This chapter delves deep into Hiromi Higuruma’s conflicted past and moral philosophy as his intense battle with Yuji Itadori escalates.
In a flashback, we see Higuruma during his law school days, where he’s encouraged to pursue a career as a judge. However, he declines, admitting that he lacks ambition. Despite his cold, pragmatic worldview — believing human weakness is ugly — a part of him still valued it as a fragile, yet meaningful trait worth protecting.
Back in the present, the second trial conducted by Judgeman delivers a harsh verdict: sentencing Yuji to both “Confiscation” (removing his cursed energy) and the “Death Penalty.” As a result, Higuruma is granted the Executioner’s Sword, a deadly weapon capable of killing a target instantly with a single blow.
The duel becomes a high-stakes struggle for survival. Yuji, deprived of cursed energy, relies entirely on his athleticism, swift reflexes, and strategic ingenuity. He narrowly dodges fatal strikes from the Executioner’s Sword, using thrown chairs and clothing as distractions to create openings. In a pivotal moment, Yuji capitalizes on Higuruma’s momentary hesitation and lands a crushing uppercut, briefly turning the tide of the battle.
This chapter not only intensifies the physical fight but also peels back the emotional and ethical layers of Higuruma’s character, revealing his lingering humanity beneath the hardened exterior.
