Maki snapped her wrist around, bringing her blade within a hair's breadth of Dai Li's abdomen.
At the last possible moment, Dai Li's cursed energy output caught up, surging up to shield the left side of his abdomen.
"Made it in time, huh."
Maki felt disappointed, but what disappointed her was that her blade hadn't been faster, that she hadn't pushed herself harder in her daily training.
The failed attack left a glaring opening. Of course Dai Li wouldn't let that opportunity slip, and he no longer underestimated Maki. She had far more actual combat experience than he did.
Seeing her attack blocked again, Maki tried to pull her blade back, and Dai Li immediately seized that fleeting opening.
He abruptly ducked, lowering his center of gravity, and swept his right leg out, wrapped in cursed energy.
Without any flashy, unnecessary movements, Dai Li fired a swift side kick straight at the wrist holding her sword, intending to knock it out of her hand.
Maki couldn't pull her blade back in time and could only hastily twist her arm to evade him.
The attack worked beautifully.
Dai Li's cursed energy-infused kick struck Maki's wrist. The impact sent a tingling ache through it, involuntarily loosening her grip on the sword.
"Oh, nice counter."
"Salmon."
Satoru Gojo, Inumaki, and Panda watched the fight closely from the sidelines. Since neither combatant had an offensive cursed technique, they could only fight hand to hand. That kind of close-range combat, with every blow landing solidly, was enough to keep the boys' eyes glued to the action.
Taking advantage of the break in Maki's rhythm, Dai Li rose with the motion, bent his knee, and drove another kick straight at her midsection.
With no cursed energy, Maki Zenin couldn't concentrate it in one spot to defend herself the way Dai Li did. She might not be able to withstand such a powerful, focused attack.
Gritting her teeth, Maki hurriedly turned sideways and brought her sword in front of her.
With a bang, Dai Li's foot slammed into the flat of the blade.
The tremendous force sent Maki sliding several steps backward before she regained her footing, her high ponytail whipping violently from the impact.
"Tch."
A direct strike at my wrist? Most of my fights before this were against cursed spirits. I never considered that a jujutsu sorcerer could use a move like that.
She had to admit that the half-trained guy in front of her was much stronger than she was right now. He had even held back at first.
"All right, that's enough. Thanks for your effort, both of you."
"The fight isn't over!"
Maki still held the sword's hilt. As far as she was concerned, the fight hadn't reached a point where they should stop.
"This was just a spar, remember?"
Satoru Gojo forcibly ended their sparring match, but Maki still wanted to continue. She felt she had gained a great deal from the fight.
"Next up, round two: Toge Inumaki versus Panda!"
Satoru Gojo continued calling out enthusiastically. He was very interested in his students' abilities.
After watching Dai Li and Maki's entire match, he had already identified both their shortcomings. Once this match ended, he would point out all four students' weaknesses like some inscrutable master teacher, leaving them stunned:
To think Mr. Gojo could spot all our individual problems at a glance! He really is the best teacher. We're so happy and lucky to have you teaching us.
"Tuna mayo."
"I'm ready too."
After Maki and Dai Li stepped off the field, Inumaki and Panda finished getting ready. Panda put on a pair of light blue boxing gloves, each decorated with a cute panda face.
"Everyone ready? Let's start!"
Why's he playing fair this time, waiting until they're ready to start?
That bastard in the blindfold really did do it on purpose to watch me get my ass kicked.
"Don't move!"
As expected, there wasn't much suspense in the fight between Inumaki and Panda. At first, Panda hadn't known to protect his ears with cursed energy when facing a Cursed Speech User. By the time he realized it, the match had already been decided.
"All right, that's the end of round two."
"Why didn't you announce Inumaki as the winner?"
Unlike Maki and Dai Li's unfinished match, a Cursed Speech User's power could settle a fight in an instant. Maki seemed rather fixated on winning and losing.
"These fights weren't meant to determine who's better. They were meant to help me understand your abilities so I can plan your future training, and to help you recognize your own shortcomings."
"Now, think back on what you were lacking during those fights."
Once the students are all scratching their heads, I'll point out their weaknesses and bask in their admiring looks.
"For me, it was probably insufficient wrist strength. I'm still nowhere near training hard enough."
Maki summed up her thoughts. She believed her loss ultimately came down to insufficient training. If her wrist bones had been a little sturdier and she had been a little stronger, Dai Li's attack wouldn't have worked. She could have turned the tables on him instead.
"I'm perfect. There were no problems with my performance."
"No. Even without cursed energy, I can tell your control over it is poor. You're just an idiot with a lot of cursed energy."
"Actually, were you always supposed to be this much of an egomaniac?"
Having just sparred with him, Maki might have understood Dai Li's weaknesses better than he did himself. Had his cursed energy been a little slower, that strike could have settled the match. After all, without cursed energy reinforcing it, Dai Li's body was only on par with an ordinary person's. But Maki wouldn't have actually cut him down. At most, she would have stopped after grazing him.
"No, this is called encouragement-based training. By affirming yourself, you avoid getting caught up in self-doubt and strengthen your confidence. That way, you have the confidence to face powerful enemies in battle."
"Isn't that encouragement-based education? Who only praises themselves without ever reflecting on their mistakes? Aren't you still just being arrogant?"
"Looks like you've claimed the straight-man role I originally planned for myself. Keep it up, Maki. Keep calling out the nonsense for both of us."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, but everything you say pisses me off!"
Maki's brows furrowed slightly, and a vein seemed to bulge on her forehead.
The Zenin Clan demanded that everyone speak and behave with grace, propriety, and adherence to its rules. She hadn't expected to meet someone so eccentric and infuriating the moment she left the clan.
"Bonito flakes."
"So protecting your ears with cursed energy actually works, huh. Your cursed speech really is impressive, Inumaki."
"Salted roe."
Looks like they've discussed enough. Time for me to take the stage: Mr. Gojo's special lecture.
"Oh, it's already this late. No wonder my stomach's been growling."
"Let's go eat."
"Agreed. Pandas need to eat too."
"Salmon."
"I'm fine either way."
Dai Li checked his phone and saw that class was already over. After that fight, he was getting a little hungry too.
Inumaki and the others also planned to head back with Dai Li.
Watching his students walk away, Satoru Gojo began to panic.
"Wait, wait, everyone."
"What is it? Students hate teachers who keep them past the bell, Mr. Gojo."
Dai Li absolutely loathed classes running overtime. If Satoru Gojo dared keep them late, his rating in Dai Li's eyes would drop another rank.
"Huh? No, no. Since you've all just finished your first class..."
"As your teacher, I suggest we go out for a meal together and get to know each other better."
"Of course, it's my treat."
So keeping a class late is a major taboo that'll make students hate their teacher. Better make a note of that. The training plans can wait.
"Then, how about barbecue?"
"Barbecue sounds pretty good. Looks like your brain can still come up with decent ideas."
"Salmon."
"Pandas are omnivores, after all."
Dai Li's suggestion to go for barbecue met with unanimous approval.
"Barbecue it is, then. Come along, my students."
"Let's go!"
Before you continue