"Todo..."
Noritoshi Kamo, lying on the ground, looked at the newcomer with a flicker of hope in his eyes, which then faded into helplessness.
Although he despised Aoi Todo—that unpredictable lunatic, a weirdo who spent all day talking about 'types' and 'idols.'
But in such a desperate moment, he had to admit that Aoi Todo was the Kyoto School's only hope.
As a Grade 1 Sorcerer, Todo's strength was beyond question.
During last year's Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, he had reportedly exorcised five Grade 1 Cursed Spirits and one Special Grade all by himself.
If it were him, perhaps...
"Shut up, Kamo."
Todo didn't even spare Kamo a glance; his gaze was locked firmly on Yoru.
That look was like someone seeing a peerless beauty, filled with fanatical appreciation.
No, it was purer than that.
It was the look of a martial artist seeing one of his own kind.
"Can none of you trash even earn the right to make my best friend draw his sword?"
"Truly pathetic."
"When we get back, I'm going to train you all properly so you'll know what true strength really means."
Having said that, he completely ignored Principal Gakuganji's order to assassinate Yuji.
He also ignored his companions who were still lying around like corpses.
At this moment.
Only Yoru existed in his eyes.
"Yoru!"
Aoi Todo settled into a fighting stance.
His muscles tightened as cursed energy burned around him like blue flames, turning the surrounding air thick with the sheer pressure of his power.
"Come on!"
"Let me see how much stronger you've become during this time!"
"Don't use your sword!"
"Communicate with your fists, like a man!"
"Only at the moment of flesh meeting bone can we truly understand each other's souls!"
Yoru looked at the overly hot-blooded musclehead before him and sighed helplessly.
Though they had only met a few times.
The fact that this guy unilaterally considered him his best friend had already spread throughout Jujutsu High.
Even Panda would occasionally tease him about it, asking if he and Todo had some sort of scandalous secret.
But...
Yoru didn't hate people who were this straightforward.
In this jujutsu world full of schemes, conspiracies, and malice, someone like Aoi Todo—who was blunt and fought only to grow stronger—was actually somewhat endearing.
"Since you've put it that way."
Yoru slowly slid Shiranui back into its scabbard.
With a click, the tsuba locked into place.
Then.
He unbuttoned his uniform, took off the jacket, and tossed it onto a nearby branch.
Revealing the white shirt underneath.
While he didn't look as hulking or explosively muscular as Aoi Todo.
The smooth, tight lines of his physique were still visible through the fabric.
"Then let's do this, Todo."
Yoru fell into an opening stance.
It wasn't swordsmanship.
It was a pure martial arts posture.
Although Yoriichi Tsugikuni was strongest with a blade, as the absolute peak of combat power, his hand-to-hand combat was also peerless.
Breathing techniques didn't just enhance swordsmanship; they strengthened the physical body itself.
"Good! Great! Excellent!"
Todo let out an excited roar, looking as if he might burst into tears.
"Now that's my best friend!"
The ground beneath his feet suddenly exploded, sending dirt flying.
He launched himself forward like a cannonball.
"This punch contains all my love for you, bestie!"
Boom!
A massive fist, wrapped in terrifying cursed energy, aimed straight for Yoru's face.
No tricks.
Just pure, overwhelming power and speed.
The force of this punch was enough to smash through steel plates!
Facing the strike, Yoru didn't retreat; his eyes sharpened instantly.
"Too wide."
Yoru spoke softly.
He wasn't talking about the size of the fist, but the telegraphing of the movement.
Despite the staggering power, it was full of openings in Yoru's eyes.
Just as the fist was about to connect.
Yoru tilted his head slightly.
The wind from the punch grazed his cheek, ruffling his black hair and stinging his skin.
Simultaneously.
Yoru's right hand shot out like lightning, precisely catching Todo's wrist.
Redirecting the force, he turned and performed a shoulder throw!
The sequence of movements was as fluid as water, executed without a single hitch, as if practiced a thousand times.
"What?!"
Todo felt the world spin.
