Becoming Sukuna

Yui Yuigahama had temporarily withdrawn from the Service Club, but Yukinoshita Yukino didn't intend to completely sever their connection.

"Do you know when Yuigahama's birthday is?"

"How would I know?"

Hachiman Hikigaya thought, You really overestimate me.

"If I'm not mistaken, it's June 18th, which happens to be a Sunday. I'm planning to celebrate her birthday," Yukinoshita Yukino said.

"Oh, well, good luck with that."

Hachiman glanced at the time. It was almost the end of their club activity time, and it was time to pack up and leave.

"Yes, so let's meet at 4 PM that day at Yuigahama's house. I'll send you the location." Yukinoshita Yukino didn't stop him from leaving.

"Eh... I have to go too?" Hachiman's face was full of reluctance. It would be so awkward.

"Aren't you going to reconcile with Yuigahama-san?" Yukinoshita Yukino asked.

"...We're not friends, and we didn't have a fight, so why would we need to reconcile?" Hachiman argued.

"Are you still going to say that?" Yukino sighed, exasperated. "Speaking of which, I just remembered that Hiratsuka-sensei shoved you into the Service Club to fix your rotten personality."

"What are you going to do?" Hachiman sensed a hint of malice in her words and became wary.

"Now that I think about it, Hiratsuka-sensei's violent methods might be a viable way to correct you." A playful smirk appeared on Yukino's lips.

"Okay, okay, I'll go, I'll go... Please don't resort to violence!" Hachiman quickly raised his hands in surrender.

He was no match for Hiratsuka-sensei's iron fist, let alone Yukinoshita Yukino, who could punch through concrete walls. One punch from her, and he might have to say goodbye to Komachi forever.

She must have been corrupted by Sukuna. Otherwise, why would she suddenly become so violent?

"Don't forget to buy a gift," a friendly reminder came from behind as Hachiman left the Service Club.

"I know." He replied without enthusiasm.

I only have experience in giving gifts to girls and failing miserably. I have no idea how to choose a gift for a girl...

Hopefully, Komachi can give me some useful advice.

Hachiman, pushing his bicycle and preparing to leave the school grounds, placed his hopes on his little sister.

...

Saturday, June 17th.

The day before Yui Yuigahama's birthday.

"Thank you for coming with me, Sukuna."

Under the warm summer sun stood a youthful girl wearing a sunhat.

Yukino Yukinoshita was dressed in casual clothes today. She wore a light blue sleeveless top with a stand-up collar and a white skirt that reached just above her knees, swaying gently with her steps. Her feet were adorned with beige sandals, revealing her ten smooth toes.

Her waist-length black hair was tied into a refreshing high ponytail, a red hair tie forming a cheerful butterfly knot.

What are you talking about? Wherever you go, I have no choice but to follow, Sukuna retorted.

I meant, I wanted to ask you to help me choose a gift for Yuigahama-san, Yukino explained patiently.

I know, I know. You haven't had many friends before, so you have no experience with gift-giving. It's normal to worry about choosing the wrong gift. It's understandable, Sukuna said casually, making Yukino's eye twitch.

Does parasite-kun have any experience giving gifts to female friends then? Yukino retorted.

Guess.

Forget it, I won't argue with this annoying guy. I can't go choose a gift for Yui in a bad mood.

Yukino chose a large American-style shopping mall in the Tokyo Bay area, also known as a popular dating spot for Chiba high school students.

However, her date was a soul from another world residing in her mind. Technically, it could be considered a date with herself.

As the first American-style shopping mall in Japan, it boasted Japan's first drive-in theater, along with an open stadium, a cultural center, various brand stores, and more. It was a shopping center that catered to a wide range of customer needs, from sightseeing and shopping to leisure and entertainment.

There was also a racetrack next to it, visible from the pedestrian bridge connecting Minami-Funabashi Station to the second floor of the mall.

The mall bustled with activity on the weekend. People, mostly groups of girls or couples, strolled leisurely under the colorful exterior walls, dressed in light summer clothes, their faces bright with smiles under the early summer sun.

Yukino, carrying a woven bag, entered the mall, a wave of cool air washing over her.

The shops were beautifully decorated with a wide variety of merchandise, sparkling under the sunlight streaming through the glass dome. The sheer abundance made Sukuna's head spin.

