The world snapped back into stillness.
The rooftop battle ended in the space between two breaths. One moment, Sukuna's laughter curled through the ruined air. The next, Gojo appeared behind Yuji like a shadow that moved faster than light.
A single strike. A twist of his wrist. A burst of cursed energy that cracked the sky like splitting glass.
Silence fell.
Yuji collapsed. His body dropped like a puppet cut from its strings, but Gojo caught him before he hit the ground. Sukuna's grin vanished, leaving only an unconscious boy breathing unevenly.
Megumi staggered back, clutching his ribs. His legs trembled. He was seconds away from collapsing when Aimi caught him by the arm.
"You okay?"
Megumi tried to straighten up. "I am fine." His voice wavered. "Yuji… he…"
"He is fine. Do not worry," Gojo said with his usual grin. "Those guys should be here soon."
Right on cue, footsteps echoed across the rooftop. Several Jujutsu High staff members rushed toward them. Two immediately went to Megumi.
"Fushiguro-san, come with us. Your injuries require urgent treatment."
"I can walk," Megumi muttered, gently pushing Aimi away as he tried to stand on his own.
"You are barely standing," Aimi commented.
Megumi scowled. But the moment he took one step and nearly collapsed, the staff caught him and guided him toward the stairs.
As he was led away, he glanced back once. His eyes flicked to Yuji, worry lingering even as he disappeared down the stairwell.
Aimi stepped over broken pieces of rubble to reach Gojo and Yuji.
One of the staff members approached Gojo. His face was tense.
"Gojo-sensei. The higher-ups received the report about what happened already. They have issued a directive."
Gojo raised a brow. "That was fast."
"They want Itadori Yuji executed."
Aimi froze. "Executed?" She was not sure if she heard correctly.
"The order came directly from the committee," the staff member said. "They see the boy as nothing more than Sukuna's vessel."
Gojo sighed. "A vessel and a threat. Figures."
Aimi stared at them, a chuckle of disbelief almost left her lips. "That's how people are treated here? Children?"
The staff looked away.
Gojo lifted Yuji over his shoulder. "I will handle it. Tell those old fossils to keep their opinions warm. I will speak to them soon."
"But they insisted that—"
"Tell them," Gojo affirmed. The calm in his voice was somehow more frightening than anger. "I will come."
The staff member bowed quickly and hurried down the stairs.
Aimi turned to Gojo, confused, somewhat angered. "What is this? Execute a kid because he swallowed something trying to save people? That is insane."
Now he looked at her with a half smile. "Now you understand why I said it's messed up."
Aimi pressed a hand to her forehead. Her expression soured. "Then what are you going to do?"
"Talk to them," he said, adjusting Yuji in his arms. "In my own charming way."
Aimi narrowed her eyes. "You sound like you are about to start a war."
"Only a small one. A tiny conflict with the elders never killed anyone...usually."
She groaned. "Why is everything with you like this?"
Gojo chuckled. "Birthright."
He jerked his chin toward the stairs. "Come on, Aimi. You still have something to do."
She blinked. "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe for him, and for you."
He held her hand and teleported them to the Jujutsu High Campus.
She looked around like a curious cat, carefully observing but saying nothing.
They descended into Jujutsu High's underground wing. The air grew colder. Shadows pooled in the corners. Rows of candles flickered as if something was breathing beside them.
Gojo pushed open a heavy door, revealing a chamber lined with talismans and sealing charms. The room felt old. Ancient. The air vibrated with restrained threat.
A reinforced chair stood at the centre. Metal restraints glinted under the candlelight.
Aimi stepped in slowly. "What is this place…?"
"Isolation room," Gojo said. "Useful for dangerous cases."
He lowered Yuji gently onto the chair and secured the chains around his wrists and ankles.
Aimi stepped closer. "Do we really need chains?"
"If he wakes up and Sukuna takes over, yes."
She swallowed.
Gojo tightened the last restraint. "Aimi."
She looked at him.
"If Sukuna comes out, touch Yuji. Your ability should interfere with the possession."
"Should…?"
"I do not know what you are exactly. But your body nullifies cursed energy on contact. If you grab him while Sukuna is in control, it should, in theory, do something."
"And if I fail?"
"Then the talismans will hold. Probably."
"Probably," she repeated with a hollow laugh. "So I just stay here until he wakes up?"
"Yes."
"And what will you do?"
He pulled his blindfold down so he could see her properly. "I am going to tell the higher-ups to shut up."
"Right. Good luck," she reached up and patted his shoulder.
