Jujutsu Kaisen: I Can Manipulate Time.

"It's said that if you walk the school's main staircase at midnight, a mysterious thirteenth step appears. Anyone who steps on it vanishes… crossing over from the human world to hell."

The three Occult Club members shuddered as Keisuke spoke, clearly hooked on the eerie legend. Naine, unbothered, asked bluntly, "Everyone's heard that one. But has anything real ever happened?"

Keisuke dropped his spooky act and replied, "Actually… yeah. It happened four years ago. A security guard went missing during his night patrol. The police never found him, and the security cameras didn't catch him leaving. The school was searched top to bottom—nothing."

"After that, rumors exploded. Some said he was dragged into the underworld by a vengeful spirit. Others claimed his corpse was hidden beneath the sports field. Either way, the school issued a gag order, and the story became an urban legend."

He leaned forward. "The guards here rotate often now. People say it's because of what happened back then."

Then, looking at Naine, he hesitated. "Naine… you're not thinking of testing that legend, are you? I know you've got guts, but that one's different. It gives people bad vibes. Risa and her group from Class Three made a girl test it out at midnight recently. She hasn't been the same since."

Naine frowned. "Was it Ayako? Small, quiet girl in my class?"

Keisuke nodded slowly. "Probably. Risa and her group always target the weak. She's your friend?"

"Yes," Naine muttered, clearly upset. "I noticed something was off with her. I didn't expect it to be this…"

She stood abruptly. "I'm going to find Ayako. Thanks, Keisuke."

"Hey! Don't do anything stupid!" Keisuke called after them as Naine left with Kamihara Hajime following silently behind.

In the classroom, Ayako sat alone. Her posture was hunched, eyes downcast. She tensed as she noticed Hajime outside the door and stepped behind Naine instinctively.

"Naine… who's that?"

"A friend," Naiyin reassured, quietly introducing Hajime as they walked.

Hajime observed everything without comment. So far, he sensed no strong cursed energy—nothing that suggested a dangerous Curse was actively present. The fact that nothing had happened since that incident years ago suggested a dormant Curse or one with a very specific trigger condition.

They settled in a secluded pavilion overgrown with vines. Naiyin hesitated before asking, "Ayako… did Risa's group force you to test the thirteenth step legend?"

Ayako trembled. Her fingers gripped her skirt tightly as she whispered, "Naine… don't get involved."

Naiyin stood abruptly. "They're going too far! I should report this—"

Ayako grabbed her wrist suddenly. "No… because…"

"That's because it really happened," Hajime interrupted.

Ayako stared at him, silent.

"You don't have to be afraid," Naine added gently. "Hajime's a Jujutsu Sorcerer. He handles things like this."

Ayako hesitated, but eventually said, "I didn't see anything… but something was there. After I stepped on the thirteenth step… it felt like something surrounded me. We heard crying. The others ran, but my legs wouldn't move. I was sure I was going to die. But nothing touched me."

She was clearly on the edge of breaking down, so Hajime nodded at Naine, signaling her to comfort Ayako. After arranging a leave of absence for her, Naine returned.

"So what now?" she asked.

"Are you really coming with me?" Hajime replied.

Naine nodded without hesitation. Hajime raised a hand to stop her from speaking further.

"Good. The operation's at night. I'll teach you how to control your Cursed Energy so you can protect yourself."

Back at the Minamoto residence, Hajime cleared a courtyard and began instructing Naine. Despite being new to Jujutsu techniques, she quickly picked up basic Cursed Energy reinforcement, enough to enhance strength and physical endurance.

Meanwhile, Hajime contacted Gojo Satoru for clearance to isolate the campus. By evening, all staff and students had been moved, leaving the main building deserted.

As night fell, Hajime and Naine stood beneath the staircase in question. It loomed in the moonlight, empty and still.

Hajime extended two fingers and murmured, "Born from darkness, return to darkness. All filth and residue, be sealed."

A Curtain descended, blocking off the building from the outside world. Naiyin watched in amazement.

They entered the building, White Wolf trailing behind. Naine counted aloud as they climbed.

"One, two, three… twelve. Still no thirteenth step."

"Not yet," Hajime replied. They reached the roof, then descended to wait on the first floor.

As midnight struck, Hajime's expression changed. White Wolf growled.

"It's here."

A step shimmered into view—an extra one, emerging impossibly out of thin air.

"The thirteenth step!" Naine gasped.

Hajime released a ball of Cursed Energy, striking it. The stone shattered—then reformed from black mist as if regenerating.

"Not the source," Hajime muttered. He tried again with a stronger blast. The step detached from the staircase, floating in midair, untouched by gravity. Unnatural.

He activated a technique. Time Wheel – Reverse. The staircase reset.

"It's time," Hajime said. "Step on it together. We'll likely be drawn into an innate domain."

He handed Totsuka-no-Tsurugi to Naine. "If we're separated, keep this safe."

Naine gripped the sword nervously. The two stepped onto the thirteenth stair.

The world stretched and distorted. The building peeled away. In moments, they were inside a shadowy corridor lined with closed doors on both sides.

White Wolf growled. A doorknob ahead turned slowly. Hajime held out his hand, and Naine returned the blade.

A pale hand pushed the door open. A student emerged, wearing an unfamiliar uniform. Vacant eyes stared blankly ahead.

"Is that… a Curse?" Naine asked.

Hajime vanished. Reappeared behind the figure. The student collapsed—legs severed cleanly.

No blood, only thick, dark fluid oozing from the wound. Hajime crushed the head with the sword. The thing turned to ash.

He stared at the blade. It had sliced through like nothing. Maybe it was just weak—or maybe Totsuka-no-Tsurugi was reacting strangely to this domain.

Then came more movement. Doors rattled. Over a dozen opened.

More figures emerged, bodies twitching, some already mutating grotesquely.

Hajime handed the sword back to Naine. "These are yours. I've got your back."

"W-wait, I—"

"You'll be fine," he said. "These aren't the main Curse. They're just fragments. Imbue Cursed Energy like I showed you. You have studied swordsmanship, right?"

Naine gulped. "A little, but—"

"Swing hard. You'll do great."

As the deformed figures closed in, Naine's eyes sharpened.

"…Then I'll give it a try."

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Don't be shy, unleash those Powerstones! (⁠⊙⁠_⁠◎⁠)