"Ming is a newcomer at the high school," Shoko explained.
"Oh? What's this underclassman like? I hope he's nothing like Satoru Gojo," Utahime remarked.
"Well..." Thinking of Ming's personality, Shoko's eye twitched slightly, but remembering the power he had gifted her, she said, "He's actually not bad."
"Enough chatter. They're here," Masamichi Yaga said sternly.
"Sensei, can you give me a cursed tool?" Shoko asked. Yaga didn't think twice; having a weapon would help her protect herself when he wasn't looking, so he handed one to both Shoko and Utahime.
To his surprise, Shoko took the weapon and immediately charged toward the Curses, swinging the blade.
"Come back, Shoko!" Yaga shouted. Shoko, feeling the power still active in her eyes, didn't pay him any mind.
A Cursed Spirit swung its massive arm at her, but as expected, the limb passed right through her body.
"Whoa! Is this what it feels like to be Ming? You can't be hit even if you just stand there... this is awesome!" Shoko said happily.
No wonder Satoru and Ming are so arrogant, she thought.
About five minutes passed. Shoko suddenly felt a shift; she realized the power in her eyes had faded.
"Help! Sensei!" Shoko cried out.
"Damn it!" Yaga's face went pale. Shoko had run straight into the center of the swarm.
Shoko immediately began circulating Reverse Cursed Technique, hoping to at least stay alive if she was hit.
Just then, a vortex appeared in the sky, and three figures emerged.
"What a pain. Shoko, you idiot," Ming muttered, looking down at Shoko who had run out of ocular power.
Satoru Gojo didn't waste a word. He used Blue to generate an attractive force, pulling Shoko up into the air toward them.
Yaga looked up; he knew exactly who had arrived.
Halfway through her "flight," a winged Cursed Spirit lunged at Shoko.
"Seriously, what a hassle," Suguru Geto sighed. A spirit manifested behind him and instantly devoured the attacker. Shoko, seeing the familiar spirits, knew exactly who was there.
"Hey, Shoko. Don't do something so stupid next time. It's dangerous," Ming appeared beside her with a dark expression, tucking her under his arm.
Seeing Ming take care of Shoko, Satoru Gojo landed beside Masamichi Yaga with Suguru Geto.
"My, my. You're looking quite pathetic, Utahime. You weren't crying, were you?" Gojo's mocking voice rang out.
Utahime, who had been worried sick about Shoko, felt her anger flare instinctively at the sound of that voice. "You bastard! Can't you show a little respect to your senior? You're the worst!" she roared.
Kusakabe stood there, completely dazed. What is happening? One moment he was terrified for the girl's safety, then she was flying, then giant spirits appeared to protect her, then a man appeared out of thin air to grab her, and now two more guys had suddenly appeared next to him.
"Satoru, shut up. Don't bully the weak," Suguru Geto said mildly.
Utahime froze. She immediately categorized Geto as being exactly like that scum Gojo.
"Waaaah! You lied to me, Shoko! This one is trash too!" Utahime wailed, clearly mistaking Geto for Ming.
"Both of you, be quiet! Focus on the situation at hand," Yaga commanded.
"Oh, alright. You want to do it, or should I, Suguru?" Gojo asked, no longer teasing Utahime.
"No need for that. Look over there. It seems Ming is about to handle it; we don't need to lift a finger," Geto pointed toward Ming and Shoko.
Utahime looked at the handsome boy holding Shoko. I was wrong. He's very handsome, similar to Gojo, but he looks like a much warmer person, she thought, nodding to herself.
Kusakabe was confused again. Why were these people acting like they were on vacation instead of in a swarm of spirits?
"Um... excuse me," Kusakabe raised his hand.
"Yes? Do you have something to say, sir?" Geto asked with a gentle smile.
"I think it would be safer if we all attacked together," Kusakabe suggested.
"No need. Ming will handle it. It'll be over soon," Geto said smoothly. "Besides, if we go in to help, it would actually be quite dangerous for us."
Yaga nodded. He knew that if Amaterasu was involved, getting too close was a death sentence.
"Susanoo!"
A massive, translucent blue giant erupted into the field. Ming stood within the giant's torso, still holding Shoko.
"Amaterasu: Kagutsuchi!"
A massive bow and arrow—the Ame-no-Makakogumi—manifested in the giant's hands. An arrow made of pitch-black flames was fired into the heart of the swarm. Like a plague, the black flames spread instantly, incinerating every spirit they touched.
Ming watched as the spirits were reduced to ash, then used his ocular power to extinguish the flames. He deactivated the Susanoo and landed in front of Yaga.
"How long are you going to keep holding me?" Shoko asked, sounding a bit embarrassed.
"Oh, right. Forgot," Ming said, realizing he was still holding her. He set her down. Shoko's face darkened—I'm a whole human being, how do you just "forget" you're carrying me?
Utahime and Kusakabe were completely stunned. They had been fighting for their lives, yet this boy had finished everything with a single move in less than a minute.
"Utahime, is your brain broken?" Gojo walked up to the stunned Utahime and poked her cheek.
The gesture snapped Utahime out of her shock, and she immediately went back to screaming at him.
"Well, it makes sense. Utahime is so weak, it's only natural she'd be shocked," Gojo said, his hands in his pockets, looking dismissive.
"Hey, Suguru, did you notice?" Ming whispered, sneaking over to Geto's side.
"Hmm? What? That Cursed Womb? It's basically a Special Grade now; it'll be one the moment it's born," Geto replied.
"Ugh." Ming looked at Geto as if he were an idiot.
"What's that look for, Ming? How rude," Geto said.
"I'm talking about Satoru. Don't you think he's acting a bit unusual around Utahime?" Ming said with a sly smile.
"Now that you mention it... yeah. Satoru's personality is trash, but he's being extra obnoxious toward her specifically," Geto noted, watching Utahime chase Gojo around.
"Bingo. It seems Satoru is quite interested in Utahime," Ming concluded.
"As expected of Ming. You certainly have a sharp eye for these things," Geto nodded.