Time moved on, and it was spring 2008. With the new school year beginning and entrance ceremonies in season, a period of change had arrived at Jujutsu High.
Firstly, a significant development was the establishment of "affiliated elementary schools" and "affiliated middle schools" at the Tokyo campus. This 'setting,' where the school ostensibly operates under a religious corporation, was easily accepted by the public and primarily stemmed from the unique circumstances of the Tokyo campus.
Specifically, the Tokyo campus was currently in an abnormal situation where there were 'more toddlers than students on campus.' Furthermore, Maki, Mai, and Tsumiki were all of elementary school age this year.
However, this was not the only objective. A resolution was passed jointly by the Gojo and Zen'in families stating, 'In light of the severe shortage of personnel in the Jujutsu world, sorcerers should be recruited more broadly from the general public.' The Kamo family, succumbing to the pressure from the two families who boasted three Special Grade sorcerers, also approved this. Thus, a legitimate reason for establishing these schools was to serve as a receiving point for 'talented children' protected by Cursed Energy users and sorcerers.
Incidentally, students advancing from the affiliated middle school could freely choose between the Tokyo and Kyoto campuses, and assignments would be made based on the students' circumstances and the intentions of both school principals.
Among those entering the newly established affiliated elementary school were two boys, recommended by Yuki Tsukumo, and surprisingly, two boys from sorcerer families who wished to enroll.
"Oh, come to think of it, am I the only one who's met Kokichi before?"
"Yeah. Maki knows me because I was introduced as her senior apprentice. Everyone else, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kokichi Muta. Nice to meet you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Tsumiki Fushiguro. Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Mai Zen'in."
"Panda is Panda!"
"And you, whose face I'm seeing for the first time..."
"Salmon. Tuna mayo. Roe."
"Oh, uh. ...Is that sushi? Panda likes hamburgers, not sushi."
"No, aren't those rice ball fillings?"
"Maybe they're just side dishes... No, since there's tuna mayo, that's probably not it."
"I don't really get it. But you probably have a binding vow, similar to Naoya, where you can only speak in food items, right? Nice to meet you, Rice Ball Kid."
"Salmon, salmon!"
"Then your nickname is Togepi."
"Shiso!?"
"I understood that 'Shiso!?' meant 'Seriously!?'"
Yes, they were Toge Inumaki from the Inumaki family, an outlier in the Jujutsu world, and Kokichi Muta. With these two boys added, the affiliated elementary school now had an equal male-to-female ratio, making it feel more like a proper school. The homeroom teacher for this class was the maiden who had been told by Principal Gakuganji, 'I'm counting on you to recruit them for Kyoto Jujutsu High.'
"Alright, since we don't have an entrance ceremony here, we're going to start homeroom right away! I'm your homeroom teacher, Ms. Utahime Iori! My hobby is drinking Super Dry while watching Lions baseball on TV! Nice to meet you all!"
Thus, the even livelier Ms. Utahime Iori arrived at Jujutsu High's affiliated elementary school.
---
Meanwhile, at the main campus of Jujutsu High Tokyo.
This year, they also welcomed one new student.
"This is my enrollment! Rejoice!"
"But you've always been here, Amanai."
"I was just here, right!? I've officially become a Jujutsu High student, so at least celebrate!"
"Haha, congratulations, Riko-chan. But how were you allowed to enroll? Aren't you quite the troublesome case?"
"Well, your very survival is protected by a joint declaration from us four Special Grade sorcerers, so you're only being overlooked, Amanai. What's gotten into you?"
As Satoru questioned, it was highly unusual for Riko Amanai, who should have been ostracized by the higher-ups of the Jujutsu world as a "Star Plasma Vessel who abandoned her mission," to become a Jujutsu High student.
Given that neither Satoru nor Suguru Geto was responsible for this abnormal situation, Naoya Zen'in was a candidate. However, Naoya, who was instantly glanced at, shrugged his shoulders, feigning ignorance, and seemed to be pondering the situation himself, hand on his chin.
Of course, it wasn't Shoko, Nanami, or Haibara, and if it were Kiyotaka, it would be incredible, but that was absolutely impossible.
Then... as the faces of those surrounding the new student Amanai in the first-year classroom pondered, a single extraordinary woman came to mind, and as if on cue, her voice echoed.
"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting! I'm Yuki Tsukumo, your new teacher! I'll be the first-year homeroom teacher starting today, so nice to meet you!"
"I knew it."
"Right?"
"Yeah, it had to be Ms. Tsukumo."
"Oh, the current students are all lined up waiting for me? Are you perhaps throwing a welcome party?"
Special Grade sorcerer, Yuki Tsukumo.
Her reputation for constantly ditching missions made her becoming a Jujutsu High teacher an equally abnormal situation.
It was therefore natural to assume a correlation between these two abnormal occurrences — and the answer was immediately provided by none other than Yuki herself.
"...Impossible, no, but — are you 'Myself'!?"
"Oh, you must be Riko-chan? It's our official first meeting. Nice to meet you, 'Myself.' I am Yuki Tsukumo. A former Star Plasma Vessel and a Special Grade sorcerer. Which means — I am your senior, you are me, and starting today, I am your master."
The two Star Plasma Vessels met.
Their encounter began to generate a new gravitational pull of causality in the stellar alignment surrounding Jujutsu High.
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