In the palm of his hand

Inside the room.

Yuji Itadori returned to the room, where Kento Nanami and Araki Itsuki were sitting.

"Take me along next time something like this happens. If we're dealing with a killer that inhuman, I want to teach him a lesson!"

Kento Nanami shook his head. "As you know, the enemy uses transfigured humans to attack.

"There are people in this world beyond saving. If you stay in this line of work, sooner or later you'll face a situation where you have no choice but to kill.

"But not now. Please understand."

Kento Nanami continued, "You're still a child. None of this is your fault. For now, I'd like you and Araki to keep watching Junpei Yoshino."

Yuji Itadori fell silent. He knew this was the best choice.

Araki Itsuki handed Yuji Itadori a file.

"What's this?"

"Junpei Yoshino's records. The relevant department put them together."

Yuji Itadori opened the cover. As he read account after account of school bullying, veins bulged on his face, and his fists clenched.

"Those bastards!!"

Early the next morning.

Hatred filled Junpei Yoshino's face. Since he had no black clothes, he opened his mother's wardrobe and put on the first black garment he found, mourning her.

Mahito watched the hatred and resentment on his face and smiled in satisfaction.

"Let's go."

At the school.

Dressed in black, Mahito and Suguru Geto stood on the rooftop, looking down at the noisy school grounds.

Once Junpei Yoshino went inside, Mahito formed a hand sign and began chanting.

"Emerge from darkness, blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure!"

A mass of black sludge appeared in the sky, spreading outward until it enveloped the entire school.

Beside him, Suguru Geto said gratefully, "Sorry for the trouble, Mahito. I can't leave any cursed residue behind."

"What does the Curtain do?"

Mahito looked expectant. "People inside can't get out, but people outside can get in. It only restricts humans with weak cursed energy, though."

After hearing this, Suguru Geto assessed the situation. "An unregistered Curtain in a residential area-the Windows will probably report it immediately. Hopefully, things go as smoothly as you planned."

"The story's course was set the moment Junpei drew Sukuna's vessel."

Hearing Mahito's words, Suguru Geto sighed. "If only Jogo were as calm as you."

"He's honest and cute the way he is."

At that, Mahito turned curiously toward Suguru Geto.

"But is this really okay? Isn't that finger a valuable cursed object?"

Suguru Geto had schemes of his own. "It's fine. Yuji Itadori already absorbed the one at the Juvenile Detention Center, so I want Jujutsu High to handle the one I left with Junpei Yoshino, too."

With that, Suguru Geto turned to leave. "I'll be going now."

Mahito smiled. "You could stay and watch too, Geto. It'll be fun."

"The sight of a foolish child dying."

When Junpei Yoshino arrived at the Science Auditorium, an awards ceremony was underway.

A young man with a hypocritical air stood on the stage, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

It was Shota Ito, who frequently bullied Junpei Yoshino.

"Oh, this is so embarrassing."

Excited cries kept rising from his young female admirers below. "Shota! Shota!"

He waved and went backstage, then snapped at the frightened boy beside him. "Hey, look what you've done. Didn't I tell you to just throw something together?"

"You actually got me the top award? Do you want to die?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

But Shota Ito kept sneering. "And all you managed to get yourself was a nomination?"

"I'm sorry..."

Suddenly, someone seized Shota Ito by the back of his collar. With tremendous force and the sound of tearing fabric, he was hurled to the floor.

"Yoshino?!"

Seeing that Junpei Yoshino had attacked him, Shota Ito's eyes turned vicious. He was about to get up and fight back.

Bam!

Junpei Yoshino drove a fist into his stomach. He curled up like a shrimp in agony, vomiting even last night's dinner.

Then Junpei pinned his head down and slammed it into the wall, again and again.

The thugs Shota had recruited with his money saw their boss being beaten and charged over, swearing. The entire auditorium descended into chaos.

But Junpei Yoshino's expression remained cold. His strength had become immense, and a single punch sent them crumpling to the floor, howling in pain.

When Shota Ito forced his eyes open through the pain, Junpei Yoshino stood before him, taking out a pack of cigarettes and lighting them one by one.

The terrified, panicked expression Junpei Yoshino had once worn flashed through his mind. His face went white, and he frantically waved his hands.

"No!"

But Junpei Yoshino approached without a flicker of emotion, grabbed his hair, and slammed his head into the wall. Then he pressed a glowing cigarette tip into his forehead.

Sizzle!

A strange sound like pigskin being seared rang out, accompanied by a scream of agony.

"Aah!"

When Yuji Itadori and Araki Itsuki arrived, Junpei Yoshino was kicking Shota Ito in the stomach over and over. Vomit coated the edges of his shoes.

"You're going to die. I can't tell whether you're lying, and everything you've done deserves punishment anyway."

"Hey, at least show some sincerity when you're about to die!"

Blood trickled from the corner of Shota Ito's mouth. Utterly weak, he said, "I'm sorry..."

Bam!

"Please. If saying sorry fixed everything, what would we need the police for?"

Yuji Itadori stared at Junpei Yoshino in disbelief. He hadn't imagined that the boy could become like this in a single night.

