Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

On the streets of Harajuku Station, a fifteen-year-old girl walked among the crowd.

Her long, waist-length, ash-blonde hair was perfectly straightened, and her hazel eyes stared at her phone, which lay in her hands.

According to the information she had received from school, this was the location where she was supposed to meet her classmates, but so far she hadn't seen anyone wearing the same uniform or waiting for anyone.

She had recently been admitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Magical Technical Academy. She already had her uniform, which consisted of a waist-length blue blazer and a matching skirt that fell slightly above her knees. She wore white stockings, but they weren't visible because of her knee-high, lace-up black boots.

Honestly, she felt the uniform made her look a little pale because of her fair skin, but she decided to follow the dress code.

She continued walking a little further until a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Excuse me, miss, have you ever thought about modeling?" The blonde turned around and saw an older man in a brown suit.

"No, I've never thought about it," she replied politely, though she resumed walking and noticed the man discreetly following her.

"I'm looking for potential models. Here's my card." He handed her a small white slip of paper, which she accepted, trying to remain polite.

"Thank you, but I'm really not interested. I have to go with my friends and..." She quickly excused herself, but before she could say anything else, someone grabbed the man by the shoulder.

"Hey, you. What about me?" A decisive and confident voice was heard. The teenager stopped and turned, observing a girl with short brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. However, what caught her attention most was her clothing.

They were wearing the same uniform.

"I'm talking about modeling. She's clearly not interested. How about someone like me?" the brunette spoke again. The hazel-eyed girl wanted to approach, but it seemed the talent scout was talking to the other girl.

A wave of relief, mixed with astonishment, washed over the teenager as she saw the brown-haired girl confront the man without hesitation.

From the annoyed expression that clouded the brunette's face, it was clear the man had said something she hadn't liked at all.

"Hey! Over here!" They both heard a voice nearby and turned around, seeing an albino man blindfolded with a black cloth, a tall, fair-skinned boy with a spiky black hairstyle, and another boy with pink hair standing beside him.

The brunette immediately let go of the man, and he ran off. The girl approached some lockers. The blonde hadn't noticed the number of bags of clothes she was carrying; she assumed it must be her classmate, so she discreetly followed her. She saw that the three from before were also still carrying bags in front of them.

Finally, the brown-eyed girl put away her bags, and both girls turned their attention to the three men.

"Come on, introduce yourselves," the albino man said first.

"Nobara Kugizaki, you can be happy to have two girls here," the brunette announced confidently, then turned her gaze to the blonde beside her. The blonde looked confused at first, but after Nobara nodded to the boys, she understood what she meant.

It was her turn to introduce herself.

"I'm Hanae Kiyomi, nice to meet you," the hazel-eyed girl introduced herself with a friendly smile.

"I'm Itadori Yuuji, from Sendai," the pink-haired boy introduced himself amiably.

"Fushiguro Megumi," the black-haired boy replied, his tone much more serious.

Hanae noticed Nobara observing them critically, and she paused for a moment before returning to her own thoughts.

The blonde girl also looked at her companions. Yuuji seemed very friendly, while Megumi was very serious—honestly, two completely different personalities.

Their uniforms were also slightly different, and the dark-haired boy looked like he'd been dragged there against his will, while the pink-haired boy seemed unable to sit still.

"I always end up in the worst situations," the brunette sighed in disappointment.

"She looked at us and sighed," Yuuji said, a little confused.

"Maybe it was the trip. It was really long, wasn't it, Kugizaki?" Hanae chimed in calmly, but the girl rolled her eyes slightly.

"Where are we going now?" Megumi quickly broke the silence, turning to face Gojo.

"Finally, the four of you are together, and you two are from the provinces, aren't you?" the older boy said, perhaps referring to Itadori and Kugizaki. Hanae had been born in Tokyo, specifically in Shibuya, and Megumi didn't look like someone from the provinces. "Isn't it obvious? We're going to Tokyo!"

Immediately, the pink-haired boy and the brunette started celebrating with the albino. They must have been very excited; Yuuji even hugged Gojo in pure joy, until he and Nobara started fighting near the tourist attractions.

The blonde laughed softly at the outburst of excitement, while Megumi seemed uncomfortable.

"I'll announce our fate!" Gojo exclaimed, which was enough to make Yuuji and Nobara stop fighting and pay attention. "Roppongi!"

The pink-haired boy and the brunette's eyes lit up with excitement, while the other two shrugged.

It was completely different from what she had in mind.

They weren't in the city or at tourist resorts, but in front of an abandoned and vandalized building.

"There's a curse," the albino announced matter-of-factly.

"Liar!" Yuuji and Nobara complained simultaneously, annoyed.

"We can go later..." the blonde tried to say.

"This isn't Roppongi! Don't mess with us country bumpkins!" they continued complaining.

"There's a cemetery nearby, and combined with the abandoned building, a curse has appeared," the hazel-eyed girl analyzed calmly.

"How do you know that?" she heard Itadori ask.

"From the report? Didn't you read it?" asked, seeing the pink-haired boy's confused expression. "The report with the areas containing the highest concentrations of cursed energy?"

"He only enrolled a few days ago; he doesn't know the basics yet," Megumi explained.

"Is it because of the graves that the curse appeared?" Yuuji asked again, now focused on the topic.

"It's due to the fact that people have an aversion to cemeteries," the black-haired boy explained pragmatically.

"Something similar happened in schools, right?" the pink-haired boy began to understand.

"Wait a minute, don't you know such basic things?" Nobara interrupted.

"You see..." the black-haired boy began, and after a few minutes, the girls understood.

"Did he eat the special cursed object? Did he eat a Sukuna finger?" Hanae reasoned, confused, looking at Itadori.

"Ew! It's absurd, unsanitary, and disgusting!" the brunette exclaimed, moving away from Yuuji as if she had a virus, almost hiding behind the blonde. "No, no, no!"

"That was rude!" Itadori defended herself.

"I agree," Fushiguro commented, to which the boy looked at him as if he had betrayed him.

"I want to see what you're capable of. Consider this a field experiment," Gojo interrupted, drawing everyone's attention. "Nobara, Yuuji, Hanae, exorcise the building's curse."

The brunette emerged from behind the blonde and, with a serious expression, began searching her pockets.

Hanae stepped back slightly and also searched her skirt pockets for a pair of white fingerless gloves. Without hesitation, she put them on and adjusted them around her wrists.

When he finished, he approached Nobara, who had a hammer and some nails. Yuuji also had a hunting knife, which seemed vaguely familiar, but he decided to ignore it.

When the pink-haired boy reached her, he easily opened the metal door, allowing the three of them to enter.

It was a very dark and dirty building; she even swore she saw dried blood on the floor. But the blonde walked on, her hands clenched, feeling the leather of her gloves like an anchor.

Yuuji checked each room, while Nobara simply walked around casually, accompanied by Hanae, who meticulously examined the place.

"What a drag," the brunette complained, going up the stairs with her companion, who couldn't help but smile slightly at her honesty. "Why do I have to deal with curses in Tokyo?"

"What? Didn't you come here to perform an exorcism?" Itadori asked from behind them.

"It's best if we split up. It's a very tall building, and it will take us hours to search. Kugizaki, come with me to the top floor and down. Itadori, go up," the blonde said calmly, looking at the stairs.

"Let's finish up quickly so we can eat sushi in Ginza," Nobara said casually, sounding a little annoyed.

"Hold on a second. Take this seriously, cursing is dangerous," the pink-haired boy retorted.

He couldn't have said anything worse, as Nobara kicked him, sending him tumbling down the stairs.

The blonde immediately went downstairs and stood beside Itadori, helping him up.

"Some nobody like you has no right to tell me what to do! Let's go!" the short-haired girl said, heading up the stairs.

"I don't understand these sudden mood swings!" Yuuji complained loudly so the girl could hear him, though she didn't stay silent. "That's why you don't have a girlfriend," Nobara said in a tone that it was definitely not a joke "How does she know I don't have a girlfriend? You're popular enough to talk...bitch"He refuted it with some irritation. "I think she has a sixth sense," the hazel-eyed girl commented, standing up. "I didn't expect my first mission to be like this."

"Is this your first mission too?" Yuuji asked, intrigued.

"My first real one. Most of them were drills," she replied with a soft, nostalgic laugh, but the boy looked at her in confusion. "They didn't make you do any drills either, did they?"

Before anyone could say anything, a dark presence appeared behind them and attempted to attack with a stinger. However, both teenagers were quick and moved away, and Yuuji even cut the stinger with his knife.

The curse lunged at them, but Itadori was swift and severed several of its limbs, while Hanae knelt and placed her gloved palms on the ground, creating a barrier that pinned the curse to the ground, making it easier for her companion to deal with it.

"I'll go see Nobara, you hold him," the blonde said, getting up, to which Yuuji nodded.

She quickly went upstairs until she found a room with many mannequins, where the brunette was in the middle, seemingly finishing exorcising the curse that was in the mannequin.

"Great work," she complimented, entering the room. The girl glanced at her and nodded.

However, something caught her attention. A boy, perhaps eight years old, was hiding behind some boxes. The hazel-eyed girl approached and crouched down to his level.

"Hello, it's safe now, we'll get you out of here," she said calmly, but the boy shook his head in fear. "What's wrong?"

However, before she could respond, a hand pierced the wall and grabbed the boy by the head, lifting him into the air.

Hanae backed away until she was standing next to Nobara, who held her hammer and nails raised.

"I take hostages. This is a clever curse," the brunette said.

After a few tense moments, Nobara dropped her weapons and raised her hands.

"I have no weapons, and neither does my partner," the brunette declared with determination.

The blonde looked at her, blushing, for a moment, but then decided to raise her hands as well.

"Let him go. We have no way to exorcise you," Hanae said.

However, the curse didn't release him; instead, it tightened its grip on the boy's throat.

But then, a hand pierced the concrete, right next to the curse's head.

"Huh? Did I fail?" Itadori's voice called from the other side of the hallway.

Hanae's mind went blank. How on earth did it pierce through solid concrete? Not even Maki could do that.

Before they could react, Yuuji struck the wall again, this time shattering it and reaching the curse. He severed the arm holding the boy, catching him before he fell to the ground.

The curse tried to escape by blending into the walls, but Hanae slammed her hands against the floor with a thud, creating a shield around the walls that made it impossible for the curse to become intangible.

"Itadori! Give me his arm!" Nobara exclaimed, pointing at the limb the boy had just severed.

"Make it quick, it's not easy to seal off an entire building!" the blonde demanded, feeling sweat on her forehead, but still with her hands on the floor.

"Voodoo Technique: Resonance!" the brunette exclaimed, followed by the clang of a hammer hitting a nail.

The curse before them vanished like dust.

"I told you it was dangerous to be alone!" Yuuji exclaimed to Nobara.

"You never said that! And what the hell do you eat to punch through a wall?!" the brown-eyed girl shouted.

Hanae stood up, wiping some of the sweat from her forehead.

"I'm impressed too, but I'll take the child outside," she said wearily, approaching and offering her hand to the little boy, who took it with a small smile. They walked together toward the exit while Yuuji and Nobara continued arguing.

As she stepped out of the building, the blonde felt she could finally breathe, letting out a relieved sigh.

"Are you alright, miss?" she heard the boy beside her ask, squeezing her hand a little tighter.

"I'm fine, just a little tired," she replied with a slight smile.

She saw Gojo and Fushiguro approaching. The albino said he would take the boy to his family, and although he was a little hesitant, he ended up agreeing to go with the adult and the dark-haired man.

Hanae stood still for a moment, then began to remove her gloves, noticing they were a little stained, but nothing impossible to wash.

She turned around and saw Itadori and Kugizaki leaving the building, having a brief discussion about whether winter or summer was better, until they reached the blonde's side.

"Where did those two go?" the brunette asked aloud.

"They went to drop the child off with his family," the hazel-eyed girl replied, putting her gloves in her pocket. But then she saw Nobara looking at her with astonishment and confusion. "Is everything alright?"

"You're as tall as Itadori!" she announced, pointing an accusing finger. The blonde turned slightly and saw that the pink-haired boy was beside her, and indeed they were the same height. "Why does everyone here have such good genes? The emo has Maybelline eyelashes, the idiot breaks down walls, and you're practically a model!"

Honestly, Hanae didn't consider herself that tall; she was 1.72 meters, but the boots added a few centimeters.

"You're very pretty too, Kugizaki," the girl commented with a smile.

"Besides, it's not the outside that matters, it's the inside that counts, right?" Yuuji added casually.

"That's not true! That's something ugly people made up so they wouldn't feel bad about what they lack on the outside!" the brunette exclaimed matter-of-factly. "Changing the subject, where are we going to eat?"

Her companions shrugged. Yuuji sat down on the stairs with the two girls, following her lead, as the sun set and the sunset began.

"Did you know I get grumpy when I'm hungry?" Nobara remarked, repeatedly tapping her foot on the ground.

"Are you ever in a good mood?" Itadori replied.

"I understand. They don't want to run into me in the morning if I haven't had coffee," the blonde added with a soft laugh.

"Good job, beetles!" they heard Gojo's cheerful and proud voice approaching. "The kid's home now." The three students stood up and waited for the albino and the dark-haired boy to get close. "How about we go eat?"

Each of them suggested a different dish. Yuuji said steak, Nobara sushi, and Hanae curry, but when it was Megumi's turn, he was just engrossed in his phone.

Gojo, slightly offended, took the three of them and they started walking.

But at that moment, Nobara remembered his purchases in the lockers.

"Hey, go get my things," the brunette told the pink-haired boy.

"What? Why me? I thought we were even," Yuuji questioned.

"Hanae and I broke the curse, so what?" the brown-eyed girl replied matter-of-factly.

"His brute strength was also a big help," the blonde chimed in. "Maybe we can each carry some bags?"

"The strength he gained from eating fingers? That doesn't count," Nobara retorted.

"It wasn't just that, was it, Fushiguro?" Itadori exclaimed. "Huh? What's wrong, Fushiguro?" he asked, noticing that the dark-haired boy seemed lost in his own world.

"Nothing," he replied curtly, looking away.

"He's in a bad mood because he wanted to fight," Gojo announced with amusement.

Both Yuuji and Nobara chuckled softly at the comment, while Megumi seemed to be looking for an escape route.

Hanae also laughed a little, mostly because of her companions' infectious laughter.

Chapter Text

Hanae was already used to the school dormitories. When she returned from the mission, she noticed that Nobara NP's room was quite far from hers, a detail she appreciated.

After living there for a year, her room had a bit more personality than the others. The blue curtains and some photographs on her desk were proof of that, along with the ballet slippers hanging in her closet after her morning practice before the mission.

Then she heard a light knock on the door.

"Come in," she said calmly, taking a brush to smooth her hair after the long walk. When the door opened, she turned slightly and placed the brush on her bed, straightening her posture a little. "Yaga-sensei."

"Good evening. You just arrived, didn't you?" she spoke in her usual calm and serene voice.

Kimi Mizuki

Or rather

Kimi Yaga, for some years now.

She was the vice-principal of the school, a very beautiful woman who definitely didn't look forty-seven. Her light blonde hair, slightly wavy and reaching her collarbones, and her grayish-blue eyes gave her a mature appearance, framing her delicate features. Her height of 1.78 meters was imposing, and her uniform consisted of a long blue coat that definitely accentuated her slender figure and her pale, almost pearly skin.

"Yes, I don't think I expected my first real mission to be so... intense," Hanae replied wearily, sitting down on the bed. The woman then took the chair from her desk and sat down across from her.

"And your teammates? I know you knew Megumi a little, but you never spoke to him," Kimi asked softly.

It was true that Hanae had seen the boy from afar, but he always seemed busy, and honestly, they didn't even see each other that often.

"He's very serious, but he doesn't seem like a bad person, just reserved," the teenager said. "Nobara Kugizaki is my other classmate. She's very smart and confident." This time, her voice was a little calmer.

"What about Yuuji?" the woman asked, intrigued. "He spoke with the principal and me the other day. I don't know how he managed to pass Yaga's test, but he seems very determined."

"He's a bit of a fool, but he's definitely very, very strong," the hazel-eyed girl replied honestly. "Can you believe he punched through a concrete wall!"

The woman gave a slight look of surprise and then let out an amused snort.

"I figured as much. He almost smashed my desk when I told him he needed three months of training for his first mission, though he apologized later," she said calmly. "And you? How are you?"

The teenager remained silent for a moment, her hazel eyes staring at the ground, until she finally shrugged.

"Well, I guess. It felt strange not having Maki correcting me all the time or Panda cheering me on," she said, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "Will it always feel like this? With so much adrenaline?"

The woman was silent for a moment. Her calm expression wavered before a wistful smile settled on her face.

"It's only the beginning. We sorcerers live each day as if it were our last," she replied gently. Her gaze became piercing. "Do you know why?" The question didn't sound rhetorical; it seemed to demand a truthful answer.

"Because we don't know when we're going to die," the girl answered, stating the obvious and sounding a little confused.

Kimi shook her head slowly.

"You two are very similar..." she whispered, almost to herself, as she stood up from her chair. "It's not the answer, but you'll learn it."

"When will I know?" Hanae asked, intrigue overcoming her weariness. The question sounded weaker than she intended.

Kimi stopped in the doorway.

"When you see him. The second-years are excited to meet your classmates," she said, her tone regaining a hint of its usual authority, but with a small smile. "Do your best."

With that, the woman left the room, leaving behind a silence heavy with meaning.

Hanae collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. Kimi's words echoed in the air.

Even so, she forced herself to follow her nightly routine and go to sleep.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

The days passed too quickly

Gojo was away on a business trip, so Megumi would participate in the mission, but with orders not to engage in direct combat due to her injuries, something quite easy for a shikigami user.

Right now, they were standing in front of a building, where Kiyotaka Ijichi was trying to explain the situation.

"Our window confirmed the existence of the cursed womb three hours ago. Ninety people were evacuated, and the area was cordoned off," the adult began explaining in his monotone voice. "A half-kilometer evacuation zone was also established."

Hanae swallowed hard. She had heard of cursed wombs, and perhaps they were more dangerous than they thought.

"Ijichi, I have a question. What is a 'Window'?" Yuuji asked, raising his hand in a curious voice.

"They're high school staff members who can see curses, but they're not sorcerers," the man replied.

The blonde looked away at the explanation.

It didn't bring back good memories.

"Currently in the second pavilion, five inmates are trapped with the cursed womb—Ijichi explained"And if it turns out to be the type that mutates, it confirms a spirit of special category.

Special category? Then why were they here?

Not even the four of them could.

"Hey, I still don't understand what's so special about the special category," Itadori questioned.

"There are different categories of curses," the blonde began to explain, regaining her composure. "Category 4: the weakest, with the least cursed energy, but they know how to hide. Category 3: dangerous, skilled, and intelligent. Category 2: they have a lot of cursed energy. Category 1: all of the above combined. The special category is unique and very rare, capable of genocide."

"That's very serious!" the pink-haired boy commented after the explanation.

"Generally, a sorcerer who is up to the task is sent for each mission. In this case, Gojo-sensei should be here," Megumi added seriously.

" "There aren't many sorcerers; it's normal for students to take on missions above their rank," the hazel-eyed woman added.

"However, this is a serious case. Avoid the fight," the man finished. "If it turns out to be a special category, choose between running or dying."

After that sentence, the atmosphere grew heavy. Hanae, in one fluid motion, put on her gloves, an automatic gesture.

"Your mission is only to verify and rescue any possible survivors," Ijichi continued, but before he could go on, screams rang out.

They turned and saw a woman struggling with the guards, pleading to be let into the prison, where she was almost crying, begging to see her son, Tadashi. Ijichi tried to explain that no one could enter because of a gas leak, but he only succeeded in making the woman collapse and cry even louder.

Hanae simply closed her eyes tightly. She didn't want to remember, but everything was too familiar.

"Fishiguro, Kugizaki, Kiyomi," Yuuji called out, drawing the attention of his companions. "We have to rescue them," he said with a determined tone.

Nobara nodded, Megumi looked away, and Hanae hugged herself.

The four of them began to enter the place, with Ijichi close behind.

"Be careful, Kiyomi-chan, activate the veil," the adult said, stopping as the teenagers followed.

The blonde nodded and, as she walked, raised her gloved left hand and lifted her two main fingers.

"A darkness blacker than darkness. It purifies the impure," she said seriously. When she finished, a vast darkness began to cover the sky, forming a bubble around them.

"It's getting dark!" Yuuji exclaimed excitedly, looking at the sky.

"It's a veil. We're near a residential area; it's a barrier that hides us from the outside," Megumi explained.

"That's great! Where did you learn that, Kiyomi?" Itadori asked, looking at the blonde.

"It's a pretty simple technique. Yaga-sensei taught me," Hanae replied gently.

"The director who's a fan of plushies?"Yuuji asked aloud.

"No. His wife, Vice Principal Kimi Yaga," she replied matter-of-factly, but was surprised when Nobara and Yuuji looked at her with incredulous expressions. "What's going on?"

"You're joking," the brunette said, secretly hoping it wasn't serious.

A minute of silence followed, and it seemed as if Nobara and Itadori's brains were racing, until a lightbulb went off.

"H-How is this possible?! Kimi-san is way too beautiful for him!" the brunette exclaimed as if it were an impossible fact.

"I didn't expect that. I thought they were siblings or something.I mean, she looks much younger than him." Itadori said, confused by the situation.

"That's impossible! Kimi-san is blonde, tall, elegant, sophisticated, and the principal is... I don't know!" "I'm too surprised to even think of an insult!" Nobara exclaimed dramatically.

"We were all surprised by the news. Gojo complained for a week about not being invited to court. Let's focus on the mission," Megumi interrupted monotonously.

The three watched as the dark-haired man summoned the demon dogs, and from a nearby shadow, a white-furred wolf appeared.

"It will warn us if the curse approaches," Megumi explained.

Yuuji approached the wolf to pet it and give it affection, and the blonde girl also approached, gently stroking its white fur. To their surprise, the shikigami was quite gentle and didn't make any sudden movements.

After that, Megumi opened the gate to the correctional facility, with the dog entering first, followed by the four students. They walked a short distance until the dark-haired man raised his arm, signaling them to stop.

"What's that?" Nobara asked, intrigued, looking up at the sky.

Hanae also looked up and was surprised to see a dark structure that almost reached the sky.

"What's going on? Wasn't it a two-story building?" Yuuji asked randomly.

However, the cursed energy was evident, spreading throughout the place, blocking exits, as if everything were black.

It's not possible, an expansion of its domain.

"Where's the door?!" the blonde exclaimed worriedly. Everyone turned around, but the hallway they had entered through was gone, as was the exit.

"The door's gone!" the pink-haired boy exclaimed in surprise.

"Why? We just came in that way," the brunette said, pointing to where the door should have been, her confident tone now tinged with panic.

Hanae frowned, trying to figure out what was going on, while Nobara and Yuuji seemed to be sharing brainpower, repeatedly asking what they should do.

"Relax," Fushiguro announced, allaying the others' doubts. "He remembers the scent of the entrance," he said, pointing to the wolf behind him.

Yuji and Nobara seemed very grateful to the shikigami, so much so that they hugged him and promised to give him many treats.

"Fushiguro," the blonde said, drawing the boy's attention, "Weren't there two? One black and one white. I saw them a few times."

Megumi didn't answer, and the silence was palpable. That's when Hanae realized.

When a shikigami dies, it doesn't come back.

She had seen the dark-haired boy with the wolves; they seemed very close, since they walked around the courtyard together.

A pang of familiar pain shot through her chest. She, too, knew what it was like to lose something forever. She nodded slightly, a silent gesture of understanding, and let the matter die there, knowing that some wounds don't need to be reopened.

"Remember that we're in a tense situation?" the hazel-eyed girl commented, a slight annoyance in her voice, drawing Kugizaki and Itadori's attention.

"I knew I could trust Fushiguro. Thanks to you, we can save others and ourselves," the pink-haired boy said confidently, which made the black-haired boy's expression relax a little, a detail that relieved Hanae.

"Let's go," Megumi said simply, starting to walk, and the three kids and the dog followed.

As they advanced, the atmosphere grew heavier. The wolf led the way, but none of the students stopped looking around.

They arrived at a cold and gloomy room, where not far from the door lay a corpse.

Hanae couldn't move; she simply turned away and avoided looking at him. As Itadori approached the corpse, she felt Nobara near her, and although it might not have been intentional, she was glad he was by her side.

Itadori said he would take the body outside, because it seemed to be the son of the woman from before, but before he could continue, Megumi grabbed him by the collar of his uniform and pulled him back.

"We need to check on more people. We'll leave this body," the dark-haired man ordered sternly.

But that only sparked a fight between Itadori and him, causing them to question each other's morals.

The blonde turned slightly, watching her companions continue arguing. Without taking her eyes off the ground, she timidly approached the body at all costs.

"That's enough. We're on a mission. Arguments are for when the mission is over," she said, regaining some composure but still with her gaze fixed on the ground. "Nobara?" she asked, turning around, but the brunette was nowhere to be seen.

She immediately noticed that Megumi's wolf was also missing. She looked up and saw it slammed against a wall, causing the teenager to cover her mouth and gasp.

—Itadori, Kiyomi, we have to run! We'll look for Kugizaki later!—Before she could finish, the curse was right next to them.

Yuuji was the first to make a move, but it ended with his left hand being targeted.

The curse turned and tried to strike the blonde, but she slammed her gloved hands into the floor, creating a shield that pushed the curse away.

But then Hanae's nose bled, a trickle of blood running down, so much so that she had to put up her wrist to stop it from staining the floor.

They got along well with Inumaki for a reason; they shared the same weakness. They couldn't use their rituals on superior beings without being harmed by their own lack of power.

Pushing the curse away must have taken much more effort than he thought.

"Guys, get out of here, find Nobara, and when you're in a safe place, give me the signal to switch places with Sukuna." Kiyomi and Fushiguro exchanged a few doubtful glances. This was a very dangerous plan, and besides, they would be leaving Yuuji completely alone; if he can't control Sukuna, it will also be dangerous for them.

"You can't do it alone, especially not with one hand," the dark-haired boy tried to protest.

"Just look at him," Itadori said in his serious voice. "He's having fun. We're his playthings." He pointed at the laughing creature. "Fushiguro, please."

"It's dangerous..." the hazel-eyed girl spoke again, and without waiting any longer, Fushiguro grabbed her wrist and pulled her with him. If someone like Megumi trusted Itadori, it must be worth it, so she just ran without arguing.

Both teenagers ran through the hallways, away from the fight. At some point, Megumi summoned a gray wolf and ordered it to go find Nobara.

"I thought you only had two wolves," the blonde girl commented.

"I did, and they had a litter. They grow up really fast," the boy replied curtly.

When the dog stopped in a room, growling and barking, Megumi wasted no time and summoned a large toad and a white snake several meters long.

Those who entered the room, along with the two teenagers who followed, found Nobara trapped by a curse. The toad grabbed her with its tongue and placed her on the floor while the snake attacked the curse.

"Let's go, Kugizaki!" the dark-haired boy announced, still staring at the enemy.

"Are you alright?" Hanae asked the brunette.

"I would be, without this toad. I hate them, you know?" Nobara commented.

"I don't have much of a choice!" Fushiguro added.

Hanae's mind wasn't entirely on the curse; it was on Yuuji.

No matter how physically strong he was, he could never defeat a special-grade curse. She didn't want him to die.

The three students managed to leave the building, guided by Megumi's wolf. Hanae had to bear almost all of Nobara's weight, who, dizzy and weak, could barely stand.

When they reached the exit, Ijichi was there, pale and nervous. He quickly approached and helped Hanae with Nobara, checking her for serious injuries. Exhausted, Megumi collapsed on the stairs to catch his breath. Hanae, on the other hand, couldn't take her eyes off the building. Then, the wolf howled once. The signal Yuuji had asked for.

"Ijichi,” the blonde announced, her voice, though slightly trembling, sounding firm, “take Kugizaki and Fushiguro to the hospital. I’ll wait for Itadori.”

“With all due respect, you can’t give me orders…” the adult tried to protest.

“I’ll stay too,” Megumi announced, standing up with difficulty. The girl raised her eyebrows in surprise. “If that curse is still there, you need help. You’re a defensive sorceress. It makes sense.”

Hanae looked at him, then at the adult. “Two against one. Go,” she finished seriously.

Ijichi looked at the two teenagers. He nodded silently, picked up Nobara more carefully, and led her toward the car.

“If you want to help, ask them to send a Rank 1 mage, though I doubt there are any,” Megumi said.

“I’ll do what I can. I’ll be back soon.” "Take care," said Ijichi, leaving the area

Chapter Text

It had started to rain, and the two teenagers were still waiting for the pink-haired boy when a strange feeling arrived.

The special grade curse had died; its cursed energy was gone. All that was left was for Yuuji to return.

Before either of them could say anything,

"I'm sorry, but he won't be coming back," a deep, slightly mocking voice sounded from behind them. The cursed energy was overwhelming, as terrifying as it was imposing; there was no doubt about it.

It was Ryomen Sukuna.

The students didn't turn around, but dry sweat trickled down the blonde's forehead.

"Don't make those faces." "I'm in a good mood, let's chat for a while." The curse began to walk casually until it stood in front of them. Hanae raised her gaze slightly. It wasn't very different from Itadori, but the black marks on its face and the bright red eyes replacing the brown showed that Sukuna was now in control. "It's what she deserved for using me without making any pact. It seems she has a hard time changing with me."

Hanae glanced at Megumi and seemed worried, which definitely didn't reassure the girl.

"It's only a matter of time," Sukuna said, tearing at Itadori's uniform to reveal several black marks on his body similar to those on his face. "I can live without this, but the brat can't," he said, laughing as he ripped Itadori's heart out of his chest. Hanae felt nauseous from the amount of blood that spilled out. The cursed creature kept poking around in his pants, pulling out a finger. "Just to be a little more sure," he said, swallowing it. The blonde felt more of the cursed energy surge within him. "Well, let's begin. I'll kill you for no particular reason."

"You don't understand. He'll return even if he dies. That's just how Itadori is," Fushiguro said, assuming a summoning position. The blonde clenched her gloved hands. She felt a sharp pain behind her eyes, a reminder of her earlier exertion, but she ignored it. There was no other option.

"That's true," Hanae added.

"They give him too much credit. He's just a human, only a little more foolish and stubborn than usual," the curse replied. "A moment ago, he was about to die pathetically."

A silence fell between the three. The hazel-eyed girl tried to analyze the situation. It was dire, but if they could keep Sukuna occupied long enough, perhaps Yuuji would take control.

She noticed that his left hand was as good as new, even though it had been amputated just minutes before. A reverse ritual? If so, it could also heal his heart, but perhaps he would only do so if he needed more power.

She turned and saw that the dark-haired man was trembling slightly, though he stood firm and summoned a great owl.

"Kiyomi, behind me, block him and let me approach!" Megumi exclaimed, beginning to attack Sukuna with her shikigami, though the curse dodged them with ease, as if he were playing.

Megumi tried to strike Sukuna and his shikigami, Nue, attempting to confuse him with her large wings, but it didn't work. At one point, the curse tried to reach Fushiguro, but the blonde immediately placed her gloved palms on the ground, creating a shield to protect her partner. The blow echoed against the surface, and the teenager felt the urge to cough up a thick liquid that was surely blood.

She had to resist; she couldn't move, as she needed both hands on the ground, or the shield would disappear.

"Well, look at that," said the curse, a little surprised but amused. "A barrier ritual user." It glanced around and saw Hanae, still crouching. "Defensive? What a waste."

But Megumi and Nue took advantage of the distraction. The owl sent a lightning strike, while the sorcerer summoned the same white snake from before to attack Sukuna, though he easily overcame the attack.

Hanae sat up and spat out the blood, leaving a small puddle. She mentally cursed herself for not bringing the medicine Inumaki had given her. Her hazel eyes watched as Megumi and her shikigami were sent flying by an attack.

And before she could realize what was happening, Sukuna was standing right in front of her.

She didn't have time to move before his hand closed around her throat, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

"You're pretty. I see why you caught the boy's attention," the cursed creature said mockingly.

The blonde could barely hear what he was saying. She tried to find a way to free herself, but without a surface, she couldn't activate her ritual.

She felt her throat tighten so much that she could barely breathe, when what seemed to be an animal noise caught Sukuna's attention. The girl screamed, her head jerking as fast as she could, and saw Megumi still standing there, with her shikigami.

The curse smiled defiantly, and carelessly released the blonde, throwing her to the ground and lunging at the dark-haired man.

Hanae dropped to her knees, taking a few heavy breaths, coughing up the last bit of blood in her throat. With effort, she stood and decided to approach the scene of the fight. Her ash-blonde hair, no longer straight, had returned to its natural wavy shape due to the humidity, stained with blood and dust.

She got close enough to see what was happening.

How the marks on Itadori's body were disappearing.

Fushiguro stood frozen, blood trickling from his head and forehead, while Hanae moved closer.

"I don't need to worry about you, right?" the pink-haired boy said, blood trickling from his mouth. "Can you live long?" Before he could fall to the pavement, the blonde quickly approached, knelt down, placed his head in her lap, and closed his eyes.

She felt Itadori's body growing colder and colder. She endured the sensation as long as she could, until her own body began to tremble, causing her to gently lower him to the ground and stand up.

She was unable to look at the corpse so she fixed her hazel gaze on her companion. Megumi wasn't crying or trembling, she simply had sadness in her eyes, while the blonde felt a tear or two on her face.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Hours later, they were at school. Nobara had been discharged from the hospital, while Megumi had left the infirmary. Hanae sat on one of the beds, her gaze distant.

"You'll be fine. Don't overdo your ritual," Shoko Ieri's tired but gentle voice was heard as she finished bandaging the teenager's throat.

The blonde nodded gratefully and stood up, ready to leave.

"Kimi-san, sends his condolences," the woman said as the girl headed for the door. "You should have seen her. She was furious because some first-year students were sent against a special class. She even demanded a meeting with 'the higher-ups.' She was the same way with us."

"Ieri-san, have you ever lost a comrade?" the hazel-eyed girl asked, pausing for a moment. Silence fell, but then the brown-haired girl sighed.

"Once," she replied seriously. The blonde nodded and left.

She walked down the hallway, feeling the sound of her boots against the wood. Her hair was still wavy; she hadn't had time to straighten it again. She felt like she was on autopilot.

She reached a door leading outside and saw Megumi and Nobara sitting on the front steps, both slightly hunched over. Without any better idea, Hanae approached and sat between them. The dark-haired boy glanced at her but said nothing, while the brunette seemed to notice her presence but didn't turn around.

"May you live long, can you?" Kugizaki said, his last words rather generic, but the slight melancholy in his tone was not insignificant. "Is this the first time you've lost a classmate?"

"The first one my age," the dark-haired boy replied.

"The first one in my case," the blonde added.

"Well, they're taking it very well," Nobara said. Megumi replied that she also seemed to be doing very well. "I only knew him two weeks ago, and we didn't have many missions. I'm not so foolish as to mourn the death of someone I barely knew." But the slight tremor in her lips betrayed her.

"Yuuji was a good person, maybe it was best if he died," the blonde commented, drawing the attention of her classmates. "It's no surprise that this world changes people. You either die a saint or live long enough to become Lucifer—that fits this situation well," she explained with an eerie calmness.

A silence fell over the place, broken only by the faint chirping of crickets.

"It's hot," the dark-haired boy tried to change the subject.

"Yeah. You should wear the summer uniform," the brunette added.

"We don't have a specific one, but we can wear sportswear," the blonde commented, trying to lighten the mood.

"Kiyomi, your hair looks different," Nobara said, making the girl look at her classmate.

"Yeah, the humidity makes it too wavy. I like it straighter, but I haven't had time," Hanae replied, her tone friendly but tired.

"You look good both ways," said the brunette, making the girl smile a little.

Silence fell again, but it wasn't as awkward as before.

"What's wrong? You seem sadder than usual, Megumi, and you never go out without your hair straightened, Hanae. Is this a wake or something?" They heard a voice in front of them. The three of them looked up and saw Maki with a somewhat challenging expression.

"Maki-senpai, are you back already?" the blonde asked, feeling her spirits lift a little.

"Yes. Category 2, nothing complicated," the green-haired girl replied, with a hint of pride.

"Zen'in-senpai," Megumi tried to say, but the older girl's annoyed glare appeared.

"Don't call me by my last name," she said in a serious tone.

But Panda and Inumaki seemed to be nearby, whispering to Maki to ask why the boys were sad. They said there were rumors of a student's death, which angered Maki because she hadn't been informed, causing the three second-year students to start arguing.

"Who are they?" Nobara asked, pointing at them and looking at her classmates.

"Our second-year seniors," Megumi replied indifferently.

"Don't let their appearance fool you, they're very strong. I got my own bruises from training with them to prove it," the blonde added with a slight smile. "Maki-senpai is the best user of cursed weapons, Inumaki-senpai uses cursed speech but speaks with rice ball ingredients, and Panda-senpai is... well, a panda."

"And don't forget Okkotsu-senpai, the only sane one, it seems," Megumi added, standing up. "But he's abroad."

Then the three students stood before them.

"We're sorry for the noise. They're in mourning. Please forgive us," Panda said, bowing slightly and clasping his hands together. "We want you to participate in the exchange event with Kyoto School," he explained.

"An exchange event with Kyoto School?" Nobara asked, puzzled. "What's that?" he asked, turning to his classmates.

"A sports event with the students from Kyoto School," Megumi replied. "But isn't it only for second and third-year students?" she questioned her superiors.

"Those idiot third-years are suspended. Yaga-san suggested that the first-years participate, and we agree," Maki explained.

"So what do you do at that event?" the brunette asked again. "Video games? I'll destroy them," she said with determination.

"We make teams of three. At the event, the directors of the Kyoto and Tokyo schools propose a competition that lasts one day each, and the event lasts two days. Although that's only in theory," Panda explained. "Most commonly, the first day has no group matches, and the second day is for individual matches."

"Salmon," Inumaki confirmed.

"Group and individual battles? We fight?! Against other sorcerers?!" the brunette exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, a sorcerer battle, where anything goes except killing," Maki commented with a smile.

"We'll train you well so you don't get killed, Hanae. We won't be as soft as before," Panda announced. The blonde felt a chill run down her spine. Had the previous training been soft?

"Do you have time for that? Aren't we short on sorcerers?" the brunette questioned.

"Good question, but that's temporary. People's sadness from winter to spring causes an increase in cases at the beginning of summer, our busiest time of year for missions," Panda explained.

"Sometimes we're busy all year round, but things will calm down soon," Maki added. "So you accept, right?"

"We accept," the three first-year students said simultaneously.

"But if the training isn't worth it, I'll quit," Nobara interjected, to which Megumi agreed she would do the same.

"I really miss training with you guys," the blonde added with a touch of nostalgia.

"It's always worth training insolent kids. Not you, Hanae, you're grateful," Panda said.

"Bonito Flakes," Inumaki commented.

Chapter Text

Training with the second-year students had started that very afternoon. Megumi had left, saying she had things to attend to, while Hanae and Nobara stayed behind.

They were currently in the courtyard where Panda and Nobara were having some silly competitions, while the blonde girl stayed next to Inumaki and Maki.

She was no longer wearing her standard uniform, but rather athletic wear: gray calf-length pants, a pink sleeveless shirt, and an unbuttoned white jacket. Her still-wavy hair was braided and cascaded down her back. She had replaced her high boots with white flats, though she had her ballet slippers in her bag just in case.

"Mustard Leaves?" the silver-haired boy next to her heard. She fixed her hazel eyes on him and saw him pointing to the bandage around her neck.

"Just a scratch. I forgot to bring the medicine you gave me. I think I'll have a sore throat for a while. If I had listened to you, I wouldn't be like this... I'm sorry," Hanae replied calmly.

"Salmon," Inumaki responded.

"Thank you," the girl said with a slight smile.

"You're late, Megumi," Maki announced beside her. The blonde turned and saw the dark-haired boy coming down the stairs and buttoning his blue jacket.

Fushiguro and Maki spoke for a moment before Nobara interrupted.

"Fushiguro! Kiyomi! Let's change! I'm sick of the uniform!" the brunette shouted, while Panda spun her around like a toy. "I want to buy cute sportswear! Kiyomi, you'll have to tell me where you bought yours later!"

A moment later, Panda threw Nobara into the air, causing the girl to scream even louder.

"What are you doing?" the dark-haired boy asked, puzzled.

"We're practicing falls," Panda explained, completely ignoring Kugizaki fallen on the ground. "They're weak in close combat."

"It's not exactly my forte either. I keep losing to Inumaki," the blonde added, a little frustrated.

"To start," Maki called out, grabbing her bo staff and getting into an attack stance, "try landing a hit on us."

Hanae took a step back, leaving Megumi in front. The girl shrugged at the slightly betrayed look from the dark-haired boy, who sighed and approached the green-haired girl.

The blonde and silver-haired walked towards where Panda was still throwing Nobara, until the girl called for a timeout, forming a T with her hands and approaching her teammate.

"Did you really lose to him?" she questioned, pointing at Inumaki, who was talking to Panda about not throwing the girls so hard. "Isn't he like ten centimeters shorter than you?"

"I trained with the second-years for a while, usually when they had free time. Even though it might not seem like it, Inumaki-senpai is very athletic; he's only surpassed by Maki-senpai," Hanae explained sympathetically. "From what he told me, I've improved a lot, but I don't think I'm very good yet."

"Atun Atun," Inumaki called, and the girl nodded and approached him.

"What did he say?" Kugizaki asked.

"Let's begin, you'll continue with Panda," the blonde replied. Nobara tried to protest, but the bear was already spinning her around and throwing her again.

The air in the training yard still echoed with the distant screams of Nobara being thrown by Panda. But in the corner where Hanae and Inumaki faced off, only the sound of their breathing and the crunch of gravel beneath their feet could be heard.

Hanae assumed her stance, the palms of her already sweaty gloves pointing toward Inumaki. He, with his characteristic high collar, simply nodded.

"Salmon," he said, the signal to begin.

In their first training sessions, Hanae would have waited, defending herself. But this time was different. As soon as the word was spoken, she lunged forward, closing the distance with a speed that surprised even Panda, who stopped watching Nobara to observe.

"Back off!"

Inumaki's voice, charged with cursed energy, struck Hanae like an invisible wall. But instead of being flung backward uncontrollably as usual, the girl spun around on her heels, her shoes skimming across the ground. The force of the command made her stumble, but she managed to regain her balance, ducking and getting ready again. She hadn't fallen. Her body, now more accustomed to it, had absorbed and redirected some of the impact.

“Wow, that was a good reaction!” Panda exclaimed, impressed.

Inumaki offered a faint smile behind his high collar. His eyes seemed to say, “You’ve improved.” Hanae, panting slightly, didn’t stop. She knew the window of opportunity was small. She charged again, this time with a more lateral movement, trying to flank him.

“Don’t move!”

The second command was stronger. Hanae felt her muscles tense, freezing in place for an instant that felt like an eternity. A sharp, familiar pain began to throb behind her eyes, the price of resisting such superior power. But with a grunt of effort, she forced her right arm forward. It wasn’t a powerful blow, far from perfect; her hands caught the sleeves of the boy’s shirt, pulling him to the ground, before the force of the command finally pushed her back, making her fall to her knees.

She was panting, sweat trickling down her temples, and her headache was worsening, but in her hazel eyes, there was a glimmer of triumph. She had knocked him down.

Inumaki stood up and offered her a hand.

"Flaky fritter," he said, his tone approving. It was a compliment.

Hanae took his hand and stood, brushing the dust from her knees. Her body was screaming for her to rest, to accept this small victory. But inside, a stubbornness she rarely displayed ignited. She had felt the opening, had seen that it could be quicker.

"Again," she said, her voice a little hoarse but firm. "Please, Inumaki-senpai. Another fight."

Inumaki blinked, surprised. Normally, after a display like that, students would give up to catch their breath.

Panda broke the silence, laughing in his deep, friendly voice as he approached.

"Another one, you say! That's the spirit! Although, just so you know..." He paused dramatically, counting with his claws. "With this one, your personal record would be... 0 wins and 82 losses against our little fighter!"

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Hanae gasped for a second, her cheeks flushing slightly. Eighty-two times. It was such an absurd number, almost comical.

But then she glanced at Inumaki, who was watching her curiously, and then at Panda, who winked at her. Instead of being discouraged, a resigned yet determined smile spread across her lips.

"Alright, again," the blonde said, sounding a bit more cheerful. "But no damn speech! It's an unfair advantage!" she exclaimed, to which the white-haired boy raised his hands in a gesture of innocence.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

A few hours after training ended, Nobara had practically fled to the mall, while Megumi stayed behind chatting with the second-year students. Hanae, her clothes a little stained and sweaty from training, returned to her room.

It had been a while, though she did miss chatting with Okkutsu-senpai, but from what Kimi had told her, his trip to Africa was going well.

Upon reaching her room, she turned on the light. Although it wasn't very late, the sun was beginning to set. She left her bag on the desk and went to the bathroom for a well-deserved shower, but not before finding her everyday clothes.

The shower was relaxing, and the steam rising from the room gave off a warm feeling. She hated the cold, so the warmth was comforting. She was wearing casual clothes—light jeans and a white sweater—and her hair was still damp, so she needed to dry and straighten it soon. Just as I was about to grab the hairdryer, there was a knock at the door.

"Hanae-chan, your teacher wants to talk to you," said Gojo's cheerful and outgoing voice from the other side.

The blonde frowned slightly. He was supposedly away on a trip; she didn't know how or when he'd arrived.

She approached the door and opened it, seeing the white-haired man looking at his phone. How was he doing that with the bandage on? She had no idea.

"Just in time! Come on, I have a surprise for you!" the man said, starting to walk away, but the girl remained at the door, confused. "If you don't come, I'll steal your hair dryer and straightener!" he threatened playfully.

The teenager, still somewhat puzzled, grabbed a pair of slippers from near the entrance and quickly put them on, along with a hair tie. She left her room, locked the door, and put the key in her pocket. She started following her teacher while quickly braiding her hair.

"Gojo-sensei, do you know about...?" the blonde began to ask.

"Yes, but that's precisely what the surprise is about," the man explained.

Her hazel eyes scanned every corner, blindly following her teacher through unfamiliar hallways and down staircases. It seemed quite dark.

Then they both stopped in front of a door.

"This is the surprise!" Gojo announced enthusiastically, dramatically opening the door. "The return of..." he said as the blonde entered the room, but she froze when someone else appeared. "Iiiiitadorii Yuuji!" Gojo exclaimed, pointing at the boy.

Her hazel eyes met his brown ones, but the boy smiled and waved.

"I'm sorry to worry you, it's a long story," the pink-haired boy said first, in a kind tone.

The blonde could barely stand; the shock was immense. It wasn't possible, it shouldn't be.

Then why was he standing in front of her?

He hadn't changed; he was still the same.

"Gojo-sensei, what's going on?" she asked, turning her gaze to her teacher.

"Well, the short version: Yuuji is Sukuna's vessel, Sukuna doesn't want to die, Sukuna revives Yuuji, and Yuuji is training to become stronger," the man explained, leaving the girl with even more questions. "Which brings me to the training you two will be doing."

"Okay, do Fushiguro and Kugizaki know?" the blonde asked, barely understanding the situation.

"Nope. You're the only one for now," the albino replied matter-of-factly. "Changing the subject Yuuji is better at hand-to-hand combat than you two, so he needs to learn to control his cursed energy and the essentials of sorcery," Gojo explained confidently, to which the pink-haired boy nodded resolutely.

"In the past, I couldn't help anyone. Sukuna almost killed my comrades. Teach me to be strong," Itadori said confidently.

"And Hanae-chan, your case is unusual," the albino commented, this time addressing the blonde. "Your ritual technique might seem basic, but it's constantly evolving." This made the girl's eyebrows furrow. "Take my Infinity as an example. It's a pure physics technique based on manipulating space and creating magnetic attraction. Your barriers are pure cursed energy, but if you manage to refine it, you could become something close to an inferior version of my Infinity."

The girl's mind went blank; that wasn't possible. Infinity is the pinnacle of manipulating cursed energy and rituals; creating a "version" was practically impossible.

"Does that mean Kiyomi would be as strong as you?" Yuuji asked, raising his hand.

"No, no, no. Of course not," the adult replied matter-of-factly. "If you want a comparison, she'd be a small Boisai and I'm a massive oak," Gojo explained. "But if she tries hard enough, perhaps she can mimic the magnificent manipulation, positive and negative, attracting and repelling objects through her barriers."

"Could I achieve that?" the girl asked hesitantly. She had only recently begun learning the basics; her barriers had taken her a year and a few months to practice, and even now she had very clear limitations.

"You can. When I was young, before I fully mastered Infinity, I also had to create barriers to attract and repel," Gojo's voice wavered for a moment but returned to its usual amused tone. "It will take time, a lot of time."

The girl nodded. While Gojo gave Yuuji a demonstration of cursed power and rituals, she pondered the situation.

Could she really mimic something as powerful as Infinity? Was that her potential? She never thought that creating simple barriers of cursed energy could become something of this magnitude.

"So that means I could do some cool techniques?" The pink-haired boy seemed so enthusiastic, which snapped Hanae out of her reverie.

"No, you can't use energy, Yuuji. Essentially, the technique was ingrained in you when you were born... but you might adapt to the Sukuna technique soon, so we'll add magical power to your martial arts," the adult explained. "It's only obtained through negative emotions. Everyone trains to produce magical power through a spark of emotion. There are different ways to train, but I'll put you through one of the most grueling training sessions."

"What kind of training?" Itadori and Hanae asked in unison.

"Watching movies." "Wait, what?" "But you won't just be watching movies, you'll be doing it with these guys." Gojo pulled out two plush toys. Itadori held a brown bear with blue boxing gloves, while Hanae held a white rabbit.

"What's the point of all this?" Itadori asked.

*BAM!* The bear, which moments before had been an inert mass of fabric, sprang to life with a snap of energy and landed a perfect right hook on Yuuji's jaw, making his teeth crack. "Ow!"

The blonde couldn't help but burst into genuine, unintentional laughter at Yuuji's pained, bewildered expression. "Ha! That was...!"

She couldn't finish. The white rabbit, with deadly elegance, rose into the air and delivered a spinning karate kick right to the center of her forehead. "Ow!" Hanae cried, clutching the now throbbing area.

"If you don't emit a constant flow of cursed power, that doll will rise and attack you. Courtesy of Director Yaga, and when I say that, I mean I stole them without he noticing, which is probably why he hates me," the albino explained. "As I said before, there's a wide variety of movies here that will make you feel distressed, agitated, excited, or other emotions—if you want to cry. Your mission is to watch a whole movie without waking that cursed doll. Start with any of them. For example, there's this one; the protagonist has a horrible personality but dies at the end."

