Jujutsu Kaisen: I Can Manipulate Time.

"I've heard of your feats even in Kyoto. What's this about you not participating in the exchange event?" Aoi Todo asked, half-curious, half-disappointed. He had been hoping to face Kamihara Hajime and Yuta Okkotsu again.

Accompanying Todo were Kamo Noritoshi, Zen'in Mai, Momo Nishimiya, and Naine, who had enrolled in Kyoto Jujutsu High. Naine's expression lit up upon seeing Hajime. "Hajime-kun, it's been a while!"

She looked cheerful and at ease, clearly getting along well with Mai and the others. Hajime returned her greeting, handing out cold drinks he'd just bought before heading back to the vending machine for more.

"If I participated, I'd have to use my Technique," Hajime said casually. "That'd make things unfair—and boring. Same with Yuta, but he's still overseas."

Todo shrugged as they walked toward the training field. "Fairness doesn't really exist in battle. Let's have a spar sometime. It'd be boring if neither of you were here."

Hajime gave a sly smile. "We've got some promising first-years. You might not be disappointed."

Soon, they arrived at the training ground, where Itadori and Fushiguro were engaged in a fierce spar. It was strictly hand-to-hand, with Megumi holding his own despite Itadori's aggressive style. Maki watched from the side, barking critiques and reminding them to fight like it was real.

Todo scanned the field. "You've got quite a few first-years. You mean those two? I've heard about Sukuna's vessel."

Naturally, Todo's eyes locked onto Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro. With hands in his pockets, he approached, casting a long shadow behind him.

"I'm Aoi Todo, third-year, Kyoto Jujutsu High."

Seeing Hajime and the others casually chatting with these newcomers, and Maki smiling at a short-haired girl, Itadori assumed they were friendly. He introduced himself with a grin: "Yuji Itadori, first-year, from Sendai. Nice to meet you."

Fushiguro wasn't so relaxed. He had a sense of Todo's intensity and the tension between the two schools. Still, he introduced himself politely: "Megumi Fushiguro, first-year."

Todo smirked, the scar on his cheek adding to his fierce expression. "Hajime said I could expect a lot from you two. So, tell me—what kind of women do you like?"

"…Huh?" Itadori and Fushiguro blinked in confusion.

Itadori didn't hesitate. "Jennifer Lawrence, probably."

Fushiguro shot him a withering glance. Typical. Still, he answered. "I don't really have a type. As long as she's got a good personality, that's enough."

Tears welled in Todo's eyes—though he was clearly smiling too. "You two are total opposites! Fushiguro, you're dull as a stone, and Itadori—you're perfect! Hajime wasn't wrong!"

Itadori leaned toward Fushiguro, whispering, "What's wrong with this guy?"

Fushiguro remembered hearing about Todo from the second-years. He sighed internally. "Whatever's coming, it's your problem."

Todo's gaze practically blazed with excitement, but he didn't launch into a fight. He had a Takada-chan fan meeting later and didn't want to sweat through it. That battle would have to wait.

"Yuji Itadori… I'll be waiting for you!"

Itadori took a few steps back, unnerved. "What is with this guy…?"

With one last intense look, Todo left, muttering something about how perfect this day was.

"Bye-bye."

Hajime walked over, grinning. "Well, now you've met him."

"What just happened?" Itadori asked. "He's… weird. Do you know him?"

Hajime patted his shoulder. "He probably thinks you're friends now. He'll want to fight you during the event."

Itadori blinked, then nodded slowly. "He said he's exorcised First Grade Curses without even using a Technique?"

"Yup. He even handled a Special Grade during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons," Hajime added. "You can learn a lot from him in close combat."

Itadori's eyes lit up. "Now I'm excited! I want to be that strong too!"

Meanwhile, tensions were rising between Maki and Mai. Nobara Kugisaki, siding with Maki, clashed verbally with Momo Nishimiya. Momo wasn't skilled in arguments and quickly lost ground, pouting in frustration.

Kamo Noritoshi stepped in, clearly unenthusiastic. He could handle Curses just fine—this was another story.

The Kyoto group had only come to scout things out. Todo left for his idol's fan meet, and the rest didn't stay long. With the atmosphere souring, they made their exit.

