Chapter 22 : Special December 24th
Jiang Lai doesn't stay in place waiting. After hanging up the phone and putting it back in Fushiguro Megumi's pocket, he quickly leaves the scene.
This sudden rain and snow has stopped now. But the impact brought by the unexpectedly encountered people and events still echoes in his mind.
Returning home, Jiang Lai sits properly on the sofa. He places the locust wood pendant in his hand, trying to call Fushiguro Toji to reassure him about his son's condition, and also has more questions to ask.
However, the ghost gentleman doesn't appear, nor is there any other response.
Jiang Lai waits a while, thinking: probably can't sense outside conditions during sleep periods.
That initial strike blocking the one-eyed six-armed cursed spirit's cursed energy attack might have exhausted spirit form Fushiguro Toji's energy... don't know if he'll appear during tonight's gambling session.
Let's wait.
He places the pendant on one side of the table. Then from his pocket, he takes out the bronze-colored key the landlord handed him today.
The door key marked with the characters "Geto" lies quietly in his palm, bringing a cool touch. Jiang Lai stares at this key, his mood somewhat complex.
Back on the way home, Jiang Lai opened his phone trying to search for records of "Night Parade of a Hundred Demons" from that year, to judge the situation of Geto Suguru he encountered this time, indirectly inferring whether that was the real Geto or Brain occupying the body as fake Geto.
He used the same search method as last time's Star Plasma Vessel incident, searching both surface and dark networks simultaneously.
However, after Jiang Lai input related keywords, it showed no relevant records. He didn't believe it and locked onto dates for detailed exploration, but still had no results.
December 24th, 2017, was an ordinary Christmas Eve with no curse user warnings, no jujutsu sorcerer gatherings, no crowd evacuations or casualty records... everything seems like nothing happened.
So what exactly is the situation here...
Jiang Lai puts down that key, sighs lightly, then leans back against the sofa, arms casually resting on it.
A bit hard to analyze.
He empties himself, gazing at the ceiling overhead.
Don't know if the manga has updated. Will there be related intelligence? Also, if it has updated, then he won't have to struggle alone consuming brain cells...
Jiang Lai: Woo woo, Detective Conan friends and forum crowd, my external brains, please help!! QAQ
On the other side. Detective Conan world.
December's Tokyo had heavy snow, snowflakes covering Teitan High's teaching building with a white coat.
Kudo Shinichi's formerly crisis-filled, magnificent high school sophomore life like a spy thriller, after the organization's destruction, body recovery, and entering his senior year, has turned into normal romantic school detective light comedy.
The National Common First Academic Achievement Test (Japan's college entrance exam) will be held in late January next year, but for the Detective Conan world full of magical time patterns, there's still plenty of time.
Therefore, on this school activity day, Teitan High's senior students also participate together to relax.
This year's activity day theme is jungle animals, so most people's outfits are related to forest animals.
At this moment, Kudo Shinichi is adjusting the pair of fluffy wolf ears on his head while facing the nearby window.
He and Mouri Ran are both wearing wolf ears today. Suzuki Sonoko's friendly suggestion and provision, who finally laughed saying this is a very trendy "couple costume" this year (after which two red boiled eggs were witnessed).
They played several activities together and took commemorative photos. Then Suzuki Sonoko excitedly dragged Mouri Ran to play girls' flower ball games.
Kudo Shinichi happened to return to the classroom to get his water cup during this time. After rummaging through his desk hole, when he looked up he accidentally bumped the desk edge, knocking his wolf ears askew, so he uses the nearby window's reflection to adjust them.
After fixing the wolf ears on his head, as Kudo Shinichi takes his water cup preparing to go back, his gaze glances at the group of classmates gathered together at the back of the classroom.
Various animal-dressed classmates huddle together like a forest conference, looking quite amusing. They seem to be looking at something together.
Kudo Shinichi takes a step forward. After just two steps, a tiger-dressed classmate on the outermost edge sees his figure and says with great delight: "Oh! It's Kudo-kun! Right, our class has the great detective Kudo! We can ask Kudo-san to help analyze..."
