As they discussed what to do next, Itadori suddenly suggested, "Should we go see Mr. Nanami? He's been recuperating since he got injured on his last mission."
Megumi considered it for a moment. "Alright. We can also report our recent training progress."
Nobara raised her hand. "I agree! We can even bring some gifts."
The three turned to Sol expectantly. Sol gave a small nod, offering no objection.
Kento Nanami's residence was located in a quiet corner of the Tokyo Jujutsu High dormitory grounds. Holding a box of pastries they had bought along the way, Itadori stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
A calm voice came from inside.
When they entered, they found Nanami seated by the window with a book in hand. A thin blanket covered his legs. His complexion was noticeably healthier than before, though traces of weakness from his recovery still lingered.
"Nanami!" Itadori greeted enthusiastically. "We came to visit you!"
Nanami adjusted his glasses, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"You're as energetic as ever, Itadori."
His gaze swept across the four of them.
"Come in. It's a small place, but make yourselves comfortable."
The room was neat and orderly, perfectly reflecting Nanami's practical personality. Nobara placed the pastries on the table while Megumi briefly updated him on their recent training.
Nanami listened attentively, occasionally offering advice. However, when Megumi mentioned the trap they had encountered during yesterday's mission, his brows drew together slightly.
After a moment of thought, he spoke.
"It seems someone among the higher-ups is becoming impatient with those they consider troublesome."
Itadori looked confused.
"Why go through all that trouble? Couldn't they just say it openly?"
"Because of Gojo Satoru."
Nanami's response was immediate and composed.
"As long as he exists, openly targeting someone like you, Itadori, is difficult. So certain individuals resort to methods that can be dismissed as unfortunate accidents."
Silence settled over the room.
Then Nanami turned toward Sol.
"I heard you were the one who dealt with the trap yesterday."
Sol nodded.
"Well done."
Rare approval could be heard in Nanami's voice.
"Protecting your comrades is one of a Jujutsu Sorcerer's most important responsibilities."
As evening approached, the four students said their farewells and left Nanami's residence.
They had barely returned to the dormitory area when an assistant supervisor came running toward them, his face pale.
"Emergency!"
The urgency in his voice instantly erased the relaxed atmosphere.
"A Curtain with a radius of approximately four hundred meters has appeared in Shibuya. Thousands of civilians have been trapped inside!"
The students immediately gathered around him.
Sol slowly straightened, his gaze shifting toward the distant city.
What was meant to happen had finally begun.
"Multiple Special Grade Cursed Spirits have been confirmed," the assistant supervisor continued, his voice trembling. "There are also numerous Grade 1 Cursed Spirits. The Curtain itself has a unique effect. Ordinary people cannot leave."
Itadori clenched his fists.
"We have to save them."
Megumi remained calm.
"It's obviously a trap. But regardless, we don't have a choice."
Nobara checked her cursed tools.
"Then let's go. Time to show them what Tokyo Jujutsu High can do."
The three looked toward Sol.
He gave a slight nod.
His dark red eyes remained unreadable, yet somehow brought a reassuring sense of stability.
Far from the growing chaos in Shibuya, inside a secluded traditional room in Kyoto, a group of elderly men sat beneath flickering candlelight.
The scent of incense and aged wood filled the air, creating an oppressive atmosphere.
A hoarse voice finally broke the silence.
"The situation in Shibuya is spiraling beyond expectations."
The old man absentmindedly rolled a string of prayer beads between his fingers.
"Beyond expectations?" another elder replied with a cold snort. "Isn't this the perfect opportunity? In chaos, anything can happen. Sukuna's vessel, and that monster Sol whom Gojo Satoru brought in from nowhere."
"Your hostility is becoming too obvious."
A calmer elder spoke up.
As one of the higher-ups within Jujutsu Headquarters, his tone carried authority.
"The appearance of this Curtain confirms the full involvement of those Special Grade Cursed Spirits. Curse Users may also be participating. Our priority should be controlling the situation, minimizing civilian casualties, and maintaining the stability and secrecy of the jujutsu world."
"Stability?" the first elder scoffed. "Gojo Satoru's existence destroyed that stability long ago. Now there's also Sol, someone completely beyond our control whose cursed technique cannot even be properly understood. They are both major destabilizing factors. If curses and accidents remove them for us, what's the problem? As long as everything is handled cleanly, Gojo Satoru will have no grounds to object."
"And what price are you willing to pay for that?"
The hoarse elder's voice hardened.
"How many civilians are trapped in Shibuya? If excessive casualties result from delayed responses or manipulated intelligence, can Jujutsu Headquarters bear that burden?"
"Enough arguing."
Another elder interrupted.
"Send reinforcements immediately. Since the Cursed Spirits specifically demanded Gojo Satoru, send him into the Curtain. The remaining sorcerers can divide into smaller groups and provide support from the outside."
The room gradually fell silent.
One by one, the elders voiced their agreement.
Soon afterward, orders from Jujutsu Headquarters spread throughout the communication network.
Amid the flood of reports and commands, the core directive remained simple.
Gojo Satoru was to enter the Curtain immediately and confront the Special Grade Cursed Spirits waiting inside.
The remaining sorcerers would be divided into multiple teams tasked with eliminating any Cursed Spirits operating around the Curtain's exterior and preventing the crisis from spreading further.
Megumi Fushiguro was assigned to Nanami's team.
Nobara Kugisaki was assigned to Naobito Zenin's team.
Yuji Itadori was assigned to Mei Mei's team.
Only Sol remained unassigned to any specific group.
His designation was that of a free agent, allowing him to move wherever support was needed.
Minutes later, they sped toward Shibuya in an assistant supervisor's vehicle.
The closer they drew to the district, the heavier the atmosphere became.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky.
Ahead of them stood a massive Curtain that enveloped much of Shibuya like an enormous inverted bowl.
Standing at its edge, Sol gazed at the colossal barrier stretching across several city blocks.
The dark red membrane pulsed faintly beneath the night sky, radiating an ominous presence.
Beside him, the assistant supervisor continued relaying information.
The orders remained unchanged.
Gojo Satoru would enter the Curtain.
Everyone else would disperse and handle operations outside.
Itadori, Megumi, and Nobara had each been assigned to different teams.
Sol alone had been left independent.
Officially, he possessed complete mobility across the battlefield.
Unofficially, whether by design or coincidence, he had been isolated from everyone else.