"Train hard!" Maki called, satisfied. "We're gonna crush them in the team battle."

Two days later, the exchange event officially began.

The Kyoto delegation included Principal Gakuganji and Utahime Iori. During the initial meeting, someone was notably absent.

"Where's that idiot?" Utahime muttered.

No one batted an eye. It wouldn't be Gojo Satoru if he wasn't late. Still, he never missed anything important.

He showed up minutes later, fashionably late and carrying a bag. "Sorry, sorry! I brought souvenirs from overseas!"

He passed around straw-woven dolls—cheap trinkets, but Miwa Kasumi beamed. It didn't matter what it was—her idol had given it to her.

"Gakuganji-sensei! Still alive, huh? Make sure you tell me before you kick the bucket!"

Gakuganji's veins popped. Gojo turned to Utahime and whispered something else, nearly making her explode.

Yaga Masamichi quickly stepped in. "The team battle begins in two days. Kyoto's participants: Aoi Todo, Kamo Noritoshi…"

"Tokyo's team: Zen'in Maki, Inumaki Toge…"

With Hajime not participating and Junpei Yoshino newly added, both sides had seven members. The numbers matched evenly.

Back at the dorms, Maki began strategizing. "Panda and Nobara are a team. Toge and Junpei with Itadori. Fushiguro and I will pair up—he'll find the Cursed Spirit, I'll deal with interference. Toge's group should hold back Todo. Kamo's the only real threat left after that."

She turned to Hajime. "You know that new Kyoto student, Naine, right? What's her Technique?"

Hajime rubbed his chin. "Something soul-related. Back then, she wasn't much of a fighter, and her Technique wasn't fully developed."

Maki's glasses glinted. "And the Special Grade mission last time was set up by Gojo-sensei's enemies. Gakuganji's part of that faction. We'd better watch our backs."

Hajime nodded. The higher-ups likely wouldn't pull the same stunt again, but caution was warranted.

Two days later, the event commenced.

Hajime sat in the teacher's viewing area. Mei Mei was in charge of broadcasting the event, calm as ever, since she was getting paid.

"Good morning," Hajime greeted politely. Utahime Iori smiled, surprised once again by his manners. A polite, powerful young man—how on Earth had Gojo raised him?

Gojo, oblivious to the side-eye, focused on the broadcast.

The participants were already moving, tracking Cursed Spirits or each other. While most Kyoto students aimed to exorcise the assigned Curse, Todo only had one goal: fighting Itadori.

He found him quickly. Inumaki and Junpei were with Yuji when Todo emerged from the woods, grinning broadly.

Inumaki immediately lowered his collar, readying his voice. He knew Todo wouldn't play around.

"Senpai, I'll handle him," Itadori said confidently. "You and Junpei move ahead."

Inumaki nodded. "Mentaiko."

With that, he and Junpei sprinted forward. Todo didn't stop them. This was what he wanted.

"Yuji Itadori… out of respect, I won't hold back."

Yuji wiped his nose, grinning. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing."

He charged forward.

Todo smiled wider. "Show me if you're worthy of being my best friend!"

Elsewhere, Maki and Megumi moved through the forest with Kon. A faint whistle cut through the trees.

"Watch it!" Maki shouted.

Kon bit down on the projectile—it was a bloodstained arrow.

"That's… the Kamo clan's Red Blood Manipulation!" Megumi muttered.

Too late. The blood on the arrow burst into spikes, injuring Kon slightly.

Kamo Noritoshi emerged. "Just the Zen'in pair?"

Maki drew her weapon. "Just you? Pretty confident, huh?"

Kamo said nothing. He launched two more arrows, which Maki deflected, only to be intercepted by a scythe-like blade of blood.

Red Blood Manipulation: Scythe Exorcism.

A sudden beam of light tore through the trees—Megumi barely dodged.

He looked up—too late.

"Don't lose focus," Kamo warned, appearing beside him.

One palm strike sent Megumi flying into a tree.

As Kamo charged again, something shifted.

Megumi smirked and formed a hand sign.

Technique Amplification: Teng Snake.

A massive shikigami burst from the shadows, its jaws snapping. Kamo dodged the bite—but caught the tail. He was thrown back, blood trickling from his lip.

"That shikigami…"

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