Jujutsu Kaisen X OC (The Red String of Fate)

【 CHAPTER 13 】The Second Years

Inari's POV

The students of Jujutsu High were gearing up for the upcoming trials, each of us preparing in our own way.

Fushiguro and Kugisaki were off training with Maki and the second years, sharpening their skills. Meanwhile, Gojo was trying—keyword: trying—to make Itadori stronger. 

Limited success was an understatement. The man was a menace, but he sure was persistent.

Fushiguro and I had taken a detour to visit Tadashi's mother. 

It was an awkward, gut-wrenching experience, and Fushiguro admitted that, at first, he wasn't even sure if we should have saved the inmates. 

In the end, we gave her Tadashi's name tag, apologizing for what felt like an inevitable failure.

Somber thoughts clung to us on the way back, but as soon as we stepped onto school grounds, chaos resumed.

We were late for training.

Maki didn't even look up as we arrived. "Took you long enough."

"Oka-ka!" Inumaki mumbled something as weird as usual, and I blinked at him. "Huh?"

"What kept you?" Maki asked indifferently.. Fushiguro sighed. "Does it really matter?"

Maki smirked. "Out on a date, perhaps?" I let out a snort. "Yeah, no. We were running an errand."

Fushiguro, apparently feeling philosophical, turned to Maki with a serious question. "As jujutsu sorcerers, what kind of people do you aspire to save?"

Maki shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me. I don't care if I save anyone."

Fushiguro's face twitched, as if he'd just tasted something bitter. He turned to me instead, probably hoping for a better answer.

"None," I answered without hesitation.

Fushiguro blinked like he had not expected that level of apathy. I stretched my arms lazily. "I'm only here because Yuuji got dragged into this world."

Fushiguro stared at me like I'd personally kicked a puppy.

"Ugh, fine. Since you're looking at me like that—" I stretched, cracking my knuckles. "I'm not exactly the hero type, but if someone I care about is in trouble, of course I'm gonna throw hands."

Doesn't matter if they're a saint like Yuuji, a menace like Satoru, or an absolute dumbass like yourself. Saving people is just common sense, isn't it?"

I flashed him a lazy grin. "Besides, life's already chaotic. Might as well make sure the people I like stick around for it."

Maki chuckled, shaking her head. "You say that, but you're way too ride-or-die for your own good, Inari."

I let out a low, almost mischievous laugh. "No... I'm really not. I just have a strict 'no unnecessary heartbreak' policy. Saves me the headache."

Maki smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that."

Inumaki tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Shake."

"See? Inumaki gets it," I said, grinning.

Maki scoffed. "Oh, please. He just called you out."

Inumaki hummed innocently.

"Traitor."

"Fushiguro! Inari! Quit with the philosophical debate! Switch with me!" Suddenly Kugisaki dramatically throwing herself into the conversation. "I'm sick of these ugly school uniforms! Let me go buy some cute tracksuits!"