Things were busy that summer. The frequent disasters of the past year probably played a role, but cursed spirits were springing up like maggots. Exorcise, absorb. Over and over. Exorcise. Absorb. No one else understands what cursed spirits taste like.

--- a couple days ago ---

"Hey, Suguru-san... what do cursed spirits taste like?" Kuina asks as she swings upside down from the money bars by her legs, "you always silently absorb these spirits, but surely if they're evil, they don't taste nice. They don't smell nice, either".

"Who would have known you're four" Suguru says with a slight chuckle, "you sound like a fifty year old".

"Not fair" Kuina says as she throws some popcorn at Suguru, "but seriously, it can't be nice at all".

"You're right. It's not nice" Suguru says as he looks down, "it's like swallowing a dirty rag that's been used to clean up shit and vomit".

"Nasty" Kuina says as she grimaces.

--- present day ---

Exorcise. Absorb. 'What I witnessed isn't uncommon. I understood the ugliness of the masses, and still chose to be a jujutsu sorcerer to save others'. That's what I've been telling myself since that day. Ever since that day...

--- the next day ---

"Apparently, this used to be the home of the president of a company managing a local chain of barbeque restaurants" Utahime explains as she and Mei are driven to the location of their next mission, "however, in July of last year, the mad cow disease breakout dealt a fatal blow to his restaurants, so he committed suicide with his family after they were buried under vast debt. From then on, local rumours claim the president's home was haunted, so local school kids, college students from outside the prefecture, job-hoppers and others would visit it as part of a test of courage, and subsequently go missing. Those rumours brought about more rumours and the damage just continued to spread".

"Rumours do tend to spread rather quickly around haunted spots" Mei says as she texts someone on her phone, "they can spread at an unbelievable pace nowadays, thanks to the internet. This all just means even more work for us jujutsu sorcerers".

"In addition to that, three grade school kids went missing on their way home from school" Utahime says as she adds to the temporary report, "there's also a high chance the families, police, colleagues, and friends who trace the path of those who disappeared will reach the mansion and become victims themselves. We have to sever the root of this issue as soon as possible".

"HQ sent us to investigate because they reached the same conclusion" Mei says as she looks out of the window, "they're even paying my fees which aren't cheap".

"Did you overcharge them again?" Utahime asks as she looks at Mei from over her right shoulder.

"You make it sound bad" Mei says with a please smile, "call it negotiation".

"We're here" Mei and Utahime's assistant announces as they pull up outside the aforementioned mansion.

"Let's go then" Mei says as she opens the door of the car.

"Emerge from darkness, blacker than darkness" Utahime says as she stands at the entrance of the ground, "purify that-".

"There's no need for a veil" Mei says as she puts her hand on Utahime's shoulder.

"Huh?" Utahime says as she looks at Mei.

"I don't sense the presence of any curses" Mei says as she walks up the stairs to the front door, "the cause is almost certainly inside the building. You can cast the veil later if we end up attacking it from outside".

"It's open" Utahime says as she cracks the front door open slightly, "seems like something is blocking the door" she says as she manages to slip inside, "what is all of this? Mei-san".

"It's here" Mei says as she walks inside as well, "and it's all around us, too" she says as she throws Utahime a flashlight, "let's get going. I don't need that, but you do, right?".

"Thank you" Utahime says as she follows Mei, "alright" she says as she makes it into the foyer, "incredible" Mei turns on the power to the mansion, "oh, it still has electricity".

"For now, let's have a look inside the building" Mei says as she walks towards one of the hallways, "I'll take this floor, you take the second".

"Huh? All by myself?" Utahime questions as she looks at Mei.

"Is there a problem with that?" Mei asks as she stands in the doorway to the hallway.

"No, it's fine" Utahime says reluctantly.

"Off you go, then" Mei says as she slips into the hallway.

"Okay" Utahime says as she starts to walk up the stairs, starting to check all of the different rooms, "this is the last one" she says as she opens the door, shining the flashlight inside.

She hears something inside the room so she goes in, checking under the bed when she sees a group of three mice. Utahime flinches as she runs out of the room, slamming the door. Mei comes from behind her, putting her hand on Utahime's shoulder as Utahime screams.

"You should be the next big Scream Queen" Mei says as she pulls Utahime with her down the hallway.

"Jeez, please don't startle me like that!" Utahime says as she moves Mei's hand from her shoulder.

"You got startled all on your own" Mei says as she crouches down.

"Are you done exploring the first floor?" Utahime asks as she looks at Mei.

