When Yuji Itadori was defined as the prey, the one who hunted Itadori was also defined as the prey by Jiba. It was a game between hunter and prey...
A month passed by uneventfully in the game...
" Nanamin, where are we going today?!"
In just one month, Nanami- sensei successfully evolved into Nanamin...
"Hmm..." Kento Nanami listened to Toko's address. Although he thought that calling him Nanamin was a bit inappropriate, since he had told Toko from the beginning that it didn't matter whether he was called Kento Nanami, Nanami -sensei, or anything else... So he wouldn't refute Toko's affectionate address to him.
"As we continue to track down the enemy, I've roughly figured it out..." Kento Nanami paused for a moment before beginning to explain, "Anyway, come with me!"
"Okay, Nanamin..." Yuji Itadori followed Kento Nanami as they arrived at a rainy baseball field.
A distinct curse was echoing across the basketball court, groaning incoherently.
"Leave this to me!" Yuji Itadori looked at the curse with eager anticipation. After a month of continuous work, he had completely mastered the King of Curses within him. With the power of a single finger from Ryomen Sukuna, he was incredibly strong. "I can defeat the enemy in a very short time."
"No!" Kento Nanami shook his head. "I'll handle this one, and you deal with the one over there..."
"Next to..." Yuji Itadori turned his head and saw that there was another cursed figure squatting outside the court...
" Itadori, if you can't defeat the enemy, call me." Kento Nanami took out his special weapon and walked towards the curse, not forgetting to give Yuji Itadori a word of advice before leaving.
"Hey, hey, hey! Nanamin, you're really underestimating me." Yuji Itadori scratched his head. "Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm very strong. Honestly, Gojo, in terms of sheer Cursed Energy, below the Special Grade Cursed Technique, no one is stronger than me!"
"This isn't about how strong you are." Kento Nanami turned his head. "You need to understand, I'm an adult, and you're a child. Adults have a duty to take care of children, understand?!"
"I understand..." Yuji Itadori finally understood. Kento Nanami... He was an adult who appeared cold on the outside but was actually incredibly warm-hearted and reliable!
"Very good!" Kento Nanami nodded, then walked toward the curse.
"Watch me take care of it with one punch..." Yuji Itadori stretched his arms and punched the curse fiercely. With the power of one finger of Ryomen Sukuna, Yuji Itadori was equivalent to Special Grade Cursed Spirit in terms of curses. Yes, even one finger of Ryomen Sukuna was Special Grade Cursed Spirit, even far stronger than ordinary Special Grade Cursed Spirit. When this power faced some low-level or even second- or third-grade curses, he could easily take them down with just one punch.
"How strange..." Just as Yuji Itadori's fist was about to land on the cursed creature's head, Jiba had been hovering above Toko's head, suddenly frowned...
"Empty!" Itadori's fist stopped just one centimeter away from the curse's head, and the violent force of the punch sent the curse flying.
"What's wrong?! Little Jiba!" Yuji Itadori looked up at Jiba above him in confusion. "Is there something strange about this curse?!"
"The strange thing is..." Jiba pondered, "That guy wasn't composed of Reishi, Cursed Energy, resentment, or any other power I know. He felt more like a mortal being."
"Mortal body?!" Toko frowned. "So what does this mean?!"
He didn't understand what Jiba meant...
"It means..." Jiba mused, "It might be some kind of animal!"
"Ah! So that's how it is!?" Yuji Itadori's eyes widened, his small, beady eyes gleaming with wisdom comparable to that of a water goddess.
"Yes! Yes!" Jiba nodded, "That's exactly it!"
"That's alright then!" With that thought, Yuji Itadori punched down the being that appeared to be a curse, but was actually possibly some kind of animal.
However, Yuji Itadori was cautious and did not kill the target.
"Why didn't you kill them?!" Nanamin, who had finished off the enemy, returned and asked Itadori, who hadn't killed the enemy.
"Because I suspect he might be some kind of animal..." Yuji Itadori replied, "So I think it might be better for him to live."
"..." Nanamin was stunned. He didn't say anything to Yuji Itadori, took his sword, walked up to the monster that resembled a curse, and killed it with a single strike. "I know."
After Nanamin finished off the monster, he nodded slightly. He knew these monsters weren't cursed. From the feel of the blade, he could sense the fundamental difference between these monsters and curses. Also... he had just taken a picture of the monster he killed with his camera, and he had successfully taken the picture. Curses... cannot be photographed.
" Nanamin?!" Toko was stunned by Nanamin's actions.
"Let's go back first!" Nanamin patted Toko on the shoulder. No matter what happened, he decided that he, as the adult, would take responsibility...
When the test results for the Shoko Ieiri back...
Yuji Itadori fell silent...
"Are you angry?" Nanamin asked, looking at Itadori's furious expression. " Itadori!"
"Yes! I cannot accept such behavior." Yuji Itadori nodded. "I absolutely will not allow such a mockery of humanity!"
"Really?!" Nanamin looked at Toko's angry expression. He knew that Itadori was a real person who could get angry because of others, and a person with a strong sense of justice.
