Qian swallowed and turned her face back down towards her feet. Satoru felt a surge of relief, closely followed by a pang of guilt hitting his gut upon seeing her sullen expression. Good. Now she'll apologize and say how stupid she was being.

But then, she nodded, peering up at him with determination. "I-I understand. You made it very clear about that since I started. Now please, let me pass."

…What? He gritted his teeth and opened his mouth to retort-

"Oh good. Both of you are here." They turned to see Principal Yaga approaching, waving a thick folder in his hands. "New mission. More disappearances, but now in Tokyo. I fear they're connected to our initial suspect. Going to need all hands on deck for this."

Satoru internally sighed, taking a second to compose himself before he nodded and looked over his shoulder to wave his students over. In the distance, the entire group paused and raised their heads. Maki quirked a brow and pointed at herself and her teammates curiously. Upon seeing Satoru's affirmative motion, the three of them followed the first years and jogged up the steps, with Nobara wiping sweat above her brow, Yuji peeling off his gloves, and others similarly trying to look presentable.

"What's up, sensei?" Panda asked, nodding in acknowledgment to his creator. "Where's Kusakabe-sensei? Shouldn't he be in charge of us, second-years?"

"He's in Kyoto helping with a different mission." The man opened his folder. "Now, I'm going to need all of you to scope out an entire district, it's way too large for a normal team of three to investigate." He flipped through several pages. "The police have been filing tons of missing persons reports, mainly employees of a particular park. Many of them have not been showing up for work, or even disappearing mid-shift."

"If this is the same person, looks like she's getting sloppy." Nobara shrugged, raising her arms behind her head.

"-Or desperate." Megumi cupped his chin thoughtfully. "She was so clandestine before, why is she suddenly being conspicuous now?"

"Could be a trap." Maki suggested, taking off her glasses to wipe the lens with the front of her shirt.

"Even if it is, we don't have a choice." Panda replied, with Toge nodding affirmatively beside him.

"At least we'll be ready this time." Yuji punched his fist into the palm of his other hand. "We know her abilities and should be able to take her down once and for all."

"Like I said." Gojo-sensei muttered, his students turning to him quizzically at his snide remark. Qian bit inside her cheek as her face flushed.

Masamichi raised an eyebrow. "Qian, is there something you'd like to say?"

"I-If I may. I would like to…um…" She fiddled with the cuffs of her sleeves nervously. Everyone's eyes remained on her. "...W-Would it be possible to avoid killing her?"

The other students stared at her incredulously as Nobara groaned. "Qian! What-"

"I-I think she has useful information!" She blurted out, squeezing her eyes shut. "I-I'm worried about the victims, I think some of them may still be alive. And if they are, she's the only one who would know where they are and…if they're…being…" She fumbled for the right word. "...harvested, I need some of her blood to understand how her curse works in order to save them."

Maki tapped her bo staff pensively against her shoulder. "You do realize that you're putting all of our lives on the line by asking this right?"

"I-I know." Qian slowly opened her eyes. "A-And I know this is much more difficult, and many lives have been lost already. But if there is even remotely a chance, I think we need to seize it. Please!" She lifted her head to face the girl with pleading eyes. "Those poor people-"

"They could all be dead for all we know." Maki snapped, placing a hand on her hips as she glared at the girl. "And even if not, what makes you think YOU can save them? You're not a doctor, let alone one who can use reverse cursed techniques."

"Oi, senpai!" Yuji stepped forward as he gritted his teeth. "That's mean!"

"Yeah, that's too harsh, even for you!" Nobara echoed, also approaching their senior.

However, Megumi covered both their mouths, dragging them backwards. "Guys, shut it." He hissed. He glanced at the pair before them. "This is something that needs to be worked out."

Qian clamped her jaw shut, biting her lip as she stared back down at her feet.

She's right. Theoretically, if you had a sample of her cells, you could maybe understand how her curse works but…then what? You don't know how she grows those plants from people…

…But still-! Qian took a deep breath.

