"I've memorized your presence," Sukuna said, a twisted smile spreading across his face.
With that, he only needed to find the sorcerer and retrieve his finger. That would be enough.
As for whether the sorcerer's strength would be a problem?
Sukuna didn't entertain such thoughts. As the King of Curses, he had his pride. Even if the sorcerer in question was considered the strongest of this era, Sukuna didn't take him seriously.
In Sukuna's mind, he was always the strongest. The so-called "strong" of the modern era? To him, they were merely insects who hadn't been born during his reign. Not worth his attention in the slightest.
"Hey!"
Suddenly, a voice interrupted Sukuna's thoughts.
"You scheming again, huh?" Yuji's voice called out, clearly confused by the silence that had come over him.
"…"
This idiot, Sukuna thought bitterly.
Outside the domain of Sukuna's mind, Yuji was staring at his own reflection in a nearby window, wondering why Sukuna had gone silent. Every time the curse king got quiet like this, it couldn't mean anything good.
"Sensei!" Yuji turned to call Gojo Satoru, who stood next to him along with Megumi Fushiguro, who had recently awakened his Ten Shadows Technique.
Megumi glanced at Gojo for reassurance. Earlier, while on a mission to exorcise a cursed spirit, Yuji had suddenly appeared, eager to help. The cursed spirit had been defeated, but instead of leaving with the cursed object, the finger of Ryomen Sukuna—Yuji had eaten it.
Megumi had been worried, thinking Yuji might be in grave danger. But to his surprise, Yuji seemed fine, even managing to suppress Sukuna's will.
"Are we sure it's okay? He just ate the finger of the Cursed King from a thousand years ago," Megumi asked cautiously.
Gojo waved his hand dismissively, his carefree grin never wavering. "Don't worry. I'm here, after all."
Megumi, still concerned, looked at Yuji, who was standing in front of them. Gojo had taken quite an interest in the boy. He was intrigued, Yuji had eaten Sukuna's finger and yet managed to keep his mind intact, something no one else had ever done.
"If Sukuna goes berserk, it could be really dangerous," Megumi continued, but Gojo interrupted him with a casual shrug.
"We'll win."
"Huh?"
Megumi stared in shock, but Gojo's tone remained relaxed, even lighthearted.
"No matter who the opponent is, I'll win. Because I'm the strongest."
"…"
Megumi sighed. Gojo's confidence was staggering, but it was hard to argue. As narcissistic as his teacher could be, Gojo was undeniably the strongest sorcerer alive.
"The strongest? Ha!" Sukuna's voice rang out suddenly.
A mouth formed on Yuji's cheek, and Sukuna's voice spilled out from it. "Are all the sorcerers of this era as ignorant and arrogant as you? Just anyone can call themselves the strongest?"
In Sukuna's time, he was the undisputed strongest. Those who challenged him barely lasted a second under his attacks. So hearing Gojo proclaim himself as the "strongest" made Sukuna scoff with disdain.
Before Sukuna could continue, Yuji quickly slapped his hand over his mouth. "Sorry about that, he just likes to run his mouth."
Gojo waved it off nonchalantly. "It's fine. He's just a loser without a body right now. I'd probably talk nonsense too if I were in his position."
Even with Yuji's hand over his mouth, another one appeared on the back of Yuji's hand.
"A loser? You dare call me that?" Sukuna hissed. "I've decided. Once I'm fully resurrected, the first person I'll kill is you, Gojo Satoru!"
Gojo simply laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Looking forward to it."
With that, Gojo waved his hand and signaled for Megumi and Yuji to follow him.
"Wait, I have to come too?" Yuji asked, surprised. Up until recently, he had been a regular high school student.
"Of course," Gojo said. "You ate a cursed object, after all. Are you ready to go to jail?"
"Jail?!" Yuji's face drained of color, his confusion quickly turning into panic.
Gojo smirked, clearly enjoying himself. He was only teasing Yuji, but it was still important to bring him back to Jujutsu High.
What none of them realized was that not long after they left, Kenjaku appeared, watching them from the shadows with a smile on his face.
"The plan is in motion," Kenjaku muttered to himself. Finally, things were beginning to fall into place.
