𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐠-𝐟𝐮 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨?

┌──── ∘°❉°∘ ────┐

𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐠-𝐟𝐮 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨?

└──── °∘❉∘° ────┘

𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ───

--THE WEIGHT OF YUJI ITADORI'S DEATH HUNG OVER THE TRIO LIKE A SUFFOCATING FOG. The three of them sat on the wooden stairs outside of Shoko's office, feeling the summer breeze hit them softly. Inside, Yuji's lifeless body was being prepared for whatever came next. The space felt unbearably empty, yet too full of emotions to process.

Misa sat apart from Megumi and Nobara, leaving an open space on the stairs between herself and the others—a space that should have been occupied by Yuji, laughing at some dumb joke or cracking his knuckles like he always did before a fight. But Yuji wasn't there anymore. Sukuna had torn his heart out, taking him from them in the cruelest, most senseless way possible.

Misa stared down at her hands, recalling the disgusting frog slime that covered her. A bitter laugh almost escaped her lips, but it died before it reached the surface. I was covered in frog spit, throwing a tantrum about getting into a stupid car while Yuji... She shook her head, unable to finish the thought. Her stomach churned with guilt, her insides twisting at the memory. She had known they should've stayed to fight. Maybe if they had, Yuji wouldn't have died.

She bit her lip hard, trying to will away the hollowness inside her chest. It didn't work.

"I don't usually cry," Nobara said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was shaky, her usual confidence stripped away. She dabbed at her eyes roughly with her sleeve, as if angry at the tears escaping. "We barely even knew him, right? A week isn't long enough to—" Her words faltered, and another tear slipped down her cheek.

Megumi sighed, his hands gripping his knees tightly, knuckles white. "It's not about how long we knew him," he muttered. His tone was even, but the weight of his words betrayed his frustration and grief. "Yuji...he just...he was different. He made you feel like you mattered."

Misa didn't respond. She couldn't. The sound of their voices felt distant, muffled, like she was underwater. Her gaze stayed fixed on the wooden stairs, but her mind was elsewhere, replaying every moment she'd spent with Yuji in that one short week. She could still hear his laugh, that big, carefree sound that made everything feel lighter.

He was just some random kid, she thought bitterly. Some random kid who somehow managed to make me smile, to make me feel like maybe things weren't so bad. And now he's gone.

A pang of sadness hit her hard, but no tears came. She was too numb to cry, too caught up in the whirlwind of regret and disbelief. Beside her, Nobara sniffled, wiping at her eyes again. Megumi kept his gaze forward, his expression unreadable, but Misa could tell he was hurting just as much as the rest of them.

Silence fell again, heavy and unbearable. Misa shifted slightly, her hands clenching into fists. She wanted to say something, to do something to make the ache go away, but no words came. All she could do was sit there, her heart heavy with the loss of someone she barely knew but somehow already missed more than she thought possible.

For the first time in a long time, Misa felt truly helpless.

The sound of a sharp, commanding female voice sliced through the somber air like a knife.

"So, what's this?"

Misa looked up from where she sat, her head still heavy with thoughts of Yuji. Standing a few feet away was Maki Zenin, her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised as she looked at the group like they were a bunch of slackers. Her sharp gaze landed on Megumi first, and her expression hardened into one of mild annoyance.

"You're looking even more bummed out than usual, Megumi," she remarked with a casual edge. "Having a wake?"

Megumi sighed, barely lifting his head to meet her eyes. "What's up, Zenin?" he replied flatly, sounding both exhausted and unamused.

"Don't call me by my last name," Maki snapped, her tone clipped, like this was a rule she'd had to repeat a hundred times.

From behind one of the poles near the edge of the platform, a hushed whisper broke the conversation. "Maki, Maki." The voice was deep but oddly playful.

Misa shifted her gaze and froze, her eyes widening slightly. Standing partially hidden by the pole was a large panda—a literal panda—along with a shorter figure clad in a high-collared jacket. For a moment, Misa wasn't sure whether to be surprised or amused. Her brow furrowed slightly as she watched the unusual pair.

"Hey, I'm talking here. Shut it," Maki barked at the panda, cutting him off.