"What?" Kudo Shinichi is still somewhat puzzled. "Analyze what?"
Sitting in the very center is twin-tailed girl Komura Rina. On the table in front of her lies an open manga book for the surrounding circle of people to read.
Hearing Kudo Shinichi's voice, she looks up from the crowd, happily saying: "Kudo-san!"
Dressed as a rabbit, she waves: "Come quickly! The latest updated 'Jujutsu Kaisen [New Series]' magazine I bought on the way to school today, it even has a bonus new information booklet. I remember you also follow this manga!"
"Ah... right, I follow it." So everyone's reading manga in the classroom? Kudo Shinichi reacts for a moment, then takes a few steps over.
He follows this manga because his friend Jiang Lai entered it. Don't know if the other party is in this update. Kudo Shinichi thinks casually.
"These chapters are super exciting!" Another classmate beside moves over, imitating gestures: "That Gojo Lai just made this motion, then that cursed spirit flew out with a whoosh!!"
Gojo Lai? Jiang Lai appeared in these updated chapters? Kudo Shinichi catches the keyword.
"My new wall is just amazing!" Komura Rina nods, muttering: "When will the official release merchandise? I've long wanted to enrich my collection..."
"Mm... the recent updates are indeed very interesting. The new character's technique seems like spatial type, but somewhat different from the previously speculated Limitless-like."
Kashiwagi Akiko sitting on one side says calmly.
"Plot development is good. I'm also very interested in Geto Suguru's situation in the new series, and the newly appeared Regulatory Committee information."
"For someone like me who doesn't use brains and only looks at appearances, reading manga is just one word: awesome." Komura Rina says jokingly, sticking out her tongue. "But still want to understand more. This time Megumi, Geto, and my new wall all appeared. Please, please, our class's great detective, help summarize and analyze... if you're not busy now?"
Kudo Shinichi recalls the average duration of the girls' flower ball game on Ran's side, calculates there's still some time before it ends. So he nods, replying: "I'm free now. Let's go."
He takes the latest manga magazine from Komura Rina's hands. The surrounding classmates gather around again.
Kudo Shinichi opens it, starting from the very beginning.
This update's opening is very thrilling. Fushiguro Megumi saves the child targeted by the cursed spirit in crisis. To protect the child in his arms who fainted from excessive fright, he has to struggle to resist and counterattack.
The cunning cursed spirit's sneak attack claws have rushed to Fushiguro Megumi's eyes. At this critical moment, those spikes actually stop!
Next second, under Fushiguro Megumi's shocked gaze, those spikes actually reverse direction, attacking back at the cursed spirit!
The following panels are all incredibly cool battle images. The cursed spirit is suddenly flung out by some unknown force.
The manga's perspective mainly follows Fushiguro Megumi at this time. Although other people haven't appeared in the frames yet, Kudo Shinichi has already guessed who made the move based on what everyone said earlier.
Didn't expect after a few chapters, Jiang Lai has already mastered techniques. He thinks with emotion. Supposedly earned through acting skills. Performance abilities are increasingly refined.
Next page, following Fushiguro Megumi's gaze, he also sees the figure standing with raised hand at the alley entrance, and the subsequent smooth, indifferent posture of holding an umbrella, closing it, waving to disperse rain and snow, and finally that dangerous smile when looking up.
Kudo Shinichi: ...Not only have performance abilities become refined, the dark filter seems to have upgraded too!!
It's been a long time since he, as Conan, faced Jiang Lai, but seeing this filter scene from the manga again, Kudo Shinichi still can't help substituting himself for a second.
Then he glances at wide-eyed Fushiguro Megumi by the wall in the manga, silently pressing the confirmation key in his heart: indeed, this is scaring kids (first-year students) again.
The relatively relaxed mood ends here. What follows is the liquid fox cursed spirit, strange conversations, bandage-wrapped forehead Geto Suguru, Gojo Satoru on the phone...
A series of impactful intelligence information suddenly pours in. While Kudo Shinichi's brain operates at high speed, his expression also blanks for a few seconds.
