At three in the afternoon, Kyoto Station was packed with people.
On the platform, boys and girls carrying light luggage gathered in twos and threes, chattering about their upcoming trip to the snowy mountains, their eyes bright with barely contained excitent.
After all, who could turn down a free trip on the school's di, with food and lodging included?
They were technically heading out on a mission to exorcise Cursed Spirits, but the students all knew that with Naoya-sensei personally leading the team, it was basically the sa as having a demon lord bodyguard.
All they had to do was treat the mission like a school trip and get ready to have fun.
Yet among the lively crowd, three figures stood out in particular.
Momo Nishimiya stood at the edge of the platform with her arms crossed, her golden twin tails swaying slightly in the cold wind. Her chin was lifted high, and she wore an expression that said no strangers were welco.
"Hmph. What a bunch of sheltered kids. It's just a hot spring inn. Is it really worth getting this excited over?"
She muttered with clear disdain, her tone full of contempt.
But even as she said that, the girl's fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.
Oh my god!
Wasn't this basically a school trip?!
Momo Nishimiya had heard ages ago that Japanese high school students had events like this. Back when she used to lie in bed watching dramas, every ti she saw this kind of scene, she would get so excited that she kicked her feet, thinking that if her own student life never included a pillow fight, and was instead like Aricans only knowing how to do drugs, pop champagne, and party, then her life would truly be over.
So after transferring to Japan for school, this blond mixed-race girl had actually been looking forward to this kind of event the whole ti.
Unfortunately, easy, happy days like that simply did not exist in the life of a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Fireworks festivals, beach barbecues, ski trips...
None of those things had anything to do with Jujutsu Sorcerers.
Because Cursed Spirits did not take vacations.
So naturally, neither did Jujutsu Sorcerers.
But she never would have imagined that the school trip she had dread about would actually happen in this form!!!
Not only could she prove her strength in front of Naoya Zenin and secure the teaching assistant position, she could also experience a snowy mountain hot spring for the first ti...
Was there anything in this world better than that?!
Of course, she would rather die than let Mai and Kasumi find out what she was thinking.
That was why Momo Nishimiya kept her face pulled tight.
If the corners of her mouth rose even a single pixel, the two girls beside her would catch her weakness and drag her off for a public execution.
After all, Momo Nishimiya's established image had always been that of Naoya Zenin's sworn enemy.
Although she was constantly using her head to ram into the soles of Naoya Zenin's shoes, that did not stop this mixed-race girl from enduring humiliation in silence and swearing to make that arrogant man understand what it ant when people said fortunes could change, so never underestimate a poor girl!!!
So in front of Mai Zenin and Kasumi Miwa, she could only slander him.
Slander every single thing about Naoya Zenin.
"The textbook says Yuki-onna only appear on blizzard nights. Looks like we're staying up all night."
Not far away, Mai Zenin leaned against a cold stone pillar, both hands tucked into her pockets, her face still carrying that cool, detached look.
Although Yuki-onna were Grade 3 Cursed Spirits and not especially strong or dangerous, the problem was that they were not as conspicuous as other Cursed Spirits. They hid themselves in the wind and snow, so not only trainee students like them, but even so experienced Jujutsu Sorcerers were at a loss when it ca to exorcising Yuki-onna.
Because that ant going deep into the mountains and forests, then exorcising the Cursed Spirit in the middle of a blizzard.
No matter how strong a Jujutsu Sorcerer's Cursed Energy was, few people could hold out against a natural disaster.
On top of that, the reward for exorcising a Grade 3 Cursed Spirit was ager. The ti, effort, and cost involved simply were not worth it, so most private Jujutsu Sorcerers were basically unwilling to take on this kind of mission.
After all, once spring ca next year and winter ended, the Yuki-onna would naturally disappear. For a niche, unpopular Cursed Spirit like this, people could just close their eyes and pretend they had not seen it.
As for the damage caused in the anti, the only ones who had to suffer were the people living in the mountains.
And so troubleso, thankless sses like exorcising Yuki-onna usually ended up falling on Jujutsu High's shoulders.
After all, for Satoru Gojo, handling this kind of mission only required finding a bit of ti to teleport over.
A task that would take soone else a week could be solved by him in a single thought.
But why use a sledgehamr to crack a nut?
Although the Jujutsu World had always been using Satoru Gojo, that enormous sledgehamr, to smash nuts like crazy, there were simply too many nuts in the world. Gojo's hamr had been worn dull from all the smashing, and more than half of them were still bouncing around alive and well.
You also could not expect a superhero capable of saving the Earth to spend every day haggling at the market and helping old ladies cross the road.
So for missions below Grade 1, Satoru Gojo basically had no authority to intervene, and they were fully handed over to other Jujutsu Sorcerers.
Ti-consuming and labor-intensive missions like exorcising Yuki-onna were usually assigned to students, those workhorses, to complete together. At most, an assistant manager would be called over to watch the scene.
A mission like this one, where Naoya Zenin was making such a grand production of it, was truly a first in the academy.
And this school-funded trip even counted toward attendance!
In other words, as long as they signed up, everyone could do absolutely nothing and simply close their eyes and enjoy themselves.
