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richymcronald · 2 months ago

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Lens of Memories

Summary: In your world, only two people really matter: your protective mother and Riku Sasaki—a classmate obsessed with conspiracy theories who’s always chasing some hidden truth, no matter how absurd or dangerous it sounds. You’ve never liked getting involved.

But one morning, everything changes when your bike breaks… and Itadori Yuji offers to help.

Just like that, he becomes part of your day—and maybe something more.

You shouldn't have been involved. The three of you.

You didn't expect to discover this. You didn't expect to be alive now. And you definitely didn't expect your duo to become a trio bound by a secret.

Pairing: Itadori x fem! Reader

Words: 11.704

Status: Ongoing series

Author's note: Sasaki Riku is an OC of mine, so don't be too confused.

Chapter 1: Haunted House, Cookies and Darth Vader

We live in such a strange world.

It is so strange that not even science has an answer to everything.

That is something your thirteen-year-old classmate loves to tell you daily at school.

You rest your head on your desk without hesitation after the two math classes. You turn to face the window and notice that spring has already broken. The schoolyard's ground and benches coated in snow vanished, making way for the vibrant petals to take the spotlight.

It’s lunch break time at Sugisawa Junior High, and the brown-haired classmate doesn’t miss the opportunity to tell you about his observations in Sendai.

“Seriously, I always feel something in the air while passing that old house from the creepy granny! The explanation for that intense pressure I─ “

“Is her ghost living in that house? Riku, you’ve been telling me this for three days nonstop. If you’re so scared of this house, why don’t you take a different way home?” You ask him in a slightly annoyed tone.

Riku only shakes his head in response and explains, “No way, this could be my only chance to see or even communicate with a ghost! C’mon, I wanna explore it with you.”

“Not a chance. I refuse to take part in such criminal activity.” You respond dramatically while still not facing him.

The conversation between the two of you quickly develops into desperate pleas to persuade you to go with him to that old house. Despite all his pleas and tempting offers, such as money and pastries for lunch break at school, the same “no” response is still given, which leads to an untrue and dramatic heartache inside his chest.

As you look at him with an irritated expression on your face, he puts both of his hands on his left side of the chest to show you that the grief in his heart has worsened and even started to whisper his last words for you to hear. You start to quiet him down by cussing him out, but as expected, you failed.

This guy is insane, faking a terribly played heart attack in front of me just to bug me about some old house? I swear, I’ll kill him one day.

Unfortunately, his dramatic act doesn’t come to a halt. You, on the other hand, already have had enough and decided to leave the classroom to escape this witchcraft of his. As you enter the hallway, Riku begins to notice your absence and goes ahead in your direction while apologizing. His half-serious apologies are, of course, filled with laughter.

Riku’s humorous apologies don’t make you slow down or turn around, and all he sees is your back as both you walk — he’s used to that by now.

When it grew too quiet for his liking, he began to speak into great detail on how he was going to explore the house, including what type of equipment he would bring and when he would start.

The boy just won’t stop talking about his plan and follows you mindlessly until...

“Hey Riku,” you suddenly say as you put one hand on his shoulder to stop him from walking and point with the other at the girls’ restroom. Out of humiliation and fear, Riku steps back. His frightened look on his face is priceless.

You have to refrain from laughing.

If only there weren’t so many students around here.

Drawing attention from the students to you is not worth it.

"That’s the second time, you know, Riku." You remark flatly while washing your hands there, "Keep blindly following me like that and people are gonna start calling you the first infamous Sugisawa Junior High pervert, and you’re only 13 years old."

“Shh, the entire world doesn’t need to hear! You know that was never my intention. Did you change your mind?” He asks outside of the bathroom.

“Nope”

“C’mon, it’s gonna be a once-in-a-lifetime thing! Perfect for your college essay!”

“Right, because breaking into an old house will totally impress the admissions office.”

After the last response of yours, you finally leave the bathroom and say, “Besides this little adventure being a crime, you really should watch your back, Riku. You’re the one who’s always calling that old lady ‘creepy,’ remember? So, you better pray she doesn’t come after you the second you step into her house.”

Panic and fear could be easily seen all over the face of this young boy, and you even made him freeze in place for a few seconds. You start walking back to your classroom, leaving this frightened boy there.

It’s 8:19 p.m. in Sendai.

[Riku] : Aight I’ll be at the old house in 10 mins.

Wish me luck!!!

[You]: You're actually so stupid.

Yk you’re gonna be in big trouble again just like the last time.

So just stay at home where it’s safe.

[Riku]: Still won’t change my mind.

If I don’t get caught I won’t get into trouble.

So nothing to worry about!

[You]: If you die I won’t visit your grave.

[Riku]: I'm way faster than the granny.

[You]: Ur father exists.

After you delivered the harsh reality to this boy once more, an unpleasant sense in the air was now created. Standing in the middle of the pavement, Riku was debating in his mind whether he should listen to your advice or try to solve this mystery.

Once again, his curiosity triumphs.

Over time, the sunlight is getting weaker and weaker, while your hometown grows darker. As you gaze out at the window, you quickly come to the conclusion that Riku’s decision to investigate the old house is as absurd as his plan itself. Not only is the chosen time ridiculous to you, but the equipment he picked is also unnecessary since, in your view, a hammer and pliers are not useful in that situation.

Maybe I should’ve told him how useless the hammer and pliers are useless.

It doesn’t matter now; Riku won’t check his messages until he’s done with his investigation, just like the time when he went to the playground at 6 a.m.

He’s lucky that his father is so busy with work.

Why am I being friends with a complete moron again?

A knock on the door from your mother breaks through your worries and thoughts. With a big smile on her face, she enters into your bedroom and proudly presents you with an opened box in her hands.

“Honey, look at these homemade cookies! Don’t they look delicious? Miyu, one of my coworkers, stayed up just to make them for me. Here, take one,” your mother says as she puts one in your mouth with excitement.

Oh wow, this time it’s edible… even delicious.

With a gleam in her eyes, your mother observes you enjoying cookies and excitedly awaits your reaction. You try to finish it quickly so that this intense, friendly-meant staring at you eventually comes to an end once she gets to hear your opinion.

“It’s really good, mom. Miyu surely improved her baking skills, and in two weeks, that’s really impressive.”

“Absolutely! You should bring some cookies to school, so we can get to hear Riku’s opinion as well… oh yes, speaking of him, on my way home I saw Riku walking in the streets. Do you have any ideas what he was doing out there so late?”

“Oh, he just wanted to see stray cats,” you put utmost effort into maintaining a neutral expression, doing everything you could to make the excuse sound less absurd than it actually was. When your mother finally tried to say something, all she could do was stare at you with an expression of utter confusion.

“You know how adventurous Riku is, and he wants to feed some stray cats, too. He said he can’t stand seeing them starving anymore!”

“But at this hour? So late?”

"We had so much homework earlier, there wasn’t time. He told me it was his duty as a good citizen to help them."

I sound even more ridiculous than before. This is all your fault, Riku.