"I-I think I can…" She murmured softly, raising her eyes to meet the second year's. "...save them. As long as you give me a chance, I-I'll do everything in my power to figure this out."

"And?" Maki scoffed. "If your 'power' isn't enough? Then what?"

"Then… kill me." The others widened their eyes as Qian responded without hesitation. She took a breath and folded her hands together, her voice oddly calm. "T-Then my life is worth nothing and I don't deserve to exist."

The weapons user gave a bitter laugh. "Yeah, right. Don't bullshit me."

"I'm serious." The girl maintained her gaze. "I should not exist if I'm not able to fulfill my purpose, and this is my purpose."

Qian then bent her body forward, dipping her head down as she closed her eyes to brace herself for a harsh reply. "Please, let me try!"

As Maki continued staring at the medical assistant, the silhouette of her old teammate, a familiar dark-haired sorcerer wearing white, overlapped her bowed form. The second year sighed in defeat, grinning softly, as she recalled his awkward smile. "You and him are really two peas in a pod, aren't you?"

Qian glanced upwards, her brain wracking in confusion. "Me and who?"

"Nothing." Maki turned to Satoru, her grin widening into a smirk. "Can't argue with that, I'm with her on this one."

As Satoru rubbed his temples in annoyance, Qian blinked owlishly in surprise. S-She is?

She straightened her back and regarded the others in wonder, who all nodded in return.

Yuji laughed and shoved his hands in his pockets. "See! If Qian says so, I think we should do it!"

"Hell yeah!" Nobara cheered, pumping a fist in the air.

Megumi shook his head with a defeated smile as the other two gave a thumbs-up.

"Keeping them alive makes it more fun, after all." Maki tapped her bo staff against her shoulder with a sadistic glimmer in her eye.

Qian gulped in relief, tearfully bowing deeply at the students. "T-Thank you so much! I won't let you down!"

Satoru clenched his jaw as he stared at the girl. Upon observing her grateful, yet inspired demeanor, he felt a twinge of…something…tug in his chest.

He shrugged nonchalantly, in an attempt to shake off the weird feeling. "So, what district are we investigating?"

Masamichi hesitated, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. "...Maihama in Urayasu."

Yuji and Nobara's eyes immediately brightened. "Do you mean-?"

The man coughed uncomfortably. "...Around Disneyland." He grumbled, almost inaudibly.

Immediately, the duo started cheering and dancing, while chanting "DISNEY! DISNEY! DISNEY!"

Megumi furrowed his brow, ignoring his teammates. " I don't understand. If we think this is the same person, shouldn't they be targeting places that attract people with high negative energy…maybe bars or pachinko parlors, and not- well- the so-called 'happiest place on Earth?'"

"U-Um, I heard they don't really treat their workers very well." They turned to Qian, who took out her phone to scroll through her messages. "M-My best friend works there part time and she's told me that the pay isn't good and the job itself is very physically, sometimes emotionally, taxing."

"Interesting. Could be why it's the target." Masamichi stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Anyways. You are to go immediately whenever you're ready to head out. Report to me as soon as you arrive."

—-

"I can't BELIEVE I get to finally meet the people you work with!" Miyano squealed, jumping up and down from behind her ice cream cart. "This is SO EXCITING!"

It was only 7 o'clock in the morning, so the World Bazaar's main plaza in Tokyo's Disneyland was mostly empty besides a few employees setting up the area. The design of the plaza mimicked a crescent moon hugging a star made of cobblestone, with chairs and tables placed at each of the inner five-points and an ivory fountain erected at its center. Set up inside of the moon were numerous food and drink carts, stalls, and vending machines. The stones placed in the ground were also infused with cubic glass, so the entire pavement sparkled like glitter from the rising sun's rays. Young maple trees had been planted along the edge of the star, creating perfect shade for those dining or trying to escape the heat.

