“Huh?
Enroll in a regular school?” “Yep, that’s right.” It was early afternoon on a cafe terrace, where two young men sat across from each other.
One was a young man of striking appearance, dressed in black with white hair held spiky and upright by a large eye mask.
me opposite him was another young man, also wearing a matching top-and-bottom black outfit.
His sharp, handsome features drew a fair bit of attention, but otherwise, he appeared to be an ordinary guy with black hair and black eyes.
Though one of them dressed quite eccentrically, if you looked past that, both were tall and undeniably handsome.
Holding a cup of coffee, they would have looked like something straight out of a picture—yet before them sat a pair of towering, oversized parfaits.
Unbothered by how those around them might view them, the two carried on their conversation while picking at their parfaits.
“Why bring up a regular school all of a sudden?
If I’m going to further my education, wouldn’t Jujutsu High be fine?” When people hear “Jujutsu High,” they usually think of a standard technical college—a school primarily focused on specialized fields like engineering.
But the school the two were talking about was entirely different.
Its official name: Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College.
As the name implied, it was a school for learning jujutsu.
However, its duties extended beyond merely training jujutsu sorcerers; it served as the headquarters of the Japanese jujutsu world, handling mysterious incidents, unexplained deaths, and curse-related cases across the country all at once.
In response to the dark-haired youth’s doubt, the white-haired young man answered in a lighthearted, breezy tone.
“Well, ya see, if you enter Jujutsu High, those conservative old fogies might get their eyes on you, right?
Thinking about my cute little brother being worked to the bone by those old geezers…
the shock of it might make big brother—kill them all, you know?” He spoke with an airy grin as if telling a joke, but at the very end, his voice dropped slightly, radiating a strange, heavy pressure.
“…Don’t say stuff like that in public.
It makes my skin crawl, even as a joke.” “Oh, come on~!
I don’t recall raising you to be such a soft kid that something like this gives you cold feet!” His tone shifted into that of a high-and-mighty noblewoman.
At such utterly ridiculous antics, the youth across from him let out an exasperated sigh.
“…So, what’s the actual reason?” “How cold.
It’s rare for us brothers to have quality time alone, so let’s enjoy the chat a bit more!
Ah, wanna swap a banana for a strawberry?” “Hey, don’t just snatch it while asking.
…Whatever, take it.” He was hopelessly set in his own pace.
Seeing such a self-centered attitude would make most people feel at least a little irritated, but the dark-haired youth seemed used to it and simply watched him calmly.
The white-haired youth popped the stolen strawberry into his mouth, chewed thoroughly to savor it, and then exhaled a contented sigh before speaking up again.
“Well, jokes aside, what I said earlier was true, but there’s another reason too.” “…A reason, huh?” Precisely because the foolish behavior had gone on for so long, the dark-haired youth looked at him skeptically, wondering just how serious this reason could actually be.
Whether the white-haired youth noticed that look or deliberately ignored it, he continued.
“That’s right.
Before we get to that, let me first explain the school you’ll be going to, Mamoru.” “So it’s already a done deal that I’m going, huh?” The youth named Mamoru cast him an annoyed look, but the white-haired young man brushed it off once again.
“Mamoru, do you know about Advanced Nurturing High School?” “Yeah, I’ve heard the name at least.
Isn’t that Japan’s top elite school—the one that claims a 100% success rate for fulfilling students’ desired carieers?” “Yep.
It’s an institution for nurturing true elites, producing famous figures active around the world in politics, sports, academics, and various other fields.
Honestly, it’d be way more fun if they raised comedy comedians too, but unfortunately, they’re completely lacking on that front.” “No, I don’t need the side commentary.” Why does this guy try to steer the conversation completely off-course every single time we make a step forward?
Thinking this, Mamoru scooped a spoonful of parfait into his mouth to soothe himself with some sugar.
“Well, there’s no doubt it’s a prestigious school, but it’s a bit special.
