At 21:00 that evening, Asou Akiya dragged himself back with sluggish, exhausted steps.
He had gone to see Yaga Masamichi and, in the principal's office, registered the cursed energy signature of the Grade 3 cursed spirit, "Ugly Treasure." At the same time, he had asked the veteran educator for Tsukumo Yuki's contact information. Yaga had warned him that she disliked Tokyo Jujutsu High and held the Higher-Ups in cold indifference. There was no guarantee that she would be willing to take Asou Akiya's call.
Asou Akiya was simply too tired. He had planned to contact Tsukumo Yuki the following day.
Unfortunately, the brightly lit boys' dormitory and the corridor lights that remained switched on told him that slacking off was no longer an option.
Asou Akiya deceived himself with a hopeful thought.
"Maybe they're not waiting for me."
Reality, however, had other plans.
The moment he arrived, he was met by Getou Suguru, who had rushed out in search of him. Grabbing him by the arm, Getou dragged him toward Gojo Satoru's room.
"Akiya, we've been waiting for you forever!" Getou exclaimed. "We've run into a really difficult problem!"
Asou Akiya: "???"
[Please, just give me a break. My brain's CPU is about to burn out.]
Gojo Satoru's dorm room was spacious enough that even with five male high school students gathered inside, it still didn't feel crowded.
Nanami Kento and Haibara Yuu looked noticeably uncomfortable. Their eyes remained fixed on the floor as they avoided making eye contact with Gojo Satoru, whose divinity had taken the dominant role.
With his back turned to them, Gojo sat cross-legged on the bed, slowly sipping milk tea through a straw. The icy sweetness cooled his throat. He had already consumed well over a liter of the bucket-sized drink, the steadily lowering liquid level serving as today's source of sugar replenishment.
Lying unconscious on his bed was a girl.
Her eyes were swollen red and puffy, as if two walnuts had been pressed beneath her eyelids.
It was Amanai Riko.
Asou Akiya stared in astonishment, realizing that they had actually smuggled Amanai Riko into the school—
And not only that, they had hidden her in the boys' dormitory.
Then, after a moment's thought, he understood.
Gojo Satoru's Limitless technique could conceal Amanai Riko's presence.
Getou Suguru pushed Asou Akiya down onto the sofa and adopted an expression of utmost seriousness.
"The Star Plasma Vessel mission..." he began. "You could say that Satoru and I failed. We've already submitted the mission report to the Higher-Ups. The only good news is that little Riko survived. I concealed what happened to her. Originally, I wanted to discuss what to do next with Satoru, but his condition is still wrong. No matter what I ask him, he only says one thing."
He looked directly at Asou Akiya.
"He says to look for you."
Asou Akiya: "..."
Getou Suguru pressed a bottle of canned coffee into Asou Akiya's hand.
"You've worked hard," he said.
Asou Akiya numbly took a sip. The bitterness jolted his mind awake, but a dull ache still throbbed deep within his skull. The sensation of having overworked his brain left him utterly drained. At that moment, he had the overwhelming urge to never hear the words "Star Plasma Vessel" again for the rest of his life.
"Asou-senpai," Haibara Yuu said, completely unaware of the events that had led up to this point. He had stayed behind because he wanted to know the truth. With the straightforward kindness that defined him, he spoke up on Amanai Riko's behalf. "That little girl cried so heartbreakingly. Let's help her."
"Haibara," Nanami Kento interrupted, stopping his classmate from becoming overly involved, "Asou-senpai has his own thoughts on the matter."
"Let me sort out the sequence of events first."
Rubbing his temples, Asou Akiya tried to ease the growing headache.
"Getou, Amanai Riko learned of Miss Kuroi's death and became devastated. I can understand that. But what exactly does that have to do with bringing her into the boys' dormitory?"
A flicker of collapse crossed Getou Suguru's face.
"She said that without Misato... obtaining freedom on her own had lost all meaning."
His voice grew heavier.
"'There's no meaning in continuing to live anymore'... Those were her exact words."
Asou Akiya replied dryly, "Wow."
After struggling so desperately to save someone, they had somehow circled right back to where they had been three days ago.