Originally, he had planned to wait before forcing Ryomen Sukuna's reemergence. But with recent events, Kenjaku could no longer afford to wait.
"The remaining fingers…" Kenjaku mused. He had already collected two of Sukuna's fingers over the years, but there were still more out there, hidden and scattered.
Among those, two had been placed in a space that even Kenjaku couldn't access—Ryuji's dimension. Finding the rest would be crucial.
"The strongest? What a joke," Kenjaku chuckled as he turned to leave.
For a long time, Kenjaku had viewed Gojo as the biggest obstacle to his plans. But now, after seeing Ryuji's strength firsthand, Kenjaku felt genuine fear for the first time in centuries.
Ryuji hadn't even used his full power when he attacked, and yet Kenjaku and his allies had barely survived. If Ryuji had gone all out, they likely wouldn't have lived to see another day.
Still, Kenjaku was confident. Everything was proceeding as planned. Ryomen Sukuna's revival was inevitable.
---
By the time school ended that day, Ryuji was in the service club, yawning as he prepared to leave.
The girls in the room looked at him in surprise.
"You're leaving already?" one of them asked. Normally, if Ryuji had nothing else to do, he would hang around the club for a while.
"Yeah, I've got some things I need to practice back home," Ryuji replied, stretching as he stood up.
"Practice?" They exchanged curious glances.
Ryuji grinned. "I've been working on something that'll allow you to become sorcerers."
"…"
The room fell silent as the girls stared at him, stunned.
"Wait, you figured it out already?" one of them asked, wide-eyed.
Ryuji nodded. "Yep, I found the technique."
Raising his hand, Ryuji summoned the power of Idle Transfiguration into his palm. "This is a special technique that modifies the soul. It's even more powerful than the RCT when it comes to healing."
He explained that this ability could not only heal the body by manipulating the soul, but also transform a person's brain into that of a sorcerer, enabling them to use cursed energy.
"Modify the brain?" one of the girls asked, sounding a bit uneasy.
Ryuji nodded. "Yeah, but that's why I need to practice. I don't want to accidentally turn any of you into idiots," he said with a teasing smile.
The girls couldn't help but laugh at his blunt honesty.
"Thanks for working so hard, Ryuji!" one of them said, beaming at him.
"Wait, did he just say 'my women'? Does that include me?" another girl asked excitedly, her cheeks flushing.
The mood in the service club was filled with laughter, the atmosphere light and carefree.
Ryuji couldn't help but smile too. This was what youth was all about.
---
When Ryuji got home, he noticed something immediately—Mimiko and Nanako were gone.
They must've left while he was at school. A note was left on the table, and he picked it up to read.
"We didn't sneak away. There's just some business we need to handle with the Organisation. Don't worry, it's nothing major, and it'll be over soon. We'll be back within three days—well, actually, we'll be back in two. And after that… we won't leave again."
The handwriting became messier toward the end, as if the writer's emotions had gotten the better of them.
"Unexpectedly cute," Ryuji chuckled as he set the note down.
It seemed that they really didn't plan on leaving for long. In that case, he had some time to practice Idle Transfiguration while they were away.
---
Because Ryuji had left the service club early, the girls had dispersed quickly that day as well. Though no one mentioned it aloud, they all knew the real reason the club gathered was because of him. Without Ryuji there, the club just didn't have the same energy.
"I always feel like the club is boring without Ryuji," Yumiko remarked as she walked with Yui and Hina after school.
"Ryuji really is the most important part," Yumiko said, not caring what anyone thought. For her, it was clear that Ryuji was the one she cared about the most.
As they walked, their paths began to diverge.
"Alright, I'll head home from here," Yumiko said as they approached a crossroad.
"See you tomorrow, Yumiko!" Yui and Hina waved as Yumiko headed off in the opposite direction.
With Yumiko gone, Yui and Hina continued walking together, their footsteps echoing in the quiet streets.
"So… haven't decided yet?" Hina asked, glancing at Yui out of the corner of her eye.
Yui lowered her head, unsure of how to respond. The truth was, she still felt conflicted.
Hina sighed, shaking her head slightly. "If you don't make up your mind soon, I'm going to move first."
The casual tone in Hina's voice made it clear she wasn't joking. She had already given Yui time, but she wasn't going to wait forever.
