ƚԋҽ Ⴆʅҽʂʂҽԃ ƈυɾʂҽ

Chapter 26

"Itadori, you okay?" Megumi asked him. "Well, it's a big job, but I should be fine," he answered. "Something happened, didn't it?" Megumi asked again.

"Huh? What're you talkin' about?" Yuji smiles and the way Megumi stared at him reminds him of Noroi who knows he's lying. Yuji's smile fell and he rubbed his head. "Yeah. But I'm okay" he whispered accidentally remembering that unsightly memory he doesn't want to remember anymore.

The memory where Noroi almost died and when she fell asleep for a week.

"In fact, thanks to what happened, don't wanna lose to anyone anymore" Yuji admitted, determined to save and protect the people he cares about. "Good. Me too. I don't want to lose either" Megumi said walking past him.

Those words are for him and for her but currently, she's still not present.

"But you got beat up the other day! It's gonna be a flawless victory for Maki! Gonna wreck them!"

"Knock it off"

"Yes! Wreck them all!"

"Spiced salmon roe!"

"Yes! For Maki!"

"Heh heh... Well then" Yuji chuckled holding his shoulder rolling it. "Let's go win this!" he declared and Maki kicked his back.

"Who put you in charge?" She asked looking around. "When will Noroi appear? She needs to know that the plan changed" she grumbles.

"She's probably hiding in our shadows scared to face Megumi" Panda snickered. "Salmon" Inumaki agreed. "Well, she better shows her face right now because we want to hear her side!" Nobara hissed Megumi nodding his head, their group walking to the gates.

[T-minus one minute until we begin! And now a word of encouragement from Ms. Utahime]

[Huh?! Uh um. Some injuries will be avoidable so um, let's help each other and-]

[Times up]

[Gojo! You little—]

"Where's Todo?"

"How should I know?

'Can't we just get along?'

[It's time for the goodwill event to START!!]

[RESPECT YOUR ELDERS!]

"How stupid,"

"Is that an Ichiro reference?!"

"Great this is a mess" Maki sighed. "Well even if it's a mess the favor is on us" Panda whispered. He has a point but they can't help but get worried about it.

They all run inside the forest, following Megumi's divine dog.

"Where do you think the boss curse is located?" Yuji asked. "Probably somewhere in the center. I doubt it'll stick around there though," Panda answered.

"At the designated time, we'll split into the Panda and Megumi teams just like we discussed. The rest is up to you, Yuji" Maki informed.

"Got it!"

"If anyone saw Noroi tell her she's going with Toge"

"Got it!" They all said and the dog barked. In front of them, a spider-like cursed spirit is on the branch.

"Where are you going?"

"It's a grade 3!" Panda said and Maki move on a stance, ready to attack it. "Senpai! Stop!" Megumi shouted before they can attack the cursed spirit.

Todo appeared, destroying the branch and exorcising the cursed spirit. "Good everyone's here!! Let's have everyone come at me all at one!"

They were about to run when they saw a figure beside him. Todo felt something behind his head and his face got smashed on the ground.

"NOROI/ROI!" Everyone shouted.

"I'm still annoyed for getting myself tossed on a building" Noroi growled, but her lips are curving for a grin. She's been waiting for this day to get revenge after getting fling again on the building for the third.

Noroi jumped away dodging Todo's hand before he can hold her leg.

"Great you're here—" Yuji slams his knee on his face. Noroi was about to join them when a tongue wrapped around her waist.

"SPLIT UP! NOROI, YOU'RE GOING WITH TEAM PANDA!" Maki shouted everyone ran away.

"WHAT?!" Panda caught her when the toad tossed her in their direction.

"This is for Itadori to have experience!" Megumi said it was a white lie but he knows Noroi will listen to what he said. Noroi clicked her tongue and followed her teammates.

"He came alone after all" Megumi mumbled running together with Maki. "We were right to switch with Yuji," Maki said.

"He's a beast" Nobara sweatdrop and glared at Noroi. "Yeah just ignore him," Panda said. "Tuna," Inumaki said. "Why are you all staring at me?" Noroi regrets coming with them instead of her relatives.

"So you and Itadori huh?" Panda giggled like a girl. "We need a damn explanation" Nobara gritted her teeth. "Later" Noroi mumbled.


"Todo will definitely come straight at us. Mai mighty follows suit and target" Maki informed everyone. "Todo's a handful. Worst case scenario, even our combined strength might not be enough to take him down. At first, I was thinking about positioning someone in thereat to keep him occupied maybe Panda or Megumi" Maki explained.

"Itadori! We'll leave Todo to you. I don't want to lose anyone who can help locate the enemy" Yuji pointed to himself. "You don't have to win. Just buy us as much time as you can" Maki told him with a thumbs up. "Give it you're all! To be honest, you're an extra plater, so it's okay if you go down!" Panda smiles giving him a thumbs up too.

