Summary:
The details of creating independent cursed corpses is a process that Masamichi Yaga has always kept secret. Since the birth of Panda, they have wanted to know the higher jujutsu, and now they are using the aftermath of the Shibuya incident as an excuse to apply pressure. With few options left, Masamichi says goodbye and tries to see his son one last time.
Plot:
Sometime in the past shortly after Panda’s birth, Masamichi Yaga was imprisoned in a cell with both hands wrapped in talismans. He was interrogated by the Gakuganji on behalf of the higher ups. It is normal for cursed corpses to function independently, but usually consume the cursed energy provided by its user as fuel. In comparison, Panda is a self-supporting cursed corpse that can generate its own cursed energy. The higher-ups fear that Masamichi might form an army, and at one point referred to him as a special class with indefinite restraint. After telling Masamichi, Gakuganji asked how the Panda was made, but Masamichi insisted he didn’t know.
Masamichi is currently on the run, living in the forest next to one of her dolls. The cursed corpse is able to speak and calls out to Masamichi, saying that everyone is afraid of how gloomy he has become. The doll told the others that they should cheer up Masamichi. He then asks Masamichi “I’m not a genius” to confirm that it was a good idea. Masamichi caresses him and reveals that he won’t be able to return anytime soon. He adds that Master Tengen is protecting the forest they are hiding in, and his mother will come for him again.
Masamichi opens a small door at the base of the tree where many of his small, harmless, independent cursed corpses reside. They would be fine without him, but they made sure to tell Masamichi that they would miss him. Meanwhile, inside the isolation holding cell at Jujutsu High, Panda was captured and used as bait to draw out Masamichi. Kusakabe uses his katana to free Panda. He does this as a favor to repay Masamichi, but makes sure to tell Panda not to reveal who helped him.
Takeru’s mother reunites with him
In the past, Masamichi secretly created an independent cursed corpse to help support Kusakabe’s sister’s mental health.
In the past, Masamichi created an independent cursed corpse with information about Kusakabe’s nephew’s soul. His sister could not live without the support of her son and remained completely inactive in a wheelchair. When Masamichi’s doll met, she asked if the woman was his mother and then asked “I’m not a genius” because he was right. Kusakabe’s sister recognized her son’s mannerisms and the phrase, so she immediately ran out of the wheelchair to hug him. She repeatedly called out to the cursed corpse of Takeru and held him in her arms. Masamichi couldn’t let Takeru live with his mother because Panda wasn’t around yet and it couldn’t get out that there was a completely independent cursed corpse. Kusakabe apologizes and emotionally expresses his gratitude to Masamichi for doing this for his family.
Back in the present, Masamichi is confronted by a masked wizard with a scar over his left eye, an underling from the upper echelons. He asks where Masamichi is going without some cursed corpses to back him up. While taking off his jacket, the Tokyo Headmaster simply replies that he is going to see his son. The masked wizard doesn’t quite know what Masamichi means, but still assesses the gravity of the situation. Masamichi has been given a death sentence and the only way to save himself is to reveal how to instantly create independent cursed corpses. Masamichi says that his opponents have gotten used to being pushy without Satoru. The masked man agrees, especially since he is accompanied by an experienced wizard.
In the queue, Gakuganji steps out of the shadows armed with his guitar and after a short skirmish deals a fatal blow to Masamichi. Masamichi is mortally wounded by two deep cuts to his chest in an X-shape, which sprays blood over the wall, against which his dying body collapses. Gakuganji tells the wizard accompanying him to leave the two commanders alone, and he obliges.
With his last words, Masamichi suddenly begins to explain exactly how to create independent cursed corpses. Soul information can be replicated from physical information and inserted into the cores of cursed corpses. These cores must contain three highly compatible souls and have them constantly observe each other. Only then do souls stabilize and give rise to self-awareness and self-sustaining cursed energy. As Masamichi explains everything, Panda rushes towards Masamichi in an attempt to find and save his father.
Confused and shocked, Gakuganji questions why Masamichi would tell him now, trying to live by revealing it earlier. Before he goes to the afterlife, Masamichi answers because it is a curse that is passed from him to Gakuganji. Panda arrives too late just as Masamichi is dying and calls out his name in concern. Gakuganji throws away the broken remains of his weapon, expecting Panda to retaliate. However, Panda simply walks past him towards Masamichi without looking at Gakuganji.
Gakuganji questions why Panda isn’t fighting out of revenge, but Panda reveals that he isn’t like humans and isn’t bound by their behavior. He understands that Gakuganji was on good terms with Masamichi and these orders came from above. Still, Panda sheds tears for his father and tells Gakuganji to remember Panda’s cry as well.
A street lamp that illuminates the area has moths flying around it. One of them dies of the heat, representing how a person drawn to the light by pure ambition can burn out after getting too close to the sun.