A while later,

"Hey! Hey!"

"Yuta! Yuta!"

"Hey!!"

"Hey, Yuta are you okay?!!"

"Mustard leaf!"

"Wake up, Yuta!"

Hearing a number of voices calling out to him, Yuta who was currently lying on the ground, began opening his eyes slowly.

And as he did, the voices near him became clearer as his blurry vision also sharpened allowing him to see everything around him.

Noticing this, Panda who was sitting to Yuta's left breathed a sigh of relief seeing that he was okay.

"Oh, He's awake."

*Swish*

Swiftly sitting up, Yuta immediately started looking at his companions, examining their states and checking their injuries.

"Everyone..."

"Your injuries..."

"Maki-san, Inumaki-kun."

"Wait! Panda-kun, your arm isn't healed?!"

Hearing this, Maki smiled and comforted him.

"Chill out, we are all doing better than you right now."

"Unlike those other two, my arm can be fixed later, Thanks for saving us!" Said Panda.

"Salmon!"

Hearing this, tears of joy appeared in Yuta's eyes as he looked at the trio in front of him, he had achieved his goal, and his sacrifice wasn't in vain.

However, just before he could say anything, a voice abruptly sounded from behind calling out to him which instantly caused his joy to get extinguished.

And looking in its direction, Lorien immediately noticed the cursed spirit Rika looking at him silently.

Seeing this, Yuta stood up and started making his way toward it as he then spoke in a very calm and serene voice.

"Sorry, Rika-chan."

"I've kept you waiting."

However, his companions looked confused as they didn't know what was happening.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"What's the matter, Yuta?" Inquired Panda.

Hearing this, Yuta visibly shook as he then responded with a bit of guilt and reluctance.

"Well, uh..."

He really didn't know how to face his friends right now as he thought that this was the last time he'd see them.

So, looking to the side, he spoke lightly trying to make the situation not seem that serious.

"In exchange for borrowing her power, um, I promised to go with Rika-chan."

However, the moment he said this, he instantly heard an exclamation from Maki.

"What?! Don't you know that means dying?! What were you thinking you idiot?!"

"Uh, well..."

It's just that before Yuta could find an excuse and answer, the cursed spirit Rika who was floating not far from him suddenly melted into a darkish liquid.

However, it wasn't completely gone as after a large portion of its body disappeared a little girl suddenly became visible.

This sudden occurrence immediately caused everyone to fall silent as they looked in confusion at the girl.

"Huh?"

It's just that while the others didn't know her, Yuta immediately recognized who she was the moment she appeared.

"Rika-chan?"

This was not the cursed spirit Rika, rather, it was the soul of the little girl who died right in front of Yuta years ago.

But, just before Yuta could say anything, the noise of clapping suddenly sounded nearby as Gojo emerged from their left as he made his way here.

*Clap*

*Clap*

*Clap*

"Congratulations, You managed to break the curse!" He said.

But, before Gojo could continue explaining, his student suddenly asked a question that caused him to almost facepalm.

""""Who are you?""""

"Your good-looking Gojo Satoru-sensei." Gojo responded before ignoring their reaction and continuing his explanation.

"I thought the theory Yuta came up with sounded interesting, so I requested an investigation into your family."

"The investigation of Rika's was finished quite a long time ago, But Yuta's was full of holes at best."

"So, it then came to light, you're the descendent of Sugawara Michizane!"

Saying this, Gojo restored his joyful state as he continued speaking cheerfully.

"This makes us super distant relatives! Yay! Yay! Yay!"

And, hearing his, the trio next to Yuta immediately reacted.

"""Suga??!"""

However, hearing all of this, Yuta was still confused as he didn't know who or what they were talking about.

"Huh? Who?"

"One of Japan's 3 great apparitions!" Explained Maki.

"He's a super bigshot sorcerer!" Said Panda.

"Tuna."

By now, Gojo finally stopped his small celebration and said to Yuta.

"You were right, Yuta, Rika didn't place a curse on you, you placed a curse on Rika."

Hearing this, flashbacks instantly appeared in Yuta's mind as he remembered what happened at the time.

'That's right...Back then I rejected Rika-chan's death'

"Now the one who placed the curse has canceled the bond, and so long as the one who was cursed doesn't seek any penalty, it's fully broken now." Said Gojo.

"Of course, that much was obvious after seeing her in that form." He continued as he looked at the silent Rika.

However, hearing all of this, Yuta fell to his knees as tears started falling from his eyes, the guilt he was feeling right now was immense.

"It was all my fault, wasn't it?"

"I turned you into that form."

"I hurt all those people, and I nearly caused everyone to die when Geto came after me!"

Clenching his hair in his fists, Yuta lowered his head even further.

'It's all my...It's all my...It's all my..."

However, just then, Rika who had been silent all this time suddenly got close to Yuta and hugged him.

"Yuta, thank you..."

"Thank you for giving me more time, and letting me stay by your side."

"The past 6 years, I've been happier than I ever was alive."

Saying this, Rika knew that she didn't have much time left so she took a step back and said her final words as she started disappearing into beautiful light particles.

"Bye-Bye, Take care."

"And don't come over here too soon, okay?"

Seeing this, even more tears welled up in Yuta's eyes as all he could answer was.

"Okay."

Hearing this answer, Rika extended her hand brushing Yuta's cheek one last time.

"See you later."

However, just then, a voice suddenly appeared interrupting this touching moment.

*Cough*

"Well, aren't you leaving too soon?"