Third Person POV

After Shiki left, Ijichi stood frozen, clutching the remaining papers in his trembling hands. Beads of sweat rolled down his temple as he glanced at the direction she had gone. He wasn't entirely sure what Shiki intended to do.

For a moment, he debated whether to stay out of it entirely. But the thought of turning a blind eye to something that could spiral out of control sent a chill down his spine. There was only one person who might know how to handle her—or at least restrain her, if it came to that.

Ijichi sighed heavily and pulled out his phone, dreading what was to come. With a reluctant shake of his head, he dialed the number.

The line clicked almost immediately.

"Yo, Ijichi!" Gojo Satoru's cheerful voice rang out, far too energetic for Ijichi's current state of mind. "What's up? Don't tell me you're calling for a favor already."

Ijichi's grip tightened on his phone as he glanced once more in the direction Shiki had disappeared.

"It's about Shiki," he said, his voice low and tense. "I think we have a situation."

Ichiji explain the situtation.

On the other side of the line, Gojo listened quietly, unusually serious. He didn't interrupt, letting Ijichi finish his hurried explanation before finally speaking.

"Ijichi…" Gojo said, dragging out the name just enough to make Ijichi's anxiety spike. "You only had one job"

"I-I didn't mean for her to see the file, Gojo-san! It just—she startled me, and it slipped—"

"Don't worry about it," Gojo interrupted, his tone shifting back to its usual nonchalant air. "Just keep the higher-ups out of this mess. That's your job now."

Before Ijichi could muster out a reply, Gojo ended the call with a light chuckle, leaving the poor man in stunned silence.

Leaning back in his chair, Gojo let out a long sigh. "She found out…"

It wasn't a problem in itself; he had expected her to uncover this eventually. But not like this. And definitely not because of Ijichi's clumsiness. 'That guy…'

Shifting his weight, Gojo stared out the window, his expression unreadable behind his sunglasses. He could already predict what would happen next. There was no doubt in his mind—Shiki would head straight to Kawasaki City. That part was inevitable.

But with her current state of mind, it wasn't just dangerous for her. It was dangerous for anyone who got in her way.

"Guess I should probably warn them," he muttered, already dialing another number.

.

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Third Person POV

"I've organized the reports from our windows on recent residuals, unnatural deaths, and disappearances." Nanami began, as he began the rundown. "This should help us narrow down the culprit's hideout. To some extent."

After excorcizing curse at the rooftop, Nanami was fast with his work. With the help of ichiji, Nanami managed to gather enough information to go on with the investigation.

Yuji's face lit up, the energy practically radiating off him. "Aw yeah! Are we storming in?!"

Nanami glanced at him, unimpressed. "No. Like I said, only to some extent."

He walked over to a bulletin board and pinned up a photo. It was of a boy, his expression neutral but slightly melancholic. Nanami gestured toward it.

"This is Yoshino Junpei," he said. "He was at the theater during the incident. Apparently, he attended the same school as the victims."

Yuji stepped closer, studying the photo. "So, what's his deal?"

"Based on the surveillance footage, it's unlikely he's a curse user," Nanami explained. "But if he has any connection to the victims, we need to find out. That changes things."

"Curse user?" Yuji asked, tilting his head.

"An evil jujutsu sorcerer," Nanami said simply. He tapped the photo. "I've already handed the preliminary work to Ijichi. Your job is to team up with him and investigate Yoshino Junpei."

With the briefing over, Yuji and Ijichi exited the room, leaving Nanami alone in thought. Moments later, Ijichi returned.

"You already know the location of the culprit, don't you? And not just 'to some extent,'" Ijichi said, his voice low.

"Of course. If the culprit wanted to, they could have erased all traces of their residuals. This is deliberate. We're being lured in."

Ijichi's face tightened with worry. He knew what Nanami's plan entailed.

"You're going in alone, aren't you?"

Nanami adjusted his tie, his tone steady. "Weighing the risks of going in alone versus taking Itadori-kun with me, I chose the former. He's still just a child."

Suddenly, the door burst open. Yuji shoved Ijichi aside, his voice cutting through the air. "Nanami-sensei! I forgot to say something. Be careful, okay?"

