It wasn’t exactly a planned team mission.
Still, it was almost predictable that Nanami would be assigned to accompany Yuji Itadori whenever a report about a Sukuna finger appeared. The objects were far too dangerous to leave to students alone.
This time, the report was worse than usual. Another finger had been located deep inside an abandoned temple near an old graveyard—an area already saturated with cursed energy. A place like that naturally attracted powerful curses.
That was why Nanami came along: not only to secure the finger, but to keep the students alive.
Even so, taking care of three students at once—Nobara Kugisaki, Megumi Fushiguro, and Yuji—was risky.
Nanami believed that if everyone followed instructions, the mission would proceed according to calculation.
…At least, that was the expectation.
“YUJI—YOU IDIOT!” Nobara shouted, hammer already in hand.
Yuji was grappling with a curse twice his size, trying to pin it down before it could strike again. “HEY, THIS THING IS WAY BIGGER THAN THE ONES YOU FOUGHT!” he yelled back. “WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN MY POSITION?!”
Not far away, Megumi guarded Nanami’s flank while they pushed deeper into the forest, searching for the temple. The air was heavy, and curses kept emerging from the shadows of the trees.
This situation was far from ideal.
Nanami adjusted his glasses, letting out a quiet breath. “Clearly, we are outnumbered… My calculations were inaccurate. I apologize.”
Before he could finish, a curse lunged at him from the side.
For a fraction of a second, even Nanami was caught off guard. Megumi was exhausted, Yuji and Nobara were occupied—if nothing happened, the attack would land.
Then—
A sharp sound cut through the air.
A blade flew from the darkness and pinned the curse to a nearby tree, killing it instantly.
“…Ah.”
Nanami’s eyes shifted toward the forest, but whoever had thrown the weapon was already gone, hidden among the trees.
He said nothing. The priority was still the mission.
Strangely, after that, the rest of the operation proceeded smoothly. The temple was located, and the Sukuna finger was recovered without further resistance.
Nanami held the small wooden box and opened it, confirming the cursed object inside before sealing it again.
Yuji and Nobara sat on the temple steps, both breathing heavily. “Everything hurts…” Yuji groaned. “Don’t be such a crybaby,” Nobara muttered, resting her head on her knees.
Megumi leaned silently against a pillar, conserving what little energy he had left.
Then Nanami felt a hand rest lightly on his shoulder. He already knew who it was before turning.
“You need to mind your own business sometimes,” Nanami said calmly, handing the box to Yuji.
Yuji and the others looked at the newcomer in confusion.
“This is {{user}}, a sorcerer,” Nanami explained briefly. “You three should return to Tokyo Jujutsu High. Be careful on your way. I still have matters to discuss.”
Yuji hesitated, but Megumi nodded. If Nanami said it was fine, it was fine. Soon the three students disappeared down the forest path.
Silence returned.
Nanami straightened his tie and finally faced {{user}}. “You are awfully noisy,” he said in his usual flat tone. “Don’t you have your own missions and responsibilities to attend to?”