"How rude!"

"Sorry, Megumi. I bet you wanted to fight Todo"

"It doesn't matter either way"

"Sheesh you're dry"

"If I'm gonna fight then... I'm gonna win" Yuji declared. "Well, there's a chance you might win because Noroi will tag along with you—"

"No" everyone looked at Megumi for cutting Maki's word. "Don't let Noroi fight Todo. Better let Noroi handle the curse together with Inumaki-senpai" they frowned when Megumi acted weird again.

"Megumi, we get it that you're worried. But you know Noroi can handle Todo"

"But you don't know what will happen when Noroi gets hurt" he stated turning more serious. "Megumi, what are you talking about?" Maki frowned.

"Noroi can't get badly hurt if she does someone might die today"


"Done already?" Todo turned his back. "Where to—" his eyes widen and looked behind him. "Heh heh... You're kidding" he chuckled seeing Yuji standing up.

"Why'd you go and pound my face like that?! You coulda made me even dumber!" Yuji yelled glaring at him. "Don't worry. Takada says 'dumb guys are perfect'" Todo said smirking.

"Who's that? I don't care about pop idols" Yuji rubbed his head, wiping the blood off. Making sure not to leave any blood behind so Noroi won't get worried and scold him for being so dumb.

"Then how do you know she's an idol? First-year, what's your name?" Todo asked him. "Itadori Yuji" Yuji introduced himself.

"I see. Itadori Yuji, I have one question for you. What type of girl do you like?"

"My type? What does that have to do with anything?" He asked confused. "Stop fussing all I'm doing is getting a sense of whom I'm fighting" Todo answered.

"I'm not really sure what's goin' on, but I guess I like tall girls with big butts" Yuji answered. "Well, that was before I fell for Roi. But now I have a person I love and that is Zenin Noroi!!!" Yuji shouted.


Noroi stopped running and frowned. "That idiot" she scowls glaring at where they came from. "Wow, Itadori really shouted who's the person he love—" Panda hid behind Nobara when Noroi gave him her famous death glare.

Clicking her tongue Noroi run again but they all can see how her cheeks turn red. They looked at each other with shock written on their faces. "She's blushing!" They quietly squealed.


At that moment, a memory was born inside Todo's brain... of a past event that never happened...

"No one's ever beaten us in our hometown, huh?"

Yuji has a confused expression with a question mark beside his head.

"It seems that we're best friends," Todo said crying. "But we just met!" Yuji shouted.


Something from the sky caught Noroi's attention and she frowned. Looking back behind her shadow swallowed her, the three oblivious that Noroi disappeared.


"Somethings not right" Megumi informed her. "Do you think the grade 2 curse is that way?" Maki asked. "No, unless it's incredibly clever my divine dog would detect it" he scowls.

"Are they planning to kill Itadori?!" He gritted his teeth. "It's possible" Maki whispered glad that Noroi didn't tag along with them but she already has a guess that the Panda group already guess this.

"We're going back, Megumi" Maki ordered walking back. "Sorry" he apologized. "Why're you apologizing? If your friend dies, the goodwill event's pretty much done" Maki mumbled. "Noroi might kill them" Megumipursed his lips, clenching his fist.


"WE'RE DEAD! NOROI IS GONE!!"


Yuji stared at everyone in confusion.

'Huh? Are they trying to kill me?'

Everyone was alarmed when Kamo and Yuji swapped places.

"Hey!" Kamo dodged the punch. "I thought I told you that I'd kill anyone who got in my way," Todo glared at him.

"No, you said you would kill anyone who gave you orders"

"Whatever. Now go away—"

"Huh leaving too soon?"

Everyone went alert when Noroi appeared out of nowhere.

"Roi, I'm fine—" Yuji shut his mouth he knows not to speak when she has a livid expression on his face.

"I won't kill you" they frown but the girls nervously looked at each other. "As long as you will apologize to him" she ordered.

"You're just threatening us. You can't kill someone—"

Everyone heard the clap and Noroi stared at the bark of the tree she sliced.

"And this is a warning if you won't follow what I said" she stated glaring at Kamo who's standing on the side looking so surprised. "Don't act like you fully know me, Kamo Noritoshi. Not even Megumi knows who I truly am" Noroi growled gripping the handle of her sword.

"I'm sorry" then everyone started to apologize. Noroi knows it wasn't genuine like Miwa but what matters is they apologized to him.

"I need to go. Yuji" Yuji caught what she threw and frowned. He pressed the button and got startled when a shiny obvious sharp blade came out.

'Where did she get this?'