“Oh, I see…well, I hope he will return home soon. Alright, I’m off to prepare dinner!” With that last sentence, your mother leaves your bedroom and makes her way to the kitchen.

After successfully escaping the uncomfortable conversation with your mother, you finally sat down on your bed to take a well-needed break. You stare emptily at absolutely nothing for a few minutes, processing the wild nonsense you had just spewed. Once your mind had a moment to recover from embarrassment, you quickly reached for your phone to let your friend know that your mother spotted him on his way to that old house.

Why am I even helping this idiot? He won’t even read any messages for the next hours, and if he gets caught, that’s on him.

Riku is always so reckless… but why?

Why can’t he just stick to safe places?

It’s 8:33 p.m. in Sendai.

As nightfall drew near, the already eerie house of the deceased grandmother became even more unsettling. Its gloomy facade, bathed in pale moonlight, giving the house a dreadful coloring. The house, like the city surrounding it, was cloaked in a veil of darkness that would undoubtedly send shivers down the spine of any observer, young or old. Riku's unwavering gaze was fixed upon the residence, though whether out of curiosity or fear remained unclear. But one thing is certain: this would be his most thrilling and daring investigation yet.

The abandoned house was illuminated by Riku's flashlight. However, the illumination cannot hide the home's disheveled appearance and ominous presence. The house has two floors, each with a large window. The first floor featured a large window next to the front door, while the second floor has two windows. Additionally, a filthy outdoor staircase is visible before the home's front door.

Riku admires the house's ominous facade for a few moments, marveling at the sight of the derelict home illuminated by the beam of his flashlight. After a few seconds, his attention is abruptly distracted by the sound of snapping twigs coming from behind the house.

The sudden noise sends chills down his spine and makes his heart skip a beat.

It feels like someone, or something is lurking in the shadows…

COULD THAT BE THE GRANNY??

The young boy stands completely still, not even daring to twitch a single muscle, as he tries to tune down the terrifying sounds of his pounding heart. His pulse was racing at a relentless pace, and he felt sweat trickling down his spine.

He has to remain as still as possible. Any movement might make a noise and give away his hiding place.

Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm, stay calm.

The young boy takes a deep breath, trying to calm the tremors that were tearing through his body. He took a total of five breaths, gradually returning his heart rate and composure to normal.

He is slowly regaining control of his body.

After numerous failed attempts, the thirteen-year-old finally gathered the courage to take small and slow steps toward the house. As he walks closer and closer behind the house, he pulls the hammer out of his small backpack. In his right hand Riku holds the hammer and the other grasps tightly his flashlight that was already switched off.

The pace of both his breathing and heartbeat increases with every step he took.

After gathering all his courage, the boy ran to the source of the noise and flicked on the flashlight to investigate. However, his bravery was met with a lightning-fast reaction from the unknown presence. It quickly runs forward, without giving the boy a single glance, and moves onto the pavement and keeps running away from the house and Riku.

Riku refuses to be defeated like that.

Though he feels anxiety running through his veins, he is not yet defeated. With all the adrenaline rushing through his body, he takes a quick breath and dashes after the unknown presence.

With his heart pounding in his chest, he runs as fast as his legs could take him.

He is determined to track down this unknown presence.

Wait, isn’t that?...

As Riku runs after the unknown presence, he suddenly catches a glimpse of the person through the lanterns lighting up the pavement. It is a familiar face, his pink-haired classmate, Itadori Yuji, who is currently running away from him with sweat dripping down his face and a black cat in his arms.

Yes! It’s definitely Itadori. But why was he hiding behind the house and holding a cat?

After realizing it’s his classmate, Riku stops the racing and inhales deeply once again.

“Itadori Yuji! It’s me, Sasaki Riku from school! You don’t have to run away!” He yells out these words with clarity and determination, hoping his voice would carry far enough for Itadori to hear him.

As Itadori heard his classmate's familiar voice shouting out to him, he froze in place and quickly looked back over his shoulder. He suddenly feels his heart rate drop back to normal when he finds out that it really is Sasaki Riku.

A wave of relief washed over Itadori’s body.

The distance between the two classmates is still rather large, and they remained facing each other, taking slow and deep breaths. Both boys are catching their breath and recovering from the chasing.

In the pink-haired boy's arms, the black cat seems to be quite calm and remains unmoved by the situation.

"Say, why are you here, Sasaki? At this hour?” Itadori asks, still holding the cat carefully.

“I could ask you the same question. And why were you hiding behind the haunted house?” Riku shoots back without giving the other boy an answer. His eyebrows were raised.

“I thought you were my grandpa... he’d have scolded me for being reckless, because I was looking for this cat.” His gaze was fixed on the black cat as he answered truthfully.

Hm… my gut is telling me he’s not lying. On top of that, Itadori doesn’t look like the type of guy to lie.

But wait... at school, he said that he didn’t have any pets.

This doesn’t add up.

“At school, you said you don’t have any pets, though?” He questions Itadori while walking closer to him.

“Oh, yeah, that’s true. It’s my neighbor’s cat.”

Riku took only three steps forward, however; he froze in his tracks after realizing that he had just falsely accused his classmate of lying. His cheeks are now burning with embarrassment at this awkward situation. Despite the accusations directed at Itadori, he only gives a blank stare in response, without any negative feelings toward the brunette boy.

Oh. How embarrassing…

I bet she would’ve laughed at me.

The two boys stand there in awkward silence, not knowing what to do next.

Itadori softly begins to caress the neighbor's cat, showing it gentle affection and care. As he strokes the cat's soft fur, he turns and looks towards Sasaki with a gentle smile on his face and curiously asks, “Sasaki, you mentioned a haunted house, how exactly is this house haunted?”

A genuine, bright smile and eyes with sparkles spread across Riku's face as he prepares to answer Itadori's question in vivid detail. But before he can even begin to form his sentence, the alarm on his phone rings out. It is his reminder that his father is about to return home soon. He freezes slightly and looks at the screen of his phone.

OH SHIT, DAD IS GONNA BE HOME IN 15 MINUTES

I FORGOT TO WASH THE DISHES

Wait, I also FORGOT TO TAKE OUT THE FROZEN CHICKEN

I’M DOOMED

The once bright and cheerful grin had now turned into a look of fear and panic.

“I’m sorry, I’ll tell you tomorrow at school. See you later!” Riku suddenly shouts in a hectic tone and breaks into a run back towards his way back home.

Itadori was left with a confused expression on his face, mixed with a touch of amusement, as he watches his friend suddenly run away and shouts back, “Alright! See you in class!”

"What an interesting and funny guy." Itadori muses in his own head.

It’s 8:33 p.m. in Sendai

And you are currently sitting at the dining table. Your mother sits across from you and looks absolutely delighted with the dinner. She looks very satisfied and pleased with today’s dinner, but this doesn’t last very long. As soon as she complains about a particular man in her workplace, her facial expression seems to change drastically. And so does her body language. The once calm and relaxed atmosphere turned into a frustrating one, which is now filled with complaints from your mother.