Amanai Riko had once again begun entertaining the idea of "assimilation."
"She cried so hard that I couldn't bring myself to leave her somewhere off-campus," Getou explained. "Coincidentally, Satoru came looking for me. I borrowed the convenience of his technique to bring her into the school, so she could go to Shoko and properly see Kuroi Misato one last time."
Their female classmate, Ieiri Shoko, was responsible for handling the deceased. Asking her to quietly grant them this favor had posed no problem.
There was probably no class in Tokyo Jujutsu High more united than the second-years.
"And after that..." Getou hesitated.
"After Satoru heard what little Riko had decided..." He paused again before continuing, "...he wanted to drag her to the Tombs of the Star Corridor."
"I stopped him."
"The commotion we caused in the boys' dormitory was too loud, and it attracted the underclassmen."
"I used a cursed spirit to hypnotize little Riko so she could fall asleep for the time being."
He let out a weary breath.
"And that's everything that happened."
Nanami Kento's eyes reflected complete resignation, the detached acceptance of someone who had been swept into this mess against his will.
Beside him, Haibara Yuu clenched his fists.
"Nanami and I didn't want our senpai fighting with each other, so we tried to mediate," he said earnestly. "As for the jujutsu world's intention to sacrifice an innocent girl, we're against it."
Nanami Kento nodded.
"He said everything I was going to say," he remarked flatly. "That's exactly how it is."
After hearing the entire explanation, Asou Akiya could only conclude that, objectively speaking, it was a relatively simple matter.
Respecting an individual's choice, after all.
Then, all at once, he remembered the cause of Kuroi Misato's death, and a quiet sigh escaped his heart.
[Getou is blaming himself again, isn't he? He thinks that by not stopping Kuroi Misato from accompanying them, he indirectly caused her to be killed by Fushiguro Toji.]
Asou Akiya turned to look at Getou Suguru and discovered faint bloodshot veins lining the other's eyes as well.
None of them had rested properly these past few days.
"I understand now."
"How do you see this? What do you think would be the best way to resolve it?"
Getou Suguru placed enormous importance on Asou Akiya's opinion. He desperately wanted a good outcome.
After a moment of contemplation, Asou Akiya said, "Why don't we... go to the Tombs of the Star Corridor and hear what Master Tengen has to say?"
Getou Suguru froze.
"Huh?"
Gojo Satoru, who had been sitting beside Amanai Riko with an indifferent expression, turned around.
"..."
Nanami Kento let out a breath and offered an impartial observation.
"She'll die, won't she?"
Even Haibara Yuu looked nervous. Amanai Riko's age reminded him of his own younger sister.
"Not necessarily," Asou Akiya replied.
"Master Tengen has been watching us all along. She's waiting for us to make a decision. But is our decision truly that important?" He paused before continuing. "Actually, there's something I want to confirm with Tsukumo Yuki."
Getou Suguru looked utterly bewildered.
"Why are you contacting her?"
Tsukumo Yuki had been a complete outsider to this mission from beginning to end.
Leaning back against the sofa to rest and ease his exhaustion, Asou Akiya unknowingly became the center of everyone's attention.
His black hair was disheveled. Sweat from physical overexertion clung to his forehead and the bridge of his nose. The pallor of his complexion could hardly be described as healthy. His brows remained faintly furrowed, lending him an air of scholarly frailty.
Anyone who took that appearance at face value, however, would be gravely mistaken.
"Sometimes," Asou Akiya said softly, "the person outside the game is the one who truly has the power to break the deadlock."
He took out his cellphone and dialed Tsukumo Yuki's number.
Then, without warning, he tossed the phone to Gojo Satoru.
Gojo caught it smoothly.
Yet even the Six Eyes could not see through what Asou Akiya intended to do.
"As for me," Asou Akiya said, "I don't have any reputation to speak of. She may not be willing to tell me the truth. But among everyone, you're the one she's paid the most attention to. You're also directly involved in this mission, which makes you the most suitable person to contact her."
He licked his dry, cracked lips. The coffee had failed to soothe his throat, and his voice had grown noticeably hoarse.
