Work Text:
Itadori Yuuji & Hiromi Higuruma
What is justice, really? Isn't justice about treating every individual equally without discrimination according to the prevailing legal norms? But why is it so difficult to uphold justice?
Is the law that fragile?
Higuruma gazed at the sky. Raindrops fell on his weary face. He hadn't slept for a long time. It was challenging to find peaceful sleep without imagining the gaze of those whose rights he fought for, only to end up imprisoned because the opposing party had more money.
It's disgusting. Money always triumphs above all. Those filthy humans always throw money with a scornful look at those who are poor. And the impoverished people would crawl to pick up the thrown money, even though in their hearts, they continued to curse the wealthy sitting atop them.
Higuruma then bowed his head to his hands. He looked at his hands, which tried to help the weak but always failed. The man clenched his fists and continued walking through the pouring rain that soaked his clothes. He didn't care. He knew he was also tainted. He just hoped maybe the rain could wash away some of his sins.
However, now it seemed even the rain couldn't erase his sins. He killed. He killed a lot.
Those who were weak and killed the weak would die, strong humans who killed the strong would die, and vice versa—they would all die under the extraordinary power bestowed upon him by heaven. He had his own judge shikigami who determined everything with open eyes and mind.
Shouldn't that be appreciated?
Blood flowed down his legs. The sound of water flowing in the bathroom couldn't drown out the screams of those killed in his hands. He wished for rain. He hoped rain would once again pour on every inch of his skin. Wet him. Make him clean again.
But no. Rain didn't come. He could only immerse himself in water, contemplating all the sins he had committed, until the pink-haired teenager approached him. That boy... He was beautiful. Beautiful and pure.
"I'm not a good person," he said as he chatted with Yuuji.
Itadori Yuuji. This kid is still young. He's only fifteen years old. An age that should be filled with playing with friends, not rushing to kill King of Curses.
"No one is truly pure in this world, Higuruma-san," Yuuji said, sitting beside Higuruma. He looked at the cloudy sky outside, wondering if rain could escape the barriers of Kenjaku's Culling Game.
"Every human has their own impurities," the boy continued with a soft voice. "They can hate, do evil things, but they can also love. Even if it's just one thing they cherish, like!" Yuuji began pointing in the air to visualize his words, "loving their family, friends, lovers, pets, or just loving their favorite fictional characters."
Listening to Yuuji's speech, Higuruma turned to look at Yuuji. The boy turned to him, smiling and revealing his white teeth. "Humans are beautiful, Higuruma-san."
Higuruma averted his gaze from Yuuji as quickly as possible. He couldn't bear to see Yuuji's warm smile. This boy was too pure. How could fate be so cruel to make Yuuji suffer like this?
"You talk too much," Higuruma said, met with a small laugh from Yuuji.
After Yuuji's laughter subsided, silence enveloped them once again. Yuuji didn't mind not chatting. Sitting here with Higuruma was already comforting for him. This man had many similarities with Nanamin, but, of course, no one could replace Nanami for Yuuji. However, Yuuji's heart still ached at the thought of Higuruma dying in the battle against Sukuna.
Why does everyone by his side always die?
"A human is like a coin standing on its edge."
"Hmm?" Yuuji snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Higuruma, who was now staring at his own shoes.
"The coin has two sides, right?"
Yuuji nodded. "Do you mean humans have an evil side and a good side? That's the same as what I said," Yuuji chuckled.
Higuruma chuckled and just nodded. He didn't continue his next sentence, that a coin standing on its edge could easily fall to one side with a gentle breeze—and most of the time, the side that falls is the good side, while the evil side prevails.
"Higuruma-san," Yuuji called out. He stood up. "Do you have any last wishes?"
Higuruma was slightly taken aback by Yuuji's sudden question. He took a short breath and shook his head.
"Are you sure?" Yuuji's voice was full of concern and guilt, perhaps because he brought him into the battle?
"Maybe," Higuruma paused for a moment. "A hug?"
Higuruma felt like his words were nonsense. Why did he suddenly say that? It's not like he wanted to feel Yuuji's warmth. No. He just suddenly thought of it.
"No, it's just a jo—" Higuruma's sentence was cut off as Yuuji's arms embraced him from behind. The boy rested his chin on Higuruma's shoulder, sinking into Higuruma's scent. Meanwhile, Higuruma shivered, feeling Yuuji's warm breath melting his coldness.
The rain may not have fallen, but here, the teenager with the brightest eyes he had ever seen hugged him, embracing himself with all the sins that accompanied him.
Higuruma closed his eyes. He relaxed and held Yuuji's hand that hugged him. Yuuji didn't retract his hand and let the man touch him. Higuruma caressed Yuuji's sturdy arms. "You're a good person, Itadori-kun."
Yuuji didn't respond. He just hummed softly, and that was enough for Higuruma. Higuruma looked far ahead. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Higuruma's Execution Sword disappeared from Yuuji's hand. The teenager stared blankly at his hands. The power of Higuruma vanished. It meant. It meant.
Yuuji turned to look at Sukuna, who smiled at him. He wasn't even allowed to mourn his loss. He had to keep moving even though blood continued to pool with every step he took.
But if he could ask the world. Why was the world so unfair to him?