So even you could feel guilty, Sukuna...

Early the next morning.

Itadori held up the 100,000 he had received the night before and asked Sukuna.

"It's the weekend, so we don't have classes. How about we go shopping?"

[Sure.]

Sukuna nodded with reserved dignity.

We absolutely had to go!!

He had barely tried any food outside school, and he wanted clothes and snacks too!

[Remember to buy clothes for me, so I can wear them when I come out at night.]

He had no intention of wearing that tacky uniform every day. It was all black and not remotely attractive.

He could put up with it at school during the day, but when he took over at night, he had to wear something else!

"Clothes, huh..."

Itadori gave it some thought. He wasn't familiar with the area.

After thinking it over, he told Sukuna.

"Why don't I invite Megumi Fushiguro? He'll definitely know where to buy clothes, and he can help us choose."

Sukuna paused, then asked in confusion, [...Are you sure he'd be willing to help choose clothes for 'me'?]

Itadori laughed. "Let's just ask!"

He sprang up and ran next door.

"Megumi Fushiguro!"

"Shopping?"

Megumi Fushiguro looked thoroughly unimpressed.

He wasn't going. If he had that much spare time, he'd rather spar a few more rounds with Maki.

"Yeah, I got my mission bonus last night, so I wanted to buy Sukuna some clothes! Could you help us choose?"

Megumi Fushiguro froze mid-step as he was about to leave. He slowly turned back, his eyes widening.

"What did you say... buy... Sukuna... clothes?"

Itadori said, "Yeah. Sukuna comes out during our special training at night, so he can wear them then."

Megumi Fushiguro: "..."

"Got it." Megumi Fushiguro took a deep breath. "I'll go with you."

He had to keep an eye on Itadori and Sukuna so they didn't cause any trouble...!

After a moment's thought, he added firmly, "We can buy clothes for him, but you absolutely cannot switch with him to let him try them on!"

"Huh?"

Itadori hesitated. Could they find anything suitable without switching? Even he could tell that his style was completely different from Sukuna's.

"Not even long enough to try something on? ...Just in the fitting room..."

"No!"

The corner of Megumi Fushiguro's eye twitched. You really were planning to let him out?

Realizing that Itadori had grown far too used to letting Sukuna take over, he had to stress the point again.

"He can come out during special training because Teacher Gojo is there. Normally, Sukuna isn't allowed out under any circumstances."

Itadori wilted for a moment, then immediately perked up again.

"Then if I invite Teacher Gojo, we can switch, right?"

He whipped out his phone.

Megumi Fushiguro: "..."

Teacher Gojo didn't have time for this nonsense! Were you seriously underestimating how busy a Special Grade Sorcerer was?!

Ijichi was concentrating on driving, with humanity's strongest sitting beside him, leisurely admiring the scenery.

They were heading to the school to discuss business with Principal Yaga.

A phone suddenly rang. Ijichi didn't move, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mr. Gojo take out his phone, glance at the screen, and answer with a curl of his lips.

A bad feeling rose in his chest.

"Hey, Yuji. What's up?"

"..."

"Hmm? That sounds fun. Sure, I happen to be free. I'll be right over~"

"...Wait... why don't you head straight to XX and wait for me there? Megumi knows where it is~"

"Yep, okay. See you soon~"

He cheerfully hung up.

Ijichi: ...

??? Since when were you free? Weren't you going to see Principal Yaga?

"Ijichi~"

Gojo's voice sent a shudder through him. He answered shakily, "Wh-what is it?"

"Change of destination. Take us to XX."

Just as he'd feared!

Cold sweat trickled down Ijichi's face, but he bravely persisted. "But, but Principal Yaga..."

"I-ji-chi-"

Gojo drew out his name, his tone growing heavier.

He raised one hand with all five fingers spread, then pointed to it with his other hand and asked Ijichi with a smile, "What do you think this is?"

Ijichi: "..."

A hand that could slap him in the face!

"Yes! U-understood!"

Ijichi swiftly compromised, with his principles firmly intact.

Forty minutes later.

Gojo got out of the car and cheerfully told Ijichi.

"Just tell the principal I ran into a Special Grade curse and need some time to deal with it. I'll see him later~"

He wasn't lying. Sukuna was a Special Grade curse, wasn't he~?

Ijichi: ...Thank you for even coming up with an excuse for me. I was so moved, I could prostrate myself.

"Hiss-"

Having arrived at the shop a little earlier, Itadori couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath at its excessively luxurious decor.

He hardly dared step inside. Never in his life had he visited a shop that screamed "expensive" from top to bottom.

Watching Megumi Fushiguro calmly approach the entrance, he couldn't help grabbing him.

"Are you sure this is the place?"

Megumi Fushiguro glanced at him.

"Relax. This shop belongs to Teacher Gojo's family. If he told us to come here, that means he's paying today."

Itadori: "..."

!!! What?!

