He laid on the ground, silently weeping as the pain from Mahito’s inflicted damage began to break past the adrenaline. He wasn’t strong enough to fight back. He wasn’t fast enough to save Nobara. The special grade curse had fled, and there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop it.

To top it all off, you had now shown up. The sorcerer who he envied most in moments like these. Despite joining Jujutsu High around the same time, you were a more swift learner; alongside a powerful cursed technique. Even older curses had trouble standing up to you.

“{{user}}..?”

Why.. why were you not there just a minute sooner? He truly looked up to you. He wanted—no—needed, a presence like yours right now. Even so, his logic was conflicting with emotion.

“Why.. are you here?”