Iori, Mei, and Yuki sat on the edge of the bed, their eyes fixed on the bathroom door. The room was quiet, save for the steady ticking of the clock on the nightstand. The air was thick with anticipation.

Utahime, who was standing nearby, looked at them with a worried expression. "Was it really smart to leave her alone?" she asked.

Mei turned to her with a reassuring smile. "Why wouldn't we?" she said. "There's no window in the bathroom; it's not like she's going to escape."

Yuki nodded in agreement. "Besides, Hanako's a smart girl. She knows she's not supposed to leave," she added.

As the minutes ticked by, Iori Mei and Yuki exchanged glances, their anticipation growing. The sound of running water finally ceased, and they could hear Hanako's footsteps approaching the door. In the middle of their chat, they heard the sound of the bathroom door unlocking.

Hanako stepped out of the bathroom, her hair still wrapped in a towel. She was wearing the outfit that Yuki had prepared for her: a white button-up dress shirt tucked into a black skirt, along with black high socks and black flats to go with the dress. The dress was perfectly tailored to her body, and it made her look confident and sophisticated.

Yuki couldn't help but stare. She had never seen Hanako look so beautiful. Her eyes widened in appreciation as she took in the details of the outfit: the way the fabric hugged Hanako's body

Iori Mei and Utahime were just as impressed. They had never seen Hanako so transformed. She was no longer the ruggedly, looking girl she had been when she first arrived.

Hanako's eyes were on the floor as she walked into the room, but she soon looked up and saw the three of them staring at her. She stopped in her tracks and blushed self-consciously. "I'm sorry," she said sheepishly. "Did I take too long?"

"No, not at all," Yuki reassured her with a warm smile. "You look absolutely stunning, Hanako. We were just admiring how the outfit suits you perfectly."

Hanako blushed even deeper and looked down at her outfit again. "Thank you," she whispered.

Yuki jumped off the bed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Now that you're all set, let's go meet with Yaga-sensei! He should be waiting at the front of the school."

Hanako removed the towel from her head and let her dark brown colored hair cascade down her shoulders. "Where are we going now?" she asked, her voice curious.

"We're going to get you something to eat," Tsukumo explained with a reassuring smile. "I'm sure you're starving."

Hanako's stomach growled softly. "Okay," she said. "What should I do about the towel and the white gown?"

"Just leave them on the dresser next to the bed," Tsukumo instructed. "Someone will come and collect them."

Hanako nodded in relief. She had been worried about what to do with her clothes, but Tsukumo's words had put her mind at ease. She followed Yuki out of the room, with Iori and Mei close behind.

...

Masamichi stood outside the school entrance, waiting patiently. After Yuki had informed him that Hanako had woken up and was allowed to leave the infirmary, he had given them an hour for her to freshen up. Now he waited.

He checked his watch again. They should be arriving by now.

"Oi, Masamichi!"

He glanced around and saw a familiar figure approaching. It was Yuki, accompanied by Hanako. A wave of relief washed over him as he realized they had finally arrived, but he didn't expect to see Mei and Iori with them.

"Everything ready to go?" he asked as the four of them stood before him.

Yep! Tsukumo cheered, her bright eyes sparkling with excitement. "Let's go!"

"Oh, wait," she said, turning to look at Hanako. "What do you want to eat?"

Hanako thought about it for a moment.

"Come on, it can be anything, so don't worry about it."

Her eyes widened as a memory flashed through her mind. The warm smell of tonkatsu filled her nostrils as she recalled the last meal she had eaten at the orphanage. It had been a simple meal, but it had been delicious.

"Tonkatsu cabbage," she blurted out, her voice filled with longing.

Yuki's grin widened as she said, "Tonkatsu cabbage it is then!" She grabbed Hanako's hand and marched ahead, keeping her close. Masamichi walked beside her, while Iori and Mei followed behind.

Masamichi glanced at Yuki, who was walking a few steps ahead of him. He gave her a knowing look.

Yuki leaned in close to him, her voice low. "It looks like the old man doesn't trust us, so he ordered for us to have a set of babysitters," she whispered.

Masamichi nodded, his lips curling into a wry smile. He understood now that Principal Gakuganji had sent Mei and Iori to keep an eye on them. As they continued walking, Yuki couldn't help but feel a mix of annoyance and amusement at the situation.

She knew that Principal Gakuganji's lack of trust was unwarranted, but she also understood the need to maintain appearances.

