Sukuna... had amnesia?

((^o^)/This is a healing story that turns the angst into sweetness, starting from episode one of Jujutsu Kaisen. Hope you all enjoy it~!)

At night, on the school's rooftop.

A deafening series of crashes rang out as parts of the building shattered.

A huge, grotesque curse chased a pink-haired boy onto the rooftop, seized him in its palm, and opened its mouth to devour him.

Without hesitation, the boy swallowed the "Sukuna's Finger" he carried-the impact of the cursed object, a finger imbued with cursed energy, instantly knocked him unconscious. Several eerie yet intricate black Cursed Markings slowly emerged on his face.

Inside him, a roused soul quietly awakened-

Before he could open his eyes, he felt something gripping him. A rotten stench flooded his nostrils, making his skin crawl.

Claws rapidly extended from the boy's fingertips. His body moved faster than his thoughts, lashing out hard-powerful black cursed energy erupted from within him, shredding whatever held him.

He relaxed a little and opened his eyes to a beautiful night sky, deep and dusky blue.

He stood on the school's rooftop, somewhat dazed.

...How... did I end up here?

For a moment, he couldn't connect the unfamiliar scenery before him with his memories from before he passed out.

I clearly remembered... remembered...

...Huh?

His expression froze, and his mind raced.

Yet no matter how hard he tried to remember, his memories seemed sealed inside a thick fog, yielding not a single piece of information.

Never mind why he was here-he couldn't even remember his own name...!

Cold sweat slid down his forehead.

He hurriedly looked down at himself-

He wore a bright yellow hoodie and jeans... Well, he was probably a teenage boy.

-I'm male. Got it. Information +1.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a phone.

His eyes instantly lit up-

Then, when he flipped the phone open-the light went out.

The phone needed a password to unlock.

-And he didn't know the password.

Silently tucking the phone back into his pocket, he searched some more. He didn't have a single bill on him.

He sighed. He was so broke.

Without money, even if he went to the police station for help, he'd have to walk there...

And besides...

He lowered his head and looked at his wrists. The rings of black markings looked awfully like a delinquent's tattoos.

Wait, am I a delinquent? If I ask the police for help, will they arrest me first...?

He stared blankly at his hands.

So... do I really have amnesia?

Standing on a rooftop in the middle of the night, with inexplicable memory loss...

Didn't some weird thing attack me just now, too...?

-He felt like misery personified. He desperately needed something different to happen, something to jog his lost memories...

"Don't move!"

An angry shout suddenly came from behind him, nearly stopping his heart.

He turned and saw a black-haired boy dressed in black a short distance away. The boy stared at him with a complicated look, as though a trace of despair had mingled with his pain.

That look...

He grew excited!

-That's definitely the look of someone who knows me!

-Thank goodness!

Though inwardly ecstatic, he worked hard to keep his face composed.

The pain in the other boy's eyes and the murderous intent radiating from him were far too obvious. He couldn't act too excited, so he could only regard him calmly with an impassive face.

...Please, say a little more!

Tell me who you are! More importantly-who I am!!

Then he heard the boy speak.

His voice was heavy with grief, trembling with reluctance.

"You're no longer human."

"..."

*???*

Hey, why are you insulting me?

Blood still trickled from the black-haired boy's forehead, and his clothes were covered in dust and blood. He couldn't help thinking the other boy had it even worse than he did.

But that was no excuse to insult him.

Unless... I'm the one who injured him...?

Looking at that pretty face, he felt that if he really had beaten him up, then he was indeed... pretty inhuman.

Is it too late to apologize?

He desperately wanted to know who he was-the boy before him was his only lead. If he could get him to reveal his identity, he wouldn't mind letting him hit him back.

Fortunately, the boy didn't disappoint him. He continued, pausing between each phrase. The anguish and the weight of something he had no choice but to do made his teeth ache just listening.

"Under jujutsu regulations,"

"Yuji Itadori will now be classified as a 'curse'"

"Exorcism!"

