Fate/Stay Cursed: Cursed & Fated (FATE ROUTE)

The next morning, I went to the room where I know it was resting. As she opened the door carefully, I saw that she was lying down, she was sleeping.

I hesitated to call her for a moment, watching everything in silence. Knowing it seemed so quiet, an almost ethereal figure in his rest. It was not common for her to relax, and this temporary calm brought me a sense of peace.

After a moment, I decided to approach and, in a gentle tone, said, "Hm ... that sleepy ..."

"I'm not sleeping." - Knowing simply opened his eyes with a calm and focused shine. She observed me for a moment and then nodded, sitting slowly, with the usual elegance and discipline.

This action scared me for a brief moment, until I remembered that from the past. When I was a servant, I was not really sleepy. - "Good morning, Arturia."

There was a subtle expression of curiosity and perhaps a hint of satisfaction by noticing that I personally came to call it.

"Good morning, Yuji." - she replied with a slight smile. - "I hope I have not made him wait."

"No way ..." - I said smiling. - "In fact, I just thought it would be good to have coffee together ..."

Saber seemed surprised for a second, but kept his posture firm. So we walked together to the kitchen, where the table was already put with a simple breakfast. I looked to know as we sat, noticing how she seemed to try the moment with a curiosity contained, as if these little routines were also a rare pleasure for her.

As I ate normally, knowing seemed to devour the food like a hungry lion, I risked a question:

"Arturia ... You're really hungry, aren't you?" I hesitated a little, not knowing if it was appropriate to talk about it. - "I mean ... we have to leave the rest for others eat."

She stared at me with her usual calm in her gaze. - "Eating is important, Yuji. We will need this!"

Her words looked like a child, so I just ended the subject and continued the meal in a comfortable silence, as if the few words exchanged were enough.

Sakura left her room that morning, yawning slightly while heading to the kitchen. Upon arriving, he suddenly stopped seeing me eating at the table, accompanied by a woman of impressive posture and ethereal beauty. It was knowing, who had breakfast with a graceful calm. Sakura could not look away; The presence of knowledge was imposing and at the same time engaging.

I noticed Sakura's surprise expression, quickly remembered something important. Sakura had already had involvement, albeit indirectly, with the past war of the sacred chalice, and this complicated my situation a little. This realized that it would be best to avoid details. So, I smiled and, trying to look relaxed, I said:

"Ah, Sakura! Good morning!" - I indicated to Saber with a nod. - "That's ... a distant friend. She's in passing. She'll be a few days here."

Sakura watched Saber with a curious and suspicious look, but gave a light smile, trying to be polite. - "Good morning ... it's a pleasure to meet you." he said, with a slight nod. - "I'm Sakura, Itadori Sakura."

Saber kept her stance elegant and returned compliance with respectful nod, but didn't say much. - "Like, Sakura. Thank you for receiving me."

There was a subtle tension in the air. Sakura seemed restless, feeling that something else was being set aside. I knew she could ask questions at some point, so she tried to change the subject quickly.

"By the way, Sakura, how about I help you later with your tasks?" - I suggested trying to get the focus off.

Sakura smiled, but still throwing curiosity looks to know. She accepted the offer of help, but was in doubt deep in her mind, certain that there would be more to find out about that mysterious "distant friend" mine.

Sakura, with a still curious look, leaned slightly forward, trying to get more information about the mysterious visitor.

"So what is your name? And what part of Japan did you come from?" - She asked with a smile, trying to be friendly but clearly intrigued.

Saber without realizing that their answers could complicate things, responded directly, with their typical honesty: "My name is ... Arturia, and I came from ..." She hesitated for a moment, but continued. " a land ... far away. "

Sakura frowned, slightly confused by the vague response. Before she could ask more questions, I interrupted quickly.

"Ah, you know how it is, right, Sakura." He said with a nervous laugh. - "namely ... I mean, it's a nickname we usually use." - I threw a look to know, trying to make her understand that they needed to be careful. - "And as for place, she lives in Europe. She traveled a lot, and is fluent in Japanese."

Saber gave me a slightly confused look, but she got the message and nodded briefly, understanding that she should keep some information subtle. - "Yes, exactly..." - she added.

Sakura seemed a little more satisfied, but she still looked at Saber with a mix of admiration and curiosity. She could sense that there was something special about that woman, but she decided not to press any further, for now.

A few hours later...

After finishing breakfast, I looked at Saber, I remembered that today I had to go back to Jujutsu school, I still had my commitment as a teacher. My responsibility as a teacher and mentor came before everything, and I knew that my students needed me now more than ever.

"Arturia... I didn't get to tell you, but I'm a teacher. Do you mind coming with me?" - I said with a slight tone of concern.

Saber, with her elegant posture and determined look. - "Of course. You're my master, I'll stay by your side." - She said without blinking.

Saber walked beside me, aware that she could be called upon at any moment to protect those under my tutelage.

On the way to school, we passed through the streets that were still shrouded in silence. Saber observed the surroundings, while I, on the other hand, maintained a calm expression, but my thoughts were focused on the teachings that I would have to pass on to my students.

