After a few brief exchanges, the Kyoto team quickly realized that close combat against Okkotsu Yuta was not an option.
They all began using their jujutsu techniques.
The close-combat specialists enhanced their attacks with cursed energy, while the ranged fighters invoked their techniques, simultaneously preparing for cursed technique activation.
The pressure on Yuta increased instantly, but he remained calm. Holding his sword in one hand, he stretched the other toward Rika.
Rika, seemingly from nowhere, produced a megaphone imprinted with rings and wave-like patterns, handing it to Yuta.
Yuta cleared his throat and said one word:
"Stop!"
The movements of the four Kyoto team members froze instantly, their faces filled with shock.
The atmosphere in the observation room mirrored theirs.
"No way!"
"Could he be from the Inumaki family?"
"Gojo—!!!"
As Utahime Iori screamed, Gojo Satoru calmly scratched his ear, unbothered, and spoke at his leisure.
"To be considered special grade, you have to be special enough to earn the title. Being above the standard isn't enough. My adaptive Limitless, Suguru's limitless cursed spirit absorption and control, and even Yuki Tsukumo's Voice."
"Why are you bringing this up now?" Utahime snapped in frustration.
To her, nothing good had happened since she stepped into the observation room. Gojo Satoru had been obnoxiously showing off, her students weren't performing well, and Gojo's students were dominating. She couldn't vent her anger at her students, so Gojo bore the brunt of it.
"Remember, that cursed boy is also special grade. Could this be his jujutsu or perhaps his innate ability?" Mei Mei mused calmly. As long as it wasn't about money, she remained cool, even indifferent.
"As expected from Mei-san, always reliable, unlike Utahime." Mei Mei had been a senior at a different school than Gojo, but she and Utahime were classmates.
"I AM the senior!" Utahime, livid, threw her teacup at Gojo, only for it to be deflected by Gojo's passive Infinity.
To make matters worse, Gojo, with lightning speed, took a photo of Utahime's angry expression.
The reason he had time to spare on his phone was that Kyoto's plan to kill Okkotsu Yuta had been exposed, and the previously unstable surveillance quickly stabilized, clearly thanks to Principal Zenin Yoshinobu bribing Mei Mei to help cover it up.
Gojo didn't say anything to Mei Mei about it. Firstly, there was no concrete proof, and secondly, everyone was used to Mei Mei's methods. Even Gojo himself had paid her to get things done in the past.
The most distinctive feature of this Grade 1 female sorcerer? She worked for money, fair and square, no deception, and had impeccable reliability.
"Go-Jo-Sa-Toru!!!"
Utahime roared, while Gojo laughed heartily.
"Great, great! Keep it up, I'll send this to my students. They admire you a lot; I wonder if their dreams will shatter after seeing you like this."
"A-admire me?"
That hit Utahime's soft spot. One of her core beliefs was to never become like Gojo Satoru.
She took great pride in being a trusted and respected teacher by her students.
The reason she always got angry at Gojo was because he was too infuriating, but to her students, she had always shown care, even if they weren't from Kyoto Jujutsu High.
Although Tokyo and Kyoto schools were often rivals, the teachers didn't hold grudges against each other's students—they truly treated each other as sister schools.
"Oh, yes. That kid who seems the most reliable. Moved yet? Want to sing a song?"
The hidden dagger revealed.
Seeing how beautifully Akira's plan was unfolding, Gojo decided to join in the fun.
He wasn't sure if Akira was just being playful or if there was a deeper reason behind it, but either way, Gojo wasn't going to miss out on something this amusing.
"Wait, why would I sing?" Utahime, despite knowing Gojo for over a decade, still couldn't keep up with his logic.
"Because you're a songstress," Gojo said matter-of-factly. "Old man, since you're not doing anything, why not play the accompaniment? That's your only redeeming quality."
Zenin Yoshinobu glared, thoroughly annoyed.
"Don't give me that scary look." Gojo pretended to shrink back in mock fear. "It's not our fault our students are too strong. Want me to call mine and make sure you don't lose too badly?"
