Don't Fuck with the White Mage (Jujutsu Kaisen - Utahime Iori SI Chapter 9)

Five Months Later

And so, ever since that first music duel, for every single week Utahime would challenge Gakuganji to a duel.

It's the most bustling time the Kyoto Jujutsu High principal had experienced in a while, since he went off active duty to managing one of the school to teach the future generations.

Within an hour or two of her defeat, Utahime would send Gakuganji the next song she wanted to duel him on, with a music sheet for the tab notes. Gakuganji would check if the music sheet she sent him were genuine or not, but they always were.

When he asked Utahime why she never tried to slip in the wrong note in the papers, her reply amused him.

Play dirty mid-battle is one thing, but beforehand would be like slipping you a mental excuse that would backfire on me, since the Binding Vow wouldn't take hold. She had said.

Earnest, that one. Gakuganji had thought. But it's also only for the sake of her own victory. Which was a good thing thus far. He only hoped she doesn't confused that attitude to being merciful against actual enemies, but he had a feeling that's unlikely to happen.

And so time passed.

The second music bout started off with Utahime going strong by choosing 'Hagane no Messiah by Jam Project'.

She actually placed bullets some of the drums to keep them bouncing, then when the opportune moment came, she would hit them with the drumstick to fire them at Gakuganji.

The veteran Sorcerer thought that attempt was cute, but while Utahime was beaten, she wasn't knocked back like in her first match.

A few bouts passed, some songs used where from Linkin Park like 'Papercut', 'Numb', 'Breaking the Habit' and 'Don't Stay'. Some were of Iron Maiden songs like 'Fear of the Dark'.

Then Utahime used some song from very recent bands that didn't start off the ground, or didn't have anything officially published out like ONE OK ROCK.

The thing Utahime learned most of all was to not infused her instruments with Cursed Energy at the start, since her shoddy control would wither and damage them from the inside. She had to buy a lot of drum sets before managing to end her matches with her drums still in good condition.

One time she was just so frustrated at not seeing herself getting closer to winning, she chose 'Highlander, the one by Lost Horizon' and blasted Gathering Hallowed Belt on Maximum Output to just outlast Gakuganji.

For almost all that song, it wasn't really a fight as Gakuganji couldn't get his attacks off, or for the Cursed Energy waves to travel as they would disperse into nothing just a few inches away from him. As the song progressed Utahime's control improved with less and less energy being wasted.

While it wasn't a full on victory, it looked like it would be the first time match would have a clean draw, without either participants taking any damage.

Turns out it was Gakuganji giving the girl false hope and baiting her into thinking she was making progress, by building up his Cursed Energy within himself.

Then came the ten minutes and thirty three second mark.

Utahime was tired, yet easily able to keep playing since she didn't suffer any attacks for this entire match. She hadn't even needed to cover her instruments in Cursed Energy, thus they were still in pristine condition.

Gakuganji however was about to break her blanket of security.

He pulled on the one of the cords lying around connecting to a microphone, making it fly to his hand.

Utahime's eyes widened as she just realized why he was building his Cursed Energy inside him without releasing it. He wasn't using a layer of Cursed Energy to shield himself from her Cursed Reversal depleting his reserves till he came up with something.

This was the plan all along!

The iconic ten minute and thirty five mark came.

Gakuganji took a deep breath, and let out a biggest metal scream Utahime had ever heard.

It was Gakuganji's Cursed Technique's Maximum Output: Soul Shout.

The shout was blasted from the amp that Gakuganji moved in front of him was almost like a beam. Singular focused sound wave as wide as a person.

The echo alone shook the auditorium.

As for Utahime herself, she was smashed out of the auditorium building, her drums shattered, along with many bones and her ear drums.

She couldn't hear laying on the ground outside the building, seeing the blue sky. After a while she stood up and waited a few seconds then healed herself once she had enough enough.

From outside the building through the gapping hole she crashed out of, she could still see Gakuganji playing the last part of the song. It's suppose to both an intense guitar and drums play, but the sound of only the old principal's guitar while the song was playing in the background was enragedly mocking to her.

Their bouts had to stop for a while, as the auditorium had to be rebuilt.

For a whole month, there were no music battles.

Then when they continued Gakuganji noticed Utahime focusing on making Cursed Energy be concentrated around her with her Innate Technique, in-between defending and outlasting him. Her attacks of using bullets were few and far, as she was trying to be more frugal with them. Searching for an opportune moment to land a critical attack.

Such moments didn't come, yet her persistence in trying to focus Cursed Energy to coalesce into thicker concentrations, around her within the circle of sacred ropes-something that was now always her opening move in the match, to concentrate her energy around her and her drum set-was perplexing to the old Sorcerer.

For a small while, he wondered if that was her giving up, and just lashing out in a quiet manner, while not stopping the matches out of pride.

But looking into her eyes, no, she was searching for something. Trying to attempt a new technique.

Gakuganji's eyes widened as an absurd thought came to him.

Could she be... trying to learn Falling Blossom Emotion?

Without any idea of the Technique or its existence, could she be trying to recreate it?

Geniuses really are a terrifying existence. Gakuganji concluded.

