Chapter 31 - Confronting Kokichi

When Gojo and Sachiko got to the location, Utahime was surprised to see Sachiko with Gojo.

"What's with the surprised look?" Gojo asked.

"..Nothing. It's just strange to see you accompanying a student to investigate." Utahime said.

"Oh, that? We were having lunch together when you called so she decided to tag along." Gojo said, not caring about Utahime's reaction in the slightest.

"Are you saying you two went out to have lunch together?" Utahime raised her eyebrows.

Gojo hummed in reply.

"She's your student! Gojo!" Utahime exclaimed.

"And?" Gojo raised his eyebrows with a cocky grin.

"I can't believe you would date a high-school student.." Utahime said slowly with a strange look.

"But she's like nineteen? Besides, I didn't even say we were on a date!" Gojo defended.

'Isn't it even more obvious if you say it like that?' Sachiko thought, 'On second thought, that just might be what he was planning to do...'

Sachiko had no idea why Gojo was acting like this. Was he planning to let everyone know that they started dating? But, they only went on like two dates and she thought she heard Gojo had commitment issues.

Utahime turned towards Sachiko, then opened her mouth to say something but decided against it anyway. She sighed, diverting the topic, "Anyway, let's get going."

Gojo and Sachiko nodded and followed Utahime.

When they get to the room where Kokichi was supposed to be in, the room was empty.

"Muta is supposed to be here.." Utahime murmured.

"Apparently this location is fake.." Gojo said.

"Or he had plans at the other location." Sachiko said.

Gojo hummed, "Well, let's find him before something happens. Sachiko, can you find his location?"

Sachiko nodded.

Sachiko used Possibility to find the possible locations of Kokichi. Then, she told Gojo the location.

"Alright, let's go there." Gojo said.

"Wait, just like that?" Utahime asked, frowning.

"Sachiko can find the possible locations of Kokichi so yeah." Gojo shrugged, then asked Utahime, "You coming?"

"Of course, I'm coming!" Utahime said.

Sachiko then led Gojo and Utahime to the location.

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"Since we got all we need, let's just kill him, Geto." Mahito said with a grin.

"No, we can't kill him yet. We need to fulfill the condition of the binding vow." The so-called Geto said.

"Fine." Mahito said, then proceeded to heal Muta Kokichi.

Kokichi gritted his teeth as he waited for Mahito to heal him.

After getting healed, Kokichi prepared to fight Mahito and Geto grinned.

"Do you want me to lend a hand, Mahito?"

"No, he's supposed to be my 'toy', Geto." Mahito said as he started attacking.

"Fine. I will just watch then." Geto replied.

Kokichi called over several puppets by his side and the puppets rushed towards Mahito. Mahito enlarged his arms to brush them aside and break them apart. However, Kokichi disappeared while he was distracted by the puppets.

"Did he leave? I don't really feel like hunting so I guess I'll have fun later." Mahito pouted.

But, the floor caves in below his feet and there was an explosion of water.

Kokichi was in the head of the giant armored puppet piloting it and felt the sensory feedback was blocked along with outward communication channels.

tried to contact Gojo to inform him of the Shibuya plan he knew.)

Geto laughed, "I would suggest giving up the idea of asking for help. Because I already made a barrier to prevent you from contacting anyone."

Kokichi looked at Geto, frustrated. Kokichi also knew at this point that if he wanted to escape the barrier and ask Gojo for help, he would have to kill Mahito first. He decided to go all out and charged with his one-year charge of cursed energy. Mahito swiftly escapes the explosion by reshaping his soul and increasing mobility.

The battle continued for a while and just when Kokichi thought he won, Mahito used Domain Expansion to trap him in his domain. Mahito looked at the Mechamaru who collapsed and then turned his back to the puppet. To his surprise, Mechamaru stood up and Kokichi glared at him. Kokichi then activated Simple domain sealed inside the tubes.

Mahito's body exploded and the domain disappeared. Kokichi thought he had won and Mechamaru roared in victory. But, then, he was shocked when Mahito crawling through the hole in multi-legged form. As a last attempt, Kokichi took out another technique tube and tried to stab Mahito with it. But, he was slower than Mahito this time. He thought he was going to die and then he heard Mahito laugh, "Goodbye, Muta Kokichi. You were quite helpful for us. It's such a shame you ended up like this.."

After saying that, Mahito prepared to finish Kokichi.

Just when he was about to do so, Geto's eyes suddenly narrowed, causing Mahito to stop his attack.

"What happened, Geto?"

"Let's leave, Mahito." He replied after sending a glance towards the door.

"What? We're having fun here. Besides, is it okay to just leave him like this? He's not dead yet." Mahito pouted.

"Then, deal a final blow. I'm leaving first." After saying that, Geto swiftly left the scene.

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"This is the place?" Utahime frowned.

"There's even a barrier." Sachiko studied the barrier. "Looks like it's the same person who made them.." She said, recalling Goodwill Event and her encounter with the curse user.

"Let's just destroy it first," Gojo said and then tore the barrier down.

Then, they walked to the room Kokichi was in and saw Mahito who just dealt a final blow to Kokichi.

Just before Kokichi breathed out his final breath, Sachiko quickly pulled him into her domain. Mahito, however, managed to escape just in time before the domain fully envelope him.

"Sorry, I panicked...I was worried that he would die if I was a second late." Sachiko said awkwardly.

"It's fine." Gojo said with a laugh.

Utahime was uncomfortable, which was understandable because who would not be when they were suddenly pulled into a domain without any warning?

"He's dead?" Utahime asked, finally after looking at Kokichi.

"No. He's still alive. But normally , he can't be healed at this point." Sachiko shook her head.

