Coco: Hey, guys, been a while...I'm sorry. As we all know by now, I am completely unreliable when it comes to keeping a posting schedule. Though within that time since I've been away, I feel like I've gotten quite a bit done at least.

I rewrote my SDS story...every chapter (still working on MHA)

I've got the first three chapters for my Black Bulter Story ready as it's what won the poll...or it was winning the last time I checked.

Still working on my other new stuff and the existing stories almost have new chapters ready to post!

But I'm still...so so sorry for making you guys wait so long as always.

Now, without further ado, let's get this chapter started!

'It's getting hot,' Eiji thought as she looked up at the burning sun with her hand protectively shading her eyes. 'Not that I'm complaining.'

She always did prefer the summer heat over the winter cold. No matter how many layers she put on, she could never get warm enough in the winter.

'I bet this winter could have been fun though,' Eiji thought with a smile. 'I never really had someone to do a lot of winter activities with. Satoru was usually busy and Megumi too serious. I bet Yuji would have loved snowball fights…building forts and snowmen.'

At the thought of Yuji, Eiji mentally sighed and shook her head. She'd rather not go there. If she starts thinking about Yuji too much, she'll want to cry again, and since she can't physically do that, she'll make herself even more upset. And she couldn't handle doing that again so soon. Which is why she was currently busying herself.

"I never get to go to any fun places." Eiji said with a laugh as she rubbed the back of her head and looked up at the rundown building in front of her. "Though I guess in this line of work, it's to be expected."

The building had once been a hotel. The hotel having gone out of business after too many horrible accidents happened. Like people disappearing right out of their rooms. Or accidents where people fall down the stairs suffering serious injuries, or get seriously food poisoned from the meals brought up to their rooms, etc. And all this began a few months after a member of the staff had thrown themselves off the top of the building. What finally got the place shut down was a fire that broke out and burnt over half the building before it was put out. Ever since then the place had laid here quietly.

However, when someone bought the building to try and turn it into something else—Eiji had been told what but didn't care enough to remember—the incidents started happening again. Construction workers getting hurt on the site. At first minor things, but just a few days ago, one of them suffered a serious injury when some steel rods fell with two of them impaling him. He was still in the hospital, but even once he got out, he'd most likely never be able to walk again as one of the rods severely damaged his spine.

"Are we sure this place is structurally safe? Especially considering the last incident." Eiji asked turning to Nita Akari. "I'd hate to have a building collapse on me just after being cleared by Ieiri-san for missions."

Though it wasn't like it took too long to get her back on her feet as she had healed a portion of her own wound before she had even made it to Ieiri. Of course, that was thanks to Megumi who wasn't here. This was a solo mission for Eiji. She gets them from time to time after going through anything the school deems 'traumatic' to manage her emotions. She gets thrown in a situation or multiple situations where she must use her abilities, so her negative emotions don't build up to the point they become volatile.

It happened once…hadn't been pretty. She might only be a first year, but they've been using this method to keep her cursed technique since she was in middle school. Though any missions before now were completely supervised by Satoru or other high-ranking sorcerers.

"A sweep of the building has been made when the new owner bought it," Akari said. "The structure is holding. All the same, I wouldn't stay in there too long."

"Thanks for the advice." Eiji said with short chuckle. "Might want to put up a veil. I know this isn't a busy street or anything, but better safe than sorry."

Akari nodded her head then began placing the veil as Eiji made her way up the steps to the front entrance. She stared at the door a moment before she reached towards the handle. She almost flinched when the negative energy seemed to course through her once she contacted the door.

'That certainly didn't feel pleasant.' She thought as she mentally frowned.

She then opened the door and stepped inside the dimly lit hotel. She shut the door behind her. The door which instantly locked on its own as soon as it was shut.

"Well, that's not concerning or anything." She said with her smiling tightening.

She then glanced around the main entrance with her eyes landing on the pile of rods that laid in disarray on the floor. There was also blood still on the carpet where that worker had been impaled. Her eyes went up to where the platform that had been holding the rods stood partially collapsed against the wall they had been reinforcing.

