Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle…
In a remote river somewhere near Tokyo, steam was rising thickly into the air. The sound was just like boiling water, turning the place into an open-air hot spring.
"Uh…"
Within the dense mist, a tiny smoking pipe held a cursed object on its bowl, shaped like a miniature brain. As its owner inhaled, it glowed red and made strange, unsettling noises.
"Phew…"
The one holding the pipe was the special grade cursed spirit who had once attacked Satoru. The disaster born of the earth, the volcano-headed Jogo.
He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke with a relaxed expression, looking just like a human enjoying a peaceful moment.
"I found you, I found you, Jogo!"
With a playful shout, Mahito, completely naked, came running and leapt into the hot spring, splashing water everywhere.
Behind him were Hanami, who had saved him a few days earlier, and an old man with stitched markings on his head.
"Pff!"
The burst of hot water drenched Jogo and conveniently cooled the small cursed object on his pipe.
"You look much better now."
Mahito soaked his whole body in the spring, leaving only his head above the water. He smiled brightly at his companion.
Jogo did not mind being splashed. Though his face showed no emotion, there was concern in his voice as he replied, "Yeah. It's comfortable here, and there are no humans around. What about you? Feeling better? I heard you almost died a few days ago."
Being beaten until only a head remained was something Jogo understood all too well.
"Not really. Soul damage doesn't heal that fast. And our bodies are made of cursed energy, it's not as easy as humans. Luckily Hanami was there."
Thinking about it, Mahito sighed. He floated on his back, staring up at the sky.
'Next time I see that Seven-Three sorcerer, I'll kill him.'
"So do you still think you can finish your grand plan without Sukuna?"
The old man squatted nearby, looking at the two youngsters who had both been brutally beaten by different sorcerers.
"Jogo, he might be right."
Mahito stood up in the hot spring and sat directly on a scorching rock, agreeing with the old man.
Even without personally witnessing Sukuna's strength, he had already felt how small he himself was.
That day, his opponent had only been a grade 1 sorcerer, yet he was beaten to this state. Let alone the special grade sorcerers that even Jogo could not defeat.
"Reviving Sukuna, even if we're all wiped out, that's fine, right?"
Seeing Mahito agree, Jogo slapped his thigh and grinned, revealing a mouth full of blackened teeth.
What he wanted was to end the absurd state of this world and wipe out those ugly, hypocritical "fake humans."
Born from negative emotions, cursed spirits like them were the "true humans" who deserved to rule the world.
Even if none of them remained a hundred years later, as long as cursed spirits could stand as "humans," that would be enough.
"But our plan needs a small adjustment first. The Sukuna fingers and the Death Painting Wombs stored at the school should be taken after the exchange event. We'll wait for a time when Satoru Gojo isn't there, then quietly sneak in and steal them."
The old man poured cold water on their rising excitement.
"Why?"
Mahito looked unwilling. His legs kept kicking in the hot spring as he asked.
Hanami and Jogo also looked at him with confusion. They had already made preparations.
"You three have been moving too much lately. You've shown yourselves and exposed some of your abilities. Acting now isn't wise. And if there's only one special grade sorcerer present, it might be manageable. But there will likely be two."
The old man frowned, his expression serious.
The original plan was to act on the day of the exchange event if only one special grade sorcerer was present at the school.
But recently, Mukuro Fushiguro's frequent trips between Kyoto and Tokyo had given him a headache.
If both special grades were there, any plan would be meaningless.
"Eh. Then what about that crippled guy? We already made a binding vow with him. Can we just cancel it?"
Mahito scratched his head, genuinely curious.
"It's fine. Knowing some of the internal layout of the school is always useful."
The old man waved his hand dismissively.
Even though they had not obtained detailed information yet, a vow was still a vow.
As for that man, if he could be useful, all the better. If not, they could settle it afterward.
"Alright then."
* * *
A few days later.
At a restaurant near Tokyo Jujutsu High.
"By the way, I've always been curious. Why do you tie your hair in front like that, Mei-san?"
Even while eating ramen, Nanami kept his serious expression. After adjusting the goggles on his face, he finally voiced the question that had bothered him for years.
The three of them had known each other for over twenty years. He still felt she looked better the way she used to.
"Sight is part of combat too. When others can't see my eyes, they can't read anything from my gaze. But I can see everything clearly."
Mei Mei folded her arms and leaned back elegantly on the sofa across from him. On the table before her was only a glass marked with a faint lipstick stain.
Her mature and striking face was mostly hidden behind the hair draped in front.
For her, it simply made dealing with trouble more convenient. And if people couldn't see her face clearly, fewer annoying men would try to approach her.
"A unique fighting style. In that regard, she's even more brutal than you, Nanami."
Sitting beside him, Mukuro took a sip of his iced drink and teased his old friend, who had reached grade 1 status purely through overwhelming physical skill.
"Oh my, that's too much praise. Though I'd rather not be complimented like that by the man with the most straightforward and brutal style of all."
Mei Mei spread her hands slightly as she pushed back.
"I'm done eating. Thanks for the meal."
Just as Mukuro was about to say something, Nanami set down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth.
"Then let's go. The exchange event should be starting soon. Everyone's waiting for us."
Mei Mei stood up and headed outside.
Mukuro followed right after her. Nanami came last.
"Um, sir... You haven't paid yet."
When the other two walked out, the waiter stopped Nanami at the door.
"…"
He pulled out his wallet with a dark expression.
The two walking ahead did not feel the slightest bit guilty.
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