Chapter Text
Toge had gotten used to his simple life, from school to baseball nothing truly seemed to grab his attention at least not fully. Toge lived life as it pulled him, like a dandelion in the wind. That all changed when he saw a Yuta edit flash across his feed, and in a moment he was transfixed.
What he didn’t realise was how much work this new hobby of his would take, merch drops, conventions, figures, blind boxes, acrylic stands, posters, body pillows. Soon Toge’s room was filled to the brim with Yuta merch; he even had to undertake a part-time job to pay for his fixation. Even when work had exhaustion burned into his bones it still tasted sweet because he knew this was all for Yuta.
When it happened his life had seemed brighter than ever (there was a new Yuta figure coming out). Is when his life suddenly flipped upside down, as he suddenly awoke his breath feeling as if it was ripped out from his lungs, he panted as he lay on the ground the palms of his hands scraped raw from the concrete. What the hell was going on, he looked around and saw nothing. He was in a dingy alleyway with another girl and a… ah panda..? He wasn’t in China was he-! Toge gasped as they turned to him, some parts of them covered in a dark sludge. It was a girl with green hair and glasses, and an intense look on her face. While the other was a panda… Toge couldn’t find it in himself to stand. What on earth was going on don’t tell me he was next-! They totally looked murderous!
While the girl apprised him from afar the panda came closer, Toge pushed himself back against the wall all of his knowledge of panda’s fled him they ate bamboo for 24 hours a day- so surely he doesn’t seem appetising. Or is this a fight or flight situation, surely a panda has killed a human before- “Toge, are you alright? You got hit pretty hard from that curse.” The girl asked, her eyes flickering around his body for a few moments before she finally moved, forcing him to stand.
As soon as she did he wished she didn't. His knees felt like they were about to buckle at any moment, that feeling only intensified once the panda spoke. “Maki wait- be careful his cursed energy is different.” Toge felt light headed all the blood rushing to his head as he suddenly felt faint, he could accept many things, like having to drown his room with blind boxes before he finally got Yuta. Or the slander of Yuta online but he had to draw the line here. Pandas talking isn't natural. His breath caught as he gazed into those beady little eyes and within the next moment he felt his legs give out as his world faded to black.
He awoke in a cold sweat quickly scanning the room for any sign of that freakish panda, after a moment he found himself alone. He was calm for only a second when he realised that this in fact could have not been a dream. He was in a traditional room, the walls made up of paper and wood and blank. So blank in fact that he knew this wasn’t his room there was not a sight of any of his Yuuta posters, or shine, nor his collection of figures on his shelves.
Clearly he knew he was somewhere new. Where that was he had no idea, a shiver ran down his spine as he clenched his fists. What in the world had happened to him, he knew this wasn’t right, not in the slightest. He quickly got out of bed. He didn't feel all that different, that must be a good sign at least. Yet as he began to move towards the door he stopped in place. his eyes catching himself into the mirror. He looked himself up and down; he looked different yet almost not at all. He still had the same white hair and purple eyes, but he had a tattoo? On each of his cheeks he leaned in closely to inspect them. Two circles connected with a line connecting to his mouth, he definitely didn’t have that before. He slowly ran his fingers across the tattoo before he stuck his tongue out, on it was some kind of symbol. He took a breath in and slowly collected himself. What on earth could be happening, this felt like a dream he couldn’t accept just yet.
He focused his attention back on the panda and the girl he had met before, no matter how much it made him shiver to think about that panda what a deface of mother nature, uneasy he remembered all he could about the girl that had stood before him her green hair, tall build, and glasses suddenly burned into his mind he knew her face. In fact he was surprised how he didn’t realise before, he had seen her many times in his attempt at getting the Yuta figure from a blindbox. It was Maki Zenin, one of the female characters from Jujutsu Kaisen. And that panda had to be… well Panda.