Nanami frowned. "Itadori-kun… I'm not a teacher, so please don't call me 'Sensei.'"

"Nanamin, then!"

"I will slap you."

Nanami watched as Itadori grinned and darted out of the room, leaving him in the silence once more. He sighed and adjusted his glasses.

'Yeah, he's still just a child,' Nanami thought, a faint trace of exasperation on his otherwise stoic face.

.

.

The next day, Yuji and ichiji is trailing Yoshino junpei in a car, while nanami was heading to the possible location of the curse.

Nanami Kento was already deep into his part of the investigation. The possible location of the curse—a dilapidated industrial area—had led him to an entrance to the underground sewer system.

He stood at the entrance, the faint smell of rot and decay already wafting up to meet him. Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

The smell was horrible. But that was just part of being a jujutsu sorcerer—bad work environment, terrible pay, and constant life-threatening situations.

He sighed, adjusting his tie as if it would somehow make the situation more bearable. "This job..." he muttered under his breath. "No retirement plan either."

The faint trace of residual cursed energy hung in the air like a trail, guiding him through the tunnels. It wasn't subtle. Whoever was behind this wanted him to follow. He sighed, pushing forward.

A sudden noise broke the stillness. Out of the shadows, cursed spirits lunged at him, their twisted forms snarling and clawing. Nanami reacted instinctively, his blade slicing cleanly through them.

Standing among the lifeless forms, Nanami frowned. He crouched briefly, inspecting one of the corpses. The twisted limbs, distorted faces—these weren't ordinary curses.

"Transfigured humans," he murmured, his voice carrying a weight of quiet disdain. He stood, brushing the dust from his coat. "Disgusting."

Nanami look at the darkness, "If you're planning to come out, do it now. They may be beyond saving, but murdering people still makes me sick."

From the shadows emerged a man with a patchwork face. His smirk was calm, almost casual, as though this was nothing more than an amusing game.

"Ah, what a relief," the man said, his tone light and conversational. "I'd be in trouble if Gojou Satoru were here. But you'll do. It's not much of an experiment if the subject's too weak."

Nanami didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the man, evaluating every word, every movement.

"Oh, pardon me," the man continued, as though remembering some forgotten social grace. "Introductions are important, aren't they? I'm Mahito." He spread his arms theatrically, his stitched smile widening. "A cursed spirit, as you can see. But I like to think of myself as more… refined. Don't you agree?"

Mahito? Nanami repeated in his mind.

Mahito tilted his head, his tone now playful. "You know, etiquette is important. Even in death. It's polite to introduce yourself, don't you think? Or is that too much to expect from someone who already looks so dreadfully tired?"

Nanami's expression didn't change. His grip on his weapon remained steady. "I hate overtime," he said, his voice flat, "so let's finish this quickly."

He charged at Mahito without hesitation, his wrapped weapon cutting through the air. Mahito dodged the first swing, his movements smooth and almost playful. Nanami didn't pause, following up with another strike, keeping the pressure on.

Mahito's grin didn't falter, but he was forced to stay on the defensive, stepping back and weaving around Nanami's relentless attacks. The sound of metal striking concrete echoed in the damp sewer as Nanami's weapon struck the walls and floor whenever Mahito slipped out of range.

Then, Nanami shifted his weight and drove a powerful kick into Mahito's chest, sending him stumbling back.

Mahito stared at his injured arm, tilting his head slightly. "Huh? Hm? I did block it, didn't I? With cursed energy. Is it that kind of technique?"

"What do you mean 'that kind'? I hate abstract questions that leave interpretation up to others," Nanami replied, his tone as calm as ever.

"That's good. So you don't hate chatting, then," Mahito said, a sly smile tugging at his lips.

"It depends on the person."

'This cursed spirit is capable of holding a conversation,' Nanami thought. Just like the two unregistered special-grades in Gojo-san's report. It would be unnatural if they weren't related somehow.

Mahito's smile widened. "Hey, tell me. Which do you think came first, the soul or the body?"

"Hm?" Nanami frowned slightly at the sudden question.

"Come on, you know," Mahito continued, as if explaining a riddle to a child. "It's like the question of whether the chicken or the egg came first. Do you think the soul resides in the body? Or do you think the body forms around the soul?"

