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

Mai passed her phone to Ryuji, her fingers brushing against his hand briefly as she handed it over. A sly smile played on her lips as she watched him enter his number, her head tilted slightly in a teasing manner. There was a casual confidence in the way he tapped at the screen, completely unfazed by her subtle flirtation.

"Thanks," Mai said smoothly, reclaiming her phone. Her tone was light, but the gleam in her eyes betrayed her amusement.

From the side, Maki observed the exchange silently. Her sharp eyes flicked between her sister and Ryuji, but she ultimately chose to remain quiet, simply raising an eyebrow at Mai's antics.

"Ryuji, why don't you stay over for dinner?" Maki suggested, her tone calm and practical.

Ryuji glanced at her briefly before nodding with an easy smile. "Sure, why not?"

---

An hour later, the three of them sat around the dining table, the warm, comforting aroma of freshly prepared food filling the air. The meal was modest but made with care, simple dishes that spoke of a homely touch.

Maki sat at the head of the table, her posture disciplined and straight, a stark contrast to Mai's more relaxed demeanor as she lounged in her chair. Ryuji, ever casual, leaned back slightly as he ate, chopsticks in hand.

Midway through the meal, Ryuji paused, his chopsticks hovering in mid-air. "So, what's the current state of things with the cursed spirits?"

Maki set her bowl down and folded her arms, her expression hardening. "It's still bad," she replied bluntly. "Countless special-grade cursed spirits are spawning all over, and they're getting stronger. Worse, they're more aggressive than ever."

Ryuji nodded, leaning forward slightly. "And the new generation cursed spirits? Any changes there?"

"They're as dangerous as always," Maki said, her tone carrying a tinge of frustration. "But the problem isn't just their strength—it's their unpredictability. Some of them are smarter than anything we've faced before. They're organizing, adapting. It's like they're evolving."

Maki's frustration deepened as she continued. "And those cursed livestreams didn't help. If anything, they've made things worse. Instead of uniting people, they've created more resentment. Some ordinary people are jealous of Jujutsu Sorcerers, claiming we're 'hoarding power' because we can see and fight cursed spirits. It's ridiculous."

Her voice dropped into a bitter tone. "Public opinion is split. Some people think we're heroes; others blame us for the existence of cursed spirits in the first place."

Ryuji listened quietly, his expression unreadable. He had expected this. Humanity's capacity for resentment, even toward their protectors, was nothing new.

"And what about the higher-ups?" he asked, his voice tinged with dry amusement. "Are they actually doing anything useful for a change?"

"Gojo mentioned something the other day," Maki said, picking up her chopsticks again. "Apparently, there's going to be a meeting between the higher-ups of Jujutsu High and Jujutsu Headquarters to discuss the way forward."

Ryuji chuckled softly, shaking his head. "The way forward? You mean those 'rotten oranges,' as Gojo likes to call them, are pretending to care about the future? All they care about is protecting their power and suppressing anyone who threatens it. If anything, they're probably hoping Gojo dies in battle so they don't have to deal with him anymore. It's pathetic."

Maki sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. "Those pieces of trash," she muttered under her breath, clearly sharing his disdain.

Ryuji smirked, shaking his head. "Let's move on from the topic of those rotten oranges. No point wasting energy on them." His gaze shifted to Mai, who had been quietly observing the exchange. "So, what's the next step for you?"

Mai blinked at the sudden shift in attention but recovered quickly, straightening her posture. "Next step?" she echoed, feigning thoughtfulness. "Well, I'm still waiting for my transfer request to Tokyo Jujutsu High to go through. Until then, I'll just be lounging around here and testing the limits of my abilities."

Ryuji nodded approvingly. "Good enough," he said simply, his tone casual.

The conversation lightened after that. Maki talked briefly about her rigorous training regimens, while Mai joked about using her cursed construct technique to make chores easier. Ryuji listened with a faint smile, occasionally chiming in, but for the most part, he let the sisters take the lead.

By the time dinner was over, the moon was high in the sky, its soft glow filtering through the large windows. The table had been cleared, and the dishes were neatly stacked in the kitchen.

Maki glanced at the clock on the wall and leaned back in her chair. "It's late," she remarked. Turning to Ryuji, she added, "Why don't you stay the night?"

Mai arched an eyebrow, clearly surprised by her sister's suggestion, though she didn't comment. Instead, she turned her attention to Ryuji, her expression curious.

"I'd be happy to," Ryuji replied, a slight grin playing on his lips.