"How do you want to fight?"
In the spacious courtyard, the two stood facing each other. Jinsuke's tone was calm but carried a faint hint of amusement.
"Just make me feel pressure." Mei Mei tied up her long hair, flexing her wrists and shoulders, her eyes sharp and focused.
"Pressure, huh? That's simple enough." A small grin appeared on Jinsuke's face. Applying pressure to others is what I do best.
"Haa… Then, here I come!" With a quick step forward, Mei Mei closed the distance, her body blurring as she drove a powerful punch straight toward Jinsuke's jaw.
He tilted his head slightly back — her fist missed by a hair, the force of it cutting through the air like a blade. The strike carried commendable strength, but the speed… still a bit lacking.
Before Mei Mei could reposition, Jinsuke's hand had already pressed lightly against her ribs.
BANG!
A surge of brutal force erupted from that touch. Mei Mei felt as though she'd been rammed by a runaway truck — her body launched backward, tumbling through the air. She managed a backflip, sliding across the ground before stabilizing herself several meters away.
Pain flared from her ribs. She exhaled sharply, realizing immediately — yes, this is pressure.
"Looks like I still have a long way to go." Pushing off the ground, she dashed forward again, her movements a blur as the two exchanged a flurry of blows.
Under Jinsuke's deliberate restraint, Mei Mei gradually adapted to his rhythm, patching holes in her technique as they fought.
The clash of their bodies whipped up gusts of wind, rustling trees and sending dust swirling. Maki and Mai, watching from behind a large tree, could barely follow what was happening.
Maki's eyes sparkled with awe.
"So this is what a real battle between strong people looks like… this is Master's power?"
To her, still unfamiliar with proper strength scales, the fight was overwhelming — and inspiring.
Even without cursed energy or techniques, sheer physical mastery could reach such heights. She clenched her fists, heart burning with determination.
"I can't even see them clearly anymore!" Mai said, dizzy from trying to follow their movements.
"Hey, sis… who's stronger, big brother or that lady?"
"Obviously the Master. Do you even need to ask?"
"Yeah… I think so too. Cousin's the strongest!"
An hour passed. Mei Mei was drenched in sweat, her breathing heavy, her body trembling slightly from exertion .Jinsuke, on the other hand, stood steady — not even a drop of sweat on him. His body was practically a perpetual motion machine.
"That's enough," he said, catching her incoming punch mid-swing. "Your stamina's running low."
Without cursed energy to reinforce the body, stamina burned fast in pure hand-to-hand combat.
"Hah…" Mei Mei stepped back, channeling cursed energy to recover, but her face was lit with satisfaction.
"I still have room to grow… thank you."
The match had given her a wealth of insight. Once she analyzed the details, she was sure her skills would improve — and that meant more jobs, more money. Just the thought made her happy.
"I'm heading off. Next time there's a big-money gig, I'll make sure to cut you in." She waved and turned toward the exit.
"Oh? Sounds good." Jinsuke walked her to the gate. He had considered inviting her for dinner, but knowing her, she'd probably refuse.
As he opened the courtyard gate—
"Tadaaa!" A cheerful voice burst out, followed by a golden-haired woman in a helmet jumping in front of him. "Surprised? Bet you didn't see this coming!"
Yuki grinned wide, helmet still on her head. She'd rushed here straight after returning to Japan, eager to surprise him. Perfect timing — he'd just opened the gate. Surely fate itself was on her side.
But when her eyes landed on Mei Mei standing beside Jinsuke, covered in sweat, her smile froze.
Her expression crumbled into a chibi pout, eyes watering dramatically.
"W-why…? I was the one who came first!"
Jinsuke and Mei Mei blinked in confusion, glancing at each other.
"You misunderstand," Mei Mei said with a small laugh. "We were just sparring."
Yes, he was handsome and ridiculously tough, but romance? Not her thing. Money was her eternal partner — well, that and her brother.
"R-really?" Yuki sniffled, turning to Jinsuke for confirmation.
"It's exactly what she said," Jinsuke sighed. "And next time, warn me before you show up out of nowhere. What if I wasn't home?" Even as he spoke, he looked mildly exasperated. She's a Special Grade, but acts like a kid.
"Hehe, I just wanted to surprise you~!" Yuki pulled off her helmet and shook out her golden hair, her earlier gloom vanishing instantly.
"I'll get going then," Mei Mei said, a teasing glint in her eye. "I'll leave you two lovebirds to catch up."
She walked off with a smirk — a Special Grade and the Zenin reject, huh? That rumor alone would be worth a fortune.
Once she was gone, Yuki stepped inside like she owned the place.
"Come on, I'm starving. Make me something, will ya? Oh, and I'll be staying here for a few days."
"…You're broke again, aren't you?"
"Eheh." Yuki stuck out her tongue. Guilty as charged.
"Ah! Another pretty lady!" Mai's voice rang out. Both sisters ran over, curious about the newcomer.
"And who are these two little cuties?" Yuki asked, crouching down to eye level.
"I'm Mai Zenin, and this is my sister Maki! We're our Cousin's little sisters!"
"Oh? Zenin family, huh?" Yuki's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"So you really have let go of your grudge… or maybe these two have something special about them?"
A flicker of cursed energy analysis crossed her gaze — and then she froze.
"…Ah, I see now."
"Are you eating or not?" Jinsuke called out dryly.
"Eating! Definitely eating!"
"Then go wash the vegetables."
"Yes, sir!"
As Yuki cheerfully jogged off toward the kitchen, Mai whispered,
"This big sister totally likes cousin"
Maki turned her head away, frowning slightly.
"Tch. Whatever."
But her grip on her staff tightened. If her master got a girlfriend… would he still have time to train her?
Women — always getting in the way of getting stronger.