School fight

It seemed she was too naive,

"But… You just stopped and watched, then walked away as if nothing happened."

"After that, they forced me to eat those disgusting bugs..."

Junpei's voice was hoarse, trembling as he recalled that horrific experience. Pain and despair seeped from his words.

He looked up, lifting his bangs to reveal the cigarette burn on his forehead.

A chilling smile twisted his lips, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "The feeling of that sticky, foul-smelling bug juice exploding in my mouth, its legs twitching on my tongue… I want you to experience it too, sensei."

Sensing the killing intent in Junpei's eyes, Yuji worriedly placed a hand on his shoulder.

"No, wait, weren't you just playing around?" The counselor stammered, his face pale.

"You consider unilateral violence 'playing around'? I can't tell if you're truly stupid or just pretending," Yukino said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"But those three died in an accident..." The counselor mumbled.

"So, death erases all their wrongdoings?" Yukino retorted.

"That..."

Tired of arguing with the incompetent teacher, Yukino cut to the chase. "Do you know Shota Ito?"

"Of course! Ito-kun is an outstanding student! Excellent in academics and sports, respects teachers, gets along with classmates..."

The counselor trailed off, noticing the change in their expressions. He cautiously asked, "Do you know Ito-kun?"

"That 'outstanding' Ito-kun you speak of is one of Yoshino Junpei's bullies." Yukino sighed, weary of this conversation. "Anyway, please take us to him. We're here to resolve this incident."

"I, I understand. Please follow me."

Although he was reluctant to let students from another school onto the premises, the aura Yukino exuded was unlike that of an ordinary student. Besides, if what she said was true, this was a serious matter that needed to be handled properly.

With the guidance counselor leading the way, Yukino and Yuji easily entered Satozakura High.

"Ito-kun is a second-year student in Class C. Let me check their class schedule in the office. Please wait here for a moment. It wouldn't be appropriate for other teachers to see students from another school wandering around."

The counselor hurried off.

Watching his retreating figure, Yuji chuckled. "That guy is really going all out, huh?"

Seemingly infected by Yuji's cheerful mood, Junpei couldn't help but laugh. The sight of the counselor running, his greasy hair bouncing with every step, was undeniably comical.

The gloom in Junpei's heart lifted slightly.

It was class time, and the school grounds were deserted. Yuji looked around, then casually asked, "By the way, Junpei, what movie did you watch at the theater?"

Surprised by the random question, Junpei paused before answering. "It was a pretty niche film. You probably haven't seen it."

"Doesn't matter, just tell me. We have time to kill," Yuji said, sitting down on the steps.

"It was 'Worm Man 3.' It was a really boring movie."

"Ah, that super boring one!"

Their voices overlapped. Junpei was taken aback, then his eyes lit up. He and Yuji launched into a lively discussion about the movie, while Yukino, after expressing her lack of interest in films, stood aside patiently.

Just as they were getting into it, the portly guidance counselor returned, huffing and puffing. "Ito's class is having PE now. Let's go to the field."

The counselor led them to the field.

After scanning the area, he pointed towards a basketball court where a tall boy was playing with a group of others. "There he is. That's Ito-kun."

The moment Junpei saw Shota Ito, the good mood he had gained from finding a fellow "Worm Man 3" enthusiast evaporated. "Ah, that's him."

Confirming Ito's identity, Yukino walked past the counselor, leading Yuji straight towards the basketball court.

The counselor hesitated, then followed them.

"Ito Shota."

Yukino's cold voice cut through the air. Ito, startled, stopped dribbling and looked around for the source of the voice.

His eyes landed on Yukino, and a look of admiration flashed across his face.

This school didn't have girls this pretty.

"You called me?"

Ito tossed the basketball aside and, with his friends cheering him on, approached Yukino with what he considered his most charming smile.

"Are you new here? I haven't seen you around before," he said.

"Please give me your phone," Yukino requested.

"Eh? What?" Ito was momentarily confused, then quickly recovered. He maintained his smile, but inwardly, he was ecstatic. "She wants my number? Of course! Such a straightforward girl. How rare."

He reached into his pocket for his phone.

"It seems the culprit isn't cooperating." Yukino had tried being polite. Now it was time for the stick. "Itadori-kun."

