"Noriko, can I ask you something?" Yuji queried quietly as the two stood back from the group. Nobara was busy talking to Maki about their strategy - eager to pay Mai back for the attack she'd received previously. Noriko was straightening the cloth ties that kept her pigtails in check, but paused at his questions, carefully meeting his eye. 

"Of course." She shrugged, shoving her hands back in her pocket as she tilted her head to the side in curiosity.

"Have you ever killed anyone?" He looked away and she let out a heavy sigh.

"Not intentionally, but I dread the day when I have to actively make that decision," Yuji hummed, glancing at her out the corner of his eye and fidgeting with his hands. He didn't know if it was okay to pry. "You can ask if that's what's bothering you."

"Oh... is that okay?"

"Sure, we've been through life and death together at this point," she shot him a wink and let out a dry chuckle - which helped to somewhat ease his anxiety, but not much. "My mother... she was very ill already before she was pregnant with me... because of that, all the doctors thought I'd be born stillborn. But... she - ah, how to say this without sounding crazy? She traded her life for mine. I don't know if that's what really happened, but not many pregnant women give birth in a shrine instantaneously after telling the kami 'they'll give anything if their child is born alive' and then drop dead - especially when the baby is somehow born full-term and healthy."

Itadori couldn't help his mouth hang open ever so slight, partially out of shock of what she'd just told him, but also with the blasé tone she was telling him with.

"So, yeah, I accidentally, unintentionally killed my mother." Shrugging, Noriko glanced over to him. "You really don't need to look like that, it's not something I feel sad about anymore - a little angry, maybe, but it's not something you need to skirt around."

"Uh, angry?"

"Ah, well, it's the selfishness of - you know what? It's really complicated." She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Why? Did you have to kill someone?"

"I-I... I did, but I wish there could've been another way out."

"Mmm... another way, huh?" Humming, she rocked on the balls of her feet. "But... it was the best way out in that moment. You wouldn't kill someone for no reason, so, in the context, it sounds like you either had to put someone out of their misery or you killed to protect someone."

"Both, in a way - but, well... I just wish that they didn't have to die."

"But, if you'd let them live then wouldn't more people be dead?" Noriko turned square to him, grasping his shoulders. "In these situations, Yuji, my advice is to think about 'harm reduction'. By killing someone dangerous, you've reduced the amount of harm caused than there would have been had you not killed that person, and if you killed someone to put them out of their misery, not only have you reduced the amount of harm they face, haven't you done the kindest thing you could do for someone?"

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Kindest thing? Is killing someone the kindest thing you can do for someone?"

"If they're in pain, and they ask, I guess, of course it is." She sighed, squeezing his shoulders comfortingly and giving him a gentle smile when he met her eyes. He was taken back to that moment - when he 'died'. Images of Noriko lying exhausted and in pain on the steps, but smiling at him, flashed through his mind. It was warm. "Usually, a lot of people refuse to do something like that. Even though someone is in pain, we're selfish - and we do have a right to be - because we don't want that guilt on our mind or that lifelong burden. But, obliging their wish means you accept that burden, even if you have to take that guilt or sorrow for the rest of your life. It is one of the ultimate selfless acts."

There was a silence.

"Thank you... for everything," he mumbled, giving her a watery-eyed smile, sniffling slight. She released his shoulders so he could wipe the tears away from his eyes and recompose himself. "I didn't think -"

"Itadori? You okay?" Fushiguro called from a few yards behind them as he began to approach. He eyed the now softer look on Noriko's face than before and the tinges of pink around the corner of Yuji's eyes and nose.

"Yeah, sounds like I've got a big role, but I'll manage." Shrugging off his prior sadness, he pulled on his happiest mask and addressed his classmate with confidence. Ironically, he was better at hiding his emotions than even Noriko was - something that was vaguely out of character.

"I'm not talking about that." The dark haired boy continued, walking closer to them until they were standing face to face. Giving a small smile to the boy, Noriko sent them both a nod and moved over to where her classmates were. "Something happened, right?"

"Huh? Nothing happened." They stood in a tense silence. "Okay, it did. But it's true that I'm fine. In fact, because of what happened, I don't want to lose to anyone."

"Okay, then. I don't really want to lose either."

"What do you mean, 'really'?" Nobara snorted, leaning into the arm that was draped over her shoulder as Noriko gripped her for balance as she leant down to tie her lace properly. "You already got sent rolling around once! Overwhelm them! Let's thoroughly trample them! For Maki's sake."

"Don't say stuff like that."

"Pollack roe."

"Yeah! For Maki's sake, too!" 

"Stop." 

"Well, in that case, let's win!"