Don't Eat the Buffet (Jujutsu Kaisen SI Chapter 1)
"Koki, are you sure this will work?"
"Oh yeah, totally! What's the worst-I mean at worse, you'll just feel bad for a while and be better after some rest, while Mai-chan will feel energized for a bit."
"But are you gonna be okay?"
"Not you too! Yes, yes~. Seriously, you two are such worry-warts. Jujutsu Sorcerers are suppose to be strong, you know?"
5 Years Later
Maki Zenin
The dining table of the Ogi Zenin family of a wife and two daughters was private and quiet as usual.
The only sound was the scraping of utensils against plates or eating. All ate except Ogi Zenin.
"You will both be starting Tokyo Jujutsu High this year." Ogi spoke, breaking the silence.
Maki looked up for a second meeting her father's eyes, before looking down deciding her food was worth more of her focus, only letting out a grunt as confirmation.
"Yes, father." Mai said with a happy hum, not even looking up to answer her father, happily enjoying her meal. "It would make visiting easier, right Maki-chan?" She said, looking to her twin with a wide smile, which Maki paused to return.
Mai, of course, did not mean 'easier to visit their home'. Maki just nodded.
"The Tokyo Prefectural Curse Disposal Unit." Ogi said, a firmness in his voice at his topic of interest. "If you will be around that thing, then should you manage to transfer it to the Zenin Clan-"
"Father," Maki spoke for the first time. "Do not act on any foolish notions." The air suddenly had a forst-like feel to it. Not due to any Cursed Technique, but simply from the tension generated by Maki's irritation alone.
Ogi Zenin hand unconsciously went to his sword behind him on his waist, which he now took to carrying everywhere around his daughters. He stopped himself and tried to ease the motion to make it seem like he wasn't about to draw his blade.
"Father, should anyone try to do what you infer, or if the 'Curse Disposal Unit' were to be moved from Jujutsu High, Gojo-sensei's Binding Vow would activate." Mai said with a completely pleasant smile. "And every single Head of the Big Three Sorcerer Families and higher ups will need to be replaced."
"Mai, you dare-" Ogi gritted his teeth, but before he could continue, Maki spoke again.
"And should that happen," Maki said. "Gojo-sensei won't need to visit the Zenin Clan."
The father glared at his daughter for a long tense moment. Neither blinking in a clash of will.
Ultimately, the enraged eyes of Ogi looked away first from the calm eyes of Maki.
Ogi clicked his tongue and stood up.
"A miracle is just that, a miracle. Do not presume that because you were lucky enough to gain one, means you can stand up to the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers." Ogi went to leave.
"Dear, you didn't touch your food." His wife, Mari Zenin said.
"The mood has turned it all sour." He grunted, sliding open the shoji door and left.
The room was quiet for a while, as the twin continued eating, while their mother thought on what to say to them.
"You know, you two shouldn't antagonist your father like that." Mari finally said.
"Sorry, mom, but father doesn't exactly make it easy to talk to him." Mai said back with a small smile.
"What did you put in his food?" Maki asked, making Mari blink in confusion, while Mai grinned mischievously.
"Eh? What do you mean, Maki-chan?" Mari asked.
"Your senses are insane." Mai chuckled. "I even finally learned how to Construct it without a smell, it's just bad luck he was too grumpy to eat."
"Poison?" Maki asked.
"P-Poison!?" Mari exclaimed.
"Laxative." Mai grinned.
"La-Mai! How could you!?" Mari cried out in shock, and admonishment of her mischievous daughter.
The twins laughed together.
Mai Zenin
They say that normally students head to school with a feeling of annoyance and lethargy.
Mai Zenin didn't feel like that at all. Then again, normal student didn't go to a school that taught you how to kill evil ghosts that want to eat your soul.
"Did you hear? They say that the transfer student that's coming here today stuffed four of his classmates into a locker." Panda said.
Panda was a first year student in Jujutsu High, who looked like a regular panda that moved on its hind legs and talked. But it wasn't a regular animal, it was an Abrupt-Mutated Cursed Corpse. A puppet's whose creator managed to give it sentience.
"Tuna Mayo," Toge Inumaki, another first year, that was the user of Cursed Speech, and thus had to communicate only using rice ball ingredients.
"Do you think he killed them?" Panda asked.
"Fish Flakes," said Toge, shaking his head.
"Supposedly they were only horribly injured, but some sorcerers to get to them in time, so they're alive." Mai said.
"Well, if he makes trouble, I'll teach him a lesson." Panda grunted confidently. Mai smiled at her friend's earnest attitude, saying he'll protect them.
"Tuna Mayo?" Toge said, looking at Mai.
"Maki?" Mai asked, to which her quiet friend nodded. "She's delivering some captured curses to the Disposal Unit. She'll meet us up in class." She smiled back.
"Mustard leaf?" Toge tilted his head.
"Toge is right, why do you bother capturing Cursed Spirits, rather than exorcise them? Taking care of them is faster." Panda wondered.
