Overlap and similarity

[While using Reverse Cursed Technique to examine the Star Plasma Vessel, Riko Amanai, you continued using "Phantom Parade" to analyze Kekun's Cursed Technique.]

[This was a trick you had only recently discovered: replicating a Cursed Technique with "Phantom Parade" did not interfere with its original analytical ability. It was affected only by your ability to divide your attention.]

[You successfully extracted the Cursed Technique "Directional Blast Boundary" from Kekun.]

["Directional Blast Boundary": controlled the direction and shape of explosions through the Cursed Technique.]

[As you examined her, you spoke to Suguru Geto.]

["That guy's name is Kekun. According to what he told me, besides him, Q also sent a guy called Baier, their strongest fighter."]

["Their strongest fighter? Where is he, then?"]

[Although Suguru Geto did not think Q's strongest fighter would pose much of a threat, he still checked with you.]

[You calmly took out your phone and opened the photo Satoru Gojo had sent to the group chat.]

[Behind Satoru Gojo, who was flashing a peace sign at the camera, was another guy wearing Q's white military uniform, his face already beaten to a pulp.]

[After showing it to Suguru Geto, you turned the photo toward Kekun beside you for confirmation.]

["I take it this guy is Baier, the strongest fighter in Q you mentioned?"]

[Kekun's eyes immediately widened as he stared in disbelief at the miserable-looking Baier in the photo.]

["How could this..."]

[Afterward, Q fell apart following the departure of its strongest fighter, Baier.]

[Before long, Satoru Gojo joined you as well, and you were the first to speak, asking about Baier.]

["Where's that Q member?"]

["Oh, I already contacted the Assistant Supervisor to handle the cleanup. That guy won't be waking up anytime soon, so there's no problem."]

["What's his Cursed Technique?"]

[Satoru Gojo naturally understood the properties of your "Phantom Parade," so he did not find your questions about the enemy's Cursed Technique strange. It would be more accurate to say he was already used to it.]

[Satoru Gojo opened his hand, precisely controlling a few nearby pieces of rubble to float and circle around you as he explained.]

["It's roughly like this. He can make objects float and move around, but he was controlling daggers."]

["Is that so?"]

[You murmured and thought for a moment, then gave up on acquiring that Cursed Technique.]

[The effects of this Cursed Technique overlapped with those of "Limitless," so there was no need to acquire another one. After all, even if different Cursed Techniques had similar effects, they would not give you a proficiency bonus. Each required separate practice to master.]

[Rather than spend time on this sort of Cursed Technique, the right course was to master "Limitless" as soon as possible.]

[Satoru Gojo looked at the unconscious Riko Amanai over there and asked the two of you.]

["That's the Star Plasma Vessel, right? She's still unconscious. Should we take her to a doctor?"]

[Suguru Geto explained from beside him.]

["Shunchen just examined her with 'Reverse Cursed Technique' and didn't find anything wrong."]

[Satoru Gojo could not help making a jab.]

["Could it be that the 'knockoff' just couldn't detect it?"]

[You were not angry at this remark, because in a certain sense, Satoru Gojo was right.]

[The "Reverse Cursed Technique" you used was a product replicated through "Phantom Parade," rather than a "Reverse Cursed Technique" you had mastered yourself. There was still a fundamental difference between the two.]

["If only we could use Reverse Cursed Technique like Shoko."]

[Suguru Geto could not help remarking on it either, but Satoru Gojo immediately shot him down without mercy.]

["Not happening. Shoko's explanations don't make any sense at all."]

[At Satoru Gojo's words, all three of you recalled Shoko's explanation that day.]

[Back then, Shoko had stood on the sports field, tracing her fingers through the air as she explained.]

["You just go whoosh, then hah, hah-whoosh. Don't get it? You've got no aptitude."]

[It was the sort of memory that could make your blood boil just by recalling it.]

[Perhaps because of your conversation, the previously unconscious Riko Amanai opened her eyes.]

[The first thing she saw was you, watching her at that moment.]

[Then, almost instinctively, Riko Amanai swung a slap at your face before quickly getting up and taking a defensive stance with her back against the wall, declaring indignantly.]

["You despicable scoundrel! You actually sought to murder me! Don't think being handsome means you can do whatever you please. You can die first instead!"]

["Pfft."]

[Seeing this, Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto beside you held back their laughter at your misfortune.]

[But you were actually fine. You merely scratched your cheek and sighed softly, feeling that explaining things to someone this tense would probably take a great deal of effort, while not particularly minding the slap.]

[In fact, this was all because your experience living like a dog in the Zenin Clan during your first simulation had essentially left you desensitized and immune to humiliation of this degree.]

[Compared with Naoya, you only felt that the girl needed to work on her aggression.]

[At this point, Suguru Geto chose to step outside and tried to soothe Riko Amanai with a smile.]

["Riko, calm down for a moment. We're not with the people who attacked you."]

[Riko Amanai, who was in a state of alarm, was clearly not buying it.]

["Liar! You look like swindlers, and your bangs are really weird too!"]

[In the end, it took Misato Kuroi, who had awakened before Riko Amanai thanks to your earlier treatment, stepping in to calm Riko Amanai down.]

["Miss, this Mr. Li treated us."]

["Kuroi!"]

[Riko Amanai was delighted to see that Misato Kuroi was still alive, but her next words immediately dealt Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto another blow.]

["I understand now. So he's a good person, and those two really are swindlers, right?"]

[As Riko Amanai spoke, she pointed at you first, then at Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto.]

[Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto then grabbed Riko Amanai's arms and legs respectively and began helping her with some recovery stretches.]

[Riko Amanai let out an agonized wail.]

["No! This is outrageous disrespect!"]

[Misato Kuroi hurriedly pleaded from beside them.]

["P-please stop!"]

[You alone seemed out of place amid the current situation.]

[You crossed your arms over your chest and sighed softly, feeling that things seemed to be developing a little differently from what you had expected.]