"Hey, what a huge spoiler..." Yuuji said, at which point the bear hit him again. Hanae concentrated, but the rabbit still kicked her in the head.

Gojo left the room, leaving the two teenagers alone. Yuuji wasted no time and started a movie, sitting down on the sofa. The girl followed suit and sat on the end, still clutching her stuffed rabbit.

Neither of them spoke much during the hour-long movie. Gojo was right; it was a gripping thriller, but that didn't stop their plushies from playfully hitting each other once or twice.

Then they started another movie, this time an action film.

"Kiyomi, you know a lot about sorcery, right?" she heard the pink-haired boy say beside her, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Not much, actually." That answer caught the boy's attention, making him look at his companion. "I've only been at the school for a year before starting in the first-year class. I had time to train, but nothing as advanced as Fushiguro's."

"A year ago? Shouldn't you have been in high school?" the boy asked curiously.

The blonde's hands trembled slightly, clutching the plushie even tighter in her arms, deciding not to look away from the movie.

"I didn't have much of a choice," she replied directly, not wanting to sound distant.

"You only had a year of training and you're already very strong. After this, it'll be hard for me to keep up with you," Yuuji commented, with a slight apology, trying to change the subject, which the blonde appreciated.

Hanae's hands relaxed slightly around the plushie. A small part of the tension in her shoulders dissipated, grateful for the change of subject and the unexpected admiration in her companion's voice.

The blonde girl got up and placed the plush rabbit on the sofa, brushing off the crumbs of snacks Gojo had left on her white sweater.

"I'd better head back. It's getting late, and I promised Nobara I'd see the clothes she bought," she said calmly.

"I see. Tell them I send my regards," Yuuji said, watching Hanae start to leave the room.

"Aren't you supposed to be dead?" she asked, smiling at the suggestion.

"You could say you played with a Ouija board and talked to me, then tell them I send my regards," the pink-haired boy replied, making the blonde girl giggle.

"I'll see what I can come up with. Have fun watching movies," the teenager said before finally leaving the room, still smiling.

Chapter Text

A few days had passed, and Hanae wasn't feeling well.

Lying to her classmates wasn't easy, and she certainly didn't enjoy it. She tried to change the subject, avoiding topics related to Itadori, and simply said that when Gojo came to find her, it was to train her technique.

She wanted to be honest, but she couldn't disobey her teacher, so she focused on training with the second-year students, where she felt truly comfortable.

Currently, she was with Megumi and Nobara in front of the vending machines. The brunette had finally gotten her workout clothes, and Hanae was also in her training gear after a morning run.

"Why don't they improve the variety of vending machines?" the brunette asked after getting her cold coffee.

"It's not like there are many people here," the dark-haired boy replied curtly.

"They were restocked recently; maybe they'll get more soon," the blonde added sympathetically.

"Does anyone else feel like it's a tough day?" Megumi commented randomly.

"There's a meeting today between the Kyoto and Tokyo directors, Panda told me," the girl replied. "Apparently, they don't get along very well, especially the vice-principal and the principal of Kyoto."

"Why?" Nobara asked, intrigued.

"There's no official information; they're very secretive about it," the hazel-eyed girl responded calmly.

"We should ask Panda; he knows everything about everyone," Megumi added, curiously intrigued by the gossip.

Before anyone could speak, two figures appeared, their cursed power overwhelming, the other, though much weaker, sharp.

The three students turned and saw two people slightly older than them.

One was a very tall and muscular boy with a scar over his eye, while the girl beside him looked just like Maki but with short hair and a sharp gaze.

"What are you doing here, Zen'nin-senpai?" Megumi was the first to speak, addressing the green-haired girl.

"Is she related to Maki?" the brunette asked. "I noticed the resemblance. Are you sisters?"

"Twins," the blonde said calmly. "Zen'nin-san, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Come on, Fushiguro, that's what you also call Maki," the green-haired girl said to the boy, ignoring the blonde's introduction, who had to swallow her pride. "Call me Mai."

"Are these the ones who will replace Okkotsu and the third-years?" the tallest one said, analyzing the three first-year students. "We came with our principal; we wanted to see who we'll be facing."

"Your partner died, didn't he? Was it hard? Or did you not care?"Mai commented in a mocking tone but clearly trying to sound aggressive.

"What are you getting at?" the dark-haired man asked, sounding a little annoyed.

Hanae had to hold back her words. She knew she couldn't reveal a secret like that, but a feeling of helplessness began to fill her. A premonition came over her, and she discreetly took the gloves from her pockets and began to put them on.

This wasn't going to end well.

"Relax, it's not easy to admit some things, so I'll do it for you," Mai said, drawing the teenagers' attention. "Maybe 'vessel' is a term, but he was nothing more than a half-cursed monster. I'm sure having him around was torture. Calling themselves sorcerers must have been terrible. It must have been a relief when he died."

Silence filled the room. The three students glared at each other with pure resentment, though the blonde had to tighten her gloves.

"Mai, don't get sidetracked from what's most important," her companion said beside her, starting to approach the teenagers. "I came to see if you're worthy of replacing Okkotsu. That's all I want to know!" he announced, standing before the dark-haired boy. "Your name is Fushiguro, isn't it? What kind of women do you like?"

The sudden question left the three speechless for a moment, looking at the tallest one in confusion.

"Depending on your answer, I could leave you half dead and drag Okkotsu and the third-years into the exchange program," he said determinedly, tearing at his shirt, which made Megumi look serious. "I like tall women with big butts."

"Why would I share my tastes with a complete stranger?" the dark-haired boy questioned, to which Hanae nodded in support.

"It's impossible for an antisocial like him," the brunette added, pointing at her classmate, who looked annoyed.

"Why don't you introduce yourselves?,That way everything will be less confusing," the blonde interjected gently, to which the dark-haired man shrugged. "He's Fushiguro Megumi, a first-year student, a very strong cursed technique and ritual."

"Todo Aoi, from Kyoto, a third-year," the taller man replied dryly. "We've already introduced ourselves. Answer soon. It can also be men's tastes, if that's your preference. Tastes are the truest reflection; someone with boring tastes is a boring person. And I detest boring men!"

"Are you kidding me?" the boy asked.

"They're wearing summer uniforms," ​​Nobara said, eyeing Mai's light and comfortable uniform. "I hate to admit it, but I envy them."

"Personally, I find sportswear more comfortable," the blonde added.

"I don't have any physical preferences..." the dark-haired boy began, drawing everyone's attention. "I'd like someone with an unwavering personality."

"That's not a bad answer," Nobara agreed.

"We all have different tastes, both are valid and respected, right, Todo-san?" the hazel-eyed girl said, instantly lightening the mood, but the teenagers soon realized the older boy had started to cry.

"I knew it, you're boring, Fushiguro." That phrase made the dark-haired boy tense up, and Todo immediately lunged at him, punching him and sending him flying.

"I knew it, Fushiguro." The blonde crouched down and pressed her gloved hands into the ground, creating a slight shield that cushioned the black-haired man's fall a little, but this did not prevent Megumi from having blood on her temple when she stood up.

Nobara tried to approach her companion, but Mai held her back. Hanae also tried to approach, but something unexpected blocked her path: arrows of cursed energy lodged just inches from her feet.

"You're late, Noritoshi," she heard Mai say behind her.

The blonde could only watch helplessly as Todo drew ever closer to Megumi, but every time she tried to advance or retreat, cursed arrows blocked her path.

Her hazel eyes tried to find the archer, but the surrounding foliage offered no help. She also didn't sense any cursed energy; either he was very good at hiding, or it was a trick.

"Are you a long-range sorcerer? Sorcerers usually prefer to fight in person," she said to the air, hoping he would hear her.

"You're a defensive sorceress and not very good at melee combat. That's hypocritical of you," she heard a calm but passive-aggressive male voice say somewhere.

Damn.

"I've heard about you, Kamo-san. I'm surprised that someone so important would join in with his classmates, bullying first-year students. Members of important clans are supposed to be more sensible and polite," Hanae retorted seriously. But before she knew it, an arrow grazed her face. Had she not covered her face with her hands and the steel bracelets on her gloves hadn't struck the arrow, she would surely have a scar.

She frowned and looked around. Todo and Megumi were gone, leaving a trail of destruction. Nobara and Mai seemed to be fighting, with the green-haired girl controlling the fight.

Sweat trickled down her forehead. She couldn't activate her ritual if she couldn't see who she was defending herself against.

She didn't have time to think of a strategy when someone interrupted them.

"Let's go, Mai, Noritoshi," Todo's voice sounded behind her. The blonde turned and saw that there was no trace of a fight on her body, not even a scratch.

"Where's Megumi?" she wondered to herself.

She stepped back a little and instinctively prepared for another arrow attack, but was surprised when there was none.

Did she just retreat like that?

She felt frustrated at the defeat because her opponent hadn't bothered to fight or even show herself; she had simply cornered her like prey. Honestly, she felt useless, but she still turned toward Nobara, who was with Maki, where Mai looked angry.

Maki must have stopped her sister before she did something serious.

Todo approached her companion and said something about going to the mall for a public interview with an idol whose name she didn't recognize.

Hanae simply sighed wearily at the situation she had just experienced and decided to walk away, taking the opposite direction that led to one of the school's gardens.

As she walked through the shadows of the trees, she felt her hands tighten in her gloves, and a horrible sensation ran down her spine.

She reached a nearby bench and sat down, feeling the weight of the events of earlier.

How could she improve? Gojo was busy with Yuuji, the second-years had already been training with her, Kimi was busy with the headmasters, and she only knew one mage who specialized in critical attacks and environmental analysis.

Nanami Kento.

But he was very busy and flatly refused to train students. She had tried to convince him, but he always refused.

She sensed a presence nearby, friendly and a little rushed.

"Good afternoon, Miss Kiyomi," she heard a young, kind voice say. The hazel eyes of the woman, who couldn't have been more than twenty, were dressed in a uniform similar to Ijichi's, and her short blonde hair with black roots was a sight to behold. "I'm Akari Nitta. Gojo told me to take you to the meeting point for your next mission."

"I understand, thank you. If it's not too much trouble, could you wait for me at the entrance? I'm a bit dirty and I need my uniform," she said kindly. The woman nodded and started walking toward the exit.

The blonde could only sigh heavily; the day wasn't over yet.

After a quick shower and a change of clothes, she was in Nitta's car, where the young woman was driving down a somewhat deserted street.

Hanae had time to smooth her blonde hair and shake off the fatigue. The feeling from before hadn't completely disappeared, but she could relax her shoulders.

She finally learned about Megumi's condition. She spoke briefly with Panda, who told her she was in the infirmary, but nothing too serious.

This relieved the girl.

The car stopped in front of a building. The light of the setting sun filled the building, which appeared to be a closed high school.

"Thank you," the teenager said, getting out of the car. The woman nodded and then started the engine.

Hanae looked around, recalling Nitta's directions. Supposedly, it was to go up the stairs and through the second door.

She wasn't wearing her gloves, so her thin, pale fingers were exposed, feeling the slight chill of the air, but she went inside anyway.

When she arrived at the designated spot, she put on her gloves. She didn't sense any unstable, cursed energy, so perhaps it was a Category Four.

The door opened, and without hesitation, the blonde grabbed whoever was in front of her and slammed him to the ground, just as Maki had taught her, kicking her opponent's knee and slamming them into the chest.

But when she had him beneath her, she realized.

"Yuuji?!" she exclaimed, realizing she had practically knocked her partner to the ground. She immediately stepped back and helped him to his feet, while the boy clutched his ribs, wincing slightly. "I'm so sorry! Gojo said it was a mission, and I…!"

"You're a little late, Kiyomi," she heard a deep voice from inside, and the blonde entered, realizing it was someone she knew.

Nanami Kento.

She hadn't truly believed in the manifestation until now.

"Nanami-san?.Good afternoon," he said, trying not to forget his manners. "What's going on?" he asked, entering the room followed by Yuuji.

"I'll explain the details; it's a bit of a long story," the blond boy said.

"You have a heavy hand, Kiyomi, and here I was thinking my punches hurt," the pink-haired boy remarked, sitting down at his desk in the classroom.

The blond girl giggled a little before turning her attention back to the older.

"Itadori and I fought against human curses, modified and reconstructed. We identified them as students from a nearby high school who died abruptly in a movie theater," the adult explained seriously, showing a map of the city. "I'll be in charge of finding the lair of the curse that transmuted the students' bodies."

The blonde nodded in understanding.

"You and Itadori will be in charge of investigating the other boy who was in the theater when they died," he explained, showing a photograph and placing it on the map. "Yoshino Junpei. You're the same age, so it will be an easy task."

"Why do I have to go? If the curse attacks, perhaps only Itadori can handle it," the teenager questioned.

"Exactly for that reason. Your ritual will help protect the boy while your partner attacks. It's a shame there wasn't an adult; I didn't want to involve so many children," the sorcerer replied.

The two teenagers exchanged a glance.

"Don't worry, Nanamin. We'll go see Junpei and find out what happened," Itadori said, getting up from her desk.

"We'll call you if anything happens, I promise," the blonde added sincerely.

"Alright, and Itadori, stop calling me that. You spend way too much time with Gojo," she replied, slightly irritated at the mention of the albino.

They both started to leave the room, where Ijichi was waiting for them, but Itadori quickly turned around and went back into the living room, followed by the dark-haired boy.

From what the blonde heard, he was wishing Nanami good luck on her mission.

Hanae glanced at her phone, noticing she had some messages, but simply turned it off.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Hanae and Itadori were in Ijichi's car, in the middle of a street in an apartment complex.

"It's him," the adult said, looking in the direction of a boy walking by.

"Huh? In street clothes?" the pink-haired boy asked. The blonde nodded; it was true, today was Tuesday, and normally at this time, high school students would be in class.

"Apparently, he hasn't been attending classes for a while," the older boy announced.

"Well, we could say the same about me. Kiyomi, are the others alright?" he asked, catching the blonde girl's attention.

"It depends on each person's definition of 'good.' Nobara is about to leave because she hates training, and Megumi is a bit more serious than usual, but they're very well," the girl replied with a kind smile, which he returned in kind.

"What will we do?" Yuuji asked the adult.

"We'll use these. Tiny cursed spirits don't even reach Category 4," he explained, looking at a small cage containing some rather ugly creatures. "When we arrive at a sparsely populated area, we'll have them attack." This part made the teenagers look at Ijichi in surprise. "First case: If he doesn't sense any curses, you'll protect him. Second case: If he can sense them but can't protect himself, you'll protect him again, please, and then we'll question him about the incident. And last case: If he exorcises them, we have to arrest him."

"By force?" the blonde asked, worried.

"Exactly. If it turns out to be a misunderstanding, we'll apologize later, but if their power is similar to that of a Class 2 sorcerer, we'll have to retreat and ask Nanami for reinforcements," the adult said.

"I think Kiyomi and I can handle Class 2 opponents," the pink-haired boy said.

"Not exactly," Hanae commented. "Remember, sorcerers deal with spirits of a similar class to our own. If a Class 2 sorcerer wants to defeat a Class 2 curse, they must have the strength of a Class 1 spirit," she explained.

"Why didn't you ever tell me something so important?" Yuuji added randomly.

"That's basic information. Didn't Gojo tell you anything?" the girl questioned, to which Itadori shrugged.

Ijichi gave the signal, and the three got out of the car.

They followed Junpei through the streets until he reached a deserted area. At that moment, Ijichi signaled to the blonde to release the small creatures, but Itadori warned that someone else was nearby. She somehow managed to launch herself about four meters, perform a somersault, and catch the small creatures. However, in a moment of carelessness, she landed and hit her head on a nearby post.

Hanae approached, worried, asking if she was alright, to which Itadori nodded.

"Who are you?" The other person was an older, robust man who was eyeing the teenagers suspiciously.

Itadori ignored the man and approached Yoshino directly. "I have something to ask you."

The blonde quickly moved closer, gently pushing her companion back because he was standing too close to Junpei, and he looked very uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, my partner is very sociable," Hanae said sympathetically, "but we really need your help."

"Why are you interrupting like that?" the man snapped, annoyed.

"Well, it's an important matter," Yuuji argued.

"Who are you to say that, kid?" the man mocked, pointing at Itadori. "What school is that uniform from...?" Desperately, Yuuji ducked down, grabbed the man's pants, and ran off with them. The man, for obvious reasons.

Meanwhile, the blonde stayed with Junpei.

Okay, that was ridiculous. She wasn't the only one surprised, as Junpei had an incredulous expression.

"So, shall we go?" they heard Itadori's friendly voice behind them.

"You're really fast! Did you walk all the way around the street?" Junpei asked, surprised.

"Yes," the pink-haired boy replied.

"There was no need to go to such extremes. We could have waited until you finished talking," the blonde chided her companion amicably.

"Yeah, but you didn't like that guy, right?" Yuuji commented, looking at Junpei.

"How do you know...?" the boy asked.

"Just a hunch," the pink-haired boy replied, to which Hanae couldn't help but laugh slightly, shaking her head. "Was I wrong?" she questioned the younger boy.

"No, you were right," said the dark-haired boy.

"Maybe we need a change of scenery. There's a really nice place nearby where we can talk," commented the blonde girl, starting to walk, followed by the two boys.

A few minutes later, the teenagers were standing in front of a river. There was a staircase leading down to the street. The blonde and the dark-haired boy sat on the steps while Itadori made a call.

"I'm so sorry for all that introduction," said the hazel-eyed girl in a calm voice, drawing the attention of the boy beside her. "My name is Kiyomi Hanae, a first-year student."

"Junpei Yoshino, I'm a first-year too, or rather, I was," said the boy. While her voice wasn't exactly friendly, it was soft and calm, but also shy and cautious.

"Damn it! I'll ask him!" Yuuji's slightly frustrated exclamation echoed, making both teenagers turn to face him. "Hey, the other day some people died at the movie theater you went to. Did you see anything weird? Like some ugly bug like this?" He said, showing the curse word still clinging to his hand. Junpei seemed surprised by the pink-haired boy's frankness, while the girl felt like smacking her forehead.

So much for the plan to gain their trust.

"Don't pressure him, Junpei. This isn't an interrogation," the blonde gently interjected. "What happened at the movie theater was very serious, and we wanted to know if you could help us find out who did it."

"You just gave the definition of an interrogation," the pink-haired boy added, to which Hanae regretted having accepted the mission.

"No, I haven't seen anything like that," Junpei interrupted the argument. "I only started seeing that's things very recently."

"I see. Well, that's all," Yuuji replied, approaching the teenagers.

"So soon?" the black-haired boy questioned.

"Sure, even so, can you stay a little longer until the guy who's like our boss arrives?" Itadori asked. Junpei agreed, and the pink-haired boy sat down between the girl and the younger one.

The blonde's phone started ringing, the ringtone of Everybody Wants To Rule The World echoed through the silence.

The girl looked at the screen and saw Nobara's name. She knew she had to answer.

"Do you like 80s music?" Yuuji asked playfully as the blonde stood up.

"Try living at a school where the radio is controlled by a tyrannical Senpai who's a huge fan of old rock is hard don't liked," she replied, amused, walking away. Yuuji's cheerful laughter echoed, and Junpei's slightly nervous laughter followed.

She went upstairs, keeping a little distance. She didn't want Nobara to accidentally hear Itadori's voice and have to explain herself. The blonde turned slightly and saw Junpei and Yuuji talking more confidently, which made her smile a little.

When she answered, she put the phone to her ear.

Big mistake.

"WHERE ARE YOU?! I'VE BEEN TEXTING YOU SINCE YESTERDAY AND YOU'RE NOT ANSWERING!" The brunette's shout on the other end of the line made the blonde close her eyes tightly and move the phone slightly away from her ear. "WAS IT BECAUSE OF THAT TRAP THOSE PEOPLE IN KYOTO SET FOR US?! COME BACK HERE AND WE'LL TRAIN TO DEFEAT THEM! I CAN'T FIND YOU ANYWHERE! AND FUSHIGURO IS BEING MORE INQUISITIVE THAN USUAL! HE'S DOING THAT WEIRD THING OF TRYING TO START A CONVERSATION!"

"Nobara, I'm fine. I had a mission and left early," she managed to say amidst her accusations, which made the brunette on the other end fall silent for a moment. "What happened?"

"Panda gave me 100 yen. We made a bet, and I said you were on a mission. He said you were on a date," Kugizaki replied matter-of-factly.

"I don't understand. Are you really worried, or did you just want to win the bet?" the hazel-eyed girl asked wearily.

"They go hand in hand. We haven't spoken since yesterday," the girl replied, this time in a slightly lower tone. "I know you didn't like that the Japanese Robin Hood set you up."

The blonde remained silent for a moment. A day had passed, and she still felt a bitter taste when she remembered those from Kyoto.

"Kamo-san is a very strong sorcerer. Losing to him was a learning experience, and..." She stopped mid-sentence, unable to say those words; it felt like vomiting.

"Just say it," her companion insisted on the other end of the line.

Hanae sighed heavily.

"It was humiliating, and I want everyone to see that I'm more than just a simple defense mage, that I'll be someone who can defend herself against anything," she finally blurted out, feeling a calm wash over her after those words.

"You said it much more politely than I thought, but it counts too," Nobara commented. "Next time, don't disappear. At least leave a note. It's old-fashioned, but it works."

"I'll try. We'll talk later, okay?" Hanae replied. Kugizaki accepted the offer, and they agreed to meet for coffee sometime before hanging up.

After hanging up, she returned to the others, where they seemed to be talking about movies.

"Hey, Hanae, we were talking about going to the movies sometime. Want to come?" the pink-haired boy asked when his companion was nearby.

—I'd love to, I'm not very knowledgeable about movies, whatever you want to see, I'm in— I replied kindly, glancing at Junpei who seemed surprised that those teenagers were planning to go to the movies with him.

Then a female voice interrupted their conversation.

"Junpei?" The three teenagers turned around and saw a woman who looked very much like the dark-haired boy.

"Mom?" said their new friend.

"It's unusual to see you here. Are they your friends?" the dark-haired woman asked, sounding happy.

"We just met them," Junpei replied.

"Although I have a feeling we'll be friends!" Yuuji added.

"I think so too," the blonde commented.

"What are your friends' names?" the woman asked, coming down the stairs to stand in front of the teenagers.

"Itadori Yuuji!" the pink-haired boy said enthusiastically.

"Kiyomi Hanae, nice to meet you," the girl added calmly.

"Would you like to have dinner with us, Yuuji, Hanae?" the woman invited kindly.

Junpei tried to say that the boys were waiting for their boss, but Yuuji's growling stomach betrayed his hunger.

"We'd be very grateful for the invitation, Yoshino-san," the blonde interjected warmly.

"Please, we're among friends," the dark-haired woman added. "Are there any allergies or ingredients you might not like?"

"Nothing at all!" the pink-haired man replied.

"Pepper gives me a slight allergic reaction," the hazel-eyed woman answered.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Nagi Yoshino's home was incredibly comfortable. After Hanae repeatedly offered, she allowed her to help prepare dinner, which, by the way, took longer than expected since that woman had so much to say. Despite being older than the teenagers, she was very funny and had all sorts of interesting conversations. She mainly talked about anecdotes from her younger years—though judging by her appearance, I think she's still in them—her experiences as a waitress at a well-known club in Sendai, and how she met her idiot ex-husband there. I think that last bit of information was revealed because of a half-empty wine bottle.

Hanae mentioned basic things, without going into too much detail: her upperclassmen who helped her like a little sister, the headmistress who was very kind and well-liked at school, her eccentric teacher, and her classmates, carefully avoiding the topic of the sorceress.

After two hours, we finished preparing a delicious Alfredo pasta.

Dinner was pleasant despite them being almost strangers. At that moment, everyone was watching a pink-haired girl imitating a scene from Cast Away with a plate and a celery stick.

"Your boyfriend is so funny," Nagi said, laughing uncontrollably as she placed an arm around the blonde girl's shoulders.

"We're not dating, he's my partner," the teenager replied, because Junpei and Yuuji seemed very engrossed in discussing the movie "Cast Away."

"Oh, you two look so cute together. You're very pretty, Hanae-chan, Yuuji must be blind," the woman commented, making the blonde girl look away.

Before she knew it, Nagi had fallen asleep leaning against the table. Dinner was over, so Junpei said they could get up.

The hazel-eyed girl watched as the dark-haired boy carefully placed a blanket over her mother's shoulders, making sure not to wake her.

"Your mom is a good person," the pink-haired boy commented, to which Junpei nodded.

"Itadori, Kiyomi, what are your mothers like?" the dark-haired boy asked the children with a bit more confidence.

"I never met her. I remember my dad a little. But my grandfather raised me," Yuuji replied, a little embarrassed but smiling as he spoke of his grandfather.

Junpei's gray gaze fell on Hanae, who had to take a breath before answering.

"My mom died when I was young, I don't remember her very well," the blonde replied. Seeing the sad expressions on her classmates' faces, she decided to bring something else up. "She was very beautiful. She was German, but she moved to Japan when she was young. I have a picture here."

The two boys moved closer when they saw her take out her phone. She showed them a picture of a blonde woman and a brown-haired man with green eyes.

"That's my parents when they were young, in high school," she said without really looking at the photo. She put it away after a moment of them looking at it.

"Was she German? That explains the blonde hair. Do you know any German words?" the pink-haired boy asked curiously.

"Not much," the hazel-eyed girl replied, trying to end the conversation quickly.

"They're very similar, but you have your dad's eyes; you carry them both with you," Junpei added, which made the girl smile slightly and give a grateful nod.

Yuuji's phone started ringing, causing him to step away a little to answer it.

From what she heard, it was Ijichi saying he would pick them up later, but when he hung up, the blonde looked around for Junpei and realized he was on the other side of the room.

"They're sorcerers, aren't they?" the dark-haired boy asked, stating it more as a fact than a question.

"Yes/No," the two students replied simultaneously. Hanae glared accusingly at Yuuji for having just revealed her secret, but then looked down at the ground.

Maybe she should try trusting Junpei.

"Yes, we are students," the blonde affirmed.

"Have you killed anyone?" the gray-eyed boy asked.

They both shook their heads.

"But someday you'll have to fight evil sorcerers, right?" he questioned. "What will you do then?"

Hanae felt like Junpei was interrogating them. Honestly, she knew the answer to that question, but she wanted to see how far the situation would escalate.

"Even so, I wouldn't want to kill them," the pink-haired man replied.

"The world of the sorceress is... complicated. We can't kill whomever we want just because we feel like it," the blonde explained. "There are very traditional people who can be seen as evil."

"And why not kill them? They're evil," the dark-haired man said again.

"I think that killing someone would open my life up to the option of 'killing.' If the value of a life becomes blurred, I wouldn't be able to properly appreciate my loved ones. It terrifies me." Itadori's response left the room silent.

In the month she had known him, Hanae had never seen him speak so seriously and with such profound meaning. A glimmer of admiration settled in her hazel eyes when she looked at the pink-haired man.

"I think... we shouldn't forget our true purpose," the blonde began. "If we only focus on the bad things, we won't be able to live peacefully; that will change us..."

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

After watching a movie, Yuuji and Hanae were in a nearby park, waiting for Ijichi to pick them up. He said he was close, but that had been said about half an hour ago.

It was late at night, so the pink-haired boy always stayed close to his companion, especially if any men passed by, something the blonde appreciated.

"Hanae," he called to the girl, making her look at him curiously with her hazel eyes. "I never apologized for what Sukuna did. Gojo-sensei told me he attacked you and Fushiguro. I'm sorry."

"That's all in the past. I admit I wasn't expecting an apology, but I accept it," the girl replied kindly. "Do you think Junpei had anything to do with what happened at that movie theater?" she asked.

"He's a good person, but he's very reserved. Sometimes I feel like he's hiding something," the pink-haired boy replied.

"I feel the same way, but that doesn't mean he has to be a bad person," the blonde added calmly. "Maybe we should visit him more often."

"I was thinking of asking her to come with us to the witchcraft school," the boy said.

"It's not that easy," she replied, a little tired. "We have to talk to our teacher, and he has to ask the headmaster and the vice-headmistress for permission to admit a new student. But I think it's a good idea; I think he'd get along well with the rest of us."

A silence settled between them, but it wasn't awkward, just peaceful.

"So your mom was from Germany," Yuuji commented, breaking the silence, to which the blonde nodded. "I understood that only inhabitants of Japan could possess cursed power, or something like that, Gojo-sensei said."

"You really need to ask for a change of teacher," the girl said with a slight laugh. "But again, it's more complicated than that. You don't necessarily have to be Japanese by blood. We can have foreign ancestry, but if we've lived in Japan since a young age, the cursed power grows within us, and I'm not the only case."

"Really? Who else?" he asked curiously.

"Well, Nanami-san has Danish ancestry, I think from one of her grandparents," she replied calmly. "And there is another sorcerer, named Miguel, he is from Africa and I heard about him in a conversation.

"I really should be asking you these kinds of questions. You know everything about the world of sorcerers," I said with a hint of admiration.

"I just like to study," the girl shrugged, trying to downplay it.

“My grandfather used to insist all the time that I should study. Honestly, the only subject I never failed was gym,” the pink-haired boy added to the air. “He still scares me when i remember when I practiced math with him.”/p>

Hanae chuckled softly.

“I think everyone has their strengths. I couldn’t punch through concrete,” the blonde replied playfully.

“I still maintain that the concrete wasn’t reinforced,” he retorted.

Before she could respond, Ijichi had already arrived, with Nanami in the back seat.

“How did it go?” the blonde asked seriously, but with a hint of concern.

“Great! We watched movies,” the pink-haired boy replied quickly, getting into the car followed by the blonde.

“I meant the mission, but it’s good that you had fun,” the adult commented.

"Junpei doesn't know what happened, but he can see curses," the hazel-eyed woman explained, closing the car door, leaving Yuuji beside her.

"How did it go for you? Did you find the curse?" the boy asked, a little excited.

The rest of the trip was spent Nanami dodging Yuuji's questions, while he insisted on knowing what had happened. Meanwhile, Hanae searched her phone for messages; there wasn't much, but apparently Megumi had sent her a picture of her new shikigami—a large number of adorable white rabbits. While the dark-haired boy wasn't in the photo, it showed the rabbits scattered all over the schoolyard, even in small groups. Nobara was seen walking away from them, shaking what must have been rabbit fur off his uniform, and Panda was practically growling at them. But Inumaki seemed very happy, holding one in his arms. She also saw Kimi holding a rabbit that looked quite comfortable in the woman's arms, and Maki was looking at the rodents with disgust.

The picture made her smile.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Hanae was relaxing in the school cafeteria after an intense ballet session. Maki had woken up in a good mood, ready to train with her. Her whole body ached, but she was satisfied to know she was improving, though the bruises still felt the same.

She had just showered, put on her uniform, smoothed her hair, and picked up her gloves from the school dry cleaners.

The cafe was empty, so she sat at one of the tables by the window, a latte in hand. It didn't matter that it was summer; she was drinking hot beverages.

She was a little lost in thought. So much had happened in such a short time, and she felt like she was truly alone for the first time. She was grateful that in the half hour she'd been in the cafeteria, there hadn't been a soul around.

"Enjoying the solitude? Some things never change." The female voice entering the room caught her attention. Turning slightly, she realized it was Kimi. She wasn't wearing her uniform; she was dressed casually, something she rarely did: dark, slightly loose jeans and a black sleeveless shirt, her blonde hair loose. "Good morning," she added, approaching the teenager.

"Good morning," Hanae replied. The woman gestured to the chair in front of her, asking if she could sit, to which the younger girl nodded.

"I'm sorry I left so quickly and took so long," the adult began, a hint of guilt in her voice. "What happened to Yuuji was terrible."

"Ieri-san said you were very upset. Is it true you requested a meeting with 'the higher-ups'?" the girl asked, trying to change the subject. If she couldn't lie well to her classmates, she certainly couldn't lie to her mentor.

"Don't worry about it, those are adult problems," Kimi replied softly, though a little tired. "There's only a week left until the exchange with Kyoto, and the first-year students will be participating. May I ask how you're feeling, or would that be too intrusive?"

"Honestly, I'm a little nervous. Do you know what happened when the Kyoto principal came?" the blonde asked carefully.

"Yes, I know," the woman replied with a heavy sigh. "I apologize for that. We should have anticipated it; the Kyoto students are very competitive."

"That doesn't matter anymore. In fact, I think it helped me a little. It pushed me to work harder," the teenager said confidently, to which the woman smiled slightly, her blue-gray eyes softening.

"I don't want to justify anyone, but the Kyoto students are under a lot of pressure. Most of them come from the main clans and want to prove to themselves that they belong there," Kimi said calmly. "Except for Todo. Sometimes I think he's only there because he's bored."

The teenager chuckled softly.

"Yaga-san, is it true that you don't get along with the Kyoto headmaster?" the girl asked, intrigued. She owed her classmates the gossip, and from what she'd heard, Panda flatly refused to share that information—a very, very, very strange occurrence.

"It's a long story, one for another day," she said, getting up from her chair. "You're making great progress, Hanae. I'm sure you'll lead us to another victory in the exchange program." That brought a smile to the younger girl's face, prompting the adult to leave.

The silence after the conversation didn't last long. Hanae's phone rang, and she saw it was Nanami, answering it immediately.

However, what Nanami said made her jump up and walk quickly toward the exit, not caring that her coffee had spilled on the table.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

In the same building, in a dark hallway that seemed to stretch on forever, Nanami leaned against the wall, her arms pressed against it, not looking at the teenagers.

Against the wall, facing the adult, Hanae stared at the floor, her hands clasped tightly at her sides, feeling only the leather of her gloves. Beside her, Itadori seemed a mixture of confusion and determination.

The blond man had given them the report on his search for the lair of the curse.

Apparently, this curse could alter the souls of its victims, deform their bodies, and use them as weapons.

Hanae had never heard of such a...cruel technique.

But even worse was hearing him say that from that moment on, the two teenagers were excluded from the mission.

"You're saying we'll be in your way, Nanami?" Yuuji questioned, breaking the silence. "You're hurt, aren't you? Take us with you, or even just me."

The blonde couldn't contribute much; she had the same question, and the pink-haired boy had already articulated it. But the last sentence made her frown at her companion, though before she could reply, the adult spoke.

"As you know, the enemy is a patchwork of elements that modifies and uses human beings. Many of their victims are beyond saving. In this line of work, the time will come when you must kill other people. But not now," the blonde said seriously, without looking at the teenagers.
"Please understand, being a child isn't a sin."Those words shook Hanae a little, and to hide the trembling in her hands, she hugged herself."But I must tell you that you are no longer part of the mission. I would appreciate it if you would keep an eye on Junpei, but that's all."

With those words, the adult began to leave.

The two students were left alone, a cold silence settling between them. There seemed to be no argument with Nanami's words, something they both understood perfectly.

The girl remained where she was, still with her hands on her abdomen, refusing to let her knees buckle.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned around.

"Are you alright? You're crying," Yuuji asked, a worried look in his brown eyes.

Hanae noticed the fine threads of tears on her cheeks and quickly wiped them away.

"Yes, I'm just..." she began hesitantly, brushing a few strands of blonde hair away from her face. "This topic makes me a little emotional."

Yuuji nodded and removed his hand from her shoulder, leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the floor.

He didn't ask anything, and honestly, Hanae was grateful.

"Perhaps Nanami-san is right," the teenager began. "This...is beyond us."

What happened next was incredibly fast. Ijichi appeared, reporting that a veil had been activated at a nearby school, and that the cursed energy was overwhelming, with several hostages and even some curses lurking about.

That was enough to snap both teenagers out of their trance. Yuji immediately called Nanami, while Hanae stayed close.

Somehow, they both decided they would go.

When the adult answered, the pink-haired boy wasted no time.

"I'm going, Nanami," he began in a serious tone.

"I'll go too," the blonde added, standing near the phone.

"You can't," the blonde interrupted. "I already explained why this morning. The curse activated the veil, and it's probably at Satozakura High School. I'll be back soon. Be patient and wait. Don't involve your classmate, Itadori."

Hanae watched as the boy hung up before the adult could finish speaking.

Then they both turned around, finding Ijichi blocking their path.

"Move aside, Ijichi," the pink-haired boy said.

The blonde instinctively cracked her knuckles. If she had to create barriers, she would.

"Our job is to help others, and that includes you, as students," the dark-haired man began. "I won't let you go into danger again," he said with a hint of regret. "You shouldn't go, Itadori-kun, Kiyomi-chan."

But before anyone could do anything, the pink-haired boy walked past the adult, who didn't make a move to stop him.

Hanae also approached, walking quickly, but stopped near the dark-haired man.

"Whatever happens to us is our decision, Ijichi-san. Please don't feel responsible," she said before running to follow her companion.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Hanae wasn't very athletic. She enjoyed training with Maki, which was akin to masochism, and ballet helped her tone and prepare her body for missions.

She would go for a run now and then to relieve some stress, but she preferred long, leisurely walks.

But this was ridiculous.

It had taken them thirty minutes to get to the high school, running since all the train stations were under maintenance, much to their misfortune.

Even when he reached the entrance, he had to stop to catch his breath, but he looked up and saw Itadori already there, staring at the veil, looking uneasy but not going in. He didn't seem to have been running; even his hair wasn't disheveled.

"Why didn't you come in?" the blonde asked, sitting up.

"I was waiting for you. I arrived a few minutes ago," the pink-haired boy replied confidently.

"Are you Usain Bolt's son? Haven't you considered becoming an athlete? You'd make us win the Olympics," she asked, confused and still a little tired. She glanced at the veil covering the high school and heard her companion laugh before they both decided to go inside.

The veil wasn't very far away, almost as if it wanted the others to enter, which the teenagers did without hesitation, first looking around before quickly investigating the place.

"Itadori," the girl said, drawing their attention. "It might be complicated, but this is the high school Junpei went to." She said seriously, to which the boy looked at her in confusion. "You really need to start reading the reports," she commented with some amusement.

"Do you think Junpei has something to do with this?" he asked seriously, to which the girl averted her hazel eyes.

"I don't want to speculate, but the cursed energy isn't just from curses. I can sense someone else. It reminds me of the energy Fushiguro radiates when he summons his shikigami," she explained urgently, as they both approached a staircase and quickly climbed it, arriving at what appeared to be a classroom.

Yuuji abruptly opened both doors, with Hanae by his side, and the sight made him take a step back.

In the center of the room stood Junpei, dressed in black, holding a boy suspended in mid-air.

The dark-haired man lowered his head, a blank expression appearing in his gray eyes.

"Stay out of it, sorcerers," he said in a cold, distant tone.

Behind him, a figure began to emerge: a jellyfish whose tentacles gripped the student, nearly suffocating him.

Without hesitation, Hanae ducked, placing her gloved hands on the ground, creating a barrier that severed the creature's tentacle, freeing the young man.

The beast writhed in pain, and a look of betrayal crossed Junpei's face as he stared at the blonde.

"Don't stop me!" Following that exclamation, the jellyfish appeared in front of the girl, one of its tentacles grabbed her arm and pushed her hard, making Hanae crash against the hard concrete wall. She heard Itadori call her worriedly, but in her hazel eyes she saw how Junpei this time advanced on Itadori, making them start a chase.

The blonde stood up, feeling a throbbing pain in her back and spitting up a little blood. It took a few seconds for her vision to return to normal before she started running toward the sounds of the fight.

She had an idea of how to defeat Junpei. His ritual was similar to Megumi's, and her training had been similar. Megumi had told her that a shikigami can only disappear when the user is attacked head-on and loses concentration.

That hadn't worked on him. Megumi had years of experience learning to use her shikigami, so he had perfect control, but Junpei seemed new to this. If they could incapacitate him, they could make him surrender.

She heard glass breaking and arrived just in time.

Junpei was lying on the floor surrounded by shards of glass, and Yuuji was climbing in through the window.

Did they have a fight outside?

She didn't pay much attention to it, simply approaching the pink-haired boy.

"Are you alright?" the boy asked, looking at her, to which she nodded.

But her hazel eyes then settled on the dark-haired boy.

"Why are you doing this? Tell us, and we can help you. We don't want to hurt you," the blonde pleaded, looking at him.

"You must have your reasons, but do you really think it's worth throwing away the life you have?" the pink-haired boy asked, his tone pleading. "Are emotions just illusions? Can you say that in front of your mother?"

Hanae had no idea what he was talking about, but perhaps they had discussed it during their fight, so she just looked at Junpei, also waiting for an answer.

The black-haired boy was now kneeling, his head bowed, not looking at the sorcerers.

"People don't have hearts!" he whispered as if it were an absolute truth.

"Why...?" the pink-haired boy tried to say.

"He doesn't have it!" she exclaimed, this time in a louder tone. "Otherwise... otherwise it would mean that people with hearts cursed my mother and me!" This time tears streamed down her face, and her wounded voice seemed to grate in her throat. "You don't understand! I can no longer distinguish between right and wrong!"

Without thinking much, Hanae crouched down and approached, but kept a short distance.

"I understand you!" she exclaimed, drawing his attention. Junpei's teary eyes met hers. "When my parents died, I thought there was something wrong with me! That seeing curses and being able to perform rituals bewitched my family!" The blonde's voice was commanding, but she looked at the ground. "They told me I was cursed, that some spirit had bewitched me, that's why... that's why none of my uncles or grandparents asked for custody when my father died. They thought I killed him. That I brought bad luck." She felt light tears on her cheeks.

Junpei hesitated for a moment, but his eyes shifted from sadness to rage, and his shikigami began to form again, forcing Yuuji to pull it away from the dark-haired boy and place it behind him.

But when the jellyfish attacked, the pink-haired boy didn't move, allowing the shikigami to inflict a wound on his abdomen.

Junpei looked genuinely scared and surprised by this, causing his shikigami to vanish.

Hanae approached Yuuji to help him, but he raised his hand to signal that he was alright, which clearly wasn't true. The boy simply collapsed toward the dark-haired boy, followed by his companion behind him.

"I'm sorry," she began in a regretful tone. "I said a lot of things without knowing what they meant, and I didn't let you speak." She continued as she slowly approached Junpei, crouching down to his level on the ground, which the blonde imitated, still behind him. "What happened? I won't judge or curse you this time."

Junpei's expression softened, with tears in his eyes and on his cheeks. He glanced back, where Hanae nodded and offered a small, kind smile—not a big one, but enough to show that she held no grudge.

The story was short but devastating.

Apparently, Nagi had died the night before, which caused Junpei to lose control and decide to kill whoever he believed had cursed him.

Hanae remained silent while Yuuji spoke with the dark-haired man.

"Come to the sorceress school with us," said the pink-haired boy, and the blonde girl looked up. "There are very strong teachers and reliable classmates. If we work together, I assure you we'll find whoever cursed your mother. I swear we'll give them what they deserve! Let's fight together!"

At that moment, a figure appeared on the stairs, and both sorcerers looked up.

It didn't look human. Its skin was terribly pale, its hair long and light blue, and on its skin were...

Marks, like rags.

It was the cursed spirit Nanami had spoken of. She tried to tell her partner, but he spoke first.

"Who are you?" asked the pink-haired boy, standing up, followed by the girl.

"Nice to meet you..." the stranger began, his voice soft, almost melodious, yet uneasy. "Sukuna's vessel, and... who are you?" he asked, looking at the blonde. "Never mind... you have beautiful features. I'm sure I can do something with you."

That made Hanae back away, frowning.

Who the hell is this guy?

"Wait, Mahito!" Junpei interjected, his voice filled with concern.

Chapter Text

But before he realized it, the light blue-haired boy contorted his arm and attacked Yuuji. Another attack was aimed at the teenager, but she slammed her hands on the ground, creating a barrier that deflected it, though she felt blood trickle from her nose.

How strong was he?

"Go away, Junpei!" the blonde managed to warn, looking at him. "Please, it doesn't matter what your relationship is with him!"

"Kiyomi-chan, Itadori-kun, calm down," the black-haired boy tried to say. "Mahito isn't a bad person..."

The boy trailed off mid-sentence. Hanae approached to help her companion, but he was completely trapped.

She really had to start using cursed weapons.

Mahito seemed to whisper something to Junpei and then placed his hand on his shoulder, at which point the boy began to mutate. Hanae stared at him, covering her mouth when she saw the result.

The light blue-haired boy released Yuuji, who seemed to be in shock.

That wasn't Junpei; it was a blue creature. It reminded him of a crocodile on two legs. It was definitely horrible.

The creature approached and began to attack them, but the pink-haired boy held it back, trying to talk to it.

Hanae could only watch helplessly, tears stinging her eyes. She looked away, unable to see.

She heard Yuuji trying to talk to Sukuna, saying he would do anything to heal Junpei, but Sukuna simply mocked him, refusing.

Both Mahito and Sukuna laughed cruelly.

But then she felt something tug at her skirt. It was Junpei in his mutated form. Just as he was holding her uniform, he was also holding Itadori's, looking at the teenagers with a pleading expression.

"Yuuji... Hanae. Why?" she asked softly, almost pleadingly, her voice distorted. But before they could answer, the creature's body tore to pieces, leaving behind a bloody corpse.

The blonde covered her face with her hands, trying not to look, taking a few steps back, feeling every part of her being tremble.

She heard Yuuji begin fighting Mahito; the blows of his technique echoed, but the girl didn't move. She tried to breathe and calm herself, but nothing worked.

But he heard the fight intensifying, and she couldn't stay among the corpses... not again.

With what little strength he had left, he stood up, trying his best not to look at the creature's body, and climbed the stairs.

When he arrived, he saw Mahito mutating his body. Yuuji was also fighting, landing a few blows, causing the curse to recede.

Hanae stayed behind, watching the fight. He knew that joining in would only worry him.

But then he saw something. Mahito feigned a frontal attack, while behind his back he concealed a mutated hand transformed into a blade. The pink-haired boy attacked head-on, but the blade appeared right in front of him.

The blonde slammed her hands on the ground, creating a barrier in front of her companion, but something else happened...

Mahito shot out, smashing through windows and a large part of the wall with him, as if he'd been violently pushed.

Yuuji and Hanae stared at the barrier; unlike the others, which were pale and almost transparent, this one had a faint blue hue.

The boy glanced at it for a moment before following the curse outside to continue fighting, while the blonde stared at her own creation.

An inferior version of infinity, repelling and attracting, she thought in amazement, still recalling Gojo's words

But it shouldn't have been; it wasn't the time for reflection. There was a dangerous curse, and they had to stop it.

She approached the window and saw her companion repeatedly striking the curse. Her eyes searched for a safe way down, because she definitely wasn't going to jump from the third floor.

She saw a metal roof below, which must be some kind of entrance, so she carefully climbed down and slid across it until she reached the ground.

She ran to the fight, where Mahito was about to land a blow on the pink-haired boy, but before that could happen,

Nanami appeared.

He blocked the attack and sent the curse flying, which the blonde took advantage of to approach and stand beside them.

"I'll scold you later," the adult said. "Explain the situation."

"I couldn't save two people," Yuuji began helplessly.

"They were killed by him," Hanae said, looking at the curse.

The blond man remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the light-haired man.

"First, tell me about your physical condition," he demanded.

The boy stood up on his own, walking over to the office worker, with Hanae standing beside him.

"I'm fine. Although I'm covered in holes and have lost blood," Itadori replied, unfazed.

"So you're not okay," the blonde commented sarcastically. "I was slammed against a wall, my back hurts, and I think I have internal injuries. But I can continue."

Nanami glanced at her for a moment, then looked ahead and nodded.

"Stay behind us," he ordered, his tone stifling any protests.

"Everyone in the school is unconscious in the main hall," the pink-haired boy added.

"You survived, office-hours wizard. Good thing we didn't die. Want a hug to celebrate?" the cursed boy said mockingly, but they noticed something unusual: his nose was bleeding.

"Itadori-kun, Kiyomi-chan, why is his nose bleeding?" the adult asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Because I hit him," Yuuji replied as if it were perfectly normal.

"When?" the older man asked.

"At the start of the fight," the teenager replied.

Hanae was analyzing the situation. Mahito supposedly modified the souls and reconstructed the bodies of his victims. Why was Yuuji still standing?

"My attacks don't work against him," the adult commented.

Itadori was very surprised by this, asking why.

"It's because it doesn't damage his insides, right?" the blonde spoke for the first time, drawing their attention. "Nanami-san's technique consists of cutting physical weak points. Mahito uses his soul and constantly modifies his body, that's why it doesn't work. You have to attack his soul to damage him," she explained seriously.

"Correct, you're clever," Kento said with a hint of astonishment. "But that's not the point now. I can stop his movements. As soon as we break his guard, we'll attack him mercilessly. We'll exorcise him right here.Kiyomi-chan, avoid being touched and block his attacks," the blond boy ordered, and the girl nodded.

But before they knew it, the curse was already engulfing them. The three quickly scattered, though Mahito seemed very focused on Nanami. Yuuji intervened, trying to hit him, while Hanae was nearby, already crouched on the ground in case she needed to activate her ritual.

Mahito's body was constantly changing, even transforming into spikes, which forced the girl to create a barrier to avoid being hit. She felt blood trickle down her nose, but quickly wiped it away.

The curse returned to its normal form, which Nanami and Itadori took advantage of to attack him.

But he fled, transforming into a child-like version of himself. As he ran, he pulled out three objects and threw them to the ground, which warped and became small humanoid creatures.

Modified humans.

Two of them lunged at Itadori, who backed away and fought them elsewhere, while one approached the blonde girl. She dodged it and kept her distance, but the curse, which seemed to have the form of a goblin, drew closer, trying to attack her. The girl was faster and slammed her hands against the ground, creating a barrier to imprison the creature.

Her breathing was ragged, and sweat dripped down her forehead. Her hands began to tremble, pressed against the cold ground of the courtyard.

It was too much; she couldn't keep using her ritual so often.

She didn't remember ever being so tired, but perhaps that blue bar had absorbed too much cursed energy, which was why she felt so weak.

She raised her hazel eyes and saw the trapped creature, its small hands desperately trying to escape.

"I want to play... sister," the distorted voice of what sounded like a child was heard, a voice that was inserted into Junpei's voice after his mutation.

Unable to bear the intrusion, she used all his strength to push the barrier against a wall, trapping the walled-up human between the structures.

She turned around and saw Nanami and Itadori fighting Mahito again. This time, the two sorcerers were coordinated and landing blows on the light blue-haired boy.

But before he could do anything, a veil extended, enclosing both him and Nanami.

"An expansion of domain," the blonde whispered, watching the ritual helplessly.

But her gaze shifted to Itadori, who was trying to strike the veil, but it was impossible.

The blonde stood up, feeling her back ache and likely some bruises on her legs, but she still approached the boy.

"Why did he only enclose Nanami?" Yuuji asked when he saw Hanae beside him.

"He knows he's the strongest of us. Apparently, he didn't like their last encounter," the hazel-eyed girl replied.

