CHAPTER 3: BLADES AND BANTER

A few blocks from the chaos brewing under Shibuya Station, Team Mei Mei was on standby in one of the upper-level shopping complexes, scanning for incoming cursed energy.

Itadori stood near the railing, trying to stay focused. That was, until—

"Hmm," Ui Ui mused aloud with a slightly raised eyebrow, "I'm surprised someone like you made it this far."

Itadori blinked. "Uh... thanks?"

"No, no," Ui Ui continued in a completely deadpan voice, "I mean that in the most confused way possible. Like, did Gojo-sensei lose a bet or something?"

Mei Mei didn't even look up. Itadori rubbed the back of his head, trying to chuckle. "You're pretty blunt, huh?"

Ui Ui shrugged. "Just honest."

"Well," Itadori tried again, smiling awkwardly, "I'm kind of like a hidden gem. You know? Unpolished on the outside, but inside—"

"You're more like a rock someone stepped on," Ui Ui replied.

Itadori froze. "...You really don't hold back, do you?"

Just as Ui Ui was about to retort again, a loud bonk echoed through the corridor.

Mei Mei had tapped her staff gently—but firmly—on Ui Ui's head.

"Ui Ui," she said flatly, "that's no way to speak to your senior."

"But he's an—"

"Even if he is an idiot," Mei Mei interrupted calmly, "he's your senior idiot. Respect him."

Itadori stood dumbfounded.

He turned slowly. "...Are you really Mei Mei? Like, did someone put on your skin or something?"

Mei Mei raised an eyebrow. "Would you like to be hit next?"

Itadori instantly ducked behind Ui Ui, whispering in panic, "Bro! Control your sister!"

Ui Ui sighed. "You're on your own."

But the brief moment of humor ended in a heartbeat.

A strange, wet clicking echoed from the end of the hallway. Shadows twisted unnaturally. Something was coming.

A lot of something.

And then—

They appeared.

Twisted limbs, broken jaws, walking hunks of cursed flesh. Transfigured humans.

They swarmed forward without thought or hesitation.

Mei Mei moved first.

Her axe-staff shimmered through the air like a silver reaper, cleaving the first cursed being clean in half. Her body glided like silk, her movements more like dance than battle. Elegant, terrifying, precise.

Itadori followed next. His body tensed, legs propelling him forward with explosive strength. He struck hard, fast—cursed fists bursting skulls apart in a spray of black mist.

And Ui Ui, while not a frontline fighter, stuck close—relaying positions, counting enemies, and offering support.

Mei Mei turned mid-spin, slicing through two enemies, and barked: "Yuji, behind you!"

He ducked just as a mutated hand lunged from the side, countering with a kick that shattered ribs.

Another tried to strike Ui Ui—

But Itadori jumped between them.

"You okay?" he shouted.

Ui Ui nodded. "Still processing how you're useful."

"Seriously!?"

The fight raged for another few minutes. Blood, curses, and banter all mixed together into a beautiful, brutal mess.

Eventually, the corridor fell silent once more.

The floor was littered with dissolved cursed bodies. Itadori panted, grinning. Mei Mei stood untouched. Ui Ui was exhausted, but steady.

"You did well," Mei Mei said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Itadori blinked. "...You're being nice again."

Mei Mei smirked. "Don't get used to it."

Ui Ui muttered, "Still a bit of an idiot."

And with that, they pressed forward—toward the center of Shibuya's storm.