"What kind of stuff do you usually like to watch?"
Itadori Yuji's face turned a little red. "Well… I'm kinda embarrassed to say the name. It's one of _those_, you know… the kind everyone secretly knows."
Zephyr said, "Itadori Yuji, so this is the kind of person you are! How filthy! DM me the link!"
"What?! I just meant I like watching romance dramas!"
"Romance dramas?"
Yuji scratched his head. "Well, I'm a guy, and at this age… if people found out I liked romance stuff, it'd be super embarrassing."
Zephyr raised a middle finger. "Exactly, we totally look down on you."
Paimon added, "Paimon look down on you even more."
"Eh!! Then what kind of movies does _you_, Big Sis, like?"
"Anime. 2D animation."
"Eh? Anime? Really? _You_, Big Sis?"
"Is it really that shocking?"
"It's just… in my head, you seem like the kind who'd be into really badass stuff, like hardcore gang fights and all that."
"…What kind of person do you think I am…"
Zephyr asked with a blank look, "What about you, Lumine?"
"3D animation."
Whoa. Respect. And from her serious expression, it looked like she meant _actual_ 3D animated films.
Paimon chimed in, "Oh! And by the way, Paimon likes foodie movies!"
Off to the side, Junpei whispered, "Um, Itadori… is Miss Lumine talking to herself?"
"Don't worry about it. You'll get used to it eventually."
"…"
Itadori Yuji said, "Speaking of movies, are you guys free this afternoon? Wanna go watch something together?"
Junpei beamed. "Yeah, I'd love to!"
Zephyr scolded, "Love my ass! You think we're out here for fun?"
They were on a serious mission, after all!
"Oh—right, totally forgot!"
"Mahito…"
Junpei's expression grew complicated. Then he suddenly clenched his jaw and said, "I know where Mahito lives. I'll take you there later."
Itadori's eyes lit up. "Really!? Junpei, you're amazing—this is a huge help!"
Junpei rubbed the back of his head bashfully, but then glanced out the window. A figure passed by. "Mom?"
His mother seemed to be on the phone and didn't notice him.
"Your mom?"
"Yeah, that's my mom. The one I love the most."
"…Are you a mama's boy or just into older women?"
"Neither!!"
Zephyr stood up. "Itadori, call Ijichi. Tell him to protect Junpei's mother until our fight is over."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"She's already being watched. There's lingering cursed energy around her."
"What!?"
Itadori's expression sharpened, and sure enough, he picked up on something off.
Junpei was already panicking, nearly falling apart.
"Don't worry. The school will handle protecting your mom. We'll deal with the curse. Go talk to your mom first. Itadori, call Ijichi."
"R-right! On it!"
…
After settling everything, Zephyr brought Itadori Yuji and Junpei back to their office.
As they pushed open the door, Nanami Kento asked, "Where have you been? Buying a drink took you half the day?"
"Sorry, I bumped into a couple of familiar faces on the way."
"Oh? Itadori-kun, you're back? Looks like you've come to your senses?"
"That's right, I've figured it out. The one in the wrong isn't me—it's that damn bastard pulling the strings behind the scenes. I swear I'll exorcise that guy with my own fists!"
"Nice spirit. And this young man here is?"
"This is Yoshino Junpei."
"The sole survivor of the cinema incident, huh? So Ijichi finally found him."
Zephyr rolled his eyes. "He didn't. _I_ did."
"Ahem. Mr. Ijichi is even more impressive than I thought… So, what are you bringing this boy here for?"
Zephyr said, "He's transferred into our school now."
"Oh? That's the first I've heard of it. Did you talk to the school about it?"
"I just told Gojo Satoru a moment ago. He said it was fine."
"…"
"Look, even if Gojo is a teacher at Jujutsu High, enrolling someone isn't something he can just decide on a whim. Besides, everyone else from the cinema died—he's the only survivor. No matter how you look at it, this boy is suspicious. I don't know what you were thinking bringing someone like him into our school."
Junpei clenched his fists. "I…"
"Exactly _because_ of that, it's fine."
"Hmm?"
"I mean, Gojo's got a lot of free time lately, right? Letting him take care of one more person shouldn't be a problem."
Nanami stroked his chin in thought. "I see… if that's the case, then there's no problem. Young man, I support your enrollment."
"Well then, let me introduce myself. I'm Nanami Kento. Pleased to meet you."
"Y-Yes! My name is Yoshino Junpei. I used to be a high school student, but I've dropped out now. P-Please take care of me!"
"Alright, introductions done. Although you've received Miss Lumine's approval, I don't yet consider you one of us. So, do you have any useful intel or something that would earn my trust?"
Junpei quickly responded, "I can take you to Mahito."
"Mahito?"
"Yes, that special grade cursed spirit."
"I see… That's a pretty explosive piece of news. But how do I know this isn't a trap?"
"I… I…"
Itadori Yuji patted Junpei's shoulder and said, "Don't mind this gloomy guy. As long as _we_ believe you're one of us, that's all that matters."
Suddenly, Junpei said, "Thank you, Itadori-kun… but I actually think what Nanami-san said makes a lot of sense…"
He looked troubled, thinking hard but still unable to come up with any proof.
"But I really don't have any way to prove myself…"
Zephyr patted him on the shoulder and said, "No, you _do_ have proof."
"What?"
"Your mother is in our hands. With just one phone call from me, your mother will—"
"NANI!!???"
Yoshino Junpei was on the verge of tears. For the third time, he felt like he had boarded a pirate ship he couldn't get off.
Itadori Yuji yelled, "Big Sis, are you a devil or something?!"
Paimon chimed in, "Don't say something so blatantly villainous!!"
Nanami adjusted his glasses and said, "I think I roughly understand the situation now… But Miss Lumine, we Jujutsu sorcerers are supposed to stand for justice. Could I ask you to avoid saying things that make you sound like a villain?"
"It was just a joke. Why are you all taking it so seriously? And you—who told you to secretly follow me earlier?"
"I didn't follow you! I just… secretly glanced at you a few times…"
Nanami said, "Alright, now that we have someone willing to guide us, let's get moving."
…
"We're here."
The group stopped in front of a wide sewer passage. "It's this place."
"Here, huh… Figures, it's the kind of place cursed spirits like."
"So what's the plan? Just charge in together and gang up on him?"
"Ijichi, how's the tunnel lockdown going?"
"No issues. All four passages—east, west, south, and north—have been completely sealed."
Zephyr nodded. "Good. Then, Nanami, Junpei—let's go."
Itadori Yuji noticed he wasn't included and quickly asked, "Big Sis, what about me?"
"You're staying here."
"Why?!"
"These tunnels are too narrow. If anything dangerous happens, it'll be hard to protect you."
Itadori raised his fists, pumped up. "I _don't_ need protection!"
"We're about to fight the boss, not carrying a low-level alt through a dungeon. Get a grip."
"Then why is Junpei allowed to go with you?"
//END
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