Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. I was waiting for the last chapters to come out so I could adapt the story's content accurately. Thanks for reading my story up to this point. I hope things will still be enjoyable.
Chapter 21
To the surprise of Josefu and the annoyance of the forces, things mostly played out how they did in the manga, with Yuki and Kenjaku explaining their ideologies to each other, though Kenjaku wasn't able to show off his genius manipulations thanks to the death of Mahito, those were all wasted and everything in the fight was more calm and free-flowing since Josefu freed everyone and gained both the attention and ire of Uraume. At the end of the exchange, though, Kenjaku swore he would see humanity achieve its true evolution before glaring at Josefu and escaping with Uraume. Leaving a cloud of curse energy behind, Josefu raced after Kenjaku and Uraume alongside Yuji to try to obtain the prison realm until Uraume sent out another Frost Calm. Josefu noticed and used Ice Tyrant to shift a large part of the ice castle over to him, sinking his fingers into it before putting the ice piece in front of him and Yuji, using it to absorb the attack while keeping Yuji safe. Kenjaku smirked as he saw Yuji's determined face, yet immediately frowned at the sight of Josefu's steely gaze as he left.
Josefu looked back at Yuji before realizing he already left, and Choso already left as well. Josefu reabsorbed his curse energy from all of the ice before being approached by Yuki. "You're a strong one, huh?" Josefu answered, "Depends on the individual's perspective on strength." Yuki tilted her head to the side. "You're quite pragmatic, huh? What kind of girls are you into?" Yuki asked. Josefu hesitated with that same itch in his gut when Todo asked but eventually answered, "I like a woman with smooth skin, curly hair, and full lips." Yuki raised an eyebrow, "I see. Interesting…" The atmosphere after that became softer, yet a little gritty as well. Yuki recognized from that answer that Josefu was hiding some deep-seated pain. Yuki also concluded that Josefu has been through more dirt and grime than most men she's met. He was more akin to someone who stared into death and lived more than anything, far from average. Eventually, Yuki concluded she had to leave and disappeared, presumably going to Jujutsu High or her allies.
Everyone else retreated to Jujutsu High, save for Yuji and Choso, who were nowhere to be seen. Josefu already knew that the higher-ups were playing their fickle games as everyone scrambled to determine what needed to happen now that a rouge curse user was on the loose. For Josefu, however, other matters required his attention. Once he settled down and everyone accounted for, Josefu traveled to the infirmary. He had some bad news to break and several people to heal. But most of all, there was a threat he had to eliminate. Josefu approached Nobara's room, his body tensed and brow furrowed. The forces snickered at his demeanor. 'What's so funny?' Josefu pondered as he opened the door to find a half-awake Nobara. "Kugisaki? Are you alright?" Josefu asked. Nobara turned to look at him, and once she did, Josefu's muscles relaxed, and his heartbeat slowed. Nobara's eyes were normal, like nothing happened. "I'm fine, just tired…" Nobara answered, though her response was curt and distant like she was a little uncomfortable. "Sorry… You thought I didn't enjoy being around you, right?" Nobara raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were avoiding me because you thought I was weak." Josefu shook his head. "No, I thought I just scared you, that's all. I didn't mean to make you feel unworthy of my presence," Josefu replied politely. "Tch, have more faith in me next time. Got it?" Nobara demanded with a scowl. "I got it," Josefu answered with a grin before leaving. Though unknown to Josefu, Nobara grinned after he left, happy she didn't make a mess of things again. Josefu breathed a sigh of relief. 'Thank goodness the corruption hasn't taken her. Yet...' Josefu thought. Ha! Thanks to you, she'll be fine. 'What do you mean?' Josefu asked. Well, the only thing that wasn't supposed to happen was her eye getting healed. What happened is that the straw girl entered a limbo state where the narrative kept her in stasis, but we could only move her eyes. We miscalculated that we could hold onto her, but the shattering of the narrative unshackled her, a massive disappointment. The forces answered. 'Wait… Oh! Your pranks are always so cruel.' The forces chuckled. The events were boring. We had to spice it up. Josefu rolled his eyes as he headed to Shoko's location.
