Domain Expansion (4k)

"Welcome! Table for one?" the McDonald's employee politely asked the handsome man in unusual clothes standing before her.

"Yes, just me." He nodded and headed for the seat farthest inside.

"All right. Please come up to order when you're ready." The employee bowed slightly and watched him pass.

Huh? Why is it so hot? Didn't I turn on the air conditioning?

She wondered.

Suguru Geto-or rather, let's just call him Kenjaku.

Kenjaku smiled at the volcano-headed figure before him. "In short, you want to reverse the positions of humans and curses, correct?"

Jogo nodded, his single eye widening. "Curses are the pure, true humans. Those hypocritical imitations should disappear."

He exhaled another breath of hot air. "How can we defeat the jujutsu sorcerers?"

Kenjaku smiled. "Fulfill a few conditions before the war, and we can win."

"First, render Satoru Gojo unable to fight. Second, bring Ryomen Sukuna-Yuji Itadori-over to our side."

Jogo looked puzzled. "Didn't that brat die?"

Kenjaku shook his head with an amused smile. "If he died that easily, he wouldn't be Ryomen Sukuna."

Then he added, "There's one final condition-"

"Hah!"

Itadori shouted and threw a punch.

Thud!

The punching bag flew back from the heavy blow, then swung toward Itadori under gravity.

Thud!

Another punch, delivered with a steady rhythm.

Yuji Itadori stood before the punching bag, hammering it with one punch after another.

Every punch carried the blue glow of cursed energy. The light burst out the instant his knuckles touched the bag, then he deliberately forced it back down.

Satoru Gojo's assignment was simple: concentrate cursed energy in his fists and control the output, keeping the variation in cursed energy within five percent for fifty consecutive punches.

The first twenty punches went fine, but the next released too much cursed energy, sending the bag swinging backward. His output had deviated.

"Off target." Satoru Gojo's lazy voice came from behind him. "Start over."

Without turning, Itadori shook out his wrists and reset his stance.

He started counting from zero.

Had he been here for a day, or several?

He couldn't quite remember. The fluorescent lights had no day-night cycle, and Satoru Gojo had confiscated his phone, saying they couldn't let anyone trace its signal.

Every day consisted only of training, eating, and sleeping. Occasionally, Satoru Gojo brought down a can of cola as a reward.

At first, he could keep track by counting meals, but soon the tedious, repetitive training made him forget even how many times he'd eaten.

After eating, he punched the bag to digest. When he was hungry, he ate; when he was sleepy, he slept; when he woke, he continued.

Itadori didn't hate this life. With a goal in mind, none of his punches felt unbearable. He just felt he wasn't progressing fast enough.

Semi-Special Grade.

Every time he threw a punch, those words circled through his mind, and his control over cursed energy improved a little more.

Mashiro had exorcised a Semi-Special Grade all by herself, yet he was still practicing the basics.

He had never been jealous. He had long since accepted that Mashiro was stronger than him.

All he felt was frustration-not just at being weaker than her, but at the possibility that, if another situation like the Juvenile Detention Center arose, his only choice would still be to let Sukuna out, only to hurt the people around him.

He wanted to become strong enough to stand on his own, strong enough to defeat enemies who threatened his family.

But his progress was too slow!

Thud!

He punched straight through the bag.

Itadori stared at the hand that had pierced the bag and came to his senses. He'd used too much cursed energy just now.

"Don't rush things, Yuji." Satoru Gojo shook his head, stood up, and gently patted his shoulder. "This isn't just training your control. It's training your temperament, too."

Itadori nodded, took a deep breath, and gulped down half a bottle of water.

"Got it, sir. I'll take a break."

"Right, then there's something I should mention." Satoru Gojo raised a finger. "The sister-school exchange battle starts in a few days."

"Does that mean I can't participate?" Itadori looked up and asked.

"No, no, no. I wouldn't dream of robbing young people of their youth." Satoru Gojo leaned back. "You're going to show off your skills at the exchange battle."

Itadori sounded puzzled. "But wasn't I officially declared dead?"

"Exactly! So isn't the exchange battle the perfect stage for your resurrection?" Satoru Gojo spoke theatrically. "Let's see the shock on the faces of everyone who thinks you're dead!"

"Ohhh! Now I'm fired up!" Itadori responded in the same exaggerated tone.

"So you really do have a bit of a dramatic streak, Yuji."

"Weren't you the one who started it, Gojo-sensei?!"

