Yuji's breathing was labored; he was missing an arm, and his cursed energy was undoubtedly very low. He was in a relatively safe place.
- Okkotsu, cursed one, you left me weak and tired, so I won't be able to fight. I'll be forced to rest for this month, and the next time I see you, Yuta Okkotsu, I won't knock you unconscious, I'll kill you with my own hands.-
Then Yuji left for a secluded place, tired and exhausted. The boy couldn't fight, but he had exhausted the strongest of that era, Yuta Okkotsu.
- What did you say to him?-
Maki didn't respond to Yuta's question. The short, black-haired boy waited calmly, waiting for her to tell him what happened.
- I refused. I didn't want to be in a low-pressure relationship and witness him killing. It's not nice, Yuta... What do you think about you and me leaving this shitty world after all this is over?- Maki turned to look at Yuta, her voice thick with tiredness, a tiredness Yuta shared.
- I'll think about it, but right now our priority is Yuuji, so we can think about that later?-
- Yes, I understand you perfectly, but I don't know if that calms my nerves. I don't want any children I have to force themselves into this world.-
- You talk about having children as if it were already a given.-
There was a brief silence. Maki looked at Yuta, and Yuta looked at Maki.
- Well, it's a given.- Maki turned her attention once again to the now-destroyed city of Saitama.
Yuta's eyes were wide open, a deep blush on his cheeks. The boy didn't think he could bear those insinuations any longer.
- I don't understand women sometimes.- Yuta lowered his voice, not wanting Maki to hear him, and yet the girl heard him clearly.
- You don't have to understand women, you just have to understand me.- Maki turned around, sensing Yuta's gaze on her back. Maki moved her hips slightly, trying to provoke Yuta, but the boy instantly looked away. A small laugh came from Maki, who then went to talk to the others.
When Maki arrived with the others, she nodded.
- He's awake,-
the girl whispered to the others. They heard her and felt relieved. Kusakabe went and grabbed the communicator that helped them communicate with those in Kyoto.
- Kyoto, this is Tokyo. Yuta Okkotsu is awake, although tired, awake.-
There was an uneasy silence on the other end, worrying Kusakabe.
- Kyoto?-
- I'm sorry, I didn't have it in my hand. I'm glad, Kusakabe. I hope things get better now.- Utahime Iori spoke on the other end, a little tired.
- Yes, I hope so too. Okkotsu has been unconscious for a week. He needs to recover, but don't doubt it's endless. Utahime, we can stop this... but we still don't know how.- Kusakabe put down the communicator, knowing that Utahime wasn't one to talk much right now.
Flashback.
- Are you strong?-
- Of course I am. I'm strong, Yuji. Why are you asking something so obvious?-
-It's just that I don't know what to do. I don't know how to act knowing I'm going to die...-
- Yuji, you're young. Leave those things to the adults. In the end, I'm the strongest.-
The smile on the white-haired man who died in Shinjuku was like a storm for several people. In the end, he was a mentor, a friend, a colleague, a hope, and especially the strongest, the honorable one.
- You're not strong, you're just... The Honorable One.-
Sukuna, with a smile on his face, spoke to Satoru, who was lying split in two on the ground.
- Satoru Gojo... today I name you... The strongest among the weak.-
End of flashback.
- Sensei, I'm not strong... I'm too weak, I'm not cut out for this.-
The rustling of leaves mingled with the splashing of a nearby river. Yuji was resting there, a calm expression on his face as those memories flashed through his mind.
- Are you strong because you're Satoru Gojo? Or are you Satoru Gojo because you're the strongest?-
Yuji whispered the same question Satoru's best friend, his former mentor, now deceased, had asked him. In his heart, the pain lingered, silent, calm, sowing a curse in him, a horrible curse.
The place was silent, the only thing that could be heard was the constant sound of falling water. Shortly after, a door opened, and out came Fushiguro Megumi, better known as the Potential Man. Megumi reached for a drawer, took out some clothes, and then began searching for something else, until he found it: a small photo of himself, his teacher, and his sister, a vision that Megumi treasures with all his heart.
- Being the leader of the Zenin clan is stressful. Now I believe more in the possibility of leaving the position to Maki. I think it's a good idea.-
Megumi whispered, then entered his room. He had met his classmates not long ago and allowed them to stay in the Zenin compound. When Megumi entered, he caught everyone's attention. Seeing that no one was missing, they dispersed to calm their nerves.
Let's go with Yuta (again)
The boy was resting, remembering how Maki was forced to flee from the fight against Yuji, causing an intense headache to come to him. Memories he didn't know existed came back, like how he met Yuji when they were little. But Yuta himself knew that wasn't true, since he never met Itadori, much less could he have met him in the past. He knew something else was going on, and Yuji Itadori was the solution to those memories he hadn't seen before. With a long sigh, Yuta lay down, allowing Morpheus to take him away. But once again, that dream, in that same cursed forest, Rika's voice calling him. It was a dream, a nightmare, seeking to break him. A small tear fell from Yuta's eyes. Even outside of his dream, Maki, who was once again by his side to take care of him, realized this and immediately approached, noticing slight changes. What anyone would overlook, but she was Maki Zenin. She wasn't just anyone. She's just like Toji. Maki leaned closer to Yuta. She wanted to comfort him, but she didn't know how. So the green-haired girl decided to simply lie down beside him and hug him. She wasn't a girl who knew anything about relationships. Not even her sister knew about that. But she was going to try anyway.
- Calm down, Yuta. I'm by your side.- Maki hugged Yuta tighter. She didn't want to let go of him. In the end, she loved him more than anything, but not as much as her sister.
Maki could feel Yuta trembling, but that trembling faded. But what happened? Let's look at Yuta's dreams.
Yuta was even more confused now. He heard Maki and Rika's voices calling him, but he decided to go to the one he trusted the most. He went to Maki's voice. He knew the decision because on the path where Rika's voice was, there was a spectral being watching him walk away.
-Everything is going as planned.- The disappeared being, along with Rika's voice, left with him.
Yuta arrived where Maki's voice was calling him and found her in a bind. She was being crushed by a tree. Yuta had a small question about why Maki didn't use her superhuman strength. But he didn't pay attention to it, so he helped Maki. Her body was shaking, not from exertion, but from her conflicting emotions. But when he pulled Maki out, she whispered the same words Maki outside had said to Yuta, allowing him to sleep peacefully.