"The certificate of commendation and the prize for the finest work in the national book report competition goes to... Itou Shouta."

The announcement echoed through the packed gymnasium as the audience erupted into applause. A young high school boy, Shouta, walked up to the stage. His expression was a mix of bashfulness and pride as he approached the podium to accept the certificate handed to him.

"One, two..." A group of girls suddenly squealed from the audience, shouting in perfect unison, "Shouta-senpai!"

Shouta froze for a brief second, then waved at them with a wide smile. The girls screamed louder, utterly charmed, while a few of his classmates chuckled under their breath or looked envious.

"Gosh, they're embarrassing me," Shouta muttered to the staff member standing beside him, scratching the back of his neck as if trying to play it cool. Then, without missing a beat, he walked off the stage, joining his fellow male classmates with an air of confidence. His friends greeted him with a mix of cheers and playful punches on the arm, clearly impressed.

The announcer continued, their voice filled with pride, "We are extremely pleased to have a student of our school as the winner of such an honorable award."

The crowd murmured in agreement, their admiration for Shouta evident in their faces. To them, he seemed like the perfect student—bright, charming, and talented. His easy smile and confident demeanor captivated everyone, leaving no room for doubt about his character.

But beneath the polished exterior, there was a truth that no one seemed to know. Shouta wasn't as honorable as he appeared. He had taken advantage of another classmate to win this prestigious award, though no one in the room seemed the least bit suspicious. All eyes were focused on him with admiration, oblivious to the cracks in his perfect façade.

As the applause died down and the ceremony carried on, a faint sense of unease began to creep into the air. A handful of students glanced toward the gym's windows, their attention drawn away from the stage by something outside. The mood shifted slightly, and hushed whispers began to spread among the crowd.

"What is that?" a student whispered, his voice barely audible over the announcer's words.

"Huh? Where?" another asked, turning to follow his friend's gaze.

Outside the gym, something unnatural stirred. It was difficult to make out at first—just a vague, ominous shape lingering in the distance. But whatever it was, it sent a shiver through the students who caught sight of it. It felt... wrong, like the air had suddenly grown heavier.

Junpei did his best to keep calm, but his heart was racing as he stood at the edge of Mahito's black veil. Watching the cursed spirit conjure such an ominous barrier around the school made his stomach churn, but he forced himself to stand tall. He couldn't afford to look weak, not now. He clenched his fists, steadying his breath, hoping that [Name]'s plan would actually work. Deep down, he was terrified. The last thing he wanted was for Mahito to grow tired of him and turn him into a curse—or worse.

His mother's words echoed in his mind, a faint reassurance amid his fear. Come back safely, Junpei. That promise he made to her was the only thing keeping his resolve intact. He couldn't fail her. Not her. And not [Name].

Once the veil completely encased the area, Junpei stepped into the gym. His footsteps echoed in the eerie silence, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on a familiar figure—his old homeroom teacher. His chest tightened as a wave of hatred surged through him. This was the man who had turned a blind eye to his suffering. The man who had let the bullying go unchecked, ignoring Junpei's cries for help, leaving him to endure torment day after day. And now here he was, scrambling in panic, trying to save someone else.

"H-Hey! What's wrong with you guys!?" the teacher stammered, his voice shaking as he knelt by one of the unconscious students. He shook the boy's shoulders, his terror mounting. "Get a grip! Are you okay?!"

Junpei's lip curled in disgust. The sight of the teacher, so frantic and desperate, made his blood boil. He'd never seen that kind of concern directed at him. Where was that energy when Junpei had been broken, humiliated, left to fend for himself? He gritted his teeth, the hatred bubbling up, threatening to consume him. For a moment, he imagined what it would feel like to let that rage take over, to lash out and make them all suffer like he had.

But then, his thoughts shifted—to his mother, to [Name]. He forced himself to take a deep breath, pushing down the ugliness inside him. Revenge wasn't why he was here. He didn't want to stoop to their level. He had to be better than that. After all, [Name] saw him as someone worth fighting for. He didn't want to lose that, to lose them. And his mom... she deserved to see him become someone stronger, someone who could walk away from the pain instead of drowning in it.

Junpei's eyes flicked back to the teacher. The man was still shouting, his voice cracking as he tried to rouse another unconscious student.

"You only care now," Junpei thought bitterly, his hands curling into fists at his sides. His voice remained quiet, but his mind screamed the words. "Where were you when I needed you? When I begged for someone to help me?"

He glanced around the gym. Most of his former classmates were slumped over, unconscious—a result of the plan he'd worked out with Mahito. It made things easier this way. Nobody would interfere. Nobody could get in the way of what he and [Name] needed to do. But even as he stood there, he couldn't shake the loathing he felt for this place, for these people who had made his life hell.

