Riko Amanai.
An important supporting character from Jujutsu Kaisen, known as the Star Plasma Vessel.
What's special about this constitution?
Well, it's complicated—but what matters is that she wouldn't live past eighteen.
Since childhood, Riko knew her fate. She knew one day her body would become someone else's vessel.
Even though she often outwardly expressed pride in becoming that "person's vessel," deep down, she yearned to live.
This was clear when she refused to merge with Tengen right before her death.
Yes, Riko Amanai was already dead—shot and killed by a certain man with a voice reminiscent of DIO, using American-style Iaido with a gun.
"So...you mean, I'm dead?" Riko asked, astonished.
"Yep, shot in the head. It was quick, probably painless," Tendou casually replied.
How would you know if it hurt or not? You weren't the one shot in the head!
Riko still struggled to accept it. Her memories were stuck at the moment that weirdly-haired guy reached out his hand toward her.
It wasn't until the short-tailed cat gently tapped her forehead and transmitted memories that Riko finally understood everything.
Still, it took her nearly half an hour to calm down fully.
"So, you want me to act alongside you?" Riko frowned suspiciously.
"Yes. In exchange, you get another year and a half to live."
"Why not two and a half?"
"We might get sued if we do that... How about it? Pretty good deal, right?"
"Pretty good, my ass! I'd rather die again than act alongside a scumbag like you!"
She grabbed a sofa cushion and threw it at Tendou.
Tendou caught it effortlessly and watched as she stormed upstairs.
"Where's my room?"
"Figure it out yourself," Tendou casually replied, tossing the cushion aside and brushing a hand through his hair.
He glanced at the short-tailed cat, asking, "So, what if she refuses to cooperate?"
"How should I know?" the cat lazily responded.
Tendou sighed. He didn't have a plan either.
"Besides, I'm not exactly a director. Even if she agreed, I have no clue how to direct. Let's just let things happen naturally."
Riko wasn't an actress—just a teenage girl burdened by a heavy fate. If she willingly cooperated, who knew what kind of chaos she might create?
Better to just let things flow naturally.
"A year and a half... That's enough time to figure something out."
...
The next day.
Tendou brought Riko to meet the cafe manager.
Thanks to the system, Riko's identity and records were all properly registered, so she wasn't undocumented. But they still had to handle everyday life necessities.
Though Riko refused to participate in Tendou's acting schemes, she happily accepted the offer to live another year and a half.
The manager didn't mind either. After briefly learning the situation, she agreed to let Riko stay and even hired her to help at the cafe.
Of course, she still had to pay rent.
Next was school enrollment.
The two walked toward Teiko Middle School—Riko in front, Tendou casually strolling behind.
Riko walked briskly, clutching her bag tightly, head down as if sprinting toward a finish line.
In contrast, Tendou sauntered behind her, carefree and arrogant.
"Why are you rushing so much?" Tendou asked lazily.
"I want to stay far away from a scumbag who'd exploit a teenage girl's body and soul!"
"I never forced you to help me. Besides, do you even know the way?"
Riko abruptly stopped, turning to glare at him.
Despite looking several years younger and smaller than she had in the Jujutsu Kaisen world, she retained her overwhelming cuteness.
She still had that timeless, straight black hair.
Her pouty, annoyed face wasn't off-putting—it only made her cuter.
"Follow me then, you self-proclaimed 'beautiful girl'."
"Who's self-proclaimed?! I am a beautiful girl!"
Riko angrily retorted but obediently followed Tendou all the way to Teiko.
In no time, her enrollment was smoothly completed.
Unfortunately, she found herself in the same class as Tendou.
As the teacher introduced her, she saw Tendou sitting at the very back, near the window, smugly waving at her.
"We have a new student joining us today, please give her a warm welco—"
"Tendou-kun, please take off those flashy sunglasses. This is class time."
"No problem, sensei." Tendou stylishly removed his sunglasses.
Instantly, the classroom erupted with shrieks from the female students.
Riko watched, speechless, her tidy white teeth grinding in annoyance.
"He's exactly the same as Gojo—five stars in arrogance!"
The teacher rubbed his temples helplessly, signaling for everyone to calm down.
"If you wear sunglasses in class again, I'll confiscate them, Tendou-kun."
"Yessir~!"
Sigh… He wasn't listening at all.
The teacher turned back to Riko. "Please introduce yourself, Amanai-san."
"Hai!"
A peculiar introduction concluded quickly.
During the break, Riko, initially reserved, was soon surrounded by friendly classmates.
School life was never short of overly sociable people—those experts who could connect with anyone and everyone.
These types, later in life, either became scum or social elites.
Their exceptional interpersonal skills guaranteed they'd become calculating experts when they entered society.
Of course, right now, they were still pretty innocent.
Riko politely handled the boys' constant pestering while quickly befriending the girls.
Tendou observed silently, smiling and putting his sunglasses back on.
Actually, who needed a script?
Riko's limited lifespan itself was the best possible script.
All she had to do was live her life normally.
...
After school.
Tendou handed over his classroom cleaning duties to eager female classmates and headed to the basketball club.
Just like yesterday, the Teiko Basketball Club was packed.
With more freshmen than usual joining this year, Coach Shirogane Kozo expanded the original first- and second-string teams into three.
Tendou Kageyoshi, Aomine Daiki, Akashi Seijuro, Murasakibara Atsushi, and Midorima Shintaro—who had all displayed outstanding performances yesterday—were exceptionally promoted directly into the second string.
No one opposed this decision; yesterday's match was evidence enough of their capabilities.
During warm-ups, Aomine Daiki approached Tendou with excitement.
"Tendou! Your stealing skills are really impressive. Wanna play a one-on-one later?"