"Hmm? This is the first floor" Mei says as she stands up straight, "I was walking down the first floor hallway".

"Huh? What? But, I... I know I entered a room at the end of the hallway..." Utahime says as she looks down the hallway.

"A box of candy" Mei says as she points her umbrella to a box on the floor, "a bag of potato chips. Cans. A backpack. A sweatshirt. I've already seen this three times. And see these marks? I made them on my way here. It would seem that we're already in the belly of the beast".

"Huh? For real?" Utahime says confused, "how long is this hallway?".

"We've been moving for thirty minutes, so about four kilometres so far" Mei says as she and Utahime make their way down the infinite hallway.

"It's not an innate domain, is it?" Utahime asks as she looks around.

"It's not" Mei says calmly, "those are manifestations of the spirit's mindscape. Which means... this is a barrier. Most likely, the victims were trapped inside this and then killed by the cursed spirit. Though, considering the use of this technique, the cursed spirit itself should be weak. So if we can just escape this barrier... now, quiz time. How would you break this, Utahime?".

"This hallway is repeating itself" Utahime says as she stops walking for a second, "at first I thought you could shape them like a doughnut".

"I'm surprised you can touch them" Mei says as she watches Utahime.

"But we passed by four of the marks we made, right?" Utahime says as she traces the circle with her fingertip, "when I calculated how many paces apart they were, I got... 122, 203, 157, and 270 paces. So the spacing between the marks was random".

"I see" Mei says impressed.

"The interval between repetitions isn't standardised" Utahime says as she holds her finger up, "which means that, most likely... this barrier is patching spaces together. So if we both run down the hallway at top speed, then at some point... it'll break".

"Close. Ninety points" Mei says as she pats Utahime's head.

"What's the remaining ten?" Utahime asks as she looks at Mei.

"When we run, we do so in opposite directions at the same time" Mei says proudly.

"I get it!" Utahime says as she stands up, "so my patching theory was correct, and if we quickly advance in different directions, that makes it harder for the cursed spirit to hold the barrier together. And once we have that opening, we might be able to get out".

"One hundred points" Mei says as she points at Utahime.

"Then, with that settled..." Utahime says as she balls her fists, "if this works, I'll be expecting a promotion".

"How much do you have in savings?" Mei asks as she gets into position.

"What?" Utahime asks as she gets ready, too.

"Never mind. I'll think about it" Mei says with a slight chuckle.

"Right!" Utahime says with a nod, "okay, ready, set... go!" she says as she starts to run, the hallway becoming distorted, "we did it! Wait, what?!" she says as the ground starts to break, too.

Utahime is thrown outside as the rubble from the house is throw up into the air, Utahime landing on the ground.

"What the hell was that?" Utahime says as she pulls herself from the rubble.

"Utahime!" someone familiar to Utahime says as she looks around, "I'm here to save you!" Satoru, who is currently in his second year of school, says as he stands on some of the broken remains, "you crying?".

"I'm not crying!" Utahime, who is currently a second grade jujutsu sorcerer, says angrily, "and be more polite".

"If I was crying, would you console me?" Mei, who is currently a first grade jujutsu sorcerer, asks as she walks out of the rubble, completely untouched, "I'd certainly appreciate that".

"Nah, you wouldn't cry, Mei-san" Satoru says as he looks at Mei, "you're strong!".

"That so?" Mei asks with a chuckle.

"Gojo! You listen here!" Utahime says angrily as she stands up, "I don't need your hel-" she says as a large cursed spirit appears from the rubble behind her.

"Don't swallow it" Suguru, who is a second year high school student, says as he launches one his techniques on the cursed spirit, "I'll absorb it later" he says as he walks towards them all, "Satoru, it's not fair to pick on the weak".

"What kind of idiot picks on the strong?" Satoru asks as he looks at Suguru.

"You're the one fanning the flames like it comes naturally, Geto-kun" Mei says with a slight chuckle.

"Utahime-senpai!" Shoko, who is a second year high school student, calls as she walks over, "are you okay?".

"Shoko!" Utahime calls as she spots Shoko.

"I was worried about you" Shoko says as she waves to Utahime, "we hadn't heard from you for two whole days".

"Shoko!" Utahime calls as she runs to Shoko, "Shoko! Don't let yourself turn out like those two!".

"I won't turn into trash like them" Shoko says as she pats Utahime's back.

"That path Utahime walked is falling apart" Satoru shouts to Suguru.

"Shut up!" Suguru pokes fun.

"Wait, two days?" Utahime asks as she looks at Shoko.

