Chapter 31 : The Extra Person
Why were there three people? Jiang Lai paused for a few seconds in his heart.
However, it was understandable. Since this was the new Jujutsu Kaisen series with changed background, it would naturally add new characters for plot development.
He just wasn't clear whether this newly added third person was friend or foe.
Thoughts flashed through his mind, but Jiang Lai showed no doubt on the surface. He just brought up the topic as usual: "Speaking of which, what did you say in the messages you sent to your teacher and classmate earlier?"
"Oh, just mentioned briefly that a friend was coming back with us." Geto Suguru replied, "Probably staying in the high school dorms for a while."
Gojo Satoru put his hands behind his head, walking with an arrogant swagger, saying lazily: "I wanted Suguru to add that a monster was coming, but you disagreed, so forget it."
Jiang Lai held his phone (book) slightly floating above his palm. Gojo Satoru looked over alertly, his blue eyes brilliant. However, Jiang Lai didn't make any special moves, just looked at the phone (book) in his hand, then said:
"Actually, the word [existence] should be kept secret. I can't form too many connections with others under this identity."
This sentence was naturally something Jiang Lai made up in a short time, but it was actually the product of his deep thinking.
After hearing about the three first-years just now, Jiang Lai suddenly remembered that the plot development in the new series wasn't the same as the original.
Jiang Lai knew he was some kind of special setting [existence]. Whether or not he was unique in this world, it was best not to show his differences too conspicuously. Unless he had unparalleled strength.
He wasn't clear what the meaning and purpose of [existence] was in this world, as well as the forces and purposes behind the Regulatory Committee. While everything was still unclear, hiding in the shadows to observe was the most rational approach.
Currently, under the premise that the Regulatory Committee was popular worldwide, the current situation was one where the enemy was in the open while he was in the dark.
Hearing Jiang Lai's words about "can't form too many connections with others under the [existence] identity," both Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru were stunned. However, both knew some folklore about demons and ghosts, so they weren't shocked by this statement and could understand it quickly.
Geto Suguru nodded seriously: "Alright, we'll keep it secret, don't worry."
"How can there be such constraints... I'll remember." Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow, turned his face, seeming to hesitate before asking, "But why? What would happen if too many people knew your identity?"
Jiang Lai didn't speak. He naturally didn't know what would happen either, since that statement was just an excuse he made up to hide his identity.
Therefore, he just lifted his warm brown eyes, looking back with a gentle, calm gaze. Sometimes, silence was the best response.
Gojo Satoru quickly looked away, saying loudly: "I won't ask anymore!" He said, "Anyway, we already know each other. From now on, only we know you're an [existence]. Others can treat you as human and befriend you."
"You can also tell your classmate, the one called 'Shoko,' right?" Jiang Lai added, "From your earlier conversation, the three of you seem to have a good relationship. So don't keep secrets."
"Alright." Geto Suguru nodded, "I'll send her a message later and ask her to keep it secret too."
Gojo Satoru thought for a moment, adding from the side: "If you haven't been together too long, others probably won't notice your unchanged appearance. Anyway, if you want, you can say it's due to your technique's influence. I can vouch for you."
Six Eyes' detection and analysis naturally carried considerable persuasive power. Gojo Satoru's words showed his willingness to cooperate with Jiang Lai.
"Thank you then, Satoru." Jiang Lai smiled.
Gojo Satoru hummed and made satisfied sounds, his demeanor flamboyant as he accepted Jiang Lai's thanks.
This abandoned building mission location was some distance from Jujutsu High. Normally, most people would choose to take the train back.
Gojo Satoru found going to the train station too troublesome, and there were no sweets or specialties he wanted to buy along the way, so he simply found a nearby taxi. Japanese taxis were notoriously expensive worldwide, but for the Young Master of the Gojo family, this amount of money was naturally just pocket change.
In the car, Jiang Lai sent the photo of the incomplete pattern on Geto Suguru's forehead to the group, asking his Detective Conan friends to help collect related clues.
Of course, to others, he was just poking at a blank book.
