Ryomen Sukuna

Well, there's always an uncertainty when leaving things to Gojo. So, Itadori ended up getting his execution suspended indefinitely, but he still was going to be executed some time in the future. Gojo claimed he tried his best, and I suppose he did. I'm surprised the higher-ups gave him that much leeway after going through the whole process with my situation. I asked Gojo about it, and he said he managed to make it work by slipping in some threats along the way.

I stood by the edge of the entrance to Jujutsu High by Gojo's request. Apparently, I was to tag along for Itadori's interview with the principal. And of course, Gojo was never on time.

"This is really deep in the mountains!" Itadori exclaimed. "Are we still even in Tokyo?"

"Even Tokyo's like this on the outskirts," Gojo replied. I peeked over the stairs and saw the two approaching. I stepped out and gave a small wave to Gojo.

"Rey-kun~!" Gojo cried happily as he rushed up the remainder of the steps to pat me on the head.

"Oh, you're the kid Sukuna talked about." Itadori caught up to us. "Hello!"

I gave him a brief nod and then started to walk away.

Itadori was crestfallen by the boy's cold response, but Gojo placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't mind him. He's shy around strangers."

"It's okay." Itadori perked back up immediately. "Is he your son, Gojo-sensei?"

"Heh heh, as cute as that sounds, he's not my son," Gojo answered. "Rey is a special case here."

"A special case?" Itadori questioned, "What's a special case?" He received no further explanation from Gojo, but Itadori didn't seem to mind though as he gazed in awe at his surroundings.

"Welcome to Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School. It's one of only two jujutsu educational facilities in Japan. On the surface, it's known as a private religious school, but many sorcerers continue to use it as a base even after graduation," Gojo said. "It's a pillar of the community, not just for education, but also for support and mediation in missions too."

Gojo brought us to one of the buildings. "As for why you are here today, Yuuji, you're about to have an interview with the principal."

"The principal?" Itadori shouted. I glanced back at Gojo after sensing Itadori's surprise. Did Gojo not tell him beforehand?

"Screw it up and he'd reject your admission, so go all-out." Gojo laughed happily.

"Huh?!" Itadori cried. "And what then? Immediate execution?!"

Yup, Gojo definitely didn't tell him anything. I prayed silently for Itadori's fate.

"What?!" I turned to look at Itadori. That was Sukuna's voice. "So you're not the boss?" A small grin tugged at my lips though I pretended to have not have heard.

"Any hierarchy other than strength is boring." Sukuna spoke through a mouth on Itadori's cheek. Itadori slapped the mouth and quickly apologized, "Sorry about that. He pops out sometimes."

We stopped in the courtyard of the principal's office. Gojo smiled, "What an interesting body you have now."

Hearing Gojo's voice, Sukuna directed his attention to him, "I owe you one, you know." Itadori shook his right hand frantically as he discovered another one of Sukuna's mouth on his palm, "Not again!"

"Once I make this brat's body my own, you'll be the first one I kill!" Sukuna promised. Gojo smirked, "Me, a target of the great Sukuna? What an honor."

I let out a small snicker. No one would have dared to speak like that to Sukuna in his prime. I found it to be a refreshing experience.

"What are you laughing at, boy?" Sukuna growled. "You'll be the next person I kill after I'm through with that white-haired sorcerer." And with the threat hanging in the air, Sukuna returned into Itadori's body. Gojo frowned, not happy with the curse threatening his beloved Rey.

"So... is this guy really that famous?" Itadori asked.

"Ryomen Sukuna with four arms and two faces is a demon of legend. He was actually a human who existed over a thousand years ago. In the Golden Age of Jujutsu, sorcerers gathered up all their might to challenge him only to be defeated miserably. Crowned with the title of Sukuna, he traversed the ages after his death as a cursed object," I explained. "The sorcerers couldn't even destroy his remains. Without a doubt, he is the King of Curses."

Gojo pondered silently about Rey's obvious interest in Sukuna. This was the first time he had ever seen Rey speak so much to a stranger. Gojo tapped his cheek lightly. So what are you, Rey? Who are you among the curses?

I felt Gojo's gaze on me, so I turned to see what he wanted. He gave me his usual smile and turned his attention back on Itadori.

"Gojo-sensei? Who's stronger, you or him?" Itadori asked.

"Well, good question," Gojo replied. "If Sukuna regained all of his power, it might be a little draining."

"Would you lose?"

Gojo flashed Itadori a grin. "I'd win."

Hearing his response, I half-expected Sukuna to pop up again to rebuke Gojo's arrogant claim. But he didn't, so I was not treated with the scene of the two individuals with the largest egos in the world bickering over who would win in a fight.

"We're here!" We've arrived at the principal's office. I let Itadori pass in front of me as I trailed behind with Gojo. Gojo patted my head twice as the doors opened.

"You're late, Satoru," Yaga said. "Eight minutes late." He was making dolls, and I caught a glimpse of Itadori's stunned expression. Yeah, people usually don't put an old man and cute stuff together.

"It's not late enough to get me angry, but I thought I told you to fix that habit of yours," Yaga lectured.

