Tokyo Jujutsu High, Underground Special Medical Area.
The air was thick with the smell of disinfectant.
On two hospital beds lay Yuji and Fushiguro, both still in a deep coma. But the way they were laid out looked as if they could be sent straight to cremation.
Ieiri Shoko took off her blood-stained surgical gloves, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag, trying to dispel the fatigue from the long hours of high-intensity treatment.
She looked at the two students, her usually lazy and indifferent eyes carrying a rare seriousness.
Satoru leaned against the opposite wall, hands in his pockets.
Kiyotaka stood to the side, holding a tablet displaying analysis reports and photos sent back from the Window and the Follow-up Cleanup Unit at the Eishu Juvenile Detention Center scene.
Beads of sweat covered his forehead as he pushed up his glasses and reported in a somewhat dry voice, "Based on multiple analyses of the scene's traces and reverse tracking of residual Cursed Energy... it can basically be confirmed that in the core area where the Special Grade Cursed Spirit was exorcised, the remaining Cursed Energy composition and form of destruction highly match the previously recorded power characteristics of Ryomen Sukuna."
"It can be speculated that he was active in the Juvenile Detention Center in some form, and it was he who exorcised the Curse."
"After questioning Kasumigaoka-san and Kato-san, Kasumigaoka-san has been ruled out."
He paused and added with difficulty, "And from the Cursed Energy traces on the two students... there is a very high probability that the host for Sukuna's consciousness is... Itadori Yuji's body."
Although it was expected, Shoko's fingers holding the cigarette still twitched almost imperceptibly upon hearing Kiyotaka's clear report.
She exhaled a ring of smoke, her voice muffled. "As expected... it's not as simple as just 'having something' inside that Itadori kid. For Sukuna's consciousness to manifest so clearly and even use a Domain... Itadori is likely an incarnation as well."
"For a single special grade cursed object to have multiple incarnations."
Satoru's Six Eyes remained locked on Yuji, his tone unreadable. "Ah, about that... I think I have a clue."
"Remember when Sukuna called Itadori his descendant right in front of me?"
Satoru tilted his head, seemingly recalling that absurd scene.
"At first, I thought it was just that old monster's twisted sense of humor or him taking advantage. But now... it's probably not that simple."
"Itadori was likely manufactured specifically for Sukuna's incarnation."
This deduction made Kiyotaka gasp, and Shoko frowned.
If that were the case, then Yuji's very existence was the product of a massive conspiracy.
"But that doesn't explain another problem." Shoko crushed her cigarette in the ashtray.
"The way Sukuna's consciousness manifests... According to records and general knowledge, the 'Incarnation' of a special grade cursed object is a relatively independent process. The cursed object's consciousness is 'reborn' within the host, forming a special symbiotic or suppressive relationship with the host's soul."
"Once this vessel dies, the cursed object's consciousness usually dissipates along with it, unless it returns to its cursed object state before death to wait for the next incarnation opportunity. Just like if Itadori really died, Sukuna's consciousness would either perish with him, or at most, the power of that finger would scatter and need to find a new host."
"But Sukuna's current behavior doesn't seem to fully fit this pattern."
"He can maintain a certain degree of consciousness and influence within Kasumigaoka."
"And then suddenly manifest so clearly in Itadori, even using his Domain."
"This feels less like two independent vessels and more like... Sukuna's same consciousness can transfer or project itself to some extent between different vessels?"
"His soul, or rather the main body of his consciousness, doesn't seem to be entirely bound to one specific vessel. This doesn't fit the known rules of cursed object incarnation."
Satoru nodded and took over the conversation, "Exactly, that's the most concerning point. Ordinary Cursed Spirit or cursed object consciousnesses can't do that. But what if it's... a Devil?"
"A Devil?"
Shoko was stunned for a moment, then shook her head. "Sukuna is the King of Curses from the Heian era a thousand years ago. The concept and mass manifestation of Devils only became widely recognized and defined in recent decades, especially after the 'Gun Devil Incident'. The time gap is too large."
Satoru crossed his arms. "A large time gap doesn't mean the nature of the power can't be similar."
"Our current understanding of Devils is still very limited. We only know they originate from human fear of specific concepts and possess traits like contracts and granting abilities."
"Their form of existence and power rules have similarities to traditional Cursed Spirits and cursed objects, but also many fundamental differences."
He paused and continued, "The time of Sukuna's incarnation is unknown. Kasumigaoka might not be his first vessel, and there are records of Sukuna slaying devils."
"Sukuna wouldn't do anything meaningless, he's not the type to act out of the goodness of his heart."
"The only explanation is that Sukuna is likely related to devils."
Satoru walked to the window, looking out at the quiet night of Jujutsu High, his voice dropping an octave. "This might explain some of his abnormal behavior and why he can break the conventional limits of incarnation."
"Of course, this is just a bold guess based on existing clues."
"Another possibility is that as a 'collection of curses' himself, his form of existence exceeds the conventional scope, reaching a level similar to a 'Conceptual Devil'."
Shoko fell silent.
As the top medical practitioner and researcher in Jujutsu High and even the entire Jujutsu World, she knew that although Satoru's hypothesis was a leap, it wasn't without merit.
Sukuna's existence itself was a massive mystery, any explanation beyond the norm was possible.
Shoko looked at the comatose Yuji in the monitoring room, a deep sense of worry flashing in her eyes.
"If that's really the case, things are even more complex and dangerous than we imagined."
"A King of Curses who can disperse or transfer his consciousness, might possess some devil traits, and is rapidly recovering his strength... I'm afraid even you would find him troublesome."
"Even at the level of only four or five fingers, he's already this difficult to handle. I wonder what the King of Curses was like in his prime."
Satoru turned around and put his sunglasses back on, covering those eyes that seemed to see through everything.
That usual, inscrutable smile returned to his face.
He patted Kiyotaka's shoulder. "Ijichi, get me a detailed follow-up report on the Juvenile Detention Center, especially the most detailed data on all abnormal Cursed Energy residues and spatial disturbance data."
"Also, check all unresolved incidents or taboo research related to devils in recent years, even if they're just rumors."
"Yes, Gojo-san." Kiyotaka quickly complied.
Satoru took one last look at the two students in the monitoring room, turned, and left the analysis room, his footsteps gradually fading in the empty corridor.
Shoko lit another cigarette. Amidst the faint smoke, her gaze turned once again to the comatose Yuji.
The secrets swirling around this pink-haired boy were like a massive dark cloud hanging over everyone's hearts.
***
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