The speakerphone came on, and Madara's calm voice rang out clearly at the end of the bridge.
"You two are there too, aren't you?"
Itadori immediately straightened up and answered the phone loudly, "Yeah, I'm here!"
Kugisaki nodded too, even though she knew Madara couldn't see her. "Yeah."
"In short," Madara's voice came through the phone, still steady, but his words carried considerable weight.
"The danger involved in this mission has indeed exceeded the initial assessment. It's risen to at least Semi-Grade 1, and may even fall within Special Grade territory.
Pressure, fear, urgency-all these emotions affect your judgment and magnify the risks."
He paused, seemingly giving the three of them time to digest the information, then changed tack.
"But I believe that as long as the three of you work together, play to your individual strengths, cover one another's weaknesses, and maintain clear judgment and trust-you will be able to complete this mission and exorcise the curse."
"Especially you, Fushiguro." Madara directed his words at the black-haired boy.
"You have talent. Not just a talent for your cursed technique, but talent as a jujutsu sorcerer."
Fushiguro tightened his grip on the phone, his knuckles turning slightly white.
"Don't let what you see on the surface limit you. It'll make you hesitate and miss opportunities."
"And don't let the future bind you. The only thing you can do is make the right judgment in this very moment and protect the people you most want to protect."
Like a precise scalpel, Madara's words cut open the deepest fears and confusion in Fushiguro's heart.
"Look carefully at the road before you. It isn't a cliff leading to despair, but a thorny path the three of you need to walk shoulder to shoulder."
"And trust the companions beside you. Believe that, just like