Curse Returns, a gamble from the start, I awaken dual spells

Late at night, at a vocational college.

When Rito pushed open the dormitory door, it was already completely dark outside.

He casually tossed his backpack containing documents onto the bed, then lay down on his back.

The mattress made a muffled creaking sound.

The trip to the mental hospital depleted eighty percent of my magical power. Although the few blows to my right leg during the "diagnosis" didn't leave any real injury, the lingering phantom pain is still there.

It's like someone slowly grinding a dull knife against a bone; it's not fatal, but it makes you feel uncomfortable all over.

"The effect of 'withering and decaying' on oneself... This move can be used, but it shouldn't be used too often."

Rito stared at the ceiling, mentally reviewing the battle.

The reverse application of the technique was more effective than expected, but it required extremely high precision in controlling the incantation power.

The slightest mistake, and he would be reduced to a skeleton in less than two seconds.

And that gesture.

Rito raised his right hand and gestured in the air.

Thumb hooks around index finger, while little and ring fingers tuck inward. This movement feels completely natural now, like an instinct I was born with.

"...Domain?"

The "static universe" that was forcibly created during the last battle against a real person was, strictly speaking, not even a half-finished product.

It has no guaranteed hit effect, and its range is only ten meters in radius, but the energy consumption of the spell is astonishing.

With his current total magical power, each use would burn away nearly 40%, leaving him essentially useless afterward.

But that's his strongest trump card right now.

Teacher Gojo is not at the vocational college this time, so the second assessment will be handled by Nanami.

According to the procedure, he needs to go to Nanami tomorrow to submit the mission report, and then wait for Principal Moth's third interview.

"Mr. Nanami..."

Rito had a pretty good impression of Nanami.

That man didn't talk much, but he was reliable and didn't leave people scratching their heads like Gojo Satoru.

However, the thought of submitting a report is just too much trouble.

Forget it, I'll talk about it tomorrow. I'd better go to sleep!

dong dong dong-

A knocking sounded suddenly.

Rito looked towards the door, but before he could speak, the door was pushed open.

Itachi's conspicuous pink head peeked in through the crack in the door, a smile on his face that was impossible to refuse.

"Rito! You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

"...Knotweed?"

Rito sat up in bed, and before he could say another word, he saw that there were two more people standing behind Itajō.

Megumi Fushiguro had a look on her face that said, "Why was I dragged here?" Nobara Kugizaki crossed her arms and looked on with curiosity.

"Come on, let's have our first get-together for first graders!"

Itachi grabbed Rito's arm and pulled him off the bed.

"Wait, I—"

"Don't wait any longer, the bento box is getting cold!"

In the hallway, Kugizaki followed behind, his tone full of undisguised disdain: "Katana, have you tidied your room? Are those snack bags from last time still there?"

"Get it all packed up!" Itachi said without turning his head.

Fu Hei, expressionless, debunked the argument: "By 'tidying up,' he meant stuffing everything under the bed."

"How could you betray me?!"

Itachi's room was messier than he had imagined. A few crumpled newspapers were spread on the floor, which could barely be called a "dining table." Several convenience store bento boxes were placed crookedly on them, with potato chips, chocolate bars, and a few cans of drinks scattered around them.

Kugizaki stood at the doorway, looking at the several pairs of shoes lying haphazardly on the ground, and took a deep breath.

"Can't you guys be a little more considerate?"

Fukuro silently took off his shoes and straightened his own. Then he looked down at Itō's shoes.

The two shoes were at least a meter apart, as if they had been thrown off.

He turned his head away, choosing to pretend he hadn't seen it.

Ignoring Kugizaki's disdain, Itadori plopped down next to the newspaper and started unpacking the bento box.

He picked up a bento box and pointed to the bright red vegetables inside: "This was chosen by Kugizaki. It's super spicy. I almost died on the spot after taking a bite last time. You absolutely must not touch it."

Kugizaki sat down next to him and snorted coldly, "That's because you can't handle spicy food."

Tiger Rod ignored her and pointed to another box: "This one is Fu Hei's. He only eats this flavor every time. He's so bored."

Rito glanced at it; it was the most ordinary Makunouchi bento box: rice, grilled salmon, tamagoyaki, and a few boiled dishes—it was indeed very dark.

"This is mine, take whatever you want!"

Huzhang pushed his box forward; it contained everything imaginable, looking like he'd scooped up a little bit of every kind of food from the convenience store.

Looking at the three very different bento boxes in front of him, Rito was unsure where to begin. Kugizaki reached out and pressed Itadori's chopsticks down: "Newcomers first."

