Cursed Child Arc

The Cursed Child Arc is a prequel arc in Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen. It covers the story from Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Jujutsu High series, taking place one year before the main series' story.

Enrollment to the School
Satoru Gojo is talking with the higher-ups of the college about Yuta Okkotsu wanting to be executed in isolation. Gojo comments that Yuta is a minor, but the higher-ups state that Yuta has a powerful cursed spirit attached to him. Gojo then tells the higher-ups that Yuta should be enrolled to the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School.

In November of 2016, Yuta is being bulled by some classmates when the monstrous cursed spirit attached to Yuta, Rika Orimoto, grabs the bullies and stuffs them into a locker.

At the school, the three first-years Panda, Toge Inumaki, and Maki Zenin talk about the new transfer student and the incident that had happened to him. Gojo meets with Yuta and discovers that Yuta had tried to kill himself but Rika had gotten in the way. Gojo says that Yuta is pretty gloomy even though he is going to start at a new school soon, to which Yuta replies that he is not going since he doesn't want to hurt anyone. Gojo explains to Yuta that he can learn to harness the power of his curse and use it to help save others.

Later Gojo meets with Panda, Toge, and Maki in the classroom and informs them that Yuta will be joining them today. As Yuta enters the room, the three notice the cursed spirit attached to him and prepare to attack him while he is introducing himself. As Yuta wonders what is going on, Maki explains that the school is no place for someone that is cursed. Gojo explains how curses are created and that the school trains people to deal with curses. Gojo then tells the three to back away from Yuta, but Rika shows up and attacks the three. After this happens, Gojo explains to the three how Yuta was cursed by his childhood friend, Rika, after she was fatally struck by a car. After explaining Yuta's situation, Gojo formally introduces Yuta to the first-years, while explaining their abilities except for Panda's.

First Mission
Once all the introductions are done, Gojo informs the four that their class assignment will be working in pairs. Toge and Panda will be working together, while Yuta and Maki will be the other pair. As Yuta tries to get on good terms with Maki, but Maki insults Yuta, in which Panda and Toge tell Maki that she is going too far. Panda then apologizes for Maki's behavior, but Yuta says that its alright since what she said is true.

Gojo then brings Maki and Yuta to an elementary school where two kids have gone missing. As Yuta wonders why they are going to the school, Maki and Gojo explain that curses are created at places that have negative emotions attached to them, which makes schools a prime target to curses. Gojo then puts up a Curtain, or "screen", and leaves the two to handle the curses within the school.

When the curtain comes down, the two encounter three cursed spirits. Maki takes out all three curses, and the two then head inside the school. As they explore the school, Maki notices that there are cursed spirits all around them but they are not attacking. Maki wonders if it is because of Yuta, and asks what his rank is. However, Yuta is unaware of ranks and Maki asks for his student ID to check his rank instead. To her surprise, Yuta is a special grade sorcerer. Yuta points out to Maki that there is a large cursed spirit behind her. The curse attacks them and quickly eats both Yuta and Maki, in which the latter drops her weapon, leaving it behind.

Inside the curse, Maki is complaining that about how they were swallowed by it. Maki asks if Rika is going to protect him, but Yuta replies that he doesn't know when Rika will show up. Maki then says that they will just have to wait for the screen to rise and have others come rescue them. Suddenly, they find the two kids that went missing, and Maki notices both kids are cursed and could die at any moment. As Yuta says that they have to save the kids, but Maki collapses and Yuta notices that Maki has also been cursed. As Yuta wonders what to do, Maki gets up and asks Yuta why he even came to the school. Yuta responds saying that he doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore, wants to make a connection with someone, and wants the confidence to feel that its okay to live. Maki then tells Yuta to exorcise cursed spirits and that the other stuff comes later. Yuta then puts on the ring that Rika gave to him when she was still alive, asking her to lend him her power. Rika is summoned and attacks the cursed spirit. Gojo sees Rika fighting the curse and comments on just how powerful Rika is. After Rika finishes dealing with the cursed spirit, she notices that Yuta is gone. He is making his way out of the Curtain, while struggling to carry Maki and the two kids. Yuta then hears the voice of Rika as a child telling him to keep going, to which Yuta says that he will do his best.

