"Itadori tells me you're a Shikigami User?"
After teaching Junpei how to circulate Cursed Energy while running, Fushiguro suddenly asked the question while Junpei was warming up.
As a fellow Shikigami User, he was a little curious.
Junpei nodded, hesitated only a moment, then released his shikigami, "Yotsuduki."
A pale-blue jellyfish over a meter tall floated in mid-air, glowing softly. Several slender golden tentacles drifted around its bell, swaying gently with each bob of its body.
"Wow—so pretty!"
Itadori and Nobara exclaimed in unison.
Light sparkled in Nobara's eyes; the weakness of girls for beautiful things kicked in at once.
She stepped closer, hand reaching out to touch.
"Don't!"
Junpei blurted out a warning.
Seeing Nobara freeze and turn, he flushed and quickly explained.
"Um… Yotsuduki's power is poison. If you touch it, you'll be poisoned…"
…Poison?
Nobara yanked her hand back.
Together with Itadori and Fushiguro, the three of them stared at Yotsuduki and took a synchronized step backward.
Yotsuduki, just summoned and about to greet everyone cheerfully: "…"
"—!!!"
It let out a soft wail, drooping in sorrow; every golden tentacle, along with those beneath its bell, hung limp—
and the little jellyfish drifted sadly to the ground.
Looking small, pitiful, and utterly helpless.
Inside Junpei's head, his shikigami was sobbing "yīng-yīng-yīng." Feeling both amused and sorry, he hurriedly hugged Yotsuduki to comfort it.
"Don't be sad, Yotsuduki… I'll learn how to keep you from refining poison all the time."
His control of Cursed Energy wasn't fine enough yet; whenever excess energy leaked, Yotsuduki secreted toxin.
While soothing the jellyfish, he turned back to the others and added,
"The tentacles are poisonous, but the bell isn't—just like an ordinary jellyfish."
Itadori's eyes lit up and he shot his hand into the air.
"Then can I touch the bell?"
Junpei exhaled in relief. "Of course."
Itadori happily rushed over.
[Forget the bell—you can even touch the tentacles.]
Sukuna, silent in the Inner World for a while, finally spoke.
Itadori's movement paused; stars seemed to flash in his eyes.
He secretly tapped his left palm with a right finger, signaling Sukuna that he was listening.
Sukuna sounded pleased with himself.
[I'm the King of Curses; poison itself. A trifling toxin refined by this little shikigami can't affect me at all.]
[Touch whatever you want—I've got you covered.]
Itadori tapped his palm again in happy confirmation.
Eyes sparkling, he looked at Junpei.
"I seem to be immune to poison for some reason—can I touch Yotsuduki's tentacles too?"
"Eh…?"
Junpei hesitated.
"Then I'll switch its toxin to just a numbing one—want to try?"
"Sure!"
Junpei quickly altered the poison type. He couldn't stop secretion yet, but changing varieties was already within reach.
Itadori stealthily brushed a tentacle—no reaction at all.
He gleefully wrapped his whole body around Yotsuduki, hugging and consoling the forlorn little jellyfish.
"Good Yotsuduki, don't be sad. From now on, I can hug you too!"
The tiny jellyfish cheered up a bit; its golden tentacles cautiously curled around Itadori.
Inside Junpei's mind came Yotsuduki's happy "yīng-yīng-yīng" sobs.
He couldn't help chuckling.
Yotsuduki had been created only recently; it really was like a child.
Watching them play, Junpei felt more relieved and grateful by the second.
Nobara's eyes glittered; she clenched a fist in excitement—she wanted a hug too!
With Itadori leading the way, she gathered her courage and stroked Yotsuduki's bell.
Soft, slippery, and a little springy—
top-grade texture!
Only Fushiguro stood aloof, staring at Yotsuduki with solemn eyes.
He was debating… should he send out Great Serpent or Toad to touch it for him?
Divine Dogs definitely wouldn't do—one slap and the little jellyfish would be gone.
In the end, he summoned Great Serpent; its snout delicately tapped the bell. Both were ice-cold, and the tiny jellyfish rubbed itself affectionately against the snake.
Comforted by everyone, Little Yotsuduki brightened again, waving its golden tentacles as it floated back into the air.
It even circled Junpei happily once.
Junpei exhaled in relief.
Thank goodness they all accepted Yotsuduki; otherwise, the little jellyfish would have sobbed in his head all day. Content, the group turned their attention away.
Junpei quietly began his grim 4-kilometer run.
Even with Fushiguro's careful guidance, after four thousand meters, Junpei collapsed on the ground.
Gasping, sweat rolled down his cheeks.
Running like this every day from now on—yep, definitely death-inducing.
He didn't know whether the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers was hell, but Jujutsu school absolutely was.
"Junpei—finished running?"
Itadori, fresh from a bout with Panda-senpai under Inumaki-senpai's cursed speech interference, jogged over happily.
Nobara arrived too, handing out bottles of water and gulping one herself.
Fushiguro accepted his with thanks, sat beside Junpei, and waited for him to recover.
Junpei lay trembling; Itadori helped, uncapping the bottle and handing it over.
"Thanks."
Junpei forced a weak smile, struggled upright, and took the bottle with shaking hands.
Sweat-soaked hair hung over his face, hiding most of it.
Itadori brushed the strands aside with a laugh.
"Your hair's in the way—tie it up when you—"
His voice cut off abruptly.
His light-brown pupils contracted sharply.
Junpei jerked a hand up to shield the scar on his forehead, fear flashing in his eyes.
Fushiguro's glance was enough: the scar had clearly been made by a cigarette.
Who…?
Who did this—?!
Itadori opened his mouth, but the question no longer mattered.
Seeing Junpei's frightened gaze, Itadori felt a boulder lodge in his chest.
His nails dug into his palms.
Guilt and fury flooded him in an instant.
He had to do something—his rage-blurred eyes shifted slightly.
The fury was forced down; a thought flickered—
Nobara and Fushiguro, who had been looking at Junpei, now focused on Itadori, questions in their eyes.
Deep inside, Sukuna sighed.
[Tell him to close his eyes.]
Itadori's eyes brightened.
He looked at Junpei, expression earnest.
"Junpei, don't be afraid."
he said softly,
voice gentle.
Slowly he reached out, stopping just before the hand Junpei pressed to his forehead.
Meeting the boy's olive-green eyes still laced with fear, he spoke even more gently.
"Trust me—close your eyes. It'll be over soon."
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