"Your eyes, your tone, the way you asked that question... they all make me feel like we've known each other for a long time."
Tears streamed down Aoi Todo's face like a burst dam.
Why is this happening...?
I, Aoi Todo, always thought I would never meet a qualified friend in my entire life.
But what is with this existence before me...?
He took a deep breath, then roared: "I like women with a big butt and a tall stature! Like Takada-chan! What about you, Yuji Itadori?!"
Hearing Aoi Todo's exaggerated answer, Yuji couldn't help but smile helplessly.
Although saying this made him feel embarrassed, Yuji answered:
"If I had to say—I also like women with a big butt and a tall stature. Like Jennifer Lawrence."
"..."
The answer Aoi Todo desired most was casually spoken by the pink-haired boy before him.
In an instant.
Aoi Todo's brain crashed. His eyes rolled back. His consciousness seemed to enter a white ocean.
A "non-existent memory" appeared in his mind.
Yuji Itadori and Aoi Todo were childhood friends who grew up playing together. They lived next door to each other and were in the same class from elementary school through middle school.
Aoi Todo remembered that in middle school, there was a female student in the class next door with twin tails, captivating eyes, and an enchanting personality—named Takada-chan.
"Itadori, I've decided. I'm going to confess to Takada-chan."
"Ah? Don't. I don't want to have to comfort you later!"
"...Why are you assuming I'll get rejected?"
Ignoring Yuji's advice, Aoi Todo finally confessed to Takada-chan under a cherry blossom tree—
Takada-chan: "I'm sorry. I already have someone I like."
"..."
Romantic cherry blossom petals drifted in the air, but the words spoken by the person before him caused heart-wrenching pain.
The person I like... doesn't like me...
"Bloop bloop bloop bloop bloop..."
While Aoi Todo was heartbroken, Yuji came to his side and patted his forehead.
"Let's go. I'll treat you to ramen."
"...Okay."
You said you didn't want to comfort me, but you ended up comforting me anyway? Itadori...
Later, Aoi Todo and Yuji Itadori were discovered by Yuki Tsukumo and introduced to Jujutsu High.
The two became shining stars in the jujutsu world. Their duo was invincible.
At the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event, they fought a Special Grade curse with branches growing from its eyes. Later, during a mission, when his brother suffered a mental breakdown due to companions dying around him, Aoi Todo rushed to his aid immediately—pulling Yuji out of the abyss of despair, reminding him to pull himself together.
Unfortunately, because the enemy they encountered on that mission was too powerful, Aoi Todo's arm was severed. He retired from then on.
But later, when Sukuna within his brother's body went on a rampage—when all the jujutsu sorcerers together couldn't defeat him, while Yuji was locked in bitter struggle—Aoi Todo resolutely stepped forward. He and his brother fought Sukuna as a duo. With everyone's concerted efforts, Sukuna was finally defeated, turning into a puddle of unidentified liquid and dissipating in the air.
From then on, the jujutsu world was peaceful. Until sixty-eight years later, he still kept in constant touch with his brother.
Aoi Todo's wild fantasy ended.
He looked up at the cerulean blue sky. Tears and snot formed a river on his face, blurring his vision.
Aoi Todo took a deep breath. Snot and tears slid down, dripping onto the dirt and fallen leaves. He didn't wipe them. Didn't even realize he was crying.
Aoi Todo was immersed in those profound memories, unable to extricate himself.
Going to school together. Skipping class together. Fighting together. Being punished to stand together. Entering Jujutsu High together. Becoming the strongest duo together. Fighting those arrogant enemies together—
"It seems we two—are best friends."
"..."
The corners of Yuji's mouth curled up slightly.
This guy. No matter how much time passes, he's always the same.
"Yeah. Maybe we really are brothers separated for many years."
Yuji nodded, not denying the statement.
Aoi Todo raised his hand, haphazardly wiped his face, and spoke: "In that case, I can't show any mercy to my brother."
"Come on, Yuji Itadori. I won't hand over the 'victory' of the exchange event easily. Let me see your strength!"
"Alright—bring it on!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest.
The Kyoto school members were running rapidly through the trees. Noritoshi Kamo led the way, holding the broken half of the longbow Yuji had snapped. He'd picked it up during their retreat. Although it couldn't be used, Mai Zenin and the others did the same—weapons broken, but backup cursed tools drawn.
Kasumi Miwa walked at the very back, holding the broken half of her sword. She kept her head down, not saying a word. The scene of Yuji snapping her blade replayed repeatedly in her mind.
Even though they'd come to kill Yuji Itadori, Yuji had only broken their weapons.
He's quite handsome...
"That Yuji Itadori is simply a monster. He's probably a sorcerer on the same level as Satoru Gojo." Mechamaru had just reattached his severed arm.
"Don't overthink it." Mai Zenin didn't look back. "That guy isn't human. Losing to him isn't embarrassing."
"Let's hurry. The Tokyo school is in the lead. I don't want to lose to Maki..."
