Nah I’d Black Flash

Kazukai had always wondered how death would feel. His entire life, he'd gone back and forth, imagining it might be agonizing or maybe even blissfully numb. Like most people, he thought the answer to that particular question was something he'd get much later in life—decades down the road, ideally, surrounded by loved ones or at the very least in a comfortable bed. But as he lay on the cold, unforgiving pavement, staring up at the night sky, his chest drenched in his own blood, he realized something he never expected.

Death was painfully...

...boring.

This wasn't how he imagined it. Not that anyone really fantasized about dying in an alley after playing the hero in a bad situation, but this? This dull, aching stretch of time, where everything hurt and the world seemed to slowly fade into some indifferent gray haze? He didn't expect this.

Kazukai really shouldn't have tried to be the hero. Sure, saving his friend from a mugger turned homicidal maniac would've been one hell of a story, but things had spiraled out of control way too fast. The first guy—the mugger—was easy. Kazukai had trained in martial arts since he was a kid. A quick kick, a punch, and the guy was down for the count. But what could he have done against the other guy? The second one, the one with the gun. No amount of training could've saved him there. And now? Now he was bleeding out on the street, his life slipping away second by second.

It was kind of funny in a twisted way. His normality had always bothered him. He was just a regular guy, nothing special, no superpowers, no crazy talents that made him stand out. He was fit, yeah. Smart too. But wasn't that just the baseline for being considered above average? He wasn't extraordinary, not in the way he'd secretly wanted to be. And yet here he was, dying like he was in some heroic, tragic story. Only it didn't feel heroic. It just felt stupid.

As the cold crept further into his limbs, Kazukai realized he should probably start reflecting. That's what people did when they were dying, right? Reflect on their lives? He supposed his wasn't bad. He had good grades, full scholarships lined up, a body most people would envy, and a solid background in martial arts. He didn't have a ton of friends, but he had enough. Enough to keep the loneliness at bay. He'd lived decently, and for the most part, he couldn't complain.

Except... no girlfriend. Never had one. That stung a little. Wasn't he supposed to have kissed someone before he died? Hadn't there been some unspoken rule about that?

His thoughts were getting slower, fuzzier. He could feel himself slipping away now. The sky seemed dimmer somehow, like even the stars were giving up on him. And the realization hit him again.

This was it.

Death wasn't peaceful, or terrifying, or any of the things he'd spent years imagining. It was dull. It was boring. And, above all else, it was nothing like he'd expected.

Kazukai opened his eyes. Wait... wasn't he dead? His last memory was lying on the ground, blood spilling from his chest, watching the sky fade into darkness. Yet here he was, awake, breathing, and... floating? He glanced around.

A void. An endless black void stretched in all directions, quiet and unnervingly still.

"Okay," Kazukai muttered to himself, "if this is all the afterlife is, I'm filing a complaint. Someone's getting an angry letter."

As if on cue, a soft, melodic voice echoed from nowhere.

"Well, it's not exactly the afterlife. Think of it more as... the middle passage. A bridge between life and death."

Startled, Kazukai snapped his head up to see the source of the voice. Standing—or rather, floating—above him was what he could only describe as the most textbook goddess he'd ever seen. She was small, barely 5'2", with long, silky blonde hair cascading down her back. Her figure was average, neither overly exaggerated nor too plain, and yet somehow she radiated an almost hypnotic beauty.

"A-And who are you supposed to be?" Kazukai managed to choke out. His throat felt raw, as though it were constantly on fire. Panic bubbled in his chest. Was he in hell?

The goddess giggled, a light, teasing sound that eased his tension just a bit. She floated down until she was eye level with him, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

"Aren't you a smart one? Yes, I'm a god—more specifically, the incredibly amazing, super-popular reincarnation guide... Hazel!"

She closed her eyes, crossing her arms as though waiting for applause or, perhaps, worship. Kazukai blinked at her in silence.

