Hearing that, the young Zenin, Naoya, urgently said,
"Toji-kun. Don't you remember? It's me, Naoya, Zenin Naoya."
"Naoya? ...Ah."
That kid. Toji recalled the child from the Zenin family who used to secretly follow him around. Back then, his hair was black, and they barely spoke.
Naoya was also one of the few among Naobito's children who showed any potential as a sorcerer. Although Naobito had four children, only Naoya, the youngest born with innate combat techniques, had adequate energy and spells.
To Toji, who completely lacked any energy, it was a distant concern.
He hadn't directly tormented Toji, but that didn't mean there were good memories either. After all, Naoya was also a Zenin.
Among those bearing the Zenin name, the only ones Toji didn't avoid were Zoro and Megumi.
Zoro appeared from behind Toji and looked at Naoya, asking,
"Do you know him, Dad?"
"Ah, father? Toji-kun, you had a child?"
"We're nothing."
Toji sharply interjected, shielding Zoro from Naoya's gaze.
To a typical Zenin, the child of a powerless monkey like Toji, especially a non-sorcerer like Zoro, wouldn't be regarded highly. Of course, there was no chance Zoro would fall to someone like him.
Seeing the wary Toji, Naoya's face fell.
"Toji-kun, I'm hurt. It's been so long and you act like you don't know me."
Geto observed the stark contrast between the two, one as gentle as a spring breeze, the other colder than the harshest winter winds in Hokkaido.
"Sir, are you close?"
Before Toji could firmly deny it, Naoya's eyes widened.
"Sir? A teacher? Toji-kun is a teacher?"
"...You didn't know?"
"If I had known, I would have enrolled in Tokyo Jujutsu High right away!"
Naoya exclaimed, bouncing around as if he was going mad. Toji-kun was just a stone's throw away!
Of course, Kyoto and Tokyo are far from being a stone's throw away, and this whole commotion was likely the reason Naobito had kept Toji's whereabouts from Naoya's ears. But to Naoya, a fire-element filial son, his idol was more important than his father.
"Damn it, what has the family been doing! Not even knowing that, these brainless idiots, I'll—"
As Naoya began to loudly curse, a shocked Haibara quickly covered Tsumiki's ears. Toji covered Megumi's, Geto covered Shoko's, and Nanami covered Zoro's.
Gojo uttered a short "Oh," then pulled out his phone to record what Naoya was saying.
"Gotta use this later~♪"
"Stop it, Gojo."
"Why, Shoko? It's fresh."
Like the saying, even a worm will turn, Gojo hadn't imagined learning something from any Zenin other than Zoro and Toji. He chuckled and merrily tapped on his phone's keyboard.
Toji, not wanting to look at a Zenin for too long, turned his gaze to the staff of Kyoto Jujutsu High nearby. They too seemed quite flustered by Naoya's outburst.
"Why is this guy here?"
"...We didn't invite him. The information must have leaked."
This is Kyoto, after all. Principal Gakuganji spoke.
Kyoto. The place where the Zenin family's main house had been for hundreds of years. If it was here, escaping their watchful eyes and ears would be impossible.
"Why did you bring the children?"
"I couldn't just leave them alone at Tokyo Jujutsu High. Besides, we're short on people."
Principal Gakuganji's white eyebrows twitched.
"You're involving your son in the exchange?"
"Our fourth and fifth-year students are busy with long-term missions."
Yaga chimed in. Indeed, the upperclassmen spent more time on external missions than at the school, so Gakuganji understood.
Principal Yoshinobu Gakuganji then observed Zoro closely. As one of the higher-ups who had been keeping an eye on Zoro's activities, he knew Zoro had experience dealing with people.
The reason he hadn't acknowledged Zoro as a sorcerer in the past was simple: he wasn't sure what kind of being Zoro was.
According to reports, Zoro had continued to act as a sorcerer, despite not being treated as one. If he did the same now, the time had come to accept him.
As a sorcerer.
Gakuganji spoke up.
"This is an exchange. It's an event important for everyone's growth. It's not a playground for you and Gojo."
Gojo scratched his ear.
"...What are you talking about, old man. Why not treat Zoro as a sorcerer then?"
Regardless of whether the wrinkles on Gakuganji's forehead appeared or not, Gojo looked at him sideways. Zoro, blocking Gojo playfully with his small arms, grinned.
"It means don't hog it all to yourself, right? Got it."
Zoro had no intention of stealing the precious interpersonal combat experience from Nanami and Haibara. He would ensure that everyone participating in the exchange got something from it.
...Though he might have a little fun himself. Zoro licked his lips in anticipation of the upcoming fights. He was excited.
...
The inter-school exchange between Tokyo Jujutsu High and Kyoto Jujutsu High.
Held over two days, the exchange nominally allowed the principals from both Tokyo and Kyoto to set one event each, but it was an established fact that the first day would be a team competition and the second day would be individual.
The content of the team competition was always the same: the school that captured more curses released in the school premises won.
It was permissible to attack students from the opposing school in the process, but killing or maiming was forbidden. It was, after all, an 'exchange.'
