Romantic relationships aren’t a major part of Jujutsu Kaisen, as most of the series’ narrative revolves around surviving the immediate threat posed by Ryomen Sukuna’s reincarnation. However, that isn’t to say that Gege Akutami’s iconic shonen manga is completely without romantic subtext. Numerous JJK characters have chemistry with one another, including two of the series’ most beloved jujutsu sorcerers: Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin.

Yuta’s quiet personality and Maki’s brash attitude made for a bevy of fun interactions between the two in Jujutsu Kaisen, which is a major reason why fans consistently shipped them prior to the manga’s conclusion. Now, JJK‘s sequel manga, Modulo, has officially stated that the two became a couple following the defeat of Ryomen Sukuna, confirming what is an incredibly significant pairing for the world of jujutsu sorcerers.

Modulo Chapter 1 Makes Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin a Canonical Couple

Modulo picks up 68 years after the defeat of Ryomen Sukuna, and it follows two young jujutsu sorcerers — Yuka and Tsurugi Okkotsu — as they meet an extraterrestrial on his first visit to Earth. As their names suggest, these two characters are descendants of Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin, both of whom appear in flashbacks of Yuka and Tsurugi’s youth. Though none of these flashbacks show Yuta and Maki together, it does explicitly state that Yuka and Tsurugi are their grandchildren, firmly placing Modulo two generations after Jujutsu Kaisen.

The reveal that Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin ended up together is a huge win for fans who shipped the two characters, and it’s a satisfying way to connect Modulo to the story of Jujutsu Kaisen without over-relying on the original series. Yuka and Tsurugi exhibit many of their grandparents’ traits, but they’re not carbon copies of Yuta and Maki, either, giving Modulo a chance to create its own identity while still paying homage to the original series.

In Modulo Chapter 1, Yuta (who still bears the forehead scar he gained by using Kenjaku’s cursed technique) and Maki appear on a handful of pages, during which they both evidence a warm kindness that clearly means the world to their grandchildren. Their limited presence is a welcome reprieve from other anime sequels like Boruto, which attempt to showcase a new generation of characters without actually distancing themselves from the series’ original cast. That said, Modulo still feels resonant with its predecessor.

While Yuta and Maki don’t overstay their welcome in Modulo‘s debut chapter, the sequel has plenty of overlap with Jujutsu Kaisen for fans looking for more of the original series. Most notably, Yuka and Tsurugi’s rivalry revolves around the possession of Yuta’s ring — a protective charm that dates back to his time as a jujutsu sorcerer. Tsurugi also wields a katana that is highly reminiscent of the ones wielded by Maki Zenin during her youth, providing another point of connection between Modulo‘s main characters and their grandparents. However, as Gege Akutami’s new manga unfolds, another element of jujutsu society established in JJK may very well be Yuka and Tsurugi’s biggest challenge.

Yuka and Tsurugi Hail From Jujutsu Kaisen’s Most Prestigious Clans

Modulo Chapter 1 only mentions one of the major jujutsu families from Jujutsu Kaisen: the Gojo Clan. Since Yuta Okkotsu hails from the clan, this doesn’t come as a surprise; however, what is more noteworthy about JJK‘s sequel is the absence of the Zenin Clan in its first chapter. Of the three major jujutsu clans, the Zenin Clan is by far the most present in JJK — at least, until Maki assaults their headquarters in the prelude to the Culling Game Arc, slaughtering their highest-ranking sorcerers in the process.

Whether the Zenin Clan even exists during the events of Modulo remains to be seen, but regardless, things don’t look good for the once-prestigious bloodline. With Maki Zenin and Megumi Fushiguro both casting aside the Zenin name, as well as Maki decimating their ranks, it seems clear that they no longer play the major role they once did in jujutsu society. Unfortunately, what Modulo Chapter 1 shows of the Gojo Clan hints that the family might not be all that different from the clan that Maki and Megumi discarded.

Yuka and Tsurugi both come across as very independent characters, and their relationships with their grandparents seem to be very wholesome. Sadly, the same cannot be said of their relationship with their mother — a distant figure speaks of the Gojo Clan’s wishes without consideration for Yuka or Tsurugi’s perspective. It’s an eerily similar dynamic to the one exhibited by Maki and Mai Zenin’s mother decades earlier, drawing a clear parallel between the twins’ experiences and those of Modulo‘s protagonists.

That said, Modulo does make it clear that the world Yuta and Maki inhabit is a far cry from the one experienced by Yuka and Tsurugi (as expected of a sequel that introduces aliens to the mix). Despite only being 16 and 17 years old, the duo exhibits an understanding of barrier techniques and cursed energy usage that is far more refined than what is seen in Jujutsu Kaisen‘s younger cast, insinuating that jujutsu society has continued to develop the dramatic events of the Culling Game. Given the impending alien invasion hovering above Earth, Modulo‘s main characters will need to demonstrate everything they learned from their elders if they hope to survive.

Yuta and Maki May Not Be the Only JJK Characters Who Appear in Modulo

The confirmation of Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin’s relationship doesn’t have any major implications for the story of Jujutsu Kaisen, but it does give two of the series’ most beloved characters their own happily-ever-after — a rarity for Gege Akutami’s bloody manga. While it remains to be seen what happened in the 68 years since Ryomen Sukuna’s defeat, Modulo Chapter 1 makes it clear that Yuta and Maki had great relationships with Yuka and Tsurugi, respectively. It’s a heartwarming piece of news for Jujutsu Kaisen fans, especially considering the trials and tribulations that both Yuta and Maki went through during the events of the series.

Looking forward, it will be interesting to see if Gege Akutami’s new manga sheds light on any other Jujutsu Kaisen characters. Satoru Gojo and Yuji Itadori were mentioned by name in Modulo Chapter 1, so it seems likely that future installments of the sequel series will provide context on what happened to the rest of the series’ cast, as well as any potential relationships between other jujutsu sorcerers. Yuji being named in the same breath as Satoru Gojo doesn’t bode well for the protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen, but it’s entirely possible that he appears during Modulo‘s looming alien invasion.

Aoi Todo, Nobara Kugisaki, Megumi Fushiguro, and Yuji Itadori are but a few of the Jujutsu Kaisen characters fans are anxious to see in Modulo. Although there’s no guarantee that any of them are alive, a 68-year timeskip is just short enough that some of JJK‘s younger cast may still be breathing by the events of Modulo, and considering the unprecedented nature of the sequel’s alien invasion, Yuka and Tsuguri may very well need the mentorship of their elder jujutsu sorcerers in order to protect Earth.

It’s far too early to know where Modulo‘s narrative will go now that Yuka and Tsurugi are aware of the aliens present on Earth, but for the time being, the sequel manga is a welcome addition to Jujutsu Kaisen‘s narrative. With Season 3 of the series’ anime adaptation set to debut in 2026, there are more eyes than ever on the work of Gege Akutami, and based on Chapter 1, it seems as though Modulo is going to do a fantastic job of following up on the adventures of Yuji Itadori and his allies. And, if fans are lucky, Yuta and Maki might not be the only Jujutsu Kaisen ship that finally becomes canon.