"Blood remembers. Even when the mind forgets, the spiral never sleeps."
—Some old, half-burned codex nobody's ever seen
Jujutsu High Archives – Secure Vault
Alarms ringed, shrill enough to make your teeth ache and echoing through the underbelly of Jujutsu High, where even the wannabe tough second-years don't dare poke around. Metal wards? Sliced open, not smashed—someone had scribbled some cursed nonsense in backwards spiral script and that was that.
Yaga stomped through the marble, boots hitting like gunshots.
"Six seals. They cracked six," he muttered, sounding like he'd rather be chewing glass.
Gojo—sunglasses down, for once—looked way too serious.
"They only grabbed one thing."
"The Scroll of Nine-Fanged Echoes," Yaga spat.
Gojo gave a lazy nod. "It's supposed to be unfinished and it's Useless."
"Not to Akashi."
Somewhere Else—Akashi's Room
Akashi sprawled on his bed, not sleeping, just staring at the ceiling like it might blink back. His fingers twitched, cursed energy flickering under his skin like static. The Kyoto boy haunted him—spiral eyes, that weird sad grin.
Nobara leaned on the windows, arms crossed, watching like she's sizing up a storm.
"You're quiet. That's never good."
Akashi sighed. "I'm tired of being Hunted down by my own nightmares."
She shrugged. "You're not the hunter, but you sure as hell are the reason they're running."
She stepped closer. "Let 'em be scared. Just don't forget—when you crash, we're right here."
And then—damn, she just went for it. Kissed him. Not in some sappy movie way, but shaky, real.
Akashi didn't freeze up. He kissed her back, slow, like he was trying to remember how to be a person.
"Thanks," he finally breathed.
She smirked. "You better hang onto that when you do something stupid again."
Spiral Cult Lair—Under Mt. Hiei
Hooded weirdos chanting, robes in dried blood it was basically a look. In the middle, a chained woman, black glyphs crawling under her skin like restless snakes. She looked way too peaceful.
The Spiral Warden drifted up, scales glittering, voice all broken glass.
"The Dragon Heir's tasted the blood."
She smiled, just barely. "Good. That Means the Codex is waking."
He bowed. "Should we start his next trial?"
She shook her head. "Nah. Let him chase us a bit. Let him remember who he is and before we force the choice."
She opened her mouth.
And sang.
Glyphs on the walls burst into flame. The whole mountain shook, like it might just get up and walk away.
Mission Briefing Room
Yuji, Megumi, Akashi, Nobara—sitting around a table like it was study hall from hell. Gojo and Utahime up front, map of old shrines glowing behind them.
Gojo jabbed at the map. "They hit this one last night. And a retired Sorcerer, Grade 1. Found dead—spirals burnt right into her eyes."
Utahime picked up the thread.
"The scroll talks about Dragon Womb Sites. Maybe Not a myth, apparently."
Gojo: "They needs Akashi's signature. He's the only one who can open 'em."
All eyes on Akashi. Talk about awkward.
Nobara, voice low: "You're not a weapon akashi... No matter what they say."
Akashi stood up, jaw set.
"Maybe or maybe not. But I'm the only key. And I'm done waiting around."
Final Scene—Spiral Warden's Vision
The Spiral Warden bowed at the chained woman's feet. Her eyes, now just bottomless black.
"He'll come for you. Just like you wanted."
"He has to."
"And if he doesn't?"
She didn't even blink. "Then he loses everything."