"What? You're taking time off?"
Satoru Gojo sat cross-legged on a chair, a Kikufuku in his hand and white cream smeared around his mouth.
This was the faculty office at Jujutsu High.
Though it was called an office, it felt more like a storage room overflowing with snacks and manga.
Megumi Fushiguro stood before the desk, his expression as dark as a stagnant pool.
"Yes."
His voice was low, yet it carried an unwavering determination.
"I have personal matters I must attend to."
"Personal matters, huh..."
Gojo drawled, studying the student in front of him through his sunglasses.
He knew exactly what Megumi's so-called personal business was.
Tsumiki.
The girl who had fallen into a cursed slumber was a wound in Megumi Fushiguro's heart that never healed.
"I'd love to approve your leave, but..."
Gojo licked the cream off his finger, his tone suddenly turning serious.
"The winds in the jujutsu world haven't been right lately."
"Special Grade Cursed Spirit activity is ramping up, and according to intel, a batch of Special Grade Cursed Objects has been stolen."
"Acting alone right now isn't exactly a wise choice."
Megumi Fushiguro gritted his teeth.
"I know."
"But this is something I have to settle myself."
It wasn't just about his sister.
It was a shadow from his past, a nightmare he had been trying to outrun but could never escape.
If he had to rely on others for even this...
What kind of jujutsu sorcerer would he be?
"Who said anything about acting alone?"
Just then, a cheerful voice rang out from the doorway.
*Bang!*
The office door was swung wide open.
Yuji Itadori and Nobara Kugisaki strode inside.
"Fushiguro, that's cold!"
Yuji slapped Megumi on the back with a dissatisfied look, nearly knocking him off balance.
"Keeping us in the dark about your troubles? Aren't we teammates?"
"Exactly."
Nobara Kugisaki crossed her arms, looking at Megumi with disdain.
"With that gloom and doom expression, people would think you're heading to a funeral."
"I hate dealing with trouble, but I can't just stand by when it involves a teammate."
Megumi was stunned.
Looking at the two uninvited guests, a wave of warmth surged through his heart, though he still spoke bluntly:
"This is a family matter. It has nothing to do with you."
"And it's dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
Yuji grinned as if he'd heard a joke.
"We've fought Special Grade Cursed Spirits together. What's there to be afraid of?"
"Besides..."
He suddenly lowered his voice and pointed behind him.
"The real heavy hitter hasn't spoken yet."
Everyone instinctively looked back.
Yoru was sitting on a sofa in the corner, meticulously wiping Shiranui with a clean white cloth.
The black blade reflected a cold, eerie light under the room's lamps.
Hearing Yuji, Yoru paused and slowly stood up, sheathing Shiranui.
*Clang.*
The sound resonated like a solemn vow striking the ground.
"I'm coming too."
Yoru's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
Megumi's eyes wavered.
"Yoru, you..."
"Fushiguro."
Yoru interrupted him, his red eyes gazing at him calmly.
"Do you remember what I told you at the detention center?"
Megumi froze.
The detention center...
Back then, he had been ready to sacrifice himself to summon Mahoraga, but Yoru had stopped him.
—'Only by living is there hope.'
"We are teammates."
Yoru walked up to Megumi, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.
"Since we're teammates, there's no reason to let one person go off to die alone."
"And..."
Yoru's finger lightly traced the hilt, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"I'm also quite interested in this Yasohachi Bridge."
In his perception, a nauseating aura of evil was faintly emanating from that direction.
That wasn't an ordinary cursed spirit...
"Alright, alright!"
Gojo clapped his hands, breaking the sentimental atmosphere.
"Since everyone's so fired up, let's all go!"
"But let's get one thing straight—your teacher has other missions, so I can't join you this time."
"Besides..."
Gojo adjusted his shades, a meaningful smirk playing on his lips.
"This is a good opportunity for some real-world experience."
"Go get 'em, boys and girls!"
"Exorcise that curse for daring to touch one of my students!"
...
Two hours later.
Saitama Prefecture, Yasohachi Bridge.
An old bridge spanned across the river.
Even though it was late at night, the occasional car still rumbled across.
The four of them stood on the riverbank beneath the bridge.
The night wind carried a biting chill that stung their cheeks.
"Is this the place?"
Yuji looked around but found nothing unusual.
"It looks normal. I don't feel any cursed energy at all."
Nobara frowned as well.
"Fushiguro, are you sure about this?"
Megumi remained silent.
He stared intently at the bridge, which looked particularly grotesque in the darkness, his face pale.
The floodgates of his memory were slowly creaking open.
Those suppressed memories of his delinquent days were beginning to gnaw at his composure.
"Yes."
"This is it."
His voice trembled slightly.
"Back then... we used to come here often to play games of courage."
"Tsumiki came here once, too."
Just then.
Yoru, who had been silent, suddenly looked up.
His gaze pierced through the thick darkness, locking onto a murky corner beneath the bridge.
There.
The fabric of space was warping unnaturally.
A thick, suffocating scent of blood was slowly seeping from a rift in the distorted space.
That scent...
It was far too familiar—the aura of the King of Curses he had sensed back at the detention center.
And there was more than one.
Aside from Sukuna's finger, there were two other distinct, yet equally malevolent presences.
They smelled of rotting flesh and grievances accumulated over a millennium.
"It's here."
Yoru's hand slowly moved to his hilt.
His voice turned cold instantly, his gentle demeanor transforming in a flash.
If he had been a quiet youth a moment ago...
...he was now a blade drawn from its sheath.
"What?"
Yuji and Nobara hadn't even reacted yet.
The next second...
*Boom!*
A massive surge of cursed energy erupted from beneath the bridge.
The calm river surface instantly began to boil.
A pitch-black Curtain rose like a dark canopy, instantly enveloping the entire area for a kilometer around!
"This is..."
Megumi's eyes widened.
This wasn't just an ordinary Curtain.
This was a barrier with specific rules—something only a Special Grade Cursed Spirit could deploy!
"Looks like we hit the jackpot."
Yoru narrowed his eyes, the churning darkness reflected in his red pupils.
Transparent World, active.
Within his vision...
...three terrifying monsters lurked deep within the barrier.
One of them radiated the aura of Sukuna's finger.
While the other two...
...had strange wings on their backs, with blood flowing through them that was neither human nor purely cursed spirit.
They were incarnated vessels.
Cursed Womb: Death Paintings!
"Get ready to fight."
Yoru unsheathed Shiranui.
Atop the black blade, a flicker of golden-red flame ignited quietly, standing out brilliantly against the pitch-black night.
"Tonight..."
"We're working overtime."
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