In the evening, Asou Akiya went about his usual routine of gathering the laundry, tidying both his own wardrobe and Gojo Satoru's.
Although the dormitory was equipped with a dryer, the sun had shone brightly that day, so he followed his habit of hanging the clothes out to air for a while longer — to dispel any lingering dampness and leave him with that comforting sense, shared by older generations, that the fabrics emerged cleaner and warmer as a result.
Opening the wardrobe door, he arranged Gojo Satoru's garments by category, counting each piece carefully to ensure nothing was missing.
In other anime worlds, there were thieves who stole underwear, but such petty criminals ought not to exist in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe. Still, sorcerers placed great importance on privacy and security; intimate clothing was profoundly personal, and once marked by the lingering fragrance of cursed energy, that trace could persist for days without fading — no ordinary washing machine could erase the imprint left by a sorcerer who had worn it close to the skin. It was entirely possible for such items to be taken and used as materials for curses.
When he focused cursed energy into his eyes to inspect the wardrobe, he indeed detected a subtle irregularity.
Faced with underwear that had clearly not been folded by his own hand, he managed to suppress a smile.
He turned his gaze leisurely toward Gojo Satoru, who stood with his back to him — the line of his spine seeming to snap rigidly straight in that instant. The young man's secret was laid bare in that moment; it turned out he had not hidden away any adult materials, but had simply grown a little more mature in secret.
[Shoko, your merits are immeasurable.]
The benefits of healing his brain had allowed Gojo Satoru's body and mind to achieve complete relaxation.
In the original story, Gojo Satoru had used Inoue Waka as his phone wallpaper, which proved that the tendencies of his preference for mature older women had already emerged before he turned sixteen — and he had openly looked down on Amanai Riko's figure, making it obvious that he was well aware of the allure of big sisters.
Asou Akiya chose not to expose Gojo Satoru's embarrassment. Returning to his own side of the room, he added an extra handful of adzuki beans — hastily soaked in warm water — to the rice while preparing dinner, transforming plain white rice into celebratory red bean rice in quiet commemoration of the day Gojo Satoru had grown up.
Asou Akiya simmered a vegetable soup while reading a book, utterly at ease. The volume now in his hands was the classical work The Pillow Book, which described the Japanese custom of using red bean rice — originating from an ancient azuki bean porridge — to express joy and celebration. Finishing it would offer insight into some of the customs from the Heian period in Kyoto.
At dinnertime, Asou Akiya presented Gojo Satoru with a bowl brimming with heartfelt red bean rice.
Gojo Satoru had often eaten red bean rice during festivals back at his family home, yet this was the first time he had encountered it at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
"Is there a festival today?" Gojo Satoru asked in genuine confusion.
"No," Asou Akiya replied, his tone lighter and more cheerful than usual. "I'm simply in a good mood — let's treat it as a celebration."
Gojo Satoru let out an acknowledging "oh," first sipping the soup with his spoon before picking up his chopsticks to take a piece of the fish, fried to a perfect golden brown on both sides. In the meals Asou Akiya prepared, raw food almost never appeared; every cooked dish was flavored with rich, satisfying taste.
Though it could not compare to the masterpieces created by the chefs at the Gojo estate, Gojo Satoru was far from a picky eater.
He had grown accustomed to having every aspect of his daily needs — clothing, food, shelter, and travel — arranged by others on his behalf.
This very habit granted Asou Akiya the opportunity to subtly reshape Gojo Satoru's palate, introducing a wealth of diverse seasonings from the outside world to enrich his flavors and broaden his appetite, gradually steering him away from the path of extreme sweet-tooth indulgence.
A Gojo Satoru who did not crave sweets would likely become a "miracle" across countless parallel timelines.
A truly one-of-a-kind... Gojo Satoru belonging solely to this world.
Asou Akiya harbored not the slightest trace of regret as he turned away.
True to the custom of silent dining, Gojo Satoru quickened his pace, shoveling rice into his mouth with large bites. The moment he finished, he pulled out his phone to search for the meaning of red bean rice.