"Ah, was that cursed spirit's barrier one of them that messes with time?" Satoru asks as he looks over at Mei, "they're rare, but they do happen now and then. I thought it was odd, since Mei-san was with you".

"Seems like it was" Mei says as she folds her arms.

"Something the matter?" Satoru asks as he tilts his head.

"No. Just realised I was actually doing two days' labour" Mei says as she bites the inside of her cheek, "that means extra fees paid out to me".

"She's planning to overcharge again" Utahime says as she looks at Mei.

"That aside, what about the veil, you three?" Mei asks as she looks at Satoru, Suguru and Shoko who all group together.

--- at the school ---

Next, the explosion that occurred yesterday in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. The explosion was caused by the degradation of gas pipes.

The news says as the door to the classroom opens.

"Why do I always have to reprimand you three?" Yaga asks as he wipes his forehead.

"Yaga, I say expel them. Especially Satoru" 4 year old Kuina says as she walks into the room behind Yaga, clutching her teddy bear.

"One of you three said they'd cast the veil themselves and left your assistant supervisor behind, didn't you?" Yaga says as he crouches down in front of Suguru, Shoko and Satoru who all kneel down on the floor, "and then you forgot the veil. Come forward".

"My money's on the white haired one" Kuina says as she sits down, not wanting to say her brother's name.

"Pipe down, mini Gojo" Yaga says as he rolls his eyes, "I'll ask you again. Who is responsible?".

Yaga and Kuina watch as Suguru and Shoko point at Satoru.

"Sensei! Why don't we stop this hunt for the culprit?!" Satoru asks as he puts his hand up in the air.

"So it was you, Satoru" Yaga says as he punches Satoru on the top of the head.

"Idiot" Kuina says as she shakes her head.

"Shut up" Satoru says as he looks at Kuina who sticks her tongue out at him.

--- in the gym ---

"Is a veil that necessary in the first place?" Satoru asks as he unlocks the door to the school gym, "it's not like it matters if normies see it or not, right? They can't see cursed spirits or cursed techniques, anyway".

"Of course it's not good for them to see" Kuina says as she runs over to the trampoline in the corner of the gym.

"Kuina's right. The strongest deterrent against the outbreak of a cursed spirit is the mental calm of the populace" Suguru says as he picks up the basketball near the basketball hoop, "that's exactly why we have to seal the threats they can't even see as much as possible. And that's not all-".

"Yeah, yeah, I get it" Satoru says as he rolls his eyes.

"Shoko, come play on the trampoline with me!" Kuina says as she waves to Shoko.

"Hell yeah!" Shoko says excitedly as she runs over to Kuina.

"Looking our for the weak is exhausting, honestly" Satoru says as he takes the ball from Suguru, dunking it in the hoop.

"Survival of the weakest" Suguru says as Satoru throws the ball at him, "that's how a society should be. The weak help each other and discourage any who are too strong. Listen, Satoru. Jujutsu exists to protect non jujutsu sorcerers".

"Is that your moral argument?" Satoru asks as Suguru throws the ball, missing the hoop, "I hate moral arguments".

"What?" Suguru says as he looks at Satoru.

"Assigning reasons and responsibility to strength is what those who are weak do" Satoru says as the ball rolls back over to him, Satoru picking up the ball, throwing it as it slips through the hoop, "quit making yourself feel better by spouting bullshit".

"Let's make a run for it" Shoko says as she grabs Kuina's hand.

"No, screw that. I'm staying here" Kuina says as she sits down.

"Want to take this outside, Satoru?" Suguru asks as he uses his technique.

"You feeling lonely?" Satoru asks as he brings his sunglasses down, "go by yourself. I've got to babysit".

"I think I'd be safer on my own" Kuina says as she rolls her eyes.

The door rattles as the two of them stop what they're doing, Kuina hiding behind the equipment in the corner since she's supposed to be in class right now.

"How long are you going to keep fooling around?" Yaga asks as he stands in the doorway to the gym, "where did Shoko go?".

"Who knows?" Suguru asks as he stretches his arms up in the air.

"Probably the bathroom" Satoru says as he puts his hands on the back of his head.

"Whatever. This mission is being assigned to the two of you" Yaga says as he looks at Satoru and Suguru, "what are those faces for?".

"Nothing" Satoru says as he adjusts his sunglasses.

"Follow me" Yaga says as he turns around, "Kuina, class, now!".

"Oh, why?! Please Yaga-sensei, let me go on one mission! I'm powerful, I swear!" Kuina says as she runs to Yaga.