"If they tried to kill you don't hesitate to stab them," she told him placing the sword on her back. "Don't worry I'll help you clean up the bodies" everyone is staring at her in disbelief even Yuji.

"Aim for their chest or their heads"

"Please stop saying scary things"

Noroi was about to leave when Todo call her name.

"Why do you talk like killing isn't a big deal? We can't tell if you're joking or not—"

"Then why are you killing him like it wasn't a big deal?" Noroi asked back. "You should be thanking him. If it weren't for Yuji you're all kneeling on the ground, probably groveling too begging for your lives" their muscles tensed when Noroi released her bloodlust.

"If you think I am speaking nonsense. Ask Mai. I'm sure she can confirm for me" everyone glance at Mai and she pursed her lips, the slight nod they got from her confirmed what Noroi said.

"Be careful whom you mess with, you bastards" Noroi growled her shadow swallowing her bringing her to her realm, and everyone was surprised at that except for Yuji.

She stayed in the same spot where she was standing. "That fucking old man" she growled gritting her teeth and left the area when the other shadow left the area too.


"Kamo, are you guys trying to kill Itadori?"

"What if I said you were right?"

"You guys have so far, huh? There's no way Itadori would get taken out so quickly. Judging how surprised you were when you saw that means you saw Noroi" he saw how his eyes twitch.

"You should be thankful that she didn't kill you" Megumi whispered in gritted teeth glaring at Kamo.


Noroi walked out of her shadow and took her sword, the bandages unwrapping themselves from the blade. She swing her sword, slicing the tree branch and the cursed spirit.

"ALL WRONG!!"

Noroi frowned hearing someone screaming again.


"Was that Todo?"

"Yes"

"I think I understand now why Yuji's still alive"

"So why'd you split with Noritoshi? Are you hiding your cursed technique from your classmates?" Maki smirks at Miwa. "I'm sorry about what's happening with Itadori" Miwa admitted.

"It might sound like an excuse, but I'm not like them" Maki grimace and sighed. "You should say that to Noroi and to Yuji," she told her. "Oh, I already apologize to them," Miwa said.

"Noroi almost kills Kamo" Maki was dumbfounded. "She also threatened us that if we continue to kill Itadori she will beat us to death which is probably not a lie because Mai confirmed it" Maki is bewildered.

"You okay? Aren't you traumatized?" Maki worriedly asked. "Nope!" Miwa smiles. "It was scary but it's so cute! The power of love!" She squealed and Maki deadpanned at that and sighed.


"Are you okay with being weak?" Yuji remembered the times where Noroi always save him, where she always beat him in their sparring.

Especially when she almost dies because of Mahito.

"Hell no!"

"That's the spirit, best friend!!"


Everyone was busy with their task. Because they were two extra from Tokyo those two continue to hunt curses while the other's are fighting each other.


"Heh heh. What an interesting girl. Why don't we just promote her to grade 2 already?" Mei Mei commented after watching the fight between Miwa and Maki. "I agree, but her family seems to be getting in the way" Gojo agreed.

"The Zenin family should just be honest and acknowledge her skills"

"Heh I don't understand connections not based on money"

"And you'll always be a cheap stake. Anyway" Gojo looked at her behind his seat. "Anyway, I can't help but notice that the video feed around Yuji seems to be a little inconsistent" he smiles.

"Well, what can you do about animals? Besides, it gets tiring looking at things from their point of view after a while" Mei explained. "Hm... Are you sure about that? I got a question for ya... Whose side are you on, Mei?!" Gojo asked her.

Mei rubbed her middle and thumb finger. "Whose side? I'm on the side with money, of course. There's no value in something that can't be bought. Since you can't exchange that for money" she answered smirking.

"I wonder how much!" Gojo laughed.

'I'm not sure what you guys have planned but Yuji's different now. We also have Noroi that will quickly back him up if something happens to him'

Gojo hid the smirk behind the back of his hand and the talisman on the side caught his attention. "Oh! We got some action" he said.

"All these one-on-one did they forget the main objective?"

'Well at least Noroi isn't participating in this battle'

"Why can't they get along?" Utahime sighed. "Maybe they get it from you, Utahime" he answered.

"You're the only person I don't get along with—"

"Hush! I'm finally seeing Noroi on action!" Gojo grinned, resembling a kid who's excited to watch a new film.

"Why is she just standing there?"

"I said hush, Utahime"

"Why you—" they stopped when Noroi move her head. "I-Is she looking at us?" Utahime asked. "It's obvious she found the bird" Gojo answered, they can see the scowl on Noroi's face. "Here I thought we're going to see her in action" he pouted when Noroi fled the scene to get away from the surveillance.


"How dare you hit my sacred face!" Nobara shouted at Momo after her broom hit her face. "A scar on the face can be a good thing for guys. But not for girls" Momo started.