During this exchange, Yuta had already used his Cursed Speech to immobilize the four Kyoto team members, allowing Rika to attack them relentlessly. They were struggling to hold on.
If Yuta were more skilled in Cursed Speech, and if the technique itself were stronger, the Kyoto team would have been wiped out by now. But since he was only mimicking the technique, he couldn't replicate the experience behind it.
Meanwhile, the talismans attached to the walls of the observation room were burning up one by one. Of the eight low-grade cursed spirits set for scoring, seven had already been exorcised.
The flames burned a vivid red.
From the surveillance footage, it was clear that five were taken out by Panda's team, while the other two were finished off by Akira and Zen'in Maki in the process of clearing lesser threats.
Regardless of rank or strength, everything had been taken down in one blow.
"No need," Principal Yoshinobu flatly refused.
Gojo's suggestion was an insult to their pride. Accepting it would mean Kyoto Jujutsu High could never hold their heads high again.
It was one thing to lose in a fight, but losing face was unforgivable.
"And the song?" Gojo teased.
"The competition is the competition, but I suppose a welcoming party could be arranged," Utahime said, her eyes shifting.
Seeing her expression, Gojo knew the admiration card had worked.
"Alright, leave it to you then. I'll go call my students and share the good news."
"Wait." Utahime grabbed him. "Unless it's an emergency, contacting students from outside the match is against the rules. Are you going to break them?"
Gojo let out a disgruntled sigh. "But sitting here is so boring."
"You still haven't explained what's going on with Okkotsu-kun."
"Oh, that? Yuta's jujutsu is simple: it's called Imitation. Theoretically, he can learn any technique. Combine that with his cursed energy, which is even greater than mine, and you know what that means, right?"
The Kyoto students were nearly in shock.
"That's too broken, way too broken," Utahime exclaimed.
"That's why he's special grade. Are any special grades not broken?"
Gojo's words left everyone speechless.
Currently, there were four known special grades.
First, Yuki Tsukumo, who after becoming special grade, refused to take any more missions and ignored orders from the Jujutsu Alliance. They couldn't do anything except symbolically stop paying her salary.
Second, Gojo Satoru, who had defied nearly all the higher-ups for eight years and was still alive and kicking.
Third, Suguru Geto, who had become a curse user eight years ago and was still around.
And finally, Okkotsu Yuta, who was now single-handedly dominating the Kyoto team.
Each of them had abilities that, in any other series, would make them the final boss or the protagonist's ultimate trump card.
"By the way, here's some more good news. I've got two more special-grade candidates waiting in the wings. Oh, and don't forget Hakari—that makes three. Old man, let those behind you know that we're heading into a time of great upheaval. You won't be able to control things just by relying on special grades.
"If you want my advice, it's not too late to act now. Otherwise, when Mt. Fuji erupts, those sitting at the mouth of the crater…
"Well, I doubt you'll step back that easily. That's just how the jujutsu world works, and so does the mundane world. The only difference is that jujutsu sorcerers have more power."
At this point, Gojo smiled, raising his right hand to the center of the surveillance screen, making a finger-gun gesture.
"That's a wrap!"
In the middle of the screen, Akira raised his hand similarly, crushing the last remaining low-grade cursed spirit that appeared behind him.
At the same time, Zen'in Maki emerged from the dense forest, carrying the remains of a monster impaled on her blade.
The creature was much larger, more imposing, and more cursed than the other low-grade spirits.
It was, in fact, the linchpin of the team battle—a Grade 2 cursed spirit meant to deliver a decisive blow.
In the jujutsu world, it was far from a mere small fry.
But even such a cursed spirit hadn't lasted three moves under Maki's hand. It had been sliced into pieces, leaving only its cursed core, which she casually tossed to Akira like trash.
"That's the last of them."
"Right on time. Let's go meet up with Yuta. If we're going to crush some pride, we might as well do it thoroughly."
With her spear slung over her shoulder and Akira dragging the cursed remains, they headed toward the final stage, ready to make a statement.