Satoru

Satoru sipped at his canned milk tea, casually walking beside Suguru. The two were on their way to pick up the girl at her apartment. "But for real... I get why the Curse User Group Q is after her, but why does the Star Religious Group want to kill her?"

Suguru patiently answered Satoru, "What they worship is a pure Master Tengen. A Star Plasma Vessel would soil that purity according to them. But the Star Religious Group are non-Curse Users. We shouldn't have to worry about them too much. But we do need to be wary of Q!"

Satoru shrugged. "Anyway, it should be okay. We're the strongest. That's why Master Tangen—What?"

Satoru stopped when he noticed Suguru's expression of disdainful disbelief. "Satoru. I've been meaning to tell you this... you should be more mindful of the way you talk."

"What?" Satoru was incredulous. He used his Limitless ability to crunch his empty milk tea can into a tiny square.

"Particularly around your superiors. You're way too rude. Even your juniors don't like you."

"Sheesh. Give me a break," he groaned. Why should I care?

Satoru and Suguru arrived at the vessel's apartment just in time to see the building's top floor explode.

"Ehh, so do we get in trouble if the girl's already dead when we arrived?" Satoru smirked.

Suguru glared at him.

Satoru shrugged, but he noticed with his Six Eyes a girl falling through the air. He pointed her out to Suguru, who summoned one of his Cursed Spirits.

Suguru had the ability Cursed Spirit Manipulation. It was a technique that allowed him to control vagabond Cursed Spirits—or Spirits that had already been slain by Sorcerers. Suguru would dominate them with his own energy and transform them into black orbs that he would swallow. He could then summon and command them.

They weren't intelligent, nor could he make them any stronger than when he ingested them.

There were puppets—useless corpses without him.

Suguru jumped on one of his summoned spirits, flying up into the air to catch the falling girl.

"Phew, made it just in time," said Satoru as he watched the successful catch.

Knives flew directly at Satoru. All of them stopped before they could reach him due to his Limitless ability. He plucked one of the knives from the air, spinning it around.

"So you're the famous Satoru Gojō. I've heard you're strong," said the Q Soldier. "Show me if the rumors are true.

"Sure, but let's make a rule," said Satoru with a dark smile.

"Rule?"

"I don't wanna go all-out and get in trouble. Cry and apologize now, and I won't kill ya."

"Brat!"

Satoru was disappointed that the Q soldier gave up so quickly after he threw the knives into his knees and elbows. Bo-oring!

The weak really are so pathetic.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Satoru met up with Suguru in the hotel. Suguru handed the girl to Satoru who reluctantly accepted her.

Satoru peered at the sleeping girl. She was too skinny. She looked like one good wind would blow her away. "Should we take her to a doctor?"

Suguru sighed. "If only Shoko were here."

The girl opened her eyes. She stiffened in alarm upon seeing Satoru. She quickly slapped him, forcing him to drop her. She rushed back several steps. "You jerk! If you want to kill me so badly, why don't you go first?!"

Cocky little shit.

Suguru smiled kindly at her as Satoru glowered. "Hey, Riko. Don't worry, we're not here to abduct you."

"Liar!" the schoolgirl said. "You look like a liar! And what's wrong with your hair?"

At once, Suguru and Satoru both forcibly grabbed her, not caring to be gentle or kind anymore.

"GAAAH!"

"P-Please stop!" exclaimed a woman—a maid judging by her outfit. Satoru guessed she was the Star Plasma Vessel's caretaker.

"Kuroi!" the girl exclaimed with relief.

"My lady, they are our friends," the maid—Kuroi—said.

"Spunkier than I thought," muttered Satoru, letting go of the girl who rushed over to her caretaker. "Aren't you gonna get all sad because of the merger?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, "Here I was, worried about ya."

"Ridiculous! A simple comment from a simpleton—"

"What?"

"Listen up," the girl said. "Master Tengen is me and I am Master Tengen! You talk about merger and death as if they are one and the same, but you're gravely mistaken. With the merger, I will become Master Tengen, but Master Tengen will also become me! My will, my heart, my spirit. All will live on after merging—"

Satoru tuned her out. He didn't care much for the opinions of a weak girl who would be dead and gone before the week was even over.

He tuned back in when she said she had to go to school.

No way would they let her go to school. She's got hoards of assassins after her.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

The girl threw such a magnificent hissy fit Satoru ended up calling his teacher, Masamichi.

Who, to Satoru's disbelief, agreed with the girl.

"Isn't it safer to take her back to Jujutsu High now?!" Satoru argued over the phone.

