"You chose to summon me… but I decide the price of your soul."
—Uhmm… what?
"I am the echo of your will… and now I am the master of your fate."
—Ah! I woke up suddenly at those words. I stretched a little and reached for my glasses on the nightstand.
It had been a long time since I slept so well.
I looked in the mirror and touched my reflection… I was still in Kuroha's body. I hadn't returned to the real world, not after finishing the chapter.
—What's happening?
The clock read four in the morning. Maybe if I slept a little longer, I could wake up in my own body. But as soon as I lay back down, I fell asleep again… and still didn't return to reality.
—This must be a joke… the chapter was supposed to end when I went to sleep. None of this was written…
Then I remembered the shift in the story, that moment when Sukuna approached me.
"You chose to summon me… but I decide the price of your soul."
—This can't be happening! —I shouted, pacing frantically around the room, biting my lips. Fear consumed me.
—What's happening to my real body while I'm here?
I tried searching for answers online, but Kuroha's phone was too outdated.
—Agh!
The phone said it was Sunday. In the real world, it should also be Sunday.
I left the building carefully, avoiding people. After all… not every day do you get trapped inside a story set in Tokyo, Japan.
I checked the train lines and chose Kyoto. I boarded the train and waited patiently. But to my surprise, we returned to the same station we had departed from.
—Eh?
I tried again. The train moved a few meters… and came back to the same place. I tried another destination, and the same thing happened.
—Probably because those places weren't written, I can't reach them…
Then I tried Okinawa, Kuroha's home. This time, I arrived.
—Aaaahhh!!! —I screamed in despair.
—Don't you like what you yourself invoked?
—What? —I raised my head at that sinister, inhuman voice.
The everyday scene had frozen. Everyone was motionless, as if someone had pressed pause on a television. Only I could move.
Yamikiri stood in the middle, floating, surrounded by a threatening aura.
—You…?
—I am the fruit of your desires. You wanted to create the strongest weapon in this world, and you succeeded. As gratitude, I granted your greatest wish.
—Wait… you can't have influence over me. You were created by me. You don't even exist in Jujutsu Kaisen.
—Yes… but do you remember when you invented me, when you summoned me?
—Yes, I remember it was night, I looked out the window and there was a new moon… what does that matter?
—The moon is the most powerful entity. You managed to invoke it by writing under its light.
—Hahaha! —I burst into laughter—. This is too crazy. In my world there's no magic, no cursed energy. Nothing you say is real.
—Your existence here is real. You proved it: your scars throbbed in both worlds, your wounds reflected in your body. And now, your real body sleeps… while you are here, belonging to us.
—Us?
—Yes, us. When I told you I had fulfilled your dream, this was what you always wanted.
—Wait! My dream isn't this, definitely not. My real dream is to be rich, have a mansion, and live from what I love most: writing.
—You know well that isn't your true dream.
—Hahaha! What would you know about that?
—Everything —she said slowly, as if playing with my mind—. Since you were a child, you loved writing and dreaming all kinds of stories. As you grew, you wrote them down on paper. When you had the chance and filled yourself with conviction, you shared them. But there was a time in your life when you fell into deep depression… and your stories were what kept you alive.
I fell silent. What she said was true. In high school, I suffered bullying. Being an otaku was synonymous with mockery. I was quiet and diligent in class, because they were my first steps into nursing, and because I had a scholarship to help my father, who had to support my older brother and me.
For obvious reasons, I had to keep high grades and good conduct. But my classmates didn't understand. They thought I did it to look good, and they called me "little fly."
Since I didn't have a computer at home, I did my homework in the school computer lab and sent it to my email to finish it on my phone. But one day I forgot to log out. They entered my files, copied my homework and deleted it. They also took several images from my account and showed them to the principal, claiming I had posted them in class.
What kind of images? BL. At that time, I liked watching them with my best friend.
The scandal was huge. Everyone at school pointed fingers at me. My school life, already miserable, became unbearable. Even my parents turned their backs on me. Only the comments on my stories and anime kept me going. And though years have passed and I've changed, that shadow still haunts me.
—You longed to be like the protagonists you described: strong, brave, loved. But above all, you yearned to have by your side those characters you cherished. And finally, after six years as a writer, your greatest dream came true.
—But my life is at risk.
—I know.
—Can I die if something happens here?
—Yes —she answered bluntly—. At first, I was going to let you write the story as you pleased, because it was dark and full of action. But you began to cower when you saw your life in danger… and ruined the fun.
—Fun? I had to protect my life!
—Yes. But now you belong to us. The story runs on its own.
—Did the characters belong to me before?
—Yes. But now they've regained the essence they had in the original story. You no longer have control over them. And I must warn you… —her voice dropped, heavy with menace— Sukuna has sensed the great power you hold. He has set his eyes on you. And there is nothing you can do to change it.
—!!!
She smiled at the sight of my frightened face. She seemed satisfied with what she had just done; then she vanished into the air, and the everyday scene returned to normal.
—Welcome.
It was the last thing she said before disappearing.
I was on my knees on the street. Slowly, I stood up and looked at the sky…
How much time would have to pass before I could be free?
I needed to talk to my mom, to tell her I was fine, that I wanted to return home soon. I missed my job, my friends, my things… and besides, I lived under the constant risk of dying.
A sharp pain pierced my head. Everything began to spin, my legs gave way. Before I could collapse, a pair of hands held me from behind.