'Akari said most of the incidents in the past happened on the higher floors.' Eiji thought as she headed for the stairs. 'The closer to the roof the more terrible the incidents.'

This could most likely be because that previous hotel worker had thrown themselves off the roof to end their lives.

'This latest occurrence in the front lobby was a first,' Eiji continued to go over the information given to her. 'The curse most likely grew angry with the workers for altering its home and reacted before they could go any further and change anything else.'

Had her wondering how far she'd get before anything tried to take her out of commission. She made it to the third floor—the middle ground between first two floors and the last two floors—before anything happened. Just as she had turned the corner to begin her sweep of the level, an end table went sailing towards her. She lifted her hand and did a sweeping motion as red energy shot out of her palm. The end table was hit by said energy causing it to splinter and break as it was knocked to the right and away from her.

'Good,' she thought as she flexed her hand. 'The anger has dissipated some. When I fought that curse from the smaller mission earlier, it had been completely ruptured with that same attack I just used. At least all this is helping.'

She then had to tilt her head to the side as a lamp was lobbed at her head next.

"Now, now, that wasn't very nice~" She called out in a singsong voice. "If you want to play, you need to come out. I'm not a fan of hide-n-seek. I'll play tag though if you want, so come on out so we can play."

She said this while placing her hand on the wall beside her. She sent her cursed energy through it causing it to splinter and crack. She ran her hand along the wall, which sent the energy down the hall and caused the cracks in the wall to grow. Once the damage was done, a screech entered the air and a figure appeared at the end of the hall.

Its shape couldn't even be described as human anymore. Its flesh was purple, and its body disproportioned to the point it looked like a lumpy triangle with legs. It screeched once more at Eiji bearing its fangs at the girl whose grin widened.

"Why hello there," She called out with a casual wave. "Akashi Eiji here. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

The curse's reply to her casual greeting was only the charge Eiji who cracked bones in her right hand as she held it out at the ready.

"Coming right at me, huh?" Eiji questioned. "That's fine. The less you struggle the less energy I must use. I was told to keep property damage to a minimum, so thanks for helping me out, pal, by making this easy~"

Akari gasped as an explosion went off inside the building, which put a large whole in the outer right wall of the structure. Her eye twitched as a bead of sweat rolled down the right side of her face.

'She definitely learned her sense of restraint from Gojo.' She thought in irritation. 'The higher ups aren't going to be happy.'

Though she had a feeling Eiji wouldn't care. She also learned to distrust and dislike the higher ups from Satoru, so the girl never seemed to care if she made them angry. Feeling like things were over, Akari lowered the veil from around the building. Not long after Eiji walked out of the building with her hands stuffed into the pockets of her shorts.

"Mission accomplished, Akari-san." Eiji reported with a chipper salute. "Is it time to head back to school yet? I've been doing these missions for what feels like forever now. I think things are under control."

The negativity wasn't completely gone, but it was back to manageable levels. Besides, she didn't want to completely empty her stored up emotions. She wasn't useless if the levels did ever bottom out because people are constantly feeling, which gives her what she needs to use her clan's cursed techniques. However, she liked having stored reserves for bigger attacks if the situation ever calls for it.

"It hasn't been forever. It's only been a day and a half." Akari corrected her. "But, yes, that was your last mission assignment for now. Gojo has already made a point in getting you back to school in enough time for you to prepare for the exchange event happening in two months."

Eiji hummed in reply. She had forgotten about that. First years don't usually participate in the exchange event between Tokyo and Kyoto Jujutsu High. However, Eiji, who had learned from Megumi who called her yesterday, was told the first years would be participating this year. Well, the first years from Tokyo since Okkotsu and the third years wouldn't be present.

"Right," Eiji said. "Best to get back then. I don't want to keep everyone waiting."

She then pulled her phone out from her pocket to see she had a missed call from Megumi and a few texts from Satoru. She glanced at the text messages first to see Gojo was asking if the higher ups were continuing to keep her busy and if he needed to intervene. She'd call him first to check in before she contacted Megumi to see if things were okay with him. As she hit the button to call Satoru, Akari went to retrieve the car where she parked it.

