Third Person POV

"I told them to choose between escape and death, I've made sure to tell them to not to fight"

Gojo sitting on the chair didn't interrupt, He was listening—or at least, pretending to—but the words barely registered. His mind was elsewhere.

"It was intentional, wasn't it?" Gojo's voice cut through Ichiji's rambling like a blade.

"H-Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"First-years. Fighting a special-grade curse. And they were supposed to save five people in some messy, unclear situation? Really?"

In other word it was intentional.

"Plus I was the one who forced the indefinite postponement on Yuji's death sentence. The higher-ups weren't happy about that, so they used a special grade cursed while I was away...to kill him silently."

"It was troublesome to find the culprit so... Should I just kill the higher-ups?" His voice carried a casualness that made the threat all the more unsettling.

It was no secret that Gojo harbored a deep disdain for the higher-ups in the Jujutsu world. Their rigid traditions and self-serving decisions had always grated on his nerves, but it had been a while since they managed to provoke him to this extent.

Standing silently behind him, Shiki finally spoke, "What's the point of killing them now?"

Her words cut through the tension like a blade. He glanced over his shoulder at her, his usual grin replaced by a slight frown, but he didn't argue.

Before he could respond, the door creaked open, and Shoko stepped in with her hands casually shoved into the pockets of her coat. "She's right, besides, it's not every day we get to see you so worked up. I almost didn't recognize you for a second. It seems, you really like this guy."

"I'm a nice guy who always cares about his students," Gojo replied with a shrug, though the attempt at humor felt half-hearted.

Ignoring his comment, Shoko walked over to the table in the center of the room. She grabbed the sheet draped over it and pulled it back, revealing the pale, lifeless body of Itadori Yuji.

His skin was ghostly white, almost translucent under the fluorescent lights. A gaping hole marred his chest where Sukuna had torn his heart, leaving jagged edges of flesh and bone. Blood had dried in streaks across his torso.

Shoko's expression remained neutral as she glanced down at the body. "So, this is him? Sukuna's vessel?"

Gojo's usual carefree demeanor faltered as he looked at Yuji's body.

"I'm free to tear him apart, right?"

"Make good use of him."

Shiki stood silently behind them. It was almost ironic, in a way. Their roles as sorcerers existed to protect others from curses, yet in doing so, they often dehumanized themselves—and each other.

Without a word, Shiki turned and began walking toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Gojo's voice stopped her mid-step.

She paused but didn't turn around. "Out,"

"You're not going to stay and watch?"

Shiki paused for a moment, her hand resting on the doorframe. Her expression didn't change as she spoke, her voice calm yet distant. "There's no point in me staying here. I'm not close to him anyway."

Gojo raised an eyebrow, but he didn't stop her.

It wasn't entirely true to say she didn't care—or to say she did. In the first place, she wasn't particularly close to Itadori. There was no real attachment, no bond deep enough to make her feel the sting of his death.

Unlike Gojo, Shiki didn't see the point in clinging to what was already gone. Another death was just another part of the world she lived in—a world where she was constantly surrounded by it.

She stepped out of the room, her voice drifting behind her as if it were an afterthought. "You've already decided what you're going to do. I don't need to be here for it. I'll leave the sentimental stuff to you."

"How cold." Gojo chuckled.

And with that, she was gone, leaving Gojo, Ichiji and Shoko alone in the room with Yuji's lifeless body.

Seeing Shiki leave, Gojo leaned back with a sigh, running a hand through his hair.

"I have a horrible personality, don't I?" he muttered to no one in particular.

"I know," Ijichi replied without hesitation.

Gojo shot him a look. "Ijichi, I'm gonna punch you."

"...Why?" Ijichi groaned, clearly tired of Gojo's antics. For him, it was just another day of unfair treatment.

Gojo ignored the question, tilting his head with a faint smirk. "I'm not fit to be a teacher. And yet, here I am, teaching at a high school... Ask me why."

Ijichi sighed, resigned to playing along. "...Why is that?"

"It's because I have a dream."

"A dream, you say?"

"As you can see from what happened to Yuji, the higher-ups are the rotten core of the sorcery world. They're all a bunch of hereditary, selfish, arrogant and ordinary fools. Like a rotten orange in a fruit stand."

Gojo's look at Yuji's lifeless body on the table.

"I'm going to reset this rotten sorcery world."