I have to listen, I guess, Nanami thought, maintaining his stance. "The former."

"Bzzt! Wrong," Mahito said, the grin never leaving his face. "The answer is the latter."

As he spoke, his injured wrist began to mend itself, flesh and bone twisting unnaturally back into place. It was grotesque, yet Mahito acted as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"The soul always exists before the body," Mahito said, holding his now-mended hand up for Nanami to see. "The shape of the body is pulled along by the shape of the soul. I'm not healing. I'm just strongly maintaining the shape of my own soul."

Nanami's eyes narrowed as Mahito reached into his pocket, pulling out a small object.

"You understand now, don't you?" Mahito continued, his tone almost gleeful. "My technique allows me to make contact with the soul and alter its shape."

"Idle Transfiguration."

"Hm? That's right." He held the bead between his fingers as if it were a prized treasure. "I keep a stockpile of humans. It's rather difficult, though. Normal people eventually die when their shape is transfigured… but what about jujutsu sorcerers?"

Nanami's gaze hardened, his face a mask of disgust and fury. The thought of a human being forcibly reduced to something so small—it was revolting.

Mahito's smile widened as if he enjoyed the reaction.

"It's 5:30 PM. I started work at 10 AM today, so I'm getting off at 6 PM, no matter what it takes."

Nanami glanced at his watch. The ticking hands moved closer to the hour.

"It's 5:30 PM," he said, his voice cold. "I started work at 10 AM today, so I'm getting off at 6 PM, no matter what it takes."

The statement wasn't a boast. It was a fact.

He dashed forward, closing the gap between him and Mahito. Their fight resumed, the clanging of Nanami's weapon against the cursed spirit's surroundings echoing through the sewer. Mahito moved with a sense of ease, dodging and countering, when necessary, always keeping that unnerving smile on his face.

Nanami didn't hesitate, cutting the creature down mid-air. It fell to the ground with a heavy thud, its twisted form twitching unnaturally.

"… elp… Help… me…"

The weak voice cut through the air, jagged and broken.

Nanami's jaw tightened.

"Oh, sorry. I've practiced a lot, so they don't die right away when I change their size, but their… brains? Awareness? I still lack precision with that, so sometimes their souls sweat like that. Don't worry about it. Let's continue."

Nanami's grip on his weapon tightened. The more he fought, the sicker he felt.

"I'm not worried about it," Nanami said evenly. "It's my policy not to bring personal feelings into work."

"Haha!" Mahito laughed, delighted. "You're terrible at lying! Your soul is trembling. So, what grade are you?"

"Grade 1."

"No wonder you're strong. You'll make the perfect test subject. Luck's really on my side today."

Mahito lunged forward suddenly, his hand pressing against Nanami's stomach.

The feeling that his soul is being tinkered with. It was the most unpleasnt feeling he ever had.

Nanami's entire body tensed as an unnatural sensation washed over him. It wasn't pain in the usual sense—it was deeper, more invasive, like something fundamental inside him was being twisted and pulled. It was the most unpleasant feeling he had ever experienced.

He swung his weapon instinctively, forcing Mahito to leap back, his grin never faltering.

"You felt it, didn't you?" Mahito said, his tone light yet unsettling.

"Jujutsu sorcerers can protect their bodies with cursed energy, but their souls? That's a different story. If you aren't aware of your own soul, you can't protect it. Simple as that."

Mahito's grin widened. "But it seems you've subconsciously managed to cover your soul, at least a little. If you hadn't, you'd already be mine. Still, two or three more touches, and you'll cease to be human."

The information made Nanami tighten his grip on his weapon. He couldn't afford to let Mahito touch him again—once was bad enough.

He glanced at his watch. Not yet.

Nanami moved, charging forward. Their clash continued, but now Mahito was on the offensive. Each strike was meant to corner Nanami, each attempt to touch him brimming with intent. Nanami didn't counter, focusing solely on dodging and maintaining his distance.

The sewer stretched ahead, narrowing as Nanami ran. He kept moving, pushing Mahito to follow.

