"Can you bring him out?"
Gojo needed to confirm for himself that Yuji could really control his own body.
"I think so… probably?"
Yuji answered after thinking for a moment.
"Then… come with us."
As they stepped out of the room, Fushiguro came out from the room next door. He froze when he saw two tall men exiting Yuji's room.
"Uncle? Gojo-sensei?"
"You're up too, Megumi. Good timing. You'll come with us. We're going to show you the King of Curses." Jinsuke placed a hand on Megumi's shoulder and forcibly dragged him along.
A completely confused Megumi had no choice but to follow.
Great. Should've stayed in bed longer.
"So… when did you get back, Gojo-sensei?"
"Just now. Fast, right?"
"I even brought souvenirs for you guys. Don't forget to pick them up later."
"..."
Before long, Yuji arrived with the group at the training field.
Gojo was stretching.
"Let him out. And remember — when I tell you to reel him back in, you do it."
"Got it."
Yuji closed his eyes, relaxing his mind and emptying his thoughts.
Open.
The moment his eyes snapped open, an overwhelming aura burst from his body. Black markings spread across his skin, and his expression twisted into arrogance.
"Brat… this will be the last mistake you ever make!"
Sukuna emerged again—fully prepared this time. He refused to believe that idiot could take his body back once more.
"So you're Sukuna?" Gojo finished warming up, rubbing his chin.
"A sorcerer, huh? Don't think that letting me out earns you gratitude." Sukuna's gaze swept across the field—and then paused. That man. The same one who rejected his offer yesterday. And once again, Sukuna couldn't sense even a trace of cursed energy from him.
He really was just an ordinary human?
"Fine. I'll deal with that white-haired sorcerer first… then I'll kill you." Sukuna didn't hide his intention at all. Ordinary human or not, disrespect was disrespect. He killed whoever he wanted, whenever he felt like it. No logic. No rules.
"Huh, impressive. Then go ahead and take care of him first. I find him pretty annoying too."Jinsuke tilted his head and scratched his ear, looking completely uninterested.
Sukuna's eyes sharpened.
"This bastard is seriously getting on my nerves…"
"Oh oh oh! So you think he's annoying too? How about we team up and beat him up first?"
Gojo's eyes lit up. Besides his dear friend Geto, he rarely found someone who disliked Jinsuke as much as he did. If he could beat Jinsuke up with Sukuna first, and then beat Sukuna afterward—that was basically a perfect day.
"Are you two idiots mocking me?"
Realizing these two clearly weren't normal, Sukuna didn't hold back any longer. With a swipe of his hand, several sharp slashes tore toward Gojo.
Swish!
The training field split open, dust exploding as the slashes engulfed Gojo.
"Next… is you." Confident, Sukuna turned his gaze to Jinsuke.
Cough cough… As the dust cleared, Gojo waved the air away, annoyed.
"Hey, don't destroy school property. If Principal Yaga makes me pay for repairs again, it's gonna be a pain."
"...Huh?" Sukuna stared at the completely unharmed sorcerer and threw a punch.
Gojo clapped his hands lightly and teleported behind him, utterly bored. Just like Jinsuke, he couldn't muster even a flicker of interest in a Sukuna that only had the power of a single finger.
After casually toying with him for a bit, Gojo stretched.
"Yuji. That's enough."
Sukuna tried to continue fighting, but his heart suddenly jolted violently. As expected, Yuji reclaimed control of his body with ease.
"What… is with this guy…?"
Sukuna couldn't understand. Someone was actually suppressing his soul.
In the last instant before losing the body, he glared at Gojo:
"I'll remember you…"
In every era, no matter how far apart, there were always one or two sorcerers who were troublesome to deal with. At least this one might bring him some entertainment.
"Is it over?" Yuji woke up. That sensation just now was… strange. Having someone else control your body felt undeniably unsettling.
"It's over. Now that I know you can stay conscious, it's time we move on to our real work."
"Megumi, you're coming too. Time to meet your new classmate."
"…Okay." Megumi blinked and replied. He knew. More work.
"Uncle, I'm heading off."
"Mm."
Jinsuke nodded. He had things to take care of and no interest in greeting new students.
After Gojo left with Yuji and Megumi, Jinsuke's phone began to ring.
Ring ring ring…
"Hello."
"Miss me?" A familiar voice came from the other end.
"No."
"Oh really? Just wait. Where are you right now?"
"At the school."
"Perfect. I need to ask the old hag something anyway. Stay where you are. I'll be there in thirty minutes! Not missing me, huh? We'll see about that!"
She hung up. Jinsuke sighed helplessly.
He had known since yesterday that Yuki was returning today. When he imagined her coming back on that tiny motorcycle, he felt no urge whatsoever to greet her. An independent woman didn't need a welcoming party.
Thirty minutes later, Yuki rode her little motorbike straight into the campus and stopped in front of Jinsuke. Get off, park, remove helmet, flick hair—smooth in one motion.
Broke, but undeniably cool.
Yuki grinned at Jinsuke and opened her arms.
"Now? Do you miss me?"
"It's only been a few months. Why would I miss you?"
Jinsuke rolled his eyes. Every New Year, she would come back for a month or two. Sometimes she'd travel abroad, and before she was even gone a week, she'd run right back.
He honestly wondered—could somebody who acted like this really save the world?
"A few months is still a long time! Haven't you heard 'one day apart feels like three years'?"
Yuki wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his chest.
"You don't miss me, but I miss you!"
"So… what exactly brought our esteemed Special-Grade Sorcerer back this time?"
Jinsuke pinched her cheek. Soft. Amusingly so.
"You're here. Isn't that enough reason?" Yuki looked up, her bright eyes mischievous.
Her man was here. Did she really need any other reason?
"Ahem. Cut it out. "Jinsuke patted her hip, trying to stay serious.
Back in the day, he was the one who did the teasing. Somehow, the roles were reversed—and even the little Yuki had the guts to flirt with him now.
"Hehe~ I'll spare you for now. I'll deal with you properly tonight." Her expression grew slightly more serious.
"Actually… I came back because I found some new information. I want to confirm it with the old hag. You coming with me?"
"The old hag? You mean Tengen?"
"Mm." Yuki nodded.
"Sure. Let's go. Her tea leaves are pretty good—I'll steal a couple bags."
Jinsuke agreed without hesitation.