"Boring."
Inside the room prepared for strategy discussions, Gojo pouted his lips.
"What's the fun in competing in the same events every time? It'd be more fun to play something like baseball."
"Exactly."
Would it be against the rules to swing three bats in baseball? Zoro mused internally.
Geto clapped his hands together.
"Enough chit-chat. What's our strategy?"
"Do we need one? Just smash everything up."
"We should at least decide how many of us will move together. We can't leave Zoro by himself."
"Hmm, that's important."
While Gojo nodded seriously, Zoro said, "I can go alone," but everyone blatantly ignored him.
"It seems inefficient to move in groups of three… Maybe splitting into three teams of two each would be better?"
At Geto's suggestion, Gojo raised his hand.
"Suguru, let's be on the same team."
"Shall we?"
"Then, I'll take Zoro."
When Shoko spoke up, Haibara smiled brightly at Nanami.
"Nanami! Looks like you and I are on the same team!"
Nanami's expression turned sour.
"...It seems like our team is significantly weaker."
"Actually, yes."
"Any chance we could switch teams?"
"No. Zoro is one thing, but Shoko needs to be with someone strong."
Just in case they get into trouble, Shoko could turn the situation around. Thus, one of Gojo, Geto, or Zoro must stay with Shoko. If Gojo and Geto were a team, then Zoro must be with Shoko.
…Of course, the problem would be solved if Gojo and Geto each teamed up with Nanami and Haibara, but neither had the slightest intention of doing that.
Shoko apologized to Nanami.
"Sorry, I just didn't want to be on the same team as either of those two trash heaps."
"What if our team runs into someone from Kyoto Jujutsu High?"
"Hold them off until we get there."
"...Is that even possible?"
"We're just first-years, and they have second and third-years."
Despite Nanami's skeptical expression, Gojo nodded as if it were obvious.
"It's possible."
Maybe not winning, but holding them off.
"You've trained with Toji-sensei."
Arguably, in Japan, or perhaps the world, there's no one more specialized in killing sorcerers than Toji. Not knowing who exactly is at Kyoto Jujutsu High, but surely no one there is more adept in combat against sorcerers than Toji.
Having learned how to endure from such a person (they learned, though they hadn't actually managed to endure yet, as up to now Toji had been their opponent), they could hold their ground against the second and third-year students of Kyoto Jujutsu High. Gojo firmly believed that.
Listening quietly, Nanami spoke up.
"...Why don't you two just team up and leave us out of it?"
"No."
"I want to be on the same team as Suguru." The stubborn, child-like expression on Gojo's face made Nanami close his eyes in resignation. It was the fate of having a child-like adult and an actual child as seniors.
...
In a room where the staff of both Tokyo and Kyoto schools had gathered, they looked at a chunky monitor. The low-quality TV displayed students from both schools.
Tsumiki and Megumi gazed at Zoro on the screen with sparkling eyes. While Toji had stepped away to talk with other staff members, Naoya seized the opportunity to take a seat next to Toji's.
As Naoya tried to scoot Tsumiki aside and sit next to Toji, Tsumiki spoke up clearly.
"This is my seat. Go somewhere else."
"Move."
"It's my seat, though?"
"Kasunaga, move!"
"No."
Naoya was at a loss for words. After all, in the Zenin family, no woman had ever dared to talk back to him so bluntly.
"Move now, or you'll regret it."
He glared menacingly, but Tsumiki, who had the most terrifying man in the world as her brother, was not intimidated. Even in his most serious moments, Zoro, who was usually armed, seemed sharper than a blade. Tsumiki knew that even then, Zoro listened to her.
When Megumi started to move to protect his sister, Toji appeared like a gust of wind and punched Naoya in the back of the head. Bang!
"Ouch!"
Naoya clutched his stinging head, tears welling up in his eyes as stars swirled before him.
Toji gritted his teeth. How dare a Zenin.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, it was nothing."
After checking Tsumiki for any signs of harm and finding none, Toji turned back to Naoya.
"Let me make this clear, if you touch my kids, you won't die peacefully."
"But this Kasunaga—"
"If you call Tsumiki 'Kasunaga' one more time, I'll throw you out."
"Directly thrown out by Toji-kun?!"
"..."
Toji, seeing Naoya's eyes sparkle, gave up on further conversation. For the first time in his life, he felt a bit of sympathy for Naobito. Having such a clueless son must be tough.
Ignoring Naoya as if he didn't exist, Toji sat down next to Tsumiki. The staff members from both sides also took their seats. Naoya stood behind Toji, nursing a large lump on his head.
Yaga Masamichi picked up the microphone in front of him and began,
"Students of Tokyo Jujutsu High and Kyoto Jujutsu High, this exchange meeting is a valuable opportunity to recognize and enhance each other's achievements. Let's use this occasion to help the students of both schools grow."
Please, don't cause any trouble, you fools. Yaga watched Gojo making a V sign on the screen and nearly let slip the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He then clearly announced,
"Let the sister school exchange commence."
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