—Ah! —instinctively, I tried to pull away from the person holding me.
—I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you —it was Itadori, holding me, looking worried.
—Aahh… —now I could interact with the characters of the original story. That was… amazing!
But if Sukuna was interested in my mysterious power, he might try to claim it for himself and wreak havoc in the real world… a world unfamiliar with such things.
For now, I had to keep acting as Kuroha. No one knew her better than I did.
Quickly, I stood up and, with a smile, replied:
—It's nothing, I just felt a little dizzy.
—It's not common to see you far from school. Were you going somewhere in particular? —he asked curiously.
—No, I just wanted to get some fresh air —I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
—Do you want to go to the movies? I just split up from Fushiguro and Kisaki, they didn't want to come with me.
—Ah… sure —I accepted, remembering his favorite movie was a bit strange. Still, he seemed happy to have someone join him.
And soon I understood why no one wanted to go with him…
The movie was really bad, but Itadori was thrilled.
—Woow! That was the best installment so far. The romance scenes were truly captivating, and the actors… wooow! They gave their body and soul to the role.
—Eh… yes, it was very… moving —I answered, hesitating.
—Right? Tell me, what kind of movies are your favorites?
—I don't have a specific genre…
Though definitely, the genre we had just watched wouldn't be one of my favorites. I thought it, but didn't say it out loud.
Wait a second… what day was it? This part… wasn't it supposed to be from the second season? I was almost about to finish watching it; if I hadn't gotten sick, I would have seen it that same day.
I swallowed hard and pulled out my phone: Sunday, October 26.
We were close to the Shibuya Incident.
I froze. Yamikiri had said the original story would follow its course without me being able to intervene… and the most dangerous event of the entire saga was about to happen.
—Are you okay? Do you feel sick? Do you want me to take you to the doctor? —I heard Itadori's worried voice in the background. I turned to look at him.
The poor boy in front of me would soon face terrible trials, go through so much… and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
—Ah… —I tried to speak, to warn him, but a strange knot in my throat stopped me.
Don't worry, trust me. I am your savior.
Yamikiri's voice echoed in my mind, trying to calm me. But it had the opposite effect.
I couldn't trust her blindly. I had to rely on my memories of what happened that day… and on Kuroha's abilities.
Itadori still looked worried, but I smiled at him.
—Come on, I'm fine —I gave him a playful punch on the shoulder, and he smiled back.
—Don't scare me —he seemed calmer—. Come on, the guys said they'd be at a restaurant.
We walked together, exchanging small jokes. Although Kuroha would normally be more serious, I couldn't help but get carried away by the conversation with him.
His smile was genuine, but I knew it wasn't entirely real. I didn't need to dig too deep to notice.
When we joined the others, I saw a girl sitting with them. She looked at me intently as I arrived with Itadori, and then I remembered who she was.
—Can I sit next to you? —I asked Fushiguro, who looked confused. Kisaki, however, gave him a quick stomp on the foot, and he moved.
Kisaki glanced at me and nodded, as if approving my reaction.
Ah… after all, kids their age are so predictable.
I think I just called myself old.
During the meal, the girl kept watching me with suspicion from time to time. I tried to ignore her gaze, but it was uncomfortable. Still, I thought I would probably feel the same way if I ran into my high school crush and saw him arrive with a stranger.
When we finished, the three of us stood up and said goodbye to the girl. She smiled timidly and waved her hand. Kisaki, seeing her gesture, dragged us out of the restaurant.
—Great! I hope that girl dares to confess.
—You shouldn't meddle in things people don't tell you —Fushiguro complained.
—Not at all! Besides, girls have to support each other —she said, wrapping her arm around my shoulders.
—Ah, yes… —I replied with a forced smile.
Soon after, Itadori came out with the girl, and they also waved goodbye. Judging by her expression, the outcome hadn't been what she hoped for.
Itadori joined us amid laughter and teasing. We returned to school in a strange atmosphere that felt oddly familiar…
—Looks like you're getting used to this lifestyle.
Suddenly, the scene around me froze. Even the birds that were about to take flight stopped in place, suspended in the air, as Yamikiri called out to me.
—But that doesn't mean I want to stay here forever… especially since my body won't be able to endure it.
—You're right. But right now you seem so happy in this place… and above all… it's a place where you won't suffer.
—But I'm constantly at risk.
—Do not fear… I will protect you. You created me as the most powerful weapon in this world.
—If you let me return, I could give you more power… more intense battles.
—Return? —her voice grew darker, almost a venomous whisper—. You need nothing else. The power I hold is already enough… and soon you will understand.
—… —I no longer knew what to say. I only sighed slowly and nodded—. I'll let Kuroha guide me in the next fights.
—Good… —she answered with a twisted smile, satisfied with my surrender—. But remember: every choice you make will also be mine. There is no escape.
Her words froze my blood. Once she finished speaking, she dissolved into the air, and the everyday scene returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
I let out a weary breath, trying to hold back the tears of frustration that threatened to spill. I had wanted Kuroha and Yamikiri to be inseparable at the end of the story… but now I realized that ending might change.
—Is something wrong? —I heard worried voices behind me. I turned to look at them.
I was used to smiling even when things were eating me alive inside. So I gave them my most false smile.
—Just tired…
And in that moment, I understood: this would be my new reality. From now on.