Still, Junpei reminded himself why he was here. This wasn't about them. He wasn't doing this to prove anything to his classmates or his teacher. This was about keeping his mom safe. About supporting [Name] and stopping Mahito. And about making sure he could have a future—one where he could maybe go to [Name]'s high school, one where he wasn't shackled by this hatred. If this went well, maybe... maybe he could leave it all behind.

Junpei exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room again. Everything was in place. The black veil, the unconscious students, the panicked teacher. All of it was as planned. Now he just had to trust that [Name] was ready.

"This has to work," he muttered under his breath, gripping the hem of his jacket. For his mom, for himself, and for [Name], it had to work.

"Don't worry, they're not dead," Junpei's voice rang out, cold and detached. The words immediately caught the teacher's attention, and the man gasped audibly as his eyes landed on Junpei, standing tall in the gym. His face twisted in a mixture of shock and recognition. Junpei could see it—the man knew exactly who he was. Good. You didn't forget the things you didn't do, Junpei thought bitterly, his chest tightening with the flood of memories.

Junpei wasn't here to kill anyone, that much he knew. He had no intention of taking lives, but that didn't mean he'd show kindness to this man. Not after everything he'd endured. Junpei clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. He knew if he wanted to follow the path of a Jujutsu Sorcerer, it would eventually mean letting go of his hatred. It would mean saving people, no matter if they were good or bad. But today wasn't that day. Today, he wasn't going to forgive or forget. Not yet.

He stepped closer, his sharp gaze locked on his former homeroom teacher, who now looked small and pathetic in his fear. The teacher's panicked breathing filled the silence, and Junpei could feel the man's unease like static in the air.

"Y-Yoshino?" The teacher stammered, his voice trembling with fear. His eyes darted around the room as if searching for an explanation that wouldn't come. "Why... Wait, do you know what's going on here?"

Junpei didn't answer right away. Instead, he let the question hang in the air, his silence heavy and deliberate. Finally, he spoke, his tone ice cold, "Sensei."

The single word was enough to send a shiver down the teacher's spine. Junpei had no intention of giving this man the answers he wanted. No, Junpei had other plans. He wanted this man to feel something—regret, fear, guilt, anything close to what Junpei had felt back then. If nothing else, he would leave this man with the weight of his own failures. Better than going through with Mahito's plan. That cursed spirit was nothing short of sick in Junpei's eyes.

Slowly, Junpei raised his hand and brushed back his bangs, revealing the cigarette burn scars that littered his forehead. They were a testament to the torment he had endured, scars that he carried every single day. His voice was calm but carried an edge that cut deep, "Make sure you're watching..."

The teacher's face drained of color as his eyes locked onto the scars. His mouth opened slightly in shock, trembling as recognition dawned on him. "You... Those scars..." he muttered, barely able to get the words out.

"That's right," Junpei said, his voice unwavering. "These scars are proof of the hell I went through under your watch."

For a moment, Junpei stood there, his scars on full display, his gaze unflinching. He could see it—the guilt flashing across the teacher's face. It was pathetic, really. This man, who had done nothing when Junpei had suffered so much, now looked like he was ready to crumble under the weight of his conscience. Junpei felt a flicker of vindication, but it was fleeting.

"I-" The teacher tried to speak, his voice faltering as if he were about to apologize.

Junpei didn't let him finish. He cut him off sharply, his words slicing through the man's feeble attempt at remorse. "Don't apologize. It's too little, too late." His voice dripped with disdain as he turned his back on the man, walking away without looking back. "Save your excuses for someone who cares. Maybe you can say them to whoever's waiting for you in hell. Whether it's here on Earth or after you die... I'm sure you'll end up in both."

And with that, Junpei walked away, leaving the teacher frozen in place, his guilt and fear consuming him. Junpei didn't care anymore. He had bigger things to focus on. His mom. [Name]. And stopping Mahito. That's what mattered now. The past could rot where it belonged.

"That's what's already happened and what's about to happen," Junpei muttered to himself as he fixed his cold gaze on Shouta, who was standing frozen on the stage. He felt the anger simmering beneath his calm exterior, but he couldn't let it show—not completely. Junpei knew he had to act the part, to sell this performance to Mahito, who was surely watching his every move somehow. He couldn't afford to let the curse spirit suspect that his loyalty was wavering or that something bigger was in motion. He just needed to buy time—time for [Name] to get there.

"Y-Yoshino..." Shouta stammered quietly, fear dripping from his voice as his eyes darted around, looking for an escape.

