Chapter 30 : The Pattern on the Forehead
Hearing Geto Suguru's words, Jiang Lai's heart paused slightly, but he continued smoothly:
"I noticed the bandages on Suguru-kun's forehead earlier... are you injured?" He asked with appropriately polite concern, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, it's actually not a wound." Geto Suguru touched the bandages on his head, his eyebrows curving slightly, showing some helplessness, "I originally thought wrapping it up would be better, but now it seems this also attracts quite a lot of attention."
From this perspective, was it Geto Suguru himself who wanted to hide it? Jiang Lai's thoughts surged internally. Because he didn't want to draw attention? Indeed there was something underneath.
Under his gaze, Geto Suguru unwrapped the bandages circle by circle, revealing his forehead.
On it, scattered black patterns spread out in an orderly fashion, seeming to be part of some incomplete complex design, but this didn't look like part of an iris flower pattern.
Jiang Lai immediately determined.
Because the iris flower symbol in this world was the most widely circulated iris flower emblem from the real world, simple and elegant, symmetrical and abstract, a common decorative pattern style. But the black traces on Geto Suguru's forehead now were obviously not that kind of simple symbol.
However, because the pattern on Geto Suguru's forehead wasn't completely drawn, it was impossible to tell what this specifically was from these damaged fragments.
Jiang Lai paused and spoke: "This is..."
"This is part of Suguru's skin, naturally grown patterns!" Gojo Satoru beside them put his arm around his friend's shoulder, directly reaching up to rub vigorously, "Although I really want to wipe it off for him, this thing can't be wiped off."
"Stop stop stop, Satoru." Geto Suguru raised his hand to push away Gojo Satoru's arm, "Do you need to use so much force? You're doing it on purpose." His forehead had been rubbed red by Gojo Satoru.
"Isn't this demonstrating to Lai that this thing isn't something you drew on?" Gojo Satoru grinned as he dodged to the side, his beautiful eyes blinking.
He then spread his hands: "Plus tattoo removal stuff can't wash it off either. I was curious before, so while Suguru was sleeping at night, I secretly used tattoo removal stuff to wash it."
"You still have the nerve to mention that!" Geto Suguru's small eyes widened slightly, complaining: "I was sleeping peacefully in the dorm at night, then you came creeping over in the middle of the night. The horror effect was simply..."
"Hah? Are you scared? When the three of us were watching horror movies in the dorm before, you and Shoko were both complaining. I couldn't tell you were afraid of this stuff at all."
"Because ghosts aren't as ugly as cursed spirits, what's there to be afraid of? Oh, that's not the point. The point is you disturbed my rest in the middle of the night!"
"I'm the all-powerful genius. Although I only watched tutorial videos, my skills are still first-rate!" Gojo Satoru glowed with confidence, "Starting as an invincible tattoo removal master, it's your honor to have the invincible tattoo removal master remove your tattoo, Suguru."
Geto Suguru: "......"
Jiang Lai listened to their conversation from the side, thoughts passing through his mind: The pattern wasn't a tattoo done by himself or others, could it be something like a curse mark similar to Fushiguro Tsumiki's in the original work?
Then, Gojo Satoru's words also mentioned this. The white-haired teenager's smile faded, his blue eyes lifting slightly as he said: "Six Eyes can't see traces of curses, this isn't a curse... but I'm not clear what this is either."
"Of course it's not a curse." Geto Suguru answered, "I'm also a jujutsu sorcerer. If it were a curse, I'd feel it."
"So, what is this?" Jiang Lai blinked lightly, asking the most crucial question.
"Actually, I'm not too clear either. It seems like around middle school age, one day when I woke up, there was a little bit of a mark." Geto Suguru shook his head, showing a reminiscent expression.
"This mark grows slowly. At first it was just a little black dot, then it evolved into this. Like it's part of my skin, anyway, there's no particular feeling, so I just treat it as a place where my body differs from ordinary people."
Middle school... Jiang Lai pondered. He remembered the elderly landlady mentioning that Geto Suguru's parents disappeared not long after he started middle school, and afterward he was supported and helped by the Regulatory Committee.
Was this growing mark made by the Regulatory Committee? But what exactly was this mark? It looked like a more advanced, more complex totem.
For now, let's assume it's related to the Regulatory Committee. If even Six Eyes couldn't see through it... Jiang Lai's heart sank. Were there cursed tools in this cursed world that could avoid Six Eyes, or was there some [existence] there too?
Since he had quickly and smoothly been recognized by world consciousness as some kind of ethereal [existence], it should indicate this wasn't an isolated concept. Very likely he wasn't the only one.
Of course, these were just speculations. Currently, he hadn't had close contact with that organization's main body. All the information was compiled analysis from intelligence heard from the sidelines.
Wait until his strength was greater and he'd gathered more intelligence, then he'd find a way to investigate deeper. Jiang Lai thought internally. Everything needed to proceed step by step.
