One month later.
Inside the student dormitories of Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Generally speaking, students and teachers at Jujutsu High have single-occupancy dorms.
On one hand, it's because there aren't many students and teachers at Jujutsu High.
On the other, Jujutsu Sorcerers need to cultivate their ability to be self-reliant.
Knock... Knock...
A series of knocks rang out.
Renji stood up and walked toward the door.
Click!
"Renji-kun, how is your recovery? Let me check." Shoko pinched Renji's face as soon as they met.
"I'm fine now, Shoko-san." Renji replied.
He closed the door.
Shoko walked into the dorm room and took a cigarette out of her pocket.
The flint sparked.
"Hoo..."
"Renji-kun, you are truly gifted. After exorcising a Cursed Spirit for the first time, your body began to adapt to Cursed Energy it couldn't handle before. You're much more terrifying now than when I first saw you. Your rate of progress isn't any slower than Satoru's."
Shoko sat on Renji's bed, gently kicking off her small leather shoes to reveal her feet clad in black tights, which she swung back and forth.
Renji sat on a chair and said, "It's all thanks to Shoko-san's Reverse Cursed Technique."
A faint smile appeared on Shoko's usually calm face.
[Ding! Character detected: Ieiri Shoko (Tier 1, Level 3). Favorability toward the Host +5.]
[Current Favorability: 45 (Abilities can be drawn when character favorability reaches 5/80/100)]
Last time, after eliminating that Cursed Spirit, Shoko's favorability jumped by thirty points at once. Not only did it bring them closer, but they also became more familiar. This past month, she had been coming over to chat with him frequently.
Speaking of which, did I forget something?
Before Renji could remember, he heard a series of system prompts in his mind.
[Ding! Detected that the Host has fully recovered. Issuing mission rewards and experience points. (Cursed Technique activation requires a certain amount of Cursed Energy. Issuing it while the Host is injured would result in Cursed Energy loss.)]
[Ding! Host has unlocked Okkotsu Yuta's template ability: Cursed Love]
[Ding! Drawing a Jujutsu Kaisen world talent for the Host...]
[Congratulations on obtaining Main God Space improved talent: Heavenly Restriction (Unrestricted) (S)]
[Ding! Host has obtained Swordsmanship Mastery.]
[Current Swordsmanship Level – Master (0/1000)]
[Ding! Host's first kill of a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit. Obtained 50 experience points.]
[Current level: Tier 1, Level 0 (0/500)]
[Cursed Love: The most twisted curse in the world is love. Your love will likewise bring about horror. When this technique is activated, it will generate the character with the highest favorability (copying their appearance, personality, and abilities) to fight alongside you. Strength is determined by the Cursed Energy you use.]
[Currently set character: Ieiri Shoko]
[Heavenly Restriction (Unrestricted) (S): In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, Heavenly Restriction is a curse bestowed by the heavens. Some are forced to trade physical strength for Cursed Energy, while others are forced to trade Cursed Energy for physical strength. You are different, your physical strength will increase along with your Cursed Energy.]
The prompts from the Main God Space finally ended.
"What are you thinking about, Renji-kun? Oh, right, your student ID came in. Sensei asked me to give it to you." Shoko suddenly remembered and immediately pulled a student ID out of her chest pocket.
The student ID featured a photo of Renji in his black Jujutsu High uniform.
The rating on it was... Special Grade Sorcerer.
"And one more thing." Shoko said, seemingly unsurprised by Renji's Special Grade rating, her face still maintaining that calm expression.
The cigarette butt was pressed into the ashtray by Renji's bedside—one that Shoko had specifically bought and placed there.
"Next month, there's an exchange event between Tokyo Jujutsu High and Kyoto Jujutsu High. The other side specifically banned Satoru from attending. Sensei wants you and Suguru to just go through the motions." Shoko leaned back slightly.
Kyoto Jujutsu High?
But there aren't any famous characters from Kyoto Jujutsu High during Satoru's era.
Utahime is currently a second-year, and Mei Mei is a third-year about to graduate. Both are Satoru's seniors.
"Don't worry about winning or losing, sensei doesn't care." Shoko remarked casually.
The next second.
Masamichi, who "happened" to be passing by outside the window, suddenly jumped and pressed himself against the pane. His manly face was pressed against the glass.
"I care! I care a hell of a lot! Those bastards won't let Satoru go! If we lose, we'll be mocked by those bastards over there again! Shit!" Masamichi's voice was loud, clearly audible even through the specialized glass.
Shoko: "..."
Renji: ?
"Sensei, why don't you... come in and talk?" Renji remained silent for three whole seconds before offering the invitation.
"No, I have a meeting to get to. I was just passing by and thought I'd see how your recovery was going. As long as you're up and about, it's fine. I'm leaving now." Masamichi's face disappeared from the glass.
Shoko explained nonchalantly, "Sensei is always like this, you'll get used to it. If it were Satoru being watched like that, he would open the window and throw a specialized chili Cursed Energy bomb in sensei's face."
"If it were Suguru, he'd have his Cursed Spirit give sensei a gentle 'hug.' This is the first time sensei has left without suffering a setback."
Renji's lips twitched.
...
The sun was setting.
Sendai, inside an ordinary house
A little boy, just two years old, was sitting on the floor playing with his favorite toy car.
On a chair by the window, a short-haired woman was resting her chin on one hand, looking out at the crowds on the street.
Click!
The door was pushed open.
"Honey, I'm home." Itadori Jin looked toward the short-haired woman.
The short-haired woman turned her head. The star-shaped stitch marks on her forehead glowed red in the dim light of the setting sun, as if they were being scorched.
"Welcome home." The woman said with a slight smile.
Her name was...
Itadori Kaori.
She should have died shortly after the birth of her son, Yuji. But now, she stood vividly before her husband, having accompanied Yuji for two years.
Jin's father, Wasuke, had once advised him to let go of Kaori, otherwise...
He would die!
But Jin loved his wife deeply.
"What should we eat today, Kaori?" Jin smiled gently.
"Whatever is fine. Time is almost up."
"Then let's have curry. Kaori, let me tell you, a really delicious place opened in Sendai..."