Once Yuta makes it out of the Curtain with the others, Gojo has them all taken to a hospital. After getting everyone treated, Gojo informs Yuta that the others will be fine. Gojo senses that something is wrong with Yuta, which Yuta says that that was the first time that he had summoned Rika and that he understands that he was the one that most likely cursed Rika. Gojo then tells Yuta that he theorizes that love is the most twisted kind of curse. Yuta then says that he will release Rika's curse at the magic technical school.

Partnering with a Spellcaster
Some time later, Gojo meets with the higher-ups about how he let Rika out during a mission. As they point out the destruction Rika could have caused, Gojo reassures that he would have stop her. Gojo also says that they don't know anything about Rika and they have to find out what Rika is capable of. The higher-ups tell Gojo that Yuta's execution is still only on hold, which Gojo tells them that he will side with Yuta when that time comes. After leaving the meeting, Gojo comments about how he doesn't want to become like them and that it is unforgivable to steal the experience of youth from kids.

Gojo then meets up with Yuta, who is currently training with Maki, with Panda and Toge watching from the side. Yuta recalls to when Gojo explained how Yuta can dispel the curse of Rika, through a katana. Rika's curse would attach to the katana after being channeled through it, and should eventually fully possess it after a repeated number of times. Yuta continues his training with Maki, in which she easily defeats him. Gojo talks with Panda and Toge about Yuta's progress after having spent three months at the school. Panda also realizes that Maki has warmed up to Yuta, and after talking with Yuta, subtly tells Maki that she has a chance with him. Maki then gets into an argument with Panda about how it is all a misunderstanding. As Panda and Maki argue, Gojo tells Toge that he has been assigned a cursed spirit to deal with. As Yuta is confused by this, Panda explains that Toge is the only one of the first years that can handle a mission solo, as he is a second-grade sorcerer. Gojo tells Yuta to go and observe Toge, since there are many ways to exorcise cursed spirits as they are sorcerers. Gojo also tells Yuta to not let Rika out, since Rika might go out of control.

Later, Kiyotaka Ijichi brings Toge and Yuta to the Hapina Shopping Distract, and informs them of the situation at the shopping distract. Suddenly they notice that Toge is gone and find out that he had left to buy throat medicine. Afterwards, Toge and Yuta enter the shopping distract as Kiyotaka puts up a Curtain around the shopping district. Once inside, they are suddenly swarmed by a large amount of cursed spirits. While Yuta is worrying about the number of curses, Toge uses one cursed word, "burst", to exorcise them all. Seeing this, Yuta remembers what Gojo told him about cursed words. Toge speaks and Yuta notices that Toge's voice has withered and realizes why he bought the throat medicine. As the two prepare to leave, they notice that they can't as the Curtain has not been lifted.

Suddenly, another cursed spirit appears behind them, which Yuta notices that it is different from the others. As the cursed spirit attacks, Toge pushes Yuta out of the way but breaks his finger in the process. Toge uses his technique on the curse, but can only manage to twist its arm. The curse tries to attacks Toge but Yuta manages to save him. Yuta brings Toge to safety, but leaves the throat medicine behind. Yuta wonders why that cursed spirit is there. He remembers that Toge was hurt and asks if he is okay, to which Toge simply fixes the broken finger. Yuta notices that the cursed spirit is not looking for them and realizes that they will have to exorcise it for the Curtain to rise. Yuta notices that Toge is leaving and asks if he is okay, which Toge simply stops Yuta. Yuta figures that Toge is going to go alone, which Yuta says that he will be fine and that they will do this together.

