A light rain was falling.
The group of three held umbrellas as they reached the rooftop.
Nearby, two figures radiating cursed energy were wandering around.
They were two strange-looking "cursed spirits."
"Itadori, you take care of the one over there. I'll handle this side. Yoshino, just watch and learn for now. You're not suited for real combat yet."
Nanami removed the tie from his chest and wrapped it around his fist as he gave his instructions.
Junpei might have talent, but talent meant nothing without the basics. Nanami would not let his students take unnecessary risks.
"Yes!"
The two behind him answered at once.
"If you can't handle it, Itadori, call for me right away. Don't push yourself."
As he spoke, the cursed spirit in front of him lunged forward. Nanami sidestepped calmly, not in a hurry to exorcise it.
"Don't underestimate me, Nanami-sensei!"
Yuji was about to pour cursed energy into his fists and charge in, but instead felt like he had just been shot down again.
"This isn't about underestimating or overestimating. I'm an adult. You're a child. It's my duty to keep you safe. That's all," Nanami replied while easily dodging the cursed spirit's attacks.
"Being treated like a kid feels worse than being underestimated…" Yuji pouted and muttered.
At this age, anyone would feel annoyed being seen as a child in this way.
"Itadori, you may have faced life and death a few times, but that doesn't make you an adult. Hair falling onto your pillow little by little. Your favorite bread disappearing from the convenience store. It's those small moments of despair piling up that make a person grow."
Nanami spoke as he casually slapped the cursed spirit, knocking it flat onto the ground.
"So cool…"
Junpei, standing at the very back, murmured under his breath as he watched that effortless posture.
In just a few moves, Nanami dealt with the cursed spirit. While attacking, he continued explaining how cursed energy and techniques were used.
But at that moment, he noticed something was wrong.
The cursed spirit he had killed did not disappear.
Only then did he see it. On its twisted hand, it wore a wristwatch, just like a human.
A memory surfaced.
It was shortly after the new students had entered Jujutsu High last year.
Mukuro had once told him he was searching for a cursed spirit capable of altering human bodies, and that if Nanami found it, he should cripple it and bring it back.
* * *
"Just as I suspected. Ieiri's autopsy results match my guess. The two we encountered were humans who had been modified."
Inside a conference room, Nanami ended his call and calmly informed Yuji and Junpei of the result.
"How could this be… That's too vile…"
Junpei did not react much, but Yuji was clearly shaken and distressed.
His eyes were filled with disbelief as he looked down at his own hands.
'Was it me… did I kill them myself?'
"There's no need to dwell on it. Ieiri confirmed their brains were already destroyed. That means they were effectively dead before we fought them."
Nanami spoke to reassure him.
Yuji was a kind boy, someone who genuinely felt pain over the suffering of strangers.
At least, that was how Nanami saw him.
"We've gained some leads now. I'll take care of the rest. You two should take a break. Itadori, you can teach Yoshino some basic knowledge, then have Ijichi take you back."
Nanami stood up.
Just moments ago, the Window affiliated with Jujutsu High had finished compiling information on nearby victims and sent it to him.
Once he connected all the clues, he could roughly pinpoint the culprit's location.
But everything had gone too smoothly, which made it feel more like a trap.
Rather than bringing two kids into danger, Nanami preferred to go alone.
"Eh, Nanami-sensei, take us with you too!"
Yuji jumped to his feet as well, wanting to help in any way he could.
"I… I can help too…"
Junpei was still weak, but he wanted to experience this new world a little more.
"This mission will require my full focus. I won't have spare attention to protect you."
Nanami refused without hesitation.
"If you want to help, then focus on getting stronger."
He adjusted his collar lightly. After giving Ijichi a nod, he strode out.
"Nanami-sensei, please be careful!"
Yuji chased after him and shouted. Nanami only waved his hand without stopping.
"Don't worry, Itadori. With Nanami's strength, there are only a handful of people in the entire jujutsu world who can truly overpower him."
He was an adult among adults at Jujutsu High, someone who had grown alongside monsters.
* * *
About half an hour later.
Nanami arrived alone at a place resembling an underground passage.
"Eat…"
"Shower…"
Following the cursed energy residue that seemed deliberately left behind, he encountered several more modified humans of various shapes.
Whether they were repeating the last things they did while alive or clinging to their final obsessions, they kept muttering the same words over and over.
"It won't hurt."
Nanami wrapped his tie around his fist again, no longer holding back like he had on the theater rooftop.
His technique-imbued punches struck one after another, cleanly killing the modified humans in single blows.
Those who could not be saved, he could only ease their pain in his own way.
"You've led me here. You might as well come out now. Or did you think these modified humans could wear me down? They can't stop me, but killing people like this leaves a bad taste."
Nanami adjusted his glasses and looked into the deep darkness ahead.
"Oh, that's great. I was worried it would be Satoru Gojo or Mukuro Fushiguro, or that someone too weak would show up. But you look pretty good."
From the shadows, the stitched-face man Junpei had seen in the theater stepped out with a smile.
His face was filled with relief, as if as long as it was not those two, he was sure he could win.
"I'll ask one thing. The modified humans, are they the result of your technique?"
With the enemy before him, Nanami calmly removed the tie from his fist, folded it, and slipped it into his pocket.
"Hm? More or less. My ability alters the soul. Changes to the body are just a side effect."
The man paused, then answered with his palms spread.
"That's enough."
Nanami reached behind his back. When his hands returned to view, he was holding a pair of tonfas.
Invisible anger burned in his eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll only beat you half to death."
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!