Jujutsu Kaisen: Nozomi no Sora

Ten minutes later.

Ijichi drove them, following Yoshino Junpei all the way.

After the accident, Shunping didn't go to school, and he looked even more gloomy than in the photos. He walked into a convenience store alone, dressed casually with his head down.

"Next, let me explain our mission."

Ijichi, holding the sealed box containing a few fly heads, spoke in a serious tone.

"Xuan Yi, find a secluded spot and use these fly-headed—that is, low-level cursed spirits below level four—to attack him."

"what?"

Ichiji, completely unconcerned by Genichi's exaggerated and pretentious expression, continued speaking.

"First, if he is an ordinary person who cannot see the curse, then please have Itadori save him."

"Second, if he can see the cursed spirits but doesn't know how to deal with them, please ask Itadori to save him and take the opportunity to ask about the events of that day."

"Third, if he exorcised the cursed spirit—"

Ichiji paused, his expression becoming exceptionally serious.

"Please arrest him on the spot."

"A forced arrest?" Itadori asked.

"Arrest them by force." Ijichi nodded. "Even if there's a mistake, it's okay. Just apologize afterwards."

Haddō's expression suddenly became somewhat complicated.

"I always feel...doing this kind of thing is so boring."

"But this is also part of the job," Ijichi said. "However, there is one thing I must remind you—if Yoshino Junpei shows potential of being a level 2 sorcerer or higher, then retreat temporarily and wait to reunite with Mr. Nanami."

"Level two?" Itajimaru scratched his head. "Like those level two cursed spirits from before? I think I could handle them, albeit barely!"

"That's the case with Cursed Spirits," Ijichi immediately corrected. "Didn't Fushiguro mention this before? Usually, a sorcerer of the same level as a Cursed Spirit is sent on a mission because, at the same level, a sorcerer is generally stronger than a Cursed Spirit. In fact, the combat strength of a level two sorcerer is closer to that of a level one Cursed Spirit."

As he spoke, he looked at Xuan Yi again.

"Xuan Yi should understand this more easily. During the period when Mr. Nishimiya was under the control of the spell, he was at the standard level of a second-level sorcerer."

Xuan nodded.

This analogy is indeed quite intuitive.

He had personally experienced Nishimiya Sousuke's level of skill.

Ichiji unconsciously glanced at Genichi, who was deep in thought, and her expression became somewhat unnatural.

"Of course, Xuan Yi's current strength might... be approaching level two! But from a safety perspective, it's best not to act impulsively in this situation."

Xuan nodded.

Although he knew he had some combat ability now, he was still far from being able to consistently face off against a mature level two mage, at least in terms of combat experience and awareness.

After a two-second silence, Uruga finally couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"Why is it that I'm the only one who doesn't know about something this important...?"

Ichiji gripped the steering wheel, looking somewhat embarrassed.

That's because Mr. Gojo Satoru is too casual...

It wasn't until they were almost at the Yoshinoya store that Ijichi decided to take action on the spot.

"This is pretty much it."

As soon as the sealed box was opened a crack, Xuan Yi reached in and grabbed a fly's head from inside.

That thing feels really weird.

It was slippery, cool, and wet, like catching a giant frog.

Xuan Yi's expression immediately became somewhat subtle.

That's pretty disgusting.

"Isn't it a bit too early to release it now?" Ijichi quickly said.

"I'm just preparing a bit," Xuan said expressionlessly, pinching the still-struggling fly's head. "What if Mr. Ijichi accidentally knocks the box over?"

"..."

Ijichi was clearly hit hard.

In that instant, he even saw a hint of what Mr. Nanami and Gojo Satoru would look like when he messed things up in Genichi's expression.

Not good.

The shaded area has increased again...

Xuan Yi and Hu Zhang got out of the car one after the other.

The two followed quietly, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far from Yoshino Junpei. However, as they approached the steps of the residential area, a large, obese figure slowly rose from the shadows of the bushes not far away.

Xuan Yi recognized the fat man at a glance.

Wai Cun—Shunping's homeroom teacher.

"There's someone there." Itajimaru subconsciously lowered his voice.

Xuan Yi didn't say anything, but directly pulled Hu Zhang behind the corner of the wall.

The two of them peeked out from behind the wall, using it as cover.

Tomomura Masashi stood in front of Yoshino Junpei.

His obese body blocked most of the already narrow steps, and he wore an unsettling smile that seemed to be his own, a smile that appeared gentle and considerate.

But the words he uttered became increasingly harsh.

She knew perfectly well that Shunping had been bullied for a long time.

I clearly saw it a long time ago.

However, in order to evade responsibility, they pretend not to know, pretend that nothing happened, and even when necessary, they can put on a "the teacher is doing this for your own good" face and lecture the victims in a righteous manner.

In Xuan Yi's view, such people are even more disgusting than the perpetrators themselves.

The fire in Xuan Yi's heart gradually rose.