...Wait, hold on Jiang Lai!! After a few chapters, how do you have so many hidden plotlines?!
The great detective brainstorms, thoughts sublimate: could it be that scaring kids leads to magical plotlines? So that's why Jiang Lai occasionally scared himself back then? (not)
Kudo Shinichi falls into thought. Don't know why, but there's a feeling that what's currently revealed is just the tip of the iceberg, and more plots hidden beneath the surface will be revealed later.
Seems like he's been pulled into a plot storm, Jiang Lai. The great detective thinks.
After he finishes flipping through the last page, surrounding classmates all carefully yet expectantly look at him with starry eyes: "How is it? Did you notice anything?"
Twin-tailed Komura Rina tentatively raises another thin booklet in her hand: "That, there's also a new information booklet here?"
Kudo Shinichi takes a deep breath, calming his mood, then says: "I have some thoughts, but need to organize them." His blue eyes focus with determination to help friends and solve mysteries. He takes the thin booklet from Komura Rina's hand: "No problem, leave it all to me."
Outside the window, bright sunlight illuminates the great detective's determined profile.
At the same time, Seed Flower Forum.
Latest plot discussion post.
【Family! Family, who can tell me what's happening in these chapters QAQ!! How did that mysterious new character, Geto Suguru, and Gojo Satoru all appear at the same time!】
【Megumi, a man at the storm's center hh, fainting at the wrong time...】
【Damn... that arrow claw suspension reversal, plus remotely flinging the cursed spirit, combined with previous suspension, it's definitely some spatial manipulation, right? That Gojo Lai's technique!! Why won't the official give clear information explanation ahhh】
【Feels really like a mutant branch of Limitless (?) Currently seems able to isolate approaching objects and remote control things. Not clear if it's hidden Six Eyes or other techniques that don't need Six Eyes...】
【Woo woo, Lai Lai's gesture of lightly waving away surrounding rain and snow is so handsome, a transcendent feeling of casually brushing away dust! So handsome woo woo dokidoki!】
【Uh, so what does [clock] mean? That newly appeared cursed spirit said Gojo Lai is a [clock], what's this new setting? Feels very mysterious... could it involve some time conversion magic?】
【Am I the only one focused on that [not edible] evaluation hhh, what kind of evaluation is that, I don't believe it, unless Lai-bao comes over and lets me taste prpr!!】
【Above, your abacus clicking can be heard from Uranus】
【Geto! Why is this Geto-kun wrapped in bandages (crying) Is it really Geto-kun!! No Brain no Brain...】
【Really didn't expect Geto Suguru (or Brain?) to appear this time. Do he and that Gojo Lai know each other? Why doesn't anyone speak... 】
【Looking at each other speechlessly, only brainwave communication, laughing to death. Speaking of which, Gojo taking the phone later is also like this. Why don't you all communicate!! (frantically shaking.jpg) I don't even know if you recognize each other, but it feels like there's a story!!】
【Above, go look at the paper manga information booklet images uploaded by Japan fans, I guarantee it's all key points】
【I saw I saw! Inside are fragment manga and text intelligence. Extracting the key points:
Gojo Lai lives next to Fushiguro Megumi, Tsumiki was rescued by Gojo Satoru early, no Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, Okkotsu incident was Gojo Satoru assisting in breaking Rika's curse, Geto Suguru's middle school past, plus some Regulatory Committee information... How can these key intelligence not be in the main story! Damn!!】
【Good guy, rich in content, heading over to look right now!】
【Already finished reading +1, honestly, I think someone in the new series definitely has a script, or is it second playthrough rebirth?
Betting on Gojo-sensei second playthrough, but this second playthrough should be from some time point before 2018, reborn to a past time point, like returning to Jujutsu High enrollment.
Because Yuji's situation hasn't changed, meaning Gojo-sensei probably doesn't know about 2018 events. Only changed previous Tsumiki, affected the Night Parade event, assisted in breaking Okkotsu Rika's curse.
Additionally, Geto Suguru's side... middle school parents disappearing then being taken over is somewhat suspicious, don't know if this Regulatory Committee has problems.