The next few matches where all like that, with Gakuganji trying to disrupt her ambient Cursed Energy concentrations even more. For the sake of the Clans, he couldn't quite afford of someone like Utahime from a lower clan to learn a Secret Technique of the Three Big Families, even if she doesn't realize it. He of course doesn't tell her not to do so, lest she be alerted to what she's trying to achieve, and just does it in secret.

Her attempts to disrupt his Cursed Energy flow with both her Innate Technique and its Reversal were getting better.

Ultimately, while mostly a stalemate, Kyoto Jujutsu High's principal had won every music bout thus far, by virtue of Utahime always being the one defending. In all of their matches, not a single hit had landed on Gakuganji Yoshinobu.

It all culminated in this last match the day before the Goodwill Event.

Utahime's last chance to beat the old Sorcerer, before having to focus on going on mission again. Something she hadn't focused on in a while, thus have some assignment numbers to fill up, if she wanted to graduate.

The song Utahime choice this time was recent. Very recent.

A song that from Gakuganji heard was only recently recorded with a studio. A song that was 200 beats per minute. Such a unique thing. Was Utahime-kun thinking she could tire him out? He thought amusingly.

Gakuganji was starting to how Utahime and Mei Mei were friends, if the rebel Gojo was finding such gifts to help her teammate. Probably for a price of course.

The song was by some upcoming British power metal band called...

DragonForce.


It was time. The day before the Goodwill Event.

The two participants of the Cursed Music Battle were on opposite side of the stage, looking over their equipment and making some final checks.

And the auditorium?

The whole seats were filled up.

The entire Iori Clan had come to cheer Utahime on. Her matches with the principal had become something of a popular event to witness whenever the videos come out. So this time they came for see the live the performance.

Utahime tried not to blush as she put their cheering out of her mind.

Not just the Iori Clan but the students of Kyoto Jujutsu High form all three years, some of the school staff and a handful of alumni as well.

Mei Mei having made some extra money for making tickets for the events. Utahime made it a point that her clan aren't to part of Mei Mei's money making scheme this time. Mei Mei playfully hinted to take the would-be ticket profits from Utahime's next mission payment if she remembers. Utahime raised an eyebrow at the wording but said nothing.

As usual with the streaming the bets were coming in. As usual Mei Mei would bet on Principal Gakuganji, there wasn't much of a point of hyping Utahime at this point online, people who had been following these matches have already made up their minds. Of course there are always a desperate who think 'sure this time the horse I bet on will win', and others who are willing to lose money to inflate the number of hopeful losers, or those betting on both sides just to win something.

Mei Mei wasn't sure how Utahime planned to try and win this time. She had her usual bullets on the drums, but it was only ten and they were made of wood. Likely from a sacred tree, but Mei Mei didn't think that extra oomph was going to help. Although she'll acknowledge it was a smart move to get a massive mat to place under herself and her drumset. She could just channel her Domain Amplification into the mat, and thus to everything on the mat.

Mei Mei was about to close the betting as the show would be starting soon. Mei Mei gave one last look to her... friend, and... she had the oddest feeling. She had gotten used to Utahime doing something absurd every once in a while, and just this time, Utahime had this look of something willing to throw everything away for the sake of victory.

This was a friendly match, a fun music game all things considered, but for her friend, it seemed more than that. Utahime hadn't so much as looked at her clan, beyond her embarrassed laugh and wave when they first arrived. She was focused completely on her opponent.

"Well," Gakuganji spoke up. He was addressing Utahime, yet the crowd immediately grew quiet.

Mei Mei looked at the bets one final time, then finalized them.

"Ready to start, Utahime-kun?" Gakuganji spoke one last time.

Utahime took a deep breath then nodded.


This is it.

Forget about tomorrow, next match, second chances. Go into this believing it's the last match.

That's the mindset I decided on.

I let everything out of my mind. The Goodwill Event tomorrow, my family, friends and strangers here, the future and everything crazy that is to come.

No.

Everything was pushed away for now. It was just me and this moment.

Me against my opponent.

"Ready to start, Utahime-kun?"

I took a deep breath.

No. Not even that.

Me... against the me that couldn't win till now.

I let out my breath and breathed normally, feeling my heartbeat, the feel of the air against me, the mat under my feet, the eleven wooden carved bullets and their placements, the tightness of the shimenawa that I wrapped around my arms (a different fashion to use them in for this duel), the drumsticks in my hands, everything.

I nodded, raising my arms...

And as one, Gakuganji and Utahime started playing.

Rather than start flinging attacks or put up out defenses, there was a mutual wait of both players just engaging with the song and appreciating it, in its relatively slow opening sequence.

Then Utahime sudden burst up with Cursed Energy. Gakuganji raised an eyebrow wondering if she was gonna try to rush him from the get go as she usually does.

She did let one of the wooden bullets rise higher than the rest... and hit it with her drumstick, letting the Cursed Energy fill it and control it as it flew toward the music recorder that's playing the song on the speaker (adjusted of course to the drums and guitar part each person playing would be muted), and hit the pause button.

The song stopped making Gakuganji blink in confusion.

Then Utahime played a solo improvised drum sequence that had Gakuganji chuckle and roll his eyes.

Show off. Brat. He thought with amusement.

