Riko's scream still echoed through the suite when the door burst open. Kuroi came riding in atop one of Geto's smaller curses - the creature's expression distinctly unamused at being used as transportation. The maid nearly tumbled off in her haste, her shoes skidding across marble as she bowed deeply.
"Riko-sama! These men are your allies!" she gasped, gesturing wildly at the trio. "Assigned by Master Tengen himself!"
Gojo flopped back on the couch, stretching his arms behind his head. "This brat's more aggressive than I expected. I was trying to figure out how to be considerate," he lied effortlessly. "Thought she'd be more sentimental about the whole assimilation thing."
Riko paused mid-tantrum, suddenly petting Geto's cursed spirit with unexpected gentleness. A small laugh escaped her. "A commoner way of thinking!"
"HUH?"
"Listen up!" In one fluid motion, she vaulted onto the curse's back, striking a dramatic pose as the creature sighed in resignation. "Tengen-sama is me, and I'm Tengen-sama!" The chandelier light caught her white headband as she pointed imperiously. "Some might mistake assimilation for death, as you do... But there's a big difference!"
Naoya finally looked up from his magazine, one eyebrow arched. Geto's cup paused halfway to his lips.
"I might become Tengen-sama through assimilation," Riko declared, fist pressed to her chest, "but Tengen-sama will also become me! My will, my heart and my soul will continue to live on!"
Silence.
Then-
The three sorcerers were huddled around Gojo's phone, completely ignoring her. "Dude, your wallpaper is trash," Geto said, poking at the screen.
"That's your face," Gojo shot back.
"LISTEN TO ME!" Riko shrieked, her voice cracking with fury.
"I bet you don't have many friends if you talk like that," Gojo mused, still scrolling through his gallery.
"We won't have to feel bad sending you off," Geto added cheerfully.
"She's ugly too," Naoya yawned, flipping a magazine page.
"I TALK NORMALLY AT SCHOOL!" Riko's fists trembled at her sides. Then realization struck. "SCHOOL!!!" She whirled toward Kuroi. "Kuroi, what time is it?!"
"It's close to noon, but going to school right now would be-"
"Be quiet! I said I'm going, and I'm going!" Riko stormed toward the door, her crooked headband bouncing with each furious step.
...
"This is an order from Tengen-sama. Fulfill all of Riko Amanai's demands."
The phone clicked as Yaga ended the call.
"Tsk." Gojo rolled his eyes and tossed his phone onto the couch. "Lax upbringing at its finest."
Geto sighed, brushing his bangs aside.
"Don't be like that, Satoru. After the assimilation, she'll spend the rest of her life as Tengen-sama..." His voice dropped slightly. "Locked away on the deepest floor of Jujutsu High. As the foundation of all barriers."
"She won't see friends, family... anyone precious to her ever again," Geto added, voice quiet.
A soft voice interrupted from the behind.
"Riko-sama has no family," Kuroi said stiffly, clutching a small handkerchief. "They died in an accident when she was little. I've been raising her since then."
She straightened her posture, gathering her resolve.
"That's why... I want her to have whatever time she can with her friends."
Geto's expression softened.
"So you're her family, then."
Kuroi flushed but didn't respond, turning her gaze away.
Meanwhile, Gojo scratched his head lazily, shifting the mood back.
"Hey, Suguru. What about the cursed spirits following Amanai? They still hanging around?"
Geto, who had been feeling a subtle presence lingering earlier, now furrowed his brow in focus.
"No," he said. "Two of them have been exorcised."
He turned his head toward the pool, where Naoya was sitting casually, dipping his fingers into the water like he didn't have a care in the world.
"Naoya, stand up," Geto called. "They're gone."
"What? Your balls?"
"…"
…
In a small, run-down food shop, a man sat lazily at the counter, eating his meal while watching boat races on the flickering TV.
It was Toji Fushiguro, looking as relaxed as if he didn't have a care in the world.
Suddenly, his flip phone buzzed. He answered without even looking, chewing slowly.
"What, they didn't go back to Jujutsu High?" Toji asked, a little surprised, his eyes still glued to the screen. "Lucky me."
"Are you sure?" the voice on the other end asked, sounding tense.
"about what?"