Three seconds later, Gojo Satoru gritted his teeth and declared, "I knew it!"
Red bean rice carried many meanings in Japanese tradition.
Little tangerine would never offer kindness without reason — even a simple bowl of red bean rice was bound to conceal some deeper intent!
"It was clearly you being perverted, insisting on buying that kind of magazine," Gojo Satoru swiftly accepted the reality of his secret being discovered. By the time Asou Akiya returned to clear the dishes, he had shed every shred of embarrassment, conducting himself with the full confidence of a typical Japanese high school boy rather than the innocent youth raised within a feudal clan. "Lend me a few more magazines to look at."
Asou Akiya could only admire him in silent awe — truly worthy of you; either change the world, or lower the bar entirely.
"Next time, let's go buy some together," Asou Akiya invited.
"..." Gojo Satoru's bravado faltered — purchasing such things in public still felt a touch too shameless.
"That might not be the best idea," Gojo Satoru squirmed with uncharacteristic hesitation.
"One of the favorite haunts of high school students is the bookstore, you know," Asou Akiya replied, sounding every bit like a mischievous senior leading a junior astray.
"Fine — I'm in!" Gojo Satoru proclaimed with grand bravado. "We'll buy the whole place out!"
At the end of August, Geto Suguru shuffled out in his slippers to witness the spectacle of unloading. Asou Akiya handed out several popsicles, distributing them to the delivery staff from within the school who had come to help, directing them to haul the mountain of books into an empty dormitory room.
Geto Suguru counted them up — including the vacant spaces reserved for appliances like washing machines, the three of them now occupied seven dormitory rooms in total, two of which no longer even had doors. They resembled warehouses far more than living quarters.
Asou Akiya tossed a popsicle toward Geto Suguru: "Want one?"
Geto Suguru asked, "Haagen-Dazs?"
He had assumed it was some luxury snack courtesy of Gojo Satoru.
Asou Akiya chuckled: "You're overthinking it — just ordinary saltwater popsicles you can find anywhere."
Geto Suguru tore open the wrapper without complaint and slipped the treat into his mouth — the simple flavor carrying the unmistakable touch of everyday life.
"Asou, what on earth is Gojo planning to do with all these books?"
"He was too embarrassed to admit he wanted photobooks, so he ended up buying every single book in the store."
"That sounds exactly like something he'd do."
"We're the lucky ones now — we get to read the entire inventory of a bookstore."
"That much is true. The books available at Jujutsu High are generally ancient texts — borrowing them involves tedious procedures, and one must guarantee not to damage the paper in the slightest. It's been ages since I've read anything currently popular. Asou, why don't you recommend a couple to me?"
Geto Suguru eagerly joined the excitement, discussing the latest trending books with Asou Akiya. Amid the store's selection were some manga volumes and light novels adapted from manga, and Geto Suguru's eye caught a particularly intriguing title: "Death Note?"
Asou Akiya's pupils contracted sharply.
For a fleeting moment, he almost believed this world had been graced with the drop of a certain black shinigami notebook.
The Jujutsu Kaisen world was already perilous enough — there was no need for death gods to join the fray. He stated coolly, "I suggest you avoid this book. The protagonist's ideology is far too extreme — it could easily corrupt young minds."
Geto Suguru trusted Asou Akiya implicitly; he withdrew his hand and watched as the other boy set that particular volume aside on its own.
"Is it some kind of forbidden book?" Geto Suguru asked the black-haired youth who returned.
"Not forbidden here — it's actually a bestseller," Asou Akiya explained. "But in other countries, that might not be the case."
Geto Suguru picked up on the nuance with keen insight: "Could it induce the birth of imagined cursed spirits?"
Asou Akiya's thoughts had not ventured quite that far ahead; a complicated expression flickered across his face. Everything could become a cursed spirit?
