The Night Parade and the Phantom Handshake

​"Satoru..."
​"Aren't you going to do anything?"
​Masamichi Yaga frowned, his voice low and tense.
​Satoru Gojo stood still, his hands in his pockets, white bandages covering his eyes. He watched Suguru Geto with an unreadable expression.
​Geto looked at Mirai, then at the students surrounding him. He realized the board was set against him.
​Taking action now would be suicide, Geto calculated. Satoru is here. And this Zenin kid... he's an unknown variable.
​Geto smiled brightly, breaking the tension. "It seems the Zenin Clan Head really knows how to train dogs!"
​Zenin Mirai waved his hand from the car, his smile unchanged. "Want to learn? I can teach you."
​Mirai’s gaze flicked to Nanako and Mimiko standing behind Geto.
​Geto’s smile froze. He stepped sideways, blocking the girls from Mirai's line of sight. The giant pelican Cursed Spirit behind him opened its beak and swallowed the two terrified girls to protect them.
​"Clan Head," Geto said, his voice dropping an octave. "Would you mind if I spoke with my old friends first?"
​Mirai shrugged and stepped aside. "Go ahead. I'm just here to watch the show."
​Geto strode forward. He looked at the students—Maki Zenin, Toge Inumaki, Panda, and Yuta Okkotsu—before settling his gaze on Gojo.
​"I am here to declare war."
​The atmosphere in the courtyard plummeted.
​"We had planned to catch up," Geto said, his voice ringing out. "But I don't want to waste time on small talk."
​"December 24th. Sunset."
​"The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons."
​"The location: Shinjuku, Tokyo. And Kyoto."
​"I will unleash thousands of Cursed Spirits. Their orders will be to kill every non-sorcerer in sight."
​Geto spread his arms wide, looking like a dark messiah.
​"Whether you believe it or not. Whether you come to stop me or not. The choice is yours."
​He turned to leave.
​"Suguru," Gojo said quietly. "Do you think I'd just let you go like that?"
​Geto didn't answer. He simply waved his hand.
​SWOOSH!
​In an instant, hundreds of low-grade Cursed Spirits erupted from the ground, surrounding the students.
​It was a hostage situation. If Gojo moved, the students would be swarmed.
​"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
​White Zetsu screamed, trembling violently. He squeezed himself into the center of the student group, using Yuta as a human shield.
​"Mirai-boy! Save me! Kill that pretentious monk! I'm too young to die! I haven't even pooped yet!"
​Despite White Zetsu's cowardice, Maki, Panda, and Yuta instinctively formed a protective circle around him.
​"A sorcerer protecting a Cursed Spirit?" Geto sneered from the back of his giant bird.
​"It seems Jujutsu High has fallen even further. Satoru, your students are practically family with Cursed Spirits now. Aren't you going to correct them?"
​Gojo glanced at Maki, then at the terrified White Zetsu.
​"Just a Grade 4 Cursed Spirit," Gojo said lightly. "Since he is my student's 'Uncle,' what's wrong with him staying here?"
​"Besides... do you think I care what the Higher-ups think?"
​Geto scoffed. His attempt to sow discord had failed.
​He looked at Mirai one last time.
​"Clan Head. Remember to participate in the Night Parade."
​"Don't worry," Mirai smiled. "I never miss a good party."
​"After I win," Geto said softly, "I will visit the Zenin estate again."
​"I'll be waiting."
​Flap.
​The giant bird took flight, carrying Geto and his family into the sky.
​High above, Geto looked down at the tiny figures. His eyes blazed with killing intent.
​He lured me out, Geto thought. That kid showed me the wooden monster on purpose. He knows my technique. He wants me to come for it.
​Fine. I'll play along.
​First, I'll take Rika Orimoto from that Okkotsu boy. Once I have the Queen of Curses... I will march on the Zenin Clan and take his wooden monster too.
​Then... even Satoru won't be able to stop me.
​...
​The School Grounds.
​Mirai watched the bird disappear. A mocking smile touched his lips.
​A chess piece thinks it's a player, Mirai thought. How cute.
​He turned his attention to the white-haired giant in front of him.
​"You're the new teacher parachuted in from the Higher-ups?" Gojo Satoru asked, stepping closer.
​"That's right," Mirai nodded. "Using the authority of the Zenin Clan Head."
​The two stared at each other. The air grew heavy. The students held their breath.
​"Satoru!" Yaga shouted warningly.
​"Brother Mirai!" Maki stepped forward nervously.
​"Don't be nervous," Gojo said, a bright smile appearing on his face. "Hello, new colleague."
​He extended his right hand for a handshake.
​Yaga froze. He saw the faint distortion of air around Gojo's hand.
​Infinity (Mugen).
Gojo hadn't turned off his technique. The space between his hand and the world was divided infinitely. No matter how close Mirai got, he would never be able to touch Gojo's skin.
​It was a test. A subtle insult.
​"Satoru, stop—" Yaga began.
​But Mirai didn't hesitate.
​He reached out.
​Phase.
​Mirai’s hand didn't stop at the Infinity barrier. It didn't collide with it.
​It passed through it.
​Like a ghost, Mirai’s hand phased through the infinite space, occupying the same coordinates as Gojo's hand for a split second, before partially solidifying just enough to grasp the air inside Gojo's guard.
​The visual distortion of Infinity clashed with the spatial warping of Kamui.
​"Hello, Mr. Gojo."
​Gojo’s smile froze. His Six Eyes widened behind the blindfold.
​He bypassed Infinity?
No... he isn't traveling through space. He's existing in a different dimension entirely.
​Mirai smiled, his crimson eyes spinning lazily.
​You reject everything from touching you.
I reject the reality of being touched.
​Let's see whose eyes are stronger.