Chapter 63 — Megumi Fushiguro's Request
Knock, knock, knock!
Early in the morning, urgent knocking sounded at the dorm door.
Ren woke up in the single room assigned to him by Tokyo Jujutsu High. Still half-asleep, he walked over and opened the door.
Yuji Itadori stood outside, looking anxious.
Ren's expression sharpened instantly.
Did they find that blue-haired stitched-face cursed spirit?
Yuji Itadori and Kento Nanami were his partners in the joint mission to exorcise that cursed spirit.
"Good morning, Ren-senpai!"
"Morning."
Ren nodded, his gaze fixed on Yuji, expecting urgent news.
But instead, Yuji stepped slightly aside and pulled someone forward from behind him.
"Good morning, Ren-senpai," said Megumi Fushiguro, his spiky black hair slightly disheveled. He looked tense, but there was unmistakable urgency in his voice.
Ren nodded again. "Morning."
"What's the matter?" he asked, puzzled.
Megumi bit his lip before speaking quickly.
"I—I heard about what you did from Ieiri-sensei."
"Your Miracle technique… they say it can heal anyone, right?"
He looked up, his eyes burning with hope.
"It's not that exaggerated," Ren replied calmly. "But it is more effective than standard Reverse Cursed Technique."
"Then—!" Megumi immediately raised his voice. "Can I ask you for a favor, senpai?"
"Please—please help me cure my sister!"
His voice rang loudly through the quiet morning corridor, almost jarring in its intensity. But Ren could clearly feel the desperation behind it.
"Drop the honorifics," Ren said first. "We're the same age."
He stepped aside and gestured for them to come in.
"Tell me exactly what's going on."
---
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Megumi explained the situation in halting detail. By the time he finished, Ren had a general understanding.
About a year ago, Megumi's sister, Tsumiki Fushiguro, had suddenly fallen into a coma. The cause was unknown. Despite every effort by Jujutsu High, they had been unable to wake her. Even now, she remained unconscious in the hospital.
Ren could understand the anxiety and fear of someone facing such a situation with their closest family.
"I can try," he said. "But I can't guarantee it will work."
"As long as you're willing to help," Megumi stood up immediately and bowed deeply at a full ninety degrees, "I'm already extremely grateful!"
"No need for that," Ren said with a small smile. "It's no trouble at all."
---
Ten minutes later, they arrived at Room 302 of the Jujutsu High hospital.
Megumi's sister lay quietly on the bed, her hair spread softly across the pillow. Her expression was peaceful, as if she were merely asleep—like she might open her eyes at any moment.
But according to Megumi, this state had lasted for over a year.
On her forehead, a strange crimson mark stood out starkly.
"A curse… or something else?"
Ren frowned slightly. Either way, it didn't look like anything good.
"Did this mark appear when she fell into the coma?" he asked.
Megumi nodded.
"Do you know what it is?"
Megumi shook his head.
…No choice.
Ren clenched his jaw slightly.
Whatever it was—he would try first.
He placed both hands gently on Tsumiki's body and activated his Technique Reversal: Miracle.
Megumi stood nearby, watching anxiously—his eyes shifting between Ren and his sister, hoping… that a miracle would truly happen.
At this moment, Shoko Ieiri, Nobara Kugisaki, and the others, having heard the news, also rushed over and gathered around the bed, watching the scene unfold.
After several minutes of continuous output, Megumi suddenly thought he saw Tsumiki's eyelids tremble slightly.
"Big sis!"
He shouted instinctively.
But just then, Ren abruptly pulled his hands away.
"Ren-senpai?" Megumi looked at him in confusion, only to see Ren gasping, his chest rising and falling rapidly, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"…It's not working," Ren said, catching his breath.
"No effect?" Ieiri asked from behind.
"No…" Ren frowned, recalling the sensation from just now. "That's not it."
"I can feel it—my technique did find the correct path for treatment."
"But the output isn't strong enough. It's not enough to complete the healing. Every time, it just… falls short."
"Just a little more. Every time… just a little more!"
"Ren-senpai!" Megumi looked at him anxiously.
He had finally found a glimmer of hope—there was no way he could give up now. But hearing Ren say it wasn't enough, he could only stand there helplessly, looking at him with pleading eyes.
Ren met his gaze and gave a small nod.
"I'll try again."
After taking a short break, he placed both hands on Tsumiki once more and activated Technique Reversal: Miracle again.
---
The clock in the room ticked steadily.
Minutes passed.
Yet Tsumiki showed no signs of waking.
Megumi began to wonder if the slight tremor he had seen earlier had only been his imagination, born from desperation.
Shoko Ieiri watched Ren for a moment as he continued pushing his technique to the limit, then quietly turned and stepped out of the room.
After a while, Ren pulled his hands away again, bending forward as he panted heavily.
"…Still not enough?" Megumi asked, his voice trembling on the edge of despair.
Ren shook his head. After catching his breath, he looked up and forced a faint smile.
"Don't panic… I'll try one more time."
He spread his hands again, about to activate his technique—
"Hold on."
A voice suddenly came from the doorway.
Shoko Ieiri stood there, holding a cigarette between two fingers. She took a deep drag and exhaled slowly. Through the drifting smoke, she looked at Ren.
"You're saying your output isn't enough, right?"
Ren nodded.
"Then let me try," another familiar voice spoke from behind her.
Utahime Iori stepped into the room, dressed in her red-and-white shrine maiden outfit.
"Utahime-sensei?" Ren looked surprised. "Didn't you go back to Kyoto with the others?"
"I still have some matters to take care of here," Utahime replied casually, using an excuse she had clearly prepared in advance. "Some joint projects with Tokyo need discussing."
"Anyway," she continued, stepping fully into the room, "Ieiri already briefed me on the situation over the phone."
"Let's see if we can heal Tsumiki Fushiguro first."
She stopped in the center of the room, glanced around, and said calmly,
"Everyone not directly involved, please step outside. Except for Ren."
The others began to leave one by one. Megumi remained standing by the bedside, unsure what to do.
Utahime glanced at him and gave a faint, apologetic smile.
"Sorry, that was poorly phrased. You're not unrelated, Fushiguro… but please wait outside as well."
"I need some space."