Beyond the Veil | Yuji

7

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
CHAPTER 7
ASYLUM
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

I slip into more comfortable clothes, fastening the belt-like strap that I use to secure my katanas to my back. The device ensures my weapons are always within reach yet stay firmly in place as I move.

I roll the sleeves of the hoodie I'm wearing so that I can move my hand freely. It's a hoodie I stole a few months ago from Yuji's wardrobe so it's quite large on me since he's now almost 15 centimeters taller.

Part of me doesn't want to wear it into combat, knowing it will likely get bloody or worse. But another part craves the comfort it provides. His scent is still strong on the fabric, and every time I breathe it in, it calms my nerves.

I tell myself that if I accidentally tear it, I can always steal another one from him. Luckily, he doesn't mind when I do it. Every time he notices I'm wearing one of his hoodies, he laughs and starts joking about how I should just take his entire wardrobe.

Megumi sits across from me, looking serious. He asks, "Are you ready?"

I shake my head, seeing no point in lying. "No, I'm not." I take a deep breath. "But we have no choice."

I get up, clenching my hands into fists, feeling the weight of the katanas on my back and the comforting bulk of Yuji's hoodie around me. Megumi seems deep in thought but then nods, standing up as well. "We have to go," he says.

We walk through the corridors of Jujutsu College where the sense of tension and activity is palpable. Sorcerers are moving quickly, focused and serious, preparing for something. I glance at Megumi, his expression mirroring my own mix of determination and anxiety.

Megumi looks at me again, his eyes questioning. I nod, more for his sake than mine. "Let's do this," I say, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach.

He gives a brief, encouraging smile. "We'll be okay," he says, more to reassure himself than me, I suspect.

We get escorted to the mental asylum, the ride punctuated by the silence of anticipation and tension. Three blocks before we even arrive, I can feel the cursed energy pulsating from the building, an oppressive aura that seems to reach out and grip my insides. I sink deeper into Yuji's hoodie, pulling the hood over my head as I start doing the breathing exercises Nanami taught me. Inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four. Repeat. The methodical rhythm helps keep my nerves under control.

The car comes to a halt, and we step out into the chill evening air. I shiver, not from the cold, but from the sheer intensity of the cursed energy emanating from the asylum. As the veil starts to descend, shielding us from non-sorcerers, the world outside becomes muffled, almost surreal.

I grip the handles of my katanas, feeling the familiar weight in my hands. Beside me, Megumi summons his two dogs, their forms materializing out of shadows, their eyes alert and ready. The building's facade is cracked and decaying, windows broken or boarded up, giving it an eerie, abandoned look. The air is thick with malevolence, making it hard to breathe.

As we approach the entrance, I can't help but wonder what drives people to intentionally enter this building for fun. If I want to have fun, I watch a movie, read a manga, or go to a park. Entering a place like this? That doesn't even cross my mind. The asylum's exterior is as foreboding as its cursed energy. The facade is cracked and covered in creeping vines, broken windows resembling dark, empty eye sockets staring back at us. The front entrance, blocked by large metal bars, offers no easy way in.

Megumi walks ahead, his movements deliberate as he searches for an alternate entrance. The oppressive energy clings to us like a second skin. He suggests we split up to search more efficiently. My eyes widen in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?" I ask, my voice tinged with genuine concern.