A small smile. He caught her hand and guided it to his cheek. "How about a good luck kiss instead?" His grin was mischievous as he leaned a little closer.
Aimi's breath hitched. She stared at him for a long moment.
He had been there for her far too many times. Always appearing when she felt like sinking.
For someone who's always been alone, Gojo had brought more comfort and meaning than either of them realised.
Her gaze softened without her permission.
She raised her other hand and gently patted his head. "Good luck." She repeated.
Gojo froze for a second, caught off guard.
His smile returned slowly. He pressed his lips against her forehead. "I said a kiss."
Before she could react, he straightened and turned toward the door. "I am leaving now. See ya, Mi-chan."
"…"
The door closed behind him.
The chamber fell silent, lit only by flickering candles and the quiet sound of Yuji's uneven breathing.
Aimi brushed her fingers against the spot he just kissed. Then cleared her throat and acted as if nothing had happened, not knowing how her cheeks were flushing.
She then settled against the wall, one knee up, arms loosely resting around it. Her heartbeat steadied, echoing faintly against the old stone.
Yuji lay motionless at the centre, sealed and bound.
The candles flickered. The air felt heavier.
Aimi watched him, waiting.
Waiting in the quiet between two worlds, she still did not understand.
Waiting for Yuji's next breath.
Waiting for Gojo's return.
----
The judgement room felt colder the moment Gojo stepped inside.
Torches flickered along stone walls. Heavy curtains hid the elders, their silhouettes hunched like ancient vultures.
Gojo stood alone in the centre. Hands in pockets. Back straight. Blindfold on. Unbothered.
An elder's voice cut through the hush."Gojo Satoru. We will make this brief. The committee has voted. Itadori Yuji is to be executed immediately."
Gojo tilted his head slightly. "Immediately, huh. Your efficiency is admirable. Almost suspicious."
"The boy is a vessel," another snapped. "A ticking catastrophe. It is our duty to erase him before Sukuna takes full control."
"Fifteen years old," a third added. "Barely trained. Do not pretend he is salvageable."
Gojo hummed, unimpressed. "You are all repeating the same thing. It's like listening to an old recording."
"You will obey the directive," the first elder said firmly.
"Execution is a bad idea." Gojo voiced.
A sharp rustle."You dare contradict the committee?"
"I dare breathe," Gojo said. "Which is apparently enough to offend you all."
A cane struck the floor behind the curtain."This is no joke, Satoru. The vessel is unstable."
"Unstable, yes. Sukuna's possession is incomplete."Gojo's tone shifted. "That's why killing him now is stupid."
Silence fell.
Gojo lifted his chin slightly. "If you kill Yuji now, Sukuna's fingers remain scattered across Japan with no way to be destroyed."
The elders said nothing.
"You kill the boy, fine," Gojo continued. "But what do you do with the other fingers?"
One elder scoffed. "We will get rid of those fingers ourselves!"
Gojo mocked. "You will not. The retrieval had been ongoing for decades. And the fingers are indestructible. A bunch of ticking bombs waiting to destroy half a city scattered across this country, and how many did you old farts find? And how many catastrophes had been caused by them? How will you useless bastards destroy the fingers?"
The silence answered for them.
"Exactly. Speak. Ya got any ideas?"
"Silence!" Another thud from behind the curtain."What is it that you propose!?"
Gojo smiled. "Put the execution on hold."
"You want the vessel to continue living?" an elder barked.
"I want him to collect every finger," Gojo hummed. "All twenty, and eat them."
Murmurs rippled.
"You are suggesting we let Sukuna grow stronger."
Gojo shrugged. "In the short term, yes. But in the long term, this is the only path that guarantees the death of Ryomen Sukuna. Once Yuji Itadori swallows every finger, Sukuna becomes whole inside one vessel. One execution. One ending."
Another voice raised."You think you can harm Sukuna once it is whole? laughable!"
"Probably." Gojo shrugged confidently, "I'm the strongest after all."
"..."
"..."
"...We will consider your proposition."
"Nah. You will accept it," Gojo corrected.
"You overestimate your authority."
"No." He stepped forward once. The curtains trembled. "I know exactly how much authority I have. And y'all know it too."
Silence.
Then they finally exhaled."Very well. We will temporarily hold the execution. But you are to kill Yuji Itadori the moment he poses ANY threat, even before the fingers are collected."
"Gotcha." Gojo smiled behind his blindfold and then turned toward the door.
"We expect results, Gojo Satoru."
"You will get them," he said without looking back. "Try not to die of old age first."