The pink-haired boy continued trying to strike the veil, but it was useless; it simply absorbed his attacks.

"It might work. The domains are weak against external attacks; they focus too much on the inside, leaving the outside unprotected. Go up there; the density is lower," the teenager explained seriously. "I can't fight much; you go."

Yuuji looked at the blonde for a moment and nodded. This time, he climbed to the top of the domain, delivering a powerful blow that shattered like glass, creating a hole and then entering completely.

After a few seconds, the domain began to crack, causing Hanae to back away, avoiding the shards of broken glass that spread out.

Seconds later, they disappeared, and she opened her eyes, seeing Nanami, Yuuji, and Mahito in the center. But something was strange: the curse wouldn't stop bleeding.

The pink-haired boy quickly approached, but the light-blue-haired boy changed shape, becoming a kind of deformity. However, the student struck him in every way possible, causing the curse to burst like a balloon.

There were no thieves anywhere, but then something caught his attention.

-Goodbye- It was little brother, now a kind of ligeiro appeared fleeing through the grates that led to the sewers- It was fun.

Hanae tried to concentrate the cursed energy in her hands, but she felt a tightness in her chest. Her legs buckled, she fell to the ground, and unable to stop herself, she coughed up blood. It happened about three times before she could breathe normally, but the pain spread throughout her body.

"Kiyomi-chan!" she heard Nanami's worried voice approaching and crouching down to her level, gently placing her hands on her shoulders. "Are you alright?" he asked. The blonde shook her head and closed her eyes, trying to hold back her tears.

But it was useless. Her body stopped responding, and she fainted. She heard a faint noise, and it seemed Itadori had also fainted.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

She opened her eyes slowly, blinking a few times to focus her vision. With a groan, she sat up and realized something.

She was on a stretcher. It was soft, and she had some sheets covering her.

She looked down and saw that she was wearing hospital clothes. They were quite cool and comfortable, probably cotton. However, something caught her attention: her hands.

They were bandaged, especially the palms.

That puzzled her. She didn't remember having any pain in her hands.

Strands of her hair fell across her face. She noticed that it was still straight but with slight waves, and it was tied back in a low ponytail.

"You're awake. It took you a long time," she heard a female voice not far away. Hanae turned and saw Shoko approaching.

The woman had a tired expression, as always, but she was wearing gloves and reaching for some pill bottles in a nearby drawer.

"What happened to me? Where am I?" the blonde asked after a moment, looking at her bandaged hands.

She heard the brown-haired women sigh, perhaps with nostalgia or exhaustion; she couldn't tell for sure.

"You exhausted your cursed energy. It's very rare for that to happen," she began to explain in a professional tone. "I spent an hour using the reverse ritual on you, and it still took you three hours to wake up. That happens when you use a technique you haven't mastered; your cursed energy doesn't know where to go and all goes in one direction. And secondly, we're in an underground facility, much more comfortable and cleaner than usual."

Hanae paused for a moment, analyzing the words.

It was like a river: if you put stones in it, the flow is interrupted and it goes in different directions; if there are no stones, it flows directly.

That blue barrier.

Repelling.

That's what made her faint and caused internal damage.

She really should talk to Gojo later.

"And my hands?" she asked again, raising them slightly.

"They don't have wounds as such, the bandages have a bit of my cursed energy to stabilize your ritual"The woman replied, approaching the stretcher with the bottles"They are vitamins, you lost a lot of blood, take them after each meal."

"Thank you, Ieri-san," the girl said, taking the bottles. She read the labels and saw they contained iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin C—four small bottles in total.

Shoko continued explaining some things about his physical condition, but the blonde's mind was elsewhere.

Junpei.

He was a good person. Even if he took the wrong path, he regretted it in the end. He could have done so much more; they could have done more to help him.

She and Yuuji.

Wait.

"What happened to Yuuji?!" she asked worriedly, throwing off the sheet and sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Hey, slow down," the woman said, making the blonde stay still. "He's fine. He just fainted. He was waiting for you, but Nanami went to talk to him."

The girl nodded, staying put for another second.

The brown-haired girl watched her for a second, then sighed wearily. She walked over to a nearby table, grabbed something, and came back.

"Your uniform is in the school laundry. Nitta, I'll get some clothes from your dorm," the doctor said, handing the girl a small bag, which she accepted with a grateful nod. "If you're feeling better, you can go. I think your partner is still here. Eat something."

After those words, the woman left the room, her heels clicking on the floor.

The blonde lowered her gaze and calmly opened the bag. Inside were blue jeans, socks, underwear, sneakers, and a white shirt—something oversized, the kind she usually wore in her free time. She recognized it by the Pisces constellation design. Although Hanae was a Virgo, she found the twin fish design against the stars much prettier.

She got up from the examination table, feeling the pain in her chest disappear. She felt renewed, surely due to Shoko's ritual.

It didn't take her long to get dressed. When she finished, she let her hair down, cascading down her back.

She left the room, finding it somewhat dark but quite clean. She walked in search of Nanami or Itadori; she didn't know exactly where they were, but they had to be somewhere.

She arrived at a sort of living room where she could see some armchairs and tables. She also saw some stairs that surely led outside.

But then...

"How's my favorite student doing?" A voice behind her rose and quickly approached. Hanae felt someone hug her and lift her several inches off the ground, even spinning her around a few times. "I knew you would! We'll go get ice cream and candy to celebrate! You're like the mini version of me I never asked for!"

Finally, the blonde touched the ground and raised her hazel eyes, seeing that it was her teacher, who had a proud smile and was spinning around a few times as if celebrating.

"I don't understand..." the girl stammered, a doubt in her voice.

Gojo stopped and sat down on one of the armchairs, not caring that his long legs dangled over the edge

"You see, Hanae-chan..." the albino began in a calmer tone, gesturing to one of the armchairs in front of him. She sat down, her gaze fixed on her teacher. "You achieved what I thought you would. You replicated infinity, or more specifically, my red—or rather, in your case, blue—repelling technique," the adult explained.

The younger girl frowned and looked at her bandaged hands. So it hadn't been an illusion; she had really done it. But how?

"I can't figure out how I did that," the blonde said doubtfully. "I didn't even know I could. I thought he just had very high expectations of me. How did he know I did it? It only lasted about a minute."

Gojo hunched slightly, placing his forearms on his thighs, his bandaged gaze fixed on the girl.

"I have the six eyes, I can tell when my technique is replicated or spoken, but I never thought I'd feel it," the albino explained, his tone a bit more serious than usual. "And to answer your other question, at first I thought it would be good motivation if you thought you could do it, but I didn't expect you to." Hanae felt herself sink; apparently, not even he thought she could. "But I see you could. The repulsion technique is based on the principle of positive cursed energy to create a massive repulsive force. In my case, I can expel and destroy everything in my path with an incredibly powerful explosion." The blonde looked up at that. "In your case, Hanae-chan, your ritual is more magnetic; it's based on the principle of magnetic repulsion."

"Like magnetic poles repel, while opposite poles attract," the teenager added.

"Bingo!" Gojo exclaimed, pointing at her, his cheerful and playful tone returning. "I think your technique is linked to that. You were able to repel the curse because it was the opposite of what you wanted—you wanted it far away. Therefore, your cursed energy became similar to his, causing him to move away," he explained. "And probably when you want to attract something, your energy becomes different from your opponent's, causing it to approach," he said, clasping his hands together in demonstration. "You mold your cursed energy depending on what the principle requires, making your ritual based on the attraction and repulsion of poles."

Hanae remained silent; it was too much information, she couldn't retain it all.

"Now we'll train twice as hard, we'll also have physics theory classes and..." the albino began playfully.

"Let rest,Gojo, she just got back from a mission and is recovering," a male voice said, approaching.

The blonde turned and saw Nanami approaching.he had her gray jacket draped over one arm, revealing her blue shirt underneath. Her eyes were tired, but she was walking slowly.

"Nanamin!" Gojo exclaimed, practically leaping from the couch and rushing to the man. "Don't say things like that, I just want her to be prepared."

"I wouldn't be worse than you. At school, you practically destroyed half the place practicing your red," he replied without looking at her, to which the taller boy sighed dramatically at the anecdote. "Kiyomi-chan, how are you feeling?" he asked, approaching the girl and kneeling down to her level.

"A little tired. Ieri-san said I need vitamins because of the blood loss and that I should eat something, but I'm fine," she replied calmly, to which the adult nodded.

"Have you eaten anything yet?" he asked again, to which the blonde shook her head. The adult stood up, searched his jacket for something, and then gave it to the girl. "There are vending machines outside at the entrance. It's not ideal, but you need to replenish your energy. Go on, I have to talk to Gojo."

Hanae looked at the object in her hands and saw that it was a pair of 100 and 500 yen coins.

"Thank you very much," the girl said, standing up and giving a small bow.

The moment didn't last long.

"Nanamin, I want money too! I need those sweets from that shop downtown! They're watermelon flavored!" the albino said dramatically, clinging to the blond's arm, who pulled away indifferently.

"You're rich, go buy them yourself," he replied simply. "Now sit down, we need to talk."

Hanae started to leave, heading up the stairs, leaving the two adults behind.

The stairs were quite long, and judging by the light at the top, it seemed to be getting dark, with the orange and lilac hues of the sunset visible through the milky whites.

He climbed a little way up the stairs and saw the vending machines not far from the entrance—three of them, to be exact.

He approached and looked at the options; Nanami had probably looked at them too, since he had enough money for a 100-yen drink and a small pack of cookies for 500 yen.

How come this man wasn't already married?

I inserted the money and pressed the options, first choosing a strawberry drink and then a small package of vanilla cookies.

Satisfied, I gathered my things and went outside, feeling the gentle breeze around me. It was nice because the weather had been so hot and sweltering lately.

"Hanae?" a nearby voice called, making the blonde jump in fright. When she looked to see who it was, she couldn't help but sigh with relief. Her partner was sitting under a tree, perfectly fine, even better than she was.

"Itadori, I see you're alright," she said with relief, approaching him.

"You too," the boy commented with relief. "Would you like to sit down?" he asked.

"Sure," he replied, sitting down beside her. Ganar wasn't fussy, but she definitely wasn't going to hide the grass on a bench. She opened her package of cookies and offered it to the pink-haired boy, who thanked her and took one.

The blonde placed the package on the ground, careful not to let it touch the grass, and then opened her drink.

"Today I kill people," Itadori said, making her put down her drink and focus all her attention on him. "I know it's inevitable that people die, but I wish... that they at least had a decent death. The time I've been here, I've tried to prevent anyone from killing, but today, having done it myself... I wouldn't know what a decent death is." Itadori could certainly surprise you. At first glance, he seems like a clumsy boy who thinks about superficial things, but when he speaks, he tends to be more profound than most people here, demonstrating his maturity.

For Hanae, it was impossible not to admire that.

"I don't know either. I... I never want to kill, not just because of moral reasons... My... My mind couldn't handle it. Trying to figure out what kind of death to give each person is something I consider far too extreme... even though I haven't known you for very long, I know you'll do it anyway, so be very careful." He let out a soft chuckle. "Did I say something funny?"

"Apparently you're not the only one who thinks that," the boy said sympathetically.

"Who else?" the blonde asked curiously.

"Nanamin," he answered. "Do you admire him?" he asked, looking at her.

"I respect him a lot. I've heard incredible things about him. I always wanted to have a mission by his side," she replied calmly. "...Itadori, can I ask you something?" He nodded. "Why did you want to be a sorcerer?"

"Who else?" "Seriously, you don't know? Let's just say it was my only option... becoming Sukuna's vessel was sudden. Thanks to that, I have a deal with this school." He replied matter-of-factly.

"What deal?" the girl asked, intrigued.

"To consume Sukuna's other fingers," he answered.

"You risk your life just for something you're being forced to do?" the blonde asked, confused.

"I want to do it too. I can't stand the thought of people dying because of Sukuna's recklessness, and if I'm the only one who can somehow reduce the murders, I'll carry out any order I'm given... Your turn. Why do you want to be a sorceress? - This question made Gane tense her shoulders, but she relaxed them after a moment.

"I want people to feel safe," I blurted out wistfully.

"Oh, please, that answer is so vague. Give me some details," the pink-haired boy said, stealing another cookie from the package. The blonde took a sip of her drink and then sighed.

"You know my mom died when I was young. I've lived with my dad ever since... He... He was a window, he could see the curses... He told me it wasn't strange and that sorcerers existed, people who protected those without cursed energy... He taught me many things about witchcraft, but he never told me about the school... A year ago, something called "Night Parade of a Hundred Demons" happened... I... I won't go into details, but my dad and I were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Only I survived..." Hanae did her best to hold back her tears, but one fell down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away. "...A sorcerer found me and took me to the school... Since no one in my family requested custody of me, and my other relatives were in Germany, the school allowed me to stay with them until the start of first-year classes.I want people to know that there will be someone there to help, just like they did for me."

"I'm so sorry I asked. I didn't mean to be intrusive," Yuuji said, a hint of regret in his voice.

"It's okay, that's in the past. Besides, I have these people now, and I won't regret meeting them. Living at the school has made me really happy," the blonde said, taking another sip of her drink.

"It's great that you want to help others, Hanae. The reason you're here proves what a good person you are," the boy added kindly, and his companion felt a pang of trust.

They remained silent for a while. Her hazel eyes gazed intently as the leaves fell from the trees in the autumn breeze, offering me a moment of peace. She glanced around, her gaze lingering on her companion. His pink hair swirled in the air, revealing his face. He was very handsome, she had to admit; he had a lovely nose, long eyelashes, and those characteristic markings beneath his large brown eyes. She was impressed by how, behind them, they could reveal Itadori with such transparency and mystery at the same time.

"Is something wrong?" Yuuji asked, noticing his companion, but she didn't break eye contact.

"No, I just thought I still don't know anything about you. We've talked about me a lot. Tell me about your life before coming in here." She asked kindly.

Well... that was normal. "I went to school in the mornings and to the hospital in the afternoons, visiting my grandfather," he replied simply.

"Oh, is he alright now?" the blonde asked, intrigued.

"He passed away." A sad smile formed on her face.

The girl felt a tightness in her chest. Why did she have to ask in the first place?

"I'm so sorry... And your dad? You said you remembered him a little," she said, trying to change the subject.

"Not much, really.I was very little, maybe one or two years old when he pass away. I remember he had a very calm voice and pink hair like mine... My grandfather was a good example, even though he was a real grouch... One of the things he told me before he died was that he would help people. Perhaps that's another reason why I agreed to come, not only to fulfill her last words but also so I wouldn't die alone."he said it so simply that it eased the blonde's heart from its oppression and made her feel better.

"What happened to Junpei wasn't your fault"She didn't know where the words came from, but it felt good to say them, both to her partner and to herself.

"I feel that it was, that I could have done more, if I had eliminated Mahito or if I had found him earlier, maybe if I had stayed with him at night..."Her tone was low, as if he hadn't wanted to talk about the subject but had to.

"You didn't know..." the blonde commented urgently"In that case, I also think I should have tried harder. I shouldn't have let you be the only one to approach him; we're in the same boat."

The boy smiled slightly, more with helplessness than with happiness, but his hands clenched at his sides.

"I want to find Mahito and I'm going to exorcise him, he won't change anyone again." Her voice was determined and serious, to which Hanae nodded in agreement.

"Changing the subject," she interjected to lighten the mood, "Were you in any clubs in high school? I was in flower arranging."

"I was in an occult and paranormal activity club"he replied, regaining some of her cheerful tone.

"Seriously?" the blonde asked, intrigued and confused. "What were you doing, playing with a Ouija board or something?"

"Yeah, and sometimes we camped out in cemeteries," the pink-haired boy added playfully.

The girl giggled softly.

"I think that's why you're not afraid of anything," she commented, still chuckling a little.

She heard Yuuji laugh too, and the atmosphere became much more pleasant than before.

Chapter Text

She had arrived at school just a few minutes ago. Nitta had picked her up after her talk with Itadori, so it was already dark when she walked through the doors.

She hoped she wouldn't run into any of her classmates. She didn't want to give too many explanations, neither about why she wasn't wearing a uniform nor about what her mission had been.

She walked through the hallways of the classrooms; she had to go through them if she wanted to get to the dormitory area.

Hanae was walking down one of the hallways and was about to turn around when a voice caught her attention: a very familiar one. The blonde stopped in her tracks and moved a little closer to the half-open door.

"I know you don't want to participate, and well, you can't, but you could take a look at the others. They're Yuuta's classmates...."

It was Kimi, and she sounded very tired, almost as if she'd been talking for hours.

She didn't know who she was talking to, but it seemed important.

"Hey, don't say that! You should meet them. They're very strong. Sooner or later, they'll be together again, and it's not good to create tension," she said in a calm but exhausted tone. "Don't you dare... Hello again, Kirara." It seemed the conversation hadn't gone well, as the helplessness was palpable in her voice.

The wise teenager, realizing that this wasn't the kind of conversation she should be listening to, became very serious, so she simply moved away from her shoulder and continued on her way.

Upon reaching the girls' area, she saw that no lights were on, a sign that Nobara and Maki must be asleep.

She searched for her keys in her jeans pockets, grateful that Nitta had left her belongings behind when she sent her uniform to the laundry. She opened the door and immediately turned on the bedside lamp near her bed, a cute penguin-shaped lamp. It emitted a soft white light.

The day had been awful; Two people died, she almost died, and a terribly irritating curse almost killed everyone.

"I guess it's a normal day here," she murmured to herself, her voice weary. She didn't feel like doing much; she just wanted to lie down and sleep, but she also wanted to get rid of the smell of sweat and blood from the fight.

She got up and searched her pockets, taking out the four pill bottles and placing them on her nightstand. She had already taken her dose after her afternoon snack. She also left her phone beside her.

She went to her closet, opened it to look for her pajamas, but her gaze drifted to the door for a second.

A photograph.

Hanae, thirteen years old, and her father.

Kiyomi Sora.

It was a ballet recital where, after three years of hard work, she had finally landed a major role as one of the dancers in The Dance of the Little Swans. Her costume was white, adorned with delicate feathers. Her blonde hair and her father, with one hand on her daughter's shoulder and the other on her, were taking her picture.

They both smiled happily.

Without knowing what would happen in a few months.

She looked away from the door and simply grabbed her clothes.

She took a quick shower and came out already dressed in an oversized blue shirt with white lily designs and loose white pants.

From her desk, she opened the drawers on the right and looked for her hair dryer and straightener. It didn't matter that it was nine o'clock at night; she wanted to save time, since she didn't want to be busy with her hair in the morning.

There was a week left until the event with Kyoto, and she wanted to train as much as possible.

She sat on her bed and plugged the hair dryer into the nearby outlet, feeling the warm air on her scalp.

Her mind was blank; she couldn't think of anything but the mission, how Mahito had warped a boy who just needed someone to listen to him.

If they had arrived earlier, she might have been showing Junpei the dorms, Megumi would have been serious but would have explained the basics, and Nobara would probably have told her that her bangs were ugly.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

Minutes later, her hair was dry. The blond waves fell down her back and forehead, reaching her chest. It was shorter when it wasn't straightened. Her hazel eyes watched as some of the waves looked like curls after the blow dryer.

But she didn't wait long and turned on the straightener. It took a few minutes to heat up, so she took the opportunity to look for her phone.

She checked her chats. There wasn't much to see. I had spoken with... Megumi mentioned that he also had a mission and that it had gone well.

Among his other contacts, he had the numbers of the second-year students, mainly because he had asked them to organize training sessions, sometimes outings with Maki to buy sportswear or junk food, sometimes to ask Panda for help with his homework, or simply to talk to Inumaki.

He saw that Maki was still online.

Obviously, the green-haired girl could fall asleep at 7 a.m. and still have enough energy to run a marathon.

He hesitated for a moment before entering the chat. He had trained a lot with her, but after today…

𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪-𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘪. 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨?

His fingers were restless. He didn't know whether to delete the message or rewrite it.

He was about to delete it when he saw the three dots appear.

𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺.

Well, she was right.

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥…

Her fingers stopped mid-sentence. Moments from the fight flashed through her mind. The image of Yuuji trapped by Mahito and that time Kamo cornered her were still vivid.

She couldn't let that happen again.

She deleted the message and started again.

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦.

She waited a few minutes and then…

𝟪:𝟢𝟢 𝘢.𝘮., 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘴. <𝘱>𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦p

Well, she couldn't ask for much more, but it was enough.

A smile spread across the blonde's face. The iron's beep as it reached the correct temperature snapped her out of her reverie, but first she did something else.

She stretched a little and, from the nightstand drawer, looked for her headphones. They weren't a well-known brand, but they worked.

She plugged them into her phone, careful not to tangle the wires, and then checked her playlist.

Like a prayer. Madonna.

The truth was, she needed music to relax.

So she spent the next fifteen minutes listening to songs and fell asleep at 9:40 p.m.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

The next morning, Hanae was already at the training grounds. It was 8:00 AM, and the weather was strangely cloudy but very pleasant.

Dressed in her workout clothes with her blonde hair tied in a low bun, she had already eaten breakfast and taken her supplements, so only her teammate was missing.

She had already started warming up with a few laps around the track and stretching her muscles. She didn't want to waste any time, but she was still sitting on the steps with her knees drawn up to her chest.

"Are you going to stay there, or are we going to start?" Maki's confident voice came from behind her.

The blonde stood up, turned around, and was surprised by something.

Maki had a huge bag in her hands. It looked heavy, but the green-haired girl carried it as if it were a stack of books.

Before she could ask, the older girl stepped forward, stood in front of her, put the bag on the ground, and opened it.

"They're cursed weapons, choose one," I demanded seriously. Hanae approached, confused, but still crouched down to examine the contents.

There was too much, really.

Swords, katanas, staves, knives, among others she couldn't distinguish.

Her hands, no longer bandaged and now covered with white gloves, moved slightly, reaching almost to the bottom where she saw a glimmer that caught her attention.

She picked up the four objects.

"These, I think they'll do," she said confidently.

The green-haired girl approached and examined the objects, then let out a sigh, almost disappointed.

"You say you want to stop being a defensive sorceress, but you choose long-range weapons," she said seriously. "I call these 'cutting stars,' a rare variety of shuriken, lighter and easier to use."

The blonde girl examined the four objects. They looked like stars with four sharp points together, almost like knuckle guards, but they weren't even half as thick as they should be. She also noticed a large hole in the center of each one.

"That hole is for your knuckles. You can throw them or use them in combat. Try it," Maki explained. The younger girl nodded and placed one on her gloved right hand, feeling that it fit perfectly. The cursed energy of the weapons was felt slightly, covered with a bluish aura with black edges. "They are classified for semi-level 2 sorcerers. They complement you."

Hanae nodded at those words.

"A fight, please don't hold back," she spoke for the first time, the determination in her voice palpable.

Maki smiled at the suggestion, crouching down and taking a nunchaku from her bag. The nunchaku was divided into three sections, joined by rings at the end of each section. She moved it gracefully and powerfully through her arms and shoulders until it reached her hands.

"Let's begin," she announced confidently.

Both girls stood in the middle of the courtyard. Hanae assumed a fighting stance, her hands clenched into fists, each holding a nunchaku. The other two hands were in her jacket pockets.

Maki was the first to attack, moving swiftly to get in front of the blonde, who luckily dodged the attack. One of the nunchaku's points was about to hit her right arm, but she raised her left hand, stopping the shuriken. She flicked her wrist and grabbed the nunchaku, pushing it upwards. Taking advantage of the opening, she tried to kick her partner's knee, but Mai quickly dodged and positioned herself behind the blonde, attacking again. Hanae turned around just as the rama was about to hit her. She ducked and delivered a blow with her elbow to the green-haired girl's stomach. Although she didn't stumble back, it was enough for the blonde to get to her feet and grab her partner's wrist with both hands, supporting her weight and spinning so that Maki fell to the ground with her weapon at her side.

Hanae remained standing.

"I surrender," Maki said playfully, raising her hands.

But the blonde just huffed a little angry, feeling sweat on her forehead. She approached the green-haired girl, offering her hand to help.

"It's not training if you let me win," she said with a hint of helplessness. The older girl took her hand and stood up quickly.

"We just make sure you fight someone weaker. I've seen you fight Inumaki; you have potential," she said, reaching for her nunchaku.

The blonde smiled to herself. It was one of the few compliments she'd received from Maki, and the first one had been because she liked her hairstyle.

"Now..." The green-haired girl called to the younger girl's attention, her weapon already in hand. " again."

Hanae smiled, getting into a fighting stance.

Chapter Text

It was today.

The event with Kyoto was about to begin.

And Hanae was nervous as hell.

All the students, except Nobara, were at the school entrance, where a banner welcomed the Kyoto students and announced the event.

Her straight blonde hair was tied in two twin French braids that fell over her chest to her waist, with a few loose strands framing her face. It wasn't a good day to wear her hair down, and this hairstyle was very practical; besides, according to Panda, it suited her quite well.

Her uniform had changed slightly; now, with the addition of the cursed weapons, she had a white belt with four pouches on the side of her skirt's waistband.

He'd spent the previous week training, sometimes with Maki, other times asking Panda for advice on maintaining good posture. Kimi even gave him some attack tips.

And of course.

Despite being busy with Nanami and Itadori, Gojo had been sending him dozens of books on physics and magnetic properties. Sometimes he received them from Ijichi, while other times they simply appeared taped to his door.

Speaking of them, he hadn't seen Itadori during that time. They exchanged messages occasionally, and their movie nights were less frequent.

It had been a very busy week, and he thought he'd made a lot of progress.

But that didn't stop him from playing around a bit with his gloved hands.

It was important; it wasn't just friendly competition. This could raise or lower his level.

"Mustard leaves?" She heard a voice beside her and saw it was Inumaki.

The girl nodded and raised her hazel eyes.

"Yes. Just a little nervous, it'll be my first time fighting real sorcerers," she replied calmly.

"And aren't we real sorcerers? That offends me, we practically adopted you when you arrived here," Panda said, crossing her arms to get her attention.

"You know that's not what I meant," the blonde replied matter-of-factly.

Before anyone could speak, a noise caught everyone's attention.

Hanae turned around and saw Novara with a pink suitcase and a matching backpack.

"Why don't you have any luggage?" she asked, confused, looking at them.

"Better question, what are you doing with your luggage?" Panda replied.

"What do you mean, what am I doing? We're going to Kyoto," the brunette responded. "To the Kyoto exchange event."

"It's an exchange event with Kyoto High School, but it's being held in Tokyo," the blonde corrected.

Novara practically exploded with indignation, saying that wasn't possible.

"I was starting to think we weren't on the same pageMaki commented, to which Megumi and Inumaki agreed.

"It's held at the school that won last year," the blonde explained, watching as Nobara took off her backpack and angrily left her suitcase in a corner.

But that wasn't all. The brunette approached Panda and grabbed him by the fur, her brown eyes reflecting her annoyance.

"And why did they win, idiots?!" she demanded angrily.

"They didn't participate last year!" Hanae said, trying to pull her companion away, but she wouldn't let go of Panda.

"That's right, Yuuta participated last year to even things out," the taller one added.

"It was before Rika's thing. I heard it was a landslide victory, although we couldn't see it because it was in Kyoto," she commented. green-haired.

Nobara let go of Panda and stood in the middle of the place

"I won't forgive you, Okkotsu Yuuta!" she announced angrily. "It doesn't matter if I don't know you, I hate you!"

The other students watched the scene with indifference.

"She doesn't know who to blame," Panda added, seeing her anger.

"Hey!" Maki announced, drawing everyone's attention. "They're here."

The blonde turned around and saw the Kyoto students. She recognized Mai and Todo, but the others were complete strangers. There was a boy with long hair and slanted eyes, a small blonde girl, someone who looked like a wooden robot, and a teenage girl with light blue hair.

"Oh, if it isn't the Tokyo kids," Mai said in her sweet but teasing tone. "Did they come to greet us? That's too bad."

"I don't see Okkotsu," I heard everyone say with disappointment.

"Shut up and give us the souvenirs. Yatsuhashi, kudzu noodles, and cookies," Nobara demanded, annoyed.

"Salmon," Inumaki confirmed.

Hanae sighed; obviously, those were her priorities.

"Who's that brunette? She's scary.At least the pretty blonde seems polite," I heard the blonde from Kyoto say.

Hanae had to hold Nobara's arm to prevent her from lunging at the girl.

"Besides not having Okkotsu, they're making their disadvantage worse with three first-year beginners," this time it was the robot speaking.

"Age is irrelevant to sorcerers. Especially with Fushiguro, Zen'in blood runs through his veins. He's more talented than his clan leader," said the man with slanted eyes.

Hanae tensed at the sound of that voice.

It was Kamo Noritoshi.

She didn't want to complicate things; she no longer felt the anger from their first encounter, so she let go of Nobara and distracted herself by playing with one of her braids.

The applause drew everyone's attention.

"That's enough, stop fighting. What am I going to do with you?" The blonde turned and saw a woman with bluish-black hair, dressed in a priestess's uniform. She also had a scar running down her right cheek, across her nose, almost reaching her left. "Where's the 'Idiot'?" I asked wearily, looking at the students from Tokyo.

Utahime Iori was the teacher at the Kyoto school.

"Satoru's late," Panda replied.

"An idiot like him is never on time," Maki added.

"He never said the idiot was Gojo-sensei," Megumi retorted.

"I think it's his nickname; almost everyone calls him that," Hanae replied, amused.

Then, behind them, they heard the sound of a moving cart. They turned around, and sure enough, it was Gojo Satoru, pushing a kind of box with a doll on it.

"Sorry I'm late!" he said as he approached. "I'm glad to see you all together. I was away on a business trip abroad. I brought you souvenirs!"

"He's an excellent liar," the blonde thought as she watched her teacher hand out dolls to the Kyoto children.

"And for the Tokyo children, I brought these!" the albino said eccentrically, pointing at the box.

It opened.

And Hanae felt the color drain from her.

The floor was gone.

"Hello everyone! OPP!" It was Yuuji, striking a pose to get her attention.

"is his dead friend, Itadori Yuuji!" Gojo announced as if he needed an introduction.

The blonde was speechless for a moment, turning to look at Megumi and Nobara, but they truly seemed expressionless; surprise filled their faces.

Gojo proceeded to introduce the pink-haired boy to the Kyoto group, but they were busy reviewing their memories.

She didn't know where she'd found the willpower, but she approached Yuuji, who was still inside the box.

"Couldn't you have told me before?" she retorted to her teacher and classmate. "I could have... explained the situation."

“Surprises are more fun, Hanae-chan!” the adult interrupted. “You should have seen your face, even though you already knew Yuuji was alive two months ago.”

Hanae felt like she was being stared at. She didn't want to turn around, but a chill ran down her spine.

“Gojo-sensei said he told you,” the pink-haired boy commented.

This time, the girl couldn't take it anymore and hit her forehead with her gloved hand.

She would never trust Gojo again.

Although now they had more serious problems.

“Yuuji?” she heard Kimi's surprised voice behind her.

She saw that the woman was accompanied by the director and an elderly man who must have been the director of Kyoto. Kimi wore an expression of surprise and confusion as she looked at the pink-haired man.

"The vessel of Sukuna? What does this mean?" the elderly man asked.

The albino finally turned and looked at his superiors.

"What? If it isn't Director Gakuganji. Heavens, what a relief! I thought a surprise like that would give you a heart attack," Gojo said with a hint of mockery, crouching down to the elderly man's level. "Look at them all together. This represents a big step forward, considering that they couldn't be in the same room without behaving in an extremely passive-aggressive manner." he commented, gesturing to the three directors,especially close to Kimi and the Kyoto director.

Part of her wanted to eavesdrop on the conversation, but a nudge from behind caught her attention.

"Don't you have anything to say to us?" Nobara asked in an offended tone. Beside her was Megumi, also intrigued, and she noticed tears welling up in the brunette's eyes as she posed. their eyes upon them.

"I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was still alive,” the pink-haired boy replied.

Now they were looking at Hanae, searching for an answer.

“I’m sorry,” the blonde began, guilt in her voice. “I found out after training with the second-years.” She could swear she saw the betrayal on her classmates’ faces. “I wanted to tell you, but Gojo-sensei told me I had to keep it a secret. I never meant to lie to you.”

“That’s why you distanced yourself,” Megumi reasoned, to which the girl nodded.

Nobara sighed deeply and crossed her arms.

“You forfeited your right to empathy. From now on, you’ll accompany me to the mall as often as I want until I decide to forgive you,” I said sternly.

“A just punishment,” the tall girl replied understandingly. “I’m sorry.”

Then she fixed her hazel eyes on the dark-haired man.

“I would have done the same in your place.” "No hard feelings," I said in a serious tone, but I managed to elicit a grateful smile from the blonde.

Then they heard the launch of fireworks, announcing the start of the event.

Everyone turned to look at the organizers, but they were surprised.

Yaga Masamichi had Gojo in a boxing hold, preventing him from escaping, and Kimi looked disappointed, her arms crossed and her gaze unfocused.

She heard some people laughing, including herself, when Gojo asked Kimi for help, but the woman ignored him.

"The exchange event will last two days. On the first day, the team battle will take place: the Exorcism Race! The rules are simple: the first team to exorcise the Category 2 cursed spirit we release will win. There will also be several Category 3 or lower spirits within the playing area." If there is no winner by sunset, the team that has performed the most exorcisms will win, the Tokyo director explained.

"There aren't many more rules, and although you're allowed to sabotage your opponent, remember that you're allies against curses, and we prefer that there be no deaths among the students," the blonde woman continued explaining. "By competing in this event, you'll learn about yourselves and your teammates. You now have until noon to plan strategies with your team, so don't waste any time."

The students nodded and began to leave, but then...

"Mizuki, you're still too sensitive," Principal Gakuganji said. "You should have come to Kyoto when you had the chance."The old man's voice was low but clear enough to be heard, and it had something else in it; it seemed like reproach, or was he angry? "This school has taken more from you than it has given. But, as always, you cling too tightly to unimportant things.

The Tokyo students remained in their seats, intrigued by the remark and something else.

Mizuki was Kimi's maiden name. Why was Gakuganji calling her that?

Hanae swore she saw her clutch her blue coat so tightly that her knuckles turned white and her blue-gray eyes had a faint glint that crossed in a second, but the woman looked around, realizing where she was

"Didn't you understand?!Everyone to the meeting rooms!" The woman's authoritative voice snapped them out of their trance, and the boys began walking into the building.

Hanae turned around for a moment and saw Gojo break free from the director's grip only for Kimi to apply a hold, pulling his arm behind his back. She looked very annoyed.

She simply made sure her companions were inside and went to Nobara's side.

"How dramatic, but now I'm curious," the girl next to her commented, to which the blonde nodded supportively.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

However, the atmosphere was somewhat serious.

Nobara practically forced Yuuji to hold a funeral frame up to his face while kneeling.

At first it was funny, but then it became a little embarrassing.

"Hey, depending on who sees this, it could be considered bullying," said the pink-haired boy, holding the frame.

They were in a designated meeting room; the Kyoto students were on the other side of the school for privacy.

"Shut up and stay like that for a while," Nobara replied without even looking at him.

"It's over now, you heard his explanation. Don't be like that with him," Panda interjected.

"The panda talks!" Yuuji exclaimed in surprise.

"And he never stops," the blonde added playfully.

"Salmon, salmon," Inumaki affirmed.

"What?" the pink-haired boy asked, looking at him.

"Inumaki uses cursed speech, a ritual that amplifies the power and coercion of words. He limits his vocabulary to protect himself and others," Megumi explained.

"So, he kills someone if he says 'Die'? Impressive," Yuuji questioned, looking at the aforementioned panda.

"It's not that simple. It depends on the user's strength and the target's. Strong words have adverse effects; in the worst cases, they harm the user," Hanae explained, sitting next to Panda. "It's similar to my barriers. Depending on the user's strength, I find it difficult to stop the impact. When I stopped Sukuna's attack, I vomited blood because stopping such a powerful attack caused me internal damage."

"That serious?" the pink-haired boy asked. A slight flicker of guilt crossed his face when the blonde mentioned when Sukuna attacked her, but his expression quickly returned to normal "I understand," Itadori replied. "And how can Panda talk? Is he some new species?"

"More importantly, Yuuji," Maki announced, drawing the boy's attention, "give me back my Demon Slayer. Saturó gave it to you, right?" She really hoped Yuuji had it.

Facing Maki's rage was worse than three Special Grades combined.

But the pink-haired boy's cautious and fearful expression betrayed him.

"—Gojo-sensei has it—" Yuuji replied without looking at the green-haired girl.

Hanae sighed in relief; at least Maki wouldn't kill Itadori before the exchange.

"So what's the plan?" the older girl exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention. "The group battle format is what we expected, but we lost a member. Should we change our strategy? We're running out of time."

"Nice Flakes," Inumaki commented.

"It depends on Yuuji. What can you do?" Panda asked, looking at him.

"Punches and kicks," the pink-haired boy replied simply.

"We've had enough of that already," Panda added, showing no surprise.

"Yuuji's strength is impressive," Hanae commented, drawing everyone's attention. "He even surpasses Maki-senpai, and I bet he surpasses you too, Panda-senpai."

That surprised the second-year students a little.

"Kiyomi's right," Fushiguro said. "If we fight before, without the cursed energy, Itadori wins."

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

A few hours later, everyone was outside the school. Hanae adjusted her gloves and made sure her weapons were in place.

When she finished, she played with her braid for a while, looking around.

She had trained a lot and was definitely not the same as before.

Why did she feel like this?

Even so, she took a deep breath and exhaled. She had to stick to the plan; that way they would win and there wouldn't be any more problems.

She looked up and saw all her teammates ready to start. That helped her feel better. She approached Maki and got into position to enter.

"Let's go! We'll beat them!" Nobara said enthusiastically, starting to walk with the others. "For Maki!"

"Leave him alone," the green-haired girl replied, annoyed.

"That's right. For Maki!" Panda chimed in.

Hanae smiled slightly and then looked at Itadori, who arrived in front of them.

"In that case, we'll win!" she announced confidently.

But Maki kicked him, knocking him to the ground.

"What are you doing up front?" he retorted, annoyed.

The blonde approached, offering him her hand to help him up, which the pink-haired boy accepted.

"Do you best," she said, looking at him.

Yuuji smiled and nodded, then walked over to Megumi's side, leading them all back towards the event.

Chapter Text

The group was in the forest, all together analyzing the area.

The strategy was simple, right?

Itadori would be in charge of distracting everyone, and the rest would split into teams.

Nobara and Inumaki would team up with Panda as their leader.

Meanwhile, Maki and Hanae would stay with Megumi.

"And now, a few words of support from Professor Utahime Iori," Gojo's voice came through the loudspeakers, drawing everyone's attention.

"We know that lessons will be inevitable to some extent..." The woman's voice sounded hesitant; she was clearly improvising. "But try to help each other... from time to time."

The albino was heard snatching the microphone away, despite Utahime's protests.

"With that said, the exchange event... begins!" he announced.

The Tokyo students started running through the forest. The black-haired boy had summoned his demon dog, which led the way, followed by Panda. Then came Maki and Fushiguro, Inumaki, Hanae, and finally, Nobara and Yuuji. The pink-haired boy quickly caught up with Panda.

A spider-shaped curse appeared before them, but before they could do anything...

An overwhelming force appeared, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

The others moved forward, with Panda and Yuuji leading the way.

Hanae stayed with Inumaki, behind Panda, and sure enough...

It was Todo Aoi.

"Everyone here! Come on, all at once!" the tallest one said, looking at them defiantly.

Yuuji charged first, gathering momentum and striking him in the face with his knee.

That was the signal.

The teams split up. Hanae followed Maki and Megumi to the left, while the others went to the right.

"He was completely alone," the black-haired boy commented as he ran.

"We did well to leave him to Yuuji," the green-haired girl remarked.

“Even so, we should hurry,” the blonde added, feeling her braids sway as she ran. “Yuuji might be very strong, but something tells me he won’t be able to hold him off for long. Todo-san is a top-notch sorcerer.”

They continued running for a few more minutes, but something was strange: no Kyoto students appeared.

Finally, they stopped for a moment.

“That’s odd, they’re moving together,” Fushiguro commented.

“They’re getting closer to where Yuuji is with Todo,” the blonde added, confused.

“Could the target be there?” Maki asked with interest.

"Not unless the Category 2 is very cunning. My dog would have detected him by now," Megumi replied. Her shikigami barked, agreeing with its master.

"They want to kill Itadori, and they'll do it together," Hanae reasoned seriously, turning slightly in the direction of her companion.

"That's possible," the green-haired girl added. "Let's go back, Megumi, Hanae."

"I'm sorry," the black-haired boy said.

"Why are you apologizing?" Maki scolded indifferently, turning away. "Winning the event doesn't matter if one of your friends dies."

The blonde remained silent, clenching her gloved hands. She also began to follow her superior, reaching for her shuriken from her belt and adjusting one in her hand. right.

The good thing about being ambidextrous was that I didn't have to neglect one hand.

Megumi summoned Nue, and the shikigami took flight, knocking down the Kyoto girl who was flying on a broomstick.

The three of them ran through the forest, where they also encountered Noritoshi, Mai, and the light blue-haired girl, who was apparently named Miwa.

Each of them caught a target: Megumi caught Kamo, Maki caught Miwa, and Hanae blocked Mai's gun with her shuriken.

The green-haired girl backed away and managed to break free.

The blonde looked away; her hazel eyes watched Noritoshi and Megumi, as well as Maki and Miwa, as they ran in another direction.

"It's a shame I have to kill you," Mai's voice caught her attention, and she turned quickly, seeing her opponent reloading her weapon. "I would have liked to leave the weakest for last."

After two shots were fired at the blonde, Hanae ran and dodged the bullets as fast as she could, hiding behind the trees.

The shots continued, reaching four, when she heard a noise near her ear. She backed away, but that didn't stop the bullet from grazing her left forearm, leaving a wound that quickly became covered in blood.

She sighed deeply as she ran, looking around.

However, she reached a place where the trees were ridiculously tall.

Another bullet whizzed past her. She dodged it just in time and hid behind a tree.

"You're a disappointment. You don't belong to any important clan, you don't have a strong ritual, the only thing you have going for you is your looks." Mai's voice came from above.

Hanae looked up; her wound was bleeding, but it wasn't her main concern.

"At least I'm controlling myself. Do you think I haven't heard from Maki…," she began, raising her voice, "especially about what they do to people like you and me in your clan?"

Another gunshot rang out nearby. The blonde ducked and created a barrier that stopped three bullets.

Her barrier was still active, and she saw that the bullets were coming from the north, to the right. She stood up and started walking in that direction.

"At first, I thought I admired you, Zen'in-san," she began calmly, "but I can't find anything to redeem myself."

Another gunshot, in a different direction, but with the same feeling.

North to the right, thirty-seven degrees.

She infused her shuriken with cursed energy and threw it in that direction, aiming lower to strike the branch.

A sharp crack and Mai was on the ground, staring at the blonde, getting up and reaching for her pistol.

But Hanae didn't flinch. She approached the green-haired girl, grabbed her wrist, pulled her to the ground, and took the opportunity to kick the weapon away.

She grabbed Mai by her uniform and swept her legs, sending her sprawling. But the green-haired girl didn't back down. She grabbed Hanae's arm, intending to pull her down, but Hanae took her hand and pushed her to the ground, taking a few steps back.

"You're just another piece in all this, one of those erasable names no one remembers," she shouted, pulling branches out of her hair.

"My whole family was like that," the blonde said sarcastically, shrugging. "On one side, ordinary people with misguided ideologies; on the other, foreigners who only cared about low taxes. The difference between you and me is that no one molded me. I've been insulted since childhood, abandoned... But I never stopped being myself. If I've changed, it's because life has presented me with challenges that can't be ignored. I joined here because I had something to fight for.."

The image of her father flashed through her mind.

That moment when they boarded the train at the station.

How he promised her it would only be a slightly hectic day, but that they would soon be home.

When the train stopped, when she took her father's hand so as not to get lost in the crowd, and the doors opened...

Hanae pounded the ground with her hands, creating a blue barrier. It would cost her precious energy, but it would be worth it.

The barrier was close to Mai, so she pushed it until it crashed into some nearby trees.

“I wanted to ask you something, Zen’in-san. Do you know why we sorcerers live each day as if it were our last?” he began, moving closer to her. “That question haunted me. Now I understand… It’s because we shouldn’t have regrets… Will holding onto so much resentment make you die happy? Will you be satisfied with your life?” His voice was like ice, cold, yet deep.

The green-haired girl grimaced in disgust.

“You don’t know anything about me.”Don’t meddle where you’re not wanted,” she said irritably.

Hanae shrugged and tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

“Unfortunately… a sorcerer’s job is to meddle where you’re not wanted,” she replied gently but sharply.

Now the image of Yuuji with Junpei appeared, one she would never forget, and she would also never forget that she had left them behind. She wouldn't let anyone else carry that responsibility alone..

Something that would never happen again.

But at that moment, Mai pulled out the pistol she carried at her waist and pointed it at her opponent.

"A spare?" the girl thought as she dodged a bullet, hidden behind a bush, watching the green-haired girl climb a tree.

She was about to move when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll take care of it. Look for Inumaki, he hasn't shown up." She turned and saw that it was Maki, who now had a sword instead of her bo staff. "He must be near the building."

The young woman nodded and watched Maki climb the branches.

The blonde started walking toward the spot.

A few minutes later, something caught her eye. The trees seemed greener, the ground was covered in flowers, and...

There was a monstrous amount of branches and vines sprouting from the ground.

But then, a chill ran through her, making her look up.

A veil was activating.

It emitted a terrifying and cursed energy.

Chapter Text

Hanae didn't know exactly where to go. She looked around, trying to find a path, but it was too uneven.

Branches sprouted in all directions, as if trying to grab a target, dodging it with great skill.

However, she heard something behind her.

A bark.

The blonde turned around and saw that it was Megumi's demon dog, which seemed restless.

"Do you know where they are?" he asked, looking at the shikigami. It barked, indicating that it knew. "Take me to them."

Immediately, the dog took off running, followed by the student.

Fushiguro must have summoned it to search for other classmates. He didn't know what they were facing, but it definitely wasn't the work of a Category 2 spirit.

As he ran, he glanced back at the building. It looked destroyed, with the same branches sprouting everywhere.

What on earth was he thinking?

But she didn't have time to think, because the shikigami changed direction, and the blonde followed it. They reached a forest where she spotted a river.

The canine disappeared, indicating that Megumi had deactivated the ritual. Instead,Nue it took flight and plummeted to a point in the river.

"Kiyomi!" She heard a voice behind her. She turned and saw that it was Fushiguro, approaching with Maki.

"I have many questions, but I'll keep them brief. What's the plan?" she asked once the three of them were together.

"It's a special kind of spirit. It has consciousness and seems to control nature. Cursed weapons hurt it, so we'll attack head-on," the dark-haired boy explained. The blonde nodded, taking out her spare shuriken.

"Now!" Maki announced, running toward the river followed by the two first-year students.

When they arrived, they could see the spirit. It had a very muscular, human-like form, with one arm hidden by a cloth. Instead of eyes, it had two branches on its face.

The green-haired girl was the first to attack with a sword, but the spirit blocked it with its mobile arm. Hanae seized the opportunity to attack from behind with her shuriken, slicing through its waist. Megumi also appeared from behind, striking it on the head with Maki's folding staff.

The curse was distracted, and the three used the opportunity to regroup at the river. The blonde felt water seeping through her high boots, but she definitely didn't care.

Fushiguro and Maki swapped weapons, launching their attack. Hanae drew her shuriken from her knuckles and infused them with cursed energy. She waited for the moment her companions attacked the curse, then threw them, embedding them in its neck.

She ran back to her companions, panting slightly; she had expended a lot of energy.

However, when she glanced back at her allies, she saw something.

Megumi had a seed sprouting from her abdomen; it already had small flowers that seemed to have mouths.

In that moment of carelessness, the branches emerged. One grabbed Hanae by the neck, and another lunged toward Maki. The green-haired girl struck it with her weapon, and the blonde drew her last remaining shuriken, gripping the branch, breathing heavily.

Sorceresses can be extraordinarily compassionate; they lower their guard when an ally is injured.
Can you speak?" Hanae asked, surprised to hear the voice in her head. It sounded like a woman's, very distorted but firm.

"I can do the same as you sorcerers. My work in this world is similar to yours. I will protect the world from its greatest destroyer: humans."

"It's a noble motive. Nature is important..." the blonde began, trying to keep her distance. "But your methods will cause death."

"At that moment, Nue tried to attack the curse, but it disappeared before she could.

"Megumi deactivated the ritual. They were in trouble."

Maki attacked again, but they quickly overpowered her, causing a frog to grab her by the neck.

Hanae tried to slam her hands against the riverbed, but the branches caught her too, leaving her right next to Maki. Her hands were behind her back, and she couldn't activate her ritual.

But then…

Something broke the curse. The impact hit the water, creating a loud splash.

It was Todo and Itadori.

Maki and Hanae were freed from the branches. The green-haired girl was in Aoi's arms, while the blonde was in Yuuji's.

"Are you hurt? Does anything hurt? Are you dizzy?" the pink-haired boy asked, worried.

"Yes. Just tired," she replied slowly, but then she looked at her own body in Yuuji's arms. It didn't really surprise her that he could carry her, but she still felt a warmth in her cheeks. "I-I can walk."

"Of course. Sorry," the boy replied, rushing towards the edge. There was Panda holding a badly injured Fushiguro. The jogai took Maki and put her over his shoulder, and Itadori set Hanae down, letting her feet touch the ground.

But then Yuuji and Aoi turned around.

"You can't stand that," the blonde said desperately, grabbing her companion's arm and turning him to face her. "...Come with us," she pleaded, almost in a whisper.

"I'll be fine," the pink-haired boy replied, his tone filled with honesty and determination.

Hanae truly hated his ability to calm her down.

Slowly, she released his arm and stepped back, standing next to Panda.

Panda, still carrying the students on his shoulders, took the blonde girl's hand, and they both ran away from the fighting area.

"We have to get Maki and Megumi out of the veil," the taller boy said, and the girl nodded.

Then they heard something.

"A clap of thunder."

"What was that? Another curse?" Hanae asked, shaking her head in the direction of the noise.

"No," Panda replied with a touch of pride. "That was the vice-principal expanding her domain."

"I didn't know she had one. I only know that her technique is 'Volt Charge,' right?" the blonde said, confused.

"Yes. Her ritual is based on bioelectricity, the natural electricity generated by living organisms, a phenomenon in which cells produce and use electrical signals for communication and vital functions, from heartbeats to nerve impulses." Panda explained, almost from memory: "An average human generates 100 watts, enough for a light bulb. But Kimi-san has the ability to amplify her own nervous system and body with cursed energy, creating electricity and releasing it before it affects her... I think her record was 2 billion volts."