He whipped his head back toward the entrance-

Teacher Gojo's family was that rich?!

The moment they entered, they were greeted by a perfectly synchronized chorus of "Welcome!" The staff lining either side-suits on one side, maid uniforms on the other-were clearly professionally trained. In the old days, they would have served the nobility.

"Hello, Miss Mori."

Megumi Fushiguro greeted one of the sharp, capable-looking women with practiced ease.

Miss Mori, a beautiful woman who looked about thirty, nodded with a smile.

"It's been a while, Young Master Fushiguro."

Itadori: "...!"

...Young Master Fushiguro?!

His eyes lit up as he looked at Megumi Fushiguro.

-People actually called Megumi Fushiguro 'young master'?!

He was telling Kugisaki as soon as they got back!

Looking both resigned to and accustomed to the title, Megumi Fushiguro introduced Itadori beside him. "This is Itadori, one of Teacher Gojo's students. We're choosing clothes for him today. Teacher Gojo will be here shortly."

"Of course, Young Master Fushiguro, Mr. Itadori. This way, please."

Itadori followed Megumi Fushiguro farther inside.

He sneakily leaned closer to Megumi Fushiguro.

His voice was full of teasing.

"Why does she call you 'young master'?"

Rather than answer, Megumi Fushiguro hooked an arm around Itadori's neck and dragged him inside-the former school delinquent wasn't someone to provoke lightly!

Once they were led to the section of menswear suitable for students, Itadori was instantly dazzled by the countless clothes.

He had no idea where to start, so he asked Sukuna inside him.

"Sukuna, see anything you like?"

Sukuna, equally overwhelmed: [...]

[Let's take our time and look through them one by one...]

...After all, given their finances, this was probably the only time in their lives they would ever come here.

Itadori walked over to a rack, pulled out a random garment, and instinctively checked the price tag first.

"Hiss- Megumi Fushiguro, the clothes here are so expensive. This costs eighteen thousand!"

Itadori spoke quietly to Megumi Fushiguro.

Megumi Fushiguro frowned, sensing something was off, and leaned over to check the tag.

Just as he'd thought.

"Itadori..."

"Didn't you miss a zero?"

Itadori: "..."

He quickly looked down again.

!!! One hundred and eighty thousand!!

With trembling hands, he carefully hung the garment back up.

That one piece of clothing cost more than everything he owned put together!

"Well? Found anything you like?"

Satoru Gojo's voice suddenly came from behind them. He had finally arrived.

Itadori turned to his teacher and scratched his head sheepishly.

"Teacher Gojo, it's too expensive..."

Gojo smiled. "Pick whatever you like. It's my treat today-consider it a gift. Megumi and Yuji, you can choose a few things too."

Itadori instantly perked up. "Really? Thank you, Teacher!"

Megumi Fushiguro: ...Listen to that. Just listen... He and Itadori were definitely an afterthought. Gojo clearly wanted to buy Sukuna clothes and was just including them along the way!

"Mori."

Gojo suddenly gave Miss Mori a meaningful look.

Miss Mori immediately grew serious and stepped away to give instructions to the staff. Soon, only Miss Mori and two other attendants remained in the shop.

Gojo confirmed that he recognized both of them and nodded in satisfaction.

All three who remained were family staff who knew something of the Jujutsu world. They were already familiar with strange people and phenomena and wouldn't carelessly gossip.

He turned to Itadori with a smile. "Yuji, you can let Sukuna take over now~"

"Huh? Really?!"

Itadori instinctively glanced at Miss Mori and the others.

"Of course. It's my family's shop, after all~"

Gojo offered no further explanation, but easily dispelled Itadori's concerns. Itadori happily switched with Sukuna at once.

Black cursed markings appeared.

Sukuna opened his eyes. When he wasn't speaking, his aloof, faintly sinister air was completely different from Itadori's.

"All right, let's start picking things out~"

Gojo rubbed his hands together, his voice brimming with obvious delight.

"What kind of clothes do you like, Sukuna?"

Watching Gojo's eager expression, Sukuna felt the corner of his eye twitch. He had a distinct feeling he was doomed.

After hesitating for a moment, he spoke.

"...Something loose that won't restrict my movement. Preferably white."

Gojo didn't look particularly reliable, but telling him couldn't hurt. Besides, Sukuna could pick out clothes for himself too!

He liked white. He didn't know why; he just really liked how clean and relaxing the color looked.

Itadori: Yep! His clean-freak Sukuna-one more preference noted! ✓ +1!~

"All right! Megumi, come on, help me pick something for him!"

Gojo darted around, swiftly browsing the racks. Megumi Fushiguro shook his head helplessly and began looking at a more leisurely pace.

Watching Satoru Gojo's unreliable retreating figure, Sukuna decisively headed for a clothes rack himself.

Better do it myself. I'm afraid I won't be able to wear a single thing Gojo picks out in public!

