Disclaimer: Akutami is a genius. Credits to his works especially JJK.

Warnings: If you're prepared then you're prepared.

Beta: Looks like I will never find the one

After so many months, it's finally here!

Ever since what transpired yesterday, there was only one thought that lingered in that deranged woman's mind. How in the world did a 15-year-old teen have such toned muscles in this day and age?

Sure he kept Sukuna at bay within his body(not in that way), so maybe it was a physical restrain? Yet, that doesn't explain the fact that he had such glorifying abs. He was a high school first-year. Did she need to justify that he's still a hormone-driven adolescent? And how the hell did he have the time to go to the gym while studying in school? She knew well she wouldn't.

Teenagers these days are scary.

Fast forward to the following day. What she was doing now was absurdly illegal. She was retrieving classified documented reports of a "particular" incident.

Faking an identity was easy for her. It was how she casually slipped in and out of countries despite being so-called "dead" without any trouble. She wouldn't mind carrying on her bullshitting name façade to her grave. Then again, she didn't bother if anyone knew that she was alive either.

To the entire world, she was another nobody that died tragically.

She would be known as nothing else but a child that came and went as swift as a blown candle flame.

It didn't make sense for a dead person to be alive.

Erina didn't belong to any reputable family nor a lowly one. Instead, it was a plain simple family with a happy couple that fostered two children. With a sad ending, they had to succumb. Thus, a mere faceless citizen went overlooked one too many times.

Erina was about to infiltrate a vault that harbored overflowing documents and certificates of the deceased. If she's lucky, she would be waltzing out of the facility with a couple of records she had collected. On the other hand, she would return empty-handed, sulking. More than likely, due to said documents no longer existing.

Technically, she didn't have to move a single muscle. She nestled on a sturdy tree branch somewhere nearby the facility as she conjured a couple of shadow clones to do her bidding. While her clones do the troublesome task, she was dozing off. In her defense, sleep was essential.

Alas, her peaceful nap was short-lived when a clone unintentionally stirred her and fell off the branch. She landed on a prickly bush that cushion her fall. She didn't sustain any cuts or bruises, but her garments were torn and soiled. The unusual woman couldn't help but scowl at the pitiful state her clothes were.

Another day, another struggle.

"What is it?" Erina demanded, picking herself up from the earthy ground as she brushed down the excess dirt from her shirt.

The clone withdrew a thin brown folder. It passed the yellowed parchment to Erina before it extinguished into smoke. Its memories and recollections gushed, flooding into her mind. She took a moment to process its wealth of information before settling on what to do next.

"That was easy," Erina murmured as she examines the brown folder at hand.

Security there wasn't as tight as she imagined.

By the texture of the paper, she could sum up it was untouched for quite some time (maybe a few years?). That would mean if it were missing, few would even notice its disappearance. Much less, realize it was missing in the first place. Erina grinned at the thought.

Without much hesitation, Erina immediately ordered the rest of the clones to disperse and hurried her way home.

Once she had arrived, she tossed the paper-thin folder with invaluable information to the nearest table to her.

Erina settled to lazily slumping herself onto her soft cream-colored couch. Taking a moment to relish the sofa's mellow, delicate, and adorable feature, she couldn't help but let out a muffled purr. She stayed in the same position—nuzzling her face onto the pillow—for a couple of minutes before getting back to work.

Well, that was a lie.

Long story short, she fell into a deep slumber as soon as she touched the silky sofa pillowcase.

She stared impassively at the ticking clock and couldn't help but gape at the timepiece, even if it did nothing to better her situation. She might as well be late.

Erina made haste and grabbed an orange trench coat, slipping it on before noticing she had yet to put on her glasses. Those were very important. She went to her room to retrieve them before coming back to swiped the yellowed parchment from the small table, making a last check that all the necessary documents were inside.

Not all of it was she realized.

While Erina was leisurely strolling her way to the institution, she saw her white-haired friend and the teen. A sudden thought led her to burst into stifled laughter from afar.

She crept behind the little tiger silently with a mischievous grin. When she was close enough, she jabbed the boy at the rear, prompting him to jolt up from the ground. The teen let out a shriek.

And just like that, the Yūji founded himself cradled in her tender arms.

"You ADORABLE boy!" Erina wailed as she clinched onto him.