"I completely agree, but these are Master Tengen's orders," said Masamichi. "We must oblige Riko Amanai's requests."

Satoru hung up the phone in disgust. "Tch. Being all soft on her. What's the point?"

Suguru shook his head. "Don't be like that, Satoru. She was saying all that stuff, but the truth is after the merger, she'll be down below Jujutsu High with Master Tengen to form the barrier. Friends, family, and everything she holds dear... she'll no longer be able to see them. Let her enjoy herself. That's our mission."

"Pain in the ass," muttered Satoru.

And it was. It truly, truly was. All day and night Satoru and Suguru had to constantly fight off whatever enemies came their way just so she could have one more day of normalcy.

It was with significant relief that they finally brought the girl into Jujutsu High's barrier the next day. That meant no more Curse Users or Cursed Spirits could chase after them. It also meant they were finally done with the mission.

Escort missions are the worse, thought Satoru.

As soon as the four of them stepped into the barrier, Suguru said, "We're inside Jujutsu High's barrier."

"What a relief," said the girl.

"Yes," agreed her caretaker.

I deserve a new game after this. What came out recently?

"Satoru," said Suguru. "Thanks for your hard work."

"No more!" said Satoru. "No more babysitting."

But then something strange happened. For the first time in a long, long time, Satoru felt pain. A sharp burning sensation in his middle abdomen and back. His entire body stiffened in surprise as he looked down at the sharp blade that protruded from him.

Impossible.

He did not sense anyone coming—he would have activated his technique if so—and it should be impossible for any wild Cursed Spirit or Curse User to enter the barrier without alarms going off everywhere.

Sweat dripped down Satoru's face as he grit his teeth from the pain. He glanced behind him, finding an unfamiliar man had stabbed him. He had short, messy black hair, small eyes, and a scar across his mouth. Satoru bit out, "Do I know you from somewhere?"

"Don't sweat it," the man said in a deep voice. "I'm not one to remember some dude's name either.

Suguru was quick to react, summoning a massive Cursed Spirit to attack the man. The man ripped the sword out from Satoru, and jumped back. Satoru clutched at his chest, he grimaced as he rapidly manipulated his Cursed energy to do damage control.

"Satoru!" Suguru called out in concern.

Satoru raised a hand, grinning mirthlessly. "It's fine. My Limitless technique didn't make it in time, but he didn't hit any vital organs. I reinforced my Cursed energy to make sure the sword didn't do any further damage. Kinda like a safety pin going through a knitted sweater. Really, I'm good." Satoru let out a slow breath, disliking the sting.

Not life-threatening, but it still hurt to get stabbed.

Escort missions really are the worst.

"The girl is the priority," said Satoru. "I'll take care of this. Hurry on to Master Tengen's place."

Suguru nodded curtly. "Don't let your guard down."

Satoru took off his glasses. "Who do ya think you're talkin' to?"

And so their battle began.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Lilly

Yūta was sprawled on the living room floor, playing on his Nintendo DS. Lilly could hear the sounds of his game as he focused on it. She had purchased him the recent release of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and he had been obsessed with it since.

On his belly was a bowl of half eaten baby carrots. Occasionally he would mindlessly reach into the bowl, grab a handful, and stuff his face until he looked like a chipmunk.

Lilly had snuck a cute photo of it and was mentally preparing which page it would go in his album.

Lilly's memory wasn't perfect, so in any life she raised a child—and had access to her void storage—she always made photo albums. She had finished Yūta's first album and was a quarter through his second one. She'd prepare a third one when he reached middle school.

I hope he'll still want to match clothes with me when he's older.

She didn't think he would—teenage rebellion and all that—but maybe she'd get lucky.

Lilly herself was crocheting a new sweater while watching Hogfather. It wasn't near Christmas but it had been lifetimes since she last watched it. Lilly's hands moved mindlessly as she watched Mr. Teatime enlist gangsters to try and hunt down the Tooth Fairy.

I should take a shot every time Death does something cute, Lilly idly thought. Would I be wasted by the end of it?

She'd try that after Yūta had moved out. She didn't want to traumatize the poor boy by accidentally summoning one of her immortal buddies in a drinking contest. The fox he could handle, but the son of Cthulhu? Certainly not.

"Mama," said Yūta.

"Yes, baby?"

"Dusknoir is mean."

"Yes he is baby."

"What's the point in living in a world of darkness? Just seems like it'd get boring," he said. "No new games. No new food. Nothing. Just... black and white."