But the panda wasn't having it. He leaned forward slightly, still whispering as if his voice could possibly go unnoticed. "Are you serious right now? Do you seriously not know why they're so down?"

"No," Maki shot back, glaring at him as if he were the one being ridiculous. "Should I?"

The panda tilted his head, his black-and-white face surprisingly expressive for an animal. "Someone died yesterday," he said, his tone dropping slightly. "A boy. He was one of the first years."

"Tuna mayo," the other boy—Inumaki, if Misa remembered correctly—murmured softly.

Maki stiffened. Her jaw clenched, and her teeth ground together audibly as her eyes shut for a brief moment. When they opened again, her expression was a mix of frustration and guilt. "Why didn't you say so?" she growled, rounding on the panda and Inumaki with an accusatory glare. "Now I look like some heartless, cold-blooded ice demon!"

"Yeah, that's how you came off," the panda quipped without hesitation.

"Tuna mayo," Inumaki agreed with a slight nod.

Misa exhaled sharply, brushing off her skirt as she rose from her spot on the stairs. She took a moment to smooth her uniform, though her hands lingered a little longer than necessary—more out of a need to center herself than for appearances. Without a word, she began walking toward the trio, her expression calm but her eyes carrying the faintest hint of interest.

Misa crossed her arms, her stance confident despite the heaviness of the atmosphere. The second-years turned their attention toward her, their curiosity piqued by the first-year girl now standing before them. She locked eyes with Panda—or rather, with the unmistakably human quality of his gaze—and tilted her head slightly, as if studying him like a rare artifact in a museum.

Her scrutiny was so thorough, so brazen, that Panda shifted his weight, his large paw rubbing the back of his neck. For a being who didn't usually get flustered, he looked genuinely uncomfortable under her gaze.

Misa finally broke the silence, her tone somewhere between amazement and mischief. "Might I just say," she began, slowly and dramatically, "you are the most magnificent abomination of an animal remixed with a human specimen I have ever laid eyes on."

The words hung in the air for a beat. Panda's expression froze, his mouth slightly open as he processed the statement. "Uh... thanks?" he replied hesitantly, unsure whether it was a compliment or an insult.

"Seriously," Misa continued, gesturing at him with both hands like she was presenting a masterpiece. "You're... what's the word? Glorious. Like a chimera but cuter. Do you eat bamboo, or is that too cliché for you?"

Maki rolled her eyes, though the corner of her mouth twitched upward in a reluctant smirk. "Please don't encourage him. His ego doesn't need the boost."

Panda crossed his arms in mock indignation, his large paws resting on his biceps. "Excuse you, Maki, I am already a marvel of modern Jujutsu sorcery, thank you very much. If someone finally wants to acknowledge that, who am I to stop them?"

"You're welcome," Misa quipped, raising her eyebrows. "And I mean it. Can I, like, pet you? Or would that be weird?"

Before Panda could respond, Maki groaned and waved a dismissive hand. "Don't even start. If you say yes, she'll never leave you alone."

"Yeah," Misa shot back with a grin. "But you're jealous because he's fluffier than you'll ever be."

Maki's eyebrow twitched, but she didn't rise to the bait, instead shooting Panda a glare. "Do whatever you want, but don't come crying to me when it gets annoying."

Panda grinned down at Misa, crouching slightly so he was closer to her level. "You can pet me, but fair warning—it'll ruin other animals for you. I'm one of a kind."

"Noted." Misa reached out tentatively, then placed her hand on the fur of his arm. Her eyes widened as she stroked the soft yet oddly coarse texture. "Wow, you're like a walking teddy bear... but with sass."

"Damn right," Panda said with mock pride, puffing out his chest.

From behind him, Inumaki tilted his head and muttered, "Salmon."

"What's he saying?" Misa asked, glancing curiously at Inumaki.

Maki sighed and rubbed her temple. "He's just agreeing with Panda. Don't encourage him either, or we'll never hear the end of it."

Misa gave Inumaki a playful smile. "I like this guy. He's mysterious."

"Tuna mayo," Inumaki replied with a small nod, his tone calm and even.

"Totally," Spoke Misa, unaware of what she was agreeing to.

