Training Grounds — Early Morning
The air is crisp.
Quiet.
Too quiet for what's about to happen.
Megumi steps into position across from you.
Calm.
Focused.
Already serious.
Y/N:"…You're actually doing this?"
Megumi Fushiguro:"You wanted to improve."
A beat.
Megumi Fushiguro:"This is how."
You tighten your grip on the wooden sword.
Y/N:"Go easy on me."
Megumi's expression doesn't change.
Megumi Fushiguro:"No."
Megumi moves first.
Fast.
No warning.
THUD—
You barely raise the sword in time.
Wood clashes against wood.
Shock runs through your arms.
Y/N:"HEY—!"
Megumi pivots.
Sweeps low.
You jump back.
Almost trip.
Recover.
Megumi Fushiguro:"Too slow."
Y/N:"I JUST STARTED USING THIS THING 😭"
Strike.
Block.
Step.
Counter.
Your movements sharpen.
Less panic.
More instinct.
Megumi presses harder.
Attacks cleaner.
More precise.
You deflect one hit—
Twist—
Land a small tap against his side.
Megumi pauses briefly.
Looks at you.
Megumi Fushiguro:"…Not bad."
Y/N (grinning):"HA!"
Big mistake.
Megumi immediately flicks your sword aside—
Taps your forehead with his wooden blade.
Megumi Fushiguro:"Don't celebrate mid-fight."
Y/N:"…Rude."
You reset your stance.
Breathing steadying.
Focus narrowing.
And then—
A faint warmth spreads beneath your collar.
Not violent.
Not overwhelming.
Just…
A pulse.
Your Tenchu mark hums softly.
Like ripples across still water.
Responding.
Observing.
Your movements change.
Smoother.
More fluid.
Megumi notices instantly.
Megumi Fushiguro (inner thoughts):…Again.
That feeling.
He attacks.
Testing.
You react faster this time—
Block—
Pivot—
Slide past his strike cleanly.
Megumi Fushiguro:"…Your energy."
You blink mid-motion.
Y/N:"Hm?"
Megumi frowns slightly.
Megumi Fushiguro:"…Never mind."
Because unlike before—
There's no surge.
No distortion.
No instability.
Just controlled flow.
And that unsettles him more.
Megumi lunges.
Sharp.
Direct.
You brace—
Step inside his guard—
Wooden swords collide—
Locked.
Faces closer than expected.
You both freeze for half a second.
Y/N:"…Weirdly intense."
Megumi Fushiguro:"…Focus."
He pushes back.
You stumble.
Laugh breathlessly.
Slow clapping echoes behind you.
Yuji Itadori:"WOW."
You whip around.
Yuji standing there.
Grinning.
Nobara beside him.
Arms crossed.
Smirking.
Y/N:"YUJI?!"
Nobara Kugisaki:"Well well…"
She looks between you and Megumi.
Then the swords.
Then your expressions.
Nobara Kugisaki:"Early morning secret training?"
Yuji Itadori:"WITHOUT US??"
Y/N:"It's NOT like that!"
Megumi Fushiguro:"…It's exactly like that."
Y/N:"MEGUMI 😭"
Yuji dramatically gasps.
Yuji Itadori:"You replaced us…"
Y/N:"I DID NOT!"
Nobara Kugisaki:"Tch."
She steps forward.
Eyeing your stance critically.
Nobara Kugisaki:"…Your posture improved."
Y/N:"…Why is everyone suddenly judging my progress today??"
Yuji Itadori:"Because you're getting scary"
Megumi turns away slightly.
Hiding the faintest hint of satisfaction.
Megumi Fushiguro:"We're done."
Yuji Itadori:"NOPE."
Yuji grabs a wooden weapon.
Grinning like chaos incarnate.
Yuji Itadori:"My turn"
Nobara Kugisaki:"Oh this I want to see."
Yuji spins a wooden spear in his hands.
Way too confidently.
Way too excited.
Yuji Itadori:"Ohooo this feels AWESOME."
Y/N:"Why did you pick the scariest option?!"
Yuji Itadori:"Because I like drama😁"
Nobara steps aside immediately.
Front-row seat secured.
Nobara Kugisaki:"This is going to be hilarious."
Megumi sighs.
Already regretting everything.
Megumi Fushiguro:"Try not to break anything."
Yuji Itadori (grinning):"No promises!"
Yuji lunges forward.
No hesitation.
Spear slicing through the air—
Y/N:"WOAH—!"
You barely jump back.
Wood whistles past your face.
Yuji Itadori:"HAHAHA NICE DODGE!"
Y/N:"YOU STARTED TOO FAST 😭"
He swings again.
Wide arc.
You block—
But the reach throws you off.
Y/N (inner thoughts):Long range…
Okay.
New problem.
You circle.
Watching carefully now.
Yuji twirls the spear again—
Overdoes it—
Almost smacks himself.
Y/N:"…Are you sure you know how to use that?"
Yuji Itadori:"ABSOLUTELY NOT."
Nobara Kugisaki:"Idiot."
Megumi facepalms internally.
Yuji charges again.
This time—
Cleaner.
More direct.
Thrust—
You deflect—
Step inside—
Tap his shoulder.
Yuji Itadori:"HEY!"
He hops back laughing.
Yuji Itadori:"Okay okay you're GOOD good!"
Mid-movement—
Something shifts.
A sudden chill.
Then heat.
Your Tenchu mark pulses sharply.
Stronger than before.
You freeze for half a breath.
Y/N (inner thoughts):…What?
Yuji pauses.
Yuji Itadori:"Hm?"
The air feels…
Heavy.
Distorted.
Wrong.
But not unstable.
Not violent.
Just…
Aware.
Your gaze locks onto Yuji.