The blonde was dressed in her uniform, which consisted of a crisp white blouse with a bright blue handkerchief tied around the collar and a frilly apron knotted around her waist. Her poofy blue and black checkered skirt bounced with her movement, causing the blue boater hat that was originally pinned to the side of her head to begin slipping through her braided locks. Fortunately, Qian caught it in time.

"M-Miyano-chan!" Qian smoothed out the loose strands and hastily fixed her hairstyle, raising a finger to her lips in a vain attempt to placate her friend. "I-It's really no big deal, it's just a mission!"

"Thanks Qi! Wait…" The girl gratefully allowed her to fiddle with the accessory, before tilting her head quizzically in confusion. "A mission?"

Qian mentally slapped herself for the slip of her tongue. She forgot Miyano had no idea what her real job entailed, or anything regarding the Jujutsu world in general. "Y-Yeah, you know, a mission to get kids to have fun and learn physics! That's what this field trip is for!"

"Pfft- You're such a nerd, but I guess that's one way to look at it!" Miyano teased. "Not that I will complain! A field trip means I get to see everyone! OH MY GOSH, HOLD ON!" She suddenly clenched her gloved fingers tightly on the poor girl's forearm. "Does this mean I get to meet Sexy-sensei too?"

The bespectacled girl's face flushed in color. "M-Miyano-chan! You can't call him that!"

"SO THAT'S A YES?! YESSS! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, this is the ONLY time I'm going to say this but…I LOVE MY JOB!" She shrieked in glee and launched herself at her friend. Suddenly she paused, pushing herself back to scrutinize her friend's attire. "Please tell me you have a different outfit in that giant backpack of yours."

Qian blinked owlishly and looked down at her clothes. Besides the large bag heaved on her shoulders, she wore a dark-gray cardigan over a light-blue sleeveless turtleneck, with a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans hugging her hips. "U-Um, no I just packed some snacks and water in case they get hungry…why? What's wrong with this?"

"You're in an amusement park…with a hot guy! It's practically a date and you're wearing…that?" Miyano groaned, smacking a hand over her forehead. "You're supposed to wear something cute… or sexy even!"

"B-But I'm here for work!" Qian refuted before her friend raised a hand up in denial.

"Nope, not an excuse. You can still look professional AND sexy." She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "What did you do with all the clothes we got together last time we went shopping?"

Qian fiddled with the knitted fabric of her shirt. "T-They're so…revealing! I couldn't…no, I shouldn't be wearing those in public!"

The blonde sighed and reached forward. "At least fix this." She plucked the elastic out of her friend's tight bun and ruffled her head, allowing her locks to cascade over her shoulders. "There we go, much better!"

Qian immediately tried in vain to grab the hair tie out of Miyano's grasp. "M-Miyano-chan, I need that! It's so windy today and it's just going to get messy!"

She shook her head."No can do! As your best friend, it is my duty to ensure you look as presentable as possible." She tapped her chin thoughtfully with a finger. "It's still missing something…"

She scanned around the plaza with a wicked glint in her eye.

"Yo! Daisuke-kun!" She trotted over to the cotton candy stand, where a large middle-aged man was crouching, fixing the wheel of his cart. He peered up curiously. "Kaien? What's up?"

She placed her hands on her hips. "I need your belt."

Both Qian and the poor guy's eyes widened in shock. "M-My what?" He stuttered, peering down at his uniform. Around his plump belly was a thin chestnut-brown belt with a gold buckle.

"Give me your belt, and I'll give you free ice cream for a week." She grinned, holding her palm out.

"B-But my pants are too loose! They'll fall!" Daisuke protested, hugging his waist protectively.

Miyano rolled her eyes. "Oh, you'll be fine! You've gained some weight recently anyways."

"M-Miyano-chan!" Qian hissed, mortified by her friend's rude remark. Fortunately, the man gasped, placing a hand on his chest in mock offense. "Hey! It's not me- my wife has been baking a lot recently for Kintaro's bake sale…she's making me her guinea pig!"

"Yeah, so it all works out." The blonde smirked, wiggling her fingers as she continued holding out her hand. Upon seeing his childish pout, she groaned. "Oh come on, it's for my friend here. She's meeting a hot date and look how she's dressed!"