"Got it!" Yuji, who had been itching for action, stepped forward.

Ito finally noticed the other three people behind Yukino. Aside from a stranger, the other two were "acquaintances." One of them, in particular, was glaring at him with pure hatred.

"Yoshino? And the guidance counselor?" Ito frowned, sensing something amiss. "What are you doing?"

"We're gonna beat you up, of course!" Yuji declared, raising his fist.

His fist connected with Ito's face, sending him flying, along with a dislodged tooth and the phone he had just pulled out of his pocket.

"Hey! What the hell?!"

"How dare you fight in broad daylight?!"

"You're looking for trouble, aren't you?!"

Ito's friends on the basketball court swarmed Yuji, yelling. But one by one, he grabbed them and tossed them aside like ragdolls.

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Screams and shouts echoed across the school grounds, drawing the attention of other students.

"Huh? What's happening?"

"Looks like a fight. Judging by their uniforms, they're not from our school."

"Whoa, that's Ito-senpai getting beaten up! How awful!"

The surrounding students chattered excitedly, their phones held high to capture the scene.

"Wait! What are you doing? You can't just attack people!" The guidance counselor panicked, completely caught off guard by Yuji's sudden violence.

"What are we doing? Gathering evidence," Yukino replied calmly.

Gathering evidence means sending people flying? Isn't this just assault?!

The flustered counselor didn't know what to do, his gaze darting between the calm Yukino and the groaning students on the ground. Finally, he decided to check on the injured students.

Ignoring the onlookers, Yuji picked up Ito's phone and walked over to him.

Seeing Ito struggling to get up, Yuji raised his fist again, suppressing his anger and speaking in a chillingly calm voice, "This punch is for Junpei."

His fist connected, knocking Ito out cold.

Using Ito's fingerprint to unlock the phone, Yuji quickly found the videos of Junpei being bullied in a hidden album.

It wasn't just Junpei; there were videos of other victims as well.

Yuji clenched the phone tightly, then quickly loosened his grip, careful not to crush the evidence.

"Found it, Yukinoshita-senpai." He returned to Yukino and handed her the phone.

After reviewing the videos, Yukino nodded. "This should be enough evidence."

"Let me see."

Having confirmed that the injured students weren't seriously hurt, the guidance counselor approached. Yukino handed him the phone. "Take a good look at your 'outstanding' student."

The man's face paled as he saw the videos. He randomly selected one and played it, the video of Junpei's burn injury appearing on the screen.

Junpei's screams from the video silenced the counselor and the surrounding students.

Junpei himself, hearing his own cries, clenched his fists, his face contorted in pain as he was forced to relive that traumatic experience.

"Are you alright, Junpei?"

A hand gently touched his shoulder. Junpei looked up to meet Yuji's concerned gaze. He calmed down slightly, forcing a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."

There was no need to watch any further. The counselor turned off the video, then his legs gave way. He collapsed onto the ground in front of everyone.

"I… I never realized..." he mumbled, devastated.

So many acts of cruelty had happened right under his nose, yet he had been completely oblivious, dismissing them as trivial matters.

He recalled Junpei's words and his chilling gaze at the school gate.

I unintentionally killed Yoshino's spirit.

Junpei, noticing something, froze. He saw the lost and helpless look in the counselor's eyes.

"Why..." Junpei murmured. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

A surge of rage ignited within him, threatening to consume his reason.

He suddenly stepped forward, grabbing the man by the collar. "Do you think you're innocent? Just because you pretended not to see?!"

Junpei's outburst startled everyone.

"N-no..." The counselor's lips trembled, his face a picture of helplessness and panic. "I really didn't know... I'm so sorry..."

"I'm truly... so sorry..." Tears welled up in his eyes.

An adult, kneeling on the ground and crying as he apologized to a teenager in broad daylight...

The surrounding students exchanged glances, unsure of what had transpired, but judging by the screams from the phone and the counselor's breakdown, it was likely something serious.

Better record this.

Many students continued to film the scene.

"Don't think I'll forgive you just because of this," Junpei said, glaring at the groveling counselor.

"No, I don't expect your forgiveness," the man said, his voice filled with despair. "I only hope to receive the punishment I deserve and learn from this, to truly open my eyes."