Ijichi blinked, taken aback by Gojo's words.

"It's easy to kill the higher-ups," Gojo continued, his tone unwavering. "But a new group of people would replace them eventually, and nothing would change."

Gojo understood the futility of a temporary solution. Removing the current leadership was simple for someone like him—it wouldn't even take much effort. But systems weren't so easily destroyed. The rot wasn't confined to the individuals at the top; it was deeply embedded in the structure itself, If he simply cut off the head of the snake, another would grow and take its place.

The old ways wouldn't die unless something better took their place

"That's why I turned to education," he said, his voice softening slightly. "I want to nurture strong and intelligent comrades. That's why I entrust my tasks to my students at times. It's my whip of love."

'Liar.' The thought crossed Ijichi's mind instantly.

The first half of Gojo's explanation was probably true—painfully so. Ijichi was well aware of the state of the Jujutsu world and its systemic flaws. But the latter half? That was a plain lie, and Ijichi knew it.

He was just trying to skip work.

Still, even if Gojo's methods were questionable, the results spoke for themselves.

"All of them are outstanding," Gojo said, leaning back with a proud smile. "Especially the third-year, Hakari, and the second-year, Okkotsu. They'll grow as strong as me someday."

A brief pause followed, and Gojo's expression darkened. "Yuji was supposed to be one of them."

Gojo's fist clenched tightly, the veins on the back of his hand becoming visible. This time, he wasn't joking or exaggerating. He was angry

Ijichi watched silently, unsure how to respond. Despite Gojo's usual flippant demeanor, it was moments like this that reminded him of the burden the strongest sorcerer carried.

Breaking the silence, Ijichi hesitated before asking, "What about Shiki? What do you think of her?"

Shiki was a scary person accroding to Ichiji. But even someone like him, he can see that Gojo sometime gave her a prefential treatment or focuses more on her growth than any other student.

Gojo's gaze shifted, his expression unreadable.

"Shiki huh..."

There was no doubt in Gojo mind that Shiki would be as strong as him one day—if anything, it was one of the few certainties he had about her.

But her motivation is worrying.

It wasn't that Gojo thought revenge was inherently wrong. He'd seen plenty of sorcerers driven by personal grudges, their negative emotions fueling their cursed energy like a fire fed by dry wood. For many, that bitterness was a source of strength.

But Shiki was a little abnormal in a sense.

It was fortunate, at least, that there were a handful of people she kept at arm's length—Megumi, Maki, and the other second-years.

The more Gojo thought about it, the more troublesome his student seemed. It was almost like Shiki was a ship with an anchor—just barely held in place, but constantly at risk of breaking free and drifting beyond reach.

Gojo's gaze drifted toward Yuji's lifeless body on the table. Unless something changed, people like Yuji would continue to be sacrificed. And it wouldn't stop with him. It could be Maki. It could be Megumi.

Something had to change.

"She's strong, there's no doubt she'll be as strong as me someday."

Even so, Gojo couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry for her future.

Still, Gojo wasn't the type to step in and lecture her about it. That wasn't his style, and besides, he doubted she'd listen even if he did. Shiki wasn't someone you could convince with words. She needed to see things for herself, to learn through her own experiences.

For now, he'd watch from the sidelines, as he always did. He was her guardian, after all.

.

.

Shiki POV

The rain had stopped.

I made my way back to Jujutsu High on my own. There was no one around to give me a ride. I could probably drag Ijichi into driving me, but every time I caught his gaze, he'd flinch like a cornered rabbit.

"What did I even do to him?" I murmured, genuinely puzzled.

For now, a taxi would do. Thankfully, they accepted e-money now. The convenience saved me from fumbling around with cash. I stared out the window, watching the wet streets reflect the faint glow of streetlights.

The ride was uneventful—just the soft hum of the engine and the occasional sound of the windshield wipers squeaking.

I arrived at Jujutsu High and paid the fare, stepping out into the quiet campus. The air smelled fresh and clean, yet the school grounds felt eerily empty.

The dormitory lights flickered faintly in the distance as I walked across the damp pathway. My footsteps echoed faintly against the soaked pavement, and I found myself thinking,

'What's Megumi doing right now?'

Itadori's death must've hit him hard. Megumi isn't the type to let things show, but that doesn't mean he's unaffected.

But Megumi's also strong. He'll pull through.