It was both impressive and terrifying.

"Like a battery," Hanae reasoned. "And why the thunder?"

"Its domain expansion, 'Electroshock Storm,' allows it to create electricity without it passing through its body. It's so powerful that the thunder can be heard from outside its domain," the jogai explained.

"If it activates its domain, it means there are more enemies than just that special range," the blonde reasoned, to which her companion nodded.

But then...

The veil dissipated.

They both paused for a moment, looking up.

Gojo Satoru was floating in the sky.

"It's all over now, let's go see Ieri-san," Panda announced, breaking the silence.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Everything seemed to be going well. Maki was recovering, and Megumi would be staying in bed until she felt better.

The exchange event descended into chaos, but it was still unclear whether it would be canceled.

Hanae was no longer wearing her uniform, and her braids were gone, leaving her hair straight. She'd had time to change; now she was wearing a white tank top and light jeans. The bandage on her arm was visible; it wasn't deep, but it could leave a scar.

She was standing next to Megumi, who was still in the infirmary, but seemed engrossed in her phone.

She had told her what had happened, and the dark-haired boy seemed worried about Yuuji. She couldn't blame him; she was worried too.

Then there was a noise: the door burst open, forcing them to turn around.

It was Nobara and Yuuji, the latter carrying a pizza box. They were both wearing casual hoodies.

"How are you, Fushiguro? We brought you something to help you recover," the pink-haired boy announced, approaching with the brunette. "Hey, Kiyomi, how are you feeling?

Hanae smiled at the intrusion and laughed softly.

"I'm fine, I just need to rest a bit," she replied kindly.

"Get out of the way!" Nobara said, pushing Itadori aside. "I'm hungry, open that box!" he exclaimed, dragging a chair and placing it near the dark-haired boy's bed.

Yuuji opened the box, revealing the pizza. He cut it and placed it on the bed, then found a chair and sat down near the blond boy.

Fushiguro tried to take a slice, but the dark-haired boy practically swatted him away and grabbed the slice first, making the boy look bewildered.

Itadori and Kiyomi chuckled.

But then the others took a few too.

"Who did you fight?" the blonde asked, trying to lighten the mood. She didn't want to talk about the attack; it was already too obvious. "I fought Zen'in-san and almost lost my arm."

"Really?" Yuuji asked, his tone somewhat serious.

"Just kidding, but she's really strong," the girl replied.

"I fought Kamo-san. His blood manipulation technique gave me some trouble, but the fight was interrupted," Megumi said, her tone reserved, but joining the conversation.

"I confronted that witch Nishimiya. She gave me a terrible speech about how 'women must meet certain standards,' and I don't remember what else," Nobara added sarcastically. "But she did say something... about Kimi-san. She mentioned that Kimi-san was the role model for every sorceress, but she chose the wrong person, and her entire reputation was ruined."

"She's becoming more and more involved. What happened between her and the Kyoto director?" Hanae asked curiously. "I'd like to ask her, but I already tried, and she avoided the topic."

The words hung in the air as they ate their slices of pizza.

“I faced Todo. At first, I thought he was going to kill me,” Yuuji said, breaking the silence and drawing everyone’s attention.

“So when did you start getting along with the gorilla?” Nobara asked.

“I admit we got along, and I remember what happened, but I wasn’t myself,” the pink-haired boy replied, somewhat confused.

“Why? Were you drunk?” the dark-haired boy asked.

“How could I have been drinking in that situation? I don’t know what happened,” he replied with a touch of sarcasm. “But thankfully nothing serious happened to you. You can even eat pizza,” he said, looking at the blond and the dark-haired boy.

" should have brought me something easier to digest," Megumi retorted. "Apparently, it didn't affect me as much because I'd already used up my cursed energy. Itadori," she said, drawing the boy's attention, "you've grown strong. I remember we both defended our own convictions. And just as we could be right, we could also be wrong."

"Not all questions have answers. Sometimes the mystery makes them so... necessary," the blonde commented calmly.

"Exactly, there are no answers. It all comes down to your beliefs, and clinging to your convictions is impossible for a weak sorcerer. I'll get stronger too," Megumi finished, her tone more determined. "I'll surpass you soon."

"You never change," Yuuji replied with a laugh.

"Don't exclude me from the conversations, and Kiyomi too. You're being rude," Nobara interjected, annoyed.

"We'll all get stronger, so no one gets left behind," Hanae added, with a niece.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from my brother's friends," a voice called out from among them.

And they realized it was Todo, practically standing right in front of them, sitting as if he'd been part of the conversation the whole time.

Yuuji practically ran out the window with Todo chasing after him.

"Where are you going, brother?!" they heard the taller one say.

"I'm grateful, but leave me alone!" Itadori's voice sounded desperate as he ran away from him.

Hanae couldn't help but let out a laugh.

Chapter Text

The air was cold and somewhat stuffy.

On the bullet train, the passengers were a bit cramped; some were returning from work, and others had to go to the station to catch another train.

And there were Hanae and Sora.

They were both sitting in window seats. The little blonde girl, fiftteen years old, had her head resting on her father's shoulder, while he was engrossed in a book.

December 24, 2017.

They were returning from downtown Shibuya and were going to catch a train in Shinjuku to buy Hanae's last school supplies for the upcoming school year.

The little girl's hazel eyes read a passage from the book, which seemed to be about Greek mythology, focusing on Homer's Odyssey. It was the part where Poseidon, in revenge for his Cyclops son, created a great storm to sink Odysseus and his crew.

"Dad?" she asked, drawing her father's attention. Sora turned, his tired but steady green eyes fixed on his daughter as he wondered, "Why would the gods want to kill Odysseus? He seems like a good person."

"Well, I believe his actions have consequences," the older man began to answer. His voice was gruff but calm, the voice of someone answering despite a common question. "He didn't do it with bad intentions; he didn't even know what awaited him when he left Ithaca. But... his will to keep his promise kept him alive."

The blonde nodded and returned her gaze to the book.

"We can go another day if you're very tired," the younger girl said.

"Don't worry, we'll be back quickly. I have tomorrow off, and we can do something else," the older man replied.

The train continued moving, its gentle motion keeping the girl awake.

Then the bell rang, announcing their arrival in Shinjuku Most of the passengers hurried off, while Hanae waited for her father to put the book in his backpack. Once they were both standing, the blonde girl took the older man's hand and they both began to get off the train.

However, the station began to fill with people, and without warning, the cursed energy erupted. Hanae saw wires and spikes piercing the passengers, and when she looked at her father, she saw that he too had been attacked.

The explosion hadn't reached her, but now she was surrounded by a slowly dissipating heat; it had fallen directly on her.

She could barely breathe; the air was thin. She couldn't see anything either, as an unfamiliar arm covered her eyes.

She hyperventilated, gasping for the air she couldn't breathe. She felt a weight on her entire body; she could even feel the heat of a slowly fading corpse.

She wanted to disappear. She wanted to die too.

Why now? Where was her father? Why wasn't he desperately searching for her like when she got lost in the supermarket?

Because surely she, and not her father, had seen the curse?

She wanted the cold to start disappearing.

How long had it been like this?

═══════ • ♥ • ════════

Then she woke up.

Her hazel eyes stared at the wooden ceiling of the school. She sat up and took a deep breath, feeling a cold sweat trickle down her face.

She felt nauseous and practically jumped out of bed, not caring that the white sheets fell to the floor. She barely made it to the bathroom door, quickly approaching the toilet and letting out all the bile.

It took a few minutes, but the feeling disappeared. I just sat there with my head down, staring at the bathroom floor.

Why today? I hadn't had nightmares in months. Why had they come back today?

Taking a deep breath, she stood up, feeling her skin cold and her blond hair plastered to her forehead.

she went to the bathroom mirror and looked at her self.

The dark circles under her eyes were noticeable against her pale skin, and his blond hair, now stained with sweat, was softly wavy.

She looked terrible.

She left the bathroom and went to her nightstand to get her phone.

It was 6:00 a.m.

The meeting to decide whether the exchange would take place was at 8:00 a.m., so since she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, she decided to start getting ready.

When she arrived at the hall, the students were already gathered. She decided to stay a little ways away so she wouldn't overhear much of the conversation. Gojo asked them if they wanted to continue with the event, and everyone agreed.

However, Hanae's mind was elsewhere; she simply couldn't concentrate, staring out the window.

Dark circles were visible under her eyes, and luckily she managed to shower and fix her hair.

Then, a noise pulled her from her reverie.

"A baseball game will be played to decide the winner!" Satoru announced. Beside him, Yuuji held a box and a piece of paper. "You can't complain; it was decided by chance!"

The next thing she saw were the principals with the pink-haired boy, all three of them surprised by the decision.

Yaga tried to scold the albino, but he had conveniently left the room.

"Listen up, everyone," Kimi announced, drawing everyone's attention. "I know someone who can lend us their team's court. In the meantime, we'll get the uniforms and everything ready. Go get some rest."

All the students nodded and started to leave, Hanae walking rather slowly as well.

"Everything alright? You look like you ran a marathon." She turned and saw the pink-haired boy beside her.

"I wish that were the reason, but it was just a bad night," the blonde replied wearily.

"Do you want to talk about it?" the boy asked, sounding worried but in a casual way that didn't put pressure on her.

"I don't want to worry you," Hanae replied. In the distance, she could see her classmates: Nobara was with Maki, and the Kyotos were together talking about exploring Shibuya.

"I'd be more worried if you didn't want to tell them," Itadori answered honestly.

The blonde looked at the ground; she didn't usually talk about her nightmares.

In her first few nights at school, she used to have them very often. She would wake up crying or screaming, and more than once, Maki, Panda, Inumaki, and Yuuta would go to comfort her, either one or all of them together.

It had been months since it had happened, and she remembered that talking helped; that's why she felt closer to Okkotsu, because he wasn't the type to judge people.

"I dreamt about my father," she began, still not looking at him, but she could hear them walking beside her, which comforted her a little. "My mind plays tricks on me. I thought I was over it and... and that I wouldn't relive that day... It was all so... real, like I'd gone back in time... I think I'll have to go back to taking sleeping pills," she laughed sarcastically. Itadori didn't understand because he was still frowning.

"Are you okay?" he asked this time, his tone more serious.

The blonde didn't answer immediately but nodded calmly.

"It just feels strange. It's not the first time; it used to happen all the time," she said quickly. "It's just... I'd like to remember him differently."

"Your father?" the pink-haired boy asked, to which Hanae nodded. "And what was he like? Did he also read all sorts of things and was he smarter than everyone else?"

The girl let out a short but sincere laugh.

“I don’t think so. He was more the absent-minded type, the kind who would lose his head if it wasn’t glued to his body. I literally had to remind him where his keys were,” the blonde said honestly, with a touch of nostalgia. “But he loved to read. Many of the books I have were his. We used to have reading marathons and complain about the book. The last one we read was The Odyssey, and I still haven’t finished it,” she continued matter-of-factly, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she recounted the story. “He was very reserved at times. I never saw him cry, not even at my mother’s funeral, but he always listened if I wanted to talk… Thank you.”

“Why?” Yuuji asked beside her, genuinely intrigued.

"Those are the memories I like to hold onto, and... talking to someone helps me remember them," the blonde replied, a little embarrassed but sincere.

"Maybe I can't put myself in your shoes and I'll never go through the same thing, but you can talk to me," the pink-haired boy said kindly, and Hanae smiled. "You're my friend, and I wouldn't want to see you sad."

Just as she was about to reply,

she realized they had arrived at school. In a classroom, everyone was gathered, and a large box sat on the center table.

"Where have you been? You were moving at a snail's pace!" Maki complained accusingly.

Hanae was about to reply when Nobara threw a white bag at her. It landed in the blonde's arms, and Itadori was also hit, nearly striking her in the face. If it hadn't been for her quick reflexes, she would have caught it before it hit her, and it surely would have.

"That doesn't matter! We'll beat Kyoto High!" the brunette replied. "Everyone, change!"

Chapter Text

The game had begun, and the Kyoto students were the first to bat, with Maki as the pitcher.

Hanae was on the bench, along with Inumaki, while the rookie seemed very eager to get onto the field.

The blonde girl redoed her French braids and held her helmet in her lap.

Her hazel eyes watched as Miwa batted, but Momo got there first, preventing the ball from reaching its intended target.

Honestly, she didn't have much of an idea how baseball worked. From the brief explanation Utahime had given, they only had to make the ball fly, or at least that's what she remembered.

Then Kamo batted, and Itadori caught the ball, triggering the switch with the Tokyo school.

Nobara practically pushed her way through everyone in her path and reached the base, grabbing the bat and looking at the Kyoto boys.

"They call me Masahiro Tanaka from Tohoku," the brunette said confidently and defiantly.

"No, the Masahiro from Tohoku is Masahiro," Megumi corrected, still from her spot on the bench with the others.

"And Masahiro is a pitcher!" added the pink-haired boy.

"Salmon," Inumaki confirmed.

"I think we know what she meant. Stop correcting her. Remember, she's carrying a metal bat," the blonde commented with a slight sigh.

Hanae stifled a laugh when she saw the color draining from their faces.

The boys nodded, and Nobara smiled briefly at the blonde, who returned the gesture.

However, a noise filled the room. She turned and saw Miwa carrying some kind of machine.

She placed it in front of the basket, and the name Mechamaru was visible on the metal.

Nobara glared at the device and, in a swift motion, threw her cap to the ground in anger, starting to walk toward it.

Immediately, the Tokyo students stood up from the bench and walked toward her.

"Kugizaki's angry!" Yuuji exclaimed, as if it were an alert code.

The Kyoto students also approached the field, and Panda and Hanae went over to the brunette. Jugai took her by the arms, and the blonde stood beside her.

Though the girl's brown eyes were fixed on Mai, who was watching the situation with mockery.

"That's a ball-launching machine!" the girl argued, looking at the young Zen'in.

"What are you talking about? It's a spare Mechamaru," the green-haired girl replied, bewildered, though something false crept into her voice. "We don't have a choice; Panda broke it the other day. You seem to know quite a bit. Are you a fanatic?"

"Don't you ever get tired?" Nobara said, annoyed and with a deep frown.

It was time to intervene.

"Perhaps it's just a coincidence," the blonde said calmly. "Besides, it's just an instrument; it shouldn't affect your game at all."

Although the brunette's expression didn't soften, she managed to free herself from Panda's grip and return to her position.

The blonde and Panda exchanged glances for a second, then sighed heavily, returning to the bench with the others.

Finally, the game began, and Nobara hit well, but the ball didn't travel very far.

Next up was Fushiguro. Contrary to what everyone expected, he hit very poorly, causing everyone behind him to catch the ball and advance directly to the next batter.

This caused confusion in the young woman's hazel eyes, but something snapped her out of her reverie.

It was Hanae's turn, and she was nervous as hell.

She put on her helmet and headed to the base, grabbing her bat and recalling the instructions Nobara had given her.

Mechamaru pitched, and the blonde hit the ball. It didn't travel very far, but at least it didn't go out of bounds. She ran to second base, but didn't arrive in time, forcing her to throw the ball to the next batter, Panda.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

The victory went to Tokyo.

Thanks to Itadori practically launching the ball to the other side of the court.

Most of the students dispersed. Megumi said she had things to do, Nobara said she had a hair appointment, and Itadori continued to be bombarded by Todo with all sorts of anecdotes that, according to the pink-haired boy, never happened.

Hanae left the court. She left her helmet on the bench and began to undo her braids. She liked the hairstyle, but her scalp needed some freedom.

She had barely started playing in the blue leagues when a figure appeared before her.

"Good afternoon, Kiyomi-san." A polite and calm voice, which sounded much older than it appeared, made her stop.

Her hazel eyes fixed on Noritoshi Kamo, who stood before her. He was still wearing his game uniform, and his head and face were bandaged, probably from yesterday's attack.

"Good afternoon, Kamo-san," the blonde replied politely, giving the boy a small bow. It was an automatic gesture, but in front of a member of the Kamo clan, it seemed more of an obligation than a formality.

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior the day my classmates and I accompanied our principal," the dark-haired boy began. "I admit we never intended for it to escalate into a physical fight, but I had to support my classmates and restrain you. If you had tried to intervene, the outcome would have been much worse."

The girl frowned slightly, but tried to maintain her composure. That incident had been a turning point, but the person she had been blaming was now apologizing. Noritoshi's voice was serious and far too polite for a second-year student; it even seemed as if he had chosen his words carefully.

"Kamo-san, please, there's no need to apologize," the blonde replied calmly. "I admit that at first, I held a grudge against you. I'd never faced anyone like you before. But it helped me improve. I should apologize too; perhaps I said things that upset you."

"Not at all. In battle, psychological warfare makes an opponent easy to defeat," the young man added. "We're leaving in a few hours, and I wanted to apologize, Kiyomi-san." The last sentence was accompanied by a small bow, and the boy began walking in the direction of his other companions.

Hanae felt incredibly light and resumed her walk, managing to undo her right braid, letting her blonde hair fall in soft waves.

Finishing her left braid, she reached the exit, her hair completely loose and a relaxed expression on her face.

She turned right, expecting to reach the place where Nitta was supposed to pick them up in a few minutes, but something caught her eye.

She stopped abruptly and fixed her hazel gaze on a familiar figure.

It was Kimi. Sitting on a nearby bench, shoulders tense and fists clenched on her thighs, she swore she was digging her nails into her palms, staring intently at some point in the bushes. She'd never seen her so...annoyed. Not even when Gojo interrupted a class or when she complained about the weather.

Then she turned, and the woman's blue-gray eyes met hers, making the teenager jump slightly at being caught.

"H-Hello, Kim-san," the girl began, a little shyly, but approaching him.

The woman's posture relaxed, her shoulders loosening and her hands free.

"Hanae, is the game over?" the blonde asked curiously, clearing her throat and standing up. She was still wearing her uniform; the blue trench coat was beside her, which she picked up as she stood. Now she was only wearing a long-sleeved black shirt.

The girl nodded.

"It just ended. We won, thanks to Itadori," Hanae replied with a hint of joy. The woman smiled. "I hope you don't mind, but... did something happen? You seemed very tense..." she asked carefully.

Kimi looked surprised, raised her eyebrows, and sighed.

"You always listen to me when something's wrong. I wanted to do the same for you... if it's not too intrusive," the teenager added, fiddling with her blue hair ties.

"Let's walk a bit. I'll walk you to where Nitta will pick you up," the woman replied calmly, starting to move, followed by the young blonde.

A silence settled between them. It wasn't awkward; only their footsteps on the dirt ground could be heard.

"Principal Gakuganji is my father," the woman blurted out casually.

Hanae practically tripped over her own foot and almost fell, if it hadn't been for Kimi, who gently caught her forearm and helped her regain her balance. Even so, the blonde's expression of surprise didn't lessen.

"B-But, how?" she asked with genuine curiosity and bewilderment.

The woman chuckled briefly and resumed walking, with the girl following behind.

"My adoptive father raised me from a young age, and although I never called him 'Dad,' it became a habit to introduce him that way," the older woman explained. Hanae nodded in understanding. "We never had a very good relationship, but we could be in the same room. I was too different from him in many ways."

"And what happened? It seems like... you hate each other. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that!" the teenager quickly corrected herself, sounding regretful.

"Don't worry," the older woman quickly commented. "There's a grain of truth there. I made some decisions he didn't like, and we had a fight before. We're just better off keeping our distance."

"I understand," the young woman replied. It was a huge revelation, and she didn't know what else to say. Most of the teachers were very reserved; even the most charismatic ones, like Gojo, never spoke about the past.

After a few minutes, they arrived at the place where Nitta was to pick up the young woman. Her black car was parked, and she managed to see Maki and Inumaki inside.

"You took a long time, let's go. These clothes are uncomfortable," said the green-haired woman from inside the car.

"Salmon," confirmed the white-haired man.

The blonde laughed and approached the vehicle, saying goodbye to the woman.

When she sat down and closed the door, through the window, she watched Director Yaga approach his wife. Kimi shifted her posture to a calmer, more relaxed one, but that didn't stop the man from placing his hand on her back and the blonde from leaning towards him.

Despite being very tall, Kimi still looked short next to him, and the truth is, the contrast between their skin tones and hair was very striking and almost complementary.

Hanae never thought much about love; she simply read romantic stories and thought that, as always, it would be too late.

But she couldn't help but feel a little envious of her looks.

All her life she'd been told she was very pretty, but no boy had ever been truly interested in her, which was rather frustrating.

The adults walked away as they talked, and the teenager looked away, perhaps feeling like she was in the way.

She glanced at her classmates; Maki seemed bored, and Inumaki was watching plant care videos on her phone.

"Did you know? About Kim-san and..." the blonde began, a hint of doubt in her voice.

"For a while now. It's simply information that's not ours to share," the green-haired girl replied with a certain indifference, but perhaps a touch of nostalgia in her voice. Inumaki merely nodded.

A notification snapped her out of her reverie. She reached for her phone and looked at the screen.

Tomorrow at the mall. Don't forget your debt.

And buy yourself something too.

Hanae sighed heavily. Obviously, she shouldn't have lied to Kugizaki Nobara.

Chapter Text

It really was a punishment.

Hanae and Nobara strolled through the streets of the Shibuya 109 shopping center, passing shop windows filled with designer clothes and seasonal stores.

September had arrived, and with it, autumn was beginning to peek through: the trees were shedding their green leaves for a golden orange, and the weather was becoming milder and cooler.

They were dressed casually, having left their school uniforms behind. The blonde wore loose white jeans, slightly rolled up at the ankles, where they became brown lace-up boots. She also wore a grayish-blue sweater with subtle floral embroidery and a white scarf with small star motifs. Her straight blonde hair was tied back with a white headband, shielding her face from a few strands.

Hanae had always had a very sensitive neck; even a cold wind or too much perfume would make her shiver slightly. Because of this, she tried to protect that area. Not to mention that her recent enemies had a kind of obsession with grabbing her there too tightly, sometimes even feeling branches against her skin. But she decided to just ignore the sensation.

Nobara was much more meticulous about her clothing. She wore a black skirt and matching stockings, black shoes, and a dark brown sweater. Combined with her confident demeanor, this gave her an air of enviable strength and femininity.

However, the situation was somewhat... spiteful.

Hanae was carrying bags of clothes, some of them hers, mostly small accessories, while the rest belonged to the brunette.

Although Kugizaki had a few bags, she had clearly left most of them to her companion, who was very focused on looking at the shop windows.

"Seriously, what do I have to do for you to forgive me?" the blonde asked, breaking the silence, almost pleading. They had been at the mall for almost two hours, and the brunette had avoided every attempt to bring up the subject.

"I don't like people who lie. You lost some of my trust, and now you have to win it back," Nobara replied, her tone serious and almost indignant at the question.

"I had no choice!" the taller girl exclaimed in frustration. "It was hard for me to see them every day and not tell them. I don't want to blame Gojo-sensei, but he asked me to," she added with genuine regret, taking a few steps and reaching the front of her teammate. Nobara fixed her brown eyes on her, and for a moment her gaze softened. "And if to gain your trust I have to be a walking clothes rack, I'll do it... We're the only girls on the team, we have to support each other."

The blonde's vulnerable tone made her teammate look away, sighing wearily.

But then her face lit up, and she practically ran toward a store, with Hanae following her.

"Look at that scarf!" the brunette exclaimed, practically pressing her face against the glass. Without thinking twice, she went inside.

Hanae sighed heavily and went inside as well, leaving the shopping bags with the receptionist, who gave her a number to retrieve them later.

She approached the brunette, who was already in the autumn section with three different colored scarves.

"The pink one is very pretty, it goes really well with your hair," the blonde said kindly.

"It's identical to Itadori's hair, practically Kirby pink," Nobara commented, leaving the scarf on the shelf without interest. The taller girl chuckled softly; she agreed. Her companion was practically the human version of the video game character. "And what about you? You've only bought earrings and hair clips."

"I'm no fashion expert, I prefer basics. Honestly, my wardrobe is white and blue," Hanae replied, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. But she glanced at her companion and saw her looking at her with the most unfriendly expression she'd ever seen.

"White... and blue?" she asked, as if she'd broken some peace treaty. The blonde nodded, and at that moment, a thread snapped. Nobara placed the scarves on the shelf and practically dragged Hanae through the store, arriving at the seasonal clothing section.

"Kugizaki? What are you doing?" she asked, confused, as the brunette approached the store manager.

"Hey you!" she exclaimed in an authoritative voice. "Bring me some indigo skirts and some black ones too..." This time she turned to the blonde, looking her up and down. "I want some high boots, and sweaters in ivory and graphite, two gray sleeveless shirts, and a cream-colored trench coat." The store clerk seemed uncomfortable, but with just one look from the brunette, which could practically break the ice, the man rushed to find what she'd asked for.

"Please, it's not necessary..." Hanae began insistently, but Hanae turned away and went straight to the thermal tights section, pushing a pair of black tights against the blonde's chest.

"If we're going to be friends, you can't have bad taste," she said seriously, turning away and continuing to search. "I tolerate it from guys because... well, they're fools, but this is my way of saying we'll be even."

Hanae's eyes sparkled briefly, and she nodded at the suggestion.

"Thank you so much, Kugizaki, you're truly amazing," she complimented him kindly and gratefully.

"I know, but I wanted you to say so," the brunette replied with pride and a certain confidence. The clerk returned with the order, and the poor man looked like he was about to faint from the amount of clothing he was carrying. Noara approached and examined the garments, letting out a sigh of frustration. "I ordered indigo, and this is navy blue," she pointed irritably at a skirt.

"Miss, we don't have any more…!" the man tried to excuse himself, barely looking up.

"In the warehouse, second register on the left," the brunette replied matter-of-factly. The man nodded and hurried to look in the indicated place.

Hanae laughed with genuine joy, letting out a soft chuckle.

While Nobara began looking at different types of snow boots, Hanae's gaze fell upon a white skirt. It had small ruffles at the hem and was made of a soft fabric; it appeared to be pure cotton.

She picked it up and smiled to herself. Perhaps she could take a moment for herself.

Hanae had just paid for her purchases. She felt a little regretful about spending so much money on clothes, but Nobara's suggestion of having a photoshoot in her new outfits when she got to school reassured her.

Now the bags were more spread out, which meant she didn't have to carry them as much as she had expected.

As they left the store, a group of boys, perhaps from middle school, walked past them. Some looked at the blonde girl strangely, while others winked at her. Hanae shrugged and looked down.

But Nobara...

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, BOTHERING MY FRIEND? HANAE, TAKE MY STUFF!" The bags were practically thrown to the ground, and the blonde did her best to keep everything from falling. "HEY! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM?" the brunette exclaimed, annoyed, pointing at the boys, who looked uncomfortable at the attention. "JUST SO YOU KNOW, I HAVE A HAMMER, AND THE NEXT ONE WHO DOES ANYTHING WILL BE THE NAIL!" Nobara pulled out her signature hammer and pointed at the group again, who took off running.

Hanae couldn't take it anymore and practically burst out laughing.

"You're definitely a one-of-a-kind," she said, stopping her laughter.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Nobara must have been the reincarnation of Christian Dior, because her taste was practically perfect.

They had gone to the mall restroom, and the blonde put on her new clothes.

Her old clothes were in a bag, and the girl was still in the restroom trying to finish mending the cream-colored trench coat.

"Are you done yet? Those clothes will go out of style if you take any longer," she heard Nobara's voice on the other side of the door.

Hanae opened the door and stepped out. She was wearing low black boots, black stockings, a dark indigo skirt, her white turtleneck shirt, and a cream-colored trench coat. Her hair was still loose, but now adorned with a small star-shaped hair clip.

"How do I look?" the blonde asked shyly, waiting for her companion's reply.

"You're my masterpiece," the brunette responded proudly. Hanae smiled happily, a light blush rising to her cheeks. She wasn't entirely used to it, but she had never felt so beautiful. "Come on! Maki just got back from the station, and we need to find some sunglasses!"

The two girls left the bathroom. The blonde grabbed her two bags after emptying the others, and they began walking through the bustling streets of Shibuya.

When they arrived at the train station, Nobara started down the stairs, while Hanae stayed outside, looking around.

She hadn't set foot in Shibuya for a year, and although she lived in an apartment complex far from the center, her memories of the place were still very fresh.

Across the street, she saw a familiar place.

Nanaya Aoyama Store. The best ice cream in all of Tokyo.

The last time she had been there was two years ago, when her father took her to celebrate winning her school's flower arranging contest.

She didn't know when she had started walking towards it, but her feet moved on their own.

She was so close.

The tight grip on her waist, followed by the blaring horn, snapped her out of her reverie. She quickly stepped back, watching the cars speed by.

She bumped into someone behind her and turned around.

"Itadori, what are you doing here?" she asked, confused.

The boy was also dressed casually, in a long, dark red coat, which was odd because he usually wore hoodies, though he himself said he didn't particularly like them.

"Let's just say Fushiguro and Inumaki-senpai also wanted to come for a stroll downtown. Panda-senpai has a request for something from a panda plushie collection, but... I lost them." She mentioned calmly, even looking around to find the others, but it didn't work. The blonde laughed slightly at her actions. "You seemed worried. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I lived here as a child. I'm just really nostalgic..." the girl replied with a somewhat sad smile. She lowered her gaze, and the grip on her waist disappeared.

"WHAT IS THIS COLD-ERA KIRBY DOING HERE?" Nobara strode along with all her shopping bags to get between them. Maki followed behind her, looking unsurprised.

"I coming with the guys," the pink-haired boy excused himself.

"Great, go with them," the brunette demanded, stating the obvious.

"That won't be possible," the blonde interjected wearily.

"he's not coming with us, get lost," Kugizaki commented irritably.

"I already am," the boy replied calmly.

"Nobara, I want to buy some new glasses. Will you come with me while Hanae helps Itadori find the others?" He was inwardly grateful to Maki, as it seemed the brunette was about to kick the pink-haired boy to make him leave.

"Anyway, a new collection came out, and I want a pair." The brunette and the green-haired girl started walking away, gradually disappearing into the crowd.

"They're probably not far, and if they need to go to a shopping district, I know a shortcut. We'll find them quickly," the blonde said, starting to walk with her friend behind her.

"You really know this place. The bad thing about being from a small town is that you get lost in big cities," Yuuji commented beside her, and Hanae laughed briefly.

"It's thanks to my father. We didn't have a car, so we walked all over town, even if it was just to buy groceries," the girl replied wistfully. "What was Sendai like?"

"Well, I had trees and... more trees," the pink-haired boy replied, really putting in the effort to form the sentence.

"Megumi told me you were nicknamed the Tiger of Sugisawa High School, quite a nickname, actually. May I know the reason?" the blonde asked curiously. Fushiguro was the type of person who made comments that, to him, didn't seem like much, but were actually quite insightful.

"Oh... there are a lot of rumors about that," the pink-haired boy replied, a little surprised by the question.

"No one better than the person behind those rumors to debunk them," the blonde insisted, intrigued. "If that's what you want, I understand you might not like talking about the past."

"It's not something I'm proud of..." Yuuji began, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "Once, some guys were bothering a friend, and I went to help him. He tried to hit me, and I dodged. Then I tried to push him, but he ended up on the other side of the yard. And running 50 kilometers in three minutes also creates rumors."

"You're really strong," the girl exclaimed when he finished explaining. "You remind me of Steve Rogers, you know, a super soldier, with all human abilities enhanced to a hundred percent. Didn't anyone make you drink some blue liquid when you were little?"

"No, my grandfather literally checked everything I ate," the pink-haired boy replied with a soft laugh. Hanae laughed too; Yuuji's laugh was incredibly contagious. "But I still don't know why. So I just took it as something normal."

"Maybe a relative. Perhaps one of them was a powerful sorcerer or witch and you don't even know it!" the blonde remarked as they continued walking through the streets. The shops were becoming more prominent, with windows full of stuffed animals and pet merchandise.

"I'm not interested in my family history," he confessed irritably.

"I see," she replied.

"I didn't mean to be rude... it's just that my grandfather wanted to tell me about them, and I refused. He seemed eager to share, and thanks to my immaturity, I missed the opportunity..." the pink-haired boy explained, his tone lowering slightly.

"Family is... complicated," the girl added. "I'm telling you this as someone who's been receiving letters in German for years and has to use a phone translator. Besides, it's not like you have a long-lost sibling or anything."

"Toudou practically adopted me like a brother, he still says we're friends. I like him, but he's very intense," Itadori said honestly.

"The same thing happened to me with the second-year boys. When I arrived at school, I was very scared. Kim-san looked after me, but she had to go back to her house at night, so I used to have sleepovers with Panda-senpai and Inumaki-senpai. Maki-senpai helped me furnish my room, and Okkotsu-senpai would talk to me about anything and everything." Positive nostalgia was evident in his voice as they continued walking through Shibuya in comfortable silence.

"Kim-san is a good person, very kind, and strict when she needs to be. I talked to her the other day... I don't know why, but it feels good to be sad around her," the pink-haired boy explained.

"She's practically one of the few sorceresses who lived through more than three generations. Did you know she was Gojo-sensei's and Ijichi-san's teacher? In their first year." The blonde commented, creating another comfortable silence.

"Nice clothes," the boy remarked, and Hanae nodded gratefully.

"All Kugizaki's work. She said she wouldn't let a friend of hers have bad taste and practically fought with three commissions to find the right colors," the blonde said, amused by the anecdote.

"It's definitely something she would do," both teenagers laughed at the comment.

The young woman's hazel eyes made out a black, pointed horse, accompanied by a white-haired person at its side.

"Fushiguro, Inumaki-senpai!" he shouted, catching their attention, and ran towards them, followed by his companion.

They both turned around and approached. They were also dressed casually, although Megumi looked like she'd stepped out of a Danish film, and Toge was wearing a hoodie and jeans.

"Sorry I got lost," the pink-haired boy apologized, looking at them.

"We were looking for you, but we don't have any signal," the black-haired boy explained. "Kiyomi, what are you doing here?"

"Long story, but I ran into Itadori and brought him here," the blonde girl explained briefly.

"It was fate," the pink-haired boy commented in a mystical tone that made her smile.

"Mustard leaf?" the white-haired boy asked the girl.

"I didn't get lost, actually I have to go with Kugizaki and Maki-senpai," she replied, to which the shorter boy nodded.

"We should go too, Panda-senpai, he's going to hate us if we don't bring him the limited-edition plushie," Megumi said.

"See you later, Kiyomi. Thanks for helping me," Yuuji said, starting to walk away with the others. Hanae smiled briefly and turned to go find her companions.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

When the shopping finally ended, the teenagers were in a small park, sitting on white benches and chatting.

Luckily for Hanae, Maki wasn't too particular about brands, so when she returned to the train station, she easily found them nearby.

The green-haired girl always had a sporty yet elegant style, with black jeans and a matching jacket; she simply looked perfect.

"It feels good to have a day off. There's no one to curse or bother us," No Ara said, leaning back on the bench.

"I'm not complaining either, although it's practically a miracle we didn't get called," Maki continued, cleaning her glasses with a tissue.

The blonde smiled at her friends as she checked their bags to make sure nothing was missing.

"It was a good day," Hanae added with satisfaction.

"Next time we'll do something you like, Hanae," the green-haired girl said, and Hanae looked at her in confusion. "You're always so helpful. Where do you want to go next time?" she asked, stating the obvious.

"Maybe... to the aquarium," the blonde replied after a pause. "There's a penguin event!" she emphasized with genuine excitement.

"The things I do because I have friends," Nobara whispered. "I'm going in. Maybe there'll be a shark."

"I thought you'd like dolphins more," Maki questioned. "Although, obviously, octopuses are the best."

"NOBODY LIKES DOLPHINS. THEY'RE CRUEL AND STUPID CREATURES. THEY DON'T FOOL ME WITH THAT FACE," the brunette explained fiercely.

Hanae laughed aloud. They already had their next destination and would surely be free by December 1st, the day the aquarium would put on an unforgettable show.

And she could enjoy it with her friends.

Chapter Text

She couldn't do it.

When she created that blue barrier against Mahito and then replicated it with Mai, she thought it would be easy to do it again.

And she couldn't have been more wrong.

The training fields were wide and full of trees. The sun was beginning to set, and the lack of clouds created a dry atmosphere.

And in the middle of the field was Hanae.

Crouched on the ground, her hands in the dirt, feeling the leather of her gloves now stained with earth, her knees on the ground, the grass leaving marks on her skin.

Her sportswear was already stained with sweat and dirt, and her blonde hair was tied in a braid that fell down her back.

The young woman's ragged breathing was audible, and her hazel eyes stared at her hands on the ground.

She didn't know what she needed.

Since morning, she had been trying to recreate the blue barriers, but no matter how many shields or barriers she created, none possessed the sapphire she sought.

She should never have thought she could imitate infinity.

I wanted to find Gojo and had already tried, but the albino was very busy abroad. From what I heard, he was visiting Yuta in Africa, but it was frustrating how he always disappeared when I needed him.

With an almost automatic movement, he raised his hands from the ground, his hazel eyes fixed on the writing on the palms of his gloves.

守,Protection. On his right hand.

力 ,Strength. On his left.

Both were a bluish hue and somewhat worn from training.

She remembered when she received them; the gloves had belonged to Maki, but upon discovering her barrier ritual and its limitations, the green-haired girl had given them to her. While it wasn't an emotional or affectionate gesture between comrades, she always refused when the blonde tried to return them. So she kept them.

She herself had created the kanji in Las Palmas, a reminder of what she needed to close her barriers: to protect those who needed it and the strength to do so.

But she didn't feel that way.

How could she have believed she could even mimic infinity?

She closed her eyes tightly, pressed her lips together into a thin line, feeling her eyelids burn with the urge to let the tears flow.

Frustrated and enraged by her failure, she unbuckled the metal buckle of her gloves, tearing them off in desperation, paying no attention to how her fingernails sometimes snagged them. After removing them, without looking up, she tossed them aside; she didn't care where they ended up.

When she opened her eyes, tears had already begun to flow, thin threads sliding down her cheeks, reaching the grass that seemed to mock her, trapping tiny droplets on the blades.

She looked down and saw that her hands were bare, her skin pale and somewhat calloused, now stained with dried blood on her fingers and palms.

It was the price of performing her ritual so many times a day.

She had never worn them down so much, only during a few training sessions, when she immediately ran to the infirmary.

She had to do something, anything to distract herself.

Maybe… Maybe if she reread the physics and math books Gojo had left her, she could try again. Surely she could do it.

Yes, yes, that was what she had to do.

With red eyes and a heavy body, she stood up almost automatically.

Feeling an invisible weight on her shoulders, she let out a deep sigh and lifted her head to look at the sky. Sunset had already begun, shades of lilac and pink filling the sky, a work of art that seemed completely oblivious to the oppression in her chest.

She glanced to her right and saw her gloves, carelessly tossed about, each in opposite directions.

She walked over and picked them up, her bruised hands pressed against the white leather. Worn, they stung a little, but she couldn't let go; she held them and started walking back to the dormitories.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

The sun was still setting when she reached the entrance. The warm light created a tranquil atmosphere, and the silence wasn't unusual; after all, in a school with only ten students, two of whom were suspended, you rarely heard anything.

She walked forward, feeling her sneakers on the wooden floor, her gloves in the pockets of her lilac sweatshirt. She just wanted to get to her dorm and study, get up early tomorrow and try again.

Then…

"Kiyomi, I finally found you."

Hearing the voice behind her, she turned around quickly, putting her hands behind her back, almost jumping in surprise.

"Itadori."

She definitely hadn't expected to run into him.

He was wearing his school uniform and had a relaxed posture, but he always looked ready for action.

"Did you just get back from practice?" the boy asked curiously, noticing the stained sportswear. "Looks like you had a fight with the forest," he commented with a slightly concerned tone.

Hanae let out a short laugh, shaking her head.

"Just one intense section," she excused herself playfully. "But not intense enough..." she murmured softly. "Why were you looking for me?" he asked, wanting to change the subject.

"Yeah, that," she replied, raising her right hand. The blond boy looked at her curiously as she held a mint green bag with a small, bright pink ribbon. "I bought you something for helping me the other day," the pink-haired boy said with a smile and a kind tone.

The girl's eyebrows relaxed and her eyes softened, her pink lips parting slightly in surprise.

"No, I can't accept it. It must have cost you a lot of money..." she began, her voice grateful but somewhat distant, wanting to decline as politely as possible.

"I insist," Yuuji added quickly, his voice calm. "Besides, the store doesn't offer refunds. It's yours now."

The blonde's hands began to tremble slightly, still behind her back. She couldn't let him see her bruised and calloused hands. She tried to pull down the sleeves of her sweatshirt to cover them as much as possible. Frisson made her uncomfortable, but she forced a smile.

"Thank you. I guess I'll have to buy you something too, for saving me in the exchange," she said kindly, taking the bag in her left hand and smiling at the boy. He shook his head.

"That you're okay is enough. Honestly, I'm not much of a gift person," he replied sympathetically.

The girl smiled wearily but with a glimmer of gratitude. Her covered hands opened the bag, which was secured with a staple, and she lowered her head to see inside.

Her eyes sparkled, and an unconscious smile formed on her face.

Her hands quickly pulled the object from the bag, and she held it in admiration.

It was a plush keychain.

A penguin.

It was fairly large, noticeable at first glance, and had a soft texture. It was an Adélie penguin, the kind with bluish-black plumage and a white belly. What she liked most was the white ring around its eyes that led to green eyes, with a black beak and just a hint of orange at the tip. Its small flippers were spread, as were its pink feet.

She gazed at it intently for a few minutes, admiring how delicate it felt in her hands.

"Do you like it?" Itadori's question didn't sound nervous, but there was a hint of doubt in his voice, and he had a hand on the back of his neck.

"It's perfect, thank you so much," the blonde replied, giving a small bow and holding the plushie in her hands. "How did you know I liked penguins?" she asked playfully, adjusting her posture.

"The truth is, I didn't know. I chose the one that looked most like you and that I thought you'd like. I tried asking the guys for help, but it ended in an argument," the pink-haired boy explained.

Honae sighed wearily and, still holding the plushie and the bag, composed herself.

"I can imagine," she commented. She wanted to say something else, but she had to start studying immediately. She should end the conversation and leave, but after being alone almost all day, she liked having company. Maybe I should be selfish for once. "I was just about to go to my room. Do you want to come with me? I'd like some company."

"Show me the way," Yuuji agreed with a kind smile.

The girl smiled and started walking back along the path, followed by the pink-haired boy.

After a few minutes, they arrived at the girl's room. Hanae went ahead and stood in front of the door, taking the keys out of her hoodie. After a click, she grasped the doorknob and opened the door.

"Make yourself comfortable," the blonde said, entering the room and placing the plushie and bag on her desk.

"It's much bigger than mine!" the boy exclaimed in amazement.

The blonde sighed and shrugged.

"It's supposed to be a third-year boy's dorm," she explained. She was right; unlike the others, Hanae's room was a bit more spacious, big enough for two small sofas and a small table near the window, as well as a bookshelf. "When I arrived, many dorms weren't ready, and since the third-years were suspended, they let me keep the fourth one." Another truth, though. It hadn't been so easy, since they practically had to move an entire room to another.

The teenager went to the bathroom, turning on the light and finally exposing her hands. She turned on the tap, letting the warm water wet her palms.

She couldn't help but clench her teeth and wince.

She didn't remember it hurting so much.

The blood wiped away, leaving only parallel cuts on her palms. Although the bleeding had stopped, she should bandage the wounds.

The cursed power of her technique flowed through her hands. Unlike rituals where cursed weapons or the target itself served as a receiver, Hanae practically felt the sustained energy emanating from her hands. Prolonged use resulted in cuts and blood, and her own body reached its limit.

She stopped the water, shaking off the excess, and stepped out. She glanced around and saw Yuuji sitting on one of the small white sofas.

Hanae quickly went to her desk and found the small white box with a red cross. She opened it swiftly, searching for the disinfectant and bandages.

"You took a long time," commented the pink-haired boy near her.

"I prefer that to using cold water," the blonde replied with a dry laugh, sitting down at her desk and spraying disinfectant on the wound. The sting was evident, eliciting a small groan.

"Why are your hands like this?" Itadori was now standing in front of her, observing her hands with concern.

She would never get used to those superhuman abilities.

"Just training," she answered quickly, returning to her task of disinfecting her other palm.

"It's not training if you get hurt, it's torture," Yuuji commented in a somewhat serious tone, one she rarely heard from him.

The blonde stopped what she was doing, lowering her hazel gaze to the floor.

"Not all of us are like Gojo-sensei," he began, a hint of helplessness in his voice, as he bandaged his right hand. "I'm not naturally strong like you or a prodigy like Fushiguro." He finished bandaging his hand and stood up, raising his bandaged hand to his partner. "This is my way of pushing myself, and I know it's not the best, but I don't need someone else to disapprove." The last sentence was uttered with frustration.

"I disapprove if it hurts you,"Yuuji replied in a somewhat insistent tone, and Hanae chewed in frustration as he bandaged his left palm.

"I don't know what else to do!" She exclaimed in despair, her eyes now glassy, ​​and unable to look at Yuuji, she approached his bed, sat down, and sighed heavily. "I've tried everything. I read all six physics books, all four math books, I paid close attention to every piece of advice Gojo-sensei gave me about his technique and negative numbers," she listed helplessly, feeling a lump in her throat. Nearby, she heard her teammate's footsteps approaching, and then he sat down beside her, keeping a slight distance. "I tried to do it like he does, I swear I tried... I don't know what I'm missing."

A silence filled the room. Hanae felt a slight warmth spread across her shoulders, and the sting of the disinfectant still lingered on her hands.

"Perhaps…" the pink-haired boy beside her began. The blonde didn't turn to look at him; her eyes remained fixed on the wooden floor of her room. "Perhaps you're trying too hard to imitate Gojo-sensei, and your techniques are similar, but not identical." He seemed to have chosen his words carefully; his tone was calm and defied the girl's previous despair.

"…I don't think I've ever considered that," she finally replied, turning back to the boy. "But what do I do then? It's definitely not infinite, and it's something more than my barrier ritual. How will I know how to use it if I don't even know what this is?"

"What's the rush, Kiyomi? You might be a good sorceress, but I think this is too much," the boy beside her asked.

"When people are dying every day from curses, being weak isn't an option," she replied wearily. "Much less so when we're the ones who could die too."

"You're right... Do you remember when I died?" Yuuji asked beside her. The blonde looked at him, confused by the change of subject, but nodded nonetheless.

"I think so. I was depressed, and then you were alive... Because of you and Gojo, I was Kugizaki's walking clothes rack," she replied with a soft laugh.

"I have to thank you," the pink-haired boy added calmly.

"I'm not understanding anything. Did you hit your head?" This time he questioned with palpable curiosity.

"Do you remember when I told you about what the perfect death would be like?" she asked her companion again.

"Without loneliness..." she said softly.

"That day could have been the worst regret of my life because I would die exactly how I didn't want to. I would be alone when I went, and... you were by my side. A girl I met two weeks ago genuinely cried for me, and I don't know... knowing that someone was hugging me in my last seconds was comforting." Itadori explained in a low, calm tone.

"Fushiguro was there too, and although he doesn't show it, he's someone who always feels too much," the blonde commented matter-of-factly. "I just did something instinctive."

"Why? Why were you hugging a complete stranger?" Yuuji asked, returning to his normal tone.

"You're not a stranger, you're my friend," the girl added playfully. "And... when my mother died of cancer, she was all alone," she said bitterly. "And when my father died, she couldn't even see him or hug him. He just left, and I never saw him again. We all deserve to know we were loved, and like you said: Don't die alone." Hanse So's voice cracked slightly on the last sentence, and he fidgeted with his fingers. "And how do you know I did that?" she asked suspiciously.

"I have very good hearing," Itadori replied simply, and the blonde snorted with amusement.

"Of course you do." The laughter died away, but a faint smile remained. "And you'd better not let me go through something like that again. Not with you."

"You scared me too when you were asleep for so many hours," the teenager retorted.

"I think we can only wait for a world without curses to promise these things," the blonde commented playfully. "And in this world without sorcery, who would you be, Itadori Yuuji?"

The pink-haired boy stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"I'd probably be a firefighter. I'd really like helping people, and my skills would be a perfect fit. What about you?"

"I'd have a flower shop or a library. It might be basic, but I've wanted it since I was a little girl," Hanae replied simply. "Don't you have a wish to... start a family?"

"I'd like a really big one," Yuuji replied sincerely. "Do you have that wish?"

"I never really thought about it much, but I'd like to," the blonde replied calmly.

"For that, you need to find a partner... I imagine you have a list of requirements," the boy remarked playfully, and Hanae shook her head.

"I'm not very demanding. My father used to say that if you have a partner, it should also be someone who's your best friend," the girl added wistfully. "Besides, I'm not very popular."

"I can believe it. On the day of the exchange program, the boy from the Kamo Clan seemed more interested in you than usual. He kept looking at you, and Todou just confirmed it." Judging by his serious tone, the blonde smiled, as it seemed he hadn't planned to tell anyone.

The blonde couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

"Me? Liked by someone from the Kamo clan?" she said, her laughter subsiding slightly. "Kamo-san is very polite, and I definitely don't think he did it with that intention. We're on good terms, and that's enough," Hanae said honestly. "So Todou is your informant from Kyoto?"

"I found it odd that he was looking at you more than usual," she replied calmly, though she slightly averted her gaze.

"I don't know him very well, and I don't think I'm his type," her companion sighed. "Don't you think it's appropriate?"

"I think you're the one who should choose," she replied. Hanae moved a little closer to him on the edge of the bed.

"The clans are demanding, and I've heard things that definitely make me wish I weren't in one." It was no surprise to anyone how closed-minded and outdated the clans and their superiors were. "I'll have to be demanding, someone who can put up with a panda who never shuts up, Maki with that judgmental look, Inumaki hurling insults with ingredients, and now you. Basically, someone who isn't afraid of anything," he explained with a playful laugh.

"You won't get rid of me that easily," the pink-haired boy commented with determination.

"No, I won't," he added with a smile. "And I don't want to."

Chapter Text

Hanae collapsed to the floor, feeling the hard wooden planks hit her back.

She groaned in pain and straightened up slightly, bringing a hand to her lower back. She felt sweat trickle down her forehead, clinging to strands of hair.

"I guess that's all for today," Kimi said, extending her hand with a kind smile.

The teenager accepted the gesture, and the woman gently helped her to her feet.

The two blondes had been training since morning, and it was just after noon.

Kimi didn't have much free time. Her job as assistant director involved constant meetings, scheduling missions, timetables, and many other things that, in her own words, were a waste of time. However, today she had some free time, and miraculously, she managed to set aside enough time to visit each student.

The adult was wearing athletic wear: black yoga pants that accentuated her long legs and a white sleeveless top that revealed her toned, slender arms. Her blonde hair was pulled back, with loose strands framing her face.