"Eiji~" Satoru sang as he picked up the phone on the first ring. "Are those stupid old farts still working you to the bone? I can step in if you want."

"No, I'm actually heading back to the school today," Eiji replied. "Doesn't mean I'll be getting any rest. I'm sure Maki-senpai is going to want to whip me into shape for the exchange event."

Normally she'd be excited to spend time with her upperclassmen, but honestly, she just wanted to retire to her room and curl up under her blankets. Besides, she wasn't really that excited to participate in the exchange event. She tended to avoid anyone from the Kyoto school because of certain individuals who shall remain nameless for now.

"Now, now, don't be such a sourpuss." Satoru said as if reading her thoughts through the phone. "It'll be fun, you'll see. When the day comes, I even have a surprise for you and your classmates~"

Eiji blinked when hearing this as she wondered what kind of surprise Satoru could be planning for them.

"Looking forward to it." Eiji said with a chuckle. "Though I suspect whatever your planning, Megumi is going to hate it."

He never did like Satoru's surprises. The ravenette always got so grumpy after Satoru pulled some kind of surprise because it claimed whatever Satoru did it always gave him a headache.

"Not this time," Satoru said. "I'm sure of it—Oh, gotta go! Nanami's here and I have a favor to ask him!"

Eiji inwardly sweat-dropped while feeling bad for the blonde whom Satoru seems to like messing with. The man was rather stoic, but he's always been kind to Eiji. Though he has very bluntly pointed out that the personality traits that she's shares with Satoru are shit to deal with.

"Okay, see you, Satoru." Eiji said. "Tell Nanami-san I said hello."

"Will do~ Love ya, Eiji. Don't forget to look forward to that surprise!" Satoru said then hung up.

Eiji chuckled shaking her head at his eccentric-ness as she took her phone away from her ear. She looked up as Akari pulled the car up to the curb. Eiji climbed into the back while scrolling to Megumi's name in her phone.

"Are there any stops you need to make before returning to school?" Akari questioned as Eiji leaned back in her seat and crossed one leg over the other.

"No," Eiji said with a shake of her head. "I have an exchange event to prepare for. Besides, best not to keep my friends waiting."

She said this while flashing a grin at Akari. At the sight of it, Akari's shoulder's relaxed slightly as this one seemed more genuine than the ones Eiji had been giving her at the start of their little journey.

"Understood." Akari said then pulled away from the old hotel. "We'll be heading back to the school then."

Eiji hummed to let Akari know she heard her as she was texting Megumi to see what he was up to and to also let him know that she was heading back. She missed him and Nobara even if it hasn't been that long since she last saw her classmates. She then felt a pang when thinking that Yuji wouldn't be there to greet her when she arrived.

'I can't be dwelling on such thoughts,' Eiji thought as she mentally frowned. 'In this line of work, people don't last long. It's just something I've got to accept.'

She then looked out the window at the passing scenery as she waited for Megumi to reply to her text.

Eiji—I just finished getting dressed for training. Should I meet up with the third years? Or with you and Nobara at the vending machines?

Megumi looked at the next on his phone while not wanting to admit but he was relieved that he'd be seeing Eiji soon. He never liked it when they sent her on these 'solo' missions where she was expected to fight on her own. He knew why they did it, but it didn't mean he had to like it. Especially now, since they don't send a higher-grade sorcerer with her anymore.

'She can take care of herself,' Satoru had told him when he had heard about Eiji leaving for this last mission. 'She is the highest-grade sorcerer in your class, after all. And trained by yours truly.'

Megumi already knew that. He didn't need to be told how capable Eiji was. She could be a special grade sorcerer like Satoru, and he'd still disagree with her going out on her own. Eiji and he made a promise to each other…that they wouldn't leave the other all alone…

—FLASHBACK—

Eiji sat silently beside Megumi as he was staring down at the prone form of his sister. She seemed to only be in a peaceful sleep as she laid still in the hospital bed. However, that was not the case. The girl wasn't dead, but there was no guarantee she would wake before the curse took its toll.