"This person, Junpei Yoshino... Itadori, I'd like you to investigate this person." Nanamin once again assigned the relatively easy task to Yuji Itadori, while she herself planned to go to the hometown of the evil experimental subject that he had investigated.
"Leave it to me, Nanamin! I guarantee you'll complete the mission!"
Toko excitedly saluted Nanamin.
"Hmm... I'll leave it to you." Nanamin nodded; he trusted Itadori with this matter completely.
When Yuji Itadori found Junpei Yoshino, perhaps because of their shared experiences—both having lost their families at a young age, both being raised by a single relative, both being somewhat unsociable, and both loving movies—the two quickly became close friends. Itadori went to Junpei's house, ate the meal cooked by Junpei's mother, and then performed a skit while holding a green onion. Everything felt so natural...
And naturally, tragedy followed!
When the injured Nanamin meets Yuji Itadori, when the investigation team goes to Junpei's house...
They discovered Sukuna's fingers, and the deceased Junpei's mother... a strong and beautiful woman.
"Set up the barrier... and then we can wait for the prey to slowly enter!" At night, Mahito stood on the roof of the school's teaching building, admiring everything before him, and revealed an evil and manic smile.
"You're such a scoundrel! Mahito! Was all of this part of your plan?!" The man, who possessed the appearance of Suguru Geto, one of the four top-level Cursed Technique, and had a row of stitches on his forehead, smiled slightly as he looked at Mahito, who had planned everything.
"Hahaha... isn't this hilarious?!" the Mahito laughed. "Look, Junpei is already doing it. He can kill everyone he hates. As for me, I was born from the malice humans harbor towards each other. To have humans kill humans is just wonderful! Hahaha..."
"Oh dear~ I can't beat you~" The strange man resembling Suguru Geto clapped his hands lightly. "Then I'll leave this place to you. I've already set up the barrier, and I've also made some arrangements at Satoru Gojo's place. You can play around without worry, but remember, don't overdo it. Jogo's death has greatly affected my plans."
"Don't worry, Geto." Mahito nodded. "I won't be killed like Jogo. My ability to protect myself is much stronger than his. Besides, this time, my opponent isn't Satoru Gojo, but just a Ryomen Sukuna host who hasn't fully matured."
"Hahaha..." The strange man with Suguru Geto's appearance chuckled softly, "Hearing you say that, I feel much more at ease."
"Goodbye then!" The strange-looking man with Suguru Geto's appearance stood up. "Have fun."
After saying that, Suguru Geto, the strange-looking man, disappeared from the spot.
"Hahaha... Let me see how things go..." The Mahito laughed as he looked around the arena. As for his base... whatever, he could have given it to Nanamin and the others. He could rebuild it whenever he wanted. How could he miss out on this grand drama of humans harming humans and hearts cursing hearts?!
"Clatter~"
Toko rushed into the gymnasium and looked at the students lying unconscious on the floor, his face filled with panic...
" Junpei!" Toko looked at Shunping, who had seemingly made a tall student float into the air and then used the Force to lock the student's throat, Junpei shouted angrily, "What are you doing?! Junpei!"
"Get out of my way! You Cursed Technique!" Junpei looked at Toko with eyes filled with despair and a hint of madness. "Don't get in my way!"
"Damn it!" Toko shot out like a cannonball, heading straight for Junpei. "Put that child down! Junpei!"
"I told you, don't get in my way!" Junpei casually tossed the student aside and charged at Itadori.
Then... Junpei was sent flying by a single punch.
"What?!" Junpei was somewhat incredulous. This was the first time he had been suppressed and made into this state since he gained power.
No, to be precise, after Junpei gained his power, he had only ever fought ordinary people. This was the first time he had ever fought Cursed Technique. And the Cursed Technique he fought for the first time was Tora-ko, Yuji Itadori, who had opened Ryomen Sukuna Outer Monsters. Toko second-rate Cursed Technique, but a near-special-grade Cursed Technique!
" Moon Dregs!" Junpei immediately summoned his shikigami!
A jellyfish-shaped shikigami appeared beside Junpei upon Junpei summons, and as Junpei's emotions fluctuated, the jellyfish-shaped shikigami grew larger and larger.
"I'll say it again, don't get in my way, you Cursed Technique!" Perhaps because his shikigami had been summoned, Junpei felt confident in his power again. "These things are none of your business, don't meddle anymore."
"This isn't up to you," Toko said, his eyes gleaming. "I said, Junpei, stop!"
"There's nothing we can do..." Junpei sighed helplessly. " Moon Dregs, let him sleep! When Itadori wakes up, everything will be over!"
" Junpei, don't do anything foolish!" Itadori suddenly punched the jellyfish that Junpei had summoned.
"Voice!" With a deafening roar, the jellyfish was instantly shattered by the blow from the Itadori...
"Is that so?!" Junpei exclaimed in surprise. He couldn't imagine how his summoned jellyfish shikigami could be destroyed by a brute force attack. How much power would it take to make such a huge mollusk explode?!