Naturally, Utahime knew this. Even if one can use reverse cursed technique, there will be injuries that exceed one's capability to heal. It was the case for Kokichi. She understood this , but that didn't explain why Sachiko brought him into her domain.

"I might be able to bring him back if it is in my domain so I had to bring him into my domain." Sachiko explained.

Utahime was speechless. 'She really is a monster.' She thought.

"Sachiko's strong. In a few months training with me, she became even stronger." Gojo said with a proud grin when he saw Utahime's reaction.

Sachiko was healing Kokichi when she heard Gojo and she couldn't help but blush a bit. She shook her head lightly to stop thinking and focus on healing Kokichi. It went well, despite being the first time trying to heal a dying person in her domain.

In less than a minute, Kokichi was already sitting with a dazed expression.

"What happened?" He managed to ask after a while. He then looked at his surroundings and saw Gojo, Sachiko and Utahime. He also knew he was in someone's domain and he came into conclusion that it was Sachiko's domain.

"Sachiko here saved you after you have taken a finishing blow from the curse you're working with." Gojo said as he slowly walked towards Kokichi.

"I..." Kokichi stuttered.

"What did you tell them? And what do you know about their plans?" Gojo asked.

"I....just.."

"Come on, answer Gojo sensei's question." Sachiko said, putting a hand on Kokichi's shoulder.

"I...leaked information and helped them during exchange event." Kokichi answered.

"And that's in exchange for healing your body?" Gojo stated.

Kokichi nodded. "And not to hurt Kyoto students.."

"So, you really care about your friends?" Gojo's lips curled up into a grin which somehow sent shivers down Kokichi's spine.

"I eventually regretted when I learned some of their plans but..."

"Binding vow had been made to prevent you from backing out." Sachiko finished his sentence.

"Yes, that.."

Utahime could only say, "It's nice to know you care about your friends but.... your betrayal is not something we can just let it slide, Muta."

"I know that.." Kokichi said quietly.

"It's good you know that. Now, tell everything you know about their plans." Gojo said.

"Shibuya.." Kokichi started, "They were planning to seal you there, Gojo san. The initial plan I know was to somehow use civilians as a shield and then they would try to limit your movements before taking out prison realm. But.. I don't know if they changed their plans."

"What?!" Utahime was taken aback at the reveal and couldn't help but scared just by thinking of the chaos that would follow if the plan were to succeed.

Contrary to her reaction, Sachiko and Gojo weren't that surprised.

"Oh, Shibuya?" Gojo raised his eyebrows slightly, interested.

"So, that's where they planned.." Sachiko said.

"You don't look so surprised." Kokichi was a bit confused at the two's reactions.

"I know they were trying to seal me in prison realm." Gojo grinned.

"You know? Gojo?!" Utahime was surprised, "Why didn't you mention anything?"

"Why would I?" Gojo returned the question.

Utahime bit her lips but didn't know what to reply as she knew how the relationship between Gojo and higher-ups was.

"So, Kokichi, I'm curious about one thing. At the exchange event, why did you initiated an attack despite knowing you will lose? It's like you made sure you lose on purpose." Sachiko asked.

"Isn't it obvious? They wanted to lower the number of students they need to keep in check and I didn't want my Mechamaru to be the suspicious one by being the only student standing when unknown curses ans curse users barge in and attack." Kokichi said. "Besides, they wanted to make you look suspicious if their plan to kill you failed."

"Is that so? I get it now." Sachiko chuckled, "It was interesting."

"You're an interesting one, Nakamura. Making me confess and all. And I guess this isn't all you can do." Kokichi said.

"What do you think?" Sachiko asked.

"Oh right, Gojo san, I also heard one of them asked Nakamura to join." Kokichi paused to look at Sachiko, "Did you tell them your conversation with him, Nakamura? He was confident that you would join them."

"What is he talking about Nakamura?" Utahime frowned.

Gojo turned to look at Sachiko but he didn't say anything. He didn't need to because Sachiko knew what he wanted to ask.

"There was this one curse user who asked me to join them. It was when I joined the rest of my classmates to investigate the curse that kills in front of doors. I declined the offer, of course." Sachiko explained.

"I thought they were trying to kill you." Gojo frowned.

"They were. I don't know what changed but he suddenly made an offer. When I said no, he just shrugged it off." Sachiko replied.

"Apparently, he didn't give up." Gojo said.

"...I'm sorry, I should've brought this up. I just thought it wasn't that important because I already declined and I...didn't want to sound like a suspicious person by saying that. But I guees that just makes me more suspicious.." Sachiko said.

"I wasn't saying I don't believe you." Gojo said, "But you need to tell me those kind of things. I trust you but other people might get the wrong idea."

"You trust her just like that?" Utahime asked.

Gojo grinned, "Why? Jealous that I trust her a lot?"

"Don't worry, I trust you enough to let you investigate the traitors too!" Gojo continued.

Utahime glared, "Don't you dare say any flirty lines to me! Especially when your girlfriend is beside you, Gojo!!"

"What? Girlfriend?" Kokichi looked around, and asked, "Who?"

He then looked at Sachiko, "Her?"

"No....we're just going out for like two dates..." Sachiko tried to differ but Gojo said with a grin, "Yeppp, she's my girlfriend!"

"She said no." Utahime raised her eyebrows.

"No, I said yes." Sachiko said.

"I literally just heard...." Kokichi said.

"I don't know what you're saying. I'm his girlfriend." Sachiko said.

Gojo chuckled at that.

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A/N:

The fight between Mahito and Kokichi went almost as the same as in the manga but Kokichi didn't die. He was dying but Sachiko could save him in time by pulling him into ber domain just before he took his last breath so he's alive to tell the tale.