unlucky charms (yuji x reader)

ch. 5 ~ dancing with flames

The next morning dawns clear and bright, sunlight streaming through my window unabashedly. I wake up feeling better. Lighter, maybe. The stress from the night before hasn't disappeared, but it feels more manageable now. There's clarity in my mind that wasn't there before, and I'm ready to face whatever today brings.

After getting ready, I head out of my room to meet the others. Gumi's already waiting for me in the hallway, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his expression as calm and stoic as ever.

"Morning," I greet him with a smile.

He nods, meeting my eyes. "Ready for class?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

We make our way to the classroom, where Yuji and Nobara are already waiting. Yuji greets us with his usual energy, though I notice the way his eyes linger on me just a little longer than necessary. It's subtle, but it's there. And I can't help but feel the familiar warmth spreading through my chest again.

"Morning, Miya!" Yuji says with a wide grin, his voice bright. "You sleep okay?"

I nod, smiling back. "Yeah, I did. You?"

"Like a rock," he replies, laughing.

Nobara rolls her eyes from where she's seated beside him. "Figures. You probably drooled all over the pillow."

Yuji's face flushes with embarrassment. "I did not drool!"

Gumi sits down beside me, his usual calm presence a grounding force as I settle into my seat. Toru arrives not long after, his usual laid-back grin in place, though I can still feel the undercurrent of protectiveness that never really goes away.

"Alright, class," Toru says, clapping his hands together as he stands in front of us. "Today, we're diving into the wonderful world of curses and cursed techniques. You've all had a taste of what's out there, but now it's time to really understand what we're dealing with."

Yuji leans forward in his seat, clearly excited to learn more. "I've been wondering how it all works! Like, I know about cursed energy and all, but I don't know how to use it yet."

Toru grins at him, a glint of amusement in his voice. "Don't worry, Yuji. You're half a curse already, thanks to Sukuna. So, you'll pick it up sooner than you think."

Yuji chuckles nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah . . . I really hope so."

Toru's expression turns more serious, though his tone remains light. "Just remember, Yuji. You might have Sukuna's power inside you, but that doesn't mean you get to let him out. You need to learn how to control it, or you're a danger to everyone around you."

Yuji nods, his expression more somber now. "I know. I'm doing my best."

I glance at him, feeling a flicker of concern. He's carrying so much—more than anyone should have to bear. But he's still smiling, still pushing forward, even with the weight of Sukuna inside him. It's admirable, but also . . . worrying. There's only so much one person can take.

Toru continues, his voice shifting into that of a teacher now, as he explains the basics of cursed energy and cursed techniques. He talks about how negative emotions—fear, anger, hatred—can manifest as curses, feeding off the darkness in people's hearts. And how jujutsu sorcerers like us use cursed energy to combat those curses.

"Cursed techniques," Toru explains, "are how we shape our cursed energy. They're unique to each sorcerer, kind of like a fingerprint. Some people are born with strong techniques, others develop them over time."

Nobara raises an eyebrow, her usual skepticism shining through. "So, you're saying it's all about our emotions? Like, we just need to be angry or scared to use cursed energy?"