Subaru spotted the gas station up ahead, its neon sign buzzing faintly, flickering between life and death like it couldn't decide if it wanted to keep existing.
He tugged at the neck of his tracksuit, more out of habit than anything, and headed toward it.
At the edge of the road, he stopped. Tilted his head left. Then right. Then left again. His lips twitched. He wasn't stupid. If there was one thing anime had taught him, it was never to cross a road without checking, otherwise he'd be Truck-kun's newest victim... but maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
The street was empty. No cars, no people. Just the dull glow of streetlamps and the faint hum of electricity. One of the lamps across the road buzzed weakly, light sputtering like it was gasping for breath.
Satisfied, Subaru stepped across, his sneakers scraping against the rough pavement.
The night air bit at his cheeks, sharp and cold, but he didn't mind. Actually… it felt kind of nice. Quiet. Peaceful.
The automatic doors of the gas station slid open with a soft whoosh, warm air spilling out to wrap around him like a blanket. A gentle chime rang overhead, calming, familiar.
...
But somewhere deep inside him, beyond anything Subaru could sense, something stirred.
A curse jolted awake.
Huh? This… this isn't right.
There was still time. Months before the brat was fully matured. Months before, he could freely hunt down the rest of his fingers. So why…
No… someone else is here...
His crimson eyes burned open inside Subaru's inner world. He scanned it with a predator's gaze.
At first, everything was as expected. Faint scraps of memories drifting like smoke. A dull haze of emotions scattered about. The usual mess of a human soul.
But then… he saw it.
A section smothered in shadow. Silent, Void, black, Thick mist covered the land. It wasn't natural; it writhed and coiled like it was alive, every shift deliberate, every curl of fog purposeful.
Sukuna's lip curled. His face twisted into fury.
"Nothing touches my soul," he snarled, his voice low and dripping with venom.
The mist didn't answer.
But it moved.
It peeled back slowly, like a curtain, and from within it… eyes opened.
Purple. Endless. Voids staring back at him, calm and unblinking.
Their gazes locked.
Sukuna glared, waiting for a response. For an attack. For anything.
But the figure just stared. Watching. Silent.
No malice. No killing intent. No emotion at all.
And yet
A chill slithered down his spine, cold and sharp. His instincts screamed louder than they had in centuries.
He couldn't win.
Not like this. Not without his fingers.
Even with all twenty…
His jaw clenched, teeth grinding. The realisation was bitter. Humiliating.
And worse, the thing didn't even care about him. Didn't acknowledge him beyond that single, piercing stare.
Why? Was it because of the brat? No. That made no sense. The brat was useless.
Growling low in his throat, Sukuna pulled himself back, retreating to his throne of skulls that loomed over the boy's inner world. His crimson eyes stayed fixed on the mist, unblinking, unwilling to give ground.
For now.
Meanwhile, Subaru, completely unaware of the silent war inside him, strolled down the manga aisle.
He picked up a newly stocked volume, flipping through the glossy pages. The art style was sharp, bold. Not bad. He skimmed a few panels, lips pressing together.
"Eh. Not really my type," he muttered under his breath.
He slid it back onto the shelf and kept moving, hands in his pockets as he wandered lazily. The store smelled faintly of instant noodles and cleaning detergent… for some reason.
Rows of snacks. Racks of drinks. The steady hum of the refrigerators at the back. It was quiet, empty, just him and the night-shift cashier, a half-asleep guy slouched behind the counter scrolling on his phone.
Subaru grabbed a basket, made his rounds. Chips first, obviously. Then instant ramen, because why not? He scanned the drinks and grabbed one for later, pausing at the counter's display of cheap keychains and candy before tossing in a pack of gum.
The cashier blinked up at him, eyes glazed with exhaustion but polite enough to ring him through. Beep. Beep. Beep. The scanner echoed rhythmically in the small store. Subaru tapped his foot, impatient, though not for any real reason. Just habit.
When it came time to pay, he dug through his pocket for coins. His fingers brushed over something ridged and heavier than the rest—a 10 yen coin, old and worn, its weight strange. He pulled it out, inspected it briefly, and shrugged. "Ooh. Lucky find," he muttered to himself before slipping it back and handing over the normal coins instead.
Bag in hand, he gave a casual nod to the cashier. "Thanks, man."
The doors whooshed open, the cold air rushing back against his face. He stepped out into the night, sneakers crunching softly against the pavement.
The street stretched out before him. Quiet. Empty. The flickering lamp was buzzing weakly overhead. His breath came out in small puffs, white in the cold air.
He blinked once, adjusting to the darkness.
Then blinked again, rubbing his eyes.
When he opened them, the gas station was gone. The street, the lamps, the road, everything. gone.
The cold air shifted, replaced with something old, dry. The scent of dust. Stone. The murmur of countless voices in the distance, indistinct yet heavy, like a crowd that wasn't supposed to exist.
Subaru froze mid-step, bag still clutched in his hand. His heartbeat hammered in his chest.
His eyes blinked rapidly, over and over, lashes fluttering against the sudden sting. Brightness poured down from above, stabbing at his vision. He squinted, wincing, his brain fumbling over the impossible sight.
Wait. The sky… it wasn't dark anymore.
The moonless black had been torn away, replaced with the sharp brilliance of daylight. Sunlight. At night? No—it wasn't night at all. It was morning, the sky washed in pale blue, clouds drifting lazily across it.
His breath caught. He rubbed his eyes hard, palms pressing into his sockets until stars danced in the dark. But when he opened them again, the world hadn't changed back.
It really was daytime.
And, he wasn't alone.
People. Everywhere.
A stream of them bustled around him, weaving through the broad stone street like ants spilling from a nest. Men in long robes. Women carrying baskets of vegetables. Children darting between adults, laughing, tugging at sleeves. Their voices blended into a steady hum of life, vendors calling from their stalls, wheels of carts clattering against cobblestones, the faint rhythm of heavy feet slapping the ground.
Subaru's fingers clenched tighter around the plastic bag handles. His lips parted, but no sound came out.
This… this wasn't Japan.
He staggered back a step, chest rising and falling too quickly, panic flooding in. Every instinct screamed that he was in danger, and that he'd see it again and-
But he saw nothing. No curses. No monsters looming in the shadows. He saw none of them.
His gaze swept across the street, and what he actually saw made him freeze all over again, though for a different reason.
People, yes, but not just people. Demi-humans walked casually among them. tails swishing as they jostled for space. Lizard-like figures stalked across the stone, scales glinting in the sunlight, heads tilting curiously at passing humans. A tall, armoured being carrying what looked like a sword.
Carriages trundled past, but not pulled by horses. Massive raptor-like animals, built with massive muscles and thick scales, dragging the wagons with ease.
He was right, this wasn't Japan.
No, this was...
"I've been summoned to another world!?!?!"
A/N, sorry for disappearing. But damn, i lost motivation for this hard.
Anyway hoped you enjoyed, and please leave a commnet, if this was ok.
See ya!