It was as if his power had struck cotton, only to be returned to him twofold.
Before he could react, he was slammed violently onto the ground.
BOOM!
A large crater formed as cracks spread across the earth like a spiderweb.
Dust and debris filled the air.
"It hurts! Hahaha! It hurts!"
Todo's boisterous laughter echoed from the dust.
He leaped out of the crater as if nothing had happened, patting the dirt off his clothes.
There was no pain on his face—only an even deeper fanaticism.
"I'd expect nothing less! Not only is your swordsmanship superb, but your martial arts are perfect too!"
"Again!"
This time, Todo didn't rush in blindly.
He clapped his hands.
Clap!
Boogie Woogie!
Instantly, he swapped places with a rock behind Yoru.
Without any warning, a fist flew toward the back of Yoru's head.
This was Todo's technique.
Extremely simple, yet extremely troublesome.
As long as something had cursed energy, whether living or inanimate, he could swap positions.
In actual combat, it was a god-tier ability that was nearly impossible to defend against!
But Yoru acted as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
He didn't even turn around.
He simply lowered his center of gravity into a slight crouch and delivered a back-kick.
Bang!
The kick landed precisely on Todo's wrist, disrupting his attack rhythm.
The collision of immense forces generated a visible shockwave.
"What?!"
Todo was stunned, using the recoil to leap backward.
He hadn't made a sound, and the swap had been instantaneous.
How did Yoru notice?
Was his perception so strong that he could predict spatial changes?
Or had he read Todo's intent the very moment he clapped?
"I told you, your movements are too wide."
Yoru turned around and patted the dust off his pants while looking at the shocked Todo.
"And your heartbeat is way too loud."
In Yoru's perception, Todo's heartbeat—excited to the extreme—was as clear as a beating drum.
In this state, any sneak attack was futile.
The auditory enhancement from his breathing technique allowed him to pinpoint locations and even predict movements.
"Hahaha! I see! I see!"
Todo was dazed for a moment before bursting into an even more arrogant laugh.
"You can even hear my heartbeat? Truly, you're the best!"
"Then let's take this head-on!"
"No techniques! No tricks!"
"Let's just brawl, bestie!"
For the next few minutes.
The most primitive and violent brawl played out in the forest.
The dull thuds of flesh hitting flesh rang out continuously.
The surrounding trees suffered as they were knocked down one by one.
Noritoshi Kamo and the others lying on the ground were dumbfounded.
Was this even a battle between humans?
Neither used weapons, yet with just their hands and feet, they caused more destruction than a rampaging Grade 1 Cursed Spirit!
Every one of Todo's punches carried enough cursed energy to shatter rock.
Meanwhile, Yoru was like a falling leaf, always finding a gap in the storm to deliver a seemingly light but heavy counter-strike.
Finally.
After one last collision, both retreated several steps.
Todo's face was black and blue, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and one eye was swollen shut.
Yoru's shirt was disheveled, a few buttons had popped off, and his breathing was slightly labored.
But that was all.
Continuous high-intensity combat—especially after just tanking Mechamaru's Triple Ultra Cannon and Kamo's Piercing Blood.
While it looked effortless, the switching and bursts of breathing techniques put a genuine strain on his lungs.
After all, he wasn't a true Heavenly Restriction user; he didn't have that inexhaustible physical energy. He relied on the precise operation of technique and breathing.
And...
This guy Todo was indeed ridiculously strong.
As the only student who could consistently hold his own against Special Grade Cursed Spirits, he had long ago surpassed the definition of Grade 1. He was a complete monster.
"Refreshing!"
Todo wiped the blood from his mouth and laughed at the sky.
"Yes! This is it!"
"Only a fight like this makes me feel alive!"
He looked at Yoru, his admiration nearly overflowing.
"Yoru, you really are my one and only..."
"Brother!"
Yoru looked at him, and though he felt a bit helpless, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
In this crazy world.
Meeting such a pure idiot might not be a bad thing after all.
"Don't call me Brother."
"Call me Yoru."
"You got it, bestie!"
"..."