Qian snapped her head to glare at her friend. "I-It's not a date!" She reminded her friend under her breath. Meanwhile, the man eyed her up and down, stroking his beard pensively. He shook his head as well.

"Can't argue with that." He shrugged defensively, taking off his belt to plop it on his coworker's palm as the dark-haired girl turned to gape at him. "Sorry miss, my wife's a wedding dress designer. Can't deny 'fashion help' when it's screaming in my face."

"You know what?" Miyano gripped the belt and fist-bumped the man. "Respect. For that, free ice cream for a month."

He grinned and waved in farewell as they walked back to the center of the plaza, where Miyano threw the belt around her friend's waist and buckled it loosely so it hung down at her hips. "There. Now you look less like my grandma and more like someone with style."

Qian whimpered before she sighed in defeat. "I-If you insist…"

However, her friend continued inspecting her head to toe. "You need a little more…something…" The corner of her lips twitched briefly before her face twisted into a tight grimace. "HOO-WEE WOW! Do you feel that chill? The wind is so strong today!"

The dark-haired girl tilted her head in bewilderment. "I-I don't feel anything…?"

"That's because of your warm cardigan!" Miyano cried, rubbing her gloved hands over her arms vigorously. "Ugh, and my shift is totally outdoors today…what am I going to do?"

Qian softened and regarded her friend in concern, all previous feelings of suspicion now gone from her mind. "O-Oh no…I'm sorry. Um, here." She removed the backpack and shrugged off her cardigan. "Y-You can take it!"

Miyano felt a brief twinge of guilt. She's so gosh-darn sweet… ugh sorry Qi, this is for your own good!

"Oh wow, really?! You're the best!" She slipped her arms through the sleeves before launching herself at the girl. "I can't believe I get to spend the day with my bestie! I can't get any better than this!"

Qian returned her hug with a quiet laugh. "I-I'm here for work though, I won't be able to stick around for long!"

"Yeah, yeah, but for NOW! We can hang out!" She pulled out her phone to click on the camera app, dragging her into the frame. "Come on, we gotta post this on IG!"

"What the hell are you doing?" Qian held her breath, having a weird sense of déjà vu, before peering over her shoulder fearfully. She relaxed upon seeing the amused expression of Megumi, who was closely followed by Maki and Panda.

"Megumi-san!" She bowed in greeting. "And good morning Zen'in-senpai, Panda-senpai, and Inumaki-senpai!"

"Please, just Maki is fine." The weapons user groaned as she waved her hand dismissively. "I hate hearing my family's name."

Qian paused awkwardly. "O-Oh-"

"HOLY CRAP! A panda?!" Qian suppressed a gasp upon forgetting that her friend was right beside her. She anxiously opened her mouth to come up with some excuse before the blonde clasped her hands together in adoration. "Where did you get that costume?! That looks sooo cool! And is 'panda' your nickname or something?!"

The girl almost fell over, for once grateful for her friend's obliviousness. Maki simply grinned mischievously as Panda raised a paw in greeting. "I actually made this myself. And yep, that's what they call me."

As Miyano continued poking at his fur and gushing over the cursed doll, Maki winked at her before lowering her voice. "One of the perks of being at a public place- pretending you're a mascot."

Qian breathed in relief. "T-Thank goodness." She then cleared her throat. "T-This is my best friend, Kaien Miyano."

"Pleasure!" The girl hopped in her step and gave a quick bow in greeting.

"We're the students. I'm Megumi, this is Maki, and you've met Panda." Megumi thumbed at each of them.

"That's awesome! So what grades are you in? Ugh, looking at you guys makes me KINDA miss high school." Miyano jested. She paused and peered behind the others. "Wait, is this all of you?"

"Our classmates, Yuji and Nobara, have already started going on rides." Megumi informed with a tired, exasperated sigh. "I haven't seen or heard from Inumaki-senpai or Gojo-sensei yet."