Hanae wore gray leggings and a light pink t-shirt, her hair braided from the roots and falling softly down her back. She wasn't as toned as Maki or Kimi; rather, she had long limbs. Intense training had helped her gain some muscle mass, but she was still slender, and her height didn't disguise that. She wasn't insecure about her body, but she liked it more now than she had a few months ago.

"Is everything alright? You seem distracted," the taller girl asked with some concern, approaching the corner where the water bottles were kept, followed by her student.

The girl nodded, looking slightly averted, and quickly grabbed her thermos, fiddling with the lid.

"I just stayed up late studying," she replied dismissively, finally opening her thermos and taking a much-needed sip of water. "Besides, I had an unexpected guest and a rather philosophical conversation."

The older women chuckled softly.

"And that guest was Yuuji, right?" she concluded calmly. Hanae's eyes widened slightly, her gaze shifting as she became more interested in the faint scar on her own right arm, her cheeks turning a light pink. "He was looking for you yesterday, he even came by my office," she clarified with a smile at the shorter girl's expression.

"Don't tell the others. Panda-senpai will do that thing about pairing people up," Hanae said quickly. After seeing Panda make Maki and Yuuta uncomfortable, she swore to herself not to talk about romance in front of him. "And it wasn't anything special anyway."

"Even so, it's good. They have a lot in common," Kimi commented, taking a sip of water. "We should make the most of the time we have with the people around us, and Yuuji is someone who effortlessly makes others like him." The last sentence had a nostalgic tone, while the woman's blue-gray eyes gazed at the ground.

"Make the most of it?" the teenager asked curiously. "I mean, I know he has to collect Sukuna's fingers, but nothing bad will happen after that. Maybe he'll just have to learn to control it and be out of school for a while."

When she fixed her hazel eyes on the woman, she saw that she had a compassionate look, her blonde eyebrows furrowed in understanding.

"What's wrong?" she asked, confused. "I mean, I think I'll miss him too, but he won't be gone forever," she tried to say playfully, but her teacher's expression didn't change.

Kimi closed her eyes tightly and crossed her arms, letting out a weary sigh.

"When Itadori Yuuji consumes all of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers, he will be executed to erase the existence of the King of Curses," she almost spat out the words.

Hanae felt the color drain from her face; her cheeks, once flushed, paled, and her hazel eyes widened in fear. The ground beneath her feet seemed to vanish, and instinctively she braced her left hand against the wall for support.

"What?" she replied, barely audible. Her breathing became rapid, and the water bottle slipped from her right hand, crashing to the floor with a metallic clang.

Kimi approached her and placed her hands on her shoulders, seeking the teenager's gaze.

"Hanae, look at me," she said, drawing the younger girl's attention. Seeing that the girl wasn't calming down, she made a decision. "Come sit down," she said, guiding the blonde to the floor and sitting beside her.

Both of them on the floor, the shorter girl trying to regulate her breathing, Kimi's comforting hand gently rubbing her back, offering silent solace.

"He...?" Hanae began, her voice trembling. "Does he know? Or are you deceiving him?" she questioned bitterly. "You all knew?" she said, looking at the woman beside her, whose eyes widened in surprise. "You, Principal Yaga, the second-years, Gojo-sensei... everyone knew," she answered herself, knowing it was a statement, but the tone of betrayal rasped in her throat.

"Hanae, Yuuji's fate was sealed the day he ate Sukuna's finger," the woman explained gently, though the pain in her voice was palpable. "If he's alive, it's thanks to Gojo and Yuuji accepting the deal."

"And yet they let me get attached to him" the younger girl said, looking at Kimi reproachfully. "Now it all makes sense." Because they sent us with that cursed womb, because the people from Kyoto wanted to kill it in the exchange and I..." She stopped before finishing, trying to catch her breath. "And I was an idiot."

"Why didn't he say anything?" Hanae asked in frustration. "I thought we were friends, and he just wanted... I don't know, he wanted me to feel bad for him and be there on the day of his execution," she confessed, feeling her hands clench into fists.

Was that tightness in her chest what Nobara felt when she didn't tell him Itadori was alive? That urge to run and find answers, avoiding thinking about him.

His trust.

His cheerful and kind way of speaking.

His slightly foolish nature, yet his unwavering commitment to his ideals.

His silly brown eyes that sparkled when he spoke.

His goofy smile that always managed to calm her.

“Hanae, you and I both know Yuuji isn’t that kind of person,” Kimi argued, moving the teenager to lean on her shoulder. Surprisingly, Hanae didn’t resist. “You have every right to be angry with me, with the others, and with Yuuji. But you need to see the bigger picture.”

“I don’t know what I want,” Hanae finally replied, tears streaming down her face and staining the woman’s bare shoulder. “But I feel so much at once.”

And there, in the training room, only the sobs of a teenager who was actually wondering why she was crying, and of an adult whose only comfort was silence and a gentle stroke of her hair, could be heard.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Kimi did her best to get Hanae to the cafeteria.

It was two in the afternoon, and although a little late, lunch was necessary. Now, the two blondes were sitting at a secluded table, a plate of curry for the teenager and some gyozas for the woman; an order from a nearby restaurant that arrived rather quickly.

Hanae hadn't touched her food; she was simply staring at the wooden table, her left hand fiddling with the grains of rice in her curry.

Kimi rested her elbows on the table and watched as the girl tried to relax, though her red, swollen eyes from crying and her hunched shoulders betrayed her.

"I'll give you your money back, Kim-san. I didn't think I could eat anything right now," the younger girl said for the first time, putting down her fork and pushing the plate away. Her words were so low that if they hadn't been sitting side by side, Kimi wouldn't have heard them.

"When we think someone has betrayed us, we think about hating them," the woman said in a calm, relaxed voice, almost as if speaking to a wounded animal. "When in reality, we're grieving. For our relationship with that person."

The shorter girl didn't move. She simply placed her hand on the bridge of her nose, closed her eyes, and leaned back in her chair.

"My relationship with Masamichi wasn't straightforward. I dare say this happened to us too. Although in our case, it was my fault," the older blonde recounted. Although the teenager didn't turn around, the way she straightened slightly indicated she was listening. "We were too different. He was reserved and never spoke more than necessary. I was too loud and curious about everything. One day I committed a crime. I went to a place where "The Higher Powers" didn't want me, and I was exiled from the Tokyo school to Kyoto." The story didn't have a negative effect on her voice, but it did carry a hint of nostalgia.

"I thought that if I didn't say anything and let him know, it would be less painful. But that ended in a terrible argument, and I realized I was only protecting myself... I didn't want him to feel sorry for me... And I didn't want anything to change; I was afraid that the way he saw me would change," she explained calmly. "I admit that I was the one who hurt him, and I had to give my all to explain why I did it. But that doesn't mean I did it out of malice; I did it because the thought that things had changed hurt me."

"I don't want to see him again and... pretend everything's the same. Something inside me wants to hate him... but I don't want him far away either," Hanae said helplessly after the story. "Does that make me a bad person?"

"It makes you someone who knows that hate and love are just a step away from each other," Kimi replied calmly. "I can't tell you what to do, Hanae, it's not my right. But I can make sure you don't want to be angry with only your version of events."

The teenager nodded, adjusting her position and crossing her arms, feeling the red sports jacket seem to envelop her.

A ringtone broke the silence between the blondes. It was Queen's "Somebody To Love," interrupting them. They realized it was the vice principal's phone.

"Sorry, give me a second," Kimi explained, getting up from the table and taking her phone out of her pocket.

While she was on the phone, Hanae's mind could only be described as a jungle where the weather changed every hour.

What would she do now? What would her relationship be like with Yuuji, with the second-years, with Gojo? Should she confront him or stay silent?

The woman's approaching footsteps pulled her from her reverie, and for the first time, she turned to face her.

"Listen..." Kimi began, sitting down beside her. "Niita informs me there's a mission, and the first-year students must go. If you don't want to go, I'll handle the paperwork and take care of it. What do you want to do?"

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

She regretted it the moment she descended the steps at the Tokyo entrance.

Hanae was wearing her uniform, gloves on her hands and her white belt around her waist, with an extra item.

A penguin keychain, hanging next to her shuriken case.

Part of her wanted to rip the animal off and never see it again, but when she tried, she realized she lacked the courage and the pride.

Her freshly straightened hair cascaded down her back, and she could hear the tapping of her boots on the steps.

"I'm going. My problems with my colleagues shouldn't stop me."

The answer she'd given Kimi echoed in her mind. The woman didn't press the issue once she received the reply, and although Hanae didn't eat the curry, finding a protein bar outside her door managed to quell her hunger.

When she finally arrived, she saw Nitta's black car. Nitta was driving, while her colleagues were outside.

"Kiyomi, we were waiting for you," Yuuji's voice reached her, making the blonde nod.

"There are four of us. I'll go up front," she replied as calmly as she could, simply approaching the passenger seat.

The journey began peacefully, with Fushiguro, Nobara, and Itadori in the back seats, while Hanae stared out the window.

"Three men died in similar circumstances," Nitta began, drawing the students' attention. "Stabbed by a spirit in the entrance of their apartments, and all had filed the same complaints with the building managers before their deaths: that the automatic doors were always open. No other residents had noticed the problem."

"None of the dates or locations match. Did the same spirit really kill them?" Megumi questioned, noticing she had a tablet with information.

"Can a spirit cause the doors to malfunction? Can a sensor detect them? The cameras don't see them," the pink-haired boy questioned.

Hanse fidgeted with her fingers, trying to suppress the urge to answer. She had received the mission briefing and read it four times before leaving, but she couldn't act... normal.

"The spirit malfunctioned the door operators, not the elevators," Niita answered, making the blonde exhale. "Now, if the same spirit caused everything, it couldn't be determined by its trail; too much time had passed. That's why we're looking for a connection between the victims. They attended the same high school for two years."

"It means they received the curse a long time ago, and it activated after a certain period of time," Hanae deduced, still staring at the cars passing outside the window.

"Yes, that's quite likely," the assistant affirmed. "We're going to that high school right now to question someone who knew the three victims, and be on the lookout for anything that might suggest sorcerers."

"You're amazing, Kiyomi!" Yuuji complimented the blonde.

Hanae didn't respond; she simply shrugged.

"Is everything alright?" Kugizaki asked, observing her demeanor. "You seem upset."

"I'm just tired," the girl excused herself without turning around.

But when they arrived at the suspect's house, something unsettling came over them.

It was a funeral.

"We'll go straight to the school," Akari announced, turning onto another street.

The road continued until they reached a school with gray walls and a green fence. According to the sign, it was Urami East High School, apparently a rather expensive private school.

Nitta parked the car and told the students to get out and follow her. Hanae obeyed, walking behind her. Nobara was close behind, and Yuuji and Megumi lagged a few steps behind.

"Even if we question the parents, there's no way to know what kind of relationship he had with the other three," the blonde in a suit explained, as she walked through the school grounds. A somewhat pessimistic tone emanated from her, revealing her frustration. "We lost our only lead!" he said defeatedly.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find something at the high school," Yuuji tried to cheer Niita up by approaching her, to which Hanae simply stood next to Nobara, keeping her distance from the pink-haired boy.

"I hope so. I got a meeting with a teacher, so be on the lookout," Akari explained, still with her shoulders slumped.

Hanae glanced away and saw two boys, who couldn't have been more than fifteen years old, one blond and the other with black hair. They were both smoking under the roof of a nearby hallway.

"Looks like the rich don't care about their health," she commented quickly. Nobara looked at her, confused, to which the blonde nodded at the boys.

The brunette's face lit up, and she approached. Hanae, curious, followed her friend, and the others joined them.

"Juvenile delinquents!" Kugizaki exclaimed, pointing at them as if they were a tourist attraction. "Did they straighten them out?" she asked with genuine anxiety, almost as if it were a dream come true, at which the blonde sighed.

Both of them glared at the approaching group with intimidating expressions, or at least as much as they could manage to appear intimidating.

But then, their expressions transformed into absolute terror.

"Thank you for coming!" they both said simultaneously, bowing deeply, almost touching the ground.

The young woman's hazel eyes watched in confusion as Nobara and Yuuji basked in the respect shown, and also as Megumi seemed to want to hide behind a post after seeing the boys.

"We haven't seen you since graduation, Fushiguro-san!" exclaimed the dark-haired boy, and Hanae nearly bit her tongue to keep from bursting out laughing at the surprised expressions on Nobara and Itadori's faces.

The three students turned to look at him, who was intently studying a nearby tree, avoiding eye contact.

"I studied at this high school," Megumi stated almost inaudibly.

Yuuji and Nobara practically interrogated Fushiguro about what he had done to be so respected. Although Hanae didn't participate, she was also curious, so she approached the two boys who were still bowing.

"Can you tell me what happened between you and Fushiguro?" she asked in a calm, curious voice. The two boys raised their heads, and the dark-haired boy's cheeks flushed slightly pink at the sight of the blonde, though he quickly cleared his throat.

"Well, all the delinquents and gang members in the area were taken care of by Fushiguro-san," the young man replied honestly.

Hanae turned to look at her companion, who was still refusing to acknowledge anyone in the area.

"I beat them up," the dark-haired boy clarified. Again, her companions tried to get her to divulge more information, to which the blonde sighed wearily.

"Hey!" They heard an older voice approaching. "Kids from other schools aren't allowed in!" When he got close enough, he revealed an older man, perhaps in his forties, wearing a cleaning uniform.

"And who the heck are you?" Kugizaki exclaimed, pointing at him in annoyance at being interrupted.

"It's obvious he works here. You're very aggressive," Itadori reprimanded the brunette.

Hanae decided to step back and stay a few paces behind the duo, near Megumi.

Nitta quickly showed the man her ID and explained that they had permission.

"So it was you. They are very young, but they should have passes hanging around their necks," the man informed her, turning his gaze to the dark-haired boy. "Fushiguro-kun?"

Megumi looked away, and Hanae swore she saw a slight blush on her cheeks when she recognized him.

"Hello," she greeted the adult quickly.

"He remember you," Yuuji and Nobara sang in unison,around Fushiguro

"Do you know if he's been working here long?" the blonde girl beside her asked.

"Mr. Takeda may have been a long-time employee," the dark-haired man replied seriously.

"We could ask him if he knows anything about the victims," ​​Hanae deduced. "Fushiguro, you should ask him."

Megumi explained the situation to the janitor, obviously ignoring the curses.

"Kanada, Shimada, Yamato, and Morishita. Their deaths are very shocking," the man said. "Even though it's been 20 years since they graduated, I remember it like it was yesterday. They were very troublesome kids, but not as much as you. What do you need to know?"

"Strange rumors, macabre ones, dangerous connections, or anything that gives a bad feeling?" the teenager asked.

"They definitely got into a lot of trouble, but not as much as you," the adult replied.

"He was a troublemaker!" Nobara and Itadori teased again, but this time Fushiguro gave the pink-haired boy a light tap on the head.

"You never really know someone," Hanae remarked calmly. "You were probably at an animal rescue club," she added with feigned seriousness.

"How do you know?" the dark-haired man asked quickly.

"You're giving yourself away," the blonde replied with the first faint smile of the day.

"You must be Fushiguro-kun's girlfriend. I'm glad he's with someone as kind and pretty as you," Takeda commented congratulating her.

"Do you really think someone as amazing as my friend would be with an expressionless sea urchin like him?!" Nobara interjected, standing next to Hanae and pointing at Fushiguro indifferently. "Maybe she has bad taste in fashion, but I trust she at least knows how to choose guys!"

"Please excuse my friend. She's very honest," the blonde added, placing her hands on the shorter girl's shoulders. "But Fushiguro and I are just classmates. Even so, thank you for the compliment." Beside her, she saw Megumi nod in agreement.

"And you're not going to say anything?" Nobara said, this time looking at Yuuji, who seemed somewhat surprised by the unexpected argument. "Say something! Or do you think it's okay for those two to be together?"

"Well... I" the pink-haired boy began, somewhat confused, placing his hand on the back of his neck.

"If you remember anything about the four students, it would be a great help to us," Hanae interrupted, bringing the situation back to the main topic.

"Well, I remember something, a very dangerous activity that was very popular," she replied to the man.

"It's bungee jumping from Yasohachi Bridge, right?" said the black-haired boy from before, who was still nearby.

"The idiots are still here," commented the brunette indifferently.

"Yasohachi Bridge?" asked the pink-haired boy curiously.

"People commit suicide there," replied Megumi. "It's known as a haunted area."

Hanae listened attentively to the information.

"Back then, it was very common to jump from that place at night," added the janitor. "A test of courage, they called it."

"The people here are weird," Nobara commented sarcastically.

"I'm surprised there are people dumber than me," Yuuji added innocently.

"Why would they do that?" Hanae wondered to herself.

"One day, Kanada and the other three skipped class," Takeda explained, drawing the group's attention. "Although it wasn't unusual, they called their house, and we discovered they hadn't returned the night before. There was a commotion, but we soon found them passed out under the bridge. Apparently, someone had hurt them, but none of them remembered anything."

The place fell silent for a moment.

"Thank you for your help. It's time to leave." Niita bowed respectfully to the older man and began to leave, followed by the other students.

As they headed to the parking lot, the sun began to set, turning the sky a pale yellow. Hanae stared at the ground, trying to make sense of the information she had received.

"What a creepy story. What do you think could have happened?" She heard Yuuji's voice nearby, and the blonde simply took a few steps ahead, standing close to Niita.

Once they arrived at the parking lot, they stood in front of the car with Hanae's arms crossed, next to Nobara.

"It must be there. Everything matches up," the teenager with white gloves affirmed.

"I went to Yasohachi Bridge once," Megumi added.

"Did you jump too?" Yuuji asked curiously, but that earned him a whack on the head from the black-haired boy.

"It's easy for curses to take root in haunted places or schools. So we usually do regular patrols," Fushiguro explained, while Yuuji rubbed his head. "But I didn't see anything strange when I went. It might have a certain reputation, but it's still used like a normal bridge."

"Even so, we should go," Nobara said, and Hanae nodded in agreement.

"Fushiguro-kun," they heard Takeda's voice behind them, watching him approach the black-haired boy. "Sorry, I have a question."

"What is it?" Megumi asked, turning around to face him.

"I remember her worrying about you while you were studying here. Is Tsumiki alright?" The question wasn't malicious, but the dark-haired boy's face remained serious.

"Yes," he replied simply.

"Who is Tsumiki?" Yuuji asked, standing next to Megumi. Nobara and Hanae were also nearby.

"My older sister," the dark-haired boy finally answered.

"Don't I think you're hiding too much from us?" Kugizaki exclaimed. Itadori agreed, while the blonde girl frowned.

"Fushiguro isn't obligated to tell us anything. Some people prefer to keep secrets and never let others know," the blonde commented, her tone more bitter than expected. "Let's not waste any time," she said as she approached the car.

The three students watched their classmate walk away.

"Is it just me, or did that sound like a dig?" the brunette remarked. "Which of you made her angry?"

Megumi shrugged.

And Yuuji watched as Hanae got into the passenger seat, followed by Niita in the driver's seat.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

They had arrived at Yasohachi Bridge two hours ago, and there was no sign of cursed spirits. While Yuuji, Nobara, and Fushiguro sat on a nearby bench, Hanae stood by the bridge railing, staring at the ground.

The yellow had faded, giving way to a bluish night with faint stars.

She couldn't stay still. She had tried, but she simply needed to do something.

Her hazel eyes noticed nothing unusual; there was only vegetation and a river that should have been full.

"In the end, we didn't find any evidence of a curse," the brunette complained.

"It seems it must be more difficult," Hanae replied. "Perhaps there's something we're not seeing."

The sound of Niita's car approaching pulled her from her thoughts.

The drive was short, but they arrived at a small convenience store where the students bought some snacks for the night.

Hanae only had an energy drink; her stomach was still upset, too upset to eat anything.

"It seems it wasn't there. We have to start from scratch," Akari remarked.

"But we need to hurry," Itadori added. "Since it's a place famously haunted, other people could end up cursed too, and the mortality rate is 100%. You don't want to see others die, do you?"

Hanae gripped the can so tightly she felt it deform beneath her fingers. In another situation, or perhaps in the past, Yuuji's words would have lit up her eyes and made her nod with determination, but now she felt the urge to scream at him that he had no right to say such things.

Even so, she had to swallow her words.

It wasn't the right time, and she definitely didn't want a scene.

"I found them! Thank goodness! Fushiguro-san!" A voice pulled her from her reverie, and she saw that it was the same dark-haired boy from middle school earlier.

"Who's that?" Nobara asked indifferently.

"The one from Fushiguro's middle school. You were really rude to him," Itadori explained briefly.

"Hanae simply watched the boy, who was now riding a bicycle, and the girl on the back. She was very pretty, with dark brown hair, freckles, and warm brown eyes.

"They were talking about the Yasohachi Bridge. What a relief!" the boy repeated as he got off his bicycle, followed by his companion.

"Fujinuma?" Megumi commented, looking at the girl. "We were classmates in middle school," she explained briefly.

"She's my older sister," the dark-haired boy explained. "I told my sister I saw you this afternoon."

"I saw Morishita's funeral in the neighborhood, and my brother told me they were investigating the bridge. He was wondering if there was any connection," Fujinuma said, sounding somewhat nervous.

"A connection?" Fushiguro asked.

"Between Morishita's death and the bridge, because I was there. In my second year of middle school, I went to Yasohachi Bridge at night." The girl seemed very frightened, so it must be true.

Hanae's eyes widened slightly at the revelation; this seemed much more extensive than it should be.

As the brunette recounted how strange events had begun to occur over the past week, Hanae's mind raced.

"Did anyone accompany you when you went to the bridge?" she asked, looking at Fujinuma. Nitta quickly explained that it wasn't anything bad, that it was a project where young students helped university students find topics for their theses, and Niita had chosen the paranormal, reassuring the brunette that there was no danger.

Although there was.

"I went with two other people from my club. I thought Tsumiki told you she came with me," she replied, looking at Fushiguro.

Hanae's blood ran cold.

Now Megumi's sister was in danger, but he didn't seem affected. After all, they couldn't let the little girl know what was really going to happen.

"We'll have to ask her too," he said calmly.

"Okay, I'll take you home. Keep gathering information," Akari announced.

As the adult walked away, followed by the boys, Hanae couldn't help but look at her companion with concern, much to her surprise.

Megumi had a terrified expression, as if he were already imagining the worst.

Although Itadori was the first to approach and snap him out of his daze, telling him they needed to make sure Tsumiki was alright.

"I need to make a call," the dark-haired man excused himself, walking away.

"I'm going to throw this away," the blonde said, showing her dented can and calmly walking toward the farthest trash can.

She stood there for a moment, letting out a weary sigh. She didn't know if it was because of the time or because ignoring someone and being angry with him was extremely exhausting.

She longed to go to her room and lock herself in, but she couldn't do much less in such danger. Fushiguro might not be her best friend, but it was clear he cared deeply for her sister, and if she had to endure until dawn, she would.

She simply had to endure.

Upon returning, she saw Yuuji and Nobara sitting on a bench by the shop door. The blonde approached and sat next to the brunette, waiting for Fushiguro to finish his call.

When the dark-haired man approached, he wore his usual serious expression.

"ijichi-San said Tsumiki is fine. But the danger level has increased considerably; other sorcerers will be taking over the case. You can go home," he explained in a monotone voice.

Hanae couldn't help but look at his companion with concern. While Megumi wasn't the most sociable person in the world, this change in attitude was too abrupt, even for him.

"Just us? What about you?" Itadori questioned, standing up to face him.

"I have to pick up an errand for Gojo-sensei. Nitta will collect them," Megumi replied without further explanation and began to walk away.

A few minutes passed, and even the dark-haired boy was now out of sight.

"He's lying," Nobara said aloud. "Either he's really bad at lying or he's just in a hurry."

"He wants to handle this alone," the blonde commented.

At that moment they saw Yuuji start walking in the same direction as his companion.

At that moment, they saw Yuuji start walking in the same direction his companion had gone.

Hanae stayed put for a moment, watching the pink-haired figure disappear into the distance.

"Come on," the brunette's voice pulled her from her reverie. At the same time, she felt Yuuji take her arm and pull her up to her feet. "We can't let them leave us out of this. I don't know what's going on with you, but you know we have to do this."

"I'll explain later," she replied as they both started walking, quickly reaching Itadori.

After a few minutes, as night fell and the moon rose high, they watched Fushiguro walk under the bridge, followed by his companions. The dark-haired boy must have been very oblivious, as he didn't turn around at any point.

When he stopped right under the bridge, they caught up with him and stood beside him.

"You always hide so much from us," Nobara commented. They heard Megumi exhale in frustration.

"You were so impatient you didn't notice us," Hanae added calmly.

"We're not going to force you to tell us everything, but trust us," the pink-haired man added. "We're your friends."

Trust.

Hanae had to clench her jaw and look away. She hated this. She could feel the accusations rising in her throat, and the fact that she wasn't speaking them felt like she was being poisoned.

Hold on. Those words were the only thing keeping her sane.

"Tsumiki is...in a coma," Fushiguro finally answered, speaking the words very slowly, as if he were saying them for the first time, or perhaps accepting them? "The curse of the Yasohachi Bridge only manifests itself before its victims. But she can't communicate, so I have no way of knowing when they'll kill her. I want to exorcise her as soon as possible. But the danger has increased..."
"Okay, we get it," the brunette interrupted.

"Was it so hard to say it?" Yuuji asked with feigned seriousness.

"If anyone has to put up barriers between people, it's me," the blonde commented honestly. "Unfortunately, there's nothing separating you from us, Fushiguro."

As Yuuji, Nobara, and Hanae began walking again, Megumi lagged behind for a moment, her companions oblivious to the smile that had formed on her face.

Once the four of them were together, the dark-haired boy explained that they had to go to the bottom of the canyon, where the curse must be, specifically by crossing a stream.

Once they arrived, without any hesitation or words of encouragement, the four of them took a step forward, and then the entire place changed.

A sort of cave with multiple shafts in the ceiling and what looked like threads supporting the ceiling and floor had formed.

But...

Hanae heard hurried footsteps behind her, but before she could react, she felt someone grab her by the waist and pull her away, feeling the cloud of dust disperse.

"Are you alright?" The blonde turned her head and saw that it was Yuuji who had moved her. She quickly backed away, even pushing against his chest.

"Stop doing that and don't touch me," she snapped, annoyed and frowning. The confused expression in his brown eyes almost made her want to apologize, but instead, she fixed her gaze on the thing that had attacked them.

It was definitely a curse.

And a very nasty one.

It was a quadruped, with a green body, a large mouth with uneven teeth, and a human face on its forehead that wore an expression of suffering.

"Fushiguro, that curse isn't the one on the bridge, is it?" Hanae said, looking at her partner.

"It isn't," the dark-haired man affirmed.

"You guys take care of the one on the bridge, I'll take care of this one," Itadori said, gathering cursed energy in his fists.

Hanae simply reached for the shuriken on her belt.

This was just the beginning.

Chapter Text

The fight progressed very slowly.

While Yuuji battled the green curse, Hanae, Fushiguro, and Nobara were absorbed by the spirit of the bridge.

The holes in the cave weren't mere decorations; brown creatures with slanted eyes emerged from them. It was undoubtedly a defense mechanism, but like a carnival game, I had to squash them like moles.

With precision, the blonde aimed her shuriken at the creatures. Four targets eliminated, and then she ran to retrieve her weapons and continue fighting. Nearby, Kugizaki was relentlessly firing nails, and Megumi used her black sword to eliminate them.

Once some were eliminated, Hanae rejoined her two companions, still holding two shurikens in each hand.

"We have to keep playing hide-and-seek," the brunette commented.

"Yes, we have to keep exorcising them until the very last one. They don't seem to be fighting back or being the curse," the dark-haired man explained.

"A binding vow," the blonde remarked, drawing her companions' attention. "In exchange for its great range and the number of visits it has made, it cannot use its main body to attack those who enter."

"One possibility," Megumi affirmed beside her.

Both girls decided to walk around a bit, exploring the place. Hanae approached a wall to get a better view of the cave, but then...

She felt something grab her uniform and drag her. When she looked ahead, she saw the dark-haired boy's expression, trying to catch her.

"Focus on the curse!" Hanae snapped, letting the strange force pull her. She looked away and saw that Nobara seemed to be in the same situation.

But she didn't have much time to think before she felt herself hit the ground. She had been thrown to the ground without any care.

She sat up quickly, trying to see where they had taken her, realizing she was far from the stream they had crossed. Specifically, in the part of the forest where she could see the bridge structure.

"My first victim! My older brother will be so proud of me!" She heard a voice behind her and turned quickly to see who it was, or rather, WHAT it was.

It definitely wasn't human, but it wasn't a curse either. It had a body that seemed to belong to a boy a few years younger than her, maybe 12 or 13? With brown hair tied in two pigtails that fell down her back, and dressed in white clothes and a blue vest with animal designs, its eyes were red and seemed to glow in the dim forest light and skin too pale, as if it were made of paper, or as if it didn't even have blood in its body.

"A special grade? How can it talk?" Hanae thought as she took a few steps back.

"Aren't you Sukuna's vessel?" the boy asked, looking at her curiously, but then he hit his forehead."¡Remember, you're in charge of everyone else!"

"Who are you?" the blonde finally asked, threading two shurikens into her belt and placing one in each hand.

"Ah, yes," he replied after a moment of silence. "My name is Shozo, I'm the active putrefaction state, and the youngest of nine siblings!" He introduced himself with an exaggerated pose, almost like something out of a fashion magazine. "Did you like? My brother Esou said I should introduce myself with style," he asked expectantly, looking at the sorceress.

Hanae wondered if she was dreaming, feverish and hallucinating.

"That was very... adorable," the blonde replied, barely understanding the question. Her victorious opponent raised her arms. "Do you have siblings?" she asked curiously without lowering her shurikens.

The boy walked along cheerfully.

"Well, for now there are only four of us. The oldest is in a super boring meeting. My older brothers are destroying Sukuna's vessel, and I have to kill anyone who gets in my way," he replied as calmly as possible.

Hanae's blood ran cold.

They had come to kill Yuuji.

"I don't want to fight you," she said as she tried to turn around and head back to the stream, but then her body felt heavy, the air in her lungs seemed to compress, and her feet went numb, leaving her with an uncomfortable tingling sensation.

Her shuriken slipped from her hands and fell to the ground with a faint metallic sound. She tried to move her hand, but it felt as if an invisible force were holding it back; her own body wouldn't respond to her commands.

She fixed her hazel eyes on Shozo, who wore a slight smile as she raised her right hand, revealing a bleeding cut with tiny red dots emerging and spreading through the air. She caught a whiff of something metallic and damp in the air.

"You're not going anywhere," she said in an innocent yet serious voice, "not while my ritual is active." She clenched her fist, making the blonde's body feel even heavier than before, but she didn't fall. She simply felt every muscle tense against her will. "My tactic is 'Blood Order.' Whoever breathes and processes the pheromones in my body must obey my commands,I admit my older brothers are stronger, but at least I can help them."

Hanae wanted to move, wanted to put her hands on the ground and create a barrier, but her muscles were so tense they were starting to ache, her feet stuck to the ground as if glued to it, and she could barely breathe with the slightest movement of her lungs.

"Do you have siblings? Let's talk about something, I'm bored. I'll kill you later," Shozo said, sitting down on a nearby rock and shifting his weight slightly. The blonde felt her jaw loosen a little.

He had loosened his grip a bit.

Perhaps if she could distract him, her control would lessen. He was a child, and a newly created curse had appeared. She didn't really know what it was, but it was her best option.

"Yeah... friends... count... I have five," she replied, slurring her words.

The girl looked at her opponent, who wore a grimace of disgust. In another situation, I would have laughed at her repulsive appearance. It almost reminded me of Panda when he accidentally tasted some bamboo candies, thinking they were mint, because the color of the package confused him.

"Friends don't count!" I exclaimed matter-of-factly, pointing at the blonde as if she had committed a crime.

"Why...?" she asked with difficulty.

"Family is blood, it's what runs through our veins, something that can't be changed or chosen," Shozo replied calmly, watching his feet float above the rock where he sat. "Your friends are just passing through, and you have nothing that binds you to them. Blood is thicker than water."

Hanae gritted her teeth, using what little control she had left.

"Do you want me to tell you a story?" the girl asked, trying to catch her breath.

"I love stories!" the boy said excitedly. "My older brother used to tell us lots of them when we were asleep."

"But... I need my... hands," the girl pleaded with difficulty, but instead felt her shoulders burning from the friction.

"I'm a child, but I'm not stupid," Shozo explained seriously. "Well, I'm not that young either, I'm only 95," he remarked indifferently.

"I promise... I won't... use any... cursed... energy... while... I tell... the story. Can you feel my... energy leaving?" Hanae explained, and it wasn't a lie; her cursed energy was dwindling to a minimum. She no longer felt the tingling in her palms before creating a barrier, nor the slight perspiration forming on the back of her neck. "In return... you... will let go... of my hands." She let out a groan of pain after finishing the sentence; it was much stronger than she had thought.

"Is your story interesting?" the boy asked. "I want to tell my siblings later."

"Yes... it's very interesting," the blonde replied.

She felt the control over her arms loosening, her muscles relaxing, and her tendons loosening. She let out a sigh of satisfaction, also feeling her jaw and neck relax, but the back of her body remained tense.

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young woman named Odette," the blonde began, noticing how attentive the boy was to her words. The air still felt thick with faint particles; she needed to think of something. "She lived happily in her village, where she danced until dawn. One day, while searching for flowers in the forest, an evil sorcerer attacked her." With that, she moved her hands, forming an imaginary bow and arrow. "When the attack ended, Odette realized she had been transformed into a swan." She made a motion as if releasing the arrow and then placed her hands on her chest, over her heart.

"And what happens next?" Shozo asked curiously.

"Odette wandered through the forest and found fifty other young women who had also been bewitched, who comforted her as she shed tears into the lake," she continued, this time embracing herself. "When night fell and dusk covered the sky, she returned to her human form." Her hands reached towards the sky, "understanding that she would be a swan by day and Odette by night. Months passed, and dancing before the great willow tree by the lake was her solace." Her arms formed the fourth position of ballet. "But one day a handsome prince arrived, and they fell in love as the night wore on." Then their hands intertwined. "Rothbart, the evil sorcerer, could not bear Odette's happiness, knowing that the spell could be broken by true love, and he overheard the prince inviting her to the ball where he would announce his future wife."

Shozo listened intently to the story, leaning slightly forward on his rock.

"He locked Odette in a cave and disguised his daughter Odile to look like Odette," he said, covering his eyes with his hands. "He cast a spell so the prince could only see Odette, while the other guests wondered what was happening." He lowered his hands and, with his right, pretended to slip a ring onto his left ring finger. "The prince declared his undying love for Odile, and Odette, alone in the cave, died sobbing." With this last sentence, he gently placed his hand on Shozo's cheek.

"How tragic," the boy commented sincerely. "Tell me another one! One with a happy ending!" he asked innocently.

Hanse smiled slightly; he had kept his part of the vow.

And she knew what she had to do.

"I'd love to. I could spend all night telling you stories," she said calmly. "Do you know how to lose your sense of smell?" she asked with cold amusement.

She didn't even let him answer.

She clenched her left hand into a fist, without hesitation.

She tapped her own nostril, blood pooling on her lips, a metallic taste on her tongue, red liquid trickling down her chin and onto the floor.

It burned like hell. She could almost hear the sting of the cartilage, but she could feel her legs again. The tension was gone, and she could feel her feet again; the tingling was gone.

But she couldn't smell anything anymore.

Without the olfactory nerve, the pheromones couldn't be processed.

He no longer had any control over her.

And inside, she prayed that Shoko could fix what she'd done.

"Cut the nerve," she finished, satisfied. She bent down, picked up her shuriken, and quickly threw them at the boy, watching one hit his shoulder while the other embedded itself in the rock.

The boy groaned in pain and clutched the spot where the weapon had pierced him.

"You lied to me! You promised not to use cursed energy!" he accused furiously, his tone capricious.

"It was a binding vow. I promised not to use cursed energy WHILE I was telling the story. The story ended, and you never said you'd regain control of my arms when it was over," the blonde explained, as she retrieved the other two shuriken from her belt and infused them with cursed energy.

The hybrid picked up some rocks from the ground, too large for a normal child to lift, and threw them at the sorceress. Hanae ducked and, with both hands, created a barrier that prevented the stones from hitting her.

When she removed the barrier, Shozo launched an attack. He was much shorter than her, but he jumped quite high and threw kicks with a style that reminded her of Itadori, so it wasn't difficult for her to dodge him.

She hated that she was still thinking about him.

She hated being so familiar with his fighting style.

She cursed herself for the times she'd watched him train with Maki. Since when was she so interested in someone?

The blonde took a few steps back. At one point, a kick from Shozo nearly hit her face, but she quickly blocked it with her arm.

In that split second, Hanae seized the opportunity to grab her opponent's injured arm and slam it to the ground.

The boy kicked Hanae's left knee with enough force to make her duck. The brunette tried to strike him on the head, but...

A barrier had already been activated. The blow echoed off the transparent wall, and she saw panic in the boy's red eyes.

She felt the blood rise in her throat but swallowed hard, tensing her neck—a feeling of discomfort that was definitely not her priority right now.

The girl raised her right hand, deactivating the barrier, and grabbed the brunette's wrist. Cursed energy surged from her left shuriken, and she plunged it into Shozo's chest. Hanae quickly got up, kicking him sideways to send him flying toward a nearby tree.

She heard her enemy hit the tree trunk with a sharp thud, and Hanae quickly went to where her other shuriken had landed, picking it up and once again holding one in each hand.

She brought the back of her hand to her nose; the pain was still there, and the blow had definitely cost her mobility. There would be no more acrobatics classes for a while.

Her hazel eyes fixed on her hand, seeing how the white leather was stained with blood, almost completely covering it.

"Damn it..." she cursed aloud, letting out a groan of pain.

She approached Shozo, ready to attack again.

But something stopped her.

The chestnut-haired man sat in the tree, the shuriken still embedded in his chest and shoulder, the wounds bleeding into the grass. He had really driven them in deep.

The boy was crying, not small tears, but the tears of someone truly sad, someone who knew it was all over, streaming down his childish face.

"I'm sorry... I never meant to hurt you... I just wanted Choso to see that I can be strong like him," the boy sobbed. The blonde slowly approached, noticing how the little boy's breathing became ragged.

"Hey, calm down," she tried to say, trying to soothe him. She didn't know where this was coming from. She should finish him off and leave quickly with Nobara, Megumi, and Yuuji, but something in the boy's tone told her he wasn't playing around.

"He didn't even want me to come," the little boy said, his tears now even larger. "I asked Esou and Kechizu to bring me, and Choso is probably angry with me."

Hanae moved a little closer, keeping a safe distance but close enough for the boy to see her. Carefully, she crouched down to his level.

"If everything you've said is true, then your older brother surely loves you and didn't want you to be in danger," she said calmly. "I know you think friends can't be family, but they get angry with me too when I put myself in danger. But that doesn't mean they don't love you."

She watched as Shozo, his face still streaked with tears, smiled faintly, the kind, childlike smile only children possess.

"End this," he pleaded innocently. The blonde girl's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm the younger brother, and I always depend on my brothers. I want to take responsibility for my mistakes. I tried to kill you, and you defeated me. It's only fair," the brown-haired boy explained calmly and serenely, already accepting his fate.

Hanae pressed her lips together, still stained with blood, and nodded. Standing up and charging her left shuriken with cursed energy,

"Can I ask you something? It's not a curse," the boy asked softly. The blonde nodded, still holding the weapon. The brunette reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a carefully folded piece of paper. He extended his injured arm as best he could, and Hanae approached, taking it in her right hand. "You're not a bad person, but my brother will surely want to kill you. Maybe if you give him this, he'll spare your life." Tears began to flow again as Shozo smiled. "Tell him I love him very much."

"I will," the teenager promised, putting the paper in one of the pouches on her belt. "I wish we had met under different circumstances."

Shozo simply closed his eyes.

"I really liked your story," the boy said, and with that last sentence, the shuriken infused with cursed energy slammed into his chest.

Hanae's hazel eyes watched as the boy's body crumbled to dust, more and more until it finally vanished. His shuriken fell to the ground with a metallic clang.

The teenager exhaled. She hadn't expected it to end like this.

But she had to continue.

She approached the tree and took the three shuriken. Once she had them all, she put them in the first pocket of her belt. It was a good idea to buy the one with four modes.

She took a breath and steeled herself.

She brought her gloved hands to her nostrils, placed her palms on the bridge of her nose, and with a swift motion, repositioned the cartilage.

She withdrew her hands and let out a cry of pain, bracing herself on her knees to keep from falling. She could breathe better, though she could no longer smell anything.

She could feel the air in her lungs easily and took several deep breaths.

She started walking quickly back to the stream, hating the slight dizziness she felt, but struggling to stay awake, wiping the blood from her lips and chin with the sleeves of her uniform. Perhaps her body was at its limit after being used as a puppet and enduring the strain and friction in her muscles due to Shozo's technique.

Stay awake, at least until you know they're alive. she repeated to herself

When she finally reached the stream and crossed it, she realized that the barrier where the curse had been hidden was gone; Megumi had indeed exorcised it.

She didn't have time to rejoice; her eyes fell on the dark-haired boy sitting on the ground, blood trickling from his head. She immediately approached, crouching down and taking hold of his shoulders.

"Fushiguro! Fushiguro, answer me!" she pleaded anxiously, gently shaking him. She heard the boy let out a pained groan and open his indigo eyes. Hanae smiled in relief. "You're alive," she affirmed to herself.

"The curse was a special kind," Megumi explained, trying to stand, but the blonde stopped her and instead helped him sit down.

"It's all over now. Rest," she ordered calmly, and the dark-haired boy stopped insisting. The girl reached into her third pocket for a handkerchief and began to dab the bleeding wound on her companion's temple. "Do you know anything about Kugizaki and Itadori?" she asked, but the boy shook his head.

"You should go look for them," Megumi commented, coughing slightly to regain her voice.

"You're hurt too, and if whatever attacked them is still out there, it's best if we stay together. After all, I'm a defense mage, it makes sense," she answered honestly.

"I don't understand how they do it..." Fushiguro began, to which the blonde looked at him in confusion. "You and Itadori, being so..." He stopped mid-sentence, and Hanae knew she shouldn't ask what came next.

"Honestly, being compared to Itadori is the last thing I want today," the girl added, removing the handkerchief from the boy's temple once it had stopped bleeding, then moving to a cut on his head. "Let's talk about something else, please."

"He's worried, he keeps wondering what he did wrong," Fushiguro commented, and Hanae looked at him with intrigue. "He tried to talk to Kugizaki, but she rejected him and came to me."

"I just... I just thought we'd have more time, that he'd tell me what was going on," the teenager finally blurted out helplessly.

"I already knew," Megumi said honestly. Hanae looked at him with confusion and a hint of betrayal in her hazel eyes, but the boy wasn't looking at her. "When I met him and he ate Sukuna's finger, I was about to execute him. But Gojo-sensei stopped him." I avoid it. I've known about the sentence for a long time.' She explained in a serious voice, "You should be angry with me too."

"It's different... at least you're admitting it, but he..." the blonde tried to protest. "And I know I should talk to him, but..."

But I don't want to. I want to stay angry. I don't want to know why it hurt so much.

The words caught in her throat, and she simply swallowed. The conversation, at least for her, was over.

"What's that?" she asked, looking at the object Megumi held in her hand.

"A finger of Sukuna's. The curse used it to make him stronger," the dark-haired man explained briefly.

"We have to take him to school," she said, and the boy nodded. Hanae stopped applying pressure to Megumi's wound and put away the handkerchief. "It's stopped bleeding. We have to go back before it gets infected."

At that moment, they heard footsteps approaching. Hanae looked up and saw that it was Nobara and Yuuji. Both were injured but alive. The brunette's uniform sleeve was torn.

"They're alive! That's great!" they exclaimed at the same time, shouting with relief.

"Could you stop shouting? My head hurts," the dark-haired boy complained.

"They're just superficial politeness. You'll be better in a few hours," the blonde commented with some amusement.

"Kiyomi, you're also—What happened to your face?!" Nobara asked, approaching her friend.

"Oh, that," Hanae said. "I had to break my nose, and I've probably lost my sense of smell," she explained calmly, but her classmates looked at her with confusion and almost horror.

"Why did you do that? And here I thought there couldn't be anyone more unhinged than Kugizaki," Yuuji asked worriedly, approaching her, taking her by the shoulders, and examining her face.

"I told you not to touch me, and I'm fine," she replied, roughly pulling away from his grip.

"I wanted to give you your space, but the line is drawn when you hurt yourself and lie," Yuuji explained in a serious tone.

The blonde let out a bitter laugh.

"Look who's talking about lies," she retorted disdainfully. "I don't need you to save me or pretend you care."

"What are you talking about?" the boy asked, confused and somewhat frustrated.

Hanae was about to answer, but something caught her attention. Behind Yuuji, there was a silhouette radiating a soft, white light.

Her hazel eyes gazed at the silhouette with curiosity.

"Do you see that too?" she asked hesitantly, pointing at it.

"I think you hit your head really hard. Because there's nothing there," the brunette remarked.

"Hanae. I've shown a lot of courage, but you still have a long way to go." The voice was feminine, almost distorted, but it sounded ancient, like someone who had seen and lived a lot.

But when she looked at her companions, they were staring at her with concern.

"It's not the time, but let's get to know each other. Keep going." And with that last sentence, the silhouette disappeared.

"Wait..." she tried to say desperately, but then her whole body shut down, and she was about to hit the rocky riverbed below.

But someone was holding her and prevented the fall. She didn't know who, but they seemed very strong and refused to let go.

Then everything went black.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

"You can't stay locked up your whole life" Kimi's voice echoed from behind the door.

I can do it already been locked up for four hours, Hanae thought.

Since waking up in the infirmary, her first instinct wasn't to look for Shoko, or visit her friends, or even go tell Maki that she'd managed to break a curse with her cursed weapons.

The first thing she did was lock herself in her room, turn on her penguin lamp, lock the door, sit on her bed, and try to distract herself with a book.

The odyssey, where she had finally progressed, reaching the Calypso Island stage.

But obviously someone would notice that a teenager had escaped from the infirmary.

Luckily for her, it was Kimi who looked for her; the woman must have had to convince Nobara and Panda not to break down her door.

She had changed her clothes; now she was wearing a navy blue shirt and black jeans, with her straight ash-blonde hair pulled back in a simple ponytail.

From what she'd seen in the bathroom mirror, her nose was definitely not the same as before. The soft, upturned curve now had a slight tilt to the right, not very pronounced, but noticeable enough to warrant a thick layer of cotton covering it until the cartilage stopped swelling. Her sense of smell was still absent; perhaps she should have stayed and listened to Shoko.

"I just want to be alone," she said aloud, so the woman on the other end could hear her.

"I know you have your reasons, but Hanae, Yuuji was by your side the entire time you were in the infirmary. I literally had to pull his ears to get him to sleep a little," the woman explained gently.

"Why do all conversations lead back to Itadori?!" she exclaimed in frustration, covering her eyes with her book and letting out a tired cry.

"Just ignore him. He'll only make things worse, and you know it." Kimi, with all the patience in the world, continued talking. Then she heard footsteps approaching. They were heavy and stopped right in front of her door.

She heard faint murmurs, as if Kimi and the person who had just arrived were talking about something.

"You're running away, Kiyomi."

Damn it, it was Principal Yaga.

Hanae lowered the book from her face and went to open the door. She might have had a close relationship with his wife and son, but she definitely wasn't the type of student to defy the highest authority in the school.

"It's not necessary. We're not going to force you to do anything." The man's voice was deep, very different from Kimi's calm and sweet tone, which made the teenager stop just as she grasped the doorknob. "But you know what you're doing.¿What will you do when there's nowhere left to run?"

Hanae looked down at her desk; her hazel eyes settled on her white belt, where the penguin keychain still hung, slightly damp after washing it to remove the blood and grime from the mission.

"Try to come down for dinner. If not, I'll have someone bring you something," the woman said gently. "Think about it."

She heard footsteps fading away.

And Hanae quickly returned to her bed, trying to resume her reading, where she had left the snowflake bookmark.

She knew that Principal Yaga, Megumi, Kimi, and everyone else were right, so she turned off her phone as soon as she left the infirmary.

So much had happened that her brain felt like it was going to explode.

Yuuji being sentenced to death and not having the honesty to tell her.

Fushiguro admitting that he knew too and that his distant treatment during the mission hurt Itadori.

And Shozo.

God, She hadn't even had time to think about him.

The boy with bright red eyes who loved stories.

The one who asked her to end his life, with a kind smile.

The one who had entrusted her with his last gift for his older brother, who seemed to be named Choso.

Was she a murderer now?

No, it was a curse.

But he was also a child; he had siblings.

He had a family.

So, was he human? Or had he simply deceived her?

Tears began to well up in her eyes, staining the pages, so she had to put the book down to avoid getting it dirty.

She hugged her knees, feeling her shoulders tremble and her cheeks grow wet.

With all her might, she clung to the first option: he couldn't be guilty of murdering a child. But the tears kept flowing, like a silent mourning for that child who had apologized for trying to kill her.

When the crying stopped, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

One doubt remained: that voice she had heard.

No, it was nothing.

She already had enough on her plate without looking for another problem.

Just the effect of exhaustion and probably the lack of oxygen in her brain due to her fight with Shozo. She would ignore it.

She picked up the book again, cursing as the tears reached the corners.

“Odysseus, son of Laertes, of divine lineage, rich in cunning, do you wish to depart at once for your home and your native land?
Go in good faith. But if you knew how many hardships fate awaits you before you reach your homeland, you would remain here
with me to guard this dwelling and be immortal,
however much you long to see your wife, whom you desire daily.
Truly, I pride myself on being no less than her in both stature and nature,
for it is not fitting for mortals to ever compete with immortals in either stature or form.”
And the cunning Odysseus said to him:

“Venerable goddess, do not be angry with me, for I know very well
how much you lack in figure and stature compared to the discreet Penelope when we see her face to face, for she is mortal and you are immortal,
eternal. But even so, I want and desire every day
to return home and see the day of my return. If any of the
gods mistreat me at sea, red as wine,
I will bear it in my breast with a patient spirit; for I have already endured
much suffering at sea and in war. Let this come after that.”

"Even in a 2800-year-old poem, everything is about love," the blonde remarked aloud.

While reading, she decided to turn on her phone, since she didn't know the time or day.

After a few minutes, her phone turned on, displaying a wallpaper of koi fish, one white and one orange.

She glanced at it and saw it was 8 PM, and approximately four days had passed since the Yasohachi Bridge mission.

Four days. Shozo's technique had left her bedridden for four days.