Nothing was said between the two as Eiji silently reached over to place both of her hands over his. He stiffened at her touch before moving his eyes up to gaze at her face. She didn't turn to look at him as she kept her eyes on his sister.

"We're going to save her, Megumi." Eiji said. "And until we get her back, I promise, I won't ever leave you, okay? I'll stay with you, always."

She finally turned to look at him with her smile turning soft, kind…full of love. Megumi almost wanted to scoff. It was so like her to say something so dramatic with such earnest. She made such declarations so easily. Offering her love and soul to whoever need it.

'Even underserving people like me,' he thought darkly.

Eiji was just like his sister. Too kind for this corrupted world. Thinking that Eiji could ever wind up like his sister made him want to vomit.

'I can't let something like this happen to her.' Megumi thought as he felt Eiji give his hands a reassuring squeeze before releasing them. 'People like her…people like my sister deserve happiness.'

He then slightly surprised Eiji by unclenching his hands and having one of them reach out to hold hers in return. It was the first time he actively held her hand without her initiating it.

"Even after we save her," Megumi began. "You must promise to stick around even after that. Which means you can't go dying on me, Akashi. I can't handle Gojo on my own after all. That'd be a pain."

Eiji blinked at him once still a bit surprised, but then her smile spread happily across her face. She leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Okay, I'll make that promise, but only if you do the same." She said.

"Yeah…sure." Megumi replied.

—END OF FLASHBACK—

Eiji wasn't the type to break promises, but this world they lived in was cruel. And he was always waiting…waiting for the day for Satoru or someone else to tell him Eiji wasn't coming back, which is why he hated those solo missions of hers. He was meant to stay at her side, so they could have each other's backs.

Megumi—Do what you want.

Despite wishing to see her, he wasn't about to tell her straight out. She'd tease him for it if he did, and he didn't want to put up with her teasing.

"Couldn't they put in a few more vending machines?" Nobara questioned after getting a drink from said machines.

Megumi looked up from his phone where Eiji had only replied with an 'okay.'

"No, they can't." Megumi replied as he pocketed his phone. "There are only so many workers allowed to come one the campus."

Nobara frowned though she supposed that made sense to her. It was annoying in her opinion, however.

"Was that Eiji you were just talking to?" Nobara asked. "Is she finally back?"

Megumi's brow quirked at the use of Eiji's first name since he didn't think Nobara liked the other girl much. Though he supposed after hearing Eiji's story, Nobara seemed to lose whatever ill-feelings she had towards the darker-haired girl.

"Yeah, she's back." Megumi replied and left it at that.
"Bet your relieved, huh?" Nobara continued getting Megumi to look at her with a quirked brow. "Since you're totally in love with her and all."

Megumi's brow twitched at Nobara's blunt came as he felt the vein in his forehead throb in annoyance. However, before he could retore, he stiffened when sensing two presences nearby. He turned his head seeing two people had joined him and Nobara by the vending machines. Nobara noticed them as well and frowned slightly.

"Zen'in Mai? I'm surprised to see you," Megumi said as he recognized the green-haired girl. "What are you doing here?"

It seemed odd to see Kyoto students here when there were still weeks between now and the exchange event.

"Oh, another one?" Nobara commented before Mai could reply to Megumi. "They do look alike. Are they sisters?"

"Yes, they're twins." Megumi replied.

"Don't call me a twin, Fushiguro," Mai chided with the smirk still on her face. "You make it sound as if Maki were my equal. You ought to just call me Mai."

She said this with a wink. A wink Megumi didn't respond to as he merely blinked in return. Nobara narrowed her eyes slightly, however, as this Mai girl was rubbing her the wrong way.

"So, these two are subs for Okkotsu and the third years," the muscular boy beside her spoke up. "I thought there was supposed to be a third one."

"There is," Mai said. "Akashi Eiji is also part of their year. And where is she, hmm? Off somewhere fixing that sickening smiling mask of hers?"