As I approached the dorm building, I slowed my pace. Should I check on him?

The thought lingered, but I brushed it off. If he needed someone, he'd say something. And honestly, what would I even say to him? Comforting people wasn't exactly my strong suit. I'd probably just make it worse.

I didn't exactly feel the kind of empathy needed to offer real comfort.

I sighed as I reached my room and pushed the door open. Looking inside, it felt like ages since I'd last been here. The familiar scent of wood and the faint hum of the overhead light greeted me, but the space felt different.

I set aside my sword, leaning it carefully against the wall, and lay down on the bed. The ceiling above seemed unusually distant.

I don't get it.

Two weeks. That's all it had been since they'd met, yet Itadori's death seemed to hit Megumi harder than I expected.

Why? How could someone matter that much so quickly?

I don't get it.

I stared at the ceiling, my hands resting by my sides. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the faint sound of rain starting up again outside. I closed my eyes, trying to piece together an answer. But nothing came.

Nothing ever did.

.

.

Chirp Chirp Chirp

The faint sound of birds chirping woke me from my sleep.

I blinked, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains stinging my eyes. At first, I didn't move, letting the sounds of the outside world settle in. The rain had stopped sometime during the night, leaving the air fresh and crisp.

I'd definitely overslept.

Sighing, I grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom. The cold tiles beneath my feet jolted me awake as I stepped into the shower. The water felt refreshing, though I couldn't help but wonder: What now?

At times like this, I didn't know what to do. My mind always drifted to the same solution: the dojo. But even that had started to feel a little repetitive. Was I getting bored? The thought made me frown, but it wasn't like I had many options.

Maybe I should develop a hobby.

The idea lingered as I finished up and dressed. Something different to break the monotony. I'd even tried calligraphy once—strange, considering how little interest I'd had before. But it hadn't been all that bad.

Maybe I should get proper tools for it.

As I turned the corner toward the dojo, I spotted Maki walking down the hall.

"Maki," I called out, raising a hand in greeting.

She nodded, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "What's up, Shiki?"

"Where are the others?" I asked, glancing around

"They wanted to meet the first years," Maki answered. "Want to join?"

I hesitated for a moment before shrugging. "Why not?"

Together, we made our way to where Panda and Toge were waiting.

"Yo, Shiki! Decided to join us today, huh?" Panda grinned.

"Yeah, don't get used to it," I replied dryly, stepping up beside him.

The group began climbing the temple stairs, the cool breeze rustling through the trees around us. The atmosphere was surprisingly calm, though the conversation quickly took a darker turn.

"You've heard about the recent corpse disappearances, right?" Maki started, glancing at me as we ascended.

I nodded. It was hard to miss.

"It was similar to the one we dealt with on our mission in Hokkaido," Maki continued, her tone matter-of-fact but tinged with irritation. "This time to, we encounterd them, thankfully it was not too many like the one we've encounter"

The recent reports of corpse disappearances and the sudden emergence of the so-called "living dead" were becoming a real problem for jujutsu sorcerers. Graves were being found empty, entire morgues inexplicably cleared out.

"And Handling them isnt exactly easy either" Panda

"Salmon,"

Unlike cursed spirits, which ordinary people cannot see, these things were tangible, visible to everyone—even ordinary people. Sightings in urban areas like Tokyo and Kyoto were already causing murmurs of unease. The news hadn't blown up yet, thanks to jujutsu staff working overtime to contain the situation, but rumors and urban legends were spreading like wildfire.

The real issue, though, was how difficult they were to handle. Physical bodies were a lot trickier to handle. They didn't dissolve like cursed spirits when destroyed. Instead, they fell apart in grotesque, messy ways.

As we reached the final steps of the temple, my gaze fell on Megumi and a girl sitting on the temple stairs. The atmosphere around them felt heavy, almost depressing.

Maki stopped abruptly, narrowing her eyes.

"What's with those two?" she muttered before scowling. "This is no good. Ugh, just looking at them is annoying."

Without waiting for a response, she strode toward them.

Panda raised a paw as if to stop her. "Uh, Maki, wait—"

"Mustard leaf," Toge added quickly, his voice tinged with urgency.

It was too late. By the time they tried to warn her, Maki was already halfway to Megumi and the girl, her voice calling out loud enough to cut through the silence.

