"Alright, enough with the serious talk."
Sukuna suddenly changed the subject, his tone becoming lighthearted, "Explaining all that has made my mouth dry. Give me a piece of that thing that looks delicious."
He was referring to the chocolate mousse cake.
The mouth on Utaha's face smacked its lips, its gaze fixed on the exquisite dessert picture printed on the menu on the table.
"How... how are you going to eat?" Utaha had a bad feeling.
"With my mouth, obviously." Sukuna said as if it were a matter of course.
"Hurry up. Do you want me to use the mouth on your face? I can't guarantee how my table manners will be then."
The mere thought of that image sent a chill down Utaha's spine. She had no choice but to call the waiter and order a chocolate mousse cake along with some other drinks and snacks.
When the cake arrived, under the shocked gazes of Eriri and Megumi, a mouth split open once again on the back of Utaha's right hand.
"Ah—"
Sukuna controlled Utaha's hand, scooped up a large piece of cake with a spoon, and brought it to the mouth on the back of the hand.
"Hmm... the taste is passable, but it's too sweet. Modern desserts really lack taste."
"Haven't you heard? The highest realm of desserts is 'not being sweet'."
He critiqued as he ate, as if the heavy conversation about Cursed Spirits, Jujutsu Sorcerers, and their future fates had never happened.
Utaha watched her uncontrolled hand and listened to Sukuna's picky comments about the cake, veins nearly popping on her forehead.
If it weren't for the fact that this guy had actually saved them just now, she would have definitely splashed the coffee in her hand onto her own face.
Eriri and Megumi watched this surreal scene, their expressions shifting from fear and shock to a slow numbness, even carrying a hint of absurd acceptance.
After all, in a world where a mouth could grow on a face to talk and another could open on the back of a hand to eat cake, it seemed nothing strange would be surprising anymore.
— — —
Leaving the oppressive atmosphere of the cafe, the three girls walked silently down the street as the lights began to flicker on.
Utaha insisted on seeing Eriri and Megumi home first.
After experiencing Tomoya's tragedy and the shock of having their worldview overturned, she really couldn't feel at ease letting them go alone.
Eriri was still somewhat out of it, clinging tightly to Utaha as if she were her only source of support.
Although the two of them argued every day, Eriri had always trusted Utaha's character and harbored a secret admiration for her deep down.
Megumi followed quietly beside them, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the dim corners with a hint of imperceptible vigilance.
Just as they passed a relatively secluded street corner, Eriri's pace suddenly slowed. Her gaze was drawn to a shop—it was a small, ancient-looking place with a faded cloth hanging at the entrance, inscribed with characters like "Exorcism, Prayer, Spirit Charms."
The display window showcased wind chimes, prayer beads, and oddly shaped talismans.
Normally, Eriri would have scoffed at such a mystical-looking shop, but at this moment, lacking any sense of security, she felt as if she were grasping at a life-saving straw.
"Kasumigaoka... Kato..." Eriri's voice trembled slightly.
"Should we... go in and take a look? Maybe... there's someone here who knows what they're doing and can help us... drive away evil or something?"
She was referring to the fear lingering in her heart and the potential unseen threats.
Megumi looked at the shop, then at Utaha, and nodded gently. "Mm, it might be good to take a look. There's no harm in finding out more."
Her rationality told her it was likely useless, but at this point, any attempt that might bring a sense of security was worth considering.
Utaha originally wanted to refuse. The greatest "evil spirit" resided within her own body, wouldn't going to a place like this be like walking into a trap?
But seeing the fragile, almost pleading look in Eriri's eyes and the inquisitive look in Megumi's calm gaze, she sighed. "Alright, but don't get your hopes up too high."
The three of them lifted the cloth and stepped inside.
The interior was dimly lit, filled with a peculiar scent of incense mixed with old paper. The shelves were packed with various charms, crystals, animal bones, and unidentifiable dried herbs.
An old woman in a dark kimono, her face wrinkled and her eyes somewhat cloudy, sat behind the counter. She was hunched over, tinkering with something while muttering, her voice low and muffled, as if reciting some ancient incantation.
This eerie atmosphere startled Eriri, who subconsciously grabbed Utaha's arm. Megumi frowned slightly, cautiously observing her surroundings.
The old woman looked up, scanning them with eyes that seemed unable to see clearly, and spoke hoarsely, "Young ladies, are you here to pray for safety, or to ask about romance?"
"We... we want to see if there's... anything that can ward off evil." Eriri answered, summoning her courage.
The old woman's cloudy eyes shifted as she pointed to the shelves. "See for yourselves. Talismans, prayer beads, pendulums... we have it all. Sincerity brings results."
Utaha instinctively rejected such things, but to soothe Eriri, she pretended to browse casually. She picked up a crudely made wooden talisman. It was cold to the touch, but she didn't feel any special power from it.
Just then, Sukuna's lazy yet slightly strange voice rang out in her mind, interrupting her thoughts. "Hey, little girl, stop touching that trash. Look at the corner to your right—that dusty black wooden box."
Utaha was stunned and subconsciously looked in the direction Sukuna indicated.
In the most inconspicuous corner of the shelf, there was indeed a palm-sized, antique-style black wooden box covered in dust, appearing as if it hadn't been touched in a long time.
She put down the talisman and, after a moment's hesitation, reached out and picked up the box.
The box was light and had no decorations. She gently wiped away the dust, and an indescribable, faint throb emanated from inside.
She glanced at the old woman behind the counter, who didn't seem to care about her actions and continued to mutter to herself.
Taking a deep breath, Utaha carefully opened the lid.
Inside, laid upon dark red velvet, was an object—a withered, twisted, dark-colored thing that looked like obsidian. It was about the length of an adult finger but exceptionally thick, with a tip that looked too sharp to be human. It emitted an ancient, ominous aura.