Jujutsu Kaisen’s sequel turns season 3’s standout episode on its head.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo, the sequel to Gege Akutami’s acclaimed manga, is closely aligning with the themes emerging in the ongoing Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 anime. Whether this connection is deliberate is uncertain, but it certainly enriches the context of the current season, especially for characters like Maki. Modulo explores how time and perspective have transformed these characters in the present.
In chapter 21 of Modulo, an older Maki reflects on her sister Mai during a flashback, questioning whether her pursuit of power was the right choice. She wonders if prioritizing her sister might have led to a happier life. “Because of Mai, I got stronger. But sometimes I wonder…did I really need to get stronger?” Maki tells her grandson Tsurugi, cautioning him against sacrificing what matters for the sake of power. This moment ties back to the tragic fate of the Zenin twins, where Mai ultimately sacrificed herself to enable Maki to fully unleash her Heavenly Restriction.
This power boost allowed Maki to obliterate the Zenin clan, but now, she grapples with regret. In her conversation with Tsurugi, she muses that if Mai had lived and she hadn’t confronted the Zenin Clan, perhaps someone else could have taken on that burden. “It’s a naive fantasy I can only admit to now,” she reflects. “Still, there’s not a day that goes by when I don’t wonder maybe I could’ve chosen a future where Mai still exists.” In their last exchange, Mai reminded Maki that if she hadn’t rejected their clan’s fate, they could have enjoyed a peaceful life together.
This narrative serves as a powerful continuation of the much-discussed Maki-centric episode in Jujutsu Kaisen season 3. Modulo provides a fresh lens on Maki’s internal struggles, an area the original series didn’t delve into deeply. The story of the Zenin sisters transcends mere revenge, adding depth to their characters. Fans also get a glimpse of Yuji Itadori, the series’ main character, in Modulo, showcasing the evolution of his beliefs over time.
Previously, Yuji accepted his role as a mere cog in the ongoing war between jujutsu sorcerers and the curses they battle. This pivotal moment is captured in season 3, episode 6, aptly titled “Cog,” where Yuji articulates this mindset. Chapter 20 of Modulo illustrates how this philosophy continues to shape his life. Yuji refrains from rushing to assist the modern sorcerers, dismissively questioning who even cares about him anymore, while reflecting on the saying that “soldiers never die, they just fade away.”
Instead, he resolves to clean up the aftermath of the conflict. This can be interpreted as Yuji allowing the next generation of sorcerers to handle their own challenges, but it also signifies his quiet acceptance of his current role in jujutsu society. His perspective has shifted: Yuji no longer intervenes unless absolutely necessary, remaining emotionally detached from his responsibilities as the strongest sorcerer. He has become a lonely shadow of his former self, cursed to outlive his friends and reduced to a mere tool within the jujutsu world. This stands in stark contrast to the younger Yuji we see in season 3, who once took pride in his identity as a sorcerer.
Ultimately, Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo feels less like a conventional spin-off and more like a genuine epilogue to Akutami’s original work, allowing for a deeper exploration of emotional nuances that the main series often overlooked. With only a few chapters remaining before Modulo reaches its conclusion, excitement is building to see how the author will continue to intertwine past events with present ramifications, and what the final chapters might reveal about the franchise as a whole.