The child would have had overwhelming potential.

She had a few pending notifications. The one that caught her eye was from Panda, saying he needed to talk to her about having a chance with Itadori, attached to a photo was waiting to open.

She immediately grabbed her phone and dismissed the notification, moving on to one from Nobara saying they were fine and that she should just message her whenever she wanted to talk.

At least, some good news.

She heard a knock at the door, followed by footsteps receding.

Hanae went over, slowly turned the keys, unlocked the door, and barely opened it.

She glanced around and saw no one, but instead, she looked down and saw a tray.

It contained a strawberry drink and some meat, accompanied by mushroom and rice, along with chopsticks and napkins.

She smiled slightly and bent down to pick up the tray, returning to her room and closing the door.

She heard another knock at the door and placed the tray on her desk.

"Take these painkillers, and in a few weeks you won't need cotton anymore. Disinfect the wound every eight hours, and you may or may not get your sense of smell back. Look on the bright side: you lost the least important sense." Shoko Ieri's voice called out. She heard her set something on the floor and the click of her heels as she walked away, signaling that she was finished.

Hanae smiled to herself.

After all, she had chosen this unconventional family.

Chapter Text

"Then the idiot's going to die. I expected it."

Nobara's voice echoed in the hallway as she threw nails at the imitation paintings.

Hanae glanced at her briefly, confused, as she destroyed a poorly made portrait of Dracula with her shuriken.

Both teenagers had been sent on a mission: a haunted house in an amusement park had started acting strangely, with lights turning on when no one was there and employees reporting feeling watched.

Upon arriving, they quickly realized it was a third-grade spirit with the ability to distribute its consciousness across the various frames in the room, which made sense, since all the electrical circuits were located directly behind the frames.

"Aren't you angry?" the blonde asked curiously, retrieving her weapon.

As promised, she explained to the brunette the reason for her anger during the previous mission; only she would have done so more calmly.

"I don't want to cause a scene," Nobara replied indifferently, digging her nails into a frame behind Hanae.

"Let's change the subject," her companion urged. "Where is the main body?" she questioned.

"It must be somewhere with a good view. Basically, it uses the space and controls objects attached to the walls," Nobara mused, resting a hand on her chin.

"The Phantom of the Opera painting is in the entrance. It's hanging in the center of the room, where the hallways connect," the blonde replied, to which her companion nodded, and they began running toward the location.
Hearing the crunch of broken paint beneath their boots, the teenagers reached the entrance. Before they could attack, the curse emerged from the painting, its body black and its face covered in red. It crawled to the ceiling on its eight legs.

Nobara wasted no time attacking, using two nails, but the curse retreated, further and further, until it was cornered.

Hanae pressed her hands against the floor, creating a barrier that trapped the creature. Without waiting for a signal, the brunette threw a nail charged with cursed energy into the center of the curse.

With a sharp crack, the curse began to crumble. Around them, the shattered paintings vanished, leaving only a few intact on the walls.

"He created copies to control the place," Hanae explained to the air, standing up.

"How boring," the brunette complained, putting away her hammer and placing her arms behind her head. "Let's go get something to eat. We haven't had breakfast yet," she said as she opened the doors of the haunted house decorated with cobwebs.

Hanae smoothed the loose strands of her French braid, following her companion. Discreetly, she took a bottle of pills from her belt and removed two, "How are you getting on with it?" the brunette beside her asked. The amusement park was deserted, a security measure that added to the veil the blonde had conjured, which was slowly dissipating.

"I still can't breathe properly, and I'm missing certain smells," she replied honestly. "But it's nothing I can't get used to."

Two days had passed since she woke up after the Yasohachi Bridge mission, and after a checkup, Shoko discovered she had partially lost her sense of smell, in addition to having slight difficulty breathing due to a deviated septum. Because of this, she now had to take pills to relieve both the pain and the fluid buildup in her nose. She still had cotton wool on the bridge of her nose, but now she wore a bandage the color of her pale skin that managed to conceal it.

After a few minutes of silence, and after Nobara bought some earrings she urgently needed, the two girls arrived at a cinnamon roll stand, where they each ordered one, along with some drinks.

"Are you really going to drink hot coffee in this weather?" the brunette asked sarcastically, sitting down in an armchair at the stand and placing her iced tea on the small table in front of her.

It was humid, but not hot enough; it had rained the night before, which created that feeling, although at seven in the morning it was sure to have some effect.

"I don't like cold things or the cold in general," the blonde replied calmly, sitting down and taking a sip, her eyes opening slightly. "Does this have vanilla?" she asked, confused.

"Yes, the guy said it's on the house. Personally, I think he likes you," Nobara replied honestly, pointing to the guy behind the counter. Hanae glanced at him, and the impaled boy seemed to want to hide behind the coffee machine. "Realize how pretty you are and make him give us another free cinnamon roll," she insisted seriously.

Hanse laughed briefly.

"I think I've gone down a few rungs with this," she commented, pointing to the bandage on her nose. "You should, you're prettier than me."

The blonde swore she saw a faint blush on her companion's cheeks as she smiled proudly, and then her gaze shifted to one that could have been interpreted as that of the devil himself.

"And have you spoken to Itadori yet?" she asked, intrigued, crossing her arms.

"Kugizaki, I don't want to talk about it. Please," the girl replied, taking a bite of her candy.

"All this... tension between you two is strange, and it's not a fun way to look at it. It's stressful," the brunette exclaimed, a hint of reproach in her voice. "If you don't work it out yourselves, we'll lock you up somewhere to force you to talk."

"It's not that easy..." Hanae tried to explain with difficulty. "And what do you mean by 'we'?"

"The whole school, believe me, we already have it planned. I'm simply telling you to avoid the situation," she explained, not seriously.

"I'm going to ignore the lack of privacy in this school and tell you that I don't want to talk to...Him!" the blonde replied in frustration.

"Please, it can't be that difficult. It's not like you two like...." Mid-sentence, the brunette's face contorted into a surprised and denial expression. "No, no, no, no...No," she repeated to herself.

"What's wrong?" the blonde asked worriedly, fixing her hazel eyes on her companion.

"I owe Panda-senpai a lot of money," Nobara stated with icy seriousness, eating her cinnamon roll in resignation.

"These bets between you two are getting dangerous," the blonde commented, taking a sip of her coffee. "Actually... I was thinking of asking if I could transfer to Kyoto High School," she said carefully.

"NO WAY! You can't leave me alone with those fools!" the brunette exclaimed furiously. "Hanae, I understand very well that you and I haven't known each other for very long, but you're definitely not a coward. Why can't you do it?"

The blonde remained silent, placed her coffee on the table, and calmly stroked the penguin keychain on her belt. Her white fingerless gloves allowed her to feel the plush toy's soft texture.

Nobara's reprimand was serious. She had never called her by name, and that always meant someone was demanding an answer.

"I think..." she began uncomfortably, shifting slightly in her armchair. "I don't know. I don't want to hear what she has to say. I want to be angry and think that... everything that happened wasn't such a big deal... maybe if I leave, it'll be easier for everyone."

"Where did I come to be?" "Listen to me," the brunette exclaimed wearily to herself. "You're intelligent, maybe as intelligent as Fushiguro, and I consider him the least idiotic," she explained, managing to elicit a smile from the blonde. "I know you'll think before making a decision. In the meantime, you have to go," she said as she stood up, finishing her iced tea and throwing the cup in the trash.

Hanae stood up and also threw away her cup, looking at her companion with intrigue.

"I'm going to meet with Itadori and Fushiguro. I didn't tell them you were on a mission with me, and they think I came alone. Leave before they arrive," she stated frankly.

"You're the only one I told about this idea, and I'm glad I did," the blonde added in a somewhat calmer tone. "I'll tell you when I decide what to do."

The brunette nodded with a slight smile and Hanae started to leave the shop, taking out her phone and dialing Niita's number; she just wanted to go back to school and not have any more interrogations.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

She had arrived at school a few minutes ago and went straight to the small garden, hidden behind a gymnasium. Low white fences separated the lawn from the plants Inumaki had tended, which were blooming in vibrant colors. She recognized some of them: lilies, roses, mint, a few medicinal herbs, and sunflowers.

She sat down on a nearby bench. The soft sunlight was beginning to filter through, illuminating the garden and bringing the sunflowers to life.

Hanae remembered the first time she had seen the place. It was a few months ago, after a night of nightmares and insomnia. Inumaki had decided to take her to the garden to help him weed, because he knew how the blonde had helped with the flower arrangements.

That day ended with her exhausted and a slight tingling in her hands, but it was one of the first times she'd been so tired that she managed to sleep four hours straight. It was the first step toward overcoming her dependence on sleeping pills.

Now perhaps she was also looking for a distraction...

"Moving to Kyoto..."

She savored the words, but they didn't quite convince her. "When did I think of this?" she asked sarcastically, drawing her knees to her chest and leaning back against the bench.

When did I get so scared?

Since when had I been thinking about leaving behind the little normalcy I'd found?

All because of a lie.

"I found you!" she heard a voice behind her. Hanae turned around quickly, realizing it was a panda.

The bear quickly approached her and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her like a toy.

"What do you mean, going to Kyoto?! Have your brain cells stopped working?!" he asked quickly and aggressively.

"How do you know?" she replied innocently, as best she could during the attack.

"Ah, that. I found this on your desk," he finally said, letting go of it, causing Hanae to sigh in relief. She then looked up and saw the open letter her classmate was holding.

"I-I wasn't going to send it," she stammered, trying to grab the letter, but Panda raised his arm and pulled it away.

"And why is it addressed to Principal Yaga?" he argued calmly, and the blonde sighed in defeat.

"Promise you won't judge me?" she asked honestly, returning to her seat on the bench.

"I'm a panda. Judging is for people who have nothing better to do. I'm just acting adorable while you talk," he replied, sitting down on the bench, making Hanae step back to give him space.

"I just don't want to forgive him. I'm tired of saying it. I want to put some distance between us and tell him that his execution doesn't matter to me, tell him that... that this is his fault. And I know this isn't right, so many people have told me so. But something inside me doesn't want to speak. I want to leave and avoid ever seeing him again," she confessed helplessly, hugging her knees and feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. "And I don't know why I can't look at him and yell at him or reproach him for looking me in the face and not being able to tell me that in a few months or years I could die."

A silence settled between them. Hanae stared at the white roses in the garden, trying to find something to occupy her thoughts.

"You just want him to be the one to speak and apologize. You think you didn't do anything wrong," her companion said beside her, and the blonde fixed her hazel eyes on him.

"Isn't that how it's supposed to be? The one who did something wrong should apologize, not the person who was hurt," she commented with frustration.

"But you weren't perfect either, and Itadori doesn't know why you're upset," the bear added, almost stating the obvious.

Hanae felt a tightening in her chest; perhaps it was the truth finally surfacing.

"Getting angry with someone is fine. But getting angry with someone and distancing yourself, never telling them they hurt you, and expecting the other person to make the first move when they have no idea what's going on," the panda added calmly, "is considered selfish, because you're only thinking about what might make you feel better."

"I guess I was thinking too much about what I wanted and didn't care about hurting him," the teenager mused aloud. "I feel terrible."

"And that just goes to show you care about him more than you thought," the bear remarked matter-of-factly. "Kugizaki will give me a lot of money," he whispered, wiggling his paws mischievously, and Hanae shook her head with a faint smile.

"What am I supposed to do now? Can I just leave and put everything behind me, or finally explode and tell him everything I've been holding back?" she questioned herself sarcastically.

"Two extremes, black and white, just like me!" he pointed to himself proudly. "That's your problem, Hanae, you don't see the gray areas," he remarked, giving her a light tap on the head.

The blonde looked at him with gratitude and amusement. Panda was very different from the rest; he reminded her a lot of Principal Yaga's blunt honesty and Kimi's intuition for solving problems. Everyone at school knew that he had been raised from a baby and that he had an incredibly strong cursed body. But that was never an obstacle for him to become one of the most important people—or rather, the most important panda—in her life.

"I'm too much of a perfectionist, aren't I?" he added sarcastically, raising his right hand and rubbing the spot where he had been tapped.

"Just a little bit, a few more years and you'd be like Nanami-san. You're both even blonde; at first I thought you were her daughter," he explained calmly, and the teenager laughed softly.

"My father was a lawyer. I think I learned something from the times his friend came over and I overheard conversations about trials that I shouldn't have heard," she replied in a low voice. She was thinking about those words, but it felt like explaining a part of herself that had always been there, and she waited for a "why?" "Even now I still think about it."

"Perhaps it's time to do what you want and not wait for others," the Panda reflected frankly. "It's your choice," he finished, standing up and leaving the open letter on the bench. "But if you go to Kyoto, we're going to bother you a lot with calls, asking you to tell us all about it there. Maybe that girl Miwa would like to be your friend; she seems very kind."

Hanae smiled with amusement, but a watery look appeared in her hazel eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered with genuine joy.

"Now for the moment you've been waiting for..." her classmate announced dramatically. "Panda hug! And be grateful it's free!" he said, opening his arms wide.

Hanae stood up and accepted the hug. It had been a long time since someone had hugged her, and it felt like a neutral moment, where there were no decisions to make or desires to run away, just a panda giving her classmate a hug at the school where they trained to kill evil spirits.

It didn't sound so strange.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Lunchtime had arrived, and Hanae focused on finishing the salmon onigiri on her plate.

A few hours had passed since her conversation with Panda. Taking advantage of the fact that she wasn't being called for any more missions, she took a quick shower, undid her French braid, and went back to wearing her hair straight.

Although the resealed letter seemed to weigh much more than it should in her belt pocket.

"Do what I want," she said aloud. The dining hall was empty, which was a relief in a way. She had already had two very intense and revealing conversations about herself and her own decisions.

Was she being selfish because everyone would be talking about her situation all the time?

In her defense, everyone was too addicted to gossip to not want to talk about it.

She had time to think about what to do.

It wasn't like the universe sent her a sign that she should talk to Itadori.

Her phone rang, eclipsing the silence with "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," causing Hanae to quickly finish her onigiri and answer it.

Realizing it was Nobara.

"This is ridiculous," she complained aloud as she answered the phone.

"Kiyomi, come right now, we have an emergency," the brunette's voice said, serious enough to allow no protests. "I'll send you the location of a coffee shop, and I already told Niita to bring you." Without another word, she hung up.

The blonde heard the call end and silence return. A confused look crossed her eyes, and she quickly headed for the school gate, realizing that Niita was indeed waiting for her.

"She's so perceptive," she muttered aloud as she walked toward the car.

After a few minutes of silence, she arrived downtown and saw the café her friend had mentioned. She went inside and looked around, finding her sitting across from someone else. She approached quickly.

"What's wrong? You sounded very serious," she asked, addressing Nobara, but then her hazel eyes fell on the person with her.

It was a girl, probably around her age. Even sitting down, she looked tall, with short caramel-colored hair and soft brown eyes. Her rosy cheeks and shyness were obvious. She was undoubtedly very beautiful.

"Good afternoon," the girl introduced herself politely.

"Good afternoon, Kiyomi Hanae, nice to meet you," the blonde replied with a slight smile.

"This is Ozawa Yuko, she was a classmate of Itadori's in middle school," Nobara explained briefly. "Find something to drink, this will take a while."

Hanae nodded, somewhat dazed, and went to the vending machine. She quickly grabbed a bottle of water; she probably needed something to wash down the onigiri from earlier. Once she had it in her bare hands, she approached the table. She saw Yuko making room for her at her seat, and the blonde nodded gratefully, sitting down next to her.

"Alright, what's going on?" she asked curiously, opening the bottle.

"Let me sum up the situation. Ozawa likes Itadori (honestly, I have no idea why, but she knows what she's gotten herself into), and we're trying to figure out if Itadori has a girlfriend or if Ozawa has a chance with him," Nobara explained seriously, like someone outlining a war strategy.

Hanae blinked, confused. Yuko liked the boy she'd been avoiding for the past week, and that shouldn't bother her.

Why did she feel a pressure in her chest? A pang in her heart.

"You..." She heard Yuko's shy, gentle voice beside her. "Are you his girlfriend?" she asked, almost wishing the ground would swallow her whole.

The blonde looked at her in confusion and quickly shook her head.

"No, not me. I'm not," she replied urgently, taking a sip of her drink. "Why would I be? That's impossible," she questioned sarcastically, letting out an awkward laugh.

She heard Yuko sigh, almost relieved but not aggressive, like someone who feared the worst.

"Right now I'm going to summon the person who knows Itadori best and who will tell us what we need," Nobara exclaimed, dialing a number on her cell phone.

Hanae concentrated on taking another sip of her drink.

"I saw you a couple of times," she heard Yuko say beside her. The blonde looked at her curiously, and the girl blushed to her ears. "I'm not a stalker or anything! My cousin also went to Shibuya Junior and High School!" she explained quickly.

"I see. I haven't heard of that school in a long time," Hanae replied calmly. "Was your cousin Ozawa Shino?" she asked, to which the brunette nodded.

"Yes, he always spoke very highly of you. You know, about how you were very pretty and friendly. I saw you when I waited for him after school because we had family gatherings,you had black hair back un that time" she explained briefly. "I always wanted to talk to you, but I was too shy."

The memory of that time came with a bitter taste, but it wasn't her priority right now.

"Why? Don't tell me you saw me fall into that bush and my hair got full of leaves. It took me three baths to get them out," she recalled sheepishly, covering her eyes. Yuko chuckled softly beside her, not mockingly, but nostalgically.

"It wasn't because of that. You were so popular and had so many people around you that I felt shy approaching you," the brunette explained, and Hanae shook her head.

"It wasn't anything special. I actually enjoy talking to you much more than my old classmates," she replied calmly.

At that moment, they heard the door of the shop open, interrupting their conversation.

"What's going on? They made Ijichi leave me three blocks away unexpectedly." Hanae turned around and saw Fushiguro, who wore an irritated expression.

"Does Itadori have a girlfriend?" Nobara asked in a French accent. "She's Ozawa Yuko," she briefly introduced the brunette, who nodded respectfully. "She wants to... well, you know."

"So that's what she wants!" The dark-haired man caught the hint with a speed that surprised the blonde.

Hanae leaned back in her seat, part of her wanting to disappear, while another part was curious about the outcome of all this.

"It's safe to assume he doesn't have a girlfriend. When he decided to move to Tokyo, it didn't seem like anything or anyone was bringing him back. There are posters of actresses and models in his room. Guys with girlfriends don't put up that kind of stuff, do they?," Megumi explained calmly.

"Black coffee? Hot?" Nobara questioned indignantly, looking at the ceramic mug Megumi was holding, who was sitting next to him. "You and Kiyomi really are similar."

"Hot coffee has a better effect on the body. The caffeine is regulated, and there are no stress spikes," the blonde explained with a slight laugh, seeing Fushiguro nod simply.

"What's his ideal type?" Ozawa asked in a low voice.

"He said he likes tall girls," Megumi said, more engaged in the conversation than usual, which didn't calm the blonde.

"There's a chance," Nobara exclaimed happily, and Yuko smiled hopefully. Hanae was about to leave, but... "It's time, Kiyomi. This is where you come in. Contact him to bring this hopeless crush together."

Kiyomi didn't reply.

"Do you always have to be bossy?" Fushiguro questioned.

"Do you always have to be bitter?" Nobara retorted.

"No problem. I'm on it," the blonde said, cutting short her companions' minor argument and reaching for her phone. She didn't know where those words had come from; it felt more like autopilot than a conscious decision.

She typed quickly and, for the first time, was grateful for autocorrect, because otherwise the message would have been unreadable.

[We need to talk]

A notification popped up almost instantly.

[Where?]

Hanae hesitated for a moment, but sent my location.

[I'll be there in 15 minutes.]

She placed his phone face down.

"he's coming," the blonde announced, and the others nodded.

He's very punctual, in 15 minutes.

"Oh... it seems everyone's here," the pink-haired boy commented, surprised and even a little disappointed, but his gaze fell on the brunette next to Hanae. "Ozawa?"

The blonde saw the named girl's cheeks flush intensely and quickly looked away.

"Come sit down. You two need to catch up," Nobara explained, practically pushing Fushiguro out of his seat and onto his feet. The dark-haired boy glared at her in annoyance. "Get yourself a chair and don't be so dramatic," she retorted, making Megumi wander off to find a chair at another table.

In another situation, Hanae would have laughed, but the knot in her stomach prevented her.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

She really couldn't stay there any longer. Even though she wasn't participating in the conversation, she felt like someone was watching her, even though Hanae's gaze was fixed on an invisible stain on the table.

Yuuji and Yuko were sharing brief anecdotes from their middle school days. The brunette was recounting how some kids from nearby high schools were still afraid of the "tiger" from Shin High School, which made Nobara laugh at the nickname.

Megumi asked the pink-haired boy if he could get her some napkins, and he agreed.

It was now or never.

"I have to go, I promised Maki-senpai something. It was nice meeting you, Ozawa," he said quickly, and without waiting any longer, he left the door, practically walking as fast as he could without seeming desperate.

He crossed the street quickly, until he reached a busy area with many shops,a fast food place that he quickly ignored

She continued walking, trying to disappear into the crowd.

But then...

"Kiyomi! Hanae!" Yuuji's voice behind her only made her move faster, even bumping into some people, until she felt someone grab her wrist.

She turned around and saw it was the pink-haired boy. She quickly broke free from his grip, but when she turned, she realized she was facing a wall in an alley.

"It was a bit literal that she had nowhere to run."

"Could you tell me what's wrong?!" the boy demanded in frustration, staring at her. Hanae just crossed her arms and frowned at him.

"What are you talking about? Nothing's wrong with me, leave me alone." She tried to walk past him, but Itadori gently took her arm and pulled her back to where she was.

"And all these days? On the bridge? I found everyone here, and the only person I wanted to talk to is running away from me," she said, her voice tinged with desperation and even reproach. I'd never seen him like this before.

"Why didn't you tell me what would happen after you consumed all of Sukuna's fingers?" he finally blurted out, his voice far more vulnerable than I'd expected, almost breaking from the effort of getting the words

Yuuji's expression changed to one of surprise, almost blank, upon hearing those words. Hanae could only lean against the wall and cross her arms as she watched him, waiting for a response.

"Who told you?" he asked seriously, leaning against the opposite wall.

"Why does it matter?" the blonde questioned with a bitter laugh. "Why didn't you say anything?" she pointed to the main issue.

"I was going to tell you," he tried to explain.

"When? One of these days? In a few months? Hours before your trial? In a letter they'd give me at your funeral?" she questioned with disdain.

"It's complicated," she admitted with frustration, running a hand through her pink hair.

"Complicated? That's not an answer!" she retorted irritably. "I really thought we were friends, that I could trust you."

"I thought you'd understand, since it's complicated for you to lie to me all the time, isn't it?" Itadori returned the question with cold calm, and that was much worse than if she had said it angrily.

"How dare you! The only time I've ever lied was to protect you!" she retorted angrily, pointing. "Or have you already forgotten that I almost lost my friends because our stupid teacher tried to drag me into his lies?" She wasn't used to swearing, but in the end...

She was doing what she wanted.

"Does this refresh your memory?... A world without curses?" she questioned, and Hanae shook her head.

"You really don't know what to invent to deflect blame," the blonde said disdainfully.

"No? I may be foolish, but I'm not that stupid. You hate the world we live in, and I'm sure that if it were up to you, curses wouldn't exist. And you wouldn't even have wanted us to meet," he retorted honestly, as if he were stating an irrefutable truth.

"You have no idea why I ended up here," he retorted angrily. "Unlike you, I would have preferred to die at that station rather than come to that school." The words tore at his throat, a horrible truth he never wanted to come out, but he was saying it anyway.

"In that case, what happens to my life is none of your business either," Yuuji said seriously.

"OF COURSE IT IS. You have a death sentence. That involves me because you're my damn best friend." Hanae was about to burst into tears at any moment, but she swallowed her sobs and replaced them with a frown.

"It's something I have to do for the school. Protect people, protect you," the pink-haired boy tried to explain.

"Sure... I'll cry tears of joy in a cemetery for your noble deed." She refused to see him in that sentence, focusing her hazel eyes on the people passing by in front of the alley.

"Hanae... listen to me." He tried to say, taking a step forward, but the girl shoved him back on the shoulder. It was obvious Yuuji stepped back willingly, because Hanae's thin arms weren't strong enough.

"Can you just leave me alone?" she asked the air, her tone weary.

"You're being unfair to me." A real vulnerability showed in her voice, and her brown eyes settled on her.

"And can't I be?!" she exclaimed loudly, almost breaking down. "You made me think that you, YOU... wouldn't be temporary. And you're an idiot for making me think otherwise when you know I can't stand death! Damn it, Yuuji, I wouldn't even go to your funeral because I hate corpses!

"The trauma of that day prevents you from moving forward. You cling to what could have been and forget that you also have something now." Itadori seemed genuinely annoyed now, and Hanae couldn't tell if his anger was directed at the situation or at her.

"You think death is something that should be honorable. I see it for what it is. A person stops breathing, and you have to feel your entire world being rebuilt, and everything you thought existed vanishes in a second." She snapped, turning her gaze back to him. "LET'S TALK ABOUT YOU." She pointed at him. "Do you think I don't know what you do? Do you think I don't know why you save everyone? You want them to owe you, to love you, and to be obligated to be by your side at your funeral so you won't feel alone." For a moment, he felt a pang of regret for those words as his fury subsided somewhat, but he didn't offer an apology.

She saw Yuuji give her a look she'd never seen before. Indignation, confusion, fury, offense. It all flashed in one of his brown eyes, the same ones that usually lit up when she saw him arrive.

Hanae flinched, realizing that look was directed at her.

"Yuuji, I... I didn't mean to disrespect your grandfather, I just..." she began, her voice catching in her throat.

"Wow, this kid sure knows how to hit the target!" Sukuna's voice interrupted the moment, and the curse manifested in the pink-haired boy's hands.

"SHUT UP!" they both shouted, annoyed.

"I'll forgive you this time. Your relationship problems are the most interesting thing I've been doing in this pathetic body. It reminds me of a pretty bad novel," the curse king retorted sarcastically.

"WE'RE NOT A COUPLE!" they retorted again.

Hanae ran a hand through her hair, trying to calm herself, but it was impossible.

"Do you think my desire to protect others is only for my own convenience? You know me," the pink-haired man tried to bring up the subject again, his voice firmer.

"Two months ago, yes. I thought I could live in peace, and that I would inevitably die on a mission, like everyone else, but... EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU IS A DISTRACTION," the blond man replied.

"You're not serious," the boy retorted.

"I am," the girl stated earnestly. "If I could do anything, it would be to eliminate the curses from the world. But that's impossible, because there are people like you and me who cause them with these stupid arguments," Hanae explained.

"Do you think it would be easier if you died? Was all that talk about being strong just a lie to pretend you didn't want to die?" Yuuji tried to connect the dots, and the blonde shrugged.

"I don't understand why you care so much, Yuuji. Whether I want to die or not is my decision, unlike you, who let yourself be manipulated by this system," she questioned, her voice a mixture of intrigue and disdain.

"I don't want you to die before I do," he admitted in a softer tone, almost as if he were sharing a secret.

"You can't decide when we die. And you can't decide what I'll do with my life," she replied in a calmer but equally firm voice.

"I know, but I can't accept it either." The pink-haired boy moved closer to the blonde, and for the first time, she didn't try to push him away. She could only hold her head high, a way of telling him that his words hadn't really affected her as they should. "Can't you accept my sentence either?" he questioned, looking at her.

Hanae bit her tongue, preventing any emotion from consuming her.

"It's not about whether I accept it or not. YOU are going to die," she replied, her head held high, emphasizing the last words. "And I will be the one who has to... rebuild my life. Because you are important to me," she explained, her voice almost breaking as she found the words.

The blonde girl started to leave the alley without turning to look at the pink-haired boy.

"Hanae, just..." Itadori began, making the girl stop, but not turn around.

"Do something for me," she pleaded, her gaze fixed on the street. "Go back to school and forget all this. And stop worrying about me." Without waiting for anything else, she left the alley.

Walking quickly to blend into the crowd, she had no idea where she was going, but it was better than staying there.

He didn't follow her, which eased her pain a little, but tears still welled in her eyes, which she roughly wiped away.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Hanae returned to school as quickly as she could and now stood in front of Principal Yaga's office.

She hadn't dared to go in, or even knock; she simply stood there, the letter crumpling from how tightly she held it.

She had already done what she feared most. Why was it so difficult for her to submit a transfer request?

Because you don't want to, she thought with frustration.

What's happening to me?" she questioned aloud, turning on her heels and moving away from the door. "You found out everything and ran away, you faced it and ran away. And now you want to go to the other side of the country? Why?" she said as she walked down the hall. "And now you're talking to yourself," she added sarcastically, stopping in her tracks.

I would have preferred to die at that station than go to that school.

The words she had said just hours before echoed in her head; it was perhaps the most intense argument she had ever had with anyone. And she had said so many things—truths and fears that definitely shouldn't be mixed. She had already lived through it all; how could she hurt someone else and hurt herself?

But it was true. She hated this school.

But she didn't hate them.

All of them who had taken her in and accepted her when she was a wreck after December 24th.

Her hazel eyes settled on a nearby trash can, the letter still clutched tightly in her left hand.

She sighed deeply, walked over to the trash can, and without hesitation, began to tear the letter, listening to the sound of the paper ripping. She threw away the torn pieces and walked away quickly.

A weight lifted from her shoulders, but the weight in her heart remained.

Chapter Text

October had begun.

And three days had passed since Hanae and Yuuji's argument.

The blonde had been avoiding the pink-haired boy at all costs. She had already said what she had kept to herself, but how could she look him in the face now, after he had disrespected his grandfather's last wishes—the man who had raised him and made him the kind boy he was?

The argument was still fresh in her mind, both her words and his.

She had tried everything to avoid replaying it in her head. She practiced ballet until her feet were blistered, she trained with her shuriken until every time she threw one at the school target, she read three books she had been meaning to read, but nothing was enough.

She didn't know why, but something inside her felt... empty.

Part of her was relieved to finally confront him and at least understand why he'd kept it from her.

And another part missed him terribly.

It wasn't like when she was angry and wanted to keep him as far away as possible.

Now she was... sad.

She never liked arguments. Her father never mentioned their fights in court, nor when her grandparents called her a "cursed child" or "impure blood." She would simply cover her ears and wait for her father to pick her up and take her out of the room.

The Kiyomi family, as their name suggested, highly valued purity. When Sora and Annie married, the family hated the union of a Japanese man and a German woman. That hatred was passed on to Hanae, causing Sora to cut off all communication with them after hanae turned nine.

She couldn't go on like this, but how could she repair what she had broken?

That question haunted her as she read Der Steppenwolf, her fourth book in three days, sitting on a bench under a willow tree in the schoolyard.

Her straight hair was pulled back into a loose bun, a few strands framing her face. It wasn't a conscious decision; she simply grabbed the first hair tie she found and left her room.

The book was a Japanese translation, with a few words in German.

Which she understood perfectly.

Her hazel eyes flitted between paragraphs, oblivious to the crows croaking nearby.

What were the crows doing there? She had no idea.

"Hanae-chan!" She heard a high-pitched voice calling her name. The blonde quickly closed her book, making a soft creak as she turned to see who had called her, but she found nothing. "Down here!"

She lowered her hazel eyes and saw... a stuffed animal?

It looked like a cat, but it walked on two legs. It was yellow, with a small pink bow tie and big, adorable eyes.

"Um... what do you need?" she asked hesitantly, looking at the toy.

"Masamichi said he had to find you. Kimi has a mission for you and left a tablet with the information in your room before going to Osaka for a meeting," the boy explained matter-of-factly. "I don't like it when she goes on trips; Masamichi is very serious all day. She makes him smile a lot more," she remarked in an almost affectionate tone.

Of course, it was one of Director Yaga's creations.

Hanae sighed in relief, standing up with the book in her hand.

"Thanks for letting me know. By the way, how did you find me? I'm a bit far from the building," she asked, starting to walk, followed by the stuffed animal.

"I'm a genius!" he pointed at himself with his thumb, eliciting a soft giggle from the little girl.

"Do you have a name? Kimi-san tells me that sometimes the director names his creations," she asked kindly.

"My name is Takeru. I am three months old!," he explained briefly.

The blonde smiled slightly.

"What a pretty name! I'm friends with Panda, do you know him?" she asked sweetly. As they walked, Takeru, beside her, skipped adorably, like a child in the park.

"I know Panda-Nii San, he always visits Masamichi, but between you and me, I'm obviously prettier," she whispered tenderly.

"Don't say that in front of him. You don't want to know what he did to a puppy that appeared and attracted everyone's attention a few months ago," she explained calmly. The plushie looked worried, and Hanae quickly shook her head. "Don't even imagine it. He just took it to a shelter when no one was noticing. He doesn't like competition."

Takeru laughed at the anecdote, and the teenager smiled wistfully.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

When they arrived at Hanae's room, Takeru said goodbye at the door, explaining that he had to return, to which she nodded.

He unlocked the door with his key. It wasn't unusual for authorities like the principal and vice-principal to have master keys to open students' rooms. He'd heard that once a student had gone rogue and committed murder in a nearby town, and when they searched his room, they found disturbing notes and even over-the-counter medications, making the privacy rule somewhat ambiguous ever since.

Hanae didn't mind too much. She knew it was only for extreme cases, like when Niita had found her clothes after she fainted, or right now when most of the staff were busy with missions.

She found the tablet on her desk, quickly reached for it, and sat down on her bed. She turned on the device and entered the password, which was the name of the school.

"Tokyo Metropolitan Magical Technical College"

But she was rejected.

Hanae sighed wearily and tried again.

"This school is awful, and I didn't destroy it because I like candy from vending machines. Sincerely, Gojo Satoru."

Then she went inside.

"He's changed the passwords again," she complained aloud. The white-haired boy had always been someone who liked to get into trouble and cause it. Kimi had told her enough stories about Gojo from her youth to know that he was the cause of a lot of people's stress.

But what was the point of changing the passwords on the school tablets and then adding his name at the end? She didn't understand.

She checked the open files. Apparently, a cursed spirit was in a park. It was in the city of Sendai, which wasn't far away by bullet train.

Also said that her partner was already there and that she would find him at the address she had given.

She quickly changed out of her casual clothes and into her uniform. The last step was her white belt, which now had a silver buckle with a sunflower. She had seen it on a trip to the mall with Nobara and couldn't help but compare them.

According to the brunette, the silver suited her better because of her pale skin and ash-blond hair.

If she hurried, she could take the bullet train and arrive in an hour and a half.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

She had arrived a few minutes ago. Sendai was just as Itadori had described it: lots of trees, but also very friendly people who didn't hesitate to help her with the directions on her phone.

Hanae observed each place with admiration. It wasn't as dense or touristy as Shibuya, but it had a warm atmosphere, a tranquility she definitely didn't find in Shibuya's gigantic shopping malls.

She liked it.

The blonde walked along the street, passing by local houses and restaurants. She had no idea who her companion could be, but perhaps it was some local sorcerer.

The GPS stopped, showing her destination, and the girl frowned.

It was a funeral, at a house in the neighborhood.

"What's going on?" she wondered aloud, glancing back at her phone to make sure she was heading in the right direction, but she didn't find anything wrong.

"Excuse me," she heard a voice behind her, and Hanae turned around quickly, instinctively reaching for the shuriken on her belt, but stopping when she saw a boy her age with red hair. "Are you friends with Itadori-kun?" he asked hesitantly.

Hanae relaxed her posture and observed the boy. He was dressed in formal black attire and had dark circles under his eyes and slightly puffy eyes. She was probably related to the person being mourned.

"I'm her classmate, Kiyomi Hanae," she introduced herself politely, giving a slight bow.

"Tetsushiro Ryu," the teenager introduced himself. "I was asking because you're wearing the same uniform, and he said he was waiting for someone," he explained briefly.

Hanae's face paled.

This was either a very bad joke or a sign that she was definitely the unluckiest person in the world.

"Well, technically I have to see him, but I don't want to interrupt. So tell him I was here," she excused herself with difficulty.

"Please, you can go in and look for him, or if you want, I can bring him," Ryu seemed serious, and Hanae pursed her lips for a moment and nodded.

"If it's no problem, you can tell him I'm here," she asked hesitantly. The teenager nodded and headed toward the house, entering through the door.

Hanae leaned against the nearby lamppost, fidgeting with her gloved hands.

"Calm down, you have to be professional. It's a mission, and before friends, we're sorcerers," she tried to reassure herself. Then she hit her forehead with her hand. "Why do I always end up talking to myself?"

The sound of the door opening behind her made her turn around. Her hazel eyes saw Yuuji; he was still the same as always, smiling, perhaps a little more downcast than usual. Before leaving, he and Ryu shared a brief hug, and the pink-haired boy said something that brought a smile to the redhead's face.

She saw him getting closer and closer to her, which made the blonde look with great interest at a nearby bush, adjusting strands of her hair.

"So you're my partner," the pink-haired boy commented, reaching her side. Hanae nodded, still not looking at him.

"Let's finish this quickly," the girl interrupted, starting to walk, hearing him follow her. The blonde took out her phone, searching for mission information. "Do you know Nishi Park?" I asked, my eyes glued to the screen.

"I visit him a few times, he's not far," he replied calmly. Hanae clutched her phone in her left hand. How could he be so calm?

<"Then let's go. According to the report, paranormal events have occurred to people who have been there," she explained briefly. The floor must have been broken somewhere, as she felt her foot lose its balance, and if it hadn't been for Yuuji grabbing her shoulder and quickly moving her, she surely would have fallen.

Hanae looked at the boy and his hand on her shoulder in confusion. The pink-haired boy quickly moved, putting some distance between them—not a huge distance, but a few steps behind.

"Are you okay?" he asked with slight concern, and Hanae quickly nodded.

"If my head is just in... Never mind," she quickly started walking again, this time putting her phone away, hearing Itadori behind her. "It definitely doesn't matter, the mission is what matters."

"You seem distracted," the boy argued.

"I'm not distracted," the girl quickly denied.

"Then I guess your untied laces had nothing to do with you almost falling," Yuuji said, gesturing to his boots with a slight smile. Hanae's hazel eyes dropped as she realized that, indeed, the laces of her tall boots were hanging loose and dragging on the floor.

"Damn it." The word escaped her lips as she bent down to tie her laces, hearing Yuuji's soft chuckle behind her. She had missed that sound, hadn't she? "What about you? Your hoodie's on backward," he pointed out, standing up.

"It's not..." Yuuji tried to point to his red hoodie under his uniform, but when he did, he looked genuinely surprised that it was on backward. Now it was Hanae's turn to chuckle. "Give me a second, I'm going to change," she explained as she unbuttoned her blue jacket.

"Not in the middle of the street," the blonde pointed out matter-of-factly, making him stop what he was doing and simply tuck his hood under his jacket. Hanae sighed and resumed walking. "Let's finish the mission," she said, returning to the main topic.

As they walked, Hanae reached for the pill bottle she carried on her belt, took out two pills, and swallowed hard.

"I never asked, but how's your nose?" Itadori asked.

"Better. I just need to take medication to control the pain and reduce the swelling," the blonde replied. The bandage on the bridge of her nose was gone, making the slight curve to the right more noticeable. Although she still needed medication, it was a relief to stop disinfecting and changing the bandage.

A few minutes of awkward silence followed. But finally, the two students arrived at Nishi Park. It was a park with a long avenue paved with graphite tiles. It had several trees with orange leaves that would surely bloom in spring; she recognized several as cherry trees.

"I'll put on the veil. Do you see anything strange?" she asked the pink-haired man, who nodded. Hanae raised her gloved left hand and extended her two middle fingers. "A darkness blacker than darkness. It purifies the impure."

As soon as those words were spoken, the veil began to fall over the place, and the blue sky turned lilac in just a few minutes.

"There's something there. The fountain is supposed to be closed for autumn," Yuuji said, pointing to a nearby fountain, quite large behind some trees, which did indeed have crystal-clear water flowing.

They both approached and began to look for anything unusual about the structure. It seemed like a normal fountain, with some finishing touches but nothing out of the ordinary.

"There's something we're not seeing," the blonde commented, stopping and letting her hazel eyes wander over the fountain, pulling the boy to stand beside her. "Is there anything you normally do here? Any traditions or games?" she asked curiously.

"Well, in summer, children usually get their feet wet and play with the water. I know from experience," he replied seriously, seemingly very intrigued himself. "But they also leave coins for good luck and wishes."

"Alright, you toss a coin and I'll put my feet in the fountain," the blonde announced, walking towards the fountain and taking off her boots when she reached the edge.

"Are you sure? I'd rather go in the fountain," he tried to argue, but Hanae simply stepped into the fountain, feeling her feet sink into the cold water and a slight shiver run through her body. "You're so stubborn sometimes," he commented playfully, searching his pockets for something.

"And you should stop worrying. I thought I already told you," Hanae said, unable to see him, as she uttered the phrase that had refuted his argument.

"I found a coin! It's dirty, but it'll do!" Yuuji announced, showing the object, but Hanse was busy looking at the water in the fountain.

"Now make a wish and throw it. If nothing happens, it's because we're looking in the wrong place," the blonde said in a serious voice.

She heard the coin fall beside her, with a soft, dull thud in the water.

After a few minutes, nothing unusual happened. Hanae submerged herself a little in the fountain, but nothing else occurred.

"I was wrong," the blonde replied with a hint of frustration. "We have to start over," she added, approaching the edge of the fountain.

"Hey, don't say that. You're smart; I'm sure you can think of another way," Yuuji tried to encourage her, and Hanae smiled slightly, nodding.

When she reached the edge of the fountain, her hazel eyes saw the pink-haired boy extend his hand to help her down. The blonde hesitated for a moment, but accepted.

But at that moment, she felt something grab her ankles and pull her down. With a strangled cry, Hanae fell, feeling the water reach her and engulf her. If it hadn't been for Itadori's grip on his hand and then on his entire arm, She would have sunk.

She opened her eyes underwater and saw the creature holding her. She couldn't make it out clearly, but with a swift movement, she kicked it free. Yuuji quickly pulled her out of the fountain; the blonde was walking unsteadily and coughing up water.

"Are you okay? Can you breathe?!" the pink-haired boy asked worriedly. Hanae nodded with difficulty; her blonde hair, now loose and wet, clung to her face. But she felt Itadori brush some damp strands away from her face, allowing her to see a little better.

"T-Thank you," she said, barely able to compose herself. "What happened?" she asked the air, confused.

At that moment, a creature began to crawl out of the fountain. It had long, thin limbs, like a lizard's, a blue body with black markings, and a single golden eye that covered its entire face.

"I granted your wish, but I must fulfill it." Its voice was distorted, almost slurring the words, its single eye fixed on Itadori.

The blond boy looked at it, confused, frowning in uncertainty.

"I didn't ask for that," Yuuji defended himself seriously, staring at the creature.

The curse attacked the students with its limbs, forcing them both to take refuge behind a large, withered tree, using the smoke raised by the attack as cover. The creature began to prowl the area, emitting bloodcurdling shrieks with every step.

Hanae and Yuuji could only hide behind the tree, watching the cursed creature from afar. Suddenly, the blonde stepped on a rock and felt its slightly sharp edges on her bare foot. She was about to let out a cry of pain, but Itadori quickly covered her mouth with his hand.

Hanae looked at him with annoyance, but the pink-haired boy simply pointed slightly at the bluish creature, whose gaze was fixed on the tree where they were hiding. The blond boy understood the situation and nodded, remaining silent. After a few seconds, the curse lost interest and decided to search in a nearby playground.

Both teenagers let out a soft sigh of relief.

"I like horror movies, but this isn't fun," whispered the pink-haired boy, his gaze fixed on the curse.

"It said it granted you a wish. Itadori, what did you wish for?" asked the blond boy in a low voice, turning to look at him.

"I wish I could meet Jennifer Lawrence," the boy confessed. Hanae looked at him with disappointment; obviously, he would wish for something like that.

"The actress from The Hunger Games?" he asked disdainfully in a whisper.

"You like The Hunger Games?" commented the pink-haired boy enthusiastically.

"Of course I like them, I even read the books," the blonde replied quickly. "If that's what you wanted, why did you try to kill me?" she asked, intrigued.

"I don't know. Maybe it misunderstood the wish." Yuuji seemed genuinely intrigued by the situation.

They heard a squeak in the distance and saw it was the curse searching among the swings, but in a swift movement, the creature quickly made its way to the fountain, submerging itself and prowling the water.

"It's connected to the fountain and grants wishes that weren't the ones made. The coins fall into the fountain and cause the curse to manifest," the girl reflected seriously. "The fountain is the key to its cursed energy. It reminds me of a Naiad."

"A Naiad?" Yuuji asked from beside her.

"Creatures from Greek mythology preside over and protect different forms of water. But they are usually kind beings, although they hate lies," she explained briefly. At that moment, a wave of truth hit the blonde. "Wait, the report said that the people died in paranormal circumstances, but they all have something in common: they are things they never would have wished for. A man died of heart failure, but he was a marathon runner. A woman stabbed herself in the stomach while she was pregnant."

"The curse uses wishes and reverses them," Itadori finished smugly, making the blonde nod with a smile.

"Itadori, what was it you truly desired?" I asked him seriously, looking him straight in the eye.

"I..." he began hesitantly, but finally sighed in surrender. "I wished you wouldn't leave again." He finally blurted out, looking away, not wanting to see Hanae,but she saw a slight blush on his cheeks but blamed it on the lighting of the place

The blonde ignored the warm feeling inside her and looked back at the curse.

"We have to get him away from the source and exorcise him separately," Hanae announced softly. "But I think I need my boots for that," she said, looking at her bare feet.

"Wait here." Itadori quickly approached the place where the blonde's high boots were, and Hanae didn't have a chance to stop him, having to resign herself to watching from the tree.

Yuuji quickly grabbed the boots and tried to return to his companion, but accidentally stepped on a dry branch, causing the curse to raise its single golden eye. The pink-haired boy hid behind a... Hanae watched as the curse drew ever closer to Yuuji, also noticing how the pink-haired boy began to gather cursed energy in his fist, ready for when the curse approached.

Hanae simply found a rock on the ground and threw it toward the trash can on the other side of the area, making a dull metallic clang that caught the creature's attention, and it ran toward the noise.

The girl watched the creature slink away, and when she turned around, she realized Itadori was right beside her, which made her jump.

"Why didn't you let me hit it?" Yuuji asked, handing his boots to Hanae, who quickly put them on.

"You would have killed us both. You can't attack without a plan; we don't even know its abilities," he replied honestly, finishing tying them. "We'll do this: I'll distract it. After all, it only attacks me. You search the source."

"And what should I look for?" the pink-haired boy asked, intrigued.

"A cursed object. A curse linked to a place must have a cursed object connecting it. I don't know, some ornament or something strange," he explained briefly, standing up. "At first glance, it seems to be a level two curse."

The boy nodded.

"Be careful, it looks like it's going to kill you. Don't let it," I told the girl, and Hanae shrugged.

"I'm not promising anything," she exclaimed, starting to move toward the curse. She glanced around and saw the pink-haired girl heading toward the fountain.

Hanae moved closer and closer, hiding behind the nearest tree she could find. She retrieved a shuriken from her belt, imbuing it with cursed energy. She sighed with determination and quickly threw the weapon, hitting the curse's eye.

The creature shrieked in pain, and Hanae emerged from her hiding place, searching for another shuriken and throwing it at one of the curse's limbs. But then a layer of ice appeared, trapping the weapon, and a large amount of water surrounded the curse's body.

Of course, she had abilities with water.

The blonde watched as it formed ice needles that began to attack her ferociously. She somersaulted to dodge them. She ran behind the trees and pressed her gloved hands against the ground, creating a barrier for the ice spikes to shatter into pieces.

But quickly, what appeared to be the cursed arm struck the tree, destroying it and leaving a cloud of splinters. Hanae extended the barrier into a dome, protecting herself from the damage. She quickly deactivated it and reached for another shuriken in her pocket, using the sharp points to slice through the creature's thin arm.

She felt something grip her right leg, and when she looked down, she saw it was a large block of ice pinning her to the ground. She barely had time to see the curse approaching, now with enormous ice spikes on her remaining limbs. The blonde girl quickly pressed her hands against the ground, creating a barrier, feeling the creature's blows against her shield. Sweat began to form on her face, trickling down her forehead. Again and again, the curse struck her hard, and the girl watched in terror as cracks appeared in her barrier.

We can't hold out much longer, and she with difficulty lifted her hands from the ground, standing up. The curse tried to attack her again. Hanae instinctively covered her face with her arms in a protective gesture, but nothing happened.

She lowered her arms and watched as the curse was held back by a barrier, leaving her with a surprised expression.

Had she created a barrier without touching the ground?

She didn't have time to think much more, and pressed her hands into the ground, creating a new shield that enveloped the curse.

"You're not Gojo, and this isn't infinite. Think about what you want, find a way to repel it. Negative cursed energy is what makes up curses and most sorcerers. Positive cursed energy is extremely rare, and you only know two who can wield it at will: Shoko and Yuuta. Like poles repel; what you must do is increase your cursed energy until it matches the negative energy and creates the repulsion."

That was the thought that crossed her mind as she watched the curse trapped.

She increased her cursed energy, and as she did, she saw the barrier turn a pale blue, and the curse recede several meters, crashing into a samurai statue. Hanae stood up, sweat and water dripping down her face, searching for her last shuriken, filling it with cursed energy, and throwing it at the curse, hitting its target.

She heard a muffled sound behind her, like concrete being broken. Seconds later, the curse vanished before her eyes.

Hanae was breathing heavily but let out a relieved sigh, though a burning sensation in her hands snapped her out of her brief moment of relief. She quickly removed her gloves, letting them fall to the ground with a groan of pain, noticing how her palms felt like they had been burned.

Why? Why did she always end up hurting herself?

"Kiyomi! I already destroyed the cursed object. There was another curse protecting it, but I exorcised it!" She heard Yuuji's voice approaching and stopping beside her. "What happened to your hands?" he asked, looking at her gloves on the ground and then at her hands.

"I don't know why, but they burn a lot," the blonde complained in pain.

"Come on, the fountain isn't cursed anymore, and it still has water." The pink-haired boy led her to the fountain, but not before the blonde had picked up her gloves and put them in her pocket. When they were close to the fountain, he had Hanae bend down and put her injured hands in the cold water. She let out a groan of pain, feeling the pain gradually subside.

"Where was the cursed object?" The girl asked seriously.

"At the flower-shaped ornament," Itadori pointed to the spot where the top of the fountain had supposedly been, now destroyed. "We're going to get in trouble."

"The school has a damage control policy," the blonde replied quickly, sounding tired. "Thank you for earlier, I owe you a lot of favors," she added gratefully.

"It's my duty to support my comrades during missions," he replied seriously, and Hanae frowned.

