It started on a normal evening, just like any other. Akira had taken a shortcut home through a narrow alleyway, something he did occasionally when he was in a hurry. The alley was darker than usual, the streetlights flickering weakly as if struggling to stay lit. Akira quickened his pace, sensing a change in the air. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and his heart raced, though he couldn't explain why. He had walked this path dozens of times, but tonight it felt different.
Suddenly, the temperature dropped, and the shadows seemed to grow, twisting unnaturally along the walls. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something—something large, something grotesque. Turning, Akira came face-to-face with the cursed spirit. It was like nothing he had ever seen. Its body was malformed and pulsating, a sickening combination of decaying flesh and cursed energy. It moved in jerky, unnatural motions, its eyes glowing with malice as it locked onto him.
Akira was frozen in place, paralyzed by the fear that gripped him. The cursed spirit lunged at him, and in that moment, something inside Akira reacted. His hand shot out instinctively, and as the spirit's energy collided with him, it didn't hurt him. Instead, the energy flowed into his body, disappearing as if absorbed. The cursed spirit let out a guttural, enraged howl, but its attack had failed. Confusion filled Akira's mind as he stumbled backward, his hand still tingling from the strange sensation of absorbing the curse's energy. The spirit tried to strike again, but before it could, it crumbled into dust, disintegrating before his eyes.
Akira stood there, stunned, his mind reeling. What had just happened? Why wasn't he dead? In the distance, a figure watched. Gojo Satoru, the strongest jujutsu sorcerer, observed the scene with an amused smile. He had been tracking this particular curse for some time, but what interested him now was the boy who had just destroyed it without even knowing how. Gojo's eyes gleamed with curiosity. Akira Kurose was no ordinary person. He had potential—dangerous potential.