[Continuation of the previous chapter — the second act of the IF-route nightmare.]
Yagami Sora opened his eyes again.
The air was thick with the smell of burning.
The lingering residue of exorcised cursed spirits mixed with the acrid scent of shattered concrete and dust.
Shibuya.
Still Shibuya.
Still the same cursed Halloween night.
But this time—
Someone stood before him.
Satoru Gojo.
The strongest sorcerer looked exactly the same as always.
Black blindfold.
Tokyo Jujutsu High uniform.
Relaxed posture.
In his hand was a half-finished box of Kikufuku mochi.
The smiling panda mascot on the packaging looked absurdly cheerful compared to the devastation around them.
"Yo, Sora."
Gojo waved casually.
His tone was as relaxed as ever.
"What are you doing here?"
He glanced around the ruined street.
Then back at Sora.
"This place is dangerous."
"Shouldn't you be back at school doing homework?"
But Yagami Sora didn't smile.
Not this time.
Because he knew what was coming.
He had already seen it.
Already read it.
Already witnessed the nightmare.
"Satoru."
Sora spoke quietly.
His voice almost drowned by distant explosions.
"Don't go."
Gojo tilted his head slightly.
Silver hair shifting in the night wind.
"Huh?"
"Don't go to B5F."
Sora's eyes locked onto him.
Every word felt forced through clenched teeth.
"That Suguru Geto you'll meet…"
"…isn't Geto."
"It's Kenjaku."
"The Prison Realm is waiting for you there."
"You'll be sealed."
"And after that…"
Sora's voice tightened.
"Nineteen days later…"
"You'll be released."
"And then…"
"You'll die."
Silence fell between them.
Gojo stared at him for a moment.
Completely still.
Then—
He laughed.
"I see."
"So what is this?"
"Future vision?"
"Prophecy?"
"Or are you secretly a time traveler?"
He reached forward and ruffled Sora's hair like he always did.
Warm.
Casual.
Painfully familiar.
"But listen, Sora."
"If I don't go…"
He gestured toward the subway entrance.
"What happens to the people down there?"
"Thousands of civilians are trapped."
"If the strongest doesn't step forward…"
"Who will protect them?"
His tone remained light.
But the conviction behind it was absolute.
"I am their hope."
Yagami Sora clenched his fists.
His nails dug into his palms.
"Then…"
His voice trembled slightly.
"Who protects you?"
Gojo answered instantly.
Without even thinking.
"You do."
"If I really get sealed…"
He shrugged casually.
"You'll be the one who rescues me."
"And if…"
His voice softened slightly.
"…I actually die."
Gojo's expression became strangely gentle.
Though his eyes were hidden beneath the blindfold—
It felt as if he could see through time itself.
Into a future far beyond this night.
"Then you'll inherit the title of strongest."
"I trust you."
And just like that—
He turned around.
Walking toward the subway entrance.
Toward the place where fate awaited.
His back was straight.
Unwavering.
Yagami Sora tried to run after him.
Tried to stop him.
But—
In this world that didn't belong to him—
His legs refused to move.
He could only watch.
[Scene distortion detected.]
The world flickered.
Like a corrupted recording.
Then—
Reality shattered.
The battlefield returned.
But everything had changed.
Gojo Satoru lay on the ground.
His body—
Severed cleanly at the waist.
The upper and lower halves lay several meters apart among the rubble.
Blood soaked his white hair.
Bright red against snow-colored strands.
Like spider lilies blooming in winter.
The Six Eyes—
Which once saw everything—
Were slowly fading.
Yagami Sora stood nearby.
This time—
He could move.
He stumbled forward.
Falling to his knees beside the dying sorcerer.
His hands trembled as he reached out.
Trying to touch the man who had once seemed invincible.
"Satoru…"
Gojo slowly turned his head.
Even now—
A faint smile remained on his face.
"Sora…"
His voice was weak.
"…sorry."
"We said we'd go eat Kikufuku together…"
"…looks like we'll have to postpone."
Sora's throat tightened.
"For how long?"
He whispered.
Gojo closed his eyes slightly.
"…Probably…"
"…forever."
Tears blurred Sora's vision.
He tried everything.
Reverse Cursed Technique.
Vector manipulation.
Every ability he possessed.
But nothing worked.
Because this world—
Did not belong to him.
He was only an observer.
A powerless spectator.
Watching his friend die.
[System Notification]
Nightmare sequence approaching completion.
Host emotional fluctuation exceeding safe threshold.
Forced Awakening Program initializing.
Yagami Sora slowly raised his head.
He looked at Gojo's lifeless body.
Looked at the fading Six Eyes.
Grief.
Rage.
Helplessness.
All of it exploded inside him.
He clenched his fists.
And screamed into the void.
Into the world.
Into fate itself.
"With me here—"
"THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN!"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!!"
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