13 Hidden Inventory Arc 2
The trio, Hiroshi, Satoru, and Suguru, found themselves in front of a vending machine. Satoru bought a cola, as did Hiroshi.
"But seriously, I can understand the intention of Curse User Group Q. But why did the Star Religious Group want to k*ll that girl?" Satoru pondered aloud as he popped open his can of cola.
Suguru began to explain, "Because they worship the pure Master Tengen. They don't allow the Star Plasma Vessel, an impurity, to tarnish him. The Star Religious Group is a non-sorcerers group, so we don't need to worry about them. What we need to be most wary of is 'Q.'"
As they conversed, they walked, and for some reason, they walked goofily. Suguru walked like an old man, Satoru walked as if he were balancing on one foot, while Hiroshi walked with a peculiar swagger, like the Dr. Livesey meme.
"Suguru, I believe that we should worry more about the Star Religious Group. Monkeys can be much more capable of cruelty than us sorcerers could ever be," Hiroshi stated bluntly.
"Monkeys?" Suguru questioned.
"Yes, monkeys—the non-sorcerer types that bring nothing but harm to us and their fellow men. I call them monkeys, and the Star Religious Group is a cult of monkeys," Hiroshi explained, his disdain evident. He knew from past memories that this particular cult had led Suguru Geto down a dark path, and they were responsible for hiring Toji Fushiguro to k*ll Amanai Riko.
"Do you speak from experience, Hiroshi?" Satoru inquired, while Suguru listened intently, curious about Hiroshi's hostility toward the group.
"Yes, the Senju Clan has business all around the world. We know how dark the world is, and the suspects are always the monkeys," Hiroshi explained. "But enough of that. I just want to remind you not to let your guard down against monkeys."
Hiroshi glanced at the hotel in the distance and thought to himself, "Toji and his manager should be somewhere in these buildings. This is why I sometimes hate urban areas. Without trees, I have to rely solely on my five senses," he lamented.
"There shouldn't be any problem. We are the strongest, after all. That's why Master Tengen asked for us," Satoru declared confidently.
"Indeed, Satoru," Hiroshi agreed. "We are the strongest trio, after all."
Suguru then addressed Satoru, expressing concern, "Before, you should be mindful of the way you talk. You're too rude, especially in front of people of higher status. We might meet Master Tengen later."
"What—!?" Satoru exclaimed.
"That way, your juniors won't be afraid of you," Suguru explained calmly.
"Sheesh! Give me a break," Satoru grumbled.
"Guys, I'll split up for now. I want to find someone in the city first. I'll meet you once you get Amanai Riko," Hiroshi said, breaking the tension.
"Who're you looking for?" Suguru asked.
"A deadbeat dad, a man who is also called the Glazed One," Hiroshi said cryptically, chuckling as he walked away.
"Why does he always talk like that?" Suguru pondered aloud.
"It's Hiroshi. He's unique like that," Satoru replied with a shrug.
"I'm telling you, Satoru... Never mind, we'll talk about it next time," Suguru said as he walked through the hallways of the hotel while talking on his phone. As he rang the doorbell, a bomb exploded, engulfing Suguru in black smoke. He was protected by a cursed spirit in the form of a ball.
"Still alive?" Satoru asked nonchalantly, knowing well that Suguru wouldn't die from that.
"I am," Suguru replied.
"If that girl died now, would they blame us?" Satoru asked nonchalantly.
"Ah," Satoru calmly exclaimed as he saw Amanai Riko falling from the building.
Suguru directly broke the glass with cursed spirits and jumped out, being carried through the air on a pink manta ray where he caught Amanai Riko.
"Don't hate me. Hate Master Tengen instead," Q Combatant Kokun said as he looked down from the building, holding onto a maid.
"What?" Kokun exclaimed, seeing Suguru carrying the Star Plasma Vessel.
"Please don't make a big fuss. I just got scolded this morning," Suguru said to Kokun.