"What's this?" she called out, her tone sharp but tinged with her usual teasing. "You're looking gloomier than usual, Megumi. What is this, a wake or something?"

"Zenin-senpai," Megumi mumbled, barely lifting his head.

"Don't call me by my last name!"

From behind one of the temple's statues, Panda and Toge exchanged alarmed glances. Panda cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Maki! Maki, hold up!"

She stopped, turning to them with an irritated look. "What now? I'm talking here."

"You seriously don't know why they're so down?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Someone actually died yesterday. One of the first-year boys."

Toge nodded solemnly. "Bonito flakes."

Maki froze, her confident demeanor cracking for just a second. "Wait… what?"

She turned to me for confirmation, and I gave her a silent nod.

"You really didn't know?" Panda pressed.

"No! You should've told me sooner! Now I look like some heartless, cold-blooded demon!" Maki growled, grabbing Panda by the shoulders and shaking him.

"Man, sorry about this. And when you're in mourning… Please forgive us for that. The truth is we'd like you to participate in the Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event," Panda said apologetically.

Is it already that time...

"Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event? What's that?" the girl asked, tilting her head slightly.

"It's a get-together with the other Tech School in Kyoto," Megumi explained briefly. "Though isn't that event mainly for second- and third-years?"

"And those stupid third-years are suspended right now, so you need to participate," Maki added with a scowl.

"Then let's make a two-person team," Panda suggested. "The exchange event has the principals of the Tokyo and Kyoto schools each propose a form of competition to be held for an entire day over the course of two days. Though that's just how it is on paper. Every year, the first day is team battles, and the second day is individual battles."

"We'll train you up well so you won't get killed," Maki declared confidently.

"Hm? Wait, do you even have time for that? I thought we were short on jujutsu sorcerers," the girl asked skeptically.

"That's a good question. For now, we are."

"The glum emotions people harbor from late winter through spring cause an outburst of curses in the summer, so that's our busy season," Maki explained. "But the recent corpse incident has stretched our manpower. Though, weirdly enough, the surge seems to have subsided—maybe it's the weather. But hey, what do I know?"

"So, you'll do it, right? You just had a partner die on you, after all," Maki said, her tone firm.

"We're in!" they answered instantly, their eyes burning with determination.

"But if I decide this training and exchange event is pointless, I'm quitting instantly," the girl added, her gaze unwavering.

"Same here," Megumi said with a resolute nod.

"Hold on a minute," I interjected, breaking the momentum. "I never said I want to participate."

Maki folded her arms, raising a brow. "What's your excuse this time, Shiki?"

I didn't bite immediately. Instead, I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. Just talking about this was exhausting. The last time I got involved in such an event, it ended in disaster.

"You do remember what happened last time, right?"

Sure, I'd gotten a little carried away—okay, maybe more than a little. But it wasn't entirely my fault.

"I got carried away," I cut in, holding up a hand. "I'll admit that much. But it wasn't my fault."

"Oh, it wasn't your fault? So, whose fault was it, then?"

"It's Tojo fault." I said without hesitation.

Maki waved it off. "If it was Tojo's fault, then it's fine. No big deal."

"And who got the short end of the stick in the end?" My tone was sharp, but the memory of that disaster still stung—a chaotic mess, all thanks to Tojo's big mouth and Yuta's inability to handle it.

"Come on, Shiki. Don't be like that. It's not like every group activity ends in total destruction." Panda chuckled.

"Salmon"

I somehow doubt that. I mean why does everyone seem eager for me to join? I look at Megumi, he doesn't speak much, but his gaze is poking me.

"Doesn't fighting Tojo sound appealing?" Panda pressed, his tone light but coaxing. "You like strong opponents, don't you?"

The notion was tempting—I wouldn't deny it. Tojo was strong, but the thought of meeting him again felt unpleasant enough to make me frown.

Panda must've sensed my reluctance because he quickly added, "Besides, I heard there's a strong first-year joining Kyoto this time."

My ears perked up. "Strong?"

Maki, ever the skeptic, raised a brow. "A first-year? At this time of the year? That's unusual."

"Why's that weird? It's just another student, right?"

The girl sitting nearby—what was her name again?—tilted her head, clearly not getting the point.

Maki turned toward her, narrowing her eyes slightly, then seemed to realize something. "Wait... what's your name again? You haven't even introduced yourself."