All you can do in a situation such this is offer comfort to her with your ‘advice’. These suggestions tend to be little more than irrational arguments for murder because your mother's circumstances seem too hopeless and unavoidable.

"I know I shouldn't be so cold to him, but the way he speaks so much about boring stuff is killing me. Also, he talks too loudly and ignores the fact that the other employees in the workplace are also considering it annoying. I'm in need of a solution." She says bitterly while frowning.

“Why don’t you try to tell him that? Miyu probably will accompany you; I bet she hates this loud voice of his too.”

“Can’t do it, he’s the boss’ son and can’t handle criticism well…ah, I just wanna work in peace. If only somebody has the courage to tell him how annoying his voice is.” Your mother clutches the glass too tightly and responds in an irritated manner.

“I’d poison his tea or coffee; you wouldn’t have to hear his irritating voice anymore, and this peace would probably last a whole month.”

Your mother’s gaze slowly changes from annoyed and irritated to deeply worried as she replies, “Oh, that would be heaven on earth…let’s change the topic before I’ll break this glass- “

The TV, just a few meters away, interrupts with breaking news: ��We apologize for the interruption, but there has been a serious incident on the Meiji Dori Street in Tokyo. Large, unexplained holes have appeared in the road, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven citizens. Authorities are urging drivers and pedestrians to stay away from the area. Thank you for your understanding.”

Another accident?

What’s happening in Tokyo?

“Another accident? Why does this keep happening, and with no explanation? This morning, I heard about so many unexplained incidents in big cities like Kyoto and Osaka, there are so many unexplained accidents which take many people’s lives and I want you to promise me that you’ll be very careful there, if you really plan to work there in the future.”

“Mom, you don’t need to worry too much; Y’know how cautious I am, and besides, your brother will surely look after me there.”

(Even if he is, you’re not entirely sure why you never refer to him as uncle.)

This change of topic turned the once frustrating atmosphere into a silence which is filled with worrying thoughts from your mother.

And you recall numerous instances from people who give you headaches and occasionally cause you to sigh due to their absurdity and gullibility.

To break this anxious silence, you suddenly add, “I’ve seen so many articles about unexplained and devastating accidents that lead people to believe these catastrophes are God’s punishment for humanity’s destruction of the planet, the same planet that God created in order to share his life with others. And the other people believe that an enormous war is about to break out. Say, what do you think these accidents are?”

In the brief silence, the only sound that could be heard was the tinkling of a glass being set down on the table.

This odd question has left your mother looking at you with a surprised expression on her face. Yet, despite the unexpectedness of the question, she gazes at you while softly smiling and responses as she always would, with kindness and compassion.

“Whether I choose to believe It is a sign for an incoming war or a heavenly punishment from God himself, I wouldn’t be able to sleep either way. I’d be worried about our lives all the time and may even think about leaving the country, but in the end, all I could do was imagine the worst scenarios in my head and wouldn’t be able to change anything at all. Life will always be surrounded by dangerous or even deadly accidents, even if you’re extremely cautious. For this reason, I refuse to believe anything that will make me sick to my stomach and instead choose to believe what will allow me to live peacefully in this world....

and what do you think these accidents are?”

You sit there in appreciation of your mother's mindset shortly after hearing her answer, yet all you can do is simply stare at her in fascination as you try to come up with a response to her expected question.

She has once again impressed me with her answer.

To be honest, I didn't think any less of my mother.

Since I was a small child, she has always been this way. Whether it's thanks to compassion or wisdom, her way of thinking never fails to amaze me.

After some time, you finally respond openly, saying, “My sanity is very important to me, so I also refuse to believe such absurdity and rather choose to ignore the conspiracy theories without any thought. So, we’re on the same page, huh? To be honest, I’m glad that you think this way, since I was worried you might end up like them and eventually damage your own mental well-being.”

She laughs at your bluntness.

“Speaking of conspiracy theories, I have some concerns about your friend, Riku. It's more about him generally than it is about him being out so late. He’s a very friendly and funny kid, but if he continues to jump to so many conclusions too quickly, he will get himself into big trouble,” your mother remarks in a gentle and calm tone, without any hints of judgment towards your gullible friend.

He’s just a child living in this complex and uncertain world with so few answers, after all.

It’s true, this idiot isn’t only stupid enough to fall for these conspiracy theories; no, he even visits a few abandoned buildings.

Feeling rather awkward and embarrassing for your friends, you only nodded first, but later on you add, “Riku…sometimes he’s just too native; it will eventually get him hurt. I hope he’ll stop this or at least be more careful one day.”

You mother only gives you a gentle smile across her relived facial expression then asks, “Yet Riku is your still friend and you’re his friend, right? Your friendship with him is genuine, isn’t it? So, tell me, why are you spending your time with an absurd boy who believes in these conspiracy theories?”

She talked with such a piercing yet soft, curious tone. You freeze in place, moving your eyes away from her question. You are now skeptical about the decisions you made for yourself.

You have found yourself in a state of confusion, you feel the burden of self-reflection weighing down your mind. This leads you to begin to question your interactions and bond with Sasaki Riku.

A foolish boy who chose to believe in ghosts, spirits and more.

Never would I have imagined myself entwined with such a person…

Why do I capture moments with him, intertwining our memories through the lens?

Why did I choose him to accompany me?

Why am I friends with him again?

Finally, you answer with clarity and determination in your voice, “We’re friends, because we like each other’s company and even if we both are so different. It just turned out this way. And I’m cautious enough to not believe everything he believes!”

As you said in your last sentence, your mother’s eyes widen in surprise as she as she takes meaning of your words. Her expression on her face gradually changed into one that is filled with pride and relief.

…until the moment of my first encounter with Riku, beneath the blooming branch on that day.

Nevertheless, they’re just kids living in this complex and uncertain world with so few answers, after all.

If it feels right, they will simply go on living in that manner, accepting it without any hesitation.

Regardless of your voice, your body language remains quite nervous.

It doesn’t matter; I still want to waste my time on him.

With a reassuring smile on her face, your mother calmly says, “I’m sorry if I scared you. My question was a bit too personal, and I don’t want you to end the friendship with Riku; that was never my intention. The answer to yours was something new coming out of your mouth. That’s what I simply wanted to know: your feelings.”

Huh?

Why does she look so happy?

Is it, because I’m surrounded by a person who I trust?

Or because I’ve reassured her that I’m not alone?

Despite being so compassionate and wise, her open questions and opinions are quite ‘different’; harshness and curiosity never fail to appear there.

At certain points, she’s a puzzle to me.

Perhaps all grownups are weird in certain ways, because their jobs influence their sanity?

“Oh, it’s already past 9:30, I should take a shower,” your mother says as she tries not to yawn and stands up to make her way to the bathroom but then stops and reminds you to wash the dishes. You nod in acknowledgement.

As she showers, you begin to wash the dishes as usual.

As you finish, you notice the last item sitting in the sink, an oily pan. You can’t help but blankly stare at it in annoyance.

I hate oily pans, pots, and Tupper boxes.

Especially Tupper boxes.