Great. I don't understand.

Still, amid all those unfamiliar terms, he managed to seize on one crucial point-

...Yuji Itadori! So my name is Yuji Itadori!

Knowing his name was half the battle. At least when he asked the police for help, he could tell them who he was!

Thank you, unknown black-haired boy!

Of course...

It would be even better if you could dial back that murderous intent.

The killing intent washing over him gradually made his body tense.

His fingertips moved instinctively as he assumed a fighting stance.

Although the boy had told him his name as he'd hoped, he looked ready to fight to the death. Asking questions probably wouldn't get him any more information.

He considered how to calm him down.

But just then-his body suddenly moved on its own, as though it had slipped out of his control.

Helplessly, he watched his body straighten from its tense fighting stance and cheerfully greet the boy opposite him. The voice was bright and distinctly youthful:

"Megumi Fushiguro! Did you see that? It worked! That curse just got exorcised!"

"But for some reason, it feels like there's someone else in my head now? That's so weird."

...His body had suddenly escaped his control, and another voice had started speaking. The bizarre situation left him a little stunned.

What... is going on?

Why has my body started talking on its own?!

"What do you mean, your body? This is my body!"

That bright, youthful voice rang out again in indignant protest.

Itadori raised a hand and tapped his head, asking Megumi Fushiguro in confusion, "There really is someone else in my head. Didn't you say eating the finger would just give me cursed energy? Does mine come with a bonus person?"

Megumi Fushiguro stared blankly at Itadori.

No, he wasn't sure this was Itadori. He couldn't tell whether the speaker was really Itadori or Sukuna possessing him.

But everything that had just happened proved Sukuna had indeed revived inside him. In that case, whichever it was, the higher-ups would certainly order Itadori's execution.

All he could do for him was carry it out himself... and let Itadori die painlessly.

But...

He tried to position his hands to summon his shikigami, but they trembled uncontrollably.

He didn't even know whether it was because he was too badly injured or because he simply couldn't bring himself to do it.

Across from him, Itadori still looked thrilled at having saved him and the upperclassmen. He happily shared the joy of their victory, asking whether he wanted to hurry to the hospital...

Yet he had to kill him.

Never before had Megumi Fushiguro so hated his duty as a jujutsu sorcerer to exorcise curses.

"Oh my~, what's going on here?"

A familiar voice suddenly came from behind him, interrupting Megumi Fushiguro's cursed technique. He quickly turned toward the newcomer, his eyes lighting up.

As though he'd found a lifeline, his tense body instantly relaxed.

"Teacher Gojo!"

"Yep!~"

The tall, white-haired young teacher leaned to one side, casually greeting his student.

"Did you find the special grade cursed object?"

Hearing that, Itadori thought for a moment, then quickly raised his hand.

"I think I ate that thing."

Gojo paused.

He ate... Ryomen Sukuna's special grade cursed object?

-Isn't that interesting?

He approached Itadori and could indeed sense the curse's presence inside him. His lips curved slightly, and he immediately urged Itadori to switch with the other occupant, brimming with interest.

"Then switch with that Sukuna inside you for ten seconds. Switch back once those ten seconds are up."

Gojo stepped back twice, tossed the sweets he'd bought on the way to Megumi Fushiguro, and braced his hands on his knees to start warming up.

He looked so relaxed and casual, as though he were about to take a stroll rather than face the legendary King of Curses.

"All right, then..." Itadori considered it and agreed.

Perhaps because Sukuna had only killed the curse earlier without hurting Megumi Fushiguro, Itadori didn't think he was particularly dangerous. The boy agreed quite readily.

He closed his eyes. The black markings resurfaced, and "he," trapped deep inside the body, emerged once more.

"He" opened his eyes.

He looked at Gojo and Megumi Fushiguro, who seemed relaxed but were actually on guard. His face was calm, his gaze complicated.

During the time he'd been suppressed, he'd deduced one important fact from their conversation:

He wasn't Yuji Itadori.

