Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Hidden Inventory
’Things were busy this summer. The frequent disasters of the past year probably played a role, but cursed spirits were springing up like maggots.’
Sensing something nearby, Geto turned and walked into an alleyway, where he found a cursed spirit eating the dead corpse of a human.
’Exorcise. Absorb. Over and over.’
Holding out his hand, he absorbed the cursed spirit into a ball.
‘Exorcise. Absorb. No one else understands what cursed spirits taste like.’
He devours the ball, trying to stop himself from vomiting out the disgusting taste.
‘It’s like swallowing a dirty rag that’s been used to clean up shit and vomit. Exorcise. Absorb.’
“Wow! So cursed spirits taste just as bad as they look. Who knew?” The 5’5-foot male was sitting on a park bench, his feet propped up, gazing skyward at the clouds.
It must have been during the last mission that [Name] happened to accidentally discover him, wearing a painful grimace and absorbing and eating a cursed spirit.
“I’m sorry you had to see that, [Name]-kun.” He forced a smile and said he was sorry. He would never want his classmate to witness him acting in such a manner.
“Why are you apologizing? You haven’t done anything wrong. Oh! If the taste of cursed spirits disgusts you that much, then…!” After searching through his pockets, the boy took out some wrapped candies.
“Here! Perhaps candy will be helpful!”
Anything that tastes better than cursed spirits, of course, but when he offered Geto the candies, he had such a lovely smile on his face that Geto couldn’t help but believe he was an angel sent from heaven. It was also the first time someone reached out to him.
With a smile of his own, he accepted the candies. “Thank you, my beloved angel.”
“What’d you call me?”
Even when he was looking down at them with a stern expression on his face—albeit less so than their teacher—Geto hasn’t stopped calling him that ever since that special meeting. The TV was blaring in the background as the news covered the incident last night.
“One of you three said they would cast the veil themselves and left you assistant supervisor behind, didn’t you? And then you forgot the veil. Come forward.”
Fingers were instantly pointed at Gojo.
“Sense! Why don’t we stop this hunt for the culprit?!”
“So it was you, Satoru.”
Yaga gave him a hard scolding and then dismissed his students after striking him over the head with the fist of discipline. The sophomores made the decision to take a nice, leisurely break by going to the gym.
“Is a veil that necessary in the first place?” Holding the ball close to his chest, the Gojo clan member questioned. “It’s not like it matters if normies see or not, right? They can’t see cursed spirits or cursed techniques, anyway.”
Hearing what he had to say, [Name], who was conversing with Shoko about his hospital visit, calmly interrupted, saying, “Satoru-kun, it matters more than you think. Consider the response that the public would if curses were known. It would just lead to chaos.”
“Angel-chan is right.” The ball was prevented from going through the hoop by Geto. “That’s exactly why we have to conceal the threats they can’t even see as much as possible. And that’s not all—“
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Gojo waved, disappointed that [Name] was supporting him again. He successfully tosses the ball into the other hoop after stealing it from him as he runs by. He says, “Looking out for the weak is so exhausting, honestly,” as the basketball loudly falls back down. Geto caught it with both hands after he threw it back to him.
“Survival of the weakest. That’s how a society should be. The weak help each other and discourage anyone who is too strong.” Geto starts walking toward him.
‘Uh-oh. Here we go again.’ Sensing another argument was imminent, [Name] stood nervously beside the budding doctor and smiled.
“Listen, Satoru. Jujutsu exists to protect non-jujutsu sorcerers.” While he was explaining, he threw the ball into the hoop behind his best friend.
“Is that your moral argument? I hate moral arguments. That’s the same kind of crap [Name]-chan sprouts.” Gojo smirked.
“What?” He glares at him for disparaging not just his philosophy but also [Name], who held similar opinions to his own.
“Assigning reason an responsibility to strength is what those who are weak do.” Gojo roughly tossed the ball into his side of the hoop, and the air blew past his bangs, but it didn’t phase him. “Quit making yourself better by spouting bullshit. Blegh.” He then childishly stuck his tongue out.
“Want to take this outside, Satoru?” Geto asked him menacingly after calling forth a cursed spirit.
“You feeling lonely? Go by yourself.” He provokes him with a taunting smirk.
‘I have to stop them before they destroy the gym! Ieiri-chan, help! She’s gone!’ [Name] looked to the side for assistance but saw that she was nowhere to be found. Thankfully, Yaga, his rescuer, showed up, and that was all it took for the two to instantly cease fighting.
”How long are you going to keep fooling around? Where did Shoko go?”
“Who knows?”
“Bathroom, probably.”
“Whatever. This mission is being assigned to you three.”
Geto’s cherished angel intervened and gave him a warning before he could object. “What’s the mission, Yaga-sensei?”
They moved the conversation outside. [Name] was positioned between the two boys as their teacher went over the specifics. He felt small in comparison to the two giants.
