Junpei Yoshino felt as though he'd been struck by lightning. Under the bewildered stares of his club members, he bolted from the classroom like a madman. After flagging down a taxi on the street, he headed straight for the hospital Yuji had mentioned.
Please be okay... please be okay... I'm begging you...
He practically sprinted through the hospital doors. The pungent smell of disinfectant, nurses and patients coming and going—his eyes frantically scanned the room numbers lining the corridor until he finally stopped in front of a ward.
The door was ajar. He pushed it open and found Yuji Itadori sitting by the bed. Nagi Yoshino lay quietly upon it, her face slightly pale. Her eyes were closed—unconscious.
"Itadori-kun! My mom—is she—"
"She's fine. Just unconscious. She should wake up after a couple days of rest."
"Itadori-kun..." Junpei's voice cracked with emotion. "What exactly happened?"
Yuji stood and pulled something from his pocket—a completely brownish-black, corpse-like finger.
"...?"
"This morning, while I was patrolling nearby, I sensed a cursed object's aura near your house."
"Sukuna's finger. A Special Grade cursed object. This thing attracts curses. I don't know who placed it near your home. Fortunately, I arrived in time. Your mom got caught in the crossfire of my fight with the curse, but I treated her immediately. She's just unconscious."
Although he'd picked up a Sukuna finger for free, Yuji was genuinely worried about Junpei.
As Junpei listened, his body began to tremble. Cold sweat covered his face, and the overwhelming feeling of having narrowly escaped disaster washed over him.
"She's... really okay?"
"She's really okay. Don't worry, Yoshino-kun."
After receiving Yuji's confirmation, the crushing weight that had been suffocating him finally lifted.
"Thank God... It's a good thing you were there, Itadori-kun."
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know what to do... If the most important person to me was gone... I think I'd lose my mind."
Junpei's eyes were red.
"It's a good thing I met you."
Yuji nodded silently. He stepped forward and patted Junpei's back.
"It's fine. Your mom's going to recover, right?"
"Yeah. I'm really glad you're here, Itadori-kun."
Junpei wiped his eyes and forced the corners of his mouth into a smile.
"..."
Yuji thought of his past life.
Back then, Junpei couldn't save his mother. After losing her, he was dragged completely into the abyss by Mahito—and ultimately died in some forgotten corner, unknown to anyone. Even Yuji had been the only one who knew.
But he wouldn't let that happen again.
He would save everyone.
On the rooftop of an office building adjacent to the hospital.
Two figures stood side by side, gazing down at the illuminated window of the ward below.
Mahito crouched at the rooftop's edge, chin resting on his hand, long blue hair blown messy by the wind.
"Oh my, oh my. Seems there's a little flaw in my plan."
Hearing Mahito mutter to himself, the man behind him simply smiled. Arms crossed, expression calm, he gazed at the window below.
Kenjaku spoke. "I told you. Sukuna's vessel—his talent far exceeds your imagination."
"His perception is sharp, I'll give him that." A flash of annoyance crossed Mahito's eyes. "I only just placed the finger nearby, and he found it that quickly. Could Sukuna have used resonance to help him?"
"So you admit your mistake?"
"Mistake?" Mahito chuckled, stood up, and dusted off his pants. "I wouldn't call it a mistake. Just a minor hiccup."
"As long as Sukuna's vessel and that boy establish a bond, the plan isn't a failure."
Kenjaku glanced at him. "Are you going to confront him directly?"
"Directly?" A meaningful smile spread across Mahito's face. "Of course not. I hate head-on confrontations."
"Heh. Are you that confident you can defeat Sukuna's vessel? Do you need my help?"
"No need. Don't trouble yourself with something so trivial, Geto."
Mahito grinned. "Just sit back and watch my performance."
Meanwhile, inside the hospital room.
Yuji handed a document to Junpei.
"This is your mom's examination report and the medical expense summary. Take a look."
