"You know about Sukuna?" Yaga-sensei asked, his tone grave. His eyes searched mine, as if trying to gauge how much I understood.
I leaned back in my chair, letting the name sink in. Sukuna. Just the mention of it sent a chill down my spine. "Sukuna… yeah," I said slowly, piecing together the fragments of knowledge buried in my memory. "The King of Curses. A monstrous force so powerful that even the most seasoned sorcerers couldn't exorcise him. The demon who lived centuries ago, spreading terror and leaving nothing but devastation in his wake."
Yaga nodded silently, letting me continue.
"They say he was a human sorcerer once—a cruel, twisted being with unmatched strength and skill. But his hunger for power, his obsession with destruction… it turned him into something inhuman. The stories say he was so terrifying that it took the combined efforts of all the top sorcerers of his time just to bring him down. Even in death, they couldn't destroy his body. They had to cut him into pieces—twenty fingers—and seal them away so he could never come back."
The room felt colder as I spoke, the weight of Sukuna's legend pressing down on us both. "And yet," I added with a bitter laugh, "his power is so immense that even now, centuries later, his fingers hold a curse energy so potent it could obliterate a city. No one can handle that kind of power. Not without losing themselves."
"Exactly," Yaga said, leaning forward. "Which is why we have a problem."
I frowned. "Problem? What kind of—?"
He interrupted me. "A boy has swallowed one of Sukuna's fingers."
I blinked, my mind stuttering to process what he'd just said. "He… swallowed a finger? Why the hell would anyone—?"
"It wasn't intentional," Yaga said quickly, waving a hand as if to calm my rising disbelief. "It was an accident. A cursed object—one of Sukuna's fingers—was being stored at his school. Somehow, it got unsealed, and he… consumed it."
My jaw dropped slightly. "And?" I asked, almost not wanting to hear the answer. "He's still alive?"
"That's the thing," Yaga said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "He is. The boy survived."
I stared at him, stunned. "But… that's impossible. Sukuna's curse energy is too overwhelming. Anyone who tries to ingest even a fragment of his power would disintegrate from the inside out. It's not just rare—it's unheard of. The odds are… one in a million."
Yaga nodded grimly. "And yet, here we are. Not only is the boy alive, but he's managed to keep Sukuna's curse sealed inside him. At least, for now."
"Sealed?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes. "You mean Sukuna hasn't taken over his body?"
"Not entirely," Yaga admitted. "It's a tug of war, from what I understand. The boy—his name is Yuji Itadori—he has an extraordinary resilience, both physically and mentally. Enough to keep Sukuna at bay… for now. But it's a fragile balance. And as you know, Sukuna isn't the kind to stay silent forever."
I exhaled sharply, the pieces clicking together in my mind. "So, what's the plan? You're not seriously thinking of letting this boy walk around with Sukuna's curse inside him, are you? That's like holding a ticking time bomb in your pocket."
"That's where you come in," Yaga said, his expression unreadable. "The higher-ups have decided to let him live—for now. He's already ingested one finger, and they believe he might be able to locate and consume the rest. If he can collect all twenty fingers…"
"Then we can finally exorcise Sukuna for good," I finished, my voice heavy with skepticism. "That's a gamble. A big one. What if Sukuna takes over before then? What if we're just feeding him more power?"
Yaga sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I don't have all the answers, Dia. But I do know this: Yuji Itadori isn't just some ordinary kid. There's something about him—something that might just give us a chance to end this curse once and for all." Yaga's gaze held steady as he leaned forward, his voice firm yet laced with concern. "Dia, I need you to look after him. Yuji Itadori may have Gojo Satoru as his protector, but this situation is bigger than even he can handle alone."
I frowned, feeling a weight settle in my chest. "Sensei… if Gojo has taken him under his protection, why do you need me? Isn't that enough?"