On that last drum beat, Utahime launched another wooden bullet to hit the play button, and the battle started in earnest as the guitar and drums were played in their intense sequence that would continue till the end of the song.

The crowd roared as the show started.

Utahime's first move was to make a Domain Amplification. She poured the Technique into the mat under her, and through it, it covered her and her equipment. Something to protect her for the duration of the matches beginning till she had enough control for more complex maneuvers.

Gakuganji's first move was to target the wooden bullets laying on the ground of the stage. Yeah, he wasn't gonna let such an obvious trap go, when he could still feel the miniscule amount of Cursed Energy in them. Then with the rapid guitar notes, she first short but fast waves of Cursed Energy at Utahime's barrier.

The trick may have been obvious, but why only have ten bullets made? Did she only just recently learn how to control object imbued with her Cursed Energy? Not a bad strategy, but I hope that's not all she has in store. Gakuganji fiercely smirked.

The one minute and forty seconds mark. Gakuganji played a vibrato, a single thin beam of Cursed Energy was launched from his guitar at Utahime. The concentrated force of the Extension Technique: Soul Shout (Song Edition) would have normally pierced through Domain Amplification, but the target was Utahime herself, not her drum set.

To Gakuganji's surprise Utahime dropped the Domain Amplification on herself, but not her drum set.

Cursed Reversal was fired running through her sacred ropes. Utahime during that pause in the song's drum beating, poured the Technique into her drumstick, and thrust her stick forward splitting the beam, and dispersing the energy into nothing. Due to having Gathering Hallowed Belt running through the shimenawa wrapped around her arms, she could instantly apply the Technique to her drumstick, letting her instantly use it without wasting time or energy.

However, to her current poor energy control, the shimenawa would likely start getting damaged from the disuse if she continued for too long.

Utahime didn't stop running her Reversal through the sacred ropes.

As her drum part returned and continued playing while letting her Innate Technique run in the background at the ten meter radius around her.

Seeing this, Gakuganji understood. Utahime was ready to use her equipment and weapons to the max, even if they end up breaking, all for the sake of defeating him. He grinned in response. If she was that serious from the get go rather than toward the end of the song, as their bouts usually went, then he would do that same.

Sound vibrated through objects, meaning he could send his sound waves through the ground.

Extension Technique: Tremor.

Utahime's eyes widened. The old Sorcerer was sending his Cursed Energy waves through the stage's wooden floors.

Quickly, she made a ring of energy made up of her Technique Reversal around the outer layer of the ten meter radius, and sent pulses of Gathering Hallowed Belt outward, to disperse Gakuganji's Technique.

Was he trying to collapse the stage around me, or attack me from under my feet? Alright, using them early.

Five of the wooden bullets that were suffused with Utahime's Cursed Energy started floating. Gakuganji wondered what she was about to do. Then in-between drumming she hit them, launching bullet after bullet at the principal. The old Sorcerer could see that the wooden bullets were flying with more agile movement, rather than in a straight line.

Ah, so she did learn to control her Cursed Energy within objects. Fascinating. Wonder how she managed it?

The wooden bullets flew quickly, seemingly targeting the old Sorcerer. Gakuganji sent concentrated sound waves at the wooden bullets, but their quick zipping and small size, around made them difficult to target. Of the bullets he only shot down two. The rest missed... then started circling around him.

Ah. Diverting my focus, are you?

If he focused on Utahime, she'll have the wooden bullets redirect to hit him. If he focused on the bullets, they'll keep flying about and make it difficult to destroy them.

A nice ploy to buy time, but-

Before the pause in the song at two minutes, nineteen seconds, Gakuganji had all the waves of Cursed Energy generated by his rapid note beats encircle around him like a dome, and with the final note explode outwardly, blasting the bullets into literal wood dust.

Too naive!

Two minutes, nineteen seconds. The pause in the song came. Gakuganji expected Utahime to start feeling the heat of the match. Instead...

Maximum Output: Solo Forbidden Area!

The concentration of Cursed Energy around Utahime due to her Innate Technique, seemed to make Cursed Energy start to be visible around her like a small mist. Like the inversion of creating a barrier. Rather than make a shell with rules placed upon it, she was filled up the space of the barrier would have occupied with pure Cursed Energy.

The music returned and thus the playing.

Gakuganji launched some quick attacks once more, while keeping up his Tremor Technique.

Utahime's control started to improve, much faster than usual. Still in the thirty percent range, but she usual reached that much later in the match.

Pulsing ring of Gathering Hallowed Belt to counter Tremor.

And for the normal Hype Amp's rapid attacks, between drumming her beats, Utahime cut down each and every Sound Cursed Waves with complete precision. Her Technique Reversal covering her arms and drumsticks.

Hmm, not bad, but again, you're too focused on defense child. And that Cursed Tool can't be use like that for long. He grinned. Let's see how long this stalemate goes this time, before the shimenawa breaks, and with it you attempt to conserve your stamina.

And so the music battle continued.

Gakuganji launched his attacks. Utahime defended from sound coming from around her and from the ground.

Cursed Energy bounced from the walls, ceiling and even moved autonomously around Utahime.

