September 2007.
Shizen Prefecture, Shizen City. Mission summary: Investigate disappearances and abnormal deaths in
a remote village. Exorcise the cursed spirit responsible.
"Something's wrong with this mission."
Kamo Fujiken stepped out of the vehicle at the mission site. Accompanying him were another
sorcerer and Shinichi.
"Master Shinichi, the spirit here should only be around Grade 2. Why did you come personally?"
Since the Star Plasma Vessel incident, Kamo Kenji had assigned Fujiken as Shinichi's dedicated
protector. After more than a year together, Fujiken understood the young master well.
Though Shinichi occasionally displayed a streak of ruthlessness, he was genuinely kind and
remarkably capable for his age. Three days ago, Shinichi had specifically flagged this village
mission for attention. And now here they were.
"A few reasons. And I wanted to test my abilities."
Shinichi's tone was casual.
More than a year of training had significantly strengthened his physique. While still not quite at
adult levels, he was undoubtedly the strongest among his peers.
"Welcome, honored guests. We're grateful you've come to help us."
An elderly man approached with an ingratiating smile.
"Take us to where the abnormalities occurred."
Fujiken took the lead. Technically, he and the other sorcerer had accepted this mission—bringing
Shinichi had been somewhat irregular.
"And this young man is...?"
The old man noticed Shinichi.
"Don't worry about me. Just lead the way."
Shinichi's voice carried no warmth. He already knew what kind of people inhabited this village.
"Monkeys" in the truest sense—nothing like the humans he sought to protect.
"Oh... of course..."
The old man clearly wanted to comment on the child's rudeness but held his tongue in front of the
sorcerers.
As they walked through the village, Shinichi caught whispered conversations from the residents.
"Who's that kid?"
"Annoying just looking at him. Just like those two locked up..."
"Ahem."
The old man coughed pointedly, silencing the gossip. The villagers retreated reluctantly to their
homes.
"Here we are. Everyone who passed by this house disappeared without explanation. We had no choice
but to seek outside help."
They stood before a dilapidated structure.
"Understood. Return to the village. We'll inform you when it's resolved."
The old man bowed. "Thank you."
He departed—footsteps light but hurried, vanishing quickly.
"So, Master Shinichi, what's the plan?"
Fujiken looked to him.
"Leave this to me."
Shinichi activated his Purple Eyes, scanning the surroundings. Rich cursed energy residue
saturated the area. Following the traces, he detected a Grade 2 cursed energy signature
approximately 100 meters away.
"Found it."
He sprinted toward the target, condensing two blood blades mid-stride.
"Urgh... ah..."
Splurch—
The spirit's body was pierced instantly, dark purple blood spraying outward.
Something's off.
The impact felt hollow. Shinichi immediately created distance.
The "spirit" he'd struck remained motionless—a decoy. A remnant shell.
BOOM—
He sensed the real attack a fraction of a second before impact but still took a glancing blow.
"Human... food... eat..."
The actual cursed spirit had assumed a semi-humanoid form. It could speak.
"You've learned to talk? You must have consumed quite a few people to cause such panic in this
isolated place."
Despite the situation, excitement colored Shinichi's voice.
"...EAT!"
The spirit roared, saliva spraying, and lunged.
"Not a chance."
Shinichi channeled cursed energy to enhance his reflexes, sidestepping the reckless charge. His
fist, reinforced with cursed power, slammed into the spirit's exposed abdomen.
Splurch—
Blood splattered again.
"Pathetic."
Whether enraged by the injury or Shinichi's taunt, the spirit twisted its upper body mid-motion
and attacked again, ignoring its wounds.
Its claws struck Shinichi—and produced a metallic clang.
"Idiot."
Shinichi's counterattack was immediate. His fist connected with the spirit's skull, crushing it.
"Master Shinichi! Are you alright?"
Fujiken and the other sorcerer arrived, alarmed by what they'd witnessed.
"I'm fine."
Shinichi displayed his torn sleeve, revealing the red crystalline armor beneath.
"With Crimson Star protecting me, a spirit of this level can't hurt me."
Seeing Shinichi completely unharmed, both sorcerers exhaled in relief.
"Let's go. It's done. I caught it mid-transformation, so it never reached its full potential."
"Yes, sir."
They returned to the village before sunset—and found the old man arguing with the other residents.
"Village chief! Can those outsiders really handle this?"
"Even our strongest men couldn't deal with it. How can we expect help from people who brought a
child along? Besides, that brat looks just like the two locked up..."
The crowd's complaints continued, none noticing the three sorcerers standing behind them.
"What exactly do you have locked up?"
Shinichi's cold voice cut through the noise.
"Ah, sir! Didn't you need to locate the spirit? Why are you back so early?"
The old man deflected, addressing Fujiken instead.
"It's been exorcised. Now answer the question. What do you have locked up?"
Shinichi spoke again before Fujiken could respond, anger threading through his words.