"Ahahaha, I guess I was." Satoru Gojo stood and headed for the exit. "Keep working hard over the next few days. I've got things to do, but I'll come see you in a couple of days."

"Yes, sir!"

Satoru Gojo nodded, left the basement, and shut the door.

Before long, he heard repeated impacts coming from below.

Satoru Gojo nodded in satisfaction.

Yep, he's really motivated. Looks like this crisis was a learning experience for him, too.

Keep it up. The day you come back to life will also be the day certain people meet their end.

A cold gleam flashed through Satoru Gojo's eyes. He took out his phone and called Mashiro.

"I've confirmed it. These people were involved in the operation-"

Maki Zenin walked past the training grounds with her cursed tools on her back. A quick glance revealed two figures practicing there.

"Well, if it isn't Fushiguro." Maki was about to greet them when she got a clear look. One still had bandages around his head, and the other could barely walk properly.

What were two injured patients doing out there before they'd recovered?

Furious, Maki was about to march over and send them back to rest, but Panda stopped her.

"Maki, Maki, haven't you heard?" He leaned close and whispered, "A first-year boy died on their mission a couple of days ago!"

Inumaki nodded as well. "Salmon!"

Maki fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "We still can't let those two injured patients keep training."

She gritted her teeth. "Fine. I'll talk to them."

"You're so brave, Maki."

"Tuna mayo."

The panda and the boy hid behind a tree, whispering as they watched Maki approach.

A vein bulged on Maki's forehead as she muttered, "Those two are just here to watch. I'll deal with them later."

"Hey, Megumi. If you're injured, go recover properly. Don't collapse out here. And you, girl. That goes for you, too."

The two on the training grounds stopped what they were doing.

Kugisaki glanced at Maki and the two sneaking around behind the tree, then quietly asked Megumi Fushiguro, "Who are these people?"

"Our second-year seniors. Zenin-senpai uses cursed tools."

"Inumaki-senpai is a Cursed Speech User."

"And that's Panda-senpai."

Kugisaki's eyes widened at the mention of Panda, but before she could speak, Megumi Fushiguro added another introduction.

"There's also Okkotsu-senpai. He's someone you can respect without reservation, but he's overseas right now."

Maki Zenin nodded, then said, "Thanks for introducing us, but can you two please go back and rest?"

"The Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event is coming up, and you're both participating. Get those injuries healed over the next couple of days, then we'll give you some special training."

Having already heard about the Goodwill Event from Gojo-sensei, Megumi Fushiguro and Kugisaki exchanged a look.

"Will the training and the Goodwill Event make us stronger?"

"If there's no point, I'm dropping out."

Panda and Inumaki came forward as well. "You'll get stronger."

That night, Mashiro and Satoru Gojo got into Ijichi's car. They were going to investigate the issue with the Window's servers and make their final confirmation.

Satoru Gojo was the only one talking in the car. "Oh, this brand of pudding is really good. Want one, Mashiro?"

Mashiro sat beside him, seething.

Half an hour. Half an hour, and this damn white-haired guy hasn't shut his mouth once.

Enough is enough!

"Satoru Gojo, if you don't shut your mouth-"

Before she finished, her heart suddenly tightened. A Special Grade was nearby. That cursed energy-it was a cursed spirit!

"Oh, looks like we have a visitor," Satoru Gojo said casually. "Ijichi, stop the car."

Once the car came to a complete stop, Mashiro and Satoru Gojo got out.

Mashiro shut the door and told Ijichi, "Mr. Ijichi, go on ahead. We'll call you when we're done."

Ijichi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, nodded, and quickly fled the scene.

Satoru Gojo looked at the short girl beside him, who had already drawn Murasame. "Aren't you leaving, Mashiro? Our opponent's pretty strong."

Jogo would open his domain during the fight. This was a good opportunity to learn about domains.

Besides, if she could get used to it even a little in this fight, things would be much easier later.

But Mashiro wasn't about to tell Satoru Gojo that. She still hadn't vented her anger.

Mashiro turned toward him with a cute, malicious smile, taking revenge for the psychological torment he'd inflicted on her in the car.

"You're here, aren't you? You'll protect me, right? The. Strongest. Of. Our. Time."

Satoru Gojo shuddered, and his voice trembled as well. "Ahahaha, of course I will. Hahaha..."

Mashiro dropped her smile and gave Satoru Gojo a disdainful glance. "I show you a little tenderness, and you can't even handle it."

"Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what tenderness means?!"

"You two! Stop ignoring me!"