"School credit." Mai smiled back. "Way more points are added to your final assessment based on how many Cursed Spirits you send to the Disposal Unit."
"Ooooh! Right, the principle did mention that, I think." Panda said with an open jaw in astonishment.
"Tarako," Toge sighed and shook his head.
Mai chuckled at her friends' antics.
She looked in a far off direction where the Curse Disposal Unit building was. For a brief moment, she had a melancholic look on her face.
Maki Zenin
"TIME TO INTRODUCE A NEW STUDENT! EVERYONE GET HYPED!" Satoru Gojo, the Strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer, and teacher of Tokyo Jujutsu High students, said in playful excitement.
Maki sighed at her teacher's antics. He was the strongest living being in the world, but he was so childish at times.
Well, strongest until I finally beat him. Maki thought to herself. If it was five years ago, she wouldn't even entertain that thought. But now, the possibility exist.
Sure, it was like looking at the peak of a mountain top, except now, she could see the peak beyond the clouds. Even if it was miles away, it was possible.
Or rather... That motivation would have been something the her from five years ago would have loved to have.
Now, she wanted to be strong to find and defeat powerful Cursed Spirit. They were suppose to have been becoming stronger over the years, according to Gojo-sensei.
But all she could find were Grade 1 Cursed Spirits. She only found a Special Grade Spirit only once, and she couldn't defeat it without killing it.
I may have become stronger, but I still need to become much, much more. She thought to herself.
After things quieten down in class, Gojo told the new kid to enter and-
The moment Yuta Okkotsu walked through the door, all the first year student stood up, ready for battle.
Maki was instantly in front of Mai with Playful Cloud, the three-section staff, a Special Grade Cursed Tool, in her hands. A dozen Cursed Killing Swords were Constructed, levitating in front of Yuta-who was pinned to the wall and shrieked-curtesy of Mai.
Then the Cursed Spirit haunting the boy manifested.
"Don't. Bully." The Cursed Spirit Riko, shouted with her grotuque face, as she swung her arm, "YUUTAA!" She knocked the blades back, even if they gave her some cuts that let off smoke.
Finally at that point, Gojo intervened before an actual fight could start, explaining that in Jujutsu High, they studied curses in order to exercises Curses. Something that apparently Yuta was also learning for the first time.
The first years all gave their teacher a dry stare.
Gojo waved back in apology. But he didn't seem that sorry.
After things calmed down, Gojo introduced everyone, however Maki's mind wasn't about the danger of having Yuta around like the rest of her classmates and friends.
Rather, she couldn't believe her luck at this chance that fell in her lap.
Maki glanced to the side at Mai, who nodded in understanding.
There's a special area in Tokyo Jujutsu High that's set on the far edge of the school barrier made by Master Tengen.
It was location at the exact end of Jujutsu High opposite to where Master Tengen resides.
It was a small two store gray building. Beyond one window, leading to the only room in the second floor, it didn't have any noticeable features. It had one entrance and exit.
That was the the Curse Disposal Unit Site.
Truthfully, one doesn't need to reach their place in order to dispose of a Cursed Spirit. Simply appraching it will cause a Cursed Spirit to be exorcised on it's own.
Here, the Zenin Twin, Maki and Mai, came after school.
They entered the building, climbing to the second floor using a key card, that allowed them to pass through the security system of Cursed Techniques. The key card was one that only Mai had, as she would Construct it every time they entered, and Deconstruct it once she left.
Reaching the hall at the end of the second floor, laid a hospital room. On the door was name of the only patient in this facility.
Inoue Koki.
The twins entered to see their old childhood friend laying peacefully in bed. One almost can't imagine that something was wrong with him.
Except, his body was constantly trying to kill him. Or rather the Heavenly Restriction that fell on him, was causing this. The day his body runs out of Cursed Energy he will die.
"Hey, Koki," Maki said with a softness that almost no one but her sister have heard before. "I'm back and I have some good news." Gently, belaying the great strength of her body, she held his hand.
"We found a Special Grade Cursed Spirit." Mai went to the other side, taking the boy other hand into her own, holding it against her face. "We finally found one, we'll get it and we'll wake you up."
"I won't fail this time." Maki said, before looking up and meeting her twin's eyes. "We won't fail." Maki lowered her head, till her forehead was touching the sleeping boy. "Just wait a little longer, okay?"
Maki kissed his head, and stood up to leave.
"Where are you going?" Mai asked.
"To train." Maki looked back. "This time, I'll make sure capture it."
"It would be much easier to just get Okkotsu here." Mai said.
"Maybe," Maki said, before shaking her head. "But I don't want to leave it to chance, in case Rika can act autonomously from him."
Mai nodded. "Alright," she kissed Koki on the cheek, and stood up to leave with her sister. "We'll work out what Cursed Tools will be needed to make this work."
Maki smiled back in gratitude, knowing that she can always depend on Mai to have her back.
Far away Yuta felt a shiver run down his spine, but attributed as usual to the Curse haunting him.