"That uniform... You are a Jujutsu Sorcerer from the high school, right? Hand over that girl, or I'll kill you," Kokun threatened Suguru.
"I can't hear you clearly. Can you come closer?" Suguru smirked as he spoke to Kokun.
-----------------
Meanwhile, on Satoru Gojo's side.
"That was close," Satoru said over the phone, as a multitude of knives were stopped by his Infinity.
"Impressive. You're Satoru Gojo, right?" Q Combatant Bayer asked.
"I heard you're very strong. Let me confirm if the rumors are true."
"Sure. But let's decide on the rules first," Satoru said confidently.
"Rules?" Bayer was baffled.
"You see, I don't want to be yelled at for going overboard, so if you cry and apologize, I won't kill you," Satoru threatened.
"You brat!" Bayer exclaimed.
"It's started," the manager said. "The Star Religious Group has no power to fight against Jujutsu Sorcerers. But they're quite generous with money. I can guarantee that."
"What do you think, Zenin?
Will you join the assassination of the Star Plasma Vessel?"
"I'm no longer a Zenin, because I got married," Toji said.
"My last name is Fushiguro now," he continued.
"Alright," the manager said.
"I accept the proposal," Toji replied.
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Hiroshi, who was searching for Toji in the buildings opposite the hotel where Suguru and Satoru were assigned to protect the Star Plasma Vessel, mused to himself, "That's odd. This should be the building, and this should be the view where Toji and his manager were talking. Damn, I must've been too late."
Realizing there were no signs of Toji, Hiroshi decided it was time to rendezvous with Suguru and Satoru. As he made his way, Hiroshi's thoughts drifted to Toji's next moves, recalling from his memories, "Next, the dude is going to be gambling with speedboats and takoyaki." These details painted a vivid picture of Toji's planned whereabouts and activities, guiding Hiroshi's next steps in the unfolding events.
"Please, listen to me. It was my fault. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry," Kokun begged, his fear palpable as Suguru's cursed spirit menacingly approached him.
"Kiss me. Come on, kiss me," the cursed spirit urged, inching closer to Kokun.
"I won't interfere in this again, and I won't be a curse user anymore. Please, just kiss me," Kokun pleaded desperately, hoping to avoid the cursed spirit's wrath.
Suguru, sipping his tea calmly, simply gestured with his hand by his ear, teasing Kokun with his silence.
"You heard me!" Kokun exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.
"Farming rice? Quitting Q? No way," Suguru dismissed Kokun's pleas with a shrug.
"Mr. Bayer has already arrived anyway. He is the strongest combatant of Q. All of you will…" Kokun's angry tirade was abruptly cut off as Suguru showed him a picture of Bayer, who had already been defeated by Gojo Satoru.
"Is he the Bayer you are talking about?" Suguru asked casually.
"Right, that's… him," Kokun confirmed, his voice trailing off as the realization sunk in.
With Bayer defeated, Q's strongest combatant had left, and the organization fell apart.
--------------
All speed boats were lined up, ready to race. Starting from the inner circle, one, two, three, four, five, six. They began rowing, creating a beautiful straight line on the water.
Toji Fushiguro sat in the stands, watching the boat racing as he placed his bets.
"I was wondering where you ran off to. What are you doing here?" Shiu Kong asked.
"I'm making money with money," Toji replied casually.
"I have never seen you win though. Don't you have work?" Shiu Kong questioned.
"You're really annoying. You make it sound like I'm an idler," Toji retorted.
"You're an idler. As an agent, I have an obligation to report your work performance to the client," Shiu Kong reminded him.
"That guy is a son of the Gojo family. The other is the Patriarch of the Senju. I couldn't do anything to them if I ran over there without a plan. However, is your client prepared for the fury of the Senju if I did kill their Patriarch?" Toji contemplated.
"Rest assured, it's already been arranged. But as much as possible, try not to harm the Patriarch," Shiu Kong assured him.