"Even if there's no particular feeling, this kind of thing appearing on the forehead is still weird. Plus who knows if there will be other effects later." Gojo Satoru pouted, nodding decisively: "Just directly remove and graft skin, I'll pay! Or I'll do the operation!"
Geto Suguru: "......That's not necessary." He smiled, "It's just that walking on the street inevitably attracts people's attention, so I simply wrapped it up. Although it's also very obvious, it's still a bit better."
Gojo Satoru thought for a few seconds, his left fist hitting his right palm: "Suguru, you could change to a colored headband! Change to bangs that hang down on both sides, or comb your hair back, then say you're cosplaying that guy... mm, Chrollo from Hunter x Hunter!"
"Or buying a Naruto forehead protector would be good too, so many symbols to choose from."
Jiang Lai: He didn't expect the Jujutsu Kaisen world to also have Hunter x Hunter and Naruto! Indeed these worlds were mutually observing each other.
He spoke leisurely from the side: "But if it's cosplay, wouldn't that attract even more attention? I mean, being surrounded or asked for photos."
"Better to just keep wrapping it with bandages like this." Geto Suguru curved his lips slightly, saying, "To unfamiliar people, explaining it as a forehead injury can avoid many questions."
"That works too." Jiang Lai nodded, blinking: "If you don't mind... may I take a photo? I travel to many places regularly, perhaps I can find information related to this incomplete totem."
He planned to send the photo to his Detective Conan friends for brainstorming, to see if they could find the complete version of this incomplete pattern online and in Jujutsu Kaisen manga.
"Oh, I don't mind, go ahead and take it." Geto Suguru smiled with squinted eyes, saying politely, "And thank you in advance for helping me search for information." He pushed aside the hanging strand of bangs, revealing his complete forehead.
Jiang Lai raised his phone (book), photographing the incomplete scattered black traces.
Gojo Satoru beside them watched this scene, suddenly speaking: "Isn't this just a blank book? How can it take photos?" He tilted his head, looking left and right, trying to spot some clue.
"I told you, it has spirituality, it's not as simple as you think." Jiang Lai smiled, "It looks like a book, but actually has other unexpected functions. Image recording is one of them."
Gojo Satoru made a purring "mm..." sound in his throat like a big cat, as if pondering, drawing it out, then as if suddenly remembering something, his eyes widened:
"Wait, this thing can take photos?? Then when you raised this book at me during the fireworks festival, you were going to..."
"Yes." Jiang Lai nodded calmly, "I was recording your rare genuine speechless face and sour expressions as embarrassing history."
Gojo Satoru: "......"
Gojo Satoru stepped forward waving his arms, like a flapping white goose (handsome version), raising his voice: "Delete it delete it! I'm threatening you to delete it!! Damn it!!"
Jiang Lai smiled, mimicking Gojo Satoru's earlier tone and posture, looking up at the sky: "Mm? What are you saying? I can't hear clearly!"
Topknot Geto Suguru beside them laughed lightly, rewrapping the bandages circle by circle, saying leisurely:
"If it's possible to share, could you give me a copy? I've seen Satoru's sour face, but I haven't seen his genuine speechless expression yet. Worth keeping as a memento."
"Hey, Suguru!" Gojo Satoru's troublemaking target shifted again, turning toward the rewrapped Geto Suguru.
Jiang Lai on the side couldn't help but feel somewhat emotional. Indeed, current high school period Gojo Satoru was still an adolescent big boy concerned about face.
When he became adult Gojo Satoru in the future, he probably wouldn't react like this.
285 facing others' photo embarrassing history jokes would instead openly pose in various difficult positions, saying teasingly "Oh I knew my charm was so great, I'll give you more opportunities to take photos, come come come", probably that kind of style.
They scuffled for a while more, then soon, auxiliary supervisors and other people responsible for handling aftermath hurried to this area.
Although they already knew about the scene's "devastation" from Geto Suguru's text message, personally witnessing the place where an abandoned building once stood leveled to the ground, with the ground even blasted into a terrifying crater, was still shockingly silent.
Wind lifted the settling dust from the destroyed building, brushing past people's faces, bringing slight stinging sensations.
The people handling aftermath stared at the scene before them, pausing for a few seconds, stammering: "......You, that, really didn't set up a [veil]?"
Geto Suguru showed an apologetic expression: "We're really sorry, we'll remember next time. We've caused you trouble."
"No problem no problem!" Gojo Satoru smugly put his hands in his pockets, loudly telling the aftermath handlers, "Although we didn't set up a [veil], I've already cleaned up the scene."
"How's that? My handling is clean enough, right? Saved you trouble! If you want to express gratitude, there's no need to say more, it's just a small favor." The white-haired teenager's exquisite face showed a smile, quite gracefully waving his hand to indicate.