If it's just to shirk responsibility, is it acceptable to stand by and watch bullying happen, to see others gradually cornered, and then afterwards still adopt a condescending attitude to criticize—

What kind of teacher is this? What kind of adult is this?

They're just overgrown babies.

Tiger Staff was still listening with a frown when, a second later, he suddenly saw Xuan Yi stand up.

"Huh?"

Xuan Yi flexed his wrists while he weighed the fly in his hand, as if estimating its weight.

"...You have no friends. Don't they often invite you to hang out? But you didn't even attend a funeral..."

The people in the neighboring village are still chattering away.

And then the next second.

Xuan Yi swung his arm and threw the fly-head in his hand.

boom!

The unfortunate fly let out a strange cry and, like a sticky stone, slammed solidly into the forehead of the villager outside.

Before the fat man's expression could even change, his eyes rolled back and he fell straight down.

Tiger Stick was stunned and immediately chased after him.

"What are you doing, Xuan Yi!"

As he shouted, he pounced and grabbed the fly's head, which was trying to escape.

The next second, he met Yoshino Junpei's gaze, who was standing still.

After a brief silence, Itajimaru's eyes widened.

"...This guy can see!"

Xuan Yi didn't go over there again.

In situations like this, it's enough to leave it to Tiger Stick.

He walked to the side of the village where the fat man had already fainted, dragged him up with one hand, and walked towards a more secluded corner.

Shunping looked on in disbelief at the scene.

"Is...is everything really alright?"

Itachi scratched his head and revealed his usual sunny smile.

"I guess so……"

He paused as he spoke, as if he had finally remembered the important matter.

"Never mind that! Come with me for a moment, I have something to ask you."

Meanwhile, Xuan Yi dragged the unconscious Wai Cun and casually stuffed the overly sturdy homeroom teacher into the roadside green belt.

The obese body weighed down the bushes, causing them to sway and rustle, finally managing to obscure most of the humanoid outline. Xuan Yi stood there for two seconds, making sure the creature wouldn't climb out on its own anytime soon, before clapping his hands expressionlessly.

He had no intention of going to Huzhang's place.

Given Hisahito Itadori's personality, as long as the other party doesn't completely refuse to communicate from the start, they can usually get a conversation going. Rather than just standing by and watching, it's better to give them some space.

When it comes to "getting along with others," Hadji is clearly much more professional than I am.

Thinking of this, Xuan Yi slowly walked back along the path he had come from.

Ichiji remained standing not far away, anxiously watching ahead through the car window.

Xuan Yi knocked on the glass, which startled the senior but humble assistant supervisor.

"Nishio-san?"

Genichi seemed a little embarrassed as he said, "Although this is a bit sudden, Mr. Ichiji, I'd better head back to the vocational high school first."

"Huh?"

"Because it seems that Mr. Gojo told me before that he wanted me to go back and water his flowers."

Iji opened his mouth and managed a forced smile.

"It's...it's alright," he said. "Itadori-kun should be fine on his own."

"Thank you for your help."

Ichiji stood there, watching the receding figure, but the image of Gen throwing a fly's head at her involuntarily replayed in her mind...

That kind of decisive, action-oriented approach, completely disregarding whether the process is "compliant," is so much like someone else's style.

"Do most of the students personally taught by Mr. Gojo end up like that...?"

at the same time.

Xuan Yi, who "left", had not actually gone far.

Ultimately, he never really wanted to go back to the vocational high school to help Gojo Satoru water the flowers. Those words were just an excuse he came up with to appease Iji Tomo.

But there's nothing we can do about it.

If he continues to act alongside Ijichi, he will have to obediently follow the arrangements of the assistant supervisor and Nanami Kento. In that case, his room for intervention will suddenly become very limited.

Xuan Yi didn't like that feeling.

Knowing full well what might happen next, yet being forced to stand in a predetermined position and watch—this was something he still found somewhat unacceptable.

Since that's the case, it's better to first remove yourself from the "arrangement".

As long as Ichiji tacitly acknowledges that he has left, then whatever he does afterward can at least be considered as an "absence" on the surface.

With this in mind, Xuan Yi turned into a narrower alley along the street. After confirming that no one was around, he lightly pushed off the ground and, using the protruding balcony against the wall for leverage, quickly climbed onto the roof of a house.

The moment my foot touched the tile, it made a very faint thud, but fortunately, no one would notice it.

Xuan Yi crouched down to steady himself, then looked up into the distance.

My body, enhanced by the magic, is far more agile than before. In the past, I would probably have hesitated even to climb over a wall, let alone easily climb onto the roof like this.

Standing here, one can see almost everything happening in the nearby streets and Shunping's neighborhood.

As long as you conceal your own magical power—

They probably won't be discovered!

That night, thanks to Hisahito Itadori's arrival, the laughter at the Yoshinoya restaurant continued until midnight, a rare occurrence...