That would cost extra

[By the time you all reached Satoru Gojo, he seemed ready to attack the Western-style house a short distance ahead. Seeing this, you quickly raised a Curtain.]

[Thanks to "Phantom Parade," you soon sensed that the house seemed to contain some kind of barrier-related Cursed Technique. You tried asking Satoru Gojo.]

["It feels like a barrier. How about letting me try?"]

[But as you watched the house destroyed in an instant by "Blue," you realized your remark had been completely unnecessary.]

["What did you just say, Shunchen?"]

[Satoru Gojo did not seem to have heard what you had just said.]

[You sighed and said instead.]

["Nothing. I said it's a good thing I raised the Curtain beforehand, or we'd probably end up on the news again."]

["I'm here to save you, Utahime!"]

[Satoru Gojo called out to Utahime as she tumbled unceremoniously from the wrecked house.]

[Utahime struggled to her feet amid the rubble of the destroyed house. Furious, she looked up toward that voice she hated, whose owner was looking down at her from above.]

["Are you crying?"]

["I'm not crying! Show some respect when you talk to your senior, you bastard!"]

[Unlike the disheveled Utahime, Mei Mei was already standing beside you and Satoru Gojo, her composure betraying not the slightest hint of panic.]

[You could not help marveling inwardly that, although Grade 2 and Grade 1 were only one grade apart, they were on completely different levels.]

[Mei Mei looked you over with interest and asked.]

["So if I cried, would you comfort me too?"]

["I'd really like to give that a try."]

[Satoru Gojo responded with a somewhat puzzled question.]

["You wouldn't cry, would you, Miss Mei? You're so strong already."]

["Hehehe, is that so?"]

[Watching their exchange, you felt that Satoru Gojo had not understood what Mei Mei meant.]

[In your previous simulation as an assistant, you had dealt with Mei Mei quite often, so you knew her character well.]

[You knew full well that, for a woman like Mei Mei, only money could please her, rather than sweet words of comfort-and not just an ordinary sum, either.]

[So Satoru Gojo was probably the only person present who could meet that condition. Rather than saying Mei Mei coveted Satoru Gojo, it would be more accurate to say that what she truly craved was his family's wealth.]

[At that moment, Utahime, feeling ignored, stood up and shouted at Satoru Gojo.]

["Gojo, let me tell you! I don't need you to save me-"]

[Just as Utahime was making her impassioned declaration, the Cursed Spirit targeted by this mission suddenly emerged from the rubble behind her, about to launch a sneak attack.]

[You had already noticed that, even though the house had been destroyed, the Cursed Energy belonging to the Cursed Spirit had not disappeared.]

[So you had been analyzing and tracking its movements, anticipating its attack and acting before it could open its gaping maw at Utahime.]

[You had already thrown the Cursed Corpse in your hand: a plush Great Sage Cursed Corpse roughly fifty centimeters tall, with bright black eyes, fluffy fur, and a full crown and suit of armor.]

[This was the Cursed Corpse you had recently made on your own after studying under Masamichi Yaga for a semester.]

[The only drawback was that you had yet to find a suitable Cursed Tool for it to use.]

[Under the control of your "Puppet Manipulation," it delivered a vicious uppercut to the enormous Cursed Spirit before Utahime's astonished eyes, even knocking two huge teeth out of its mouth.]

["What...?"]

[As Utahime turned her head in surprise, another Cursed Spirit, shaped like a long snake, burrowed out of the ground and swallowed the other one, restraining it with only its head left exposed.]

["Don't eat it. I still need to absorb it later."]

[Suguru Geto spoke as he headed down first.]

[You called out to Suguru Geto.]

["Geto, I struck first this time. You can only eat it after I analyze its Cursed Technique."]

["I know."]

[Suguru Geto did not refuse your request. This was an established rule between you.]

[After a year of training, you had gradually become able to keep up with Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto in battle. Although you only contributed around five to ten percent during a mission, they would not refuse to let you deal with your enemy first.]

[However, Cursed Spirits capable of attacking with Cursed Energy were at least Grade 2, while those capable of using Cursed Techniques had to be at least Semi-Grade 1. So in truth, you had not acquired many Cursed Techniques from Cursed Spirits-the current count could be said to be zero.]

[Watching you use "Puppet Manipulation," Mei Mei could not help remarking.]

["So this is what 'Phantom Parade' does? You really can tell at a glance that you're Masamichi's student."]

["You're too kind, Miss Mei."]

["But you mustn't secretly analyze my Cursed Technique, all right?"]

[Although Mei Mei said it with a smile, you could still clearly sense the warning in her words.]

[Oh no, you thought. Mei Mei noticed after all.]

["Still, if you want to learn, I can teach you one-on-one..."]

[Before Mei Mei could finish, you interrupted her, saying what she had been about to say with a wry smile.]

["But that would cost extra, right? Miss Mei, I'll come to you once I've saved enough money."]

[Suguru Geto reached the Cursed Spirit below and looked at Satoru Gojo as he spoke.]

["It's not nice to bully the weak."]

["Who goes around bullying the strong, you idiot!"]

[Even Mei Mei chimed in from the side.]

["Geto, that's an even more natural way to provoke someone!"]

["Huh?"]

[Hearing this, Utahime glared at Suguru Geto, her face furious and her teeth clenched.]

[Just then, Shoko's languid voice rang out at an opportune moment.]

["Utahime, are you all right? You were out of contact for two whole days. I was really worried about you."]

[Hearing this, Utahime rushed over to Shoko, hugged her tightly, and earnestly urged her.]

["Shoko, whatever you do, don't turn out like those two!!"]

["Ahaha, I won't turn into scum like them."]

[Shoko gently patted Utahime's back, smiling as she comforted her.]

[Satoru Gojo pointed at you with a disgruntled look and asked Utahime and Shoko.]

["Why are you only talking about the two of us? Isn't Shunchen the same?"]

["Huh, am I scum too?"]