"Gojo, ask her this for me."
"Is Amanai Riko merely the target out in the open? Exactly how many Star Plasma Vessels are there?"
"..."
Gojo Satoru waited in silence for a few seconds before the overseas call to Tsukumo Yuki finally connected.
Without giving the other party a chance to speak first, he relayed Asou Akiya's question exactly as requested.
"Tsukumo Yuki, is Amanai Riko merely the target out in the open? Exactly how many Star Plasma Vessels are there?"
"A boy? Who are you?" a woman's voice replied. "Why are you asking that kind of question?"
"Gojo Satoru."
Within the jujutsu world, the weight carried by the name Gojo Satoru far surpassed that of anyone else.
No one would dare impersonate him.
Accompanied by the thunderous roar of a motorcycle engine, a bright and lively female voice traveled all the way from America.
"So it's you! In that case, answer one question for me, and I'll answer your two questions."
"Fine," Gojo Satoru said, accepting the exchange without hesitation.
Tsukumo Yuki asked with boundless enthusiasm, "Gojo, what kind of woman is your type?"
The others in the dormitory were completely unfamiliar with Tsukumo Yuki. Hearing her voice for the first time, they couldn't help but show traces of surprise.
Getou Suguru stared in astonishment.
What kind of bizarre question is that?
He turned to look at Asou Akiya.
Asou Akiya had covered half his face with one hand, as though even he found the situation too painful to witness.
Both of them had assumed that Gojo Satoru would answer, "Inoue Waka."
Instead, Gojo replied indifferently,
"At the moment, I'm not interested in any women."
"Your question is answered."
[Satoru, what happened to you? You're definitely not okay!]
Getou Suguru's concern was on the verge of becoming tangible. He walked over to Gojo Satoru's side and was met with the other's lifted gaze.
Those azure eyes beneath the heavens shone even more brilliantly than before.
The mist-like whiteness and blue radiance swirling within them surpassed every precious gemstone in existence.
"Getou."
Gojo Satoru answered him in an icy tone.
"I'm perfectly normal."
"...You actually stopped using 'ore'."
Getou Suguru had suffered far too many shocks in a single day. "We'll talk about that later. For now, get Tsukumo Yuki to answer the questions we actually care about."
Asou Akiya had progressed from covering half his face to burying it in both hands.
A ridiculous thought surfaced in his exhausted mind.
Could having divinity lead to a complete lack of sexual interest?
The answer would soon reveal itself.
Nanami Kento and Haibara Yuu sat upright, their expressions solemn and attentive.
Tsukumo Yuki said, "Your answer was a little unexpected... As expected of Gojo-kun."
"As for who Amanai Riko is, I don't know. But including me, there are publicly two Star Plasma Vessels in Japan."
"If you happen to receive an escort mission involving a 'Star Plasma Vessel,' then I'd say you've got rotten luck."
"As far as I know, during Tengen's period of 'assimilation,' if the current Star Plasma Vessel dies, a new Star Plasma Vessel will soon emerge to take their place."
"The number of Star Plasma Vessels existing in the same era isn't fixed."
"That's both of your questions answered~. Bye, Gojo-kun! Once that old fossil finishes 'assimilating,' I'll head back to Japan and hang out with you and Getou Suguru. See you around!"
Beep. Beep.
The female Special Grade sorcerer hung up with the same brisk, whirlwind energy she had displayed throughout the conversation.
Nanami Kento and Haibara Yuu felt as though they had gained invaluable insight. It was their first time learning that Tsukumo Yuki herself was a Star Plasma Vessel. Moreover, she had casually laid bare the hidden truth behind the "Star Plasma Vessel Mission," showing absolutely no regard for preserving Master Tengen's dignity.
Gojo Satoru tossed the phone back to Asou Akiya.
Asou Akiya lowered his hands and composed his expression.
"Everything is clear now."
Getou Suguru stared blankly at the ceiling.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
[To hell with it. Let this cursed mission burn.]
Asou Akiya turned toward the two underclassmen.
"You two should go to sleep."
He offered Nanami Kento and Haibara Yuu a small smile.
