Jujutsu Kaisen: I Can Manipulate Time.

Because this was just a student introduction, the teachers weren't present, which made the atmosphere a bit stiff.

Maki and Kamihara Hajime didn't seem to care at all. Inumaki Toge couldn't say anything even if he wanted to. Panda just gave a look that said, "I'm a panda. I don't get involved."

Yuta Okkotsu stood awkwardly, unsure of what to say. Explaining that their upperclassmen were busy with other matters might just sound like an excuse.

The Kyoto students remained silent as well—perhaps they shared Aoi Todo's sentiment. Then Kamo Noritoshi spoke up calmly, "Aoi Todo, maybe they really do have other priorities."

Aoi leaned forward, placing both hands on the table. His presence was imposing. "Doesn't matter. As long as we get a good fight out of it, that's all I care about."

Maki was just about to respond when Hajime stepped up with a grin.

"Hey, big guy, is strength really based on grade? I thought we had a ranking system for Jujutsu Sorcerers. Just so you know—kind guy that I am—I'll warn you in advance: you're going to lose."

Without waiting for a reply, Hajime pulled Yuta forward.

"Because our Big Brother Yuta Okkotsu here is a Special Grade! Oh? Do you have a Special Grade over there too?"

Todo, who had been seconds away from blowing up, suddenly turned serious. Special Grade? That was the pinnacle of strength. His own mentor, Yuki Tsukumo, held that rank.

Was this guy really the same?

"Eh? Eh??" Yuta blinked, caught off-guard by Hajime's sudden move.

Panda stepped up and added, "That's right. Big Brother Yuta is super strong."

Maki caught on quickly and played along, smirking. "Better not chicken out before it even starts."

"Salmon!" Inumaki echoed supportively.

Yuta nearly turned to stone. Maki-senpai, even you…? He wanted to explain. Sure, he was technically a Special Grade—but mostly because of Rika…

"Haha!"

After a beat of silence, Aoi Todo burst into genuine laughter. No tension, no panic. Just excitement. He looked Yuta straight in the eye.

"I look forward to it. This will be one hell of a fight."

Then, with grave seriousness, Todo asked, "Yuta Okkotsu... What kind of women do you like?"

Yuta froze, utterly confused.

Hajime, of course, knew what this was about. It wasn't some deep psychological trick. Todo just used it to judge whether someone was worthy of being his friend—an odd influence from his mentor, Yuki Tsukumo.

It reminded Hajime of how he once read that Todo instantly bonded with Yuji Itadori because of their shared taste in tall women with big butts.

Hajime patted Yuta's shoulder. "Yuta already has a girlfriend. I suggest you back off—unless you want to die a very ugly death."

Yuta chuckled nervously, knowing exactly who Hajime meant. Rika's probably my height now too…

"Tomorrow then!" Todo declared. "Let me see the power of a Special Grade!"

With that, he turned and walked away.

By now, most of the teachers had arrived. Hajime spotted Ieiri Shoko and Mei Mei chatting with Utahime Iori.

Gojo Satoru, meanwhile, had wandered off toward Principal Gakuganji. Whatever he said made the old man's face darken like thunderclouds.

Yaga Masamichi stepped forward to explain the rules of the exchange event.

"As usual, this will be a team battle. A Second Grade Curse and multiple Third Grade Curses have been released into the forest arena. The team that exorcises the Second Grade Curse first wins. If no clear winner emerges before sunset, the team with the higher number of exorcisms wins. Obstructing the other team is allowed."

He paused, then added, "But remember—this is not a battle to the death. Don't cause permanent damage. The purpose of this event is for you to learn about your comrades and yourselves."

The students nodded.

Before heading back to rest, Hajime went over to greet Mei Mei and the others. Utahime had a much better opinion of him than she did of Gojo, who never treated her with proper seniority.

Hajime didn't bother asking Ieiri Shoko any more questions about Reverse Cursed Technique—he had already gotten all he could from her. Compared to Gojo, she wasn't much better at explaining the finer points anyway.

That night, they rested.

---

The Next Day

After a short speech from Yaga, the two teams headed to their respective starting points. Hajime and his group stood in the dense forest.