Junpei took the papers. For some reason, the report was folded in half, obscuring the back. His eyes scanned the text—blood pressure, heart rate, brain CT, hospitalization fees, medical costs... A string of numbers and medical terminology.
"There's something on the back."
Yuji's voice was soft.
"...Okay."
Junpei unfolded the report and flipped it over. A few lines of text were written on the back—not printed, but handwritten in ballpoint pen, neat and clear:
"Someone is watching us. Cooperate with me, Yoshino-kun."
Junpei's pupils contracted. He instinctively wanted to look toward the window, but Yuji's hand pressed down on his shoulder first.
"Yoshino-kun, don't worry about your mom's medical expenses. I'll help cover them."
Junpei froze, quickly suppressing his shocked expression.
"Ah, thank you, Itadori-kun."
He continued reading.
"The one who tried to harm your mother is Mahito. Please believe me."
"My companion was attacked by Mahito yesterday. He told me everything. I'll explain it to you now..."
Junpei was completely stunned. His fingers clenched the paper. The full picture was condensed onto that small sheet.
How Mahito had targeted him. How he'd used the deaths of those three delinquents to get close. How he'd planned to use Junpei to draw out Sukuna. How he'd placed Sukuna's finger near Junpei's house, intending to have a curse kill his mother.
Junpei read word by word. His expression shifted from shock to confusion, from confusion to fear.
Mahito's smiling face. Their gentle conversations. Their philosophical discussions about "humans and curses."
Was all of that fake?
Was it all... just to use me?
No—Junpei hesitated.
"Are those three delinquents special to you? I killed them."
"Don't worry, nothing will happen. I just stitched their souls together. What? You don't mind, Junpei? ...Oh good."
"You want revenge? I can help you."
"I affirm everything about you, Junpei."
The black-haired boy recalled every leading word the curse had spoken to him. Cold sweat suddenly soaked his back.
"Sorry, Junpei. I'm busy and can't stay right now. You'll have to look after your mom by yourself."
"You're leaving?"
"Yeah. I have some things to handle." Yuji's gaze was steady. "Remember—no matter what happens next, don't trust anyone but yourself."
He patted Junpei's shoulder, then left without looking back.
"..."
Time rewinds to the previous night.
Beep beep beep—beep beep beep—beep beep beep—
Yuji had been at the Yoshino residence. While chatting with Junpei, his phone rang.
He picked up. The caller ID showed "Kento Nanami."
"Hello, Nanami-san?"
"Itadori-kun. During my investigation, I encountered the culprit behind this incident..."
Kento Nanami's voice came through, briefly explaining the situation.
"I'm injured and need to return to Jujutsu High for treatment from Shoko-san. The opponent is a powerful Special Grade curse. Ijichi will come pick you up shortly. Let's regroup and discuss strategy before making a move."
"No need. I'll stay here alone. Focus on healing, Nanami-san."
"What? Return immediately—"
Beep—beep—beep—
Yuji hung up.
The current situation had been intentionally guided by him.
His goal wasn't just to defeat Mahito physically—he wanted to crush him mentally.
The reason he'd sent Kento Nanami away was simple: he wanted a one-on-one duel. Yuji intended to use Black Flash to beat Mahito until he completely doubted his own existence. To make Mahito experience the feeling of being utterly overwhelmed. To carve a brand of terror named "Yuji Itadori" into his very soul.
He wanted Mahito to feel an unprecedented fear. To be terrified of him for the rest of his existence—so that just hearing the name "Yuji Itadori" would make his legs go weak and his body tremble.
If he wanted to, he could absolutely make it happen.
Time returns to the present.
Junpei sat by the bed, silently watching over his mother. At that moment, a figure appeared in the doorway.
"Yo, Junpei. I heard your mom got sick and was hospitalized, so I came to check on her."
"You really had me worried~"
Mahito.
(Note: The author skipped directly from Chapter 14 to 16. This is just a naming error by the author and does not affect the content or reading.)
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