Tokyo Jujutsu High – Midnight
Restricted Archive Hall
That torii gate, yeah, the one everyone avoids? It was buzzing tonight, like it knew something was up. Nobody messes with the Archives, not unless they've got a death wish or, I dunno, clearance from God himself. But rules? Someone just laughed and broke them tonight.
Akashi, right in the thick of it, stood dead-center—dust swirling around his shoes, ancient books crumbling at his feet. His cursed energy shimmered, fingers dancing over these half-torched scrolls. Whole place smelled like old secrets. Megumi Fushiguro slid up beside him, hands shoved in his pockets, looking bored but... not really.
"No damage to the barrier outside," Megumi said. "Whoever snuck in? Didn't leave a trace."
Akashi crouched down, eyeing this busted seal like it personally offended him. "Unlocked from the inside, man."
Megumi's eyebrow did that thing. "So, what, an insider?"
"Could be," Akashi muttered, not sounding convinced. "But who risks that just for info?"
His fingers landed on this charred-up ledger—looked useless, except for one creepy line, ink barely hanging on:
Project Nine-Tongue: Vessel Class - Human-Born Curse
Akashi's breath hitched. Yeah, that was about him all right. Like the universe just punk'd him.
Earlier That Day – Principal's Office
Gojo for once wasn't grinning. Dude actually had his arms crossed, staring Yaga down.
"You're telling me someone poked around those forbidden files about Akashi's origin?" Gojo asked.
Yaga nodded, face all grim. "Stuff that got buried after Shibuya. Only top brass was supposed to see it."
Gojo's eyes narrowed. "Why now? Why dig up ghosts?"
Yaga just sighed. "Akashi's different lately. His voice, his technique... it's getting weird, fast."
Gojo's mood soured. "And someone out there wants him gone before it finishes."
Present – Archives, Lower Chamber
Megumi held a burnt scrap, squinting at the name. "This guy? He's in the old Kyoto list."
Akashi took one look.
Sano Kaito – Expelled. Status? MIA.
Akashi's hands shook a little. He'd seen that name, years ago, carved in the Kurozawa shrine. Not exactly a fond memory.
"It's him," Akashi whispered, voice all raw. "He was there. He knew my mom."
Megumi's whole vibe changed—tense, like a string about to snap. "So now it's not just some paperwork heist."
And then—bam. Lights started flickering like a horror movie. The barrier? Snapped, loud as hell.
Something—or someone—slid in. All shadows, black robes, mask stitched together like some Ed Gein special, blade gleaming crooked in the dark.
"The vessel isn't supposed to remember," the figure rasped.
Megumi's cursed energy flared up, crackling. "Akashi—!"
Akashi's throat burned, cursed technique lighting up, no hesitation.
Dragon Tongue: Phase II – Maw of the Hollow Flame
"燃え尽きろ (Moetsukiro)..."
Yeah, burn to nothing.
He let it rip. The shadow dodged, too quick, gone in a puff of smoke. Left behind just this nasty curse mark, burned right into the floor.
A message, clear as day:
"He's watching."