In a flash, more than a year passed.
Time arrived at April of 2009.
Mei Mei and Utahime had already graduated from Tokyo Jujutsu High a year ago.
As expected, the former became a freelance sorcerer who valued money above all else.
The latter was recruited by Kyoto Jujutsu High and became a lively and youthful teacher with the rank of semi-grade 1.
At this moment, inside a classroom at Tokyo Jujutsu High, the former "newcomers" were now facing new choices.
"Alright, let's hear it."
Still sporting the same buzz cut, Masamichi leaned against the podium and looked at the young sorcerers from all three grades lined up below.
The trio of fourth-years were about to graduate, while the third-years would soon leave school to work outside for a full year.
"As for me, I'll stay at Jujutsu High and work as support staff. That's probably the best way I can contribute."
Shoko was the first to speak.
Her rare talent meant she was never suited for the usual path of exorcising curses on the front lines.
The higher-ups of the jujutsu world, including Masamichi, would never allow her to take on any dangerous missions either.
"Suguru and I have already decided to stay here as teachers."
Satoru pushed up his sunglasses and struck what he thought was a cool pose, then wrapped an arm around Suguru's shoulder.
It sounded casual, but this was a decision he had thought through carefully.
The system of the jujutsu world, and even the world itself, was flawed. Destroying it would be easy if consequences did not matter, but rebuilding it would be far harder.
What he truly wanted was to raise the next generation, starting with fresh blood and changing things at the root.
"To be precise, for the next few years, I'll mostly just be a name on the roster."
Suguru gently corrected his friend's wording.
"Geto-senpai, are you quitting the jujutsu world to become a normal person?"
Hearing this, Haibara reacted the most. He jumped to his feet, his eyes filled with reluctance.
"Of course not. I just need to take care of some other matters for a while. Once that's done, I'll come back and teach the next generation."
Suguru patted his shoulder as he spoke.
Because he needed to take care of Nanako and Mimiko, his current plan was to stay in Tokyo while remaining semi-retired.
Aside from occasionally teaching newcomers and stepping in for difficult cases when needed, he intended to step back for a while.
After all, there were monsters like Satoru and Mukuro among his peers, and capable juniors like Haibara and Nanami. He could finally allow himself a short rest.
"What about the third-years? Have you made your decisions?"
Masamichi already knew Satoru's plans, so he was not surprised. Instead, he felt a sense of relief.
He would no longer be carrying everything alone.
His gaze then shifted to the near fourth-years led by Mukuro.
"For me… I'm not sure yet. I kind of want to stay here and become a teacher too, but my strength feels just a bit lacking."
Haibara scratched the back of his head, sounding unsure.
His technique leaned toward support, and his cursed energy output was not outstanding. He was still only a semi-grade 1 sorcerer.
Semi-grade 1 and grade 1 differed by only one word, yet that gap was something countless sorcerers could never cross in their entire lives.
"What about you, Fushiguro? Are you going back to Kyoto?"
Nanami had also not decided yet, so he turned to his best friend.
"Probably. I might work as a freelance sorcerer over there. What about you? Want to come back with me?"
Mukuro had no detailed plans for the future. He simply felt more comfortable living with his family in the city where he grew up.
Of course, it would be even better if Nanami went with him.
"I… I'll probably stay in Tokyo."
Nanami hesitated, then gave his answer.
Mukuro was incredibly strong. Even special grade missions barely took up his time. Staying by his side would not let Nanami be of much help.
But the idiot behind him was different.
He could not leave someone as careless as Haibara to face all kinds of missions alone.
"Huh? Nanami is staying in Tokyo? That's great!"
Haibara, who had been feeling down because of Suguru's temporary retreat, instantly perked up again.
He had thought he would be going on missions all by himself from now on.
"This is your choice. If we want to hang out, there are plenty of ways."
Seeing Nanami's conflicted look, Mukuro reached out and tapped his chest.
Being brothers meant keeping it in your heart.
Everyone had the right to choose their own path. Even the closest friends did not need to stay together forever.
Not being together, yet still caring for each other, that was true friendship.
"If you go back to Kyoto, the principal there is an old friend of mine. After you graduate, do you want to teach at the Kyoto school? Utahime is there too."
After everyone settled their paths, Masamichi looked at the only one not planning to stay.
Gakuganji had been complaining to him for years.
Even the inter-school exchange events had not happened in a long time, after all Tokyo had three special grade sorcerers.
"Tell him to pay me well. I might consider putting my name down and checking in once in a while."
Mukuro had no interest in that stubborn old man, despite him being Masamichi's friend. Besides, he was not good at teaching.
"I'll have him talk to you."
Even if it was just in name, Masamichi doubted anyone could refuse the temptation of having a special grade sorcerer on hand.
"All the seniors are amazing…"
Iijichi, the only underclassman in the room who was about to enter his third year, could not hide the envy in his voice. There was also a hint of bitterness in his eyes.
He had struggled at Jujutsu High for two years. With the seniors' care, he had stayed safe, but he knew his own limits.
In two years, he had not completed a single grade 3 mission on his own.
No innate technique, weak cursed energy output, and a gap as vast as heaven and earth compared to those only a year or two older than him.
"Iijichi, have you ever thought about getting certified and becoming an assistant manager?"
Mukuro noticed his troubled expression.
The junior worked hard and had good character, but in the jujutsu world, and in life, effort alone could not make up for everything.
Both he and Satoru shared the same opinion about Iijichi's future. He was not suited to continue as a front-line sorcerer.
"Am I really that bad at jujutsu?" Iijichi muttered softly.
"Terrible. Absolutely terrible," Satoru answered without hesitation.
"What? You didn't have to be that harsh!" Iijichi's lips twitched in shock.
"Alright, alright. There are no missions today. How about we go eat together? I'll reluctantly pay."
Watching the students joke around below the podium, Masamichi showed a rare smile.
"Great. Let's bleed Yaga-sensei dry."
Satoru, the one who needed money the least, raised his hand first.
A ray of sunlight shone into the classroom, capturing the last moments of their time together as students.
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