"...That's neat, I guess," he said after an awkward pause.

Hazel's smug demeanor faltered, and her expression turned into a pout.

"Wait a second," Kazukai said, a sudden thought striking him. His eyes lit up as he stepped closer to the goddess. "Does this mean I'm getting reincarnated?"

Hazel blinked, her pout disappearing as she recovered her usual playful grin.

"Yup! That's exactly what it means. But let me explain the process before you go jumping to conclusions."

Kazukai saluted her dramatically, a wide smile on his face. "Aye, aye, ma'am!"

Hazel giggled at his antics, shaking her head. "Alright, listen up. We gods reincarnate people who die young and have good souls into new worlds. It gives you a chance to live again and experience something more exciting than the world the 'Big Guy' originally made. But don't think we're doing it out of the kindness of our hearts." She held up two fingers. "We do it for two reasons. One: entertainment. Watching reincarnated souls navigate chaotic new worlds is a lot more fun than you'd think. And two: energy. We absorb the energy you produce in your new life, and we use it to keep this world running smoothly."

She smiled brightly, leaning forward as if to emphasize her point.

"Since you're the new reincarnation, you get three wishes. Oh, and you get to pick the world you want to reincarnate into. Choose carefully!"

Kazukai's grin stretched ear to ear as he practically jumped in excitement.

"I want to be reincarnated into Jujutsu Kaisen!"

Hazel's eyebrows rose, clearly surprised by his immediate answer. "Well, that was quick. Most people take their time thinking about it."

"No need," Kazukai said, his tone confident. "Now, about those three wishes..."

"Alright, let's hear them," Hazel replied, her hands on her hips.

Kazukai rubbed his chin thoughtfully, considering his options. "Can I wish to be an existing character in that world? Like, take over their body and memories?"

Hazel tilted her head, tapping her chin in thought. "Hmm... yeah, that should be doable. But it'll count as one of your wishes."

"That's fine by me," Kazukai said with a shrug. He closed his eyes, thinking carefully about his choice.

Gojo Satoru came to mind first. The strongest sorcerer in the world, with a ridiculously overpowered cursed technique and unparalleled skills. But being Gojo also meant bearing the burden of loneliness—the crushing weight of being the "honored one." No thanks.

Then there was Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses. In terms of sheer strength, Sukuna was the only one who could stand toe-to-toe with Gojo. But being a psychotic, power-hungry curse didn't exactly appeal to him. Plus, he really didn't want to be stuck inside someone else's body, biding his time in a cage.

Finally, there was Megumi Fushiguro. The Ten Shadows Technique was incredible, sure, but Megumi himself? Too much of a brooding type for Kazukai's taste.

A grin spread across his face as he landed on his decision.

"I've got it!" he announced. "Here are my three wishes: One, I want to be reincarnated into the body of Yuji Itadori. Two, I want to have blood manipulation as a cursed technique from the start. And three, Sukuna can't read my memories."

Hazel raised an eyebrow, looking mildly impressed. "That's a solid set of wishes. You're not aiming too high, but you're still setting yourself up for a unique experience. Alright, I can grant those."

She snapped her fingers, and a glowing portal materialized beneath Kazukai's feet.

"Wait—what now?" he asked, startled as his soul began to feel an invisible pull toward the swirling vortex.

"Now it's time for you to go, Yuji!" Hazel said with a playful wink. "Enjoy your new life, and remember to make it entertaining. Oh, and don't die too fast. I wanna see some good drama!"

Before he could respond, the portal engulfed him, pulling him into its radiant depths. The last thing Kazukai heard was Hazel's voice, light and teasing.

"Bye-bye! Have fun, Yuji~!"

And just like that, Kazukai felt himself hurtling through an endless stream of light and color. His body—or was it his soul?—twisted and turned, reshaping itself as his consciousness began to blur.

By the time he opened his eyes again, he wasn't Kazukai anymore.

He was Yuji Itadori.