Becoming Sukuna

The call ended, and Yukino turned to Sukuna with a suspicious look.

"Sukuna-kun, you wouldn't happen to be planning on sneaking off to investigate alone while I'm away on the club trip, would you?"

Sukuna chuckled. "Why would you think that?"

"Hmph..." Yukino huffed, then mumbled, "Because I'm too weak. I'd just be a burden to you, Sukuna-kun."

"Don't worry, by that logic, everyone is a burden to me." Sukuna waved his hand dismissively. "Relax, I won't sneak off. You know, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't even bother investigating."

"Or, I could just come with you on the trip. As long as that woman in the white coat agrees."

Yukino's eyes lit up. She was about to agree when she hesitated. "But Sukuna-kun, you're not a student at Sōbu High, and you don't have a legitimate reason to participate..."

"It's a volunteer activity, right? There's no rule saying only Sōbu High students can join," Sukuna said. "Just ask Hiratsuka. Maybe she'll agree."

"Okay, I'll ask."

Yukino figured he had a point, so she called Hiratsuka again.

To her surprise, Hiratsuka answered immediately.

"Hello? Yukinoshita? Is there something else?"

Hiratsuka's tone seemed subtly different from before, but Yukino didn't dwell on it. "Hiratsuka-sensei, there aren't any restrictions on who can participate in the volunteer activity, right?"

"Eh? No, there aren't. Why?"

"I want to bring a… friend. Is that okay?"

"A 'him'?" Hiratsuka narrowed her eyes, her mind racing. "Okay, no problem. Just don't be late tomorrow."

"Okay, thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei." Yukino breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're welcome. It's what I should do!" For some reason, Hiratsuka emphasized the word "should."

The call ended. Hiratsuka glared at a seemingly empty spot in her living room, her expression predatory.

Trying to intrude on even Yukinoshita's club trip, huh?

This man is incredibly possessive.

You dare show yourself before me? Then let me see what kind of person you are, and whether you're a worthy partner.

The idea of an arranged marriage partner had taken root in Hiratsuka's mind.

Although she might be overstepping her boundaries, as a teacher who cared about her students, she couldn't stand the thought of Yukino being forced into a loveless marriage for the sake of her family.

Hiratsuka's own family background was complicated, so she understood the concept of arranged marriages all too well and loathed them with a passion.

The thought of it happening to her student enraged her.

In short, she was fired up.

Hiratsuka's motivation stemmed purely from her concern for Yukino, with no regard for the Yukinoshita family's interests.

So, first, she needed to confirm Yukino's own feelings.

This summer trip was a perfect opportunity.

Perhaps I should call Haruno. Knowing her, she wouldn't stand by and watch her sister suffer.

Haruno helping Yukino skip school to meet that man... That was probably due to family pressure too. If she knew I was on her side, it might alleviate some of that pressure.

I'll do it.

Determined to protect her student's happiness, Hiratsuka cast aside her usual laziness and dialed Haruno's number.

Ring... ring...

"Hello? Shizuka? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Haruno's familiar, playful voice echoed from the phone.

Hiratsuka took a deep breath, considering the potential consequences of her actions, including a possible clash with Mrs. Yukinoshita. Then, she pushed those thoughts aside.

Protecting my student is more important than any personal gains or losses!

"Hello? Shizuka? Is the signal bad?" Haruno asked, confused by her silence.

"It's me, Haruno," Hiratsuka said, her voice serious. "Tell me honestly, did the Yukinoshita family arrange a marriage for Yukino?"

"..."

A long silence followed. To Hiratsuka, that silence was confirmation.

She recounted her phone call with Yukino, the man's voice she had heard, and her deductions.

"Pfft..."

Haruno finally understood and burst out laughing.

Fortunately, Hiratsuka didn't hear her clearly. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing..." Haruno's voice sounded strained.

Unbeknownst to Hiratsuka, Haruno was desperately trying to contain her laughter, her shoulders shaking.

I can't believe Shizuka came up with such a dramatic scenario just from hearing Sukuna-kun's voice. I never knew she had such a wild imagination!

After regaining her composure, Haruno's lips curled into a sly, fox-like smile.

"Shizuka..." She let out a dramatic sigh. "Do what you must, Shizuka."

Then, without waiting for a response, she hung up.

It wasn't that Haruno was being cryptic, but rather, she understood human nature.

People were more likely to believe their own conclusions than what others told them.

Let Shizuka make her own assumptions. She'll definitely make a fool of herself in front of Sukuna-kun. I can't wait to hear about it from my new drinking buddy.

Haruno's eyes gleamed with amusement.

The early morning sun had yet to fully rise, a thin mist blanketing the city with a gentle humidity. A young man with dead fish eyes jogged through the streets in his sportswear.

