Chapter 33 — My Fault
Boom!
A pitch-black figure plummeted straight down from the heavens, like a meteor descending from beyond the sky.
The instant it struck the earth, the entire Kyoto Jujutsu High trembled from the impact.
"Todo-senpai!"
"Todo-senpai!"
Panicked cries rang out across the ruined training field.
Then came a stunned voice—
"Todo… senpai."
"Is Black Flash… really that strong?"
"I'm sorry!"
"I'm really, really sorry!"
"You have to— you have to survive!"
…
What did it mean—
"The Sister-School Goodwill Event with Tokyo Jujutsu High is imminent."
And that he had—
"Severely injured our strongest fighter, leaving him bedridden and unable to participate."
Ren walked out of the conference room wearing a blank, stunned expression.
Inside, Utahime-sensei had just finished desperately shielding him from Principal Gakuganji's thunderous fury. It had taken considerable effort to settle the matter.
Wait— no one told me the exchange event was coming up.
No one told me Todo Aoi was the absolute cornerstone of that event.
And definitely no one told me Black Flash was this absurdly powerful.
Shouldn't a technique that devastating be explained to students beforehand? For safety reasons?!
"First," Zen'in Mai said from beside him, licking her ice cream casually, "the exchange event is an annual tradition. It was confirmed over a month ago. I even accompanied Todo-senpai to the principals' meeting."
"Second," Utahime brushed aside strands of hair damp with sweat, looking faintly embarrassed. "It is my responsibility that I didn't teach you about Black Flash. But…"
She sighed.
"Black Flash is something only sorcerers who have touched the very core of cursed energy can grasp. And even then, 'grasping' it only means they might trigger it. It cannot be intentionally activated."
She paused, then added with pointed emphasis:
"Under normal circumstances."
Black Flash has an astronomically low activation rate.
Normally, it only manifests when a sorcerer is pushed to the brink in an extremely high-intensity battle. In other words, there was never any reason to include it in the school's so-called "risk management" curriculum.
Who could have predicted that this particular student would use his probability-manipulating ability to normalize Black Flash?
Not only that—according to reports from Momo and the others, he had even developed a way to use Black Flash with his legs for propulsion.
Using Black Flash for movement…
Utahime felt her eyelid twitch just thinking about it. Black Flash was something she herself had dreamed of triggering. Yet in this boy's hands, it was as casual as breathing.
And on top of that, he had created something called "Twin Heavenly Black Flash"…
"Lastly," Momo floated up on her broom and stopped in front of Ren, "Todo's condition has stabilized."
"This was a normal sparring match. You don't need to blame yourself."
"As for the issue of combat strength—"
She shrugged.
"It's simple. Since you defeated Todo, then perform even better than him at the exchange event. Make up for it with results."
Make up for it…
Ren nodded awkwardly.
She was right.
Black Flash wasn't merely a temporary spike in power. A sorcerer who has entered the Black Flash state and one who hasn't are worlds apart—for a time.
It was like brushing against the core of cursed energy itself. Like opening a door to a new world.
His perception of cursed energy, his precision in manipulation, his understanding of his innate Limitless Probability Technique—even his grasp of the flame technique and Sword Saint technique he had replicated—
Everything had ascended to a higher plane.
Immersed in that sensation, he had only wanted to push further. Further. To reach the absolute peak of his state.
And so, instinctively, he had unleashed Twin Heavenly Black Flash.
That blow had nearly killed Todo Aoi on the spot.
Fortunately, that man was monstrously durable—physically and in cursed energy output, he stood at the very top among students. Had it been anyone else…
The consequences would have been unimaginable.
---
Kyoto Jujutsu High – Infirmary.
Ren carried a fruit basket and cautiously pushed the hospital room door open a crack.
"T-Todo… senpai?" he called softly.
"Todo."
A small hand reached past him and shoved the door fully open.
"—Momo-senpai!"
Before Ren could react, Momo had already floated inside.
He scratched his head, briefly questioning his decision. As the one who caused the injury, visiting was only right. But he'd worried it would be awkward alone, so he had dragged Momo along.
"Ahem…"
Inside the room, the tall, broad man wrapped in bandages slowly turned his head.
"Nishimiya… it's you."
"And… Ren."
"I'm sorry!"
Ren stepped in and immediately bowed ninety degrees.
"I'm truly sorry, Todo-senpai!"
Todo's tiger-like eyes narrowed in confusion. He stared at Ren for a long moment, then suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"What do you mean, sorry?"
"Are you apologizing for injuring me?"
"Uh… well…" Ren fumbled, clearly thinking, Isn't that obvious?
"That," Todo roared, "is an insult, brother!"
"Do you take me for the kind of man who expects his opponent to hold back in battle?"
"No, brother!"
"When men clash in passion, it must be with everything they have—no restraint!"
"You don't need to apologize."
"On the contrary—"
He lifted a bandaged thumb.
"You did well. I'm proud of you, brother!"
He immediately broke into a fit of coughing.
"Senpai, are you alright?" Ren hurried forward.
A bandaged hand shoved him away.
"Cough—don't call me senpai. Just call me Todo."
His intense eyes locked onto Ren's.
"I've acknowledged you, brother."
"Though your taste in women is disgracefully low-tier, you are an uncut gem. I will correct you in time."
"I will make you shine properly!"
He clapped Ren heavily on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over.
Ren could only nod.
No thank you, he thought silently. My taste is perfectly fine. I have no desire to become the kind of guy who greets strangers by asking what kind of women they like.
And when did they become "brothers," exactly…?
Well. The injured party gets priority.
"If you're worried I'll sink into despair over this defeat—cough—don't be," Todo continued after a pause.
"A true man rises through the harshest trials!"
"Your appearance is the greatest test Takada-chan has given me!"
"It is also the deepest expression of her love!"
Wait—what does Takada have to do with this again?
Why had he suddenly become some symbolic bouquet-and-diamond-ring representation of love?
Ren simply couldn't follow the mental gymnastics of the man lying immobile in bed. Though physically restrained, Todo's mind seemed to be operating at warp speed.
"The greater the trial," Todo declared passionately, "the greater her love! Only through severe tests can a man become great!"
"Takada-chan wants me to grow stronger. That's why she sent you!"
He grabbed Ren's hand fervently.
"So, brother—let us strive together! Let us become even more magnificent, more powerful men!"
"Y-Yes, of course, Todo-senpai."
Ren nodded quickly, grabbed a banana from the fruit basket, peeled it, and forcefully stuffed it into Todo's mouth.
"Eat more," he said briskly. "You're injured. You need the nutrition."