"If it's not enough to get mad about, then cut me some slack." Gojo shrugged. "You're just making dolls, anyway. Eight minutes is no big deal!"

I found a comfy spot to lean on by one of the pillars and settled down. Yaga spotted me and nodded in greeting. I blinked in acknowledgement.

"That's Principal Yaga Masamichi." Gojo pushed Itadori forward.

"That's the kid?" Yaga raised his eyebrow. "Can't say I was expecting someone like him to be the vessel of Sukuna."

"I'm Itadori Yuuji!" Itadori announced. "I'm into girls like Jennifer Lawrence! Nice to meet you!"

Gojo joined me next to the pillar, and I looked up at him. Gojo placed his hand on my head and slowly caressed my hair. "You think Yuuji will pass?"

"He better after all the trouble you went through to keep him alive," I replied.

"He was easier to handle than you. Your's was a hassle."

"But it was worth it, no?" I raised an eyebrow at the man.

Gojo laughed and nodded. "Of course."

"Why are you here?" Yaga questioned.

Itadori scratched his head, "An interview."

I could see Yaga try to hold back his exasperation. "But why Jujutsu Tech?"

"To learn jujutsu?" Itadori asked back.

"I mean beyond that." Yaga explained. "What happens after you learn about curses and the way of exorcism?"

"Well, I mean..." Itadori thought for a moment before answering. "I'm gonna collect the fingers of Sukuna. Can't just leave them all out there."

"Why?" Yaga asked again. I yawned and rubbed my eyes. This is getting boring. I've heard the reason about wanting to help people so many times before. Is there really no new inspiration someone can think of? The interview continued.

"So you're saying you'll fight curses because someone else told you to?" Yaga snapped. "Disqualified."

Yaga raised his hand, and the doll he had just finished knitting stood up. Is there going to be action?

"Those weren't dolls?!" Itadori paled as the doll marched toward him.

Yaga commanded the doll forward. "Cursed corpses. They're dolls infused with my curse."

Stepping away from the pillar, I crossed the room and settled myself among the pile of stuff dolls Yaga had knitted. I picked up the one that looked like a black cat and held it up to the light. Meanwhile, an Itadori-shaped projectile flew around the room while getting beat up by the green curse doll.

Gojo came up to me, so I scooted over to share my spot. He sat down next to me and took a panda plush from the pile. "Do you like this one?"

"It's okay. Panda-san is cuter though," I replied absentmindedly.

"Hmm, you're right," Gojo agreed and tossed the doll back.

Then, a brightly-colored item entered my line of sight. I looked up and saw Gojo holding two sticks of Hi-Chew in his hand. Based on his expression and the sudden offering of candy, I had the speculation that he was bribing me for something. But, I took the candy, because Hi-Chew was Hi-Chew and no one turned down Hi-Chew.

Gojo smiled as he saw the boy take the candy with a knowing look in his eyes. His little curse always knew what he wanted. He swept his gaze across the room and lowered his voice so that only the boy could heard, "Rey-kun, do you know Sukuna?"

Gojo knew that both of them were curses, so it wasn't strange if the two knew each other. However, Gojo wanted to know if Sukuna could be a danger to Rey. If that was the case, he needed to protect Rey from the curse. Even if Rey was powerful, Gojo didn't want Rey to go through something that he shouldn't have been a part of in the first place.

The boy looked down as he put his candy away into his pocket. After a long pause, Rey replied, "We've talked." Another long pause. "And other stuff. You could say that we're more than just acquaintances."

Gojo kept his composure, but he was surprised. It was hard for him to imagine his quiet, adorable Rey with the King of Curses. Gojo had come to care for the curse, and regardless that he didn't know the full story between the two, Gojo didn't want Rey to have anything to do with Sukuna, especially if Rey didn't want to.

"Okay, I understand." Gojo ruffled my hair again, and I leaned into his palm to get closer. My relationship with Sukuna... It's complicated. I don't want Gojo to know about it yet.

"Thank you." I reached up and placed my hand on top of Gojo's. "You can trust me, Gojo-sensei."

Gojo squatted down in front of me. "Whenever you're ready, you can come find me. I'll wait for you." Gojo knew that he could always get an answer from Rey through the contract, but he respected the boy's feelings. He trusted that Rey would tell him everything once the time was right.

"Satoru!" Yaga called as Itadori's assessment ended. Gojo stood up and turned to face the two. "Show him to the dorm. Explain the security and rules to him too."

Gojo put an arm around Itadori. "Congratulations, you're in. Welcome to Jujutsu Tech."

"The doll," I muttered right before the cursed corpse sucker-punched Itadori in the face. Itadori yelped in pain.

"Oh, sorry. I forgot to release the curse," Yaga apologized. And with that, Itadori, the vessel of Sukuna, was accepted as the second first year into Jujutsu Tech.

"This place is huge!" Itadori ran ahead in the hallway of the student dorms, admiring every single nook and cranny of the place. Despite there being so many rooms, the building lacked even the shadow of a person.

"All the second and third-years are out at the moment." Gojo explained while carrying the boxes of the teenager's things. I picked up the ones Itadori dropped out of his excitement. "But you'll meet them soon enough. There aren't many of them."

