Boom!
The frame shattered in an instant.
Naoya's body slammed into the ground in an instant, the Cursed Energy flagstones shattering into pieces. On the ground, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"What happened?! How is this possible?!"
Naoya's body trembled violently. It was a fear originating from the depths of his soul, just like the first time he faced Toji as a child.
Renji is truly a Special Grade?
"I held back eighty percent of my strength at the last second, so you won't die. Give me the item." Renji said as he crouched down, his golden eyes looking down at him.
What a pity. Simply defeating Naoya didn't yield any experience points.
He had considered paralyzing Naoya just now but it was better to avoid affecting the main plot as much as possible. It would be troublesome if some unexpected event occurred outside of his memories.
Swish!
Naoya didn't dawdle, quickly tossing the golden cross from his robes. The cross traced an arc through the air and landed steadily in Renji's hand.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a Jujutsu Kaisen world item: Special Grade Imaginary Cursed Tool – God's Punishment (A) (Can be taken out of this world for trading).]
Special Grade Imaginary Cursed Tool – God's Punishment: Upon use, it can dismantle any three attacks or Domains once. Enters a 24-hour cooldown after use. Cursed Energy can be used to reduce the cooldown.
Renji walked toward the exit of the arena, leaving Naoya alone under the gazes of the Kyoto Jujutsu High first-year students.
If Naoya could have said something like "I'll be stronger the next time we meet, let's spar again then," Renji would have thought a bit more highly of him.
But...
Renji turned his head slightly, his peripheral vision sweeping over Naoya.
He saw Naoya frozen in the center of the arena with an expression of disbelief.
"Boring." Renji's figure completely vanished from the arena.
"Congratulations, Okkotsu. That guy's Cursed Technique is a bit troublesome. I was even planning to have Hayabusa appear to help you." Suguru laughed, his tone full of ease.
"It's just Projection Sorcery. No big deal." Renji shrugged.
Suguru patted Renji's shoulder and teased, "We're heading back to Tokyo tomorrow at noon. Before that, look, there's a certain crybaby senpai waiting for you over there. Go on."
In the distance, as soon as Utahime heard Suguru's words, veins popped on her forehead. However, since she was in front of Renji, she had to maintain her refined shrine maiden persona.
She could only grit her teeth and speak one word at a time, "You're just as annoying as Gojo. Don't corrupt Okkotsu."
Suguru shrugged, "Crybaby Utahime-senpai, if you get trapped during a Cursed Spirit exorcism mission again, we won't be coming to save you."
"Who needs you to save me?! You and that bastard Gojo better get lost. Next time we spar, have Ieiri bring Okkotsu. Don't you come." Utahime was already boiling with rage.
On one hand, she really had been saved before.
On the other hand, Suguru actually said such a thing in front of Renji—wouldn't that ruin her image in Renji's mind?
"Alright, alright. Okkotsu, stay away from Utahime-senpai, or you'll become unlucky."
"Geto!"
Suguru left with a laugh.
Only Renji and Utahime remained.
Those brownish-black pupils gazed into Renji's eyes.
"Renji... I can call you that, right?"
For some reason, Utahime would blush whenever she looked into Renji's eyes, even though she wasn't usually the bashful type.
"Of course, Iori-senpai." Renji smiled.
Utahime pursed her lips and her blush spread all the way to her ears.
"Fine... enough. Don't call me that anymore, just... just call me by my name."
Utahime was eighteen, but facing the ten-year-old Renji, she felt like they were peers. Of course, she didn't know yet that Renji was only ten.
"Alright, then... Utahime-senpai?" Renji said softly.
"Mm..."
Utahime lowered her head, the crimson on her cheeks making it impossible for her to look directly at Renji.
Just as the atmosphere between the two turned ambiguous, a voice broke the mood.
Click!
It was the sound of a camera shutter.
"Ara ara... Utahime, how much are you willing to pay for this photo? Let me think... let's say one hundred million." An elegant voice rang out from a maple tree beside the path.
Renji and Utahime looked toward the source of the voice simultaneously and saw a woman with a high silver ponytail wearing a seductive smile.
"Ah! Mei Mei! What are you doing?!" Utahime looked at the woman huffily.
The woman was indeed Mei Mei, a sorcerer from the same year as Utahime. She was currently ranked as a Semi-First-Grade Sorcerer, just a step away from becoming a First-Grade Sorcerer. Like Utahime, she was officially a second-year student but could graduate at any time according to the school's requirements. Incidentally, Mei Mei was from Tokyo Jujutsu High and was only here to 'make money'.
"Let's see what kind of man our Utahime-san, who hates handsome guys like Gojo, actually likes. If a photo like this were sold, it should fetch a good price." Mei Mei licked her lips, her tongue tracing her red lips and leaving a glint of moisture.
"Mei Mei, stop it. Renji is your junior, from the same year as Gojo." Utahime sighed, placing a hand on her forehead as she explained.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Mei Mei flickered and appeared in front of Renji. Her 180cm height made her nearly ten centimeters taller than Renji. She opened her squinted eyes, her deep black pupils conveying a scrutinizing gaze.
Seeing Renji and Mei Mei staring at each other for so long, Utahime felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"Alright. Mei Mei, hurry up and delete the photo. We're going to eat." Utahime grabbed Renji's arm.
Mei Mei gave a soft smile, though it was unclear what she saw in Renji's eyes.
"I'll delete the photo if you want, but you have to take me to dinner, and you're paying." Mei Mei's gaze lingered casually on Renji.
[Ding! Detected a character whose Favorability can be obtained: Mei Mei]
[Current Favorability: 1]