Yaga exhaled deeply, rubbing his temple. "It's not just about protection. We need someone who can ensure Sukuna's power doesn't spiral out of control. And that's you, Dia. You have a special ability—the sealing technique passed down from your mother. If Sukuna ever starts to overpower Yuji, you're the only one who can contain him before it's too late."
I swallowed hard, feeling the sting of those words. "But Sensei," I said softly, my voice tinged with doubt, "I'm not as strong as my mother was. She was a legend, and I'm… just me. I don't even have the confidence that I can do this. I may be strong, but I… I don't know if I'm enough."
Yaga leaned back, his expression softening just slightly. "Dia," he said, his voice filled with unshakable belief, "I trust you. You've grown so much since the last time I saw you. You've faced your own demons and come out stronger. If anyone can handle this, it's you."
I looked down at my hands, the doubt still gnawing at me. Then his next words struck a nerve. "And besides, you need to let the past go. It's been years, Dia. You can't keep running from it."
My head snapped up. "You mean… Gojo." It wasn't a question. The mention of his name was enough to reignite the bitterness buried deep within me.
Yaga sighed, his tone growing more insistent. "Yes, Gojo. I know you don't want to see him. I know things didn't end well between you two. But this is bigger than your feelings, Dia. It's about saving lives—potentially the entire world. So, leave it. Move on."
Move on? How could he even say that? As if it was something I could just turn off like a switch. I wouldn't. I couldn't. The memories of that betrayal still burned as brightly as ever.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "Fine, Sensei," I said, my tone sharper than I intended. "If you need my power, I'll do it. But I have one condition."
He raised an eyebrow. "What condition?"
I fixed him with a serious look. "Gojo can never know I'm here. You take full responsibility for making sure he doesn't find out. Not now, not ever."
Yaga looked at me for a long moment, his face unreadable. Then, he nodded. "If that's what it takes, I'll make sure of it. But Dia…" He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "You can't avoid him forever. At some point, you'll have to face whatever's holding you back."
"Maybe," I said, standing up and brushing imaginary dust from my dress. "But not today. And not for him."
As I turned to leave, my heart pounded in my chest. This wasn't just about Sukuna or Yuji. It was about me, facing a part of my life I'd tried so hard to bury. But for now, I could live with that condition—as long as Gojo Satoru never knew I was here.
I stepped outside the quarters, the cool breeze brushing against my face as I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder. Standing just outside the gate, Nanami was waiting, his composed demeanor as unwavering as ever. He glanced at me, his small hazel eyes calm but curious.
"Did the conversation go well?" he asked, his tone polite but with a hint of concern.
I let out a soft sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Well, kind of? It was... complicated, as expected."
Nanami adjusted his tie, a subtle gesture that seemed to accompany his every thought. "So, what's your plan?" he asked. "Should I take your luggage back to the airport, or—?"
I cut him off, a mischievous smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "Well, I think I'll stay here for a while," I said, tilting my head slightly as I observed his reaction. "I need to see what this Yuji person is like. If I'm going to be responsible for something this big, I should know what I'm dealing with."
Nanami nodded, his expression neutral but approving. "That sounds reasonable. Although, considering who's already overseeing him…" His voice trailed off, and I didn't need him to finish the sentence to know exactly who he was referring to. Gojo.
"Yes, yes, I know." I waved dismissively, though my chest tightened at the mere thought of him. "Let's not talk about that right now. I'm here for Yuji, not for any old ghosts."
"Understood," Nanami said with a slight nod. "Then I'll arrange accommodations for you. You'll need a place to stay while you're here."
I gave him a small smile, one that I hoped conveyed more confidence than I felt. "Thanks, Nami. I knew I could count on you."
As he walked off to make the arrangements, I leaned against the gate, gazing up at the sky. The weight of Yaga-sensei's request still hung heavy on my shoulders, but curiosity now mixed with the doubt. Who was Yuji Itadori? And more importantly, could I really keep my promise to stay out of Gojo's sight?
Only time would tell, but one thing was certain—I was about to dive headfirst into a storm far more complicated than I'd anticipated.