"You're four, you're not going on a mission at four years old!" Yaga says as he ignores her.

"Please, Yaga! What is someone used some kind of power to help me grow up?" Kuina asks as she holds onto Yaga's wrist.

"Nope" Yaga says as she shakes his head.

"Spoil sport" Kuina says with a pout.

"Frankly, boys, I think this mission is too much for the two of you" Yaga says as Satoru and Suguru follow Yaga and Kuina out of the gym, "however, Tengen-sama asked for the two of you specifically. Your mission has two goals. The Star Plasma Vessel is the one compatible with Tengen-sama. You are to escort that girl and erase her".

"Escort a brat and erase her?" Satoru asks as Yaga opens the door to one of the classrooms.

"That's right" Yaga says as he pushes Kuina inside the room.

"Have you finally gone senile?" Satoru asks as he peeks around the corner.

"It is spring" Suguru says as he puts his hand on Satoru's shoulder, "he's probably got his head full with being the new principal. Jokes aside, though-".

"I'll be the one who decides if I let that off as a joke" Yaga says as he slides the door shut.

"Is this about renewing Tengen-sama's technique?" Suguru asks as he follows Yaga.

"Tengen-sama possessed the cursed technique of immortality" Yaga says as the three of them go into the next classroom over, "it's not eternal youth, however. It wouldn't be an issue if all he did was get older, but after his body ages to a certain point, the cursed technique begins rewriting his body. Evolution. He'll cease to be a human and become a higher form of existence".

"What's wrong with that?" Satoru asks as he sits down on one of the stools, "sounds cool".

"According to Tengen-sama, those who reach that state of being have no will" Suguru explains as he looks at Satoru, "it means Tengen-sama would cease to be Tengen-sama. All the jujutsu schools, the barriers that form the foundation of jujutsu society, that many barrier techniques of the assistant supervisor... they're all being strengthened by Tengen-sama. Without the aid of his power, we could hardly maintain security or clean up after missions. In the worst case scenario, Tengen-sama could even become a threat to mankind. That's why, every 500 years, he finds the Star Plasma Vessel- someone who is compatible with him- and assimilates them, overwriting the information of their body. By renewing his body, he resets his cursed technique back to the start and avoids evolution".

"I get it" Satoru says with a nod, "it would be fine if he returned to MetalGreymon, but we can't have him becoming SkullGreymon. So we have him start over from Koromon".

"What?" Suguru says as he thinks Satoru is referencing a video game, "yeah, sure, that works".

"The Star Plasma Vessel's location has been leaked" Yaga says as he folds his arms, "right now, there are two major groups after the young girl's life. One is the Curse User Group Q, which seeks to upend jujutsu society with Tengen-sama's rampage. The other is the Star Religious Group, also known as the 'Time Vessel Association', which worships Tengen-sama as a God. Tengen-sama will assimilate the Star Plasma Vessel two days from now. You are to protect the girl until then and ensure that she reaches Tengen-sama! If you fail, the effects will ripple throughout even normal society! Don't forget that!".

--- in the middle of the campus ---

"Yeah, but you know, I get why Curse User Group Q would be after her, but why would this Star Religious Group want to kill a brat?" Satoru asks as he grabs a drink from the vending machine.

"Their object of worship is the pure form of Tengen-sama" Suguru says as he and Satoru set off walking, "allowing the Star Plasma Vessel, in their minds, an impurity- to blend into him is unforgivable".

--- inside the building ---

Suguru: The Star Religious Group is an organisation of non-sorcerers. I don't think we need to pay them any mind. The ones to be wary of are Q.
Satoru: Well, I'm sure it'll be fine. We're the strongest, after all. That's why Tengen-sama asked for us specifically, right?
Suguru: *sighs*
Satoru: What is it?
Suguru: You know, Satoru... I've been wanting to say this for a while, but you should stop being so full of yourself.
Satoru: Huh?!
Suguru: Especially when you're addressing your superiors. We might end up meeting Tengen-sama, after all. You should be more polite and humble. You'd scare your juniors less, too.
Satoru: Hah! Screw that! Even my little sister acts like she's better than me.
Suguru: She has more sense than you, that's for sure. Come on, Satoru. Whatever. I'll bring it up again later.

Suguru, who is inside the building, whilst Satoru is on the ground, makes it to the floor he needs to be on as he walks towards a door, knocking on it.

"Coming" someone says from behind the door.

"Huh?" Suguru says as there's a high pitched beep.

