I Died in a Knife Fight and Reincarnated into Jujutsu Kaisen

Alex awoke to the gentle sound of birds chirping outside the dormitory window, their soft calls filtering through the stillness of the early morning. The sunlight streamed through the thin, frail curtains, casting pale, striped shadows across the crumpled bedspread. Nobara lay beside him, her hair a lovely tangle, and her features softened in slumber, her eyes peacefully closed in a rare moment of tranquillity. For a few heartbeats, he simply watched her, allowing the stillness to wrap around them like a cosy blanket.

Eventually, she stirred. Blinking sleepily up at him, a slow smile crept across her lips. "Morning, killer," she greeted, her voice husky with sleep.

He smirked at her familiar greeting, his heart lifting at the sight of her waking smile. "Morning," he replied, his voice a warm rumble.

She stretched lazily, her arms reaching above her head as she sat up, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Energy and enthusiasm began to flow back into her as she regarded him with curious eyes. "So, what's the plan for today? No missions, no screaming curses. What does the great Alex do on a day off?"

He tilted his head slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Honestly?" The corners of his mouth twitched upward. "I was thinking… a date."

She blinked at him, momentarily caught off guard. Then, a smirk, playful and confident, curled her lips as she processed his words. "A date? Well, aren't we bold this morning?"

"Only if you're up for it," he added, a hint of mischief lacing his tone.

Without hesitation, she leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. The warmth of her gesture sent a delightful flutter through him. "I am," she declared, her smile brightening further.

As they made their way downtown in Tokyo, the city buzzed with life. Vibrant colours splashed across storefronts, laughter echoed from nearby cafés, and the enticing aroma of grilled street food wafted temptingly through the air. This sense of normalcy felt jarring after the horrors they had survived. Still, it was a welcome distraction that wrapped around them like a comforting embrace.

They ambled side by side through the throngs of people, Nobara's eyes sparkling with excitement as she pointed out various shops, tugging him into small boutiques and teasing him about his habitual choice of dull colours. Her hand brushed against his more than once. Eventually, she intertwined her fingers with his, a quiet assertion of companionship that made his heart swell with affection.

As they stood in line at a charming little café, Alex reached for his wallet, ready to treat Nobara to her drink. But when he opened it, his heart sank. The wallet was embarrassingly empty. He blinked twice, then checked again, only to find a few coins nestled at the bottom, barely enough to cover Nobara's drink and certainly not his.

Nobara raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a teasing smile. "What, you broke already?"

With a deadpan expression, he replied, "Apparently, yes."

Her laughter was infectious. "You need a side hustle," she quipped, playfully nudging him.

He pocketed the wallet slowly, his brow furrowing with mild frustration. "I need cash. Fast."

Sipping her drink, Nobara regarded him with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Don't go robbing a bank."

He didn't chuckle, his eyes growing distant and serious. "Too messy," he replied, staring off as thoughts whirred through his mind.

She narrowed her eyes at him, clearly sensing his unease. "You're serious, aren't you?"

With a sigh, Alex leaned against the café wall, his gaze wandering. "There's gotta be something I can do, something lucrative. I just need one solid opportunity."

Nobara tilted her head, thoughtful. "Like a part-time job? Something easy?"

He scoffed, shaking his head. "I'm not bagging groceries."

In a mock serious tone, she suggested, "No, but maybe… an underground fight ring?"

His eyes flickered with a glimmer of interest before he caught himself. Was he really considering it? 

She paused in alarm, seeing the flicker of possibility in his expression. "Wait. That was a joke. Don't, wait, are you actually considering it?"

Pushing off the wall, Alex straightened, determination sparking in his gaze. "I'll figure it out. One way or another." Yet even as he spoke, a feeling of unease settled in his stomach. Was he truly willing to compromise his principles for the sake of money?

Nobara rolled her eyes, cutting through his thoughts. "Whatever you do, don't drag me into it. I'm not your partner in crime."

Stepping closer, he gently brushed her fingers with his, warmth spreading through his chest. "Wouldn't dream of it," he promised softly.

With a slight blush creeping to her cheeks, she averted her gaze. "Liar," she muttered, but he could see the playful spark in her eyes.

Later that night, in the dimly lit room of his dorm, Alex sat at his cluttered desk. He wasn't doing research on curses or scouring for altercations. Instead, he pulled out a worn notebook, its pages yellowed with age and use, and began sketching. 

His pencil danced across the paper, creating intricate designs, mechanisms, and diagrams of blades and tools infused with his unique energy. His cursed aura held astonishing qualities; it didn't merely repel curses, it sliced through them with a ferocity all its own. Amplified pain was almost a byproduct of his powers, distorting regeneration and remoulding the very essence of curses themselves. There was raw, destructive resonance woven into every thread of his being.

If only he could bind that essence into a physical object, he thought passionately. These wouldn't just be cursed tools anymore. They'd become weapons-sharper. Faster. More obedient. More lethal. And undeniably more valuable. 

"Conventional cursed tools amplify strength by a few per cent," he murmured to himself, his excitement growing with each word. "Mine could double it. Break defences. Twist through barriers." 

He turned the page and started drawing a design for a dagger with a smooth curve. The blade sparkled with imagined energy. Ideas flowed from his mind to the paper, each line showing his intense desire for the power he could have if he found the right path. In that moment, lost in thought, he began to question the difference between ambition and ethics. He wondered how far he would go to create something special. The core veins were meant to hold and stabilise his unique cursed aura. 

"These won't just be weapons," he said out loud. "They will be the natural enemy of Curses."