Thank goodness I'm in spirit form. If I had to physically accompany Yukinoshita Yukino throughout this entire mall, it would be a nightmare.

"What are you planning to get her?" Sukuna asked.

"I don't know, that's why I'm here," Yukino replied, looking at the mall directory with a troubled expression.

The mall was huge, and so was the number of shops within. If they just wandered aimlessly, they would probably waste the entire day.

"I need to plan a route..."

Yukino muttered, studying the directory, trying to decide where to start.

Start with Yuigahama's preferences. That should narrow down the area, Sukuna suggested.

You don't know what Yuigahama might like? He suddenly realized something and asked suspiciously.

"..."

Yukino nonchalantly pulled out a guidebook from under the directory and, after randomly choosing a direction, started walking. It was as if Sukuna's question hadn't reached her ears.

Of course it hadn't, because it was a question in her head. There was no possibility of her missing it.

So you really don't know? Sukuna was exasperated.

Be quiet, I'm thinking.

Yukino studied the guidebook with a serious expression, her gaze fixed on the pet area in the lower right corner of the map, where a special event was highlighted: the Tokyo Cat and Dog Exhibition.

After carefully studying the route from their current location to the pet area, she marked a few women's clothing sections along the way.

"Alright, I've decided on a route." Yukino closed the guidebook, put it in her bag, and started walking in a different direction.

They arrived at the women's clothing section. The shops lived up to their name, filled with trendy clothes, accessories, and cosmetics.

Yukino entered a clothing store and began browsing, her discerning eye searching for clothes suitable for Yui Yuigahama.

Although she rarely visited large, crowded malls like this, it didn't mean she had poor taste in fashion. Yukino read a wide variety of books, including fashion magazines.

It wasn't long before she found a few items that she thought would look good on Yui.

How about this one? Yukino held up a purple shirt with a cute dog design on the chest and asked Sukuna mentally.

Looks good.

This one? She picked up another item that fit Yui's cheerful personality.

Looks good.

Sukuna, his male instincts kicking in, had become a mindless repeater.

Is that the only word in your vocabulary?

Suits you.

...

It seems parasite-kun is completely useless. Yukino had no choice but to rely on her own judgment.

"The material isn't very good..." After feeling the fabric and tugging at it here and there, Yukino put the clothes back on the rack with a disappointed sigh, then turned to leave before the salesclerk could approach.

Compared to the design, the quality of the material and the comfort of the clothes were more important to her.

Under the curious gaze of the staff, Yukino browsed through item after item, but couldn't find anything satisfactory. Even Sukuna was getting bored.

How long are you going to take?

Instead of complaining, why don't you offer some useful suggestions? You're even less helpful than an air conditioner. At least an air conditioner has a silent mode, Yukino retorted.

Sukuna strategically retreated into silence.

Having won this small victory, Yukino's mood improved considerably. With a slight smile, she continued along her planned route to the next store.

It was an accessory store, filled with earrings, necklaces, and other trinkets. Yukino skipped past those, heading straight for the hair accessories section. After browsing, she couldn't find any hair clips suitable for Yui.

Yui usually used hair ties, but a hair tie alone seemed too simple of a gift. So, with regret, she left the accessory store.

Next was the cosmetics store, but since Yukino was naturally beautiful and rarely wore makeup, she wasn't familiar with the various brands. Another pass.

She wandered into a plushie store.

Seeing Yukino's fascination with a panda plushie, Sukuna couldn't help but comment, You like those ugly panda dolls?

Come to think of it, Yukino's bed and room seemed to be filled with similar panda plushies and merchandise.

But Sukuna couldn't stand those signature inverted triangle eyes. It was like Hikigaya Hachiman's decent face ruined by his dead-fish eyes, instantly dropping his impression score.

How could they ruin such a cute national treasure like this!

I prefer... Kung Fu Panda.

The moment he voiced his opinion on the panda in Yukino's hand, Sukuna felt an undeniable wave of killing intent. It was as if he was standing in the Siberian tundra, instantly frozen solid by the biting wind.

While she didn't expect much from your taste, such a low level of appreciation is still surprising. However, considering that parasite-kun is a primitive man from a thousand years ago, it's understandable that you lack the refined taste of modern people. So, until your aesthetic sense improves to a normal level, could you please shut...