As he draws his katana, Yuta confronts the cursed spirit. The curse senses Rika and starts to get agitated. Yuta notices this, however, he stays focused as he gathers cursed energy onto his katana. While dodging all of the cursed spirit's attacks, Yuta thinks about how nice of a guy Toge is. As Yuta attacks the cursed spirit, he notices that the cursed spirit is too strong for him to exorcise and is hit by the curse. Yuta realizes that Toge is strong enough to exorcise the cursed spirit, so he slides to where the throat medicine is. He then hands the medicine to Toge. After Toge uses the medicine, he uses his technique to successfully exorcise the cursed spirit, telling it to "get crushed". Toge then checks up on Yuta, who tells him that he is fine. Yuta then thinks about how he want to be more helpful to everyone, since he will be a normal human once he undoes the curse on Rika. Above them, a man with a curse is watching the two and comments about how he wanted to see Rika. The man also hopes to meet Yuta again, since he has to return his ID, which the curse on him had taken.

Later, Yuta meets with Panda, which Panda tells Yuta about how hard of a life Toge has had since he was born with cursed speech, which led him to inadvertently curse people. Panda says that Toge is a nice guy and was also worried about Yuta when he transferred to the school. Suddenly Maki shows up and says that its time for them to train. Yuta tells Maki that he is having trouble with applying cursed energy to his sword, but Maki replies that she can't help him with that. Elsewhere, Kiyotaka informs Gojo that someone dropped a Second-Class curse above his Curtain during the mission. Gojo says that he knows who the culprit is: a special grade and the worst kind of sorcerer, Suguru Geto.

The Worst Kind of Sorcerer
At a certain temple, Geto helps a girl named Saitou that is possessed by a cursed spirit using his technique to remove it from her. After Geto exorcises it, Saitou and her mother are thank Geto for his help. After the two leave, Geto insults the two, calling them monkeys, but his assistant notes that his "real face" is coming out. The assistant also says that the "leaders" have gathered, which Geto is excited about. Suddenly, a man named Kanemori shows up and demands that Geto exorcises him now, asking if he is aware of how much he will be paid. Geto then asks his assistant how much he is being paid, to which she says that Kanemori is paying between 50 to 10 million yen, but he hasn't made any donations in half a year. Geto comments that Kanemori is "done", which confuses Kanemori. Geto explains how there are two types of monkeys, ones that collect money and ones that collects cursed spirits. Geto says that Kanemori is the one that collects money, and proceeds to kill him with curses. After killing Kanemori, Geto meets with the leaders of his "family". Geto declares to them that they will lower they curtain on the era of humans, which he calls monkeys, and make a paradise of sorcerers. Their first step will be taking down the magic college.

At the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School, Yuta senses something but the others dismiss it. Elsewhere, Masamichi Yaga meets with Gojo and comments about how they still can't locate Geto. He asks if Gojo is just worrying for nothing, but Gojo says that he knows that the scent of Geto's curse power was at the site that Toge and Yuta were in. Suddenly, Masamichi notices Geto's presence and tells all first-grade sorcerers to gather at the front of the school. Meanwhile, Maki, Toge, and Panda comment about how Yuta's hunch was right, as they watch Geto land with a large pelican shikigami. As Maki, Toge, and Panda get ready to fight, they warn the intruders to leave before Yuta gets angry, much to Yuta's bewilderment. Geto quickly greets Yuta, and the other three are shocked by how fast he is. Geto asks Yuta for his help to kill all non-sorcerers, to create a world only for sorcerers, which shocks Yuta.

Suddenly, Gojo, Masamichi, and the other sorcerers show up. Gojo tells Geto to stop pushing his ideas onto his students, and to get away from them. Geto comments about how Gojo is in charge of the exceptional first year students, but calls Maki the failure of the Zenin clan and calls her a monkey. Yuta hears this and tells Geto that he won't help anyone that insults his friends. Gojo then asks why Geto is here, which Geto says that he is declaring war and is going to perform a Hyakki Yakkou, in which he will unleash a thousand cursed spirits in Shinjuku and Kyoto. Suddenly one of Geto's companion, Nanako, says that the crepe store is about to close, which prompts Geto to leave. Gojo says that he won't let them leave, so Geto summons multiple Cursed Spirits to attack the college, while he and his companions leave.