Mahito lunged, aiming to touch him again, but Nanami blocked the attack with his knife. The impact sent him flying toward the end of the sewer.

The narrow corridor opened into a wide, empty space. The air was damp and heavy, the sound of dripping water echoing through the cavernous room.

Mahito chuckled, his tone mocking. "Was that it, Grade 1 sorcerer? You did well running around, but you've hit your limit, haven't you?"

Nanami glanced at his watch. The second hand ticked past the hour. 6:00 PM.

With a sigh, he tucked his knife away and undid his tie.

"Haa… Unfortunately…"

Cursed energy surged in Nanami's hand, its weight and intensity filling the space.

Mahito's smile faltered slightly as he noticed the sudden shift in Nanami's presence.

"I'm going into overtime now."

Overtime? Mahito's eyes widened in surprise. A time-based pact! He had been suppressing his own cursed energy all this time? Limiting his energy usage for a specific period in exchange for an immense release of power at a predetermined time—it was fascinating.

"How interesting!" Mahito exclaimed.

Nanami didn't react to the comment. Instead, he adjusted his tie, loosening it before tying it tightly around his hand. The air around him grew heavier, his cursed energy radiating with intensity.

"My cursed technique draws a line along the target and, using a ratio of 7:3, creates a weak point at that location," Nanami explained, his voice calm. "I can designate this line along various parts—head, arm, leg, you name it. It doesn't have to cover their entire height or wingspan."

"This technique isn't limited to living creatures either. It can affect anything within my reach."

Cursed energy enveloped Nanami, coursing through his entire body.

Mahito's grin faltered for a moment before returning. "So, you're serious now,"

Nanami didn't respond. He launched forward without hesitation.

Two option lay before him. The first was to exorcise this cursed spirit by chipping away at its cursed energy until it he runs out. But Nanami knew that wasn't realistic—not with this opponent.

The second option was far more direct: reduce Mahito to nothing with a single, decisive strike.

"Ratio Technique: Collapse!"

Nanami's fist slammed into the wall beside him. The impact wasn't just destructive—it was catastrophic. The entire section of the wall crumbled in an instant, leaving a gaping hole. Dust and debris filled the air, the sheer force reverberating through the space.

Mahito's eyes widened, momentarily stunned by the power. Then he realized—it wasn't raw strength. It's an expanded technique, imbued with cursed energy. A wide-range attack that could even hurt him

He let out a low chuckle. "I guess… I should dodge this one."

But before Mahito could move, Nanami's blade tore through his leg, severing it in one clean motion.

Mahito staggered, collapsing to the ground, his expression twisting into a mix of shock and confusion.

"I'm retreating for now, You should get that leg healed quickly"

"If we both survive, let's meet again." Nanami said without looking back.

As Nanami left, the rubble above Mahito groaned under its own weight.

BOOM!

The debris came crashing down, engulfing Mahito in a cloud of dust and stone.

.

.

Nanami emerged from the sewer, his steps slow and heavy. Once outside, he leaned against a wall, his breathing uneven.

"Kugh…"

His hand instinctively moved to his stomach. Blood seeped through his shirt—Mahito had managed to land a hit during the fight.

If the battle had dragged on any longer, he knew the outcome. He would've lost.

For now, survival was his priority.

Nanami scanned his surroundings, his mind sharp despite the pain. He needed a place to treat his wound. It didn't take long for him to find a nearby restroom.

Stepping inside, he moved to the sink, unbuttoning his shirt with one hand while using the other to keep pressure on the injury.

He cleaned the wound quickly, Blood swirled down the drain as he worked, wrapping his abdomen tightly with makeshift bandages.

It was clear to him now—this spirit hadn't existed for long. It was greedily savoring its growth, evolving rapidly. But something didn't add up. If the first known case dated back four years, why had the cursed spirit only recently begun to act?

The thought lingered, but Nanami shook it off. There wasn't enough information to draw conclusions just yet. Instead, his mind shifted to something far more pressing.

The special-grade cursed spirits Gojou had faced had already mastered domain expansion. If this one managed to survive any longer, it was only a matter of time before it reached that same level.

"We need to exorcize it soon, before it's too late," Nanami said under his breath.

