---
"Sometimes healing comes not from grand gestures, but from ordinary moments."
---
Ryu woke to sunlight streaming through his apartment window and the insistent buzzing of his phone. The message was from Nanami, sent at precisely 7:00 AM:
'Rest means rest. No training. No missions. Light exercise only. Failure to comply will result in mandatory medical evaluation.'
'He's probably already awake and working on 'his research.'
After yesterday's events in the warehouse, pushing himself would be stupid. So instead of his usual intense training regimen, Ryu settled for light stretching and decided on a casual jog through the nearby park.
The morning air was sweet, carrying the scent of dew and distant flowers. Early risers walked their dogs, elderly folks stood in groups, and the world felt almost normal except for the cursed spirits exercising with them.
'This is nice.'
About twenty minutes into his jog, Ryu noticed an old woman sitting on a park bench, clutching her chest with obvious discomfort. And there, wrapped around her shoulders like a shawl, was a small curse, barely more than a shadow, but feeding on her nonetheless.
Ryu simply jogged past close enough to let his hand brush against the curse, grabbed it and consumed it in three quick bites without breaking stride.
The woman's hands immediately relaxed, her breathing easing. She looked around in confusion, as if trying to understand why her chest pain had suddenly vanished.
Ryu kept jogging, not stopping to explain or seek gratitude. Some good deeds didn't need acknowledgment. Sometimes helping was its own reward.
'Besides, it was just a snack. Not like I went out of my way.'
But he was smiling as he rounded the next corner.
---
Back at his apartment, Ryu showered and settled into his meditation pose. Controlling cursed energy flow while maintaining mental focus.
The physical enhancement from all those consumed curses had accumulated to something significant. When he tested his strength against the concrete wall of his apartment (gently, so as not to damage anything important), his fist left a visible crack.
'I could put a hole through this wall if I really tried. That's... concerning and useful in equal measure.'
'Maybe I shouldn't try to become homeless accidentally. '
After an hour of meditation, restlessness drove him to his phone. He typed "Ryomen Sukuna" on google, curious about what public information existed about the King of Curses.
The results were surprisingly sparse. A few academic articles about Heian era folklore, some tourist trap websites about "Japan's Most Fearsome Legend," and a handful of forum posts from people who claimed to have encountered "Sukuna's presence" in various haunted locations.
'So the jujutsu world keeps him quiet. Makes sense tho, can't have civilians panicking about an ancient curse whose fingers are scattered across Japan.'
Frustrated with the lack of useful information, Ryu shifted to searching for recent supernatural incidents. Local news, social media, anything that might indicate curse activity.
That's when he found a video.
The post was from an account called "ParanormalTokyo_Real" and had been uploaded three days ago. The title read: "REAL GHOST CAUGHT ON CAMERA - Yamabuki High School."
The footage was shaky, clearly shot on a phone at night. An empty classroom came into view, desks arranged in neat rows, moonlight streaming through windows.
"Okay, so I'm Yamato, second-year at Yamabuki High," a young voice narrated.
"I stayed late to finish a project, and I keep hearing this weird whistling sound. My friend told me to record it for proof, so here we go..."
The camera panned across the empty room. Then, faintly, a whistle echoed through the silence.
*Whistle sounds*
Three notes, repeated in an unsettling pattern.
Yamato moved deeper into the classroom, his breathing audible on the recording.
*Huff*
"It's coming from the back corner, I think. Maybe it's just pipes or--"
The whistling stopped abruptly.
"Hello?" Yamato called out.
"Security? Is someone there?"
The camera tilted upward, and Ryu leaned closer to his screen. For just a moment barely a second, something appeared in the frame. Not clearly, just movement of dust near the ceiling. Then static obscured the image.
When it cleared, Yamato was looking at something off-camera and laughing nervously.
"Oh! It's just the security guard. You scared me, sir. I thought---"
The whistling started again. Loud. Immediate. Right next to the camera.
Yamato's scream cut off as the phone dropped, spinning as it fell. In the brief glimpse before it hit the ground, Yamato could be seen hovering over in the air.
More static. Then the camera flew across the room as if thrown, and the video cut to black with the sound of furniture being destroyed.
Ryu sat back, processing what he'd seen. The comments section was a mix of reactions:
"Fake as hell lmao"
"Staged for views. Try harder."
"My cousin goes to Yamabuki High. Yamato actually did go missing after this. Police found his phone in the classroom but never found him."
"That's a spirit! Someone needs to call exorcists."
"Bro thinks spirits are real đź’€"
'A curse that targets students staying late at school. Possible Grade 3, maybe Grade 2 if it actually killed many. And if that comment about Yamato disappearing is true...'
