The air inside the conference room at Tokyo Jujutsu High felt heavier than usual because of certainty.
War was coming.
At the head of the table stood Masamichi Yaga, arms folded, expression grim. Around him sat the strongest and sharpest minds available. People who understood exactly what Suguru Geto's appearance meant.
Leaning casually against the wall, hands in his pockets, was Satoru Gojo. Despite his relaxed posture, there was no mistaking the edge in his voice when he spoke.
"He's going to do it," Gojo said. "No more hiding and no more subtle moves. This is his declaration."
Silence followed.
Then Kento Nanami adjusted his glasses slightly.
"A large-scale attack," Nanami said. "Not random either. It is coordinated and intentional."
Across the table, Mei Mei crossed her legs, completely composed.
"And expensive," she added. "Curses at that scale aren't just gathered. They're gathered over a long period of time. He's been preparing this for a long time."
Yaga nodded slowly.
"The question," he said, "is where."
A pause.
Then Panda raised a hand.
"Uhh… probably everywhere?" he offered.
No one laughed.
Because he was right.
Gojo pushed himself off the wall slightly.
"Geto doesn't do half-measures," he said. "If he's starting something, it's going to be loud enough to shake the entire country."
Maki leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"Then we split our forces," she said. "Contain the damage and prioritize civilian zones."
Nanami nodded.
"That would be the logical response."
Yaga looked around the room.
"And Yuta?" he asked.
All eyes shifted.
Seated quietly at the far end, Yuta Okkotsu straightened slightly under the attention.
Gojo spoke first.
"He stays here."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
"No debate," Gojo continued. "Geto's target is obvious. Yuta doesn't leave the school."
Maki frowned slightly.
"That makes him a sitting target."
Gojo smirked faintly.
"That's the point."
Nanami exhaled.
"A baited defense," he said. "Force the enemy into a controlled environment."
Mei Mei smiled.
"Risky," she said. "But effective if your confidence isn't misplaced."
Gojo's grin widened.
"It's not."
Yaga placed both hands on the table.
"Then it's decided," he said. "We prepare for a nationwide incident. Sorcerers will be deployed across major cities. Tokyo remains the core defensive point."
He turned to Yuta.
"You will remain here under direct protection."
Yuta nodded.
"…Understood."
Panda leaned back in his chair.
"Man," he muttered, "this is getting serious."
Inumaki simply spoke.
"Salmon."
Maki sighed.
"Yeah," she said. "Way too serious."
Gojo stretched his arms lazily.
"Well," he said, "guess it's time to work."
But behind the ease in his tone… his eyes had sharpened.
Because he knew.
Suguru Geto wasn't just making a move.
He was making his move.
Elsewhere…
Back in the Star Religious Group headquarters. Geto stood right at the front.
Behind him, members of the Star Religious Group remained silent.
Waiting and watching.
Geto smiled.
"They've already figured it out," he said calmly.
Miguel stood nearby, arms crossed.
"That you're starting a war?" he asked.
Geto chuckled softly.
"No," he said. "That I want him."
He glanced downward, toward the distant direction of Jujutsu High.
"Yuta Okkotsu."
Miguel exhaled.
"And?"
Geto's smile deepened.
"And they'll do exactly what they should," he said. "They'll spread their forces thin. Protect civilians. And keep Yuta close."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"A rational strategy."
Then he opened them again.
"But flawed."
Miguel tilted his head slightly.
"How?"
Geto turned, his expression sharpening, no longer calm, but precise.
"Because while they're busy fighting a war…" he said,
"I'll be walking straight into their home."
A pause followed.
"I'm not interested in the battlefield," Geto continued softly. "I'm interested in the heart."
His eyes gleamed with quiet certainty.
"While chaos spreads across the city…"
"I'll go to Jujutsu High."
"And I will kill him."
Oden stood slightly apart from the rest, blindfold still tied across his eyes, a small serpent coiled loosely around his neck. His posture, usually relaxed, now carried a subtle stiffness.