--- on the ground ---

There is an explosion from behind Satoru as he turns around, looking up as he sees an explosion from one of the top floors.

--- in the building ---

Suguru uses his technique as he pulls himself out of the way of the explosion.

Satoru: You alive?
Suguru: I am, at least.
Satoru: You think we'll be blamed if the brat died from that?

--- on the ground ---

Satoru hears some glass shattering from the building as she looks and sees the girl they're looking for falling from the building. Suguru goes straight after her however, managing to grab her as he brings her back up into the air using his technique.

"Don't blame me" a guy wearing a mask, a man with group Q called Kokun, says from inside the building as he drags a woman behind him, "if you must hate someone, hate Tengen. What?" he says as he sees Suguru holding the girl.

"Would you please stop making us stand out?" Suguru asks as he looks at Kokun, "we just got chewed out for that this morning".

So this girl is the Star Plasma Vessel?

Suguru says as he looks at the girl.

"I know those uniforms" Kokun says as he lets go of the woman, "you're sorcerers from Jujutsu High, right? Hand over the kid. Or I'll kill you".

"Can't hear you" Suguru says with a smirk, "come closer and talk".

"Man, barely safe" Satoru says as he rolls his eyes, a bunch of knives being thrown at him as they stop before hitting him, due to his technique.

"Wonderful" someone says as they walk over, clapping their hands, "you're Satoru Gojo, right?" he says as Satoru realises he's another member of the Q group, Bayer, "you're famous. I hear you're strong. Let me find out if the rumours are true".

"I'm down for that but let set some rules" Satoru says as he starts to walk towards the man, the knives moving away from him, "I don't want to get yelled at for going overboard. So if you cry and apologise, I won't kill you. That's our rule".

"Damn brat" Bayer says angrily.

--- in a nearby building ---

"It's started" a man wearing a suit says as he watches the whole ordeal from a room with a large window, "The Star Religious Group doesn't have the power to fight against jujutsu sorcerers. But they can pay very well. That I guarantee. How about it, Zenin? Want to get in on the assassination of the Star Plasma Vessel".

"I'm not a Zenin anymore" the man says as he looks at the suited man standing next to him, "I took my wife's name. It's Fushiguro now. But sure. Count me in".

--- back at the high school ---

"Kuina, there's someone here who wants to meet you" Yaga says as he walks into the training room where Kuina just punched a hole into the sandbag.

"Who?" Kuina asks as she pulls her hair back.

"Hello, Kuina Gojo. My name is Ikumi Orimoto" a woman says as she enters the room, "I am an assistant who works for Tengen-sama".

"Tengen-sama? Well, you've got the wrong Gojo. My older brother, Satoru, is the one dealing with the Star Plasma Vessel" Kuina says as she takes her gloves off.

"We are aware of what Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto are doing for Tengen-sama's vessel" the woman says as she sits down on the bench at the side of the room, "Tengen-sama would like to recruit you for a different mission".

"A mission? She's barely four years old" Yaga says shocked.

"Please allow me to explain" the woman says calmly, "as of now, your brother and his friend are completing their mission. But reports have come in that a third party is going after the vessel. But, we have reason to believe they are going for your brother, too. You're a particular case, Kuina. Someone with ample amounts of cursed energy from a young age, but no cursed technique to apply it to, either. Born into the Gojo clan, but unable to apply technique. It's strange. Also, there's the uncanny fact that you have a heavenly pact, despite the fact that you have access to cursed energy. No one has ever seen anyone like you before. Tengen-sama wants to know more about you, so he would like you on this mission. Your mission is to protect your brother from the third party. Now, we understand there will be other people going after your brother. You are not to interact with these people unless they are actively trying to attack you or your brother. You cannot pursue them on your own. However, you can pursue this third party on your own, and in the event that you are not able to subdue him, you will be given the authority to kill him".

"You're telling me that you expect me to be able to do all of this on my own. I know I like to toot my own horn a lot, but I'm only four years old" Kuina says as she grabs a towel.

"We are aware of that, which is why Tengen-sama sent me here to give you this message" the woman says as she stands up, "my technique allows me to alter the age and physical appearance of myself and other people. Tengen-sama, with your consent of course, would like me to change your age and appearance to be that of a 15 year old. Once you have completed your mission, you will return to your age at present. So, what do you say? Do you accept this mission?".

Kuina looks at Yaga who looks at her, "you know how I view you, Kuina. You are strong".

"I accept" Kuina says as she looks at the woman.

"Wonderful" the woman says as she stands up.