What measly started as a small prank ended up with Erina babying the little tiger. She didn't think he'd acted out in such a manner where she'd end up carrying him...again. The act of holding onto him didn't bother her as much. In fact, on closer notice, Yūji bared a striking resemblance to that one pokemon*.

After what felt like a good five minutes, Erina reluctantly had to let go of the confused and flustered teen. He shuffled a few steps backward with wide brown eyes and flushed cherry cheeks. That bashful expression plastered on Yūji's boyish face did wonders for the older woman and her poor, poor heart.

It made her rethink, if it weren't for that occurrence, he would've gotten to live a typical life as any sane person would. To be plunged into a lifestyle of Jujutsu Sorcery where your life is on the line isn't ideal. Not to mention the atrocities one must witness in this work field. But—the incident couldn't come by as natural.

"Pardon me for the intrusion. I do apologize if I startled you, Yūji-chan."

"Well, I don't mind hugs... Just give me a heads up," Yūji sheepishly admitted as he nicked his blush red-tinted cheek.

"What about me?!" Gojō interjected.

"Aww, the whiny princess feels left out,"

"I'm not a princess!" Gojō whinged, taken aback by her playful tease.

"Keep that attitude up and, you'll lose your hugging rights from yours truly," She snapped.

Gojō sulked crocodile's tears at her remark but wasted no time, trailing behind her tall figure. Sadly not as tall as his. They made their way to the institution as Gojō began a brief overview of the school they were heading.

The conversation was an informative one for Yūji. It took them not long but a couple of minutes later to arrive at the forefront of the principal's traditional shrine-like office. They passed through the grand vermillion torii when Gojō delved into a crucial segment of his explanation.

"Both of you will be having an interview. I'm not worried about Octopus. Though, Yūji, you're up first with the principal. Screw it up and, he could reject your admission, so go all-out!" He said as he clasped his hands.

"Eh?! Then what then? Immediate execution?!" Yūji exasperatedly asked as worry sweats creased on his forehead.

"Yūji-chan, you don't need to get your boxers or—err panties in a bunch. I'm no different. I'm sure some people are itching to kill me as much as they want you gone," Erina reassured Yūji with a firm pat on the back.

"Thanks..." Yūji stumbled forward, yet he mustered a meek simper at the older woman's bold assurance.

"Worst case scenario, you get stuck with me and, we become fugitives. So on and so forth. Wait-no, that actually seems kinda fun," She added.

—A hierarchy that does not value strength is worthless—

Erina's ashen eyes flickered to where the deep voice had sounded. Yūji covered his cheek in an attempt to keep him from talking as he apologized for his sudden disruption. "Sorry, he does that sometimes."

"What an amusing body you have now," The sorcerer mused. "Whatever do you mean? He already had quite the peculiar body, to begin with," Erina pointed out, more than likely hinting at Yūji's physical body state before consuming the curse. Both confused, the two males stared at the woman, worried by her statement.

Erina had seen many oddities in her lifetimes. And an extra mouth formed below the mark under Yūji's eye, appearing out of nowhere was generally the norm. Erina was particularly interested on how the teen had come about this when he first found out about the irregularity. In fact, she was keen on how he reacted to the mouth popping out of nowhere on his body.

—I owe you a favor, Princess— The curse began, reappearing on the back of Yūji's hand. It adopted the nickname Erina had used to taunt the man with pristine white-haired.

"Hey! That's plagiarism,"

—As soon as I make this body mine, you'll be the first one I kill!—

"It is quite the honor to be targeted by Sukuna," Satoru acknowledged, unfazed by the curse's intimidation.

"What about me? Are you going to kill me next? Please say you're going after me next. Though, I'd be pretty offended since I'm in second place after this guy. On the other hand, with such a deep voice, you're always welcome to chase after to the ends of the Earth," Erina raved sounding, oddly enthusiastic about being targeted by the infamous curse.

—You seem very eager to die, woman—

With those words, it earned her more dubious stares from the two males. "Hey, don't give me that look. I'm not much of a self-destructive maniac that I'd throw myself at a bomb as and when I get the chance. However, if given an opportunity to friendly spar against such a sinister fellow such as him, I'd gladly take it upon myself on such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with my life on the line," She insisted, eyes gleaming eagerly.

