A high-end conveyor-belt sushi restaurant in Roppongi.
"Cheers—!"
Four glasses clinked together, the sound immediately swallowed by loud laughter.
"This is a welcome party to celebrate the official formation of the first-year team!" Satoru Gojo declared grandly, waving his hand.
"Eat as much as you want! Your teacher is paying!"
"Seriously?!" Yuji Itadori's eyes lit up.
He immediately grabbed a plate of fatty tuna from the conveyor belt.
"I'm taking this giant ōtoro!"
"Move aside!" Nobara Kugisaki leaned forward aggressively.
"That sea urchin is mine!"
Within seconds, plates began piling up in front of them.
Megumi Fushiguro, though eating more quietly, wasn't slow either.
"I'll take the ginger sushi."
"You don't order ginger sushi!" Nobara snapped.
"That's just garnish!"
Meanwhile—
Yagami Sora sat calmly at the end of the table.
Except his stack of plates was already towering.
"So… Yagami…"
Yuji stared in disbelief as Sora swallowed sushi piece after sushi piece.
"Are you seriously okay eating that much?"
"My brain performs high-speed calculations constantly," Sora replied calmly.
"It requires sugar and calories."
This wasn't an excuse.
Vector Manipulation placed enormous strain on his brain.
Without sufficient energy intake, he could easily collapse from hypoglycemia.
That was also why Accelerator, the original wielder of the ability, constantly consumed caffeine and sugar.
"Is this guy even human…" Nobara muttered while staring at the growing tower of empty plates.
"Is this what a Special Grade appetite looks like?"
Megumi quietly sipped his tea.
"…I've learned something new."
Gojo watched the bill steadily climb.
His smile remained bright—
But the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
"Hahaha! Being able to eat is a blessing!"
Later That Night
After finishing their meal, the group walked through the neon-lit streets of Tokyo.
The night breeze carried the noise of traffic and distant music.
Yuji suddenly stopped walking.
"Hey…"
He looked at the others.
"It's actually pretty great being at Tokyo Jujutsu High."
"Even if I ended up here because I swallowed Sukuna's finger…"
"Meeting everyone and eating good food like this…"
"…makes it feel worth it."
"Idiot." Nobara rolled her eyes.
"Save the sentimental speech for graduation."
Megumi looked away.
"Just make sure you don't drag us down."
Sora walked slightly behind them, silently watching the three teenagers.
Youth.
If you ignored the cruel future awaiting them—
This moment really was beautiful.
But Sora knew better.
Because he had read the story.
Two months later—
The Juvenile Detention Center Incident.
Then the Kyoto Goodwill Event.
Then the catastrophe known as the Shibuya Incident.
And beyond that—
Even darker battles.
Every step soaked in blood.
"Yagami."
Gojo suddenly appeared beside him.
"What are you thinking about?"
Even through the blindfold, Sora could feel the gaze of the Six Eyes observing him.
"I was thinking about how to spend all your money," Sora replied casually.
Gojo burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! That's impossible!"
"Your teacher is very rich!"
Then his tone became slightly more serious.
"But your eyes say something different."
"You look like someone worrying about the future."
Sharp intuition.
As expected of the strongest sorcerer.
Sora stopped walking and looked at him.
"Gojo-sensei."
"Do you consider yourself invincible?"
"Of course."
Gojo answered instantly.
"Throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one."
"What if one day…"
"…you were sealed away?"
Gojo paused.
For a moment he looked toward the three students walking ahead of them.
"Seal me?"
He chuckled.
"Who could do that?"
"The higher-ups?"
"Some Special Grade curses?"
"Don't joke around."
But after a moment he added quietly:
"Even if something like that happened…"
"I believe my students would solve it."
"That's the meaning of education."
Sora looked at Gojo's confident smile.
He didn't argue.
Yes.
Raising the next generation.
Changing the stagnant jujutsu world.
That was Gojo Satoru's dream.
"Don't worry," Sora said softly.
"That day won't come."
"Because I'm here."
As long as he existed—
The Prison Realm would never seal Gojo.
Whether it was cursed spirits, ancient sorcerers, or even Sukuna himself—
Anyone who tried to harm his teammates would have to face Vector Manipulation first.
"Oh?" Gojo grinned.
"So confident?"
He suddenly hooked an arm around Sora's neck.
"How about a sparring match sometime?"
"I'm curious."
"Which is stronger—your reflection…"
"…or my Limitless?"
"I'm always ready."
"HEY—!"
Nobara shouted from ahead.
"What are you two doing back there?! Hurry up!"
"Coming, coming!" Gojo laughed.
He released Sora and ran forward.
"Next stop—karaoke!"
Yuji panicked immediately.
"Wait! I'm tone-deaf!"
"Don't worry!" Gojo said confidently.
"I'm the karaoke king!"
Watching them argue and laugh together—
Sora inhaled the cool Tokyo night air.
A faint chill brushed across his skin.
But his heart felt warm.
"A welcome party…"
He murmured quietly.
"Welcome to the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, Yagami Sora."
From this moment on—
This world would become his battlefield.
And these people…
Were the bonds he would protect.