Itadori paused for a moment, then scratched his head and laughed: "Oh right, Rito, you choose first."

Rito looked down at the bento box.

The Makuuchi is too ordinary, the super spicy one I dare not touch, and the box of Japanese knotweed is too mixed.

Finally, he picked up the box of Japanese knotweed.

Haddock's eyes lit up: "That's tasteful!"

Rito picked up a piece of fried chicken and put it in his mouth.

The taste was ordinary, just like a convenience store bento box. But the hot rice and sauce mixed together suddenly made his stomach, which had been empty all day, feel full again.

He paused for a moment, then smiled, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly, without even realizing it himself.

"How is it?" Huzhang asked, leaning closer.

"……good."

"What do you mean by 'not bad'?!" Itadori laughed and patted Rito on the back, so hard that Rito almost spat out his fried chicken.

Kugizaki had already opened her super spicy bento box; the red sauce had dyed the rice like lava.

Fukuro silently ate Makunouchi, occasionally glancing up at the three of them before lowering his head to continue eating.

"Rito, how's your mission going?" Itadori asked, his mouth full of rice, his words muffled. "The one at the mental hospital."

"I've run into some trouble. The cursed spirit's ability is to inflict 'diagnosis' and create hallucinatory pain. My right leg is broken, I've gone blind... it killed four things at once."

Kugizaki put down his chopsticks and glanced at him: "So how did you solve it?"

"I used a spell to remove the condition that was affecting me."

He said it very casually.

But Fushiguro and Kugizaki glanced at him simultaneously. Everyone present understood what the phrase "the technique is applied to oneself" meant.

Haddō didn't think much of it, and simply nodded: "It's good that you came back alive."

Kugizaki picked up his chopsticks again: "Alright, alright, let's not talk about missions while we're eating."

"It's long gone," Fu Hei said.

"Then we should eat even faster."

Four people sat around the newspaper.

Itajimaru kept stealing Kugizaki's food, and didn't learn his lesson even after being tapped on the back of his hand with chopsticks. Fushiguro silently pushed his tamagoyaki to Rito without saying a word. Kugizaki complained, but still helped him gather the scattered snack bags to one side.

Li Ren looked at the three people.

He suddenly remembered Shunping.

I remember the boy being punched and kicked in the activity room, yet clutching the videotape tightly. I remember him in the movie theater, mustering the courage to stand up and try to stop those three people. I remember the glimmer of light in his eyes when he said, "I'll treat you to a movie again next time."

If Shunping were still alive, he would probably be sitting next to someone, having an ordinary dinner, just like he is now.

"Reasoning with people?"

The sound of the cane pulled him back to reality.

"What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and eat. I'll buy you a drink after you finish." Itari grinned. "I tried that new melon soda from the vending machine yesterday, it's super delicious."

"……good."

Li Ren lowered his head and continued eating.

The bento box was cold, but he thought it was still okay.

After finishing their meal, Itajo indeed led the three of them to the vending machine at the end of the corridor.

He inserted coins into the scepter, and four cans of melon soda rolled out with a clatter.

He handed out a can to everyone, then held up his own can and announced loudly, "All first-graders are here!"

Kugizaki rolled his eyes: "What do you mean 'all here'? There were only four people to begin with."

"Four people is the whole team!"

Fu Hei pulled the tab, took a sip, and neither said whether it tasted good nor bad.

Rito looked at the soda can in his hand.

The cool metallic touch came from my palm, and a thin layer of water droplets condensed on the surface of the can.

He pulled the tab, and the sound of carbonated bubbles echoed in the corridor, the sweet aroma of honeydew melon melting on his tongue.

It really does taste good.

"Should we go to Mr. Nanami's place to submit our report tomorrow?" Kugizaki suddenly asked.

"Um."

"Then you should go to sleep early. Mr. Nanami hates people who are late the most."

Four people stood in front of the vending machine and finished their sodas.

A night breeze blew by, carrying the damp scent unique to early summer.

Li Ren looked up and saw the outline of the teaching building in the distance swallowed up by the night, with only a few windows still lit.

One of the doors is probably Nanami's office.

He had only just begun his journey to becoming a sorcerer.

But at least for now, he's not walking alone.

"Let's go, let's go back to sleep." Kugizaki threw the empty can into the trash can and turned to walk back.

Fu Hei followed.

Itadori patted Rito on the shoulder: "See you tomorrow."

"……See you tomorrow."

Rito watched the three figures disappear at the end of the corridor.

He threw the can into the trash can and turned back to his dormitory.

Saying "See you tomorrow" doesn't seem so difficult anymore.