After the college has finished exorcising the cursed spirits, the sorcerers have a meeting discussing Geto, his spirit curse manipulation, his organization, and how dangerous he might be. Masamichi then tells everyone that this time they will exorcise the curse known as Suguru Geto.

The Day of the Hyakki Yakkou
On December 24, 2017 Geto invades the college and comments about how he doesn't have a chance at winning against the college unless he kills Yuta and takes possession of Rika. Geto also comments that the true goal of the Hyakki Yakkou is to isolate and corner Yuta in order to take his curse.

Inside the school, Yuta is sitting in a classroom when Maki walks in. Maki wonders why Yuta is in the classroom, Yuta replies that he just couldn't calm down since no one was in the dorms. Maki understands since the others were sent on a mission to back up the sorcerers as they fight Geto's forces. Maki sees Yuta's expression and tells him to just ask why Geto called her a failure. Yuta says that he does want to know, which Maki explains anyways, She tells Yuta how she was born from one of three elite clans of the jujutsu world but she was born with a lack of cursed energy. Yuta then asks why she is still a sorcerer, which Maki explains how she wants to return to the Zenin clan as a first grade sorcerer and then destroy it from the inside. This amuses Yuta, saying that is just like her and that he wants to be a sorcerer like her. Yuta also says that he will help her out, which Maki says that that will only work if she doesn't it alone. Embarrassed, Maki leaves and tells herself not to go feeling accepted by someone for once. Suddenly Geto puts up a Curtain, which both Yuta and Maki notice.

In Shinjuku, as the sorcerers prepare to fight Geto's forces, Geto's assistant reminds one of the leaders, Miguel, that they are just the distraction until Geto is finished. Back at the college, Maki confronts Geto but Geto says that he doesn't have time for her while summoning a cursed spirit. In Shinjuku, Gojo notices that Geto is not at the front line and wonders were he is at, when Kiyotaka comes and informs Gojo about what he found out about Yuta. After listening to this, Gojo grabs Panda and Toge and sends them back to the college, while also telling them that they have to protect Maki and Yuta since Geto is most likely at the college right now. Geto's companions notices that Gojo has figured out that Geto is at the college, and calls Mimiko and Nanako to start the operation. Miguel then confronts Gojo, but Gojo says that he is busy now, revealing his one of his Six Eyes.

As Toge and Panda arrives at the college, they notice that it is surrounded by a Curtain and quickly break into it. Geto notices that has the Curtain has been invaded, but thinks that it should take a while for them to reach him. Suddenly, Panda appears, having broken through walls to Geto's location and attacks him, but Geto easily knocks Panda to the ground. Panda quickly grabs Geto's leg, holding him in place, and allowing Toge to use his cursed speech to crush Geto. However, as a result of this, Toge takes damage and coughs up blood. As the two decide to check up on Maki, Geto reappears from the hole Toge crushed him into and defeats the two, praising how sorcerers are risking their lives to aid each other is moving and is exactly the kind of world he wants to create.

Yuta arrives at the scene and to his horror, finds that all his friends have been defeated. With Maki heavily injured and Toge telling him to run, Yuta flies into a rage and summons Rika a second time, and both Yuta and Geto swear to kill the other. Geto summons multiple cursed spirits to attack the two, but Yuta has Rika quickly rescue his friends and brings them to safety. Yuta then uses reverse cursed technique to heal his friends, however Rika gets jealous of Maki and grabs her. Yuta tells Rika that he owes Maki a lot and warns her to treat her carefully, to which Rika puts her down and apologizes, telling Yuta to not hate her. Yuta forgives her, telling Rika that he would never hate her, however tells Rika that Geto is the one that he hates, and Rika declares that she hates him too.

As Yuta prepares to fight Geto, he asks Geto why he hasn't attacked yet. Geto tells Yuta how healing while using cursed energy is complicated and he decided to let Yuta concentrate. Geto then launches multiple cursed spirits at Yuta, but Yuta uses Rika's power to mimic the Inumaki's clan cursed speech and destroys them all. Geto sees this and figures that Rika's technique is an endless mass of cursed energy that can be shaped at will, which is how Yuta was able to use reverse cursed technique and cursed speech. As Geto thinks about how much he wants Rika's power, Yuta talks about how amazing his friends are and because they were injured, says that he will crush Geto to pieces.