"Huh?"

"You think the world of Jujutsu sorcerers is based on skill?"

"Isn't it?"

"Sure. But only for guys?"

Nobara has a confused expression, a question mark being exclaimed.

"Even if a girl is skilled, if she's not cute, she's looked down upon. Of course, if she's only cute without any skill, it's the same. Understand? Women jujutsu sorcerers aren't expected to be skilled. They're expected to be perfect. And Mai has to deal with even more discrimination than that while Noroi is living a lavish li—"

"Yeah, I understand. I understand that you're incredibly annoying! AND DON'T TALK LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT NOROI WENT THROUGH!" Nobara shouted and they started to fight again.

"Are you done lecturing me?!" She asked sending her nails flying to Momo. "What's expected of Mai isn't just perfection. But someone who needs to surpass Noroi" Momo doesn't hate Noroi she's just telling Nobara the situation of the Zenin.

But Nobara hate it, she gritted her teeth when she mention her friend's name again.

"As one of the three elite sorcerer family lines. Perfectionism is the norm, For the Zenin family. Inheriting the Zenin family curse techniques is reserved for the privileged. Everyone other jujutsu sorcerer starts at a level much further below. And even within their family, some women aren't treated equally" Momo explained.

"They say that if you're not a member of the Zenin family, you're not worthy as a jujutsu sorcerer. And if you're not a jujutsu sorcerer you're not worthy as a human being. Imagine spending your entire life serving a family bereft of love, being despised. Can you imagine the pain She, her, and Mai go through? Just to enjoy the life we take for granted? Can someone who thinks that curse Yuji is an ally really understand?"

"SHUT UP!" Nobara really wished Noroi is with her so she can give the other girl a lesson. "Does that mean we have to forgive the unfortunate no matter the circumstances? And if someone is blessed with a fortunate life, do they deserve to be ridiculed? It doesn't matter how she was brought up. I don't like her. And even though they grew up together I really like Maki"

An image of Yuji with a weird expression, sweat dropping profusely after his comeback flashed to her mind then it changed to an image of him hugging Noroi behind her with a bright smile.

"Have any of you ever stopped to consider the person behind the curse you've condemned?! Have you considered what will Noroi feel if the person she loves disappears?! Fushiguro is right. Noroi deserved happiness and she deserve Itadori!" She stated glaring at Momo.

"What do I care about whether someone's perfect or if something's fair? Is your life just a job?!"

The tree exploded and Nobara run to Momo, jumping and taking a bristle of her broom, using her technique.

"Boys versus girls?! Give me a break! Just shut the hell up! I love dressing up and looking beautiful! I love being strong like Noroi! I'M KUGISAKI NOBARA!!"


"What's with these people shouting?" Noroi mumbled hearing Nobara shout this time. She saw a shadow walking in her direction and when it walked past her she appeared behind the person and saw Miwa.

Noroi raised her hand about to knock her when she spoke.

"Hello? Miwa the useless here" Noroi deadpanned at her introduction and quickly caught her body.

'Huh, she's sleeping?'

Looking at the phone it has Mechamaru's name and Noroi picked it up, carrying Miwa in one arm. "Inumaki-senpai?" Inumaki got startled hearing her voice but he sighed in relief.

[Kelp. Tuna Mayo?] 'Where are you?'

"Currently in Miwa's location. Do you need an assistant there? Don't worry I'm not slacking off. I'm exorcising curses here even though I wanted to join the fight" Noroi looked to their side and saw a spirit not making itself obvious that it was there.

[Salmon]

"Copy that" Noroi ended the call and place the phone back inside of Miwa's pocket. Walking to the other side she gently placed the girl on the ground.

Noroi took her sword and looked around till her eyes met the bird. She gestured to Miwa and walked away from the curses and some curses near the vicinity before going to Inumaki's location.


"A shikagami user who can hold his own in close combat how valuable! You've grown. That makes me happy"

"Why are you acting all familiar to me?" Megumi sweatdrop. "It's sympathy. You will one day become the pillar that supports the big three families. I intend to kill Itadori Yuji" Kamo boldly declared.

"By principal Gakuganji's order?" Megumi asked. "No. Thi is my decision. As a member of the Kamo and the big three families. I believe it is the right decision" Megumi grimace.

"Noroi is right. I suggest you change your decision before she kills you. Itadori Yuji is a valuable person to her that because she loves him. If you're going to hinder her happiness I might as well kill you here right here and now" Megumi declared and Kamo can feel the low bloodlust he emitted, making him remind of Noroi.

'They are truly indeed siblings'

"You should also understand. You and I are the same!"

"No, we're not" Megumi scowls. "Yes, we are," Kamo said back. "No, we're not!" Megumi replied annoyed.