Yet Utahime's senses from all their matches were sharpened to such a degree that feeling the subtle movements of even the tiniest bit of Cursed Energy around her, along with sudden shifts in the air indicating when and where a sound wave was coming from.

As the fire-paced song continued, more and more the area around Utahime seemed to thick with mist-like layer of energy.

The rapid pace of Gakuganji's guitar notes meant he could launch his attacks at a much higher rate, thus Utahime was forced more and more to defend again his Cursed Waves. Blocking, parrying, deflecting. Sometimes deflecting attacks into each other. It was a masterful display of music performance and combat acumen.

And there it starts. Thought Gakuganji.

The sacred ropes around her arms started to fray. Thread by thread started to snap.

Three minutes and six seconds mark. Another vibrato.

Once more Gakuganji launched a Soul Shout (Song Edition). The beam fired at Utahime once more.

Utahime moved her drumstick to parry, only for the usually straight beam to curve slightly. It seems even for such a intense attack, the principal sacrificed control for power. But the slight bent of the beam was enough for it to hit the sacred ropes rather than the drumsticks.

With the ropes submerged in the Curse Reversal, the beam was destroyed right away, yet the damage it did was enough.

SNAP!

The rope around Utahime's left hand broke. It could no longer support her Technique, Cursed Energy, or do anything. She was open from the left flank.

Another pause for the guitar followed, meaning Tremor was halted, giving Utahime reprieve to pause the Gathering Hallowed Belt, and conserve her power.

In that small pause, Utahime kept focusing on Solo Forbidden Area around her. Her frantic movements in removing the cut piece of the rope from around her arm, ended up with her dropping the three wooden bullets she had into the layer of Cursed Energy mist around her.

Gakuganji sighed. There goes Utahime's avenues of attack. Now it was a defensive battle on her end once more.

This match will turn predictable it seems.

Another guitar note was played. A faint this time without any attacks, making Utahime flinch. Gakuganji chuckled.

Didn't she realize soon once his sequence start again, his rapid onslaught will return. He didn't need a cheap shot.

Gakuganji started playing again. His Cursed Waves firing rapid at Utahime. It seems like her loss was beginning.

Only for three lights to fire from energy mist at her feet.

Gakuganji's eyes widened as he saw three spheres of concentrated Cursed Energy fly about, encircling Utahime, blocking his attacks and cancelling them.

She could control Cursed Energy remotely?! His eyes widened before narrowing in focus. No, those are the bullets.

Gakuganji saw at the core of each energy ball was one of the wooden bullets. The Cursed Energy was the energy in the background, amplified by Utahime's Innate Technique, then that energy was controlled and redirected around the bullet made of sacred wood.

"Will-O-Wisp." Utahime has said a voice covered by the music, yet the old principal heard it just the same. The words sounded odd, like for some reason she couldn't say them clearly. Or was that just the loud music messing up his hearing?

He looked ahead to see Utahime had a wide grin on her face, looking at him. She had an offensive option now.

She had dropped those bullets into the Cursed Energy mist intentionally.

Oh you little brat!

The bullets flew forward, with each beat of Utahime's drum, they attacked Gakuganji's waves before they could cross the halfway distance between the two Sorcerers.

For the first time, it seemed like Utahime was equally engaging in the offensive rather than just reacting.

Gakuganji used his Tremor once more.

There was no Gathering Hallowed Belt to counter it. The old principal's eyebrow raised in confusion.

The Cursed Energy mist sent pulses omnidirectionally at ground level. The Sound Cursed Wave met the Dense Cursed Energy Wave. And the sound broke against the wall of energy.

Gakuganji's eyes widened in very alarmed worry.

Did she just make some kind of pseudo-version of Falling Blossom Emotion!?

A feeling of sheer dawning and worrying comprehension filled the old veteran Sorcerer. Yet equally he couldn't stop the feeling of pride in his student.

Gakuganji was familiar enough in Utahime in these bouts that he could feel how well her energy control was doing. Her energy control was at the half way mark and rising.

He couldn't help but smirk.

You have a 50% chance? At beating me? And we haven't even reached the halfway mark of this song?

Gakuganji Yoshinobu started laughing while playing. He couldn't help it. For him to actually feel challenged, and in his specialty no less, he couldn't help but have fun.

The engagement was now back and forth, as Gakuganji's Tremor kept breaking against the Cursed Energy mist's pulses, and his normal Hype Amp's attacks were clashing with the three Will-O-Wisps.

Now every beat of Utahime's drum was like a slash of her sword, that answered every blade swing by Gakuganji's guitar notes.

The battle between Cursed Energy waves and spheres continued going faster and faster, yet the clash between Gakuganji and Utahime's Technique, rather than disrupt the music, only seemed to add to it. The crowd was hyped up even more now.

Three minutes and forty four seconds. A lull in the song as things calmed down.

The two players let things lie for a while, enjoying the moment of peace. Utahime didn't attack as she didn't have drum beats to play at the moment.

Even as the notes and beats, accompanied by the vocal run, were played in a small parley between the two Sorcerers.

Each one pulled back their Cursed Energy, keeping it stationary on their person as they calculated their next move.

They played the notes, taking their time, and let the melisma echo in the background.

Four minutes and four seconds. Utahime regained enough energy from that break to start up her defenses again. Her Will-O-Wisps floating around her.