He seemed to have made up his mind. "I will resign as guidance counselor and stay by the students' side as a mere teacher."

"That's your business. It has nothing to do with me," Junpei replied coldly, though his eyes flickered with uncertainty.

After about ten minutes, the PE teacher finally noticed the commotion around the basketball court. He walked over to investigate and was greeted by the sight of the collapsed counselor and a group of students sprawled on the ground.

"Huh?"

Unsure of what had happened, he first dispersed the students, then grabbed a few unlucky boys to help carry the injured to the infirmary.

Then, he noticed Yukino and Yuji, the outsiders.

He wanted to ask the counselor what had happened, but the atmosphere was clearly not conducive to inquiries. So, he just stood guard like a bodyguard.

Once the situation stabilized, Yukino called Ijichi Kiyotaka. "Ijichi-san, Itadori-kun and I are at Satozakura High... Yes, the school Yoshino Junpei attends. Could you send some police officers over? We have a bullying case here."

"You're coming too? Okay, thank you. We'll wait here."

Hanging up, she saw Yuji looking at her questioningly. "Ijichi-san is coming."

"Oh." Yuji nodded, turning his attention back to Junpei.

He couldn't fully empathize with Junpei's situation, so he didn't know how to comfort him, choosing instead to stand beside him in silent support.

Junpei glanced at Yuji, then lowered his eyes, his lips pressed together.

A heavy silence fell over the group.

Seeing that the counselor seemed to have calmed down, the PE teacher seized the opportunity to quietly inquire about the situation.

Then, he saw the bullying videos on Ito's phone.

"This is outrageous!" The tanned, muscular PE teacher jumped to his feet, roaring in anger.

Realizing he had attracted everyone's attention, he coughed awkwardly and crouched back down beside the counselor.

Soon, Ijichi Kiyotaka arrived with several police officers.

"Ijichi-san!" Yuji greeted him with a wave.

"Itadori-kun, Yukinoshita-san." Ijichi greeted them, then turned to Junpei. "And Yoshino-kun, hello."

"Ah, hello." Junpei was surprised that Ijichi would greet him and responded shyly.

"I've heard about the situation from Yukinoshita-san." Ijichi looked around. "So, where's Ito Shota, the one we're arresting?"

The observant PE teacher suddenly appeared. "Ito-kun fainted from his injuries and was taken to the infirmary. I'll take you there. Please follow me."

He led the police officers towards the infirmary.

"Let's leave this to the police and head out," Ijichi said.

The trio followed Ijichi out of the school and into his car.

"Ijichi-san, where are we going?" Yuji asked from the backseat, where he sat with Junpei. Yukino was in the passenger seat.

"I heard from Yukinoshita-san that you made a deal," Ijichi reminded them.

"Ah, right!" Yuji blinked, remembering. "Junpei, you can tell us now, right?"

"Yes, I understand." Junpei nodded and began recounting his encounter with Mahito at the movie theater.

"So that special grade curse is called Mahito. It feels weird that curses have human-like names," Yuji commented.

"A man with stitches all over his body, possessing high intelligence and capable of fluent conversation with humans," Ijichi summarized, pushing up his glasses. "There's no mistaking it. He's working with the special grade curse that attacked Gojo-sensei."

Yukino, however, was focused on something else.

"Yoshino-kun," she asked seriously, "you're saying that Mahito… modified you? That he gave you the ability to use cursed energy and shikigami?"

"Yes, that's right." Junpei was startled by her serious tone. "Is something wrong?"

"Do you feel any discomfort, physically or mentally?"

"N-no." He shook his head.

Ijichi, who had handled the aftermath of Ōoka's death, and Yuji, who had heard Yukino's story, understood her concern.

Yuji became anxious, grabbing Junpei's shoulders and scrutinizing him. "Don't try to be brave! Tell us if anything feels wrong!"

"Uh... Should I be feeling unwell?" Junpei was confused.

"You might not believe this, but the last person Mahito modified to awaken cursed energy and a technique... He died because his soul was twisted too far," Yukino said gravely.

"What?!" Junpei froze. "Mahito is actually a good… person…?"

His eyes slowly widened as realization dawned.