The group moved through the forest paths together.
Some walked casually.
Some stayed alert.
Some—mainly the younger students—were still trying to process the existence of "Special Grade Plus."
Takeru walked near the front with his hands in his pockets again.
Older Gojo and Younger Gojo were arguing about sunglasses.
Hakari was somehow gambling with Todo.
And Sukuna just silently walked with them like an ancient evil forced into a group project.
Then Nanami stopped walking.
Slowly.
"…Takeru."
Takeru glanced over.
"…Yo."
Nanami adjusted his glasses slightly.
"Because it's you in question…"
A pause.
"…Do you know that curse following us?"
Instantly everyone turned.
A cursed spirit had indeed been creeping behind them through the trees.
Tall.
Thin.
Distorted.
Its face stretched unnaturally wide.
The younger students immediately got into fighting stances.
Then Takeru looked at it.
Paused.
And gasped dramatically.
"…Holy crap."
A beat.
"Fred!?"
Everyone froze.
Yuji pointed immediately.
"…YOU KNOW THAT CURSE?"
Megumi narrowed his eyes.
"…Why does he have history with it."
Nobara looked horrified.
Nobara Kugisaki
"…WHY IS IT NAMED FRED."
Takeru immediately burst out laughing.
"Nah, just kidding!"
The entire group collectively deflated in annoyance.
"Buttttt…"
He pointed dramatically at the curse.
"…I wanna get him with Geto's technique so he'll be named Fred."
Geto immediately frowned.
"…Please do not casually name cursed spirits."
"Too late."
Before anyone else could respond—
Takeru vanished forward.
CRACK.
One punch.
The cursed spirit exploded apart instantly.
Dark cursed energy twisted inward violently.
Compressed.
Condensed.
And formed into a small black orb in Takeru's hand.
The younger students stared.
"…That's the technique," Megumi muttered quietly.
Takeru looked down at the orb confidently.
"…Alright."
A pause.
"…Fred acquired."
Geto sighed deeply.
"…You actually did it."
Then Takeru tossed the orb slightly in his hand.
Still acting confident.
Still acting cool.
And swallowed it.
Immediate silence.
Takeru froze.
His face changed instantly.
Green.
His entire body shuddered violently.
"…GETO."
A pause.
"HOW THE HELL DO YOU EAT THESE THINGS MAN!?"
Everyone jumped slightly at the sudden screaming.
"AHHHHHH!"
Takeru bent over gagging dramatically.
"IT TASTES LIKE A CURSED WET SOCK DIPPED IN SEWER WATER!"
Geto looked away slightly.
"…You get used to it."
"NO YOU DO NOT!"
Takeru looked moments away from throwing up.
Tiny Yuji stared in horror.
"…That's disgusting."
Tiny Takeru looked traumatized.
"…Why would anyone do that willingly."
Yuji pointed aggressively at Geto.
"YEAH EXPLAIN YOURSELF."
Geto rubbed his forehead.
"It's necessary for the technique."
Takeru gagged again.
"THIS IS NOT A TECHNIQUE."
Another gag.
"THIS IS PUNISHMENT."
Even Sukuna looked mildly disturbed.
"…Pathetic."
Takeru immediately pointed at him while still gagging.
"YOU EAT FINGERS."
"…Fair point."
Then—
the realization hit Takeru fully.
Slowly.
Painfully.
"…Wait."
A pause.
"…I have to eat those every time I exorcise a cursed spirit?"
Geto nodded once.
"…Correct."
Takeru looked like his soul had just been shattered.
"…Bro…"
He gagged again.
"…I am NEVER making fun of your depression."
Geto blinked.
Then unexpectedly laughed a little into his hand.
Even Nanami looked like he almost smiled.
Hakari was outright crying laughing.
Kirara shook her head.
"…He finally found a consequence."
And while Takeru continued dramatically suffering over the taste—
the small cursed spirit orb system officially gained its first victim:
His taste buds.