The energy mist grew thick as well. She would frown at it on occasion. Like she was dissatisfied with it. She took off what was left the shimenawa on her right arm and threw it behind her, like a half circle around her.

Four minutes and six seconds. Gakuganji's attacks returned again.

The assault seemed to be coming more swift than before. Utahime kept pace thus far.

Gakuganji narrowed his eyes in thought. A theory came to mind.

A Technique like that, she's only just managed it. Thus the obvious weaknesses would be...

As the vibrato sections came, sent beams of Soul Shout (Song Edition) at the drum set this time.

The Will-O-Wisp blocked the attacks. Gakuganji would move the beams but Utahime would have the energy spheres follow along.

Tremor was as always blocked by the energy mist pulses.

Yet, just like he could control the direction of the Cursed Waves in the air, Gakuganji could change it while its in the ground.

Tremor was fired again, with the Soul Shout (Song Edition) keeping the Will-O-Wisp occupied.

The energy mist pulse answered once more.

Only for the Cursed Waves in the ground to jump out, leaving the ground to attack Utahime. The Tremor Technique was switched mid-fight to a standard Hype Amp.

Utahime covered her drumstick with her Cursed Reversal and slashed the normal Cursed Sound Wave attack.

Yet that single moment, her eyes were off Will-O-Wisp, one of the sound beams passed one energy sphere and pierced her shoulder.

Utahime gritted her teeth, and kept playing. Forced to expend energy to heal herself.

Gakuganji smiled as his theory was proven correct.

Four minutes, seventeen seconds.

The vibrato returns.

Sweat pouring, teeth gritting, eyes determined, and Utahime is a whirlwind of movement.

Arms beating on the drums, cutting down sound waves or beams that come her way, maintaining eye contact on the Will-O-Wisps to direct them. She would even react to attacks coming from to the side of behind her.

A Tremor turns into Hype Amp as a Cursed Waves flies from the floor. The Cursed Energy mist erupts upward, almost like tendrils of smoke screens that the the Cursed Waves crash into. This time some of the sound wave passes and slammed into Utahime, but it's more like an average punch. She had to start prioritizing and she focused her Cursed Energy into her next tactic.

The Will-O-Wisps were on the move, far faster and more aggressively than before. Bit by bit Gakuganji found he had to defend himself more and more. Especially when the energy balls would feint-miss him to redirect and ambush him.

After the first few times that happened... he used a Simple Domain. Now any Will-O-Wisp that entered his radius would be instantly countered.

The battle continued with an unstable stalemate. Sometime to Utahime's advantage, most time to Gakuganji.

The rapid fire of playing music, along with attacking, defending and counterattacking had the crowd at the edge of their seat.

Jujutsu battle was normally that intense, but something about it being a Cursed Music Battle had made the whole thing enthralling.

Just a question lingered in Gakuganji's mind.

Beyond her sticks, why isn't she using her Gathering Hallowed Belt more often? He wondered, feeling nervous for the first time. The girl definitely had something planned in mind to conserve her energy this much. This isn't because she wants to save her power to overwhelm him during the end of the show. No, she is much more proactive and determined this round.

Wait... Gakuganji blinked. Me? Nervous? He looked back up again, and he could feel that Utahime's control is almost back to what it once was. He smirked. I admit, you are doing well child, but this is far from over.

Four minutes, forty seconds.

A wave of Cursed Energy began expanding from the old Sorcerer. Not one caused by his Innate Technique.

For a single moment, Utahime paled, thinking he was unleashing a Domain Expansion. According to all sources of intel she knew (Mei Mei and Mana), Gakuganji Yoshinobu doesn't have a Domain.

His Cursed Energy covered the stage while leaving a wide hole where Utahime was.

So the only other explanation is...

"Extension Technique: Reverb Redirect." He uttered.

Gakuganji played, and Utahime almost cried out as she felt vibration, followed by pain slam into her body and sense of balance. The Will-O-Wisps were dismissed and the bullets fell to the floor.

She was forced to use Reverse Cursed Technique to heal herself, to regain any focus and kept herself conscious.

It wasn't difficult to understand.

This wasn't a Cursed Technique Reversal but at first glance could be mistaken as such.

Gakuganji's Innate Technique, Hype Amp, amplified sounds the user made through playing instruments, and the sound wave carried the Cursed Energy.

Reverb Redirect flipped that concept so that the Cursed Energy delivered the amplified sound waves.

With a screen of Cursed Energy surrounding Utahime from all sides, she was wide open to a pure sound attack from all directions.

Yet immediately Utahime realized something fortunate, as Gakuganji can't use both Hype Amp and Reverb Redirect at the same time. If she cancels everything, and focus on healing she can withstand the sonic attack just fine.

Gakuganji immediately pauses Reverb Redirect and activates Hype Amp to slash at Utahime with Cursed Waves.

Utahime is a second late and takes damage but still able to get her defenses up again, as after a few moments, her Cursed Energy filled the wooden bullets again, and Will-O-Wisp was activated.

Gakuganji blinked, realizing he missed an opportunity to destroy those bullets.

I'm getting soft. He thought. Maybe I'm just enjoying this too much.