Yui's eyes widened, and a small sense of panic welled up inside her. "I-I can do it!" she blurted out, her voice a bit shaky. The thought of being left behind, of losing her chance, was too much for her to bear.
"Are you sure?" Hina asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You've been hesitating for a while now."
Yui swallowed hard, trying to gather her thoughts. She had been hesitant, but seeing Hina so resolute made her realize that if she didn't act soon, she might lose her opportunity.
"I've made up my mind," Yui finally said, her voice firmer now.
Hina smiled. "Good. Then let's do it this week."
"Th-this week?" Yui stammered, caught off guard by the suddenness.
"Why not? Waiting won't change anything. If you're serious, let's act now." Hina's tone was decisive, as always.
After a long moment of hesitation, Yui nodded slowly. "Alright… this week it is."
"Great!" Hina said, her smile widening as she waved goodbye. "See you later, Yui. Don't back out."
Yui watched as Hina walked away, leaving her standing alone in the street.
"Bye… bye," Yui muttered, feeling a mixture of nervousness and determination.
She began walking toward her home, but her thoughts kept swirling. Could she really do this? Was she really ready to take this step?
"It's okay… it'll be okay," she whispered to herself, trying to keep her courage up.
"Mom?"
When Yui got home, she was surprised to find her mother sitting on the couch in the living room. Normally, her mother worked late into the evening, so it was odd for her to be home so early today.
As Yui changed her shoes and walked in, she noticed something else, her mom wasn't reacting to her presence at all.
This only deepened Yui's confusion.
"Mom? Mom?" she called again, this time a bit louder.
Finally, Mrs. Yuigahama snapped out of her trance, startled for a moment. But upon seeing her daughter, her expression softened, and she let out a small sigh of relief.
"Oh, it's just you, Yui."
"Mom, are you okay?" Yui asked, her concern growing.
Yui had grown up in a single-parent household, her mother raising her alone since she was a child. This made her particularly sensitive to her mother's well-being.
"I'm fine," her mother replied quickly, though her voice had a hesitation Yui didn't miss.
Mrs. Yuigahama clearly didn't want to burden her daughter with whatever was troubling her. The truth was, she had seen something terrifying, but she wasn't ready to talk about it.
Before Yui could press her for more details, her mother suddenly stood up. "You must be hungry after school. Let me cook something for you."
Yui started to protest, "I'm not that hungry, and you—"
But Mrs. Yuigahama had already headed into the kitchen, cutting off the conversation. With no choice but to wait, Yui decided she would try to get more answers from her mother later.
In the kitchen, Mrs. Yuigahama turned on the faucet, but as soon as she did, her eyes widened in horror.
Instead of clear tap water, thick, scarlet blood poured out of the faucet.
She wanted to scream, but thinking of her daughter still in the other room, she fought to keep her composure. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and muttered to herself, "It's just a hallucination. It's just my imagination."
When she opened her eyes again, the water had returned to normal.
With a shaky sigh of relief, she continued preparing the meal, though her movements were stiff and her face pale with fear.
Earlier that day, Mrs. Yuigahama had been at work when something tragic had happened. A young employee a new intern, barely over twenty had died in a sudden accident. By the time the ambulance arrived, it was too late; she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The employees were given the rest of the day off to recover from the shock. Mrs. Yuigahama had overheard some of her colleagues talking about the intern, mentioning how she was so young and full of potential. "It's such a pity," one of them had said.
What Mrs. Yuigahama didn't realize at the time was that the word "pity" had somehow triggered something a nightmare.
On her way home, she started seeing the intern everywhere, out of the corner of her eye. At first, she dismissed it as a trick of her mind, thinking it was just grief playing tricks on her. But the more it happened, the closer the vision seemed to come. On the subway, the dead girl appeared just a few meters away, smiling at her with a sinister grin.
This wasn't just her imagination. Mrs. Yuigahama was sure of it.
But why was the girl's spirit following her? What had she done to deserve this? And worse, would her daughter be affected too?
When Yui came into the kitchen after a while, she could tell immediately that something was wrong. Her mother's behavior had been strange all evening, and now she looked pale and uneasy.