After a few moments of silence staring at the oily pan in annoyance, you sigh and finally wash it. Completing is the last thing you want to do today, but you are done now and feel relieved.

It’s 10:13 p.m. in Sendai

You are entering your bedroom to go to sleep and notice that a small and transparent Tupper box on your desk. The container is filled with homemade cookies, made by none other than Miyu.

Let's hope Riku likes these cookies; otherwise, I can always eat them myself.

It’s 7:31 a.m. on a Tuesday in Sendai.

You have already packed all of your schoolbooks, notebooks and pencil case in your backpack. The only item still remaining is your lunchbox, which is almost completed by your mother in the kitchen.

You hear your mother calling out your name from the kitchen, saying that the lunchbox is ready to be picked up. You quickly make your way to the kitchen, where she hands you the freshly prepared lunchbox. Once you swiftly thank her, you head out to the front door to leave.

As you hurry out of the door, say ‘goodbye’ quickly to your mother before closing the door.

“Have a good day at school!” Your mother shouts from the kitchen, hoping you will hear it. You are a bit startled by the volume of her voice.

You step out of your house, grab your bike, and begin to ride.

The fresh air and breeze, as well as the warm sun shining on your face during the ride, provide you with a sense of relief. You feel yourself breathing in clean, fresh air as the wind blows past you. It's a moment that separates you from the rest of the world and allows you to focus on yourself.

The usual commute to school can become a relaxing ritual once you have the right mood and weather.

Well, unfortunately, you are only given 8 minutes to spend unwinding in peace while enjoying time for yourself. The front tire of your bike abruptly flattens, making you lose your balance, and you fall on your side with your bike alongside you.

At least, there weren’t any cars or motorcycles on the road to cause you potential harm when you fell down.

Shit, I didn’t notice this small hole in the tire.

Why now, of all times and why me?

At least I’m not seriously hurt or bleeding out of any body parts.

I’m already running late, and now I have to find a safe spot to park my bike.

The next store has a bicycle rack, so you quickly get back on your feet and grab your bike to take it there. But all of a sudden, you hear a familiar voice shouting out your last name. As you turn around, you recognize the boy with pink hair who is sprinting towards you. It’s Itadori Yuji from your class.

Itadori appears in front of you, much faster than you expected. You are a bit taken aback by his impressive speed, leaving you with a surprised and puzzled look on your face.

That was fast!

Is he still human, considering how fast he moves?

Why haven't I noticed this in PE before?

Itadori stares at you with a concerned expression on his face and asks, “Hey, are you okay? Are you hurt? I just saw you falling down when I was headed out of my house.”

How embarrassing… someone from school saw me falling down to the ground…

I wanna die.

As you attempt to gather yourself, an awkward smile spreads across your face to calm him down and you reassuringly answer him, “There aren’t any serious injuries, so you don’t need to worry. Everything’s fine; I can walk, and you don’t―”

“School is about to start in 19 minutes, and the last bus to school is about to arrive in 6 minutes! You can’t walk; you need to get to the bus stop now!” The overly worried boy interrupts you and reminds you of the time.

“But I can’t just leave my bike here, otherwise it will get stolen. And if I simply run off with the bike to the bus stop, there’s no way I’ll make it in time.”

“My house is here,” Itadori turns to point at the yellowish house which is merely 10 meters away and quickly suggests, “I’ll take your bike to my house! It’s safe there; don’t worry!”

Huh?

What should I do? Should I really trust him?

Should I decline or accept this offer?

Time is running out!

“Okay, thank you, Itadori. But I’ll wait for you and leave your backpack here; it will only slow you down.” You agree to Itadori’s resolution as you hand him your bike.

He nods in acknowledgement, and once you receive his backpack, he sets off in the direction of his house. You wait for his return.

It seems like Riku must share the desserts this time.

“Run! We’ve got only 5 minutes and 12 seconds left!” You hear Itadori shouting this while reaching your side.

The pink-haired boy quickly takes his backpack back, swiftly grabs your hand and then runs off with you towards the bus stop. You are blown away by his speed and pace, and you wonder if he can outrun the bus itself.

THIS BOY IS WAY TOO FAST FOR HIS AGE!

THIS SPEED IS NOT NORMAL???

With your hand clasped in his, you both are racing as fast as you can. The heat and exertion cause you to form sweat on your neck area and forehead and your heart feels like it’s pumping nonstop. Your breaths grow deeper and heavier, and your feet begin to feel like they’re made of lead.

The adrenaline is pumping through you, and it almost feels as though you are flying more than you are running.

You can feel your heart pounding in your chest, a constant rhythm in the background of the race.

I shouldn’t have agreed to this!

I should’ve turned down his offer —this speed is way too much for someone my age!

That sound, the sound of the bus engine approaching. As you and Itadori see the bus driving on the road next to you, your adrenaline is pumping faster like never before. Your focus on catching up on it is making your entire body tense and your mind is filled with on singular purpose.

You both run even faster than before, each pump of your feet propelling you forward.

“We’re almost there, don’t stop.” He says while looking straight forward.

After 4 minutes of inhuman and exhausting running, the two of you eventually arrive at the bus stop. The bus is currently waiting there for the students to get on, and you both slow down and try to catch your breath and relax as you and Itadori get on the bus.

I probably smell like a wet dog now… my day is completely ruined now.

This world definitely has something against me.

All these things are happening to me all at once.

First, my tire became flat.

Then a classmate saw me falling down.

To top it all off, I probably smell now.

Why must I suffer like this?

As you both stand in the full bus, you notice that Itadori is still holding your hand and you begin to demand, “Itadori, you can let go of my hand.”

When looking down at your hand holding, his ears begin to feel heated and become a bit red. With a shocked expression on Itadori’s face, he apologizes repeatedly and promptly let’s go of your hand.

Embarrassment and shyness of the boy is clear. You can’t help but look at him with a raised eyebrow.

After a few seconds, when the boy’s embarrassment subsided, you look over him and suddenly say, “Thank you for taking my bike to your house; that’s really kind of you. And for reminding me of the time, I totally forgot that the bus arrives early.”

A relived smile tugs at the corner of Itadori’s lips, and he responds, “No need to thank me; that was nothing, and the best student of this class can’t be late, right?” His tone sounds genuinely friendly and cheerful, his bashfulness quickly subsides.

He adds, “But we’ll have to run again, because Ms. Ishii will get mad at us if we don’t make it on time.” Yet the tone of his voice never changes. You think that is unusual.

You only nod to agree with him, Itadori gives you a thumbs up in return and a genuine smile conveys his happiness and relief to your agreement. You find his cheerful behavior towards you, a classmate who never has spoken to him, as interesting.

You soon realize his friendliness shows his openness and generosity, which makes him more approachable than most people you know.

His willingness and empathetic behavior undoubtedly stunned you.

You question yourself about how you never notice such behavior.

The bus comes to a halt, you see the pink-haired boy looking in your direction and pointing with his index finger at the door. He’s implying that you should be ready to run with him again, but this time to school.

