Over the next few days.
The entire Tokyo Jujutsu High fell into a state of peace so strange it felt almost surreal.
No piercing alarms, no mountain-high piles of mission briefs, and even the annoying interrogations from the higher-ups had temporarily vanished.
It was as if all malice and conspiracies had chosen to go dormant after that failed village massacre.
But Yoru knew better.
This was merely the most suffocating lull before the storm.
Whether it was Suguru Geto, who had finally made his choice, or Kenjaku, hiding in the shadows, both were making final preparations for the grand play about to unfold.
"Since the gears of fate are about to start spinning like crazy..."
Yoru stood on the high school training field, looking at the moon as it grew fuller by the night, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Then before this turning point arrives, let's leave everyone with a memory that has no regrets."
To ease everyone's fraying nerves.
Yoru took an unprecedented step and submitted a truly absurd application to Masamichi Yaga—
To hold a private night festival within the school grounds!
To everyone's surprise, Masamichi Yaga, who usually kept a stern face and spoke only of rules, stared at the application in silence for a long time.
Then, he silently pressed the stamp of approval.
He even reached into his own pocket to sponsor a large portion of the event's funds!
Thus, in this summer that should have been filled with slaughter and curses.
Warm yellow festival lanterns were lit along the training field and tree-lined paths of Tokyo Jujutsu High for the first time.
"Whoa! This is amazing!"
Riko Amanai, dressed in a cherry-blossom pink yukata and wearing geta sandals, excitedly darted between the various stalls.
According to the original plan, she and Kuroi should have been living incognito far across the ocean by now.
But before this turning point in fate, to completely dispel Suguru Geto's final worries and bring a perfect end to this story of youth.
Yoru utilized the secret shipping routes he had established in the black market.
Satoru Gojo even used his near-instantaneous mobility to secretly bring Riko and Kuroi back to the school without anyone noticing, all for this short one-night reunion.
This was the first time she could truly enjoy her homeland's summer festival without a care in the world, just like a normal girl!
"Kuroi! Look at this candy apple! It's huge!"
Riko held up a bright red candy apple, her smile so wide her eyes curved into crescent moons.
"Miss Riko, please don't run so fast! Be careful not to trip!"
Misato Kuroi, also in a yukata, followed behind with a face full of relieved smiles.
Although they would have to board a distant passenger ship again and return to their peaceful, safe life of seclusion before dawn.
Tonight, they were the stars of this festival.
At a nearby rest area, Shoko Ieiri leaned lazily against a bench.
She was wrapped in a loose, dark green yukata. Though the dark circles under her eyes were as prominent as ever, her expression held a rare trace of relaxation.
"Hey, Shoko! Don't just sit there drinking soda! Come help me hold back that bastard Satoru!"
Utahime Iori, wearing a red-and-white shrine maiden style yukata, was pointing furiously at Satoru Gojo in the distance.
She held a few sticks of freshly bought takoyaki, clearly having just been targeted by Satoru's sharp tongue again.
"Give me a break, Utahime-senpai."
Shoko took a slow sip of chilled cola, letting out a refreshed sigh.
"Messing with those two idiots at a time like this will only shorten your lifespan."
Behind them, Mei Mei elegantly waved an expensive folding fan, her long silver hair shimmering enchantingly under the lamplight.
She hadn't donned a yukata, still wearing her professional purple dress, with a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
"Watching these young people squander their youth is a fine pastime once in a while."
Mei Mei's tone was light as she watched the lively stalls.
"Of course, my mood would be even better if Principal Yaga would settle the security fees for this festival."
At the goldfish-scooping stall nearby, it was a scene of utter chaos.
"Hey! Satoru! You're cheating! You definitely used Limitless to support that paper net just now, otherwise there's no way that goldfish couldn't break through!"
Yoru, dressed in a black yukata, held a broken paper net and pointed an accusing finger at Satoru Gojo.
"Hah? Which eye did you see me cheating with?"
Satoru Gojo was wearing an incredibly flashy white yukata.
Sporting his signature small round sunglasses and holding a plastic bowl filled with goldfish, his laugh was insufferably arrogant.
"It's clearly just your own clumsy hands! It seems the 'Sword Saint' without cursed energy is a total wash-out when it comes to delicate work like goldfish scooping!"
"You white-haired peacock, I think you're looking for a beating!"
"Bring it on! Like I'm scared of you! Today, I'm going to show you what it means to be the Strongest in the world of goldfish scooping!"
Watching these two 'strongest of the era,' whose combined mental age couldn't possibly exceed three years, bicker wildly at the stall.
Standing to the side, Suguru Geto couldn't help but let out a laugh.
He wore a deep blue yukata, his long hair tied back loosely. Holding two chilled bottles of Ramune, he watched the scene with a smile.
His gaze drifted from Yoru and Satoru to a nearby grill stall.
"Boss! Ten more skewers of grilled beef tongue! No spice!"
Yu Haibara was dressed in a casual yukata set.
Holding a large bunch of grilled meat, he ate with oil all over his mouth, his carefree smile seemingly capable of dispelling any gloom.
"You idiot, you're eating so much meat, watch out for indigestion."
Kento Nanami wore a gray yukata that was perfectly neat, with even the sash tied meticulously. He held a plate of grilled vegetables.
Despite his blatant verbal disdain.
But when Haibara forced a skewer of meat into his mouth, he still frowned slightly, chewed it, and swallowed.
Witnessing these scenes full of life and vitality.
An unprecedented and incredibly surreal sense of peace welled up in Suguru Geto's heart.
No schemes from the higher-ups.
No stench of cursed spirits.
No disgusting members of the Star Religious Group.
Only the purest bonds and the most genuine smiles.
'Is this... the thing that third path Yoru spoke of is meant to protect?'
Suguru Geto murmured softly, his hand unconsciously tightening around the Ramune bottle.
Once upon a time.
Driven by confusion and despair, he had nearly destroyed all of this with his own hands.
He had almost turned these vibrant lives into sacrifices for his obsessive ideology!
'Thankfully...'
'Thankfully, you all were here.'
Suguru Geto looked up at the bright, clear full moon in the sky.
At this moment.
This warm bond and this laughter-filled night festival.
Became the final and most indestructible foundation in Suguru Geto's heart for the dark path of protection he had chosen!
He was no longer lost.
He had finally made the decision that would change the very history of the jujutsu world!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly.
Several massive booms erupted in the night sky!
Countless brilliant fireworks, like flowers blooming in the darkness, illuminated the entire school as bright as day!
"Look! Fireworks!"
Riko pointed at the sky, cheering loudly.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up, watching the fleeting but breathtakingly beautiful display.
"I hope... everyone can always be as happy as they are today!"
Yu Haibara closed his eyes, pressed his hands together, and made his wish out loud.
'I hope... this piece of shit world can become a little more normal.'
Kento Nanami pushed up his glasses, speaking silently in his heart.
Fireworks are beautiful, but they must eventually fade.
While everyone's attention was captivated by the brilliance in the sky.
At the very moment the fireworks ascended and the atmosphere reached its climax.
Three figures in yukata.
Quietly left the noisy crowd without alerting anyone.
They walked side-by-side along the dark stone path leading to the school's back mountain.
Moving further and further away.
Until the noise behind them was completely drowned out by the summer cicadas.
These were the three strongest sorcerers.
And the three madmen who were about to personally overturn this rotten world.