Block.jpg

Sukuna mentally blocked Yukino's tirade, pretending nothing had happened.

Heaving a sigh of relief, he couldn't help but lament, Shopping with women is terrifying.

I'd better not bring up this topic again.

Yukino, unaware that she had been blocked, finished her lecture and, with a slight sniff, picked up the panda plushie to pay for it.

Then, her gaze fell upon a dog plushie.

She picked it up and examined it, thinking that Yui might like this gift. After all, didn't Yui have a dog at home?

She was about to ask Sukuna's opinion when she remembered her harsh words from earlier. The question died in her throat.

Sukuna remained silent.

Did I... go a bit overboard?

After all, everyone had different tastes. It was normal for Sukuna to dislike the plushies she liked. She had just gotten a little carried away and said a bit too much because of his comment.

After a moment of hesitation, Yukino decided to buy the dog plushie as well.

I'll keep this one for now. If I can't find anything better, I'll just give her this one.

With that thought, Yukino resumed browsing the shops, but her initial enthusiasm had waned.

Soon, as she looked around for another store to explore, she heard a chorus of meows and barks.

Yukino looked up in a daze, realizing that she had unknowingly reached the final destination on her planned route.

"Woof!"

A sudden bark startled her. She took a few steps back before turning to see an Akita Inu in a display cage.

With its short, cute limbs, sturdy body, and angelically healing smile, the Shiba Inu was a beloved breed in Japan.

In addition to Shiba Inus, there were various other breeds on display, creating a lively symphony of barks.

The adorable puppy in the cage wagged its tail, its tongue lolling out, staring at Yukino. It barked again, as if begging for her to pet it.

Yukino flinched and quickly left, heading towards the cat exhibition.

"Oh? Is Yukinoshita that afraid of dogs?"

Sukuna, though not actively communicating with Yukino, was still observing her actions from his domain.

This won't do. Such an obvious weakness could be easily exploited by enemies if they find out.

Sukuna pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up with a mischievous glint.

It seems I need to prepare some desensitization training for Yukinoshita.

Yui Yuigahama had temporarily withdrawn from the Service Club, but Yukinoshita Yukino didn't intend to completely sever their connection.

"Do you know when Yuigahama's birthday is?"

"How would I know?"

Hachiman Hikigaya thought, You really overestimate me.

"If I'm not mistaken, it's June 18th, which happens to be a Sunday. I'm planning to celebrate her birthday," Yukinoshita Yukino said.

"Oh, well, good luck with that."

Hachiman glanced at the time. It was almost the end of their club activity time, and it was time to pack up and leave.

"Yes, so let's meet at 4 PM that day at Yuigahama's house. I'll send you the location." Yukinoshita Yukino didn't stop him from leaving.

"Eh... I have to go too?" Hachiman's face was full of reluctance. It would be so awkward.

"Aren't you going to reconcile with Yuigahama-san?" Yukinoshita Yukino asked.

"...We're not friends, and we didn't have a fight, so why would we need to reconcile?" Hachiman argued.

"Are you still going to say that?" Yukino sighed, exasperated. "Speaking of which, I just remembered that Hiratsuka-sensei shoved you into the Service Club to fix your rotten personality."

"What are you going to do?" Hachiman sensed a hint of malice in her words and became wary.

"Now that I think about it, Hiratsuka-sensei's violent methods might be a viable way to correct you." A playful smirk appeared on Yukino's lips.

"Okay, okay, I'll go, I'll go... Please don't resort to violence!" Hachiman quickly raised his hands in surrender.

He was no match for Hiratsuka-sensei's iron fist, let alone Yukinoshita Yukino, who could punch through concrete walls. One punch from her, and he might have to say goodbye to Komachi forever.

She must have been corrupted by Sukuna. Otherwise, why would she suddenly become so violent?

"Don't forget to buy a gift," a friendly reminder came from behind as Hachiman left the Service Club.

"I know." He replied without enthusiasm.

I only have experience in giving gifts to girls and failing miserably. I have no idea how to choose a gift for a girl...

Hopefully, Komachi can give me some useful advice.

Hachiman, pushing his bicycle and preparing to leave the school grounds, placed his hopes on his little sister.

...

Saturday, June 17th.

The day before Yui Yuigahama's birthday.