Geto Suguru sitting beside him politely didn't stare and didn't ask many questions. He would only give gentle reminders when vehicles were about to turn, so that Jiang Lai, who was concentrating on his book, could be prepared.
Gojo Satoru in the front passenger seat started chatting with Geto Suguru: "By the way, when did they send you the message?"
"Before this mission started, on the way to the abandoned building." Geto Suguru answered, "They emailed saying the mission was complete, but due to transportation reasons, they can only return tomorrow morning."
Hearing the topic return here, Jiang Lai perked up, seemingly casually joining the conversation: "Are those your underclassmen?"
"Right, three junior students." Geto Suguru replied with a smile, "You'll meet them tomorrow too."
Three junior students... The extra one was male. Not the traditional two-boys-one-girl trio setting. Jiang Lai thought.
"That's Stone Nanami Sea, Mushroom Head Haibara, and Doggy Yuikawa," Gojo Satoru said loudly from the front passenger seat.
Stone Nanami Sea was Nanami Kento. Mushroom Head Haibara was Haibara Yu. The last Doggy Yuikawa was the newly added one...? Jiang Lai listened while organizing in his mind.
Geto Suguru said helplessly: "Hey, Satoru, don't give the underclassmen random nicknames."
Gojo Satoru lifted his chin: "What's wrong with it? They don't mind anyway, and it's a way for seniors to show affection!"
Geto Suguru sighed and turned to Jiang Lai: "Let me tell you briefly instead. Satoru... forget it."
"What do you mean, forget it!" Gojo Satoru grabbed the chair back and turned around, "My nicknames all capture their distinctive features! Lai, listen to me, don't listen to Suguru."
"Listening to you would be biased." Geto Suguru pointed out quietly, "Don't describe the underclassmen so strangely."
Jiang Lai blinked: "You both talk, I'll listen to everything." He decided to collect from both sides and compile the intelligence comprehensively.
Gojo Satoru spoke first: "Stone Nanami Sea, full name Nanami Kento. Nanami Sea has a serious personality and doesn't joke around, just like a stone. But I love teasing him, though he ignores me."
Geto Suguru joined in: "Nanami is called mature, steady, calm, and serious. Although young, he already has adult reliability. Satoru always jokes with him, but he usually remains expressionless and doesn't mind."
Gojo Satoru continued: "Mushroom Head Haibara, Haibara Yu, has that semicircular mushroom cut. He's my energetic straight man!"
Geto Suguru: "Haibara has a great personality, lively and cheerful, doesn't hold grudges. An optimistic type with no worries, a cute underclassman."
Gojo Satoru: "Doggy Yuikawa, Yuikawa Kurisu, light brown hair and droopy dog eyes. He runs around just like a little dog!" He paused, "But sometimes he always comes over, which feels a bit annoying, so I ignore him."
"Satoru, you're too cold." Geto Suguru shook his head with some helplessness, "Yuikawa has a good personality, just a bit shy, but very active. He really likes coming to learn from us upperclassmen."
"How am I cold? I just don't like it when someone suddenly butts into our conversations." Gojo Satoru crossed his arms and put his legs up, looking a bit cramped in the narrow car, "Usually it's fine."
"He just comes to study and doesn't say much, just listens seriously. Plus didn't Yuikawa, Nanami, and Haibara say they'd bring you souvenirs?" Geto Suguru smiled, "Don't worry about such small details."
"I know, I know, Suguru," Gojo Satoru hummed, "Worthy of being the underclassmen's favorite senior. I have no interest in that title. I want to be the arrogant senior who does whatever he wants."
Geto Suguru curved his eyebrows with some helplessness and shook his head.
From these few exchanges, it seemed Gojo Satoru wasn't particularly fond of this Yuikawa underclassman. Jiang Lai thought. Was it simple sharp-tongued talk, some personality incompatibility, or some kind of intuitive factor?
From Geto Suguru's words, his impression of that person seemed decent.
Anyway, they'd see after meeting. Jiang Lai considered. Only through further contact could he make judgments.
The group took a taxi and quickly arrived near the school.