But according to the information booklet, this iris Regulatory Committee seems to have relatively high recognition among people. If it's the villain, that's a bit troublesome. In this situation, simply using force to oppose would easily be misunderstood by the public as the evil side, and subsequent various problems couldn't be handled.
By the way, don't know what Geto Suguru's attitude is toward the Regulatory Committee that took over and funded him. The official hasn't revealed whether the current one is real Geto or fake Geto.
If it's real Geto and second playthrough Gojo, maybe Geto didn't fall out with Gojo and Shoko, perhaps there's some plan among them, hard to say.
But it could also be that after turning dark, because the new series plot is different, he didn't die in 2017 and is still pursuing his great cause now, with some adjustments.
Anyway, Shibuya Incident didn't happen, meaning Brain's plan was disrupted, or Brain changed ideas. Maybe the Regulatory Committee has some connection to Brain? Don't know how it'll develop later.】
【Good guy, analysis master appears above! Kneel to you!!】
【This, this is too strong, woo woo, mom asked why I'm kneeling while looking at my phone... I can't see anything woo woo, thank you master for feeding me analysis】
【Hhh everyone's too kind, the above wasn't finished, I want to add one point: the new character Gojo Lai being called [clock], this word is a bit strange, feels like [clock] might be a special setting... how it develops specifically depends on future updates. Maybe he's not human hh】
【Seeing the master's analysis got me excited... woo woo woo if it's really second playthrough Gojo-sensei, that's a bit thrilling!! Estimate Gojo-sensei would be even crazier (not) but would be a more controlled kind of crazy! Invincible under heaven crazy!】
【Laughing to death, then I'll dance an advanced version of crazy! White Gojo-sensei and black new character time loop DNA double helix crazy! Yuji Megumi Nobara three-body invasion Earth crazy! Past Gojo-Geto-Shoko trio youth aerobics crazy!】
【Grass, what kind of devil are you above xs. Then I have to send out emojis → being a jujutsu sorcerer and reading Jujutsu manga, who isn't crazy.jpg】
【Gahaha, continuation continuation! I want modo modo continuation...】
...
On the other side, Jujutsu world.
Jiang Lai stared at the ceiling for a while in a daze. Don't know exactly how much time passed before he rubbed his eyes, planning to drink some water then check if the manga updated on his phone.
As he picks up his water cup for a sip but hasn't opened his phone yet, the semi-transparent ghost gentleman happens to float out from the locust wood pendant on one side of the table.
"Toji? You've rested well?" Jiang Lai is somewhat surprised. He originally thought the other party wouldn't come out until evening. But early appearance is good; they can communicate earlier.
"By the way, your son is fine. I already notified... Gojo Satoru." Jiang Lai first reports safety to Toji, pausing at the end but still saying that person's name.
Hearing this, the floating ghost gentleman lifts his eyes. He's silent for a moment, his voice low: "...I came out to tell you, maybe our deal needs to be suspended for the next period."
Jiang Lai is slightly stunned, putting down his water cup: "What's wrong with you?" He keenly senses something wrong with Fushiguro Toji's current state. "Is it the influence of today's curse?"
The spirit form in front is much dimmer than usual. Fushiguro Toji's face shows visible exhaustion.
The ghost gentleman's gaze turns to the wall, slowly replying: "I'm a ghost after all. Although cursed spirits are also a type of non-living entity, but... logically I shouldn't be able to affect them. Moreover, my original self was in a state where I couldn't attack cursed spirits without cursed tools."
Jiang Lai listens seriously, concern and worry rising in his heart.
Although he and Fushiguro Toji are superficially in an employer-bounty hunter transaction relationship, after this time together, Jiang Lai feels they also have some companionship.
In this dangerous unfamiliar other dimension, Fushiguro Toji is currently the person (ghost) Jiang Lai has spent the longest time with in this world.
"You don't look well," Jiang Lai hesitates, asking: "Will you disappear?"
Fushiguro Toji tugs at his lips, speaking: "To be frank, no. Just for the next period, I'll probably need to rest in this pendant for a long time... I won't disappear, I'll just sleep."