Or rather—
Something inside him.
Presence Beneath the Surface
For a split second—
Your senses spike.
A dark.
Ancient.
Malicious flicker.
Gone instantly.
But unmistakable.
Your grip tightens unconsciously.
Breathing uneven.
Y/N (whisper):"…Yuji."
Yuji blinks.
Yuji Itadori:"Yeah?"
The Tenchu mark pulses again.
Slow.
Measured.
Reacting.
Not to Yuji's energy…
But to something deeper.
Something coiled.
Watching silently
Megumi's eyes narrow.
Megumi Fushiguro:"…Y/N?"
Because your expression changed.
Focus gone.
Replaced by unease.
Yuji tilts his head.
Concern creeping in.
Yuji Itadori:"Did I hit you earlier or something?"
Y/N:"No…"
A beat.
Y/N (quiet):"It's just…"
You shake it off quickly.
Too quickly.
Y/N:"Nothing. Sorry."
Megumi doesn't buy it.
Again.
From the upper walkway.
Leaning casually against the railing.
Satoru Gojo observes.
Silent.
Unreadable.
Blindfold hiding his eyes—
But not his awareness.
Satoru Gojo (inner thoughts):…There it is.
That subtle fluctuation.
Different from instability.
Different from overload.
Recognition.
Satoru Gojo:"…Interesting."
A slow smile forms.
But it lacks its usual playfulness.
Chaos Resumes
Yuji suddenly grins again.
Mood snapping back instantly.
Yuji Itadori:"OKAY ENOUGH SERIOUS FACE."
He spins the spear dramatically.
Yuji Itadori:"ROUND TWO"
Y/N:"YUJI WAIT—"
Too late.
He charges.
You yelp.
Nobara laughs.
Megumi sighs.
And beneath it all—
Your Tenchu mark hums.
Soft.
Curious.
As if it has just sensed…
A king.
Inner Domain — Beneath Consciousness
Darkness.
Endless.
Silent.
Then—
A ripple.
Ryomen Sukuna's eyes snap open.
A slow, predatory grin spreads across his face.
Ryomen Sukuna:"…Well now."
He leans back lazily on his throne of bones.
Amused.
Interested.
Ryomen Sukuna (low chuckle):"That energy…"
A pause.
His grin widens.
Sharp. Dangerous.
Ryomen Sukuna:"…How nostalgic."
For the briefest moment—
Something ancient flickers in his gaze.
Recognition.
Ryomen Sukuna:"Tenchu…"
He laughs softly.
Cold.
Thrilled.
Ryomen Sukuna:"So you've resurfaced."
Training Grounds — Reality
Yuji suddenly shivers mid-spin.
Yuji Itadori:"…Why did it suddenly get creepy?"
Nobara Kugisaki:"Because your face exists."
Yuji Itadori:"RUDE."
You blink, still slightly unsettled.
That strange pulse lingering under your collar.
Megumi watches you carefully.
Again noticing.
Again storing it away silently.
Nobara claps her hands sharply.
Nobara Kugisaki:"Alright. My turn."
You look at her.
Then at the weapons.
Then back at her.
Y/N:"…Your turn for what?"
She smirks.
Already picking up a wooden hammer.
Nobara Kugisaki:"Sparring."
Y/N:"EH?!"
Yuji Itadori (excited):"OHHHH THIS I WANNA SEE."
Megumi Fushiguro:"…This won't end well."
Nobara Kugisaki:"Relax."
She points the hammer at you dramatically.
Nobara Kugisaki:"I'll go easy on you."
Y/N:"That's not comforting when YOU say it 😭"
Before It Begins…
A familiar voice floats in.
Far too cheerful.
Far too pleased with himself.
Satoru Gojo:"Now now~"
Everyone turns.
Of course.
Gojo casually strolling toward you.
Hands in pockets.
Smug aura fully activated.
Yuji Itadori:"GOJO-SENSEI?!"
Nobara Kugisaki:"Were you spying again?"
Satoru Gojo:"Observing 😊"
Megumi mutters.
Megumi Fushiguro:"Same thing."
Gojo stops between you and Nobara.
Blocking her path entirely.
Nobara Kugisaki:"…Move."
Satoru Gojo:"Nope 😊"
Nobara Kugisaki:"Excuse me?"
He gestures lazily toward you.
Satoru Gojo:"She's still recovering."
You blink.
Y/N:"…I am?"
Satoru Gojo:"Yes."
Y/N:"I feel fine though—"
Satoru Gojo (smiling):"Denied."
Yuji Itadori:"HAHAHAHA"
Nobara Kugisaki:"YOU'RE NOT HER DOCTOR."
From somewhere behind—
Shoko Ieiri (passing by):"He's right."
Everyone freezes.
Shoko Ieiri:"She's not cleared for full-contact sparring yet."
Y/N:"…Traitor."
Gojo beams.
Victorious.
Nobara Kugisaki:"This is discrimination."
Satoru Gojo:"This is medical responsibility"
Nobara Kugisaki:"She dodged a spear ten minutes ago!"
Satoru Gojo:"And looked cute doing it."
Y/N:"SENSEI!"
Megumi sighs deeply.
Megumi Fushiguro:"…Unbelievable."
Gojo glances down at you briefly.
Playfulness still there…
But something more layered beneath.
Watchful.
Protective.
Satoru Gojo (lightly):"Light drills only today."
Y/N:"…Yes, Sensei."
Nobara clicks her tongue.
Nobara Kugisaki:"Fine."
She points at you.
Nobara Kugisaki:"But tomorrow you're fighting me."
Y/N:"…I fear for my life."
Yuji Itadori:"I'm bringing popcorn."
Y/N sighs dramatically...