"Yuji, come find me tomorrow. I'll reach out with the details. Given your extraordinary talent, I'm going to give you some special one-on-one training."
"On top of that, I'll arrange for a senior Grade 1 sorcerer who's compatible with you to accompany you on missions. Look forward to it."
"...Got it."
Under Shoko Ieiri's treatment, the wounds on Yuji's body had mostly healed. He stood up, stretched his limbs, and nodded in agreement.
A Grade 1 sorcerer compatible with me... Nanamin?
Kento Nanami was the kind of adult who made you feel at ease just being around him. Thinking of him stirred a wave of nostalgia. Yuji had received a lot of guidance from Nanami back when he was just starting out.
"Then Fushiguro and I will take our leave. Goodbye, Gojo-sensei."
"Bye-bye~"
After bidding farewell to Satoru Gojo, Yuji followed Megumi out of the infirmary.
Perhaps because they hadn't known each other long and hadn't found common ground, the atmosphere was a bit quiet. But then Megumi spoke up without looking back.
"Itadori. Do you know about the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event?"
"?"
Yuji knew, but he pretended otherwise.
"There are two schools like Jujutsu High. One's in Tokyo—that's us. The other's in Kyoto. Every year, our Tokyo school and the Kyoto school hold an exchange event. Basically a sparring competition."
"Put simply, it's a tournament-style showdown against students from the other school."
Megumi kept it straightforward.
"I heard that to motivate the students, members of the Big Three Sorcerer Families will be participating this time. It should be interesting. Itadori—we need to win this one. Since you're so strong, I'm hoping you can contribute."
"Oh, sure. I'll do my best."
Yuji nodded, but he was puzzled.
In his past life, he'd participated in the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event, but he didn't remember any mention of the Big Three Families getting involved. And Megumi Fushiguro didn't seem like the type to obsess over winning or losing in something like an exchange event.
"The reason I'm telling you this is actually because of Maki-senpai."
Before Yuji could ask, Megumi explained.
Yuji remembered Maki Zenin—though their first meeting hadn't exactly been pleasant.
"Because of the Big Three Families' involvement, someone named Naoya Zenin will be participating as the Zenin Clan's representative. He's on the Kyoto school's side."
"I heard from Panda-senpai that Naoya Zenin used to bully Maki-senpai back in the Zenin Clan. She came to Jujutsu High because her own family looked down on her. So this event... it's a chance for her to prove herself."
"But the exchange event isn't just her stage alone. Our strength matters too. That's why she asked me to talk to you about it."
Naoya Zenin... huh?
Yuji vaguely remembered the name.
After the Shibuya Incident, a man named Naoya Zenin had hunted him down.
That guy—a highly skilled Grade 1 sorcerer—had given him and his eldest brother Choso some trouble when he first appeared.
The real issue was his personality. He'd flip his hair mid-fight. A total scumbag.
But to the current Yuji Itadori, this Naoya Zenin was...
Just a speed bump.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely beat him into the ground for Maki-senpai."
Yuji clasped his hands together, enthusiasm radiating off him.
"...You don't have to go that far. Just do your best. The guy is a Grade 1 sorcerer."
After returning to the dorm, Yuji showered first, washing off the blood and grime.
His injuries were mostly healed. With some rare free time, he changed into a clean T-shirt and shorts, dried his hair, and sat down at his desk.
"Phew—"
On the desk sat a brand-new computer, fully loaded with top-of-the-line peripherals. He'd specifically requested it from Satoru Gojo yesterday.
Gojo hadn't asked for a reason—just approved it on the spot. Though he did tease: "Yuji, you're not planning to play games in your dorm, are you?"
"Of course not, Gojo-sensei. It's for studying."
"Studying how to play games?"
"..."
Anyway, the computer was here now.
Yuji pressed the power button, navigated through the system, and reached the desktop.
He really wasn't planning to game today. Despite having lived sixty-eight years, Yuji maintained a youthful mindset and stayed curious about new things.
No—his real goal was—
"Sukuna."
He called out internally.
No response.
"Sukuna? You there?"
Still nothing.
Yuji sighed. He knew Sukuna was definitely in there. Just ignoring him.
He moved the mouse, opened Steam, went to his game library, and clicked on a title called Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
The game was set in ancient Japan. Maybe Sukuna would find it interesting. Yuji didn't actually plan to forgive Sukuna—but he could give him a chance to experience life in a different way. If Sukuna could truly understand the meaning of existence, then the effort would be worthwhile.
There's no way Sukuna, a complete battle maniac, can keep quiet watching a hardcore game like this.
The corners of Yuji's mouth curled up. The game screen lit up. After a cinematic cutscene, the protagonist awoke in a dungeon at the foot of a mountain.
Yuji worked the controls skillfully. After a long trek, he finally reached a house in a small town. Four enemies guarded the gate. Yuji walked his character straight in—
Clang clang clang—
The four mobs rushed him. Yuji frantically clicked the left mouse button, but he didn't land a single hit. Instead, the soldiers hacked him to the ground.
[DEATH]
"..."
Yuji scratched his head and hit revive, unwilling to accept defeat.