Megumi's hands curled into fists at Mai's comment as Nobara's face set in a glare. Mai ignored their looks as she gave them a mocking look of concern.

"We came along with the principal because we were worried about you." Mai continued. "Your classmate died, we heard. Was that rough? Or did it not affect you much?"

Nobara was the one clenching her hands next as Mai really was asking for a beating, and Nobara wouldn't mind giving it to her.

"What are you trying to say?" Megumi demanded.

"Hey, it's alright," Mai said. "Some things are hard to admit out loud. So, let me say it for you. Calling him a vessel makes it sound nice, but the truth is, he was a half-cursed monster. Having that tainted inhuman being beside you, who was brazenly calling himself a jujutsu sorcerer, must have been revolting, right? So, are you feeling better now that he's dead?"

Megumi and Nobara both glared darkly at Mai. Their looks filled with enough hatred to strike the older student down. However, Mai just chuckled at their expressions. She looked as if she wanted to say more, but she was interrupted by the boy next to her.

"Mai, why do you always have to stir things up?" He asked as he stepped forward to address the first years himself. "I'm only here for one thing, to see if these guys are fit to take Okkotsu's place."

He said this while carelessly tossing his uniform jacket off to the side out of his way.

"That's all I wanna know." The boy continued.

Megumi narrowed his eyes at the guy while already able to tell he was strong.

"Fushiguro, was it?" The boy questioned. "…What kind of woman's your type?!"

At the unexpected question, Megumi and Nobara both stared at the guy in confusion. Both wondering just where he was going with his weird question.

"If I don't like your answer," the boy began as he ripped away his shirt. "I may beat you half to death right here. And after that, drag Okkotsu, or at least the third years out to the exchange event, suspended or not! Oh, and by the way, my type of woman is a tall one with a big, gorgeous ass."

He finished his little mini rant by taking a fighting stance as he waited for Megumi's reply. Said boy just continued to frown at the older teen in front of him while wondering what he did to deserve dealing with this foolishness.

"Why would I want to discuss my taste in women?" Megumi asked. "Especially with you, a guy I just met?"

"That's true," Nobara added in. "This guy is seriously antisocial."

She pointed at said guy who looked like he was over this entire conversation as his eye twitched in annoyance.

"You're not helping me," Megumi said. "Please don't talk, and make this any harder than it already is."

Nobara almost rolled her eyes at Megumi's irate tone as she lowered her hand back to her side.

"Kyoto third year, Todo Aoi." The boy introduced himself without missing a beat. "Introduction over. Now we're friends, so hurry up and answer my question. If you prefer men, that's fine, too. A person's fetishes reveal everything about him. People with boring taste in women are boring people themselves. And there is nothing I hate more than a man I find boring. The exchange even is where my soul can be free. As the blood boils and the flesh classes, who know what I'll do, if my last exchange even ends up only boring me."

Megumi held in the deep sigh he wanted to give as he could really care less if Todo was bored or not. Nobara leaned towards Megumi as she put her hand next to her mouth as if to whisper to him.

"Last? Can't he compete as a fourth year, too?" She inquired.

"The event's just for third years and under." Megumi answered.

Nobara hummed in understanding as she turned her eyes back on the weird guy in front of them.

"I'm already cutting you too much slack by offering to beat you only half to death." Todo told Megumi. "Now, answer me, Fushiguro! What kind of woman is your type?"

"What is this? A comedy act?" Megumi questioned as he also took a fighting stance.

As the two boys glared at each other, Nobara took another look over at Mai. Noting how different her uniform was to hers.

"So, what's with your outfit?" Nobara questioned. "That your summer uniform? Weird but it's not bad."

Megumi glanced over at Nobara who seemed unbothered by the tense atmosphere. However, while he knew she was capable, he knew a fight wasn't ideal.

'Kugisaki's unarmed,' Megumi thought. 'We'll have to go along with this to avoid confrontation.'

Not only to keep Nobara safe, but also because Megumi didn't want to have to explain to the principal why he got into a fight. Moreover…

'If I get into a fight and Eiji shows up…well, it'd be even more of pain to explain to the principal why the Kyoto students are going home a bloody mess,' Megumi mentally huffed.

