"Um, I look forward to sparring with you, Hakari."
"So it's you."
Kinji Hakari stood in the center of the arena, his hands in his pockets. His smile gradually faded as his gaze settled on Yuta Okkotsu.
"Satoru Gojo told me you're a Special Grade."
Yuta Okkotsu tightened his grip on his sword and nodded earnestly.
"Yes."
"Then there's no need to hold back."
Kinji Hakari slowly rolled his shoulders, his joints making faint popping sounds.
Compared to yesterday's team battle, he seemed less laid-back, and his entire presence gradually began to change.
Okkotsu could clearly feel the Cursed Energy inside his opponent slowly rising.
"Your Cursed Energy... is really strong, Hakari."
"Of course."
"If you can't even make me take you seriously, this'll be way too boring."
Kinji Hakari grinned and leaned forward slightly.
"Both fighters, get ready!"
As Utahime Iori's voice rang out, both of them lowered their stances.
The next instant, Kinji Hakari charged first.
His speed caught Okkotsu by surprise. In what felt like the blink of an eye, that fist was already right in front of him.
Yuta Okkotsu immediately raised his sword to block.
Bang!
A dull impact exploded across the arena.
Tremendous force traveled along the blade into his arms. Okkotsu slid several meters backward against his will, his soles leaving two shallow marks on the ground.
Okkotsu had only just steadied himself when Kinji Hakari closed in again.
Punches, elbows, and knees came in rapid succession, without a single wasted movement. Every attack went straight for a vital spot.
Okkotsu could only keep swinging his sword to block. Blade and fists collided again and again, the dull impacts echoing through the woods.
"Not bad."
"Now I'm getting fired up!"
Just as the two put some distance between them again-
Clack.
A sharp sound suddenly came from behind Okkotsu.
"What?"
Yuta Okkotsu whipped his head around.
Two train doors appeared without warning on either side of him, slamming inward toward his body with crushing force.
Yuta Okkotsu hurriedly ducked out of the way. Kinji Hakari's fist came at him during that brief opening.
Yuta Okkotsu's gaze grew serious. His sword abruptly changed direction, avoiding Kinji Hakari's fist before its blunt edge slammed into his chest.
Bang!
This time, Kinji Hakari was the one knocked backward.
He glanced down at his chest, then raised his head, his grin growing even wider.
"So you can do more than take a beating."
"Hakari, I'd like to finish this match quickly too."
Okkotsu tightened his grip on the hilt as pink Cursed Energy slowly wrapped around his blade.
"So from here on, I won't hold back."
As he finished speaking, the ring on Okkotsu's finger suddenly released a powerful surge of Cursed Energy.
The previously still air seemed to freeze at that moment.
"Rika."
Okkotsu called softly.
The next second-
Pitch-black Cursed Energy surged from behind him like a tide, and an enormous figure slowly emerged from empty space.
"Yuta."
A deep, distorted voice rang out.
The instant Rika Orimoto appeared, the atmosphere across the arena changed. None of the spectators could maintain their earlier composure.
For the first time, Kinji Hakari's smile vanished completely.
"So this is..."
"The Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit, Rika Orimoto?"
Kinji Hakari instinctively took half a step back, the Cursed Energy inside him beginning to stir on reflex.
He knew very well that he couldn't afford the slightest carelessness if he faced a being of this caliber head-on.
"Hakari."
Okkotsu tightened his grip on the hilt, his gaze still earnest.
"I'll keep Rika under control."
"So please take this seriously too."
"Haha..."
Kinji Hakari suddenly laughed.
"Now I get it."
He stomped down hard, preparing to expand his domain.
But the instant he raised his hand, Rika let out a low roar and hurled her enormous body forward.
"Yuta's enemies..."
"All of them..."
Her enormous palm, wrapped in terrifying Cursed Energy, slammed down toward Kinji Hakari.
Dust instantly shot into the air.
Before his raised hands could finish forming the sign, Rika had already forced him to retreat.
"Damn it, you're not even giving me a chance to expand my domain!"
Okkotsu charged forward at that same moment.
"Hakari, sorry about this!"
The flashing blade and Rika's Cursed Energy closed in together.
Boom-!
Rika's palm slammed down, instantly caving in the ground and sending chunks of rubble flying in every direction.
But the next second, a figure burst out of the dust.
"That was close..."
Kinji Hakari knelt on one knee, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Almost ended right there."
Just then, another figure emerged from the dust. Yuta Okkotsu was already right in front of Kinji Hakari.
"So fast!"
Kinji Hakari's pupils contracted sharply.
Okkotsu's speed wasn't absurd, but with Rika supporting him, their attacks formed an inescapable pincer.
On one side was the terrifying power of a Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit.
On the other was Yuta Okkotsu, who could pour Rika's immense Cursed Energy into his blade.
There wasn't a single gap in their coordination. He had no time at all for Domain Expansion.
Even the best luck was useless if a gambler wasn't given any dice.
There was no shame in losing this fight.
Yuta Okkotsu's sword stopped in midair. He could already tell that Kinji Hakari didn't intend to keep fighting.
"Hakari."
Then Hakari slowly raised both hands.
"I surrender."
"The winner is Yuta Okkotsu!"
Utahime Iori's announcement rang across the arena.
In the spectator area, everyone from Kyoto Jujutsu High fell silent.
Even though they had already known how dangerous Yuta Okkotsu was, witnessing it firsthand still put them under immense pressure.
In the arena, Yuta Okkotsu dismissed Rika and hurried over to Kinji Hakari.
"Hakari, are you okay?"
Kinji Hakari got up and dusted himself off.
Then he suddenly laughed.
"Hahahaha..."
"Not bad, kid."
He looked at Okkotsu without any bitterness over his defeat. Instead, his eyes were full of approval.
Okkotsu froze for a moment, then smiled sheepishly.
"Thank you for the kind words, Hakari."
As the two chatted after their spar, a faint sound came from a corner of the spectator stands.
"Mm..."
Dai Li slowly opened his eyes.
He first looked around in a daze, then reached up to rub his slightly sore neck.
"Huh? Okkotsu's fight is already over?"
"..."
Several people nearby turned to look at him at the same time.
Dai Li glanced toward the center of the arena again. Okkotsu had already put away his sword, and Kinji Hakari stood nearby. They had clearly finished fighting and were about to rejoin the crowd.
"No way..."
"I only took a nap, and you're already done?"
Yuta Okkotsu gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Yeah, we just finished."
Dai Li slowly turned to Kinji Hakari.
"Hakari, couldn't you have lasted a little longer?"
"Huh?!"
A vein twitched on Kinji Hakari's forehead.
"You overslept, and now you're blaming me?"
"No, I just thought this would be a good fight to watch."
Dai Li yawned.
"But when I woke up, all that was left was the post-match commentary."
Before you continue