Jujutsu Kaisen: I Can Manipulate Time.

"…Tokyo Jujutsu High isn't the kind of place you can just drift through!"

Maki's harsh words echoed through the hallway, aimed squarely at Yuta Okkotsu. Judging by his downcast expression, they hit home—hard.

Standing nearby, Panda winced. "Maki, that's enough," he said, his voice gentler than usual. Even Inumaki Toge chimed in, "Salmon," trying to get her to back off.

Maki sighed and slung her weapon case over her back. "You're all so noisy." With that, she turned on her heel and walked off.

Panda turned to Yuta, attempting to soften the blow. "Don't take it too hard. She means well… even if she doesn't always sound like it."

Yuta lowered his gaze. "It's fine. She's not wrong."

Kamihara Hajime stepped forward, giving Yuta a firm pat on the shoulder. "Don't let it get to you. Maki's actually pretty loyal once you get to know her—"

"Hajime!"

Maki's voice rang out like a whip-crack from down the hall.

"—and that's my cue," Hajime muttered, flashing a grin before bolting. "I'm off to find Gojo-sensei! Later!"

---

Later, Gojo Satoru sat comfortably, arms crossed, looking amused. "This mission's a bit unique. It might involve Cursed Spirits, but more likely you'll be facing a Curse User. Grade 2, maybe Grade 1. Either way, this is a solo mission."

Hajime nodded. "And if I pull it off, it'll qualify me for semi-Grade 1 promotion?"

"Exactly," Gojo said, smirking. "And your Technique is great for dealing with Curse Users. You up for it?"

"Of course. But I'll need a cursed tool for close combat. Do we have anything good?"

"There's a sword in the school's repository. I'll sign it out for you."

After a short visit to the armory, Hajime was equipped with a sleek, cursed blade. Technically school property—but he'd treat it as his own for now.

He was then introduced to his mission support: Nitta Akari, a youthful-looking woman with golden-blonde hair, sharp eyes, and a professional air. Her cheerful demeanor did little to hide her competence.

The mission was in a small town plagued by a disturbing pattern: five women, all young and attractive, had vanished. Initial police investigations stalled—until one of the victims was caught on a rare piece of surveillance footage. The scene was unsettling enough for the authorities to call in Jujutsu High.

"According to the Window," Akari explained, "there are lingering traces of a Curse in town. But the victims were all attacked in a pattern that suggests human involvement too—so it might be a Curse User."

Hajime mulled it over. "So we're dealing with a fallen sorcerer."

Curse Users—sorcerers who turned their powers toward personal gain or cruelty—were dangerous. Hajime couldn't help but think of Suguru Geto, once Gojo-sensei's classmate, now one of the most notorious Curse Users alive.

But back to the case: All five victims were women between twenty and twenty-five. All were taken late at night. Their bodies—when found—were mutilated but not sexually violated, nor was anything taken. The damage was brutal, deliberate.

"If this is a human doing it, they're disturbed," Hajime muttered. "And if it's a Curse, the pattern doesn't match. The attacks weren't triggered by the usual Cursed Energy hotspots."

"Let's start by checking for traces," he said.

---

The afternoon passed in frustration. Hajime and Akari found some residual Cursed Energy, but nothing solid. The locations were scattered, with no clear link.

"Think the culprit's hiding?" Akari asked.

"No. Most Curse Users are slaves to their negative emotions. They're unstable. The kind who keep killing even when the heat's on."

"Yeah. Give a man power over life and death, and it's a short trip to madness."

Hajime fell silent for a moment. Then: "I've got a plan."

Akari perked up. "I'm listening."

"You fit the target profile—young, attractive, and not emitting enough Cursed Energy to scare anyone off. If you act drunk and walk alone late at night, we might bait the culprit out."

Akari didn't hesitate. "I'll do it. The sooner we catch them, the better."

"I'll stay nearby. Once the target shows up, you only need to distract them for a second. That's all I need."

---

Night fell. The town was quiet, cloaked in a still darkness.

Akari, dressed to draw attention, walked slowly through a dimly-lit street. Her balance was deliberately off—just enough to look like she was tipsy from a night of drinking. Hajime watched silently from the shadows, Cursed Energy suppressed.

Before long, a man emerged from an alley and began following her.

"Madam, you alright? You need help?" he asked, voice greasy.

Akari kept her cover, slurring, "I—I'm fine… Back off or I'll call the cops…"

The man trailed her for a bit longer but eventually peeled off, wary of causing a scene.

"Not our guy," Akari thought. "He didn't use any Curse power. Just a creep."

But minutes later, she heard footsteps again. Same man.

"Persistent," she thought. But just then, salvation appeared—a taxi idling ahead, the last customer just getting out.

Akari rushed toward it, hoping the driver would help scare off her tail. The taxi didn't pull away. The driver, seeing her approach, opened the back door.

She leaned down, a little disoriented. "I… I need a ride."

The driver smiled, a little too wide. "Get in, beautiful."

Without realizing how, Akari found herself inside the cab. Her limbs were heavy—her mind cloudy.

A curse technique—mental manipulation?

"Shit. He's the one!"

The car pulled away from the curb. Akari, nearly paralyzed, watched the interior shift—inky black tendrils moving within the old seat cushions.

She couldn't speak. Couldn't call Hajime. All she could do was hope he noticed something was off.

From the shadows, Hajime narrowed his eyes.

Akari had entered a taxi. Voluntarily. That didn't line up with their plan at all.

"She wouldn't get in a cab unless…"

His eyes sharpened.

"That cab's the trap."

---

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