In a small cabin on a snowy mountain, Artoria was being warmly hosted by a middle school-aged boy.
"Here's some black tea, and there's also chocolate."
The boy's excited movements paused for a moment.
"Um, I forgot to ask earlier, what is your name?"
It seemed he hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time, as his tone was awkward and hesitant.
"Just call me Saber. And you?"
Artoria smiled gently, signaling him not to be nervous.
"Sa...ber? So, Young Miss Saber is a foreigner."
"It's Saber, from Britain."
Artoria traced a few letters on the table with her finger.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. My name is Komori Satoshi, I'm from Saitama Prefecture."
Komori Satoshi apologized repeatedly. Ever since that incident, he had fled in fear and ended up hiding deep in this snowy mountain.
He hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time, especially not to someone as beautiful and kind as the woman before him.
"Saitama, huh? That's not close to here. What are you doing alone on this mountain? Aren't your family worried?"
Artoria asked, slightly puzzled.
She could sense Cursed Energy from the boy and knew he must be a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
As she spoke, she quietly sent his name to an Assistant Supervisor to look into his background.
"I..."
Komori hesitated, his hands trembling slightly.
"It's alright if you don't want to talk about it."
Her calm tone and gentle expression put him at ease.
Her words were warm, soft, and reassuring, loosening the fear that had bound him for so long.
Maybe it's okay to say it now. Even if I'm punished later, I deserve it.
"I hurt my classmates."
Having made up his mind, Komori lowered his head, his voice small and heavy with guilt.
"Why?"
Artoria couldn't believe that such a timid, polite boy would intentionally harm someone.
"They always bullied me. That day... I don't know what happened, I just couldn't control myself, and then..."
His voice grew quieter and quieter, as though he was afraid Artoria would hate him for it.
"Didn't you ask an adult for help?"
"The teacher said, 'Why do they only bully you and not others? You should look at yourself and try to get along better.'"
Komori's voice turned bitter as he recalled the teacher's condescending smile.
"My mother isn't well, and I didn't want to worry her."
He came from a single-parent family. His mother worked three jobs to support him, and after a serious illness, her health had never recovered.
"Can you tell me what happened that day?"
Artoria spoke softly, not pushing, but allowing him space to remember.
"That day, the three of them pushed me into an abandoned botanical garden. They said things like, 'You like flowers, so we'll let you play with them.'"
The memory made Komori's body tremble.
Those three bullies had shoved him into the decaying greenhouse, mocking him all the while.
"They said there were rare flowers in there... Then, we met a monster."
His voice shook as he continued.
"It was like a man-eating tree. Its vines wrapped around us. I was terrified, and suddenly, I don't know why, power burst out from inside me."
"Then I summoned countless thorns. They strangled the man-eating tree, and then..."
Komori's words faltered.
"Then they started screaming 'monster' at me and threw stones. I was scared... and angry... so I attacked them."
Artoria listened quietly.
So that was it.
Komori had unknowingly awakened his Technique in that moment of life and death.
Since Jujutsu Sorcerers draw Cursed Energy from negative emotions, the fear and rage he felt caused his Technique to lash out uncontrollably.
Those three bullies must have also seen the Cursed Spirit and Komori's Technique, since only those near death can perceive them.
Beep. Beep.
Artoria's phone chimed. The Assistant Supervisor had sent back Komori Satoshi's file.
Because he was listed as a missing person in a Cursed Spirit-related incident, Jujutsu Headquarters already had his records.
"Those three people are fine, you know."
"Eh?"
Komori looked up in shock.
"According to the Headquarters' report, they only suffered some surface injuries. One had minor blood loss, but none were in danger."
"Is that so?"
A faint smile formed on Komori's face.
He had thought he'd killed them.
But if they were alive...
No, he shouldn't have even thought of killing them. He shook his head hard.
"Also, I think you did nothing wrong."
Artoria's sudden words startled him.
"What?"
"Resisting injustice and oppression is a virtue. Standing up to those who hurt you is the right thing to do."
Clang.
It was as if her words broke invisible chains that had bound his heart for years.
All his life, Komori had been told to be obedient, to endure, to never fight back. To stay silent for peace.
Now, something inside him was beginning to awaken.
Thump. Thump.
Footsteps echoed outside the cabin. Something was moving in the snow.
Artoria's expression sharpened as she turned toward the door.
Just as she was about to draw her sword, Komori suddenly stepped in front of her.
"Danger, Young Miss Saber, step back."
A green shikigami covered in thorns materialized in front of them.
This was Komori's Technique.
Shikigami: Thorn Beast
Moves: Thorn Entanglement, Thorn Strangulation, Absorption, Parasitic Seed, Fatal Bloom.
Outside, a white Cursed Spirit nearly three meters tall trudged toward the cabin.
Komori clenched his fists and ordered the Thorn Beast to attack, its vines coiling tightly around the monster.
"Hmm, that's it."
Artoria nodded slightly as she watched.
Three days ago, a rescue team had saved a climber who'd been attacked on this very mountain.
According to her, a giant creature like a bigfoot had attacked them, and her father had stayed behind to draw it away.
Seeing that Komori was beginning to tire, Artoria decided to intervene.
She stepped forward, raising her invisible blade.
The Cursed Spirit, still thrashing against the vines, lunged toward Komori.
Artoria swung once.
"Eh?"
Komori froze, watching in awe.
The sunlight filtered through the window, bathing Artoria in a warm glow against the white snow.
"Listen carefully, Komori Satoshi."
"Y-yes."
Komori straightened instinctively, like a student before a teacher.
"To bravely resist injustice, to stand firm against danger—these are virtues worthy of pride. Hold your head high, Komori Satoshi. You are an excellent warrior."
A warmth spread through Komori's chest, and tears welled in his eyes, falling silently onto the cabin floor.
(To be continued.)