As an [existence], Jiang Lai theoretically didn't need registration to pass through barriers. However, to hide this identity, he followed general rules and registered his cursed energy before entering the school with Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru.
Principal Yaga first called them over, scolding the two for forgetting to set up a [veil] during their mission again.
Geto Suguru showed a good attitude of admitting fault on the surface, while Gojo Satoru looked like he wasn't really listening, occasionally making various gestures to Jiang Lai beside him.
Jiang Lai: "......" Although, but, can't understand sign language.jpg
Better to continue wearing the shallow smile mask and zone out. he thought.
However, it wasn't long before the topic shifted to Jiang Lai on the side. Principal Yaga kept a stern face, watching Jiang Lai, considering something, but his thoughts weren't shown on his face.
Gojo Satoru jumped up, saying: "Hey, Principal Yaga, look at the help I brought back this time. Suguru told you, right? He's staying here, hanging out with us daily."
Yaga Masamichi: "Generally speaking, the high school doesn't accommodate..."
"Eh, what do you mean generally speaking? I heard you're about to be promoted to principal. You make the rules." Gojo Satoru waved his hand casually, "Besides, my family funded and donated that dormitory building over there. Logically, I have special privileges. I'm just reporting to you, no need for you to manage much."
Jiang Lai: "..." What kind of Jujutsu Kaisen version wealthy Young Master was this!
His thoughts wandered for a moment, and Jiang Lai felt his novel had new material. The next one could be "Can I, Who Am Rich, Handsome, and Invincible, Achieve a Happy Ending?"
Yaga Masamichi paused for a second, saying seriously: "Satoru, don't drag random people walking on the street to play with you. Adults are all busy."
"He's willing, I didn't force him. We're very familiar." Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow, turning to Jiang Lai, "Right?"
Jiang Lai stood steady, not directly answering why he came here, just gently meeting Yaga Masamichi's gaze and saying:
"If there are missions, I can help out daily as a small repayment for staying here and causing trouble."
"That's not necessary." Yaga Masamichi's voice was steady. After a pause, he added, "However, if you could follow along and remind Satoru and Suguru to remember to set up [veils] when going on missions, that would be much appreciated."
"Hey hey, don't distrust us so much, Principal Yaga. Our mission completion rate is usually very high!" The white-haired Young Master raised his voice, lifting his chin, "Of course, Lai coming along to play would be great too."
Yaga Masamichi slapped the desk: "Take missions seriously, don't always have a playful attitude!"
Geto Suguru beside them raised his hand, patting the back of Gojo Satoru's head when he didn't have Limitless active, suppressing his friend's imminent rebuttal.
He smiled with fox-like features, saying to Yaga Masamichi: "Yes yes, we remember, teacher. No problem, teacher. May we go now, teacher?"
The string of "teachers" had a special effect. Although superficially serious and polite, it was actually somewhat perfunctory, not like genuine obedience.
Yaga Masamichi rubbed his forehead: "Suguru, you... Sigh, forget it. Both problem children, but you're still easier to manage than Satoru. Nothing else, go ahead."
"We'll leave now, we already arranged to meet Shoko later." Geto Suguru maintained his squinting smile expression, restraining Gojo Satoru who wanted to say more, and left the office.
Outside in the hallway, he released his hold on Gojo Satoru's arm: "Alright, Satoru, if you kept talking, it would take more time. Better to end early and slip out. Mr. Lai even noticed my eye signals."
"?" Jiang Lai paused almost imperceptibly.
He actually hadn't noticed the eye signals, partly because his attention wasn't on Geto Suguru at the time, and partly because Geto Suguru's eyes were too small.
But saying so seemed impolite, so Jiang Lai didn't speak, indicating tacit agreement, just adding: "No need to call me Mr. Lai, just call me Lai directly."
Gojo Satoru on the side skillfully made an exaggerated expression, saying: "Hah? Your eye signals? No good, Suguru. Even my super-strong Six Eyes can barely see your eye signals. You need to have big sparkling eyes like mine."
"......Satoru!"
The two started wrestling again, joking around while fighting, but could still maintain their walking direction.
