The first threads of dawn slipped into the corridors of Jujutsu High, the chirping of birds blending with the stillness of the stone buildings.
I didn't enjoy the peace for long—Gojo's heavy knocks on my door shattered it instantly.
"Wake up, hero. You've got a little mission today."
l opened my eyes slowly, my breath still heavy from last night's Harmony of Darkness training. My body felt lighter, warmth pulsing through my limbs, my cursed energy flowing in a steadiness I had never felt before.
Gojo barged in without permission, as if the room belonged to him.
"You'll be going with Yuji and Nobara—second-grade curse in an old district. Just field training, don't worry."
I raised an eyebrow. "First mission after all this… and you tell me not to worry?"
His grin was as effortless as ever. "You're worried because you still don't know yourself."
The Mission Room
The first floor of the school smelled faintly of old paper and fresh ink. Inside the mission room, the walls were covered with maps of Tokyo marked in red and yellow pins—each one a cursed activity site.
Shoko sat behind a large wooden desk, her hair neatly tied up, gaze sharp as always. A stack of files sat in front of her; she pulled one out and handed it to Gojo, who then placed it in front of me.
"Shitamachi old district. Reports of strange noises and disappearances over the past week. A witness described seeing a creature with glowing eyes in the dark."
I flipped through the file—photos of narrow alleys, dusty windows, and a map marking the last known cursed energy readings.
"Classification: Second-grade curse. Expect cramped passageways, so be careful," Shoko noted as she scribbled something on her clipboard.
Yuji, of course, was excited. "Morning curse hunt? Better than school breakfast."
Nobara tightened her leather gloves, then turned to me with a sideways smile.
"Don't disappoint me, Megumi."
That short line—paired with her steady gaze—left a faint trace inside me. I tried to brush it off. Not the time for that.
The Road to the District
We left through the tall stone gates, the path glistening faintly with morning dew. Maple trees flanked the walkway, their red leaves falling softly, the cool breeze carrying a faint scent of earth.
Yuji tried to lighten the mood.
"I've got a feeling this one's gonna be quick."
"Speed doesn't always mean success," I replied.
Nobara, walking beside me, laughed lightly. "You're the type who overthinks… aren't you?"
I glanced at her for a brief second before returning my eyes to the road. "…Maybe."
Even such a small exchange made me realize—Nobara knew how to break through the silence I usually wrapped around myself.
The Encounter
Shitamachi felt like a ghost town. Old wooden houses, dusty windows, and the heavy scent of dampness choking the air. At the third street, the cursed energy pulsed through the atmosphere—heavy, cold, like invisible fog curling around us.
From around the corner, a twisted shadow emerged—its body warped, two wide, glowing yellow eyes cutting through the gloom.
"I'll handle this," I stepped forward.
My shadow stretched across the ground, more fluid than ever, moving like it had a will of its own.
The Shinigami rose from it—larger, faster, its claws longer, eyes glowing with sharper dark light. It moved with me as if it were an extension of my body, not just a summon.
As we fought, I realized Harmony of Darkness didn't just strengthen the Shinigami—it made the shadows themselves respond to my intent. Even in the far ends of the alley, tendrils of darkness twitched, as if watching.
With one swift slash, the Shinigami tore the curse apart, the body dissolving into black dust.
Yuji whistled. "Whoa… didn't see that coming."
Nobara, with a smile that carried both approval and challenge, said: "You didn't disappoint me."
This time, I didn't avoid her gaze—but I turned away before anyone noticed.
The darkness is drawing closer… not just to my power, but to other things as well.