"Easier said than done. I hear that he can conjure forests with a flip of his hand," Toji analyzed the situation.
"We need to send a few idiots to weaken them first. I believe the Senju Patriarch is searching for our whereabouts," Toji strategized.
"That's not good," Shiu Kong remarked.
"Anything's not good, especially antagonizing the Senju," Toji replied. "You are the one who's got work to do."
"I am working, idiot. What were you thinking? You let the full deposit go," Shiu Kong criticized.
"I said I wanted to weaken them. You don't have to worry. I'll make all the money back. Just like in this race," Toji assured him.
As the race concluded, the leading boat, Hatano, crossed the finish line first. Douguchi came in second, followed by Matsuda in third.
"TSK!" Toji clicked his tongue in frustration.
"It seems you're not good at making easy money. I'll leave it to you, sorcerer killer. By the way, is Megumi doing well?" Shiu Kong inquired.
Toji thought for a moment, then asked, "Who's that?"
---------------
Satoru and Suguru looked at the unconscious Amanai Riko with concern, considering their inability to use Reverse Cursed Technique like Shoko and Hiroshi.
"If only we could use Reverse Cursed Technique like Shoko and Hiroshi," Suguru lamented.
"Yeah, that's impossible. We can't even understand what they say," Satoru agreed, remembering their failed attempt to grasp the concept.
In a flashback, Satoru and Suguru had asked Shoko and Hiroshi how to use Reverse Cursed Technique.
"You go 'fwoo' and 'yoi'," Shoko explained with a dismissive tone. "Fwoo and yoi. You don't get it? You guys really have no talent," she remarked, frustrating Satoru and Suguru.
Turning to Hiroshi for clarification, Suguru asked, "How about you, Hiroshi? Can you explain it?"
Hiroshi then likened it to Nuclear Fusion. "You know, it's like Nuclear Fusion. You put together cursed energy and cursed energy, like cursed energy multiplied by cursed energy, and you get positive energy. Nuclear Fusion," he elaborated.
"I see," Shoko nodded in understanding.
Meanwhile, Satoru and Suguru were left scratching their heads, smoke figuratively emanating from their heads.
"What the hell is Nuclear Fusion?" they both pondered, feeling perplexed and frustrated by the complexity of the explanation.
As they returned to the present.
"Oh, you're awake," Satoru greeted Amanai Riko as she regained consciousness.
In an immediate response, Riko slapped Satoru and leaped away from his grasp. "You despicable villain! If you try to k*ll me, you're going to die before me," she declared, taking a defensive stance.
"Riko, calm down. We are not with those people who attacked you," Suguru attempted to reassure her, but Riko was not easily convinced.
"You clearly look like a liar! Your bangs are weird too," she retorted, her comment slightly irking Suguru.
Before she knew it, Riko found herself being stretched and twisted by Satoru and Suguru. "Stop! This is disrespectful!" she protested.
The sound of *crackling* filled the air, just as Hiroshi and Kuroi arrived from the elevator. "Please… please stop!" Kuroi implored.
At Kuroi's request, Satoru and Suguru released Riko, allowing her to drop to the ground.
"Kuroi," Riko acknowledged, hearing Kuroi affirm, "Miss, those two gentlemen are on our side."
Curiosity piqued, Riko inquired, "Kuroi, what is that thing you are riding?"
"This is the Cursed Technique of the gentleman with bangs," Kuroi explained, referring to Suguru.
"Can you please not call me that?" Suguru requested, slightly embarrassed by the nickname.
"Pft, Bangs haha," Hiroshi couldn't help but laugh. "I swear, Suguru, just decide on a haircut already,"
"I'll decide later. I like my style," Suguru defended, then explained his ability to Kuroi. "Anyway, Cursed Spirits Manipulation. Just as the name implies, I can control the cursed spirits I've absorbed."
