Two weeks later.
Fuin stood outside a single-story administrative building at the base of a forested hill. The structure was plain; white walls, dark roof tiles, large windows facing a gravel parking area. A wooden sign near the entrance read "Tokyo Jujutsu Technical High School - Registration Office."
What interested him was the barrier that surrounded this place.
He could see it if he focused. The barrier formed a dome over the hill above, shimmering faintly like heat distortion.
He adjusted the strap of the large duffel bag slung over his shoulder. Inside were clothes, books, sealing supplies, and three cages of lab mice. The mice had been quiet during the train ride, but one of them squeaked now. He shifted the bag slightly to stabilize the cages.
The door to the building opened as he approached.
A young man stepped out, maybe seventeen or eighteen years old. He had long dark hair tied back, sharp features, and an air of composure that felt deliberate. His uniform was neat—black jacket buttoned properly, pants without wrinkles. He carried a single bag, much smaller than his.
The young man noticed him and paused.
They looked at each other for a moment.
Fuin studied him quietly.
His posture suggested confidence. The shift of his gait indicated physical training; martial arts or similar combat discipline. His eyes were also observant, taking in details the same way he was.
"Are you here to enroll?" the young man asked. His voice was calm and measured.
"Yes," Fuin agreed calmly.
"Same. I've been waiting for someone to escort us through the barrier." He gestured toward the hill. "I'm Suguru Geto."
"Fuin Unmei."
Geto's eyes flickered with interest. "So you are also enrolling now?"
"Yes."
"Then I guess that makes us classmates."
"Mhmm." Fuin nodded.
They stood in silence for a moment. It wasn't uncomfortable exactly, but it wasn't casual either. Two people sizing each other up without making it obvious.
Fuin glanced back at the barrier. "The barrier is impressive."
Geto followed his gaze. "I've never used barriers before."
The door to the building opened again.
An older man stepped out, probably in his forties. He had tired eyes, the kind that came from years of dealing with teenagers. His hair was graying at the temples. He wore a dark suit rather than the standard uniform, and he moved with the careful economy of someone who was perpetually exhausted.
Behind him came two more students.
The first was a boy about their age with white hair and bright blue eyes visible even behind dark sunglasses. He was tall, maybe six feet, with a lean build and an expression that radiated confidence bordering on arrogance. His uniform jacket hung open, and his hands were shoved in his pockets.
The second was a girl, also their age, with short brown hair and a bored expression. She had a cigarette tucked behind her ear and carried a small bag. Her uniform was neat by the messy folds in her cloths suggested she didn't care too much to iron them.
The white-haired boy's eyes locked onto Fuin and Geto immediately.
"Oh!" He grinned and walked over, moving with loose, energetic strides. "You guys must be my new classmates! I'm Satoru Gojo."
He stopped directly in front of Fuin, tilting his head slightly.
"Whoa. Interesting! That's a lot of cursed energy!" Gojo's grin widened. "Almost as large as mine."
"Almost?" Fuin said.
"Almost," Gojo confirmed cheerfully. "Mine's still bigger. But yours is pretty impressive for someone who's not me."
The girl walked over at a more leisurely pace. "Shoko Ieiri," she said by way of introduction. She didn't offer a handshake.
"Fuin Unmei."
"Suguru Geto."
Gojo was still studying Fuin with open curiosity. "Unmei... that's a sorcerer family name, right? What kind of technique do you have?"
"I'll show it later," Fuin said.
"Boring," Gojo declared. "What about you, Geto?"
"Cursed spirit manipulation," Geto said.
Gojo's eyebrows rose. "Oh, that's actually interesting. You can control curses?"
"After defeating them, yes."
"Huh." Gojo looked between them. "So we've got a creepy guy, a curse collector, a healer—" he jerked his thumb at Shoko "—and me. Not a bad lineup."
The older man cleared his throat. "If you're all finished with introductions, we have paperwork to complete."
"Right, right." Gojo waved dismissively. "This is Masamichi Yaga. He's our homeroom teacher or something."
"Assistant instructor," Yaga corrected with the patience of someone who'd already had this conversation multiple times. "The principal handles administrative duties. I handle training and field assignments."
He gestured toward the building. "Inside. Now."
They filed into the building. The interior was exactly what Fuin expected; a reception desk, filing cabinets, a few chairs, and a table covered in paperwork. Everything was organized but worn, like it had been in use for decades.
Yaga moved behind the desk and started pulling out forms. "Enrollment documents. You'll need to sign these, and I'll need to register your cursed energy signatures with the barrier system."
He slid papers across the desk toward Fuin and Geto. "Read through these. Standard liability waivers, mission acknowledgment forms, dorm assignment paperwork."
Fuin picked up the first form and scanned it. Legal language about assuming risk during curse extermination missions, acknowledgment that death or injury was possible, agreement to follow school regulations.
Gojo had already lost interest in the paperwork. He was bouncing on his heels, looking around the room like he was searching for something more entertaining.
"So," Gojo said suddenly, turning to face them. "What kind of sweets do you guys like?"
Everyone looked at him.