He pulled out his phone and quickly dialed Ijichi's number. As the call connected, he wasted no time.

"Ijichi, it's me. I need you to pick me up, I'm sending you my location now."

With a few swipes, he shared his coordinates, then ended the call without waiting for a response. Nanami tucked the phone back into his pocket.

After some time, Ijichi arrived in a car, pulling up cautiously as if unsure of what to expect. Nanami slid into the passenger seat, his expression unreadable as he closed the door behind him.

"Where is Itadori?" Nanami asked, breaking the silence.

Ijichi hesitated, a nervous chuckle escaping him. "H-haha, well… It seems he's having dinner with Yoshino Junpei. At his house."

Nanami raised an eyebrow. "Dinner?"

He gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying to explain.

This was his blunder as a supervisor. They had been assigned to keep a close watch on Yoshino Junpei, yet somehow Itadori had ended up alone with him. Even if Junpei was involved in the incident as a perpetrator, Ijichi doubted he could quickly overpower Itadori with the strength the boy had now.

Still, the situation wasn't ideal. Gojo-san, as carefree as he was, might brush it off with a laugh. But Nanami-san—calm, serious, and thoroughly professional—was another matter entirely. If Nanami chewed him out for this mistake, Ijichi was certain he'd break down and cry.

Nanami brushed off Ijichi's nervous explanation with a calm nod, showing no interest in assigning blame. Instead, he adjusted his tie and said, "Just drop me off at Jujutsu High. I'll see Ieiri-san for treatment first."

Ijichi felt a flicker of relief but tensed up again as Nanami added, "After that, go meet up with Itadori. We'll regroup at the office once you're done."

As the car moved along the road, Nanami pulled out his phone, typing away in silence. The faint tapping of his fingers on the screen was the only sound filling the space. He was compiling a report, succinct and thorough as always, detailing the events and his findings so far. Once finished, he sent it over to Ijichi.

"Submit this tomorrow," Nanami instructed without looking up from his phone.

Ijichi glanced at his own device when it buzzed with the incoming report. "Understood," he said, though a bead of sweat formed at his temple.

Nanami leaned back slightly, his gaze fixed out the window, lost in thought.

.

.

Yuji sat at the dining table with Junpei and his mother, Nagi Yoshino. The room had a warm, lived-in atmosphere, and the clinking of utensils and soft chatter filled the space. Yuji was supposed to be keeping an eye on Junpei, watching for any signs that he was connected to the theater incident. But as the evening unfolded, the lines between his assignment and his own natural kindness blurred.

Over dinner, they started playing a game of guessing movie references. Junpei threw out obscure lines from artsy, thought-provoking films, while Yuji responded with enthusiastic quotes from action-packed blockbusters. It quickly turned into a lighthearted competition, with Nagi chiming in now and then to cheer them on.

Eventually, as the night wore on, Nagi's cheerful energy gave way to drowsiness. She slumped forward, her head resting on her folded arms at the table. Junpei glanced at her, his expression softening as he stood to grab a blanket. He carefully draped it over her shoulders

After a while, Junpei mother fall asleep on the tabl and junpei put a sheet over her.

"Your mom's really nice," Yuji said, watching Junpei settle back into his seat.

"Yeah," Junpei replied simply, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

There was a brief pause before Junpei spoke again, his tone quieter this time. "What's your mom like?"

Yuji blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uh… I've never met her. Though I have a few faint memories of my father… But my grandpa was there for me."

"Ah…" Junpei's voice trailed off, his gaze dropping to the table.

Before the moment could grow heavier, Yuji's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen, seeing Ijichi's name before answering.

"Hello, Ijichi-san?" Yuji greeted, his tone casual.

Ijichi's voice came through on the other end, slightly frantic but professional.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Yuji reassured him.

Ijichi's words continued, prompting Yuji to glance at Junpei, who was watching him curiously.

"But we're about to watch a movie," Yuji said, his voice carrying a note of impatience.

There was a pause, followed by Ijichi's response.

"Okay. Two hours from now, then," Yuji agreed.

"Two hours?!" Ijichi's voice practically squeaked through the phone.

Without missing a beat, Yuji hung up, ignoring the exasperated tone that lingered in his ears. He grinned at Junpei. "Alright, let's get started on that movie!"

