Techniques for killing

Tsukasa Hatayama's face flushed slightly. "Mei Mei, there's a billion Japanese yen in the case. A small token of goodwill from the higher-ups."

"From the higher-ups?"

Mei Mei was immediately surprised. Her eyes stayed fixed on the yen as she remarked, "Those six are notorious penny-pinchers, yet they're this generous with you?"

As she spoke, envy crept into her voice. "A Special Grade Cursed Tool and a billion for free? Looks like they intend to treat you as Jujutsu High's prized treasure."

"I really envy geniuses like you. Your powerful cursed techniques mean you're destined to become strong, and money just falls into your lap along the way."

"Mei Mei..."

Tsukasa Hatayama wanted to argue, but he had no idea how. What Mei Mei had said was entirely true.

The first factor in becoming a jujutsu sorcerer was whether someone possessed an innate cursed technique. Having one meant stepping into a whole new world.

The second was whether that innate cursed technique was powerful.

In the original story, Geto knew neither Reverse Cursed Technique nor Domain Expansion. Cursed Spirit Manipulation and his Maximum Technique alone made both schools deeply wary of him.

The strength of a cursed technique determined a person's future in Jujutsu Society. Take the Pure Love Warrior, whose extraordinary talent let him return to Special Grade in just a few months.

As for heavenly restriction, only a handful of people sacrificed innate attributes in exchange for powerful abilities. In the original story, only three people were affected by it.

Those three had childhoods... Well, ordinary people could never have endured them. So having a cursed technique did not mean someone could do whatever they pleased.

There were still differences in strength. His own Dark Manipulation, for example, let him reshape dark matter at will, practically guaranteeing he would reach Special Grade.

"Heeheehee..."

Mei Mei, who had just been voicing her envy, suddenly broke into cheerful laughter. It sounded bright and pleasing, as though she had found some release.

Without lifting her head, Mei Mei said, "I've always rather disliked Black Bird Manipulation. All it ever gave me was intelligence and shared vision."

"Ever since I entered Jujutsu High, I've been honing my hand-to-hand combat. I firmly believed I could become strong even without a powerful cursed technique."

"It's good to have dreams, but reality often beats you black and blue. After all that training, my hand-to-hand combat finally hit a wall."

"I couldn't take that next step, let alone become a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer. With my progress stalled, I had no choice but to take my cursed technique seriously again."

"But all the crows ever gave me was shared vision. They offered no meaningful help in combat, until..."

Mei Mei paused for effect, then turned from the yen to Tsukasa Hatayama with a radiant smile. "Until you rained weapons down from the sky and gave me inspiration."

"Then, over the fifteen-day break, I successfully developed Black Bird Manipulation's ultimate move. One powerful enough to kill a special grade cursed spirit in a single strike."

"Thanks to that move, I was promoted to Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer yesterday!"

Seeing her so bright and cheerful, Tsukasa Hatayama could not help catching her mood. "I knew you were strong. I've always had complete faith in you."

"If you have such complete faith in me, shouldn't you reward me with a few hundred million?" Mei Mei cut straight to the point, smiling as she revealed her true objective.

The sudden turn brought Tsukasa Hatayama's smile to an abrupt halt.

Looking aggrieved, he complained like a girl who had been deceived. "You only said all that because you had your eye on the money in the case."

Mei Mei smiled without answering, but the sly blink of her beautiful eyes made it obvious. This whole performance to win his sympathy had been for the money in the case.

Tsukasa Hatayama bit his lip in frustration. "I'll give you five hundred million. Consider it a gift from your junior to congratulate you on becoming a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer."

"Don't look so upset. I'll cover your meals when we're out on missions."

Mei Mei made the generous offer with a smile, reaching out to stroke Tsukasa Hatayama's cheek like a gentle older sister comforting his aggrieved self.

His red eyes widened slightly, and Tsukasa Hatayama stared in astonishment at her sudden closeness.

The warmth and fragrance coming from her palm felt so clear, so real.

Innocent and yearning for romance, Tsukasa Hatayama lost his composure on the spot. His pale cheeks reddened visibly.

"M-Mei... Mei Mei, I... I'll head back first. Geto and Satoru might be back. We can talk next time."

All his usual calm vanished. Flustered, Tsukasa Hatayama set the money case on the floor. Rather than linger over that intimate touch, he grabbed his sword and fled the dorm room.

Mei Mei followed him outside, watching the young man's panicked retreat with interest until he disappeared from sight.

She lowered her gaze to the palm that had touched his cheek, her glossy lips unconsciously curving upward. "Something other than money... It does seem to feel a little different..."