When we arrived at school, some students who were already present were surprised to see me next to a girl wearing a blue dress. She really caught their attention.

I smiled at the students, wanting to keep the atmosphere light, despite the circumstances. While the atmosphere at Jujutsu school was calm, the arrival of a new visitor caught everyone's attention.

Satoru Gojo, known for both his talent and his irreverent humor, was the first to notice Saber's presence. He didn't miss the opportunity to make a provocation. With a mischievous smile, he approached me and commented playfully:

"Sensei, I didn't know you were bringing such... special guests. Have you finally found someone to warm your heart of stone after all these years?" - he said, making a point of giving Saber a suggestive look and a mischievous smile to me. Did I look that grumpy? Time really hasn't done me any good.

I rolled my eyes, trying to keep a straight face, although a slight blush betrayed my discomfort. Saber, in turn, arched an eyebrow and gave Gojo an icy, inquisitive look, clearly having no patience for jokes.

"This is... Arturia, a valuable ally who came to help us with the situation of our mission today." I explained, trying to dispel the provocative mood. - "She's here for a serious cause, Gojo. So behave yourself."

But Gojo, always bold, didn't seem at all intimidated. He laughed and winked at me. - "Oh, I see, I see, so sensei brought an 'ally'. You never told us about your past 'dates', sensei!"

At that moment, Suguru Geto sighed and rolled his eyes. - "Satoru, can you ever be serious for once in your life?" - He gave his friend a disapproving look. - "Sorry for his childishness, Yuji-Sensei."

Saber looked at Suguru approvingly, recognizing a bit of seriousness and maturity. She nodded slightly, but still maintained her air of distance. Suguru took the opportunity to look at Gojo, visibly irritated. - "Sometimes, I wonder how you managed to get here with that attitude."

Gojo just shrugged, without losing his smile. - "It's because I have a natural talent, don't you think, Suguru? Besides, sensei brought his girlfriend!"

I snorted but couldn't help but smile. He knew that, despite the jokes, that was his Sensei in past lives. - "There are some things that never change, right?..." - I said to myself.

Saber, without letting her guard down, gave Gojo one last firm look and replied with a confident tone: "If joking is the way you have to face the challenge that awaits us, I just hope you can maintain that posture when the going gets tough."

Gojo blinked at the way Saber retorted to his provocations.

I couldn't help but laugh at how Saber had responded to Gojo in that way. Gojo's relaxed and provocative energy might not make much sense to her. This surprised everyone.

"I never imagined that I would see Yuji-Sensei laughing or at least smiling at some point in my life." - said my student Gojo.

"To make Yuji-Sensei laugh, it means that she must be a very close figure to him." - said Geto.

Shoko added. - "They definitely have something in common..."

Some time later....

I showed my students the message I had received from Masamichi Yaga. - "I have been informed that a series of curses are causing chaos in a remote village in Mikurajima, near Tokyo. Apparently, a special-grade curse had recently appeared, and even for the sorcerers in the region, facing it was proving to be an impossible challenge. It was a situation that required immediate attention!"

I looked at Saber, who caught the seriousness in my gaze. She simply nodded, ready to follow me.

I gathered my students. Shoko Ieiri chose not to go. As a sorcerer in training at the school, her job was to care for the injured and maintain the support line. Furthermore, she knew that if something went wrong, her presence at the school would be essential to assist anyone who returned injured.

"Be careful. This curse doesn't seem to be like the others." - Shoko warned her classmates before leaving. Her tone was serious. - "I'll stay here to help with anything you need when you get back." - With that, Saber, Gojou, and Getou set off towards the village.

Some time later...

Crossing roads that became increasingly desolate as they approached their destination. The village, once full of life, was filled with an unsettling and heavy silence. The buildings were abandoned, and the air was suffocating, with a sense of evil presence permeating the place.

I stood in front of everyone, carefully assessing the surroundings while Saber followed every movement. Saber approached me to whisper. - "Do you think this curse has something to do with one of Sukuna's fingers?"

I looked at her to whisper back. - "Probably... I'm practically a GPS for Sukuna's fingers."

Saber looked at me confused. - "What is GPS?" - Soon, we felt an evil and dense energy approaching.

We were warmly welcomed by the local leader, a tired-looking man, but with an expression of relief at seeing us come to help them. He thanked us for our presence, explaining that the village was facing problems with a series of curses that had begun to poison the crops and the soil, ruining the livelihood of the villagers and spreading despair.

"The problem started a few weeks ago." said the village leader, with a worried look. "Entire crops are dying, and we don't know how to deal with it. The dark energy is strong, and it seems to spread throughout the land."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. I was ready to investigate the crops and look for the source of the curse, but the village leader interrupted my thoughts.

"Actually, we captured those curses." said the man, with a mixture of pride and apprehension. He motioned for the group to follow him, leading us to a small warehouse away from the main houses of the village.