Before watching the movies, Junpei queitly looked at Yuji.

"You're a jujutsu sorcerer, right?" Junpei asked, his tone calm but laced with curiosity.

"Yeah," Yuji replied.

The moment the words left his mouth, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Should I have said that? Yuji wasn't sure if it was the right thing to admit, but it was too late now.

"Have you… ever killed someone?"

Yuji blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Hm? No," he answered quickly, the truth coming out without hesitation.

"But someday you'll have to fight bad jujutsu sorcerers, right? What will you do then?" Junpei pressed, his gaze fixed on Yuji.

"I still wouldn't want to kill them," Yuji said, his voice steady but firm.

Junpei tilted his head slightly. "Why not? They're bad people."

Yuji paused, the weight of the question hanging in the air. "It's like…" He hesitated, searching for the right words. "I just think if I killed anyone, the option of killing would force its way into my life. The value of life would become ambiguous… I wouldn't even understand the importance of those I care about anymore… and that scares me."

He didn't want to lose the ability to cherish people, to hold on to the connections that gave him strength. Even if it made his path more difficult, Yuji couldn't accept a life where killing became an option.

Junpei didn't respond immediately, his expression thoughtful as he considered Yuji's words.

Some time later, they finished watching the movie they had picked out together. The credits rolled, and Junpei stretched before walking Yuji to the door.

"Thanks for coming," Junpei said, a faint smile on his face.

"Yeah, it was fun," Yuji replied, grinning back. "See you around."

With a quick wave, Yuji stepped out into the night, the cool air brushing against his face, carrying with it a sense of peace.

.

.

But not every story ends on a happy note.

"After the incident at Satozakura High School, we discovered the corpse of Yoshino Nagi, Yoshino Junpei's mother, at their home, along with an unsealed Sukuna's finger, his second left arm's pinky finger."

"The incident at Satozakura High School revealed something grim. We found the body of Yoshino Nagi, Junpei's mother, at their home. Alongside her was an unsealed Sukuna's finger—his second left arm's pinky finger."

The very next day, reports of an unannounced veil in the residential area came in. Coincidentally, it was deployed at Satozakura High School—Junpei's school.

In the hallway, Nanami stopped Yuji. His expression was serious.

"You stay here. I'll handle the rest," Nanami said firmly.

Yuji frowned. "Are you saying I'd get in the way, Nanamin?"

"You can't," Nanami replied without hesitation.

"Ngh…"

"As you already know, this patchwork cursed spirit uses transfigured people. Some are beyond saving. If you continue this work, there will come a time when you'll have to kill someone yourself."

Yuji froze, his hands clenched tightly into fists.

"But this isn't that time," Nanami continued. "Please understand. Being a child isn't a sin. Keep monitoring Yoshino Junpei. Leave the rest to me."

Nanami turned and walked off, his steps echoing faintly in the corridor.

A few moments later, he crossed paths with Ichiji, who was holding a folder.

"Is that the report?" Nanami asked.

"Yes, I'm about to submit it now," Ichiji replied with a quick nod.

"Good. While you're at it, keep an eye on Itadori," Nanami added, his tone firm but not unkind. "Make sure he doesn't do anything reckless."

Ichiji hesitated for a second before nodding. "Understood."

Nanami gave a curt nod and continued on his way. There was still work to be done.

.

.

Back at the sewer, a man was already waiting for him.

"Nanami-san!" The man waved casually from a distance.

Nanami gave a small nod. "Let's get to work."

The two descended into the damp, dark tunnels, prepared to face the remaining transfigured humans.

It didn't take long for the first transfigured human to appear. Its grotesque form shambled toward them, its body twisted in unnatural ways.

Nanami didn't hesitate. His blade struck clean through the creature, severing its torso in one swift motion. The transfigured human let out a gurgled screech before collapsing into the murky water.

No matter how many times Nanami fought them, the sight still made him sick. He could see traces of their former selves—the remnants of their humanity buried beneath the monstrous features.

His companion exhaled heavily, wiping sweat from his brow after dispatching another enemy. "This is rough. They used to be people, didn't they?"