Maki, gripping her long naginata, addressed the team.

"Remember the plan. Inumaki and I will deal with the low-grade Curses while tracking the Kyoto team. His first use of Cursed Speech could take some of them out right away.

"Yuta and Panda, take White Wolf and search the central area for the Second Grade Curse. Hajime, you'll operate solo. Target that Curse as well, and if you run into anyone, reduce their numbers."

White Wolf was allowed to participate since they only had five first-years. Yuta's strength, while classified as Special Grade, still partially relied on Rika, and the higher-ups on both sides were aware of that.

In reality, White Wolf's role was mostly support—tracking and backup, not direct combat.

"Got it," everyone replied.

They dispersed. Though the Second Grade Curse had been dropped near the center of the map, it could have moved by now.

Hajime hadn't brought his bow, Extermination, with him this time. The forest terrain made it impractical. With poor visibility and no Six Eyes like Gojo, close-quarters combat was more viable. So, he carried only a sword.

Meanwhile, Maki and Inumaki moved quietly through the woods. They encountered a Third Grade Curse—a mix between a toad and a lizard.

To finish quickly, Inumaki pulled down his collar.

"Stop."

Cursed Speech activated. The Curse froze in place, paralyzed under the overwhelming force of Inumaki's command. Maki dashed forward and took it out in one clean slash.

Back at the control center, Gakuganji and other instructors watched everything through several screens. The footage came from crows under Mei Mei's Black Bird Manipulation, giving them real-time views of the battlefield.

Hiring Mei Mei, of course, wasn't cheap. Though she worked closely with Jujutsu High, she was still a freelance sorcerer—and Gojo Satoru never missed a payment. Their history as classmates didn't hurt either.

Suddenly, one of the talismans on the wall burst into red flames.

These talismans were tied to each Curse, their Cursed Energy pre-recorded and tagged. If someone from Tokyo exorcised a Curse, the talisman burned red. Kyoto's would burn blue. For unregistered participants like Maki, any untagged result was counted as red.

"We're up one!" Gojo cheered, clapping.

Utahime, sitting nearby, scoffed. "You're a grown man. Act like it."

Moments later, another talisman lit up—this time blue. Utahime, who had just started to smile, slowly lowered her hand and cleared her throat.

"Ahem... composure is key. Small wins are nothing."

Then, she glanced sideways and saw Gojo suddenly seated beside her, grinning smugly.

"Come on, Utahime. You were obviously happy. Don't bottle up your emotions—you'll age faster. Want to end up looking like Principal Gakuganji?"

"You jerk!" Utahime exploded. "Show some respect for your seniors!"

Gojo leaned back, laughing. As usual, she couldn't hit him—his Technique would block it—and arguing was even more pointless. Frustrating as ever.

"Alright, alright, ignore him," Ieiri said with a wry smile, patting Utahime's shoulder.

Utahime sniffled and leaned into Ieiri's arms. "At least I have you, Shoko~"

Meanwhile, Gojo just kept watching the screens with an amused grin.

---

Flashback – The Kyoto Team's Strategy Meeting

The night before, the Kyoto students were deep in planning.

"I heard from Principal Gakuganji and Utahime-sensei that one of the Tokyo first-years is officially a Special Grade," Kamo Noritoshi said.

"But there's likely some backstory to that. Either way, here's the plan. Nishimiya will handle aerial surveillance. Mai, Mechamaru, and Kasumi will exorcise the Curses and try to sabotage the enemy. First priority: take out that dog. No eyes, no info."

He turned to Todo.

Aoi Todo crossed his arms. "I don't care about your strategy. I'm going to find that Special Grade first-year. That's the only fight I care about."

Kamo nodded. "Fine. That's Todo's role."

"And I'll find the Second Grade Curse and exorcise it as fast as possible," Kamo continued. "Regardless of how or why someone's classified as Special Grade, never take them lightly. Avoid their strengths and use what advantages we have."

Mai frowned. "Doesn't that feel like we're playing it too safe?"

Kamo replied seriously, "No, Special Grades are monsters. Underestimating them is a mistake we can't afford."

---

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