"How did he manage to capture a curse?" - I thought, when they opened the door, everyone was surprised to see two young girls trapped inside the place. Both had a strange aura and visibly carried a cursed energy, but they seemed harmless at first glance. They were girls with confused and somewhat frightened looks, as if they did not understand the reason for their being there.

We observed the two carefully. It was evident that the girls possessed cursed energy, but they did not seem to be the true reason for the village's suffering. Their energies were unstable, but without the power or intention to poison the soil and crops.

The village leader continued: "Since they arrived, everything started to go wrong. The crops started to die, and many believe that they are the cause of all this. That is why we keep them trapped here."

I slowly approached the girls, crouching down to be at the same level as their frightened gazes. With a calm and gentle voice, I asked. - "Do you know why you're here? What happened before you were captured?"

The girls looked at each other, hesitant. One of them, with tears in her eyes, answered quietly. - "We didn't do anything wrong... We don't know what's happening to the crops. We're just... here."

I felt a pang in my heart. It was clear that the girls didn't understand what was happening, and were most likely victims of circumstances, possibly cursed or attracted by forces beyond their control.

I exchanged a look with Saber, who nodded. We seemed to have the same impression: these girls were just the side effect of a larger and more dangerous curse, something that could be using them as a distraction or cover to hide.

I stood up and turned to the village leader. - "These girls may have some connection to the curse, but I don't believe they are the direct cause of the problem. The source of the energy that is poisoning your crops must be somewhere else."

The village leader looked surprised, but accepted what I had said with an expression of reluctant understanding. "So… what do we do with them?"

Saber replied calmly but firmly. - "Leave them to us for now. We'll investigate further, but we need to keep them safe until we understand everything."

I signaled for everyone to prepare to explore the areas around the village. Getou watched the scene with an expression of surprise and discomfort.

The sight of the two girls trapped, apparently confused about the cause of the curse, made him hesitate. The situation was unfair, and he felt a growing indignation at how the village leader had treated those children, blaming them for something they clearly didn't understand and possibly hadn't even caused.

Before he could speak, I noticed the tension and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, transmitting a serene calm. - "It's okay, Suguru..." - I said in a firm voice. - "We'll resolve this in a fair way. No one will leave here wronged."

My words brought a sense of relief to Getou. Then I turned to the village leader, who now seemed nervous, realizing that perhaps he had been hasty in judging the girls as guilty. My gaze was stern, and without raising my voice, I said: "These girls are not to blame for their crops being cursed..." - I said, keeping my voice firm. - "The real curse may be somewhere else, but arresting them and accusing them without proof is wrong. You made a decision that brought fear and suffering to them, for no reason."

The leader tried to justify himself, but I interrupted him. - "You will have to answer for this later... It is not acceptable to treat anyone, much less children, as scapegoats. We will take care of this curse, but we will also make sure that this situation does not happen again."

Saber, next to me, nodded in approval. - "You would make a great king, Yuji." - Getou, still serious, felt renewed admiration.

"We will find the true source of the curse and solve this." - I concluded, looking at the village leader with a look that made it clear that I expected a change in attitude.

With that resolution, I turned to the two girls, offering a comforting smile. - "We'll get you out of here safely. Don't worry."

I looked at Geto with seriousness and confidence. I knew that Getou was the right person to keep an eye on the girls and ensure their safety. - "Suguru, I need you to stay here and take care of them. Keep them safe and reassure them, okay?" - He said, his tone soft but firm. - "Arturia and I will go to the forest to investigate. It shouldn't take long."

Getou nodded, assuming his responsibility without hesitation. He approached the girls, who still looked scared, and tried to offer a reassuring smile. - "You're safe now. Let's wait together, and soon everything will be resolved."

As Getou took his position, Saber, Gojou and I prepared to search the forest. We knew that the cursed energy surrounding the village was intense, and that the source of all the trouble was probably deep within that dark forest. The air there was heavy, as if something ancient and dangerous was lurking, waiting to reveal itself.

As we entered the forest, the atmosphere grew denser and denser. There was something in that darkness that seemed to move, almost as if the forest itself was alive and watching our every step. Signs of the curse were everywhere, twisted trees, an ominous mist that crept across the ground, and an unsettling silence that made even the slightest noise seem deafening.

"It seems we're close, huh, Sensei..." Satoru murmured, with a sharp gaze, feeling the presence of the curse intensify.

As we walked through the forest covered in mist, Gojou, with his relaxed and carefree posture, was clearly excited, gesturing as he spoke about the nature of his technique.

"Some people call me untouchable..." - Gojou began, with a confident smile. "And it's no wonder, anything that tries to attack me can't really reach me." - He raised one of his hands, showing how the layers of energy around him created an invisible barrier. - "It's as if there was an infinite distance between me and the one who tries to touch me."

Saber watched him closely, fascinated by Gojou's unique ability. Even though she was a warrior used to dealing with the supernatural, Gojou's techniques were unlike anything she had ever seen. - "So, you're saying that... nothing can get through this barrier?" - she asked, curious.

"Exactly!" - Gojou replied, with a smug smile. - "And this is just the beginning."