In Shinjuku, Kiyotaka confronts Mimiko and Nanako and tries to get them to stop. Mimiko and Nanako explain the hardship that they faced as sorcerers in the countryside, and that Geto is the one that came to help them. Mimiko and Nanako express how they will get rid of anyone in Geto's way. Miguel suddenly comes crashing to their location, as Gojo comes up from behind him. Gojo notices that Miguel's rope has a curse woven in it that is disturbing his technique. However, the rope is running out and Miguel still has to stall Gojo for more time.

Back at Jujutsu High, Geto arms himself with cursed tools and prepares to fight Yuta directly. Geto compares jujutsu sorcerers to gods, further irritating Yuta who continues their battle by striking several times with his sword. Geto is able to parry with a three-section staff and claims that normal humans are just trying to ignore those above them. Yuta claims he's done with Geto's god-complex but gets caught off guard. An octopus-like curse grabs Yuta and before he can cut himself free, Geto strikes him several times. Before Geto can deal a fatal blow, Rika brings Yuta out of harm's way. Geto then monologues, believing that the audacity of non-sorcerers to hide away the strong makes him sick. Rika checks on Yuta, but he claims to have gotten used to Geto's movements. Yuta starts to fight again but his sword breaks from the overload of cursed energy running through it. Geto teases Yuta about this, but Yuta simply punches him, which sends Geto flying. Yuta tells Geto that he doesn't know if Geto is right or wrong, but simply because this he threatens Yuta's friends, he will defeat him. Geto summons a special grade cursed spirit and combines the rest of his other cursed spirits into a single cursed spirit that he will thrown at Yuta. As Geto tells Yuta that he is glad that he decided to kill Yuta before he can fully control Rika. Yuta thanks Rika for everything and embraces her. He asks for her power one last time and promises that they'll be together forever after that. This excites Rika's spirit, which grows even stronger. Geto realizes that Yuta has sacrificed himself to remove the limits of the curse. Yuta and Geto release their attacks, which results in a large blast.

After the conflict, Geto, who was severely injured and has lost an arm, he is seen limping away. Geto comments about how powerful Rika truly is, and says that he will obtain her next time. Gojo appears, cornering Geto. Gojo confirms all of Geto's followers fled and admits that he trusted Geto enough not to fatally injure Panda and Toge. Geto returns Yuta's ID to Gojo, who gives Geto a chance for last words. The curse user says that he hates all the humans, admits but admits that he has no hate towards Jujutsu High. Gojo then deals with Geto.

Back at Jujutsu High, Yuta wakes up to finds Maki, Toge, and Panda above him. Yuta is glad to see that his friends are okay. Rika calls out to Yuta, while Yuta apologizes for keeping her waiting and gets up. Maki asks what is going on, which Yuta explains that he made the deal he made with Rika. The three asks why he did that, which Rika suddenly turns to a human form. Suddenly, Rika's cursed form shatters, revealing the human spirit of a young Rika. Gojo arrives and confirms that the curse has been lifted. He then reveals that he investigated Yuta's background and discovered that they are distant relatives and a descendant of Sugawara-no-Michizane, a member of one of the three clans. Gojo then tells Yuta that he was the one that had cursed Rika when she had died, in rejection of her death. Gojo also explains how the cursed was undone. Yuta begins to break down in tears because he feels responsible for everything that's happened, but Rika hugs Yuta and expresses how the 6 years she spent with Yuta was the happiest she had been. Rika bids Yuta farewell and passes on.

Sometime later, Gojo tells Yuta that its not his fault that Geto had invaded the college since he would have done it even if Yuta was not there. Gojo returns Yuta's ID card, saying that it was found by his only best friend. The two then meet up with Maki, Panda, and Toge, and Yuta joins them.

Settings

 * Hapina Shopping District: