Elsewhere in the cold, hollow veins of the abandoned subway, Mahito leaned against a rusted pillar. His eyes were closed, breathing slow, as if waiting for something. Footsteps echoed—a hesitant, soft rhythm of a boy too used to walking alone.
Junpei.
Thin, pale, and hunched in posture, Junpei looked like someone who hadn't slept in days. He walked with his head down and approached Mahito without fear, but with sadness painted all over his face.
"...Can I ask you something?" Junpei muttered.
Mahito opened one eye lazily. "Of course."
"...How can I become strong?"
Mahito grinned—sharp, playful, dangerous. "Strong enough to make people suffer? Or strong enough to not be hurt by anyone anymore?"
Junpei didn't reply, but Mahito had his answer in the silence.
"Then I have a gift for you," Mahito whispered. "A friend."
That evening, as golden dusk fell over the city, Junpei met with Yuji Itadori outside his school. The two talked casually, the kind of casual that tries to hide deeper things. Itadori, warm and curious, pulled Junpei into a conversation quickly.
And surprisingly… Junpei laughed.
"You like movies too?" Itadori asked, grinning.
Junpei nodded. "Yeah. Especially the ones that are a little weird."
"Horror?" Itadori beamed. "Man, same here."
Junpei, for the first time in a while, smiled like someone who wasn't hollow.
Eventually, Junpei led Itadori to his home—a modest apartment tucked in a quiet street. There, they were welcomed by Junpei's mother, Risa. She was vibrant, youthful, the kind of woman who could light up a room just by teasing her son.
"Is this your new bully?" she asked Junpei instantly.
Junpei nearly died from embarrassment. "Mom!"
Risa laughed and ushered them in.
As Itadori sat on the couch, eating crackers and chatting with Risa, a voice in his head stirred.
"Now that's a fine mom," Sukuna muttered from within, voice slow and amused.
"What kind of pervert are you?!" Itadori snapped under his breath, cheeks flushed.
"At least I don't like Jennifer Lawrence," Sukuna growled in return before going silent again.
Itadori scowled.
"Everything okay?" Risa asked.
"Ah—y-yeah," Itadori laughed awkwardly. "Just remembering something dumb."
Junpei chuckled, watching Itadori and his mom laugh together. The warmth of that moment soaked into him, almost enough to melt the years of bitterness.
But in the shadows of Junpei's smile… Mahito's voice lingered.
"Make him trust you."