"Listen here, brat. Adults are talking. Know your place!"
A young man in the crowd stepped forward, positioning himself protectively before the village
chief.
"I killed the spirit. Is that sufficient credentials for you?"
The young man's bluster evaporated. Fear and disgust flickered in his eyes.
"It's nothing important," he said, tone shifting to dismissive contempt. "Just some problems we
handled ourselves before you arrived. You can look if you want."
"Saburo! You—"
The old man's anger was evident.
"What? They came to solve problems. We paid them to do a job."
Saburo remained defiant.
"Take us there."
Fujiken's voice had gone hard.
"...Fine."
The old man led them to a secluded house at the village's edge. The surroundings were barren, the
structure decrepit.
When the door opened, Fujiken froze.
In the darkness, two young girls huddled together in what could only be described as a cage. Both
were covered in bruises.
"Mm..."
They pressed closer together at the sight of visitors, eyes wide with terror.
"Explain this."
Shinichi didn't turn to look at the girls. His voice had gone flat.
"Explain what? They're part of the problem."
"That's right. They hurt villagers with their strange powers. They refused to behave no matter how
much we disciplined them."
"My grandson was injured by them."
The villagers spoke over each other, venting long-held grievances.
"That's because he—"
The yellow-haired girl attempted to speak.
"Silence! Monster. Your parents were the same. I should have killed you both when you were
infants."
She flinched and went quiet.
"I see."
Shinichi interrupted the torrent of abuse. His smile held no warmth.
"Mr. Fujiken. What I'm about to do—please keep it confidential."
"...Sir?"
Before Fujiken could process the request, Shinichi had already acted.
"Blood Manipulation—Hundred Convergences: Piercing Blood."
Blood gathered before him, then lanced outward in a dozen streams.
The villagers screamed as the attack methodically severed limbs—hands, feet, sometimes both. Under
Shinichi's precise control, Piercing Blood acted as a surgeon's scalpel, crippling without
killing.
Every adult in the crowd was disabled. Children were spared.
"Worthless trash."
Shinichi crouched before the old man, who knelt in the dirt clutching the stumps of his wrists.
"If you want to live, you understand why this happened. Correct?"
Through the haze of agony, the old man forced out words.
"Yes... the monsters... it was all because of those monsters... we don't know anything..."
"Good. Since you're being cooperative, I'll let you live. But if I ever hear that someone came
looking for me, I'll return. And I won't be merciful twice."
"Yes... understood..."
Satisfied with the response, Shinichi turned toward the cage.
"If you want, you can come with me. If not, that's fine too—I'll take you somewhere safe and you
can go wherever you wish."
The two girls stared at him. His white kimono was spattered with blood, which should have been
terrifying. But to them, he seemed to radiate light.
"Yes. We'll go with you."
Their voices came in unison.
Shinichi smiled—genuinely this time.
"Don't be afraid. Since you've agreed, I promise to protect you."
"Mm..."
The sun crept toward the horizon as Shinichi stood before the group. At barely 1.2 meters tall, he
seemed physically small—but in the hearts of the two girls, he towered.
"Um... sir... what should we call you?"
The yellow-haired girl asked tentatively.
Shinichi paused and turned.
"Shinichi. Kamo Shinichi. The one who will bring hope to this world."
His face was serious, but his eyes held genuine warmth. As he spoke, the first rays of sunset
caught his figure.
They boarded the vehicle back to the Kamo estate. Fujiken sat in the front passenger seat while
the other sorcerer drove. The backseat belonged to the three children.
Fujiken had suggested calling a second vehicle for privacy, but Shinichi dismissed the idea as
wasteful and likely to attract unwanted attention.
The two girls were initially tense, sitting rigidly. Shinichi gave them most of the space, leaning
against the window with closed eyes.
As time passed and exhaustion from their ordeal caught up, both girls began to drift off.
When the yellow-haired one's head started to droop toward the cushion, Shinichi caught her gently,
repositioning both sisters so they could lean on each other—and on him for support.
"Master Shinichi..."
Fujiken observed through the rearview mirror.
"It's fine. Pretend you didn't see anything."
Shinichi answered without opening his eyes.
"Yes, sir."
Fujiken said nothing more.
They reached the Kamo estate by evening. Shinichi didn't immediately seek out his father. Instead,
he gently woke the two beside him.
"...Where are we?"
The yellow-haired girl blinked awake, then noticed her sister still leaning against their savior.
"Mimiko, wake up."
Mimiko, the brown-haired one, stirred and realized where she'd been resting. Her cheeks flushed
crimson as she quickly moved to her sister's side.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice was barely audible.
"Don't worry about it. We've arrived. Let's go."
Shinichi led them to his personal quarters. The area typically had no servants—Shinichi's own
request, to minimize the chance of others discovering certain things—but he could summon staff
when needed.
He called a maid and asked her to help the sisters get cleaned up. After so long in captivity,
they desperately needed it.