He hated those people for hurting Junpei Yoshino, but he couldn't agree with Junpei's choice to take violent revenge.

Once he killed someone, there would be no going back.

"What are you doing, Junpei?!"

"Back off, jujutsu sorcerer!"

The two immediately clashed. Cursed energy wrapped around Yuji Itadori's fists as he tried to subdue Junpei Yoshino.

"This has nothing to do with you, jujutsu sorcerer!"

"That's not for you to decide!"

Junpei Yoshino couldn't withstand Yuji Itadori's punches at all and was driven back again and again.

"What's the point of saving everyone you see, whether they're good or bad...? Don't misunderstand the value of a life!"

"No one has the right to stop someone from taking a life they can take. Stay out of my way."

Junpei Yoshino threw a punch at Yuji Itadori, but Yuji easily ducked and grabbed Junpei's clothes.

"Who are you making these excuses to?!"

Cursed energy gathered around Yuji Itadori's fist. He punched Junpei Yoshino in the face, sending him flying.

"All those grand arguments-you're just trying to convince yourself you're not wrong, aren't you?"

"I don't know why you're doing this, Junpei, but you must have your reasons. Still, are they worth throwing away the life you had?"

Junpei Yoshino slowly raised his head. "People's hearts are fake."

Yuji Itadori couldn't imagine how words so cold could come from Junpei Yoshino's warm, living mouth.

In disbelief, he snapped, "Could you say that in front of her?"

"People don't have hearts..."

"You're still denying it!!!"

Junpei Yoshino raised his face, full of hurt and tears and scarred by cigarette burns, and shouted at Yuji Itadori, "They don't! Otherwise!! Otherwise!!

"Does that mean people's hearts cursed me and my mom?!"

Looking at the burns on Junpei Yoshino's forehead and the devastation in his eyes, endless fury ignited in Yuji Itadori's heart.

Yuji Itadori had exceptional emotional intelligence and a powerful sense of empathy.

He cared not only about his companions and friends. He could understand and show concern for anyone he met.

At that moment, Junpei Yoshino's pain settled deep within his own heart.

"I don't know what's right or wrong anymore!"

Junpei Yoshino broke down sobbing and drove a fist into Yuji Itadori's stomach.

But Yuji didn't even dodge. He took Junpei Yoshino's punch head-on, hoping physical pain might ease his sorrow.

"I'm sorry. I knew nothing, but I still talked like I knew everything. Please tell me what happened."

"I would never curse you, Junpei."

After hearing Junpei Yoshino's story, Yuji Itadori's face filled with grief and disbelief. The woman who had been laughing with them just yesterday was now...

"Junpei, come to Jujutsu High. We have unbelievably strong teachers and lots of reliable friends."

"We'll fight together, and everyone will help. We'll definitely find whoever cursed your mom."

But just then.

Mahito appeared on the stairs and walked down toward the two, one step at a time.

"Nice to meet you, Sukuna's vessel."

The moment he finished speaking, Mahito's arm swelled and smashed Yuji Itadori away.

Junpei Yoshino shouted in panic, "Wait, Mr. Mahito!!"

Only then did Yuji Itadori realize that this man's appearance matched the humanoid cursed spirit Mr. Nanami had described.

"Junpei, run!"

"I don't know what your relationship with this guy is, but just run for now!!"

Araki Itsuki appeared beside Yuji Itadori. He was about to attack when Yuji grabbed him.

"Don't! He's still got Junpei!"

Helplessly, Araki Itsuki lowered his fist. "Let Junpei Yoshino go!"

Mahito had already reached Junpei Yoshino's side. Seeing the fear and panic on Yuji Itadori's face and Araki Itsuki's reluctance to attack, his expression filled with immense delight.

He would repay every bit of the humiliation Araki Itsuki had inflicted on him!

"Junpei is probably pretty smart. But sometimes, thinking things through only makes people act even more foolishly."

"You're a perfect example."

He looked at Junpei Yoshino's confusion, the fear on Yuji Itadori's face, and Araki Itsuki's clenched teeth.

An unparalleled rush of pleasure swept over Mahito. He felt as though his very soul was ascending.

That's it. Watching the person you want to save die right before your eyes-how ironic!

Mahito leaned close to Junpei's ear and said gently, "Junpei, you're the biggest fool after all those fools you look down on."

Cursed Technique: Activate!

A deranged smile spread across Mahito's face. He could already picture Junpei Yoshino twisting into a monster and Yuji Itadori going mad with anguish.

And you, Araki Itsuki, you self-important idiot. Watch someone die right in front of you!

But then.

Shhk!

A purple-black dagger plunged deep into Mahito's abdomen.

Mahito lowered his head in bewilderment. Junpei Yoshino's face was utterly cold, his eyes as deep as a lifeless pool.

He still held a bloodstained purple-black dagger.

Suddenly.

Junpei Yoshino's delicate, gentle face shifted. Finally, his entire body transformed into Araki Itsuki, wearing a wicked smirk.

The mocking smile remained on his lips, along with the sensation of toying with someone's heart.

"Mahito, you're the biggest fool after the fool who comes after all those fools you look down on."