The Day of Defeat
Upon his initial encounter with cursed spirits, Suguru couldn't help but consider them as the likely cause of his demise. Continuously, he'd come across them, coiled around the railings of his bedroom's stoop, wanders near the flare in the living room, or silently skulking across their main door.
That was the moment he decided to accept Yaga Masamichi's offer.
"Getou Suguru," Suguru greeted his fellow first-year students with a warm smile, noting their shared age.
"I'm Gojo Satoru," the white-haired, interjected with a playful, albeit peculiar question. "Hey, do you really eat curses?" he inquired, mimicking the act while making a disgusted face as he pretended to consume curses.
"Ieiri Shoko, nice to meet ya," Shoko said casually and didn't divert her attention from her phone. Her focus squarely on her electronic device, seemingly unfazed by the interaction.
These three will get along just fine, Yaga thought as he scratched the back of his head.
Over the passing months, the bond between the trio grew unbreakable. Suguru and Satoru often took the lead in their endeavors, leaving Shoko to immerse herself in the morgue, delving into the world of curses and corpses. She was dedicated to honing her reversed-curse technique, knowing her skills were most valuable upon the sorcerers' return from their missions.
As Shoko stepped out of the morgue, she reached for a cigarette and took a long drag. Just as she attempt for a second hit, she spotted Suguru in the distance, his uniform drenched in blood.
Her mouth gaped. Without hesitation, she abandoned her cigarette and sprinted toward him. She caught him just in time, guiding him inside as her heart raced. "Getou, what happened? Where's Gojo?" Shoko exclaimed, swiftly tearing her jacket to fashion a makeshift compress for his wound.
She carefully examined the deep gash across his chest, her senses alert to the cursed tool's residue. Suguru grunted in pain as Shoko's palm pressed against his chest. "Amanai's dead. And Satoru—" he struggled to speak, his vision blurred, and he spat out blood.
Shoko focused her energy to help him regain his senses, urging him to stay awake. "I know he's out there alive," she reassured him, or herself, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. She couldn't let her emotions disrupt the flow of her cursed energy.
It was the first time she'd seen the unstoppable duo face defeat. She felt tears welling up but refused to let them fall. Still, a tear escaped her eye. She poured her energy into Suguru, feeling his breathing normalize. He would be okay.
"Shoko, I need to go back. Satoru needs me," Suguru said, gazing up. He raised his fingers to wipe away a tear from her cheek, only to regret it later as he saw her face smeared with blood from his hands.
"I'll come with you. He needs me too," Shoko replied, assisting Suguru as he sits up.
"No, it's dangerous," Suguru resisted as he struggled to his feet. Shoko wanted to argue, but she knew she'd only be a hindrance. Sighing in defeat, she helped him get back on his feet.
"I'll call Ijichi-san. Promise me you two will come home alive," she said, her hand instinctively reaching for another cigarette. Their eyes met, and Shoko felt Suguru's gratitude in his sad smile as he nods.