Panda chuckled, straightening back up and glancing between Misa and his teammates. "Well, I gotta say, you've got spunk, first-year. You're gonna need it with this crew." He motioned to Nobara and Megumi, who were still sitting silently on the stairs, their expressions varying degrees of exasperated.

Misa shrugged. "Trust me, I'm used to keeping these two in line."

Maki's gaze softened just a fraction, her initial irritation fading as she observed Misa's confidence and humor. "You might survive after all," she said, giving Misa a small nod of approval.

Misa smirked, glancing at Megumi. "See that, Fushiguro? The second-years already like me better than you."

"Yeah, sure," Megumi deadpanned.

"Bonito flakes," Inumaki added, a quiet chuckle escaping him as he exchanged a knowing look with Panda.

Maki turned to the rest of the group, clapping her hands once. "Alright, enough playing around. Let's get back to business."

But as they moved forward, Panda leaned slightly toward Rina, muttering, "By the way, I do eat bamboo. But only as a snack. Gotta keep the mystery alive."

Misa stifled a laugh as the group walked on, thinking that maybe the second-years weren't so bad after all.

Maki dusted off her hands, glancing over the group of first-years with a scrutinizing eye. "Alright, you lot," she said, her tone suddenly serious. "I've got something to talk to you about. We need you to join the Sister School Exchange Event."

Megumi frowned, crossing his arms. "Isn't that event only for second and third years?"

Maki smirked, tilting her head. "Normally, yeah. But the third years got themselves suspended. So, congratulations—you've been promoted to stand-ins."

Nobara blinked, her expression a mixture of confusion and intrigue. "Wait, hold on. What even is the Sister School Exchange Event? What are we exchanging? Do I get to trade Megumi for someone more fun?"

Misa snorted at the jab, while Megumi shot Nobara a withering glare.

"It's not that kind of exchange," Megumi muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's basically a tournament. Kyoto Jujutsu High and Tokyo Jujutsu High pit their students against each other to see who's stronger."

"Yeah, we fight. It's fun," Maki added with a sly grin, her excitement barely contained.

"Oh, so we just beat each other up?" Nobara asked, her eyes lighting up with interest.

"More or less," said Panda, leaning casually against the stair railing. "There's usually a few twists to keep things interesting. Sometimes it's team battles, sometimes it's capture-the-flag. But it's always a chance to show those Kyoto snobs who's boss."

"Tuna mayo," added Inumaki with a decisive nod.

"Wait a second," Misa interrupted, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "If the third years got suspended, what's stopping us from getting suspended if this goes sideways?"

Maki waved her off. "You're first-years; no one expects you to follow the rules perfectly. Just don't completely embarrass the school."

"Isn't that encouraging them to break the rules?" Megumi deadpanned, looking unimpressed.

"Technically, yes," Panda chimed in with a chuckle.

"But hold on," Misa said, glancing around at the group. "How are we supposed to fight people who've been doing this way longer than we have? I mean, no offense, but this feels a little... rigged."

Maki stepped forward, her gaze sharp and full of conviction. "Listen, I don't care if you're first-years. You've got potential—especially you three." She pointed to Megumi, Nobara, and Misa. "You're not going to win by playing it safe. You're going to win because you're fighters, and you've got something to prove."

Nobara straightened up, clearly invigorated by Maki's words. "Alright, I'm in. If I get to knock some sense into those Kyoto jerks, sign me up."

Misa tilted her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Fine. If it means getting out some of this pent-up frustration, I'll do it."

All eyes turned to Megumi, who sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping. "I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"Not even a little," Maki confirmed with a smirk.

"Great," he muttered. "This is going to be a disaster."

"Or," Maki countered, her voice brimming with confidence, "it's going to be the start of something incredible. Either way, you'll survive. Probably."

Misa shot Megumi a look, her lips curling into a teasing grin. "Guess we're all in this together, huh, Fushiguro?"

"Lucky me," Megumi replied dryly.

With the decision made, the group stood ready, their resolve steeling as the upcoming challenge loomed ahead.

───✱*.｡:｡✱*.:｡✧*.｡✰ ───

--The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the training field. Maki stood in the center of the clearing, twirling a wooden training stick between her fingers with practiced ease. The second-years and first-years formed a loose circle around her and Misa, all watching with varying levels of interest. Nobara and Panda exchanged bets under their breath, while Megumi stood with his arms crossed, wearing his usual unreadable expression.

