The Veil sealed with a low tremor as sound dulled and light thinned
Kyoto Park no longer felt like part of the city. It felt cut out — separated — like an isolated battlefield waiting for something to begin.
Three sorcerers moved inside the barrier in tight formation.
The one who hovered above them, slightly above the ground, was Momo Nishimiya [2nd Year, Kyoto Jujutsu High student] steadied herself on her broom, eyes sweeping the area far ahead
"Visibility's clear," she reported. "No cursed spirits in sight."
Her voice was calm, composed, and practiced.
On the ground, the other with long, light-blue hair was Miwa Kasumi [1st Year, Kyoto Jujutsu High student] rested her hand lightly on her katana.
She glanced upward. "Don't you all think that's strange?"
The other one, walking a few steps behind Miwa, was Mai Zenin [1st Year, Kyoto Jujutsu High student] with her rifle slung over her shoulder, clicked her tongue.
"Yeah. Sensei said curses were tearing this place apart. But we've been inside the Veil for minutes and haven't seen a single one."
That was what bothered them.
The mission briefing had been simple:
— Cursed spirits manifested in Kyoto Park
— Possible cause: residual cursed energy from civilians
— Support team evacuating non-sorcerers in the area
— Momo: aerial scout
— Miwa: front vanguard
— Mai: rear support
— Objective: rescue any remaining civilians and exorcise all cursed spirits in the area
Clear. Simple.
But sorcerers knew better than to trust "simplicity."
Above them, Momo narrowed her eyes.
"There's cursed energy," she said slowly. "A lot of it. But it's… dispersed. I can't pinpoint the source."
"That's not comforting," Miwa muttered.
They advanced deeper into the park.
Leaves crunched under their shoes. The air felt heavy — not dangerous yet, just wrong.
Momo surged ahead slightly, wind trailing behind her broom as she scanned the clearing ahead.
Then she froze mid-air.
"…I see someone."
Miwa and Mai stopped immediately.
"Alone?" Miwa asked.
"…Yes."
Mai confused. "That's impossible."
"Civilians didn't just stand calmly inside active curse zones."
They froze.
"Let's move, lead the way, Momo," Mai said sharply.
They rushed forward, following in the lead of Momo, who hovered above them
The trio arrived at the site where the boy was
At the center of the park stood a boy,
His back was turned to them.
Miwa slowed slightly, surprised by how calm he looked.
Mai stepped forward first, approaching closer to where the boy was standing
"Hey! What are you doing here?"
The boy turned slowly at the sound of her voice.
His expression wasn't frightened, it wasn't relieved either.
Just confused.
"I… don't remember," he muttered.
Mai frowned. "Hun...Don't remember what?"
He blinked, as if trying to piece something together.
"I don't remember… anything."
"Are you serious?" Mai pressed. "This area's sealed off. It's dangerous. What's your name?"
The tension tightened.
Momo descended slightly while Miwa stepped between them gently.
"Mai, ease up," Miwa said quietly.
Mai didn't look convinced. "You don't find this weird? He's standing in the middle of the park, completely unharmed."
She wasn't wrong.
Before the argument could escalate, the boy spoke again.
"…My name is Shinji Ino."
The name left his mouth slowly.
Miwa softened immediately.
"Hey, Shinji. Are you hurt?"
He shook his head faintly. "No."
For a second, everything felt still.
Then— The air shifted.
A sudden wave of cursed energy flooded the area.
Whoosh.
Miwa stiffened. "…Do you feel that?"
Mai swore under her breath.
Momo's eyes widened.
All this time… They had lowered their guard.
They all sensed and knew they weren't alone.
Cursed spirits surrounded them.
Every direction. Every exit cut off.
"That's not possible," Mai said sharply. "We scanned the area."
Miwa's grip tightened around her sword. "They weren't here before."
"They're moving in sync," Momo added, voice tense now. "This isn't random."
The curses didn't charge immediately.
They circled them, closing in.
Slow but deliberate.
As if coordinated and controlled.
And then—
Shinji's eyes shifted.
He was looking directly at the forming curses that surrounded them
Seeing them.
The realization hit the trio at once, this was no longer a rescue and exorcise mission.
This was containment.
And at the center of it all— Stood Shinji Ino with Momo, Miwa, and Mai forming a defensive ring around him.
While the cursed spirits tightened their orbit.
Waiting.