You nod in response, signaling your understanding and agreement with his plan.

Your heart is racing once more, as the thought of running at such a fast pace again worries you.

Itadori's inhuman speed scares me.

Itadori is the first one to get off the full bus, and a few seconds later, you are now out as well.

His full attention is focused on you as the two of you run at full speed together once more; however, this time, the boy isn’t dragging you along as he sprints ahead. This time, his hand is missing. To your surprise, Itadori and you are running in sync.

He’s probably holding himself back.

The boy has a joyful expression on his face because he seems to be having a great time. You can see the boy’s excitement and enjoyment.

You, on the other hand, are having a different experience; you’re a bit confused and almost out of breath.

Why is he running slower than before?

He could easily outrun me and arrive at the classroom on time.

Does he want me to enter the classroom with him?

But why?

Although the run is not as long as last time, the two of you enter the classroom with sweat dripping down your faces and bodies, breathing heavily, and gasping for air.

As you look around the classroom, you realize that Ms. Ishii is not present yet. A sense of relief washes over you. You're lucky this time, as the two of you had just barely managed to make it back in time before the bell. Itadori Yuji's shoulders also relax, releasing the tension of worrying about being late. The two of you have dodged a bullet and received a stroke of luck with the teacher's tardiness.

The entire class is now paying attention to the two of you who have just returned after running to school.

Some students are ignoring you both, while the others can’t help but make comments:

"Yuji, you're really lucky!"

"What a gentleman, even accompanying a classmate!"

"Seeing the smartest student being almost late is a moment in history."

Unfortunately, your actions have been noted by many classmates.

I wanna jump out of the window.

Before you have a chance to look at Itadori, Riku is now standing in front of you with a raised eyebrow, as if you had just made the stupidest decision.

The two of you make eye contact, and you immediately sense the judgment behind his expression. It’s as if he is piercing your soul.

Riku's expression is at once relieved and overly dramatic, as he speaks to you with his left hand on his chest and his right hand placed on your shoulder. “I thought you’re gonna let me suffer at school in such isolation, all alone; are you actually aware of how I could feel a heart attack coming on?? Don’t you dare to do something like that ever again!” His dramatic act will never come to an end, and it annoys the shit out of you.

This guy will be the death of me.

Always pulling this shit in front of class

Irritated by Riku's overly dramatic behavior, you try to brush off his hand, which has been placed on your shoulder. You walk to your seat while ignoring his comments about your ‘betrayal’ and without engaging with the dramatic act that Riku is putting on.

The annoyance still lingers in the back of your mind.

It will turn into headaches eventually.

It’s 8:25 a.m. and Ms. Ishii still hasn’t shown up.

You’re quietly sitting on your seat, and Riku is sitting behind you while trying to gain your attention once again by nudging your back. You’ve gotten used to it a long time ago, so you’re doing what you always do in these kinds of situations: ignore him.

You’ve become quite skilled at ignoring the constant disruptions of Riku, and it seems like your patience has grown over time. However, this still doesn’t mean that it’s easy.

You still find it quite annoying to have to deal with this kind of behavior and its bothering nature.

You give up, and with an annoyed expression on your face, you turn your body toward him. “Man, you have some serious problems if you’re constantly nudging someone just to be ignored. If you’re going to complain about your ‘incoming heart attack’ that I allegedly caused, then I’ll throw my desk at you.”

The young boy's eyes widen with fear at your threat. He quickly responds, his voice trembling, "No, I just want to know why you were with Itadori, you relentless wretch."

I’m gonna ignore the last part.

“Long story short: Itadori and I had to sprint to catch the last bus to school after he took my useless bike to his house. Then we ran all the way to this classroom and made it just in time,” you reply, resting your head on the desk and facing the window on your left side.

Riku stands up from his seat, positioning himself in front of your desk to capture your attention and communicate more effectively.

“What happened to your bike?”

“The front tire has a small hole.”

Your friend crosses his arms, and his gaze turns from suspicious to curious as he asks, “That’s it?”

After hearing the skepticism in his voice, you raise your head and begin to answer his question with another of your own: “Did something happen between you two or what?”

Your friend, Riku, can't help but feel embarrassed as he shakes his head in response. With a little bit of hesitation in his voice, he slowly admits, "It's nothing bad or anything, so don't worry. I just made a little mistake yesterday…"

He pauses for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts before continuing, "I thought he was the granny, and I even dashed towards him."

A moment of silence hangs in the air between the two of you as you process his words, but before it can feel too awkward, a wave of laughter bubbles up within you. It starts as a soft chuckle, quickly escalating into full-blown laughter as you struggle to contain your amusement.

As laughter continues to overtake you, tears well up in your eyes, and you try to speak to your friend, but you're unable to form coherent words through your hysterics. Each time you attempt to calm yourself down, the laughter takes over again.

"I can't...breath..." you manage to get out in between fits of laughter.

"Come on, it’s not that funny! It was super dark, alright?” He attempts to defend himself, his tone a mix of annoyance and frustration.

However, the sight of his annoyed and reddening face only adds fuel to your laughter, and you can't help but continue to giggle as you try to catch your breath.

"It really is," you manage to say between fits of laughter.

I should take a picture of his red face now.

Nah, it’d be too cruel.

Maybe next time.

“You’re laughing like a witch, so cut it out.”

“Man, I wish I could’ve taken a picture of your face yesterday. I bet your face was as red as a tomato, even worse.”

Looking at the clock on the blackboard, your friend remarks how 10 minutes have already passed, and Ms. Ishii is still not here yet. His words immediately prompt you to wonder, "Where is Ms. Ishii? She's never late or sick. And no homeroom today, how unusual.”

“You’re right, that’s strange.”

It’s 8:36 am now and the first lesson starts in 4 minutes.

In 4 minutes starts the Japanese class, how boring.

English class is way more relaxing and easier compared to that.

Your thoughts are abruptly disturbed by a male voice that does not belong to your chatty friend, but to the pink-haired boy, Itadori. His interruption caught you off guard, as you turned to face him.

"I wanted to talk to you guys, especially you," Itadori’s eyes meet yours, specifically directed towards you. “About your bike... my grandpa used to fix a lot of my bikes and scooters when I was younger, and I’m pretty sure he’d be able to fix yours.”

His voice is gentle and reassuring.

You respectfully decline your classmate’s offer with gratitude: "No, that’s not necessary, and you’ve already helped me a lot. I don’t want to burden your grandpa, but thank you again, Itadori."

Itadori admits to you, "To be honest, it would make me feel a lot better," while smiling awkwardly at you. “My grandpa is a bit of a grumpy person, and he rarely makes any friends, which is why he’s always on the couch reading his books or watching his old shows, all alone.”

He hesitates for a moment before continuing, “He needs a change every once in a while.”

You discreetly glance at Riku for his opinion, and he responds with an overly enthusiastic nod, paired with a thumbs-up gesture. You, however, can't help but feel a twinge of disappointment and frustration, realizing that your friend has ruined the secret conversation through your nonverbal signals by nodding excessively.

