Deterrence (
Summary
The jujutsu sorcerers make first contact with other representatives of the Simurian race. They entrust the Okkotsu siblings to investigate their true intentions. Can the earthling sorcerers coexist with their alien visitors?
Plot Details
At the Kyoto Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Usami and his subordinate Mino make their way to a meeting with the Simurian envoys. Mino voices his concerns, questioning whether it was wise to ignore quarantine and risk-assessment protocols, especially with the potential danger of infectious diseases or other unknown factors the Simurians might carry. Usami reminds him that humanity knows nothing about Simurian social norms; treating them with suspicion at the outset could easily provoke war. Mino realizes just how delicate the upcoming diplomatic exchange is. Usami agrees, remarking that the outcome of the meeting depends entirely on luck.
As they enter the conference room, two Simurians arrive almost immediately. Jabaloma, the Simurian diplomatic envoy, introduces himself and his fellow dispatch officer, Cross, before expressing gratitude for the humans’ hospitality. Usami and Mino are taken aback by the aliens' fluent Japanese, but Usami quickly composes himself, introducing himself as the acting minister of foreign affairs and shaking Jabaloma's hand. Mino follows with his own introduction while silently cursing the United States for failing to share that the Simurians could already speak Earth languages, despite pressing Japan for intelligence on alien technology. Usami privately concludes that the U.S. likely withheld this information deliberately, as payback for Japan's lack of cooperation since the signing of the Kyoto Paranormal Resolution. He grows wary of the Simurians, realizing that overcoming the language barrier gives them a powerful advantage in intelligence-gathering.
Once seated, Jabaloma requests permission to have another Simurian representative attend the meeting. Usami agrees but asks why he bothered to ask. Jabaloma explains that the representative is extremely dangerous, even unarmed, and he wanted to assure them of his non-hostile intentions. When the representative enters, both Usami and Mino are overwhelmed with dread by his sheer presence. After the meeting ends, a shaken Mino nervously asks if he is even still alive, finally understanding why the Simurians' arrival is considered a threat on par with Sukuna. Usami agrees, stating that the representative alone could easily conquer Japan, and that the Simurians were deliberately asserting their superiority. Still, he insists Japan must not give in to every demand. For now, the Simurians' only request is for one of their envoys to accompany jujutsu sorcerers to school and on missions, while concealing their alien identity.
To Mino's surprise, Usami decides to assign the Okkotsu siblings to the task. Mino objects, arguing that they are too young to handle such responsibility. Usami counters that the Simurians are refugees, not invaders, though Mino insists they are withholding crucial information to maintain that label. Usami recalls how, after the Security Treaty was signed sixty-two years ago, Japan grew complacent, nationalistic, and isolationist. He refuses to let the nation repeat those same mistakes. Mino worries that Japan’s current superficial approach to diplomacy will only lead both humans and Simurians to study each other's deterrents, setting the stage for war decades later if their existence becomes public and nationalists stir the people into open conflict. Usami, however, stands firm: war must be avoided at all costs. He argues that humans and Simurians must pursue true harmony, something he believes can only be achieved through the spirit of youth rather than rigid adult formalities. Mino remains uneasy about entrusting the fate of Japan and the world to teenagers, but Usami reminds him that adults, too, must shoulder their share of the burden.
After their mission, Tsurugi Okkotsu tells a skeptical Yuka Okkotsu about the existence of aliens and the danger they pose, having learned about them from the curse user. Tsurugi insists the curse user's words are credible, pointing out how lucrative the Japanese human trafficking business is, yet the curse user abandoned it because of the alien invasion. He also reminds Yuka of Maru's third eye, which they both witnessed. Still doubtful, Yuka decides to investigate the truth for herself, though Tsurugi believes it may be pointless since neither Usami nor Maru would reveal anything, and he personally does not trust Maru. Yuka then reveals her plan to ask the curse user directly.
Some time later, Yuka and Tsurugi meet with the detained curse user under the pretense of interrogating him about an explosive cursed object. After some banter, Tsurugi begins questioning, asking how the curse user learned of the aliens. The curse user explains that the information was leaked digitally, made easier by the government's incompetence. As he is explaining, he is quickly interrupted by Yuka, who remains skeptical. When Tsurugi presses him for proof, the curse user claims that a mothership carrying 50,000 Simurians is hovering above Japan, likely concealed by a barrier technique or advanced technology. According to him, the ship will land in the Kurumayama Highlands in Nagano at 8 P.M. the following day to resupply, a process that could temporarily weaken its concealment and make it visible to sorcerers. With this knowledge, the siblings decide to head to Nagano to confirm the aliens' existence themselves. Still suspicious of the curse user's cooperation, Yuka voices her doubts, but Tsurugi reasons that the curse user is likely trying to stir up chaos with information about the aliens in hopes of improving his chances of escape.
The next evening, Tsurugi and Yuka arrive at the Kurumayama Highlands before 8 P.M. As they make their way through a forest toward the mountaintop, Yuka notices that Tsurugi is still wearing their grandfather's ring. When she brings it up, Tsurugi refuses to return it until he becomes as powerful as their grandmother, determined to silence the Big Three Clans who see him as weak, just as they once dismissed their grandmother before she proved them wrong. Yuka wonders if she and Tsurugi are each chasing their own version of the truth: she strives to grow strong enough to reclaim the ring, while he seeks strength so that he can eventually return it. Her thoughts are interrupted by the sudden appearance of the Simurian mothership, Naunax. Staring at the colossal vessel in awe, the siblings reaffirm their resolve to become as strong as their grandparents.
Meanwhile, Maru reunites with his brother as the mothership is resupplied. Cross orders Maru to return to the sorcerers and continue surveilling them, though Maru protests, believing it unnecessary. To him, humans and Simurians are alike, both capable of good and evil. Cross dismisses this, arguing that human morality is meaningless unless it aligns with Simurian values. When Maru insists that they are the same, Cross reveals that Simurian opinion is currently divided between conflict and coexistence with humanity. Maru expresses his opposition to conflict, but Cross advises him to continue his mission so that he may gather evidence to support his position, before departing to fulfill his own duties. As Cross walks away, Maru calls out, asking if his younger brother would like to join him for breakfast the next day, only to be flatly refused.
Later, as Tsurugi and Yuka prepare to head back to Kyoto, Tsurugi is stopped at the entrance to a station due to insufficient funds in his wrist device. Realizing he didn't bring his student pass, he tells Yuka to go on ahead while he relinks the device. Not long after, he spots Cross standing atop a nearby building, watching over the city. Mistaking him for Maru, Tsurugi casually starts a conversation, warning him about the dangers of standing so close to the edge and asking whether the Simurians have similar rules on their planet. Cross curtly tells Tsurugi to shut up before vanishing, leaving the boy fuming.
Character in Order of Appearances
- Usami
- Mino
- Jabaloma
- Cross
- Dabura
- Sukuna (Mentioned)
- Yuka Okkotsu
- Tsurugi Okkotsu
- Yuta Okkotsu (Flashback)
- Maki Zenin (Mentioned)
- Marulu Val Vol Yelvori
Locations
- Kyoto
- Kyoto Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
- Nagano
- Kurumayama Highlands
Author's Comment
| Author's Comment | |
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Gege Akutami |
I got all hyped about doing storyboards for the entire series before it started, but I only got to chapter 7. | |