"It's Kugisaki Nobara," she said, as though Maki should've already known. "So, why is it unusual?"

Ah, so that's her name. Kugisaki Nobara. I think I promised myself to remember her name... Did I catch Gojo Forgetfulness Syndrome? I hope not. That's a terrifying thought.

Panda then explains. "Jujutsu High doesn't just admit people casually. Most students are recruited at the start of the school year. A mid-year addition is really uncommon unless there's something special about the person."

Nobara raised an eyebrow. "Special how?"

"Well, it's usually if the student has extremely strong abilities or comes with a big recommendation. Take the absent individual, Okkotsu Yuta, for instance, or even this person right here—Ryougi Shiki." He said, pointing at me with his paw.

Panda wasn't wrong.

Before Itadori showed up—and now Kugisaki—Megumi had been the only first-year around. It must've been weird for him, being the only one going through all this.

So yeah, it was a little unusual.

Still, none of that mattered. I'd already decided—nothing could change my mind.

.

.

Third Person POV

At a quiet restaurant in Tokyo, a lone man sat at a corner table. He just sitting there not ordering anything as if waiting for someone. To the average passerby, he appeared perfectly ordinary.

But, if someone could see beyond the ordinary, they'd notice the alien like figures seated around the man.

Across of him, the figure had a rugged, rocky body, its surface cracked and glowing faintly like embers buried under stone.

Another had a lean, plant-like appearance, with vines twisting around its body and something like petals shrouding its face.

The third resembled something aquatic, its slimy skin glistening under the dim lights, with tentacles lazily swaying behind it.

On his right, sat a man with long white hair and a lethargic face, his posture slouched like he'd rather be anywhere else. His skin was as pale as a snow.

Kenjaku took a slight glance at the white haired man.

"Reishin, would you at least try to show a bit more energy?"

Reishin shrugged, his voice flat. "Not like it matters. You'll carry the conversation on your own anyway."

Kenjaku chuckled lightly before turning his attention back to the rugged, rocky figure seated to his right. "So, Jogo-kun, you're saying your boss wants to preserve the current dynamic between humans and curses. Is that it?"

"Roughly. It's a little more complicated, though."

"Humans are made up of lies," Jogo began, "For every positive action and emotion they show, there's always a flip side. Yet negative emotions like hatred and hostility? Those are truths without falsehood. We curses are born from those truths. That makes us pure, genuine beings. Imitations like humans should be eliminated!"

Kenjaku smiled faintly, resting his chin on his hand. "And yet, at present, it's you who are being eliminated."

"That's why we're here. What can we do to defeat the jujutsu sorcerers?"

Kenjaku's eyes gleamed with amusement as he responded, "If you fulfill two conditions before declaring war, you can win."

"And what are those conditions?" Jogo asked.

"The first," Kenjaku said, his tone deliberate, "is to render Gojo Satoru, the strongest jujutsu sorcerer, incapable of fighting. The second is to secure the cooperation of Ryoumen Sukuna and Itadori Yuji."

Jogo blinked, taken aback. "Err… hold on. That Itadori Yuji brat… didn't he die?"

Kenjaku's smile widened slightly. "Did he, though? I wouldn't be so sure."

From beside him, Reishin finally spoke up. "And what about Ryougi Shiki?"

Kenjaku tilted his head slightly. He hadn't expected Reishin to join the conversation. By now, he'd assumed the man had drifted off.

"You seem strangely interested in that girl. Why is that?"

It wasn't like Reishin to take an interest in anything, much less a human. Getting him to leave his usual spot and come here had been enough of a chore.

True. She was an interesting human.

Ryougi Shiki was an outlier, especially her eyes. In his thousand-year existence, Kenjaku had never encountered eyes like those. Even without fully comprehending them, he could sense their overwhelming danger. It wasn't something easily ignored.

Well, that other girl had been an outlier too, though it was a shame she had slipped away.

This era really did seem abundant with unusual individuals.

Jogo's grating voice cut in. "Who is this Ryougi Shiki, anyway?"

Kenjaku smiled faintly, dismissing the question with a casual wave. "More importantly, let's focus on what matters. In essence, you need this two things to win."

"Gojo Satoru… do you think we can kill him if we all work together?"

Kenjaku chuckled softly. "Either he'll slip through your grasp, or, at worst, all of you will be exorcized. If you want my advice, focus on sealing him instead of trying to kill him."

