𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇

┌──── ∘°❉°∘ ────┐

𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇

└──── °∘❉∘° ────┘

𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ───

--THE JUJUTSU TECH CHILDREN STOOD IN THE FORREST, scattered among the trees as they readied themselves. The air buzzed with anticipation, though their focus was momentarily distracted by Gojo's antics as he put Utahime, the Kyoto school's sensei, on the spot.

She spoke awkwardly into the microphone, trying to string together some improvised speech, stumbling over her words as her frustration grew.

Before she could finish, Gojo swiftly cut her off, a wide grin plastered on his face much to her annoyance. "And now," he declared dramatically, his voice amplified through the speakers, "let the Sister School Exchange Event... begiiiiiiiin!"

His enthusiastic announcement echoed through the forest, far louder than necessary, causing a few students to flinch and roll their eyes. Utahime glared at him, clearly annoyed, but Gojo didn't seem to notice—or, more likely, didn't care.

The group sprinted through the forest in unison, their movements swift and coordinated as Maki barked reminders about the assigned squads. "Megumi squad, Panda squad—stick to the plan!" she called out, her tone sharp and authoritative.

Yuji, meanwhile, had his own role to play: keeping the other team's powerhouse, Aoi Todo, occupied. Misa couldn't help but feel confident in his ability. She'd seen him in action before, and even with the two months he'd been "dead," she had no doubt he'd grown stronger.

As they continued running, a small spider curse emerged from the underbrush, skittering into their path. None of them slowed, easily evading it without breaking stride. What did stop them, however, was the massive figure that suddenly slid across the grass, cutting off their path.

Aoi Todo stood tall, his hulking frame blocking their way with ease. His jet-black hair swayed slightly in the breeze, and his wide, smug grin stretched across his face, exuding confidence and mischief.

"You're all together," he said, his voice booming as his grin grew wider. His eyes gleamed with excitement, and he pounded his chest with a loud thud. "Now come at me! All at once!"

The group froze momentarily, their plan momentarily disrupted by his sheer presence. Misa glanced at Yuji, and he immediately met her gaze. Without a word, the two nodded at each other, silently agreeing on the next move.

Yuji shot forward, his speed incredible as he launched himself into the air. With a powerful leap, he brought his knee crashing into Todo's face, forcing the larger sorcerer to stagger slightly and giving the group a split-second opening.

"Scatter!" Maki yelled, her voice cutting through the tension like a whip.

The team broke apart instantly, each member darting off in different directions as Yuji continued to hold Todo's attention, the forest once again alive with movement and chaos.

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ───

--"We originally planned for Ume to take on Todo," Maki said, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed. "The guy's a monster. But we might need her to take on Noritoshi instead. He's more of a strategist."

Yuji raised his hand, waving it slightly to catch their attention. "Wait, hold up—who's this Todo guy?"

Misa, sitting beside Maki with her legs crossed and an air of annoyance, glanced at Yuji. "The walking cliché of 'big guy, small brain.'" She rolled her eyes, resting her chin on her hand. "His abs have more definition than his life goals." The venom in her tone was palpable, her frustration clear.

Maki smirked faintly, amused by Misa's sharp commentary. "That, and the fact that he's a reckless Grade One sorcerer," she added.

"Pfft." Misa let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "He's a Special Grade when it comes to delusion." Her lips curled into a sly grin, though the fire in her eyes made it obvious she wasn't joking. "If I'd been there when he pulled that stunt with Megumi..." Her tone darkened as her voice trailed off. "Let's just say he'd forget who Takada even was. And that's no easy feat."

"Sorry, Megumi," Panda said. "We know you want to take him out yourself."

Megumi gave a nonchalant shrug. "I'm fine either way," he replied, his voice calm, though there was an undercurrent of quiet resolve.

Yuji, who had been listening intently, suddenly straightened. His carefree demeanor shifted into something serious, his brown eyes narrowing with determination. "I'll play along," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the room. "If you want me to."

The second years exchanged glances, intrigued by Yuji's unexpected shift in tone. His confidence radiated in waves, commanding their attention.

"And I'll win," he added, a quiet but unwavering promise that sent a spark of excitement through the room.

