[Name] rapped gently on the apartment door, sliding their phone back into their pocket after confirming to Gojo-sensei that they had arrived safely at Junpei's place. It wasn't long before the door swung open, revealing Junpei's mother, Nagi Yoshino, standing in the doorway with a welcoming smile.

"Hi, Miss Yoshino. I'm here to see Junpei," [Name] greeted warmly, their smile broadening as they saw the familiar face.

Nagi's face lit up with joy, clearly delighted to see her son's friend—or as she playfully suspected, his crush. "It's so great to see you again, [Name]. Come in, come in," she beckoned, stepping aside to allow [Name] to enter.

"Thank you so much," [Name] replied, stepping inside and carefully removing their shoes to place them on the rack. They slipped into a pair of guest slippers provided at the entrance.

"Here, let me take your bag for you," Nagi offered, extending her hand with a gentle laugh.

"Oh, don't worry about it. I've got it," [Name] insisted politely, managing their own bag as they hung it neatly on the coat rack. Nagi nodded in understanding and led the way further into the apartment, with [Name] following close behind, eager to catch up with Junpei.

[Name] took a seat at the kitchen table as Nagi invited them to sit down, offering a warm smile as they settled in. "It's been a while. How have you been keeping up?" Nagi asked, her voice filled with genuine interest as she fetched some refreshments from the kitchen.

"Just the usual—busy with school and everything it entails," [Name] replied, opting to keep the darker aspects of their jujutsu training vague. The idea of discussing curses and their grotesque forms didn't seem like a suitable topic for a friendly visit, especially not with Junpei's mom. They idly wondered if any curses could be considered attractive, a strangely amusing thought that they decided to share with Fushiguro later, despite anticipating his likely dismissive reaction.

Nagi chuckled warmly, bringing over a tray of snacks. "Well, make sure you're not all work and no play. It's important to balance things out," she advised, wagging a finger playfully.

"Absolutely, I'll keep that in mind," [Name] responded, laughing along. If that falls flat they could always be a sugar baby. Joking, joking. But it is rough out here and in this economy. Never mind, they will probably be killed by a curse instead before they could even graduate. Plus, doesn't a full fledged sorcerer get paid more? They need to ask Gojo-sensei later for sure, and maybe the other question is if he ever seen a hot curse. They assumed the one to most likely see one would be their teacher.

Later, [Name] would be in disbelief at the fine curse in front of them as they dodged his Slicing Exorcism ​​attack by the skin of their teeth

"Better than my Yoshi..." Nagi sighed wistfully, her hand resting on her cheek as she gazed into the distance. Her tone carried a blend of hope and resignation, dreaming of a day her son might be regarded as someone prestigious like a doctor, even though she knew the reality might be different. [Name] offered a nervous chuckle, fully aware of the hopes and fears a mother held for her child.

"By the way, is Junpei home?" [Name] asked, pulling Nagi back from her daydreams.

"That kid? Just watching his movies, as usual," Nagi replied with a playful roll of her eyes, her affection for her son evident in her voice.

[Name] smiled warmly. "Then, if you don't mind, I'll go see him." They made a slight, hesitating move from their chair, politely indicating their intention to leave the kitchen.

"Go ahead," Nagi waved her hand dismissively, "but no funny business," she added with a stern look that quickly softened into a teasing smile.

[Name]'s face flushed a deep red, prompting a burst of hearty laughter from Nagi. "Miss Yoshino!" [Name] protested, their hand clutching at their chest like a maiden clutching her pearls.

"I'm just teasing, [Name]!" Nagi chuckled, her laughter filling the room. She enjoyed the light-hearted banter, one of the many joys of interacting with Junpei's friends. She was always careful not to push too far, though; she didn't want to risk alienating the precious few connections her son had. Still, the playful exchanges were a welcome part of their visits, and she hoped they would continue, whether with [Name] or any future friends Junpei might bring home.

"I know, Miss Yoshino," [Name] replied with a playful smile, appreciating the humor and warmth that made their visits enjoyable.

Nagi waved [Name] towards Junpei's room, her voice carrying the warmth of an impending meal. "Now, go on, kid. I'm about to start making dinner. Make sure you're staying," she said, a playful firmness in her tone as she headed towards the refrigerator.

"Sure thing, Miss Yoshino!" [Name] beamed, their voice filled with enthusiasm. They approached Junpei's room, chuckling at the sight of the unique sign on his door. It was a bold, rectangular plaque that read 'Welcome, you should leave', with 'welcome' humorously struck through. Decorated with silhouettes of iconic horror movie characters like Michael Myers and Ghostface, it perfectly reflected Junpei's distinct sense of humor.

[Name] tapped on the door lightly but received no response. The faint strains of music from the band Ice Nine Kills could be heard filtering through the door, set just low enough to not disturb Nagi, who hummed a different tune as she prepared dinner.

