9 hours and 12 minutes earlier...
Seijuro stepped out of the bustling Sendai train station, the lively hum of city life immediately enveloping him. Dressed in a white hoodie, black jeans, and pristine white sneakers, his attire was deliberately simple—ideal for blending in while maintaining mobility. He didn't want to stand out in a city filled with ordinary citizens.
"Seijuro-sama," a voice called from behind.
Turning, he saw two of his servants approaching, their appearances modest yet professional. Both were dressed in plain, unassuming suits—perfect for their roles as information gatherers. They nodded respectfully, their expressions calm but focused.
"Let's head to the hotel we booked," Seijuro said, his tone steady but purposeful.
The servants immediately hailed a cab, and the trio embarked on a short journey through the streets of Sendai City. The cab weaved through the urban sprawl, past a mix of high-rise buildings and quiet residential streets. After a brief ride, they arrived at a high-end hotel nestled in one of the quieter, more upscale neighborhoods.
The lobby exuded understated elegance, with polished marble floors reflecting the warm glow of crystal chandeliers hanging above. Soft piano music floated through the air, adding a refined, almost serene touch to the atmosphere. Behind the reception desk, a cheerful receptionist greeted them with a practiced smile.
"Welcome to the Sendai Grand Hotel," she said warmly. "Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes," one of the servants replied, stepping forward smoothly. "It's under the name Gojo."
The receptionist's hands moved swiftly over her keyboard before she nodded. "Ah, yes. We have your reservation here—three rooms. One master suite and two deluxe rooms. I'll have the concierge escort you to your accommodations."
The check-in process was seamless, thanks to the thorough preparation of Seijuro's servants. Within minutes, they were led through the hotel's halls to their respective rooms.
"This is your suite, Mister Gojo," the concierge said, opening the door to Seijuro's room.
Seijuro stepped inside, pausing momentarily to take in the luxurious surroundings. The suite was a perfect blend of modernity and sophistication. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided a stunning view of the city skyline, the lights twinkling like stars against the deepening twilight. A king-sized bed, draped in pristine linens, sat at the room's center, flanked by sleek nightstands. A plush sofa invited relaxation in one corner, while a glass desk with minimalist decor stood ready for work.
Releasing a deep sigh, Seijuro kicked off his sneakers and let himself fall backward onto the bed. The mattress cradled him like a cloud, offering a moment of respite from the weight of his mission.
He stared at the ceiling, his mind already shifting back to business. "Alright..." he muttered, the faintest edge of determination creeping into his voice. "Time to start gathering information about Kaori Itadori."
Though the room offered every comfort he could imagine, Seijuro knew rest would have to wait. There was too much at stake.
After several minutes of collecting his thoughts, Seijuro rose from his plush hotel bed and headed to the adjoining room where his servants were stationed.
-Knock! Knock!
The door opened almost immediately, revealing the two servants who greeted him with a respectful bow.
"Seijuro-sama," one said, stepping aside to let him in.
Though less opulent than Seijuro's suite, the servants' room was immaculately organized. A laptop glowed softly on the desk, casting light on a corkboard on the wall. The board was filled with maps of Sendai, photographs, sticky notes, and pins connected by thin strings, forming a web of information.
"Let's get started," Seijuro said briskly, stepping inside and gesturing toward the setup.
The servants nodded, with one taking their place at the desk and typing into the laptop. The other stood near the corkboard, ready to reference physical notes.
"Seijuro-sama," the one at the desk began, "we haven't found any direct leads on Kaori Itadori. However, we did uncover something important: her surname is Kurosaki, not Itadori."
"Ah, I see..." Seijuro muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought. 'This was new. In the manga, Kaori's maiden surname was never revealed.'
"She currently works at a black company near Rokubanchome Street," the servant added.
In Japan, the term "black company" (ブラック企業, burakku kigyō) refers to exploitative or abusive workplaces characterized by harsh working conditions, unethical practices, and a disregard for employee well-being. These companies are infamous for their long hours, low pay, and a culture prioritizing profits over their workers' mental and physical health.
"And her shift?" Seijuro asked, leaning forward slightly. He preferred not to disturb her during working hours; catching her after her shift would be more strategic.
"She finishes at 5:30 PM," the servant replied.
"Good." Seijuro nodded, processing the information. 'These guys are terrifyingly efficient,' he thought, genuinely impressed.
Their ability to extract new details on Kaori within hours was remarkable, though also a bit unsettling.
"What about Jin Itadori?" Seijuro asked next, his crimson eyes flickering to the second servant.
"We discovered he owns a café called Sunrise Brew near Aoba Ward's Komatsubara Park. The café operates from 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM daily."
Seijuro hummed in acknowledgment. Once again, this was entirely new information—details the manga never mentioned. He leaned back slightly, stroking his chin as he mulled his options.
"So," one of the servants prompted carefully, "which will you pursue first, Seijuro-sama?"
Seijuro's gaze turned sharp as he made his decision. "Kaori first," he said firmly.
'Kenjaku has already possessed her body in the timeline, so I know she's the higher priority.' He thought.
The servants nodded. "Understood."
Satisfied, Seijuro straightened. "Alright, the meeting finished. You're free to rest or continue gathering additional intel as needed."
The two servants bowed deeply as Seijuro turned and exited the room, heading back to his suite.
As he walked through the quiet, dimly lit hallway, he thought, 'If I can save Kaori, I can prevent Kenjaku from taking over her body... and possibly alter Yuuji's origin to ensure he still exists. But if I fail...'
