(\(^o^)/ This story starts from Episode 1 of *Jujutsu Kaisen*, changing angst to fluff, a healing series. Hope everyone enjoys it~!)
...Nighttime, on the school rooftop.
A deafening series of sounds of shattering architecture rang out.
A massive, grotesque Curse chased a pink-haired youth onto the rooftop, forcefully grabbing him in its palm, opening its mouth, intending to devour him.
The youth swallowed the "Sukuna's finger" he carried without hesitation—the shock brought by the cursed object, the finger imbued with Cursed Energy, instantly caused him to fall unconscious, and several strange yet intricate black Cursed Marks slowly emerged on his face.
Inside his body, a certain awakened soul quietly revived—
Before it could open its eyes, "it" felt something grabbing it, and the stench of decay rushed into its nostrils, making its skin crawl.
Sharp claws rapidly extended from the youth's fingertips, and his body moved faster than his mind, swinging forcefully—powerful black Cursed Energy surged out from within, tearing the thing grabbing him into shreds.
It slightly relaxed, opened its eyes, and saw the deep, beautiful, indigo night sky.
Standing on the school rooftop, it was slightly stunned... How... did I get here?
The unfamiliar scenery before its eyes prevented it from matching its current situation with its memories from before it lost consciousness.
It clearly remembered... remembered... huh?
Its expression froze, and its brain rapidly began to work.
However, no matter how hard it tried to recall, its memories were like a dense fog, failing to reveal any information.
Never mind why it was here, it didn't even have any recollection of its own name...!
Cold sweat dripped from its forehead.
It quickly lowered its head to look at itself—
It was wearing a bright yellow hoodie and jeans... Hmm, it seemed to be a youth.
—He's a male. Get. Information +1.
Raising a hand and reaching into a pocket, he pulled out a cell phone.
The light in his eyes instantly brightened—
But after flipping open the phone cover—the light extinguished.
The phone required a password to unlock.
—And he didn't know the password.
Silently tucking the phone back into his pocket, he searched again; he didn't have a single coin on him.
He sighed. He was so poor.
Without money, even going to the police station for help meant walking the entire way... Moreover... he lowered his head and looked at his wrists, where circles of black patterns looked remarkably like the tattoos of a delinquent youth.
Wait, he wasn't a delinquent, was he? If he went to the police station for help, would they arrest him first...?
He stared blankly at his hands.
So, had he really lost his memory?
Standing on a rooftop in the middle of the night, inexplicably suffering from amnesia... and it seemed like he had just been attacked by something strange...?
—He felt like the embodiment of misery, desperately needing some unusual factor to stimulate the return of his lost memories...
"Don't move!"
A furious shout suddenly came from behind him, startling his heart almost to a stop.
He turned and saw a black-haired boy in black clothes staring at him not far behind, his expression complex, seemingly mixing pain with a hint of despair.
That look... He was thrilled!
—That was definitely the look of someone who knew him!
—This is great!
Although inwardly ecstatic, he tried hard to maintain a calm expression.
The painful look in the opposite boy's eyes and the killing intent radiating from him were too obvious; he couldn't show too much excitement, so he could only look at the other party calmly with a cold face... Please, say a few more words!
Let me know who you are! Especially—who I am!!
Then he heard the boy opposite him speak.
His tone was heavy with pain, carrying a tremor of unwillingness.
"You are no longer human."
...
???
Hey kid, why are you insulting people?
The black-haired boy opposite had blood running down his temple and was covered in dust and bloodstains, forcing him to admit that the other party was even more miserable than he was.
But that wasn't a reason to insult him.
Unless... those injuries on him were caused by me...?
Looking at the other party's handsome face, he thought that if he really was the one who hit him, then he truly... wasn't very human.
Is it too late for me to apologize now?
He urgently wanted to know who he was—the boy in front of him was his only clue. If the boy could tell him his identity, he wouldn't mind letting the boy hit him back.
Fortunately, the other party didn't disappoint him and continued speaking, pausing between each word. The painful difficulty and heavy necessity contained in his voice made his teeth ache.
