dtbskyler#getadad

Yuta Okkotsu (乙おっ骨こつ憂ゆう太た Okkotsu Yūta?) is a major supporting character in the Jujutsu Kaisen series and the main protagonist of its prequel series, Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Jujutsu High. He was initially a special grade cursed human haunted by his late childhood friend, Rika Orimoto. Satoru Gojo mentored Yuta and enrolled him at Tokyo Jujutsu High. Yuta was a very timid and lonely boy who was bullied a lot while growing up. Due to Rika haunting much of his early life, Yuta was unable to connect with other people and has lost all confidence in himself. This makes it difficult for Yuta to interact with others, as they often scare him without meaning to, or he's just too shy to speak to them.

Even so, Yuta genuinely cared about other people and decided to isolate himself from them even if it means remaining alone. Maki Zenin called Yuta out for being a moody kid who's lived his entire life without goals.[4] He acknowledged that this was true and used her advice to gain a resolve for being a jujutsu sorcerer. This helps Yuta realize that deep down, he truly desires the confidence to feel like he belongs.[5]

Yuta and Toge high five (Anime) Yuta learning to understand and become friends with others. VIEW IMAGE

While his timid nature stays intact, Yuta slowly becomes more social and interacts with others normally. Even after early signs of improvement, Yuta still struggled to understand someone like Toge Inumaki. He was initially scared of Toge[6] until he realized how kind of a person he truly is and made an effort to establish a social connection.[7]

Yuta threatens to kill Geto (Anime) Yuta's rage unleashed by the sight of his injured friends. VIEW IMAGE

Gaining friends helps Yuta gain confidence in himself and establish the goal to help set Rika free. He felt responsible for her turning into a curse in the first place[8] and worked extremely hard to find a way to help her. He pushed himself during training and took all his friends' and mentors' words to heart, showing a more determined side of himself.[9] At his core, Yuta wants to become someone who can help keep others out of danger.

Against Suguru Geto, Yuta showed the darkest side of himself. Geto hurt Yuta's only friends, and the young man was more than willing to kill him for it.[10] Yuta's rage allowed him to even command Rika's power at will. He was willing to sacrifice his life to use Rika to kill Geto to avenge his friends, the only people who give him the confidence to continue living.[11]

Yuta declares he will kill Yuji Itadori (Anime) Yuta adopts an apathetic persona in order to deceive others into thinking he wants to kill Yuji Itadori. VIEW IMAGE

When Yuta returned to Jujutsu High after time away overseas, he was accompanied by a new Rika and it appeared as if he was lost in his darkness. He agreed to kill Gojo's other pupil, Yuji Itadori for the higher-ups and claimed it was revenge for cutting off Toge's arm.[12] Yuta carried a deathly serious and cold persona who was straight to the point. He attempted to kill Yuji before so much as exchanging words and then apologized while committing the act.[13]

However, this was all an act to help protect Yuji from the higher-ups. Yuta had to act a certain way to make it believable and he healed Yuji before the first-year died permanently. Even though Yuta has never met Yuji, he went out of his way to deceive authority and help Yuji because Gojo asked him to. Yuji is important to people who are precious to Yuta and that was more than enough reason for him to help. He also sympathizes with Yuji because he was in the exact same situation, up for execution bearing a power he could not hope to contain. Yuta doesn't blame Yuji for Sukuna's actions. [14]

Yuji wakes up in front of Yuta Yuta sympathizes with Yuji's situation and protects him in Gojo's place. VIEW IMAGE

Without the false guise of a cold killer, Yuta is still a naturally friendly person who has developed a lot as a person. He's much more social and is less timid than he used to be. When Gojo visited Yuta in Africa, the outspoken teacher was surprised his student was even telling jokes.[15]

Yuta assimilated comfortably back into interacting with his peers and dedicated himself to helping them. He agreed to help Megumi rescue his sister from the Culling Game. He also did his diligence as a senpai and agreed to stop Sukuna should he ever take control of Yuji's body again. Upon reuniting with Maki, Yuta was excited to see her and expressed concern about her injuries.

Yuta resolves to score 400 points Due to his absence in Shibuya, Yuta shoulders the responsibility of stopping Kenjaku alone. VIEW IMAGE

When it appeared as if Master Tengen's barrier had rejected their group, Yuta was concerned and quick to suggest they turn back because Megumi's sister didn't have time to waste.[16] Once Tengen allowed them inside and provided crucial information, Yuta agreed to enter the Culling Game right away by himself. He also suggested they get Kinji Hakari's help despite his moodiness and was modest enough to say that Hakari's strength sometimes surpasses his own.[17]

During the Culling Game, Yuta displayed his selflessness as well as his propensity to be ruthless. He had no gripes about killing enemy sorcerers to obtain the necessary points to help save Tsumiki. Yuta killed at least seven sorcerers before cutting down Dhruv Lakdawalla and he targeted the latter simply because he was a danger to the public. He believed that any potential danger couldn't be allowed to leave the colony and only took out the other players when it was completely necessary.

Takako Uro annoyed with Yuta Yuta trying to understand why someone with great strength would act so desperately for their own sake. VIEW IMAGE

Not only did Yuta use his strength to score points, but he used it to protect people as well. He protected a group of civilians caught up in the Culling Game, serving as their guardian throughout the game despite the risk to himself. While trying to move them to safety, Yuta noticed a mother and her daughter struggling to go on. He insisted on carrying their belongings himself and changed his mind about moving the group, deciding they should take a break inside Dhruv's former territory where they'd be safe instead. When other civilians outside his group were threatened by Kurourushi's cockroaches, Yuta didn't hesitate to try his best to save them.[18]

Yuta holds some guilt about being unable to help his comrades in Shibuya. He's aware that everyone reached their limit after the Shibuya Incident and felt as if he needed to shoulder the responsibility to handle the Culling Game all on his own. This also extends to the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons where Yuta was unable to finish off Geto. Yuta doesn't want his beloved sensei to have to kill his best friend again. As a result, Yuta resolved not only to score four hundred points all on his own, but to kill Kenjaku himself as well.[19]

Yuta says he's blessed "Because I'm blessed." VIEW IMAGE

Upon encountering Takako Uro and Ryu Ishigori, two players who are dangerous but not necessarily evil, Yuta tried to reason with them. In Uro's case, Yuta tried to understand why she would kill so desperately for her own gain. He expressed that he understands why the powerless get desperate but doesn't get why someone strong like Uro would seek out pointless battles. Yuta only gained friends recently but he believes fighting to protect someone or something is the only reason to do so.[20] Uro rejected Yuta due to his lineage, but he still tried to help her understand that regardless of what the Fujiwara did to her, living selfishly will only get someone so far.[21]

As for Ryu, the incarnated sorcerer expressed over four hundred years of yearning for a proper battle, and his sincerity managed to melt Yuta's heart. Although Yuta will likely never find any meaning in fighting, he indulged Ryu and gave him the fight he always desired.[22] Yuta spared both Ryu and Uro and ignored their ungrateful insults after the fight. When Ryu asked about Yuta's conversations with Uro, he explained that they could never come to terms simply because he's blessed. Yuta knows how fortunate he is to have friends and the power to protect them. Ryu suggested Yuta might've killed them if not for their points and while Yuta didn't deny it, he told Ryu to just be grateful to his comrades in the end.[23]