"Human" 2

[Author's note: Someone, please come chat with me. I'm the kind of alien who'll die without conversation.]

"They're human. No, I should say they used to be human. Just like those three people at the movie theater, their bodies were forcibly altered through jujutsu."

Kento Nanami called Shoko Ieiri, put her on speaker, and set his phone on the table.

"If that were all, I would have noticed from the start. The two we fought were brimming with cursed energy, just like cursed spirits."

"We'll have to ask the culprit how this cursed technique works," Shoko Ieiri's voice came through the phone. "But there are signs of tampering around the brain stem. It was probably meant to impair their consciousness and put them into a confused state."

"If they can even alter the brain, perhaps they can modify people to use cursed energy, too. After all, the relationship between the brain and cursed energy is still shrouded in mystery."

The atmosphere grew heavy. Everyone fell silent, and I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"By the way, are Itadori and Edano listening?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"I'm listening too, Shoko!"

"Good. To put it simply, they died of shock caused by the modifications. You weren't responsible. They were already dead before you exorcised them. Don't get that wrong."

"Okay."

I said nothing. Having a cheat and still being unable to change any of this felt absolutely awful.

[Don't blame yourself, Edano. We can't change what's already happened, but we can wipe out the cursed spirit responsible for all this. Then no one else will have to get hurt!]

[Okay.]

"...Whatever the cause of death, someone else's death weighs just as heavily on me... Still, this is just too cruel." Yuji Itadori clenched his fists.

Yuji really was such a kind little angel, genuinely getting angry on other people's behalf. It only made me seem even more like a heartless bitch. Sob, sob, sob.

All I could do was pat his head to comfort him.

After a long while, "...Edano, you've rubbed my hair into a bird's nest! Come on, that's not how you comfort someone!!!"

"Ahaha, want me to smooth it back down for you?"

"Leave my hair alone!"

"That cursed residue was bait. It was probably meant to lure us there. Our opponent is no amateur."

Kento Nanami rose from the sofa. "It looks like we've done just about everything we can here. Let's pull ourselves together and get going."

"Right!" ×2

"Sometimes you're frighteningly in sync."

"Huh?" Petrified ×2

Meanwhile, in the sewers

"'Special grade imaginary vengeful spirit.' That's what some cursed spirits are called.

Cursed spirits are masses of cursed energy that flows out of humans. Even if something doesn't actually exist, a frightening image shared by people's collective awareness can easily manifest as a powerful curse." Mahito lay in a hammock, leafing through the Complete Collection of Japanese Yokai.

"By a frightening image shared by people's collective awareness, do you mean famous yokai or ghost stories?"

"Exactly. There are plenty of examples, like Hanako of the Toilet or the Nine-Tailed Fox. Jujutsu sorcerers register them as special grade imaginary vengeful spirits and keep watch for them." Mahito showed Junpei Yoshino the contents of the book.

"Powerful curses of unknown origin get classified as imaginary vengeful spirits at first, too." Mahito gave a mocking smile. "It's like that's all they know."

"But those imaginary stories aren't the only things people have always feared."

"Natural disasters, too?" Junpei Yoshino propped his chin on his hand and thought for a moment.

"It's so nice being able to talk to you without any pressure. You're smart, Junpei."

"No, not really..."

"People fear the earth, forests, and oceans. The cursed energy flowing into them was so vast that they gained intelligence before taking form and have remained hidden ever since. They're all companions I'm proud of."

"Then what kind of curse are you, Mahito?"

"Humans. I'm a curse born from humans' hatred and fear of one another."

"Window has compiled the recent disappearances and mysterious deaths into a cursed residue report. That lets us narrow down the culprit's base to some extent."

"Okay! Are we charging in?"

"No, it's still only 'to some extent.' I'll continue investigating. I have another job for you, Itadori."

Kento Nanami pinned a photograph of a boy onto the board. "This is the boy who was at the movie theater, Junpei Yoshino. He attended the same high school as the victims."

"Huh? Why does that name sound kind of familiar?" Yuji Itadori leaned closer to study the photograph, but nothing came to him.

Kento Nanami played a video. "Judging from the security footage and his behavior, he's very unlikely to be a curse user. But his connection to the victims is another matter."

"What's a curse user?"

"A jujutsu sorcerer who uses their abilities for evil. I've left the arrangements to Ijichi. Sorry for the trouble, but I'd like the two of you to investigate Junpei Yoshino together."

"Yes!" ×2

Ijichi and Yuji Itadori saluted at the same time.

"All right, let's go!" Brimming with energy, Yuji struck Superman's flying pose, pushed the door open, and rushed out.

After stepping outside, Ijichi poked his head back in to look at Kento Nanami. "It's not just 'to some extent,' is it? You already know where the culprit is."

"Of course." Kento Nanami braced both hands on the blackboard stand. "The culprit could have left the scene without leaving any cursed residue if they wanted to. They're luring us in."

"Between the risk of going alone and the risk of taking Itadori along, I simply chose the former."

"Forgive me for overstepping, but shouldn't you inform Taketori? She's special grade, after all, and we've all seen how strong she is."

"No. Whatever else she may be, she's still a child. Besides, she's exceptionally gifted and has a unique constitution. I can't put her at risk."

"Mr. Nanamin! Mr. Ijichi!"

Yuji Itadori suddenly appeared behind Ijichi and shoved him, making him stumble.

"Whoa! Itadori?" Ijichi patted his chest, still shaken.

"I forgot to say, be careful out there, Mr. Nanami!"

"...Itadori, I'm not a teacher. Don't call me that."

"Then I'll call you Nanamin!"

"...Don't copy Taketori, or I might just smack you both-"