If only I knew Reverse Cursed Technique

Life with a training dummy was a bitter ordeal.

Itadori sat all alone at the edge of the field, clutching his dummy in both hands and staring blankly at the center, where Nobara was running around happily(?).

Meanwhile, Panda was chasing after her even more happily.

On the other side, Megumi Fushiguro held a new training spear and received some loving attention from Maki.

All Itadori could enjoy were the dummy's occasional "gentle caresses."

After a vicious punch to the back of his head left him seeing stars, Itadori decisively hugged the dummy in front of him instead. At least this way, he could see the fists coming and brace himself.

The downside was that his entire face was now a horrific sight.

Enough to break hearts and bring tears to anyone who saw it.

Even Sukuna, who had been gleefully enjoying his misery, was getting restless.

[Hey... why don't you take a break? You've been at this for two hours.]

[It's only your first training session. You don't have to push yourself this hard...]

"It's okay. I've almost figured out the trick."

Although Itadori had been beaten badly, he also felt that this training was exactly what he needed.

He had to learn to control his cursed energy as soon as possible. Otherwise... what if Sukuna really recovered his cursed technique and was willing to share it with him, only for him to be unable to use it?

At that thought, Itadori poured in cursed energy even more earnestly.

Sukuna sighed and shook his head.

Could he admit that he was worried Itadori's face would get so battered that it would ruin his dashing appearance when he took over?

He and Yuji had agreed that he would get three hours of freedom every night!

What was he supposed to do if this beating continued?

[What a shame. If only I knew Reverse Cursed Technique.]

Sukuna remembered that during their lesson that morning, Megumi Fushiguro had specifically mentioned how skilled cursed spirits were at healing.

Itadori asked curiously, "Sukuna, you don't know Reverse Cursed Technique?"

[I tried just now. It didn't seem to work.]

"...Could that be because you haven't switched in? I'm controlling this body right now, and I don't know Reverse Cursed Technique yet."

[...Good point. Want to try later?]

"...So we have to wait until tonight? Why don't we try now?"

Itadori was eager to try. His face really hurt, and his eyes were so swollen he could barely see where he was going.

Sukuna said, [...You really have no fear of death, do you? You dare to switch in broad daylight? The second you switch, Megumi Fushiguro will sic his dogs on you. You know that, right?]

Itadori looked utterly relaxed. "It's fine. You're the one who'll get bitten anyway."

Sukuna: [...]???

Itadori coughed twice. "Sorry, sorry. Slip of the tongue."

He hurried to salvage the situation.

"...What I meant was, how about we sneak off to the restroom and switch there?"

No one would notice them there.

Sukuna: ...

So my magnificent transformation has to happen in a restroom?

He agonized over it for a while, then looked again at Itadori's battered face.

His heart softened.

[...Fine... since you're in such a sorry state, I'll do it.]

Though his face was full of displeasure, he agreed anyway. This was his kid, after all. He had to spoil him a little.

"Yay!"

With permission granted, Itadori happily hugged the dummy and dashed toward the restroom.

Not far away, Megumi Fushiguro watched Itadori leave, the corner of his eye twitching involuntarily.

A bad feeling rose in his heart.

"Zenin, sorry for the trouble, but please wait a moment. I'm going to check on Itadori."

He spoke quickly to Maki, then turned and gave chase.

Maki frowned.

Did boys these days even go to the restroom in pairs?

"We're here. Sukuna, are you switching in now?"

Itadori ducked into a stall and spoke excitedly.

[Get out.] Sukuna sounded as though his teeth ached.

Itadori said, "Huh?"

Sukuna said, [...I absolutely refuse to switch in inside a stall... get out. Go stand in front of the mirror.]

"Okay."

Itadori obligingly slipped out.

His Sukuna was getting pickier and pickier...

-It was kind of cute, actually.

Standing before the mirror, Sukuna looked at that horrifically battered face and momentarily had no idea what to say.

[Shall I switch in, then?]

Itadori listened for any sounds around them, then nodded.

"Switch."

Black Cursed Markings slowly emerged.

As the Cursed Markings appeared, Sukuna took control of the body.

The instant he switched in and felt the pain, he had barely formed the thought of healing before he discovered, to his surprise, that his cursed energy had begun moving on its own-

Surging cursed energy enveloped his body almost instantly, and the severe injuries vanished rapidly before his eyes.

Sukuna and Itadori stared in shock at the face in the mirror. In that single second, every injury had disappeared completely. They even had the impression that the wounds had healed before all the Cursed Markings had finished appearing.

[Sukuna... you're amazing!]

[You really do know Reverse Cursed Technique!]

Itadori cheered excitedly.

Now... I never have to worry about getting hurt again!

Sukuna said nothing.

He felt his heart begin pounding fiercely again.

The strange sensation he had experienced once before resurfaced, stirring waves through the fog of his memories.

He kept feeling... that he was very good at healing.

Even better at it than he had imagined.

So...

He rubbed his chin, his expression complicated.

Was I actually a healer?

Inside his inner world, Itadori said excitedly, [I wonder if you can heal other people too, Sukuna...]

[...Megumi Fushiguro said that apparently only Miss Ieiri and Okkotsu, the second-year, can do that at Jujutsu High.]

He could-

Almost instantly, Sukuna had his answer.

He could heal them. Absolutely.

"I can!" he declared confidently, with an air that brooked no doubt. "No matter how serious the injury, I can..."

A voice suddenly rang out from outside, cutting him off-

"YU! JI! I! TA! DO! RI!!!"

Sukuna's voice stopped abruptly. He whipped his head around and saw Megumi Fushiguro walk through the door, radiating towering fury...

His eyes widened as he froze, and then...

He logged off in one second flat!

-Leaving a thoroughly bewildered Yuji staring into Megumi Fushiguro's eyes, where the anger had almost taken physical form.

"Huh? Ah, Megumi Fushiguro... no, it's not like that, I..."

Bam!!

In his panic, Yuji unsurprisingly received some loving attention from the dummy in his arms.

Watching Itadori crouch on the floor, clutching his head in pain with tears in his eyes, Megumi Fushiguro was furious.

He had clearly seen Sukuna standing there just now!

This idiot...

He really had no idea what it meant to die...!

Teacher Gojo and I are doing everything we can to keep him alive, and he just lets Sukuna out in broad daylight.

Was he trying to get himself killed faster?

Still...

Recalling what he had just seen, he fell silent for a second.

...I never thought I'd see the day when I scared Sukuna, a Special Grade, into retreating...

For a moment, his feelings were just a little complicated.