Itadori observes the silent exchange between you and your friend with a nervous smile on his face. His eyes dart back and forth between the two of you.

Riku even got Itadori looking confused.

He can’t keep things for himself, that’s for sure

Before you can offer your final response, a male teacher enters the classroom and instructs everyone to return to their seats. As you and Itadori lock eyes, you hastily add, "Okay, why not? But we should plan things out. Come see us at lunchtime."

With a satisfied smile, Itadori responds, "It's settled then! Thanks a lot! Oh, and I can’t wait to hear about Sasaki's investigation from yesterday!"

As Itadori mentions the haunted house investigation, your eyes dart over to Riku, noticing that his eyes are practically sparkling with excitement. It's as if he's found a way to communicate with the ghost herself.

You wonder to yourself why he's so excited about the idea of a haunted house and ghosts.

It’s gonna be a long lunchtime for me

(It doesn't matter now; after all, Riku has always been like way.)

As the students settle in their seats, the teacher stands at the front of the room, his eyes sweeping over the class. "I'm Mr. Kamei, your substitute teacher for today," he begins, introducing himself. "You may have noticed the absence of Ms. Ishii today, and we're unsure why she isn't here. We tried reaching out to her, but she hasn't answered yet, leading us to assume that she may be unwell at home."

He pauses for a moment before continuing, "Therefore, I will be taking over both the Japanese and mathematics classes for this class today."

You and the rest of the class make small nods, acknowledging the teacher's announcement. Some students wear confusion looks on their faces, while others are more concerned about the news. Meanwhile, some students appear indifferent, not letting the news affect them.

Despite the confusion and concern that hangs in the room, Mr. Kamei goes straight to the lesson, taking a book in his hands. He begins to read out a poem for us to analyze while he pushes his rectangular glasses back onto his nose.

His voice carries clearly throughout the room, strong and confident.

It’s 12:30 a.m. at Sugisawa Junior High, Sendai.

The clock strikes noon, signaling the arrival of lunchtime at Sugisawa Junior High School in Sendai. Your friend is sitting behind you and, as usual, enthusiastically calls out your name, gesturing for you to join him. With a quick understanding, you move your desk to sit in front of him, facing each other.

Riku calls out to Itadori, who is taking his time grabbing his bento box from across the classroom. "What's taking you so long, Itadori? Hurry up and join us! You gotta hear all the details of my investigation!”

You watch as the impatient Riku encourages the pink-haired boy to quickly join you both. Itadori hastily picks up his lunch box and starts making his way over to you both, his attention piqued by the mention of the investigation.

That’s only the beginning of Sasaki Ruki’s torture for the next 50 minutes.

Itadori makes his way towards you both, hurriedly grabbing a chair from an empty desk nearby. With a swift motion, he brings it over and finally sits down on the right side of the large table formed from the two combined desks.

As you all unpack your lunches, releasing them from their containers and wrappers, you reach into your backpack and pull out a light blue box. It contains homemade cookies from your mother's coworker, Miyu.

With your left hand, you gesture towards the box while holding your sandwich in the other. "Riku, you gotta try these," you say. "My mom and Miyu want to know what you think about them. And you too, Itadori, since you were a huge help with my useless bike. And no, I won't take no for an answer."

As soon as the name "Miyu" is mentioned, Riku's expression suddenly becomes worried. The last time he ate the infamous woman's Kasutera cake, it had a strong eggy and salty flavor. He remembers the unpleasant taste all too well.

Even though you can see the slight cringe on his face as he recalls the unpleasant experience, you still insist on trying it.

Itadori notices the worried face of Riku and looks confused, as the cookies do not appear to be as disastrous as he seems to think.

"She's improved so quickly that these cookies aren't just edible anymore; they're actually delicious," you say firmly. "Riku, you're going to try one today, and Itadori and I will be the witnesses to your reaction."

You give him a determined look, making it clear that there's no backing out now. Even still, he remains quite uncertain about this request.

Before Riku has a chance to even reach for the light blue box, Itadori's quick reflexes lead his right hand to grab a cookie and pop it into his mouth. Your eyes are fixed on Itadori, your gaze filled with both curiosity and tension as you wait for his reaction to the cookie. Across from you, Riku, with his mouth agape and a look of worry on his face, is doing the same.

The suspense hangs in the air as Itadori continues to savor the cookie in his mouth, the silence only broken by the sound of his chewing.

"Mm, these are good!" Itadori exclaims, mouth still half-full of cookie. “Sasaki, you have to try one," he says now determinedly. "I don’t care what happened last time! Trust me, they’re amazing.”

His voice is strong and eager, hoping to convince your friend to give the cookies a chance.

You only nod in agreement with his statement and then scoot the box filled with cookies closer to Riku, signaling him to take one. You make it clear that it’s his turn to try one now. After what feels like an eternity, Riku finally takes a cookie and begins to chew. You can see the delight in his eyes as he savors the taste. Now that everyone has tried and enjoyed the cookies, you decide to take one for yourself.

Well, that was quite a hassle.

As the conversation about the cookies dies down, you suddenly remember the topic you were about to discuss with Itadori and Riku.

As the topic shifts back to your bike's repairs, you begin to talk, “I need to know when my bike will be fixed and how you're gonna to let me know when it's done, since you don't have a phone, as I remember you mentioning in science class the other day."

"Oh, I didn't think about that," Itadori replies, a look of realization on his face. "My grandpa will probably fix the bike in around two days. It's just a small hole, so it shouldn't take long. And I could bring your bike to your house─ “

"No, I'll come pick up the bike from your house and personally thank your grandpa. That's the least I can do to show my appreciation," you say firmly.

“Alright, it’s a deal then.”

With a gleam in his eyes and a wide grin, Riku shifts the conversation, "Now that we're all here, let's talk about the haunted house! Yesterday, I didn’t get the chance to explore inside because someone was lurking in the shadows, and my time was running out." He glances at Itadori who responds with an apologetic look. "But just from the outside, it's obvious that place is haunted!"

He's totally in his element right now.

I can already sense one of his ridiculous ideas coming.

"So, you haven't seen the inside? What a shame, Sasaki. Now you’ve really got me curious!" Itadori says with a frustrated grin.

As the two boys enthusiastically brainstorm theories about the house and even start making plans for another investigation, you watch them with a look of clear irritation. After a few moments passed, they finally notice and quickly fall silent.

Itadori, starting with your surname, attempts to reassure you, “Don’t worry, it’s not too far away from other houses, so we can always call for help, if something goes wrong! Sasaki and I won’t get hurt, I promise! We’ll be cautious!”

“Yes, I promise, too!” Riku quickly chips in, pressing his palms together in a gesture of sincerity.

“Still, it’s a stupid idea. You don’t know what others might have left behind in that house, and what if a homeless person is living there? What if he's dangerous? Your hammer won’t be much help in that situation, Riku." You reply flatly with a straight face.

A smile plays on his lips as he replies while he places a hand on your shoulder. "You know you can't keep a human's curiosity at bay. I appreciate your concern, but I'm curious about what went down there. You'll be the first one I'll fill in on all the details!"

