"Rika's" sharp claws swiped mercilessly at Satoru Gojo. A faint smile curved his lips, and he swiftly retreated, dodging the blow.
Just as the cursed spirit was about to go berserk, Yuta Okkotsu frantically tried to stop her.
"Rika! Don't!"
The cursed spirit abruptly froze, called out a plaintive "Yuta..." and dissolved into black smoke.
Yuta Okkotsu's entire body was trembling.
He didn't understand why this man had attacked him. And "Rika" had appeared again. If he hadn't stopped her, would someone else have gotten hurt?
I don't want... I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me.
"Qianxing, did you see that?!"
Satoru Gojo sounded wildly excited, as though he had discovered a new toy.
Miwa Chisei sighed helplessly and addressed Yuta Okkotsu.
"He wasn't trying to hurt you. He just wanted to see that one from earlier. You called her... Rika?"
Who would give a cursed spirit like that such a sweet girl's name? Miwa Chisei couldn't understand it.
Grief filled Yuta Okkotsu's eyes, and his voice rose.
"Don't joke about this! Rika... she's dangerous!"
"It's fine, kid. Against the two of us, even five Rikas might not stand a chance-"
Now isn't the time to show off. His mind really does go wherever it pleases.
"We're here to help you solve this problem. I'm Miwa Chisei, and this is Satoru Gojo. We're both part of Jujutsu Society."
"It's another world beneath the ordinary one, dedicated to dealing with things like what's attached to you."
"She's a cursed spirit, something formed from human curses. Ordinary people can't see them. Only jujutsu sorcerers can. I'm sorry, but your life as an ordinary person is about to be disrupted."
Yuta Okkotsu was a perceptive, sensitive boy, and he immediately understood what Miwa Chisei meant.
"Can Rika... be healed?"
A