"I'll take the night watch!"
Kasumi Miwa stepped forward without hesitation, katana in hand, accepting the challenge with a solemn expression.
"If the Yuki-onna appears in the middle of the night, I'll sound the alarm right away. When that happens, forget about the spirit of Bushido. We'll all rush it together and send that Cursed Spirit straight to the afterlife!!!"
Though Kasumi Miwa spoke with righteous conviction, no one knew that this was the blue-haired girl's diversionary tactic.
As long as she was in charge of the night watch, if the Yuki-onna appeared, there was no way she would wake Momo Nishimiya and Mai Zenin!
All Kasumi Miwa had to do was shout, slash with her sword, and she could claim all the credit for herself, taking the MVP title for this match!
Then wouldn't the teaching assistant position be safely in her pocket?
Although Nishimiya-senpai and Mai both said they did not want to compete for the teaching assistant position, what if?
What if soone was just pretending to be sweet so they could stab in the back?
Kasumi Miwa had lost her parents at a young age. She had to support her whole family by herself and raise two younger brothers who still needed to be fed. Despite her age, she had already seen the coldness and warmth of the world!
A woman's mouth was full of lies!
Nishimiya-senpai didn't want to be a teaching assistant. That much, I believed. I could clear her as innocent on that point.
But Mai didn't want to be a teaching assistant?
Who are you trying to fool?!
If I hadn't already known about those shady little scandals between you and Naoya-sensei, I might actually have been tricked by you!
Mai!
You must already be scheming about how to stand out on this mission, then use that as an excuse for Naoya-sensei to pull strings and hand you the teaching assistant position through the back door!
I, Kasumi Miwa, will never allow such corruption to take root!
What would happen if you got the teaching assistant position?!
Wouldn't Naoya-sensei's office beco your love nest from then on?!
Mai, you're still too naive. You haven't been through society's hardships like your big sis Kasumi, and you've been brainwashed by your cousin since childhood, so you haven't awakened your independence as a woman. What if you two don't control yourselves and your belly starts growing?
You're only a first-year in high school!
If your belly gets big, won't you have no choice but to drop out?!
Clearly, Mai, you can't handle the teaching assistant position!
Let do it instead!
Let bear this sin. Let face that perverted teacher, your cousin who lays hands on his own sister, all by myself!!!
Unlike the girls, who were locked in a deranged battle of wits, the boys nearby were engaged in a serious academic discussion.
"I heard Yuki-onna are different from ordinary Cursed Spirits and look especially beautiful."
Aoi Todo's expression was extrely solemn.
"Do you think... she'll have a big butt?"
This question of the soul struck Noritoshi Kamo like a bolt from the blue.
Though he was the son of a concubine, he had received a noble education since childhood. Even without orthodox blood, he was still a proper young noble of Kyoto. How could he ever have heard such crude, vulgar words from Aoi Todo?
"Todo! That is a Cursed Spirit! Our enemy!"
The heir of the Kamo family was furious at his lack of standards.
"H-How could you ask such an absurd question? Are you saying that if the Yuki-onna looks like a tall, voluptuous woman, you won't be willing to exorcise her?!"
"Yeah."
Aoi Todo nodded.
"If the Yuki-onna really is a tall, mature beauty with a big butt, then all of you will be my enemies, Noritoshi Kamo. I'll fight to protect her until my last breath."
"What an absurd thought! Aoi Todo! Before that happens, I must act in Naoya-sensei's place and strike down a traitor to humanity like you!!!"
"Hmph. Shallow."
Aoi Todo only chuckled.
"If the Yuki-onna really is a beautiful woman with a big butt, then Master will definitely stand with and fight by my side! Are you saying Naoya-sensei is also a traitor to humanity?"
"Stop twisting words and stirring up trouble! If sothing like that truly happened, it would only be because Naoya-sensei saw in the Yuki-onna a chance for salvation and Buddhahood! Because he saw the possibility of reconciliation between humans and Cursed Spirits! It would absolutely not be because of the crude, lustful thinking of a pervert like you!!!"
The two argued louder and louder.
That was normal.
After all, Aoi Todo and Noritoshi Kamo were complete opposites.
One was free and unrestrained.
The other was elegant and refined.
So under normal circumstances, whenever these two t, sparks would fly, and they would inevitably end up in exactly this kind of argunt where they could not exchange more than half a sentence without clashing.
And once the argunt reached its peak, a third person would be dragged in to judge who was right.
"chamaru! You tell us! Who's right and who's wrong?!"
The two third-year seniors once again pushed the conflict onto chamaru, who stood nearby.
Normally, chamaru would calmly analyze the situation and then, from the standpoint of an absolutely neutral party, lecture both seniors.
But today was different.
chamaru gave no response. He only stood there silently, turning a deaf ear to Aoi Todo and Noritoshi Kamo's argunt, almost as if he had not heard them at all.
"...Is it broken?"
Aoi Todo walked over and slapped chamaru on the shoulder with considerable force.
After all, in his experience, if a machine broke, you just had to smack it a few tis. It was the sa as kicking a vending machine when it refused to drop your drink.