"Thank you for coming with me, Sukuna."

Under the warm summer sun stood a youthful girl wearing a sun hat.

Yukino Yukinoshita was dressed in casual clothes today. She wore a light blue sleeveless top with a stand-up collar and a white skirt that reached just above her knees, swaying gently with her steps. Her feet were adorned with beige sandals, revealing her ten smooth toes.

Her waist-length black hair was tied into a refreshing high ponytail, a red hair tie forming a cheerful butterfly knot.

What are you talking about? Wherever you go, I have no choice but to follow, Sukuna retorted.

I meant, I wanted to ask you to help me choose a gift for Yuigahama-san, Yukino explained patiently.

I know, I know. You haven't had many friends before, so you have no experience with gift-giving. It's normal to worry about choosing the wrong gift. It's understandable, Sukuna said casually, making Yukino's eye twitch.

Does parasite-kun have any experience giving gifts to female friends then? Yukino retorted.

Guess.

Forget it, I won't argue with this annoying guy. I can't go choose a gift for Yui in a bad mood.

Yukino chose a large American-style shopping mall in the Tokyo Bay area, also known as a popular dating spot for Chiba high school students.

However, her date was a soul from another world residing in her mind. Technically, it could be considered a date with herself.

As the first American-style shopping mall in Japan, it boasted Japan's first drive-in theater, along with an open stadium, a cultural center, various brand stores, and more. It was a shopping center that catered to a wide range of customer needs, from sightseeing and shopping to leisure and entertainment.

There was also a racetrack next to it, visible from the pedestrian bridge connecting Minami-Funabashi Station to the second floor of the mall.

The mall bustled with activity on the weekend. People, mostly groups of girls or couples, strolled leisurely under the colorful exterior walls, dressed in light summer clothes, their faces bright with smiles under the early summer sun.

Yukino, carrying a woven bag, entered the mall, a wave of cool air washing over her.

The shops were beautifully decorated with a wide variety of merchandise, sparkling under the sunlight streaming through the glass dome. The sheer abundance made Sukuna's head spin.

Thank goodness I'm in spirit form. If I had to physically accompany Yukinoshita Yukino throughout this entire mall, it would be a nightmare.

"What are you planning to get her?" Sukuna asked.

"I don't know, that's why I'm here," Yukino replied, looking at the mall directory with a troubled expression.

The mall was huge, and so was the number of shops within. If they just wandered aimlessly, they would probably waste the entire day.

"I need to plan a route..."

Yukino muttered, studying the directory, trying to decide where to start.

Start with Yuigahama's preferences. That should narrow down the area, Sukuna suggested.

You don't know what Yuigahama might like? He suddenly realized something and asked suspiciously.

"..."

Yukino nonchalantly pulled out a guidebook from under the directory and, after randomly choosing a direction, started walking. It was as if Sukuna's question hadn't reached her ears.

Of course it hadn't, because it was a question in her head. There was no possibility of her missing it.

So you really don't know? Sukuna was exasperated.

Be quiet, I'm thinking.

Yukino studied the guidebook with a serious expression, her gaze fixed on the pet area in the lower right corner of the map, where a special event was highlighted: the Tokyo Cat and Dog Exhibition.

After carefully studying the route from their current location to the pet area, she marked a few women's clothing sections along the way.

"Alright, I've decided on a route." Yukino closed the guidebook, put it in her bag, and started walking in a different direction.

They arrived at the women's clothing section. The shops lived up to their name, filled with trendy clothes, accessories, and cosmetics.

Yukino entered a clothing store and began browsing, her discerning eye searching for clothes suitable for Yui Yuigahama.

Although she rarely visited large, crowded malls like this, it didn't mean she had poor taste in fashion. Yukino read a wide variety of books, including fashion magazines.

It wasn't long before she found a few items that she thought would look good on Yui.

How about this one? Yukino held up a purple shirt with a cute dog design on the chest and asked Sukuna mentally.

Looks good.

This one? She picked up another item that fit Yui's cheerful personality.

Looks good.

Sukuna, his male instincts kicking in, had become a mindless repeater.

Is that the only word in your vocabulary?

Suits you.

...

It seems parasite-kun is completely useless. Yukino had no choice but to rely on her own judgment.

