Jujutsu Kaisen X OC (The Red String of Fate)

【 CHAPTER 23 】We're the Good Guys

Inari's POV

"There he is," Ijichi pointed out, nodding towards Junpei's figure as we trailed him in a car. I was perched in the front seat, while Itadori sprawled in the back.

"Not even in uniform," Itadori noted, arms stretched dramatically over his head. "Looks like he's been playing hooky," Ijichi remarked casually.

"Well, well, look who's talking, Mr. 'I skipped class to eat weirdly large portions of food and punch curses in the face,'" I teased, shooting a smirk over my shoulder.

"First of all, rude," Itadori shot back, pouting. "Second of all, I'm a very busy man. Punching curses is a full-time job."

"A job that still doesn't pay you, Yuuji," I pointed out dryly.

"You're right, and yet I still give my all. What a tragic hero I am," he sighed wistfully.

I reached out and poked his forehead. "Alright, Shakespeare, calm down. The day after-tomorrow, and you can see everyone again."

Itadori's face lit up instantly. "For real? Oh man, I can't wait! I miss everyone! I miss Kugisaki! I miss the chaos! I miss Fushiguro's disappointed look when I say something dumb!"

I smiled rubbing his cheeks with my thumb, but Sukuna decided to be a menace—because of course he did. Without warning, he sank his teeth into my finger, and I yelped.

"Ow! CAN I GET A BREAK FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE?!" I snapped, glaring down at the cursed king currently residing inside my boyfriend's body like an unwanted timeshare.

Sukuna chuckled, smugly. "Now, where would be the fun in that?" He licked his lips, before retreating back into Itadori's cheek.

"Oh, you—!" Itadori, already done with Sukuna's existence, smacked himself across the face, making me and Ijichi jump.

Ijichi turned to me, utterly exhausted. "Is it always like this?"

"Oh, this?" I gestured vaguely between Itadori and the curse in his body. "This is just a Tuesday."

"Huh? You're bleeding..." Itadori suddenly yanked my hand, holding it carefully.

"It's nothing—"

Before I could finish, Itadori did the unthinkable. He grabbed my finger and licked the blood off.

I froze. Ijichi froze. 

The entire damn universe took a pause to witness the absolute absurdity of what had just happened.

"YUUJI, WHAT THE ACTUAL—?!" My voice cracked as I shoved his face away with full force.

"BLEH! It's BITTER!" He gagged, wiping his tongue on his sleeve.

I felt an aneurysm coming on. "You think?! I told you a thousand times—DON'T do that! My blood is poison, you absolute idiot!"

"Ow, ow, ow! Okay, okay!" Itadori whined as I pinched his ear. "I just wanted to see why Sukuna always calls it 'delicious,' but now I see he has absolutely no taste!"

"HE'S A DEMONIC CURSE, NOT A FOOD CRITIC!" I let go of his ear and smacked the back of his head. Itadori pouted, rubbing the sore spot. "Jeez, I get it, I get it..."

With an exasperated sigh, I brought my injured finger to my lips, sucking on it absentmindedly.

Silence.

I blinked, realizing Itadori was staring at me. And grinning. Mischievously.

"...What?"

He chuckled, mischievously. "Hehe, indirect kiss."