Chapter 6 : Gift
If Gojo-sensei is nearby...
Jiang Lai's heart sinks slightly: he doesn't think now is a good time to meet.
The [Gojo Lai] setting is still in its initial phase. With so many uncertainties, directly contacting anyone from the Gojo family isn't a wise choice, especially facing the Six Eyes that can see through everything.
Of course, this doesn't mean Jiang Lai wants to completely avoid the Gojo family, avoid Gojo Satoru.
Gojo Satoru is a popular character in Jujutsu, also a very important part of the plot, and his own identity will most likely be connected to the other party. Jiang Lai understands they're destined to meet in the future.
But not now. Now is still too early.
Jiang Lai imperceptibly moves sideways, half-hiding his figure in the shadows cast by buildings under street lamps.
He plans to leave, but slows his pace considerably, while paying attention to secretly listening to Itadori Yuji and others' conversation (Jiang Lai: Thanks to the Detective Conan world's training in observing all directions and listening to all sides).
When his companions come to his side, Itadori Yuji turns to Fushiguro Megumi and the others, scratching his head embarrassedly: "Sorry sorry, didn't catch it. That thing ran too fast... should we split up and search again?"
"It's so late, tracking will be even more difficult." Fushiguro Megumi analyzes calmly, "It's very good at hiding itself, I can barely sense its residual filth."
"And that thing's body is just like a gecko, so small. Forget it, probably won't find it for a while." Kugisaki Nobara holds her forehead, "Anyway this thing currently has no offensive power, it'll only change in a few days... anyway, let's wait until tomorrow when the snow stops to search."
"Gojo-sensei comes tomorrow, right? Originally we thought we could solve it before Gojo-sensei arrived..."
"Honestly, this kind of chase and capture mission isn't as good as directly giving a target within a [Curtain]..."
The young high school students' voices gradually fade away, becoming increasingly blurred. Jiang Lai walks forward at a steady pace, organizing the information he just heard in his mind.
First, they're indeed conducting a cursed spirit capture mission, the target cursed spirit has a gecko-like form, strong concealment but currently weak attack power and low threat level.
Second, Gojo-sensei isn't currently nearby, expected to arrive tomorrow.
Very good, looks like he won't collide with Six Eyes for now. Jiang Lai's mood instantly becomes much brighter. Tonight he can eat with peace of mind!
As they turn and separate, gradually distancing themselves, the crescent-like marks on Itadori Yuji's face slightly move, the Curse King Ryomen Sukuna slightly opens his eyes.
This is a chain sukiyaki restaurant, the storefront design is elegant and generous, with a black and white iris flower pattern on the right side of the signboard. At night, a circle of lights illuminates around it, outlining the extending curves.
Steaming hot sukiyaki is especially popular in the cold winter. Jiang Lai is very lucky to catch the last available seat.
The temperature inside the sukiyaki restaurant is naturally much higher than outside. At first it doesn't feel like much, but after sitting for a while it gets hot. Jiang Lai takes off his coat, folding it beside him on this long bench.
Choosing the pot base, ordering ingredients, plates of vegetables and meat are served quickly. Jiang Lai's eyes light up, skillfully adding ingredients to the pot, finally able to eat dinner after an eventful evening.
Hot delicious food always has healing power. Jiang Lai enjoys a satisfying meal, his mood becoming cheerful accordingly.
He wipes his hands with a wet napkin, then uses a small fork to prepare eating some after-dinner dessert cranberry cake.
Just then, his peripheral vision suddenly glimpses a flash of purple, something abruptly emerges from below, crawling onto the dining table!
Jiang Lai: "!?"
A palm-sized bright purple gecko crawls out from under the table, strangely growing two pairs of twisted thin wings on its body, seemingly baring fangs and claws yet closely pressed against its own waist.
Jiang Lai: "..."
His hand reaching to fork a small piece of cake stops.
...Never mind whether geckos come in purple, what are these oddly-shaped wings?!
Jiang Lai is shocked for a second.
Just then, a waiter passes by pushing a cart. Jiang Lai instinctively looks up, like the first reaction upon discovering a mouse, calling out: "Excuse me..."
The waiter stops, smiling, politely saying: "Yes sir, I'll collect your empty plates right away."
Jiang Lai pauses slightly, then nods, naturally continuing: "Thank you for the trouble."
The waiter collects the empty dishes. Jiang Lai silently observes the waiter's expression and demeanor. That bright purple winged gecko stays there the whole time, its round bulging eyeballs occasionally turning slightly.
After the waiter leaves, Jiang Lai glances again at the very conspicuous purple gecko on the table surface, pausing in his heart.
The waiter's performance just now didn't seem like acting, the other party seemed to truly not see the obviously additional strange gecko on the dining table.
Something ordinary people can't see... could it be a cursed spirit?
To confirm his guess again, Jiang Lai puts down the small fork, pretending to play with his phone, using the camera lens to scan over the position on the dining table.
The lens shows nothing. Through the phone's camera function, that bright purple gecko can't be seen.
It's a cursed spirit. Jiang Lai is certain in his heart.