Gojō winced. He had only met Erina a day ago and, when she says she wanted to have a "friendly" bout, it was anything but "friendly." A place on his back ached at the sudden reminder of yesterday's spat. Although the bruise has fully healed, it still stung—it was the first in a long time since he received a beating to such an extent.

Don't get him wrong. Gojō could still beat her in an all-out fight. He was sure he'd claim victory without much effort.

"So, is this guy really that famous?" Yūji inquired as he smacked the extra mouth on his backhand.

"Oh, he's quite the celebrity in the jujutsu society. So much as for people not to dare speak of his name. The sheer exclamation of his name could stir turmoil amongst a couple of old louts," A smirk crept on her face relishing the chaos that ensued the previous day.

"Mhm, what currently inhabits your body is Ryomen Sukuna. He's an imaginary god with four arms and two faces. But he was once a human that actually existed, though it was over a thousand years ago. In the golden age of jujutsu, many sorcerers challenged him but ultimately failed. We couldn't destroy his grave wax as he traversed the ages after death thus, becoming a cursed object."

Gojō's description about the curse may have sounded daunting, but Yūji was digesting all of this surprisingly well. It puts a bad taste in Erina's mouth—not even chicken nuggets can soothe—on how kids are these days.

"Then who's stronger, Gojō-sensei or Sukuna?"

"That's a difficult question to answer, Yūji-chan. If you're talking both at their primes, I'd say it can sway either sides. With that in mind, say we have one kitchen knife, including a Purell hand sanitizer*? Who would win in a battle of utility? We may never know..."

As confusing as Erina may have sound, Gojō and Yūji did manage to get the gist of what she meant. There was no telling who would win in an all-out battle. Though, they'll come to a better understanding much later on what she really intended.

Both are useful

"Nope, I'll definitely overpower him," Gojō insisted, still hanging on to that overwhelming pride of his.

"Sure... When the time comes, I'll be the judge of your bravado," She said, concluding the conversation.

The three of them entered the principal's den and, there stood a burly man in shades awaiting them as he crafted a small animal-like doll. It was a strange sight to behold with the principal himself surrounded by odd plush dolls. The room had an unwelcoming feel with the ominous candles that illuminated the dreary room.

"You're late, Satoru." The principal began as the door eerily slammed with a thunderous crash echoing throughout the dimly lit room.

"It was only a measly eight minutes. Besides, you're just making dolls. Aren't you a little impatient, sensei?"

"Tsk, tsk. Knowing Snow White, passing a few minutes is good enough to be considered early. He seems like the type to always arrive late no matter what you do or say. Hell, he'll deliberately delay his arrival just for the very purpose of pissing someone off,"

The principal raised a brow. "How long have you known Satoru?"

"A day at most,"

"I'll be doubting that. Octopus, was it? You're not wrong about Satoru's rueful behavior," The big man grunted in disdain for his former student's work ethics before turning his head to face Yūji.

"So, is this the kid?"

Recognizing that it was time to present himself, Yūji dipped into a respectable bow towards the principal. "Itadori Yūji! I'm into girls like Jennifer Lawrence! A pleasure to meet you, sir!" He spoke with a determined face.

Either Yūji was outrageously confident or impeccably dense. Erina settled for the latter. She was genuinely impressed that Yūji was upfront with his taste in women. If she were the interviewer, she would've admitted him without hesitation. Apparently, confessing your desired lady isn't typical for your introduction in an interview. And she admired that kind of straightforward attitude. He was honest—although it was nobody's business to know—speaks a lot regarding the type of person he is. Yūji was remarkably naive and, she'll have to mend that.

The principal paid no heed to Yūji's introduction and immediately jumped straight to the point.

"What did you come here for?"

Yūji's fight for his admittance to the school had begun. Erina resigned herself not to interfere with the principal and the soon-to-be student after the interview. She had no doubts that Yūji will get enlisted to the institution, knowing he has at the very least an aptitude for this line of work.

"Hmm, you seem quite fixated on something. Are you worried about Yūji? Or-" The white-haired man prodded.

"Or? The opposite, I have faith that he'll pass this trial with flying colors. On the other hand..." She pressed her lips into a firm line. "How about you? What do you think?"