"Mom, are you really okay?" Yui asked, her concern deepening.
"It's nothing," her mother insisted, forcing a smile. She didn't want to tell Yui about the visions. As far as she knew, whatever was haunting her was focused on her alone. It wouldn't affect Yui if she kept her distance.
"I'm just tired from work. I'll sleep it off tonight," Mrs. Yuigahama said, brushing it off.
Yui, feeling a little reassured, didn't press further. She knew how hard her mother worked to support them both.
"Okay, Mom. You've been working hard. Get some rest, okay?"
Mrs. Yuigahama smiled at her daughter, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Thanks, sweetie. I'll be fine."
Yui nodded and went to bed, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.
That night, while Yui slept soundly, Mrs. Yuigahama tossed and turned, her forehead slick with sweat. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the intern, staring at her with that same sinister smile. The girl's lips curled upward, as if mocking her, as if asking, "Why was it me who died instead of you?"
Mrs. Yuigahama awoke with a start, her heart racing. She couldn't take it anymore. She opened her eyes—
—and screamed.
"Mom!" Yui burst through the door, rushing to her mother's side. She found Mrs. Yuigahama sitting up in bed, clutching her head, shaking with fear.
"Mom, what's wrong?!"
Mrs. Yuigahama gasped for air, trying to ground herself in reality. "Yui… Yui, I'm fine," she managed to say, though her voice was shaky.
But Yui noticed something strange. Her gaze slowly shifted to the window. "Mom, what's that?"
Mrs. Yuigahama's heart dropped. She turned to look and saw it—the figure of the dead intern, standing outside the window, grinning at them.
"You can see it too?" Mrs. Yuigahama asked in shock.
During dinner, she had seen the girl multiple times, but Yui hadn't reacted at all. So why could Yui see her now?
Panic surged through Mrs. Yuigahama. Was her daughter being targeted now too? Fear turned into a protective instinct as she pulled Yui close, shielding her. "Stay back! Don't you dare hurt my daughter!" she shouted at the figure.
But the girl at the window only smiled wider. Her form began to fade, as if she wasn't ready to make her move just yet.
As the figure disappeared, Yui finally understood what had been bothering her mother all day. She had been haunted by this, by something that clearly wasn't human.
"Mom, it's okay. We can handle this," Yui said, trying to comfort her mother.
"You need to leave, Yui," her mother insisted, her voice urgent. "Go stay with a friend tonight. Whatever this thing is, it's after me. You'll be safe if you're not here."
But Yui shook her head. "No way, I'm staying with you."
"Yui, listen to me—"
Before Mrs. Yuigahama could finish, Yui smiled reassuringly. "Mom, I actually know someone who can help with this."
Mrs. Yuigahama blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Without hesitation, Yui pulled out her phone. She had Ryuji's number saved for emergencies like this. She quickly dialed it, praying he would answer.
Luckily, she didn't have to wait long. After a few rings, Ryuji picked up.
"Yui?"
Ryuji sounded surprised. It wasn't long after he had finished another task for the day and had just gotten ready to relax. Seeing Yui's number pop up on his phone was unexpected.
"Ryuji, are you busy?" Yui asked, her voice steady despite the situation.
"Not at all. What's going on?" he asked, sensing something serious.
Yui quickly explained what was happening with her mother and the strange figure haunting them.
"I see," Ryuji said after listening carefully. "Send me your location. I'll be there soon."
"Okay, thanks!" Yui hung up and felt a wave of relief wash over her.
When she looked back at her mother, she noticed Mrs. Yuigahama's confused expression.
"What was that about?" her mother asked, gesturing toward the phone.
"That was Ryuji. His full name is Ryuji, and he's a classmate of mine. He's also a really powerful sorcerer," Yui explained quickly.
"A sorcerer?" Mrs. Yuigahama was taken aback. She had never heard of such a thing. But after the things she had seen tonight, it didn't seem so far-fetched.
"Yeah, he deals with things like this all the time," Yui continued, sensing her mother's disbelief. She quickly recounted some of the things she had learned from Ryuji.
"This is… a lot to take in," Mrs. Yuigahama admitted. If she hadn't seen the strange figure herself, she might have thought her daughter was making things up.
