In The Academy As Sukuna

Ch 9 - Dungeon Dangers: The Threat Levels Up

POV: Ryomen Sukuna

I have not been attending classes for a long time, I assume our teacher Ms. Dissection is pretty pissed off.

Anyhow, even though I did not attend classes, I made sure to maintain a good relationship with the main cast.

I went to Johan, making sure to check for any grudges he held against me for almost killing him.

It went as so:

Flashback woop...

The afternoon sun cast a warm, golden glow on the academy grounds, the variety of flowers shining a bright glow.

Johan was sitting on a bench near some flower beds, all alone.

He had a can of cold coffee in his hand, unopened. He sat there looking at the flowers, as if contemplating something deeply.

What a waste of cold coffee.

I went to the bench and sat down next to him, it seems he didn't notice my presence.

I snatched the can of coffee from his hands, with made him jump and almost yelp.

Seeing that is was me, he calmed down a little.

I opened the can of coffee and took a sip, he was watching me awkwardly.

"How do you feel?" I asked, referring to his physical health.

"Confused." He said, referring to his mental health.

It's difficult to start a conversation with this guy, isn't it?

"Why? Did my punch hit you too hard?" I asked, looking at an ant trying to climb up a flowerpot.

"Oh definitely, you powdered my ribcage." He said playfully, taking a pause before continuing.

His voice became more serious.

"Sukuna, I felt something same from you," his hand went to his chest, "something similar to the power that I yield."

I took a sip from the can, confused about his words, but paying full attention.

"I haven't told anyone this, Sukuna...I have some powers of a demon. It is a sinister power, something that tries to make me lose my mind everyday, but..." He paused, as if thinking his next words carefully, before turning to me.

"But I felt something much more sinister from you...Tell me Sukuna, how do I drown those whispers down, how do I control this power like you do?" He said, his voice now a whisper I could barely hear.

Problem is. . . I don't know what to tell him.

How do I control Cursed Energy? I DON'T KNOW, it just happened one day.

"It's your will Johan," I said, his lowered head rising to meet my gaze.

"Whatever happens to you, to those around you...No matter what you lose, no matter who you lose, never lose the will to fight on.

I won't tell you how to stop those whispers, that is something you must find on your own. But know this one thing, the moment you lose your will to fight, you have already lost the battle."

I raised my voice a little to emphasize my point.

"The moment you give up, you become no more than a lukewarm cup of instant coffee at a five-star restaurant.

You will still technically be coffee, but you'll lose the heat, the aroma, the tempting taste that makes coffee...coffee.

Don't be that lukewarm disappointment, FIGHT ON AND SHOW THE WORLD HOW HOT AND TASTY YOU CAN BE."