"Alright, new girl," Maki said, her tone sharp but amused as she tossed the stick toward Misa. "Let's see what you've got."

Misa caught the stick mid-air with one hand, spinning it experimentally. It was light, the balance decent, but she already knew her decision. She lowered the stick and tilted her head, her gaze steady on Maki.

"Actually..." she began, her voice even, "if it's alright, can I go without the stick? I'm better that way."

The circle of spectators fell silent for a moment, save for Panda letting out a low whistle. Maki arched an eyebrow, her expression a mix of surprise and skepticism. "Without the stick?" she echoed, crossing her arms. "You do realize who you're fighting, right?"

Misa shrugged, letting the stick drop to the ground. "I do. But trust me, I'll manage."

Maki smirked, a glint of challenge flashing in her eyes. "Suit yourself," she said, twirling her own stick. "This'll be over quick."

The two squared off, the tension in the air palpable. Misa took a deep breath, her muscles coiling like a spring. Her mind flashed back to years spent sparring with her older brother, his taunts and relentless attacks. He was cruel, relentless, and so skilled that beating him had once seemed impossible. But she had trained, harder and longer than anyone would have guessed, and she had gotten good. Really good.

Maki lunged first, aiming a sharp jab at Misa's ribs. Misa sidestepped with ease, her movements fluid and precise. She ducked under another swing, closing the distance between them in an instant.

Maki's eyes widened slightly as Misa launched a quick counterattack, her palm striking Maki's forearm to deflect the stick before landing a sharp kick to her shin. It wasn't enough to topple Maki, but it threw her balance off just enough for Misa to follow up with a sweeping kick aimed at her legs.

Maki jumped back, regaining her footing. "Not bad," she admitted, her tone grudging. "But don't get cocky."

Misa smirked, her confidence growing. "Wouldn't dream of it."

The fight intensified, the two moving in a blur of strikes and counters. Misa's hand-to-hand combat skills were razor-sharp, honed by years of brutal training. Maki's stick gave her range, but Misa stayed close, weaving in and out of her reach like a boxer.

At one point, Maki swung wide, leaving herself open for a fraction of a second. Misa seized the opportunity, stepping inside Maki's guard and delivering a clean elbow strike to her side.

"Damn," Panda muttered from the sidelines. "She's actually holding her own."

"Tuna mayo," agreed Inumaki, nodding approvingly.

Nobara leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Kick her ass, Misa!" she cheered.

Maki gritted her teeth, her competitive spirit igniting. She dropped her stick suddenly, switching to hand-to-hand combat herself. "Alright," she said, cracking her knuckles. "Let's see how you do now."

The fight shifted into an even faster pace, punches and kicks flying with precision. Misa's movements were deliberate, almost graceful, as she dodged and countered. She could feel the burn in her muscles, the adrenaline pumping through her veins, but she didn't back down.

Finally, with a well-timed feint, Misa managed to sweep Maki's legs out from under her. Maki hit the ground with a thud, but Misa was already there, pinning her down with one knee and pressing a hand to her shoulder.

The circle erupted in cheers and whistles, Nobara practically jumping up and down. "That's my girl!" she shouted.

Panda clapped his massive hands together. "Looks like we've got a new prodigy on the team."

Maki lay on the ground for a moment, staring up at Misa with a mix of surprise and grudging respect. "Alright, alright," she said, raising a hand in surrender. "You win."

Misa stood, offering Maki a hand. "Good fight," she said, her tone sincere.

Maki took her hand, pulling herself up. "Not bad," she said, dusting herself off. "But don't let it go to your head. You've still got a lot to learn."

"Looking forward to it," Misa replied with a grin.

As the group dispersed, Megumi approached Misa, his expression unreadable. "I didn't know you were that good," he said quietly.

Misa shrugged, her grin softening. "You'd be surprised what you can learn when you've got an older brother who's a total jerk."

Megumi nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

"Smart move, Fushiguro," Misa quipped, heading off to join Nobara, who was already reenacting the fight for Panda and Inumaki.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