Once he'd decided, Yuji whipped out his phone and searched for recipes, finally settling on a Chocolate Cake.
He bought every ingredient listed on the screen and blew the entire 2,000 yen budget.
"Fushiguro told me the dorm's ground-floor kitchen has tools and an oven, so we should be fine."
By the time Sukuna came back to his senses, he was standing in that tiny kitchen—Yuji having cheerfully shoved him to the front.
[All right, let's start!]
Before stepping back, Yuji considerately pulled up the recipe video on the phone and set it on its stand.
Sukuna stared at the table full of eggs, chocolate, and butter, lost in thought.
Why on earth had he agreed to bake a cake?
Couldn't they have just bought one from the convenience store?
As for sincerity—who'd receive a cake baked by a Special Grade Curse? No one else would dare eat it anyway.
So only he and Yuji would taste it… Whatever. Sukuna exhaled; the ingredients were bought—no point wasting them.
He shoved the hesitation aside, skimmed the videos Yuji had bookmarked, and once he had the steps mapped out, he began.
Beat the eggs… strain the batter… melt butter and chocolate. Nothing fancy—just quiet, methodical motions that somehow calmed him.
Everything went so smoothly he wondered if he might actually have a chef's knack.
—Not that he'd ever vouch for the flavor!
Pour the batter into the mold, slide it into the oven—done!
He exhaled in relief and turned to clear the counter.
—only to find a pair of eyes staring at him from the doorway.
No—more than one pair.
Panda and Inumaki Toge were wedged in the crack of the door, peeking in.
Sukuna's mind blanked the instant he met their gazes.
He spun around and hissed,
"Yuji, Yuji—switch, NOW!! Someone's here!!"
Yuji answered instantly: [Got it!]
They swapped in a heartbeat.
Yuji turned, now facing Panda and Toge, and gave an awkward grin.
"Panda-senpai, Inumaki-senpai, good evening… Sorry if I made too much noise!"
He bowed hurriedly, palms pressed together.
Panda and Toge exchanged glances, then shuffled inside.
"Was that… Sukuna just now?" Panda asked, curious.
Yuji froze, head still down.
He couldn't say yes, yet lying felt impossible.
Seeing him stiffen, Panda quickly waved it off.
"It's fine—so what if it was Sukuna? I'm literally a Panda, right?"
Toge nodded in agreement: "Salmon salmon!" (Exactly!)
Yuji relaxed, eyes brightening—every extra person willing to accept Sukuna meant the world to him.
"So what was Sukuna doing just now?"
Panda swore he was only curious.
Who'd have thought—returning to find the kitchen light on, they'd peeked in and spotted "Yuji"… inked with black markings.
Wait—that's Sukuna, right?
Wearing a cartoon apron and whisking eggs?!
The picture of domestic bliss!!
The "Special Grade Curse" aura shattered; silently they whipped out their phones and started texting—
I'm Really A Panda: Everyone assemble NOW! Dorm lounge, first floor, male block!
call me maki: Why?
Tuna-Mayo: Someone's baking goodies in the kitchen!
Nobara: Goodies? Who?
Tuna-Mayo: Can't explain here. Hurry or you'll miss it!
call me maki: Fine, I'm coming… If this isn't huge I'll deck you.
Megumi, sparring with Maki, read the messages and his fists clenched.
Every instinct screamed: Yuji and Sukuna are up to something again.
He drew a breath and told Maki,
"Maki-senpai, I need to head back."
Maki's gossip radar pinged—even Megumi's going? He hates sweets… Something big must be up!
"Let's go, let's go!"
She dragged him off toward the dorms.
Megumi looked resigned. By the time they reached the lounge, it was packed.
Every first- and second-year except Okkotsu (away on a mission) was present.
A rich, fragrant chocolate cake aroma drifted through the dorm, making mouths water.
Tea was already set out; on the low table sat a soft, moist cake with a glossy chocolate heart—
It looked delicious!
Seeing Megumi enter with that dark glare, Yuji squirmed, fingers twisting his pant seams.
Why was everyone here—even Megumi?
If Megumi found out he'd let Sukuna out to bake a cake, he'd be a dead man for sure… right?
No—he could never admit it!
He sprang up and blurted to Megumi—
"I—I baked this! It has nothing to do with Sukuna! It's, um, a thank-you trial run… Haven't tasted it yet… Would you… like some?"
He stammered to a close and stared up at Megumi with puppy eyes.
Megumi: "…"
Sukuna: […]
Maki & Nobara: "…"
…Wow, that statement was a landmine of info!
Inside his soul, Sukuna was equally frantic:
[…"has nothing to do with Sukuna"—that line was completely unnecessary!!]
What kind of self-destruct is this?
Megumi glanced at the still-warm cake, then at Yuji's pleading face, and felt his knuckles itch.
But with the whole crowd watching he couldn't drag Yuji outside for a beating.
He inhaled… and inhaled again.
—Right now, the only option was to pretend this really was Yuji's cake.
"…Fine."
He forced his voice to stay level.
Covering for a problem child was old hat—huh?
Megumi hadn't exploded or refused? Yuji's eyes lit up—he was safe!
He cheerfully sliced a piece and presented it to Megumi with both hands.
Megumi eyed the slice, the corner of his eye twitching.
Hold on… this thing was made by Sukuna, right?
He wouldn't actually die from eating it… would he?
But he'd already agreed in front of everyone; refusing now was impossible. He took the plate, lifted a forkful—and tasted it.
Hm…?
His brows lifted; without thinking he forked another small bite.
Every gaze in the room locked onto his face, waiting—
Is it edible? Poisoned? How's the flavor?
Megumi, say something already—!!