Now once more on the back foot, Utahime was forced to defend herself, quickly getting into the grove of switching between complete focus on healing, to complete focus on defense.

Will-O-Wisp barely making Gakuganji defend himself because... he can just move around and dodge if need be. His guitar allowed him lots of freedom of movement. He was almost dancing on stage.

Four minutes, fifty seconds. Another small lull in the song, even if both Sorcerers played the needed parts, while readying for the onslaught that is to come.

Utahime's parts little so she could only defend.

Gakuganji's rapid switching between Utahime was starting to tire her out as she was expending too much Cursed Energy. If she had some breathing room, even a few more tenths of seconds between Technique switches then she could conserve her energy more.

It was time. She thought.

It was suppose to be her finishing move, but she'll have to use it to survive.

Five minutes, one second mark.

Utahime spits out the hidden elevens bullet that was in her mouth all along.

Gakuganji's eyes widened. Because of the amount of energy she was constantly using and throwing around, he didn't notice the concentration of Cursed Energy in her mouth.

He tried to fire a Max Outpit: Soul Shout (Song Edition) but it was intercepted by all three Will-O-Wisps. Their wooden cores seemed bristled and cracked, and still holding.

The cymbal beat came.

Five minutes, two seconds mark.

Gakuganji didn't have notes for the offense, so he gathered his Cursed Energy to reinforce himself.

At the mark of the final drum beats of this interval, Utahime slammed the super-charged Will-O-Wisp with her drumsticks like she was a volleyball player, doing a spike with both hands, transition to the drum beats.

The Will-O-Wisp was shot like a cannon, slamming into the Jujutsu High principal.

Smoke filled the spot he was standing.

Gakuganji stepped out the smoke, his right arm, his playing arm bleeding, but despite the pain, still holding, still working. He protected his guitar. He can still play. He can still fight.

For the first time ever in their matches, the old Sorcerer bled.

Gakuganji held tight to his pick, his fingers whitening.

Five minutes, three seconds.

The battle resume more ferociously.

Gakuganji fired Hype Amp attacks or Soul Shouts (Song Edition)? Utahime cut with her drumstick.

Utahime launched her Will-O-Wisps? Gakuganji fired Cursed Energy waves to act as sound sheets to block the attack.

Gakuganji fire low ground attacks, Tremors, or Tremors that turn into Hype Amp waves at the last second to dodge Utahime's defenses? Utahime's Cursed Energy mist intercepts all.

Gakuganji uses Reverb Redirect? Utahime switches off everything to heal.

Utahime uses the chance that the principal can only use Reverb Redirect? Gakuganji switches to Hype Amp to defend.

Both Sorcerers were expending a lot of their stamina and energy.

Yet Utahime was the one losing more as her Binding Vow was still acting against her. She hadn't reached the point where her control actually was.

Gakuganji was experienced thus even now enough how to pace himself, even in the intense battle.

It looked like a mad rush of Jujutsu and music. Both participants holding out from sheer pride or stubbornness.

Six minutes, ten seconds.

Another brief break in the song. Things slowing down.

It should have been a moment to take a break for both combatants, as the song was in it's final stretch.

Did you think I would do that, youngin? Gakuganji thought menacingly. That is the difference between us. Where you stop to rest, us veteran in this job that kills the young, go forward!

Six minutes, twenty five seconds.

Gakuganji dropped his Techniques, sans his primary one.

Utahime launched her Will-O-Wisps.

For that next single note, Gakuganji focused his whole being into the swing of it. A single precise slash faster than the Will-O-Wisps coming at him in a straight line from the singular drum hits.

The hand fell down.

The pick hit the string.

Black Flash.

Utahime was blinded. She felt a wave of air, a sharpness, then suddenly her sight was gone.

She could feel how the wooden cores of the Will-O-Wisps were sanded to dust.

Everything was dark. Oddly enough, it was quiet too. Utahime could image how things would go down.

The next bit of the song would have a guitar riff, followed by her drums, then another riff, the both together.

She doesn't have a method of attack. If she heals now, Gakuganji will overwhelm her with Cursed Waves, injure her? Maybe blind her again?

She heals then...

Can I afford to heal? She thought. How much of my reverses are left? ...A tenth? No. It feel like less. Time to recharge? None.

Six minutes, twenty six seconds.

Back outside of her thoughts, Utahime missed her cue for the cymbal.

Gakuganji smile. Victory was here for him. Now time to take it home.

His hand came back to the strings.

...I'm fucked, aren't I?

Six minutes, twenty seven seconds.

No.

Utahime stood up, her chair fell back, rolling away from her.

Her Cursed Energy was embedded in the drum set for too long. She didn't need to focus on all of it. The pedals played themselves.

She only needed to focus on the upper drums and cymbals.

Solo Forbidden Area.

Utahime hit the cymbal, playing the beat, even if it's a second late.

Six minutes, twenty eight seconds.

Gakuganji's Hype Amp fired waves of Cursed Energy, along with Soul Shout (Song Edition) just for that extra kick.

The Cursed Energy mist under Utahime's feet rose up completely from the ground, and broke to pieces. Not a single Cursed Energy mote laid aimless.

Twenty Will-O-Wisps were formed, surrounding Utahime. Formed without needing a core but their creator's will.

