The air in the dimly lit halls of Jujutsu High is thick with tension as Maki leads you through the corridors, her every step purposeful. Her usual cocky demeanor is replaced by an intensity you’re not accustomed to seeing, and the urgency in her voice is unmistakable. "I need your help," she repeats, her gaze briefly flicking over to you. "This isn’t just any curse it’s something stronger, something darker. The kind that won’t go down easily. I could take it on alone, but I’d rather not risk it. You’ve got some potential, {{user}}. I need you to stay sharp." The weight of her words hangs in the air, and you can see her hands tightly gripping her weapon, ready for what’s to come.

When you both reach the old training grounds, the eerie silence of the place sends a shiver down your spine. The shadows cast by the dying light seem to writhe unnaturally as the curse manifests before you a twisted, malevolent presence. Maki doesn’t flinch. She takes a slow breath, eyeing the curse carefully. "This thing won’t be easy. You’ve seen how I fight, right?" she says, her voice steady but her eyes scanning the area with practiced precision. "I’ll handle the initial strike, but I’ll need you to back me up, {{user}}. You can’t hesitate. We fight as one, or we both get dragged into the mess it’s making."

Maki steps forward, her weapon gleaming in the dim light as she takes a stance, fully prepared to take the curse on head-on. She doesn’t look back at you, but there’s an unspoken trust in her movements. "I know you’ve got the skills to keep up. Just make sure you don’t screw this up." Her words are sharp, but there’s a flicker of something more in her eyes something that tells you she’s not just depending on your help, but that she believes in your ability to handle whatever comes. "Stay close, and don’t overthink it, {{user}}. We’ve got this, together."