That’s not what I want, Riku.

Now he’s dragging Itadori into this mess...

"You may be curious and wanting answers, but this isn't any of your business," you assert, gesturing to Itadori as well. "But it seems like there's no point in trying to stop you both. It's clear that Riku already went there yesterday, so I can't keep either of you from going there again.”

Riku merely chuckled and brushes off your first remark. On the other hand, Itadori nods in acknowledgement, recognizing why you’re worried,

However, Itadori’s curiosity is not defeated yet.

Before Riku can defend himself any further, a small voice breaks through the air, calling out Itadori's name. She appears younger than you, with round glasses and her black hair styled into two neat pigtails.

"Excuse me," she says softly, her eyes darting around the room before finally finding Itadori. "I'm looking for Itadori Yuji... Oh, there he is."

I can't blame her; talking to older students can be intimidating.

“Fumiko, what’s the matter?” A worried Itadori asks.

As she stands before the three of you, she nervously begins to explain, "I can't find Darth Vader again. I was looking for him this morning, but he's gone! I need to give him his medicine. I'm sorry to trouble you during your lunch time, Yuji, but could you tell me where you found him?"

Darth Vader?

The guy from Star Wars?

As confusion crosses your face, Riku leans in and whispers quickly, “Itadori found her black cat behind the you-know-house. That’s why he was there in the first place.”

Oh.

Now they have one more reason to go to that place again.

What a pain in the ass.

"There's no need for you to go searching for him. I'll go find him today and bring him back to you. The chances are high that he's just snoozing somewhere. You have nothing to worry about," Itadori reassures her with a warm smile.

"But if we search together, we might have a better chance of finding him!" Fumiko counters, her eyes filled with worries and pleas.

"It'll be more efficient if you stay home in case he comes back on his own," you suggest, interrupting the conversation. "The three of us can go searching."

As the words leave your mouth, both boys turn to you in surprise, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. Clearly taken aback by your sudden change of heart. They exchange uncertain glances, unable to hide their bewilderment at your willingness to participate in such activity.

Man, they cannot act normal, even if their lives depends on it.

I feel a headache incoming.

"Oh, you're probably right," she acknowledges with a smile. "Thank you for helping me search for my cat. If you have any questions about what he looks like, you can always come to me or ask Yuji. He knows him quite well.” She bows politely before the three of you, expressing her gratitude.

With that, she hurries out of the classroom, leaving behind a moment of silence—one that lasts no more than a heartbeat.

Then, chaos.

Both Riku and Itadori begin speaking at the same time, their questions overlapping in a chaotic jumble of words. They speak at the same time, at the same volume, with the same relentless speed, like two pop-up ads battling for your attention.

You try to make sense of their words, but it's difficult to pick each individual question with the two boys talking over each other in a jumble of noise and confusion.

So, my headache has arrived.

After a while, Riku finally manages to ask his question in a clear and understandable manner, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"What was that???" he exclaims, a mix of excitement and surprise in his voice. "You're really coming with us? This will definitely be a memorable experience for you! Don't forget to bring your digital camera, or else you'll miss out on one of the most thrilling moments of your boring life!"

You simply raise an eyebrow, restraining the urge to hurl your desk at him, knowing that it wouldn't be the smartest move to make with so many witnesses around.

Itadori chimes in, his voice filled with appreciation and honesty, “Are you sure about this? We don't want you to feel pressured, and you're more than welcome to back out if you want. It's really kind of you to help us find Darth Vader!" He says, flashing a bright smile.

"Don't worry, I'm doing this entirely by my own choice." You tell him with a smile, your gaze drifting over to Riku. "I even get the chance to record him screaming, which should be quite entertaining."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a person with Schadenfreude you are! You're actually eager to witness and even record my misery!" Riku accuses you as he shakes his head in disbelief.

“So, after school, we're heading to that house to do some investigating and search for Darth Vader?” Itadori looks at the two of you, hoping for confirmation.

Riku and you nod in agreement.

It’s 3:37 p.m. in Sendai.

You stand at the school gates, patiently waiting for the two boys to arrive.

The sun is shining brighter with each passing minute, the temperature steadily rising and making the air feel warm and balmy.

I wonder if that's a good idea.

I have bad feeling.

Once they arrived, the three of you begin making your way towards the abandoned house. On the way, Riku is unsurprisingly the first one to break the silence, “It shouldn't be as creepy as last time. It's still daylight out, and it's much brighter than it was last time." He says, trying to sound confident and unbothered.

He’s gonna shit in his pants once he faces that house again.

“Yeah, I really hope Darth Vader’s safe.” Itadori says with a hint of concern.

“Say, Itadori, does he often go missing?” You ask, glancing his way.

Itadori shrugs, unsure of the cat's recent behavior and finally replies, “Usually, he's quite lazy, so it's unusual for him to start wandering off recently. It started a few weeks ago."

Riku chimes in with a lighthearted comment, speculating, "Maybe Darth Vader found himself a lovely lady and is now a father to a litter of stray kittens. Who knows?"

You add with a blunt remark, “Let's hope he doesn't end up becoming like his namesake, Darth Vader."

It’s 3:53 p.m. in Sendai

The three of you stop in front of the abandoned house, and the sight before you is far from pleasant.

You turn to Riku, the responsible one, and ask him, "You got the flashlight and hammer?"

Riku pats his bag and says, "Yep, I've got the flashlight and hammer. And you the camera?”

You nod in response.

You, Riku, and Itadori begin your search for Darth Vader around the house and nearby areas. The surroundings are so silent that the occasional sound of a breeze rustling through the leaves can be heard.

Itadori moves over to the trees and bushes, looking under leaves and peering into any hiding spots where a cat might find peace. Meanwhile, Riku focuses on the area behind the house and you go looking near the many trash bins, checking under and any possible hiding places.

As you crouch near a trash lid lying in the middle of the overgrown meadow, something catches your eye—a small flick of black fur. You squint, leaning in a little closer.

“There you are, Darth Vader. Fumiko’s been worri—”

But the words die on your tongue.

With a light nudge of your foot, you push the lid aside… only to freeze.

Lying there, still and silent, is just one part of the cat: his tail.

"Itadori! Riku! Over here—by the trash bins!" you call out, your voice sharp with urgency.

Fumiko won’t sleep well tonight.

How are we gonna tell her that?

"Hey, did you find hi—" Riku's words die in his throat the moment he lays eyes on what’s beneath the lid. His face pales.

"What… what happened to him?" Itadori breathes out, his voice cracking. "Fumiko’s going to be devastated... Who could do something this cruel? Who cuts off a cat like that?"

His hands tremble as he takes a step back, horror etched across his face.

“I know it’s hard not to lose it right now, but we have to keep looking for Darth Vader,” you say firmly, forcing your voice to stay steady. “There’s still a chance he’s alive. It’s only his tail… if we find him, we can get him to a vet in time.”

You're trying to convince them - trying to convince yourself.

I feel sick. My stomach’s twisting.

