Becoming Sukuna

Thanks to her own body, even with her head tilted up the entire time, staring at the ceiling, Yukino Yukinoshita managed to finish her shower with ease.

As for taking a bath, Yukino figured that until Sukuna left her body, the bathtub at home might have to stay unused for a while.

Of course, not being able to take a bath wasn't a big deal for Yukino. The real issue was Sukuna, who had taken up residence in her body. If he quietly schemed behind her back, she could accept it—even if it meant not knowing.

The problem was that he was unbelievably chatty and loved to irritate her!

She couldn't stay home from school indefinitely. Even if she wanted to, her family would come knocking immediately to hold her accountable.

"Absolutely not! Don't think you can use this tacky makeup to cloud my sharp aesthetic vision!" A voice bellowed from the forehead Yukino stared at in the mirror.

"Shut up! I'm not going to school with two pairs of eyes on my face!" Yukino said firmly, sitting in front of her dressing table. Spread before her were various cosmetics she'd rarely used.

"!!!" Sukuna retaliated with a tongue attack, and in the mirror, a tongue sticking out of the girl's forehead looked bizarrely comical.

Yet, despite this strange threat, Yukino tightly pressed her lips together, refusing to give up her plan of covering the extra pair of eyes with makeup.

"Do you think covering them will solve everything?" Sukuna growled. "If you keep going, it'll be a battle to the death! Yukino, you don't want a mouth to suddenly appear on your head, do you?!"

Yukino froze at his words. Seizing the moment, Sukuna retreated slightly, offering a compromise: "Why don't we take a step back? I'll keep the eyes shut so they won't scare anyone."

If Sukuna kept his eyes shut, they'd look like small scars from the outside. While noticeable, they wouldn't be as alarming as an additional pair of eyes—or a mouth.

Without much hesitation, Yukino nodded in agreement.

After preparing her lunch, eating breakfast, and getting everything ready, she headed out and walked to school.

Yukino had moved out to live alone in her first year of high school. Her upscale apartment was close to school, so walking didn't take long.

The familiar ten-minute journey felt entirely different after just one day.

"Are cursed spirits really this common?"

Yukino observed discreetly as she passed by a dejected office worker. Rather, she was observing the grotesque, fleshy, caterpillar-like cursed spirit perched on his shoulder.

Throughout the short trip, she saw all sorts of cursed spirits—some lying on the ground, others flying in the sky, hanging from windows, or crawling on people.

The thought that her daily route to school was riddled with such dangers sent chills down her spine.

"They're not more common. They've always been here. You're the one who's stepped into their world." Sukuna's voice echoed eerily in her mind.

So this is the truth of the world...

Rubbing her hands nervously, Yukino remembered Sukuna's earlier warning about her cursed aura attracting spirits. She asked uneasily, "Will all of them come after me?"

"Relax. Those weaklings wouldn't dare get close, let alone attack. As the King of Curses, I only draw the strong ones."

"That's not exactly comforting news..." Yukino sighed, holding her forehead.

She finally reached the school, and seeing no cursed spirits inside brought a sense of relief. If one showed up on the ceiling during class, she might lose her composure.

Sukuna, true to his word, didn't cause trouble. As Yukino fell back into her familiar school routine, her expression grew more composed.

Diligently attending class, taking notes, reading during breaks—apart from a brief interaction with the class president while handing in her homework, she was so quiet she seemed like a serene painting.

"Yukino, I have a question."

During the break after the third period, Sukuna's voice echoed in her mind. Yukino frowned, replying, "Didn't we agree you wouldn't disturb me at school? What if someone overhears?"

"Have you considered I'm speaking directly in your head? You don't have to speak out loud to reply."

Noticing the puzzled looks from her classmates, Yukino coughed softly, burying her embarrassment by pretending to read.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"You never asked. I've been using this method since our walk to school. I assumed you knew."

"Who could focus on that when there were so many terrifying cursed spirits around?!" Yukino dismissed the argument, calming herself. "Fine... What's your question?"

"Do you have no friends?"

After a brief silence, Yukino's voice grew deliberately composed.

"First, let's define what constitutes a friend."

"Friends need a definition?"

"Of course. A definition is like a ruler to measure by. Without a precise definition, would you consider someone you've only spoken to briefly, and will likely never meet again, as a friend?"

"So you really don't have any friends," Sukuna concluded confidently.

