The remains of the curse splattered against the subway wall, its body no longer resembling anything human. Nanami stood over it, calmly adjusting his cuffs.
"I told you to aim for its weak point, but instead you tackled it like a delinquent."
Itadori, panting and bruised, scratched his head. "Yeah, well… it worked, right?"
Nanami said nothing. He reached down and stomped the remains of the curse one final time, as if to ensure no cursed energy lingered. The ground shook slightly.
Then came a whisper.
Soft at first… playful.
"You two are quite the mess."
Nanami's eyes narrowed.
From the end of the dark tunnel, footsteps echoed. A man stepped forward, barefoot, silver hair barely touching his shoulders. He wore schoolboy clothes, a stitched smile on his lips, and an aura that made the entire tunnel hum.
Itadori froze. "Who's… that?"
Nanami didn't answer at first.
The man stepped into the flickering light. "Yuji Itadori, the vessel of Sukuna. I've been waiting to meet you."
Itadori's shoulders tensed. "Who are you?"
The man smiled wider. "Mahito."
He tilted his head like a curious child. "You fascinate me. You carry Sukuna's soul but still act like a fragile human. How interesting."
Nanami stepped in front of Itadori. "He's not available."
Mahito chuckled. "I didn't ask permission."
Without warning, Mahito raised his hand. A wave of cursed energy spread from his palm, rippling through the air. It struck Nanami—but rather than stagger, Nanami moved forward, through it.
"You thought that would affect me?"
With one precise motion, Nanami drove his fist forward.
CRACK.
The entire tunnel vibrated. Mahito's body launched like a cannonball, smashing into a wall so far down the tunnel that he vanished into the shadows.
Itadori stood with his mouth open. "He… flew."
Nanami dusted off his sleeves. "Soul manipulation. That's his cursed technique. He tried to alter my soul. I don't let that happen."
"Can everyone… punch like that?" Itadori whispered.
Nanami looked over his shoulder, calm and cold. "No. That was a warning."