Turning the knob gently, finding it unlocked, [Name] pushed the door open, rationalizing that Junpei surely wouldn't mind their entrance. After all, they had made their presence known, even if he hadn't heard them over his music.

Stepping into the dimly lit room, the only source of light was a desk lamp that cast an intimate glow over Junpei, who was deeply engrossed in sketching something. The soft light brushed against the scattered papers and art supplies around him, creating a focused, creative atmosphere.

Quietly approaching, [Name] leaned over Junpei's shoulder, curious about what had so fully captured his attention.

"What are you working on?" [Name] asked, curiosity getting the better of them as they leaned in close enough for their breath to lightly brush against Junpei's cheek.

Junpei let out a sharp, high-pitched squeal, his face flushing a deep shade of red as he jerked back in his chair. "What the hell?!"

"Hey," [Name] greeted nonchalantly, seemingly unfazed by his reaction. Their eyes quickly drifted to the sketch on the table. Before Junpei could react, they snatched up the drawing, examining it closely.

"Hey, give that back!" Junpei protested, half-climbing over [Name]'s back in a desperate attempt to retrieve his artwork. His body leaned heavily against them, his arm stretching forward in vain as [Name] held the drawing just out of reach.

"What the actual fuck is this?" [Name] exclaimed, squinting at the paper as they brought it closer to their face, trying to discern the chaotic lines and shapes Junpei had committed to paper. Junpei, realizing his efforts were futile, slumped off [Name]'s back and trudged over to his bed, covered with a black comforter and two pillows, where he flopped down, still visibly red from embarrassment.

Junpei mumbled defensively, his cheeks burning. "That's the curse that approached me! Can't you see it?" His voice carried a mix of frustration and a plea for understanding, though he knew his artistic skills might not have done the terrifying encounter justice.

[Name] arched an eyebrow, tilting the paper sideways in an attempt to make sense of the chaotic scribbles. "Nope, still not seeing it," they remarked, their voice tinged with amusement. The drawing featured what appeared to be a stick figure with exaggerated, flowing hair and ugly ass clothes. "It just looks like a regular person," they concluded, flicking the paper dismissively with the back of their hand.

Junpei's frustration bubbled over as he jabbed aggressively at the drawing. "Look closer! Can't you see? He has stitches all over his face! That's not normal!" There was a touch of desperation in his voice, hoping [Name] would see beyond his amateur art skills.

[Name], however, was unconvinced, shaking their head. "Nope, stitches aren't that unusual anymore. I just saw a TikTok the other day where someone went to a tattoo parlor to get stitches inked on their face, just like Juuzou from 'Tokyo Ghoul'." They paused, contemplating the pain threshold required for such a procedure.

Junpei stared at them, momentarily taken aback. "You're joking, right?"

"Nope, dead serious," [Name] affirmed, nodding emphatically.

Junpei threw his hands up in exasperation, flopping back onto his bed. "That's total bullshit."

"I swear, it's true!" [Name] insisted, tossing the sketch aside as they let out a resigned sigh, amused by Junpei's skepticism. Again, [Name] squinted at the drawing, turning it this way and that, a bemused expression plastered on their face. "Nope, still not seeing it," they said, holding the paper at arm's length and then bringing it closer to their nose, as if that might magically reveal hidden details. "All I see is a stick figure who might have tripped into a sewing kit."

Junpei groaned, his patience wearing thin. "It's a curse, I swear! Look at the stitches on its face!"

[Name] glanced at the paper again, their face a mask of mock concentration. "Are you sure it's not just a fashion statement? Maybe your curse is just into body mod art, you know like tattoos." They shrugged nonchalantly, waving the paper like a fan.

Junpei's eyes widened in frustration. "It's not a punk rock or goth or whatever style enthusiast, [Name]! It's a real curse!"

"Uh-huh," [Name] drawled, a mischievous twinkle in their eye. "And next, you'll tell me it asked you for directions to the nearest Hot Topic, right?"

Junpei flopped back on his bed, exasperated. "I'm serious!"

[Name] chuckled, tossing the drawing onto Junpei's desk with a theatrical flourish. "Okay, okay, Picasso. If you say it's a curse, then it's a very... uniquely artistic curse." They grinned, clearly enjoying the playful banter at Junpei's expense. However, they realized something.

[Name] leaned back, an incredulous look spreading across their face. "Hold up. How is that thing even considered a curse? It looks just like any regular person!"

Junpei rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish grin flickering over his features. "Well, he told me he was born from people's collective hatred. Kinda edgy, right? Makes me cringe a bit now."

[Name] grimaced in agreement, their voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, totally gives off that 'I'm so misunderstood' vibe. Super emo."

"Yeah," Junpei chuckled, a bit more relaxed now. "He kinda has that look, doesn't he? Imagine him with jet black hair or something."

[Name] couldn't help but chuckle, covering their mouth to muffle the sound. "You must have been absolutely spellbound when he dropped that line on you."

