The Jujutsu High Medical Room was bathed in warm yellow afternoon light as Gu Yue Shoko withdrew her hand from Junpei's left shoulder.
She picked up his chart, flipped through two pages, and spoke calmly to Nagi Yoshino beside her:
"The wound has healed very well. Everyday activities, writing, and eating won't be affected, but his arm can't be reattached."
On the hospital bed, Junpei Yoshino lowered his head to look at his empty left sleeve, then quickly looked up and smiled at his mother, lifting his right arm to touch the back of her hand:
"It's okay, Mom. It was an accident. I'm lucky enough to be alive.
"My right hand works just fine. I can still help you out when you cook."
Junpei's mother gripped her son's hand tightly. Her eyes were terribly red, but she bit her lip and held back her tears.
Junpei had already discussed it with Qingxiao and Shoko. He didn't want his mother involved in these dark matters; it was enough to treat it as an attack by thugs, an ordinary accident.
Mother and son stayed another ten minutes or so before thanking Shoko repeatedly and leaving.
When they reached the door, Junpei deliberately fell half a step behind and gave Qingxiao a slight nod of thanks.
Only after the footsteps in the hallway faded completely did the Medical Room fall quiet again.
Itadori stood there picking at the seam of his trousers. After holding back for a long while, he finally edged closer, his voice muffled:
"Teacher, back on the rooftop, you said that if Junpei wanted revenge on that last guy, you'd really help him?
"I thought you were just saying that to comfort him because you were afraid he'd do something drastic."
"Why would I do that?" Qingxiao glanced at