"No matter how you see this, Yūji will be admitted to the school regardless. The kid has talent and, it's not just because he can suppress Sukuna. He is really something else,"

Erina surmised as much. Containing that kind of power not only requires a standard physical tolerance but a lot of self-restraint and willpower. Though, it did not seem that Yūji was struggling with handling the infamous Sukuna.

The whole situation itself is abnormal.

"Indeed..." Erina agreed bitterly.

They stood in silence throughout the interview as they watch like vultures, inspecting Yūji's every movement. Erina subtly shied away to the dimmest corners of the room while overhearing Yūji's plain conviction of someone's dying wish.

Erina anticipated that the principal was not well taken to the response.

Just then, a green creature sprang out from the pile of dolls and darted for Yūji. With one swoop, it lunged its poignant brawler's fist for Yūji. He barely managed to avoid the incoming blow, with his backpack flinging him to clash onto a nearby pillar. In triumph, the cursed doll strike poses of mockery at the boy.

"A person's true nature reveals itself during a crisis," The principal explained. "I'll keep attacking you until I get an acceptable answer," He said, confirming his displeasure.

"I get it, but it was not just from 'someone else'! It was from a family member's dying wish!" Yūji raged, sprinting as he threw a solid punch at the unpleasant green plush toy.

In retaliation, the jumpy creature vigorously bounced on and off several pillars, seeping out numerous candle flames within them in the process. With the room now clad in black, the petty little thing dived in head-first for the boy, sending him tumbling backward violently.

The principal clarifies Yūji's statement. The man was harsh but, he had to do so for Yūji's own good. The younger boy needed to realize what he was getting himself into cannot be overlooked so easily as any other mistake.

A dilemma trounces upon Yūji as he ponders regarding the principal's words. However, before he was about to put a thought through, the cursed doll went in for an uppercut thrust. His brown pupils clouded amidst the shock of being knocked off the soles of his feet and thought.

Once again, the older man questions Yūji's conviction as the cursed doll prepares its next attack. He bites back and latches onto the green creature, restraining it with pure brute strength.

"Consuming Sukuna is only something I can do. If I ran away from this responsibility, I'd go about ordinary life-"

Erina doubted he was to have that kind of life in the first place.

"-and the moment I'd stop to think, I'd go; 'Oh, someone's dying because of Sukuna right now,' 'That does not involve me,' 'It's not my fault.' You expect me to go on like that? I refused to do that-"

Is he guilt-tripped?

"-I don't know how to feel about dying but, I don't want to regret the way I lived!" Yūji declared, he's resolved sounding firm and unyielding.

Content with the answer, the principal urges Gojō to direct Yūji to the dorms.

"Congrats, Yūji-chan! It looks like you won't get stuck with me, after all!" Erina rejoiced while applauding Yūji's enrollment to the school. Her uncertainty with Yūji's determination shoved down her throat.

Yūji brightened, loosening the grip on the cursed doll. A misstep on Yūji's part as the puppet clashed its fist onto his unguarded body. Once again, causing him to fall face flat on the ground.

"Yikes, Yūji-chan, you alright?"

He managed a weak thumbs-up with his face still grazing the hard ground.

"If there's nothing else to be said, I'll be bringing him to the dorms now," Gojō notified.

"Then you go ahead. I'll catch up,"

Gojō nodded as he left the scene with Yūji in tow.

...

Silence befalls the two.

Nevertheless, the awkward silence was temporary. Interestingly, the principal was the first to break it. "I believe Satoru had already informed you about the detrimental position you're in,"

She was well aware but couldn't muster the energy to care. It was a common occurrence in her daily life, to the point where she would easily talk herself out of these situations. Erina stared at the older man, empty and disappointed. They lacked originality. "So, are you going to try and kill me?"

He jerked.

"You're an outsider but, it'll be risky if we execute you immediately. From what I heard, you fought with Satoru the other day. And looking at you now, you're still in one piece, no less. We'll have to be cautious,"

Gojō must have great faith in the principal. Or else how would he have known she had actually fought with Gojō. After all, she fought with thee Gojō Satoru, the Strongest Sorcerer.