But more than anything else, one question remained on her mind.
"So, do you like this Ryuji a lot?"
Yui froze, her face turning bright red at the question.
"Mom!" she protested, her voice filled with embarrassment. "How can you ask that right now?"
"…"
Mrs. Yuigahama couldn't help but smile. Her daughter's reaction was all the confirmation she needed.
Though she was relieved that Yui had someone she clearly cared about, there was still a small pang of sadness. After all, Yui was her daughter, and the idea of her little girl growing up and finding someone she liked made her feel like time was moving too fast. It was like the precious daughter she had raised was suddenly being pulled away.
But Mrs. Yuigahama knew better than to interfere with young love.
"You know, Yui," she began, her tone softening, "I'm happy that you've found someone you care about. You're old enough to make your own decisions when it comes to love, and I won't get in your way."
Yui looked at her mother, still a bit embarrassed but grateful for her understanding.
"But," her mother continued with a teasing smile, "just make sure I don't become a grandmother too soon, alright? Let's wait a few more years before we even think about that."
"Mom!" Yui squealed, covering her face with her hands in pure embarrassment.
"Mom! What are you talking about!" Yui couldn't hold back her embarrassment any longer after hearing her mother's words. Her face turned bright red.
"I-I mean, Ryuji and I aren't even boyfriend and girlfriend yet!"
Though she liked him a lot, Yui knew they hadn't officially become a couple.
"..."
So, it was a one-sided crush.
Mrs. Yuigahama's momentary relief crumbled into disappointment. Well, it seems her hopes were a bit premature!
"You—" She was about to continue teasing, but seeing the panic in her daughter's eyes, she stopped herself. She didn't want to embarrass her any more than necessary.
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more. After all, Ryuji-kun will be here soon!" Yui looked genuinely worried that her mother might say something embarrassing in front of him.
"I know, I know," Mrs. Yuigahama replied, chuckling to herself. The thoughts and feelings of her daughter were written all over her face. Mrs. Yuigahama wasn't oblivious, she could clearly see how infatuated Yui was.
She sighed inwardly. It's said that once daughters find love, they drift away from their mothers. Hers wasn't even in a relationship yet, and she was already getting protective of Ryuji. Ah, well.
"Is this Yui's house?"
Ryuji had arrived at the Yuigahama residence. Standing in front of the two-story house, he scanned it briefly, sensing the lingering presence of something unnatural.
"There's definitely some residual energy here, but it's not strong. The manifestation's still weak, it's more of a nuisance than a real threat," he muttered to himself. Still, weak or not, he couldn't just ignore it now that he was here.
Ryuji pressed the doorbell.
Inside, Yui's eyes lit up when she heard the chime. "That must be Ryuji-kun!" She dashed toward the door, her excitement clear in her voice.
"Slow down!" Mrs. Yuigahama called after her, though she couldn't help but smile at her daughter's enthusiasm.
Yui swung the door open. "Ryuji-kun!"
"Hey, Yui. Good evening," Ryuji greeted her with a smile.
"Thank you so much for coming, Ryuji-kun. I'm sorry to trouble you so late."
"It's no trouble," he replied with a warm smile, gently patting her on the head. The gesture was comforting, and Yui felt her worries melt away as she let him inside.
By now, Mrs. Yuigahama had made her way down from the second floor, and her eyes landed on Ryuji. She couldn't help but admire how handsome and calm he seemed. If she were younger, she might have been a bit flustered herself. But looking at him now, she found herself wondering, could a young man like Ryuji really be interested in her daughter? She only knew Yui had a crush on him, but what did he think?
Just as she was about to greet him, something cold and sinister flashed before her eyes. A chilling grin appeared in front of her, so sudden that she stumbled back in shock.
"Mom!" Yui shouted as she saw her mother losing her balance, falling backward toward the stairs.
Even though the stairs weren't that high, a fall like that could still cause serious injury. But before Yui could even react, Ryuji was already moving.
In an instant, he appeared beside Mrs. Yuigahama, catching her in his arms just before she hit the ground. There was no impact, no pain just the warmth of someone holding her securely.
"Am I… okay?" Mrs. Yuigahama blinked, disoriented but unharmed. Slowly, she realized she was in Ryuji's embrace. Her face turned bright red as the reality of the situation set in.