"If you stay up too late, you won't grow any taller."
His tone was gentle, yet left no room for refusal.
What came next was no longer something that inexperienced underclassmen should involve themselves in.
21:25.
The passage leading to the Tombs of the Star Corridor was dark and eerie.
Traces of Getou Suguru's blood still stained the ground.
Gojo Satoru walked at the front.
Getou Suguru followed behind him, carrying Amanai Riko in his arms.
Asou Akiya brought up the rear.
In truth, he was dozing off as he walked.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, yet regarding the outcome of the meeting that awaited them, he possessed an unmistakable premonition.
[Master Tengen will choose to abandon the assimilation.]
The Tombs of the Star Corridor. The Main Hall. The highest-grade barrier that shrouded this place permitted their entry.
The three high school boys, together with Amanai Riko, who had suddenly awakened, finally came face to face with Master Tengen.
The "strange being" clad in white robes smiled as she looked at them.
"You've finally arrived."
Her head resembled a withered plant, dried and shriveled. She possessed four eyes, and her mouth stretched unnaturally wide. She had nearly lost all resemblance to a human being. At that moment, both Asou Akiya and Getou Suguru found themselves grateful that something was "wrong" with Gojo Satoru's state of mind. Otherwise, given his tendency to let sharp words fly without restraint, the chances of him offending Master Tengen the instant they met would have been extraordinarily high.
"The descendant of Sugawara no Michizane. The Cursed Spirit Manipulator. The Star Plasma Vessel. The jujutsu student without an innate technique."
Amanai Riko hadn't clearly heard what Master Tengen had said. The fantasy she had clung to for so long shattered before reality. The being she had been meant to "assimilate" with... was this grotesque "monster."
What revered Master Tengen?
What people truly revered was the guardian who served as the cornerstone of the jujutsu world's barriers—not Tengen herself, who had gradually ceased to be human. No one who had seen Tengen's true appearance could, in good conscience, continue to acknowledge the "god" worshipped by the Time Vessel Association.
"What is that sound? It's terrifying—!"
Amanai Riko tumbled out of Getou Suguru's arms, clutched her ears, and crouched on the floor, trembling uncontrollably. She could hear them—the voices of the Star Plasma Vessels from generations past who had reached this place and undergone assimilation.
Standing at the very front, Gojo Satoru confronted Master Tengen directly, shielding the three people behind him without a word.
Tengen addressed the four of them.
"I bear no ill will toward any of you."
Through the barriers that encompassed the Tombs of the Star Corridor, she had already learned of the choice they had made. She also knew that Tsukumo Yuki had divulged the truth.
Over the course of a thousand years, Tengen's spirit had been worn down by exhaustion to a degree that neither Asou Akiya nor Getou Suguru, even combined, could possibly compare to. Therefore, she spoke honestly.
"I have already accepted reality. I will not force Amanai Riko to undergo 'assimilation' with me."
Immediately afterward, Tengen revealed the flaw inherent in her Immortality Technique.
She could only achieve "deathlessness"; she could not attain "agelessness." As her technique continued to function over time, it steadily pushed her toward an unknown state of existence. Even she herself could not determine whether she would eventually evolve into something akin to a cursed spirit.
Fusing with individuals who possessed the constitution of a Star Plasma Vessel had once been the solution Tengen had discovered. However, after conducting various experimental attempts over the centuries, she had found another method as well.
By remaining within the barriers of the Tombs of the Star Corridor, she could slow the process of her evolution.
After listening to Tengen's explanation, Getou Suguru's mood grew heavy. There had been far too many hidden truths lurking beneath the surface of this mission, and only now were they finally being brought to light.
"Master Tengen, what's happening to little Riko?" Getou asked. Seeing that the other two had little inclination to speak, he simply assumed the role of the primary questioner.
"She..." Tengen's lips moved slightly.
A similar phenomenon of resonance had once occurred in Tsukumo Yuki as well.
"It's the previous Star Plasma Vessels!" Amanai Riko said in terror. "I heard their voices. They're talking to me. No—they're telling me to run, telling me not to 'assimilate' with her! The consciousness of every Star Plasma Vessel has been trapped inside Master Tengen's body, unable to find release!"
