Another half an hour later.
The two special grade sorcerers arrived at the place where the boy was being held.
It was called a prison, but in truth it was a sealed chamber deep underground somewhere in Tokyo. The room felt as though it lay beneath an endless abyss, isolated from the world above.
Dozens of old paper lanterns formed a loose circle, their weak flames barely illuminating the space. The light they cast was dim and yellow. Every corner of the chamber carried a heavy sense of gloom. When one looked up, there was no visible ceiling, only a vast darkness that seemed to stretch on without end.
The surrounding walls were covered in talismans engraved with techniques, as if sealing away some terrifying existence.
Only the center of the room was slightly brighter. There stood a single chair with a backrest, flanked by stone-spike-like pillars hanging down on both sides.
Curled up on the chair sat a boy with slightly messy hair. He was barefoot, hugging his knees to his chest. A ring hung from a necklace around his neck. Dark circles weighed heavily under his eyes.
Loneliness, guilt, and thoughts of self-destruction filled the air so densely that it felt tangible.
Even Mukuro and Satoru, who had just entered and were meeting him for the first time, could feel it clearly.
"So you're Yuta Okkotsu, right?" Satoru said casually as he approached. "Then what's this supposed to be?"
He bent down and picked up a small knife from the floor. The blade was twisted beyond recognition, warped into an irregular spiral.
"That… I tried to use it to kill myself, but Rika stopped me…"
After glancing at the two of them, Yuta lowered his head and replied in a hoarse, exhausted voice.
"So gloomy," Satoru muttered.
The teasing tone and smile vanished from his face. He tossed the knife aside without another glance.
"Starting today, you're going to a new school."
"I won't go. I don't want to hurt anyone anymore, so I won't leave this place again."
The boy's voice trembled, as if he might break down at any moment.
People had nearly died because of him more than once. The trouble caused by Rika. The fights with his parents. Yuta blamed all of it on himself.
"Having power is not a sin. It's like a blade. The blade itself is neither right nor wrong. Only the one who uses it chooses good or evil. Some people use knives to slaughter. Others use them to save. Are you saying you are evil, or that the curse attached to you is?"
While Satoru was about to comfort him, Mukuro spoke first and stepped in front of Yuta.
"Rika just wants to protect me. She doesn't want to hurt people!"
When it came to his childhood friend, Yuta's emotions finally broke through.
"Then prove it. Learn how to use cursed power and prove that you can control it."
"Hiding here alone is very lonely."
Satoru followed up on Mukuro's words.
"I…"
The boy's lips trembled. He said nothing, but his heart had already been moved.
Whether it was for atonement or for any other reason, he wanted to stay with Rika and try to control his power to save others.
He wanted to be needed. He wanted the confidence to keep living, supported by others.
"Alright then. Big question time. So, Yuta-chan, are you going to Kyoto Jujutsu High, or are you joining Tokyo Jujutsu High nearby?"
Seeing that the answer was already clear, Satoru instantly switched back to his usual playful self. He threw an arm around Mukuro's shoulder and held up two fingers in front of Yuta.
"Don't be ridiculous. I don't have the time to babysit a kid, and I don't think Utahime can keep this one in check either."
Mukuro immediately crossed out one option.
"Seriously! You're already a teacher. Try nurturing some cute students for once."
"Huh?"
The sudden shift in tone left the boy completely stunned.
Not long after, following behind the two special grade sorcerers, Yuta left the room that had been used to imprison sorcerers.
* * *
One month later.
"I have to ask. Are you really that bored?"
Standing outside the curtain, Mukuro frowned as he looked at Satoru leaning against the car in front of him.
"What do you mean? Suguru isn't around, so of course I called you. A special grade vengeful curse this strong has never appeared before. Aren't you curious at all?"
Inside the curtain, Yuta was following Maki as he carried out his very first mission to exorcise a cursed spirit.
Satoru flashed a wide grin and slung an arm around Mukuro's shoulder. The two then walked calmly into the curtain, where dense cursed energy filled the air.
"Tell me. You rigged something, didn't you?"
Mukuro could feel that presence clearly. To them, this level was no different from trash on the roadside. For two rookies, though, it was a serious challenge.
"There's just one cursed spirit inside that's above their current level. If they want to exorcise it, they'll have to use that vengeful curse's power, or Yuta will have to unleash his true strength."
Satoru did not deny it.
That was one reason he came in personally. If something went wrong, he could step forward in time.
He had already looked into Yuta's past. That cursed spirit called Rika was likely born from twisted love.
Whether to release the curse or use it, Yuta had to take this step and try to communicate with her.
"You really are a devil."
"And you don't have the right to criticize."
As the two bickered, the situation suddenly changed.
"So pretty! Rika likes pretty things!"
On the rooftop, Rika was brutally tearing apart the curse Satoru mentioned. Purple blood splattered everywhere.
A massive wave of cursed energy poured out, its sheer power surpassing any special grade cursed spirit the two special grade sorcerers had encountered so far.
"Hehe. Surprised? This kind of overwhelming power is something you've never seen before, right?"
Satoru covered the bandages over his eyes. Even he had not expected Rika to be this terrifying.
"Should this curse really be lifted? Was it Okkotsu who cursed Rika, or was it a mutual curse between them?"
Watching Rika's frenzy, Mukuro voiced his question.
**
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