He knows the missions she was sent on was to help calm her down, but he also knows if she sees him and Nobara in trouble or even worse hurt, that any sense of calm she might have gathered while away…will go right out the window. He didn't want to put any more stress on her than there already is. He sighed softly as an image of her genuinely laughing and smiling came to the front of his mind.

"I don't…really have a type." Megumi finally replied to Todo. "As long as one's character is unshakable, there is nothing more I can ask for."

Nobara smiled at Megumi feeling a bit of respect towards her dark-haired classmate. Mai even seemed pleased by his answer as she grinned.

"That's not a bad answer," Nobara said. "If the rest of your personality wasn't such trash, I'd say Eiji is one lucky girl. Also, if you had said big boobs, I would have had to kill you."

"Shut up," Megumi growled.

As Nobara snorted at his annoyed expression, tears started to run down Todo's face. He let out a sob, which had Megumi and Nobara looking at him in confusion.

"I knew it," Todo cried. "You really are boring, Fushiguro."

Megumi frowned before his eyes widened when he sensed Todo about to attack. The larger male moved almost to fast to keep up with as Megumi barely had time to raise his arms to protect himself against Todo's attack. Todo's arm hit Megumi around the neck with enough force to send the younger boy off his feet. He hit the ground while crying out in pain.

"Fushiguro!" Nobara called out in concern.

She went to help the boy, but she was stopped when Mai wrapped her arms around her. Nobara looked over her shoulder at the older girl who smirked.

"Oh well, there goes poor Fushiguro." Mai hummed. "Even a talented second grade jujutsu sorcerer is nothing more than a first year when he's up against the top-grade Todo Aoi. I'll have to go and comfort him later, hmm?"

Nobara frowned at the girl as she turned her eyes back forward and away from Mai.

"I thought you and Maki were identical, but you're not." Nobara said. "Maki is 100 times prettier than you are…Also, a word of advice, I wouldn't try to get all cute with Fushiguro. He's spoken for even if he denies it."

Mai glared at Nobara for her comments as her arms tightened around the girl. She then scoffed.

"Spoken for?" Mai questioned. "By whom? That freak Akashi? Who'd want to date someone who always wear's such a twisted expression on their face? It's ugly."

Nobara's hands clenched into fists, but she kept her expression neutral as she sighed.

"Jealous really isn't a good look for you," Nobara said. "Eiji is way better than you'll ever be. Looks and personality wise. I almost feel bad for you…must be hard never being even half as pretty as the other girls around you."

Mai, who was having enough of Nobara's mouthy personality, growled as she grew her weapon.

"Maybe I should teach you," Mai began then placed her gun against Nobara's side. "How to speak to others."

As Nobara was dealing with Mai, Megumi managed to push himself into a crouched position, so he could face Todo.

"I knew it as soon as I saw you, Fushiguro." Todo, who was still crying, said as he walked towards the boy. "I could tell you'd turn out to be a boring guy. But then you should never judge a person just by their looks. Isn't that right? So, I went out of my way to ask you the question, but you just trampled on my kindness."

Despite feeling like he was just hit by a train, Megumi frowned at Todo while wondering just what was wrong in this guy's head.

"Your head looks like a pineapple, and you're about as smart as one too," Megumi pointed out.

His frowned then deepened when he suddenly realized that Todo's name was familiar to him.

'Wait, Todo? That Todo?' Megumi wondered. 'The one who defended against last year's unprecedented jujutsu terror attack by the curse user Geto, during the night parade of 100 demons. And when the parade came to Kyoto, he exorcised a special-grade and five first-grade cursed spirits by himself. That Todo?'

He couldn't believe his horrible luck. He knew Todo was strong before he even attacked. He just didn't realize exactly who he was dealing with until now, however.

'Still there are some first-grade sorcerers capable of beating a special-grade. What's shocking is…' Megumi's thoughts trailed off, so he could finish his train of thought out loud. "I heard you don't use cursed techniques."