This time he learned his lesson. He carefully snuck over the wall, intending to backstab the first soldier. But when he jumped, his character model got stuck on the gate's overhang. The stealth kill failed.
Clang clang clang—
[DEATH]
"No way. I wasn't this bad before, was I?"
Yuji took a deep breath and adjusted his posture.
"One more time. I'll play seriously now."
Third attempt.
This time he killed the four soldiers—but was left with a sliver of health. He moved forward, only to encounter the first elite mini-boss. Before Yuji could use a healing item, he was sent packing with a single slash.
[DEATH]
Fourth attempt.
He challenged the mini-boss again. Tried to parry this time, but his timing was always off. His guard broke every time.
[DEATH]
Fifth attempt.
[DEATH]
Sixth attempt.
[DEATH]
"..."
"I refuse to accept this!"
Yuji's face flushed red. Veins popped on his forehead. His fingers clattered furiously across the keyboard.
Seventh attempt.
Clang clang clang—
He made progress this time. But when the mini-boss was down to a sliver of health, Yuji's movements became frantic.
[DEATH]
"..."
He sat in silence for three seconds. Then slowly released the mouse, held his head in his hands, and sank into deep self-isolation.
What... what is the meaning of this?
As he spiraled into self-doubt, a slit suddenly opened on his right cheek. An eyeball and a mouth emerged simultaneously.
"Heh."
Sukuna finally couldn't hold back.
"You've been playing for almost an hour and haven't even beaten the first elite mob." Sukuna's lip curled in disgust. "I've lived over a thousand years. This is the first time I've witnessed something so pathetic."
"I'm not pathetic, okay." Yuji retorted reflexively. "I'm just... playing a Souls-like for the first time. Getting used to the controls!"
"Beat that guy first, then talk."
"Fine!"
Yuji steered his character back to the courtyard. This time he was much more proficient. He fought his way to the mini-boss and operated with full concentration, shaving off more than half the enemy's health bar.
"Just a little more!"
Just as he was about to finish the enemy off, the elite mob raised its katana and slashed down. Yuji panicked and accidentally hit the jump button.
[DEATH]
"..."
Yuji's hands hovered frozen over the keyboard. His entire body seemed to petrify.
Sukuna's laughter erupted from his face. "Hahahahaha! Are you a monkey? Jumping when you see a sword?"
"I misjudged!"
"Misjudged? You call that misjudging? You clearly panicked."
"Fine, you're so great." Yuji gritted his teeth. "You play if you're so good."
"Heh. Are you giving me orders?"
"Didn't you say I'm pathetic? Then you play. Show me how amazing the King of Curses really is."
"Boring."
"Just admit you don't have the guts. Is the dignified King of Curses all talk?" Yuji shot back.
Sukuna fell silent for a moment.
Then his voice turned cold.
"Brat. I have no interest in playing childish games with you. How many times you die is none of my concern."
"I'd be more than happy if you died of rage over this broken game."
"...Heh. I'm not going to get mad over a game."
Yuji reached for the mouse and keyboard again.
"Whatever. I'm not arguing with you. I'm continuing."
He hit revive and charged toward the courtyard again.
Three minutes later.
[DEATH]
"It's fine. This is normal."
Five minutes later.
[DEATH]
"This elite mob attacks pretty fast. I need more time to adapt."
Ten minutes later.
[DEATH]
"..."
Fifteen minutes later.
Yuji finally defeated the first elite mob. He continued the story, guiding his character up a snowy mountain—only to encounter a wild rooster, half as tall as a person, strutting toward him.
Yuji didn't take it seriously. He charged forward to slash it.
The rooster launched into the air and delivered a flying kick.
[DEATH]
"Even a chicken can kill me?"
The corners of Yuji's mouth twitched. He gritted his teeth, revived, and went to find that chicken again.
[DEATH]
Dead again.
"..."
Yuji's hands began to tremble.
Fourth attempt.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
He charged in with bloodshot eyes, frantically clicking the left mouse button. He didn't land a single hit. The rooster executed a flawless combo and took him out.
[DEATH]
"..."
Silence.
Yuji took his hands off the keyboard and slumped back in his chair, completely drained.
He accepted it.
Maybe he was just a hopeless noob.
Although Yuji had come to terms with his lack of gaming skills, he didn't feel particularly upset about it.
But Sukuna—watching the gameplay from inside his body—was red in the face, blood pressure skyrocketing.
"You're so pathetic! You stinking brat!"
"A guy who can solo a Special Grade curse getting killed by a chicken four times in a row?! I can't watch this anymore!"
Sukuna was completely fuming.
"Give me control of the body. Let me play!"
Record: July 2018.
Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Kinema Cinema.
"Hahahaha, let me tell you, that girl yesterday..."
Three high school students who'd skipped class to catch a movie ignored public etiquette, talking loudly in the empty theater.
Ring ring, ring ring—!
They hadn't even silenced their phones.
At the same time, a cursed spirit dressed in black with stitch marks across its face crept up behind them. It lowered its head and placed a hand on top of one of their skulls.
A wicked smile spread across Mahito's face.
"You guys aren't really following the rules, are you?"
"..."
After the screening ended, staff discovered the bizarre corpses of three male high school students in the theater.