" Junpei! Wake up!" Toko shouted, punching Junpei in the right cheek...
"Uh..." Junpei's face swelled up and he was instantly sent flying... landing directly in the stairwell.
"Why... why..." Junpei on the ground, tears streaming from his eyes. " Itadori, why? Why must I suffer such pain? Why did my mother die? Why did all these things have to happen to me?! Am I cursed by the hearts of men?!"
"How could this be!" Yuji Itadori replied decisively. " Junpei, you are not a cursed person. You've just come to the wrong place. Come to the Cursed Technique High! Here you'll find classmates with difficult personalities but who are actually very easy to get along with, powerful teachers whose reliability I don't even know! There's Nanamin, companions..."
" Itadori!" Junpei looked at Itadori, and suddenly, non-existent memories flashed through his mind. He saw Satoru Gojo, Nobara Kugisaki Megumi Fushiguro, Kugizaki Nobara, Yuji Itadori, and everyone was happily walking together on the street... walking towards the school together, everyone was happy...
"Alright!" Just as Junpei was lost in his memories, a man with snow-white hair, stitches on his body, and a handsome appearance but an extremely wicked personality appeared beside Junpei.
"Let's not continue this boring nonsense!" The man smiled, looking at Junpei. "You should be seeking revenge. Humans have no fun unless they kill other humans."
" Mahito..." Junpei stared at the man in surprise. Looking into the Mahito's eyes, he was suddenly filled with fear, as if he knew his fate was about to be sealed.
"You are..." Itadori stared at the Mahito, stunned. "Are you human?! No... are you a curse?! Could it be that you are the culprit behind all these events!?"
"Oh dear~" Mahito smiled slightly, "You found out? You're quite clever!"
"Apologize to me!" Toko's expression changed drastically upon hearing the Mahito's admission. He leaped up and launched an attack on the Mahito, shouting, "Apologize to all the humans you've toyed with, you bastard!"
"I'm sorry..." Mahito smiled slightly upon hearing this, and the next second his arm suddenly extended, directly pushing Yuji Itadori was in mid-air, into a corner. "Excuse me, could you please be quiet for a moment!?"
"You bastard..." Yuji Itadori was stunned after hearing the truth. He realized that this guy hadn't apologized to the dead at all; he had just been fooling him...
" Junpei, I'm very disappointed in you." The Mahito looked at Junpei and sighed helplessly, his hand reaching out to touch Junpei. "So, in the end..."
"Um, please wait a moment..." Just as the Mahito touched Junpei's head, preparing to activate his ability, a voice from beside his ear interrupted him...
"Huh?!" The Mahito looked up, then froze on the spot...
Sometime later, the ceiling of the school building had disappeared; sometime later, a gigantic monster, enough to induce megalophobia in Mahito, stood on the playground; sometime later, its mouth was pressed against his side, saliva dripping onto the floor and melting a huge hole...
"Ahem..." The Mahito coughed lightly a few times, then looked at the enormous monster with his most beautiful smile, "This Mr. Curse... we don't recognize him yet!"
"Not a stranger, not a stranger, I've been watching you for a month!" the enormous monster grumbled, opening its massive maw and swallowing Mahito, along with half a school building, whole...
"Ah..." Junpei stared wide-eyed at the disappearing school building beside him, not knowing what to say. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted, lying on the ground...
" Jiba!?" Toko asked tentatively, looking at the enormous, monstrous figure.
"Crunch~ Crunch~" The enormous monster chewed and chewed, finally swallowing the Mahito along with the entire school building into its belly...
"Burp~" The monster let out a burp, "Not bad..."
"Huh!?" Realizing she'd fallen for a trap, Nanamin, who had rushed back from the sewers, frowned deeply as she stared at the gigantic monster, hundreds of meters tall. "Have all the Ultraman gone on strike? Cursed Technique still supposed to fight monsters? That's why I said... Cursed Technique are rubbish."
" Nanamin, wait a minute..." Toko stood on the side of the now-vanished school building and greeted Nanamin.
" Itadori?!" Nanamin's expression changed as she looked at Yuji Itadori. "Get away from that monster quickly, find a way to escape, and notify Satoru Gojo. I can't think of anyone else who can deal with this monster besides Satoru Gojo."
" Nanamin, wait..." Toko picked up Junpei and jumped down from the sky, landing safely. "This isn't an enemy, this is my older brother, Jiba!"
"Huh?!" Kento Nanami was taken aback. "Say it again, I didn't hear you clearly. What did you call this thing?!"
"In short, so, so, so..." Yuji Itadori kept telling Nanamin what had happened, while Jiba, while Itadori was speaking, had already shrunk and jumped onto Itadori's head.
"I see... So it was Satoru Gojo who did this?!" Kento Nanami breathed a sigh of relief. "As expected, that guy is utterly unrespectable."
Kento Nanami admitted that he trusted and relied on Satoru Gojo Satoru Gojo, but he just couldn't bring himself to respect him. At least not verbally...
Five thousand~
(End of this chapter)