"It is extremely boring," confirmed Lilly, having vivid flashbacks to wandering near endless plains of darkness. It left a sour taste in her mouth. The emptiness... the loneliness... she'd take pain and torment over that any day.

She could talk to a torturer. She couldn't talk to nothingness.

"Qué idiota."

"Oui," Lilly agreed. After experiencing nothingness herself, Lilly had developed a personal hatred to those who sought utter destruction. Destruction for the sake of destruction was the epitome of pointlessness. It was senselessly stupid, and those who wanted it deserved instant death.

If Yūta is an antagonist instead of a protagonist, I don't think he'd want that, she thought. Which was good. Her son could take over the world or whatever, just as long as he wanted something after victory.

Lilly set her halfway-finished sweater down.

I'm craving some hot chocolate now, she thought.

"Möchtest du gerne eine heiße Schokolade trinken?" Lilly asked in German.

Yūta's face scrunched up. "Would I what? Hei—what?"

"Möchtest du gerne eine heiße Schokolade trinken?" repeated Lilly. "Would you like to drink some hot chocolate?"

Yūta gave her an odd look. "I thought, um, kakao was hot chocolate in German."

"Kakao is hot chocolate with powder," Lilly explained.

"How else do you make it?" Yūta was incredulous.

Lilly let out a soft giggle. "How do you think, baby?"

"You go to the store, buy the mix, add hot liquid to it and voilà, done, finité!"

"What if you don't have mix?" Lilly probed. "How else would you make it?"

Yūta groaned. He moved his bowl of carrots off his belly as he sat up. "I don't know. How?"

"Think carefully."

"I don't want to."

"Do it anyway," she retorted.

Yūta pouted, his face scrunching up as he thought. "Um... melting chocolate."

"Genau!" Lilly praised. "Correct, very good."

"Won't that taste... bad? Like... melted ice cream?" Yūta asked.

Lilly raised an eyebrow. "Did you just imply that I would make something bad?"

"... No."

"I'll ask again. Möchtest du gerne eine heiße Schokolade trinken?"

"Ja, dankeschön, Mama."

"You're welcome, baby," Lilly said. She moved into the kitchen, intent on making the hot chocolate when she felt her hand tingle.

She froze, her heart thumping.

Lilly had blessed exactly two people in that world.

Her son, Yūta, who was currently safe at home.

And Satoru Gojō, the reincarnation of one of her dearest companion.

She looked down at her palm, horrified to find the arcane symbol of death burned into her.

Satoru was dying.

She teleported, magically changing her clothes as she moved in preparation to either save his life... or cause an even bigger massacre.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Satoru

Satoru hadn't anticipated his opponent being so strong. The assassin had no Cursed energy, he was simply that physically strong and that talented of a fighter. It made it exceedingly difficult for Satoru to read his movements, and all it took was one incorrect guess—one blind moment—

The man stabbed Satoru in the throat with a Special Grade Cursed Tool.

Cursed Tools were items imbued with Cursed energy and given special properties. Like legendary weapons in stories or games.

As soon as the man stabbed Satoru through the throat, Satoru had a split second of perfect clarity. In that one second he felt the knife go through his throat, before he even tried to suck in a gulp of air, he focused everything into reverse Cursed Technique.

Cursed energy was born from negativity. Even if someone could reinforce their body, reconstructing body parts was impossible. The Reverse Cursed Technique multiplied the negatives to make positive energy.

Satoru had never been able to do that before, but in that split second he had an epiphany. He finally understood the core of cursed energy.

He was elated. Stoked.

At last he could complete his technique! He really would be invincible.

And then his whole world turned gray. Everything was paused. He felt himself being pulled off the knife, saw the blood linger in the air behind him as warm hands dragged him away.

What—?

Warmth enveloped him, tingly, soft, and kind. As if someone had heated up a blanket and lovingly wrapped him inside it.

All of his pain and injuries were gone. Even the wound in his chest had healed. The hands that had grabbed him from behind were gone, and in front of him stepped a familiar figure. Pink hair swept into a neat bun with a butterfly clip; a yukata with an intricate floral design; and a dozen ethereal butterflies delicately floating around her.

Even if he did not see her, he could recognize that presence.

No one in the world exuded the same kind of warmth as her.

The Special Grade Cursed Spirit. The one who was immune to his Limitless.

What was it—she—doing?

"You," greeted Satoru with a smile. "What a surprise to see you here." He glanced around at the world. "Wait... did you stop time? Is this how you were able to touch me? You can stop time?"

She nodded. Satoru couldn't see her expression behind the mask, but he could feel her smile.

"Ahh, what an unfair technique," he complained lightheartedly. "Completely counters me."