Hachiman Hikigaya had gradually grown accustomed to his morning exercise routine, even during the holidays. He could now defeat the demon of his warm bed and drag himself out for a run.

Although it had been torturous at first, the pain had become a part of his daily life.

The adaptability of humans was truly remarkable.

A three-kilometer jog, followed by a hundred push-ups and a hundred sit-ups—a watered-down version of Saitama's training regimen—and he could return home to laze around.

After showering and changing, Hachiman sprawled on the sofa with a manga, enjoying his well-deserved rest.

He had already put in the effort today, so he could indulge in leisure without guilt.

Effort didn't guarantee strength, but it provided a sense of comfort, especially in the talent-focused world of jujutsu sorcery.

Hachiman would be content if he could barely reach the level of a Grade 3 sorcerer.

Ring... ring...

His phone, discarded on the table, suddenly vibrated.

Hachiman checked the caller ID: Shizuka Hiratsuka.

Seeing that it wasn't Yukinoshita or Sukuna, he breathed a sigh of relief. If it were them, or someone from Jujutsu High, he would have to answer.

He put the phone back on the table, waiting for the call to end.

He would just reply later with an excuse like "sorry, my phone died."

But the phone continued to ring relentlessly, followed by a barrage of emails.

Finally, Hachiman gave in and checked the emails from Hiratsuka.

"Service Club summer camp?"

He grimaced at the demanding tone of the message, then turned off his phone.

Such a peaceful and beautiful day, free from curses, Sukuna, and supernatural incidents, shouldn't be ruined by club activities.

...

Tch, I underestimated them. They actually used my love for my sister to lure me out.

Hachiman dropped the bags of groceries he was carrying.

The moment he saw Hiratsuka leaning against a red van, wearing a wine-red T-shirt and beige cargo pants, a baseball cap on her head, he knew he had been tricked.

But my sister is the most despicable one.

He sighed.

"You're finally here." Hiratsuka extinguished her cigarette. "It was quite a struggle to get you out here."

Hachiman averted his gaze. "So what's the big deal? I still need to go to Chiba..."

"That's where we're going. Didn't you read the email?"

Of course I did, but I can't let you know that, or I'll get punched.

Wait a minute!

He suddenly realized something important.

Hiratsuka-sensei's punches… they're no threat to me now, are they? With cursed energy reinforcing my defenses, I could take ten, a hundred punches without flinching!

Hachiman's desire to test his limits surged.

"Hikitani-kun! You're so slow!"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Fortunately, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

Hachiman turned towards the sound, and the frustration that had been building up inside him instantly dissipated.

"Hachiman~!"

Yui Yuigahama and Saika Totsuka emerged from the department store, Saika waving enthusiastically with a bright, angelic smile.

This must be divine compensation for ruining my peaceful day. From now on, I'm a believer!

"Yo, looks like everyone's here. We're not late, are we?"

A familiar voice suddenly reached Hachiman's ears.

Strange, the face of an angel is right before me, yet I hear the whisper of a demon.

He turned his head stiffly, and Sukuna's handsome face came into view.

He glanced at Yukino, who was standing beside Sukuna, his eyes silently asking: Why is Sukuna-sama here?

"Ah! Sukuna-nii-chan came too!"

Unlike Hachiman's stiff expression, Komachi seemed delighted to see Sukuna.

"Yep, figured I'd relax a bit," Sukuna said with a smile.

"It's not because of some weird incident this time, right?" Komachi teased, her cute fangs peeking out from her grin.

"Nope, I'm really here to relax," he said, feigning exasperation.

Yui and Saika were also surprised to see Sukuna. Yui hadn't expected him to join the Service Club trip, while Saika simply didn't recognize him.

After exchanging greetings and introducing Sukuna to Saika, Yui asked curiously, "Sukuna-san, did Yukino invite you?"

"Yeah, you're not going to tell me I'm not welcome, are you?" Sukuna raised an eyebrow playfully.

"N-no, of course not!"

Yui waved her hands frantically, worried about causing a misunderstanding. "You're definitely welcome! This kind of activity is more fun with more people!"

"Don't mind him, Yuigahama. He's just teasing you," Yukino interjected, glaring at Sukuna .

"I-is that so?" Yui paused, then, seeing Sukuna's relaxed smile, she relaxed as well.

"Sukuna-san is such a humorous person," Saika commented with a gentle smile, seemingly happy to have made a new friend.

With Sukuna's arrival, Hachiman was temporarily forgotten.

Normally, he would have been relieved by this familiar situation, but now, his body was slowly turning gray.

A peaceful and beautiful day, free from curses, Sukuna, and supernatural incidents...

Is this the marriage partner the Yukinoshita family has chosen for Yukino?