Once Josefu came over, Shoko looked over at him. "Sorry, but I have a lot of people to look over." "I know," Josefu answered, "I'm here to help." Of course, Josefu wanted to keep his abilities to himself. Still, he had to rip the band-aid off if he would get anywhere in preparing for the worst. Josefu assisted Shoko with Maki's charred body, helping her skin and hair regain some of their health. Yet, some of those burns remained, unable to be reversed. "I'll look over the others to see if I can help them," Josefu stated. "You don't have to. Especially after facing 10 million curses," Shoko interjected. "I insist," Josefu replied. Shoko gave in and allowed Josefu to continue. Yet after he left, Shoko muttered, "That kid is going to get a target on his back one day…" while she worried for Josefu's safety. Meanwhile, Josefu travels to Inumaki's room. There, he entered and saw Inumaki talking to Yuta. "Ah," Yuta began, "So you're Hanto." Josefu played along with the situation, "And you must be Okkotsu. I've heard quite a bit about you." Yuta nodded with a smile. "I heard about what happened. You're looking pretty well, all things considered!" "Thanks," Josefu replied, "Though I'm here for Inumaki." "You're visiting him too?" Yuta asked. "I'm here to heal him," Josefu answered. "It's no use…" Yuta stated dejectedly, "I've tried all I can. But I can't heal his arm back." Josefu stated, "Let me have a go." Once Yuta stepped back, Josefu healed Inumaki's arm back to how it was, leaving Yuta in shock. "Woah! You have a talent for healing, it seems," Yuta exclaimed. Josefu couldn't say it, but being through war gave him the grit to be a formidable combat medic. Also, being in multiple bodies, both male and female, gave him the adaptability to grow accustomed to the mutations in people's DNA, hence why he can heal others well enough to regenerate their limbs. "Well… I have two other people to visit, so I'll leave you with Inumaki," Josefu stated. "Alright! I'm looking forward to hearing more from you," Yuta replied. Josefu took a deep breath and began walking to Aoi Todo's room.
Yuki Tsukumo smiled as she saw her pupil alive despite the battles that tore his hands apart. "It's been a while, Todo-Kun," Yuki began, "How are you doing?" Unlike his usual bombastic self, Todo replied solemnly, "I failed to stay up…" Yuki shook her head. "You did what you could Aoi," Yuki stated sternly with a caring undertone, "What matters is that you're still alive. I've trained you well~" Todo looked his old teacher in the eye with a soft smile. "I've never had a better teacher, Tsukumo-Sensei." The teacher and her student exchanged warm looks, happy to meet again after so long. At that point, there was a knock at the door, and Josefu walked in, "Pardon the intrusion," Josefu began, "I came to look at Todo-San." Josefu assessed Todo's injuries, seeing one hand cut off and the other disfigured. Josefu regrew Todo's hand using reverse curse energy before moving to the disfigured one. "Wait!" Yuki interjected, "You should rest, Hanto-Kun. You look like you're going to pass out." Josefu nodded.
"Very well. Good night." Josefu left the room. Yuki had a point. After fighting Kenjaku and healing lots of people, Josefu's curse energy was three-eighths of his maximum. 'Well,' Josefu thought, 'Time to test that strange idea I had.' Josefu found a lone window and lept out of it. The resulting impact would've killed him had Biobolt not activated, allowing Josefu to hang in the air. Josefu glided to the ground before launching a lightning bolt into the sky. As the lightning collected in the sky, a massive thundercloud formed before it struck Josefu's hand with lightning, allowing Josefu to form his protective lightning armor before ascending into the thundercloud, becoming engulfed in it, and began to jet around Jujutsu Tech high in the sky, figuring out how to navigate and maneuver in the air with his newfound idea paying off before he landed on the roof of the medical building and snuck into Megumi's room.