A month later.

On the Training Grounds, Masamichi Yaga stood with his arms folded and an impassive expression, observing a sparring match between two of his beloved students.

Geto and Satoru exchanged hand-to-hand blows, their movements sweeping, fluid, and varied. Their offensive styles could hardly have been more different.

Satoru was brash and defiant by nature, and his attacks were ferocious. He seemed to attack without ever defending, with all the vicious momentum of a tiger charging down a mountain.

Geto was mild-mannered yet extreme, and his extensive hand-to-hand experience let him adapt with ease. He always spotted Satoru's weak points keenly and seized openings for swift counterattacks.

The spectacle of fists striking flesh bored Shoko Ieiri, who had seen it all before. She preferred watching a certain someone practice swordsmanship.

Masamichi Yaga nodded in satisfaction. As someone who relied primarily on hand-to-hand combat, with cursed corpses in support, he could naturally tell who had the upper hand.

Though Satoru's attacks were fierce, he was already running out of steam. Geto, by contrast, countered calmly, repeatedly breaking Satoru's rhythm.

Because his technique was Cursed Spirit Manipulation, Geto put extra effort into hand-to-hand combat, hoping to catch opponents off guard.

If a mage suddenly started using Wing Chun, who could possibly handle that?

But among his three beloved students, Geto only ranked second in hand-to-hand combat. As for first place... Best not to mention it. That would only crush their confidence.

As Masamichi Yaga thought this, a small, heartfelt smile rose to his lips. The one in first place was Tsukasa Hatayama, unquestionably his finest student.

A good personality, a good family background, and great talent-what teacher would not like him?

Masamichi Yaga looked to his left with satisfaction. There stood Tsukasa Hatayama, bare-chested and dripping sweat as he practiced swordsmanship beneath the blazing sun.

Each swing seemed to send a heavy whistle through the air. His exposed, perfectly sculpted muscles made a striking impression.

Though he did not look bulky, those muscles held an exceptional beauty that made even the languid Shoko Ieiri steal glances from time to time.

Tsukasa Hatayama, however, all but ignored their attention. His body and mind were immersed in the swordsmanship he was on the verge of perfecting.

As a warm current flowed through his body, the awkward, unfamiliar sword movements gradually became fluid, until at last they felt utterly natural.

Under their gazes, Tsukasa Hatayama suddenly sheathed his sword. A cutting intent, distinct from cursed energy, burst from his body.

"Dragon Nest Flash."

The wooden sword shot from its sheath, swinging faster than the eye could follow. Its inescapable web of attacks converged on a single point in the air like a dense downpour.

"Dragon Nest Flash: Bite."

The strikes gathered at that single point suddenly changed, becoming faster and fiercer, brimming with a viciousness that seemed intent on treating that point as an enemy and cutting it to pieces.

"Earth Dragon Flash."

His sword movements changed again. Tsukasa Hatayama switched from a one-handed grip to two hands, his arm muscles bulging as he unleashed his strength in a slash toward the grass.

Countless stones erupted from the turf. The wooden sword struck them in rapid succession, sending each one streaking like a meteor through a wall a hundred meters away.

"Dragon Coil Flash."

Tsukasa Hatayama spun once, and a whirling cyclone swept around him, tearing grass from the ground and carrying it upward, leaving nowhere to escape.

"Dragon Hammer Flash..."

"Dragon Soar Flash..."

"Dragon Roar Flash..."

"Drawn Dual Dragon Flash..."

"Drawn Flying Dragon Flash..."

One seamless sword technique followed another, devastating the entire expansive training ground. Their tremendous destructive power left his two close friends gaping, their sparring forgotten.

Satoru Gojo took off his sunglasses and stared in disbelief at Tsukasa Hatayama, whose sword intent raged around him. "This monster's gotten stronger again. His swordsmanship is even better than my family's!"

Through his Six Eyes, he could clearly perceive just how exquisite Tsukasa Hatayama's swordsmanship was. There was no blocking it, no evading it.

Fast, vicious, precise-he gave an enemy no chance to catch their breath. All three offensive qualities were pushed to their limits. These were purely techniques for killing.

Before the four could finish reacting in surprise, another sudden change occurred.

A sword intent that could cut through anything enveloped the training ground. The upright blades of grass wilted, forced to bow in submission beneath its all-cleaving pressure.

"Kuzuryūsen."

Tsukasa Hatayama suddenly vanished, moving too fast for the naked eye to see. Even the Six Eyes could only catch the afterimage he left behind.

Accompanied by nine dragon cries, the solid boulder ahead was instantly sliced into nine pieces.