(IV) WHAT IF?
Serina finally received a go signal from Gojo that he could join Itadori and Nanami in finding out the suspect behind the transfigured humans they've recently discovered. The trio together with their assistant, Ijichi-san, were gathered together for a meeting at Shuuei High School Detached Office. Nanami elaborates that he approximately located their targets' hideout. Nonetheless, he requests Itadori to pursue a lead regarding Junpei, the sole witness to the incident. Ijichi and Serina will accompany Itadori in this task while Nanami proceeds with the investigation of the hideout.
Itadori and Ijichi left the office to proceed with their mission. Serina trailed behind and questioned Nanami before going out, "Why don't you just let me go with you? You'll never predict the type of evil Jujutsu Sorcerer you might encounter. What if it's a Special Grade?"
"I promise I'll handle this, and we'll regroup as soon as we have more information." Nanami calmly replied.
"If you say so…" Serina was about to exit the room when Ijichi suddenly peeked from the entrance.
"I don't think it's just an approximation. You already know, right?" The assistant confirmed. "The culprit's location, that is."
"Of course. The culprit can leave the scene without leaving residuals if he wants. We're being lured again. There's the risk of going alone, and the risk of bringing Itadori along. I chose the former, that's all. Since he's still a child." Nanami replied.
"Serina-san is here. You can bring her. I can look after Itadori." Ijichi looked at Serina.
"I already told him I wanted to go but he refuses again, Ijichi-san." Serina sighed.
Itadori abruptly entered the room and pushed Ijichi out of the way. "Nanami-sensei! I forgot to tell you. You must be careful." Itadori's concern lit up Serina's face.
However, Nanami with his antics reprimanded Itadori again. "I'm not a teacher, so don't address me like that."
"Nanami, then!" Itadori insisted.
"I'll beat you up." Nanami replied.
Serina laughed out loud hearing the two of them bicker. Before finally leaving Nanami in the solitude of his office following Ijichi and Itadori out of the room, Serina reminded him again. "Kento-kun, remember what Itadori said. Take care of yourself, okay?" Serina waved goodbye.
"Ina." Nanami grabbed Serina by the hood of her sweatshirt, stopping her in her tracks. In response, Serina took a step back and rebounded slightly. She faced Nanami adjusting her hood so that it remained draped down her back.
"What now?" She cocked her head to the side.
Nanami averted her gaze and turned his eyes to the side. He fixed his glasses. "I haven't thanked you for the souvenirs you bought for me." The blonde sorcerer cleared his throat.
Serina snickered. She knew Nanami was being timid. "Awww, Kento-kun. Feeling bashful now, are we? Don't try to act all cute and everything."
"I've never been one to act cute, Ina." Nanami said, concealing his embarassment.
"Tsss… Don't worry about the souvenir! You know I always bring home a little something for you and the others whenever I go on missions. Anyway, you're welcome!"
"That's why I was thinking… After this mission… Let's… I mean, I can treat you for some dessert. I haven't seen you for a while, after all." Nanami fixes his hair and adjusts his glasses again out of awkwardness. Serina knew Nanami wasn't very vocal with his emotions compared to Gojo.
"Okay… Let's do that! But don't blame me if I get swayed all over again." Serina teased.
"Ina…" Nanami was starting to feel guilty.
"I'm just kidding, Kento-kun! You can treat me with whatever food you want once this mission is over!" Serina bids him goodbye. Even after all those teasing, Serina still wonders what could have happened if Nanami accepted her confession back then. But for now, she knew she had a job to do.
Itadori, Serina and Ijichi found Junpei soon after and followed him with a small curse trapped in a box wrapped in talismans. Itadori was instructed by Ijichi to use weak cursed spirits known as Fly Heads to test Junpei's talent for jujutsu and his possible connection to the theater incident.
Simultaneously, Nanami stepped into the curse's hidden underground hideout. As soon as he sees the curse responsible for the transfigured humans, he states that he doesn't derive satisfaction from ending the lives of humans who have been transformed beyond salvation.
The curse, called Mahito, was pleased to see a sorcerer weaker than Satoru Gojo but strong enough for his experiments to arrive. Nanami responded that they should get it over with quickly because he didn't want to end up working overtime. They engaged in battle, with Nanami noticing Mahito's similarities to Satoru Gojo. They shared a textbook superficiality with dark strength beneath it. Nanami managed to break Mahito's arm with his technique, catching the cursed spirit off guard.
During the confrontation, Mahito decided to initiate a conversation with Nanami, leading the sorcerer to realize that he must be connected to the special grade Gojo had battled. Mahito asked if the body or the soul came first. Nanami claimed the former, but Mahito insisted it was the latter. He believed the soul existed before the body, shaping it. By altering the form of his own soul and others, he could change their physical form using his Innate Technique: Idle Transfiguration.
