A/N: There's a slight time skip here, but this chapter still takes place before episode 9 of the anime (before Yuji & Nanami investigate the movie theater).

The day after the Nagano mission

"Can I walk back from here, Ijichi-san?" Yuji asks hopefully. It's around three in the morning, and he's just returned from his nightly exercise break, but Yuji still feels like he has more energy to burn off.

"Again? But… you just ran several kilometers in the park," Ijichi tosses him a perplexed look, but stops the car obligingly.

"I just want more fresh air, I guess!" Yuji laughs. He's done this to Ijichi a few times already, but he can't help it. Being trapped in the basement all day, even with a life's supply of snacks and movies, has made Yuji appreciate his few hours of nightly freedom a great deal. No matter how much he runs, he wants to stay out for just a little longer. Pretending to be dead is harder than he thought.

"Very well," Ijichi sighs, unable to deny Itadori this small comfort. "Please be mindful, and do not be seen by any sorcerers. I'll go park the car…"

"Thanks, Ijichi-san, you're the best!" Yuji flings himself out of the sedan and stretches. Ijichi drives away, and Yuji ducks his face into the collar of his jacket as he begins a leisurely stroll back to Jujutsu Tech, lost in thought.

He wishes he could go for a longer walk, but Yuji knows it can't be helped right now. He does his best to savor every breath of cool summer air, but before he knows it, he's rounding the corner to the school.

Yuji's eyes wander to the sky, admiring the half-moon and the scant clouds above. Then he glances forward, and freezes.

There is a lady waiting at the entrance to Jujutsu Tech. Yuji has never seen her before. She is petite, with glossy auburn hair cut into a wavy bob, and peachy, smooth skin dotted lightly with freckles.

Yuji can see… a lot of skin right now.

He can see the criss-crossed tan lines from a bikini top on her upper back; he can see the pale, freckle-less parts of her thighs; and he can see a pendant necklace laying snugly between her boobs, because she's wearing nothing but a tiny yellow dress with shoulder straps so thin it's a miracle it can hold anything up.

Then she notices Yuji and beams at him. Like an angel.

"Good evening!" she greets him, practically skipping over to Yuji. A small blue purse swings against her full hips. She's not Japanese, but she seems to be fluent in the language. "You're a student at this school, right?"

What should I do? What should I do? Yuji thinks in a panic. Not only is she prettier than any girl that has ever willingly talked to him, but Yuji has no idea if she's a civilian or a sorcerer.

If she's a civilian, he can talk to her normally. But if she's a sorcerer, isn't he supposed to stay out of sight? Gojo specifically told him not to interact with anyone he hadn't approved of, but how was Yuji supposed to know who's a sorcerer and who's not?! He doesn't know how to sense cursed energy from other sorcerers yet!

SUKUNA! Yuji screams into his head, a last-ditch effort. SUKUNA, IS THIS A HOT LADY SORCERER OR AM I JUST HAVING A HEART ATTACK?!

Fucking idiot, the cursed spirit's voice echoes back derisively. She's not that attractive, she just has womanly breasts and you're a horny teenager.

….Womanly breasts.

Yuji thinks his soul just left his body, hearing the thousand-year-old evil spirit in his head utter the words womanly breasts.

An eerie sense of clarity comes to Yuji. Something about Sukuna discussing lady parts has caused such a huge disconnect in his brain, Yuji no longer feels nervous about the pretty woman.

"Um," the woman interrupts, looking crestfallen. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" Yuji assures her quickly. "I just didn't expect to see anyone like y—anyone out this late at night."

"Oh," she nods in understanding. "Yeah, I forgot about the time difference," she admits, sheepishly ducking her head.

Time difference, she says. Maybe she is just a lost tourist? She doesn't really act like a sorcerer, so maybe...

"I'm Itadori Yuji," he introduces himself tentatively.

Fool, Sukuna's rumbling laughter follows his words.

What?! Yuji almost yells it out loud. What does that mean—?

"Nice to meet you, Yuji," the woman replies sweetly. "I'm Wendy."

"Nice to meet you too," he responds politely. She has big blue-green eyes, and a heart-shaped face, and she smells like cinnamon. If she's a sorcerer, at least she seems like a nice one. Maybe if a really hot lady kills him, that's a proper death…

"So, can you help me?" Wendy prompts him again, pointing back at the gateway. "I was hoping someone could escort me inside, or—maybe I could leave a message? The barrier won't recognize me, so I don't want anyone to think I'm trespassing in the middle of the night."

"...Barrier?" Yuji repeats blankly. "Huh?"

Wendy raises her eyebrows in surprise. She points at the entrance. "The barrier that hides the school."

Whoops. Gojo told Yuji about the barrier a while ago: only people with cursed energy would be able to see the school in the first place. "Ah. That barrier. So… you're a… sorcerer?"

But to his surprise, she shakes her head. "Oh, not at all!" Wendy laughs. "I'm just Yoshi's friend—have you met her? She's filling in as a teacher."

Clueless, he shakes his head. "I… have not met her," Yuji admits, apologetic.

"You haven't?" she parrots, a worried look crossing her face. "But you're a student, so…?"

"W-Well I'm not like the normal students," Yuji stammers, "It's, uh. Complicated. I don't think I can escort you in. I'm sorry."

"Oh. Um, well, don't apologize!" Wendy assures him, biting her lip. "I'll figure something out! As long as Yoshi's okay, that's all that matters."

Something about the way she's phrased this has Yuji wavering. "Why are you worried? Did something happen?"

Her smile falters. "No. I don't know. Maybe?"

"Ah, okay..." Yuji blinks, realizing she hasn't actually given an answer. "Wait, which is it?"

The petite woman bites down on her lip again, looking uncomfortable now. "She hasn't answered her phone for a while, and—ah, I sound so clingy, don't I?!" Wendy exclaims, covering her face with one hand. "It's probably nothing!"

"Not really," Yuji muses, beginning to pity her. "If she's your friend, then you would know if something felt wrong. Right?"

"Exactly!" Wendy drops her hands, eyes glossy with anguish. "I know Yoshi better than anyone! And it doesn't just feel wrong, I feel—I feel like something happened. There's just bad juju all around, you know? It's making my skin crawl!"

Yuji nods sympathetically. He doesn't know what 'bad juju' is supposed to be, but maybe that's just her way of describing cursed energy and sorcerer things. With everything Yuji's learned so far, there's plenty of bad stuff that comes with sorcery. It's mostly bad, actually.

Bad juju. Hm. It seems fitting.

"I'm sorry," he says again, unable to help himself. "But—Jujutsu Tech is the safest place for sorcerers," he tells her, remembering that Gojo called the school a 'pillar of jujutsu society' or something like that. "It's a dangerous job, but the school protects its own, right?"

But Wendy's smile fades even more. "Right," she nods, but Yuji can tell she doesn't believe him at all.

"Why…" Yuji watches her carefully. "Why wouldn't the school be safe?"

The petite woman looks uncomfortable again. She wrings her hands together fretfully, making her bangles clink against each other.

"I'm sure you already know, Yuji," Wendy says quietly, looking directly at his face. "I mean… do all the sorcerers here approve of that cursed spirit in you?"