Jujutsu Kaisen: False Dawn

"Ah, wait, Maki, do you want some soda??? Here, have a can. I opened it and don't want it."

Maki blinked from the doorway. She glanced back at Ren, saw the can held out toward her, and—without much thought—walked over.

Her cheeks were tinged with a faint pink as she grabbed it out of his hand.

She drank it fast, avoiding his eyes the entire time.

Then she turned around again and started walking out of the classroom.

But…

Her step wobbled.

Her vision blurred.

She blinked and looked up… up—just in time to see it.

A massive curtain descending over the entire school.

"What the—"

But she didn't finish that thought.

Her knees gave way—

And Ren caught her.

He pulled her back into the classroom and made her sit gently on the nearest seat.

She was already out cold.

"Nothing like a few sleeping pills," Ren said with a smirk. "Ok, that's step 1 done. Now step 2..."

He stepped outside the school slowly, his posture calm and deliberate.

Then—

BOOM!!

Ren turned his head to the right.

He narrowed his eyes.

"Hmm, that must be Geto and Panda and Inumaki fighting. Great, good! Step 2 is going nicely... now when I hear a big curse in the sky, that should be my cue to find Geto..."

He walked near a tree, standing still as his cursed energy subtly began wrapping over him.

He waited.

And then—

BOOOMM!!

The sound ripped through the air like a truck smashing through concrete.

Ren muttered, "Ah, there is my cue. That was like the sound of a truck smashing a house or something."

He braced his legs and then jumped.

Cursed energy surged through his circuit, his body reinforcing under the strain.

He shot up into the air like a bullet.

And there—high above—he spotted them.

Geto.

And a curse.

Panda was already on the ground, beat up bad. Inumaki didn't look much better—slumped and unconscious nearby.

Perfect timing.

Ren thrust his hand forward.

A red string fired out—latching, whipping, anchoring.

Ren swung with full speed toward the fight.

Geto was smiling, standing above the wreckage. His voice was loud, almost gleeful.

"Ahh, I am so immensely moved right now! You came here to rescue Ren Sato! Correct, sorcerers risking their lives to save another sorcerer! Affection! Admiration! The world I've longed for right before my very eyes!"

WOOSH!

BAMMMM!!

Ren came flying in like a cannonball, red string trailing behind.

His fist slammed hard into Geto's face.

The impact cracked the air. Geto was flung backward violently, crashing through part of the building.

Ren landed, crouched, and stood.

"Ugh, fucker... if you wanted me, then you should have just come to ME!"

He kept the anger loud, like it was about his friends. Like he was charging in out of righteous fury.

But in truth—Ren's thoughts were cold and calculated.

'Hmm, I'm sure I punched his face. It was a hit. But his face was hard… almost like hitting iron or something… But again, this is the first time I'm fighting a special grade who's a human…'

The building groaned. Debris fell.

Then—Geto emerged, brushing dust off his robes, still smiling.

"Ah, that was so fast. Your cursed energy control is truly impressive; I did not sense you till the end..."

Ren didn't answer.

He dashed forward again—his cursed energy spiking.

No hesitation.

Fist after fist, jab after jab.

Ren unleashed a barrage—fast, heavy, and relentless.

Geto, to his credit, kept up. His own movements were fluid and reactive. He blocked most of the punches, but not all of them.

Then—

Ren reached.

Almost grabbed Geto's hand.

Geto instinctively pulled away—but—

Snap!

Ren smiled.

A red thread had already wrapped around Geto's wrist.

And now Ren pulled. Hard.

The tension snapped like a whip.

Geto was yanked out of the ruined building and smashed into another behind him. It cracked open from the force.

He retaliated instantly—releasing curses that pushed Ren back across the ground.

Ren skidded, landed, and rebounded.

He stood again and thought, 'Ah, hand-to-hand he's better, but Red Stitch was a little tricky to fight against, huh? But he adapted fast... huh, there is really no way for me to beat him without rika Ha... but again, I am only testing my limits…'

Geto stepped back into view, his tone amused.

"Ah, you don't look like much of a speaker, huh? But still, you're impressive. What was that red string? Hmm, your cursed technique?"

As he spoke, a worm-like cursed spirit emerged from behind him.

From its open maw, a red handle protruded.

Geto reached in and pulled.

Out came a three-section staff.

Playful Cloud.

Ren's eyes narrowed. 'A cursed tool… but I wonder how much of a difference it makes…'

No time to think.

He leapt straight at Geto, cursed energy surging.

But—

WHAM!!

WHACK!!

Geto moved. He struck. Ren got hit—hard, more than once, the three-section staff moving like a blur.

Ren was sent flying back.

He crashed into the student dorms. Wood splintered. Walls broke. Thankfully, the place was supposed to be empty.

Ren pushed himself back to his feet, shoulders twitching.

He smiled faintly and cracked his neck.

Geto jumped through the wall after him, landing with grace, Playful Cloud spinning in his hand.

"You can't win, Ren. Even if you summon Rika, you should know this. There is a difference between special grades… and ones I win. I will take over and change this world!"

Ren was still smiling, about to respond—

But—

Someone else spoke.

"With this treasure, I summon… Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga!!!"

Ren turned around.

And there he was.

Megumi Fushiguro.

Doing that stupid-ass pose, serious expression and all, as the shadow behind him loomed.

Ren only muttered:

"You've got to be fucking with me, right?"