Meanwhile, Junpei had spotted Sotomura, one of his teachers from school. Sotomura's comments had been irritating Junpei to the point where he had almost lashed out. However, Itadori had suddenly emerged with Ijichi's accidental release of the Fly Head. He had wanted to attempt a conversation with Junpei, but Sotomura had been a constant interference. To create some privacy for the two boys to talk, Itadori had resorted to a rather unconventional tactic by removing his pants and running off with them, prompting Sotomura to leave.
While Serina was watching Itadori engage in a conversation with Junpei, she couldn't shake the worry she had for Nanami. Before Itadori was able to convince Junpei to have a talk, she pulled him aside and talked to him.
"Itadori, do you think you can talk to him alone? He might be bothered by my presence. He looked comfortable with you." Serina asked.
"Sensei, I can handle this! I promise!" Itadori assured his teacher. He sensed that something was bothering her and directly asked. "Serina-sensei, if you're worried about Nanami-san, you can go and check up on him. Ijichi-san is with me anyway."
"Are you sure?" Serina contemplated Itadori's suggestion.
"Yes! I'm sure, sensei. I have trained under Gojo-sensei, remember? I'll be fine."
"Alright! You have my trust, Itadori. Call me if anything comes up. You have my number." Serina hurriedly ran to where Nanami was.
As soon as Serina located Nanami's whereabouts, she didn't hesitate to enter the cursed user's underground hideout. She found herself in a dark and foreboding location that exudes an eerie and sinister atmosphere. The hideout is a network of interconnected underground chambers and passageways, hidden away from the prying eyes of the outside world. Upon stepping her foot inside the lair, she can hear crashing sounds echoing.
As Serina ventured further, the potency of the cursed energy in the area began to intensify, and she deduced that they weren't dealing with a mere low-level curse. Her instincts were correct; a curse was lurking nearby, locked in a fierce battle with Nanami Kento. Nanami immediately sensed Serina's cursed energy and shouted from afar.
"SERINA! WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Nanami reprimanded her as the blonde jujutsu user clashed his weapon against the human-looking cursed spirit.
Mahito met Serina's eyes from afar. A shiver ran down her spine. "Well, well, what do we have here?" The curse appeared in the shadows, his malicious intent clear. He lunged at Serina, seeking to attack her, but Nanami was swift to react. He pulled Serina out of harm's way, dragging her along as he retreated down a dark sewer tunnel.
"I don't think I can change your mind. You're already here anyway." Nanami retreated.
"Kento, it's a special grade curse and it can talk! Satoru was right about the unregistered curses he encountered last time."
"But this is a different one. Anyway, Ina. It's been a while since we last battled together. Don't we?" Nanami gripped his cursed weapon.
"That's what I've been trying to tell since last time but you won't let me use my Jujutsu." Serina smiled, drawing out a significant amount of cursed energy to attack. Their opponent widened with surprise as he sensed the immense power radiating from her, something he had not anticipated.
Mahito was startled. "What is this cursed energy? You're making me nervous." He smiled with a sadistic tone in his voice. He launched a devastating attack towards Nanami. He was confident that his cursed technique would find its mark. Nanami prepared to defend against the impending assault, but to his astonishment, the attack never reached him. A force had intercepted its attack. The curse's eyes widened in surprise as he realized what had happened. Serina had intervened. She had channeled her cursed energy, establishing a connection that allowed her to divert the attack away from Nanami.
"Ina, you're really something." Nanami commented, impressed with what she did. Serina winked back at her friend.
Upon landing far from the evil jujutsu user, they noticed a transfigured body just beneath them asking for help, tears streaming down its distorted face. Serina was shocked. The cursed user owning a patchwork face apologized.
"Oh, sorry. I practiced it many times. Disfiguration will not kill them instantly, but the accuracy of the brain or consciousness isn't good enough. Sometimes, sweat from the soul will ooze like this. Don't mind it. Let's continue."
"This is a human being?" Serina was seeping with rage seeing this ruthless sight.
"I don't mind at all." Nanami responded. Serina saw Nanami wipe the tears from the transfigured human's face. "I always keep my work and emotions separate."
"You're bad at lying. Your soul is wavering. Let's see. What grade are you both?" Mahito taunted.
"Grade 1." Nanami confidently said.
"No wonder you guys are strong. Your body is perfect for experimentation. Especially with your friend right here. She's exactly my type. I'm so lucky." The evil curse commented and launched quickly again at Nanami.
"Kento-kun!" Serina was too late to deflect and even neutralize the attack. The curse's palm was already in contact with Nanami and emitted a strong cursed energy making the jujutsu sorcerer wince in pain.
Serina's instincts kicked in when she saw Nanami Kento getting hurt by Mahito. Without hesitation, she utilized her Cursed Technique: Illusion Casting. Mahito's movements faltered as Serina's sorcery enveloped him, disorienting his senses and blurring his perception of reality. But Serina didn't stop there. With her advanced skill, she combined the illusion casting with another aspect of her cursed technique, neutralizing the curse's power temporarily.
This unique combination allowed her to bridge the gap between her illusion and the physical realm. In an instant, Serina's hand struck out, making contact with the curse's form. He growled in pain as her attack landed. She hurriedly approached Nanami checking on his condition.