"Thank you, thank you so much," she stammered, looking up at Ryuji, who smiled down at her reassuringly.
"It's nothing," Ryuji replied smoothly, gently setting her back on her feet. As Mrs. Yuigahama stood there, flustered and embarrassed, Yui rushed over.
"Mom, are you alright?"
Seeing her mother safe in Ryuji's arms, Yui breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't even mind that Ryuji had held her mother, it was more important that she was unhurt.
"I-I'm fine," Mrs. Yuigahama said, still feeling a bit awkward. Here she was, getting flustered by a guy her daughter liked. How inappropriate! She quickly lowered her head to hide her blush.
"Thank you, Ryuji-kun," Yui said sincerely, her eyes filled with gratitude. She couldn't imagine what would have happened if he hadn't been here.
"It's nothing, really," Ryuji smiled, shaking his head. "Besides, it would've been a real shame if someone as lovely as your mother got hurt."
As he said that, he slowly helped Mrs. Yuigahama to the sofa. The words were casual, but they flustered her even more.
"I'm not that young," Mrs. Yuigahama muttered, embarrassed.
"Not at all! You look young enough that people would probably think you and Yui are sisters," Ryuji said, smiling.
Yui giggled happily. "I think so too! Mom looks so young!"
Mrs. Yuigahama shook her head, a small smile on her face. Her daughter's innocence made the situation less awkward.
Suddenly, Mrs. Yuigahama winced. "Ow…"
"Did you sprain your ankle?" Ryuji asked.
"Yes," she replied. "I think I twisted it when I almost fell."
"Let me take a look," Ryuji said, kneeling down in front of her. "I know a bit about massage, this should help ease the pain."
"Oh no, I've already troubled you enough tonight…" Mrs. Yuigahama tried to decline, but Ryuji was already gently examining her ankle.
"Really, it's no trouble at all," he said, smiling up at her before he began massaging her ankle with practiced hands.
Although it was purely to help her heal, the touch still made Mrs. Yuigahama's heart race a bit. It had been so long since anyone had taken care of her like this.
"Speaking of which," Ryuji said casually, hoping to change the subject and ease the tension in the air, "did anything strange happen to you today?"
"Strange?" Mrs. Yuigahama thought back to the events of the day. "Well, there was that accident at work…" She proceeded to explain about the intern who had died suddenly and the eerie sightings she'd experienced afterward.
Ryuji listened carefully, nodding as she spoke. "That makes sense."
"Is it related to the weird thing that's been haunting her?" Yui asked, curious and a little worried.
"Most likely, yes," Ryuji confirmed. "When someone dies suddenly, especially in a tragic accident, their spirit can hold onto strong emotions like resentment or jealousy. In this case, it seems like your mom felt pity for the intern, which might have created a connection between them."
"So, that's why this spirit targeted her?" Mrs. Yuigahama asked, looking a bit shaken.
"Exactly," Ryuji explained. "Newly formed spirits are often drawn to people who express emotions like sympathy or sorrow toward them. This one latched onto you because of that."
"But it didn't seem dangerous, right?" Yui asked, trying to comfort her mother.
"Right," Ryuji reassured them both. "The spirit was weak, more of a nuisance than a real threat. But if left alone, it could have become more aggressive over time."
"I'm glad I called you when I did," Yui said, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "If we'd waited even one more night, that thing would've grown stronger. Not only would my mom have been in danger, but I would've been dragged into it too."
"I see!" Ryuji responded, nodding. Both Yui and her mother, Mrs. Yuigahama, were visibly shaken by the close call but also incredibly relieved. They couldn't imagine what would've happened if Ryuji hadn't come to their aid.
"Alright, all done," Ryuji said, removing his hands from Mrs. Yuigahama's ankle. "It shouldn't hurt now."
Mrs. Yuigahama blinked in surprise, wiggling her foot experimentally. "Wow, it really doesn't hurt anymore!" she exclaimed, almost amazed at how quickly the pain had disappeared. There was a strange, almost unspoken longing within her, though she didn't fully understand it herself, wishing that Ryuji hadn't stopped so soon.
"Thank you so much, Ryuji-kun!" she said sincerely.