Ryu checked the timestamp on the video. Posted three days ago. If Yamato had been missing for that long, a rescue mission would be happening soon.
He saved the link and made a note to show it to Nanami and Haibara. This felt like something worth investigating.
---
What started as research quickly devolved into mindless scrolling. One paranormal video led to another, then to funny animal compilations, then to cooking tutorials, then to anime fights....
*Growl*
Ryu's stomach voices it's concern loudly, interrupting his viewing of a video about best Anime fights.
He checked his phone. 3:47 PM.
'Shit. I missed lunch completely. Damn you doomscrolling.'
As if summoned by his thoughts, his phone buzzed with a call from Haibara.
"Hey! Finally finished with today's classes. You doing okay?"
"Yeah, took it easy today just like Nanami ordered."
"Good. He can be scary when people ignore his advice. Want to meet up? Nanami and I are going to the park by the school"
Ryu's stomach answered for him with another insistent growl.
"Definitely. I'll head out now."
---
The park was busier in the afternoon, filled with families and students enjoying the pleasant weather. Ryu spotted his friends near the fountain, Haibara waving enthusiastically, while Nanami stood with a plain face like someone stole his wallet.
"So how did today go?" Haibara asked as Ryu approached.
"Rest, research and doomsc----, more research I mean"
"How were classes?"
"Brutal," Haibara groaned.
"Yaga sensei decided we all needed to work on our weakness. I got paired against this close combat specialist from the third year class. He destroyed my technique in like thirty seconds."
"Your range advantage becomes a liability in close quarters" Said Nanami.
"You need a defensive technique for when enemies come near."
"I know, I know. I'm working on it. Maybe some kind of burst technique to create space?" Haibara looked thoughtful.
"What about you, Nanami? How did your training go?" Asked Ryu.
"Yaga sensei had me fight someone with a ranged technique. I adapted and won anyway." Said Namami with a light smirk.
"Of course you did," Haibara said. "You didn't even break a sweat."
As they walked, Ryu noticed a familiar storefront.
"Hey, there's this place I know. Owner's a good guy. Want to grab something to eat there?"
"Lead the way," Haibara agreed.
---
The bell above the door chimed as they entered Takeshi's Convenience Store. The old man looked up from restocking shelves, and his weathered face broke into a smile.
"Took you long enough, boy! How are you?"
"Better, Takeshi. I've got a proper apartment now. And I'm attending a high school."
Takeshi's eyes actually misted slightly.
"Look at you, moving up in the world. I'm proud of you, kid. Really."
Then his gaze shifted to Ryu's companions.
Haibara took the lead in introducing himself.
"I am Haibara and I too am their classmate and friend"
"And who's this strange man in a suit? Looks like a salaryman got lost on his way to the office."
Nanami actually looked pleased by this description.
"I prefer 'professionally dressed student, but salaryman is acceptable."
"He's my classmate," Ryu said quickly.
"Just looks a bit older than he is. Sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Nanami's eyebrow raised.
"All the time," Haibara corrected.
"Definitely all the time."
Takeshi and Haibara both laughed, and even Nanami's lips twitched slightly.
"Sit, sit!" Takeshi gestured to a small seating area near the register.
"You boys hungry? I've got fresh onigiri, some decent instant ramen, and my wife made too much tamagoyaki this morning. You'd be doing me a favor taking it off my hands."
They settled around the small table while Takeshi brought food far more for the three of them.
"So you're going to a high school now," Takeshi said, settling into his chair.
"Making friends, that's good. You spent too long living rough."
"It's... different," Ryu admitted.
"Good different. These guys have been helpful." He glanced at his friends.
"Even when they're annoying."
"Especially when we're annoying," Haibara grinned.
"That's what friends are for."
As they ate, the conversation flowed about various topics, school gossip, complaints about training, Takeshi's stories about other neighborhood kids.
Then Ryu remembered the video.
"Actually, I wanted to show you guys something." He pulled out his phone, finding the saved link.
"Found this earlier while researching... uh, local urban legends."
He played the video for them. Haibara watched with growing concern, while Nanami's expression remained focused.
"That's definitely curse activity," Haibara said when it finished.
"The movement patterns, the whistling. Could be a Grade 3 curse."
"But here's the question," Nanami interjected.
"If Yamato disappeared as the comments claim, who uploaded the video? The phone was found at the school. The footage should have died with the device."
Ryu hadn't considered that.
"Maybe it auto-uploaded?"
"Possible. But the account name 'ParanormalTokyo_Real' seems fishy. Someone wanted this seen." said Nanami.
"We should investigate. Tomorrow night, after classes."
"A rescue mission?" Asked Nanami tilting his head.
"Do we report it to Yaga sensei?"