Junpei offered a half-shrug, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. "Not gonna lie, it was kind of mesmerizing. Especially when he... well, transformed those bullies. It was like something out of a horror movie."

Junpei's emotions churned tumultuously within him as he saw the discomfort on their face, a whirlpool of loyalty, pain, and an underlying sense of helplessness. He admired [Name]—their courage, their unshakeable resolve, and their seemingly infinite capacity for compassion, even toward those who might not deserve it. But as he sat there, listening to [Name] speak about their duty to save others, no matter the cost, a shadow of doubt darkened his thoughts.

He understood the nobility in their purpose, the heroism that compelled them to stand against curses to protect both the innocent and the not-so-innocent. Yet, deep down, a part of him recoiled at the idea of extending mercy to those who had made his life a living nightmare. It wasn't just about revenge; it was about justice, or at least, what Junpei perceived as justice.

The room seemed to shrink around him, the walls closing in as he wrestled with his own conflicted feelings. He wanted to support [Name], to stand by them as they ventured into dangerous territories, fighting battles he could hardly comprehend. Yet, the gnawing fear that one day they might not return from one of those battles was almost too much to bear.

"I just... I hope you know what you're doing," Junpei finally murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes, clouded with a mix of fear and resolve, met [Name]'s. "I mean, it's incredible what you do, but please, just be careful."

[Name] offered him a reassuring smile, one that was meant to comfort but which carried the weight of the world they faced as they grabbed onto his hand. Junpei looked at their joined hands and couldn't help but squeeze [Name]'s hand. "I know it's hard to understand sometimes, but I've got to try. It's who I am, Junpei."

The sincerity in their voice pierced through his doubts, reminding him of the depth of their conviction. Junpei nodded, forcing a smile despite the turmoil inside him. "I know. And I'll be here, cheering you on. Just... make sure you come back, okay?"

The promise hung between them, a silent vow that neither of them could guarantee but which they both desperately hoped to keep. As [Name] stood up to leave, Junpei felt a pang of protectiveness surge through him.

"I'll do my best." [Name] said after a moment. It would be cruel of them to tell him, they will come back each time. They knew it wasn't possible. It is fairly easy for a sorcerer to die in the hands of a curse.

[Name] shifted uneasily, the room suddenly feeling too small, too confining as Junpei's words about Mahito hung heavily between them. "Either way, I'll talk to my sensei about this... curse," they finally said, trying to steer the conversation into a more constructive direction. The notion of such a human-like curse existing was troubling, and Junpei's account suggested something sinister at play.

They couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that Mahito's interest in Junpei wasn't just a passing whim. Curses, especially ones as sentient and manipulative as Mahito appeared to be, didn't just let humans go without reason. "A curse with ulterior motives... we need to figure out what he's after with you," [Name] mused aloud, their brows knitted in concern.

Junpei's expression soured slightly as he recalled their earlier conversations about Gojo-sensei. "The goofy one?" he asked, attempting a lighter tone but falling short.

A brief chuckle escaped [Name] despite the tension. "Yeah, hopefully, he's got something up his sleeve for handling a curse like this." They grabbed the paper they had thrown to the ground, folding it neatly into a compact square to show their teacher later as they tucked it away.

Silence fell for a moment before Junpei, looking visibly unsettled, voiced the question hanging over them. "What do we do now?"

[Name] let out a long sigh, their gaze meeting Junpei's squarely. "I don't know right now, Junpei. But don't worry, we'll figure this out together." They offered a reassuring smile, which Junpei returned, albeit weakly.

Just as they were about to continue, Junpei added hesitantly, "Also... is it a bad time to say he offered to let me use curse energy?"

The room seemed to freeze, [Name]'s eyes widening in disbelief. "What the actual fuck, Junpei?" The words slipped out before they could censor them, their tone a mix of shock and frustration.

"Time for the dinner you two! I hope you both have your clothes on!"

"Mom!"

Laughter rang in the air.

Arc with Junpei and mc is a go! I hope you guys like this and man, i am kinda excited to show some development in the cast. also detective mc and junpei is on the case~ time for some mc loreeee next chapter too. kachow! this is a mini arc before the fight against mahito. hope you guys like this chapter! until next time~

p.s. how is everyone feeling about junpei living? want to see if anyone's opinion changed :p

​​​​​​​yay or nay?

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]

Irregular Updates:

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 Baam!Reader]

Story Ideas

Kiss [Young Justice x Wendy Marvell!Reader]

My World [Digimon 01 x Reader]

Future books for Irregular Updates (as of now):

Curse Me! [Hazbin Hotel x Sakuna!Reader]

Death Bite [Tokyo Revengers x Hibari Kyoya!Reader]

Kitty Down [One Day, Suddenly, Seoul Is/One Day in Seoul x Lyney!Reader]

..and more!