"It seems to have disconnected."
Noritoshi Kamo, on the other hand, knew a little about [Puppet Manipulation Technique], so he knew chamaru was being controlled from behind the scenes by a certain sorcerer. Because of that, there were occasional tis when the main body was resting.
"Co to think of it, what happens if we go beyond its technique range while riding the train?"
"I'll look after chamaru."
Compared to the irresponsible Aoi Todo, Noritoshi Kamo did have the bearing of a senpai.
"After all, as third-year students, we don't need to personally take the field to exorcise Cursed Spirits. Treating this as a training trip will be enough."
"Mm. As expected, I'd still rather listen to Master's lectures than exorcise Cursed Spirits."
When the topic shifted to Naoya Zenin, Aoi Todo and Noritoshi Kamo showed a surprisingly unified attitude. There was no disagreent between them, and their words were filled with admiration.
For Aoi Todo, there was no need to say much. Naoya Zenin's answer in class that day had already been enough to make him regard the man as his master for life.
As for Noritoshi Kamo, he had been won over by Naoya Zenin's vast knowledge. Whether it was his lecture on [Binding Vow], or his later explanations of [Cursed Technique Reversal] and [Reverse Cursed Technique], they were advanced techniques other teachers simply would not teach. The heir of the Kamo family had benefited greatly from them.
So whenever the topic involved Naoya Zenin, no matter how much the two disliked each other, they would set aside their differences and shake hands in peace.
"Quiet down."
A cool voice carrying unmistakable pressure rang out, instantly cutting through the noise on the platform.
Naoya Zenin wore his usual kimono and haori. His posture was straight as he walked step by step past the front of the crowd, his face still cold and distant.
The students imdiately fell silent and stood properly, their eyes full of awe.
"The train will arrive soon. Everyone board in order. No leaving the group without permission. No unauthorized use of Jujutsu."
Naoya Zenin's voice was not loud, but it carried an authority that allowed no argunt.
"Once we reach our destination, everything will follow my arrangents. If we encounter Cursed Spirits along the way, no one is to act without permission."
After giving the students their instructions, Naoya Zenin looked toward the man leaning behind a pillar not far away.
"Satoru, are you coming with us as well? I saw your na on the sign-up sheet."
"Huh? Oh, no, forget it."
Satoru Gojo clasped his hands behind his head, his tone utterly relaxed.
"I'd love to slack off too, but I've already spent too much ti in Kyoto recently dealing with the Star Religious Group. I just ca over to join the fun before leaving. I'll be heading to Tokyo for a mission soon."
"From the way you say that, it sounds like you'll be staying in Tokyo for quite so ti."
"Well, even though I'm the strongest, missions involving ordinary civilians always end up taking a lot of ti."
The white-haired man wearing a blindfold looked at the students in front of him and could not help but reminisce.
"This really takes back. Back when I was still in school, I went out on a mission with my classmates once too. We didn't have a teacher leading us back then, but I was with Suguru, Shoko, Nanami, and Haibara. Those days really were incredibly happy. It felt just like a school trip."
A faint smile rose unconsciously on Satoru Gojo's lips.
"At the ti, I was thinking that we were practically like a real family... I think Suguru probably felt the sa way back then too. But why did things turn out like that afterward? Naoya Zenin, why do you think that happened? Why did it end up that way?"
"Looking back on youth, we walked together singing among green mountains, lively and carefree. Yet ti flows like water and leaves only desolation. Beauty has not yet aged, but the heart is already lonely."
Naoya Zenin spoke lightly.
"A flower that has just blood may scatter and wither. Human changeability is also part of human nature. Satoru, there is no need to dwell on it too much."
"...No, wait. Are we really the sa age? Why do you always talk in these polished lines? You sound like your education level is more than one tier above mine."
Though Satoru Gojo complained, his gloomy mood had clearly improved a great deal.
"Speaking of which, Utahi asked to pass along a ssage. She said the alcohol brewed with snowlt over in Hokkaido tastes really good, and she wants you to bring her back a few bottles."
"I have no interest in running errands for won."
"Hey, what kind of outdated thinking is that? Can't you just treat it as a gift? A local specialty, you know, a local specialty. Don't I usually bring you all little gifts whenever I visit?"
"You've never brought anything, have you?"
"...Eh?"
Naoya Zenin's question instantly made Satoru Gojo freeze.
"Have I?"
He scratched his head.
"Now that you ntion it, I really don't think I've ever brought you a gift. Then next ti. Next ti, I'll bring you sothing good."
"Fine. Next ti, then."
Satoru Gojo looked at Naoya Zenin, then suddenly spoke with a solemn expression.
"Naoya Zenin, I have to admit sothing. You do seem like a good teacher."
"I'm only doing what falls within my duties."
"Is that so?"
Satoru Gojo did not refute him. He only thought for a mont, then spoke again.
"Speaking of which... what you said last ti, about sitting together beneath the night cherry blossoms in Aoyama and drinking fine wine. Does that still stand?"
"Of course."
"Then let's pick a ti next ti."
Satoru Gojo raised an eyebrow.
"I don't drink, though. Is milk tea okay?"
...
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