For now.

His technique controlled space to an infinity. It wouldn't stop time however, so he would still age and domains that moved at different times would carry on the same.

He had some ideas for how to stretch his Limitless into manipulating time as well, but for the moment he was stuck with applying it to space. Now that he knew that time manipulation could counter him, however, he would dedicate more energy into time manipulation.

She reached forward and flicked his nose.

"Hey, hey," he said. "None of that."

She immediately went to do it again, and he swatted at her, grinning in playful delight.

"You're such a pain in my side," he said. "I take it I have you to thank for the healing?"

"Oui."

"Completely not necessary. I was going to win."

She shrugged.

"Tu ne veux pas de mon pouvoir?"

Don't you want my power?

Satoru had studied French since their first encounter. He couldn't speak it—found it difficult to pronounce—but he could understand it. There wasn't anything Satoru couldn't do, after all. Memorization came as easy as breathing to him.

He suspected she was the reason behind the massacre in France.

Someone so powerful, yet so... gentle.

"Toujours et toujours," the Curse whispered. It traced a thumb along his cheek.

He couldn't forget that. Couldn't forget how she was able to touch him so carefully—like he was a prized porcelain.

So strong... so strong... yet so...

Why?

The question gnawed quietly at the back of his mind. He tried to banish it several times because he never knew if he would even see the Curse again. He hoped so, but he couldn't be certain. Least of all if it—she—would even answer it.

Why do you feel so comforting?

Her presence was unnaturally warm, but not painfully hot. More like the warmth someone found in their bed after a long, cold day. Or maybe the warmth of a fireplace at home. Or the warmth of someone who—

She had a sweet voice. The kind of voice Satoru expected a dainty heroine to have—pleasant on the ears. It did have a familiar ring to it—he couldn't quite place where he heard it before, but he knew it'd come to him eventually.

"What do ya mean?" he asked. "Can ya—Can ya speak Japanese?"

She cocked her head. "I can give you back some spiritual power to restore your own. You're worn down."

Satoru's expression did not convey anything new, blue eyes danced with curiosity as he continued to evaluate her.

"You're not a Curse," he said softly.

She couldn't be. Curses weren't kind, nor gentle. He didn't think she was human, but Curse?

No... Surely not.

Her whole demeanor shifted. He didn't need to see her face to know she was beaming at him. "You sure?"

"Extremely," he said.

"You would be correct."

He let out a brief chuckle. "Why pose as one?"

"Everyone kept mistaking me for one," she answered honestly. "I leaned into it."

"Your presence doesn't feel human," he pointed out. "You're also strong, and clearly well-trained. Given how small our circle is, we should know about someone like you."

"Should."

"Should," he agreed. "Clearly not though. Why me?"

"You're cute," she said.

"Why do I feel like that's not the entire reason?" he asked, smiling wryly. He knew he was attractive—be an idiot not to with how some people literally threw themselves at him—but he didn't feel that was reason enough. She was powerful, and had been keeping herself secret for years. A pretty face shouldn't be the only reason to reveal herself.

What else are you hiding?

"Think what you want," she said. "I can restore your power. Do you want me to?"

He tilted his head. "What would it entail?"

"Digesting some of mine," she said. "I promise it won't taste bad, although I didn't prepare any food so—"

Satoru raised both of his eyebrows. "I have a sneaky suspicion where this going. I want to see it through."

She giggled as she removed her mask. "Okay."

She was cute. She didn't look like she was from Japan which further fueled Satoru's theory she was tied to the explosion in France. She had big scarlet eyes that seemed full of warmth and mischief.

She could pass for a student. She must be a Sorcerer, right?

"I am so sad you weren't one of my classmates," he said ruefully.

"Probably for the best. I've been told I'm quite the hassle," she said with an odd smile.

"I love hassles," he lied. "Okay maybe not, but you seem like the kind of hassle I'd have fun with."

"You say the sweetest things," she cooed, stepping closer to him. "Are you ready?"

"Definitely," he said.

She cupped his face and leaned up, her nose brushing against his. "Eat your fill, chéri."

Her lips were warm and soft. Her energy flowed from her and into Satoru. He felt like he was eating fresh cotton candy: tantalizingly sweet, unnaturally soft, and pleasantly warm. Her energy perfectly melded with his Cursed energy, completely refueling him within seconds.

Satoru didn't have much interest in dating, but... well. He wasn't going to prematurely end anything with a strong, mysterious, cute girl who could somehow stop time.

She must have sensed that because she pulled away, shaking her head and giving him a look of exasperation. "You are greedy, chéri."

