"Spleen, right kidney, gallbladder, right testicle... these guys are missing enough organs that it's a wonder they're even functioning."
"Heh. So you're saying they have 'no guts'?"
"Satoru, people stop making that joke in elementary school. Loss of internal organs, huh? Since neither I nor Sensei used attacks like that..."
"Does that mean it's a binding vow to sacrifice their innards? It feels like the kind of sloppy method some makeshift cannon fodder would use."
"Unlike bindings like the one Mai has, where it's been in place since she was a brat to increase the 'weight' of her life, you can't use that on someone who's already an adult. If idiots of this level are teaming up to attack us, I'd like to be a bit more cautious, but..."
"Was it 'grant every one of her wishes'? Tengen sure asks for the impossible. Anyway, Shoko. Anything else besides the organs?"
"I can't say for sure without examining them back at Jujutsu High. We'll have to call an assistant director and have them sent for an autopsy."
Inside a small veil, this conversation was being held by Shoko Ieiri and the four men who had served as the offense in this encounter: the strongest duo, Naoya, and Toji.
Meanwhile, Haibara and his partner Nanami—who had been maintaining a barrier to steadily guard the Star Plasma Vessel—were questioning the two targets who had just woken up.
"You say this is the first time you've been attacked, but how have you been living until now?"
"Lord Riko's parents passed away early on, so I have been looking after her ever since..."
"I see. So it was just the two of you living like family. In that case, should we head toward Jujutsu High while escorting you both?"
"I suppose so... Lord Riko, what would you like to do?"
"I... well..."
The Star Plasma Vessel, Riko Amanai, trailed off as her gaze fell upon 'what used to be a hotel,' now completely collapsed from the aftermath of the battle.
The traces of overwhelming destruction left there were enough to instill a sense of dread even in someone as naturally innocent and positive as Riko.
And yet, despite that, she couldn't stop the feelings welling up inside her.
"...I wanted to go to school, just one last time."
It was a simple murmur, the wish of an ordinary girl. Hearing it, Nanami and Haibara looked down slightly, their hearts filled with pity for the person they were tasked to protect—and ultimately, to see erased.
However, two idiots immediately chimed in to break the somber atmosphere.
"Alright, then let's go to school, Riko!"
"Tengen did say to 'grant all her wishes' after all! To school we go!"
"Geto-senpai, Gojo-senpai, I understand your sentiment, but..."
"You're too stiff, Nanami. Suguru and I are more than enough, and since you guys are here too, it'll be fine."
"Besides, as Satoru just said, this is technically an order from Lord Tengen. If it's what Riko wants, we should make it happen. There are plenty of ways to handle the escort, after all."
As he spoke, Suguru shot a glance toward the only woman in the guard team.
"Hah? Me? What are you pieces of trash plotting now?"
Though Shoko Ieiri let out a sigh as she spoke, her expression held a hint of amusement.
---
A short while later, the second-year students of Renchoku Girls' Academy Junior High were abuzz with the news they had received from their teacher before noon.
"I wonder what a visit from a donor is like!"
"You mean a sponsor, right? Since we're a private school, maybe it's about a donation?"
"I'm so nervous, even if they told us to just focus on studying..."
"I heard the person visiting is a total high-class lady."
"Really?"
"Totally! A girl who saw them said she was accompanied by guys who looked like Secret Service agents in black suits!"
In the middle of the classroom where such conversations were flying about, Riko Amanai was the one secretly breaking out in a cold sweat.
Soon, the bell rang to mark the end of lunch break. As the students took their seats, several tall men dressed in stern black suits and wearing 'Visitor' armbands entered through the back door of the classroom.
The trio, who looked like bodyguards no matter how you sliced it, wore sunglasses and earpieces. All of them were tall. With their hair styled neatly—one with short silver hair, one with long blonde hair, and one with quite long black hair—they were quite a sight for the naive young girls.
Then, protected by them, a young lady in an obviously expensive dress entered the room. With a charming beauty mark under her eye, she gave a graceful bow and a bright smile while being the center of every student's attention.
The lady was, of course, a dressed-up Shoko Ieiri. Her bodyguards were Gojo, Geto, and Nanami.
[This is GS-1. In position. Over.]
[This is GS-2. Also in position. Over.]
[This is Nanami. I have taken my position as well. Over.]
[This is FT. Good. You lot stay stuck to the Star Plasma Vessel under the guise of guarding the young lady. In front of the kids, looking the part is important. Don't forget your code names. Over.]
[This is NY. Currently in stealth on the roof. By the way, can I just stay quiet? Over.]
[This is FT. NY, keep your mouth shut. Over.]
[This is HY, currently patrolling the school grounds! Over!]
[This is GS-1. I'm going to beat HY later. Over.]
[This is GS-2. HY, please turn down your volume. Over.]
The group exchanged these words over their comms. Except for Naoya, who was using a technique to remain stealthy, everyone was equipped with suits, sunglasses, and earpieces, boldly roaming various parts of the school.
All of this was part of an escort plan devised by Geto and Gojo, with a few finishing touches from Toji.
The title: 'Operation: Might As Well Guard Her Out In The Open.' By contacting the school management through a 'Window' already embedded in Renchoku Girls' Academy and hitting them with a double-slap of wads of cash and external pressure, the Jujutsu High team had secured the 'Donor Inspection' cover and marched right into the school.
Because they weren't sneaking around, the defense had fewer openings, making this a truly ironclad plan.
However, there were naturally those who were unaware of this reality. The evil hands targeting Riko Amanai were, at this very moment, closing in on the academy.
"One hundred million for killing a single brat who isn't even a sorcerer! This is too easy!"
The number of curse users thinking this way was more than just one or two. In the words of Toji Fushiguro, they were just a gathering of 'idiots,' a disorganized mob.
But precisely because every single one of them was a fool aiming to be the first to the prize, their erratic threat was something that could not be taken lightly.
[This is HY. I have encountered an intruder. Over.]
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