"Now, according to Jujutsu regulations,"
"Itadori Yuji—is to be regarded as a 'Curse',"
"And exorcised!"
...Great, I don't understand.
However, amidst the unfamiliar terminology, he managed to grasp one key point—
...Itadori Yuji! So his name is Itadori Yuji!
Knowing the name is half the battle; at least when he seeks help from the police, he can state who he is!
Thank you, unknown black-haired boy!
Of course... it would be even better if you could dial back all that killing intent.
The killing intent rushing towards him caused his body to gradually tense up.
His fingertips subconsciously twitched, taking up a fighting stance.
Although the other party had told him his name as he wished, the look of desperation meant he probably wouldn't get any more information by asking.
He pondered how to make the other person calm down.
However, right at that moment—his body suddenly moved on its own, as if it had broken free from his control.
He watched helplessly as his body straightened from its tense fighting stance, cheerfully greeting the boy opposite him with a bright, distinctly youthful voice:
"Fushiguro! Did you see that? Success! That Curse just now was exorcised!"
"But I don't know what's going on, I feel like there's still someone else inside my head? That's weird."
...His body suddenly lost control, and then another voice started speaking. The bizarre situation left him somewhat bewildered.
What... is going on?
Why did his body start talking on its own?!
"What do you mean, your body? This is *my* body!"
That bright, youthful voice sounded again, carrying a protest of dissatisfaction.
Itadori raised his hand and tapped his head, asking Fushiguro in confusion, "There really is another person in my head, huh? Didn't they say eating the fingers only grants Cursed Energy? Does mine come with a person attached?"
Fushiguro stared blankly at Itadori.
No, he wasn't sure if this was Itadori; he couldn't tell if the speaker was the real Itadori or Sukuna possessing him.
But everything that just happened proved that Sukuna had indeed revived inside him. If that was the case, regardless of the outcome, the Higher-Ups would surely order Itadori's execution.
The only thing he could do for him was to step forward... and let Itadori die without pain.
But... he tried to assume the stance for summoning a Shikigami, but his hands trembled uncontrollably.
He didn't even know if it was due to his severe injuries or because he simply couldn't bring himself to do it.
Itadori opposite him still wore an excited expression from saving him and his seniors, happily sharing the joy of victory and asking if he needed to rush to the hospital... yet he was the one who had to kill him.
Fushiguro had never hated his mission as a Jujutsu Sorcerer—to exorcise Curses—so much.
"Oh my, what's going on here?"
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind, interrupting Fushiguro's Cursed Technique. He quickly looked at the newcomer, his eyes lighting up.
As if grabbing a life raft, his body instantly relaxed from its tense state.
"Gojo-sensei!"
"Mm!~"
The tall, white-haired young teacher casually leaned over and greeted his student.
"Did you find the special grade cursed object?"
Itadori, standing nearby, thought for a moment and quickly raised his hand.
"That thing, I think I ate it."
Gojo was stunned.
He ate Ryomen Sukuna's special grade cursed object...?
—Is he that interesting?
He walked closer to Itadori, confirming that he could sense the Curse's aura within him. He smirked slightly and immediately enthusiastically asked Itadori to switch control.
"Then switch with Sukuna inside you for ten seconds. Switch back after ten seconds."
Gojo stepped back two paces, tossed the snacks he bought on the way to Fushiguro, and bent down to stretch, hands on his knees.
His demeanor was relaxed and casual, as if he wasn't about to face the legendary King of Curses, but merely going for a stroll.
"Alright then..." Itadori thought for a moment and agreed.
Perhaps because Sukuna had only killed the Curse and hadn't harmed Fushiguro when he appeared earlier, Itadori didn't feel Sukuna was very dangerous, and the youth agreed quite naturally.
He closed his eyes, the black patterns reappeared, and the "him" trapped deep within the body surfaced once more.
"He" opened his eyes.
Looking at Gojo and Fushiguro, who appeared casual but were actually alert, his expression was calm yet his eyes were complex.