"Are you alright?" She asked. Nanami nodded and looked at his watch.
Despite the torment, Mahito managed to regain his composure and break free from Serina's illusion. He shook his head.
"Woah… Serina, wasn't it?" Mahito immediately recognized Geto Suguru's sister. But he was not one to reveal his cards so easily. He decided to keep this revelation to himself for now, leaving only subtle hints. "Geto Serina." Serina's name flawlessly left Mahito's lips. "How interesting to see Geto Suguru's one and only sister at a time like this."
"What are you saying?" Serina froze in her tracks, her heart pounding. The mention of his brother's name sent shockwaves through her.
"Your brother was quite the remarkable figure. I've heard all about his exploits." Mahito smirked.
"Ina, don't listen to him. He's trying to distract you." Nanami warned and stepped forward. "Unfortunately…" He began to reach for his tie, removed it and wrapped it around his hand. As the clock approaches six, Nanami's cursed energy suddenly begins to rise, surprising the curse. "I'll start working overtime. Ina, I'll take it from here."
As Nanami went into overtime, Mahito realized that he had used a time-based vow in the past to limit himself, aiming to gain greater power once he entered overtime. Nanami had divulged his technique, further enhancing his power, compelling Mahito to take him seriously. The sorcerer had swiftly sped away, considering two options as the curse continued to pursue him. He could either attempt to wear down Mahito until he exhausted his cursed energy, although it was not a practical choice. Alternatively, he could strive to eliminate him with full force in a single, decisive blow which was what he did.
Nanami leaped into action, delivering a powerful strike to one of the walls using his Ratio Technique: Collapse. This expanded cursed technique was so formidable that Nanami's punch shattered the wall, sending shockwaves through streaks of his cursed energy. Mahito quickly realized he needed to evade this attack, but before he could react, Nanami swiftly severed his leg and declared his intention to withdraw. Shortly afterward, debris from the crumbling wall fell onto the curse, seemingly crushing him.
Nanami Kento and Geto Serina emerged from the underground depths, leaving behind the echoes of their fierce encounter with the enigmatic curse. The damp, murky air of the lair gave way to the freshness of the outside world, but the tension in the atmosphere had not dissipated. Serina walked beside Nanami who was tightly clutching his sides, her thoughts still swirling with the shock of Mahito mentioning her brother's name. Nanami's usually stoic facade had softened, and he cast a concerned glance at Serina. He hadn't always been the sensitive and outspoken sort, but in this moment, he felt the need to offer some form of comfort to the only woman close to her heart.
"Ina…" Nanami's voice was low with concern. He held her hand, stopping her tracks. He took it off immediately as Serina stopped beside him. "Are you… okay?"
Serina smiled faintly, "It's just that I'm tired. That's all."
"Come on, Serina." Nanami seldom called her by her full name. In instances that he does, that means he's serious.
Serina scratched her head, "I was just surprised hearing Suguru's name from a curse. I know he's gone but I wonder if he has anything to do with this. But don't worry about me, I'm really fine! It's nothing." Serina hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Her efforts to evade the question were evident in her attempts to turn away and walk off, but Nanami gripped her hand, stopping her from retreating.
"Since when did you get good at lying?" In a surprising act of tenderness, Nanami wrapped his arms around Serina in a warm, comforting hug. It was a gesture that was out of character for the usually stoic and composed sorcerer, but he understood the weight of the situation and the importance of offering support. "And I'm not doing this to sway you the second time. You're my friend and you can always be honest with me."
Serina, momentarily taken aback, allowed herself to lean into the comforting embrace. She buried her face in his shoulder. Nanami held her a little tighter, his heart going out to her in this moment of vulnerability.
"I just miss him so much. Thank you Kento-kun. But we have a mission to complete, and I can't let my emotions get in the way." Serina was quick to regain her composure and pushed him away gently, wiping away her tears. However, she was quick to notice that Nanami still held on to her tight.
"Nanami Kento, if you continue doing this, I swear I really will be swa-" Serina began to sense something was amiss. She felt a strange warmth seeping through the fabric of Nanami's shirt, and her heart sank as she realized it was blood. She pulled back in alarm. "Kento-kun, you're hurt!" she exclaimed, worry flooding her eyes.
Nanami, still holding on to her, winced slightly. "It's nothing, Ina. Just a scratch from that last curse attack. Don't worry about it."
But Serina was already frantic, her gaze shifting to his side where a blood-soaked patch was spreading across his shirt. "No, it's not nothing. We need to get you some help right now!" Serina held Nanami, assisting him as they walked and found a place to tend his wound.
From a distance, concealed in the shadows, Geto Suguru watched the exchange between his sister and Nanami, an unreadable expression on his face. There was a fleeting sensation within him, a sense of something he couldn't quite place. But he chose to brush it off, focused on his initial plans on creating a new world.
A/N: Waaaaaah. I love Gojo but Nanami is really on another level!