“Frankly, I think it’s too much for you, but Tengen-sama asked for you specifically.”
“Us?” He raised his gaze to his friends, who looked up at him in confusion.
Yaga nods his head. “Your mission has two goals. The Star Plasma Vessel is the one compatible with Tengen-sama. You are two escort that girl and erase her.”
“Escort a brat and erase her?” Gojo repeated.
“That’s right.”
”Have you finally gone senile?”
“It is spring. He’s probably got his head full with being the principal.”
“Don’t be rude!”
Geto chuckles at his angel’s attempt to scold both him and Gojo by kicking them in the ankles because he wasn’t tall enough to reach them.
“Jokes aside, though—“
Yaga heard their taunts and decided to gruffly respond, saying, “I’ll be the one to decide if I let that off as a joke.”
“Is this about renewing Tengen-sama’s technique?”
“What’s that?” When they had all returned to the classroom, Gojo asked the question. The fact that he was not paying attention to any of the lessons that had been taught to him made his two peers sigh, with the exception of [Name], who took a simple smile in response.
“What?”
“Tengen-sama does not possess the power of eternal youth, but he does possess the cursed technique of immortality.” He gave his explanation and moved aside to avoid his classmate’s “thank you” hug.
“Thank you, [Name]. At least someone was paying attention.” Yaga expressed gratitude.
Geto scowled and thought, ‘I was listening too.’
“Back to what I was saying. It wouldn’t be an issue if all he did was get older, but after his body ages to a certain point, the cursed technique begins rewriting his body. Evolution. He’ll cease to be human and become a higher form of existence.” He continued.
“What’s wrong with that? Sounds cool.” Gojo asked as he leaned back in his chair.
“According to Tengen-sama, those who reach that state of being have no will. It means Tengen-sama would cease to be Tengen-sama. All the Jujutsu schools, the barrier techniques of the assistant managers… They’re all being strengthened by Tengen-sama. Without the aid of his power, we could hardly maintain security or clean up after missions. The worst-case scenario, Tengen-sama could even become a threat to mankind.
That’s why, every 500 years, he finds the Star Plasma Vessel—someone who is compatible with him—and assimilates them, overwriting the information in their body. By renewing his body, he resets his cursed technique back to the start and avoids evolution.” Geto gave a thorough explanation.
“I get it.” Gojo seriously nods at his explanation, saying, “It would be fine if he turned into MetalGreymon, but we can’t have him become SkullGreymon. So we have him start over from Koromon.”
“What? Yeah, sure, that works.” Geto said, exasperated.
“I don’t get it. MetalGreymon? SkullGreymon? Koromon? Did you just make those words up?” [Name] glanced back and forth at them with dotted eyes.
“You’re so uncultured, [Name]-chan! This is why we need to watch Digimon together!”
Yaga regained their focus by clearing his throat. “The Star Plasma Vessel’s location has been leaked. Right now, there are two major groups after the young girl’s life.” He selected a file and flipped his computer to display it to his students. When it opened, a picture of individuals in uniform was visible.
“One is the Curse User Group Q, which seeks to upend jujutsu society with Tengen-sama’s rampage.”
He then selected a different file, which opened to a purple screen with odd symbols written in white text that was bold.
“The other is the Star Religious Group, also known as the “Time Vessel Association,” which worships Tengen-sama as a god. Tengen-sama will assimilate the Star Plasma Vessel two days from now. You are to protect the girl until then and ensure that she reaches Tengen-sama! If you fail, the effects will ripple throughout even normal society! Don’t forget that!”
[!-!]
“Are you sure about this?” Geto questioned from his angel’s room’s doorway. Following the conclusion of the briefing, he watched [Name] pack his essentials and followed him back to his room.
“Yes… I’m sure.” [Name] turned his back on him and sighed at his antics. “This mission is rather significant. Keeping the worst from happening while protecting Tengen-sama’s vessel? I can see why we were given this mission by our superiors.”
“However, your condition…” Geto scowled with nervousness. Though he is aware of [Name]’s stubborn nature, he would rather if [Name] stayed here with Shoko if he could.
“I appreciate your concern, Suguru-kun, but I’ll be fine. You see, I’m packing my medicine so I won’t be a burden to you and Satoru-kun.”
He frowned even further, dissatisfied by what he was hearing. The person who saved him from the brink of despair? A burden?
“You are not a liability. Whenever you feel like it’s too much for you, you can always count on me.”
“He’s right!” Gojo, who is overhearing the conversation, puts an arm around his best friend’s shoulder and grindingly says to [Name].
“You have the strongest sorcerer on hand to handle matters if they become too difficult for you!”
“Thank you guys.” [Name] lightly chuckled at their enthusiasm. “I’m glad I have such reliable friends…”
Not that they could see, but there was a single tear that ran down his cheek.
“Eh?! Are you crying again, [Name]?!”
”Sorry, I can’t help it.”