Fine.
There was something to be done about it.
A few minutes later, Ayato ultimately chose to go find Fushiguro Megumi after all.
He’d fully intended to play the role of the devoted fan shadowing his two favorite idols, but it couldn’t be helped — the moment he walked out of the station with the crowd, he spotted Megumi’s black Jujutsu High uniform and unmistakable hedgehog hair.
Fushiguro Megumi.
First-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Grade 2 sorcerer.
Inheritor of the Zen’in clan’s Ten Shadows Technique.
The genius boy who grew up under Satoru Gojo’s wing.
That was how most people saw him.
In Uchiha Ayato’s eyes, though?
The quintessential high-and-cold underachiever.
History’s most unbothered person under pressure.
The jujutsu world’s reigning champion of carrying heavy things.
Elephant vs.
house.
You know the bit.
History’s heaviest vs.
currently heaviest.
The one who taught you what lifting really means is…
Come on, lift!
Just once!
Only once~ Go, Nue!
Go, Great Serpent!
…Anyway.
Back to business.
If Megumi was here, he’d obviously gotten Gojo’s instructions and was waiting for Ayato.
Uncle Ayato could be willful, but he wasn’t the type to deliberately leave someone else hanging.
He naturally couldn’t just ditch Fushiguro Megumi here and go stalking idol groups.
Sorry, sumimi.
Looks like we’ll have to meet again in Tokyo.
There was also one more important reason keeping him here — [Social Mission: Earn the friendship of “Sasuke Uchiha — Tournament Edition.” Reward: Kusanagi] Oh great, we’ve escalated to no-qualifier Sasuke.
Can you see just how unhinged this is?
Fair enough — Tournament Edition Sasuke isn’t bad, actually.
Is the system throwing shade at no-qualifier Sasuke?
That feels a bit disrespectful.
Is this system ranking people by tier?
Heh.
So he really is just a Genin.
And the reward’s just a good knife.
A look at the stats — [Uchiha Sasuke — Tournament Edition Chakra: 30,000 / 30,000 Rank: Chūnin, Level 2] Numbers that low — stop trying to make Uncle Ayato laugh, please.
Call Makora out!
(The Eight-Tails’ host.) Honestly, before he’d even seen Fushiguro Megumi in person, Ayato had already been curious what this nonsense system would classify him as.
A regular civilian like Togawa Sakiko got pegged as “Uchiha Sasuke.” So what would Fushiguro Megumi — who actually had a bit of Sasuke’s energy — get?
Who would’ve thought the system would pull a move like this.
Hoh.
So it’s a Rubik’s Cube system, is it?
That explained the deranged behavior and the baffling power level assessments, at least.
Uncle Ayato could forgive years of erratic conduct on those grounds.
Uchiha Ayato tossed his empty oolong tea bottle into a bin and strolled over to Fushiguro Megumi.
“You’re Fushiguro, right?” Ayato stopped about three steps away and gave a small nod.
“Uchiha Ayato.
Nice to meet you.” Fushiguro Megumi’s sharp, narrow eyes paused on Ayato briefly before snapping back to the middle distance.
“Uchiha Ayato?” His voice was cool and magnetic, carrying that keep-your-distance restraint of his.
“Gojo-sensei mentioned you.
A very…
independent-minded collaborator.” “I hope during the mission you’ll demonstrate the professionalism that matches your rank.” “Professionalism?
Relax, relax.
I’ve got a few tricks.” Ayato let the pointed remark roll right off him, and casually reached into his bag to pull out the Kikufuku rice cakes he’d grabbed at the station — the signature item from Sendai’s Kikusuian — and pressed them into Fushiguro’s hands.
“Want one?
Kikufuku from Kikusuian — not quite the same as buying them fresh in the store, but they should still be good.” “Before we chase efficiency, shouldn’t we at least get a feel for Sendai’s hospitality?” Fushiguro Megumi stared at the soft little confection in his hands, brow furrowed.
“No.
I don’t like sweets.
Mission first.” He turned to take the lead.
The two of them got in a taxi.
Fushiguro Megumi laid out several dim printed photographs on his knees and began the briefing.
“Location: Sugisawa Third High School, Sendai.” His fingertip landed on one of the photos — a close-up of a school weather station box.
“Target: a Special Grade cursed object stored inside — Ryomen Sukuna’s Finger.” “That’s a fragment of the King of Curses from a thousand years ago.
Even as a broken piece, the malice it radiates is enough to draw every low-grade cursed spirit in the vicinity.” Ayato leaned his head sideways, running his eyes over the photographs.
The object was wrapped in layer after layer of sealing tags.
Whatever was inside was invisible, but even so, it radiated a deeply unsettling, stomach-turning aura.
“Sukuna, huh…
sounds legitimately terrifying.” Ayato rested against the seatback, tilting his head toward the retreating streets outside.
“So our job is basically just to pick up some litter someone left behind?
Like city sanitation workers?” “If you want to call a cursed object capable of causing widespread disaster ‘litter,’ then sure.” Fushiguro collected the photographs and crossed his arms.
“Schools accumulate curses easily because of students’ negative emotions.
If the object’s seal deteriorates, every cursed spirit it draws in will turn the school into a hunting ground.” “We have to retrieve it before they can cause something we can’t contain.” He paused, then turned his appraising look on Ayato.
“Once we arrive, you follow my lead.
Everything.” “You’re Quasi-Grade 1, but until I’ve seen you in actual combat, I’m not giving you free rein.” “If I see even one sign that you’re disrupting the mission, I’ll be reporting it to Gojo-sensei in full afterward.” “Understood?” “Sure, sure~” Ayato kept his usual unhurried look.
“I’ll follow orders.
I’m the most obedient kouhai you’ll ever meet.” “Though — when the mission wraps, beef tongue and Sasa-kamaboko…
those are on expenses, right?” “…” Fushiguro went quiet for a few seconds, then turned his gaze to the window on his side.
“If you can manage to stay quiet for a bit, the expenses are something I’ll look into asking Gojo-sensei about.” “That works perfectly~” Uchiha Ayato nodded, thoroughly satisfied.
Disrupt the mission?
Not a chance.
He planned to be a spectator.
Let everything develop on its own natural course.
And then…
Pay Ryomen Sukuna — freshly awakened — a little visit.
Ryomen Sukuna, please don’t disappoint me, yeah?
To be continued…