"Whut? Where's the first year crew? Or Isamu for that matter?" Panda asked while looking around with a hand on his brow to shield his eyes from the sun. He, Toga, and Maki were making their way to the track and field for their usual sparing.
"The first years are running errands. Isamu's probably sleeping in. We stayed up rather late last night so he's probably tired." Maki answered.
"Will they be ok?" Asked Panda, referring to their underclassmen.
"They're not kids. They can run a couple errands." Maki responded while looking back at Panda.
"That's not what I mean." Panda began to elaborate. "Isn't the Kyoto school coming today? There's talk that the higher-ups, who have friction with satoru, were involved with the special grade incident and the dispatch of the first-years. The Kyoto principal is one of those higher-ups. What if they start something?" Panda explained his thought process.
"They targeted itadori, and he's dead. I don't think Megumi and Kugisaki are in danger, the Kyoto geezer wouldn't try something so openly." Maki dismissed Pandas worries.
"The teachers have their reputations. But the students don't." Panda argued.
Maki was silent for a moment before responding with a question. "Is Mai coming?"
"Probably not, the students aren't involve in this particular meeting. But those guys love to trash talk." Panda expressed.
——
"Why are you here, Zen'in?" Megumi asked a short girl with dark green hair cut into a bob. She looked very similar to Maki.
"Oh, Fushiguro. Isn't that what you call Maki? Just call me Mai." The woman said.
"So these are the replacements for Okkotsu and the third year?" Aoi Todo, a large buff man who stood a head above Mai, said.
"We were worried so we tagged along. I heard your classmate died, must've been tough." Mai said in the fakest voice of sympathy Nobara had ever heard. "Or maybe it wasn't." Mai added.
"What are you getting at." Megumi asked.
"It's okay. Somethings are hard to put in words. So I'll do it for you." Mai began. ""Vessel" sounds nice. But the truth is, he was basically a half-curse monster. Such a vile facade of a human was calling himself a jujutsu sorcerer alongside you. It must've been terrible." Mai finish while bites her pointer finger like she was trying not to puke. "You must be relieved he's dead."
"Mai. Stop talking nonsense. I just want to know if they're worthy replacements for Okkotsu." Todo interrupted while walking towards the first years. "Fushiguro was it? What kind of woman's your type?" Todo asked has he continued walking. He reached up and grabbed the collar of his shirt before ripping it down the middle.
Once his shirt was reduced the shreds of cloth, Todo took up a fighting stance. "Depending on your answer, I'll beat you to death or only beat you half to death. By the way, I like tall girls with big butts." Todo announced as a smile spread across his face.
"Why would I share something like that with someone I just met?" Megumi asked.
"It's kinda hard for a closeted pervert like him to answer that question." Nobara pointed out jokingly.
"Shut up. The situation is already bad enough without you complicating it." Megumi scolded his classmate.
"Kyoto third year, Aoi Todo. Interdictions over. Now that we're friends hurry up and answer. It can even be a guy." Todo pressed Megumi to answer. "Someone's tastes reveal everything about them. Someone with boring tastes are usually boring themselves, and I hate boring guys."
"The goodwill event gives me a rush. Who now's what I'll do if my final one ends up being boring. Answer me now and you'll only leave with a few bumps and bruises." Todo threatened.
"I don't, really have a preference. As long as someone is kind, I can't ask for more." Megumi finally answered.
"Not a bad answer. If you had said big boobs, I would've killed you before he could." Nobara gave her two cents.
"Shut up." Megumi said, annoyed.
"I knew it." Todo said as a single tear rolled down his face. "You're so boring, Fushiguro."
Todo suddenly closed the distance between them before Megumi could react. Right before Todo could throw any punches, he was forced to stop.
"Don't move."
Todo was frozen in place before he felt a hand land in his shoulder. Isamu looked him in the eye as Todo broke free of the command and turned towards him. Todo, instead of being angry, smiled at him.
"I didn't know you'd be here Isamu! Maybe this year wouldn't be boring after all!" Todo yelled excitedly. Instead of trying to attack Megumi again, Todo turned his attention towards his fellow first grade sorcerer. Isamu was a much more exciting opponent in Todos opinion.
Todo spun and threw a back hand at Isamu's skull. Isamu ducked and kicked out at the back of Todos knee on his lead leg. Todo stumbled a bit which opened him up to two quick jabs to the face. Todo quickly recovered and struck out at Isamu.
Isamu jumped back to dodge the hit but Todo pressed on. He threw punch after punch. Isamu continued to jump back away from each punch, gradually making his way away from Megumi and Nobara.
If he was going to fight Aoi, he'd rather do it without such hindrances. Todo was an odd match up for him. His technique countered Isamu's extension technique very effectively but if Isamu decided to use his head start binding vow and destroy one of his hands, he would easily make the technique a non issue.