"Wait!"
Noritoshi Kamo suddenly stopped.
"There's someone nearby. This cursed energy..."
While the group was on alert, no one noticed a black-haired, spiky-headed boy crouching on a thick branch of a nearby tree.
Megumi Fushiguro formed a hand sign.
"Max Elephant."
Megumi's innate technique—the Ten Shadows Technique—allowed him to summon ten different types of shikigami from shadows.
Not just the shadow behind him. Even the shadows cast by branches and leaves on the ground could be utilized.
A large puddle of pitch-black liquid flowed out from the overlapping shadows on the ground. The liquid rapidly formed into the shape of an Asian elephant.
Max Elephant raised its trunk high, aiming at the Kyoto school members.
"Scatter! Quickly!"
WHOOSH—!
A torrential current formed from cursed energy spewed from Max Elephant's trunk—carrying enough impact to wash away a wall—sweeping toward the Kyoto school members.
Before they could retreat in time, the torrent scattered their formation. However, as physically strong sorcerers, they all quickly found cover and footholds. Max Elephant's attack didn't cause much damage. Only Kasumi Miwa was swept up like a fallen leaf, helplessly carried along by the river to a nearby cliff's edge—and then over.
"Miwa?!"
"Ah—"
Although it only dealt with the non-threatening Kasumi Miwa, Megumi's goal was to disrupt their formation so they couldn't support each other.
"Separate them." Megumi leaped down from the branch. "And then take them down one by one."
Panda rushed out from the nearby bushes, throwing a punch straight at Mechamaru—who was trying to raise his hand to fire his cannon—sending him flying.
BANG—!
"Your opponent is me!"
Nobara and Maki also appeared. The former pulled nails from her waist pouch and threw them at Momo Nishimiya scouting in the air, while the latter swung her wooden katana at her sister.
CLANG—!
Mai raised her cursed tool dagger to block. Sparks flew from the friction between the blades.
"Maki—you guys were actually ambushing us here?"
"You should call me big sister, little sister."
As the two clashed, Megumi sprinted toward Noritoshi Kamo. The black-haired boy pulled a pitch-black cursed tool katana from behind him.
CRACK—
Noritoshi Kamo blocked horizontally with his bow. The blade struck the bow, and the two entered a test of strength.
"Kamo-senpai. Long time no see. You guys weren't trying to kill Itadori, were you?"
Noritoshi Kamo froze. "...What if we were?"
Although the other party confirmed it, seeing the broken weapon in his hand and knowing Yuji wasn't nearby, Megumi deduced that Yuji hadn't been harmed.
Since that was the case, he would do his part for Yuji—deal with Noritoshi Kamo first, then go back to provide support.
"It seems you failed."
At the bottom of the cliff.
Kasumi Miwa climbed out of the water, soaked to the bone, holding the broken half of her sword.
She coughed twice, spitting out a few mouthfuls of river water, then looked up—staring blankly at her surroundings. Fortunately, the cliff wasn't high. She wasn't injured.
"Cough cough... Where is this?"
An open riverbank. Crystal clear water. The bank covered in cobblestones. Steep cliffs on both sides. Sunlight shone down from above, sparkling on the water's surface.
"It hurts..."
She quickly checked herself over and found that her phone had gotten wet—completely cutting off contact with her companions. Her weapon had also been broken by Yuji. She didn't know what to do next.
"I'm doomed now..." she muttered. "Not only did I fail to defeat Yuji Itadori, but I also got lost... I'll definitely be scolded to death when I get back..."
"Um... are you okay?"
An unfamiliar voice called out. Kasumi quickly turned and saw a black-haired boy with hair covering half his face standing by the riverbed.
"You... you're a Tokyo school student?"
Kasumi subconsciously gripped the broken sword tightly.
"Ah, yes." Junpei Yoshino scratched his head. "My name is Junpei Yoshino. First-year. Um... did you fall from up there? Are you okay?"
Because Junpei originally wasn't part of everyone's plan, he'd been naturally "exiled." After all, he wasn't strong yet, so no one wanted him doing the dirty and tiring work. He'd had no choice but to wander aimlessly in the forest—and ended up running into Kasumi Miwa.
"Uh..."
Kasumi paused.
Wait, no. Aren't we enemies?
Jogo crouched on the eaves of a towering building at Jujutsu High, looking down at the scene below.
"It looks lively here. Jujutsu sorcerers everywhere—as numerous as maggots."
Behind it stood the Special Grade curse over two meters tall. Eye sockets replaced by two branches. Body covered in pitch-black patterns. A giant red flower bud growing on its left shoulder.
Hanami.
As well as two Grade 1 curse users sent by Kenjaku.
"Well then—let's get started too."
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Read advane Chapters on : patreon.com/Kaizo247
PS : The old Patreon link was wrong… yeah, I somehow didn't notice it like an idiot 💀😂
It's fixed now, so if you tried before, you can check it again!