WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 176 "Sendai Colony, Part 3" by Gege Akutami, John Werry and Snir Aharon, available in English from Viz Media, as well as discussion of suicide and self-harm.
Chapter 176 of Jujutsu Kaisen finds Yuta Okkotsu suddenly attacked by Takako Uro in the Culling Game. These attacks confuse him, as his arm appears to be deformed before going back to normal once he's further away from her. He doesn't feel any pain, however, so he considers her technique probably can't crush him. It turns out her technique treats the sky (actually space in general) as a surface; to demonstrate, she pulls the space around her as if it's a curtain.
Yuta decides to ask Takako some questions in an attempt to understand her. She reveals that, for her, the Culling Game is the first step to a second chance at life, implying the reason she accepted Kenjaku's invitation to be reincarnated is due to regrets in her first life. Anything could happen in the Culling Game so the more points she has, the better. Yuta then asks if she doesn't have a lover or friends; he legitimately can't understand someone fighting so desperately for their own sake.
Takako is a reincarnated sorcerer from a different era who's now spending time killing people in the modern day for her own benefit. Yuta's confusion at her selfish ideology says a lot about his own selflessness. In Chapter 174 of Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuta declared he'd be the one to kill Kenjaku and obtain 400 points by himself. He assigned himself this goal based on everyone who's fought in Shibuya being physically and emotionally exhausted. While this was highly considerate, it's the first hint at Yuta being selfless to a fault.
Yuta had an awfully traumatic childhood that shaped him into who he is today. His childhood friend, Rika Orimoto, was tragically killed in a car accident after they'd made a promise to get married when they grew up. Yuta unknowingly cursed Rika, which caused her spirit to become attached to him. From that point on, she would do whatever she could to protect Yuta as a powerful Cursed Spirit -- including harming other kids.
Rika's death, her haunting him as a Cursed Spirit and hurting others for his sake all led to Yuta becoming depressed to the point of trying to kill himself. She saved his life but he continued struggling to believe he deserved to live. Yuta eventually enrolled at Jujutsu High, made friends and became one of the most skilled and powerful Jujutsu Sorcerers alive. However, it seems he still doesn't value his own life.
There isn't anything mind-boggling about someone fighting for their own sake, and there's nothing wrong with it either. Yet it's a concept Yuta, who fights for everyone except himself, is genuinely having trouble grasping. He doesn't seem to care what kind of danger he has to put himself in or how powerful his opponents are if it means saving those he cares about or civilians. It's simultaneously an honorable and foolish character trait -- especially in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Yuta has several reliable and powerful allies in the Culling Game. Megumi and Yuji have both fought incredibly powerful opponents and earned points in their own ways, and have even managed to make new allies along the way. There's also Hakari, who hasn't been seen since the group separated. Considering how Yuta praises his strength, it's probably safe to assume he's been racking up points of his own. There's no reason for Yuta to place so much burden and responsibility on himself.
It's understandable why Yuta values his own life so little after all he's been through. However, his mindset needs to change because it's unhealthy and could prove quite troublesome, especially in a situation like the Culling Game. He is both strong and important, and he's not doing anyone any favors by acting as if his life doesn't matter. It's great that he cares so much about others, but he must learn to care about himself as well and realize it's okay to depend on his allies. After all, he can't protect anyone if gets himself killed.
For more information on the warning signs and prevention of suicide, click here. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If you live outside the U.S., click here for a list of international hotlines.