As he explained, several shadowy figures began to emerge from the mist around them. They were curses, with twisted and deformed shapes that resembled living plants. They crawled and writhed toward us, their roots and vines reaching out to try to wrap around us.

The curses launched their attacks, trying to hit Satoru with sharp roots and poisonous thorns, but as soon as they got close to him, the attacks seemed to slow down, as if they were in slow motion before stopping completely. It was as if an invisible force was preventing any direct contact with Gojou, leaving the curses in a state of helpless frustration.

I watched the scene next to Saber, already accustomed to Gojo's tricks. - "That's what he means by 'Infinite'. They'll never be able to get close to him."

Saber nodded, impressed. - "An absolute defensive power... Truly fascinating."

As Gojo remained untouched, he smiled. - "Don't worry. As long as I'm around, nothing will be able to hurt you."

We were aware of Gojo's absolute protection, and they advanced without hesitation. Saber raised her sword, ready to attack the curses that were approaching her and I, together with Gojou, could overcome any obstacle that this cursed forest brought them.

Gojou, with a carefree smile and a mischievous glint in his eyes, turned to the curses that continued to crawl through the mist towards him. They were grotesque creatures, mixtures of roots, thorns and dark vines that seemed hungry, willing to swallow everything in their path. However, they had little idea who they were trying to face.

"Ah, this is going to be fun." - Gojo murmured, raising a hand towards the curses with a confident expression. He gestured with a finger, calling them closer. - "Come, come! Let's see what you're made of!"

The curses responded to the invitation and advanced quickly, extending their vines like sharp whips towards him. As soon as they reached a certain distance, however, their attacks simply... stopped. The stretched vines were suspended in the air, unable to move even an inch further. It was as if they had been frozen in time.

Gojo smiled and looked at Saber and me, who were watching the scene. - "Look at that!" - he said, with a tone of someone about to demonstrate a magic trick. - "They want to catch me, but... they never manage."

He then reached out and grabbed one of the vines in the air, holding it with a light touch. He twirled it delicately, as if he were examining a piece of decoration. - "They're so fragile, really... All it takes is a touch to control everything," he commented, still with the same relaxed smile.

Gojo began to spin the curse in the air, as if he were playing with a toy. He gave the creature small movements, spinning it and pulling it in different directions, making it spin and twist while the rest of the curses tried to move forward, without success. For them, it was a desperate scene, trapped and manipulated, but unable to retaliate.

"Let's see what happens if… I do this…" he said, giving a slight push with his hand. The curse flew at high speed, being thrown into the air before exploding in a cloud of cursed energy that dissipated in the air.

"He really knows how to have fun…" I said, crossing my arms and watching in admiration.

Gojo continued to "play" with the other curses, capturing them with his technique and throwing them from one side to the other as if they were nothing more than dry leaves in the wind.

He made small demonstrations of his skill, sometimes throwing them into the sky, sometimes spinning them like tops, or even piling some up, just to see them dissolve upon contact.

Every curse that tried to attack him ended up falling into the same trap, unable to overcome the field of "Infinity" that he created around himself.

"You guys are so predictable..." Gojo said playfully. "All this rushing, all this aggression... Don't you think you should try a little strategy?" He snapped his fingers, and a curse that was trying to bypass his barrier was immediately crushed against the ground by an invisible pressure.

Another curse was thrown at a tree, destroying itself on impact. Gojo continued his "game" with the creatures, enjoying every moment, as if he were in a private performance for Saber and Itadori.

Saber, who was watching closely, was impressed by Gojo's precision and absolute mastery over his powers. "He plays with them as if they were nothing…" she commented, not hiding her admiration. "It's amazing to see someone with such absolute mastery in combat."

"Ah, that's just the basics." - Gojo replied, hearing her comment. "I could do this all day… but I think it's getting boring."

With a quick movement, he raised his hand and gathered his energy into a luminous sphere. "Let's end this, then."

He released the energy in a single attack that enveloped all the remaining curses, a wave of energy that instantly disintegrated them. In a matter of seconds, all the creatures had been destroyed, and the mist that enveloped the forest began to dissipate.

Gojou then turned to Saber and me, clapping his hands as if he were brushing off dust. - "There! Cleanup complete. Now, we can proceed without distractions."

I lightly punched Gojou on the shoulder. - "Always putting on a show, huh?"

From the shadows of the forest, a new presence emerged. The energy was intense, Saber and I felt the weight of a powerful curse approaching. This creature was much larger and more menacing than the previous ones, with a dense, dark aura that seemed to absorb the very light around it.

The larger curse advanced, its eyes bloodshot with malice and its sharp claws gleaming in the dim light. Gojou watched her with an excited smile, as if this was exactly what he had been waiting for to further demonstrate his abilities.

"Ah, this is a bit more interesting..." - he commented, with a carefree smile. - "Perfect for a more... intense demonstration."

He turned to the two of us, as if he were in a class. - "As I was explaining before... Beyond Infinity, I have good eyes... So to speak."

Gojo raised his hand confidently, concentrating a sphere of energy in front of him. - "It's like a convergent series of infinite numbers... Anything that gets closer to me gets slower and slower. Therefore, when I reverse it... the result becomes negative."

He channeled the cursed energy to create the "Red" attack, a powerful and destructive technique, and the energy sphere shone brightly. - "Next is the limitless divergence... Akka!" - We watched carefully as the red sphere pulsed, waiting for Gojou to launch the attack.

However, something unexpected happened. The energy dissipated in the next instant, vanishing into thin air like a candle going out. The sphere simply disappeared, leaving Gojou stunned for a moment. He tried again, but Red failed once again, which left him frustrated and slightly perplexed.

"Well... FAILED!" he commented, with an expression of slight surprise. He then laughed and shrugged. - "I almost succeeded!"

As Gojou analyzed the situation, the greater curse realized the opportunity and advanced furiously. The creature was about to attack when Saber stepped forward, her expression determined. She raised her sword firmly, the blade shining with a fierce intensity, as if she were channeling all her strength and courage.

"Leave this creature to me!" - she declared with conviction, gripping the sword tightly. - "I will take care of it."

Without hesitation, Saber charged at the curse. Her movements were quick and graceful, a deadly dance that combined strength and precision. With a series of accurate strikes, she unleashed attacks that weakened the creature, her blades cutting deep into the curse's hardened skin.

The creature tried to retaliate, attacking with its claws, but Saber dodged nimbly, continuing her offensive without giving the curse any room to react. Then, concentrating her strength in a single movement, she raised her sword and delivered a final, devastating blow, cutting the curse in two.

The creature let out a deafening scream before disintegrating into a cloud of cursed energy, which dissipated into the forest breeze. When all was silent, Saber lowered his sword, panting, but with a glint of determination in his eyes.

Gojo with a satisfied smile, gave an amused laugh. - "Well, it seems I'm not the only one who knows how to put on a show." He looked at Saber with renewed respect. "I guess we'll have to combine our styles sometime."

Saber nodded, smiling back. - "Of course, Gojo. But for today, I'm glad I helped solve the problem."

With the curse defeated, our group moved on.

Meanwhile...

Geto was with the two girls, who seemed less tense now that they were out of the village master's reach and protected by the jujutsu sorcerer. He crouched down to their level and, with a gentle smile, began to remove the chains that bound them. The chains fell to the ground, and the girls took a hesitant step back, still frightened.

"You're okay now…" Getou said in a reassuring tone. "What are your names?"

Before any of the girls could respond, the village master appeared, interrupting their conversation with a cold, authoritative expression. He glared menacingly at the girls, who immediately backed away, visibly shaken.

"You are not allowed to talk to them!" the villager said, his voice full of contempt. He looked at Getou, as if he was measuring how far he could go. "These... things... only serve to carry the curse that plagues our village. They are the problem here!"

Geto frowned, sensing the coldness and inhumanity in the man's words. He had already suspected the villager's true role in this situation, and now he was certain that the girls were more victims than causes of the problem. Keeping calm, he looked at the villager, but the softness on his face hid a determined strength.

"I don't think it's fair to treat children like this, especially when they are not even responsible for what is happening..." Getou replied, his voice firm, but without losing his calm.

The villager narrowed his eyes, clearly irritated. - "You don't know what they've done to this village! It's not a foreigner who's going to tell me what's right or wrong here."

Getou remained impassive. He knew we were investigating the true origin of the curse, and he was now certain that the girls' presence was just an excuse for the village master's troubles. He stepped forward, blocking the man's intimidating gaze and positioning himself as a protective barrier for the girls.

"If they've caused any harm, we'll settle it fairly..." - Getou said firmly. - "But until that's proven, I ask that you step aside and allow me to take care of them."

The village master hesitated for a moment, looking like he wanted to argue, but something in Getou's determined gaze made him back down. He grumbled something, giving the girls another threatening look, but for now, he walked away.

When he was finally out of sight, Getou turned back to the girls, trying to calm them down. - "Sorry about that. You're safe now," he said.

The village master quickly returned, still visibly displeased, and turned to Getou again, with a dark and angry look. He seemed indignant at the sorcerer's attitude, feeling challenged and powerless in the face of the authority Getou exuded.

"That's not fair!" the village master began, his voice shaking with anger. - "You come to my village, tell me how to deal with 'my own problems', and now you still want to protect these... these freaks? You have no idea what these girls have done here!"

Getou remained calm, observing the man with a neutral but attentive gaze. He was not shaken by the village master's aggressive words, understanding that this behavior was probably motivated by fear and desperation, even if channeled in a cruel way.

"Sir..." Getou began, keeping his voice firm but respectful. - "I understand that your village has suffered a lot. I understand that you are facing something terrible here. But that does not justify treating these girls as criminals without real proof that they are the culprits."

The village owner snorted, clenching his fists as he shook his head. - "Do you think it's that simple? I saw them being born! They grew up here, they were normal until one day... one day... The crops died, the children started getting sick, and the harvests... were destroyed! Ever since these two began manifesting this damned energy, our village has been cursed!"

Getou kept his expression impassive, but he moved a little closer to the man, placing himself protectively between him and the two girls, who were increasingly frightened and leaning against the wall. They were shaking slightly, trying to move away, but they found in Getou a kind of shield, someone who did not see them as monsters, but as victims.

"I understand your point of view." - Getou replied patiently. - "But we've investigated countless curses over the years, and I've learned that cursed energy can manifest itself in many ways and from many different sources. These girls... they may have *cursed energy*, but that doesn't mean they're the cause of the problem."

The village owner stepped forward, his face contorted in an expression of disgust. "You sorcerers always think you know everything, don't you? You come here, you think you can solve things just because you have these powers. Well, I've lived here my whole life and I know exactly what these girls brought to the village. What they are... it's not natural. They're a threat!"

The intensity of the owner's words was clear, and his posture demonstrated a desperate man, willing to do anything to protect what he considered his home, even if it meant blaming two children.

Geto sighed, trying to keep his calm as he replicated. "I really understand your concern ..." - he said. - "But I need you to understand the following: I'm here, along with other wizards, exactly to solve the problem. If we really believe these girls are not the causes, you don't have the right to punish them without proper investigation. "

"Investigate?" The man released a cynical laugh. - "These girls were a plague from the beginning! I don't need a 'investigation' to know that evil started with them."

He managed, realizing that that argument would not lead anywhere, changed the approach. - "Sir, think about it. What if you are wrong? What if they really are not the source of the curse, but a manifestation of something much greater, something that just reacted to their presence? It may be worsening the situation, strengthening what is really behind this curse. "

Getou words seemed to have a momentary impact on man, which stopped to reflect. He stepped back, but still had an expression of conflict. His breathing was heavy, and it was evident that he fought against the doubt that was beginning to settle in.

"So what do you suggest, wizard?" He asked, with a darker but less aggressive tone. "Do you just want to take them away? They are a burden here! If you believe so much that they are not guilty, then take them! But know that if something happens because of you, this village will be convicted of your decision."

He managed, aware that there was still a lot of tension, but pleased to see that the man was at least considering the possibility that his wrath could be being directed on the wrong target. He then said firmly, "These girls will not be a burden to anyone. We will take care of them and investigate this situation in depth. And I promise that if we find the true origin of the curse, we will bring the solution to your village."

Seeing that he managed was really determined to protect the girls, the owner of the village, already without patience and increasingly angry, decided to resort to a desperate act. He shouted for some of the residents, calling robust men with hostile expression to deal with the wizard who, he said, was "threatening peace" of the village.

The men quickly surrounded managed, some with knives, others with improvised pieces of wooden sticks as weapons. The owner of the village, with a sadistic and vengeful smile, was a little further away, observing the scene with an air of superiority. He really believed that, with the number in his favor, they could subjugate managed.

"Is that how you want to solve this?" He managed murmured, keeping his posture calm, but his eyes conveyed an unmistakable severity. - "I'm here to help. They don't want to make it harder."

But his words only further urged the fury of men. One of the first residents advanced with the stick in hand, trying to hit him. He managed to easily deflected his gentle and accurate movements. He disarmed the man with a quick spin, holding the stick and throwing him away. Another resident tried to hit him in the back, but managed to noticed the movement through the corner of his eye and dodged, knocking him with a quick blow to the shoulder.

The men were attacking, one by one, but managed not to use more than physical strength. He moved like a shadow, dodging accurately and responding to each blow with a measured force, knocking men down one by one without seriously hurting them.

The owner of the village, seeing his men being knocked down so easily, began to tremble with anger and fear. He realized that perhaps he had underestimated the power of managed. And then, when all the residents he had called were fallen and moaning in pain, he managed slowly turned to him, with a serious and unshakable look.

"You used your own people like weapons against me ..." he said managed, his voice serious and full of disappointment. - "And all this to maintain your pride and feed your hatred for these girls, who are just children."

The owner of the village retreated, but managed to advance, approaching him. Without warning, he raised his fist and hit him on his face with a firm and controlled blow, enough to knock him to the floor. The man fell heavily, stunned, but the look in his eyes still carried the same hostility, even if mixed with fear.

Geto, he stood above him, breathing deeply. For a brief moment, a sense of justice almost led him to end that man, someone who had tortured and manipulated children without remorse. His fist was closed, ready to act, but then my words echoed in his mind.

With a sigh, he managed to loose his fist, releasing the tension. He bent down, watching the owner of the village, who was still stunned and scared. Instead of giving the final blow, he just gave one last punch, measured enough for man to lose consciousness without suffering serious injuries. He then raised he stood, looking at the other villagers, who now watched him silently, frightened by the power he had demonstrated.

"You are free from his control now." He said firmly, but no grudge. - "I will solve the curse issue, but remember that these children are not the culprits."

With the unconscious village owner and the defeated men, managed to turn his attention to the two girls, who had observed everything from afar, still scared and confusing. As he approached, he noticed that they were silent, embraced each other, with mixed eyes of fear and admiration.

