"This is the dormitory. With Tengen's Barrier protecting it, you can come and go pretty freely. If you want to order food, go to the resident manager on the first floor."
"This is your room. It's stocked with the basics, but yeah, it's not as comfortable as your place. My room's right next door, and over there is Suguru's."
"Got it."
Akira Zenin looked around the clean, spacious room and nodded, unconcerned.
"Doesn't really matter. Back home, I spent a lot of nights sleeping in trees anyway."
Satoru Gojo suddenly leaned in close.
"Akira-chan~ I've always been curious. Why do you like hanging out in trees so much?"
"Mm. They're higher than most of the Zenin Clan buildings, and the air's fresher."
"Exactly. You can't stand that rotten stink coming off those old people either. I just didn't think the smell would be denser than air."
Akira Zenin nodded weakly, forcing his eyes open.
"Sure. Interpret it however you want. We're here now, so leave. I'm going to sleep."
"Huh~?"
Satoru Gojo glanced at the bright sun outside.
"It's still morning! Don't sleep yet. Come next door. There's a surprise."
Akira Zenin wasn't interested in any "surprise," but he couldn't win against Satoru Gojo when he got like this. Still looking half-dead, he let himself get shoved into the neighboring dorm.
The moment the door opened, there was a loud pop, and colorful streamers stuck to everything in sight.
Suguru Geto jumped out with a hand-twisted party popper, and Shoko Ieiri popped out too, whistling.
"Welcome to Jujutsu High!"
Some of the sleepiness in Akira Zenin's eyes cleared. This felt different from the Zenin Clan. People at home treated him well, sure, but there was always some kind of agenda behind it.
A little more light returned to Akira Zenin's dull stare. Maybe it was emotion. Maybe it was just because Suguru Geto had practically blasted his face with confetti.
Akira Zenin peeled a streamer off his head and looked at Suguru Geto.
"Seriously? You're not supposed to fire those point-blank at someone's face. What, are you getting revenge for that punch earlier, Suguru Geto?"
Suguru Geto tilted his head, putting on an innocent look.
"?"
"Wow, this is actually pretty good."
"It's way too sweet!"
The two by the door turned toward the noise, only to see Satoru Gojo and Shoko Ieiri already sitting there, happily eating pastries.
Suguru Geto guided Akira Zenin over to the table. Akira Zenin took a bite, then glanced at Shoko Ieiri.
"Did you make this? It's surprisingly good."
Shoko Ieiri shook her head.
"The one behind you did."
Akira Zenin turned and saw Satoru Gojo wearing a smug grin, like he was silently demanding, Go on. Praise me.
He looked back at Suguru Geto.
"Do you have coffee? I think I was so tired earlier that I completely lost my sense of taste."
Suguru Geto nodded and stood to get it, but Akira Zenin stopped him.
"And don't add sugar."
Satoru Gojo shot to his feet, planting one foot on a stool.
"Huh? Is that aimed at me? Akira-chan~~ The last time we sparred was two years ago, right? You picked up any new moves? Come on, let's go outside and practice."
Akira Zenin slumped forward on the table and waved him off.
"Not interested."
Suguru Geto returned and handed over the coffee.
"Satoru, let Akira-kun rest. If we'd known he was this wiped out, we should've saved the welcome thing for tonight."
Satoru Gojo was just about to argue when Shoko Ieiri cut in, deadpan.
"Can you stop spraying that overflowing puberty energy everywhere? Also, don't we have a mission? Maybe put that energy into something useful."
Satoru Gojo rolled his eyes.
"Ugh, those missions are way too easy. They're not even exciting. Besides, we're the strongest!"
Shoko Ieiri popped another pastry into her mouth.
"Then, Mr. Strongest, don't forget to pay the bill."
Satoru Gojo clicked his tongue.
"Do we really need that? Even if normal people bump into us, who cares? They can't see Cursed Spirits or Cursed Techniques anyway."
Suguru Geto shook his head.
"No. If we want to reduce the number of Cursed Spirits, the most important thing is keeping the public calm. So even threats they can't see need to stay hidden as much as possible."
"Yeah, yeah, I know what you're going to say." Satoru Gojo waved a hand. "Babysitting weaklings is such a pain."
Suguru Geto didn't look annoyed. He answered seriously, laying out his beliefs.
"[The survival of the weak] is what society should look like. We support the weak and eliminate the strong. Remember that, Satoru Gojo. Cursed Techniques exist to protect non-Jujutsu Sorcerers."
Satoru Gojo pulled an exaggerated face of disgust.
"You're lecturing me? I hate lectures the most~~ Slapping some 'reason' or 'responsibility' onto power? That's what weaklings do."
He even mimed Suguru Geto swallowing a Cursed Spirit orb.
"Just don't get so moved by your own speech that you start believing it."
Off to the side, Akira Zenin's head was buzzing from the noise. He smacked the table and stood. The two who looked ready to start swinging turned toward him.
"Listen…
This is just our job. Doctors treat patients. Police keep public order. Chefs feed their customers. The right person in the right place, that's all.
And what we're protecting isn't just some label like 'non-sorcerers.' It's real people, living their own lives.
They're doing their best with their own lives and responsibilities too. We're Jujutsu Sorcerers, not some kind of saviors…"