Jiang Lai's gaze wandered. Coming to a strange new place, he instinctively first observed the environment and analyzed routes.
Tokyo Jujutsu High's grounds were very large, located in a relatively remote forest area with sparse foot traffic around.
The environment here was very nice, with lush trees and buildings with traditional flavor.
Jiang Lai's gaze fell on a nearby building, noticing an abrupt gap above the main entrance, the kind where something originally existed but was removed, showing a different color from the surroundings.
"What was there originally?" Jiang Lai pointed toward the gap where the base showed a different color.
"Oh, there used to be scattered one or two Regulatory Committee iris flower symbols indicating inspection approval." Geto Suguru stopped wrestling with Gojo Satoru and replied, "But Satoru tore them all down when he arrived."
"What do school buildings need those for? Knowing they're approved is enough." Gojo Satoru lifted his blue eyes, "They were annoying to look at, so I threw them all away."
Geto Suguru: "Anyway, no one can control Satoru, so that's how it is." His gaze fell on the ground ahead, "As for me... I have no particular thoughts."
"Speaking of the Regulatory Committee, if you want to thank someone, thank me, Suguru! My family contributed quite a bit of money there. So as thanks, you can write the mission reports next time!" Gojo Satoru came over to put his arm around Geto Suguru's shoulder, "Or just skip the Regulatory Committee and have my family sponsor you directly!"
Geto Suguru: "......That's not necessary. Also, write your own mission reports, don't ask me. No way."
He pushed away his carelessly leaning friend, then said: "It's all in the past. Now the salary from working as a jujutsu sorcerer on missions is enough."
Jiang Lai listened quietly, glancing at Geto Suguru.
That lightly passed remark just now, he couldn't really tell Geto Suguru's attitude toward the Regulatory Committee. Gojo Satoru probably still had the same attitude as during the fireworks festival, finding it a bit annoying.
They walked all the way from the office building to the dormitories. Since they'd given advance notice, Ieiri Shoko was already waiting at the outermost entrance of the dormitory area, by the standing signboard.
There happened to be an old tree with lush branches here, providing a patch of shade.
The lazy yet capable girl stood there. During her high school period, she still had short hair. Ieiri Shoko held a cigarette between her fingers.
Seeing them from afar, Ieiri Shoko spoke flatly as the group approached: "Yo, you're back. And a new friend."
"Nice to meet you, hello." Jiang Lai smiled and greeted first, "You can call me Lai, or Gojo Lai, either is fine."
"Geto told me about it. Nice to meet you, I'm Ieiri Shoko, call me whatever you like." She nodded slightly, saying, "It must not be easy getting along with those two. Sorry about that."
"What's that supposed to mean, Shoko? I'm super popular!" Gojo Satoru removed his sunglasses, revealing his beautiful, dazzling blue pupils, not sparing any display of his exquisite appearance, "One of a kind in the world."
Ieiri Shoko's expression remained calm as she looked away toward Geto Suguru beside her.
The brown-haired girl exhaled smoke and spoke: "By the way, while you were on your mission, a new letter came. I happened to pass by the mail office and brought the envelope to the classroom for you. You can get it later."
"A letter?" Geto Suguru was slightly stunned, pausing for two or three seconds before looking down and saying, "......Since there's a letter for me, then maybe I should go to the classroom first. Satoru, you take Lai to find a dormitory."
"Oh, then you go ahead. I'll take Lai to the dormitory." Gojo Satoru raised his hand, waving goodbye to Geto Suguru.
Jiang Lai watched the topknot teenager's departing figure, paused, then seemingly casually asked: "Do people still habitually communicate by letter these days?"
"Not sure." Ieiri Shoko said, "Anyway, the envelope only had Geto Suguru's name on it, no other information. Don't know how it was sent."
"Come on, come on, don't worry about that stuff." Gojo Satoru had already stepped over the threshold, calling out, "Let's go look at the dormitory."
Jiang Lai caught up in a few steps, then looked back once more. Geto Suguru had already walked far away. Sunlight shone from behind the topknot teenager, his shadow falling on the path ahead of him.