During the time he had been suppressed just now, he had analyzed a crucial issue from the group's conversation:
He was not Itadori Yuji.
The true owner of this body—the youth who was just able to control it—was Itadori Yuji.
And he... was just the soul of someone else possessing him.
He was inhabiting this body, yet he didn't even have control over it.
So... he spoke slowly, carrying a hint of imperceptible struggle and confusion.
"The 'Sukuna' you just mentioned... are you referring to me?"
...Yes, right now, all he wanted to know was... whether this new term was actually his name!
Gojo, who was casually warming up on the surface but was actually ready to fight the King of Curses: "..."
Fushiguro, who was so tense about the life-or-death situation of Itadori after being possessed by Sukuna that he forgot to breathe: "..."
Gojo, who was stretching, almost slipped into a horizontal split, but his powerful martial prowess allowed him to control his sliding foot.
He stood up, looked at Sukuna, and a curve appeared on his lips that was hard to decipher.
Black Cursed Marks consistent with those recorded for Ryomen Sukuna appeared on the boy opposite him, and cold, wicked Cursed Energy radiated without hindrance.
From every angle, this was Sukuna himself.
But... why would Sukuna ask a strange question like, "Are you referring to me as Sukuna?"
Doesn't he know he is Sukuna?
Gojo's mind began racing.
He didn't think Sukuna was playing tricks on them; after all... no one would ask such a low-level question.
Moreover, the confusion on his face was genuine—the kind that questioned his very existence.
So, is it because there was only one finger, and the one revived is an individual who only possesses Cursed Energy but lacks memory?
His heart stirred, and he spoke tentatively, his tone natural and relaxed.
"Hmm? Are you not? — The legendary 'King of Curses,' Ryomen Sukuna."
...Whew... The rhetorical question didn't annoy "him"; instead, he let out a long sigh of relief inwardly.
It seems so... this "Sukuna" really refers to him!
His spirits lifted instantly.
So his name is Ryomen Sukuna!
Although the surname "Ryomen" was a bit strange, having a name was good, and perhaps he could remember more things later... The person who had finally found his name felt completely comfortable, and seeing that the white-haired youth opposite him didn't seem intent on fighting, he tentatively asked the next question:
"Then, what is a 'Curse'?"
Those people seemed to have mentioned the word "Curse" several times just now. Did it have some vague connection to him?
Gojo: "..."
The "King of Curses" asking what a Curse is—is this the best dark joke of the year?
He looked at Sukuna and found the other party calmly waiting for his reply, his expression even showing a hint of anticipation.
He genuinely wanted to ask this question and was sincerely waiting for an answer, without any hint of mockery or sarcasm.
Gojo was certain of everything the Rikugan / Six Eyes conveyed, so he increasingly felt he had stumbled upon a rather interesting event.
If this question was asked sincerely... then not only is memory missing, but this revived Sukuna lacks even common knowledge of the Jujutsu World!
An existence without Jujutsu common sense or memory, yet possessing the King of Curses' Cursed Energy—such an existence...
He instantly wanted to drag him into Tokyo Jujutsu High and give him a good workout!
The delinquent white-haired teacher's mouth curled into a delighted arc... Sukuna didn't get an answer to "What is a Curse?" because as soon as ten seconds were up, he was switched out.
Just as he braced himself to continue listening to the others talk while inside Itadori's body, he saw the white-haired teacher reach out and tap Itadori's forehead with a finger.
This scene... why does it look so familiar, as if he'd seen it somewhere before? Before Sukuna could finish thinking, his vision went black, and he fell asleep alongside the body.
When he woke up again, he saw his host, Yuji Itadori, speaking with a heavy expression to a female student.
"...It's not your fault, Senpai, it's my fault for finding that finger..."
"...I'm sorry..."
He heard the boy lower his head, his voice lacking the sunny quality he had heard before.
It felt like sinking to the bottom of a deep sea, unable to breathe.
He felt inexplicably uncomfortable; the boy shouldn't have this kind of tone.
But he didn't know what had happened between them, so he could only listen in silence, pretending he didn't exist.