"It's okay now." He said gently, crouching beside them. -"I promise you are safe."

The girls still seemed a little reluctant to trust, but, seeing that they really managed had removed the man who terrified them, they started relaxing gradually. He gave a reassuring smile and tried to break the silence that had formed.

"What is your name?" He asked, finally hoping to establish a trusted bond.

The two exchanged uncertain glances and, after a moment, the smallest of them answered, with a low and hesitant voice: "We… we have no names."

The answer caught managed by surprise. He was silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of what it meant. Not having a name… It was as if they had been deprived even of a basic identity, treated as less than human. Geto, he felt a tightness in his heart.

"So ... let's solve it now." - He said, with a kind smile. - "Can I name you?"

The girls exchanged one more look, and when they saw the sincerity in the face of Getou, they nodded slightly. He looked at both, looking for names that represented the new chance he wanted to give them a fresh start to his lives.

"You will be Mimiko." He said, looking at the girl with black hair, who looked a little more serious. - "And you will be Nanako." - He said, looking at the blond -haired girl, who had a slightly shy but curious look.

The two were silent, repeating the names to themselves, as if they were experiencing something new and precious.

"Mimiko… Nanako…" - they murmured, almost in unison, with a shine of emotion in the eyes.

He managed nodded, feeling a silent satisfaction to see how those names touched them. - "Yes, Mimiko and Nanako. These are strong and beautiful names, for two brave girls."

He reached out to both, and though hesitant, they ended up holding it. From that moment on, he knew he had taken on greater responsibility than simply resolving a curse.

He was there to guide them, protect and, above all, offer a new life to those who were not just two unknown children, but Mimiko and Nanako, with their own names and a new hope for the future.

"Let's go ..." he said softly. - "We have a long way ahead, but I'll be with you."

About that....

When we went back to the village, we noticed the tense mood that hovered in the air. The villagers who were once hesitant now watched with a mixture of fear and curiosity, especially when he saw groaning with the two girls by his side, without the currents that they once held them. I noticed the absence of the owner of the village and, with a calm but slightly intrigued expression, approached Gasou.

"What happened to him?" I asked by throwing an inquisitor look.

He managed, keeping a firm posture, he responded with a slight smile of corner, showing a touch of irony. "We found that the problem was not exactly what it seemed. The girls were not responsible for the curses ... the true responsible was closer than everyone thought."

I raised an eyebrow, understanding the tone of managed and knowing that he would rather solve things in a practical way, though discreet. - "And you solved the problem ... simply, I imagine?" - I asked with an expression that mixed understanding and a slight concern, considering the history of Getou

He managed nodded, throwing a brief look at the girls, who were still a little apprehensive, but clearly more relieved beside him. - "Let's say he won't cause problems for anyone anytime soon." - he said, without going into details.

I sighed and placed a hand on Getou's shoulder. "You did what you thought was right, and I trust your judgment." I then turned to the villagers nearby, giving them a calm but firm look. "These girls are under our protection now. They didn't cause what happened here, and we'll make sure the true source of the curse doesn't affect anyone else."

Saber, who was holding Sukuna's finger in a cloth wrapped around it to avoid direct contact, stepped forward. "We found this..." She said, raising her finger slightly so that everyone could see it, though many of the villagers didn't understand what it meant.

"That's what was attracting the curses. Sukuna..." I muttered in a serious tone. - "That finger poisoned the land, and the girls presence must have only attracted unwanted attention, intensifying the curses... But whoever put that finger there. It's not their fault. Now that we've removed the finger, things should get better."

The villagers began to murmur among themselves, many expressing relief and some still harboring lingering suspicions. But we knew that the problem was in the hands of skilled sorcerers.

"Now that we've resolved this situation..." - he said, looking kindly at the two girls - "let's make sure you have a safe place where you can live in peace."

Getou placed his hand on Mimiko and Nanako's shoulders, offering them a comforting smile. - "You have a new chance now..." - he said, in a welcoming tone. "Let's go home."

So, we began to prepare to leave the village, taking Sukuna's finger with us.

A few hours later...

When Saber and I arrived back at the house, the sky was already dark, and the night hung with an almost disconcerting tranquility after the day's events. Upon entering, they were greeted by Taiga, who, with her lively and curious personality, quickly noticed Saber's presence next to me. side.

"Hey, Yuji! Who is she?" - Taiga asked with a suspicious look and a mischievous smile, crossing her arms and leaning in to get a better look at Saber.

I felt a drop of cold sweat run down my forehead as I quickly tried to think of a convincing explanation. I knew Taiga had an intense and curious personality, and any inconsistent answer would only generate more questions. Saber, next to me, kept a neutral and elegant expression, but her gaze conveyed a slight curiosity about how I would handle the situation.

"Oh… Taiga!" - I began, forcing a smile. - "This is… a friend who came from… far away. She's here to… learn more about Japanese culture and… and to follow up on some things about my work!"