Jogo roared, leaped down, and landed before them.

A pungent smell of sulfur wafted over. Mashiro frowned and waved her small hand in front of her nose. "You stink."

"Huh?!"

"Hey, you're stinking up the place around our special consultant. Could you hurry up and leave?" Satoru Gojo waved a hand, instantly sweeping the foul gas away. "Otherwise, you won't be leaving at all."

"You dare underestimate me!" Jogo shouted. "Ember Insects!"

Countless red insects rushed toward Satoru Gojo, only to be stopped by Limitless, unable to advance another inch.

Then the insects suddenly vibrated their wings violently, producing a deafening noise.

The corners of Jogo's mouth rose, and he began to laugh. "Haha... huh?"

The insects were still flapping their wings nonstop, but they couldn't produce the slightest sound.

"Sound waves?" Mashiro raised her eyes and gave him a baffled look. "Don't you do your research before ambushing people?"

"If you underestimate me..." She raised her hand slightly, sending a violent wave of sound crashing toward Jogo. "Things like this happen, too."

Jogo blocked the incoming attack with both hands and was pushed three meters backward.

Is this the third condition Suguru Geto mentioned?

Jogo looked at the brat dusting her hands off where she stood, his eye brimming with murderous intent.

As I thought, this brat cannot be allowed to live!

A fireball rapidly swelled in Jogo's palm, expanding from the size of a fist to the thickness of an arm.

The surrounding trees began to ignite spontaneously. Even the air distorted into waves of heat, while the asphalt softened and bubbled.

"Maximum Technique-"

Jogo's single eye flew wide open, flames erupting from its socket.

His cursed energy peaked in that instant, lighting up the entire mountain road as brightly as day.

"Meteor!"

Enormous flames swallowed everything before him. Panting, Jogo turned away smugly, waiting for the explosion behind him.

"Is that all you've got?" He walked slowly, his tone carefree. "Let your deaths spread the word of true strength and reality."

"Was that your full strength?"

A thoroughly bored voice drifted out of the smoke behind him.

Jogo whipped around. Seeing the two completely unscathed, his mouth fell open in shock.

"Oh, since you're so surprised, how about a lesson?" Satoru Gojo walked up to Jogo and extended his right hand. "Hold out your hand."

Jogo watched him warily, then slowly brought his hand closer. But once it came within a certain distance of Satoru Gojo's, he couldn't move it any closer, no matter what he tried.

"Wha-?" Jogo's eye widened.

"It hasn't stopped. The closer it gets to me, the slower it moves." Satoru Gojo moved his hand forward and touched Jogo's. "I can even hold your hand like this."

Jogo's face twisted. He tried to pull his hand back, but couldn't. "I refuse."

Satoru Gojo smiled and interlaced his fingers with Jogo's. "Don't be shy."

"You bas-" Before Jogo could finish, Satoru Gojo interrupted him with a knee strike.

Behind them, Mashiro stared in disgust at Satoru Gojo's hand, its fingers interlaced with Jogo's.

I can absolutely never let him touch me with that hand again. That's disgusting.

"Cursed Technique Reversal." Satoru Gojo extended a finger. "Red."

A violent blast sent Jogo flying, smashing through who knew how many trees.

"Could you stop wrecking the environment?" Mashiro sighed, then leaped up and sent Jogo flying out of the woods and into the lake with a kick.

"Oh my, a home run."

"You should say you scored a goal."

Hearing the two of them still chatting right in front of him, Jogo burned with rage.

"In that case, I'll burn both of you to a crisp!"

Excitement welled up inside Mashiro. She was about to say it-that line!

"It's fine." Mashiro gave Jogo, who lay sprawled in the water, a disdainful glance and spoke in a contemptuous tone.

"Because you're weak."

I said it!

Having stolen Satoru Gojo's line, Mashiro felt as though her soul had ascended. Several trumpet-blowing angels appeared around her, ready to escort her to heaven!

"Hey, Mashiro, you stole my line."

"I did it on purpose. Got a problem with that?"

"As long as you're happy."

"Don't underestimate me, you little brat!" Jogo flew into a furious rage, scorching pillars of fire erupting from all three holes.

"Domain Expansion!!" Jogo formed the domain's hand sign. "[Coffin of the Iron Mountain]!!!"

Since Yuji only used his domain at the very end anyway, I won't bring him along to watch Jogo's Domain Expansion right now.

Sorry, Yuji (lol).

The Q&A is still in the author's notes.