At the entrance of Jujutsu High.
The atmosphere was somewhat tense.
Two groups of students in different uniforms stood facing each other, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder.
On one side was the full assembly of the Tokyo school: the first-year trio (Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, Nobara Kugisaki) and the second-year seniors (Maki, Inumaki, Panda).
On the other side were the people from Kyoto Jujutsu High who had just gotten off the bus.
"Hey, is this Tokyo Jujutsu High?"
A man as burly as a small mountain walked at the very front. He was shirtless, his muscles bulging like rocks, with a prominent scar on his face.
Aoi Todo.
Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer.
The core ace of Kyoto Jujutsu High.
Ignoring everyone's gaze, he yawned and scratched his head with a bored expression.
"How disappointing. Is that monster Okkotsu not here? The rest of these... all look weak and frail."
Aoi Todo's gaze swept over everyone, finally resting on Megumi Fushiguro.
"Hey, Sea urchin head over there."
Megumi Fushiguro frowned. "What do you want?"
"Don't be nervous, I just have a question for you."
Aoi Todo suddenly struck a bodybuilding pose, his muscles bulging as a terrifying pressure of Cursed Energy erupted.
"You..."
"What kind of woman is your type?"
Dead silence filled the area.
This is the ace of Kyoto Jujutsu High? Is there something wrong with his head?
"Well..." Megumi Fushiguro sighed, about to give his standard answer of "As long as she has a good character."
"Don't be in a hurry to answer."
Aoi Todo interrupted him, his eyes becoming sharp and dangerous.
"This isn't small talk. A person's preference reveals their essence. If you give a boring answer..."
Boom!
The concrete beneath Aoi Todo's feet instantly cracked.
"I'll beat you half to death right here."
Megumi Fushiguro's gaze turned cold. He took a combat stance, shadows surging beneath his feet.
It looked like the two sides were about to have a private brawl before the Goodwill Event even started.
"Um, excuse me."
A sudden voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
"Students from Kyoto Jujutsu High who have come from afar, thank you for your hard work on the long journey."
Everyone was stunned and turned to look.
Beneath a large tree at the school gate, an exquisite little stall had been set up at some unknown point.
A young man wearing a suit vest and gold-rimmed glasses stood behind the stall, looking at them with a smile.
"Would you like a bottle of water? Since it's a new opening, friends from Kyoto Jujutsu High get a twenty percent discount."
"Who are you?"
Aoi Todo turned around, his brow furrowed. He hadn't sensed this man's presence at all.
"I'm the new logistics consultant for Jujutsu High, and also the owner of this little shop."
Lynn pointed to the sign behind him—[Exchange No. 8: Jujutsu High Branch].
Aoi Todo sneered, clearly uninterested in someone acting so mysterious.
"Scram, weakling. I'm not interested in men right now, unless you can answer my question."
With that, he turned back, preparing to continue bothering Megumi Fushiguro.
"Oh my, quite impatient, aren't we?"
Lynn wasn't angry; he just unhurriedly pulled a photograph from under the counter.
"I was planning to give this good item to you as a greeting gift. Since Todo-kun isn't interested... I'll just have to sell it to a scrap yard."
Lynn made a move as if to throw the photo into the trash.
Aoi Todo's step, which he had already taken, suddenly froze.
As a die-hard fan of Takada-chan, his sensitivity to that figure was radar-level. Even if he only caught a glimpse of a corner, that familiar hair color... that iconic pose... "Wait!!!"
A thunderous shout.
With a speed that defied the laws of physics, Aoi Todo instantly teleported to Lynn's stall. His fierce face was now filled with shock and disbelief.
"That... that is..."
Aoi Todo's hand trembled as he pointed at the photo in Lynn's hand.
Lynn smiled. The fish had taken the bait.
He turned the photo around, facing Aoi Todo directly.
It was a Polaroid photo. In the picture, a sweet-looking idol girl was making a finger heart at the camera. In the bottom right corner, there was a line of elegant handwriting:
[To my dearest Aoi: Do your best at the Goodwill Event! — From Takada.]
Besides that, there was a bright red lipstick mark.
Boom—!!!
Aoi Todo's brain instantly short-circuited.
Was that... Takada-chan's authentic signature?! And a personalized one?! With a lipstick mark?!
"This... this-this-this..." Aoi Todo stammered, the two-meter-tall man turning as red as a tomato. "Is this real?!"
"Of course."
Lynn said calmly.
Of course, it was fake.
It was just a forgery made with a system item.
"I obtained this through some'special channels.' It's the only one in the world."
Lynn looked at Aoi Todo's eyes, which had already turned into heart shapes, and waved the photo in his hand.
"How about it, Todo-kun? Interested in talking with me now?"
"Yes! Very much so!!" Aoi Todo nodded vigorously, looking like he wanted to pounce and lick the photo. "How much?! I'll buy it!! I'll buy it no matter the price!!"
Lynn put the photo away and wagged a finger.
"Talking about money is so vulgar. You are a future Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer; what I value is your 'friendship'."
Lynn gently placed the photo on the counter and pushed it toward Aoi Todo.
"This photo is yours."
"As for the price..."
Lynn leaned in closer and lowered his voice.
"I need you to do something within your power that doesn't go against your conscience, at my request, at some point in the future."
Aoi Todo carefully picked up the photo as if it were a holy relic.
"Of course, no problem."
Lynn paused, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally sweeping toward Yuji Itadori, who was standing next to Megumi Fushiguro.
"Also..."
"I hope you can 'take care' of someone for me in the upcoming Goodwill Event."
"Who?"
"Yuji Itadori."
Lynn pointed at the pink-haired boy.
"I think if it's you, you should be able to become very good... friends with him."
"Yuji Itadori?"
Aoi Todo followed Lynn's finger and locked his gaze on Yuji Itadori.
Yuji Itadori felt a chill from the stare. "W-What is it?"
Looking at Yuji Itadori, Aoi Todo suddenly felt that in this boy's eyes, there seemed to be a hidden... longing for a "certain type of woman."
It was the aura of a kindred spirit.
"No problem!!"
Aoi Todo carefully pressed the photo to his chest, a look of intoxication on his face.
"Since you are the one who gave me this miraculous item... then you are my brother!!"
Aoi Todo suddenly reached out a large hand and slapped Lynn heavily on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, brother!! I'll 'take care' of that kid Itadori properly!! Since he's a friend of my brother, he's my best friend!!"
Lynn was nearly made to cough up blood by the slap, but he maintained an elegant smile on his face.
[Transaction complete!]
[Item obtained: A favor from Aoi Todo.]
[System valuation: 3000 points.]
[Current balance: 13,240 points]
Done. The most troublesome troublemaker has now become one of us.
On the other side, Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki watched in stunned silence.
"What's with that guy?" Nobara Kugisaki's lip twitched. "He looked like he was ready to kill someone a moment ago, and now he's suddenly turned into a fanboy?"
"That owner..." Megumi Fushiguro looked at Lynn with a complicated gaze. "He's terrifying as expected."