I'm starting to hate the thought of leaving...

Sukuna's birthday celebration ended amid a lively, cheerful atmosphere.

Everyone stayed to help him tidy his room, removing the cream-covered clear plastic sheets they had draped over the bed, desk, wardrobe, and other furniture beforehand and taking them away.

Before long, the messy room was clean and tidy again.

Looking at his newly restored room, Sukuna instantly felt refreshed.

He practically radiated the bliss of a neat freak whose suffering had been cured~

Thank goodness they had taken precautions. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared stay in a room covered in cream tonight...

Thank you, my thoughtful friends!

Once everyone else had left, Itadori motioned for Sukuna to go over to the wardrobe.

When he opened the door, he found a beautifully wrapped Black Scarf inside.

[This is your birthday present.]

Itadori sounded a little embarrassed.

He remembered seeing Sukuna wearing a black scarf like this with his kimono in his Innate Domain.

While shopping with Kugisaki yesterday, he had spotted a very similar one in a store and made a note of it.

He hadn't had enough money, so he had borrowed some from Megumi Fushiguro and the others. He would pay them back when he received his next mission bonus.

When they asked what he needed the money for, he only said he was buying Sukuna a present, without telling them what it was.

He wanted this to be his own... the first gift he personally gave Sukuna.

[Sukuna, happy birthday.]

Holding the scarf, Sukuna's hand trembled slightly.

After a moment of stunned silence, his crimson eyes softened.

"Mm..."

His lips curved, a smile shining in his eyes.

"Thank you, Yuji."

He knew at a glance that this was Yuji's gift. After all, only Yuji had seen how he dressed in his Innate Domain.

Unable to resist, he immediately unwrapped it and put it on.

It was so warm.

He stroked the scarf, feeling its soft texture beneath his fingertips.

Just like the feeling Tiger gave him, it was warm enough to set his heart aglow.

Without realizing it, his lips curved into a smile he couldn't possibly suppress.

[Sukuna...]

Yuji's tentative voice suddenly sounded in his heart.

"Hm?"

He hummed in reply, in an excellent mood.

Yuji continued cautiously, [This scarf... hasn't been washed yet...]

Sukuna: "..."

The smile instantly vanished from his face, and he hurriedly tugged the scarf off.

Without a moment's hesitation, he charged into the bathroom-

That night, Itadori, who had taken over again, lay in bed, still too excited by the successful birthday party to sleep.

Sukuna was even worse in his inner world. Thinking about the birthday party everyone had thrown for him and the scarf he had received, he rolled around on the pile of bones in delight.

After grinning to himself for ages, he finally couldn't resist asking Yuji.

[What made you decide to celebrate today?]

Itadori smiled. "Because it's August 8! How could we miss such a perfect day?"

August 8...

Something stirred in Sukuna's heart.

"8"... meant good fortune... and infinite possibilities, didn't it...?

A light seemed to flicker in his eyes, and his heart wouldn't stop pounding.

It took a long time before Sukuna spoke.

He lowered his voice, as though trying to conceal the emotion wavering in it.

[...What should I do? I'm starting to hate the thought of leaving...]

He spoke softly.

He had originally planned to find a way to make himself disappear once all twenty fingers were collected, so he wouldn't drag Tiger down with him.

After all, he was the only one who should disappear. Tiger was innocent.

As for whether he himself would die, he hadn't felt much about it.

But now...

He was starting to hate the thought of leaving...

Suddenly, he didn't really want to die anymore.

Hearing him, Itadori answered with a smile, "Mm... me too."

He was reluctant to leave everyone, too. In his mind, he was certain he would disappear together with Sukuna someday.

He sighed.

"If only things could stay like this forever..."

He thought of Kugisaki's wish.

How wonderful it would be if things could stay like this forever, with everyone together.

Watching the clear moonlight stream through the window, he reached out as though trying to catch that beam of light.

The moonlight reflected in his light brown eyes, giving them a bright, gentle glow.

He suddenly smiled and said to Sukuna,

"...It'll be all right. I think Teacher Gojo will find a way."

"He definitely wouldn't want you to disappear, either."

[...Mm.]

Sukuna gave a quiet reply in his heart.

He sighed softly.

He thought to himself.

I really am an insatiably greedy curse-

Once I get even a little, I want more.

Now, I don't just want Tiger to survive...

I also want Gojo and his students to live safe and sound, leading the lives they want.

I want every one of them to be happy...

...And...

...I want...

...to survive, too...

He covered his face with his hand.

He forcibly buried that newly surfaced wish in the deepest recesses of his heart.

Ah, stop thinking about it.

Sleep. Just sleep.

It's not as though wishing will make any of this happen.

If.

He rolled over, and another tiny thought suddenly surfaced in his heart-

If only...

...I weren't a curse...

Sukuna curled into a ball, burying his face in the soft white sleeve of his kimono.

His eyelashes trembled a few times as he tried his hardest to fall asleep quickly.

His strained breathing gradually evened out.

As though that could stop the desperate hope that kept welling up inside him.

Then, a short while later, he suddenly sat up in irritation and glared at the mountain of bones beneath him.

...When would he finally get a bed in this lousy Innate Domain?

These bones were digging into him everywhere!

The next morning.

Nobara angrily pushed open the classroom door and shouted at Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro, who were already inside.

"The Goodwill Event in a month-we. Are. Going. To. Win!!"

Last night, she had learned by chance that Maki had no cursed energy whatsoever and had fought her way up on physical combat skills alone. Yet her own family kept obstructing her promotions-even though Maki could easily defeat Grade 2 curses, her Jujutsu Sorcerer rank was still stuck at Grade 4.

Hearing that had left Nobara seething-why were bastards like that everywhere? She hated people who couldn't stand seeing someone talented succeed!

"You got it!!"

Itadori enthusiastically raised his hand in agreement.

Megumi Fushiguro said nothing, merely nodding with an utterly serious expression.

As long as they won the Goodwill Event, word of Maki's strength would spread throughout the jujutsu world. Then it wouldn't be so easy for the Zenin Clan to keep holding back her rank.

Maki had always guided his training. More than anyone, he wanted this to work.

After voicing his agreement, Itadori suddenly thought of Sukuna and couldn't help sighing.

"It's a shame you can't take part in the Goodwill Event, Sukuna."

Itadori was especially disappointed about that.

The Goodwill Event was public, with the entire Jujutsu Society watching. Even Teacher Gojo had repeatedly warned him that he absolutely must not let Sukuna out.

After all, although the higher-ups of the Jujutsu Society knew Sukuna was inside Itadori, his being there was one thing; the two getting along well enough to freely switch back and forth was quite another.

That would give the conservatives the upper hand, and they would drag Itadori off to be executed in no time. It was also why Megumi Fushiguro had previously kept refusing to let Sukuna take over.

Sukuna felt a little regretful, too.

But he wasn't as disappointed as Itadori. Instead, he opened a mouth to comfort him.

"It's fine. Think about it-if I joined in, wouldn't I take everyone out instantly? I'm not going to bully a bunch of kids."

It was an exchange between the youngsters from two schools. Could he, the strongest powerhouse from a thousand years ago, really stick his nose into it? Of course not.

"Tiger, just focus on fighting. I'll watch you from my front-row seat inside you. Good luck!~"

He encouraged him, not the slightest bit worried about Itadori. His Tiger was already as strong as a Semi-Grade 1~!

Hehe, just thinking about it makes me happy!~

"Yeah!" Itadori replied with a smile.

He would win, no matter what. He absolutely couldn't let Sukuna down!