"..."

The school bell rang just in time, giving Yukino a perfect excuse to end the conversation.

"I have class now. Please, parasite-san, refrain from shouting in people's brains."

"Tsk, poor child."

Sukuna's mockingly sympathetic comment hung in Yukino's mind before he quieted down, allowing her to focus.

During lunch, Yukino carried her bento to an empty classroom. A single chair and desk sat near the podium, with the rest of the room cluttered with stacked furniture.

She sat down and quietly ate her lunch.

"What is this place? A secret base?" Sukuna's voice rang out. With no one else around, he didn't bother hiding his presence, casually showing his mouth on her hand.

"Are you a child?" Yukino said dryly. "This is my clubroom."

"What club?"

"The Service Club."

If Sukuna had a body, he would've leaned back in surprise.

In a tone laced with disappointment, he said, "I didn't expect this from you, Yukino. Secretly starting such an unserious club!"

A vein popped on Yukino's forehead.

"First, it's a legitimate club, approved by the school with a faculty advisor. Second, its purpose is to help others, driven by compassion and charity!"

"The real unserious one is the villain who immediately had such indecent thoughts based on the name alone!"

"Isn't it just a free odd-jobs club? It's your own fault for naming it so vaguely," Sukuna retorted.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he glanced toward the door and quietly said, "Two people are heading this way. I'll keep quiet."

Just as Yukino prepared to counter, her target disappeared, leaving her frustrated. She looked toward the door.

Within moments, it swung open.

A casually dressed female teacher wearing a lab coat over her suit strode in boldly.

"Yukino, I'm coming in... What's with that expression? Surely I didn't offend you?" asked Hiratsuka Shizuka innocently, walking straight into the line of fire.

Surprised that someone had actually entered, Yukinoshita Yukino froze for a moment before quickly adjusting her expression, smoothing out her furrowed brows. "Hiratsuka-sensei, you forgot to knock again."

"Ahem, next time for sure. Next time for sure," the teacher replied, though her face showed no sign of remorse.

She narrowed her eyes suddenly, scrutinizing the girl's fair and delicate face. "What happened to your face? Did you get hurt?"

Hiratsuka was, of course, referring to the faint, scar-like marks below Yukinoshita's eyes. Yukino pursed her lips, her gaze evasive as she replied, "Just an accident... So, Sensei, what brings you here so suddenly?"

Having heard that young people these days were into piercings and tattoos on their faces, Hiratsuka Shizuka pondered briefly whether Yukino might have gone down such a rebellious path.

Yukino's attempt to change the topic was stiff, but Hiratsuka remained composed, considering whether she should notify Yukino's family. Without showing any of this internal debate on her face, she reached behind her and pulled out a male student who had been hiding behind her.

"This guy here is Hikigaya Hachiman. He's here to join the club."

It was as if a vampire had been exposed to sunlight or a mouse spotted by a cat. Hikigaya's darting eyes and restless hands clutching his pant leg made it clear that he was entirely uncomfortable in this setting and eager to escape.

"Wait, join the club? I haven't heard anything about this!"

Upon hearing Hiratsuka's announcement, Hachiman forgot the discomfort of being scrutinized by the famously unattainable Yukinoshita and immediately tried to object.

Hiratsuka raised a firm fist, giving him a light knock on the head. "This is your punishment for writing that essay filled with nihilism and middle-school syndrome nonsense! I'm assigning Yukinoshita to correct your twisted and overly dramatic personality. It's my request as your teacher."

Spending time alone with a high-and-mighty beauty like her? That's not punishment—it's outright torture!

Hikigaya, feeling increasingly uneasy under Yukinoshita's cold, scrutinizing gaze, was about to voice his rejection. However, when he noticed Hiratsuka's iron-willed smile and raised fist, he swallowed his protest.

"I must decline. Sharing a room with a boy like this makes me feel like my life is in danger," Yukinoshita said calmly.

But in reality, the one whose life might truly be in danger was Hikigaya. Based on Sukuna's warning, there could be powerful curses seeking her at any time. For this reason alone, Yukinoshita had no intention of letting anyone join the Service Club.

"You don't need to worry about that. Sure, this guy has rotten eyes and an equally rotten personality, but he's surprisingly cautious and unlikely to do anything inappropriate," Hiratsuka said casually, patting Hikigaya's shoulder in reassurance.

