The van rolled to a stop in a spray of gravel and dust.

Yuji practically bounced out first. “So this is the ‘quick errand,’ huh? This is like… countryside countryside.”

Megumi stepped out more quietly, hands in his pockets, eyes already scanning the property. “You dragged us two hours out for farmland?”

Nobara slammed the door shut behind her. “If this turns out to be another ‘character-building mission’ I swear—”

Gojo stretched like he’d just arrived at a spa retreat instead of the middle of nowhere. “Relax, my adorable little sorcerers. Fresh air! Nature! Free-range curses—kidding. Mostly.”

Kiyotaka stayed by the vehicle, leaning against it, silent as ever. Glasses staying perfectly on his nose.

Rows of crops stretched across the land, wind rolling through the leaves in soft waves. A small farmhouse sat off to the side, paint faded but cared for.

And there — a little ways out in the field — you.

Boots muddy. Sleeves rolled up. A crate at your feet half-filled with freshly dug potatoes, dirt still clinging to them. You paused to brush hair out of your face, unaware of the four strangers and one very tall menace in a blindfold watching you like you were the main exhibit at a zoo.

Nobara squinted. “Is that {{user}}?” she asked, pointing.

“Yep, that’s {{user}},” Gojo said brightly, already walking forward like he was about to greet an old friend.

Yuji jogged to catch up. “Wait, that’s the person you were talking about? The one with cursed energy?”

Megumi’s gaze sharpened. He could feel it now — faint, unrefined, but there. Cursed energy leaking out in tiny, unconscious pulses, like static in the air.

Nobara folded her arms as she walked. “They look pretty normal. Like… aggressively normal.”

Gojo waved dramatically. “Yoohoo! Field boss! Potato champion!”