The true owner of this body was the boy who'd been controlling it just now.

And he himself... was merely the soul of someone else possessing him.

He inhabited this body, yet didn't even have control over it.

So...

He slowly spoke, with a barely perceptible trace of uncertainty and confusion.

"That 'Sukuna' you mentioned...

...Is that me?"

Yes, right now, all he wanted to know was...

Whether this new word was actually his name!

Gojo, who appeared to be warming up casually but was actually ready to fight the King of Curses: "..."

Megumi Fushiguro, who had been agonizing over whether Itadori would live or die after Sukuna possessed him, so tense he'd forgotten to breathe: "..."

In the middle of his warm-up, Gojo nearly slid into a sideways split. Fortunately, his formidable physical prowess let him stop his slipping foot.

He straightened and looked at Sukuna, an unreadable curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

Black Cursed Markings matching the records of Ryomen Sukuna had emerged on the boy opposite him, and cold, sinister cursed energy radiated freely from him.

No matter how he looked at it, this was Sukuna himself.

But...

Why would Sukuna ask such a strange question as whether "Sukuna" meant him?

Did he not know he was Sukuna?

Gojo's mind began racing.

He didn't think Sukuna was messing with them. After all... no one would ask such a lame question.

And the bewilderment on his face was genuine-the kind that made someone question their entire existence.

So, because there was only one finger, had the resurrected being retained his cursed energy but none of his memories?

An idea struck him, and he spoke probingly, his tone natural and light.

"Hmm? Aren't you?-The legendary 'King of Curses,' Ryomen Sukuna."

...Phew...

The question in response didn't annoy "him." Instead, he let out a long, inward sigh of relief.

Looks like that's it...

This "Sukuna" really does mean me!

His spirits lifted.

So his name was Ryomen Sukuna!

Although "Ryomen" was a bit of a strange surname, having a name was a good thing. Maybe he would remember more later...

Feeling thoroughly refreshed now that he had finally recovered his name, he noticed that the white-haired young man opposite him seemed to have no intention of fighting, so he tentatively asked his next question:

"Then what is a 'curse'?"

These people seemed to have mentioned the word "curse" several times just now. He had a vague feeling it had something to do with him.

Gojo: "..."

The "King of Curses" was asking what a curse was. Was this one of the year's top ten deadpan jokes?

He looked at Sukuna, only to find him calmly waiting for an answer, his expression almost expectant.

He genuinely wanted to ask that question and was sincerely waiting for an answer, without a trace of mockery or sarcasm.

Gojo had complete faith in everything his Six Eyes told him, which only made him feel more certain that he had stumbled upon something truly fascinating.

If that question was sincere... then this resurrected Sukuna hadn't just lost his memories. He didn't even know the basics of Jujutsu Society!

No knowledge of jujutsu and no memories, yet he possessed the King of Curses' cursed energy...

Someone like that-

He wanted to drag the guy into Jujutsu High right this instant and put him through his paces!

A certain delinquent white-haired teacher's lips curled into a delighted smile.

Sukuna never got an answer to his question about what a curse was, because once his ten seconds were up, he was switched out.

Just as he perked up, ready to keep listening to the people outside chatting from within Itadori's body, he saw the white-haired teacher reach out and tap Itadori's forehead with a finger.

That sight... why did it look so familiar, as though he had seen it somewhere before? Before Sukuna could finish that thought, everything went black, and he fell asleep along with him.

When he woke again, he saw his host, Yuji Itadori, talking to a female student with a heavy expression.

"...It wasn't your fault. It was mine for finding that finger..."

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

He heard the boy speak with his head bowed, his voice stripped of the sunshine he had heard in it before.

It felt as though he had sunk into the deepest part of the ocean, unable to breathe.

For some reason, it made him uncomfortable. The boy shouldn't sound like that.

But he didn't know what had happened between them, so he could only listen in silence and pretend he wasn't there.

When Itadori left and went outside, he couldn't help wanting to say something.