Once you enroll, you can’t contact the outside world until you either drop out or graduate.” “Ah, I think I’ve heard something like that before.” “Supposedly it’s to maintain confidentiality due to their unique curriculum, but the tricky part is that even Jujutsu High personnel need to go through annoying procedures every single time just to enter.” “Huh?
Even if an incident occurs inside?” Having heard this part for the first time, Mamoru asked back in disbelief.
Generally, Tokyo Jujutsu High possessed strong connections with various authorities like the government and police to handle mysterious cases across Japan.
Should an incident occur, detailed information about the case would be unconditionally disclosed to Jujutsu High personnel—even if they were just kids.
That was how much power the organization held.
“It seems the government cherishes this school so much that they manage it with handpicked people from the Ministry of Education.
Our side can hardly get a foothold in there.” “…In other words, you want me to infiltrate as a student and solve any Curse-related incidents that pop up inside?” “Ding-ding-ding!
Correct!
As your prize for answering right, I present to you this cherry!” He tried to hand over the cherry topping, but Mamoru put his hand out to decline.
“No thanks, I don’t want it.
But I don’t get it.
Cursed energy incidents usually mean we move after casualties happen, right?
Is there really a need to bind me for three years when there’s no guarantee an incident will even happen?” “Well, actually, it’s already happening.
For the past few years, the number of students hospitalized due to poor health has been rising.
I snuck in briefly to check it out, and for a school with such a short history, there were an unusually high number of Curses.
…Though they were all weaklings Grade 4 and below.
I wonder if there are just a ton of kids holding in a lot of stress?” The grades of Curses were generally divided into five ranks based on strength.
Though strength varied wildly even within the same grade, Grade 4 was the absolute lowest level.
Anything below that was barely more than a pest.
They only possessed a level of danger that made one feel slightly unwell by existing, but that didn’t mean they could just be left alone.
This was because once a Curse manifested, the person possessed would harbor even more negative emotions, which in turn attracted even larger curses.
“This matter is actually a request from the school’s top brass as well.
Since the country poured a huge amount of money into the school, they’re terrified of bad publicity.
So, they wanted us to dispatch someone capable of handling things before they get out of hand.” “If that’s the case, why not just station Jujutsu High personnel as security guards?” “Nah, impossible.
Jujutsu High is already short-staffed; we can’t afford to dispatch someone long-term to a place with only low-grade Curses.
Plus, the guys at the top have absurdly high pride.
They’re already unhappy about having restricted access to the campus; if asked to do something like that, they’d refuse out of anger.” “Refused?
Wait, isn’t this a request routed through Jujutsu High?” “Yep~.
I personally pulled this request after Jujutsu High turned it down.” “Why on earth would you…
I mean, I hate to say it, but I can’t blame the higher-ups for being angry this time.
‘Please guard our academy.
But we won’t give you special treatment.
Access will be restricted, so please stay stationed on campus.’ That’s basically what they’re saying, right?” Despite being the ones making the request, they refused to compromise and were forcing unreasonable terms on the other side—it was quite a ridiculous story.
The fact that things had turned out like this suggested that the people running this school were vastly underestimating the existence of Curses.
On the other hand, many jujutsu sorcerers tended to look down on non-sorcerers, and among the old guard in Jujutsu High’s leadership, this tendency was particularly pronounced.
Oil and water.
They simply couldn’t mix.
“However, there are benefits.
You know my dream, right, Mamoru?” “…Reforming the Japanese jujutsu world.” “Bingo!
And to do that, I think we need to establish connections outside of what the higher-ups currently hold.” “I get the logic, but three years…
That’s a pain.” “Don’t say that.
You’re pretty much the only one I can ask for this job, Mamoru.
With your Innate Technique, sneaking out of the campus undetected is easy, and since you’re from one of the Three Great Families, you aren’t obligated to enroll in Jujutsu High.” Generally, for a sorcerer to be officially recognized, they had to graduate from Jujutsu High.
However, as an exception, the three families with long histories in the jujutsu world—the Zen’in, Kamo, and Gojo families—guaranteed a person’s status as a sorcerer without needing to attend the school.
