Mai: "No, this idiot was just about to leave."

(y/n): "Is that right? Well... Get going."

Naoya: "I was but... Now that you're here, plus, you don't order me around."

Mai: "Tch. Just leave already!"

Naoya: "Quiet, woman."

(y/n)'s grip tightened on his shoulder, making Naoya slightly bend.

(y/n): "You don't talk like that to Mai, you heard?"

Mai: "Just leave."

Naoya turned to face (y/n) and pushed him with his hand, making him go some steps back and freeing his shoulder.

(y/n): "Hm?"

Naoya: "Let's test those eyes, shall we?"

Mai: "Oi!"

Naoya lept at (y/n), the latter didn't move an inch and just pointed at the sky with his left hand. Making Naoya look up in the direction he was pointing, but just as he did, he was met by a powerful right hook that sent him rolling.

(y/n): "Y-you... You really fell for that?! HAHAHAHAHA. YOU'RE A FOOL!"

Naoya's blood boiled, he only wasn't fooled, but he was fooled by (y/n).

Naoya: "y-you... You!"

He leaped at him again, but now with twice the speed, surprising Mai, which was now starting to worry for (y/n).

Naoya used his ability 'projection sorcery' a technique inherited by the Zen'in clan, which lets the user turn one second into 24 frames and trace a predetermined set of movements using his field of view as the angle view. While using his technique, anything that he touches with his palms must abide by the 24 fps rule or they are frozen one second inside an animated frame.

But there's one slight problem, the technique involves a pre-determined set of movements, the user cannot change the action once started, and if the trajectory of movements or the laws of physics is ignored excessively, the user will freeze as well.

It shouldn't be a problem for someone as experienced as Naoya, but the problem comes with (y/n)'s unpredictability, maybe it's his strength, intelligence, or mere stupidity, but he's an unpredictable individual, a somewhat perfect counter for the technique.

Naoya, having already set his movements was halfway through them when (y/n) made his move.

(y/n):

Sending Naoya away, (y/n) disappeared and appeared in front of him, hitting his stomach with his index and middle finger, making Naoya kneel.

(y/n): "Pretty weak if I say so myself."

Naoya: "Tch."

(y/n): "Now you guys, get him out of here."

He said to some assistants that were nearby, too afraid to come close to the fight between the two.

The assistants hesitantly took Naoya away, while (y/n) and Mai just looked at them, the latter was in somewhat shock, she didn't know he would be capable of defeating Naoya, a special grade 1 sorcerer.

Mai: "W-wow."

(y/n): "Wow what?"

Mai: "You just beat... Naoya..."

(y/n): "Oh, it's nothing. I wasn't in the mood for a fight so."

Mai stayed silent for a few seconds, deeply thinking about a question to ask (y/n).

Mai: "W-would you mind... You know..."

(y/n): "Hm?"

Mai: "Y-You know what im trying to say!"

(y/n): "I really don't."

Mai: "You do!"

(y/n): "Mai... Are you asking about that?"

Mai: "So you did know!"

(y/n): "Of course! Let's obliterate the Zen'in clan!"

Mai: "Yeah... Wait what?"

(y/n): "That's what you were trying to say, right?"

Mai: "What?! No! I was trying to ask you to train me!"

(y/n): "Ooooh so that's what you were trying to say... I mean, sure I could."

Mai: "Tch."

(y/n): "But we'll have to do it later. Although my previous offer still stands."

Mai: "As much as I would like it you wouldn't be able to do it."

(y/n): "You underestimate me. I can surely say I could wipe off the existence of every jujutsu clan in the world!"

Mai: "Yeah right, keep saying that to yourself."

(y/n): "I really do! In fact, I have already one on the list! or at least 99.555...%"

Mai: "Oh really? What clan was it then?"

(y/n): "I can't tell~"

Mai: "Just as I thought, loser."

(y/n): "Hey! That's no way of treating your new sensei!"

Mai: "You wish."

(y/n): "Hmm..."

Before any of the two could talk, Utahime approached them.

Utahime: "(y/n)-san, Mai-san."

(y/n); "Hm?"

Utahime: "You've been assigned to a mission, the principal would've called you but I was already here so."

Mai: "Right, what is the mission about?"

Utahime: "Some unknown grade curses have been spotted in Kamagasaki, Osaka. It's not very strange to find them there, and you shouldn't worry about the curses, although they're ungraded they're suspected to be from semi-grade 2 to below."

(y/n): "It'll be easy then."

Mai: "Hm."

Utahime: "Alright then, get moving and come back when you're finished."

(y/n): "Let's go then!"

He grabbed Mai's wrist and began to walk to the entrance of the school.

Mai: "What are you- Let me go!"

(y/n): "We cannot waste any more time, Mai. If you want to destroy the Zen'in clan in the future we have to fight all the fights we can!"

Mai: "That was your idea!"

(y/n): "An idea we'll both accomplish!"

Mai: "Why do I have to get involved in your suicide plan?!"

(y/n): "We'll be fine! We have the trump card with us!"

Mei: "Oh yeah? What is it then?"

(y/n): "Me!"

Mei: "You really get tiring sometimes."

(y/n): "Hey..."

Mai released her wrist from (y/n)'s grip, slowing down. (y/n) soon did the same.

Mai: "Why instead of thinking of yourself, have someone take us there instead of running all the way?"

(y/n): "Maybe you're right, no cardio."

Mai: "Hm."

In fact, they did have a designated driver, but since (y/n) ran away with Mai, Utahime couldn't tell them. The assistant was waiting for them at the gate, and had spotted both of them and walked to the duo, calling them over.