Misa tilted her head, a slow grin spreading across her face. She couldn't help but be impressed by his sudden resolve. "Well, look at you, Mr. Determined," she teased, but her tone was lighter now, almost approving.

Maki pushed off the wall, her expression neutral but her eyes shining with interest. "Let's see if you can back that up."

Misa leaned back with a small laugh, watching Yuji with a newfound curiosity. "This might actually be fun to watch."

"If Yuji's taking on Todo, what position will Misa be in?" Megumi asked, arms crossed as his sharp eyes flicked to her.

"She could be a team all on her own, couldn't she?" Nobara quipped, leaning back with a smirk.

Panda tilted his head thoughtfully. "A one-man group? Why not just throw her alongside Yuji, then?"

"Because we need someone to distract Todo," Maki interjected, her voice measured as always. "If Yuji's capable of that, then I don't see why we'd need anyone else. Misa can fit into the Megumi group instead."

Clearing her throat to draw attention, Misa placed a hand on her chest with a theatrical flair. "If I may," she began, her tone both calm and confident, "I could be this school's Momo, maybe?"

Maki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Elaborate."

Misa gave her a playful, slightly sassy look. "Momo Nishimiya," she explained. "She's without a doubt their 'spy in the sky.' If I take her out, they'll be blind. When the rest of their team rushes in to check on her, I'll deal with them too. The fewer people on their side, the fewer challenges you all will face. Yuji and I can act as two separate distractions while the rest of you focus on hunting down the Second Grade."

"Salmon salmon," Toge agreed, nodding, which earned him a quick, grateful smile from Misa.

"I trust you'd be able to handle them," Panda said, giving her a reassuring nod.

"Yeah," Maki added, her lips twitching into a faint grin. "Not a bad idea, Elsa."

At the nickname, Yuji couldn't help but snort, failing to hide his amusement. Misa shot him a sharp glare, blinking once before retaliating with a mischievous tone. "Yuji screamed like a girl when we were on a rollercoaster," she informed the second years with a sly smirk.

Maki's grin widened, Nobara burst out laughing, and Panda joined in with a hearty chuckle. Even Toge let out a soft laugh as Megumi's lips twitched into an amused smirk.

"Hey!" Yuji exclaimed, his cheeks flushed. "You said you'd drop it!"

Misa shrugged, clearly enjoying herself. "I lied," she replied with a giggle.

The room buzzed with laughter as the team's camaraderie grew stronger, the tension from earlier lightened by their banter.

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ───

--Misa darted through the forest, her steps light yet deliberate. The rustling of leaves and the faint chirping of birds surrounded her, but her mind was sharp, focused. Oddly enough, she didn't feel the slightest hint of nerves. If anything, there was a calm confidence coursing through her veins.

Taking down Nishimiya? That wouldn't be a problem. Momo was small, almost fragile-looking, and Misa couldn't imagine her putting up much of a fight—not against her, at least. Misa's lips curled into a faint smirk. This wouldn't be a challenge; it would be an opportunity to prove herself.

Misa's sharp eyes scanned the canopy above as she sprinted through the forest. It didn't take long before she spotted her target—Momo Nishimiya, hovering gracefully in the air on her broomstick, her sharp eyes scanning the ground below.

Misa slowed her pace, ducking behind a large tree to avoid being seen. A smirk crept across her face. "Spy in the sky, huh? Not for long."

She extended her hand, activating her cursed technique. A shimmering mirage began to form around her, distorting the light and making her body fade into the surroundings. Within seconds, she was practically invisible, blending seamlessly with the forest.

With her movements now concealed, Misa positioned herself directly beneath Momo. She focused her energy, sending a precise wave of her technique upward. A pulse of distorted air shot toward the sky, hitting Momo's broom with enough force to destabilize her.

Startled, Momo let out a gasp as the broom wobbled, struggling to maintain its balance. "What the—?!"

Before Momo could react, Misa leaped into action, propelling herself up with a burst of energy. She grabbed hold of the broom, her grip firm but controlled, and yanked it downward with a calculated twist.

Momo barely had time to process what was happening before she found herself landing in a tree—not hard enough to injure her, but with enough force to leave her stunned.