"Sealing him? And how do we do that?"

"We'll use the special-grade cursed object: Prison Realm,"

Jogo slapped the table, "Ah… Prison Realm?! You have that detestable thing?!"

The volcano on Jogo's head flared, molten energy erupting from the cracks. The room's temperature spiked, heatwaves visibly distorting the air.

"Jogo, don't get too excited," Kenjaku said, his tone even. "You'll make it hot in here."

"I wish you wouldn't cause such a commotion," Reishin added lazily, his eyes half-closed.

"This is hardly anything,"

As if to prove his point, nearby customers began to scream. Flames ignited on their clothes as they combusted one by one. The restaurant became a scene straight out of a disaster movie, the oppressive heat turning it into a makeshift furnace.

"Aaaah! What's happening?!" one man shouted.

"It's burning! Somebody help me!" a woman shrieked.

"Make it stop! It hurts!" cried another.

It was as if they had been transported into the heart of a volcano.

Then, just as the rising heat reached its peak, the temperature plummeted without warning. The oppressive warmth was replaced by an icy chill, frost forming on surfaces almost instantly.

Reishin finally shifted in his seat, his cold gaze landing on Jogo. "Volcano head," he muttered, his voice low and disdainful, "I don't like hot."

Kenjaku coughed lightly, breaking the tension. "I'm glad we didn't choose an expensive restaurant."

In the background, muffled screams echoed.

"Ah… Ahh… Ahh! Ngh…"

Jogo and Reishin exchanged looks. There were no words exchanged between them, but both of them knew they weren't going to like each other.

Breaking the silent standoff, Jogo turned back to Kenjaku. "Geto, how strong am I in terms of Sukuna's fingers?"

Kenjaku tilted his head, considering for a moment. "At a low estimate? I'd say around eight or nine fingers."

A wicked smile crept across Jogo's face. "That's plenty. Hand over the Prison Realm. I'll add it to my collection. In return, I will… kill Gojou Satoru."

From the corner of the room, the last surviving woman—a terrified figure crouching, desperately trying to crawl toward the exit—caught Jogo's attention.

"Help me—" she whimpered, her voice barely audible.

Jogo raised a hand casually. Flames burst forth, consuming her in an instant.

The smell of burnt flesh lingered in the air.

.

.

Third person POV

A little earlier, after Shiki had left the room, the atmosphere in the infirmary was heavy.

Gojo Satoru sat silently, his elbows resting on his knees, watching Shoko as she prepared for her work.

"I'm going to start now," Shoko said, glancing at him. "Are you just going to watch from over there?"

Gojo's gaze shifted to Itadori Yuji's lifeless body. It was a shame, truly, but there was nothing more they could do. The best course of action now was to ensure Yuji's body was put to good use, even in death.

At least, that's what Gojo thought.

Then, Itadori's corpse slowly sat up.

"Ahh!"

"Ah…"

Both Gojo and Ichiji froze, stunned into silence.

Shoko blinked, confused by their reaction.

"Hm? Ah…" she muttered as her eyes landed on Itadori, now sitting upright.

"Woah, I'm completely naked!" Itadori exclaimed, looking down at himself in shock.

"G-G-G-Gojo-san!" Ijichi stammered.

"Fufufu…" Gojo chuckled softly, clearly amused by the current situation.

"H-H-H-He's alive!" Ijichi cried, his face pale with disbelief.

"Ijichi, be quiet,"

This wasn't just unusual—it was impossible. There was no way to bring someone back to life once they were truly gone. But here Itadori Yuji was, sitting up and looking completely fine.

There was only one explanation.

Sukuna.

But why? There was no chance the King of Curses had done this out of goodwill. There had to be a price, a condition, or a binding vow involved. Gojo knew that Sukuna wouldn't make a move without some kind of trade.

Still, that was a problem for later.

'For now…'

Gojo stood and approached Yuji, his expression softening into a small smile.

"Yuji," he called out, extending a hand.

Yuji blinked, still disoriented, but he managed to focus on Gojo. "Yeah?"

"Welcome back."

A grin spread across Yuji's face, warm and genuine despite the situation. "Yeah. Good to be back!"

Hearing that, Gojo's grin widened, and the two high-fived.

[END]

.

.

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

Don't forget to leave a review!

[Thanks for Reading!]