That was Hiratsuka's first thought as she saw Sukuna and Yukino walking side-by-side. They looked... good together.

The young man had delicate features and a gentle smile that gave him a refined air. The girl was beautiful, with a cool and elegant demeanor, like a lotus flower blooming in a pond.

Their contrasting personalities complemented each other, like a snow-capped mountain against the vast sky.

And they were even wearing matching outfits—light-colored hoodies and sweatpants.

Sukuna simply preferred comfort and convenience, while Yukino had developed the habit of wearing clothes that allowed for easy movement in case of emergencies.

But neither of them realized the misunderstanding their matching outfits would cause.

Hiratsuka winced internally, feeling like she had been unexpectedly kicked by a passing dog.

While Sukuna chatted with the students, Hiratsuka observed him closely.

The moment he arrived, he had taken control of the atmosphere, effortlessly drawing everyone into his orbit. His social skills were as polished as Haruno's.

Except for a certain dead fish-eyed boy who had already turned into a statue.

Hmm, as expected of my favorite student. He didn't fall for those social tricks.

Hiratsuka looked at Hachiman with approval.

After greeting the students, Sukuna turned to Hiratsuka, who was leaning against the van.

So she doesn't wear her white coat outside of school.

"Hello, Hiratsuka-sensei. I'm Sukuna, Yukinoshita's friend." He smiled and extended his hand. "Sorry for inviting myself. I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all," Hiratsuka smiled back, shaking his hand. "It's a volunteer activity, after all. We appreciate the extra help."

After the pleasantries, she ushered everyone into the van.

Before getting in, Hachiman couldn't hold back any longer. "So, where exactly is this camp taking place?"

Hiratsuka's eyes narrowed dangerously. "So you did read the email, huh? And you deliberately ignored my calls?"

Her infamous iron fist landed on Hachiman's head, but this time, it didn't hurt.

It didn't even faze him.

Hachiman smirked, making Hiratsuka wonder if she had accidentally hit him too hard and damaged his brain.

The red van was spacious enough to accommodate everyone, even with the unexpected addition of Sukuna and Komachi.

Hachiman was relegated to the passenger seat, separated from Saika. Komachi, Yui, and Saika sat in the middle row, while Sukuna and Yukino took the back.

As soon as they were on the road, Komachi started chatting with Yui and Saika. Initially, the others were a bit reserved due to Hiratsuka's presence, but Komachi had no such qualms. Thanks to her, the atmosphere in the van quickly became lively.

Thirty minutes later...

The van cruised smoothly along the highway, 80s music playing softly. The three in the middle row were dozing off, their heads leaning against each other, hats covering their faces.

Sukuna gazed out the window at the passing scenery. He suddenly felt a light tapping on his shoulder.

He turned to see Yukino struggling to stay awake. Although her eyes were closed, she was sitting upright, swaying slightly.

Finally, she succumbed to sleep, her head gently resting on his shoulder.

Her usual coldness softened, replaced by a peaceful tranquility. From Sukuna's angle, he could see her long eyelashes and feel her soft, warm breaths on his neck.

He didn't mind and continued looking out the window.

Hiratsuka, who had been observing them through the rearview mirror, looked away.

He's quite the gentleman.

…

"We're here, wake up."

Yukino was roused from her sleep by a familiar voice, but the comforting presence beside her made her reluctant to open her eyes.

Until her head started shaking.

Sukuna was jostling her awake.

Everyone else had already gotten off the van to stretch their legs.

Yukino slowly came to her senses as Sukuna got out, leaving her to glare at his back.

Their destination was Chiba Village, a camp facility nestled amidst a lush forest.

White-walled buildings with red-tiled roofs peeked through the dense foliage. In the distance, blue mountains rose against the clear sky.

Away from the city, the air was fresh and cool, the summer heat tempered by the shade of the trees.

"I remember this place. We came here for a nature exploration trip in middle school," Hachiman commented, looking around.

They unloaded their luggage.

Soon, a white van pulled up.

Four familiar figures emerged.

"Hayama?"

Hachiman looked at Hayato Hayama, Yumiko Miura, Ebina, and Tobe in confusion.

Come to think of it, Hayama hasn't been as active in class since the Ōoka incident. Even his face seems less annoying now.

"Now that everyone's here..." Hiratsuka stepped forward to explain. "You'll be volunteering here."

"Volunteering?"

Hachiman had only known about the Service Club summer camp, not the specifics.

"You'll be assisting with the forest summer camp. Think of it as the Service Club's summer training camp."

But most of these people have nothing to do with the Service Club.

Hachiman looked at Hayama and the others, silently complaining.

"Um, hello." Hayama approached Hachiman and greeted him.

"Ah, oh..."

Hachiman forced a smile.