After finishing their meal, Hanyu Gen followed Iori Utahime toward the training grounds that afternoon. As a healer, Iori Utahime naturally did not participate in the combat.
She went primarily to ensure that things did not get out of hand and that no one was seriously injured while they fought. Of course, she was also there simply to watch the spectacle.
The joint sparring session between the second and third-year students consisted of a mix-and-match melee. Judging from the setup on the spectator stands, Satoru Gojo and Utahime were paired together, as Satoru had already begun taunting her.
The jujutsu high school training ground was very spacious, and the upper management did not skimp on funding for things like this.
Hanyu Gen and Iori Utahime stood beneath the shade of the trees, watching the high school students do their warm-up exercises, looking thoroughly prepared to put on a great display.
However, there were only four students in total: Utahime, Meimei, Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto. The student body at the high school was remarkably small, and with numerous casualties every year, very few people remained.
Seeing Hanyu Gen and Iori Utahime arrive, Utahime and Meimei walked over together. “Hanyu-sensei, why did you come over?”
Hanyu Gen gestured toward Satoru Gojo in the distance. “Student Gojo invited me to watch your training, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what Student Utahime and Student Meimei can do.”
“No… Gojo and the others are much stronger. I don’t have anything worth looking forward to,” Utahime said with some embarrassment, blushing slightly as she spoke the honest truth.
She actually knew that her talent as a jujutsu sorcerer was mediocre, and when compared to her three younger peers, she looked especially unremarkable.
This was why, even though Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto frequently teased her as being weak, she could only retort by pointing out that she was their senior. Utahime simply lacked the confidence.
Hanyu Gen was well aware of this. The energy radiating from them was vastly different, and the disparity in their strength was glaringly obvious.
“But what does that matter?”
Hanyu Gen offered a reassuring smile, his voice gentle yet his gaze earnest as he said, “Even if your strength does not surpass that of Student Gojo and the others, you have always worked hard to protect us. Is there really anything to be embarrassed about?”
“I remember Student Utahime’s technique is related to singing, right? Your singing in class was wonderful, and I am very much looking forward to seeing you use your technique.”
Having never been looked forward to in such a manner, Utahime’s eyes filled with emotion. “Thank you, Teacher. I will definitely do my best!”
Meimei had been listening to their conversation all along. Once Utahime walked away to make her preparations, Meimei looked at Hanyu Gen with an unfathomable expression. “I remember the teacher studied psychology, right?”
Knowing what she meant, Hanyu Gen calmly nodded. “That is correct. Student Utahime has far too little confidence when facing Student Gojo. Although she will still give it her all, losing confidence will inevitably weaken her strength and prevent her from performing at her true capability.”
He glanced toward Utahime, whose fighting spirit had clearly been ignited on the training ground. “This way, even if she fails, she will at least be able to discover where her limits lie.”
“Besides, I was neither lying nor exaggerating. Striving constantly to protect ordinary people is truly admirable, isn’t it?”
After hearing his explanation, Meimei’s expression softened considerably. Initially, she had assumed Hanyu Gen said those things merely to win people over. But now, it appeared he had acted out of genuine sincerity.
“Student Meimei, do you not need to prepare?” Hanyu Gen suddenly asked.
Meimei shook her head. “My match is next, against Suguru.”
At that moment, Iori Utahime walked over carrying several cans of soda. Reaching them, she held out a hand. “What flavors do you want?”
Hanyu Gen remained silent until Meimei took a can of grape flavor, after which he casually picked the most abundant flavor available: green apple.
Iori Utahime placed the remaining cans on the grass and joined them to watch the match on the training ground. Satoru Gojo and Iori Utahime had already begun.
After watching for a moment, Iori Utahime remarked with surprise, “Today, Senior Utahime seems to be in much better shape than usual.”
Although she did not fight, she understood quite a bit from observation. She could easily tell that Utahime’s condition today was exceptionally good.
Naturally, despite this, Utahime was still beaten down by Satoru Gojo within a few moves. Satoru Gojo immediately broke out his classic taunting routine: “Utahime, you’re so weak! You were defeated so easily, I haven’t even warmed up yet!”
Utahime glared fiercely at him before walking off the training ground. Meimei headed toward the field, and Iori Utahime stood up to heal her using her technique.
While receiving treatment, Utahime apologetically spoke to Hanyu Gen. “I’m sorry, Teacher, I let you down.”
“Why would I be disappointed?” Hanyu Gen made a puzzled expression. “On the contrary, I think you were wonderful, Utahime.”
Utahime looked somewhat discouraged. “I was defeated so quickly, what is wonderful about that?”
Although she knew she was far inferior to Satoru Gojo, being defeated so easily every time still inevitably brought a sense of loss.
Iori Utahime patted her shoulder comfortingly. “Why compare yourself to those two monsters? You’re already doing great.”
“Indeed, you cannot compare to them,” Hanyu Gen agreed firmly.
Facing their surprised gazes, he smiled. “Does that not make your perseverance even more commendable? You must remember, not everyone possesses the courage to stand up against individuals far stronger than themselves.”
