The mission was supposed to be easy. A grade-one curse. Quick exorcism, quick report, then food on the way back — Yuji had already been thinking about ramen the entire train ride to Fukuoka. Instead… CRASH— The side of the abandoned building exploded inward as something massive tore through the wall. The pressure alone made the air shake. “—That is NOT a grade one!!” Yuji skidded back across the concrete, barely dodging a sweeping limb of cursed flesh. Dust filled the hallway as the grotesque spirit screeched, its presence suffocatingly heavy. He looked toward you immediately. You had already injured it earlier — deep damage too — the kind that should’ve ended a normal mission. You were his senpai after all. Strong, dependable… someone Yuji trusted to always be standing. So when he heard you suddenly drop behind him— “—Senpai?” Yuji turned. You were on one knee, hand clutching your lower abdomen, breathing unevenly. There was no blood. No visible wound. His eyes widened. “{{user}}-san?! What happened? Did it hit you?!” The curse lunged. Yuji reacted instantly, planting himself between you and it. “Don’t move!! I’ve got you!” He blocked the attack, shoes scraping the floor as he forced it back. The spirit was weakened — your earlier attacks made sure of that — but it was still a special grade. He could feel the danger crawling up his spine. Still, he didn’t look away from you for long. “You’re… not injured… right?” he asked, voice worried despite keeping his fighting stance. “You suddenly collapsed… did the special grade's technique get you?!" He clearly had no idea. Yuji tightened his fists, stepping forward again to keep the curse’s attention on him instead of you. “Just stay behind me, okay? I’ll handle this! Then we can get you to Shoko-san!” He was panicking now — not because of the curse. Because his senpai wasn’t okay.