathematics: 98
Chemistry: 93
World History: 85
English: 94
(My average is about 91. Better than expected.)
Mamoru had hoped that scoring slightly above average would be enough. But seeing his unexpectedly high score, he let out a quiet sigh of relief—his hard work had paid off.
However, in contrast to Mamoru's quiet satisfaction, the rest of Class A looked stunned as they stared at the results.
"...Class D is in first place?"
Someone muttered in disbelief.
Almost everyone in the room was fixated on the sheet displaying class rankings:
1st – Class D
2nd – Class A
A stir ran through the class like a wave.
"That has to be a mistake. There's no way Class D came in first."
The accusation of fraud was echoed by several voices.
(Well... they're not entirely wrong.)
Mamoru couldn't deny it—Class D had used past exam questions to gain an edge. But he hadn't expected such shock from his classmates. Looking around, it was clear most hadn't even considered the possibility of losing the class competition.
(The internal hierarchy is worse than I thought.)
Rather than focusing on the bigger picture, the students of Class A had been absorbed in factional rivalries. They had paid no mind to the other classes. To fall behind, especially to Class D—often seen as the weakest—was a crushing blow to their pride.
"Everyone, calm down. We're still in homeroom."
Katsuragi's voice cut through the commotion, silencing the room almost instantly.
"Professor Mashima, please continue."
"Hmm... I suppose I should. Even I was surprised by the results this time."
Mashima's gaze swept across the classroom.
"Some of you may be thinking the other classes cheated, but I assure you, the school has strict controls in place. There was no evidence of misconduct in this exam."
Despite his reassurance, the mood remained sour.
"You should all be proud of your scores. But if you're dissatisfied, take this as a lesson to improve. No further announcements. That concludes homeroom."
With that, Mashima promptly left the room.
As soon as the door closed, the murmurs returned.
Mamoru, still listening, found his gaze drifting to Arisu beside him.
(What does Arisu-san make of this?)
She usually wore a confident smile, but now she sat with her chin resting on one hand, eyes narrowed at the results sheet. She didn't look upset—only thoughtful, as if calmly analyzing the outcome.
Apparently, even Arisu hadn't foreseen this.
Their eyes met as she turned toward him—not because she had noticed him watching, but purely by coincidence. When their gazes locked, she smiled.
It was a smile that pierced right through him—cool, knowing, and slightly mischievous. Mamoru felt a faint chill crawl down his spine.
"Everyone, may I have your attention?"
Katsuragi's voice rang out again as he stepped to the podium.
"Our loss to Class D wasn't due to a lack of effort—but to misplaced focus. While we were busy competing internally, we underestimated the other classes."
He seemed determined to use this defeat as a way to unite the class, turning their disappointment into a shared lesson.
Mamoru admired his composure. Katsuragi had likely anticipated this result and was already thinking about how to pivot from it.
But not everyone was ready to let him take control.
"May I speak?"
Arisu's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried through the room, drawing all attention to her.
"From what you've said, Katsuragi-kun, it sounds like you see this result as a failure. But an average of 83 points is no small feat. That's not something you achieve with casual studying."
"But Class D scored even higher. How do you explain that?"
"Class D's average was 88. Are we really going to believe they pulled that off just through hard work?"
A score of 88 meant most students had scored near perfect. For a class that started the year at rock bottom, it defied belief.
"They must've cheated..."
Another wave of muttering began, but Katsuragi quickly intervened.
"Baseless accusations won't help anyone, Sakayanagi. Even Mashima-sensei said there was no foul play."
"Fufu... I don't believe Class D broke the rules," Arisu replied. "However, the situation was certainly... unusual. Changes to the test content, unexpected short quizzes. Doesn't it make sense if they discovered a loophole?"
(So she did notice...)
Mamoru had suspected Arisu would see through it eventually. For Class D to achieve those scores, prior knowledge of the questions was almost certain. And Arisu likely knew who among them had a suspicious connection with an upperclassman.
(Maybe being seen with Kaede-san was a mistake after all...)
Still, even if people guessed Mamoru had access to past exam materials, it didn't necessarily link him to Class D.
"A loophole?"
"We can't say for certain," Arisu continued, "but this method clearly doesn't reflect real academic improvement. It's not sustainable. Meanwhile, our class grew stronger through competition. Isn't that worth acknowledging?"
By praising her classmates while subtly undermining Katsuragi's argument, Arisu shifted the class's mood. Their grim expressions softened.
A score above 80 is considered excellent. Her words gave the class something to take pride in.
Katsuragi, meanwhile, scowled.
"I wasn't trying to deny anyone's progress. I simply meant that, had we worked together more, we might have uncovered the same loophole."
"That's a bit optimistic. Brilliant tactics aren't always born from teamwork. And besides, Katsuragi-kun—competition is a kind of cooperation, isn't it?"
Katsuragi clearly wanted to dismiss the nature of this internal contest altogether, but in terms of rhetoric, he was no match for Arisu.
Only about half the class belonged to either Arisu or Katsuragi's faction. The rest saw it as little more than a game. For them, Katsuragi's serious attitude might have even come off as tiresome.
"Why don't we try again during the final exam? I imagine you won't be satisfied with just this."
"You say we lost? The groups haven't even been tallied yet."
"Oh, forgive me. I just happened to calculate the averages ahead of time. But you're welcome to double-check."
Her words stunned not just Katsuragi, but also Mamoru and the rest of the class.
To remember every student's group and mentally calculate their scores across subjects in such a short time—impressive didn't begin to cover it.
By dropping this casually, Arisu reminded everyone of her intellect and subtly rattled Katsuragi's confidence.
As the classroom buzzed, the bell rang.
"Looks like time's up. As for the final exam—let's talk again when it draws closer."
"…Very well. I'll check the tallies myself."
Katsuragi gave a curt nod. He likely hadn't even noticed how the conversation had shifted—from whether the contest should have happened, to how they might perform next time.
And so, the midterm exams ended.
There probably wouldn't be any major academic challenges for a while.
(Maybe I can finally focus on work...)
Mamoru knew the real test was only just beginning. With spring giving way to the rainy season, cursed spirits would soon be on the rise.
He steeled himself for what was to come.
◆◇◆
Results
Class A Midterm Exam Contest
Participants: 29
Group Breakdown
Sakayanagi Group: 10
Katsuragi Group: 10
Totsuka Group: 9
Winner
Sakayanagi Group
Class Average Scores
1st – Class D: 88.6
2nd – Class A: 83.3
3rd – Class B: 78.6
4th – Class C: 68.5