"Mr. Zephyr, I want to ask you—if I want to become a jujutsu sorcerer, what should I do?"
"That's easy—transfer schools. Come to ours."
"Huh? There's a special school for that?"
"Yeah, and I think everyone would be happy to have you. As for the entrance test—if Itadori Yuji could pass it, I'm pretty sure you'll be just fine."
"Mm!" At that moment, Junpei was filled with hope for life.
Suddenly, he pointed ahead in surprise. "Mr. Zephyr, look! What's that? Is it a curse?"
The group turned their heads and saw a hideous little cursed spirit flying toward them.
Zephyr said, "Paimon, your friend?"
Paimon snapped, "Your friend! Paimon's friends aren't that ugly!"
Suddenly, a big dumb guy jumped out.
"So you can see curses? Don't worry—I'll save you! Huh? Big Sis?! What are you doing here?!"
In just three seconds, Itadori Yuji's face cycled through shock, recognition, vanity, surprise, fear—basically a whole emotional rollercoaster.
Then he slammed straight into a utility pole and clutched his forehead in pain.
Meanwhile, the little cursed spirit in the sky was flying farther and farther away.
"Wind Gust Surge!"
A tornado spell was launched, instantly wiping out the cursed spirit.
Itadori complained, "Big Sis, was it really necessary to use a big move on such a tiny guy?"
"It's my only ranged skill, and hey—my ult doesn't cost mana, so I can spam it all I want."
Paimon asked, "But what about Elemental Orbs? Don't you always keep one ult charged just in case?"
Zephyr replied, "That's easy. I recently discovered a new method."
He punched Itadori, and an Elemental Orb floated out of his body into Lumine's.
"Oh right, I just remembered—since we're not technically in a party, attacking them still generates Elemental Orbs."
As he spoke, a swirling wind orb appeared in his hand.
Itadori's face turned pale. "W-Wait! Big Sis, please stop! I'll die—I'm really gonna die!"
"True Color!"
Zephyr punched him again. "If you won't let me use my skill, then take a few more basic attacks so I can fill up my ult meter. Otherwise, it'll be tough when we fight a boss later."
"Vein Suppression!"
Junpei gulped nervously from the side, starting to regret his earlier decision a little.
"Okay. Finally charged."
Zephyr stopped, and beside him stood Itadori, whose face now resembled a bruised pig's head.
"Alright. Now, care to explain why you suddenly showed up here?"
"￥%..."
"Speak human."
"I… my face is swollen… I can't talk clearly…"
After some muddled explanation from Itadori, Zephyr finally understood the situation.
"So… you've learned _Black Flash_ now?"
Itadori Yuji stood with his hands on his hips and declared, "Nope, I haven't!"
"You _haven't_ and you still dare act so cocky!? Even copying me!?"
Zephyr threw a kick at him, but this time Itadori dodged it just in time.
"Phew, that was close! Good thing I was quick. Big Sis, even though I haven't learned _Black Flash_, I've already come to terms with what happened before. Plus, my understanding of Divergent Fist has reached a whole new level!"
"Oh."
"That's _it_?! Big Sis, your reaction's way too flat!"
Paimon's stomach suddenly let out a loud grumble. "Traveler, Paimon is hungry! Paimon want food!"
Zephyr said dramatically, "Did you hear that?! Big Sister Paimon's stomach is demanding food!"
Junpei offered, "T-then let me treat you all. It's also my way of thanking Mr. Zephyr and Miss Lumine for everything you've taught me."
"Teaching?"
Itadori looked shocked. "Big Sis! You recruited another underling while I was gone?!"
"Ugh, shut up. You're so noisy."
"Waaah… I was supposed to be Big Sis's _only_ underling. Why'd you have to take in another one…"
Zephyr rolled his eyes. "Where's Gojo Satoru?"
"He's back there," Itadori said, waving toward the rear.
From inside a car behind them, Gojo stuck out a hand and flashed his signature carefree smile.
"Whew, good. Glad he followed us."
Zephyr was genuinely worried Gojo would vanish midway. If they ran into Mahito, should they fight or not?
If they didn't, they might lose track of him forever.
But if they did… and they lost?
…
After a full meal, the group had become noticeably closer.
Paimon cheerfully munched away, "So tasty, so yummy—mmm… but why do Paimon feel a lingering sadness in the air?"
"I think… I saw Gojo-sensei crying in the car…"
"Don't mind him. His job's to be our secret bodyguard—he's not allowed to show himself."
Paimon gnawed on a drumstick. "Must be so hard to hold back…"
Itadori turned to Junpei, "You're Junpei, right? The movie you were watching at the theater last time—what was it?"
Junpei paused. "It was an old film that got re-released. Even if I told you, you probably wouldn't know it."
"How do you know I wouldn't?"
"Fine. _Worm Man 3._"
"_Hilichurl 3_!?"
Paimon gasped so hard she dropped a chunk of meat onto the table.
Zephyr sighed, "_Worm Man 3,_ alright? What's with your hearing?"
"Sorry! It's been a while since Paimon has seen any Hilichurls—Paimon kinda miss them…"
Lumine commented sarcastically, "Sounds to me like you're just missing their treasure."
"Hehe~"
Itadori Yuji scratched his head and asked, "Hilichurls? What are you guys talking about?"
"It's nothing, nothing."
"Alright then… but _Worm Man 3_? Seriously? That movie was _super_ boring! I got beat up so many times because of it!"
"Beat up?"
"Oh, it's just a special kind of training at our school."
Junpei started to panic a little. "Um, Mr. Zephyr, I…"
"Relax," Zephyr replied calmly. "That's not an official training method from our school. That's just _Itadori Yuji's_ personal training style—it has nothing to do with you."
"O-oh, I see…"
Junpei breathed a sigh of relief. "That makes sense. Honestly, that movie was always a bit of a shock-fest. Maybe I shouldn't have expected too much beyond that. But the second one…"
Itadori nodded. "Yeah, the second one was actually kind of good!"
"Right? The second one was awesome. It's the only one worth appreciating!"
"Mhm, totally!"
"The second movie—at first glance, it doesn't seem that different from the first and third, but it really captured the emotional breakdown of a perfectionist spiraling into despair. That part was done really well."
"No wonder it was more enjoyable!"
"I couldn't figure out why I liked it at first, so I actually watched it three times. The grotesque scenes in the second one were way more intense—it was kind of rough."
"Wait, _three_ times?! Why go that far…"
"Because I love movies. Itadori, do you like movies too?"
"Hmm… I guess I'm alright with them. Lately I've just been watching stuff at home."
"Ohh, watching at home is convenient, sure—but nothing beats the feeling of seeing a film in the theater!"
Itadori nodded. "Yeah? Let me think… When _was_ the last time I went? Anyway, if you ever have a recommendation, just hit me up next time."
It was a kind and sincere invitation.
"Eh!!"
"What's wrong? You look so shocked. Where's your phone?"
Junpei looked genuinely surprised, but then broke into an excited smile. It was his first time being invited to a movie by someone.
"Okay, let's add each other then."
He and Itadori exchanged contact info, then Junpei looked toward Zephyr a bit shyly. "Umm, and…"
Paimon cut in confidently, "We don't add weirdos as friends."
"Eh!?"
"That includes you too, Yuji."
"Eh!? Why?!"
"Because you _both_ like those freaky horror movies. Only mentally twisted people like watching that stuff."
"…"
Silence. Neither could come up with a rebuttal.
Yuji Itadori tried to defend himself, "I'm not twisted! I only watched it because I was _forced_ to!"
//END
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