Toge stared at the tattoo on his face analysing every curve and dip. He shook his head. The only thought in his head was that he looked like a side character within Jujutsu kaizen 0, Toge Inumaki. Toge slowly zipped his collar up letting it cover his mouth, as sweat slowly ran down his forehead. He violently shook his head from side to side. This sort of thing only happened in fanfiction. He felt almost ashamed that he had even thought of it. Clearly all those late nights reading Yuta x reader had gotten to his head.
Toge clenched his fists and resolved himself as confidently as he could he stepped out of the bedroom and with each step he took more, and more dread twisted at his gut. He knew this scene after all he had rewatched Jujutsu Kaisen 0 more times than he could count. This was the Tokyo school for Jujutsu. Toge knew that and instead of excitement like any normal fan would at the prospect of being in their favourite show, all Toge felt was dread. After all he could be labelled as some sort of ‘larper’ or ‘tourist’ as he had never fully watched the show through.
An insane thought for most given that his room was covered with merch and posters from that show but Yuta’s appearances in the anime are few and far between until he got to the culling games, or Jujutsu Kaisen 0. And Toge had simply never had the willpower to sit through the show knowing he would never see his shining light, Yuta Okkotsu.
Now he regretted that choice as he was suddenly stranded in this world, maybe he could just live peacefully… his thoughts were cut off as his name was called out he almost jumped out of his skin as he turned around to face Maki, and Panda again. He felt his face pale as he looked at Panda clearly he still wasn’t used to him just yet.
“Toge! How are you feeling?” Panda called his voice surprisingly comforting even if he was a talking Panda. Toge opened his mouth to speak before he paused; he was still doubtful that he had suddenly taken the side character Inumaki’s place in the story, but all he could remember was that Inumaki spoke only in words like ‘salmon’ or ‘bonito flakes’. Toge gulped as he opened his mouth, all he knew was that he had to test this out or he wouldn’t be able to sleep. Even if it meant he looked like a complete fool.
“Ah… Salmon.” Toge forced out embarrassment covering each syllable of his words. Toge eyed each of Panda’s or Maki’s reactions but they didn’t necessarily phase by him saying salmon but each of their expressions sombered with a gentle worry.
“That must be because that curse messed with your cursed energy” Panda frowned as he spoke, eyeing toge as he continued “I noticed it after you fell your curse energy drop, it should recover… but, do you think you can still use your curse technique?”
Toge racked his brain for the words. Honestly he hadn’t paid much attention to Inumaki when he had watched Jujutsu Kaisen 0. How much that bites his ass now. But from what he remembered this technique had something to do with commands, Toge steeled himself and slowly pulled his zipper down. His hands felt clammy, what if he was found as a fake from everything he had seen from Panda and especially Maki all lead him to knowing he would be crushed by them in a fight. Toge breathed in mostly to stall before he spoke.
“Stick your left leg out” Toge commanded, as sternly as he could before he doubled over in pain shooting up his throat as he choked on a cough. He wheezed as he forced himself to stand up holding his throat, Maki and Panda had already been at his side both sharing a worrying and pitying look on their faces.
The answer to that question was clearly no, maybe because he had taken over this body, Inumaki’s cursed energy had left him so now he was more of an energyless curse user. How unlucky, how was he going to survive in this world without Inumaki’s technique, what if he gets into a battle with some hothead. Toge’s worries started to pile up as he realised just how out of depth he was as he had trouble catching his breath.
“What a shame… he can’t use his technique?” Toge’s attention snapped forward towards the tired looking women as she moved towards them. She was tall and wearing a white lab coat twirling a lock of her brown hair around her finger.
“Shoko… is there anything you can do for him?” Maki asked towards Shoko… Toge tried to search his brain for who this woman was, all the blind boxes he opened, or merch he surfed through on different sites. And not a single trace of this woman stood out to him, Toge frowned as he was eyed by the women.
“All we can hope for is rest to heal him well, this isn’t uncommon after a battle.” Shoko answered and Toge gulped he needed to get his bearings in place and figure out what exactly was going on.