"The material isn't very good..." After feeling the fabric and tugging at it here and there, Yukino put the clothes back on the rack with a disappointed sigh, then turned to leave before the salesclerk could approach.

Compared to the design, the quality of the material and the comfort of the clothes were more important to her.

Under the curious gaze of the staff, Yukino browsed through item after item, but couldn't find anything satisfactory. Even Sukuna was getting bored.

How long are you going to take?

Instead of complaining, why don't you offer some useful suggestions? You're even less helpful than an air conditioner. At least an air conditioner has a silent mode, Yukino retorted.

Sukuna strategically retreated into silence.

Having won this small victory, Yukino's mood improved considerably. With a slight smile, she continued along her planned route to the next store.

It was an accessory store, filled with earrings, necklaces, and other trinkets. Yukino skipped past those, heading straight for the hair accessories section. After browsing, she couldn't find any hair clips suitable for Yui.

Yui usually used hair ties, but a hair tie alone seemed too simple of a gift. So, with regret, she left the accessory store.

Next was the cosmetics store, but since Yukino was naturally beautiful and rarely wore makeup, she wasn't familiar with the various brands. Another pass.

She wandered into a plushie store.

Seeing Yukino's fascination with a panda plushie, Sukuna couldn't help but comment, You like those ugly panda dolls?

Come to think of it, Yukino's bed and room seemed to be filled with similar panda plushies and merchandise.

But Sukuna couldn't stand those signature inverted triangle eyes. It was like Hikigaya Hachiman's decent face ruined by his dead-fish eyes, instantly dropping his impression score.

How could they ruin such a cute national treasure like this!

I prefer... Kung Fu Panda.

The moment he voiced his opinion on the panda in Yukino's hand, Sukuna felt an undeniable wave of killing intent. It was as if he was standing in the Siberian tundra, instantly frozen solid by the biting wind.

While I don't expect much from your taste, such a low level of appreciation is still surprising. However, considering that parasite-kun is a primitive man from a thousand years ago...

Sukuna mentally blocked Yukino's tirade, pretending nothing had happened.

After mentally sighing in relief, he couldn't help but lament, Shopping with women is terrifying.

I'd better not bring up this topic again.

Yukino, unaware that she had been blocked, finished her lecture and, with a slight sniff, picked up the panda plushie to pay for it.

Then, her gaze fell upon a dog plushie.

She picked it up and examined it, thinking that Yui might like this gift. After all, didn't Yui have a dog at home?

She was about to ask Sukuna's opinion when she remembered her harsh words from earlier. The question died in her throat.

Sukuna remained silent.

Did I... go a bit overboard?

After all, everyone had different tastes. It was normal for Sukuna to dislike the plushies she liked. She had just gotten a little carried away and said a bit too much because of his comment.

After a moment of hesitation, Yukino decided to buy the dog plushie as well.

I'll keep this one for now. If I can't find anything better, I'll just give her this one.

With that thought, Yukino resumed browsing the shops, but her initial enthusiasm had waned.

Soon, as she looked around for another store to explore, she heard a chorus of meows and barks.

Yukino looked up in a daze, realizing that she had unknowingly reached the final destination on her planned route.

"Woof!"

A sudden bark startled her. She took a few steps back before turning to see an Akita Inu in a display cage.

With its short, cute limbs, sturdy body, and angelically healing smile, the Shiba Inu was a beloved breed in Japan.

In addition to Shiba Inus, there were various other breeds on display, creating a lively symphony of barks.

The adorable puppy in the cage wagged its tail, its tongue lolling out, staring at Yukino. It barked again, as if begging for her to pet it.

Yukino flinched and quickly left, heading towards the cat exhibition.

"Oh? Is Yukinoshita that afraid of dogs?"

Sukuna, though not actively communicating with Yukino, was still observing her actions from his domain.

This won't do. Such an obvious weakness could be easily exploited by enemies if they find out.

Sukuna pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up with a mischievous glint.

It seems I need to prepare some desensitization training for Yukino.

Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Chinese Li Hua...

Surrounded by a chorus of soft meows, Yukinoshita Yukino felt like she was in heaven. She couldn't help but squat down and start whispering to a white Ragdoll cat.

"Meow~"

"Meow."

Despite the language barrier, the girl and the cat enjoyed a heartwarming moment. Just looking at the cat's large, blue eyes, so similar to her own, made Yukino melt.

