Itadori Yuji ᝰ.ᐟ

The sun rises as always, gradually illuminating the forest. Within that forest, light footsteps sound against the grass, and a low song is accompanied by the singing birds in the branches of the trees.

The Japanese nightingale heralds the arrival of beautiful spring; vibrant colors adorn the landscape, and flowers bloom joyfully. Today would be a perfect, peaceful day, free of worries and prying eyes.

—No noise— A somewhat gruff voice broke the silence. Yuji stopped singing with the birds. —Suspicious— he said, puzzled. Yuji had expected someone to walk through this area, which the village had forbidden entry to.

Many trees bore warning signs for the curious: if they entered, the Tiger of the Forest would seize and devour them—fantasies, they say, deliberate fear of the unknown. He continued pacing the perimeter, keeping watch to ensure no one approached the old, hidden structure of the Tokyo sorcery school, which had been reclaimed by nature for a century, under Yuji's care, its final resting place.

In the middle of his morning patrols, Yuji's hearing picked up footsteps, footprints on fallen leaves, and small branches placed on purpose to listen for any intruders in this territory, the territory dominated by Yuji Itadori.

"Just as I suspected," Yuji thought, looking in the direction of the noise.