---
"Sometimes, discipline is just another word for hunger wearing a mask."
---
The morning air was fresh as Ryu made his way to Tokyo Jujutsu High, his notebook filled with observations about his abilities tucked securely in his bag.
He found Haibara and Nanami at their usual spot in the courtyard, engaged in what appeared to be a technical discussion about cursed energy manipulation.
"The key is maintaining consistent flow," Nanami was explaining, demonstrating with hand movements.
"Most sorcerers make the mistake of brute forcing their cursed energy output."
"Like trying to direct a river instead of building proper channels" Haibara agreed, then looked up as Ryu approached.
"Morning. You look... better."
"Slept well," Ryu replied, which was true enough.
"What are you two discussing?"
"Technique refinement," Nanami said, studying Ryu with his usual gaze. "Given the... irregularities in your recent mission performance, additional training seems advisable."
"Actually," Ryu said, surprising himself with his directness,
"I've been thinking about technique combinations. Ways to make my abilities more... efficient."
"Combinations?" Haibara's eyebrows rose.
"That's pretty advanced stuff. Most sorcerers don't attempt that until third year at least."
"Most sorcerers don't have techniques like mine."
Nanami's expression sharpened with interest. "Explain."
Ryu pulled out his notebook, flipping to a page covered in diagrams and calculations.
"Shadow Grasp creates tendrils of solid cursed energy.
Slice generates cutting attacks through focused energy projection.
Theoretically, I should be able to combine them, create cutting tendrils that can both restrain and damage simultaneously."
"Theoretically," Nanami repeated.
"In practice, combining techniques requires extraordinary control and exponentially more cursed energy.
The failure rate is significant."
"What kind of failure are we talking about?" Haibara asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Energy backlash, loss of consciousness, potential permanent damage to cursed energy output."
"Or, in extreme cases, complete cursed energy burnout."
"Encouraging," Ryu said dryly. "But I want to try anyway."
---
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Yaga Sensei, who approached with stride that usually meant assignment time.
"First years," he announced.
"we have a situation.
Grade 3 curse manifestation at an abandoned gambling den in the Shibuya district.
Intelligence suggests it's been feeding on the accumulated desperation and addiction that soaked into the building over decades."
Haibara straightened with interest. "What type of curse, sensei?"
"Unknown, but witnesses report strange sounds, dice rolling, slot machine noises, laughter that doesn't match any human voices. The curse appears to be using the gambling equipment as weapons or defense mechanisms."
"Animated objects?" Nanami's mind was already working.
"That suggests either possession type abilities or some form of cursed tool manipulation."
"Exactly. Which is why I'm sending you three together. This is real-world application of teamwork and technique coordination."
Yaga's eyes fixed on Ryu. "And an opportunity to demonstrate proper mission conduct."
"Understood, sensei," Ryu replied calmly. "When do we deploy?"
"Now. The curse has been contained by barrier techniques, but it's growing stronger. Delay means increased danger."
As they prepared to leave, Yaga pulled Ryu aside.
"I know the last mission was... difficult," the teacher said quietly.
"Trauma affects everyone differently. But your teammates are counting on you today. Don't let them down."
'If only you knew what kind of trauma we're really dealing with.'
"I won't," Ryu said, and meant it. He wouldn't lose control again. This time, he will fight with purpose and precision.
---
The abandoned gambling den squatted in a back alley like weeds in a garden.
Its neon signs dark and windows boarded up. The building radiated malevolent energy even through the barrier that contained it.
"Cursed energy signature is strong," Haibara reported, checking his detection device.
"Definitely Grade 3, maybe approaching Grade 2 levels."
"Consistent with a feeding curse that's been accumulating power over time," Nanami observed.
"We should expect it to be intelligent and potentially capable of strategy."
As they entered the building, the air itself felt thick. Broken slot machines lined the walls, their screens flickering with wierd images. Dice scattered across gaming tables continued rolling of their own accord.
"There," Ryu pointed to the main gaming floor, where a massive shape hulked between the tables.
The curse was a grotesque fusion of human and machine, flesh merged with metal, arms that ended in slot machine reels, a head that was half skull, half dice. When it spoke, its voice was the sound of coins falling.
"New players... come, roll the dice of fate..."
