Ryosuke walked home dragging his feet, his thoughts still buzzing from his recent discovery. The neighborhood streets were quiet, bathed in the soft afternoon light. He nodded at the neighbors he passed, though his mind was elsewhere—focused on only one thing: his power.
He stepped into his apartment, his head still spinning from the day's events. It was late, and the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow through the windows.
His mother, as always, was in the kitchen, busy preparing dinner.
"Hi, Mom," he called out, dropping his bag by the entrance.
"Hi, sweetheart," she replied without looking up from her pot. "How was your day?"
"Oh, nothing special," he lied, trying to push aside the images of curses and disintegrated grass still swirling in his mind.
He was heading toward his room when a sharp voice called out from the living room.
"Hey!" shouted his sister, still planted in front of the TV with her eternal bag of chips. "You're home early today. Didn't see you at the arcade with your friends."
Ryosuke rolled his eyes.
"Shut up, Sayuri."
He really wasn't in the mood for one of their usual spats.
"Don't be rude to your sister," their mother said firmly from the kitchen. "Go get changed."
Ryosuke didn't argue. He climbed the stairs two at a time, eager to reach the sanctuary of his room. He closed the door behind him softly, savoring the silence and privacy.
His bag slid off his shoulder and landed on the floor with a dull thud. He flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. But his mind was far away. He had just remembered that he'd been reincarnated into another world. A world where curses roamed, where sorcerers fought to protect humanity—and somewhere in it, there was him.
After a while, he sat up and opened his notebook. He jotted down every detail he could remember from the manga, trying to get his bearings in this new reality. And after several minutes of analysis, he was certain.
"That's it…" he murmured, scanning his notes. "I'm a year before the start of Jujutsu Kaisen."
He remembered that period clearly. It was when Yuta Okkotsu joined Jujutsu High, and when the threat of Geto first began to surface.
The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons was coming.
An event of catastrophic magnitude that would change the world of jujutsu sorcerers forever.
A shiver of excitement ran through Ryosuke. It was soon. He'd soon meet Yuta, Maki, Panda, and the others. Characters he had only seen in manga panels or anime episodes would become very real to him.
But at the same time, a shadow of doubt loomed over his excitement. Ryosuke wasn't a hero. He was just an ordinary high school student… or had been until recently.
And even with this new power, could he really face the events that were about to shake the jujutsu world?
He knew this universe wasn't a game. The fights were brutal, the enemies lethal. And even with his ability, Ryosuke wasn't sure he was ready. It's not like he'd become invincible. There were countless powers and forces that could still hurt him.
He shut his notebook with a decisive motion.
"Doesn't matter," he thought. "I still have time. I need to prepare. I need to push my abilities to the limit before things get serious."
He stood up and changed quickly, swapping his school uniform for more casual clothes. He pulled on a black hoodie and a pair of sneakers. After a quick glance in the mirror, he left his room and headed downstairs with a newfound sense of purpose.
"Mom, I'm going out!" he called, poking his head into the kitchen. "I'm going to a friend's house—we've got plans tonight."
His mother, a little surprised, looked up from the curry simmering on the stove. "It's Friday, you should rest. But okay—be careful on the road, and be back before ten."
"Promise!" he replied with an innocent smile. He glanced at Sayuri, who was now eyeing him curiously.
"Your beloved sister is coming with you," she said, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Don't even think about it," he shot back with a wink before closing the door behind him.
Outside, Ryosuke walked through the dimly lit streets, lost in thought.
He already understood the basics of his power: he could alter and destroy things with cursed energy. He had tested it on plants, but that wasn't enough. He needed to know how far he could go. A power he didn't fully understand could backfire on him.
The idea of using it on a human briefly crossed his mind—but he pushed it away. Too dangerous, too unpredictable… and way too soon. He considered testing it on himself, but that was even riskier.
Even if he felt in control, a natural fear held him back from experimenting without proper preparation.
Especially since there was a good chance he might need to use it on himself eventually.
He stopped at the entrance of a dark alley.
His eyes landed on a stray cat, sitting atop an old cardboard box, lazily licking its paw. The animal didn't seem bothered by Ryosuke's presence, its eyes half-closed.
A faintly sad smile crossed the boy's face.
"Sorry, buddy," he murmured, eyes locked on the cat. "It's for science… sort of."
Slowly, he approached the feline, careful not to make too much noise. His hands were damp with sweat, and his heart beat a little faster than usual. He had never done this before, and a part of him wondered if he should just give up the idea altogether.
But another part—the one that understood how dangerous this world could be—told him he had to understand his power, no matter what. If he wanted to survive.
In a split second, he lunged, grabbing the cat by the scruff of its neck.
The animal thrashed in protest, letting out furious meows, its claws flailing uselessly.
Ryosuke held it at arm's length, his eyes locked on the creature.
"Relax, I'm not gonna hurt you," he whispered—though the cat had no reason to believe him.
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