"Hah! I don't blame you for your suspicions against me. A stranger suddenly comes out amidst the appearance of Ryomen Sukuna. It makes sense for me to seem that I had a hand in all of this,"

There was a sharp spike in cursed energy. At the pile of dolls, one of the puppets was accumulating cursed power. The principal was getting apprehensive.

"But that's not what I came to talk about!" She exclaimed cheerily, completely dismissing her earlier enunciation.

"Allow me to work under you," She offered, keeping that signature jovial grin of her's cemented on her face.

Masamichi stiffened. He did not anticipate the absurd request.

"You, you're not planning anything, are you?" Skepticism was distinct in his voice.

Erina considered the words that were to spew from her mouth. "Something interesting came up. And I'd be too disappointed if I didn't stick around to witness. So, I've made up my mind. My goal is to groom Itadori Yūji into becoming a strong person. Both physically and mentally. I can count on Gojō's ability as a teacher handling Yūji's Jujutsu studies, no matter how lax he is. But I could never imagine him providing backup for some morality support..."

Erina lower her gazed. Her jovial grin pulled back into a sad smile. In truth, she once put herself in the same circumstance as Yūji. She didn't want the same outcome happening to Yūji. Why die early? If he could live a long and fulfilling life? She'll be more than satisfied with that.

Besides, she felt uncertain, with Gojō helping Yūji cope with his mental stability. He didn't strike her as someone ideal to have a heart-to-heart conversation. Let alone the type who'd sit down and listen to other people's concerns or problems. After all, Yūji might've suffered the consequences of insanity if he wasn't in the right state of mind.

In contrast, Erina understood people. Props to having numerous lives, of course. Both Gojō and Erina were similar, but they're not the same person.

"I take it you don't see Itadori Yūji as the curse's vessel. As for the curse..."

Sukuna?

"Hmm, to be honest, I haven't thought that far ahead," She lied.

"Yo!" She greeted, directing the group's attention to her.

"Great timing, Octopus. We can go-"

"Shoo. That can wait. If you want to talk to someone in the meanwhile, bother Megumi or something. I'll get to you later," Erina interrupted while gesturing her hands at Gojō to leave.

Brushing him aside to torment Megumi, she motioned Yūji to follow her. "Give us five minutes,"

"Then I'll leave first," Megumi said as he left, probably to get a headstart away from Gojō.

"Megumi, wait for me!"

His pace quickened.

Which reminds her, one of these days, she'd have to sit down and have a long talk with Megumi. The kid looked like he needed it.

"My condolences for your late grandfather, Yūji."

"Thanks, Octopus-san..." He uttered in a small voice. With an expression on his face that made her-

She smooshed his cheeks. "Be honest with me. Do you need a hug?"

"W-wut?"

"Hugs. They're important. I'm going to assume you need one right now,"

As she recalled, the boy did say he didn't mind hugs. And she did give him a warning. "You can tap out when you want to stop, alright?" Still, she didn't want to force this on him.

Without another word, the older woman welcomed herself for a tight embrace with the boy. Surprisingly, Yūji didn't tap out immediately. Instead, he openly accepted it and hugged back.

Erina pitied Yūji. He had already made his decision. She bet even if she were to convince him not to go through with it, Yūji would've declined. Not even threatening the kid of his hugging rights would've shaken him.

She knew of a way to avoid his death. Though, it would be best not to tell him now.

"Octopus-san, I'm good now," Yūji spoke as he lightly tapped her shoulder. "I think it's past five minutes,"

"Eh? That fast?"

Maybe it was because she was too deep in thought.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow, Yūji-chan. I'm basically now your official therapist. Hugs and advice are free, by the way!" Erina stated before hurrying off to find that whimsical fellow.

_Later_

"I guess now we can-"

"Go where exactly?"

"..."

"..."

"Beat's me. I'm just following orders from a bunch of incompetent old fools,"

"Then why haven't you killed them? You are the strongest,"

"I mean, I could. But what's the point? They're still going to get replaced,"

"Understandable," Erina nodded. "You're only the strongest and not perfect,"

He gasped. "You take that back. I'm literally the embodiment of perfection,"

Thank you for waiting patiently for the chapter! I just want you all to know that I feel so loved by your reviews and will continue doing my best for this book!

Thank you so very much! (づ￣ 3￣)づ

(P.s. go check out my Tumblr page at Erine._.tries)