"Perhaps," Asou Akiya murmured softly. At present, this manga had yet to receive an anime adaptation, so its reach remained limited. In his previous life, however, he had witnessed the frenzy as the death god notebook phenomenon swept across the globe — minors excitedly compiling lists of names to kill, imitating the protagonist who used a black notebook to execute evildoers as depicted in the anime.
"It could foster hatred among humans toward other humans, murderous intent from humans directed at their own kind..."
A chill crept down Asou Akiya's spine.
A blockbuster masterpiece that had captivated the world, when placed within the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, carried ominous implications: a massive concentration of directed curses.
Humans — the species most adept at slaughtering one another. Thirteen years into the future, the most unique special-grade cursed spirit, Mahito, would emerge from the malice of humanity — and that global surge of high-frequency curses would undoubtedly contribute its share.
"Can we petition to have it banned?" Geto Suguru asked, his voice laced with a frosty edge.
"..." Asou Akiya still vividly remembered the mangaka as a genius — a true maverick of the unconventional, a demonic talent in the realm of manga.
As a sorcerer within the worldview of Jujutsu Kaisen, his duty relentlessly reminded him: manga was merely an entertainment product — he must never forget his primary responsibilities.
Yet, when all was said and done, if not for this profound love of manga, how could he ever have thrown himself into the world of sorcery — becoming a jujutsu sorcerer whose mortality rate surpassed even that of mercenaries?
["Most sorcerers awaken their innate techniques between the ages of four and six — someone like you is already quite late."]
["I am Asou Akiya, fifteen years old this year, without an innate technique — a fourth-grade sorcerer."]
["Little tangerine doesn't even have a technique — understanding it wouldn't do him any good anyway."]
The special-grade cursed spirit, Mahito.
A cursed spirit capable of granting ordinary people an innate technique.
It was the enemy of sorcerers, the despair of non-sorcerers, the lifelong fountain of desire for ambitious dreamers and visionaries alike. Since it was fated to be born into this world regardless, what difference could an earlier or later arrival possibly make?
Asou Akiya sharply turned his head away, his breathing growing rapid and uneven.
He dared not meet the eyes of the kind-hearted Geto Suguru. In his mind, the frenzied image of the Star Plasma Vessel cult leader surfaced in perfect synchrony — the man draped in monastic robes, driven to ecstatic madness, cursing with words that seemed to drip blood:
[Asou! That is the hope that can change the world! The monkeys will no longer have to die — I will evolve them into sorcerers and welcome them into our great family!]
Asou Akiya felt a deep sorrow for that hysterical cult leader. He asked softly, "Suguru, who grants justice?"
Geto Suguru greatly enjoyed discussing such topics — he had recently been studying the structures of society. "Books say that 'justice' is bestowed by a nation's constitution, and I am willing to abide by laws and regulations. Yet I do not wish to regard 'justice' merely as a political construct."
Geto Suguru's answer was one born of idealism: "'Justice' exists within the perception of each individual. What I believe to be 'justice' becomes the standard worth devoting my entire strength to uphold."
Geto Suguru continued, "Laws and regulations can only constrain a person's lower limits — 'justice' is not that."
The grand sense of righteousness that Geto Suguru yearned to pursue radiated with an inner light.
"It is morality. It is an ideal."
Asou Akiya listened quietly as Geto Suguru shared the thoughts he had taken some time to organize.
From Xunzi's chapter on the Effects of Confucianism: "Without learning and inquiry, without justice, taking wealth and profit as the highest aim — such are the vulgar people."
Xunzi divided humanity into four types: the vulgar person, the vulgar scholar, the refined scholar, and the great scholar — with the vulgar person occupying the lowest rung.
Those lacking knowledge and skill, unable to distinguish good from evil, devoid of justice in their hearts, and pursuing only money were all vulgar people. Only those capable of transcending the "small self" and merging with the greater "self" of the world could be called scholars — individuals of true refinement and aspiration.
Asou Akiya could never become such a scholar, yet surrounded by classmates and teachers who had already risen above base desires.
In his eyes, the souls of those people shone differently.
"Suguru, I am nothing but a vulgar person."