"Young master, the two girls have finished bathing. What would you like me to do with them?"
The maid's voice came from outside his room sometime later.
"Thank you. Please have them wait in the sitting room. You may return to your other duties."
"Yes, Master Shinichi."
"Oh—and please don't mention any of this to anyone. Especially not my mother or brother."
"Understood. No one will know."
"And prepare some light meals, please."
"Right away!"
The maid hurried off. Shinichi was well-liked among the household staff—a young master who never
put on airs, made his own bed, and treated servants with actual courtesy.
A few minutes later, Shinichi met the sisters in the sitting room.
Food sat arranged on a low table before them. Despite obvious hunger—one of them was even drooling
slightly—neither had touched anything.
Shinichi couldn't help but smile.
"You're clearly starving. Go ahead and eat."
Still they hesitated. So Shinichi sat down and began eating first. Given their condition, he'd
requested only gentle foods: vegetable porridge, eggs, pickled vegetables, and some pickled plums.
Once he started, the sisters finally allowed themselves to follow. Watching them eat with such
desperate gratitude, Shinichi relaxed.
He ate sparingly—he wasn't particularly hungry—then pushed his portions toward them. They didn't
refuse.
Tears began streaming down their faces even as they continued eating.
"It's so good to be alive, sister. The porridge is delicious... the eggs are delicious..."
"Don't cry, Mimiko. We survived. Eat. We won't die anymore if we eat."
And so the meal continued—eating and crying intermingled. Between them, they consumed enough food
for two adults. The maid had planned to collect leftovers later; there were none.
"Are you full?"
Shinichi asked once they'd finished.
"Mm..."
Both girls looked slightly embarrassed at how much they'd eaten.
"Good. Then let's introduce ourselves properly."
Shinichi sat across from them.
"I'm Nanako. And this is my sister, Mimiko."
The yellow-haired one—Nanako—found her courage.
"Mm..."
Mimiko nodded vigorously.
"You're twins?"
Shinichi noted their completely different hair colors.
"Yes. My hair color is the same as our mother's. Mimiko's matches our father's."
"I see."
Shinichi considered this briefly.
"Well, it doesn't matter. You're both pretty either way."
The casual compliment sent both girls into bashful silence.
"So—are you certain you want to stay with me?"
He asked again. Perhaps their earlier agreement had been impulsive, born of the moment.
"Yes. Wherever you go, Master Shinichi, we'll follow."
"I'll go wherever my sister goes."
Their voices held no uncertainty.
"Alright then. But please drop the 'Master.' We're probably the same age. Just call me Shinichi."
"Yes... Shinichi."
They answered in unison.
"Let me explain some things. What you see—those monsters—are called cursed spirits. Only certain
people can perceive them naturally. Ordinary people only see them under extreme emotional stress.
So you're not monsters. You're special. Gifted."
"Mm."
They nodded, clearly trying to process the information. Whether they fully understood remained
uncertain, so Shinichi continued.
"My goal is to create a world where no one has to fear cursed spirits. A world where everyone is
treated as human. Where spirits are destroyed the moment they appear. Where no one has to live in
constant danger. Where the people I care about can exist safely. To achieve that, I need
strength—including yours. But this path is dangerous. Are you still willing?"
This was his olive branch. His original plan had simply been to rescue them, preventing them from
becoming catalysts for Geto's fall into darkness. If they preferred an ordinary life, he wouldn't
stop them.
"We're willing. Both of us."
They spoke as one. Shinichi had saved them at their darkest moment. In return, they would give him
everything.
"Welcome, then. To the new world of jujutsu."
After explaining the basics, Shinichi noticed their eyelids growing heavy. Children their age
tired easily, and they'd been through tremendous trauma followed by their first proper meal in who
knew how long.
He directed them to rest in his bedroom. They protested initially—sleeping in their savior's bed
felt inappropriate—but he insisted. The traditional floor bedding was large enough for two.
After turning off the lights, Shinichi carried the food trays out and handed them to a waiting
servant. In the corridor, Toji appeared.
"Not bad. Two girls at once. You're more impressive than I was at your age."
Toji's grin was insufferable.
"Very funny."
Shinichi refused to take the bait.
"I'm serious. I've been around. I can tell—those two have potential. They'll be real beauties in a
few years."
"Whatever you say, Mr. 'Kept Man Killer' Fushiguro."
"Hey, watch it, brat."
Toji's eye twitched.
"Anyway, I need sleep."
Shinichi walked past him.
"Wait—why are you heading to my room?"
"Because I gave mine to them. I'll make do with yours tonight."
Without waiting for permission, Shinichi entered Toji's quarters, found the bed, and collapsed
onto it.
"Damn kid."
Toji muttered it with a mixture of exasperation and grudging affection, then followed his student
inside to sleep.
The Three Great Clans Festival approaches. More pieces are falling into place.
Nanako. Mimiko. Geto. Gojo. Yuki Tsukumo.
The future is changing.