Petrified

"I like him, so what!"

Seeing Nobara Kugisaki's haughty, defiant expression, as if to say, "That's just how I am."

"N-nothing!"

Yuji Itadori felt a little annoyed, but faced with her attitude, he had no idea what to say.

"Tch, just don't fall for me. I'm not interested in you!"

"You're not my type either!"

Hearing Nobara Kugisaki's words, Yuji Itadori immediately shot back in irritation.

"Hmph, good!"

After snorting disdainfully at Yuji Itadori, Nobara Kugisaki turned back to Megumi Fushiguro and pressed him again:

"Does he?"

"No. But..."

Although Yuanfang didn't have a girlfriend, Megumi Fushiguro seemed to remember hearing from Panda that Maki was also a little interested in Yuanfang.

For a moment, he wasn't sure whether he should tell Nobara Kugisaki about that.

"But what?"

"Nothing. Let's head back!"

After thinking it over, he decided to leave it alone. It had nothing to do with him anyway, so why worry about it?

"Give me the sword. I'll return it to our senior!"

As they were about to leave, Nobara Kugisaki couldn't help glancing at the Tang Dao in Yuji Itadori's hand. Before he knew it, she had snatched it away.

"Hmph!"

Yuji Itadori had a pretty good idea of what she was thinking. He snorted in annoyance, not bothering to argue with her anymore.

Early the next morning.

Nobara Kugisaki went to find Yuanfang bright and early.

"Thanks! Come on, it's time for class!"

Yuanfang took the Tang Dao from her and spoke as he headed toward the classroom.

"Okay!"

Nobara Kugisaki nodded obediently, then followed close behind Yuanfang.

After only a few steps, she suddenly said, sounding a little embarrassed:

"I've only just arrived in Tokyo, and I don't know my way around. It's hard to find places with good food.

Once today's classes are over, could you show me where all the good places to eat are?"

"No problem!"

Yuanfang turned his head and nodded with a smile as gentle as a spring breeze, readily agreeing to her request.

"That's great!" Hearing Yuanfang's answer, Nobara Kugisaki was overjoyed, excitement surging through her like ocean waves.

She couldn't help reflecting that big-brother types like him generally found it hard to turn down other people's requests, especially requests from a pretty girl like her.

Once they reached the classroom, Yuanfang began teaching them about jujutsu.

The day flew by.

As soon as class ended, Nobara Kugisaki eagerly prepared to take Yuanfang's hand and have him show her the local food.

Unfortunately, before she could act, a silver-haired woman with the air of a mature beauty suddenly appeared at the classroom door.

"You're all mine tonight!"

Mei Mei looked at Yuanfang with a wicked smile and spoke like a devil.

Her words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving the other two people in the classroom dumbfounded.

Were they really allowed to hear something that bold?

"Sorry, Kugisaki. I'll take you tomorrow!"

Yuanfang felt helpless. It wasn't that he didn't want to take Kugisaki out; he simply couldn't refuse Mei Mei's request!

After all, Mei Mei had leverage over him. Besides, they were going to harvest cursed spirits, so Yuanfang didn't want to refuse anyway!

"O-okay!" Nobara Kugisaki's face fell, and she wilted like a frostbitten plant. She hadn't expected to lose so completely.

After Yuanfang and Mei Mei left, Yuji Itadori swaggered over to Kugisaki and taunted her:

"Looks like you're not all that impressive either!"

Kugisaki had already frozen in place like a statue and paid no attention whatsoever to Itadori's obnoxious expression.

Megumi Fushiguro looked utterly speechless and grumbled inwardly:

Why did I have to end up with classmates like these?

One seemed like a lovable idiot, while the other looked like a lovesick fangirl.

"Because of Yuanfang's abilities, Miss Mei Mei invites him along every so often to eliminate dangerous cursed spirits. Don't get the wrong idea!"

Megumi Fushiguro explained helplessly.

"Oh, so that's what it was!"

Hearing that, Kugisaki immediately brightened, feeling as though even the air had grown fresher.

However, that pleasant mood lasted only a moment before Kugisaki turned an extremely dangerous glare on Itadori and snapped:

"What did you just say!"

"N-nothing!"

Startled by her sudden interrogation, Itadori stammered out an answer.

But his hesitation hadn't escaped Kugisaki's notice. She sneered and said:

"You hesitated. I can see the lies in your eyes!"

Before her words had even faded, Kugisaki lashed out with a flying kick, sending Itadori hurtling away.

Poor Itadori hadn't even had time to react before he slammed into the ground, grimacing in pain.

Watching the two of them roughhousing, Megumi Fushiguro couldn't help rubbing his head.

Inside a sports car.

Mei Mei sat behind the wheel, while Yuanfang played on his phone in the passenger seat.

Suddenly, a mischievous smile curled at the corner of Mei Mei's mouth as she said:

"That girl seemed pretty interested in you!"

"You're reading too much into it!"

Of course, Yuanfang knew that Kugisaki seemed to have feelings for him, but right now, all he wanted was to grow stronger. He didn't want to waste time talking about it.

Mei Mei found the subject fascinating. She smoothed the hair over her forehead and thrust out her chest, a seductive glint in her eyes as she looked at Yuanfang and asked:

"Who do you think is better, that girl or me?"

"You!"

Yuanfang answered without hesitation, because he understood one simple truth:

When a woman asked whether she or another woman was better, all you had to do was say she was.

"Hehe, good answer!"

Mei Mei shook with laughter, clearly very satisfied with Yuanfang's response.

"What grade is the cursed spirit this time?"

Yuanfang couldn't be bothered to keep discussing this. He was more interested in how much cursed energy he could absorb this time.

"Special Grade. It's a little far away, in Okinawa! We'll probably have to stay there for a day!"

Hearing her words, Yuanfang couldn't help picturing that girl running along the shore.

Once she woke up, she would probably still want to see the sea!

"Don't you have a younger brother who's pretty strong too? Why don't you bring him?"

Although the story hadn't mentioned the abilities of Mei Mei's younger brother, Ui Ui, he could roughly guess that his cursed technique involved teleportation.

Its range was also enormous. In the story, Ui Ui had even teleported himself and Mei Mei to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

Japan and Malaysia were more than five thousand kilometers apart, yet Ui Ui's cursed technique could teleport them there instantly. Clearly, his teleportation range was immense, and it might even have no distance limit.

Wouldn't hunting monsters with her younger brother as a "teleporter" be faster and make it easier to earn more money?

"My younger brother is still young. Bringing him along would be too dangerous!"

Hearing Mei Mei's words, Yuanfang was speechless. He didn't believe her for a second.

Mei Mei had only said that because she didn't want to give up her free labor.