She hadn't landed on the ground as Misa expected—instead, she had managed to steer her broom just enough to crash into a tree, her small frame tangled awkwardly in the branches.

From below, Misa crossed her arms, smirking as she looked up. "Well, that's one way to stick the landing. Not exactly graceful, though."

Momo untangled herself, glaring down at Misa with a mixture of irritation and disdain. "That wasn't cute at all," she snapped, her tone sharp. "Do you know how long it took me to perfect my balance on this broom?!"

"Cute?" Misa raised an eyebrow, tilting her head mockingly. "You think I care about being 'cute'? Newsflash, princess—I'm not here to play dress-up or join your cheer squad." She waved a hand dismissively, a cocky grin spreading across her face. "And honestly, if you're trying to act all threatening from up there, it's just giving me 'angry squirrel' vibes."

Momo's face turned red, a mixture of frustration and offense. "Excuse me?!" she barked.

Misa shrugged, feigning innocence. "What? I'm just saying, for someone who calls herself a sorcerer, you're spending more time stuck in trees than actually fighting."

"You little—" Momo hissed, grabbing her broom and launching herself out of the tree with a sharp burst of cursed energy. She landed on the ground with a heavy thud, her eyes burning with anger.

Misa clapped her hands slowly, her grin widening. "Oh, so you can get down on your own. I was starting to think I'd need to call someone to rescue you. Maybe a fireman? Or does Kyoto High have its own squirrel-catching team?"

"That's it," Momo growled, her grip tightening on her broom. "You're going to regret underestimating me."

"Finally," Misa said, spreading her arms theatrically. "I was worried you'd just sit up there and pout all day. Let's see if you're actually worth my time."

The tension between them reached its peak as Momo's cursed energy flared. Misa's smirk remained steady, her heart pounding with the thrill of the fight she'd been itching for. This was going to be fun.

But before anything could happen, a sudden gunshot shattered the tension, echoing through the trees. Misa's head snapped toward the sound, spotting Panda stumbling slightly on the other end of the clearing. Beside him stood Nobara, her face twisted in alarm.

"Panda, no!" Nobara shouted, rushing to his side.

From the shadows, Mechamaru emerged, his mechanical frame glinting faintly in the filtered sunlight. His voice was cold and calculated. "It's a cursed corpse," he stated flatly. "It won't die. But it won't be able to move for a while."

Misa's jaw tightened, but before she could act, Momo stepped forward, her broom clutched tightly in her hand. "Hold on, Mechamaru," she said, her sharp eyes darting between him and Misa. "Let me handle this first-year here first. Then I'll show the other one she's not as cute as she thinks."

Misa raised an eyebrow, and lifted a finger with a hand on her hip. "Hey! Kugisaki is cute, thank you very much!" She placed a hand on her hip, tilting her head as if she were critiquing Momo's entire existence. "You, on the other hand? Well, I'd say you're about as cute as a wet cat stuck in a tree. Oh wait—you've already nailed that look!"

Momo bristled, her grip tightening on her broom as her cursed energy began to flare again. Mechamaru watched silently, his head tilting slightly as if calculating the unfolding chaos.

"Just kidding," came Panda's raspy voice as he recovered from the gunshot much faster than expected. Misa snapped her head toward the sound, relief and surprise flickering in her expression.

The moment Panda got to his feet, he lunged for Mechamaru without hesitation. His massive paw clenched into a fist, smashing into Mechamaru's metal head. The robotic man flew backward from the force, skidding to a stop on his feet but visibly destabilized.

Misa turned back to Momo, her lips curling into a mocking pout. "Aww," she cooed sarcastically, her tone dripping with condescension. "Is your little toy in trouble now?"

Momo's eyes narrowed as her face flushed with frustration. With a sharp grunt, she mounted her broom and took off into the sky, disappearing into the trees.

Misa turned toward Nobara, pointing toward Panda with a commanding gesture. "Help him! I'll deal with the bitchy witch!"

Nobara nodded, determination flashing in her eyes as she sprinted toward Panda to assist him. Meanwhile, Misa didn't waste a second, taking off at a full run in pursuit of Nishimiya.

The chase was on.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