Junpei didn't let him finish. He spoke with icy calmness, stepping closer to the terrified boy. "I have a question for you," he said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "Are you the one who left that in my home?" His tone was venomous, his words loaded with accusation.

Of course, Junpei knew the answer to his own question. You didn't do it, he thought bitterly. But Mahito needs to believe I'm going through with this revenge plan. No room for doubt. His fists clenched at his sides as he took another step forward, the tension in the room thick enough to suffocate.

"What are you talking about—" Shouta's panicked voice was cut off as his eyes widened in horror. Black spots began to spread rapidly across his arms, creeping up his skin like a dark, living plague. He staggered backward, his voice rising in pitch. "Wh-What is this? What did you do to me?!"

Junpei didn't flinch. He kept his expression cold, detached, even though part of him wanted to laugh bitterly at how quickly Shouta broke down. You won't die, idiot, he thought to himself, though he didn't say it aloud. He couldn't risk Mahito catching on to his real intentions. If he were Mahito, he'd have eyes or something watching this moment. That was just the kind of twisted, calculated game the curse spirit would play.

What Shouta didn't know was that Junpei had spent most of the night training with [Name], trying to figure out how to use his cursed energy effectively. The technique he'd unleashed wasn't poison that would kill—it was a paralyzing toxin. It looked deadly, but it would wear off in about five hours, leaving Shouta feeling sick and weak but otherwise unharmed.

"That's no good," Junpei said flatly before punching Shouta square in the face. The force sent Shouta tumbling to the ground with a loud thud, groaning in pain as he hit the floor. Junpei crouched down beside him, his shadow looming over the other boy like a predator eyeing its prey. He stared down at Shouta, his voice dropping to a dark, chilling tone.

"Do you still think you're in a position to answer my questions with more questions?" Junpei's voice was sharp, laced with contempt as he leaned in closer. "You're going to die. Whether your answer is yes or no. After all, I don't have a technique to see through your lies, and you've already done more than enough to earn this." His lips curled into a cruel smirk, though his eyes betrayed nothing but disdain. "So show some sincerity in your final moments, at least."

Junpei felt his pulse hammering in his ears as the words left his mouth. He didn't mean them—not completely. He had no intention of killing Shouta, no matter how much the boy had wronged him. But he needed Mahito to believe this was real, to believe Junpei was fully committed to their twisted plan. At most, Shouta would wake up feeling like absolute garbage in a few hours. Junpei wouldn't shed a tear over that. After all, this guy had taken advantage of Junpei and so many other students, tormenting them without a second thought.

You deserve to feel a fraction of the hell I went through, Junpei thought, standing up and looking down at Shouta one last time. His fists trembled slightly as he clenched them by his sides, though his expression remained cold. He didn't like playing this role, but it was the only way to keep Mahito's suspicions at bay and to buy [Name] the time they needed.

I just have to hold on a little longer, Junpei told himself, turning away from the pitiful sight of Shouta crumpled on the ground. For my mom, for [Name]... I can do this. But deep down, a flicker of doubt gnawed at him. Could he keep up this act for much longer? Could he really hold back the hatred that had been festering inside him for so long? For now, all he could do was move forward, step by step, and hope it would all be worth it in the end.

"And I'm... sorry..." Shouta muttered weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. His trembling form lay paralyzed on the ground, his eyes darting between Junpei and his surroundings, pleading silently for some kind of mercy. "I'm so sorry. I... I didn't mean... I didn't know..."

Shouta's words hit Junpei like a punch to the gut. The apologies kept coming, spilling out of the boy in shaky, desperate bursts. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Shouta repeated, almost frantically now, like a mantra, his voice cracking under the weight of his fear.

Junpei stood over him, unmoving. He had waited for this moment for so long, imagining how satisfying it would be to see Shouta reduced to nothing but a begging mess. This was supposed to feel good. Shouta was finally suffering, finally getting a taste of the misery he had inflicted on Junpei. But instead of satisfaction, there was only a hollow ache growing inside him.

As Shouta's voice cracked and faltered, Junpei felt his anger fading, replaced by something heavier and far more unsettling. His chest tightened, and his stomach churned. Why don't I feel better? he thought, his brows furrowing. Why isn't this enough?

Shouta whimpered again, another weak "I'm sorry..." falling from his lips. And in that moment, Junpei realized something that froze him in place—this wasn't going to change anything.

The cigarette burns on his forehead wouldn't heal. The loneliness, the pain, the humiliation—none of it would be erased by making Shouta suffer. Shouta's apologies didn't bring him closure; they just reminded Junpei of how broken everything was. His hatred hadn't been a shield—it had been a chain, and now, even as he held power over someone who had tormented him, he felt more trapped than ever.