Aftermath handler: "..."
Geto Suguru held his forehead and sighed: "Satoru, maybe you shouldn't talk."
How could someone look so good but be so infuriating the moment they opened their mouth!
Jiang Lai internally displayed a half-moon eye emoji, thinking: Worthy of being personally certified by author One-Eyed Cat comrade as perfect in everything except personality.
High school period Gojo Satoru was even more insufferable than his adult period. After all, he was the supremely arrogant Six Eyes divine child pampered by his family since childhood.
The auxiliary supervisor's gaze fell on Jiang Lai, hesitating for a second before asking: "This person is......"
"This is an acquaintance of mine and Suguru's, happened to pass by here. We'll leave together later, or he'll leave on his own. You go busy with your things, no need to record him." Gojo Satoru gracefully moved to Jiang Lai's side, intimately raising his hand to pat his back, but the force was so strong that Jiang Lai felt he was doing it on purpose...
Under Gojo Satoru's forceful patting, Jiang Lai maintained his expression, smiling slightly at the auxiliary supervisor.
Under the auxiliary supervisor's god-sending attitude, the group left the abandoned building cursed spirit exorcism location.
On the road, Geto Suguru said: "I already sent a message to Principal Yaga earlier, I'll also send one to Shoko at school to let her know."
Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru's classmate, Ieiri Shoko, was a rare person who could use Reverse Cursed Technique to heal others, a super rare and very important healing-type doctor role.
Therefore, to protect her safety, she was rarely sent on missions, staying inside the high school most of the time.
"Send a message telling Shoko we encountered a monster, we'll show her the monster when we get back, ow!" Gojo Satoru covered his head and jumped to the side, his sky-blue pupils slightly widening, "How did you bonk my head again? I'm going to make a fuss! I'm really going to make a fuss!"
Jiang Lai's expression was indifferent, his phone (book) gracefully floating in a circle in the air like some beautiful bird, finally returning to his palm.
Geto Suguru beside them, who had finished sending messages, looked up with a half-helpless smile: "It's obviously all Satoru's fault, calling people monsters. Although Lai said we can call him by name directly, there should be some respect for elders in our words."
"Suguru, you're not on the same side as me anymore, how could this be!" Gojo Satoru lowered the hand covering his head, it hadn't really hurt much to begin with. He drew out his voice, sounding like he was complaining but also acting spoiled, "But Lai clearly won't tell me what kind of [existence] he actually is, so how should I address him..."
"Just call me by my name." Jiang Lai looked sideways, the sunlight streaming from the sky happened to shine on his brow, his eyes curved slightly, "Isn't a name warmer than the cold [existence] itself?"
"Even so..." Gojo Satoru stood in place thinking for a few seconds, then strode to catch up on his long legs, humming with laughter: "Fine, names do feel more human."
"And that [Gojo Lai] counts as a name I gave you. This genius Six Eyes gave you a name, you better remember it well." Gojo Satoru put on a fierce expression, arrogantly lifting his chin.
"Yes yes yes." Jiang Lai replied casually, like coaxing a cat.
Geto Suguru: "......" He walked closer to Jiang Lai, saying in a low voice: "Satoru's personality is like this, he doesn't mean any harm. Please don't take offense if he's been rude."
"Mm, I know." Jiang Lai smiled.
"What are you two whispering about?" Gojo Satoru raised his eyebrows, squeezing between the two from behind.
"Talking about how Nanami and the others are returning to school this time." Geto Suguru smiled with fox-like features, changing the subject: "They sent me a message before saying their mission was complete, returning tomorrow."
If Nanami Kento and Haibara Yu had already enrolled, then Gojo and the others were currently second-years at the high school. Jiang Lai confirmed the timeline again in his mind. This should be 2006.
The Star Plasma Vessel incident occurred this year in the original work. Spirit form Fushiguro Toji had mentioned his own death was also in this year.
It should be the same as the original, he died in the Star Plasma Vessel incident, right? Logically, since Toji's death was confirmed in the future with his spirit form remaining, this time point should be unchangeable.
What was happening now was just filling in the past timeline.
The original work didn't give specific months for the Star Plasma Vessel, roughly estimated to be April through June.
The current surrounding environment looked like late spring scenery, probably May? He wasn't clear if the Star Plasma Vessel incident had happened yet.
"Oh! They completed their mission? Those three said before leaving that they'd bring me souvenirs! I'll share them with you too when the time comes." Gojo Satoru put one arm around each of Geto Suguru's and Jiang Lai's shoulders, "Don't bully the underclassmen, Satoru." Geto Suguru chuckled in response.
Jiang Lai beside them heard Gojo Satoru's words and his heart jumped.
......Wait, [those three], meaning there were currently three people total in the first year?
He remembered in the original work, the first year only had Nanami Kento and Haibara Yu, two people.
Who was this extra one now...?