Elsewhere.
Maki frowned toward the direction Yuji had left earlier.
"Why isn't Yuji back yet? We sent him because he's fast."
Panda scratched his chin. "You don't think he ran into them? Today's the day the Kyoto principal came for the meeting."
Maki blinked. "Huh? No way it's that unlucky."
Before she finished, a miserable scream came racing straight at them—
"I'm telling you, I've never heard of that middle school you mentioned! We didn't go to the same one! Please let me go!!"
"Fine, we can fight at the exchange, but stop charging at me like you want a hug!! Help!!!"
Maki: "..."
Panda: "..."
Everyone else: "..."
Good grief—gone five minutes and already trying to hug him? What exactly is your relationship?!
Itadori and Aoi Todo? What kind of bizarre new ship is this?
Yuji spotted his teammates and sprinted over, eyes shining for help—
Then he saw—
Led by Maki and Panda, the entire group took one synchronized step back the moment they spotted Todo, tears streaming, roaring "dearest friend" behind him—
—clearing a broad, royal road for the pair.
A wave of abandonment washed over him, but to avoid colliding, he bolted down that open path… Todo followed without pause… The two human bulldozers whipped up whirlwinds of dust as they passed.
Everyone: …Yup, handing Todo to Itadori was the right call… They're perfect for each other~
…No, no, no! Stop them!
On Yuji's second lap, the gang sprang into action; Inumaki's single "Stop" froze Todo in his tracks and saved the bewildered, terrified Yuji.
Yuji darted behind Megumi, only his head poking out.
Megumi: "..."
Are you a chick? That hiding came naturally.
A vein throbbed on his forehead. "What are you hiding for? Even if you can't beat Todo, you don't have to be this scared."
Yuji: "…Huh? I'm allowed to fight him?"
Megumi: "…?"
Yuji: "I thought we could only fight during the exchange. When he tried to hug me I just ran…"
Megumi: "…"
Oh, really? Congrats on gaining a dearest friend without even leaving home.
After venting, Megumi exhaled in relief.
Good—if he hadn't been beaten, the exchange plans didn't need changing.
"Aaaah, Todo! Where'd you run off to!" Mai finally caught up.
Before she could speak, Todo dragged her away: "Takada's handshake event is starting!"
"Itadori Yuji, my dearest friend, see you at the exchange!"
"Right now I have to go see Takada—wish me luck!"
Yuji: …I'm really not your dearest friend… but thank you, idol Takada-san, for saving me—next tour I'm definitely buying a ticket!
Everyone else: "..."
So… why exactly did they come? Just to make a friend and leave?
Should we just hold the exchange event early for you two?
Yuji: Thanks, hard pass, don't @ me.
"Um…"
Finally recovering, Yuji looked pitifully at Maki.
"The mission…"
"No changing the mission!" Maki cut in instantly.
She cleared her throat. "Nothing to fear. If he tries to hug you again during the exchange, just beat him up!"
Hit him hard—extra hard!!
We're all cheering you on in spirit!!
…Head down, Yuji slumped to the side and sat.
Sukuna consoled him.
["It's fine. Do as Maki-senpai says—punch him if he comes back."]
["But yeah, the guy's strong. You're already fast and he still kept up."]
["He'll be a beast in close quarters; you need more practice. His Cursed Energy flow is smooth—yours still needs work."]
"Eh… really?"
Yuji's focus shifted.
"So if my Cursed Energy flows better, I can shake him off?"
"Then what should I do? I thought I was already pretty smooth."
Sukuna: …sorry, no idea—he's always been effortlessly smooth.
["Ask Gojo tonight?"]
"Okay."
…That night.
"Huh? Well…"
Gojo stared at Yuji, equally puzzled.
Cursed Energy… isn't it just used like that?
Never having experienced "unsmooth" Cursed Energy, Gojo felt momentarily stumped—like wondering why one plus one equals two.
The two strongest looked at each other, then quickly averted their eyes from Yuji's hopeful gaze.
"How about… we jump straight into live combat?"
Gojo suggested, breaking the silence.
"I've got a Grade 1 mission ready."
Sukuna nodded solemnly.
Truth comes from practice—off you go, kid; maybe you'll figure it out mid-fight.
Yuji: …fine… At the site.
Standing inside the haunted house, Yuji's eyes dulled the moment he saw tonight's Grade 1 Curse—why… why is "Todo" here too???
The Grade 1 Curse's combat power was only Grade 2, but it possessed a special skill—
It could make its target see it as the thing they feared most.
This ability had let it survive countless battles by crushing its opponents' will.
Thus, in Yuji's eyes—
A hulking, twenty-armed "Todo" chanting "Hu-g… hu-g… hu-g…" charged straight at him.
Yuji: …his fists clenched.
Sukuna, watching through Yuji's eyes, burst into laughter.
["Bahahahaha! So that's what the guy looks like to you? I'm dying!"]
Still laughing, he egged Yuji on.
["What are you waiting for? Punch it! A Curse you can beat to death without consequences—get to it~"]
To the Curse's shock, the human who'd stood frozen—obviously terrified—suddenly unleashed the most savage beating it had ever received.
—with manic enthusiasm and zero mercy.
Curse:???
Aren't you supposed to tremble or run when you see your fear?
Why are you hitting me like I murdered your family?
You're not following the script!
I demand a replacement opponent!—
…And so, that night for Yuji:
Grade 1 Curses exorcised: +1
Cursed Energy refinement: +0
Cleave training progress: +0
Sense of achievement: +0
Psychological trauma…: +10,000
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