"Sweets?" Geto repeated.
"Yeah. Candy, pastries, whatever!"
"I like lemon drops." Fuin said.
"Oh! Thats a signature one. Not a fan of sour candy myself" Gojo turned to Geto. "What about you?"
"I don't have a strong preference," Geto said carefully.
"Suspicious." Gojo looked at Shoko. "Shoko?"
"I don't care," Shoko said. She was edging toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Yaga asked.
"Bathroom."
"You just went."
"I still need to use the bathroom."
Yaga sighed but didn't stop her. Shoko slipped outside.
Fuin continued reading through the paperwork. Most of it was straightforward. One form caught his attention; a section about registering cursed techniques with the school records. Optional, but recommended for mission assignment purposes.
He left that section blank.
Gojo had moved on from sweets and was now examining the cursed energy barrier from inside the building. "Hey, Yaga-sensei, how many layers does this barrier have?"
"Seven," Yaga said.
"What do they all do?"
"Concealment, identification, intrusion detection, cursed spirit filtering, structural reinforcement, communication relay, and emergency lockdown."
Gojo nodded like this was obvious. "The identification layer is interesting. It's reading our cursed energy signatures right now, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"So if someone tried to sneak in with a fake signature, the barrier would catch it?"
"Theoretically."
"But I could probably get through it anyway."
Yaga looked up from his paperwork. "Please don't test that theory."
"I'm not going to test it right now," Gojo said, which wasn't the same as agreeing not to test it at all.
Outside, Shoko had pulled out the cigarette from behind her ear and was attempting to light it. Fuin could see her through the window.
Geto had finished reading his forms and was signing them. He glanced at Fuin. "Have you dealt with curses before?"
Fuin looked up. "Yes."
"For how long?"
"Five years."
Geto's expression shifted slightly; not quite disappointment, but something close. "I've only been aware of the jujutsu world for six months."
"You'll adapt quickly," Fuin said. It wasn't meant as reassurance. Geto's cursed energy control suggested he'd been training intensively on his own.
"What about you, Gojo?" Geto asked.
Gojo grinned. "I've been training since I could walk. Family tradition and all that."
"Of course," Geto muttered.
Yaga was filling out his own paperwork. "I've been in the field for twenty-three years," he said without being asked.
Geto's shoulders slumped slightly. "So everyone here has more experience than me."
"Experience isn't everything," Yaga said. "Talent and adaptability matter more."
"That's what people with experience always say."
Fuin signed the last form and slid the stack back across the desk. Yaga collected them and began filing them away in a cabinet.
Shoko came back inside, smelling faintly of cigarette smoke.
"Smoking is bad for your health," Fuin commented with a raised eyebrow.
Shoko looked him up and down. "Does it look like I care about that?"
"Hmm..."
Fuin looked away. The conversation between Gojo and Geto had continued without him.
"—so the Six Eyes let you see cursed energy in detail?" Geto was asking.
"Yeah. I can see the flow, the density, the composition. It's pretty useful."
Yaga finished with the paperwork and stood up. "Alright. I'll take you up to the dorms now. Grab your bags."
They collected their belongings and followed Yaga outside. He led them up a stone path that wound through the forest toward the barrier. As they approached, Fuin felt the barrier's presence more clearly.
'Very impressive.'
Yaga pulled out a small talisman and held it up. The barrier rippled, and a doorway-sized opening appeared in the outermost layer.
They stepped through.
Fuin's cursed energy signature was scanned, analyzed, and filed away in whatever system the barrier used for identification. The process took less than a second.
Then they were inside.
The school grounds opened up before them. Traditional Japanese buildings with dark wood and white walls, connected by covered walkways. Training fields visible in the distance. Trees everywhere, creating a sense of seclusion despite being in Tokyo.
Gojo was already walking ahead, hands in his pockets. Geto followed at a more measured pace, taking in the surroundings with quiet interest. Shoko looked like she was already planning where she could smoke without getting caught.
Fuin adjusted his duffel bag. One of the mice squeaked again, louder this time.
Shoko glanced at him. "Do you have animals in there?"
"Just some mice"
"Why?"
"... I need them to help with my cursed technique."
Shoko stared at him for a moment. Then she looked at Gojo, who was now trying to climb one of the trees for no apparent reason. Then at Geto, who was politely pretending not to notice Gojo's behavior.
"Shoko... Shoko... hold it together. You're the normal one. Stay strong," Shoko muttered to herself.
Yaga led them toward a two-story building near the center of the grounds. "Dormitories," he explained. "Boys on the second floor, girls on the first. Shared common areas and kitchen. Do NOT destroy anything."
"No promises," Gojo called from the tree.
"Get down from there."
"In a minute."
Yaga ground his teeth but continued walking. After all, he was quite helpless when dealing with Gojo who was practically invincible in this generation.
Fuin followed, carrying his bag of supplies and mice. The school grounds were quiet, peaceful even. It was a stark contrast to the declining Unmei estate he'd left behind.
His lips slightly lifted at the thought of some powerful peers. Perhaps, he could find some excitement this time.