He had been listening.
Processing.
And now—
He understood.
"…So that's it?" Oden's voice cut through the silence.
Flat but sharp.
Geto turned his head slightly toward him.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Oden tilted his head, as if trying to organize his thoughts.
"You keep talking about changing the world," he said. "About making it better for sorcerers."
A pause.
Then—
"But all I'm hearing… is that you want to kill a lot of people."
The room shifted.
Nanako and Mimiko stiffened immediately.
"That's not what—" Nanako started.
"It is," Oden interrupted.
Geto's gaze lingered on him.
"…And if it is?" Geto asked calmly.
Oden's head dipped slightly.
"You're planning genocide," he said.
This time, the word hung heavy.
But Geto didn't flinch.
Instead, he smiled.
"A necessary step," he replied.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Mimiko stepped forward, her voice sharp.
"Watch how you talk to Lord Geto."
Oden didn't even look at her.
"I am watching," he said.
Nanako's eyes narrowed.
"You don't understand anything," she snapped. "Non-sorcerers are the reason curses exist. They're the root of everything wrong with this world!"
"And your solution is to kill them all?" Oden asked.
Mimiko scoffed.
"If that's what it takes, yes."
Oden was quiet for a moment.
Then—
"That's stupid."
The words landed like a slap.
Nanako's cursed energy flared instantly.
"You—!"
Mimiko moved with her.
But before either could act—
A hand rose.
Large and firm.
Stopping them both.
"Enough."
Larue stepped forward, his presence grounding the room like a heavy anchor.
"This isn't the time," Larue said calmly. "We're all on the same side here."
Oden let out a small breath through his nose.
"…Doesn't feel like it," he muttered.
Geto's gaze never left him.
"You're conflicted," Geto said.
Oden shrugged slightly.
"Not really," he replied. "I just don't like pointless killing."
A pause.
Then he added—
"Fighting is fun. Killing people for no reason isn't."
That earned him a few strange looks.
Manami Suda leaned slightly against the wall, watching with interest.
Toshihisa Negi remained silent, but his eyes flickered between the two.
Geto spoke again.
"And yet," he said, "you've chosen to stand here."
Oden tilted his head.
"I chose to follow Miguel," he said simply. "Not you."
A beat.
Then—
"Which is why I'm asking."
Now, for the first time—
There was intent behind his voice.
"If I kill that Gojo guy first…" Oden said slowly,
"…then you don't need to kill that Yuta, right?"
The room froze.
Nanako blinked.
"…What?"
Mimiko stared at him like he had just said something insane.
"…You think you can kill him?" she asked.
Then—
They laughed.
Openly and loudly.
"Even Geto-sama is careful around him," Nanako said between laughs. "And you're just, what—going to walk up and kill him?"
"That's hilarious," Mimiko added.
Oden didn't react.
Didn't argue.
Didn't defend himself.
He just stood there.
Waiting.
Because the only answer that mattered—
Was Geto's.
The room quieted as all eyes shifted back to him.
Geto studied Oden for a long moment.
There was no mockery in his expression.
Only curiosity.
"…If you can kill Satoru Gojo," Geto said slowly,
"then yes."
A pause.
"There would be no need to kill Yuta."
Silence.
Then—
Oden nodded once.
"Okay."
Simple.
Like agreeing to run an errand.
He turned slightly, adjusting the cloth around his swords.
"It's a promise then," he said.
Nanako and Mimiko stopped laughing.
Because—
For some reason—
He didn't sound like he was joking.
Geto's smile returned.
Wider this time.
"Very well," he said.
"A promise."
Across the room, Larue exhaled quietly.
Manami's eyes gleamed with interest.
Negi remained still.
And Oden—
Oden simply stood there.
Calm and indifferent.
As if he hadn't just agreed—
To kill the strongest sorcerer alive.
---
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