───

    "SO ALL I HAVE TO DO IS STAND IN THIS river and it'll evaluate my purity level or something?", himari asked, to which the sea god had nodded.

"of course you'll have to at least stand in there for a few minutes for it to properly assess you. after all, this river is the exact one that my father purified himself in, creating us three and—"

"yeah yeah, that's great and all, but what's the criteria? a pure soul? pure body?"

susanoo gave the woman an annoyed glare, as she actually had the audacity to interrupt him.

     "a pure soul, a pure body, and a pure mind", the god huffed.

     "oh oka—wait....a pure mind too?!"

     "mhm. got a problem?", susanoo grinned, noticing himari's hesitance.

     "yūji, rumi, you two get into the waters first", himari commanded.

     "h-huh?! why us?", rumi questioned.

     "just do it!!", himari replied, ushering for the two teens to step in prior, as she herself backed up a bit.

     rumi and itadori stumbled in, as the waters around rippled outwards.

"hmmm...the girl's the definition of purity....but the boy..."

everyone flinched, as a random voice had suddenly appeared out of nowhere without rhyme or reason.

"d-did y'all hear that too, or am I actually going insane?", himari asked.

     "no I heard it as well", tōji calmly replied.

     "it's the tachibana river", susanoo stated, as if that explained anything.

     "okay, so rivers can talk now. what's new?", himari sarcastically muttered.

     "the boy's not corrupted yet...though I see your feelings are quite prominent for the girl next to yo—"

     itadori immediately jumped out of the river as a light pink dusted his cheeks, to which himari had suddenly covered her mouth in shock.

     "my baby likes someone and he didn't even tell me?!?", himari gasped, causing itadori to aggressively shake his head in denial.

     "I-I DON'T, LADY HIMARI!! I SWEAR!!", itadori proclaimed, to which himari had only clicked her tongue in disapproval.

     "quit denying it. the holy river spirit doesn't lie", himari replied.

     "y-you try it then!", itadori boldly retorted, to which himari had just shrugged.

     "sure, but only if satoru and the rest do it too!", himari bargained, to which getō had kept note of the use of gojō's first name.

     "hah? this shit is probably a knockoff or something", sukuna snorted.

     "mah~ never hurts to have some fun", gojō hummed, taking off his shoes and socks, as the rest had followed suit.

himari sat by the edge of the river as she too took off her tabi and geta, though she awaited for the four men to get their purity check first.

"mm...the first one...lots of hatred and free will to steal whatever he desires. a strong yet dark soul that feeds on the pain and blood of others...though that's only because of a malicious betrayal that he's once encountered...however, I sense a recent change in attitude — a woman with red—"

     "this stupid water doesn't know what the fuck it's talking about", sukuna interrupted, kicking around and making a huge splatter, as the demon stomped out of the river.

himari raised a brow, as the tachibana river not only determined your purity, but could also apparently read into your heart.

"this next one...oh...a prideful one indeed. claiming himself as the strongest; though that immaturity and cockiness blinds him from his true feelings. commitment is feared, but a dainty flower of dubiety has blossomed...it's possible that it's by the same wom—"

"ah man! I sure as hell am tired today", gojō obnoxiously yawned, hastily stepping out of the waters, as he took a seat beside sukuna on the grass.

himari scratched her head in befuddlement, as the river spirit started speaking once again.

"this one's talented...beyond normal human capabilities. impressive, but there lays a deep hatred for not being appreciated for his raw strength and skills. mixed in there is a tinsel of guilt for the abandonment of his child...though it's not as strong as the devotion to....her aga—"

     tōji clicked his tongue as he too joined the other two men, who were just as tense, glancing at each other from time to time.

     "ayo, why didn't you three let the thing finish speakin—"

     "himari-chan, it's suguru's turn now", gojō smiled, distracting the woman, as getō could now see the ripples drifting away from him.

     "hmm...a determined man with a relatively pure heart...though his feelings may be clouded by his jealousy of those around him...specifically his white-haired friend...his emotions for her are full of admiration and tenderness. he's confident...because he knows he's got the advantage, however, it might drive him towards the uncanny side of the board, as he's willing to do anything for his lover — even kill hundreds amongst thousan—"

"himari, it should be your turn now", getō smiled, stepping out of the river, as he shot the other three a sly glance when passing by the red-haired woman.

sukuna and tōji glared back, as their fists clenched, meanwhile gojō simply scoffed.

     it was as if getō were challenging them, causing them to realize how they each felt about the woman, who was currently hopping up and down in the river like a child.

     "HELLO?? RIVER SPIRIT?! WHY AREN'T YOU SAYING ANYTHING?!", himari shouted, randomly kicking the water, as the four just stared at the silly woman.

"stand still, you imbecile!", susanoo demanded.

"bitch, I ain't no imbecile. your water spirit is just broken because it be old as hell", himari snapped back.

a sudden ripple had appeared, to which the woman had gasped, as she wondered what the tachibana river would rate her as: pure, meh, or dirty?

     "...I...I'm confused...", the spirit admitted.

     "w-what?", susanoo questioned, straightening his posture, as himari covered her mouth from laughing.

     "her soul...it's...and her mind....I cannot decipher what railing someone means".

     "r-railing? h-himari, why would you be thinking about railings?", rumi asked.

     "girl, there are some thoughts that are better left unexplained. if you looked through my brain, you'd die of embarrassment", himari snorted.

     the red-haired woman then sighed, grinning at susanoo, as she extended her hand out.

     "what?", susanoo grumbled.

     "sea stone, mr. I-believe-that-women-are-weak", himari cheekily replied.