"No need to thank me." Ryuji smiled warmly and waved it off casually. "Well, it's getting late. I should head out."
Mrs. Yuigahama was about to offer to walk him to the door but hesitated. Her gaze flicked to Yui, who stood beside Ryuji, beaming at him. Her daughter clearly wanted the extra time with him.
"Yui, why don't you walk Ryuji-kun out?" she said, her voice even but with a knowing smile.
"Okay!" Yui responded eagerly, her face lighting up with happiness at the suggestion. She practically skipped alongside Ryuji as they made their way to the door.
Mrs. Yuigahama watched them leave, her mind swirling with unspoken thoughts. She couldn't deny the pang of…something a mix of longing and resignation as she sat back on the sofa. Her eyes drifted back to her now perfectly healed ankle, recalling how gentle Ryuji's hands had been. She chuckled quietly to herself.
Meanwhile, Yui was happily walking with Ryuji to the gate, relishing every moment she got to spend with him. She cherished these little moments, knowing they didn't happen all the time.
"Okay, I think this is far enough," Ryuji said as they reached the front gate. "If I walk you back, we'll just end up repeating this whole process." He smiled down at her.
Yui pouted slightly but nodded. "Yeah… I guess so."
She looked up at him, her usual cheery demeanor softening as she spoke. "Thank you again for tonight, Ryuji-kun. Honestly, I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been there. My mom could've…" Her voice trailed off, and the gravity of what could have happened hit her.
Ryuji gave her a comforting tap on the head. "There's no need to thank me, Yui. We're close enough that you don't have to say stuff like that. It's what friends do, right?"
Though it was meant to reassure her, Yui's heart fluttered. Ryuji's words, coupled with his touch, sent her imagination spiraling into all sorts of happy fantasies. Maybe...just maybe...he saw her as more than a friend.
"Hehe," Yui giggled, her mind swirling with happy thoughts. "Hey, Ryuji-kun, do you think if you're free sometime soon, you could come over for dinner? My mom and I would love to have you!" she asked, hope clear in her voice.
Ryuji smiled, sensing the sincerity behind her invitation. "Sure, I'd love that."
Yui's face practically lit up like a beacon. His response felt like a validation of her feelings, even if nothing had been explicitly said. It was enough for now.
"Alright then, I'll be off," Ryuji said, turning to leave.
Yui stood by the gate, smiling long after he'd disappeared down the street. She couldn't stop the wide grin from spreading across her face, even as she eventually turned to go back inside.
"Mom?" Yui called out as she entered the house, finding her mother still sitting on the sofa, staring at her ankle like she was lost in thought. "Is everything okay?"
Mrs. Yuigahama blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Oh! Yeah, I'm fine, sweetie," she said quickly, offering a reassuring smile. "Did Ryuji leave?"
"Yeah," Yui replied, still buzzing with excitement. "I invited him to come over for dinner sometime, and he said yes!"
"Did he now?" Mrs. Yuigahama murmured, her mind elsewhere. An almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Interesting...
"Mom," Yui said, hesitating as she approached her mother. "Do you think you could teach me how to cook something? You know…for when Ryuji-kun comes over."
Mrs. Yuigahama blinked, surprised by the request. Her daughter had never been particularly interested in cooking mostly because she wasn't very good at it. But this was clearly different.
"You…want me to teach you to cook?" she asked, eyebrow raised.
Yui nodded earnestly, her determination clear.
Mrs. Yuigahama sighed, though a soft smile lingered on her face. "Alright, I'll teach you. But you better listen carefully this time, Yui. I'm not letting you burn down my kitchen!"
"Thank you, Mom!" Yui's face brightened even more as she hugged her mother tightly.
The next morning at school, Ryuji walked into class like any other day. As usual, the first person to greet him was Yumiko except this time, Yui darted ahead, cutting in front of Yumiko.
"Good morning, Ryuji-kun!" Yui said cheerfully, her energy practically bubbling over.
"Morning, Yui," Ryuji greeted her back with a smile, raising his hand in a wave.
Yumiko blinked in surprise, her greeting cut short. She didn't mind, but something definitely felt off. Yui was acting unusually...cheerful.