Taiga raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. - "Oh, so that's it?" - she said, in a tone of voice that showed she wasn't completely satisfied with the answer. - "And she came straight here? Interesting… Well, what's her name, miss?"

I swallowed hard and glanced at Saber, as if expecting her to cooperate. Saber, understanding the need to maintain discretion, bowed slightly.

"My name is Arturia." she replied in a respectful tone, avoiding details about her true nature.

Taiga placed one of her hands on her chin, looking at me clearly still intrigued. - "Hmm… Saber, huh? Well, Itadori, you've never mentioned this friend of yours before, and she has a very distinctive appearance. She almost looks like a character from a period film or something…"

I laughed nervously, trying to improvise. - "It's just… I met Saber while I was doing some work with colleagues, and… she ended up needing a place to stay. And since I had already mentioned our house, I thought it could be a good experience for her to see what a… more normal life is like."

Saber maintained her composure and took the opportunity to bow slightly as a sign of respect. - "I apologize for the surprise, Taiga-san. I'm grateful for your hospitality. I promise I won't cause any inconvenience."

Saber's politeness and formal tone seemed to soften Taiga's heart, who soon smiled, although there was still a glint of curiosity in her eyes. - "Ah, well, I guess I can't say no to someone who shows so much respect!" - She winked at me and Saber. - "But remember, Itadori, I'll keep an eye on you two!"

I nodded, relieved that Taiga hadn't asked any more questions. She then walked away, heading to the kitchen, probably to prepare something quick, while sighing deeply, feeling the tension ease.

When they were alone again, Saber gave Itadori a curious look. - "Your friend seems quite observant. I hope my presence doesn't make her suspicious."

I smiled, relieved. - "Ah, Taiga is... intense, but she's trustworthy. I just hope she doesn't ask too many questions... at least for now."

Shirou appeared in the hall with a quiet expression, but with a malicious glow in his eyes. He took the moment to introduce Tachie, who was a little behind him, watching everything with some shyness and curiosity. Seeing them, Shirou made a slight reverence and, with a mischievous smile, explained, "By the way, this is Tachie. She will also live here with us."

The statement took everyone by surprise, especially Sakura and Taiga, who were momentarily speechless, trying to process the news.

Sakura blinked several times, trying to absorb the idea. -"W-ait.... She... live here too?" She looked at Shirou to Tachie, clearly not waiting for one more person in the house, although she didn't seem contrary to the idea.

Taiga, however, raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms, taking a protective air. "Oh! If it's like that, I'll be here to avoid any… misunderstanding." He stated with a mischievous but clearly protective smile.

Laughs nervously, realizing the tone of taiga. I knew she was trying to "maintain order." But also that she had a habit of being quite vigilant and sometimes even a little nosy, especially in situations she thought was suspicious.

Shirou, pretending not to realize the hidden intention behind Taiga's words, just shrugged and smiled. - "Feel free, Taiga-Sensei. In fact, with more people in the house, it will be good to have someone who can ensure that everyone is comfortable and… behaved. "

But Taiga was not fooled by Shirou's casual response. She gave her a sharp look and then turned to Choso, who was next door, watching the scene with her usual tranquil, but somewhat impassive look. - "And of course, I'm already warning ..." - she said, pointing to Choso. - "I'm going to sleep here. With Choso like that, anything that happens, I'll be around to solve. "

Choso, which until then was quiet, nodded slightly, with a slight smile in response to Taiga's statement. He looked calm, as always, and seemed not to bother with her presence. In fact, he even seemed to find her protective way.

"All is well then." He murmured, throwing a brief look at me that struggled to contain the laughter.

Sakura and Tachie were still a little surprised by the novelty and the half -comic atmosphere that was formed around, but the mood of camaraderie and familiarity in the house was already beginning to settle in a natural way. Knowing and Tachie exchanged a brief look, as if they tried to better understand the personalities around them.

The next morning, Itadori called me to talk as they had coffee. With a serious look, Itadori mentioned the finding of the night before: "Shirou, yesterday we found another finger of Sukuna. It is stored for now, but it is a more concern. "

Nodded of the severity of the finding. The cursed energy emanating from each Sukuna finger was enough to attract curses and threats for miles. Knowing that one more piece was now within reach made them even more attentive, knowing that new challenges could arise at any time.

After coffee, I went to school. I crossed the main gate, walking through the corridors with the intention of organizing their activities for the day. However, by taking a few steps through the silent corridor, a sharp twinge took over my whole body, as if a shock wave crossed his muscles and bones. The pain was so sudden that I almost lost balance, stopping and leaning against the wall as it tried to recover my breath.

The feeling seemed to come from inside, as if something was moving with his own energy. I felt my heart accelerate, my breath became heavier, and in his mind he began to realize a light resonate from Sukuna's evil energy. The presence of the finger seemed to be stronger than I would imagine, almost as if something was trying to reach my own energy or conscience.

I remembered the words of Yuji-sensei and the urgency he had spoken about the dangers of Sukuna's fingers.

"I need to be aware ..."

End of Chapter 4