Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Mahito
An adult, kneeling on the ground in front of a teenager, crying and apologizing in public.
The students watching exchanged puzzled looks. They didn't know what had happened, but judging by the screams they'd heard from the counselor's phone earlier and his current state, it must have been something serious.
"Let's record this first."
Many students continued filming the scene as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Don't think this will make me forgive you."
Yoshino Junpei looked at the teacher kneeling before him with disgust.
"No, I wouldn't dare ask for your forgiveness, Yoshino."
The middle-aged man finally raised his head, looking lost but determined.
"I only hope to accept my punishment and use it as a lesson to open my eyes."
He seemed to have made up his mind. Though his tone was downcast, it was resolute:
"I'll resign from my position as the school dean and remain by the students' side as just a regular teacher."
"That's your decision. It has nothing to do with me."
Yoshino Junpei's eyes flickered at the counselor's sincere apology but remained cold.
About ten minutes later, the gym teacher finally noticed the group of students gathered near the basketball court.
He walked over to check the situation and immediately saw the counselor sitting on the ground and several students lying around.
"Huh?"
Though he didn't know what had happened, he quickly dismissed the crowd and grabbed a few unlucky boys nearby to help carry the injured students to the infirmary.
Only then did he notice Yoshino Junpei and Yukinoshita Yukino, clearly not from this school.
He wanted to ask the counselor what was going on, but the atmosphere made it clear this wasn't the time. Left with no choice, the gym teacher stood off to the side like a bodyguard.
After making sure everything was under control, Yukinoshita Yukino took out her phone and called Ijichi Kiyotaka.
"Ijichi-san, Itadori and I are at Rion High… Yes, the school where Yoshino Junpei studies. Can you send a few police officers over? There's a school bullying case here."
"You're coming too? Alright, thank you. We'll wait here."
After hanging up, she noticed Itadori Yuji looking at her questioningly.
"Ijichi-san is coming."
"Oh."
Itadori Yuji nodded and turned his gaze back to Yoshino Junpei.
He couldn't fully understand what Yoshino was going through, so he didn't know how to comfort him. All he could do was silently stand by his side.
Yoshino Junpei glanced at Itadori, then lowered his eyes and pressed his lips tightly together, saying nothing.
Silence spread among the group, each lost in their own thoughts.
Seeing that the dean had calmed down, the PE teacher finally seized the chance to quietly approach and ask what was going on.
That's when he saw the videos on Itou Shota's phone, recording the bullying incidents.
"Outrageous!"
The dark-skinned, muscular PE teacher slapped his thigh and stood up, shouting angrily.
Realizing that everyone's eyes were now on him, he coughed awkwardly and squatted back down beside the dean.
Before long, Ijichi Kiyotaka arrived with several uniformed police officers.
"Ijichi-san!"
Itadori Yuji waved excitedly.
"Itadori-kun, and Yukinoshita-san."
Ijichi Kiyotaka nodded at them before turning his gaze to the boy with bangs standing next to Itadori Yuji.
"And Yoshino-kun, hello."
"Oh, hello."
Yoshino Junpei, surprised that Ijichi Kiyotaka greeted him, responded nervously.
"I've already been briefed by Yukinoshita-san"
Ijichi Kiyotaka glanced around.
"So, where's Itou Shota, the one to be arrested?"
The PE teacher, still paying close attention, quickly stepped forward.
"Itou Shota fainted from an injury and was taken to the infirmary by some students. I'll take you there—please follow me."
He led the officers toward the infirmary.
"Let the police handle things from here. We should leave," Ijichi Kiyotaka said.
The three left Sazakura High School with him and got into his car.
"Ijichi-san, where are we going?"
After getting in, Itadori Yuji asked. He and Yoshino Junpei sat in the back, while Yukinoshita Yukino took the front passenger seat.
"I heard from Yukinoshita-san that you had a deal," Ijichi Kiyotaka reminded them.
"Oh, right, we did!"
Itadori Yuji blinked, recalling the matter only after being reminded.
"Junpei, you can tell us now, right?"
"Yeah, I know."
Yoshino Junpei nodded and began explaining how he encountered Mahito at the movie theater.
"So that special-grade curse is called Mahito, huh? Curses having names like humans...feels kinda weird," Itadori Yuji remarked.
"A man covered in stitch-like scars, highly intelligent, capable of speaking fluently with humans," Ijichi Kiyotaka summarized, adjusting his glasses.
"There's no doubt—he's connected to the special-grade curse that attacked Gojo-sensei before."
Yukinoshita Yukino, however, was more concerned with another matter.
Her expression grew serious as she asked, "Yoshino-kun, are you saying that man named Mahito altered you, giving you the ability to use cursed energy and control shikigami?"
"Y-yeah," Yoshino Junpei stammered, startled by her serious tone.
"Is something wrong?"
"Do you feel any physical or mental discomfort?" Yukinoshita Yukino pressed further.
"N-no, not at all," he stammered, shaking his head in confusion.
As the one responsible for handling the aftermath of Ooka's death, Ijichi Kiyotaka, along with Itadori Yuji, who had listened to Yukinoshita Yukino's story, understood the meaning behind her words.
Itadori Yuji grew tense and placed his hands on Yoshino Junpei's shoulders, carefully examining him.
"You're not hiding anything, right? If you feel unwell, you have to tell us!"
"Uh... should I be feeling sick?"
Yoshino Junpei was puzzled by his reaction.
"You might not believe this, but the last person who awakened cursed energy and techniques after being altered by that man called Mahito... died because his soul was twisted too much," Yukinoshita Yukino said gravely.
"What did you say?"
Yoshino Junpei was stunned.
"Mahito-san is actually... a good... person...?"
Realization slowly dawned on him as his eyes widened.
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