The rooftop was silent.
Too silent.
Wind brushed across the concrete, carrying the faint stench of cursed energy.
Sora's eyes moved quickly across the scene.
A Grade 2 curse—destroyed instantly.
Not exorcised.
Obliterated.
Near it—
A boy lay on the ground.
Bruised.
Bleeding.
Alive, but barely holding on.
And standing nearby—
Another boy.
Confused.
Sora's eyes narrowed.
"…Something's wrong."
Beside him, Satoru Gojo had already taken in everything.
Then—
He waved casually.
"Yo."
The injured boy twitched slightly.
Annoyed.
"…You're late."
Gojo placed a hand dramatically on his chest.
"Hey, that hurts."
"I rushed all the way here, you know?"
He sighed.
"I even skipped buying souvenirs."
Then he added with a completely straight face—
"I couldn't even get mochi."
Sora blinked once.
"…That's your concern?"
The boy on the ground—Megumi Fushiguro—looked like he wanted to punch him.
Gojo crouched beside him.
Then—
Took out his phone.
Click.Click.
Photos were taken.
Megumi's eye twitched.
"…What are you doing?"
Click.
Another one.
"For preserving this good memory."
Click.
"Other teachers will love this."
Megumi's voice dropped.
"…Delete those."
"Absolutely not."
Sora watched silently from the side.
"A much more pressing situation is at hand, Gojo sensei."
"Thank you."
Gojo stood up casually.
Then glanced toward the confused and standing boy.
"…So."
His tone shifted slightly.
Still light.
But it carried a tone of seriousness.
"That's the one?"
Megumi exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
His gaze shifted toward the boy.
"…He swallowed it."
Sora's eyes narrowed, thinking.
That boy was Yuji Itadori.
Wearing light coloured jacket and high cuffed pants.
The boy scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Uh… yeah."
This was Yuji Itadori.
Alive but infected.
Gojo spoke again.
"Alright."
He looked directly at Yuji.
"Can you switch?"
Yuji blinked.
"…Switch?"
"With the man inside you."
A pause.
"…You mean—"
Gojo pointed casually.
"Yeah."
"Bring out the one who killed the curse. For the upcoming 10 seconds, I will deal with him and then you should come back."
The air felt heavier.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Yuji hesitated.
"…Will it be okay?"
Gojo smiled.
"No need to worry. I am the strongest."
That was enough.
Yuji took a breath.
"…Alright."
For a brief moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
Cursed energy surged.
Violent and dark. It was the very depiction of Malevolence.
Sora's body tensed instinctively.
His instincts screamed.
Danger.
Markings spread across Yuji's face.
His posture changed.
His presence shifted.
From a innocent teenager to a beast.
And then—
He smiled.
A smile that didn't belong to a human.
Sukuna had emerged.
Sora's eyes sharpened instantly.
This…
This was different.
Not like any curse he had faced.
Not even close.
"Haha, I knew it. A cursed spirit's flesh is no fun. Where are the people? The women? What a wonderful era! It will be a massacre."
The King of Curses ripped the jacket and stood bare chested, laughing and rejoicing.
With sudden speed, he went towards Gojo with a cursed energy infused fist.
Gojo stepped away from the hit and came behind Sukuna.
Hands still in his pockets.
"Alright."
He spoke lightly.
Gojo raised a finger.
"Ten seconds."
Sukuna's grin widened.
"Explain."
Gojo's smile didn't fade.
"You fight me for ten seconds."
"If you win—"
He shrugged.
"I'll let you do whatever you want."
Sukuna laughed softly.
"…And if I lose?"
Gojo's voice remained calm.
"You go back quietly."
A pause.
Then—
Sukuna grinned wider.
"…Interesting."
The air cracked slightly under the pressure of his cursed energy.
Sora stood behind, watching closely.
Analyzing.
Ten seconds?
He glanced at Gojo.
He's confident.
No—
That wasn't confidence.
That was certainty.
Sukuna stepped forward slightly.
"Very well."
His eyes gleamed.
"Let's begin."
Gojo rolled his shoulders slightly.
"Cool."
Then—
He smiled.
And in the next instant—
Everything moved.