"The living take precedence," he finally said, his tone cold but resolute.

Even as the last creature fell, the unease didn't leave him. The job was done, but the weight of it lingered. Nanami stood in silence for a moment, the water pooling around his feet.

"Let's move," he said, his voice low. There would be no time to dwell on the dead.

As they advanced through the tunnels, Nanami's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the caller ID before answering.

"Itadori," he said, his tone neutral.

"— Nanamin, I'm going. "

"You can't," Nanami replied sharply, cutting off Yuji's protest. "I already explained why this morning. If a veil has been cast, there's a strong likelihood he's both alive and at Satozakura High School."

"—Grr…"

"I'll be back soon. Please wait there, Itadori-kun."

Nanami ended the call with a sigh. He stared at the phone in his hand for a moment, knowing full well how stubborn Yuji could be.

It's probably pointless to ask him that. Someone like Itadori, who values other people's lives more than his own, won't just sit still while Junpei is in danger.

Nanami slid the phone back into his pocket and turned to friend. "You heard that. I'll leave the rest of this to you, Ino-kun."

Ino blinked in surprise. "Huh?! Wait, you're leaving me here?!"

"Is there a problem with that?"

"Well, the number of them… There's a lot. And they're all humans, right?" Ino glanced nervously at the walls, where more transfigured humans were beginning to crawl out, their grotesque forms illuminated by the dim sewer lights.

Nanami raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't mind taking on the recommendation to make you a grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer."

Ino froze for a moment before his confidence surged back. "Heh… Let's get this done, baby! Yeah!"

Nanami nodded and turned toward the exit. His steps echoed in the sewer as he left Ino to handle the cleanup.

Halfway up the stairs, his phone buzzed again. He checked the screen. This time, it was Gojo Satoru.

Nanami sighed again and answered. "What is it?"

"—Nanami-kun~ Are you still breathing? How's your mission going?" Gojo's voice was as playful as ever, clearly enjoying himself.

"I'm not in the mood for your jokes, Gojo-san" Nanami replied sharply. "If you don't have anything relevant to say, I'm hanging up."

"—Wait, wait, don't be so quick to cut me off!" Gojo chimed. "I wanted to ask—did you met Ryougi Shiki?"

Nanami stopped mid-step, his eyes narrowing. "Ryougi Shiki? No. Why?"

"—Do you want a bad news or a good news?"

Nanami exhaled slowly, already bracing for trouble. "…Good news."

"—The good news is, she'll be coming as backup, so technically, you don't have to worry," Gojo said, his tone deliberately light.

"And the bad news?" Nanami asked, a sinking feeling creeping into his gut.

"—"She might not be your ally."

Nanami's brow furrowed. "And may I ask why?"

"—The case you're dealing with right now has some... personal connection to her. So if you cross paths with her, don't die. She's not exactly in her right mind at the moment."

Nanami's grip on the phone tightened as the implications sank in. He had seen Shiki's capabilities during the mission in Hokkaido. A special grade sorcerer with no cursed energy.

"Do something about that," Nanami demanded,

"—Why do you think I'm warning you right now?" Gojo countered. "That girl has no cursed energy, so tracking her is almost impossible.

Nanami sighed heavily. "Any other advice?"

"—Just one," Gojo said, his tone unusually serious. "Don't try to fight her head-one… You'll die.

The line went dead.

.

.

Shiki POV

~Next stop: Shinagawa. Passengers bound for Kawasaki; please ensure you have all your belongings before disembarking.

I opened My eyes, though I hadn't been asleep.

The train doors slid open with a low hiss, letting in a faint chill that mixed with the stale air inside. People moved past me, some entering, some leaving. Their footsteps and the distant announcements blended into background noise.

Adjusting the strap of the sword bag slung over my shoulder, I stepped onto the platform. The lights overhead flickered slightly, casting uneven shadows on the tiles.

I tightened my grip on the bag and headed for the exit without looking back.

'He's somewhere in this city.'

The man's face replayed in my head.

It won't be long before he tries to vanish again.

But this time… I'll make sure he can't.

I'll erase his existence completely.

[END]

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That's it for the chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it!

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[Thanks for Reading!]