The sun was setting in the west.
A black stretched limousine slowly pulled up outside the gates of Kyoto Jujutsu High.
As one of the top jujutsu schools in all of Japan, Kyoto Jujutsu High was known in the Jujutsu World as the Big Three Families' School.
The reason was simple: most of the Jujutsu Sorcerers studying there were members of The Big Three Families. The current head of the Zenin clan, Zenin Naobito, was an alumnus of Kyoto Jujutsu High.
Click!
The car door opened, and Renji stepped out, looking into the distance.
"It feels a bit livelier here than at our school."
Renji was dressed in a pure white uniform, with a long sword strapped to his back. It was impossible to tell that he was only ten years old.
Seeing him get out of the car, Suguru, still inside the car, let out a long breath.
"Satoru and I came here this past spring to spar with their people." Suguru bent down and stepped out of the car.
The two of them stood on the ground.
"You must have won by a terrifying margin. Otherwise, they wouldn't have banned Gojo-san from coming for the next round of sparring."
As soon as Renji got out of the car, he felt gazes coming from all directions.
Fortunately, classes were currently in session. Otherwise, there would have been even more eyes sizing him up.
"That's right. That time, I didn't even have to lift a finger. Satoru took down all the challengers by himself. So this time, sensei sent the two of us. For tomorrow's match, I'll handle it. Okkotsu, you've only just started learning jujutsu."
"Even though you've already exorcised Cursed Spirits, you should focus on learning during this exchange. Observe more battles between Jujutsu Sorcerers. If Shoko finds out I let you fight, she'll probably be furious with me."
Suguru smiled gently and then stepped through the gates of Kyoto Jujutsu High.
Renji followed Suguru through the gates.
On the training grounds, many students turned their attention toward the two of them.
"Is that... a Special Grade Sorcerer uniform? Huh? A kid who looks about our age? A Special Grade?"
"I've seen that man in black before. He came here in the spring with Gojo Satoru. Since Gojo's strength is so terrifying, he definitely shouldn't be underestimated either."
"A Special Grade Sorcerer? Woohoo! This is going to be fun."
Amidst the noise, Suguru and Renji were led by a reception teacher to the Special Student Dormitory. This was a dormitory Kyoto Jujutsu High specifically established for students from other schools. As the former capital of Japan, Kyoto Jujutsu High had certainly seen its glory days. Back then, every Jujutsu Sorcerer in Japan wanted to come here for advanced studies.
Unfortunately, about twenty years ago, the capital of Japan moved to Tokyo, and Tokyo Jujutsu High rose to prominence. Even Satoru, the designated next head of the Gojo clan, was sent to Tokyo to learn more profound jujutsu knowledge.
"The match doesn't start until tomorrow at noon. Until then, you can go explore the place."
Suguru had his hands in his pockets, the bangs on the left side of his forehead fluttering slightly in the breeze within the hallway.
"Geto, do you want to take a walk together? It's boring just sitting around."
Renji extended the invitation, partly to have Suguru introduce him to the place and partly to unlock his favorability.
After all, Cursed Spirit Manipulation was a very powerful technique. If he could obtain it, he could become a Pokemon Master.
Suguru waved his hand. "Satoru and I just captured a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit a few days ago. I need to absorb it to prevent any mishaps during tomorrow's sparring."
"Alright then, I'll just wander around on my own." Renji turned around and vanished instantly.
At the moment Renji disappeared, Suguru seemed to suddenly remember something. He turned back but didn't see Renji's figure.
He froze for a few seconds and then muttered to himself, "He is truly on another level."
...
Renji walked through the school with his sword on his back.
Kyoto Jujutsu High was a bit smaller than Tokyo Jujutsu High, but it had significantly more people.
"Are you the guy who came to spar in place of that scumbag Gojo?"
From behind, a lively female voice rang out.
Renji turned his head and a flash of white was reflected in his golden pupils.
A young girl wearing a shrine maiden outfit stood at the entrance of the training room, arms crossed, looking his way.
This girl was Iori Utahime, a second-year student at Kyoto Jujutsu High and a senior to Satoru and the others. Her current strength was that of a Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer, and she was a good friend of Shoko. However, her own power to exorcise Cursed Spirits was very weak. She was the type of sorcerer whose strength lay in support.
He recalled that the reason Utahime disliked Satoru and Suguru was because she felt she didn't receive the respect she deserved as their senior.
Renji bowed slightly and then spoke with a smile, "Hello, senpai. My name is Okkotsu Renji, a first-year at Tokyo Jujutsu High."
[Ding! Target for favorability increase detected: Iori Utahime (Tier 1). Current favorability is 10. When favorability reaches 50/80/100, the character's abilities can be extracted for use by the Host.]
"Hm? You're actually not a scumbag like Gojo? Hello, I'm Iori Utahime, a second-year student at Kyoto Jujutsu High. As for how to address me... just call me Utahime-senpai." Utahime looked at Renji with some surprise, then resumed her normal expression and continued.
Renji nodded. "Utahime-senpai, it's my first time here. Could you show me around?"
"Of course. Since you're such a polite junior, I suppose I can manage to take you on a tour."
Utahime's left hand pretentiously flipped the hair resting on her shoulder, looking quite tsundere.
I really wonder how this lively young girl turned into the person she becomes later.
The two of them walked through the school, one after the other.
"Over there is the Kyoto Jujutsu High training ground. Come, I'll take you to see it. Heh heh, Kyoto students aren't any worse than Tokyo students, you know."
Utahime pointed to an open space in the distance that was constantly emitting Cursed Energy, and then led the way.
Renji felt the gazes from all around.
"Seriously... is it necessary to watch me like this?" He felt a bit of a cold sweat.
Sensing his surroundings, he found that there were at least four Kyoto Jujutsu High teachers hiding in the nearby bushes. They were all standard Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers, and they probably thought they were perfectly hidden. They would likely let out a satisfied chuckle, thinking he hadn't noticed them.