Iori Utahime instantly grasped Hanyu Gen’s intent and chimed in to praise her. “That’s right! If it were me, I probably would have given up long ago.”
Working together, their encouragement finally brought a smile back to Utahime’s face, making her much happier. “No, it’s nothing like that, it’s just sparring.”
At that moment, Satoru Gojo walked down from the field. Hearing Hanyu Gen’s words of comfort, he said smugly, “I won.”
“Oh,” Hanyu Gen responded casually, turning back to continue his conversation.
Iori Utahime and Utahime exchanged glances. Although they did not know what Hanyu Gen was trying to accomplish, they decided to stay quiet and watch the teacher perform.
Seeing this attitude, Satoru Gojo gritted his teeth and emphasized it again. “I WON!”
“That’s wonderful, simply wonderful,” Hanyu Gen said in a flat, reading-from-a-script tone, before turning right back around to talk.
The white-haired cat finally grew angry. Cats throw tantrums when they are upset: “I was the one who won! Why are you only praising her and not me?”
Knowing that pushing someone too far was unwise, Hanyu Gen appropriately reined it in. “I praised Student Utahime not because of victory or defeat, but because I wanted to make her happy.”
Now all three of them understood why Hanyu Gen had acted that way. Utahime felt a slight touch of emotion and tugged at Hanyu Gen’s sleeve, signaling that he did not need to go that far.
Hanyu Gen continued, “Imagine this scenario: Student Gojo, you queue up to buy a limited-edition Kikufuku. Then the person in front of you not only buys the very last box, but turns around to gloat and mock you for arriving late and deserving to go without. If you experienced something like that, Student Gojo, we would praise and comfort you just the same.”
“Your expression looks quite terrifying, Student Gojo.”
Satoru Gojo easily immersed himself in the scenario, looking thoroughly exasperated. “Then I would definitely make him taste the power of Hollow Purple!”
“What if he didn’t mock you, and simply left after purchasing his items?” Hanyu Gen asked.
Thinking over the scenario, Satoru Gojo felt his anger subside slightly. “Then I suppose I would just feel disappointed and go buy out the entire shop.”
Hanyu Gen: “……”
That felt slightly subtle.
He looked calmly at Satoru Gojo. “So in truth, Student Gojo also believes that defeating others is impressive, but gloating afterward is somewhat lacking in grace, isn’t it?”
If Hanyu Gen had said this directly to him, Satoru Gojo likely would have felt lectured and grown angry. But with the two previous examples laying the groundwork, he unexpectedly felt that perhaps he had indeed gone a bit too far earlier.
“But I still won…” Satoru Gojo muttered softly before clearing his throat. “Fine. From now on, I’ll stick to ordinary mocking, and won’t gloat after defeating you all, alright?”
This guy really was still as punchable as ever! Although they thought this, Utahime and Iori Utahime could not help themselves and burst into laughter.
Satoru Gojo glared at Hanyu Gen. “Even so, just thinking about that example you gave makes me so angry! I don’t care, you have to treat me to dessert after school today!”
In a sense, this was his way of asking to be coaxed. Hanyu Gen smoothly appeased the white-haired cat. “Alright, how about the place we went to last time? I’ll bring some for you next Monday.”
Only then did Satoru Gojo contentedly shut his mouth, causing Utahime and Iori Utahime to laugh once more.
For the first time, Iori Utahime felt that Satoru Gojo might not be quite so detestable after all. But above all, Hanyu-sensei was simply too gentle! He could accept such unreasonable demands from these troublemaking students.
“What are you all laughing at?” Suguru Geto and Meimei had finished their match, which predictably ended in a crushing victory for Suguru.
Satoru Gojo hooked his arm around Suguru Geto’s neck, ignoring the context and proudly boasting, “Hanyu-sensei is inviting me out to eat, and you’re not getting any!”
Hearing this, Suguru Geto twitched the corner of his mouth. Why on earth was he coming over to brag about this? It was like watching someone compete for affection, as if implying that if he asked, Hanyu-sensei wouldn’t treat him as well.
Thinking along those lines, Suguru Geto could not help casting an eager, hopeful look toward Hanyu Gen.
Hanyu Gen sighed with an amused smile and proactively asked, “What would Student Geto like to eat? I’ll buy some for you next week as well.”
Suguru Geto smiled with a reserved air. “The coffee cookies from last time will do.”
He then glanced sideways at his bickering best friend, his expression holding a subtle hint of provocation.
Since Satoru Geto understood his best friend so well, how could he possibly miss that subtle provocation? He sneered, “Geto, it’s been a while since we had a spar, hasn’t it?”
Heaven is witness, they had sparred just yesterday!
However, neither of them cared about such trivial details, and they stepped onto the training ground together wearing matching fake smiles.
Hanyu Gen shrugged. “Then I will take my leave. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.”
“Goodbye, Teacher!”
Twenty minutes later, the two exhausted high school boys lay side by side on the training ground. Suguru Geto suddenly recalled something. “Hey, didn’t you invite the teacher here earlier just to provoke him?”
Satoru Gojo’s body stiffened for a moment. “…Next time, we’ll talk about it next time.”