Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Doubles Down on Gege Akutami’s Most Divisive Trend
Gege Akutami catapults Jujutsu Kaisen into 2086 with Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, a sharp new spin-off that rallies fresh faces—Yuka, Tsurugi, Maru, and Cross—whose tight-knit bond could tip the scales as a brewing human–Simurian showdown erupts.
I went into Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo thinking we might get a breather from the usual emotional whiplash. Set 60 years ahead of the main series, new cast, new rules, fresh timeline. And then Chapter 12 happened.
Where Modulo is right now
Modulo is a short spin-off set in the year 2086 with a brand-new roster. At the center of it, you have Yuka, Tsurugi, and Maru, plus Maru's younger twin, Cross. Their little found-family dynamic has been the heart of the story so far, even as tensions keep spiking between humans and a species called Simurians.
Why Cross mattered
Cross has been in the thick of it since Chapter 1, and he started out as the mirror opposite of Maru when it came to humans. After years of oppression and violence, he wanted nothing to do with coexistence. Over time, though, the guy opened up. He is empathetic, openly protective of Maru, and his friendship with Tsurugi and Yuka chipped away at his anger. He even cast his vote to coexist with humans. That character turn won over a lot of readers because it felt earned, not rushed.
The Chapter 12 gut punch
During the latest human–Simurian standoff, Yakumaru shoots Cross. There is no official confirmation he is dead yet, but the shots land in places you do not walk away from. Yakumaru tries to spin it as self-defense, saying Cross reached for a weapon first. The scene does not back that up.
What makes this hit harder is a bit of worldbuilding from Chapter 9: a Simurian's third eye only cries under three conditions — when a Kalyan dies, at birth, and at death — and those tears are dangerous enough to cause brain damage or even kill. In Chapter 12, we see a tear fall from Cross's third eye. So yeah, the outlook is grim.
Is Modulo about to repeat the main series' most divisive habit?
Light spoiler warning for the Jujutsu Kaisen manga below, including the Shinjuku Showdown Arc.
JJK has a reputation: brutal, often brilliant, and absolutely ruthless about killing off characters fans just bonded with. From the Shibuya Incident forward it was a bloodbath, and even earlier arcs were not shy about swinging the axe. The issue for a lot of readers was less about deaths happening and more about how frequently it kept happening — to the point where it could feel mechanical.
- Junpei got introduced as Yuji's new friend, then was manipulated and killed by Mahito not long after.
- Shibuya and beyond took Nanami, Yuki, and Choso off the board.
- Shinjuku Showdown claimed Gojo, the franchise's biggest icon.
Plenty of fans tapped out because their favorites were getting wiped in quick succession, often at Sukuna's hands. It is at least something that Sukuna is not Modulo's main antagonist, but if Cross is confirmed dead next chapter, it sure looks like the same playbook. Character deaths can push a story forward when used sparingly. When it becomes the default move, it loses power fast.
So, is Cross actually gone?
We will have to wait for the next chapter, but between those injuries and that third-eye tear, it is hard to be optimistic. It is especially rough timing, coming right as Cross finally chose coexistence and started healing. The exact fear he carried — that humans would always see Simurians as threats — got reinforced in the worst possible way.
Final thought
Modulo has a ton going for it: new setting, layered character work, a different political dynamic. I just hope it resists the urge to relive the main series' roughest habit. Let the growth breathe for once.
Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo is available to read on VIZ Media. Drop your theories below — do you think Cross makes it out of this, or are we bracing for another body blow?