Elsewhere, Suguru Geto had already brought Riko Amanai to the Tombs of the Star Corridor.
After saying her final goodbye to Kuroi, Riko followed Geto through the tunnel and into the main hall of the Tombs.
Layer upon layer of ancient architecture stretched before them—each one a physical anchor for Jujutsu High's countless barriers.
Geto stopped in front of the stone archway. This was as far as he could go.
"Down the stairs, through the main gate, and walk straight ahead until you reach the great tree's roots," he instructed quietly. "The barrier there is different from the one that covers the school. Only those who are summoned can enter."
"That's where Master Tengen will protect you," he added, his tone heavy, "until your assimilation is complete."
Riko listened in silence, her expression calm but eyes faintly dim. She'd already prepared herself for this; the thought of what came next barely stirred her emotions.
But then, Geto spoke again—and his next words rekindled a spark in her eyes.
"Or… you can choose to go back."
He looked at her steadily. "You can go home. With Miss Kuroi."
His voice was calm, but his gaze didn't waver. He and Gojo had decided long before meeting Riko: if she didn't want to merge with Tengen, they'd protect her—no matter what it cost.
Even if it meant going to war with Tengen. Even if it meant going to war with the world.
When Masamichi Yaga had first given them the mission, he'd warned them—assimilation, in a sense, was erasure.
And that meant guilt would follow them either way.
Riko stared at him, stunned. "You… what did you just say?"
"It's fine," Geto said, reassuring her again. "No matter what happens, Gojo and I will make sure you have a future."
He meant it. Whatever it took, they'd find a way. After all, he and Gojo were the strongest.
Neither of them knew that the strongest, Satoru Gojo, was already lying in a pool of his own blood—but after this, he truly would become the strongest.
Riko trembled as she looked at the man in front of her—a man she'd known for barely two days, yet who was willing to turn against the world for her sake.
It was overwhelming. She'd never even considered that she might have a choice.
From birth, she'd been called the Star Plasma Vessel.
That was her purpose—to survive until she could be offered up for assimilation. She couldn't even remember her parents' faces anymore. Loneliness and grief had long since gone numb.
Sometimes she thought that disappearing through assimilation wasn't so bad.
No matter how much it hurt, pain and sadness always faded with time.
"...Ugh..."
Tears and snot spilled freely as Riko suddenly broke down crying.
She was still just a teenage girl—of course she didn't want to leave this world behind.
Thinking back over the past two days, she sobbed, shouting through her tears:
"I still want to live! I still want to stay with everyone a little longer!"
Geto exhaled softly, a weight lifting from his shoulders. A smile touched his lips as he reached out to her.
"Alright, Riko. Let's go home."
Bang—!
A gunshot shattered the moment.
A bullet sliced through the air, aimed straight at Riko's head.
The instant it brushed her hair—A shadow burst from the tunnel's depths, the air cracking in a series of thunderous sonic booms.
He'd broken the sound barrier.
Snap!
Veins bulged across his arm as a calloused hand shot out, catching the bullet just inches from Riko's skull.
The sheer force of his movement sent a gust blasting through the chamber, knocking Riko off her feet. She stumbled and fell hard onto the floor.
"Ah!"
She hadn't even registered what happened. One moment she heard a snap, and the next, she was sitting on the ground.
Geto froze, every nerve on edge as goosebumps raced down his arms. His eyes locked onto the man who had just appeared out of nowhere.
He darted to Riko's side, pulling her behind him.
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah," Riko stammered, shaking her head. Aside from her sore backside, she was unharmed.
"Phew... just in time," the newcomer sighed, opening his palm. A flattened bullet rested quietly in his hand. "Almost lost a flower in full bloom."
It was Jinsuke Zenin.
He blew out a deep breath, the faint red tint on his skin fading back to normal.
"..."
Up on the high platform, Toji's silhouette emerged. His eyes fixed on the man below—his expression stiffening in disbelief.
Jinsuke looked up at him with a gentle smile. "Toji. Long time no see. Miss your big brother?"
"Tch. Bastard," Toji muttered, scowling. "If you left, you should've stayed gone."
He turned away without another word, his face dark with irritation as he abandoned the mission entirely.
He still hadn't forgiven his brother—for disappearing without a word, for leaving him behind.
"Ah…"
Jinsuke rubbed the back of his head with a wry smile. Looked like his younger brother had grown up. Not as easy to fool as when he was little. Guess he'd have to work on that.
He turned back toward the tense Geto and offered a light chuckle. "Sorry about that. My little brother caused you some trouble."
"As an apology," he added with a conspiratorial grin, leaning in a bit, "I'll let you in on a secret."
"Actually…" he whispered, "that old geezer Tengen? He'll be fine even if he doesn't merge with the Star Plasma Vessel."
Before Geto could react, Jinsuke waved and started walking after Toji. "Oh—and don't tell anyone I said that."
Geto exhaled slowly as the man's towering figure disappeared down the corridor.
"What the hell was that guy…" he muttered.
Even putting everything else aside, that kind of speed was beyond anything he'd ever seen.
"Um… what do we do now?" Riko asked quietly. Her heart was still pounding. She'd practically brushed past death—and only that stranger's impossible reflexes had saved her.
"...We leave," Geto said, frowning. His focus sharpened, ready for anything.
He needed to find Gojo. He just hoped nothing had gone wrong.
As for what Jinsuke had said about Master Tengen—he'd think about that later.
Outside Jujutsu High's barrier—
Jinsuke finally caught up to Toji. The younger man's face was sour with resentment. Jinsuke placed a hand on his shoulder with a grin.
"What's with that look? Don't tell me you don't want a little brotherly love?"
He squinted, raising his fist in mock threat. A disobedient younger brother had to be disciplined, after all.
Towering over Toji at nearly a head taller, Jinsuke's sheer size made his teasing all the more menacing.
Smack!
Toji slapped his hand away, expression flat. "You really think you can still beat me?"
He wasn't the same Toji as before. Just because Jinsuke was his brother didn't mean he still had the strength to back it up.