Zzzzzzt!
A burst of blue-purple lightning flashed—then the portal and Taisai Tensei vanished entirely. The lingering scent of ozone was quickly carried away by the wind, leaving only the faint echo of "hug my girlfriend" drifting through the sunlit ruins.
Silence settled across the devastated landscape.
Gojo Satoru's hand remained frozen in place, still pointing at the empty air where Taisai had been. He blinked once. Confusion flickered across his expression… followed by utter speechlessness.
Slowly, he turned his head, taking in the people beside him.
Itadori Yuji was still kneeling next to Fushiguro Megumi, snot and tears streaming freely, overwhelmed by the emotional chaos of the past hour. Kento Nanami quietly adjusted his glasses, the reflected light hiding whatever he was truly feeling. Kusakabe Atsuya wore the expression of a man reconsidering every life choice that led him to this moment.
Hana Kurusu continued checking Megumi's heartbeat with gentle focus, completely oblivious to the absurd conversation that had just taken place.
Gojo's eyes finally settled on Nanami. His lips twitched. He pointed at the empty space again.
"He… just said he was going home… to hug his girlfriend?"
Nanami nodded without the slightest change in expression. "Yes."
"Ah—AHHHHHH!!!"
Gojo suddenly howled in anguish, producing a perfectly white handkerchief from nowhere and biting down on it like a cornered animal. His muffled, tragic wails echoed across the ruins:
"Why?! Why does he get a girlfriend and I don't~~~?!"
Nanami didn't even blink. He'd clearly long accepted this as the natural state of Gojo Satoru.
He pushed his glasses up again and calmly shifted the topic. "Gojo, regarding the Higher-Ups' verdict, there's something you need to hear."
Gojo froze mid-bite. The clownish persona dropped instantly.
Straightening, he lifted his chin, arrogance sliding neatly back into place. "So those old fossils are causing trouble again?"
He glanced at Megumi's unconscious figure. "Doesn't matter. First, we deal with Fushiguro's sister."
He stepped forward, sunlight outlining his tall silhouette. "Then we deal with them."
Zzzzzzt! A surge of blue-purple lightning erupted in Zhahuang's apartment. Taisai Tensei stepped out of the portal—and before he could fully steady himself, a soft body carrying the scent of violets collided into him.
"Welcome back!"
Kitagawa Marin wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. She wore an oversized T-shirt, her damp hair clinging adorably to her cheeks. Taisai instinctively held her legs, lifting her with practiced ease.
"Sorry. Did you wait long?" he murmured, nose brushing her hair.
"Super long!" Kitagawa puffed her cheeks—then immediately buried her face in his shoulder and inhaled dramatically. "You smell terrible~"
She pulled back, eyes wide. "You finished everything?"
Taisai carried her toward the sofa. "Yes. All resolved."
"Knew it!" Kitagawa cheered, gesturing excitedly. "My Ten-kun is the best!"
As she wiggled happily on his lap, droplets from her hair flicked against his skin. Taisai couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips.
After her playful fussing, she abruptly quieted, curling into his chest. "Thank you, Boyfriend-kun." Her voice was muffled but sincere.
He raised an eyebrow. "You're welcome."
He knew exactly what she was thanking him for—she'd been worrying so much her brightness had dimmed. That alone was enough to make him step in, even when he didn't originally plan to.
"I'm taking a shower." Taisai ruffled her hair.
Kitagawa immediately hopped off his lap, hands on her hips, cheeks puffed. "Hurry! You stink!"
Taisai laughed softly. As he stood, he kissed her forehead, earning her familiar, radiant smile.
The bathroom door shut.
Kitagawa darted into the bedroom like a mischievous cat. She pulled out the black bikini she'd been hiding for ages. Her fingers trembled as she tied the straps, cheeks burning in the mirror's reflection.
Water roared from the bathroom. Taking a deep breath, she nudged the door open. Steam billowed out. Taisai's broad back glistened faintly through the mist. He turned—and their eyes met.
"Ah!" Kitagawa squeaked—just before she was pulled inside in one swift motion.
The door slammed shut. Steamy heat swallowed everything. Taisai's wet arms wrapped around her waist, droplets sliding down her flushed skin.