"If I could disappear like that, that would be good." Mentioning this, the ghost gentleman snorts with laughter, his eyes deep: "...I'm bound. Until it's undone, I can't return to true death."
Jiang Lai watches the semi-transparent spirit form in front, his expression serious: "So what has you bound?"
Fushiguro Toji doesn't speak. He just droops his eyelids, floating lazily to one side.
"Even if we're not friends, we're currently partners. You can trust me more." Jiang Lai's brown eyes focus, his back straight: "What's on your left hand that's always wrapped in bandages? How much contact with the Regulatory Committee? If I want to help you remove this state, I must know more intelligence."
"...No need. You just need to help me deliver some words to Six Eyes."
"Then tell me what words to deliver!" Jiang Lai stares at him. "This spirit form consumption is unexpected for you, right? How long will you sleep? When will you wake again? You don't know any of these. Although Six Eyes isn't hard to find, I can't guarantee I'll be able to communicate normally with him later, whether he'll believe my words..."
Fushiguro Toji turns his head, his gaze penetrating the hair at his forehead. He stares at the black-haired youth in front for a few seconds, suddenly snorting with laughter: "Is this interrogating me for intelligence, or some kind of concern? Hmm?"
Jiang Lai's originally focused expression relaxes. He's stunned.
"Ah... how to put it, somewhat fresh." The ghost gentleman places one hand under his chin, his voice lazy: "Also a bit strange."
"..." Jiang Lai silently stares at him.
"Just kidding." This time it's Fushiguro Toji saying this phrase. His scarred lips curve up, seeming to smile but not: "Maybe I should express gratitude for your concern... but my sweet talk was all said to rich lady misses before. Doesn't seem quite suitable for you, hmm..."
The atmosphere has changed from the previous tense seriousness and approaching storm to the current suddenly shifted state.
Jiang Lai imperceptibly twitches his lips: "Alright, I was asking you questions very seriously just now. Be serious."
The ghost gentleman laughs, raising an eyebrow: "Alright, serious patron sir. What do you want to ask me? How about payment by word count? I'll definitely tell you everything I know... but whether it's correct or not, you'll have to screen and judge yourself."
"..." Jiang Lai silently stares at him again.
Fushiguro Toji returns a lazy, casual smile.
Neither speaks, just silently gazing at each other for a moment.
Then the ghost gentleman's smile gradually disappears. His dark green eyes like some jungle beast watch the person in front, his voice hoarse: "Do you really want to get involved in these matters?"
"First, I'm a person of integrity. I always like to perfect deals I've agreed to," Jiang Lai places his hands together. "Second, I want to know more intelligence, not just for you. I have my own plans. There are some things I must handle here, so I need to know as much as possible."
About this world's truth, about the goal of completing and returning home, these all drive Jiang Lai to actively go deep and extract secrets.
Hearing Jiang Lai's response, Fushiguro Toji tilts his head slightly, instead raising his lips again: "Oh, then I'm relieved. You have your own self-interest. That's normal."
Jiang Lai: "...Although, but, also believe a bit in the existence of companionship."
The ghost gentleman makes a somewhat disdainful snort at this, but doesn't say much more.
He lazily lifts his eyes, staring at Jiang Lai for a few seconds, finally saying: "Don't die."
Jiang Lai pauses. He knows in his heart that this sentence is probably the most companionship-like words Toji can say.
So he tilts his head slightly, smiling in reply: "Won't die."
The room is quiet for a moment.
Winter sunlight outside the window passes over Jiang Lai's brown eyes. He asks: "So now, are you planning to tell me more?"
Fushiguro Toji floats back to the window side. Sunlight passes through his dimmer-than-usual spirit form. His gaze falls outside, then flows back to land on Jiang Lai, stopping there before speaking:
"December 24th, 2017."
The ghost gentleman speaks a date. Jiang Lai's heart pauses. This is the day of "Night Parade of a Hundred Demons" in the original work...!
"This day," Fushiguro Toji says in a flat voice, "happened twice."