Tengen's gaze carried both compassion and sorrow. She remained silent, allowing Amanai Riko to reveal the truth herself.
"Riko-chan," Getou said, his voice weary, "what do you choose?"
He truly felt exhausted. Especially when the two friends standing beside him maintained neutral positions, the burden of pressing on with the conversation fell squarely on his shoulders.
"...Misato," Amanai Riko said. "I want Misato to live. If she comes back, then I'm willing to die!"
Having abandoned all restraint, she directed her plea toward Master Tengen.
Fourteen years of being raised in confinement had left her emotionally stunted, little more than a child in spirit. Although Getou Suguru and Gojo Satoru had awakened within her a yearning for freedom and the courage to resist oppression, she still could not separate herself from Kuroi Misato.
Tengen gently shook her head.
"I... cannot do that."
Her gaze left Amanai Riko's youthful middle-school face and shifted to Gojo Satoru.
Gojo Satoru frowned.
"What are you looking at?"
As if startled by the Six Eyes, Tengen promptly turned her attention to the next person.
—Asou Akiya.
The black-haired boy's eyelids were drooping as they fought against sleep. One yawn followed another, making it seem as though he were merely there to watch the spectacle unfold.
And yet, it was precisely this black-haired boy who had turned the tide beneath her very eyes.
"Asou Akiya."
At the sound of her call, the gazes of the three boys shifted toward him in perfect unison.
A faint smile touched Tengen's features.
The world of the young always managed to offer some measure of comfort to an ancient relic who had idly accumulated a thousand years of life.
"You don't appear to have fulfilled the promise you made to me."
"No," Asou Akiya answered Master Tengen openly and without hesitation. "I fulfilled it."
"The Binding has already been dissolved. Amanai Riko arrived safely at Tokyo Jujutsu High and did not die."
Getou Suguru's and Gojo Satoru's gazes immediately fixed themselves upon Asou Akiya.
Getou Suguru couldn't help letting out a sigh of mixed admiration and exasperation.
"Akiya... just how much do you love making Bindings? What number is this by now?"
Spreading his hands helplessly, Asou Akiya replied, "I couldn't help it. I'm weak, remember? The only way I could earn Master Tengen's trust was through a Binding."
Gojo Satoru looked at the number of Bindings attached to Asou Akiya and instinctively counted them.
Three Bindings made before enrollment.
Two additional mutual Bindings that had appeared after the conclusion of the Star Plasma Vessel mission and had yet to be dissolved.
—Five in total.
A feeling of dislike flickered across Gojo Satoru's heart.
He wanted to erase the promises Asou Akiya had forged with other people.
Without the slightest hesitation, he said, "Akiya, the mission is over. You can dissolve those other two Bindings as well."
Right there, in front of both Master Tengen and Getou Suguru, Asou Akiya's expression stiffened.
He felt as though he were suffocating.
One of those Bindings had been made with Kong Shiu, ensuring that the matter of hiring an assassin would never be exposed.
The other had been made with Zen'in Naoya, ensuring that the Zen'in heir would behave himself while attending school.
This Bindings was what he had struggled so hard to obtain and Gojo Satoru wanted him to dissolve them just because he said so?
Where exactly did Gojo get that kind of confidence?
[You're not my wife!]
[Jusy because this guy is in his divine state, he actually think I'll obediently agree to whatever he says?]
...Wait.
Was it just his imagination?
He could have sworn that even Master Tengen looked as though she was enjoying the spectacle unfolding at his expense.
Left with absolutely no other option, Asou Akiya's exhausted mind short-circuited, and he chose the most direct—and most effective—solution.
He pretended to faint.
The moment he pitched forward, Getou Suguru caught him before he could hit the ground. Perhaps there really was some merit to self-imposed escapism. The instant Asou Akiya closed his eyes, his thoughts disconnected entirely. Within moments, he slipped into a deep and blissfully sweet sleep.
No need to worry about the outside world anymore...
...This feels so comfortable...
...zzZZZ...