"A vulgar person like me could never become a great man — the only thing I can do is stay out of the way and avoid holding others back."
"In this moment, I am willing to take your words as my 'compass of good and evil'."
"Let us go and stop it."
Asou Akiya broke free from the greed born of selfish desire — that obsessive craving for power so characteristic of the weak. A refreshed smile spread across his face, while the hands hidden behind his back clenched tightly into fists, suppressing the reluctance burning within him.
The special-grade cursed spirit Mahito... should never come into being — it must be exorcised!
This conviction could not waver!
Suguru, you must never regret it either — let your "justice" illuminate the future for us all.
On the other side of the conversation.
Geto Suguru's expression turned somewhat peculiar, stunned into momentary bewilderment by the immense weight Asou Akiya had placed upon the phrase "compass of good and evil."
Geto Suguru thought he had misheard, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke: "Asou, is there... something wrong with what you just said?"
Asou Akiya replied with unwavering resolve: "You need to have confidence in yourself — you are more than capable of serving as my 'compass of good and evil,' and there is even Gojo's share waiting for you to take on as well."
Geto Suguru felt as though Asou Akiya's smile blazed like a fierce flame, scorching the soles of his feet and leaving him unsteady on the ground.
This was going far — far too far!
Gojo was nothing like Asou — he would never swallow this kind of theoretical rhetoric!
Those words carried a subtle yet profound influence over Geto Suguru, so much so that when Gojo Satoru appeared moments later, his first instinctive reaction was: "Does Gojo even distinguish between good and evil?" Followed immediately by: "Do I really have to serve as the 'compass of good and evil' for two people?"
"Is Asou truly serious?" His second reaction was to avert his gaze from the Six Eyes, leaving Geto Suguru's inner thoughts in complete disarray.
Gojo Satoru despised being ignored more than anything in his life. He charged forward, seized Geto Suguru by the collar, and demanded: "Weird bangs!"
Geto Suguru, caught off guard, managed only: "Gojo..."
Gojo Satoru eyed his expression with suspicion: "You two haven't been sneaking off to have fun behind my back, have you?"
Geto Suguru felt a wave of relief wash over him — Gojo was still the same as ever, utterly oblivious to everything that had transpired that day.
"I went with Asou to make a suggestion to Yaga-sensei."
"What?"
"Explaining the details would be too complicated — the main point is restricting the overseas distribution of morally corrupting manga, tightening domestic animation approval processes, and preventing minors from accessing works that could trigger massive waves of negative emotions."
"Are you two trying to become my enemies?"
"..."
"My spiritual sustenance is manga and anime, ahhhh!!"
Gojo Satoru descended into frenzy, glaring at Geto Suguru with furious eyes. Geto Suguru composed himself and adopted a sharply confrontational stance.
"Especially you — if a manga were based on you, it would probably feature a villainous protagonist. Willful, arrogant, overconfident, constantly spouting 'I (ore)' like that, spending every day bullying classmates and hanging their nicknames from your lips."
Gojo Satoru stared in disbelief: "Am I really that bad?"
Geto Suguru nodded gravely, hoping to persuade him toward becoming a normal person sooner rather than later: "Stop using those nicknames already."
Gojo Satoru hesitated, then hesitated again as he eyed this Geto Suguru who was once more lecturing him today.
"Geto?" The first attempt at the proper name slipped out.
"I called you that — so Geto, you can't ban the manga I love." Gojo Satoru followed through as promised, refusing to revert.
"No, that won't work — I'm going to find Akiya. He definitely knows more about it. In the real world, tons of people use nicknames — you're the only one who nitpicks over it. Bleh." Gojo Satoru dashed off to seek Asou Akiya, knocking on the dormitory door while turning back to stick his tongue out and make faces.
Geto Suguru could not help but chuckle — amused by the overflowing vitality of youth in his friend, and by the prospect of a future where he would no longer be constantly provoked into explosive rage by Gojo Satoru.
At long last, he was no longer "weird bangs" in his classmate's mouth!