After barely trading a few moves, Kyoto Jujutsu High clearly realized they could not fight Yuta Okkotsu in close combat. They quickly began using Jujutsu, with the melee fighters reinforcing themselves directly while the ranged fighters attacked and started Revealing One's Hand at the same time.
The pressure on Yuta Okkotsu rose sharply, but he remained calm. He held his sword in one hand and opened his other palm toward Rika Orimoto. Rika Orimoto somehow produced an item marked with Cursed Speech Megaphone and placed it into Yuta's hand.
Yuta cleared his throat and spoke a single word. "Stop!"
The movements of the four opponents froze instantly, their faces filled with shock. The atmosphere in the viewing room was much the same, as disbelief spread across everyone watching.
"Impossible!" "Could he be from the Inumaki Clan?" "Satoru Gojo!"
Amid Utahime Iori's furious shout, Satoru Gojo calmly dug a finger into his ear and spoke without haste. "What makes a Special Grade a Special Grade is being special enough. Just being overpowered is not worthy of the title. My adaptive Infinity, Suguru Geto's Cursed Spirit Manipulation, and Yuki Tsukumo's voice."
"Why are you bringing this up?" Utahime Iori snapped.
From her point of view, nothing good had happened since they entered the viewing room. Satoru Gojo kept showing off and mocking people, while the students' performances were disappointing, and since she could not scold the students, she could only vent at Satoru Gojo.
"Wasn't that cursed Boy also a Special Grade?" Mei Mei said thoughtfully. As long as money was not involved, she could remain calm, even cold. "Could this be his Jujutsu or ability?"
"As expected of Miss Mei," Satoru Gojo said. "You were reliable even back when you were a student, unlike Utahime." Mei Mei was his senior from another school and had been classmates with Utahime Iori.
"I am the senior here!" Utahime Iori roared.
She angrily threw her teacup, but it was deflected by Satoru Gojo's passive Infinity. Even worse, Satoru Gojo took a photo of her furious expression with astonishing speed.
He had a free hand because the plot to kill Yuta Okkotsu had been exposed, and the previously unstable surveillance quickly stabilized. It was clear that Yoshinobu Gakuganji had paid Mei Mei in advance to help cover things up.
Satoru Gojo did not confront Mei Mei. There was no evidence, and everyone was used to her style, and Satoru Gojo himself had often paid her to get things done. As a Grade One Sorcerer, her defining trait was simple: take the money, do the job, fair to all, with excellent credit.
"Gojo Satoru!" Utahime Iori bellowed.
Satoru Gojo laughed loudly. "Very good, very good. Keep it up. I will show this to my student later. He really admires you, so I wonder if his dreams will shatter when he sees this."
"Admires me?" Utahime Iori froze.
That hit her weak spot. One of her life rules was that she must never become like Satoru Gojo. She took pride in being a teacher trusted and respected by students.
She lost her temper with Satoru Gojo because he was infuriating, but toward students, even those not from Kyoto Jujutsu High, she was always caring. Despite Tokyo and Kyoto standing on opposite sides, the teachers held little prejudice against each other's students and treated Tokyo Jujutsu High as a sister school.
"That's right, the one who looks the most steady. Are you moved? Want to sing a song?" Satoru Gojo said.
Now his true intent was clear. Since Akira had done such a fine job, Satoru Gojo decided to play along. Whether Akira was acting on a whim or had another plan, something this fun was not something he would miss.
"Wait, why do I have to sing?" Utahime Iori asked, still unable to follow his thinking after all these years.
"Because you are Utahime," Satoru Gojo said as if it were obvious. "Old man, since you are free anyway, you can do the accompaniment. That is about your only strength."
Yoshinobu Gakuganji glared, clearly annoyed at being dragged in.
"Don't look so scary," Satoru Gojo said, deliberately shrinking his neck and acting frightened. "If the students perform badly, it is not our fault for being too strong. Want me to call my students and make sure you do not lose too badly?"
While they were talking, Yuta Okkotsu had already used Cursed Speech to firmly control the four from Kyoto Jujutsu High. Working together with Rika Orimoto, he launched a fierce assault that left the opponents in misery.
If Yuta were more skilled with Cursed Speech, and if Cursed Speech itself were stronger, Kyoto Jujutsu High would already be lying on the ground. After all, imitation could only copy the Cursed Technique, not the experience behind it.
At the same time, the talismans pasted on the viewing room wall burned away one by one as time passed. Of the eight low-level Cursed Spirit used for scoring, seven had already been exorcised.
All the flames were red. From the surveillance screens, it was clear that five were the work of Panda's group, while the other two were picked off by Akira and Maki Zenin along the way.
No matter the rank or strength, each was killed in a single blow.
"No need," Yoshinobu Gakuganji said firmly.
Satoru Gojo was striking at the heart. If Yoshinobu Gakuganji agreed, how could Kyoto Jujutsu High ever hold their heads high again? Losing a fight was acceptable, but losing face was not.
"What about Utahime?" Satoru Gojo pressed.
"The competition is the competition," Utahime Iori said, her eyes shifting. "But a welcome party is still possible."
One look at her expression told Satoru Gojo that the admiration card had worked. "Then it is up to you. I should hurry and call my students to share the good news."
"Wait," she quickly grabbed him. "Unless there is an emergency, contacting the field from outside is forbidden. Are you going to break the rules?"
Satoru Gojo clicked his tongue. "But it is boring just waiting here."
"You still have not explained Yuta's situation clearly."
"Oh, that," Satoru Gojo said. "Yuta's Jujutsu is basically imitation. In theory, he can learn any Cursed Technique. Combined with cursed energy reserves even greater than mine, what do you think that means?"
The people from Kyoto Jujutsu High were nearly stunned senseless.
"That's cheating. That's way too unfair," Utahime Iori exclaimed.
"That is why he is a Special Grade," Satoru Gojo replied. "Is there any Special Grade that is not unfair?"
No one could argue with that.
At present, there were four major Special Grade. The first was Yuki Tsukumo, who stopped taking missions and ignored Jujutsu Society after becoming Special Grade, yet Jujutsu Society could do nothing but symbolically withhold her pay. The second was Satoru Gojo, who had opposed nearly all the higher-ups for eight years and was still doing just fine.
The third was Suguru Geto, who became a Curse User eight years ago and was still active. The last was Yuta Okkotsu, who was currently beating down all of Kyoto Jujutsu High by himself.