This Complex Emotion...

When Utahime Iori returned to Jujutsu High, it was already nearing evening. The glow of the setting sun shone over the silent campus, lending this unusual school a gentle air.

She returned to her dorm, casually tossed the luggage from her trip into a corner of the room, quickly straightened herself up, and hurried toward the training grounds.

Based on what she knew about a certain someone, she figured that if she went to the training grounds at this time, she should be able to find the two of them still training.

I wonder how that guy's doing training under Mei Mei. Mei Mei isn't nearly as easygoing as I am. What if he learns poorly and ends up embarrassing me?

As she grumbled inwardly, she quickened her pace. Yet there was a lightness to her steps that she herself had not noticed. She also slightly tightened her grip on the package in her right hand, wondering what she should say when she saw someone she had been apart from for three days.

But when she stepped into the training grounds, ready to greet the two people training there, she discovered that the place was inexplicably empty. Even the training equipment looked as though it had not been used in a long while.

She stood there in confusion for a moment.

Just then, an Assistant Supervisor happened to pass by, so she hurried over and stopped him.

"Hello, did no one come here to train today?"

After recognizing her, the Assistant Supervisor greeted her first. Then, somewhat puzzled, he scratched his head. Only after realizing who she meant did he wear an enlightened expression.

"Ah, Miss Utahime, you mean that probationary trainee who arrived recently? He hasn't been coming to the training grounds much these past few days. It seems he's been following Miss Mei Mei into the back mountain for practical combat training."

Utahime Iori froze.

The back mountain? Practical combat?

Wait, she knew Mei Mei would teach him some practical combat techniques, but why had they gone straight to fighting cursed spirits so soon? Shouldn't he have spent a few days practicing against dummies at the training grounds first?

Wasn't this a little too reckless?!

Seeing her suddenly stop, the Assistant Supervisor also showed a somewhat emotional expression.

"Still, I have to say, their training intensity is really high. The number of Grade 3 and Grade 4 cursed spirits in the back mountain forest has been dropping sharply these past two days. They've saved us quite a bit of trouble."

To an Assistant Supervisor, Grade 4 cursed spirits were things he could deal with easily. Even Grade 3 cursed spirits would not pose much of a problem as long as he took them a little seriously.

But no matter what, that was ultimately their job. Having someone share the burden naturally made things much easier for them.

Yet Utahime Iori had no mind to care about any of that right now. After thanking him, she turned and headed toward the back mountain.

She did not know exactly what she was worried about. She knew Mei Mei's capabilities better than anyone; with Mei Mei watching over him, that guy should not run into any major trouble no matter what.

But... it was still the back mountain. Those cursed spirits might not be high-grade, but there were a great many of them, not to mention the complex environment of the forest.

However, before she could enter the back mountain, she saw two figures emerge from the entrance.

Mei Mei walked in front, her pace as unhurried as ever, her tall ponytail swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Toho Tetsu walked beside her.

Utahime Iori's gaze lingered on him for a moment, and then she frowned slightly.

There were several tears made by claws on his uniform. Part of his cuff had been ripped, and there were several obvious scrapes on his face. They were not serious, but they clearly looked fresh.

Though she immediately wanted to rush over and ask what had happened, the sound of their conversation drifted over through the wind. Instinctively, she took a step back behind a nearby tree and hid herself.

"That final slash just now was good. You cut through the core with great precision. But there were still several dodges in the middle that were too forced. You'll need to do more related training in the future."

Hearing words that seemed to carry a faint, though not obvious, note of concern, Toho Tetsu smiled somewhat helplessly.

"Couldn't be helped. I had no idea that cursed spirit could suddenly increase its strength. I'd clearly already tested its approximate speed and power before that."

"So, have you forgotten what I told you before? At the level of Grade 2 cursed spirits, they have already begun trying to think and act. They can even use certain tactics and ideas.

If you hadn't reinforced yourself with cursed energy in time, you would probably have been injured by that attack."

After spending several days together, Mei Mei had begun speaking more than she had at first. The expression on her face was no longer quite so placid and unreadable.

Toho Tetsu nodded with feeling.

"It's all thanks to your guidance, Mei Mei-senpai. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to grasp localized cursed energy reinforcement so quickly."

Indeed, after three days of studying and training, his practical combat abilities had improved by leaps and bounds. Not only had he roughly learned how much to reinforce his body against cursed spirits of different grades, he had also mastered the effects of localized reinforcement and layered small-area protection.

The claw mark on his body had been left when a Grade 2 cursed spirit made a desperate final counterattack.

Because he reacted quickly and layered cursed energy reinforcement, the strike had merely torn his clothes without injuring his body beneath. Even so, it had truly taught him a lesson.

Grade 2 cursed spirits were still considerably dangerous to him, a beginner who had only just started training. No matter when, he could not afford to let his guard down.

As Utahime Iori watched the two converse from the side, an inexplicable feeling suddenly rose in her heart. She could not say what it was, but she felt strangely disappointed and bitter.

What was this complicated emotion...?

But she had no room to dwell on it now. She hurried out from beside the tree and approached the two of them, looking at a certain someone with concern.

"You... how did you end up like this? Weren't you two training? Why did you come back covered in injuries?"

When he saw her, Toho Tetsu first froze, then revealed a pleasantly surprised expression.

"Senpai, you're back."

When she noticed the delight in his eyes, much of that complicated emotion in Utahime's heart unexpectedly melted away.

But she had no mind to consider why. Instead, she stepped closer to him and worriedly examined the tears in his clothes and the scrapes on his face. Only after realizing they were not serious did she breathe a sigh of relief, though her words still carried some displeasure.

"Of course I'm back. It's been three days already; my mission was finished long ago. But what happened to you two?"

Mei Mei watched her interesting reaction from the side, a trace of amusement flashing through her eyes, but she did not speak.

After hesitating for a moment, Toho Tetsu explained what had just happened.

"It was nothing much. We just encountered a Grade 2 cursed spirit and had a tough fight."

Her eyes widened, and her voice rose without her realizing it.

"Grade 2? Don't tell me you went deep into the forest?"

Seeing her disbelieving expression and afraid she might misunderstand, Toho Tetsu hurriedly explained.

"After clearing out most of the Grade 3 and Grade 4 cursed spirits in the outer areas these past few days, I felt there wasn't much training value left. So I asked Mei Mei-senpai to accompany me in challenging a higher-grade cursed spirit."

Even after hearing that, Utahime Iori's tightly furrowed brows did not relax. Her lips twitched, and her expression was full of helplessness.

"So what are you in such a hurry for? It would have been fine to train slowly. Couldn't you wait until I got back so we could go to the back mountain for practical combat training together?

Then I could have helped you too..."

Her voice grew quieter and quieter, as though she had realized that she had expressed too much concern and had become somewhat embarrassed and shy.

But before Toho Tetsu could say anything, Mei Mei cut into the conversation.