Reiji and Shoko were in the middle of their usual rounds through the medical wards of Jujutsu High.
Because of the recent rise in crime rates and growing public unrest, the caseload had increased severalfold. People were becoming more agitated by the day and as a result, so were the curses born from their negativity.
Running reverse cursed technique until exhaustion was taking a visible toll. The dark circles beneath Reiji's eyes had grown deeper, more pronounced than ever before. Still, he treated it as necessary practice, something he simply had to endure.
Eventually, the two wrapped up their rounds and headed out for lunch.
They sat side by side on a bench within the Jujutsu High compound. As soon as they settled, Reiji popped another iron supplement pill into his mouth and swallowed it down with practiced ease before opening his lunch box.
Shoko glanced sideways at his meal.
It was elaborate and meticulously prepared, filled with generous portions of red meat and liver. She compared it silently to her own far more modest lunch.
Clicking her tongue, she conjured a cigarette from seemingly nowhere and lit it with casual ease.
Reiji noticed and sighed softly. His classmate's addiction really had gotten out of hand.
Smiling faintly, he extended his lunch box toward her.
"Shoko… would you like some?"
She turned her face away from the perfectly prepared meal, clearly suppressing the urge to drool.
"It's alright," she said, forcing herself to sound indifferent. "But thanks."
Reiji's smile dimmed just a little as he pulled the box back and began eating.
Shoko leaned fully against the bench, tilting her head back to stare at the sky.
It was a beautiful afternoon; bright, clear, almost deceptively peaceful. And yet, despite that calm, an unease lingered within her.
Her thoughts drifted back to the faint shimmer she had seen in the sky at the railway station.
'Did I really see anything at all…?'
Out of the corner of his eye, Reiji noticed her distant, contemplative stare.
"What's wrong, Shoko?" he asked gently.
She blinked and snapped out of her thoughts.
"Oh- uh. It's nothing."
Reiji sensed immediately that there was more to it. He turned toward her, giving her his full attention.
"Are you sure?"
Shoko exhaled slowly and leaned forward, staring down at the rough stone tiles beneath their feet with an intense, unfocused gaze.
"Everything's going wrong, Reiji," she said quietly. "Curses are increasing every day. People are losing their minds. And then there's that thing."
She paused.
"Now that you saw it too… it's basically confirmed that it caused the train crash as well." She hesitated. "Well… probably."
She flicked her cigarette onto the tiles and crushed it beneath her shoe.
"Even after we reported it," she continued, "they still haven't found anything about it. Nothing at all."
Reiji nodded solemnly.
"That's true. I can only imagine what Gojo and Geto are dealing with out in the field right now."
He took a sip of water before speaking again.
"I do have a plan."
Shoko shot him a quick glance.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
Reiji turned to her fully, locking eyes with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
"I haven't finalized anything yet," he said. "I need to consult the old man before I go through with it."
Shoko let out a soft laugh, her gaze as listless as ever.
"Perks of being an heir to one of the great clans, I guess."
Reiji smiled faintly.
"Honestly… it's more of a curse than a blessing, Shoko."
She groaned lightly, fixing him with a look that clearly demanded an explanation.
Reiji winced internally.
'I don't think I'm supposed to tell her this… but here goes.'
"The deal is," he began carefully, "if I can't understand and control this eye…" He paused, lifting two fingers toward Akame. "…they'll quietly execute me."
Shoko's eyes widened. Even her dark circles seemed to deepen.
"Whoa," she said flatly. "That really sucks."
The casual reaction after such a revelation, was jarring to say the least.
Reiji let out an awkward giggle.
"I guess it does."
He hesitated, then continued.
"Anyway… the old man's summoned me back to the clan. I'll be gone for two days."
Shoko nodded as she finally opened her lunch box.
"Ah, got it. Just make sure you tell me all about this 'grand plan' when you get back."
Reiji nodded with a small, restrained smile.
A pleasant silence settled between them as they ate.
Then Shoko suddenly paused.
"Oh right," she said. "I almost forgot. Reiji… how was the therapy session?"
Reiji coughed violently, nearly choking on a bite of food.
"You actually look a bit better," she added.
He covered his mouth with his hand before responding. Though it resembled basic table manners, it almost looked like he was hiding a blush.
"Um… It was strange," he admitted. "To say the least."
Shoko eyed him suspiciously.
"…Right."
*****************************************************************
The Kamo clan compound stood in solemn isolation, removed from the noise and disorder of the outside world.
High stone walls encircled the grounds, etched with protective talismans and ritual inscriptions that pulsed faintly with dormant cursed energy. Prayer banners fluttered quietly in the evening wind, their fabric worn thin by decades of use.
Shrines lined the inner courtyards; dried herbs, and ceremonial charms were arranged with meticulous care.
This place was not merely a residence. It was a sanctum where bloodline, doctrine, and duty were treated as sacred law.
Within the central hall, ancestral portraits hung in rigid formation, each one depicting a former head of the clan. Beneath them burned several rows of oil lamps.
At the heart of it all stood Dairoku Kamo.
