Ultimate Man [JJK X SOL]: Loading Golden Entries at The Start

The heavy scent of blood and dust lingered in the air as Maki stood amidst the ruins of the abandoned warehouse. Her breathing was steady, but the faint tremble in her hands betrayed the intensity of the battle she had just endured. The fragmented remains of the special-grade cursed spirit lay scattered around her, the aftermath of her unrelenting assault.

She wiped the sweat off her brow and glanced at the twin-bladed staff in her hands, a high-grade cursed tool Gojo had procured for her. Its edges glinted ominously in the dim light, a testament to its lethality.

"Special-grade cursed spirit… huh? So weak." Maki muttered to herself. A faint smirk tugged at her lips, though it didn't reach her eyes. The battle was brutal, but it had solidified what she already knew: she had the strength of a special-grade sorcerer, even if the higher-ups hadn't officially recognized her yet. Titles were meaningless to her.

Her mind drifted to Mai, her twin sister. Maki knew she couldn't delay this any longer. It was time to confront her sister, to try and mend what had been broken. She had promised herself to protect Mai, no matter the cost.

---

The following day, Maki stood at the entrance of Kyoto Jujutsu High, the sunlight glinting off her glasses.

She found Mai at the training field, casually leaning against the railing with her arms crossed. The younger twin's sharp eyes narrowed as Maki approached, her expression unreadable.

"What are you doing here?" Mai's voice was clipped, tinged with annoyance.

"I'm here to see you," Maki replied, her tone steady but carrying a softness that Mai wasn't used to.

Mai snorted, pushing off the railing. "What for? To gloat about how much stronger you've gotten? Or are you here to play the concerned sister now?"

Maki ignored the barb, her green eyes locking onto Mai's. "I came to talk. I want you to come with me."

Mai raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms again. "Come with you? Where? Back to Tokyo? Don't tell me you want me to join your little rebellion now."

"Mai," Maki said, her voice firm but not harsh, "I've found someone who can help us. He can break the curse."

Mai's expression hardened, her jaw tightening. "Don't start with that nonsense. You're always full of excuses, Maki. You've always been a liar."

Maki's heart clenched at the accusation but remained composed. "I'm not lying. I've already broken free from it, Mai. I've become stronger because of him."

Mai scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Stronger, huh? And now you think you're better than me? Even if you've gotten stronger, you'll never beat me."

Maki frowned, her patience thinning. "If you really think that, why don't we settle it here? Let's see how far you've come."

The air crackled with tension as the two sisters squared off in the center of the training field. Mai's hand hovered over her pistol, her cursed technique ready to activate. Maki, on the other hand, stood unarmed, her confidence unshaken.

Mai made the first move, firing a cursed bullet with deadly accuracy. The sound of the shot echoed across the field, but Maki moved faster than the eye could follow, sidestepping effortlessly.

"What?!" Mai's eyes widened as Maki closed the distance in an instant.

Before Mai could react, Maki grabbed her wrist, disarming her with a single fluid motion. In one swift movement, she flipped Mai onto the ground, pinning her with ease. The fight was over in seconds.

Mai struggled beneath her sister's grip, tears of frustration welling up in her eyes. "Why…?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "Why did you leave me, Maki? Why didn't you stay? We could've fallen into that hole together. At least then, I wouldn't have been alone…"

Maki froze, her chest tightening as Mai's words pierced through her. She released her grip, her hands trembling. "Mai…"

Tears streamed down Mai's cheeks as she glared up at her sister. "You don't understand what it was like! You left me behind to face all their scorn, all their hatred! You abandoned me!"

"I know," Maki said, her voice breaking. "I know I did. And I've regretted it every day since." She pulled Mai into a tight embrace, her own tears falling freely now. "I'm sorry, Mai. I'm so sorry."

For a moment, Mai resisted, her body stiff and unyielding. But then, slowly, she relaxed, her sobs muffled against Maki's shoulder.

"You idiot," Mai muttered, her voice trembling. "You always act so strong, like you don't need anyone… but you're just as stupid as I am."

Maki laughed softly through her tears. "Yeah. I guess I am."

After a while, Mai pulled away, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. She gave Maki a sharp look, though her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. "Don't think this means I forgive you completely," she said, pouting.

Maki chuckled, standing up and offering Mai a hand. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Mai took her hand reluctantly, brushing the dust off her clothes. "For what it's worth," she said quietly, "I've always known how physically gifted you are. I'm glad you've gotten even stronger."

Maki blinked in surprise, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks, Mai."

Mai sighed, crossing her arms. "I'll leave the Zenin clan. I'm done with them. I won't even bother packing my stuff. I'm sure Father will be thrilled that he's finally gotten rid of me too."

Maki's expression darkened, her voice turning icy. "If the Zenin clan tries anything, I won't hesitate to wipe them out." She smiled coldly, her eyes gleaming with dangerous intent. "In fact, I think I'll pay them a visit after this. A nice little chat to remind them who they're dealing with."

Mai snorted, trying to hide her unease. "You're terrifying, you know that?"

Maki shrugged. "They deserve it."

As the two sisters made their way back to the main building. Mai turned to Maki, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "Help me transfer to Tokyo Jujutsu High. I'll stay with you for now, so you should be grateful."

Maki blinked, caught off guard by the sudden request. But then, a warm smile spread across her face. "Yeah."

As they walked, Maki explained the twin curse in more detail, telling Mai about Ryuji and how he could fix it. Mai listened quietly, her usual sarcasm absent for once.

By the time they reached the administration office to start Mai's transfer process, Maki had already pulled out her phone. She dialed Ryuji's number, holding it to her ear as it rang.

"Ryuji," she said when he picked up. "There's something I need your help with." "It's nothing urgent, but it's important. Can you come over to my side?"