“Go on,” Shoko urged “let him rest, that’s all we can do for him.” Maki and Panda frowned towards him before they sighed softly, Maki giving him a small smile.
“I’m sure everything will be fine soon enough… Don’t worry, Toge you’ll be training with us soon enough.” Panda nodded along giving Toge a reassuring smile and a thumbs up, Toge eyed Panda’s furry thumb for a moment. Clearly he still wasn’t used to Panda just yet…
Toge sighed softly in relief as he saw both Maki and Panda walk away from him letting him rest. Before he suddenly stiffened as Shoko gave him a nod as she walked away, he had… forgotten she was there.
Toge spent the rest of the day walking around the school, with each step he further cemented to himself that he was in Jujutsu Kaisen, an anime he had watched… Toge gulped as he gripped one of the pillars of the school, what on earth had happened to him? All the concepts of Jujutsu Kaisen mostly forgotten in his head, he gripped the pillar tighter. What happened to himself in the real world? It's not like he died and this was some kind of isekai! Toge closed his eyes with a sharp intake of breath cursing himself softly, was it wrong that he felt somewhat excited… afterall if he’s in Jujutsu Kaisen… he could meet Yuta. Toge’s world seems just a bit brighter at the thought, before he cursed himself. How selfish! I mean… what about his parents… or friends in his old life they would be wondering where he has gone hasn’t he? And here he is happy because he can meet his anime crush.
Yet even Toge felt his berating was halfhearted after all just the thought of being able to be in the same room as Yuta was-
.
.
.
Toge felt his skin crawl, fear piercing as he felt eyes seemingly look through every part of his being. Effortlessly reading every cell in his body for information, Toge forced himself to turn sweat clamming at the bottom of his back and his hands. As he faced the white haired wonder of the series.
“And here I thought an intruder made their way into the school” Gojo spoke with a carefree smile but his demeanor was anything but.
“But it’s just you Toge, I heard you, Panda, and Maki have beaten a special grade curse! Congratulations are in order, that is an impressive feat.” Toge felt Gojo’s six eyes look through his body and it made him gulp. Could he tell? Toge shivered. Could he tell that he wasn’t from this world?
Toge nodded curtly “Bonito flakes..!” Toge forced out he was glad all Toge said was riceball ingredients afterall he didn’t think he could form a sentence even if he tried. Yet Gojo just looked at him curiously. Toge felt his heart skip over a beat, he knows- he knows- he definitely knows!
Toge cleared his throat offering a smile even though it was hidden under his collar, shouldn’t he come clean and beg Gojo for help? Surely he isn’t the type to just kill him. Toge steeled his nerves before he spoke- well tried too many words he tried to force out didn’t even make a peep.
Toge forced harder and all that came out was a ragged scream, Toge quickly covered his mouth as quickly as the scream came out. He stepped back as Gojo stepped forward, his face flushing. Why wasn’t he allowed to talk or spill his guts out? Toge cleared his throat and waved his hand like that would make all of Gojo’s worries go away like magic, before he turned on his heel and scampered away from Gojo, ungraceful, not at all dignified but it surprisingly worked. Gojo let him go? For a moment he wasn’t sure if he should be grateful or not. How would Gojo just let him go? He should be counting his lucky stars at the moment.
After that hair frazzling moment with Gojo Toge had managed to make it back into his room, it was still missing all of his Yuta merch, but the more he thought about it the more it seemed like a blessing. Afterall if he was ever to meet Yuta, having his face plastered across his room would totally come off as creepy…
Toge slowly pulled down his zipper letting his collar fall and exposing his mouth. The more he thought about it the more confused he got. What would he hope to achieve now he was in this new world, now that he has taken Toge Inumaki’s place as him. Maybe he could bend the story… Toge knew after the Shibuya arc almost every character dies a terrible fate until the story reaches an unsatisfactory conclusion. Now that he had this power… He knew he could turn the tide or at least try to. The least he could do, or else he would share Inumaki’s fate as well.