"…I want to learn."
Junpei Yoshino's voice sounded hoarse.
But the hesitation in his eyes had disappeared.
For years he had endured bullying.
Humiliation.
Powerlessness.
The overwhelming strength displayed by the boy standing before him—
And that confident, almost tyrannical attitude—
Held a fatal attraction for him.
"A wise decision."
Yagami Sora snapped his fingers.
The heavy, stagnant air around the alley instantly resumed flowing.
"Alright."
"First lesson."
He turned toward the alley entrance and waved casually.
"Come on."
"To your house."
"…My house?"
Junpei froze.
Then hurried after him in confusion.
"Why are we going to my house?"
"For training?"
"Training can wait."
Sora didn't even slow down.
"We're going to save your unlucky mother."
Junpei stopped instantly.
"…My mom?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did something happen to her?!"
Sora turned his head slightly.
"Not yet."
"But if we don't go now…"
"…she'll probably die tonight."
Junpei's face went pale.
Sora tapped his own temple.
"That stitched-face curse—his plan isn't just corrupting you."
"To completely sever your ties with humanity…"
"…the best catalyst is tragedy."
"The violent death of someone you love."
Junpei's blood turned cold.
Memories flashed through his mind.
Mahito's smiling face.
The chilling indifference hidden behind it.
If that monster truly planned something like that—
"Stop standing there."
Sora's voice snapped him out of it.
"Run."
"If we're late…"
"…you'll only be collecting a corpse."
Ten Minutes Later
Junpei's house.
Junpei arrived at the door breathless.
His hands shook so badly he could barely hold his keys.
"Move."
Sora pushed him aside and placed his hand on the lock.
CLICK.
Through vector manipulation, the internal springs and pins inside the lock reset instantly.
The door opened.
The house was dark.
Junpei's mother had not returned from work yet.
Junpei collapsed in relief.
"…Thank god…"
"She's not home yet…"
"Don't celebrate too early."
Sora walked straight inside without removing his shoes.
His eyes scanned the living room.
Then—
They stopped.
"…Found it."
He crouched beside the dining table and reached into a hidden gap near the table leg.
From inside—
He pulled out a long object wrapped in sealing talismans.
A shriveled finger.
An overwhelming aura of malice radiated from it.
Junpei shuddered.
"…What is that?"
"A finger of Ryomen Sukuna."
Sora twirled the object casually.
"A Special Grade cursed object."
"Leaving this here is basically lighting a beacon."
"Any cursed spirit within several kilometers will sense it."
Junpei stared at the finger.
"This… was planted by that stitched-face guy?"
His voice trembled.
But this time—
It wasn't fear.
It was fury.
"Who else?"
Sora leaned against the wall casually.
"He planned to use the finger as bait."
"A cursed spirit would appear."
"It would kill your mother."
"Then when you fell into despair…"
"He would appear."
"Offer you power."
"And guide your hatred toward humanity."
Sora shrugged.
"A classic villain script."
Junpei's hands clenched around the finger.
His knuckles turned white.
If Sora had not intervened—
If he had simply gone home tonight—
The result would have been unimaginable.
"…Damn it."
Junpei's eyes filled with tears.
"That bastard…"
"Good."
Sora walked over and patted his shoulder.
"Anger is good."
"Remember it."
"For sorcerers…"
"…negative emotions are power."
Suddenly—
Sora's expression changed.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He turned toward the window.
Outside—
Under the streetlight—
A figure had appeared.
A young man with blue hair.
Stitches ran across his face and body.
He tilted his head curiously while looking inside.
Mahito.
"Oh dear."
His voice passed through the glass with playful amusement.
"You found it already."
"I was hoping to enjoy a nice tragedy."
"But it seems the show has been ruined."
His eyes shifted to the object in Junpei's hand.
"That's Sukuna's finger, you know."
"Very precious."
"Would you mind giving it back?"
Junpei's body trembled violently.
Despite that—
He instinctively stepped forward.
Standing between Mahito and Sora.
"…Watch out!"
"That guy is—"
"I know."
Sora pushed him aside gently.
A smug smile appeared on his face.
He walked toward the window.
Meeting Mahito's gaze directly.
His eyes held no fear.
Only the excitement of a hunter seeing prey.
"You want it?"
Sora lifted the finger.
Mahito's eyes sparkled with interest.
Then—
CRACK.
A sharp sound echoed.
The sealing talismans around the finger shattered.
Through microscopic vector manipulation, their binding structure had been destroyed instantly.
The suppressed cursed energy surged outward.
BOOM!
The window exploded.
Glass shards shot outward like bullets.
Sora stepped forward slowly.
His gaze locked onto Mahito.
"If you want it…"
"…come take it yourself."
"Trash."
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