He soon took out a white casual hoodie-after seeing Tiger wear this style for so long, he had grown used to it himself.

Besides, it would suit Tiger too, so they could switch seamlessly.

Beside him, Megumi Fushiguro handed over a predominantly white color-block jacket with black and beige accents. Sukuna thanked him, took it, and unfolded it.

Hmm, pretty stylish...

Sukuna was pleased. Although Megumi Fushiguro had never wanted him to switch out, now that he actually had, Megumi showed no strange reaction. His expression was much the same as when he looked at Tiger.

(Megumi Fushiguro: Could it be because you both look like a massive headache...?

Sukuna glanced back at Gojo, who was still choosing clothes, then turned and headed into the fitting room first.

Hurry up and try them on. Try as many as possible-there won't be another chance after this!

Even if I don't buy them, at least I can enjoy looking a little longer!

Inside the fitting room, Sukuna changed into the clothes he had picked and immediately heard Itadori's delighted voice.

[Sukuna, you look good in light colors too!]

He had only ever seen Sukuna wearing his school uniform. This was his first time seeing Sukuna in white.

Looking at his Sukuna in the mirror, his eyes shone, and he felt just a tiny bit excited.

The fabric was high quality, and Sukuna had both the presence and the figure to match. He made a simple hoodie look like something from a runway show.

Even as Itadori rejoiced, he couldn't help worrying.

[But the clothes here are so expensive... Can we really let Teacher Gojo buy something this pricey for us?]

Sukuna thought about the hundred thousand in his pocket, then looked at the two hundred and ten thousand on the price tag. He couldn't help wincing.

"...What are you panicking about? Teacher Gojo himself said we could pick whatever we wanted, didn't he?"

A few seconds later, Itadori's voice drifted over.

[...So even you feel guilty, Sukuna...]

Sukuna said, "I do not."

Itadori replied, [You never used to call him 'Teacher' Gojo...]

Sukuna said, "..."

...Life's hard enough without you calling me out, bro!

-Besides, he's footing the bill. Of course that's different!

After confirming that the clothes he had on were fine, he tried on the jacket Megumi Fushiguro had given him. It fit just as well.

The black, white, and beige color-block design was simple yet lively, lending even his normally cool, distant air a touch of youthful charm.

What do I do? I want both...

"Sukuna, Sukuna! Come out and try this outfit!"

Gojo's cheerful voice came from outside.

Sukuna's scalp prickled. Bracing himself mentally, he stepped out.

He was a little surprised to see the light khaki sweater and long cream wool coat in Gojo's hands.

Apart from being wrong for the season, the clothes were actually quite sensible choices.

Good. For once, he's being reliable.

Sukuna obligingly took the clothes into the fitting room.

When he came out this time, everyone's eyes lit up.

The soft cream tone nicely softened Sukuna's indifferent expression. Add a pair of thin, half-rim glasses, and he would be the picture of aloof, restrained allure.

He positively radiated high-fashion model appeal.

Satoru Gojo immediately decided to keep picking!

And so things spiraled out of control-

Unwilling to miss out, Miss Mori joined the clothes-picking team.

The two of them also stirred some strange competitive urge in Megumi Fushiguro. He stopped choosing clothes for himself and turned his attention to tackling Sukuna's wardrobe instead.

They picked out all sorts of attractive styles and handed them to Sukuna, who casually accepted everything-he wanted to see how he looked in different clothes too.

Before long, a one-man fashion show was underway in the shop. Every time Sukuna changed into another outfit, he came out to show it off.

He had an excellent figure and a more mature presence than Itadori. Even casual student wear took on a different flavor on him, and he could pull off any style beautifully.

Thoroughly enjoying himself, Gojo finally coaxed Sukuna into a burgundy shirt paired with a black suit jacket with a subtle woven pattern-

The shirt was tucked into his trousers, fully revealing the contours of his lean waist. Though the color was notoriously difficult to pull off, it suited Sukuna surprisingly well.

Sukuna tugged at his tie, slung the black suit jacket over his shoulder, and turned his head to look at himself in the mirror. The colors were dark, but perhaps... they weren't so bad?

Yep! It's all because I'm so damn handsome!~

Sitting inside Sukuna's mind, Itadori could only think that his Sukuna was preening like a peacock fanning its tail.

Standing nearby, Miss Mori watched the scene with a composed face while cheering inwardly.

This gentleman whom the clan head called "Sukuna" had a sunny, docile appearance contrasting with a hint of sinister, cold arrogance. Suddenly dressed in these dark red tones, he had instantly acquired a certain seductive charm.

She turned to look at the handsome clan head in his light blue shirt, then at Young Master Megumi Fushiguro, with his delicate features and aloof air...

The three of them looked far too gorgeous standing together!!

She couldn't help covering her face as all sorts of wonderful images sprang up in her mind.

Ah, the world...

Was such a wonderful place!!~~~