But what could he say?

His empty head failed to come up with a suitable topic, even after a long while.

He couldn't exactly talk about curses. Although he really wanted to know what they were, it seemed Itadori's upperclassmen had been injured by one, making it an obviously inappropriate topic right now.

He couldn't go poking at someone else's wounds.

Before he could think of a suitable topic, Itadori suddenly spoke.

His tone wasn't cheerful like last night, nor sad like a moment ago. Instead, it held a faint note of gratitude and relief.

"Sukuna, thank you."

...Huh?

He froze, then quickly replied, "What?"

"If it weren't for you, I couldn't have saved my upperclassmen or Megumi Fushiguro. That curse might've killed all of us last night."

Oh...

"No big deal."

Sukuna replied coolly, with absolutely no recollection of the incident.

He didn't even know what a curse was, and last night he had been forcibly logged off before he could hear the answer.

It was practically a screen-time limiter, except it counted by the second.

"...When that curse grabbed me, thank goodness you switched in and took care of it..."

"...I really didn't expect you to come back to life inside me, though. At the time, I thought I'd just be able to use cursed energy..."

"But why did you help us? Didn't Teacher Gojo say you were the King of Curses?"

Itadori recalled all the things Teacher Gojo had told him about Ryomen Sukuna in that sealed room earlier.

Although it all sounded terrifying and dangerous, he simply couldn't connect that guy with the person inside his body.

...Right, the "King of Curses"!

Sukuna grew interested. He remembered hearing them mention curses and the King of Curses several times that night.

So I'm the "King of Curses"? That sounds pretty impressive...

Although the word "curse" felt a little off, like standard-issue villain material, he was still a "king."

Could anyone called a "king" possibly be a nobody?

Sukuna raised his head a little higher, feeling as though some new, extraordinary aura was rising within him.

I'm a king, after all.

He couldn't help getting smug.

So I'm actually someone important. Looks like I'll have to mind what I say and do from now on.

I absolutely have to maintain my kingly dignity!

...Come to think of it, as a king, shouldn't I have some retainers or soldiers or something?

Imagining himself leading a mighty army and sweeping away his enemies in all his badass glory, Sukuna felt wonderful.

He couldn't wait to learn more about himself.

So what exactly is a "curse"?

Wait...

Sukuna frowned.

Itadori's words from a moment ago echoed in his head.

"When that curse grabbed me, thank goodness you switched in and took care of it..."

A bad feeling suddenly rose in his heart.

When he was grabbed... switched in... took care of it...

...Hold on. That damned curse thing couldn't be the disgusting, foul-smelling creature I slapped away last night, could it?

That thing was a curse?

...And I'm the King of Curses??

Doesn't that make me the same kind of thing as that monstrosity from last night???

...Wait. Stop right there.

Sukuna instantly felt a little dizzy. He could accept not being human, but he absolutely could not accept being a slime...!

The scene he had imagined of leading a mighty army suddenly became one of charging at his enemies with a horde of unbearably foul-smelling slimes, while he sat regally surrounded by them...

Even without a body, he felt his head spin.

Is it too late to send myself back and get Reforge?

"...Give me a moment."

With a grief-stricken expression, Sukuna clutched his spasming heart and made one final, desperate attempt.

"By curse, do you mean that thing I slapped away last night?"

Itadori: "Huh?...Yeah."

Sukuna: "...Do all curses look like that?"

Itadori: "..."

Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?

Itadori muttered inwardly.

Teacher Gojo had said this Sukuna might have lost his memories. He hadn't expected it to actually be true.

He died a thousand years ago, and now he's lost his memories too... Poor guy.

A hint of sympathy entered Itadori's voice.

"Well... I'm not really sure either. I only found out things like curses existed last night. But that whole swarm of curses we saw did seem to look more or less like that."

Great.

Sukuna thought.

I can stop existing now.

-This time next year will be the anniversary of my death.

Sukuna's face turned ashen, his eyes lifeless.