"Most eighteen-year-olds are," he pointed out.

She raised an eyebrow at him, red eyes sparkling with amusement. "You are healed, and your power is restored. Will you win this fight now?"

"Of course I will! He just caught me by surprise is all," Satoru said confidently.

"Then goodbye," she said. She reached forward and affectionately patted his cheek.

He caught her hand. "Wait. You should stay. You could enroll here, I can vouch for you."

She shook her head. "Too dangerous. Most Sorcerers I've met tend to outright attack me—"

"I can protect you," he blurted out.

"—and I don't want to accidentally kill anymore," she said with a smile. "They're your comrades, aren't they?"

Satoru flushed. Accidentally kill—? Oh.

Even so, Satoru was reluctant to let her go. Someone of her strength belonged at Tokyo Jujutsu High. She would fit right in with his class, he was sure of it.

And—

He couldn't explain it. Some base instinct inside him made him hold her hand tightly. It was nothing overwhelming—Satoru could easily brush it aside—but the fact that he felt it at all meant something to him. Satoru had learned to rely on his instincts over the years, and at that moment his gut was telling him he should keep her close.

Whether for her sake, his sake, or the sake of others, he couldn't be certain.

Only that he didn't think she should go.

He didn't want her to go.

Who are you? Why are you so strong? What did you mean by always and always? Why me?

She was going to leave him with more questions.

"Don't go," he said.

"I have to," she said gently, smiling at him as she carefully removed his hand. "I have someone to take care of at home."

Who?

"You know I'm going to find you now, right?"

Her expression lit up with disbelieving amusement. "Think you can?"

Satoru raised his chin. "I know I can."

"In that case," she said, eyes bright. "Let's play hide and seek. The longer you take, the bigger the penalty. The shorter, the bigger the reward."

"Do I get a time limit?"

She closed her eyes. "Mmm... He's about seven now, so... I'll give you a decade. Otherwise I'll come find you."

Who's seven? Your brother?

"I can definitely find you before then," he said, a little offended she thought he'd need that much time.

"I hope so." She rested her forehead against his.

"One more for the road?" he teased.

She laughed. He thought it was cute. She gave him a chaste kiss, and in the next second the world was no longer paused and she was gone.

"Wow," Satoru said, staring at the man who had stabbed him. "I am so not in the mood to play with you anymore."

"That's rude."

"I've got a hot girl to find, the sooner I do, the bigger the reward."

"Understandable."

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Bonus:

Lilly stood outside an empty shop in Tokyo, Ame at her side.

"Ame," Lilly said, "show me again."

The wagasa morphed, expanding out like a popped water balloon in slow motion. Once an object, a new shape took place. One distinctly more human.

Lilly had raised Tora and Ame to Special Grade status, and both had integrated well as family "pets." As she continued to feed them her raw spiritual energy, they continued to grow in both physical status and intellect. Ame, especially, grew in leaps and bounds.

The wagasa preferred to linger near Lilly, hovering nearby as a pretty umbrella that the old soul delighted in twirling around. Recently, though, Ame showed Lilly a neat little trick.

Ame could transform into a human. Their form was androgynous–both feminine and masculine. It was only a mockery version of a human–Ame had no genitalia whatsoever–and when thye spoke they did not move their mouth.

The reason for their new form?

They liked to people watch. They liked humans. So much so they wanted to become one.

And the moment Lilly saw their new form, inspiration came to her.

"Yeah," Lilly said appraisingly as she stared at Ame's human form. "I made the right choice."

The right choice namely being her purchase of the empty shop in front of them.

"Ame, my dear, I'm going to make a cafe."

"A cafe?" the wagasa repeated, their mouth not moving in the slightest bit.

"For you to practice being with humans," she said. "I'll set it up and you'll work there."

"I see," said Ame.

"It'll be a special cafe. One perfectly suited to compliment that pretty face of yours."

"I see," the Cursed Spirit said again.

"Yes," Lilly said, beaming. "This world clearly needs more maid/butler cafes."

Ame nodded as if they understood.

But they didn't. And that was fine. Lilly would gleefully instruct them.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Getting closer to the anime!

Shoutout to the very kind readers across multiple platforms who helped smooth out my translations. I really appreciate it! I love learning new languages, but I am far from perfect and know I'm missing out on a lot of things a native speaker would know best. Please don't worry about offending me or coming across as rude because I sincerely want to learn.

Answer: Cheesecake.

Question: What stand alone movie—book adaptions okay—would you like to be reborn in as the new protagonist?

Reviews are love!