Todo, when he missed Isamu yet again, decided to punch the ground instead of attacking once more. Dust was kicked up as Isamu's vision was impaired. Todo rushed through the dust and was able to grab a hold of Isamu's wrist.
"Gotcha!" Todo yelled out in victory. He took advantage of his strong grip and superior strength and slammed Isamu into the ground. Isamu definitely felt the hit but didn't make a sound. Isamu couldn't forget that Todo was a physical threat even if his technique wouldn't be much of a problem in a serious fight.
"Impale."
Isamu commanded. Suddenly, spikes of earth rocketed out of the ground towards Todo. Todo was forced to drop Isamu and dash backwards and out of the way of the deadly spikes.
"Blast away!"
Isamu shouted once more. He was not targeting Todo however, but the spikes. The earth they were made out crumbled into smaller clumps before they shot forward at insane speeds like buckshot. Todo raised both arms to protect his face while he ramped up his cursed energy to cover and reinforce his entire body.
Most of the shrapnel bounced off of Todo but some still did damage. Once the dust settled and all of the projectiles had hit their targets, Todo was still standing. He was covered in scuff marks and minor bruises but over all, he was still in good condition to fight.
Isamu was disappointed by the outcome. He had definitely lost out. He'd used his extension technique twice and had only managed to do minor damage to Todo. His throat was already sore and his cursed energy reserves had taken a considerable hit.
Both fighters knew the other was holding back however. Isamu had yet to draw his sword and Ismau was pulling his punches and hadn't used his technique even once. In a true fight, Isamu had confidence in winning with his head start binding vow.
"Not bad Inumaki. You've gotten better since the last time I say you. A lot better." Todo complemented as he dusted himself off. He was referring to last year's goodwill event. There weren't enough people so one of the first years got to participate. Since Yuta was overseas and Isamu was the strongest out of the four remaining first years, he was picked.
Todo had asked him the same question he asked everyone and for the record, Isamu's answer was "muscular women with big butts." Todo approved of his answer to say the least.
"You haven't drawn your sword though. Man! I want to fight you while going all out! But I'll have to pass for now. It'd be no good if I ate too much and didn't have any room for the actual meal." Todo said.
That was fine with Isamu. Isamu didn't really like needless violence outside of sparring. If he continued with Todo, he would be forced to draw blood and that was something he preferred not to do if it wasn't necessary.
Even though neither of them truly tried, their surroundings were still destroyed. And it was mostly Isamu's fault. Hopefully Maki wasn't mad at him, that'd suck.
——
"Yaga's still not here?" Principal Gakuganji said, siting on a comfortable couch in his planned meeting room with his fellow principal. "Time comes at a high price for an old man who doesn't have much left."
"Principal Yaga won't be here for a while." The strongest of the modern age announced as he entered the room unprompted. "I forced Ijichi into giving you a fake schedule." Gojo explained.
"Let's talk about it" Gojo said as he sat down on the opposite couch of principal Gakuganji, making himself comfortable.
"It?" Gakuganji asked as he tilted his head. "What are you talking about?" He continued.
"Don't play coy old man. This is about Yuji Itadori." Gojo said with a smile. "A conservative leader like you has to be involved."
"Well I'll be. The youth these days…" Gakuganji trailed off. "They don't even know the meaning of respect or how to speak with it."
"I don't intend to." Gojo said while leaning forward. "It pisses me off how high-and-mighty old geezers are these days."
"Hey!" They both heard from the side. "How dare you?! If you don't stop this disrespect I will inform the proper authorities." Miwa, a Kyoto high student, said while standing guard by the door.
"Feel free, I wouldn't be here long." Gojo dismissed. "Last night, I was attacked by a few special grade cursed spirits."
"How unfortunate, I'm sorry to hear that." Gakuganji said, surprised by the information but not actually sorry for Gojo.
"Don't get me wrong, it was about as much trouble as answering a sidewalk survey." Gojo said, much to Miwa's delight. He was sooo cool!
"Those curses were able to communicate and there are probably more out there like that. It's not just enemies either. Hakari, Okkotsu, Isamu, and your Todo. The new generation of sorcerers are on another level." Gojo spoke. "Then there's the incident with Suguru Geto last year and the appearance of Sukuna's vessel."
"What are you getting at?" Gakuganji interrupted Gojo's speech.
"The wave of power you old folks have been trying to hold back with your useless policies and traditions has grown stronger and larger than you could have ever imagined and is now descending upon you." Gojo said menacingly and with not small amount of glee.
"The coming generation won't be limited to just the term of special grade." Gojo said, spitting out the last two words. "If you think I'm the only one who's gonna question your authority, you're gonna be in for a world of hurt, old man!" Gojo laughed.
"You've got quite the mouth." Gakuganji said, trying to appear threatening.
"Ooohh, I'm scared." Gojo teased. "Well, I've said my peace. Principal Yaga wouldn't be around for a couple hours."