But for Fumiko’s sake… we have to keep going.

Darth Vader, where are you?

"Guys… I think we don’t have a choice anymore," Itadori says quietly, his voice laced with hesitation as he lifts a hand and points towards the house. “We have to search there.”

We all knew it – deep down – but none of us dared to say it out loud... until Itadori finally did.

We both nod.

You stand with two others before the house, taking deep breathes. Your heart races - a frantic drum against your ribs. Riku, his brown backpack resting at his feet, pulls out the flashlight and a hammer. He offers the hammer to Itadori who accepts it with a firm nod. Riku turns on his flashlight, ensuring we can see if there's no light source inside the house.

“No camera?” Riku asks you out of curiosity, hoping to lighten the mood a bit.

"There’s nothing worth capturing here," you reply with a gentle shrug.

My camera is safer tucked away in my bag than in my hands right now.

The three of us take our first steps towards the abandoned house, each footfall quickening your heart. Now, standing before the entrance, Itadori's hand rests on the doorknob. With a slow, deliberate turn, he pushes the door open and leaves it unclosed.

Riku's flashlight beam cuts through the darkness, creating a visible path for you all. We cautiously step inside the residence. The first thing that catches your eye is an old, greenish couch positioned behind a glass table, upon which sits an antique radio, on the right side. As you move closer with the boys, you notice a teddy bear on the table, one of its button eyes missing, lying next to a pin cushion.

This must have been the living room of the deceased grandmother.

“She seems like a sewer,” you comment aloud. “It's strange, though—there's no trash, and it doesn't look like anyone has visited her house.”

“Maybe they were kind enough to not trash the place..” Itadori speculated.

“I doubt that,” you replied

"At least there aren't any homeless people here like you assumed," Riku added, glancing at you.

With all of you together, you begin to search for Darth Vader, calling out his name in hushed tones, wary of the house's potential dangers. To the left, a staircase leads to the second floor. The three of you make your way towards the area beneath the stairs while having it illuminated.

Itadori is the first on to kneel down to have a closer look at the area beneath the staircase and suddenly-

“Eh!” Itadori shouts and the two of you immediately go to your knees to look at Itadori’s discovery. “Dar- Darth Vader, he’s cu -“ The pink-haired boy couldn’t finish his sentence, as he begins to step back and shivers.

Darth Vader, Fumiko’s beloved companion, is dead and is beyond any hope of saving. The lifeless form of Darth Vader lies before you, brutally cut into pieces and now lying scattered beneath the staircase. The fragments bathed in his own blood – a sight both inhuman and horrific. The shock of this discovery leaves Riku and you frozen in place, hearts pounding, and expressions filled with disbelief. Not one of you dares to scream.

Gathering all your remaining composure, you ask Riku to adjust the light, illuminating the remains of Darth Vader from a better angle. As you approach, you notice the precision with which Darth Vader's body has been handled. Each of his four limbs has been severed with such care that it appears almost surgical. Taking a closer look at the area where his tail once was, you realize that it has been cleanly removed, not a single centimeter left on his body.

Who could possibly do such a thing to a cat – with such careful precision?

Someone deranged, that’s for sure.

Someone who has practiced long enough for such neat cuts.

“We’re leaving,” you declare, standing up and pulling Riku with you. “This isn’t a game anymore. We gotta tell an adult about Fumiko’s cat.”

“You’re right, let’s go.” Itadori agrees while Riku nods quickly, looking frightened.

As you all rush towards the front door, it suddenly slams shut with a resounding thump, sealing the three of you in a suffocating cage of fear. A collective sense of dread envelops the room, wrapping around you like a cold shroud. Just when you’re finally mustering the courage to take another hesitant step forward, an ear-piercing scream erupts from behind, slicing through the stillness like a dagger.

Huh?

Just as you prepare to sprint alongside Riku, a piercing scream shatters the air, freezing you in your tracks. Your heart races as you turn to confront the horrifying sight behind you. A creature from the depths of your worst nightmares, a twisted embodiment of urban legends, chases after the two of you. Its malevolent form is obscured, but those menacing, glowing yellow eyes bore into your soul—something you won't forget for days. Long, thin arms reach out with an eerie grace, holding a dark blue needle that shimmers in the dim light.

As the monstrosity closed in on Riku, a desperate impulse surged through you. You couldn't let it touch him. In a split second, you threw yourself in front of him, pushing Riku down as the horror unleashed its weapon. The needle plunges into your right shoulder, and pain erupts like wildfire, but you refuse to let fear overcome you. With determination, Itadori charges towards you both, ready to fight for you with everything he’s got.

Yet, that precious opportunity will forever slip through his fingers, for once the needle pierced your being, it vanished.

You, on the other hand, find yourself crumpled on the ground, your hand gripping your shoulder in a desperate attempt to ease the agonizing pain, fighting to stay conscious. Riku's voice, strained and desperate, breaks through the chaos, calling your name, helping you regain a flicker of awareness. You can barely make out Itadori's frantic presence, grasping onto your body. You slowly allow your eyes to drift closed.

It’s 4:21 p.m. in Sendai.

It took an astonishing three minutes for you to wake up, and as your eyes flutter open, you find yourself lying in the overgrown meadow. With a surge of urgency, you instinctively begin to search your right shoulder for the needle, but to your dismay, it’s nowhere to be found. To make matters better or worse (?), it hasn’t even left a mark.

What…?

No. That’s not possible.

What the hell just happened?

My head’s spinning – I feel sick.

Before you can utter a single word, a desperate scream from the two boys cuts through the air, urgently calling out your name. "Are you okay?? We need to get you to a hospital!" Riku demands, his eyes wide with panic. Itadori hurriedly chimes in, "Yes, just stay there, we’ll get help—"

They both drop to their knees, eyes wide with worry.

“No. No adult can know about this!” You cut in sharply, your voice a fierce demand.

“But-“

“No one is going to believe us! Do you really think they’ll take the word of some kids about an urban legend? Besides, I’m don’t have any injuries,” you insist, trying to make them understand.

“But how is that even possible? I saw it—saw it pierced your shoulder with a needle!” Itadori exclaims, his confusion and concern evident.

Gripping your shoulder with your left hand, you respond, “I don’t know. It just makes us look even more ridiculous than we already are.”

“Are you sure? I mean, can we really tell that no adults?!” Riku’s voice trembles with concern, his eyes wide with anxiety.

“Yes! I’m pleading with both of you—please keep this a secret.” You utter, your heart racing with urgency.

They exchange firm nods, yet an unspoken tension lingers in the air.

“What are we going to say to Fumiko now?” Itadori’s question hangs heavily, enveloping the three of you in a thick silence.

How on earth are we going to find the words to tell her this?

You’re still gripping your right shoulder tightly, every heartbeat echoing the weight of what lies ahead.

Author's note: I really hope you guys like my first fanfic series!

Btw Yuji canonically didn't have a phone until he joined Tokyo Jujutsu High.

I cross-posted this fanfic on ao3 as well!

Comments are appreciated!!!

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