"Insufficient evidence," said Ryu.
"We'll gather data, then report findings if the situation warrants intervention."
(Translation: we're doing this!)
Takeshi, who had been listening quietly, shook his head.
"You kids and your ghost hunting. Just be careful, yeah?"
"Sure boss as you say" said Ryu with a smirk.
---
As they left the store, Nanami spoke quietly.
"You're fortunate to have someone like that. Someone who cares without expecting anything."
"Yeah," Ryu agreed.
"Thanks."
"Cherish those bonds. They're rarer than most people realize."
Haibara added, "You know? I never expected you to be capable of such normal, speech, Nanami."
"I'm capable of many things. I simply choose efficiency. "
"Unlike some people who use seventeen words when three would suffice."
"See, now that's the Nanami I know," Haibara laughed.
As they walked, Ryu found himself curious. "Nanami, what about your family? You never talk about them."
"Its complicated"
"I was raised by my grandmother. Then I came to Tokyo Jujutsu High." He paused.
"It's also the reason why I view sorcery as work. Someone has to do it."
"That's..." Haibara struggled for words.
"Pragmatic," Nanami supplied.
"Life happens. We adapt."
"What about you, Haibara?" Ryu asked, shifting attention.
"I have normal parents, with a cute little sister who can also see curses"
"Although I told her not to be a jujutsu sorcerrer after seeing the type of life we live."
Nanami did a thumbs up as if fully agreeing to the decision.
"Oh cool"
"I was actually orphan and lived my earlier days in the orphanage but they kicked me out when I picked a fight with the owners son for breaking my toy."
"That sounds hardcore." Said Haibara.
"Yeah, it was literally for a while haha" Ryu mused.
As they walked, Ryu noticed they were approaching near an abandoned construction site, old buildings half finished years ago.
"Feel like some practice?" Ryu asked, already knowing the answer.
Nanami checked his watch. "I can spare thirty minutes before my research schedule."
"Research schedule," Haibara repeated. "You mean staring at blank notebooks while pretending to work?"
"My research increases brain power."
"Sure...." Said Ryu with a blank expression.
They spread out across the construction site. Each stood at a corner with curses energy flowing through each of them.
---
Status Update:-
Primary Techniques:
1. Shadow Grasp -
Mastery: Advanced (65%)
Base Form: 4-8 tendrils depending on cursed energy output.
-Enhanced Form: 8 coordinated tendrils (Lucky Gamble dependent)
-Applications: Restraint, defense, crowd control, environmental manipulation
-Energy Cost: Moderate to High
2. Slice and Dice -
Mastery: Intermediate (55%)
Effect: Invisible cutting attacks with healing inhibition
-Special Property: 15% chance to disrupt cursed energy flow in struck area
-Range: Short to Medium
-Energy Cost: Moderate*
3. Life Drain -
Mastery: Basic (35%)
Effect: Absorbs vitality and cursed energy through direct contact.
-Control: Can regulate flow intensity
-Duration: Variable based on target strength and generally slow.
-Energy Cost: Low (self-sustaining when active)
4. Lucky Gamble -
Mastery: Intermediate (45%)
Description: Roll 1-2 dices, result determines enhancement/impairment
-Duration: X minutes where X = dice roll total
-Critical Success: Double 6s = maximum enhancement
-Critical Failure: Double 1s = temporary cursed energy lockout (1 hour)
-Energy Cost: Moderate
5. Surgical Precision (Passive Enhancement) -
Mastery: Advanced (60%)
Effect: Increased accuracy and critical hit chance
-Integration: Works automatically with other abilities
-Energy Cost: None (passive)
Technique Combinations :
1. Fatebound Bind (Shadow Grasp + Lucky Gamble).
Status: Experimental
Success Rate: 85% (excluding critical failures)
-Effect: Enhanced restraint with variable power scaling
-Energy Cost: 2x base requirements
Physical Enhancement:
Strength Statistics:
-Base Enhancement: +50% above peak human
-Striking Power: Can crack concrete with standard punches
-Maximum Output: Can create holes in concrete walls with enhanced strikes
-Lifting Capacity: Approximately 150kg (330 pounds) comfortably
Speed & Reflexes:
-Movement Speed: +45% enhancement
-Reaction Time: Enhanced to near superhuman levels
Durability:
-Impact Resistance: Can withstand blunt force trauma that would incapacitate normal humans
-Pain Threshold: Elevated but not immune
-Regeneration: Accelerated healing (minor wounds close in seconds).
Cursed Energy:
Reserve Capacity:
-Current Level: High (approaching Grade 2 threshold).
-Classification: Upper-tier first-year, low-tier second-year equivalent.
---