Getting in the car, the ride was silent, and both of the sorcerers looked out of the windows. Only interrupted when the assistant spoke to them to describe the mission. Which they kind of paid little to no attention, (y/n) had fallen asleep and Mai was submerged in her own thoughts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The car stopped some streets before their destination, so they had to walk the rest of the trip.

Mai: "This place looks like shit."

(y/n): "Yeah, tell me about it."

Mai: "Hm... Wait."

(y/n): "Heh."

Mai: "Funny."

They walked past people who looked at them like they were weirdos, especially at (y/n). Mai was disgusted by some of the looks while (y/n) didn't care because he couldn't see them.

They kept forward until the lights on the street they were walking by began to turn off, one after another until the streets were dark, leaving them with no vision. 

Mai: "Huh?!"

(y/n): "What?"

The lights turned on again, but they weren't on the streets anymore, they found themselves in what seemed to be infinite self-storage rooms.

(y/n): "The surroundings seem to have changed."

Mai: "Oh yeah? I didn't know."

(y/n): "Bully."

Mai: "Whatever, let's just find the curse and get out of here."

(y/n): "Sure... but... it's... everywhere."

(y/n)'s vision had turned red and blue, and couldn't pinpoint exactly where the curse was, but what he could do is 'see' his core, the only problem was that it was very far away, so it wasn't going to be an easy task.

Mai: "What do you mean it's everywhere? Is your vision falling you?"

(y/n): "Very funny. But it is everywhere! The core is at the end of the hall, although it's not gonna be an easy thing to get to."

Mai: "Hmm. I'll shoot it from here."

She got her revolver out, but as soon as she aimed at what she guessed was the location of the core, multiple arms appeared from within the storage doors, stretching in Mai's direction.

(y/n):

They were all obliterated.

(y/n): "Let's make a run for it!"

(y/n) started sprinting as Mai attempted to follow, but soon, many more arms emerged from the doors, overpowering her who couldn't destroy them with her revolver.

Mai: "I could use some help over here!"

(y/n) instantly stopped and turned around, bringing his arms forward ready to clap his hands, but just as he was about to, multiple arms grabbed him from his shoulders, forearm, and wrists, just as the rest of his body, prevented him from further movement.

(y/n): "How annoying,"

But then, two arms placed their hands on the bandages where his eyes were, these arms were immediately incinerated in purple flames, and the rest of the arms holding his body followed.

(y/n) taking the chance of this, finished clapping his hands, sending a wave of cursed energy towards Mai, burning the arms but leaving her untouched.

Mai: "H-hey! That could've burned me!"

(y/n): "Eh? But you're fine! I only burned the arms."

Mai: "But how didn't I get burned?"

(y/n): "Let's just say that the curse cursed energy and mine don't go well. Causing the fire."

Mai: "But what about mine?"

(y/n): "It seems that It matches just fine. Maybe we're meant to be, Mai."

Mai had the slightest blush but went unnoticed. (y/n) ran back to her and stood by her side, watching as the corridor was surrounded by arms.

(y/n): "Alright so... We need to get over there, BUT, those silly arms are on the way, and they seem to appear quicker than I can destroy them for you, so I kindly suggest that you stay here and I'll do the hard work, got it?"

Mai: "That's not going to happen, I'm not just gonna sit and watch as your pathetic ass gets toyed with like a rag doll."

(y/n): "Very funny. As far as I remember, I had to come back to help you out."

Mai: "Tch."

(y/n): "Let's not let that bother us right now, we have a more important matter."

(y/n) 'watched' the scene as he was coming up with the most elaborate plan he could think of, it was simple yet efficient, and it can be summed up in two words and a connector, 'Spray and Pray'.

The plan as mentioned, was simple, extremely simple, it was based on (y/n) running and using his 'bang' ability to obliterate anything on his path until he reached the core of the domain.

Mai: "So? What are we gonna do?"

(y/n): "Let's run and eliminate everything in our path."

Mai: "Easy enough for you to say."

(y/n): "That's why I'm telling you to stay here."

Mai: "No."

(y/n): "Well then, hop on my back."

Mai: "What?!"

(y/n): "Hop on my back, if you're trying to do something, then you be on my back and cover my blind spots."

Mai: "Cover your blind spots, basically watch everything."

(y/n): "I'm not blind!"

Mai: "Yeah, yeah."

(y/n): "Just hop on my back or I'll leave you here."

Mai: "Tch."

(y/n) kneeled so Mai could get on his back, and although she seemed hesitant, strangely, she wanted to for some unknown reason.

(y/n): "Now hold on tight, it's gonna be a quick and bumpy ride."

Mai: "You better be careful if I fall you're falling with me."

(y/n) begn to sprint at the end of the hallway, blasting every arm that came along the way, the recoil causing Mai's hair to be blown by the wind, Mai was in charge of shooting the arms that were behind (y/n)'s 'blind spots' not really blind spots since he doesn't have none, but more accurately, his right arm which he as using to shoot since he had the left holding Mai, wasn't able to go aim to his back.

But as they kept running figures began to appear from the storage doors, varying from shapes and sizes, but they had a strange aura, and even more strange, it alerted (y/n), which abruptly stopped, and the arms stopped appearing, only the humanoid figures being on the halls.

Mai: "Why you stopped?"

But he kept silent for a few moments.

(y/n): "It seems like we have to focus, although It can seem impossible, I'll have to ask you my dear Mai to take your eyes off me."

Mai: "Screw you."