"In other words, Pokémon," Hiroshi quipped, likening Suguru's ability to the popular franchise.
"She's spunkier than I thought," Satoru observed, clearly annoyed by Riko's slap.
"Did she hit you, Satoru?" Hiroshi inquired, looking at Riko with a mix of surprise and admiration. "You can be proud of such a feat, Amanai Riko. Not many can hit Satoru directly," he praised her.
Confused by the significance of her action, Riko asked, "Why?"
"Satoru, show her," Hiroshi encouraged. Obliging, Satoru extended his hand towards Riko. "Come, touch it," he invited.
Riko cautiously extended her hand towards Satoru's palm, but to her astonishment, it stopped a few inches away, unable to make contact.
"Amazing," Riko murmured, awed by the demonstration of Satoru's ability, which rendered him untouchable.
"I thought the merging would make you sentimental. I was even wondering how to take care of your feelings," Satoru remarked, pondering the emotional complexities of Amanai Riko's upcoming merge with Master Tengen.
"That sounds exactly like how a simpleton would think," Riko retorted, dismissing Satoru's concerns with a sharpness that reflected her own understanding of the situation.
"Listen carefully. Master Tengen is me. And I am Master Tengen. Some fools confuse merging with death like you. And it's a huge mistake. Merging will make me Master Tengen, but Master Tengen will also become me. My will, mind, and soul will continue to live on after merging…" she began, trying to assert her perspective with a majestic gesture, only for her efforts to be met with indifference from the trio.
"A new wallpaper?" Suguru casually inquired of Satoru, completely ignoring Riko's attempted explanation.
"It's Waka Inoue," Satoru replied nonchalantly, further sidelining Riko's serious demeanor.
Meanwhile, Hiroshi, finding amusement in Riko's earnestness, took a video of her explanation. "This can be used as blackmail material once you grow up," he joked, adding a lighthearted tease to the moment.
"Listen to me! And delete that!" Riko demanded, flustered by Hiroshi's actions.
"Judging by the way she talks, she probably has no friends," Satoru observed, making a pointed comment on Riko's social skills—or perceived lack thereof.
"Then we can send her off without any worries," Suguru added, implying that her departure for the merging process wouldn't stir any discontent among peers.
"I speak normally at school! School… Kuroi, what time is it now?" Riko suddenly remembered her other commitments, showing a glimmer of her life beyond her destined merge.
"It's not noon yet, but you better not go to…" Kuroi began, likely aware of the dangers or impracticalities of Riko attempting to return to her normal life, even for a moment.
"Shut up, I'm going!" Riko declared defiantly, her determination to cling to her individuality and personal desires evident.
While Suguru and Satoru were left with question marks hovering over their heads, Hiroshi, understanding the importance of fulfilling Riko's wishes as instructed by Master Tengen, took decisive action. He promptly took out his phone to make arrangements for Riko's visit to her school. "Yes, Patriarch?" came a voice from the other end.
"Tell the principal of Renchoku Girl's High that I'm coming for an inspection," Hiroshi commanded, taking on the responsibility to ensure Riko's wish was granted.
"Right away, Patriarch!" The call ended with prompt affirmation.
"We shall escort you over there, Riko," Hiroshi announced, stepping forward to provide the support and protection Riko would need to safely visit her school.
A limousine pulled up in front of the hotel where they were staying, catching the attention of the group. "That's our ride," Hiroshi announced, indicating that it was time to depart.
"I have to ask Hiroshi, how rich are you?" Suguru inquired, curious about the extent of Hiroshi's wealth.
Hiroshi smirked confidently. "Throughout the heavens and the earth, I alone am the wealthiest one," he proclaimed, with a hint of playful arrogance.
"Pfft, show off, boo!" Satoru teased in response to Hiroshi's boast.
A butler emerged from the limousine, opening the door with a courteous gesture. "Ladies first," Hiroshi suggested, motioning for Riko and Kuroi to enter.