Gecko-like appearance, small body, quick movements, appearing nearby... the combination of these elements makes Jiang Lai recall in a flash the conversation he heard not long ago!
Wait, could this be the mission target Itadori Yuji and the others were tracking?!
"..." Jiang Lai puts down his phone, looks away, and falls into strange silence.
Fortunately, Itadori Yuji and the others mentioned in their conversation that this thing will only change in a few days, currently has no offensive power. This relaxes Jiang Lai considerably.
He doesn't want to come eat, only to become food for something else (cursed spirit)!!
Jiang Lai grips his phone, staring at his dessert, pretending the purple winged gecko in front of him doesn't exist, to avoid attracting the cursed spirit's attention. In his heart, he thinks calmly.
Honestly... he crossed to Jujutsu, it's been less than an evening, right? In these few short hours, isn't the number of cursed spirits he's encountered a bit too much?
Not counting those strange shapes he glimpsed along the way.
Mahito at the train station, the bright purple gecko in the sukiyaki restaurant now, if encountering Itadori Yuji with Ryomen Sukuna inside also counts as encountering a cursed spirit, that's another one!
...The latter ones aren't even common low-level fly-head cursed spirits.
Could he have some strange cursed spirit attraction quality? Jiang Lai twitches the corner of his mouth, inevitably recalling his suspected pervert attraction constitution in the Detective Conan world. If it mutated, attracting cursed spirits would be reasonable...
But he can't jump to conclusions based on just these few. He thinks.
The bright purple gecko spreads its oddly-shaped wings, flies a short distance closer, then crawls slowly, its bulging eyeballs cloudy as fog.
Jiang Lai tenses inwardly. He's uncertain of this cursed spirit's intentions. The act of getting up and escaping might attract its attention instead, encountering its attack.
Slightly lowering his brown eyes, Jiang Lai maintains a calm expression, thoughts flowing through his heart.
In front of him, the bright purple gecko folds its wings, gradually crawling forward from that side of the table.
Jiang Lai watches this small cursed spirit approach from his peripheral vision, gripping his phone tightly, a thought inexplicably bursting into his mind:
[In the Detective Conan world, the miraculous invincible phone that's bulletproof and fireproof, in the Jujutsu world, can it resist jujutsu and exorcise cursed spirits?]
When everything is just beginning, trying every possible way to master the usage of tools at hand is key to improving survival rates. This thought grows like a snowball in his mind, driving Jiang Lai to conduct actual experiments for proof.
His index finger moves slightly, but he doesn't rush to act.
Kugisaki Nobara's "no offensive power" doesn't necessarily mean no attack capability, maybe it's just simple and easy for sorcerers with actual strength like them.
After all, this thing is a mission target, it must have caused casualties among ordinary people or strange incidents, or has distinct cursed energy fluctuations, to attract the attention of the observation organization [Window].
Moreover, the protagonist group's few words also reveal that this cursed spirit has the ability to become stronger again.
Thoughts crisscross in his mind. At the same time, Jiang Lai sensitively hears familiar voices from the entrance.
"...Eh? There are really no seats?" Itadori Yuji widens his eyes, looking somewhat disappointed.
Kugisaki Nobara exhales, waving her hand: "Then let's wait another five minutes. If there are still no seats, we'll try the next place."
The protagonist group? Jiang Lai blinks. They separated and went different ways at different times, yet still ended up at the same sukiyaki restaurant. What a coincidence.
His position is relatively secluded, the few people at the entrance haven't noticed the situation here.
However, since the protagonist group is nearby, even if the small cursed spirit in front of him has some counterattack ability, it can be quickly subdued by them.
With such insurance... Jiang Lai's heartbeat gradually steadies. Perhaps he can risk experimenting with possible uses of his phone.
Coincidentally, this cursed spirit currently has no wariness toward him as an "ordinary person," naturally won't be on guard or flee, making it convenient for him to operate.
His fingers turn, warm brown eyes lightly lift, staring at the gradually approaching purple winged gecko cursed spirit, focusing with seriousness.
Phone brick eagerly stirring!
"Wow, there's a seat available?" Itadori Yuji hears the waiter calling them, his eyes lighting up.
"Although it's a single table, if using just one pot, three people can dine together." The waiter explains in a soft voice, "A gentleman just left."
Itadori Yuji unconsciously looks back, the black-haired person has already reached the door. Seeming to sense the gaze, he turns his face and smiles.
Ah, it's that kind person who helped me earlier. Itadori Yuji also shows a smile, enthusiastically waving back in response. What a coincidence.
Confirming they'll dine here, they walk toward that corner position. As they approach, Fushiguro Megumi walking in front suddenly stops!
"What's wrong? What happened..." Kugisaki Nobara takes a few steps forward, then her following words abruptly disappear.
Itadori Yuji is stunned, keenly sensing something. He quickly steps forward, and the scene before him appears in his eyes.
He sees a bright purple winged gecko cursed spirit nestled in the flower arrangement by the solid wood dining table against the wall.
It's their mission target!
"?!!"
Itadori Yuji freezes for a moment. When he reacts and turns back sharply to look, the main door has already closed, and that person has disappeared into the black night.