"What's going on with you two?" Yumiko asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at Yui.
"It's nothing!" Ryuji said casually, but Yui quickly corrected him.
"It's not nothing!" she said seriously. "If it weren't for Ryuji-kun, my mom and I would've been in big trouble last night!"
Yui's words drew the attention of both Yumiko and Hina, who had been standing nearby. The sudden shift in tone made them realize it wasn't a trivial matter.
"What happened?" Yumiko asked, her curiosity piqued.
Yui launched into an explanation of the previous night's events, detailing the eerie occurrences and how Ryuji had come to their rescue. By the time she finished, both Yumiko and Hina looked genuinely impressed and maybe even a little envious.
"Wow… Ryuji-kun, you're like a real-life hero!" Yumiko said, clasping her hands together and looking at him in admiration. "It's like you're one of those strong, silent types from a novel who saves people without expecting anything in return."
Ryuji couldn't help but laugh. "I think you're giving me way too much credit."
"Ahem! Anyway, if any of you were in trouble, I'd help out too, you know," Ryuji added, clearing his throat, though a smirk crept onto his face.
The girls giggled, the tension in the air dissolving as they returned to their usual banter. However, Hina, always perceptive, watched Yui closely, sensing something deeper in the way Yui's eyes lit up whenever she looked at Ryuji.
Hina's thoughts swirled as she quietly observed their dynamic. It was clear that after last night, Yui's feelings for Ryuji had grown even stronger. And though she hadn't voiced them out loud, the affection in her eyes was unmistakable.
"I'll have to keep an eye on this..." Hina thought to herself, filing it away for later.
---
"Yo! Long time no see, Nanami!"
Ryuji called out as he approached.
Thanks to his connections at Jujutsu High, Ryuji had managed to obtain news about several special-grade curse spirits. While he wasn't particularly interested in the higher-ups at Jujutsu High, there was no denying how efficient their intelligence network was. If Ryuji had to search for special-grade curse spirits on his own, it would've taken forever. But with their help, the process became much smoother.
Currently, Ryuji and Jujutsu High had a sort of special arrangement. Due to the shortage of sorcerers and the rising number of cursed spirits, even some sorcerers with questionable backgrounds were being considered for recruitment. It was a desperate situation there were just too many cursed spirits to deal with.
So, the relationship between Ryuji and Jujutsu High had become one of mutual benefit. Ryuji received information on cursed spirits and got rewards for exorcising them. At the same time, his ability to devour spirits allowed him to grow stronger, making it a win-win situation. Why turn down such an opportunity?
Just like today.
Ryuji had been tracking a special-grade cursed spirit when he came across Nanami, who was already battling it.
Normally, it wouldn't be too difficult for a first-grade sorcerer to handle a special-grade cursed spirit, as long as the cursed spirit wasn't too powerful. But today, Nanami seemed to be having a hard time.
"What is this thing, a Transformer?" Ryuji muttered, staring at the massive cursed spirit in front of him. It was made up of several cars fused together, standing a good 20 to 30 meters tall.
Nanami was struggling just to dodge its attacks. He didn't even have the chance to counter.
The problem was clear, Nanami's fighting style relied on close combat. Against something so large, with such long reach, he was at a severe disadvantage. A sorcerer like Mei Mei might've had a chance with her ranged attacks, but Nanami's options were limited.
"Ryuji?" Nanami, who had been bracing himself for another round, visibly relaxed when he saw Ryuji arrive. He immediately plopped down on the ground, exhausted.
"I gotta ask, do you trust me that much?" Ryuji asked, laughing at how quickly Nanami had given up the fight.
"Well, if even you can't handle this thing, there's no point in me trying either," Nanami replied, completely unbothered by his own admission. There was no shame in admitting that Ryuji was stronger. Why pretend otherwise?
Ryuji couldn't help but laugh. "That's just like you, Nanami."
"But before I get started, what's with this Transformer look-alike?" Ryuji asked, still staring at the giant cursed spirit in disbelief.
It wasn't Ryuji's fault for being so confused. This cursed spirit looked nothing like the ones he'd faced before, it really did resemble some kind of mechanical monster.
Nanami just shrugged, still catching his breath. "Your guess is as good as mine."