"Huh? Oh, no, that rumor is false." Todo said with a wave of his hand. "I did against the special grade."

Megumi frowned once again as Todo spoke so nonchalantly. Regardless, that Todo only seemed to use cursed techniques on special-grade curses, Megumi felt a bit better knowing the rumor was somewhat false.

"That's good to know." Megumi said than brought his hands together to look like wings. "Nue…plus Gama."

He formed a circle with his hands next as shadows appeared around him and took the form of frogs with wings. Multiple of said winged frogs clung to Megumi as he held out hi hands ready for a fight.

"Bottomless well." Megumi finished.

The frogs croaked at Todo, who cracked his neck, as Megumi waited to see what the older sorcerer would do.

'I'm up against a hard-core, close-range fighter,' Megumi thought to himself. 'I'll keep my distance and restrain him.'

Though before Megumi could do anything, Todo moved in and easily dealt with Megumi's shikigami.

'He's fast!' Megumi thought as he whirled around. 'So, he wasn't at full speed earlier.'

He then grunted when Todo wrapped his arms tightly around Megumi's torso.

"You're flimsy and shallow. Both your body and your taste in women!" Todo said as he picked Megumi up.

He then slammed Megumi into the ground however his shoulders. The impact was so hard, Megumi's head started bleeding profusely due to injury. Todo then jumped high into the air over Megumi while pulling his fist back. He came down swinging, but Megumi managed to dodge at the last second as Todo slammed into the ground. However, soon he was at the mercy of Todo's fists as he couldn't defend or dodge against the onslaught of attacks.

'Dammit it! His power is insane!' Megumi thought as the constant hits to the head caused more blood to fall into his eyes.

He then grunted when Todo grabbed the entire front of his face in one hand. Todo gave a shout as he slammed Megumi into the building behind them causing the wood to splinter.

"Just wait, I'm not finished with you!" Todo warned Megumi.

He then launched himself forward with enough force to send him and Megumi several stories up into the structure Todo had slammed Megumi into. Once they broke through into the top room, Todo let go of Megumi who flew a few more feet into the air.

"You're always just so boring!" Todo told Megumi.

He went to punch Megumi in the face once again, but a long tongue wrapped around Todo's arm. He gasped as more tongues wrapped around his limbs. He looked down seeing those frogs of Megumi had followed them and were now trying to restrain him. He managed to free his legs allowing him to land on the ground with ease.

"Are you even trying to fight?" Todo questioned as he broke his arms free next.

Megumi scoffed as he pushed himself into a crouched position. Despite all the blood running down his face, he was calm.

"You're acting so proud, but I've been holding back." Megumi said as he opened his eyes to glare at Todo. "Fine then, if you insist then I'll show you."

Todo's eyes widened as something about Megumi seemed to change right then. The older male then grinned while feeling his blood start to boil in excitement.

"Okay, bring it!" Todo said in excitement as he charged towards Megumi.

However, before he could even touch Megumi a fish covered in dark red cursed energy slammed into his nose. He went sailing backwards hitting the wooden porch beneath him causing it to splinter. Megumi's eyes widened as he looked at the one who showed up to stop Todo. Said boy was also sitting up to see who managed to throw him back like that.

"What the hell…is going on here?" Eiji asked with a wide smile.

Her teeth were on full display as she stared at Todo with a dangerous gleam in her eyes. Todo, who had blood running down his chin due to his broken nose, regarded the tiny female as she tilted her head at him in return.

"I don't know who you are, which means you aren't from around here," Eiji said as she started walking forward as her smile widened to the point that it looked painful. "So, let me clue you in on something, you pineapple-headed ape. Anyone who's dumb enough to mess with any of my friends—but especially Megumi—will find themselves six feet deep. But since you didn't know that I'll settle with breaking every bone in your body. Sound fair?"

Coco: Uh-oh, Todo has made Eiji mad ~ I wonder if it'll come to blows before the upperclassmen come to intervene. I'm excited to find out, aren't you?

Well, my dear friends, that's the end of this chapter. As always, until we meet again, remember to keep being your awesome selves and stay safe out there!