"Thank you," Kuroi graciously acknowledged as Riko eagerly hopped into the luxurious vehicle, taking in the marvels of the limousine on her first ride of this kind.
-------------
"We are going to visit Riko's school, so I need you guys to dress for the occasion, since her school is a property under the Senju," Hiroshi explained as he distributed stylish clothes to each member of the group.
After a quick change of attire, the group arrived at the school gates, where a welcoming committee awaited.
Stepping out of the limousine, Hiroshi was greeted by a middle-aged woman who introduced herself as the principal of the institution. Hiroshi exchanged pleasantries with her before they began their tour, the principal leading the way like an official inspection.
"Suguru and Satoru, you guys can keep an eye on our surroundings. I'll take care of this," Hiroshi directed, assigning tasks to the duo.
Suguru dispersed his cursed spirits throughout the school for surveillance while Satoru found a comfortable spot under a tree, observing Suguru's movements. Meanwhile, Kuroi sat next to Satoru, quietly observing the scene around them.
As Gojo Satoru's phone rang, he swiftly answered, "This is Satoru."
"Satoru, you must fulfill all of Amanai Riko's requests during this time," came the stern voice of Masamichi Yaga.
"It would be safer to bring her to our school now." Satoru replied.
"I personally wish to do so, but it's Master Tengen's order," Masamichi Yaga added before ending the call.
Satoru sighed, ending the call and expressing his frustration, "He wants us to fulfill all of Riko Amanai's requests. Isn't that spoiling her too much?"
"Don't say that, Satoru," Suguru interjected, offering a different perspective. "Although she said so, she will become the foundation of the barrier at the bottom of the school as Master Tengen after merging. She will never see her friends and family again."
"Let's just let her do what she wants. That's our mission," Suguru concluded.
Kuroi, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, revealing a bit about Riko's past. "Miss Riko has no family. Her family died in an accident when she was young. I've been taking care of her since then. So please, at least let her spend some more time with her friends…"
"In that case, you are her family," Suguru acknowledged, understanding the importance of their bond.
Hiroshi arrived and decided to shed some light on his plan with Master Tengen. "Well, I wouldn't be so sure about Riko not seeing her friends again. Master Tengen has plans for her, but the merger wouldn't actually be the end of her."
"What do you mean, Hiroshi?" Satoru inquired, intrigued by the revelation.
"I believe Master Tengen has other plans, plans that require my assistance," Hiroshi smirked confidently.
"I see. I hope for the best," Suguru said, with Kuroi nodding in agreement.
"Suguru, how are the cursed spirits you sent to monitor her?" Hiroshi asked. Before Suguru could respond, he felt two of his cursed spirits disappear.
"Satoru, Hiroshi, two of my cursed spirits were exorcised," Suguru reported.
Hiroshi quickly located the culprits through the trees around the school. "It's a man wearing a paper bag mask and an old dude. I'll leave it to you two," he declared.
"She should be in her music class at this hour, in the chapel or music room," Kuroi informed them
"Let's go, Satoru," Suguru said as they sprinted towards Riko's location, ready to confront the intruders.
The race had commenced, with the boats speeding along the designated lanes. In the restaurant where Toji Fushiguro sat, the atmosphere was typical, with the ambient noise of the speed boat race broadcasting from the television, capturing the attention of a multitude of gamblers, including Toji himself. He was casually picking apart his chopsticks while engaged in a phone call with Shui Kong, an agent.
"Seems like they haven't returned to the high school yet," Toji remarked, noting the absence of his targets.
"Lucky for us. The bounty will attract slightly better idiots now," he added nonchalantly.
Shui Kong, sounding cautious, raised concerns about the bounty's risks. "Are you sure about this? If the Star Plasma Vessel is killed, your deposit will be gone. And if things don't go as planned, you might not even get the reward. They might even regret not putting out the bounty and hiring someone else."