Unfortunately, although she loved cats, her apartment building didn't allow pets. She could only enjoy their company at cat cafes or through online videos.

After petting several different cats, Yukino finally tore herself away from the feline paradise, still remembering her mission to find a gift for Yui Yuigahama. Although reluctant to leave, time was running out.

Leaving the cat haven behind, Yukino fell back into a state of slight confusion.

Didn't Yuigahama want to learn how to cook? Get her an apron or something, Sukuna's voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

Sukuna? Yukino was surprised, her voice laced with a hint of delight. Ahem... that's a good idea. I'll give you credit for that.

She entered a kitchenware store and, after browsing around, picked up a blue apron with a cat paw print and held it up against herself. How does this look?

Are you getting it for yourself?

Of course it's for Yuigahama.

Then I suggest you get a different color.

Yukino picked up a pink, checkered apron with a bone pattern. After holding it up, she nodded in agreement. "This one does seem more suitable for Yuigahama-san."

After purchasing both aprons, Yukino asked the staff to wrap the one for Yui, along with the dog plushie, in a gift box.

The gifts are bought. Time to go home... Do you want anything?

Oh? I get a gift too? Sukuna raised an eyebrow in surprise, his gaze falling on a nearby Sony store. Then let's check out that Sony store.

...

Yukino returned home, laden with bags. After putting everything down, she started preparing dinner.

"Oi, give me my..."

"It's almost six o'clock now. Even if you're impatient, you'll have to wait until after dinner, right?" Yukino sighed.

She didn't understand. Sukuna was usually calm and collected. Why was he so eager now that she had bought him a game console?

"I'm in a hurry. I'm the king of impatience."

"That doesn't change anything."

Despite her words, Yukino quickly prepared a simple dinner. After they ate, she handed control of her body to Sukuna.

She would watch him play his new console from a first-person perspective.

An hour later.

Sukuna put down the controller with a bored expression. "Too easy."

The games that had tortured him in his past life were now child's play.

The character on the screen moved fluidly under his control, attacking, dodging, and rolling effortlessly. No-hit runs, once a boastful challenge, were now a basic maneuver.

So this is what it feels like to play games with cheat codes? How boring.

"Hmm? Not playing anymore?" Yukino asked. "We still have an hour before our appointment."

I'll play later. Sukuna turned off the console, a playful smirk appearing on his lips. "Speaking of which, I also prepared a gift for you."

"Eh? What gift?" Yukino's eyes widened with surprise and anticipation.

Sukuna formed a hand seal and uttered, "Jade Hound."

Ten Shadows Technique. Price: 60,000 points (discounted). Redeemed.

Using shadows as a medium to summon pre-contracted shikigami with various abilities, this was the inherited technique of the Zenin clan.

The shadow beneath Yukino suddenly stretched outwards, covering the entire living room.

The sudden anomaly made Yukino think that another cursed spirit was attacking. She tensed up instinctively, but remembering that Sukuna was in control, she quickly relaxed.

"Too much cursed energy output. Lower it a bit," Sukuna muttered, reducing the flow of cursed energy into the technique.

The vast shadow quickly shrunk to the size of a dining table.

"What are you doing?" Yukino, realizing that Sukuna was responsible for the shadow, asked curiously.

"Your gift."

As soon as Sukuna finished speaking, the shadow transformed, shifting like a chameleon into the shape of a wolf. The shadow receded like a tide, revealing a majestic white wolf, its four legs tall enough to reach Yukino's chest.

Shikigami possessed a certain level of intelligence and were fearless, perfectly executing their summoner's commands. Using shikigami in battle was a common tactic for jujutsu sorcerers.

And Sukuna only gave this white wolf shikigami one command:

"Lick!"

"A wolf!?" Just as Yukino was surprised, she suddenly regained control of her body.

That wasn't the problem. The problem was that the white wolf was staring intently at her, its tail wagging excitedly, its previous majesty replaced with an almost goofy eagerness.

"W-wait!" Yukino let out a terrified squeak.

Two minutes later.

The white wolf, eyes closed and tongue lolling out, lay in Yukino's lap like a giant husky, enjoying its master's petting.

Yukino, on the other hand, was filled with resentment.

"Seems like you're getting along well,"