“Besides, another big reason is keeping the higher-ups’ eyes off you.
Right now, those old guys aren’t paying attention to you at all.
They think the Gojo family is a one-man team led by this Great Teacher Gojo Satoru.” “Well, that’s probably true.” Depending on how one heard it, those words could sound like people were looking down on him, but Mamoru nodded simply without showing any annoyance.
It was purely because he knew the strength of the white-haired youth in front of him, Gojo Satoru.
“The higher-ups think of you as nothing more than a Grade 3-equivalent sorcerer who happens to have a somewhat useful Innate Technique.
Even though you actually possess Special Grade-equivalent power.” A Special Grade sorcerer—that was the absolute highest rank for a sorcerer, possessing power akin to a strategic weapon.
Yet the person in question, who had just been called a Special Grade equivalent, wore a dull, indifferent expression as if it had nothing to do with him.
“Even if you call me Special Grade, I can’t even hold a candle to you, Brother.” “Ah, well, you see…
I’m the strongest.” The strongest.
If an ordinary person used that word, it would be sheer arrogance, but when spoken by him, it was merely stating an indisputable fact.
Gojo Satoru.
The strongest sorcerer of the modern era, recognized as such by both himself and others, so well-known that no one in the jujutsu world didn’t know his name.
And he was the older brother of this young man, Gojo Mamoru.
“Besides, you say you can’t hold a candle to me, but honestly, I wouldn’t want to fight you, Mamoru.
To be frank, I can’t guarantee a decisive victory.” “In exchange, you wouldn’t lose either.
I’m just good at running away.
It’s nothing to brag about.” “Well, there aren’t many sorcerers who can run away from me in the first place.
Anyway, let’s get back on track.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind watching those old geezers panic over the appearance of a fourth Special Grade sorcerer if you just enrolled in Jujutsu High normally, but that would bring too many unnecessary bindings.
I don’t want to throw away the advantage of having an unregistered Special Grade on our side.
That way, you can act if something happens to me.” “Huh?
As if anything could happen to you.
I’d sooner believe a meteor was going to fall tomorrow.” “Yeah, yeah, I’m glad my own little brother trusts me that much.
But ‘something happening’ doesn’t just mean physical danger.
I’ve got my own position to maintain, too.
There are times when I can’t just run around doing whatever I want.” ‘Look who’s talking.’ Looking at the figure blabbering frivolously in front of him, Mamoru mentally shouted that retort with all his might.
Anyone who knew Gojo Satoru, not just him, would think the exact same thing.
Having reached a natural stopping point in their conversation, they just finished their parfaits.
The high-pitched clinking of a spoon echoed against the empty glass bowl.
“And so!
Mamoru, starting next year, you’ll be enrolling in Advanced Nurturing High School!” “…Got it.” Mamoru had never intended to refuse a request from his brother in the first place, but dealing with this level of energy for so long had left him unnecessarily exhausted.
Sighing with relief that it was finally over, Mamoru let out a breath—however, the conversation didn’t end there.
“Oh, by the way, the entrance exam is in three days, so good luck~!” “Huh?” Leaving only those words behind, his brother vanished with a poof.
On the table sat a 10,000-yen bill and a piece of paper.
On the paper was a chibi drawing of his brother pointing to an address that looked like the exam venue, saying, “It’s over here~!” “…Wait, what?
Even though I’m entering on a request, I still have to take an exam?!” There was no one left to answer his question.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Author’s Note I am aware that I moved the plot along rather forcefully to get the protagonist enrolled.
The current timeline on the Jujutsu Kaisen side is set before Yuta Okkotsu enrolls.
For a while, I plan to proceed mainly with the Classroom of the Elite arc, but future developments are still undecided.
Particularly whether to avoid the Culling Game or not.
Should I avoid it and take the COTE route, or not avoid it and go the JJK route?
Well, I don’t even have the confidence to write that far yet, so if I manage to write up to the end of the 1st Year arc, I’ll think about it then.