"…I surrender."
The training field fell silent.
Across the field, Utahime Iori's yelled.
"…What?"
"You're surrendering?"
Kusakabe scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah."
"There's no point continuing."
He nodded slightly toward Satoru Gojo.
"I can't hit him."
Beside Utahime, Mei Mei chuckled softly.
"A wise decision."
Meanwhile Gojo slowly lowered his hand, the distortion in the air fading.
"Huh?"
"That's it?"
He looked almost disappointed.
"I was just getting started."
Behind him, Suguru Geto smiled faintly.
"I think that proves the point."
Near the stairs, Shoko Ieiri yawned.
"Wow."
"That was fast."
A few meters away, Emiya watched the scene quietly.
…Classic Atsuya Kusakabe.
He hates trouble more than anything.
As Kusakabe and Satoru Gojo stepped away from the center of the field and walked back toward the others.
Utahime's shoulders slumped.
"…Kusakabe-senpai…" she grumbled, sounding almost like she was about to cry.
Kusakabe sighed and gently rubbed the top of her head.
"Hey, hey… calm down."
"He's stronger than me."
Before she could respond—
Gojo leaned down slightly, peering at her face with a mischievous grin.
"…Are you crying?"
Utahime's face instantly turned red.
"I'm not!"
She balled up her fists angrily.
"I am not crying!"
"Heheh—"
Gojo laughed.
Before the argument could continue, Suguru Geto stepped forward.
"Alright."
"Now it's my turn."
Utahime immediately pointed at him.
"Fine!"
She stepped forward again, clearly fired up.
"Let me beat him real quick," she said, glaring at Gojo.
"Then I'll show you."
Just as she moved to step onto the field—
Geto calmly raised one hand toward her.
✋
"Wait."
Utahime Iori frowned.
"…What now?"
Suguru Geto looked at her for a moment, his expression calm.
"I'd rather not fight you."
Utahime blinked.
"…Why?"
Geto gave a small, polite smile.
"It wouldn't be much of a fight."
Utahime's brow twitched.
"…What's that supposed to mean?"
Geto folded his arms casually.
"It means…"
"You're not strong enough to make this interesting."
Emiya watched the scene with a flat expression.
…These two are such a bullies.
Before Utahime Iori could explode in protest—
A hand gently rested on her shoulder.
"Utahime."
Utahime turned.
"Mei- senpai?"
Mei Mei stepped forward, her calm smile unchanged.
"Let me handle this one."
She walked past her and onto the field, her eyes settling on Geto with quiet interest.
"After all…"
"It wouldn't be fair to let the juniors have all the fun."
Behind her, Utahime Iori sighed in resignation.
"…Alright."
Across the training ground, Mei Mei and Suguru Geto took their positions, both quietly observing the other.
From the side, Atsuya Kusakabe lazily raised one hand.
"Start."
The moment he said it—
"Win it, Suguru!" Satoru Gojo yelled from the sidelines with a wide grin.
Both fighters jumped backward, creating distance.
Almost instantly, several squid curse spirits surged forward from behind Suguru Geto, launching toward Mei Mei like living projectiles.
The grotesque creatures shot across the field with terrifying speed.
But Mei Mei barely moved.
With a small shift of her feet and the slightest tilt of her body—
She dodged.
One curse passed beside her shoulder.
Another flew past her head.
A third crashed into the dirt behind her.
Her movements were minimal.
Precise.
It was obvious immediately—
She was extremely skilled in close-quarters combat.
From behind her, several dog-shaped cursed spirits lunged forward, jaws snapping as they rushed her.
Without hesitation, Mei Mei moved.
Her body rotating in mid-air as she avoided the first bite.
While still airborne, her leg snapped outward—
Thud.
Her kick connected cleanly with the abdomen of one charging curse spirit, sending it tumbling across the dirt.
Her body continued rotating through the air.
As she turned and faced the left side—
Another curse lunged toward her.
Without landing, she drove her fist downward.
Bang.
Her punch slammed into the top of the curse spirit's head, smashing it straight into the ground.
The impact buried its head into the dirt while the rest of its body remained frozen in that position.
The third dog-shaped curse lunged again.
But Mei Mei reacted instantly.
Her leg snapped out in a sharp kick—
Thud.
The curse spirit was sent flying straight toward Suguru Geto.
Geto calmly summoned another curse in front of him.
The flying creature slammed into it, the collision bursting into a messy tangle of limbs and cursed energy.
For a brief moment—
The disturbance blocked his line of sight.
That was all Mei Mei needed.
She appeared at his side.
Her fist shot forward toward his ribs.
Geto predicting her attack, raised his elbow and blocked the punch, his feet digging into the dirt as he held his ground.
But Mei Mei didn't stop.
Her body pivoted smoothly as she followed up with a sharp kick aimed at his torso.
Just as the strike was about to land—
A cold blade pressed lightly against the back of her neck.
Behind her, a dead samurai-shaped curse had appeared, its sword drawn and poised to strike.
Mei Mei paused.
For a moment, the field went quiet.
Then she smiled faintly.
"…It seems you win."
Geto lowered his guard, his expression calm.
"You fought well."
Then he added politely,
"And you didn't even use your cursed technique."
Mei Mei glanced slightly to the side, her calm smile unchanged.
"You don't have to console me."
"You won fair and square."
She added casually,
"And my technique isn't very suited for fighting."
Across from her, Suguru Geto gave a small nod, acknowledging her words.
From the sidelines—
"WHAT?!" Utahime Iori yelled.
"Mei –senpai also lost?!"
Her face went pale with disbelief.
Beside her, Satoru Gojo grinned shamelessly.
He leaned slightly closer and dragged out her name in a teasing tone.
"Uta—hi—me… seems you lost."
Utahime Iori's fists clenched at her sides, her face flushing with irritation.
"I haven't lost yet!" she snapped.
Her eyes darted around the field, scanning everyone as if searching for some loophole, some way to turn the situation in her favor.
And then—suddenly—an idea sparked in her mind. Her lips curled into a sly, almost mischievous smile.
"It's not best of three—it's an individual match bet I made on my behalf. So if I win against Hyodo-Kun, you still have to call me Boss!"
The words hung in the air, audacious and shameless. Everyone froze, stunned by her cunning.
Emiya's brow twitched slightly at her shamelesness.
Atsuya Kusakabe stepped in, placing a firm hand on Utahime's shoulder.
"Utahime," he said, his tone calm but authoritative, "it's not nic...."
Before he can complete.
Gojo, however, clapped his hands together with mock excitement.
"Alright! Fine! If Emiya loses, I'll call you Boss!"
Everyone looked at him strangely.
But he leaned toward Emiya, patting both of his shoulders.
"Emi-ya-kun, my reputation is in your hands. Don't let me down."
Emiya crossed his arms, a faint grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"If I lose, it's not my fault."
Gojo tilted his head, eyes sparkling.
"You gonna lose?"
Emiya's grin matched Gojo's perfectly.
"Naah, I'd win."😏
(Author note: If you guys find the story to your liking please vote)