Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School, inside a classroom.
"Next, reporting on the explosion accident that occurred yesterday in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture..."
On the TV hanging from the classroom ceiling, the news anchor was broadcasting the follow-up of the "accident" caused by this mission with a serious tone. The screen showed the messy ruins and experts' speculation of "suspected gas pipeline aging."
Yaga Masamichi sat on the podium with a dark face. Below, the group led by Gojo Satoru, including Mukyoku Nagi, knelt in seiza, the atmosphere solemn.
"So,"
Yaga closed his eyes, hands on his knees, voice low. "Among you, someone vowed confidently that they would put up the 'Curtain,' then left the Assistant Director behind and ran off..."
The group of four swallowed simultaneously, eyes darting around.
"In the end, forgot the 'Curtain' again." Yaga opened his eyes abruptly, gaze like lightning. "Confess yourselves."
Mukyoku Nagi and the other two immediately pointed at Gojo Satoru simultaneously.
"Teacher! Can we not dwell on finding the culprit?" Gojo Satoru suddenly raised his hand, trying to shift focus, with a righteous expression of "I did it for everyone's good."
"It was Satoru, right."
Yaga understood, as if this answer was not surprising at all. The next moment, an iron fist sanction containing the dignity and anger of a teacher landed precisely on Gojo Satoru's head, emitting a crisp "thud."
"Ouch!"
***
After class, inside the gymnasium, basketball court. The atmosphere was still somewhat dull.
"Honestly, is the Curtain really that necessary?"
Gojo Satoru spun the basketball boredly alone, listlessly bringing up the old topic. "Even if seen by ordinary people, it doesn't matter, right? Anyway, they can't see Cursed Spirits and Jujutsu."
After finishing, he lay flat and threw a shot. Just as the basketball was about to arc into the net, it was intercepted by Geto Suguru jumping up from the side.
"Of course not, need to suppress the generation of Cursed Spirits." Geto Suguru started dribbling while speaking. "Most importantly, keep the public's heart peaceful and stable."
"For this, those threats invisible to the eyes must be hidden as much as possible. And not only that..." He tried to expound on deeper principles.
"Got it, got it." Gojo Satoru interrupted impatiently, suddenly stealing the ball swiftly back into his hands.
He took the ball for an easy three-step layup, tone carrying a bit of disapproval. "Having to take care of those weaklings everywhere... is really annoying." After speaking, he slapped the ball casually back to Geto Suguru.
Geto Suguru caught the ball steadily with both hands, but at this moment, Mukyoku Nagi on the sideline clearly felt the originally relaxed atmosphere between the two disappear, diffusing a trace of imperceptible smell of gunpowder. Differences in philosophy quietly highlighted at this moment.
"'Survival of the weak' is what society should look like." Geto Suguru responded firmly. "Help the weak and curb the strong. Remember this, Satoru."
Geto Suguru held the basketball and approached Gojo Satoru step by step. "Jujutsu exists to protect non-sorcerers." After speaking, he fiercely threw the ball toward the hoop behind Gojo Satoru.
"Hah? What is this? Serious grand principles?"
Gojo Satoru scoffed, not even turning his head. That basketball indeed hit the rim and bounced away.
"I hate this kind of high-sounding grand principle." Gojo Satoru continued.
"What?" Geto Suguru frowned to express confusion.
"Forcing reasons onto power, responsibility and what not." Gojo Satoru picked up the basketball rolling by his feet, spinning it casually on his fingertip. "Thinking that being strong means having to bear something, that's a thought only the weak have." Before his voice fell, he threw the ball casually. The basketball brought a sharp wind sound, brushing past Geto Suguru's bangs, "swish" entering the net hollowly.
Geto Suguru made no movement reaction to this, just glared fiercely at Gojo Satoru. His gaze darkened obviously; he was truly angry. But Gojo Satoru wasn't finished.
"Don't say pretty words and actually move yourself, hey~" After speaking, he even made an exaggerated vomiting expression and gesture. The atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Let's go outside and chat, Satoru." Geto Suguru's voice was low. A giant Cursed Spirit slowly emerged behind him, emitting an ominous aura.
"Afraid of loneliness? Go yourself." Gojo Satoru laughed frivolously.
"Satoru, Suguru."
Just then, Mukyoku Nagi, who had been watching silently, spoke. His voice was calm but carried a peculiar penetrating power, making both look at him simultaneously.
He looked at Geto Suguru first; in his vermilion pupils was calm analysis: "Suguru, your philosophy itself isn't wrong. But the proposition 'protect all non-sorcerers' is too broad and heavy. You don't have to take it as an absolute responsibility you alone must shoulder."
Geto Suguru frowned slightly, seemingly wanting to refute.
Nagi continued: "The scope of 'non-sorcerers' is too wide. Just as the Jujutsu world is divided into Jujutsu Sorcerers and Curse Users, the non-sorcerer world is a more complex world. Among them are ordinary people needing protection, also criminals, and many evils the sun doesn't shine on. Your power and responsibility should have a clearer direction. Otherwise, can you really distinguish who is a friend and who is an enemy?"
Geto Suguru was silent for a moment, asking back: "Then what do you think should be done?"
"I will, within my ability," Nagi's answer was clear and firm, "protect what I can protect, what I want to protect. Doing my best, having a clear conscience, is my answer. Power has limits; kindness also needs to act according to ability."
Next, he turned to Gojo Satoru who had a face of "let's see what flowers you can speak": "Satoru, your viewpoint, I partially agree."
Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow, seemingly a bit surprised.
"Power itself indeed carries no labels. It's like a tool, possessing no attributes of good or evil itself."
Nagi said slowly, gaze sweeping over Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru. "However, the one choosing how to use this tool is the 'human' possessing it. It is humans who endow power with meaning, deciding whether it's forged into a shield or turned into a butcher's knife. What's important isn't whether power is born with responsibility, but you—choosing how to use this power. This is your freedom, but every choice inevitably leads to different results."
He paused, summarizing: "No need to be bound by responsibilities imposed from outside, but also no need to completely deny the value of 'responsibility' itself. The key lies in that it's a choice you make yourself, not passively accepted or totally rejected."
These words plunged both into brief silence. Gojo Satoru put away that cynical mocking face; gaze behind sunglasses flickered, thoughtful. Geto Suguru's tense shoulders relaxed slightly; sharp gaze softened a bit, seemingly chewing on Nagi's words.
Just as the atmosphere eased slightly, the gym door was pushed open. Yaga Masamichi returned, face still serious, but seeming to have something else added.
"Good you are all here." Yaga's gaze swept over the three. "Small talk ends here. Clean up, assemble in the classroom. Urgent mission issued."
Inside the classroom, Yaga distributed the documents in hand, then told everyone solemnly.
"Honestly, I feel this burden is heavy, but Master Tengen designated you to be responsible."
"Oh?" Gojo Satoru got interested, dragging out his tone.
He paused, saying in clearer sentences: "In other words, you are to protect that girl named 'Amanai Riko,' and in two days at the full moon, escort her safely to the Tombs of the Star. At that time, she will merge with Master Tengen."
???
Escort? Merge? This sounded like a noble and important escort mission. However, Yaga's next words froze the air instantly.
"And according to Master Tengen's instructions and mission requirements," Yaga's gaze swept over the three, saying word by word, "at the moment the merger is completed, the 'Star Plasma Vessel' as a container... her individual existence will be erased. That is to say, your final mission objective is to ensure the death of 'Amanai Riko'."
"Nani!?"
The always calm Mukyoku Nagi had pupils contract sharply, exclaiming in shock for the first time, face written full of disbelief.
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