CHAP 3

After getting dressed, Megumi sat down with Yuji to share the snacks he had brought back from the convenience store. The two spent the evening playing video games, laughing and arguing over every match until exhaustion finally caught up with them.

By the time Megumi was ready to sleep, he walked into his room only to find Yuji already lying comfortably on the bed.

Megumi stared at him. "Why are you in my bed?"

Yuji glanced up innocently. "It's comfortable."There's a perfectly good couch."

"Yeah, but this is better."

Megumi crossed his arms. "Go use the couch."

Yuji looked away, pretending to think about it. "I might. Eventually."

Megumi sighed "You're impossible."

Yuji grinned "I just figured... after everything that happened today, it'd be good if someone was nearby in case you weren't feeling well again."

Megumi narrowed his eyes. "You're making excuses."

A small grin tugged at the corner of Yuji's mouth. "Maybe."

The two argued for several more minutes, neither willing to give in. In the end Megumi sighed in defeat. He knew how stubborn Yuji could be, and once he had made up his mind, changing it was nearly impossible.

"Fine" Megumi muttered as he climbed into bed. "But stay on your side."

Yuji smiled to himself and nodded a little too quickly."Deal."

Megumi didn't notice the quiet look of contentment on Yuji's face as the lights went out. Before long, both of them drifted off to sleep, the events of the day finally giving way to a peaceful silence.

That night, Megumi found himself dreaming once again.

He stood beneath a pale moonlit sky, the air heavy with silence. Across from him stood the same mysterious old man, his expression more serious than before.

"I warned you once" the old man said quietly. "The mark is growing stronger. They know where to find you now."

Megumi stepped forward. "Who are you? What mark?"

Before the old man could answer, his figure dissolved into mist and vanished.

Megumi jolted awake with a gasp clutching his abdomen as a sharp pain coursed through him.For a brief moment, a faint light flickered around his body before disappearing into the darkness.

Breathing heavily, he looked around the room, unsure if it had all been a dream.

The sudden movement stirred Yuji from his sleep.

He blinked awake and immediately noticed Megumi sitting upright, one hand pressed against his abdomen.

"Hey," Yuji mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep. "You okay?"

Megumi quickly lowered his hand. "Just a bad dream."

Yuji studied him for a moment, unconvinced, but chose not to press the issue.

"If you're not feeling well" he said quietly "wake me up next time."

Megumi looked away. "You need sleep too."

Yuji shrugged with a small smile. "Doesn't matter. I'd rather know you're okay."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Then Megumi let out a quiet sigh.

"I'm fine" he insisted.

Yuji nodded, though the concern never left his face. "Alright. But I'm keeping an eye on you anyway."

The next morning Megumi and Yuji made their way to school as usual. As they walked through the streets, Yuji couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them.

He glanced over his shoulder more than once but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I'm probably just imagining it, he thought pushing the uneasy feeling aside.

Classes passed without incident, and before long it was time for their training session with Gojo.

On the way to the training grounds, Yuji excused himself to use the restroom.

As he stepped into the hallway outside a familiar voice caught his attention.

It was Gojo.

He wasn't alone he was speaking quietly on the phone, his tone unusually serious.

"...I'm telling you, the signs match the ancient records," Gojo said. "If my suspicions are correct, Megumi may be the Core Seed. We can't afford to let that information get out."

Yuji froze where he stood.

Core Seed???

The words echoed in his mind as he listened in stunned silence, suddenly realizing there was far more to Megumi's mysterious awakening than anyone had told them.

After Gojo left, Yuji remained frozen in place, his mind racing with questions. The words Core Seed echoed in his head refusing to leave him."

The training grounds buzzed with the sounds of students sparring as Gojo gathered everyone for the day's exercises.

"Today is simple," Gojo announced with a grin. "No holding back. I want to see how you react under pressure."

The students paired off, and Megumi found himself facing Sukuna.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Sukuna stepped forward with calm confidence. "Try not to disappoint me."

Megumi frowned but raised his guard.

The spar began with a flurry of quick strikes and careful footwork. Megumi fought with determination, but every time their attacks met, Sukuna watched him with unusual focus, as if searching for something hidden beneath the surface.

"You're distracted" Sukuna remarked after narrowly avoiding a strike.

"So are you" Megumi shot back.

A faint smile crossed Sukuna's face.

For the briefest instant, as their hands collided, a soft pulse of light flickered around Megumi. It vanished almost immediately, unnoticed by everyone except Sukuna.

His expression hardened.

So it really is you, he thought.

Before anyone could question what had happened, Gojo called an end to the exercise. The other students assumed it had been nothing more than a trick of the light, but Sukuna's eyes lingered on Megumi long after the match was over, his curiosity only growing stronger.

END OF CHAP 3

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***