Was it just a duty for him? A responsibility?

"Why don't you hate me?" Hanae never thought a question could sound so sincere. She took her hands out of the water and sat down on the ground, leaning against the concrete of the fountain. "I said so many terrible things. You should avoid me and blame me for everything I've done," she explained with frustration.

She listened as he sat down beside her, their shoulders almost touching.

"After our fight... I thought about your words. We both grew up in different circumstances and with different... pains. I still don't understand your decisions, but I know I can't keep judging them without knowing the background. I know you think death is something terrible, and there's something inside you that makes you hate it, reject it... And that's what makes you reject me too." The blonde turned to look at him, her hazel eyes meeting his. "We'll do this. I'll tell you something personal so you can do it, okay?"

"How personal?" the girl asked, intrigued.

"If I tell you the reason for my lie, will you tell me yours?" the pink-haired boy proposed, and Hanae nodded after a moment.

"Why did you hide your destiny as a vessel from me?" the blonde questioned, doubt in her voice, as they began searching for bandages in her belt. She had learned the hard way that she should at least have something for her wounds after nearly bleeding to death from the blow to her nose.

"I, Itadori Yuji, hid it from you because of my selfishness," he answered confidently, and Hanae looked at him, confused.

"Selfishness? What does that mean?" The question wasn't reproachful; it was out of curiosity.

He broke eye contact, staring straight ahead with an impassive expression. This must be worrying, given how expressive he usually is.

"Everyone here sees me the same way... as a threat. A miserable kid just passing through. No one admits it, but that's the truth. When I started talking to you and explained that you didn't know about the sentence or Sukuna, I decided to avoid the topic. Being with you makes me feel like my days aren't numbered, and you've brought me back what little normalcy I've allowed myself. Even though there shouldn't be any." His honesty was undeniable.

"Wanting a life like anyone else isn't selfish, Itadori. We all want it to be a little boring sometimes. You deserve it." Hanae was still watching him, finishing bandaging his hand.

"But what will happen when Sukuna takes control? He almost killed you and Fushiguro. And even though I trust Gojo-sensei, he might not always be there when it happens. Execution is the only way to prevent it," he replied, looking at the ground. The blonde felt a slight tightness in her chest upon hearing him say those words.

"Itadori. You have a very strong heart and a will that honestly makes me a little envious," Hanae said. "You fight and are willing to sacrifice your life for others, all because of that duty you have, nothing else. And... I should never have questioned it."

"I wasn't a good friend either. I said insensitive things because of my resentment and doubts. What happened that made you want to die at that station?" The pink-haired boy was now watching her, and the blonde didn't look away; she simply adjusted herself more comfortably against the concrete.

A minute of silence fell, and after the girl finished bandaging her remaining hand, she released the breath she hadn't known she'd been holding.

"I wasn't the only one who decided the course of our relationship when we had just met. In my case, it was hearing you talk about justice and death. I didn't want to show you my past; I thought it would only make me seem... empty," the blonde replied bitterly. "When a curse killed my father, we weren't alone. A large crowd of people who had been on the train with us were there too. I remember my father hiding me behind them, and before I knew it... everyone was dead and they were crushing me. I was buried under the corpses, and I suppose..." That's why the curse didn't detect me... I don't know how long I was like that, maybe a few hours. Even the cold of the place made the corpses decompose faster... If it hadn't been for the sorcerer who rescued me, I would have died, but when he took me out of that place, I understood that I was alone. The only person I was certain had loved me was dead, and I had nowhere to go... The School took me in, but I always knew I had no other choice." The girl's voice broke slightly, but she continued telling the story.

The faint sound of water was all that could be heard. Hanae felt her clothes still damp from the curse's attack, but she didn't mind much.

"From that day on, I wondered why I survived, if there was any reason for it... I never found an answer. Then the training began, and everything reset. And I realized how difficult it is to live when you're all that remains of your former life. It would have been easier for me to wish for death than to live, but then I remembered I was still alive, and the cycle repeated itself again and again. I was dragged into this world when all I wanted was to go home to my father, and I always believed that dying would have been less painful."

"Your father would have been so glad you survived, and so would I," the pink-haired man added gently, and the blonde smiled slightly.

"I think we both share too much, two ordinary people who, overnight, become sorcerers, without having a clue why.They got themselves involved in this and they have to trust an albino with a worrying taste for sugar," the blonde commented sarcastically, making them both laugh a little.

"That's why we're friends, and friends stick together." His arm circled the blonde's shoulders, causing their shoulders to bump. Hanae was surprised at first but relaxed almost instantly,resting her head lightly on his shoulder.

"I know you deal with a lot of problems, Itadori. You shouldn't try to take on more." She teased him playfully.

"Yours are a different story," Yuuji replied honestly.

Hanae simply laughed, shaking her head and standing up.

"And according to you, I'm the stubborn one?" Now standing, she offered her hand to the boy. "Are we even?" Itadori, without question, took Hanae's hand and stood up.

"Let's not fight again," he said, and the blonde nodded.

A moment of silence fell, both of them staring at each other, but Hanae's gaze fell to their clasped hands. Yuuji's hand seemed to be lightly caressing the bandages on her knuckles, almost instinctively, and he didn't seem to intend to let go. Both of their hands were calloused and rough, Hanae's from her barriers and Itadori's from her fighting style, but even so, the boy's hands were a little larger, while the blonde had long, slender fingers.

"I'm going to take off the veil," the girl said, breaking the silence, causing Yuuji to quickly release her, letting her walk away.

"What about your clothes?" Itadori asked, pointing to Hanae's wet and dirty clothes, and she sighed heavily.

"It doesn't matter..." The blonde turned to face him, who had apparently taken off his blue jacket and red hoodie. This caused the girl to quickly turn away, looking off.

"Kiyomi?" he said, catching her attention. Kiyomi turned and saw that he was now only wearing his blue uniform jacket, and his hand was extending his red hoodie.

"It's not necessary. And you should warn me when you do that! Unlike all our classmates, I respect privacy!" She shook her head urgently.

"If it is, you'll catch a cold," Yuuji insisted, and Hanae glanced down at her own wet jacket and white shirt.

"You win... And turn around," she retorted in a defeated tone, grabbing her sweatshirt and turning away.

"Yes, sir," the boy affirmed, covering his face and his eyes.

Hanae took off her blue jacket and her white button-down shirt, which, unlike most, was sleeveless, leaving her in a sports bra. She finally put on her sweatshirt.

"All done, you can turn around now, and thank you," she announced, leaving her wet clothes on a nearby bench to begin braiding her hair into a French braid.

"Red looks good on you," Itadori commented, and Hanae shook her head playfully.

"Don't say that in front of Nobara. She'll give you a twenty-minute lecture on colorimetry," the blonde replied, finishing her braid and lowering her veil, causing the sky to return to its blue hue. "We should head back. But if you want, you can stay. I mean, it's your hometown; maybe you'd like to say hello to a friend."

"You've seen too many people already. I want to go back." Itadori had started walking toward the street, followed by the blonde, who quickly grabbed her clothes and held them.

"You didn't come for the mission, did you?" she asked intuitively.

"No. It was the funeral of a friend of my grandfather. Ryu and I were childhood friends," the pink-haired man explained. "They notified me about the mission a few hours after I arrived."

"I see, it was a very convenient coincidence," the blonde muttered heavily.

"Do you think it was on purpose?" Yuuji asked playfully, and the girl shrugged.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was. But I'm glad it was," she confessed honestly, her hazel eyes meeting his "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Itadori added with a gentle smile.

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A few hours later, both teenagers had returned to school, now with the sunset painting the sky in shades of orange.

The journey back had been filled with conversation as they caught up, Hanae recounting her trips to the mall with Nobara and her days helping Inumaki with his garden. Meanwhile, Yuuji told of outings with Fushiguro and movie nights in his room, as well as the time Todou appeared out of nowhere and led them to an arcade.

"Did you really go play pachinko? You know it's illegal, right?" the blonde asked, laughing.

"It was only once!" The pink-haired boy defended himself, and Hanae looked at him suspiciously. "Well, it happened more than once," he confessed honestly, and the girl laughed. "But I still insist it's not illegal."

"It is if you're underage. Believe me, you're talking to the daughter of a lawyer, but I'm also your friend, and I'll keep your secret," Hanae declared as they both reached the school hallways.

"I'll wash your sweatshirt. I promise it'll be ready tomorrow. Do you like lily perfume? I'll put some on my clothes," the blonde said, looking at the red garment she was still wearing. She held her dirty uniform in her hand.

"You can keep it. There's a closet full of spare uniforms in my room," Yuuji replied, and Hanae nodded and felt a slight blush on her cheeks, which she attributed to the cold she had endured in her wet clothes hours before.

Then they heard quick footsteps approaching.

They both turned to see Fushiguro and Nobara, and looked at them in surprise.

"Well, the plan worked," the dark-haired boy was the first to break the silence, with a tone of feigned surprise.

"Plan?" the pink-haired girl and the blonde girl asked.

"You two weren't doing well, and we had to resort to the most powerful person in the school," Nobara explained proudly, "but we couldn't find Gojo-sensei, and Principal Yaga refused. So Kimi-san helped us. Now I understand where Panda-senpai got his knack for gossip," the brunette remarked.

"I told you, it was all planned," Hanae said to Yuuji, defeated.

"That doesn't matter. We're already together, and you can all be in the same room. There's a restaurant today that offers a discount for groups of four. Let's go to dinner!" the brunette exclaimed, but at that moment, she fixed her gaze on Hanae. "But first, you'll change that... Just a moment," she said, stopping and observing the blonde. "It doesn't look so bad. It suits you. Let's go."

Hanae and Yuuji giggled softly, and Fushiguro shrugged. The four of them began walking to the restaurant, led by the brunette, which was a little funny since she was the shortest of the group.

"I guess we can't rest yet," the pink-haired boy said to the blonde, who laughed softly.

"Not while there are four of us."

Chapter Text

"Please, Ijichi-san, it'll only be a moment," Hanae pleaded desperately, trying to sound calm.

"I'm sorry, Kiyomi-chan. I have a lot of work to catch up on. You can come back later," the adult replied, carrying a large stack of papers to his desk.

The blonde sighed in frustration, slowly pondering the situation in the dark-haired man's office.

Two week had passed since their mission in Sendai, and everything seemed to be going normally. The second-year students had gone on a mission in Kanazawa, so now only the school staff and first-year students were present.

But a doubt gnawed at Hanae.

"I know it's sudden. But I don't know any other mage who knows how to use barrier magic like you, and on my last mission, something happened that I don't think is normal," she explained, sitting down in the chair across from him. desk, and causing Ijichi to look up from his computer with Excel open and put down the paper he was holding.

"What happened? I know barrier magic can be overwhelming sometimes," the adult said, his tone slightly concerned. Hanae nodded.

"Have you ever... created barriers without touching the ground or performing any rituals?" she asked carefully, fidgeting with her bare hands.

The dark-haired man remained silent for a moment.

"It's possible... but it's a very advanced technique. As you know, the barrier ritual is the sorceress's simplest. But that doesn't mean it's not a technique that still requires years to master," the adult explained. Hanae looked at her own hands. "How did you manage it?"

"I don't know. I was just unprotected and needed something to shield me. It was like... I don't know how to describe it," she struggled to explain. "And then there's that blue barrier..."

"Blue barrier? Defensive barriers don't usually have colors," the intrigued adult questioned.

"According to Gojo-sensei, he said I could imitate infinity..." He couldn't even continue because he heard the assistant's amused laughter. "Don't laugh! I knew from the beginning that it was impossible!" He defended himself honestly. "But..." He said, managing to make the adult stop laughing and return to his serious but kind expression. "There have been moments, moments of great stress. Where a barrier with a blue color appeared and I was able to repel it, realizing that I had to match my cursed energy with that of my opponent... That's strange, isn't it?" She explained in a soft tone, looking at the adult for an answer.

"I can't tell you what it is. Because I've never heard of a similar case. Not even Domain Expansion is capable of repelling it; it only prevents passage and exit," the adult tried to reason, under the teenager's gaze.

"So is there something wrong with me? Ever since that happened, my own body hurts, even when I try to recreate it or even if I practice my barriers many times a day. My hands burn and cut for no reason... it's not like when I spit blood to stop a very strong attack; it's as if my own body is refusing. It's something I can't control," Hanae recounted, the adult's gaze turning into one of complete concern.

"If that hurts you, you should stop doing it. Kiyomi-chan, it's not normal for such a simple technique to hurt you. I've been using the barriers for 11 years, and I've never hurt my hands," Ijichi said. He looked worried and surprised.

Hanae's face went blank upon hearing the words.

"No... I don't understand. Am I the only one this is happening to?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise. "Why?" she inquired incredulously.

"I don't have an answer for that," the adult replied with frustration. "Perhaps she knows," he whispered softly.

"She?" Hanae asked urgently, but the adult remained silent.

"I meant, I should start working," the dark-haired man quickly corrected himself, resuming his task. "You should probably go back to your friends," he said nervously.

"But you haven't answered my question!" the blonde protested calmly, standing up. "Please, Ijichi-san, I need to know what's wrong with me. Why am I so weak?"

"You're not weak, Kiyomi-chan. Just try not to push yourself too hard," he told the teenager.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Hanae was in one of the school's common rooms, with some English books in front of her.

But her mind was elsewhere.

It's not normal for such a simple technique to hurt you. Ijichi's words echoed in her head.

She slammed the book down on the table, too weak to continue reading.

"Hanae-chan, it's been so long!"

Oh, no, please, no.

The blonde turned around and saw Satoru Gojo, in his school uniform, several gift bags slung over his arms like a coat rack.

"I brought back souvenirs from Africa!" he announced, entering the room. He approached the teenager and handed her a small bag. "I know you, and you'll accept it, because you wouldn't be able to break your favorite teacher's heart," he added dramatically.

The teenager looked at him with little surprise.

"Thank you," she finally said politely, opening the bag. She realized it was a bracelet woven with different colored threads. "How beautiful," she said, admiring the bracelet.

"They were selling them two for one at the airport, quite cheap, actually," the albino commented with amusement, making Hanae sigh heavily. "Yuuta sends his regards."

"Okkotsu-senpai? How is he?" the blonde asked, her voice filled with excitement.

"The usual stuff, trying new foods, taking pictures, escaping from lions," the adult replied simply. "He also asked about you. I told him you're very busy with your boyfriend."

"My what...?" Hanae questioned doubtfully.

"You know. You and Yuuji. Teenage love is the cutest thing in the world," she replied, clearly wanting to tease.

"He's not my boyfriend. We recently became friends again," she corrected, a slight blush rising to her cheeks. She couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or the annoyance the accusation caused her.

"Keep denying it, and in a few months you'll realize I was right," she continued the game, but then sat down in the chair across from the blonde, placing the gift bags on the table. "So you found out about Yuuji's execution?"

"We're having this conversation a little late, sensei. We already resolved it," Hanae clarified in a serious tone.

"But that doesn't mean you shouldn't have questions, and believe me, I know Kimi is trustworthy, but her maternal instinct makes her soften things." The adult spoke indifferently. "If you want to ask something, you have to do it now."

Hanae fiddled with the bracelet in her hand for a bit before asking.

"...Can Itadori be saved?" she asked doubtfully, but her teacher's cheeks puffed out in an explosive expression before bursting into laughter. "Why is everyone laughing at me today?" she wondered in frustration.

"It's not that... you really love your boyfriend. Panda was right, you two are equally paranoid," he said, coming to his senses.

"And what does she mean by that? And what's Panda-sempai doing telling her gossip when you is in literally on another continent?!" The blonde exclaimed in confusion, regretting not having fled through the window as soon as she saw the albino arrive.

"Why do you think panda fur is so dense? Because it's full of secrets," the adult replied playfully. "It's just that I feel so sensitive, first Yuuta and Maki. And then Yuuji and you. You grow up so fast," he commented in a mock-crying tone.

"Seriously..." the blonde said, returning to the main topic. "This whole thing he has about saving everyone is hurting him." She blurted out with concern. "I don't like seeing my friends hurt."

"That's just Yuuji's way," the albino explained simply. "Did he tell you how he and Fushiguro met?" The teenager shook her head. "He's not open about his past; it makes her feel unimportant." Gojo jotted down a story in a notebook with a pencil she had no idea where it came from.

"What's you doing?" Hanae asked, confused.

"It doesn't matter," he excused himself quickly, putting away his notebook and pencil. "The point is, he didn't hesitate to save Megumi when they first met, just as he didn't hesitate to eat one of Sukuna's fingers to help defeat the curse that was causing problems. He's brave, but he doesn't know how to handle the guilt for his actions." His voice had become a little more serious than usual in the last sentence.

"At first, I was angry with him," the blonde spoke seriously. "I avoided him, I answered him rudely, I knew I shouldn't. And despite everything, it wasn't until I hit rock bottom that I understood I wasn't angry with him." The teenager continued playing with the bracelet, watching the red, yellow, and green colors intertwine. "I was angry at the idea of ​​him dying, but I didn't think about that. What are you supposed to think when your best friend is sentenced to death?"

A brief silence fell between them. I took the opportunity to finally fasten the bracelet around her left wrist.

"More than half of the fingers still need to be consumed. We'll find a way for him to stay with us," the adult stated, and Hanae sighed.

"What if that hurts him too? He said he wouldn't forgive himself if his sukuna did anything. What if he decides to leave himself?" she asked with genuine doubt. She hated waiting, waiting for an answer. How long would that take? Months? Years?

"Perhaps... However much we love someone, everyone has the right to make their own decisions, but let's remember that he's human. Any of them would want to stay if they had something that made them forget everything they had to do to stay," Gojo said calmly, as if she had already thought of an answer.

"A while ago, someone told me that I should find something in my heart to overcome any pain, a hope for living, something that would keep me focused and passionate enough to put it above everything else. Is that what you mean?" the blonde replied firmly.

"A different way of explaining it, but yes. For example: You yearn to help, I yearn for a new world, what do you think he desires?" Gojo said it as if it were the simplest thing to understand.

"I don't know. Sensei, he's my friend, but I've only known him for three months. It's impossible to know someone completely," the blonde replied calmly.

"Then you have a new task for you. Help him find that hope. The reason to keep fighting despite the losses. Many people give up, but I know he won't," the albino asked the teenager, who shook her head.

"I can't do that," she replied in frustration. "How am I supposed to do it if I don't even know my place in the world?"

The adult was about to say something, but the blonde was quicker.

"Why did you lie to me?" she accused frankly. She wasn't one to complain, but after the Itadori scandal, she had left that habit behind. "Why did you tell me I could imitate infinity when it was a lie? When what I've done has nothing in common with it?"

"Hanae-chan..." Gojo tried to explain.

"You're the strongest," the blonde began with determination. "Fushiguro is a prodigy who will soon be a first-grade, Nobara has amazing technique with great potential, Itadori is willing to save people. And I..." She swallowed hard for a moment before continuing, "I have no idea what's been happening to me. I thought I could be someone like Ijichi-san, but there's something inside me that's... wrong."

Gojo was silent for a moment, but then snorted mischievously, as if he'd been waiting for the question.

"To motivate you," he replied simply. "Philosophy says that humans can achieve the impossible if they have faith, confidence, and the determination to do whatever it takes to get the desired results. I had to lie to you so you could do something similar." Hanae looked at him indignantly. "Don't make that face. It's a learning technique. And I'm not lying when I say I didn't have faith that you'd succeed, that it would be a total failure and that you'd get really depressed..."

"Okay, okay, I get it," the blonde interrupted wearily.

"But then that blue barrier appeared, on your mission with Itadori and Nanamin. And I realized I had to expand the story a bit more, that showing you that you could be like me would give you the necessary confidence, until you realized for yourself that 'We're completely different and our techniques have nothing in common,'" Gojo said calmly. "Besides, your face when I told you was adorable. I didn't have the courage to shatter that illusion." Now she had regained her usual playful tone.

"But what you said about the magnetic poles wasn't a lie. You were right; I molded my cursed energy depending on what I desired at that moment. Completely different from infinity, since that's based on the distance between objects and the force of attraction, plus the power of the six eyes. But that doesn't answer my question," the teenager explained seriously. "What role will I play with this power that apparently no one, not even you, knows about?" she said, turning her gaze to the window. "How am I supposed to help Itadori? How do you expect ME to do it when I don't even know what's inside me?"

"I didn't expect the conversation to turn so philosophical. Most people turn to Kimi when they have these doubts; it makes my job a little easier," the albino commented nonchalantly.

"I need YOUR answer, Sensei. You're the strongest; you always have an answer for everything," Hanae pleaded, her voice almost urgent.

"You won't always have everything at your fingertips. I think you'd prefer to find it yourself rather than have me give you the answer," the adult replied, getting up from the table and searching for the gift bags. "Am I wrong?" And the blonde's silence only confirmed it. "Besides, I have other things to do. See you later."

And that's how Gojo left the room, leaving Hanae with confusion in her hazel eyes and a lost gaze fixed on the window overlooking the schoolyard.

Why was it so difficult to find an answer?

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

"A coin for your thoughts?"

"You shouldn't say that in a fight."

The sounds of blows in the gym were muffled. Hanae and Yuuji were training in one of the school's dojos, both in athletic wear and alone, since Fushiguro had to go to the hospital to see his sister and Nobara was out buying nails at the mall.

It was no surprise that her earlier conversation with Gojo had left her with more questions than answers. She'd even hesitated to go to training, but her sense of commitment was stronger than her laziness. Although, judging by the number of times she'd hit the ground and tripped over her feet, it was clear she wasn't quite herself.

"I mean, you look pensive, and you're hitting harder than usual," the pink-haired boy explained, blocking one of his teammate's punches.

“I’m not having a good day,” the blonde explained briefly, grabbing Yuuji’s arm. She turned, shifting her weight onto his shoulder, which caused Itadori to fall to the ground. “And I’ll continue to have it if you always let me win,” she complained irritably.

“You’re my friend, I don’t want to hurt you,” the pink-haired boy replied, getting up.

Hanae sighed wearily; her two French braids fell across her chest, swaying as she stepped off the mat and reached for her gray towel to wipe the sweat from her brow.

“Sorry,” she finally said, dropping the towel to the floor. She heard Yuuji approach from behind, reaching for his water bottle. “I’ve had some really confusing conversations, and I’m taking it out on you.”

“What kind of conversations?” he asked; it wasn’t an intrusive question, but a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"About my ritual," the blonde explained, "the formal name is 'Conjuration of Moldable Cursed Energy,' but it's much easier to call it 'Barrier Manipulation Technique.' It's much more common than you think."

"Common? I thought techniques and rituals were unique," Yuuji questioned again, and Hanae shook his head.

"None of them are. My ritual is very easy to use; it's even considered the most basic of sorcery. Then there are special cases like Fushiguro and the Ten Shadows, which only one in a hundred sorcerers possess, and the most extreme are Gojo-sensei's Six Eyes," the blonde spoke calmly. "But lately, I don't know what's happening. Something strange is going on inside me."

"Perhaps I can help you. I'm an expert at having something strange inside me," Itadori said, pointing to the mark under his eye. I chuckled slightly.

"I don't think I have another curse king inside me," I remarked with amusement.

“Since there aren’t any other , the last thing I need is some insufferable sorcerer from my time.” Sukuna had manifested in the mark under Yuuji’s eye, the same one she had pointed out earlier, but the boy covered his small mouth with his hand.

“Just ignore it,” the pink-haired boy said. “So why does he say there might be something strange inside you?” I asked, and Hanae shrugged.

“It’s just… something doesn’t add up. My cursed energy isn’t above average. I don’t have infinite reserves or anything that makes it different, and yet I’m doing things I shouldn’t,” the blonde said in frustration. “My head hurts just thinking about it.”

A second of silence passed between them. Hanae leaned wearily against the wall, closing her eyes briefly.

"I know what you need!" Yuuji exclaimed beside her, making the blonde look at him with her hazel eyes confused. "There's a new Human Worm movie, and maybe it'll help you clear your head a bit. If you want," he explained excitedly, as if he really loved that movie.

"Fushiguro and Kugizaki didn't want to come with you, did they?" I asked her with an amused smile, my eyes gleaming with intuition.

"Don't betray me so easily," he explained honestly, but the blonde noticed a slight blush on his cheeks. It was probably from the previous training, since her own pale cheeks were also rosy.

But the idea didn't sound so bad. It had been a long time since I'd been to a movie theater, and maybe a bad science fiction film was the break I needed.

"Sounds good to me. Give me half an hour to change," she said, bending down to get her towel and water bottle, walking past the boy and heading for the door.

"Aren't you even going to ask what it's about?" Yuuji asked curiously.

"I already told you I don't know much about movies. I trust you," the blonde replied, turning away, giving him a kind smile, and leaving the room, heading to her own.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

"HOW COULD YOU COMBINE WHITE AND YELLOW?!"

"I get it, you know fashion isn't my thing," Hanae retorted, taking off her yellow blouse and putting her white pajama top back on.

After arriving in her room and putting her teacher's gift in her jewelry box, she started to shower and change, but at that moment a call from Nobara came in, and what initially seemed like a casual conversation to check on the brunette ended up as a scolding via video call.

Strangely, the blonde wasn't nervous; I mean, they were just two friends hanging out and going to see a movie.

Right?

With her hair freshly straightened and a black headband that accentuated her ash-blonde locks, she rummaged through her closet for something that would suit her and, of course, something Nobara would approve of. Nobara, judging by the background of her call, was still at the supermarket looking for press-on nails.

"We're just going to the movies, not a gala," the blonde remarked, grabbing a blue skirt and showing it to her friend, who shook her head, prompting her to put it away in frustration.

"I don't think you realize what he-¡Hey! I saw those nails first!" It sounded like the brunette had started arguing with someone over the garment; she even heard a scuffle.

The blonde laughed briefly and went back to rummaging through her closet.

"Here! Architecture students think they're so cool! Your hair looks awful with all that gel!" Nobara was celebrating, and from what I could hear, she was putting a large box in her cart. The blonde turned around and saw the video call on her phone, which was on the desk. "Wait a minute, what's that?" she said, catching her friend's attention. "That thing on the right."

Hanae looked in the indicated direction and took a simple sleeveless black dress from the hanger. It wasn't very long, perhaps a little above the knees, and had a small daisy print on the hem.

"I didn't remember this. It was a birthday present," the blonde commented, surprised.

"Find a long-sleeved white shirt to wear underneath, a belt, and some black shoes," the brunette instructed. Hanae nodded and looked for what she needed. "And who gave it to you? I gave you a bookmark for your birthday."

"And I really like it," the blonde said with a smile. "I honestly don't remember, but it's very pretty."

As she changed, she followed her friend's instructions: first a long-sleeved white shirt, then the dress, a belt with a silver buckle, and finally, black boots that reached her calves.

He reached for his phone screen and showed the blonde the result, who smiled proudly.

"I knew it would look good on you!" he exclaimed with satisfaction. "I'm going to start charging you to be your stylist," he joked, making the blonde laugh, until he checked the time on his phone.

"I have to go or I'll be late," she announced quickly, grabbing a nearby black coat and some silver rings, slipping them on her fingers, and taking out her phone. She saw Nobara approaching the register to pay. "Thanks for helping me."

"See you later, I'll be back in an hour. Tell me how it went." With that, Nobara hung up.

Hanae put on her coat, slipped her phone into her pocket, and placed a small white wallet in her other pocket. She quickly left her room.

From the message she received from Yuuji, they were to meet at the school entrance, a path the blonde knew by heart.

When she arrived, there was no sign of her partner. She leaned slightly against the stone wall and took her phone out of her pocket.

There weren't too many messages: one from Maki saying the mission was fine but very boring, and another from Fushiguro saying it would take longer than expected.

A slight pang of worry reached her chest. Perhaps she should call him and ask what was happening. She didn't know him that well, but she knew Tsukimi was important to him. Megumi might be a very reserved person, but she definitely wasn't insensitive.

She dialed the number and put it to her ear, hearing it vibrate slightly.

One, two. On the third ring, the dark-haired man answered.

"Kiyomi? Is something wrong?" She asked in her typical serious voice.

"No, everything's fine here. I saw your message and wanted to know how you were," the blonde explained calmly.

A brief silence followed. The teenager could only watch as night fell in the sky, growing darker and darker, leaving the lilac sunset behind.

"Tsukimi had a cardiac arrest," she finally confessed in a low tone, but with a mixture of frustration and helplessness. "The doctors have stabilized her, but I'm waiting for them to tell me she's okay and that she has no lasting effects."

Hanae's hazel eyes widened in disbelief. She definitely hadn't expected that.

It wasn't a situation she'd experienced before, and perhaps she should have offered the usual words of encouragement or promised her sister she'd get better, but she knew empty promises were worse than lies.

"She's very strong. I see where you learned to be so brave," she said calmly, trying to hide the slight tremor in her voice. Perhaps she wasn't always the one offering comfort, but she knew when to do so. "I'd love to meet her when she recovers."

"I'm sure you two would be good friends," the dark-haired man replied. His voice wasn't cheerful, but it wasn't as depressed as before either. "So you're going to the movies with Itadori?" she asked, changing the subject.

"I knew he'd tell you," the blonde commented with a soft laugh. "If you want, we can go to the hospital with you; it's no trouble at all," she suggested kindly.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine," the boy replied. "Besides, Itadori seemed really excited." "I'll be back in a few hours. Have fun." He spoke, clearly wanting to end the conversation, but not in an aggressive tone, rather with the tired tone of someone who wants to rest and not cause any trouble.

"If anything happens, call us or send Gurē. He's a very adorable wolf," the girl requested sincerely. A nod from the dark-haired boy was all she needed to hang up and go back to waiting for her pink-haired companion.

She heard footsteps approaching and the blonde stepped away from the wall, watching Yuuji walk toward her, quickly putting on a green jacket.

"I'm here! Sorry, I couldn't find my shoes!" he apologized, finally reaching Hanae.

"Don't worry, I just got here," he replied dismissively. He looked at his companion's clothes: the jacket he had just put on and, underneath, a dark green hoodie, black pants, and red sneakers. The blonde let out a giggle, which made the pink-haired boy look at her confused. "You say you don't really like hoodies, but you always wear one. It's pretty funny," he confessed honestly.

"I think it's become a habit. There are some inexplicable things," Iatodi replied, nodding. The girl shrugged. "And you? I've never seen you in a dress," she commented in surprise.

Hanae's cheeks flushed slightly, though she tried to hide it by looking away.

"I have an excellent stylist, believe me, this wasn't my first choice," she replied, absentmindedly fiddling with the rings on her fingers. "But I think I need a second opinion. Do you like him?" she asked, looking at him.

The boy paused thoughtfully for a moment, resting his hand on his chin and looking the blonde up and down.

"Do you like it?" he asked casually. Hanae was surprised for a moment, but nodded with a shy smile. "Then I like it too. Your hair really stands out against the black, I like it."

Hanae felt a lump in her throat and a warmth spread through her. It wasn't the first time someone had told her she was pretty, but this time it felt different.

"What time is the movie?" she asked, clearing her throat and letting the light night breeze cool her cheeks.

"Let me see," the pink-haired boy began, searching for his phone. "In twenty minutes!" he exclaimed desperately.

"Then we should hurry, we'll definitely catch the train," the blonde commented, starting to walk quickly, followed by her companion.

The rest of the way was filled with light conversation between the teenagers. Yuuji asked Hanae about her experience at the movies, and she replied that her father was a huge fan of superhero films, so she knew several stories, and that her favorite hero was Captain America, but that she didn't have much more experience than that and Western films like Disney.

When they finally arrived at the theater, night had already fallen, but to their surprise, there were several people there, though most were in line for a movie called "Mission: Impossible - Fallout."

"Another Tom Cruise movie? It's like the sixth one," the pink-haired boy commented with little surprise. "It's always the same: they tell him it'll be his last mission, there's a super evil villain, betrayal here, explosion there, Tom Cruise running, and in the end, they call him for another mission," he explained theatrically and with a touch of indignation.

"I like his movies; my favorite is Top Gun," the blonde girl added with amusement.

"You and I are going to have an intense movie night to correct what you just said," Yuuji pointed out with determination. The girl shrugged. "Meanwhile, let's go get the tickets," she said, approaching the ticket booth followed by her friend. "Two tickets for The Human Worm, please," she asked the employee, who nodded.

"We have couples discounts today, a special before Halloween. You and your girlfriend seem very excited," the employee commented kindly.

"We're not..." the pink-haired boy began, but the blonde cut him off.

"I don't really know much about movies, but I think it would make the date unforgettable. Thank you very much," she said, taking Yuuji's hand, intertwining their fingers, and smiling at the young employee, who nodded and said something about looking for some special tickets before leaving.

"And what was that?" Yuuji asked, not sounding annoyed but rather surprised, perhaps by the blonde's boldness. The irrefutable proof was that he hadn't let go of her hand.

"Please, have you really never lied a little for a sale?" Hanae added in a low voice.

"Not me, my grandfather did. He made me say I was six years old so I could go on the fair rides for free," he confessed with a somewhat nostalgic smile.

"I know lying isn't right, but just this once, we save money and we only have to hold hands," she explained with a hint of obviousness and amusement, although the boy seemed somewhat hesitant. "Please, next time I'll pay."

"Next time you choose the movie," Yuuji corrected, changing the condition but accepting the offer. "So what else should we do? I've never had a girlfriend," he asked with genuine doubt, and the blonde sighed.

"And you don't, we're just pretending," she reminded him calmly, but then fixed her hazel eyes on the various promotional posters in the place. "And I don't know what to do either, I've never had a boyfriend," she confessed honestly.

"But it seems you know what to do," Yuuji said, raising his clasped hands, and the blonde shrugged with a tired smile.

"Lots of romance series, Panda is really a frustrated romantic, we're lucky there isn't a super romantic period drama out yet. You have no idea what it was like watching 'Pride and Prejudice' with him," she replied playfully.

"And how was it?" I asked her curiously, and the blonde let out a short laugh.

"Let's just say he almost broke the television with Mr. Darcy's first marriage proposal, but then we cried together when he went to find Elizabeth in the end," she told me with a smile.

At that moment, the cinema employee arrived, giving them both red tickets with the aforementioned offer, and to the surprise of both teenagers, the admission was very cheap.

After finding some snacks, especially at the pink-haired boy's request, and without letting go of each other's hands, they entered the theater, which was almost empty, were it not for the employees putting on the film.

"It's only been a week since the premiere, there should be more people," Yuuji commented, sitting down. He nodded, followed by Hanae beside him, who took the initiative to separate their intertwined hands, placing her hands in his lap and playing with her rings.

Trying to ignore the lack of warmth, she had already noticed the difference between their hands during the Sendai mission, but having them so close, feeling how Yuuji's hand easily covered her pale, thin hand, and how rough yet comforting it felt, she couldn't... lie.

She had panicked.

What does Kiyomi Hanae do when she panics?

Easy: she runs away and pretends nothing is wrong.

"It's about to start," she said, watching the introduction begin.

"If you see something you don't like, you know, it's dead. You don't have to watch if you don't want to," Itadori told the girl. She stopped playing with her rings, leaned back in her chair, and let out a little breath.

The movie was... different from anything I'd seen before. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't the best I'd ever seen either. The plot of a man turned into an earthworm who then finds someone who loves him regardless of his appearance, and the mad scientist, was too cliché, but luckily it wasn't too explicit in the lab scenes.

When the movie finally ended, both teenagers left the theater.

"I admit that movie was awful, because all fourth installments are bad. I mean, it wasn't that bad, but I definitely went in with very high expectations," Yuuji finally spoke, breaking the silence, and the blonde let out a relieved sigh.

"I thought I was the only one who thought that. I didn't understand almost anything, and why is it the woman who falls in love with the monster? It's too typical," Hanae added matter-of-factly.

"Surely the fifth movie will be much better," the boy said excitedly, and the blonde let out an amused snort.

"You say Mission: Impossible has too many movies, but you're already planning to see the fifth one?" It wasn't an accusation; it was the amusing contradiction she found in him. She admitted she hadn't smiled and laughed like that in a long time. It didn't remind her of when she talked to her friends. It was something warm, the kind of conversation you want to have every day because you always find something to talk about with that person.

"It's different! The human worm talks about the desire to be loved despite having lost his humanity!" The pink-haired boy defended himself with a dramatic tone, which only made the blonde laugh even more.

After that moment, they continued walking down the corridor. The different promotional materials everywhere were confusing to Hanae, but every time she asked her companion about one that had caught his attention, he answered her in detail, knowing the plot and even telling her what they saw in the trailers. If he weren't a sorcerer, he would definitely be a great film critic.

It wasn't long before they reached the entrance. Through the theater windows, the blonde saw the sky beginning to fill with dark, cloudy clouds, a clear sign that it would soon start to rain. She was about to warn him when they heard footsteps approaching.

"Itadori, it's been so long!"/"What are you doing here?!" The blonde turned around, observing two boys her age greeting Yuuji with joy and familiarity. The pink-haired boy was also speaking animatedly to him, so they must have known each other for a while.

She shifted her hazel gaze to the boys, realizing they looked very similar, probably brothers or even twins. Both had black eyes, brown hair, and skin tanned from being in the sun. The only noticeable difference was that one had three moles scattered across his cheeks and the other had freckles, but in terms of height and build, they were identical.

After a brief chat between the three boys, two pairs of black eyes landed on Hanae, making her feel like a deer caught in headlights. She awkwardly waved, but before she knew it, the boys were beside her.

"A nice to meet you, my name is Tsuki!" the freckled boy introduced himself in a lively voice, putting his arm around his brother's shoulders. "And this is Hina!"

"Stop talking for me," the mole-covered boy complained, hitting the boy next to him on the head. He then gave a small bow to the blonde girl. "Excuse my brother, he's a busybody," he scolded disdainfully. The boy clutched his chest dramatically, as if the words had pierced his heart.

Hanae was speechless, unsure how to react to such energy.

"They were my classmates in middle school," Yuuji explained, coming to her side, which helped to calm her down and make her sigh with relief.

"Kiyomi Hanae," the girl finally said, introducing herself. "Itadori and I go to the same school," she explained kindly.

"And she's my girlfriend!" the pink-haired boy added, taking Hanae's hand. She looked at him, a little confused, but Yuuji discreetly pointed to the employee who had given them the tickets earlier, who was watching the scene with fondness.

"Y-Yes, I am. It's kind of recent, but we're dating," the girl said, wrapping her free hand around Itadori's arm and looking at the twins, who seemed surprised.

"How is it possible that Itadori got a girlfriend before me?" Tsuki commented in a depressed voice, resting her forehead against a nearby wall.

"Congratulations, you make a very cute couple," Hina said sympathetically. The contrast between the twins was definitely too much. "And how did you meet?" he asked curiously.

"At school/At the mall," they both answered at the same time, first Hanae and then Yuuji. She looked at him incredulously and shook her head.

"We met at school, but we started talking when we went to the mall with our classmates," Hanae corrected urgently.

"That wasn't—" the pink-haired boy tried to speak, but the girl lightly stepped on his foot to silence him.

"So, 'The Tiger of Shin High School' has a girlfriend. You're officially the most protected girl in town; no one's going to mess with you," Hina commented with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Don't mention it. I didn't choose that name," Yuuji excused himself, sounding embarrassed, which made the blonde girl giggle slightly.

"I like it," she said honestly, and the pink-haired boy looked at her with disbelief in his brown eyes.

"Kiyomi, don't you have a sister? One who's almost as pretty as you?" Tsuki interrupted, returning to the conversation.

"Sorry, I'm an only child," Hanae replied, shrugging.

"The world hates me," Tsuki complained in frustration.

"The movie's about to start. It was nice seeing you again, Itadori, but we should go now," she said politely to both sorcerers, then dragged her brother by the shirt to one of the theater's rooms.

"You seemed to be very popular in school," the blonde remarked to her companion as they walked toward the exit.

"I had a lot of friends. I don't know why, but I added almost everyone," the pink-haired boy replied simply.

They had barely taken a few steps onto the sidewalk when the rain began. They both jumped, backing up toward the small roof near the entrance.

"My hair is going to be ruined! It takes me twenty minutes to straighten it!" The girl complained indignantly, wiping the small drops of water from her hair. Normally, on a mission, she wouldn't care, but in her everyday life, getting her hair wet was the worst thing that could happen to her.

"Wait, I have an idea," the boy announced, catching her attention. Hanae looked at him, confused, but Yuuji took off his jacket and placed it over the blonde's head. "Hold it like that until we get to the station. It looks like the rain isn't going to stop," he explained. Hanae hesitantly took the jacket, still over her head, and the boy let go.

"What about you? You're going to catch a cold," she protested worriedly, but the pink-haired boy shrugged.

"I've never been sick. I don't think that'll make a difference," he replied honestly. The blonde was about to say something else, but Yuuji grabbed her shoulder and pulled her to the sidewalk. They quickly started running toward the station. train.

Hanae couldn't help but laugh at the situation; although Itadori's idea was working, her hair wasn't getting wet.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

They had already arrived at the school, both finally under the entrance canopy. Hanae hung her wet jacket on a nearby coat rack, watching thick drops of water fall from it, while beside her, Yuuji, completely soaked, tried to pull his face out with the sleeves of his sweatshirt.

The warm light from the entrance stood out against the dark hallways, with the sound of the storm behind them. Nobara should have already returned by this hour, but she had probably gone to sleep, and Megumi seemed to still be in the hospital.

The blonde turned her gaze to him and saw him shaking his hair to remove the water, making her let out an amused snort as she leaned her shoulder against the doorframe.

"You didn't get wet?" Yuuji asked her in a worried tone, and the girl, without moving, shook her head, offering a grateful smile.

"No, thanks for earlier," she replied, her voice touched.

He smiled sympathetically and took off his sweatshirt to hang it on the coat rack, revealing a white shirt. Hanae's eyes briefly drifted to his exposed arms, and she couldn't deny they were strong and defined, briefly leaving the blonde breathless. Compared to Megumi, Yuuji was noticeably more muscular; perhaps his superhuman strength had something to do with it, but she couldn't deny it.

She found him attractive,¿How come he'd never had a girlfriend?

He was kind, friendly, funny, handsome, helpful, and protective.

The girl's cheeks turned pink, and she looked away. He was her friend; she shouldn't be having these thoughts about him.

When she looked up again, Yuuji was looking at her too, leaning against the wall in front of her, arms crossed.

He was looking at her, not intrusively, but in a comfortable and... tender way?

"What's happening?" She asked him, confused.

"Your eyes are usually honey-colored, sometimes a little gray. But from this angle, in this light, they're almost green. They're beautiful," he replied, fascinated. Hanae smiled.

"And yours look like a Golden Retriever's," she confessed sincerely, still looking at him. Both teenagers chuckled softly, then fell into a comfortable silence.

"You shouldn't have told your friends I'm your girlfriend," she remarked to herself, and Yuuji looked at her with confusion in his brown eyes, while Hanae shifted uncomfortably. "Now they'll think we're a couple and..." The image of Yuko flashed through her mind, that beautiful, shy girl who had wanted a chance with Itadori, and now she felt like she had stolen something from her. "I just don't want anything to be awkward. You're my best friend," she explained calmly, though she felt a lump in her throat, as if saying those words would be a mistake. Incredible physical effort.

"I understand, I feel the same," he replied, but his voice wasn't his usual lively one.

“Sometime, the four of us should go to the movies. It would be fun, and I’ll keep my promise to choose the next film,” she suggested, trying to lighten the mood, but she realized it sounded forced.

He didn’t have time to reply because, at that moment, the hallway lights came on, illuminating the entire place. Both teenagers jumped and looked behind them, confused.

Where the three second-year students were.

The most affected, however, was Panda, who stared at the teenagers in disbelief, his mouth agape. Maki raised an eyebrow curiously, and Inumaki looked surprised.

“No, no, it’s not what it looks like!”Hanae said, approaching them.

“Maki, hold me, I’m going to faint,” Panda announced, and like a tree, he plopped down. The green-haired girl didn't even flinch at the impact with the floor, which made the ground tremble slightly.

"Fish scales!" added the silver hair boy, and the blonde looked at him in disbelief.

“Nothing’s going on between us, and obviously I was going to tell you,” she replied matter-of-factly.

“We just went to the movies. What’s wrong with that?” Yuuji interrupted, and as if some panda ritual had taken place, he practically rose from the dead.

“You guys went on a date! You just got back from a dangerous mission, and I’m so glad my worst romantic nightmare came true!” I announced with satisfaction.

Hanae pondered the words. They had been on a dangerous mission. Her eyes fell on her companions, noticing that they did indeed have treated injuries. Maki had a suction cup on her left eyebrow, Inumaki had her left arm in a sling, and Panda seemed unharmed.

They risked their lives, and she spent it having fun, when she should have been on a mission too.

“Don’t pressure her,” exclaimed the green-haired girl, standing next to Hanae. “You know how he is, he complains about everything and sees things that aren’t there,” she said, looking at Panda accusingly.

“Like you and Yuta?” Panda retorted, and Maki grabbed a small flowerpot that was nearby and threw it at him. The bear barely dodged it. “I’ll be there on your wedding day, and we’ll remember it with sake and laughter,” she announced as if it were an undeniable truth.

"Come on, we brought souvenirs from Kanazawa. Yours is in my room. Let's leave the fools with their own kind," Maki said to the blonde, who was watching Panda bothering Itadori with Inumaki nearby.

"Yes, we'd better go," she replied, and they both discreetly walked away.

The trip to Maki's room didn't take long. When they arrived, Hanae sat in the desk chair, while the green-haired girl searched through the things scattered on the floor. She had been in her roommate's room before, and it hadn't changed much: the trash can was full of junk food wrappers, some photos were hanging on a corkboard, and her spare curse-seeking glasses were on her nightstand.

"Here," Maki said, showing her a gift bag. Hanae thanked her and opened it, revealing a Hachiman doll. Okiagari.

"That's lovely, I've been receiving a lot of souvenirs lately," I commented playfully.

"Did Satoru give you his souvenir from Africa too?" he asked, and the blonde nodded.

"A bracelet, which was on sale. What did he give you?" I asked curiously.

"A hunting knife," he replied proudly. Hanae laughed briefly; obviously, that would be the only gift she'd accept. "Hey, maybe I'm not a professional gossip like Panda, but if you want to talk about what happened," she suggested, trying to sound indifferent.

"Nothing happened. We just went to the movies and had to pretend to be a couple to get a discount," she explained with a soft laugh. She watched as Maki sat on her bed and took off her glasses to clean them with a handkerchief. "And then we came back, and everything felt weird, really comfortable, but I realized it was wrong, and I reminded us that we're just friends."

"And why do you say it was wrong?" The green-haired girl asked without looking up from her glasses. Hanae remained silent for a moment.

"I don't know, everything just gets so confusing..." she tried to explain with difficulty. "We can talk about this another time. I think I need a distraction," she requested urgently.

Maki looked up, her amber eyes holding the look of someone who knows something but doesn't intend to press the issue. She shrugged and went back to polishing her glasses.

"How was the mission? In your message you said it was boring, but it seems to have gotten out of control," the blonde said, placing her hands on the hem of her dress, absentmindedly tracing the embroidered daisies.

"It was a special-grade curse," she began to recount.

Although Hanae listened attentively to the mission anecdote, her mind was elsewhere, replaying over and over those few hours she spent at the movies with Yuuji. She had to thank him for the outing; she'd been so desperate to escape Panda's interrogation that she hadn't had time.

And yet she loved them.

There was something inside her that wished the second-year students had never arrived, that their moment at the entrance had lasted much longer, that something more had happened—a hug, a goodbye promising to see each other the next day, anything, just something that would have made them stay longer. together.

But she forced herself to keep that desire deep inside.

Chapter Text

The morning after her date with the pink-haired boy, she didn't feel any different.

She went through her usual routine. She straightened her hair, put on her freshly ironed uniform, equipped herself with her gloves and belt, and made sure her boots were properly laced.

She headed to the school cafeteria, hoping that, as always, the second-year students had left her some coffee—a small but meaningful gesture that had become a custom several months ago.

When she entered, she noticed that it wasn't empty like most of the time. Instead, Fushiguro was sitting at a table near the window with a steaming cup in front of him, which he wasn't paying much attention to since he had a book in his hands.

He must have heard her because his blue eyes landed on her instantly, almost as if it were more instinct than habit.

"Good morning," the dark-haired man greeted briefly, returning his gaze to the pages.

"Good morning," Hanae said politely, walking towards the coffee maker near the corner of the room. She saw that it still contained the brown liquid,shee couldn't lie, she missed the smell of coffee in the morning. His nose no longer detected the subtle scents, so he had to rely entirely on his companions' ability to accurately measure the water and coffee. He missed noticing the subtle changes in smell when it was someone's turn to make coffee. Now he couldn't distinguish between Panda's habit of adding a tiny pinch of salt or Inumaki sometimes adding cinnamon sticks.

From the nearby shelf, she took a white mug with small pink flower details, a birthday gift, after realizing she had broken her previous mug that day when she rushed out after a call from Nanami.

She poured the coffee into the mug halfway, then searched the labeled containers in the nearby refrigerator for milk and quickly took just a small squirt to keep it warm. She returned the carton to the refrigerator.

When she finished, she picked up the mug and approached the table where her companion was sitting.

"Excuse me," he said, drawing her attention. Megumi barely bowed, and the blonde sat down in the chair opposite him.

The girl took a sip of her drink, feeling it give her more energy and help her keep her eyes open and feeling that this time it was Gojo's turn to put the coffee on, since he felt a sweetness in the liquid

"I don't want to sound intrusive, but I heard yesterday that you came home very late from the hospital," she began, her voice gentle. Megumi was definitely no child; it was very clear to her how mature and serious he was for his age, but she also knew he wasn't one to talk about his personal affairs. The bridge mission and yesterday's call were the only times she'd seen him be open about his emotions.She didn't want to damage the trust they shared. "I wanted to ask you. How are you feeling?"

The dark-haired man finally looked up from his book, and Hanae noticed the dark circles under his eyes, which, despite standing out against his pale skin, weren't immediately noticeable. A simple glance.

Megumi freed one of her hands, picked up her mug, took a sip, and then remained silent for a few minutes, during which her companion also remained silent.

"Tsukimi is better, she recovered well overnight, and I had to stay and take care of some errands with Gojo-sensei," Fushiguro replied wearily, Hanae taking a step forward at the response. "...I'm a little more relieved." That sentence eased the blonde's worry somewhat.

"I'm so glad. None of us like to see you sad, Fushiguro," she commented calmly, speaking in the plural because it was the truth. "I imagine Gojo-sensei went to be with you and your parents. I mean, he's our teacher, and he should be worried," she added, trying to lighten the mood.

"This is for you," the dark-haired man quickly interrupted, changing the subject. He bent down slightly and held a blue gift bag with a white ribbon in his hand. "I forgot your birthday the other day, I'm sorry," he explained briefly.

