The next day, Gojo shoved a confused Itadori into a black car and drove with him into the heart of Tokyo's office district.
"Where are we going?" Itadori asked, half-asleep.
"To meet your new mentor," Gojo said with a smirk, biting into a steamed bun.
They stopped near an unremarkable office building. Gojo led Itadori inside, up to the rooftop. There, standing with a black suit, tie, and thick-rimmed glasses, was a man who looked like he had just come from a board meeting.
Kento Nanami.
He didn't even glance at them at first, too busy adjusting his watch.
"Yo! Nanamin~!" Gojo called out.
Nanami gave him the briefest look of irritation. "Stop calling me that."
Itadori tilted his head. "Uh, who's this guy?"
Gojo grinned. "This is Kento Nanami. He's gonna train you for a bit."
Nanami finally turned. "I didn't agree to that."
"You're a salaryman turned sorcerer. Perfect mix of logic and misery. Teach the kid some discipline," Gojo said, gently pushing Itadori forward like a package being delivered.
Nanami sighed. "And what will you be doing?"
Gojo pointed at his own head. "Bit dizzy. Need rest. Probably shopping. Might eat cake."
Nanami muttered something inaudible and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine."
Gojo gave them both a wink. "Good luck! Don't die~!" And just like that, he was gone.
Left behind, Itadori and Nanami stared awkwardly at each other.
Nanami adjusted his tie. "Let's go. There's been a string of strange murders. Victims found with disfigured bodies, all in the same subway tunnel."
"Sounds… fun?" Itadori said, unsure.
Nanami didn't smile. "It's work."
They arrived at the subway station. Yellow tape blocked off the tunnel, but they slipped past it easily.
Inside, the air was damp and the lights flickered.
"Three people died in here over the past week," Nanami explained, walking with steady steps. "No witnesses. Just mangled bodies."
As they ventured deeper, Itadori felt it—a curse. The air grew heavy.
Nanami stopped. "You feel that?"
"Yeah," Itadori said, clenching his fists.
"Good. Stay behind me. We exorcise it cleanly, or we fall back."
Suddenly, a grotesque figure crawled out from a crack in the wall—its arms too long, its mouth stitched shut. Its cursed energy was wild, untamed.
Itadori tensed. "Is this the one?"
"One of many," Nanami said. "Let's test your progress."
The battle began.