Toji, however, remained confident in his assessment of the situation. "Don't forget Satoru Gojo and Senju Hiroshi are there. As long as they are around, no one can kill the Star Plasma Vessel," he assured.
"Including you?" Shui Kong inquired, seeking clarity.
"It's hard to say," Toji replied cryptically. "Anyway, within the next few hours before the bounty deadline, let those idiots wear down Satoru and the Jujutsu Sorcerers around him."
Shui Kong realized the significance of their plan. "Luckily, we set a time limit. Recruiting curse users didn't take much effort. But it's not just that," he acknowledged, his voice trailing off as he contemplated the situation.
Meanwhile, the race unfolded on the television screen, with boat number three, Kono, momentarily losing balance, allowing Yamazaki to seize the lead.
"I'll be there soon. Things are progressing faster than I thought. I want the million yen back in full," Toji declared, showing his determination.
Shui Kong attempted to explain the financial logistics involved, but Toji abruptly ended the call, citing a loss of signal.
"I'm losing the signal," Toji stated, citing a loss of signal as he ended the call, deflecting any further questions.
Hiroshi, who was receiving a call, heard from the Senju Clansman over the phone, "Patriarch, the Sorcerer Killer has been elusive, but we shall keep looking." Hiroshi replied, "That's fine. He probably knows that we are also searching for him. Continue searching, but exercise caution," before cutting off the call.
"It appears that Toji cannot be found. It seems like I just have to fight him at Jujutsu High then..." Hiroshi thought to himself as he looked at Kuroi, who was sitting beside him.
"Yo, Hiroshi, we're back," Satoru said, carrying Amanai Riko on his hand, floating.
"So, how was dealing with the Curse Users?" Hiroshi asked.
"So-so, not even a challenge," Satoru replied.
Hiroshi noticed that Suguru was also back. "So, I've been thinking, how about a trip to Okinawa?" Hiroshi suggested.
"Okinawa? Why?" Suguru asked.
"Just a spur-of-the-moment decision. I also want to see it. Don't worry, I'll pay for it, and consider it a treat for Amanai," Hiroshi explained, gesturing to Amanai Riko.
The next moment, they found themselves in a private jet owned by Hiroshi, flying across the skies with the Rainbow Dragon in tow.
"Here we are!" Riko and Satoru shouted in unison as they began basking in the water, playing and splashing.
"What are we doing in Okinawa, Hiroshi?" Suguru asked.
"Just a spur-of-the-moment decision, and Master Tengen did say that I must fulfill all of Amanai Riko's wishes before escorting her to Master Tengen, so might as well. Plus, the entire beach resort is under my paycheck. Relax a little. Free food and free drinks for everyone. Sorcerers should also relax from time to time; otherwise, you'd go crazy," Hiroshi explained.
"If you say so," Suguru nodded.
In the background, Satoru and Riko were poking a sea cucumber, exclaiming, "Gross, it's so gross!" eliciting laughter from the duo.
The entire day was spent canoeing, visiting the aquarium, eating, and more.
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Jujutsu High, at the foothills of Mount Mushiro
4 hours had passed since the bounty on Amanai Riko's head was lifted.
"Great job, everyone. This place is inside the school's barrier. Now we can rest assured," Suguru said.
"Yes," Kuroi sighed in relief.
"What a relief," Amanai Riko added.
"Satoru, good job," Suguru praised.
"I'll never do babysitting again," Satoru said as he was about to deactivate his Cursed Technique. Suddenly, Hiroshi's voice was heard, "Satoru, don't power down just yet."
"Why?" Satoru asked.
Hiroshi felt someone moving fast across the footsteps, movements that could not be seen by the human eye, but for Hiroshi, it was as clear as day.
With a smile on his face, Hiroshi turned his head and exclaimed, "You finally showed yourself, Sorcerer Killer!" As Hiroshi turned his head, Toji was already behind Satoru Gojo.