"Coordinated attack," Nanami said quietly.
"Haibara, energy projection from range. I'll use my technique to look for weak points. Ryu, use your shadows to--"
"No," Ryu interrupted, surprising them both. "Let me handle this one."
"Ryu, that's not how teamwork--" Haibara started.
"GAME BEGINS PLAYERS!" the curse roared, suddenly lunging forward with great speed.
But Ryu was already moving. Shadow Grasp erupted from beneath him, not the careful tendrils he'd used in training, but something far more aggressive. The shadows moved, wrapping around the curse's limbs with crushing force.
"What... what is this?" the curse gasped, struggling against the restraints.
Ryu walked forward calmly, his eyes beginning to darken a little.
"Something you should fear."
The Slice technique activated, but not as he'd used it before. Instead of simple cutting attacks, the energy formed into a complex pattern that seemed to slice through the curse.
The curse's terror was palpable, and Ryu found himself savoring it. This was what he'd been craving, not just the feeding, but the fear in his prey's eyes.
"The End," he said simply, and began to feed.
The consumption was simple, controlled. Ryu maintained awareness this time, cataloguing every sensation, every flow of power from the dying curse into himself. When it was over, he felt the familiar rush of enhanced strength, but also something new, a technique settling into his mind.
'Lucky Gamble.'
"Ryu?" Haibara's voice seemed to come from very far away.
"Are you... okay?"
He turned, realizing his teammates had been watching the entire display. Haibara looked concerned and slightly frightened. Nanami's expression was unreadable, but his posture suggested readiness for combat.
"I'm fine," Ryu said, his voice steady.
"Better than fine. The curse is dead, mission accomplished."
"That was..." Haibara struggled for words. "That was brutal. The curse seemed terrified."
"Good. Fear makes them easier to kill."
The casualness of his response clearly disturbed both his teammates, but before either could comment, Yaga Sensei's voice crackled through their communication device.
"Status report?"
"Mission complete," Nanami replied, though his eyes never left Ryu. "Curse eliminated. No casualties."
"Understood. Return for debriefing."
---
After filing their mission report (heavily edited to remove the more disturbing details of Ryu's feeding), the three first years found themselves in one of the school's training areas.
"About what happened back there--" Haibara began.
"I want to test something," Ryu interrupted, pulling out his notebook.
"The technique combination I mentioned earlier."
"After what we just witnessed?" Nanami's voice was sharp.
"Your cursed energy output was higher than normal. Attempting advanced techniques in your current state could be dangerous."
"Everything we do is dangerous. That's why we need to get better at it."
Ryu positioned himself in the center of the training area, closing his eyes to focus. The new technique 'Lucky Gamble' whispered at the edges of his consciousness, but he ignored it for now.
Instead, he reached for the familiar power of Shadow Grasp and the cutting energy of Slice.
The combination should have been simple in theory. Shadows infused with cutting power, creating tendrils that could slice through anything they touched. But as Ryu tried to merge the techniques, he felt resistance, like trying to force two opposing magnets together.
'Must push harder... to make them merge.'
Power flowed through him, more than he'd ever channeled before. The shadows responded, taking on the deadly form he'd envisioned, but the energy cost was enormous. His cursed energy reserves drained at an alarming rate.
"Ryu, stop!" Haibara called out.
"Your cursed energy is acting wildly!"
But Ryu was committed now. The cutting shadows lashed out, carving deep gouges in the training room's reinforced walls. For a moment, he felt triumphant, he'd done it, created something new and terrible.
Then the backlash hit.
Pain exploded through his nervous system like lightning. His cursed energy felt like it was tearing him apart from the inside. The world spun, colors bleeding together, and he collapsed to his knees.
The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was Nanami's face, watching his fall with blank eyes like telling him
'I told you so'.
---
Status Update:
- New Technique:
Lucky Gamble
- Control Improvement:
Maintained consciousness during feeding.
- Discovery: Weaker curses provide diluted techniques/abilities
- Feeding Efficiency:
Partial consumption of equal/stronger curses yields better results
Power Scaling Discovery:
- Grade 4+ Curses: Full consumption required, provides weak/diluted abilities
- Grade 3/2 Curses: Partial consumption sufficient, stronger technique absorption
---