Don't Fuck with the White Mage (Jujutsu Kaisen - Utahime Iori SI Chapter 3)
Everything in the world has value. From objects to people, everything can provide a service for the right price.
That is something that Gojo Yumemi genuinely believe. Or rather what Mei Mei believe as she had come to call herself.
While she was not in any way exiled or kicked out from the Gojo Clan-at least from their perspective-Mei Mei does not think the same as them, nor hold any bond toward them, other than that of transactions.
The only member of the Gojo Clan that she "cares" for, in some sense of the word, is her little brother, Tsuisho, or Ui Ui as she had come to call him, and what he now identified himself as. And that because he was slowly becoming a human that can produce infinite value for her.
Ui Ui cares for her, listens to what she wants, follows her orders, is learning how protect her from danger, and more importantly how to escape danger with his preciously valuable Innate Technique. His Horizon Blink, a Spatial Transference Cursed Technique, once fully realized will be one of her most value treasures.
Originally, she enrolled to Kyoto Jujutsu High, to improve her development as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, and for the easy money of her mission. To look after Gojo Tanaka's life and see to his development as a Sorcerer remains steady.
Tanaka was the Clan's hope to act as some kind of deterrent to Gojo Satoru, and if worse comes to worse, in some imaginary way, act as his replacement. Yes, Tanaka's use of Limitless was noteworthy among the Clan, but it wasn't nothing in comparison to young Satoru.
Mei Mei expected three boring years, where she could at least improve her skills and build her contacts for potential future money-making use.
Then something unexpected happened.
Mei Mei found an unexpected treasure. A treasure who's value was easily in the billions given how rare those who can use Reverse Cursed Techniques were. And on her first mission no less, in her first year in Jujutsu High.
Iori Utahime. An unassuming girl from a minor clan, that she actually had to look up to be sure if that they were a Sorcerer Clan. That's how forgettable the Iori Clan were.
Yet there current progeny, Utahime, was definitely one of the geniuses of the current era.
Utahime was quite the entertaining subject to observe. The way she keeps working, her sheer focus and dedication to improving herself, was something Mei Mei found was worth investing in. To not extract a benefit right away, that was something she had only done for Ui Ui.
Well, it was not like her... Friendship? with Utahime didn't have it's benefits. Healing in every mission, in return for aiding Utahime grow stronger, thus making her more liable to survive, and continue providing her services to Mei Mei? That was such a steal. A super limited edition deal if you will.
Quite frankly, Mei Mei found herself spending more time looking after Utahime, than her primary target. Well, she did have her birds making sure Tanaka never got himself killed.
Friend. It was an odd concept. Not that Mei Mei didn't know what a friend was, but that such open-ended partnership, wasn't something she could imagine engaging in. The value of a friend was never stationary, and you never know when it might go into the negative and start costing you.
Friends just weren't a wise investment.
Allies. Work partners. Those were smart to have and use. If things don't work out you can discard them without a problem.
It's not like Mei Mei never advertised who she was, and what she was about. People either blinded themselves to who she was, or purposely misunderstood her, then were shocked later on when they were discarded, as their value was detrimental to her.
Utahime however took Mei Mei's words to heart. She never misunderstood or forgot who Mei Mei was. Something Mei Mei found tolerable and refreshing.
Yet even while seeing Mei Mei for who she was, Utahime didn't reject her.
Oh Utahime was definitely repulsed by her "bond" with Ui Ui, but she never bothered acting on it. Utahime just saw it as an aspect of the Jujutsu World and moved on. A surprisingly strong mindset for someone so... pure? Is that word to describe Utahime?
Mindset. How surprising that Utahime, whom Mei Mei thought was too goody-two-shoe would be able to see through the workings of the Jujutsu World that much. Their talk about the mentality of the strong was quite enlightening.
From it, Mei Mei been inspired to complete her Extension Technique, Bird Strike. And then she was able to go further and make another, Birdman.
Utahime was such a treasure.
The funniest thing was, Utahime doesn't seemed to realize her own talent. It never dawned on Utahime that her growth and progress is something rarely found in Jujutsu Sorcerer. Only those born once a generation, or more.
For that minor clan girl, learning Reverse Curse Technique, then learning an Extension Technique was just a natural progression. Going on to learn how to use a Domain was just "something Sorcerers are suppose to do, isn't it?".
Mei Mei had never laughed so wholeheartedly before.
Reverse Cursed Technique. Domain Expansion. These were things that would take decades or even lifetimes for Sorcerers to achieve. Most times they fail all together.
Utahime's standards for what a Jujutsu Sorcerer should be capable of were insane.
There were many benefits it seemed to hanging around Utahime. Mei Mei was even able to conceive her to use her healing power on some rich clientele Mei Mei was able to contact.
Payment was of course 50-50. Mei Mei found the clients and Utahime heals them. The Iori girl didn't seemed to mind, given that she wasn't that strung up for money.
...Mei Mei didn't understand the joke, but smiled and let Utahime carry on with her ways.
Utahime acted as a bored robot throughout the whole interaction. The Honda-san client from the Honda Conglomerate tried to ask for more than heal, or even to retain Utahime's services further, but Utahime herself who cut him off and left. Mei Mei blacklisted that one for trying to embezzle her, and so poorly at that.
"Mei Mei, from now on, if I'm going to deal with those types of annoying people, don't bring any contracts that pays any less than 10 million. For each of us."
That was something Mei Mei could respect if nothing else.
Then that mission with the Ubume Cursed Spirit happened, and everything changed.
Utahime was a novelty that only a select few knew about. Her ability to strengthen and heal Sorcerers was something that made her highly valuable already.
Then there was Utahime discovering the "true meaning" of her Cursed Technique, as she called it.
That was a Pandora's box that became on every Jujutsu higher-ups radar.
The ability to complete exorcise Curses of any kind was one hell of a Midas touch.
Now there will be much more interest in Mei Mei's stock known as Utahime. Should she sell soon or keep holding?
Technically Utahime wasn't a Midas just yet. After that battle, she wasn't able to use her Domain again, without needing hand signs and dancing. In her words, it was a "heat of the moment thing".
Yet the potential was still there, since her improvement with time was all but guaranteed, especially since now more resources by Jujutsu High will be available to her.
The Big Three Clans might even attempt to tie her to them.
Mei Mei felt this would require some work to keep her investment profitable and not fail due to outside meddling.
"Welp, it looks like we have survived and will be working together again for another year." Utahime said with a grin.
"I looked forward to another successfully rich year with you, Utahime." Mei Mei said with a smile.
"Seriously, what am I, your money printing machine?" She cried out.
"Fufufufu~." Mei Mei giggled.
"Tsk, don't get ahead of yourself, Healer. You're still just a Sorcerer from a minor clan. Shame that you can't repeat your miracle from Hakone Turnpike." Tanaka said with a huff and a smirk as he crossed his arm.
"Oh, did momma's boy finally have permission to speak?" Utahime said with a smile.
"You! How dare-"
"Haaa, man. It looked like Tanaka-sama doesn't want my healing. Then again Tanaka-sama doesn't need any healing. He has Limitless after all." Utahime gave the Gojo boy a pointed smile. "So clearly, Tanaka-sama doesn't need my help from now on, or... am I mistaken? After all, teammates should help each other, right?"
"..." Tanaka said nothing as he gritted his teeth, then turned and left.
Mei Mei giggled. She so did enjoy watching the entertainment of when Utahime dropped her 'polite, good girl' mask, and spoke her true feelings. It's fun that it was happening more often now.