...

The group cautiously ventured into the city, their senses on high alert. Without exchanging a word, they reached the first restaurant they stumbled upon. The tantalizing scent of freshly prepared meals filled the air, instantly captivating their rumbling stomachs.

A wave of anticipation washed over them as they stepped inside, momentarily pushing aside the pervasive tension that surrounded them.

Choosing a table for five, the others settled down while Hanako strategically positioned herself next to Yuki, the person she felt closest to. As for Mii and Iori, their identities remained shrouded in mystery, known only as the assigned escorts tasked with protecting her.

The entire situation sent shivers down her spine. Although she technically had her freedom, deep down, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being confined.

It was as if she was constantly under surveillance as if they anticipated her every move, terrified that she might attempt an escape. Every time she glanced in their direction, Mii and Iori's watchful eyes seemed to confirm her suspicions. The constant scrutiny made her question whether she would ever truly be free from their grasp. Not that she had anything against them. It just made her irritable.

Yaga's voice boomed through the silence, breaking the tension like a shattered vase. "So, while we wait for the waiter, how about we finally answer some of Hanako's questions? I'm sure her mind is racing with a few of them."

All eyes turned to Hanako, who fidgeted in her seat, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She had been waiting for this moment since she had been released, but now that it was here, she was suddenly unsure of what to say.

"Um," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Well, I'm wondering about the condition I have to fulfill. What exactly is it? Yuki said I had to do it in order not to be executed. And who are the two of you? she asked, looking at Mei and Iori.

"Okay, how about we do the introductions first?" Yuki said, smiling at Mei and Iori.

Mei's expression remained neutral as she introduced herself. Iori followed, her voice tinged with relief. Mei's neutral expression gave nothing away, leaving the girl even more uncertain about what to expect. Iori's voice, on the other hand, carried a sense of relief, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

"Both I and Mei are students at Jujutsu Tech," Utahime explained, answering Hanako's unspoken question.

Hanako nodded, her mind racing. She decided to wait for her first questions to be answered before asking more.

"It's nice to meet you," Shiro said, bowing slightly in her seat.

Then she remembered what Iori had said to her earlier at the school. "Earlier, you said you were glad I was alright. But I didn't know you yet then," she said, her gaze fixed on Iori.

Iori's cheeks flushed slightly. "Oh, that's because Mei and I were the ones who found you outside when it was raining."

Hanako's eyes widened. "You did?"

"Yes," Mei said, her voice soft. "You were lying on the ground, unconscious. We brought you back with us. Mei purposely left out the part where Hanako had been attacked by a curse.

Hanako felt a lump in her throat. "Thank you," she whispered.

Iori smiled. "You're welcome."

Hanako's thankful expression faded into a pout as she recalled the reason she had been brought to Jujutsu Tech: "following orders." She realized that Iori and Mei had played a role in her current predicament, even though she knew it wasn't entirely their fault. After all, she had been cursed.

Iori noticed the change in Hanako's expression, and her brow furrowed. "Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. Hanako hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to share her thoughts. Finally, she decided to keep what she was thinking to herself.

She shook her head, but Iori could tell she wasn't being entirely honest. But she wasn't going to pressure her into answering. Instead, Iori respected Hanako's decision and gave her a reassuring smile. She knew that sometimes it was best to give someone space and allow them to open up when they were ready. Deep down, Iori hoped that Hanako would've said what she was thinking but it was more than understandable why she didn't.

"Okay, now that the introductions are out of the way, it's time for me to explain your situation," Tsukumo said, sensing the tension in the air.

She was about to begin when the waitress finally arrived at their table. They all placed their orders, and Yuki made sure to order Tonkatsu cabbage for Hanako, which the restaurant thankfully served.

Once the waitress left, Yuki turned her attention back to Hanako and began to answer her questions. "Yesterday, when we spoke, I mentioned to you that there was a condition you had to fulfill in order to sustain your freedom and avoid your execution. Hopefully, this will also answer some other questions you may have."

Hanako listened closely, as did everyone else at the table. "Now, Hanako, I want you to understand that it's not necessarily you that is considered to be dangerous, but the cursed spirit that is attached to you: Akki."

Her voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned closer, her eyes wide. "It's known to be a very powerful curse," she said. "It feeds off the host's negative energy. But because it was just a legend, no one knew it really existed... until now." She paused, her gaze fixed on Hanako. "Through you."