Your Life As A Tokyo Jujutsu High Background Student

Chapter 53 - Family comes first

Headquarters' intention to reach out to the Ainu Society made sense, in a desperate, grasping-at-straws kind of way. The sheer volume of dumpster fire engulfing the entire nation was unprecedented. While Tokyo had been hit the hardest by the Shibuya Incident, the rest of Japan wasn't exactly enjoying a peaceful picnic. More like a picnic in the middle of a hurricane. With bears.

Kenjaku's ultimate dick move that night had unleashed chaos on a national scale.

Newly awakened sorcerers were popping up everywhere – normal people suddenly manifesting cursed techniques, ancient sorcerers clawing their way back from the depths of history with a vengeance. If Sukuna's personality was any indication, those reincarnated sorcerers were going to be a headache of epic proportions. There'd been reports of riots, mass hysteria, cursed spirit outbreaks, and all kinds of cursed shenanigans in prefectures where there were few local sorcerers to keep things under control.

It was no surprise that other sorcerer families were calling back their folks to defend their own territories. Family first, apocalypse later. A perfectly logical approach to global annihilation.

Kamo Noritoshi had approached you during breakfast this morning, radiating a quiet sense of purpose that was unsettling at this ungodly hour. He looked like a man about to walk into his own execution, but with weirder hair.

"Things are getting complicated in Kyoto," he said, his gaze distant. "My father has summoned me home. As the heir to the Kamo clan, my presence is required. I'll try to finish up quickly and come back to help more, if you still need me here, of course."

You supposed it couldn't be helped, especially since their fearless leader, Gakuganji, was currently enjoying a forced sabbatical with you (sorry, not sorry). You couldn't very well force Noritoshi to stay while simultaneously holding his Principal hostage. That would be inconsiderate.

"Alright," you nodded. "I understand. Go kick ass and take names. And thanks, Noritoshi. I really appreciate everything you've done."

"I suppose... this is goodbye then." Noritoshi bowed respectfully, then clapped a firm hand on your shoulder, as if trying to transfer some of his stoic determination to you through osmosis. "Take care of yourself, Spices."

"You too," you murmured back.

As Noritoshi turned to leave, Mai piped up from her spot at the table. "I'll be away for a bit, too. Gotta check in at the Zen'in compound."

"What's up?" Maki frowned, glancing up from her plate.

Mai shrugged. "I don't know. Heard all Zen'ins are being summoned home. You should come with me. Father specifically asked for both of us."

"I have nothing to do with them," Maki scowled, her grip tightening on her chopsticks like she was imagining stabbing someone with them. Probably her father.

"Whatever you say," Mai snickered, her bravado a flimsy shield against the hurt in her eyes. "Mother said she missed you. But not like you ever gave a shit about us."

The air grew thick with tension. You could almost feel electricity crackling between the sisters. Everyone in the dining hall held their breath, instinctively leaning away from the epicenter of the Zen'in family drama. No one wanted to get caught in the crossfire.

So, naturally, that's when you decided to wade in.

"Don't go. Both of you."

While Shoko was holding Zen'in Naobito's recovery as leverage to coerce his vote for Gojo, you absolutely couldn't afford for the Zen'ins to use Mai and Maki to counter your play and force your hand. That clan was a nest of vipers just waiting for the right moment to strike. Having Mai and Maki under their thumb would give them an unacceptable advantage.