He clenched his fists tightly at his sides, trembling. [Name]'s words suddenly echoed in his mind, words he hadn't wanted to hear before, but now they cut through his thoughts like a blade: "In the end, revenge is only a chain of sadness. It'll never set you free."

Junpei's breathing hitched, his chest feeling like it was caving in. [Name] had warned him about this, tried to tell him that hurting others wouldn't bring him peace. He'd brushed it off then, thinking it was just naïve optimism. But now he could feel the truth of it settling deep in his bones. Revenge wasn't healing him—it was breaking him even further.

"You can't change the past by going back and fixing things. All you can do is keep moving forward." Those were [Name]'s words too. He had resisted them, unwilling to let go of the past, but now he understood what they meant. No matter how much he hurt Shouta, no matter how much Shouta apologized, it wouldn't change the years of suffering Junpei had endured. It wouldn't fix anything. It wouldn't bring his peace.

Shouta's sobbing apologies grew quieter, weaker, and Junpei's eyes burned with unshed tears. "Shut up," he muttered, his voice shaking. "Just... shut up." He wasn't sure who he was talking to—Shouta or himself. He wanted to scream, to cry, to run away. But he didn't move.

For the first time, he truly hated himself for what he had done. However, he couldn't break here. It would ruin everything.

The moment was broken by a loud bang as the gym doors flew open with a force that echoed through the room. Junpei's head snapped up, his body tense as his eyes widened in shock. This wasn't supposed to happen.

"What are you doing... Junpei?!" Itadori's voice rang out, filled with disbelief and panic. The teen stood frozen in the doorway, his wide, horrified eyes locked on Junpei and Shouta.

Fuck me. This wasn't part of the plan. Junpei's heart pounded as he took a step back. Itadori wasn't supposed to be here. Mahito had assured him no one would interfere. And this definitely wasn't [Name]—they wouldn't make such a loud entrance or deviate from the plan. No, Itadori was an unexpected variable, and Junpei wasn't prepared for this.

"Itadori..." Junpei muttered, his voice wavering as he tried to keep calm. His mind raced, desperate to figure out what to do next. Panic was bubbling under the surface, but he couldn't afford to lose his composure now. Mahito couldn't find out that Junpei wasn't following through with the plan—that he'd never planned to even do it in the first place. Junpei knew the curse spirit would punish him in ways he didn't even want to imagine.

Itadori took a step closer, his expression shifting from shock to a mixture of hurt and confusion. "Junpei... what's going on here? What are you doing?!"

Junpei's breath hitched, guilt clawing at his chest. He glanced down at Shouta, who was still paralyzed on the floor, and then back at Itadori. "It's not what it looks like," he said quietly, though even he didn't believe his own words if he was in Itadori's shoes.

Itadori wasn't looking for an explanation—he was looking for the friend he had shared dinner with, the boy whose mom had been so kind and welcoming. And now, seeing Junpei in this state, with Shouta lying helpless on the ground, Itadori could barely process what he was seeing.

Junpei clenched his fists, his voice shaking as he tried to explain. But deep down, he knew there was no easy way to fix this. Everything was falling apart, and he could feel the weight of his choices pressing down on him. He had to figure out a way to salvage the plan—for [Name], for his mom, and for himself. But for now, all he could do was face the consequences of what he'd started.

whoops. this is more junpei's pov but i wanted to show more of him since he won't be dead in this arc. plus it helps build up for when [name] comes in. which is going to be soon! i hope you guys liked this so far. please consider commenting and everything! would love to respond to you guys. until next time~

My other works found through my profile:

Who You Are [MHA x Sakura Kinomoto!Reader]

Scarlet Vision [Twisted Wonderland x Scarlet Witch!Reader]

[Hiatus] Prince [Blue Lock x Akashi/Kuroko!Reader]

Roam [Genshin Impact x Pokemon Trainer!Reader]

[Currently Reading] Star [Jujustu Kaisen x Lucy Heartfilia!Reader]

Story [AOT x KNY!Reader]

It Lives [HunterxHunter x Megumi Fushiguro!Reader]

Home [All Of Us Are Dead x KNY!Reader]

Don't Leave [Solo Leveling x Bam!Reader]

Story Ideas

Kiss [Young Justice x Wendy Marvell!Reader]

My World [Digimon 01 x Reader]

Ghost [ORV x Sung Jinwoo!Reader]

Supreme [Tower of God x Joker (Persona 5)!Reader]