"Gah!" Itadori rubbed his head after Gojo smacked his forehead. "What was that for?"

"Don't let Rey-kun hold your stuff!" Gojo scolded. "And we here already." He pushed open one of the dorm rooms. "This is your room."

Itadori swiftly apologized and took the boxes from my hands. The three of us entered the room and set down the moving boxes by the door.

"There's really no reason for you to fight, y'know?" Gojo said as Itadori explored his new room. "Fushiguro and I could retrieve Sukuna's fingers. You could just wait here."

"It's fine! I said I'd do it, and I'm doing it!" Itadori replied as he rummaged through the box and pulled out a poster. Gojo caught a glimpse of the content on the poster and immediately covered up Rey's eyes with his hand.

"Though lazing around," Itadori put up the poster of Jennifer Lawrence in a swimsuit on the wall, "while Fushiguro came in all beaten up to bring me a finger would be a funny sight."

"I know right?" Gojo agreed.

I ducked down underneath Gojo's hand and poked the man hard to display my annoyance. Gojo clutched his ribs in fake pain, and Itadori laughed, "Are you sure you two aren't related? I mean with the white hair and all, it's pretty convincing."

"You think so?" Gojo glanced at my hair and then touched his own. "I should buy us a father and son outfit, Rey. What do you think?"

"Mm," I replied. Gojo's fashion sense was top-notch, and it was his money that he was spending. He'll probably end up buying one even if I declined anyways.

"Well, anyways, there's no way in hell you're not fighting." Gojo picked up the important matter at hand.

"Hey! Were you testing me?!" Itadori cried indignantly.

"If they were that easy to find, we would've found them all already," Gojo explained. "Some fingers have an overwhelming presence. Some keep very quiet. Some have already been consumed by curses. Nothing's more annoying than that when it comes to searching for them."

"Rey-kun has helped us a lot with finding the ones that has been taken by the curses, but now we have you." Gojo pointed at Itadori. "To regain his power, the Sukuna within you will direct you to all the other fingers. You're both the vessel and the locator, our very own radar. So we won't get anywhere without you in the field."

"You think he's going to be that nice?" Itadori asked.

"Yes, he will," I answered for Gojo. Sukuna had his own agenda, and I knew he needed his strength in order to get what he wanted. "I can guarantee it."

"Well, it's all good." Gojo made his way to the door after Itadori unpacked everything. "More importantly, we're heading out tomorrow! We're gonna go pick up the third newcomer."

"Just three?!"

Gojo chuckled and exited the room, leaving Itadori alone with Rey in his new dorm room. Itadori was about to follow after Gojo when he felt a hand tug at his sleeve.

"What's up?" Itadori replied, looking down at the boy. His friendly smile stiffened when he saw Rey's mellow expression turn solemn.

"Sukuna, not going to come out and greet a friend?" the boy asked. "You're uncharacteristically quiet today."

"Huh? I'm not Sukuna," Itadori denied.

Rey ignored him and leaned onto the side of the room. His right eye flashed, and Itadori blacked out. A moment later, the teenager raised his head and fixed his eyes on Rey. "You dare touch my soul and force me out?"

"Sukuna," I greeted. "I didn't expect to meet you under such circumstances."

"Ha! I'm surprised myself to see you here!" Sukuna mocked. "Hanging out with fledgling sorcerers sullies your reputation, Reaper of Curses."

"I go by Rey here." I gave the curse a cold stare. "Don't forget that, Sukuna."

"Yeah, yeah, it's just a name, you don't need to lose your shit," Sukuna replied.

Sukuna scanned me up and down and chuckled, "Still using this form? Aren't you bored of it?"

"I wouldn't say that the Itadori kid is any better," I answered.

Sukuna shrugged and poked at the choker around my neck. "What's this?"

I reached up and touched the cold metal. "A cursed energy repressor."

"Hahahahaha, those sorcerers got you good, huh? Collared up like a dog!" Sukuna guffawed. "Look at how low you've fallen, Rey."

"If it makes them feel safe, then by all means they can do what they want," I said nonchalantly. "But you, Sukuna, have quite the problem in your hands. That kid's going to give you a headache in the future, and don't you expect me to do anything about it."

Sukuna stopped laughing and growled in annoyance. "That weakling won't be able to overpower me once I get more of my strength back."

"But before then, make sure to keep the kid alive. He's an interesting one," I reminded.

"Don't order me around, Rey," Sukuna snarled. "Even if it's you, I don't take orders from anyone."

"I'm just making my intentions clear, Sukuna."

"Clear as day, Rey," Sukuna answered. "I'm the only one who understands what you are."

"I know very well you do." I chuckled lightly and pointed a lazy finger at Sukuna. "Catch you later, Sukuna." Itadori's body fell limp at my words, and I forced Sukuna's consciousness back inside.

"Huh? What happened?" Itadori asked. "Did I space out?"

I shrugged and went to the door, Itadori following after failing to recall my conversation with Sukuna. I watched as the carefree boy reconvened with Gojo. A strand of hair fell over my eye, and I reached up to brush it away. Best of luck to you Sukuna, and best of luck to me. Both of us are going to need it.