Chapter 20 - Aftermath
Itadori and Todo were fighting the cursed user and cursed spirits when Gojo destroyed the barrier. They also had to deal with low-level cursed spirits as the intruder group didn't want them to go and help Sachiko. Itadori was able to use black fist while fighting with those curse spirits and the cursed user.
As for Megumi's group, no one was seriously injured. Megumi and Junpei however, got out of the barrier first to find the teachers, especially Gojo to inform them of the situation. Even though there were fourteen students, five of them were either unarmed or tied to trees and they couldn't have fought the cursed spirits like the others. Moreover, there were at least hundreds of cursed spirits and they were seriously outnumbered. Thus, the two Shikigami users tried to escape the barrier and find the teachers.
They met Gojo there and Megumi told him about his suspicions. Go to destroyed the barrier and checked on Sachiko.
After that, he took care of the hundreds of cursed spirits in less than five minutes.
"He's so strong." That was what everyone thought when they witnessed Gojo's power. Even if they were low-grade curses, the number was still there and only someone like Gojo could've destroyed those curses in such a short period.
After the curses were taken care of, the students gathered again and the teachers checked for injuries. The defeated students also got out of their restraints and gathered at the same spot.
"I can't believe I was unconscious when intrusion happened," Kamo mumbled.
"I was tied to a tree," Mai said.
"Mechamaru and I were also tied up." Momo pouted. "She is not cute at all."
"She's ruthless," Kamo said.
Meanwhile, Sachiko sneezed.
"What happened?" Itadori asked in concern.
"Nothing. I just felt like sneezing, " Sachiko replied.
Junpei, Megumi, and other Tokyo students got to the gathering spot soon.
"Nakamura, are you fine?" Junpei asked as soon as he saw her.
"Yeah, I'm fine now." Sachiko just nodded. She was fine now. It's just that she was mentally exhausted.
"Were there special-grade curses attacking you?" Panda asked.
"Oh, there were two. They are both really powerful." Sachiko replied, recalling Hanami and Dagon's power.
"So, what happened?" Maki also asked, curious about how the fight turned out. However, judging by her appearance, she could guess the outcome.
"Well..." Sachiko was just about to explain what happened when Gojo interrupted.
"Come on, give her some break, Maki. I'm sure you can ask all questions later." Then, he continued, "Alright. If you have injuries, go to the infirmary to treat them. If not, just go back and rest for a while. We'll discuss the event later."
"Okay." Everyone agreed.
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Later, when there were only the first years, Itadori asked.
"Todo said the cursed spirit targeted you and everyone else also said the special grade curses attacked you. How did it happen?"
The other three were curious, too.
"Well, you know the plant cursed spirit that distracted Gojo sensei and us while Gojo sensei interrogated a special grade curse, right?" Sachiko asked.
"The Fuji mountain head one?" Itadori replied.
"Fuji mountain?" Nobara blinked in confusion.
"Yeah, there was this one curse who ambushed Gojo sensei two months ago and Gojo sensei kinda took us there to witness the battle. When he was interrogating that curse, another cursed spirit distracted us with flowers and tried to rescue the curse. Not that it worked, though. But, he escaped with one arm cut off, and the curse he was trying to rescue was kinda exorcised. Today, he appeared again with another special grade and said he was avenging his comrades." Sachiko explained.
"What?" Megumi was confused.
"Yeah, it was like they were working for a goal together and they cared about each other? I don't get it either." She shrugged.
"But what is their goal?" Itadori asked.
"They want to replace humans. That's what they said when I asked one of them." She replied.
"Wait, is it okay to just casually say this kind of stuff?" Nobara frowned.
"I don't know. I don't care." Sachiko just casually said.
"You're really strong, Nakamura. Even when two powerful special grade curses targeted you, you could deal with them." Megumi started.
"..Well, it wasn't that easy for me, honestly. I thought I was gonna die." Sachiko smiled awkwardly.
However, Megumi said seriously, "I will get stronger, too. Even if I can't reach your level, I will make the gap smaller day by day."
"Go on then." Sachiko smiled at that. She remembered Gojo wanted everyone to be strong enough to deal with special grade curses. It seemed to be an impossible goal at first but if everyone worked hard, maybe there was a chance that his dream would come true.
"We'll get stronger, too!" Nobara, Junpei, and Itadori also announced.
"Yeah, Let's get stronger together," Sachiko said.
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"Principal Gakuganji!" Gojo said rather cheerfully when he saw Gakuganji.
"..We lost Sukuna's fingers and cursed womb, death paintings."
"That's unfortunate," Gojo said.
"Well, actually, I came here for a different reason, " he continued, "Even though the team battle is interrupted, I believe Sachiko proved herself. So, what're you going to do now?"
Gakuganji stared at Gojo for a few seconds and then slowly said, "Since it is the case, she will officially become a special grade. Is that what you want?"
"It's not about what I want. You know that, old man." Gojo chuckled lightly.
Gakuganji was displeased but there was nothing he could do. It was already clear that her abilities were nowhere lower than special grade and he already gave his word at the start of the festival. Not to mention that the festival itself would attract a lot of attention and other Jujutsu sorcerers would realize her potential soon enough. Thus, he could only play along.
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"So, Sachiko, the higher-ups decided that you will become a special grade," Gojo announced later that day when students from both schools gathered again.
"That's not really a surprise, " Megumi commented.
"Yeah, although I still haven't met any other special grade Jujutsu sorcerers, they're supposed to be abnormally strong, right? You're really strong." Itadori said.
"Of course you haven't met others. It's not like there are many special grade Jujutsu sorcerers. There were only four until now and now that Nakamura's classified as a special grade as well, the number became five." Nobara said.
"Wow, that must be strong," Junpei said, amazed.
"Anyway, Congratulations." The four of them said and Sachiko smiled, "Thanks."
"Tsk. Tokyo school got another special grade." Mai frowned.
"Well, now, let's get to the important business! Should we cancel the Goodwill event? Or do you want to continue?" Gojo asked.
"It's not like we had severe injuries. It should be fine if we continue this." Megumi said.
"Of course, it has to continue. This kind of setback is nothing to us!" Todo said.
Everyone agreed to them and Gojo said, "Alright, since everyone agreed to continue the festival, we'll draw lots to determine what kind of competition will take place!"
Itadori went to draw lots. The two principals arrived and watched the scene.
"It says Baseball." Itadori read what was written on the paper, confused.
"Huh?"
"No, it really says Baseball," Itadori said as he showed them the paper.
Gakuganji eyed Yaga and he defended, "I'm sure I wrote Individual battles!"
Meanwhile, Gojo successfully sneaked out of the room.
"Satoru!" Principal Yaga yelled.
"Pffft." Sachiko bursted into laugher.
When the two principals looked at her, she coughed.
"I just remember I need to go somewhere." She said and escaped the room quickly.
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The baseball game was played two days after that and Tokyo school won with the score 2-0.
(I wanted to write the baseball game in a separate chapter but I just realized I didn't know much about the rules and all those stuff so eventually, I dropped the idea 😅)
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A/N:
Sorry for the late update! I was a bit busy these days.
I also wanna tell you guys that this is going to be the last chapter for vol 1. I'll take a small break to read Manga and think of the direction I would take for the next volume. So, it would take between a week or two :)
I might write a bonus chapter in the mean time, though. I wanted to include MC's mom after reading the comment about her mom so I might write a bonus chapter for that.
As for how the group managed to get Sukuna's fingers and cursed womb, death paintings, it will be in the next volume. So, please wait before yelling at me for writing nonsense😅