When Itadori left for the outside, he couldn't help but want to say something.
But what should he say?
His empty mind couldn't come up with a suitable topic for a long time.
He couldn't possibly talk about Curses, could he? Although he really wanted to know what a Curse was, it seemed Itadori's Senpai and upperclassmen were injured by a Curse, so discussing this topic now was clearly inappropriate.
He couldn't poke at someone else's wound.
Before he could think of a suitable topic, Itadori suddenly spoke.
His tone was neither the cheerfulness of last night nor the sadness from moments ago, but carried a faint sense of gratitude and relief.
"Sukuna, thank you."
...Eh?
He was stunned and quickly replied, "For what?"
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to save my Senpai, my upperclassmen, or Fushiguro. Everyone might have been killed by that Curse last night."
Oh... "It's nothing."
Sukuna replied haughtily, having absolutely no recollection of the event internally.
He didn't even know what a Curse was, and last night, he was forced offline before he could hear the answer.
It was entirely an anti-addiction system, counting down by the second.
"...When I was grabbed by that Curse, luckily you switched out and dealt with it..."
"...But I really didn't expect you to revive inside me. I thought at the time that I could just use Cursed Energy..."
"But why did you help us? I heard Gojo-sensei say you're the King of Curses, aren't you?"
Itadori recalled the series of facts Gojo-sensei had told him about Ryomen Sukuna earlier in the Sealed Room.
Although it sounded terrifying and dangerous, he couldn't match that guy with the person inside his body... Right, the "King of Curses"!
Sukuna became interested. He remembered hearing them mention the words Curse and King of Curses several times that night.
So he was the "King of Curses," huh? Sounds pretty impressive... Although the word Curse felt a bit off, definitely the standard for a villain, he was still a "King."
How bad could someone be if they were called a "King"?
Sukuna held his head a little higher, feeling as if some unique aura was rising within him.
He was a King.
He couldn't help but feel smug.
So he was an important, powerful figure. It seemed he needed to watch his words and actions from now on.
A King's dignity must absolutely be maintained!
...But speaking of which, as a King, shouldn't he have vassals or soldiers or something?
Imagining himself swaggering while leading a massive army to sweep away the enemy, Sukuna felt completely satisfied.
He couldn't wait to find out more about himself.
So, what exactly is a "Curse"?
Wait a minute... Sukuna frowned.
What Itadori had just said echoed in his mind.
[When I was grabbed by that Curse, luckily you switched out and dealt with it...]
A bad premonition suddenly surged in his heart.
Grabbed... switched out... dealt with... Wait, that wretched Curse thing, could it be that disgusting, foul-smelling thing he slapped away last night?
That thing was a Curse?
...And he was the King of Curses??
Doesn't that mean he's the same species as that monstrosity from last night???
...Wait, stop.
Sukuna instantly felt dizzy. He could accept not being human, but he absolutely could not accept being a slime...!
The imagined scene of leading a massive army suddenly turned into a scenario where he was leading a horde of incredibly foul-smelling slimes charging at the enemy, while he sat enthroned amidst a swarm of slimes... Even without a body, he felt dizzy and faint.
Is it too late for me to start over?
"...Let me take a moment."
Sukuna looked pained, clutching his convulsing heart, and tried to make one last stand.
"Does 'Curse' refer to that thing I slapped away last night?"
Itadori: "Huh?... Yes."
Sukuna: "...Do all Curses look like that monstrosity?"
Itadori: "..."
Shouldn't I be the one asking you that question?
Itadori muttered inwardly.
Gojo-sensei said this Sukuna might have amnesia, but he didn't expect it to be true.
Died a thousand years ago, and now has amnesia... How miserable.
A hint of sympathy entered Itadori's tone.
"About that... I'm not really sure either. I only learned that Curses exist last night. But the large group of Curses we saw last night did seem to mostly look like that."
Great.
Sukuna thought.
I can die now.
—Next year today will be my Death Anniversary.
Sukuna's face was ashen, and his eyes were vacant...