The miko Sorceress played her drums, and the Will-O-Wisps zapped into motion.

Cursed Waves after wave, Cursed Sound Beam after beam, all where met and blasted aside. And when one of the Will-O-Wisps were destroyed two more took it's place from the ambient Cursed Energy left in the background from the previous clash.

"Wha! You!" Gakuganji uttered in shock.

He switched to Reverb Redirect.

The Will-O-Wisps gathered into a shell around Utahime absorbing all the sonic waves.

Utahime focused on one point in the shell, where energy started building up.

Gakuganji's eyes widened and he started building Cursed Waves for defense.

"Idol Smite." Utahime cried out.

A Cursed Energy Laser fired from the Will-O-Wisp shell depleting it, but it slammed into Gakuganji's Cursed Sound Shield shocking him, and depleting his energy. He gain another injury, this time to his leg as he jumped away from the attack too late.

"How?!" He said while keeping the show going.

"They were a distraction." She grinned while looking at Gakuganji with bloodied eye sockets. "I see much better now!"

Six minutes, forty six seconds. So close to the home stretch now.

This girl, really was something else. Gakuganji chuckled then smile, in his heart he couldn't help but acknowledge and respect one who gave him such an admirable battle. He really looked forward to her future growth and achievements. Time to end this.

"Katana." He called out to his grandson.

Just from hearing his own name, the man's eyes widened in panic, as he immediately got up and moves. Katana order the other Sorcerers around to form a barrier separating the stage from the rest of the building and audience. There wouldn't be enough time to evacuate everyone.

Under the Assistant Director's supervision a barrier wall meant to contain and separate the battle was erected.

People could still see and hear the music battle, but now it's effects felt miles away.

Reverb Redirect returned. The energy shells came back up.

Utahime suddenly felt alarm, as felt high above her at the ceiling a single core of Cursed Energy formed, and sound waves were launched at it. Feeding it.

The balls made of sound and Cursed energy started growing.

"Maximum Technique." Spoke Gakuganji Yoshinobu. "Concert Crash."

The ball kept gathering sound and energy, growing more volatile and violent.

And Utahime... acted on instinct. The only thing left she could do.

The only thing that came to mind.

It would use up everything she had, but she only had one chance, one shot to win this.

Utahime started to dance.

It was short in movement due to space, and still needing to play the drums, but she kept doing it.

She sang. The same song that was playing, saying the words, but as one of the singers. Never rising her voice above them, but in the background trying to be a subtle part of the chorus, blending into it.

Her hands holding the drumsticks, her fingers made signs and mudras around the sticks while playing.

Gakuganji's mouth was a gapped.

"Surely not." He said to himself.

There was no way she could possible do it. She wasn't even doing the right chanting, it wasn't suppose to be just any singing.

Yet at that moment, in his heart, Yoshinobu felt it was possible for Utahime to do it.

To deploy a Domain.

Six minutes, fifty five seconds.

Thus Gakuganji threw everything at his Concert Crash.

The sound waves that crashed into Utahime's Cursed Energy shell, were angled to bounce and fly up to the forming Maximum Technique, adding to it.

Seven minutes.

The stalemate kept going.

Utahime withstanding the sound attacks and preparing her Domain.

Gakuganji desperately hoping to ready his Technique in time.

Seven minutes, five minutes.

Fatigue catching up to Gakuganji. He couldn't remember the last time he exhuasted himself so much.

Utahime looked almost done. Maybe.

Does fucking normal singing count? English songs at that!? I DON'T KNOW! The old Sorcerer shouted in his mind.

Seven minutes, twelve seconds.

The Maximum Technique was done.

"CONCERT CRASH!" Gakuganji shouted.

The Cursed Sound Ball dropped.

Seven minutes, thirteen seconds.

Concert Crash touched the strengthened Cursed Energy shell.

Thirteen point two seconds. The shell cracked open. Utahime's clothe began to burn.

Thirteen point four seconds. Attack inches away from Utahime. Fatal injury imminent.

She could feel the heat alone on her skin. She could still survive, but victory was gone.

"Bestowing Kagura."

Or rather it should have been.

The Domain burst forward, enveloping everything.

The Maximum Technique halted in place. It was pushed back.

Utahime's energy reserved were at their last ember.

Concert Crash dispersed into background Cursed Energy.

Gakuganji's Cursed Energy were dispersed into harmless negative emotions.

Seven minutes, fifteen seconds.

All Cursed Techniques were gone. Domain ended.

Gakuganji grabbed onto his dissolving Cursed Energy and forced it back into shape once more.

Utahime focused everything into her drumstick that it started to crack.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Utahime screamed, cursed with no words.

On her last beat, rather than hit the cymbals, one stick hit the cymbal, the other was thrown.

A crack was heard.

Utahime's arm was broken.

The cymbal was broken with its final beat.

Black Flash.

And the sound barrier was broken as the drumstick was launched faster then sound.

Gakuganji tried to act.

Move. Fire his Cursed Technique. Block. Anything.

BOOM!

An explosion sounded in the stage with the last note of the electric guitar.

The song ended. Their was an odd quietness and a ringing in the ear from everything that happened.