A towering, broad-shouldered man whose presence alone commanded silence. Though his long life had carved deep lines into his face, his hawk-like eyes remained sharp and watchful. He wore traditional ceremonial robes layered with talismanic sashes, each representing authority that he had earned.
Reiji entered the hall, "Good evening, old man… you called for me?"
Dairoku grunted in response, displeasure immediately evident in his voice.
"You're late."
He opened his sharp hawk-like eyes and regarded his student in silence for a long moment.
The old man crossed the room with measured steps until he stood an arm's length from Reiji. Raising a single finger, he pointed directly at Akame.
"Any further progress on that?"
Reiji answered without hesitation.
"Nothing else yet old man."
The veins on Dairoku's forehead bulged, not from the report itself, but from the remark on his age.
With visible effort, he composed himself and exhaled deeply. Turning away, he walked toward a large hanging painting depicting an ancestral Kamo ritual soaked in crimson symbolism.
"This won't do." Dairoku said evenly. "The council of elders demands perfection. Those old farts are eager to learn what that relic can accomplish at full capacity."
Reiji clenched his teeth. His hands trembled as he quietly resisted the urge to lash out at the elders.
Dairoku turned back toward him, his expression was neutral, though beneath that mask, there was a hint of concern.
"There are methods that could aid you, brat," he said gruffly. "Do not sulk."
Reiji looked up, meeting his master's gaze.
"I don't think they'll help."
Dairoku closed his eyes and sighed.
"You may be right. Until we understand the true nature of that object, forcing its power open is futile." He paused. "This is intuition, not certainty… but I believe you must understand yourself first."
Reiji frowned.
"W–what do you mean?"
Dairoku began pacing the room, his voice uncharacteristically calm.
"You should attempt to elevate your sorcery."
Reiji listened closely. His master… boorish as he was… had always been perceptive. His guidance had never failed him before.
"…What's the next level?"
Dairoku stopped.
"You must realize your innate domain."
Reiji felt cold sweat bead along his spine.
Dairoku continued.
"Before attempting domain expansion, you must first visualize and stabilize your innate domain."
Reiji's vision blurred. His knees buckled slightly as his body shuddered.
The old man noticed instantly.
"Oi, twig," Dairoku snapped. "What's wrong with you?"
Reiji's breathing grew ragged, panic flooding him for reasons he couldn't articulate. It felt as though he'd been asked to descend into the underworld and return unchanged.
"I– I can't… do that," he whispered.
Dairoku studied him carefully.
'There it is again.'
Through years of training Reiji, he had learned this truth: the boy thrived under physical pressure; but his mind was fragile. It was capable of incredible fortitude… but it could also collapse without warning.
Dairoku sighed.
"Fine. Not that route, then."
Reiji flinched and nodded frantically, struggling to compose himself.
Dairoku turned toward the window, gazing at the setting sun.
'Damn it. I'm going soft,' he thought. 'Maybe it's the age after all.'
Reiji wiped sweat from his brow and exhaled deeply before steeling himself.
He spoke after a brief moment of contemplation, "Old man… I've been trying to use Black Flash during combat."
Dairoku turned sharply, surprised.
Reiji continued.
"I followed everything you taught me. Sometimes, I could even feel myself entering the… flow state."
Dairoku nodded.
"And?"
"Combat felt almost instinctive. Natural even. But I could never quite reach that threshold." His frustration was clear. "I did everything right."
"Oh?" Dairoku muttered. "Then let me see your cursed energy."
He reached out.
Reiji placed his hand in his master's, heart racing. He released his cursed energy slowly as Dairoku closed his eyes, scrutinizing it carefully.
Moments passed and tension filled the air.
When the old man opened his eyes, his gaze was softer.
Reiji held his breath as Dairoku released his hand and folded his arms.
"Just as I suspected."
His verdict was blunt.
"It's unstable. No matter how perfect your timing is, you will never land a Black Flash until that instability is resolved."
Reiji stared at him.
"I don't understand. My control has improved immensely."
Dairoku shook his head.
"Your control may be flawless. But your cursed energy itself is unstable." He frowned. "I still remember, it was unstable when I first trained you… perhaps your exceptional control masked it, in these recent years."
He paused.
"But it has worsened and it will not stabilize unless you get a hold of the darkness within. That is how cursed energy is generated, after all."
Reiji felt disbelief wash over him. He had thought he was improving; only to learn that he had regressed instead.
"Fix your mind, damn brat," Dairoku barked, his words were harsh, but certainly not cruel.
"I will… Master," Reiji replied quietly.
Dairoku turned away, reaching for several books on a nearby shelf.
Reiji lingered, lost in thought.
Then-
Dairoku coughed.
Light at first. Then it grew heavier.
"Master?" Reiji asked sharply.
Dairoku turned, covering his mouth.
His large frame swayed.
Reiji moved instantly.
The old man collapsed to his knees, but Reiji caught him before he could fall.
Blood stained Dairoku's hands.
Reiji watched in horror as a thin stream of blood trickled from his master's nose.
"Master!" he shouted.
There was no response.
Dairoku Kamo lost consciousness.