Seijuro clenched his fist. Failure wasn't an option.
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Present
Seijuro stood in front of the sleek, gray building where Kaori worked, its design as cold and impersonal as the oppressive atmosphere he could sense even before stepping inside.
"This place..." he muttered under his breath.
As someone who had once been a Vice CEO in his previous life as David, he was intimately familiar with toxic workplaces' oppressive, soul-crushing aura. Standing in the lobby brought back memories of corporate drudgery and underappreciated workers.
Straightening his hoodie, Seijuro approached the reception desk, where a woman typed rapidly on her computer. Noticing him, she stopped and looked up with a polite, albeit robotic, smile.
"Hello, how may I help you?" she asked.
Seijuro returned the smile, keeping his tone casual but friendly. "Good evening. I'm looking for Kaori. She's... a close friend of mine."
The receptionist's smile faltered slightly. "I'm sorry, but she just left a few minutes ago," she said, lowering her voice. "She seemed...angry, which was scary for everyone here."
'Angry? Not surprising,' Seijuro thought. 'This is a black company. If anything, I'm surprised she hasn't quit yet.'
"Thank you for letting me know," Seijuro said, nodding politely before turning to leave.
Once outside, he stopped on the bustling sidewalk, scanning the crowd. People moved in every direction, chatting, hurrying, and minding their own business. Finding one angry woman in this chaos was like finding a needle in a haystack.
'This is bad,' he thought, frustration bubbling. 'She could've gone anywhere, and I don't have time to waste.'
Just then, he overheard two women chatting loudly near the corner of the building.
"Did you see that angry woman storming out of here?" one asked, her voice filled with exaggerated disbelief. "She looked like a demon!"
"I know, right?" the other replied, giggling nervously. "She practically scared everyone out of her way!"
Seijuro's ears perked up. They had to be talking about Kaori.
He approached them, his steps confident but unassuming. The two women turned toward him, their expressions shifting to surprise—and then blushes—as they took in his striking features.
"Excuse me," Seijuro said politely, his voice smooth. "Did you see where that angry woman went?"
The first woman blinked, still a little dazed, before pointing down the street. "She went that way," she said, her voice tinged with nervous excitement.
Seijuro smiled warmly, inclining his head in gratitude. "Thank you."
As he walked away, the two women stood in stunned silence before bursting into whispers behind him.
Seijuro ignored their chatter, focusing on the direction they had indicated. His pace quickened, his eyes scanning the crowd ahead.
'Hang in there, Kaori,' he thought. 'I'll find you.'
As Seijuro sprinted through the streets, weaving past startled pedestrians, a sudden surge of cursed energy made his heart pound. The oppressive aura was unmistakable.
'This cursed energy... it's massive,' he thought, gritting his teeth.
Following the overwhelming sensation, Seijuro turned a corner and froze mid-step. His crimson eyes widened at the scene before him.
A grotesque creature, its form twisted beyond recognition, squirmed at the far end of the alley. Its misshapen limbs jerked unnaturally, as if the very concept of humanity had been mutilated and reshaped into something nightmarish.
Beside the abomination stood a woman with side-swept black hair, her face pale but determined. Even through the dim light, Seijuro could tell—it was Kaori.
But what truly froze him in place was the figure standing opposite her. A tall, slender man with stitches running across his body, as if his skin had been crudely sewn together. His eerie smile oozed with malice, his presence reeking of danger.
'Mahito,' Seijuro thought, a chill running down his spine. 'Shit. A special grade.'
He knew exactly who Mahito was—a special-grade cursed spirit with the terrifying ability to reshape souls. If he wasn't careful, this encounter could instantly turn lethal.
For now, Mahito and Kaori hadn't noticed him, and their focus was solely on their conversation.
"Liberation," Mahito purred, his voice dripping with a twisted charm. "I can help you, Miss Kurosaki. Your boss, the plant nonsense... all the things that make you angry? I can take it all away. All I need is one word from you."
Kaori hesitated, her gaze flickering between the disfigured creature and the man with stitches. Mahito's words were terrifyingly persuasive, a pull that resonated with the darkest corners of her frustration and resentment.
Seijuro narrowed his eyes. He couldn't afford to let Kaori fall into Mahito's trap.
Her lips trembled as she opened her mouth. "Fine—"
"Don't accept the pervert's help, Miss Kaori!" Seijuro's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
Kaori spun around, startled. Her heart leapt to her throat at the sight of the man standing at the alley's entrance. He was tall, his white hair illuminated by the faint glow of a nearby streetlamp. His relaxed posture belied the sharp intensity in his crimson eyes.
Mahito's grin faltered for the first time, his gaze snapping to Seijuro. "And who the hell are you?" he growled, his tone venomous.
Seijuro smirked, taking a deliberate step forward. "Just someone who doesn't appreciate creepy guys making shady deals in dark alleys." His voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge of warning.
Despite the confidence in his tone, Seijuro's heart raced. He knew Mahito's reputation—his abilities, his malice—and how deadly he could be. But he couldn't afford to show weakness, not now. Not when Kaori's life was at stake.
Kaori's confusion deepened. 'Who is this guy? And why does he look like he just walked off the cover of a magazine?' she wondered, her fear momentarily replaced by bewilderment.
Seijuro glanced at her and offered a reassuring smile. "Miss Kurosaki, I suggest you step back. I'll handle this one."