"Please call that a normal person's sense of awareness and moral boundaries," Hikigaya muttered quietly, though no one seemed to care about his objection.

"Oh, I see. So, a cowardly delinquent with impure intentions but no courage to act," Yukinoshita remarked, her tone dripping with realization. "That said, I still refuse."

"What's the matter? Are you saying even Yukinoshita can't handle fixing this guy's personality?"

Hiratsuka's provocation hit its mark, but it had no effect.

Yukinoshita, entirely unshaken, flipped open her book and began reading. "Even if you try to provoke me, Sensei, the answer is no. Absolutely not..."

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"Accept it," Sukuna's voice suddenly echoed in Yukinoshita Yukino's mind.

Why? she questioned internally, frowning. You know my situation. What if a curse attacks me at school?

Foolish girl, Sukuna sneered. That boy will be targeted by curses regardless of your involvement. Just agree. I'll explain later.

The internal conversation ended swiftly. Hiratsuka Shizuka and Hikigaya Hachiman only saw Yukino frown briefly before she stiffly changed her stance. "Fine. Since it's the teacher's request, I'll take it on."

Hikigaya's almost-formed smile froze on his face.

What? How can someone just flip their stance like that?

The smile didn't disappear; it simply transferred from Hikigaya's face to Hiratsuka's. Though Yukino's sudden shift was odd, successfully handing off one problem student to another filled Hiratsuka with the joy of delegating her workload.

"Great! I'll look forward to the results," Hiratsuka said with a hearty laugh before leaving the room, shutting the door behind her. She left the awkward, dead-fish-eyed boy standing uneasily in her wake.

Yukino sighed, picking up her book again. Now, can you explain?

Hmph. First, a little lesson, girl, Sukuna said, his tone both amused and condescending. All humans possess cursed energy. Curses are born from the negative emotions that overflow from that energy. Only a select few can control it—sorcerers.

Yukino listened attentively, memorizing Sukuna's words. I understand all that. But how does it connect to your insistence I accept Hiratsuka-sensei's request?

Ordinary fools can't even see curses unless they're at death's door. That boy, however, is like you. He can see them. His cursed energy is far beyond normal.

And cursed energy, my dear, is a delicacy for curses.

Startled, Yukino glanced at Hikigaya, who was still standing awkwardly, occasionally stealing glances at her. When their eyes met, he quickly looked away, staring at the floor as though it held the answers to life's mysteries.

This floor… is very floor-like, Hikigaya mused.

"Stop standing around and find a seat," Yukino said in her usual icy tone.

Hikigaya, as if receiving divine pardon, hurried to clean off a chair before sitting. However, seated, his awkwardness didn't diminish. If anything, the tension from having his furtive glances noticed made it worse.

Thankfully, Yukino refrained from speaking further, allowing Hikigaya to stew in his own discomfort until he nearly entered a meditative state of blankness.

Do you have any proof? Yukino asked.

Hah! Proof? You want me to spell it out for you? Sukuna chuckled darkly. Fine. Loosen your grip on my power, and I'll show you.

You won't do anything reckless, will you? Yukino asked suspiciously.

Oh, don't make me laugh, girl. Recklessness is my specialty. Now, do it.

Hikigaya couldn't shake the awkwardness. It felt as though ants were crawling all over him. Even as the reigning champion of zoning out, capable of hours-long blank stares, he found it impossible to reach that state here.

If only I hadn't written that essay…

But how could he have expressed the shock and existential dread of his morning without writing it down? He thought he might have lost his mind otherwise.

Maybe I already have.

On his way to school that morning, he'd seen terrifying monsters—things no one else seemed to notice. The surreal disconnection, combined with his mounting panic, made him question reality itself. Was the world fake? Was he the only real person in a simulation full of NPCs?

A painful pinch to his cheek confirmed it wasn't a dream. The monsters are real. The world is real. So… am I the fake?

Thankfully, the monsters hadn't attacked him, and he'd made it to school safely. Seeing no creatures on campus allowed him time to rationalize. Maybe it was just my imagination. Lack of sleep and leftover delusions from my chūnibyō days. Yeah, that must be it.

As he convinced himself of this, he glanced toward Yukino, seated by the window. A sudden, oppressive aura radiated from her. He turned his head, startled, and saw a towering shadow behind her—a monstrous figure of black mist with four arms and four glowing eyes. It stared directly at him.