"The bounty," the voice said. "It's tied to the thirty million deposit the Star Religious Group paid you."
If someone else kills the Star Plasma Vessel, the deposit's gone. Worst case, you might not even get the full reward."
Toji scoffed, still focused on the race.
"They might start whining that they could've just posted a public bounty instead of hiring you," the voice added.
Toji finally leaned back, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Gojo Satoru's guarding the girl. He's the first in centuries to inherit both the Six Eyes and the Limitless Technique."
He paused, a glint of amusement in his eye.
"And... Naoya Zenin's with them too. Considering how prideful the Zenin clan is, seeing him actually attend Jujutsu High is... surprising. Honestly, it's shocking."
He tossed some coins on the counter to pay for his meal, standing up slowly.
"No one's killing the Star Plasma Vessel with those two around," he said casually, almost bored.
"Not even you?" the voice pressed.
For a moment, Toji didn't answer. Then, with a smirk, he snapped the phone shut and muttered:
"Who knows?"
…
Geto, Gojo, Naoya, and Kuroi sprinted through the school halls, each splitting off to search in different directions.
Naoya, already knowing where Amanai might be from his memories, quickly motioned for Gojo to follow.
"Over here," Naoya said, his voice sharp and confident.
They rushed toward a classroom at the end of the corridor.
"Amanai!" Gojo barked, sliding the door open without a care for courtesy.
Inside, the classroom was packed — filled entirely with girls.
This was a girls-only school, after all.
Naoya walked in just a step behind Gojo, hands in his pockets, his usual half-bored expression on his face.
For a moment, there was complete silence.
Then—
Whispers exploded around the room like a tidal wave.
"Who are they?"
"So handsome...!"
"Which one do you think is Amanai's boyfriend?"
"They are tall"
"That white-haired one is hot, but the other one—!"
"I like the one with the sharper eyes... He looks dangerous..."
Naoya smirked, something wicked flashing in his eyes.
He sauntered a few steps closer to Amanai and, loud enough for the whole room to hear, said:
"Yo, Amanai... Why didn't you tell everyone your boyfriend was coming to pick you up?"
The entire classroom exploded with gasps and squeals.
Amanai's face turned bright red instantly.
Her mouth opened and closed like she couldn't find any words.
Before she could even react properly, Gojo, never one to miss a chance to stir the pot, casually threw an arm over Amanai's shoulder with a lazy grin.
"Boyfriend? Hey, hey, I'm her boyfriend too, you know."
The class went insane.
"EHHH?! Riko-chan has TWO boyfriends?!"
"Is this a love triangle??"
"No way— lucky!!!"
"They're both so hot, it's unfair!"
"I want to be her!!!"
Naoya burst out laughing at the look of absolute horror on Amanai's face.
Amanai, redder than a tomato, stomped her foot.
"YOU IDIOTS! STOP SAYING WEIRD THINGS!!"
Gojo ruffled her hair teasingly.
"Aww, don't be shy, Amanai~ You're super popular right now."
Naoya clicked his tongue and stepped forward, glaring mockingly at Gojo.
"Tch. Back off, Gojo. She's mine. Go cry somewhere else."
Gojo shoved Naoya lightly with his shoulder, grinning wider.
"As if, loser. She told me she loves guys with white hair."
The girls screamed like they were watching the final episode of a drama.
They crowded around, egging them on.
"Fight for her!!!"
"Pick her up in your arms!!!"
"Naoya-kun, Gojo-kun, don't hold back!!!"
Amanai, absolutely mortified, covered her face and screamed:
"NONE OF THIS IS TRUE!! STOP MAKING IT WORSE!!"
As Gojo opened his mouth, ready to escalate the chaos even further, he froze.
His eyes sharpened behind his sunglasses — his Six Eyes had caught something.
Something hostile.
Without missing a beat, Gojo flicked his gaze to Naoya.
"Naoya. Let's Move."
Naoya immediately caught the shift in Gojo's tone. His playful smirk dropped, replaced by cold sharpness.
Without hesitating, he strode forward, grabbing a still-panicking Amanai by the wrist.
"Let's go," he muttered.
Amanai barely had time to react before Naoya was dragging her after Gojo, weaving through the stunned classroom of girls, who blinked in confusion at the sudden change in atmosphere.