"W-wait! I wasn't ready yet—Ah! Idiot Ten-kun! Not there—!" Her protests dissolved beneath the spray of water.
(Three million words omitted here. VIP-exclusive—but in reality, even VIPs can't see it.)
Kyoto—deep within an old mansion.
A red-eyed girl stood barefoot on cold floorboards, her long black hair tied with a dark red ribbon. Staring at her phone screen—still unanswered—her brows tightened in irritation.
"Ten-kun," she muttered, tapping her finger impatiently, "what are you doing?"
Back in Sapporo's apartment—
Buzz—Buzz—
The phone on the table vibrated endlessly, caller ID flashing: "Young Miss."
But the bathroom drowned in steam and quiet, indistinct sounds. The phone finally dimmed.
[No Answer].
Tokyo's ruins trembled under the night sky.
A woman's black hair whipped wildly, her blood-red eyes burning with frenzy. "You lied to me! Sukuna-sama is invincible!"
Cursed Energy blades erupted from every movement, slashing furiously toward Gojo. He slipped through them effortlessly, almost dancing, a faint smirk on his lips. "Miss Yorozu~ If I recall, didn't your 'beloved' kill you himself? Why cling to my student's sister's body?"
He heavily emphasized "beloved."
"SHUT UP!" Yorozu shrieked, attacks intensifying. "My love for Sukuna-sama transcends life and death! Ants like you wouldn't understand!"
She clasped her hands. A black hairpin materialized, screaming toward Gojo's face like a cursed spear.
"Woah, dangerous." Gojo tilted his head lazily. The hairpin skimmed past, piercing straight through a shattered concrete pillar—before the entire structure collapsed behind him.
Gojo reappeared atop another broken wall, brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeve. His expression sharpened.
"Don't understand, don't care. But—" He pointed directly at Tsumiki Fushiguro's body, the one Man inhabited. "Get out of someone else's sister."
"Dream on!" Yorozu roared. Black Cursed Energy surged. "Domain Expansion: Treefold Affliction!"
A pitch-black sphere formed beside her. Gojo scoffed, one hand in his pocket, forming a familiar seal with his other hand.
"Perfect. Domain Expansion—Unlimited Void."
Azure radiance erupted, swallowing the darkness whole.
Yorozu froze instantly. Her eyes went blank as the crushing flood of information tore through her mind. She couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't even twitch.
Gojo approached casually, calling over her shoulder: "Oi, Kugisaki. Your turn."
Even through the distortion of Unlimited Void, Yorozu sensed danger. But she couldn't move at all.
"I've been waiting!" Nobara Kugisaki appeared behind Yorozu, hammer in one hand, long nail in the other, eyes blazing.
"Give Fushiguro's sister—BACK TO US!!!"
Her hammer smashed down.
Pfft!
The nail drove through Tsumiki's left shoulder. Nobara's Cursed Energy ripped violently into the soul link, like thorned vines tearing through Yorozu's tether.
"Uwaaaah—!!!" Yorozu's soul screamed silently as black blood burst from Tsumiki's mouth, sizzling against concrete. Her control snapped. At that moment—
Gojo's right hand shot out, crackling with pitch-black lightning.
"Release!"
Boom—!!!
A Black Flash detonated against Tsumiki's abdomen. The impact bent her body violently backward—but expelled a writhing black mass from her mouth.
"No—!!!" the mass shrieked, lunging desperately toward Tsumiki's fallen body.
"Where do you think you're going?" Gojo snatched it mid-air with a single hand. "Not happening."
The lump convulsed violently, trying to escape. Gojo's other fist tightened, wrapped again in black lightning. He pulled back.
Boom—!!!
The second Black Flash struck. The mass convulsed like a creature electrocuted at its core, cracks spreading across its surface.
"Ugh—aaahhh—!!!" Its final cry tore through the ruins—
Then cut off. It disintegrated into black dust, scattering into the night wind.
Silence followed.
Only Nobara's heavy breaths remained, along with the rustle of her clothes as she supported Tsumiki's limp but breathing body.
"Phewww…" Nobara wiped sweat from her forehead and grinned. "It's done."
Gojo shook his hand as if brushing off crumbs, smiling lightly again. "Alright. Let's take her to Shoko."