Hanae frowned, somewhat confused by the apologetic change of subject, but she should have seen it coming. She herself changed the subject all the time, and although something inside her suspected it, she didn't want to assume that perhaps there was more to Fushiguro's life than he had told them.

But she wasn't going to pressure him too much. The topic of her sister was already a giant step.

"Thank you very much, it wasn't necessary," she finally said, taking the bag in her hands. Today, October 19th, marked one month since her birthday, and she hadn't expected this gesture, but she was nonetheless very grateful.

She opened the bag. Gently, revealing a book, she saw the title on the cover: "The Long Walk by Richard Bachman (Stephen King), original 1977 edition." Hanae's hazel eyes sparkled at the title, gazing at the book with admiration.

"It's impossible, I've been looking for one, for months. Thank you so much, Fushiguro," she said with genuine gratitude and a broad smile.

"I don't usually like dystopian or fantasy books, but I saw you reading some, and it was my only option," he replied seriously.

"How did you get this edition? It's usually very expensive," the blonde commented, a bitter taste lingering in her mouth.

The dark-haired man shrugged and took another sip of his coffee, a gesture of "it's not important," and Hanae didn't press the matter.

As she felt the texture of the cover beneath her fingertips, a doubt gnawed at her. She didn't want to ruin the moment, but if she didn't say it now, she might not have many opportunities to do so again.

"Fushiguro," she said, drawing his attention, "Do you think there's something... wrong with my cursed energy?" She asked gently, with a hint of concern. Her companion didn't seem fazed, perhaps because he was too apologetic. "I mean," she said, clearing her throat, "you've been with the Sorceress much longer than I have, and I've already tried talking to Gojo-sensei, but the answers weren't very complete. If you know something, I know you're not going to soften the blow." She explained, trying to remain calm, but the way she clutched the book was a sign that she was nervous.

"I don't think there's anything wrong," Megumi replied seriously and honestly. Hanae briefly relaxed her own body. "I think there's something that shouldn't be there." That sentence was enough for the blonde to look at him with concern. "Ever since we met, I knew there was something about your cursed energy that wasn't the same as Ijichi-san's. It's quite strange, knowing that you both possess the same ritual technique."

"Strange in what way?" The girl questioned.

"I don't want to assume anything, but it's like Itadori's case with Sukuna. Their cursed energies are divided and different. In your case, I can see it as if there's a ceiling above your cursed energy that definitely isn't yours," Megumi explained.

Hanae's blood ran cold, and she was speechless. They never would have expected that answer, never would have expected such passivity to exist.

"Is it that obvious? And why didn't anyone tell me anything before?" She questioned herself in confusion, felt her breath escape her, and forced herself to take deep breaths, carefully placing the book on the table.

"It wasn't at first, perhaps it's become more evident lately," the dark-haired man replied.

"It doesn't make sense," she barely managed to say, leaning back in her chair and taking a sip of coffee. Feeling the warm liquid helping to calm her, she exhaled and cleared her throat. "I'm not from a special clan, I don't have any grand rituals, and as far as I can remember, I've never eaten any cursed objects. Why would this be happening?"

Megumi remained silent. Obviously, he didn't have an answer either, and perhaps never would. He had been honest with his friend, but it was clear that it had affected her. After all, it wasn't normal for someone to tell you that you had something inside you that you shouldn't.

"Let's talk about something else," he suggested in an indifferent voice. Hanae looked at him incredulously. "How did it go with Itadori yesterday? What movie did she see?" he asked, trying to sound cheerful, which definitely didn't work. In fact, it sounded like someone had put a knife to his throat to make him say those words.

The blonde smiled faint. She definitely had amazing friends around her.

"The Human Worm, honestly, it was pretty bad," she replied honestly, and the unsurprised look in Fushiguro's indigo eyes was enough to know that he had expected that answer.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

During her conversation with Fushiguro, the topic of Yuuji and Nobara's whereabouts came up. The dark-haired man revealed that they had gone on a mission, accompanied by Gojo, who wanted to give them "a field lesson."

Hanae was grateful she hadn't gone with them; the trio was a whirlwind of emotions and jokes, which could sometimes be a little overwhelming.

Or perhaps she didn't feel ready to see him.

Right now she was on her way to the school library. She had already left her gift in her room, taken her pills, which were still very much a part of her life, and perhaps she should read something related to cursed energy.

Her classmate's explanation left a void inside her. The doubt about what on earth was happening inside her had persisted since the day she created that first blue barrier. Although her teacher's false explanation had calmed her, now that she knew the whole truth, she couldn't help but be somewhat obsessed with the problem.

Her boots echoed on the wooden hallway floor, and the girl wiped the light sleep from her eyes that was still present. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted an open door, making her stop abruptly. She realized it was Kimi's office; after all, the "Vice Principal" badge engraved on it The metal, which appeared to be handmade, stood out against the dark wood.

It was extremely rare to see open doors, especially among the administration offices. Offices, filing cabinets, and faculty lounges were normally locked with no way to open them from the outside.

The blonde couldn't help but feel curious. Cautiously, she glanced both ways down the hallway, making sure no one saw her, and slowly approached the open door, but stopped before touching the frame of the sliding door.

"You complain that your colleagues don't respect privacy, and you're doing the same thing. Not a hypocrite at all, Hanae," she scolded herself in frustration. But in her defense, she had never seen Kimi's office, and curiosity (this time) got the better of her.

She gently pushed the door open and took a quick look inside, but something caught her attention.

On the desk near the window, Kimi was asleep in her arms, her blonde hair disheveled.

And the absence of her blue coat was a sign that it must be due to exhaustion.

Hanae's expression softened. She remembered the days when she would stay reading in the library until sleep overtook her, only to be woken by Kimi, who would greet her with a kind smile but with the firmness to tell Hanae to go to her room to rest.

Hanae recognized the back pain that sleeping like that caused, in addition to the headaches. So she pushed the door even further, closing it completely, entering the room as quietly as possible. The office was somewhat different from the other places; the walls were painted a lavender color, with some photographs interspersed among the rows of books, a bookcase, some black sofas with a small table in the center that held a vase of freshly pink carnations, flowers that Hanae recognized as belonging to Inumaki's garden.

She reached the desk where the woman was still asleep. It was a white wooden piece of furniture with various objects on it: stacks of papers, picture frames, and even a small bowl of candy wrappers. Kimi must be extremely exhausted because otherwise she would have noticed the faint sound of the door or the girl's hesitant footsteps. Hanae had seen her turn her head even if she heard footsteps in the distance or if a bird suddenly sang. So she didn't know whether to be relieved that she hadn't been caught in the act or worried about the woman's deep sleep.

"Kimi-san, please wake up," she said loudly when she saw that the woman didn't respond. Hanae moved closer, taking the woman's shoulder and shaking her gently. "Kimi-san, you're going to hurt yourself." What happened next was disorienting.

Kimi had woken up and, as if by instinct, pushed Hanae against the wall, maintaining a firm grip on her shoulders with her left arm and holding a metal dagger dangerously close to the girl neck in her right hand.

Hanae breathed in short, ragged gasps, feeling her chest rise and fall rapidly. Her hazel eyes stared in surprise and fear at the gleaming metal near her neck, practically kissing her skin, feeling the edge that with just a little pressure could sever her throat. Her gaze shifted to Kimi, noticing that her blue-gray eyes were wandering aimlessly around her, but when they landed on Hanae, regret and guilt filled her expression. She abruptly stepped back, sheathing the dagger in its sheath on her thigh.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry," the woman apologized quickly. The blonde didn't reply, which only made Kimi's expression more worried. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" she asked, cautiously approaching the girl.

The student nodded, took a deep breath to calm herself, and stepped away from the wall.

"I'm fine, it was my fault for taking you by surprise." The response finally calmed Kimi's expression, but she still approached Hanae, placing her hands on her shoulders and scanning her for any potential injuries. "You have very good reflexes," the teenager complimented, but a serious look from the adult stopped her.

"I could have killed you, Hanae," she said bitterly, her words seeming more directed at herself than at the girl.

"But it didn't happen," she replied calmly. Kimi still looked unconvinced, refusing to meet her gaze. Hanae sighed. "I'm really fine," she said honestly, which finally made the woman let go of her and walk over to her desk to put her coat back on "I didn't know you used daggers," she tried to break the tension.

"I don't like using them, they were a gift...from my father," the woman confessed in an indifferent tone, but clearly laced with nostalgia. She reached for a dagger in its sheath and examined it for a moment, touching its sharp edge with her fingers, before extending it to Hanae. Hanae looked at the weapon, which she had been waiting for, and after a moment of hesitation, finally accepted.

It was clearly a handmade and very expensive piece, a steel blade with engravings that resembled thunderclaps rising from the black leather handle. The girls admired the weapon that had once been around their necks for a moment; it was extremely... beautiful.

"he gave them to me when I entered the witchcraft school. I'd practiced with wooden daggers for years, and it was very easy to adapt," Kimi explained, her voice calming as she spoke. Hanae nodded at the explanation, returning the weapon.

"I saw the door open and then you asleep. I didn't mean to enter without permission, I'm sorry," the teenager explained. Kimi, who was leafing through documents on her desk, nodded, offering her a slight smile.

"It's alright. I should have returned home yesterday, but I had to put some things in order. Do you need anything?" The older blonde spoke, sitting back down in her chair.

"No, I'm on my way to the library. See you later," the teenager replied, walking quickly towards the door. But when her hand touched the frame, she stopped. "Actually, there's something I'd like to ask you," she said hesitantly. Hanae took a deep breath and turned around, closing the door behind her. Looking at the floor and fidgeting with her hands, she said, "How do you know you like someone?"

"Do you like someone?" Hanae looked up at Kimi, whose face was filled with surprise, her blonde eyebrows raised and her eyes fixed on her. "Don't tell me Panda dragged you into another rom-com marathon. I'm going to punish him." Her tone was clearly accusatory toward the absent Panda.

"No! No! It's just..." the girl tried to explain, but her cheeks flushed and she looked down at the floor again. "You're the only married person I know, and I thought... I thought you went through the same thing I did." Hanae felt her cheeks burning even more; the words came out almost as a plea for someone to put a name to what she was feeling.

A brief silence followed, but it was broken by a soft laugh, a very melodious and nostalgic sound, belonging to Kimi. Hanae stared at her in disbelief. Had she said something funny? Perhaps she shouldn't have asked?

"I'm not making fun of you, Hanae," the woman said, stopping her laughter and getting up from her chair. She approached the armchairs and gestured gently for Hanae to sit in the one opposite her, which the girl did. "You remind me of a younger me," she said nostalgically. Hanae instinctively sat even more upright. What could they possibly have in common? "Very well, would you like to talk about it? Or would you prefer I ask you?"

"Talk, definitely Talk," the student responded quickly, her hands instinctively searching for the hem of her uniform skirt. "It's so strange, he's my friend, my best friend. I feel like I'm doing something I shouldn't, but—but I haven't cared about him the same way I do about others for so long, and I never thought this would happen, because it's a completely different feeling from how I feel about others and i..." She spoke so fast she barely had time to catch her breath. "And I'm so confused," she confessed, releasing all the frustration she'd bottled up. "Is it normal for all this to be happening to me?"

"I can't say 'normal,' Hanae, no two experiences are alike," Kimi replied honestly. Hanae lowered her gaze, focusing on her hands. "But I can tell you that what you feel for him is real."

"Aren't you going to interrogate me about who he is?" The girl questioned the adult with disbelief, and the woman shook her head.

"I already have an idea of ​​who it could be, and the fact that you want to talk about it is a giant step." Kimi's voice was soft and calm, the kind of voice only someone who has already been through this and has surely come here many times before with the same doubt possesses. "Why would you think you're doing something you shouldn't?" she asked.

"Because he's my friend," the girl replied quickly, settling into the armchair. "My father told me that 'your partner should also be your best friend,' but that sounds very contradictory right now. What if I ruin everything?"

"Hanae," the woman tried to interject, but the girl spoke first.

"We've fought before and said horrible things, we made up, but... but everything feels so fragile. I've never had many friends, and for the first time, there are people who care about me. I'd rather die than lose them, and even worse, over a stupid whim," she replied quickly, feeling her chest tighten and her breathing become rapid.

"Listen to me," Kimi's voice sounded firm. She stood up from her sofa and went to Hanae's side, guiding the girl's head to rest in the crook of her neck. The girl didn't protest; on the contrary, she clung to the adult's body, and they stayed there for several long minutes, waiting for their breathing to calm. "Love will NEVER be a whim or something you should hide."

"Is it really worth ruining a friendship over this?" the younger girl asked softly. "What if all this is only happening to me?" head?"

"That's the whole point," he replied, tucking a few loose strands of her hair behind her head. "A sorcerer lives each day as if it were his last. The point is to take risks, to live and love as much as we can while we're alive." "Did you ever think he might feel the same way?"

Oh

Oh

"I don't think so," she replied sheepishly, finally pulling away from Kimi but still with her head down, doubts lingering in her mind. "But why would he like someone like me?" The question echoed like a confession from the depths of her being.

"Hanae, why wouldn't he?" The blonde woman added affectionately and wearily, "You're intelligent, kind, understanding, brave," she listed as she continued tucking loose strands of hair behind the teenager's ears. Hanae slightly raised her eyes, looking at her with doubt. "And I know you must be tired of everyone telling you that, and even though it's hard to believe, you are very beautiful. If he doesn't feel the same way about you, it shouldn't be your fault."

Hanae felt her eyes well up slightly. She closed them tightly, trying to stop the tears from escaping, and suppressed a sob that caught in her throat.

"What if he dies on a mission? What if I die on a mission? If we had something... more than friendship, wouldn't it be more painful? I don't want to suffer because of that again," she argued, her voice trembling.

"That's why we must be strong, not just to climb the ranks or have a more powerful technique," she added. She replied in a frank and affectionate voice, "We must be strong to stay here, with the people we love. And I must tell you that this doesn't guarantee anything; I've seen so many students and colleagues die, but that's why I'm strong enough to stay here a little longer."

The teenager opened her still-moist eyes and nodded at the words. She wasn't entirely convinced, but perhaps she should follow that example. Until now, she had wanted to be strong so as not to fall behind her classmates, so as not to be a burden, and to prove to herself that perhaps that was her purpose.

Being strong to stay, not just to survive, was a completely new concept.

"What should I do now?" She asked in a low voice, "I don't know if I should run and tell him everything I feel or keep acting like nothing's wrong."

"Admitting and processing it is the first step," Kimi said patiently. "Everyone thinks love is passion and impulsive decisions. But there's nothing wrong with waiting; only you decide when the time is right to tell him."

"Sometimes I think I'm too sensitive. I'm crying because I admit I like someone," the teenager commented sarcastically.

Sometimes she wished she could be like Maki or Nobara—tough, strong-willed, not letting themselves be trampled on by over-the-shoulder glances or whispers. But Hanae never really learned to control herself.

The nights after her father's death were the worst episodes of her life; the nightmares and insomnia were perhaps the least of her problems. Compared to the days she spent crying or the weight she lost during that time because she refused to eat due to the constant knot in her stomach, she was still recovering weight, having weekly check-ups with Shoko.

Training had begun in February, when, after a month and six days of mourning, she still remembered how Due would constantly faint or how the second-year students tried their best to motivate her to push herself. Little by little, she improved, eating more even when she wasn't hungry so she could try to keep up with Maki on her morning jogs, and those weak moments when she would eat the sweets from Principal Yaga's desk while he explained the school rules in his office.

Small moments that helped her skin go from a sickly one paleness to a healthy one, that made her skin stop sticking to her ribs and her hair stop growing.

But right now she felt like she was in those moments, pathetic, watching everyone else strong and mature while she seemed to be four steps behind, stuck and still processing something that happened over a month ago.

"I think you're crying because it's something you've never experienced, and it's overwhelming at first," Kimi replied calmly. Her blue eyes flicked down to Hanae's belt, noticing the small penguin keychain still hanging from it. With a smile and a tired sigh, she looked up again. "Your keychain is very cute," she commented.

"It was a gift," Hanae replied, nostalgically, a blush rising in her cheeks. "I didn't think about it at first, but it reminds me of Fuwafuwa," she added, eliciting an amused smile from Kimi. adult.

Fuwafuwa had been her "mourning plushie," a small penguin with enormous eyes and a sailor suit. It was a gift from Principal Yaga and Kimi on her first night at school. She had slept hugging it for several months until she finally returned it when she felt well enough. The little thing had witnessed too many of Hanae's bad moments.

"The person who gave it to you really knows you," Kimi said conspiratorially, but Hanae shook her head with a soft laugh.

"She said it was the one that looked most like me," she corrected her politely, pointing to the doll's green eyes.

They both remained in a comfortable silence, Hanae still holding the doll in her hands and Kimi saying nothing, respecting the moment.

"I want you to remember that you have all of us by your side," the adult added sincerely. The girl looked up and nodded gratefully, relaxing her body. "And that... And that I know I'm not your mother, that I'll never replace her, but if you need someone to listen or if you have any questions, I'll be here."

"Promise, promise that you'll keep getting stronger so you can stay here," Hanae pleaded in a whisper, clinging to the words.

Kimi hesitated for a moment, her face slightly contracted with indecision. Perhaps she had already promised the same thing to someone, or perhaps she herself had asked the same question. before.

"I promise. But you must promise too, for yourself"

"I promise"

Chapter Text

The first thing she saw was the ceiling of the infirmary.

And the first thing she felt was her numb body.

Hanae sat up with difficulty, letting out a groan of pain. She clutched her side, where she felt a sharp pain. With a confused look, she glanced at the white clothes she was wearing and lifted her shirt slightly. Her hazel eyes noticed the thick bandage covering her waist with a large gauze pad on the right side.

"The mission," she whispered with understanding and closed her eyes in relief.

She didn't remember much. The first-year students had been sent to a cemetery where there were rumors of strange occurrences.

She remembered Nobara and Yuuji laughing, Fushiguro summoning his wolves and saying they should split up. How she had frozen the moment she crossed the cemetery's threshold.

How Itadori insisted on accompanying her, briefly making her forget that they were in a place filled with corpses, underground, but with each death bearing a name and date that sent shivers down the blonde's spine.

Until the curse appeared, it had attacked them and…

She remembered nothing else.

Hanae looked around; it was the school infirmary, and she was alone.

“At least they’re not hurt,” she thought, letting out a sigh of relief.

She also looked at herself: her hair was pulled back in a braid that fell over her shoulder, with a few loose strands oddly tucked behind her ears. Perhaps Shoko had to work, so she had moved her hair aside as best she could.

She also noticed she had some bandages on her arms; she probably had scratches.

She heard the door open, along with the unmistakable sound of stumps on the floor and a faint smell of cigarettes.

"Are you awake? I thought you'd be like this for another week." Ieri Shoko's voice rang out. Hanae turned to look at her and saw the doctor approaching to check the bandage around her waist. The teenager didn't protest, even when the gauze had to be changed.

The blonde stared incredulously at the line of dots that started at the middle of her ribs, then curved down to her waist and ended near her hip. It was very deep and seemed to have healed well, but it still burned terribly.

"What happened to me? I mean, obviously a curse did this, but... how am I?" she asked the adult, who was still focused on sterilizing the new gauze.

"You have a very bad habit of fainting after missions, and on top of that, you end up badly injured," the doctor replied in a tired tone. The dark circles under her brown eyes were always visible; she obviously didn't get much rest. " It might take you a few more days to fully recover. I'll do what I can to speed up the process."

"Is it that bad?" the teenager asked doubtfully. It had been a long time since she'd received such serious injuries; perhaps this one held the record together with the one from his nose.

"You were lucky it didn't puncture your lung or break a bone. If Yuuji hadn't been there..." Shoko barely managed to answer.

"Was Itadori—?" Hanae couldn't finish the question because the sterile gauze pressed against her stitches, and she had to clench her jaw to keep from letting out a cry of pain.

"Yes, in fact, he was the one who brought you here. I don't really know what happened, but he seemed very worried, as did your other companions. Kimi-san managed to calm them down enough for them to go to sleep," the woman replied, continuing with her work. "When he brought you here, you were in very bad shape, bleeding heavily, even Yuuji's clothes were stained," she continued as she wrapped a thick bandage around Hanae's waist.

The teenager remained silent, trying to imagine the scene. But when she did, it was too terrifying: her bleeding, Yuuji's clothes covered in blood, Nobara probably yelling some curse, and Fushiguro with an expression that tried to be serious but where you could see the fear in his eyes.

And that led to something else.

"I have to go see them," the blonde insisted, trying to stand up, but the sharp pain in her lower back made her return to the bed, her face contorted with pain, and Shoko holding her shoulders to make her lie down again.

"You're barely recovering, believe me, we had to give you a blood transfusion," the brunette told her, and Hanae looked at her in surprise. "Y es, was that serious," she replied to the imaginary question.

"How long was I like this?" she asked curiously, and Shoko, from the nearby nightstand, handed her her phone. Hanae took it and checked that about three or four days had passed.

"I'll let the others know you're awake," the woman said as she started to leave the room.

Hanae was left alone in the infirmary and closed her eyes in frustration. She could have died, but she remembered almost nothing, and now she would probably be under observation and wouldn't be going on missions.

The question of what had happened consumed her. She hoped Nobara, Fushiguro, or even Itadori would be the next to cross those doors, but she knew it was only a possibility. The first thing she would do was apologize. She had undoubtedly put them through a terrible ordeal, especially Itadori, who had brought her there.

She was very brave.

Her hazel eyes flicked toward the nightstand. There were some biology books and a few flowers submerged in water. They were yellow orchids.

The books must have been Fushiguro's, since only he would read so much that it wasn't fantasy. Perhaps he had stayed to visit her a few times and read them to pass the time.

The flowers must have been a gift from Inumaki. He, like her, knew the language of flowers. Yellow orchids represented friendship, joy, and new beginnings.

Among the orchids, I also she noticed some lilacs, as if they had been added at the last minute, but somehow blending in perfectly.

Lilacs represent first love, fidelity, admiration, and a deep and sincere love. They aren't very common in autumn, so they must have been bought from a greenhouse, and they must have been very expensive.

Hanae didn't know who it could have been. Not Inumaki he never, though; he was her friend and would never give her flowers with the wrong meaning. Perhaps it had been Kimi; after all, lilacs also symbolize deep affection.

Although that didn't explain the blush that appeared on her cheeks as soon as she saw them.

And how the objects made her smile—perhaps the first time her face relaxed after waking up.

She heard the door opening and instinctively adjusted her position, though it cost her a groan of pain.

Director Yaga, Kimi, and Gojo entered the room accompanied by Shoko.

"It's good that you're awake," the blonde woman said, sitting on the bed and giving Hanae a gentle hug, what the teenager returned. "How are you feeling?" she asked, pulling away and placing a hand on her forehead; it seemed an involuntary, almost instinctive gesture.

"I'm a little confused, but I'm okay," Hanae replied.

"We were keeping an eye on you; you were in critical condition for a long time," Yaga joined the conversation, finding a nearby chair and sitting down.

"I'm sorry for causing so much trouble," the teenager replied, slightly lowering her gaze.

"Our dear Hanae-chan, always so cute." Now Gojo, in his cheerful tone, joined in, approaching the girl and lightly ruffling her hair. "You're very strong. I've seen people die from minor injuries and one from a bee sting."

"Satoru," Kimi and Yaga warned the white-haired boy, their tones a bit impatient, but he only shrugged.

"How are they?" the blonde girl asked, and the adults knew who she meant.

"Worried," Kimi replied, smoothing down a few loose strands of hair that had been ruffled by Gojo's gesture. "But they'll be happy to see you. They left on a mission an hour ago, but they'll be back very soon."

Hanae nodded at the words; it helped her relax.

“Now focus on resting. When you’ve regained your strength, we’ll talk about your missions,” Director Yaga announced.

“You should have seen the drama that unfolded when they brought you here. Well, you couldn’t see it because you fainted, and let’s not even talk about when you had a heart attack… Ow!” Gojo’s voice was interrupted by a blow to the head from Director Yaga, which made the albino jerk his head away sharply.

He must have had a lot of respect for him to let him get away with it like that.

“Did I have a heart attack?” the teenager asked, a little scared, and looked away, only then noticing the IV in her right arm. Perhaps the shock of waking up hadn’t made her notice it.

“Actually, it was hypovolemic shock,” Shoko corrected indifferently, and Hanae looked at her with confusion and surprise.

"WHAT MATTERS," Kimi said, drawing everyone's attention and silencing the room, "is that you're okay now. The worst is over." She told the teenager, who nodded hesitantly.

"I feel really strange, I don't remember anything," Hanae said softly. "Only that we were on a mission and a curse appeared."

"It's more common than you think. Concussions often cause that, but if you have any doubts, ask your teammates," Director Yaga suggested. The girl looked at him questioningly. "They didn't talk much about the mission."

"That was close, Hanae," said the vice principal, and Hanae looked at her attentively. But she seemed very worried, different from the strong and serene woman who had calmed her the other day. "You need to be more careful, Hai—" Kimi began, but stopped instantly, swallowing hard. The teenager swore she saw her eyes welling up almost against her will, tears barely forming. But Kimi got out of bed quickly, turning her face away and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Rest. Shoko, keep an eye on her," she excused herself quickly before rushing out of the room.

Principal Yaga also left the room, almost on Kimi's heels, but the sound of the blonde woman's boots faded quickly, as if she were running away.

"Who was she referring to?" Hanae asked the two remaining adults, who were strangely silent.

"Haibara Yū was Kimi's student and Nanami's friend. A first-year student," Gojo explained, sitting down in a chair. His voice hadn't lost its lively tone; it seemed as if he were telling a story. Meanwhile, beside him, Shoko was searching for something in the drawers of the wardrobe. "Although Kimi will never admit it, her favoritism towards him was very obvious," the white-haired man continued, reaching for his phone in his pocket. "He died a long time ago, on a mission. He was a good person."

Hanae remained silent at the information. She knew Nanami had been Kimi's student, but she had never heard of Haibara. That partly explained why the blonde woman always used to visit them after a mission. Before, she saw it as a kind gesture, but now she realized it was something for herself.

"It was to make sure they were alive."

"I didn't want to cause any bad memories," the teenager said in a low voice.

"These things happen. People get hurt in Misiones all the time," Shoko replied seriously. She looked for some pills in the drawers. "Have you finished the pills for your nose?" she asked, and the blonde nodded. "Here, these will help with the burning from the stitches," she said, placing a bottle of pills on the small table beside her.

"Thank you. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble," Hanae replied, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"It's my job," the brunette added curtly.

“And speaking of work, I’ll go get the first-years. I already told Ijichi. He’ll probably make them do that boring paperwork; I’ll bring them straight here,” Gojo announced, about to leave the room. But as he stepped out, he turned and briefly appeared in the doorway. “I hope we finally get our reunion kiss, from our favorite ship” he said, and with that, he finally left the room.

“Are you still on about that?” the girl asked, blushing as she played with the braid that fell over her shoulder.

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

Five days passed.

The second-year students came to visit her. Maki told her she was trying to stay in touch with Mai, though communication was slow. Inumaki had replaced the orchids with fresh ones, and Panda kept showing up to chat about Yuuta's supposed return in a month.

Hanae loved talking to them; they were like a second family to her, but she felt something was missing.

The first-year students hadn't arrived. When their teacher returned, she was worried, but the albino told her they'd had to stay in Kagoshima for a few days, though he didn't elaborate.

She couldn't lie; their absence weighed heavily on her when she woke up. All she could think about was seeing them, and now she had to wait even longer. She received messages from Nobara from time to time, but it wasn't the same.

So she decided to focus on her recovery so she would be better when they returned. Shoko was very involved and really went out of her way to speed up the process. She reminded her when to take her pills and changed her IV, in addition to checking her stitches several times a day.

But there was one important rule: no ballet.

That was the real challenge. Hanae couldn't help but crack her toes slightly or keep watching recitals on her phone. It was strictly forbidden until she recovered, but it was part of her life, and not doing it frustrated her greatly.

And today, October 30th, she was finally discharged. She wasn't in her best physical condition; her stitches hadn't been removed, and she still had a large... Gauze was placed around her waist where the tissue was still healing, and she was to be very careful with sudden movements, but she was no longer in bed and that was enough.

She had spoken with Director Yaga, and although he didn't officially suspend her from missions, he told her she wouldn't be able to be on the front lines, which wasn't so bad.

And right now she was in one of the common rooms reading "The Long walk" in one of the armchairs.

She had changed out of her white infirmary clothes and into a long white skirt, a pink sweater, and comfortable sneakers. Her straight, braided hair fell down her back. Shoko's tell her was of wearing loose, comfortable clothes, which Hanae, determined to recover quickly, was going to do without hesitation.

"Damn, this is darker than it seemed," she muttered aloud, turning the page. She was at the point where more than half of the hundred teenagers on the long march had died. Peter and Ray were still walking, but little by little, sanity was slipping away.

And that reminded her of something else: Kimi hadn't visited. They had a call where the woman apologized for her outburst the other day and said she was taking some time to visit friends in a nearby town, but that she sent her best wishes. Hanae didn't have the heart to tell her she didn't believe her.

She remained engrossed in her reading for a few more minutes; it was late afternoon, with the sun setting. letting its last pink and yellowish rays show.

"There you are!"

Hanae jumped at the sound of the voice, but a part of her was also excited.

"Kugizaki!"

The blonde turned around quickly, observing her brunette companion who was carrying several shopping bags and entering through the doorway.

Without thinking, Hanae simply put down her book on the sofa, stood up, approached her companion, and put her arms around her shoulders. Nobara seemed surprised at first, but after a moment, she put the shopping bags down and returned the hug, wrapping her arms around the blonde's waist due to the height difference.

A few seconds later, they separated, and the brunette looked at her companion reproachfully.

"Don't scare us like that again. We really thought you were going to die," she began. The brunette looked annoyed, but relief was visible in her brown eyes, and Hanae smiled slightly and nodded.

"I'm so sorry, I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again," she replied, and Nobara smiled reassuringly.

"You'd better hope so, or I'll kill you if you die," she threatened the blonde, who laughed briefly. "Have you been discharged yet?" she asked curiously, lifting her shopping bags as they both began to sit down on the sofas.

"Ieri-san says I'll be fully recovered in a few days, but I should be careful for now," the girl replied.

"Thank goodness you're back. You have no idea how awful it was being the only girl on the team," Nobara commented with noticeable annoyance.

"Kiyomi"

Hanae turned around, recognizing the voice.

Fushiguro entered the room, looking tired but as serious as ever. The girl tried to get up to greet him, but the dark-haired man, already close to her, raised his hand in a gesture of "No need."

Megumi approached close enough, and although there wasn't a dramatic hug, she placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder in a gesture of relief.

"Sorry, we wanted to come sooner, but we couldn't say no. It's good to see you're well," the dark-haired man said, letting go of her and sitting down beside her.

"Correction!" the brunette exclaimed, pointing at the boy reproachfully. "We wanted to leave, but the 'Responsible Young Master' agreed and forced us to stay," she added accusingly.

"It was a direct order from above; we couldn't refuse," Fushiguro defended himself, but Nobara only frowned even more.

"Okay, I understand. It's better this way; I wouldn't have liked them to get into trouble," Hanae chimed in with a small smile, and it seemed the minor argument ended there. "I found out you all visited me a lot when I was in the infirmary. Thanks for that."

"Don't even mention it, we..." the brunette tried to say, but stopped mid-sentence, looked away, and pressed her lips together.

"Speaking of which, what happened on the mission? I don't remember much," the blonde asked, but neither of them answered immediately.

Nobara still wasn't looking at her directly, and Megumi also seemed much more serious, crossing his arms and almost shrinking into himself.

"I know it can't be a pleasant memory, but I need to know what happened," Hanae asked again, almost pleadingly.

She saw Fushiguro hold the collar of his uniform for a moment and look up at her.

"When we arrived at the cemetery, we split into pairs, Kugizaki and I on one side, and you and Itadori on the other. You stayed like that for an hour, and then the curse began to manifest. It was a first-degree curse that used corpses as puppets," the dark-haired man explained. Hanae tensed at the thought and clutched the fabric of her skirt. "We fought and concluded that it was a twin curse controlling the cemetery from two different locations. We warned them about this, Kugizaki and I exorcised the one attacking us, and then we went to find them."

"You were already injured when we arrived," Nobara continued, still looking at the ground. "Itadori was desperately trying to stop the bleeding, and Fushiguro helped him. We called Ijichi-san as quickly as possible and went to the school. We rushed to the infirmary, and Ieri started treating you."

Hanae's face remained blank. Pale at the explanation, just imagining it was horrible; she couldn't even think about what it must have been like to live through it, and she hated not being able to remember anything.

"Thank you for helping me. I certainly wouldn't be here if it weren't for you," she said, barely finding the words. "Weren't you hurt?" she asked with concern.

"Just scrapes and a strong smell of dirt," the brunette replied, and the blonde sighed in relief.

But only one question came to her mind.

The person who had witnessed everything and whom she still hadn't seen. The one she desperately wanted to hug and assure that she was alright.

"Where is Itadori?"

✿❯────「✿」────❮✿

According to the boys, he was in his room, and Hanae felt her feet moving in that direction on their own.

She didn't often go near the boys room s; she usually texted before even approaching them, but this time was different. A tightness in her chest that she could only soothe with the thought of seeing him.

She wanted to run as fast as she could, but because of her scar, she had to limit herself to walking so as not to reopen the stitches that were weakly beginning to heal.

She stopped at the door Fushiguro had indicated and stood there for a second, hesitating whether to knock or not.

Was she being too intrusive? If he wanted to see her, he would visit her.

But she didn't want to wait.

With a slightly trembling hand, she knocked on the door a couple of times.

She waited a few seconds and began to gently tug at the sleeves of her sweater, swallowing hard.

"Why are you so nervous? He probably just saved your life, and now you should thank him. Simple, completely simple," she told herself, then ran a hand over her face. "Stop talking to yourself."

Nothing was supposed to have happened between them..

Hanae remembered that, after her conversation with Kimi, she had decided to wait for the right moment to confess her feelings to the pink-haired boy; for now, being friends was more important.

But she still felt that something wasn't quite right.

"It's open," she heard Itadori's voice on the other side, and after hesitating for a moment, Hanae went in.

She closed the door behind her and, not far away, heard the sound of the shower, so she simply stayed there waiting for it.

She looked around; the room wasn't very different from the others, a little smaller than hers, but it seemed very cozy. The light was off, so she could barely make out several movie posters, a clothes rack with many sweatshirts piled on it, some picture frames she couldn't quite identify, and even some boxing gloves hanging carelessly on one of the closet doors.

An unconscious smile formed on the blonde's face; this place was definitely his.

A small glimmer caught her attention, and in the distance, she noticed an object on the desk that she recognized very well.

Still smiling, she crossed the room and picked up the object, tracing its outline carefully.

Half a pink seashell.

And memories flooded her mind.

═══════ • ♥ • ════════

One cold, dry October day, the first- and second-year students decided to take a walk on the beach, bundled up in thick coats, the cold air making their cheeks flush.

Hanae and Yuuji had separated slightly from the group and strolled slowly along the shoreline, where small waves occasionally lapped at their boots.

"The last time I came to the beach was with my dad. I remember a piece of seaweed touched my foot, and I started crying, thinking it was some kind of poisonous fish," Hanae remarked, her breath catching in her throat as she spoke.

She hated not being able to smell the slightly salty sea air; it had been one of her favorite things as a child.

"I used to catch fish with my bare hands, but my grandfather told me to let them go and learn to fish like normal people. Which I never learned," the pink-haired boy added, prompting a soft laugh from the blonde. "Once I found an octopus and tried to take it with me, but the coast guard stopped me."

They walked close together, which could be attributed to the cold air and the wind that was beginning to pick up, and also to how they seemed to be moving almost in sync.

Hanae turned her head slightly, watching the sunset beside her. The sun disappeared below the horizon, its last yellow rays peeking through the clouds, illuminating the sea, which seemed to glow with its own light.

She stopped to get a better look at it, and beside her, she heard Yuuji doing the same, standing right next to her with their shoulders almost touching.

"I'd forgotten this view. It's so beautiful," the girl commented aloud, her hazel eyes taking in the scenery.

"Yes, it is. It's the most beautiful," the boy beside her agreed, but his gaze was fixed elsewhere, or rather, on someone else.

Hanae lowered her gaze slightly to the wave just inches from her boots, and among the golden sand, she discerned a peculiar shape and color.

She crouched down carefully, making sure not to soil her long skirt, and moved the sand until she found it. All under Itadori's watchful eye.

A pink seashell, loosely attached at the base.

The blonde took it between her fingers and gently cleaned it, shaking off any remaining sand. Then she turned and showed it to her companion.

"How pretty," commented the pink-haired boy upon seeing the object, and the girl nodded in agreement.

"Do you know its meaning?" she asked curiously, and the boy shook his head. "According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was born from a seashell and sea foam. She left different seashells as gifts for humans. According to the myth, if you find a seashell, it means the couple is about to begin a new chapter together and will remain united for the eternity of the ocean," the girl explained, a smile forming as she recounted the story.

"You really like Greek mythology," Yuuji commented, and the blonde nodded.

"My dad was a big fan and used to tell me Greek myths," the girl replied nostalgically. "My favorite myth is Orpheus and Eurydice," she added with a nostalgic laugh.

"I didn't understand anything you said. But I'd like it if you could explain it to me someday," he suggested excitedly, and Hanae looked up at him. One, two, three, and more seconds than it should have lasted—that encounter between brown and hazelnut lasted. "May I?" the pink-haired boy asked, pointing to the seashell in the teenager's hands. She snapped out of her reverie and nodded, handing it to him.

Itadori observed the object for a few seconds, as if he were thinking about something, then smiled to himself and with a soft click, with an easy movement of his hands, separated the seashell in two.

"What are you doing-" the blonde tried to ask curiously, but was interrupted when the boy took her left hand and placed one half of the seashell in her palm. Hanae watched him with confusion and furrowed brows.

"One for you and one for me," he explained in a low voice, a blush appearing on his cheeks, something only Hanae, who was close to him, could hear.

"But-" the teenager tried to argue but cut herself off mid-sentence. 'We're not a couple,' she should tell him, she had to say it, but the deepest, most captive part of her didn't want to, not after having cried when she admitted that she liked him, not after such an act. "You can't take it back, now we're "We're connected, and Aphrodite will be angry if we separate." She resumed the conversation, a smile forming on her face as she spoke, and very carefully placed the seashell in her coat pocket.

"Another reason to stay close to you," the pink-haired boy added, taking another step forward, and Hanae finally realized how close they were.

"Another reason? How many are there?" the blonde asked, trying to sound indifferent, but curiosity was evident in the glint of her eyes. "It's because I help you with your homework, right?" she questioned suspiciously.

"Of course not, although I really appreciate it," Yuuji replied quickly, and the blonde laughed briefly, a melodious and sincere sound that mingled with the icy breeze that swept through the area and ruffled her braid.

Hanae was about to make another comment, but her hazel eyes were drawn to Itadori's hand, which had arranged her braid so it fell over her shoulder and tucked a few strands behind her ear.

She shivered slightly at the light touch of his hands and a warm smile formed on her face as she watched him finish arranging her hair, taking great care not to let it get tangled in her silver earrings.

"Thank you, it's very sweet," she said kindly, and when she looked up, she realized he was already watching her, with a tenderness and care she only ever saw from afar.

But now he was with her.

"Hanae," the pink-haired boy began, and the girl swallowed slightly. The last time he'd called her by her firts name was during that argument that still haunted her to this day. But nothing in his demeanor suggested he was going to question or reproach her; all of that was too far removed from his mind right now.

"What's wrong, Yuuji?" the teenager asked. She didn't know where she'd found the courage to call him by his name too, but it felt appropriate, intimate, between them.

He held her gaze for a few more seconds, like someone who goes to a museum and stands observing a work of art, searching for every small detail and color before inevitably moving on to the next.

And he did just that. Every little detail about Hanae had always been etched in his memory, with that kind and serene expression she usually wore, but today was different. Her ash-blonde hair, which in certain lights appeared gray, even silver; her hazel eyes, now amber from the sun; the light bronze eyeshadow Nobara had applied; her eyelashes, not very long but lovely; her cheeks flushed from the cold, more so than when she smiled too many times a day.

And his gaze inevitably drifted to her lips, though he quickly looked away.

Looking back at those unique eyes that had captivated him from the very first day.

"It's just that... I'm really happy to be here," she replied calmly, though with a lump in her throat. Those were the words he had chosen, because it seemed she wanted to say something completely different.

The blonde's expression fell slightly before being replaced by a warm smile. Something inside her had disappointed her, but she couldn't admit it and ruin the moment.

Hanae glanced briefly behind Itadori where her classmates were talking, and Panda and Nobara in particular seemed to be arguing, though it was mostly Nobara shouting and Panda not paying attention.

"We should head back, it's getting late, and we have a mission tomorrow," the blonde interrupted, and the boy nodded.

Both teenagers started walking back to their friends, who greeted them with a debate about whether it was fair to have written exams.

Hanae really tried to concentrate and forget that fleeting moment with the pink-haired boy, but her mind kept returning to him.

Nobara must have noticed, because when the blonde lingered a moment longer on the steps leading down to the beach, she walked over to her side.

"Is everything alright?" the brunette asked, snapping her fingers near her companion's eyes, which made the teenager blink back to reality.

"Yes, it's just... there are moments I wish would never end," she replied honestly, her voice filled with nostalgia for a moment that had happened only a few hours earlier, with a sunset that had now turned into a dark night with black clouds threatening a storm.

═══════ • ♥ • ════════

She leave the seashell on the desk.

Although She can't stop looking at it, the now pale pink still stands out.

She also had her part of the seashell, carefully stored in one of her jewelry boxes among silver jewelry and the bracelet Gojo had given her.

But if someone keeps something in plain sight, it's because they look at it very often or because they don't want it to get lost.

Her eyes settled on the photo frames on the wall: one of Yuuji with some classmates from his old middle school, Setsuko Sasaki and Iguchi, whom she recognized because he had told her about them; a slightly more recent one of the four first-year students with Gojo, taken shortly after the exchange festival; and one of Yuuji at about eight or nine years old next to an elderly man with white hair, a firm and serious expression. It was Itadori Wasuke, his grandfather. According to Itadori, his grandfather would have liked Hanae very much, especially since he used to say that 'Yuuji needs someone to keep him grounded.' But he hadn't understood that expression until now.

The blonde pressed her lips together and looked away.

"Who is it? I usually like to know who I let into my room."

The water had stopped running, and Itadori's voice echoed from behind the wooden door. Hanae turned around and lightly clenched her fists, waiting a few minutes to gather her strength.

"It's me. I know is not comun. But I wanted to see you," she replied calmly, not entirely sure but not doubtful of her motive either.

She heard a thud of something falling. She couldn't think what it was because the bathroom door opened quickly.

Yuuji was there, dressed in an oversized red shirt, black pants, and his hair was slightly damp. His brown eyes rested on her, almost in disbelief that she was actually there.

"Hi, I—" she tried to greet him, but the boy, with two long strides, had already approached her and hugged her tightly.

Hanae let out a pained groan from the pressure on her stitches, which made him release her immediately and place both hands on her cheeks.

"Are you okay? Does anything hurt? Did I hurt you?" he asked urgently, almost breathless, a flash of panic in his eyes.

"Hey, I'm fine," she replied softly, taking her wrists and slowly lowering them. He took her hands in his own. "Let's try again, more slowly this time," he said.

she watched, buying the pink-haired boy seemed to hesitate for a second but nodded. They both let go of each other's hands, and he carefully placed his arms around Hanae's shoulders, while the blonde wrapped her arms around his waist.

There was no pain, only a comfortable silence and a feeling of protection.

The blonde rested her cheek on her partner's shoulder, while he rested his on her hair.

When they first met, there wasn't much of a height difference between them, but now Itadori had grown a bit, perhaps reaching 5'9. Now that she thought about it, Fushiguro was also taller, perhaps finally reaching Kimi's 5'10. But Hanae hadn't grown much, remaining at 5'8.

They stayed in that position for a few minutes. Hanae noticed how he was slightly clutching her sweater, as if he needed support or a sign that this was real.

They slowly separated, though more at Hanae's insistence since Yuuji was still clinging on tightly, and their eyes met for a moment.

"I wanted to come see you, but I was so dirty and I didn't want you to see me like that," the pink-haired boy explained, a light blush rising to his cheeks, and the blonde nodded.

"The important thing is that you're here now, that everyone is here," the teenager remarked, gently placing a hand on the back of her neck. "When I woke up, I wanted to see you all, but I couldn't."

"I know it was a really bad time for you," I added in a low voice, looking away.

"You have no idea..." the pink-haired boy began. It wasn't aggression; it was remorse, a lump in his throat that only he understood. He moved away and sat on the bed. The blonde followed suit, sitting beside him, watching as he ran a hand through his hair and let out a trembling sigh. "You could have died in my arms like Jun..."

"Yuuji, please breathe," the teenager pleaded, taking his hand in hers and holding it firmly, watching as he seemed to take a deep breath and calm down. "I know it's not something you want to remember, but I need you to, because I don't know what happened. Help me understand, please."

"Everything was fine for a while. You were very nervous, and I was making bad jokes to make you laugh," the pink-haired boy began in a much calmer tone, and the blonde couldn't help but let out a short laugh at the anecdote. "Just like that," he whispered, looking at her for a second before continuing, "When the curse appeared and the fight started, you froze, because they were... you know." Hanae nodded, though the way she swallowed hard didn't go unnoticed by her companion, who shifted his body to face her. "I tried to snap you out of it, and we hid. We agreed that I would attack and you would defend me, and it worked for a few minutes, but one of the curse's puppets found you and... and I didn't arrive in time. It was thanks to your strength that you deflected the slash, but even so..." The teenager instinctively brought her free hand to the wound, almost feeling the attack again.

The room fell silent for a moment, Yuuji's brown eyes fixed on his hand between Hanae's, the blonde girl's gaze never leaving him.

"You finished with that wound. I tried to help you, but you told me I had to break the curse first. I was really surprised, since I never thought you'd say, 'Do it, or I'll follow you until the sound of my voice haunts you.' And when I saw your eyes, I knew you weren't lying," he continued, his voice calm but gradually growing softer.

"It's the lyrics to a song, 'Silver Springs' by Fleetwood Mac, my father's favorite," the girl commented wistfully, but seeing her friend's disheartened expression, she cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, it was a bad moment."

"No, no. I love hearing from you," he quickly interjected, and Hanae nodded with a slight smile. "I defeated the curse and came back to you, but you were bleeding too much. I know first aid, but Fushiguro did most of the work. When Ijichi-san arrived, he offered to take you, but... I couldn't leave you." Now his voice was definitely a whisper that only the blonde, being so close to him, could hear. "We arrived at the school and took you to Ieri. I tried to stay, I really tried, but I think two people pushed me out of the place, and I could only watch as the blood flowed from your body like water." He paused for a moment before continuing, "For the next few days, we took turns visiting you. Ieri said we should talk to you and bring things that might stimulate your senses."

"That explains a lot—Fushiguro's books, the orchids, and those lilacs," the teenager reflected, putting two and two together.

"Did you like the lilacs?" the pink-haired boy asked, seemingly uninterested, but his fixed gaze on her suggested otherwise.

"Yes, I have them preserved in my room. I don't know who could have done it, but it made me really happy to see them," she replied with a warm smile, and the boy nodded, offering his first smile since they met. "Yuuji, th-"

"Don't say that!" he retorted, abruptly getting up and pacing like a caged animal, like a tiger that had done this a million times but was completely accustomed to the movement. "I don't deserve this. It was my fault."

"I asked you to end the curse and then focus on me. If you're going to blame someone, blame me," the blonde replied, also standing up and grabbing his shoulders to keep him still. He looked up, his brown eyes shining, perhaps from fear or guilt, illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the sliding glass doors. "Yuuji, you're not the strongest. You can't stop these things from happening just by clapping. You brought me back, and I'm alive. Thanks to you," she added, placing a hand on his cheek. She didn't know where all this courage came from, but seeing him lean on her palm was answer enough.

Because she loved him and hated seeing him like this. Blaming himself for all the bad things that happened, even those that weren't his decisions.

"I thought about letting it go," he commented, and it wasn't necessary to explain who he was referring to. "But then I remembered how he attacked you, and I couldn't be the one to hurt you, not again."

"I know everything is confusing at first, you want to scream but the words won't come out and... you just start crying in the most secluded place you can find. I did that," the blonde replied wistfully, pressing her lips together for a moment. "And I know it's hard to stop feeling like you did something wrong. You didn't do anything wrong, I'm here, you helped me, you didn't fail me." With that, she removed her hand from his cheek to take his and place it on her neck, specifically over her aorta.

She felt the pink-haired man's thumb lightly caress her skin, which made her grip his hand a little tighter, shuddering at the touch in a sensitive area, while he felt the flow of blood beneath his palm, alive, constant, from her.

That was all..

With an invisible weight on his shoulders, Yuuji leaned forward, where Hanae didn't move. Instead, she waited for him and placed her hand on top of his. The teenagers' foreheads slowly touched, their faces close, their breaths mingling. Yuuji closed his eyes and finally let out the relieved sigh he seemed to have been holding back during the days he hadn't seen her. The blonde gazed at him with a moved expression in her hazel eyes.

How did they get here? Wasn't he the one who went to her whenever he had a question, about almost anything? Wasn't she the one who laughed at how he lost because he was so distracted during board game nights? Were they the same ones who put bandages with childish drawings on their scrapes after training sessions that got out of hand? Was this connection... always there?

Why did it take him so long to accept it?

"It's getting late," the blonde remarked, noticing how the moon was already at its zenith and there wasn't a single ray of sunlight. "You must be very tired," she whispered, still close to him.

"Can you stay?" he asked the teenager. It wasn't a pleading tone; it was a proposal that could be refused, but in such a calm and gentle tone that it was impossible not to.

"Movie night! Remember, it's my turn to choose," Hanae said excitedly. The pink-haired boy's eyes lit up, and he nodded with determination. With a touch of frustration, they separated, and the blonde glanced at herself. She was wearing comfortable clothes, but they weren't the best choice for sleeping. "I'm going to find some clothes and take a shower. I'll be back soon," she announced, heading for the bedroom door, but she stopped when Yuuji grabbed her hand, making her turn around in confusion.

“You’re important to me, you know that. Hanae, I don’t know what I would have done if you had died.” Itadori’s voice dispelled any confusion Hanae might have felt, especially when he placed his free hand between her jaw and neck, a touch that made Hanae lean forward, looking at him with a twinkle in her hazel eyes.

“I think we’re even now. This fear will never go away, but I want to be there for you, just like you’re there for me. I want to help you, too...”