The other Sorcerer began to move in a panic, after taking the cracked barrier down, to check on the headmaster.

Utahime walked slowly, hand on her shoulder as moved toward school principal.

The smoke and dust from the broken floor wooden began to disperse.

Everyone was quiet at what they saw.

Gakuganji Yoshinobu was on his back, his iconic electric guitar broken in half on his stomach.

Surprised gasps began to rang out, almost as if people were so shocked, only now did they remember to react.

"P-Principal Gakuganji-sama, are you alright?" Asked one of the staff member.

Katana was at Gakuganji's side slowly helping him sit up.

The injury from the final attack left Gakuganji's torso bruised, but his guitar with all the Cursed Energy embedded in it, took the brunt of the attack.

The old man looked at his guitar almost in a daze, not really registering what happened. He looked up to meet the astonished eyes of Utahime, who also didn't know what to think or how to react.

Huh. I lost. Gakuganji blinked.

The Binding Vow, Band Battle for Control, came into effect.

Both Gakuganji and Utahime felt it as they were freed from it, as its conditions were met.

Suddenly Utahime felt everything that was hers. Every single mote of Cursed Energy that she generated, even the ones she made from her Techniques that was in the background.

She could call it back. So she called it back, and refilled her tank much faster than it normally would.

"Solo Forbidden Area." She uttered, and targeted her Reverse Cursed Technique on herself and Gakuganji who was in her range.

"Uuuhhm." Gakuganji groaned and he stood up. He waved off everyone concerned by stating how he was healed now and feels fine. "That was..." He tried to search for the words. "That was good." He settled on saying, as he smiled and nodded. "Congratulations, Utahime-san."

"Thank you, Principal Gakuganji-sama." Utahime bowed.

"So... same time next week?" He chuckled.

"Uuuuh, maybe I'll just stick to playing in your band." She rubbed the back of her head. "I don't think I'll get this lucky again." She chuckled.

"Wait, from what you're saying..." Mana spoke, as she was one of the people who climbed on stage.

Mei Mei's eyes widened, as she sighed with immense relief.

"Thank you, Utahime. Thank god." Mei Mei said with a hand on her heart.

"Seriously? Seriously! You're more happy you're bet paid off." Utahime whined.

"Well, it's thanks to your hard work, so good job on your victory."

"Why you..."

Utahime glared dagger at the unashamed Mei Mei.

"Wait, from what you're saying..." One of the staff realized the implications.

"So that means..." Said a member of the Iori clan in surprised joy.

"HIME-CHAN WOOOOON! WOOOOOOOOAAAH!" Someone shouted and pumped their fist into the air.

Like a domino effect the rest of the crown cheered.

The shocked cry of "Mom!" was lose in the jubilant crowd cheer.

Gakuganji chuckled out loud.

"Wow, I've never seen so many people happy to see me lose." He laughed.

"Grandfather-I mean, Principal, that's not how it is!" Katana tried to say.

"Oh relax, Katana-kun. I'm joking." Gakuganji rotated his shoulders around to get them moving. He felt so refreshed. He wasn't sure it was because of Utahime's healing. Maybe it was the Black Flash? It's been so long since he managed one.

Gakuganji suddenly felt inspired from everything he experienced.

"Sorry about them, Principal, I guess the event hyped them up too much." Utahime said, rubbing the back of her head.

"Hohoho, oh please, it's fine. Everyone likes to see the underdog win at least once." He chuckled, joining mood.

"Alright everyone, the celebratory buffet is right this way. It only costs..." Mei Mei went about taking advantage of the cheerful mood, leading everyone out of the auditorium.

"Although," Gakuganji said, getting Utahime's attention. "These matches have been helping me get some exercise. I wouldn't mind doing them every once in a while." He gave her a side glance. "That is once in a while, not every week."

"Hehe, yeah sorry if I interrupted your schedule too much." Utahime said, smiling bashfully.

"Hohoho, it's fine, it's fine." The principal waved her off. "Although..." He suddenly added. "I suppose this means you can now use your Domain without much problem, right?"

"...Ah."


It was the next day. The day of the Goodwill Event had finally arrived.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Katana-san, could you repeat that?" I, along with not just my team, but all school's students from all three years were gathered in school's main courtyard.

"A rural village, Urasato, in the Izumi District, Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu. For a while not it have been taken over by the death cult, Seekers of the Ten. Yesterday at approximately nine o'clock at night, they had preformed a mass suicide ritual with the willing town's people who they have brainwashed. According to their beliefs, this ritual was supposedly meant to bring the 'Ten Treasure Gods' into the world and help reforge it into an era that teaches the world peace." Katana calmly explained.

"Th-That is obviously a load of bull." Tanaka, whom I haven't interacted with in a long while, said as he stood with his team.

"Seekers of the Ten? I... thought those were some kind of a joke?" Mana said, looking confused.

"It seems they were more proactive and malicious than we had thought." Katana said, cutting off any further chatting or discussion. "The Goodwill Event is cancelled for the duration of this emergency mission. We are to join with Tokyo Jujutsu High and tackle the numerous Cursed Spirits, and obviously the ten Special Grade Cursed Spirits that were born from this disaster."

Fuck me, this world just does not give people a break.