"Oh, here are some souvenirs."
"Ah, thank you for your consideration."
Following this exchange, several paper bags filled with Tokyo specialties—Yoshiya dorayaki, Chiba snacks, Funasa's Edo-style tsukudani, Ueno Fugetsudo's gaufrettes, Kimuraya's sake-yeast anpan, and Shiose Sohonke's Shiosemanju—were handed over to Azuki Sakata as the representative.
A short while later, the members of both schools gathered on the Kyoto High athletic field, where they encountered an unexpected individual.
"Hey there, hello! What's your type when it comes to the opposite sex?"
"Yuki-san? What are you doing in a place like this?"
"Well, I received an invitation through the Tokyo High principal. It sounded interesting, so I decided to accept a spot as a judge."
"I see. That makes sense. By the way, do I really have to tell you my type?"
"Well, I've asked you a few times before, Naoya-kun, but I figured I'd ask for the record."
"Breasts and hips. And thighs. I like voluptuous, fleshy beauties. Especially the chest—the bigger, the better."
"Consistent as always. And you must be Gojo-kun? Nice to meet you. I'm Yuki Tsukumo. Just a beautiful woman who wants to rid the world of cursed spirits. I'm also a 'Collector of Other People's Preferences.'"
"...You've got a pretty dangerous cursed technique for 'just a beautiful woman.' My type? I haven't given it much thought, but right now I think Emma Watson is incredibly hot. Hermione is consistently cute in every movie. But I keep telling everyone that the second Pansy Parkinson from Prisoner of Azkaban is actually the cutest girl in the Harry Potter films, but nobody ever listens to me. Was her name Genevieve Gaunt?"
"You're more of a celebrity fan than I expected for the strongest. Then, how about Geto-kun, who recently joined the ranks of the Special Grades?"
"For me, my type would be a woman with a maternal, inclusive personality who is older than I am."
"Hey, don't be vague, Suguru. Say it properly: you like a woman in her early thirties who's a bit of a space cadet but has a serious, kind, big-sisterly temperament and looks younger than her age."
"...Satoru? It's not polite to go around exposing people's preferences like that."
"I see? You have good taste, Geto-kun."
As the four Special Grades were chatting away, two more figures appeared: Gakuganji, the principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High, and Masamichi Yaga, the future principal of Tokyo High, who was serving as a proxy for the current principal who could not leave Tokyo due to matters regarding Tengen's protection.
"Hmm... Are all the students gathered?"
"Oh, if it isn't Gramps. You feeling healthy?"
"Hey, Satoru. That's rude."
"Sigh, that Gojo brat is as insufferable as ever..."
Beside Principal Gakuganji, who let out a weary sigh, Yaga—with a visible vein throbbing in his temple—immediately brought a fist down on Satoru's head.
While Satoru rolled around clutching his head, Principal Gakuganji declared the opening of the 'First Jujutsu High East-West Contest' and introduced the judges.
"First, Yaga and I will judge the High School Award. Next, the Judges' Award will be decided by a committee of three: Special Grade Sorcerer Yuki Tsukumo, Special First Grade Sorcerer Naobito Zen'in, and Special First Grade Sorcerer Kamo. To ensure fairness, the judges have entered a Binding Vow to 'perform a strict evaluation in exchange for their judging fee.'"
"That's how it is, Naoya! Don't expect me to be on your side! Hahaha!"
"Dad, you wouldn't be on my side anyway. You'll just vote for whatever's more amusing."
"Hey, hey, hey! Gramps! My family is being left out!"
"When we sent an invitation to the Gojo clan, the reply was: 'No matter which side we choose, we would likely incur the head's displeasure, so it is better not to participate.' It says a lot about your character."
"Satoru, what exactly did you do back home?"
"...Equal-opportunity punches for anyone who defied me?"
"Why on earth did you think anyone from your family would show up after that, Gojo-senpai?"
While the Tokyo High group was boisterously chatting in their natural state, the Kyoto High group, facing the challenge of a lifetime, was huddled together in a hushed, secret discussion. The difference between the two schools was stark.
"The head of the Zen'in clan looks like he might actually give us a chance."
"Yes, Senpai. Our shikigami will definitely be fine!"
"The principal declared a Binding Vow. We can assume fairness is guaranteed. I've never seen anyone from the Kamo clan before, though... was that person even human, the head?"
"No, when I visited the Kamo clan for New Year's greetings with the Sakata family, the head was a much more portly middle-aged man. Also, his gaze was a bit creepy."
"Ah, right, the Kamo clan practices polygamy, don't they?"
"So, in the end, who is that Noritsugu Kamo person, Sakata-senpai?"
"I have no idea. A proxy for the head?"
"The only information I've gained is that the Kamo head is a perverted old man."
As they whispered to each other, the man identified as 'Noritsugu Kamo'—the one with the stitches across his forehead—waved at them with a pleasant smile.
The Kyoto High members recoiled at the blatant 'I can hear you' message, but fortunately for them, the Binding Vow existed. Just gossiping a little about the Kamo family likely wouldn't impact their scores much.
Ignoring their frantic whispering, Principal Gakuganji drew lots to determine the presentation order for the 'Shikigami Showcase.' It was decided that Tokyo High would go first.
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