JJK: Developing my potential

—[Tokyo Jujutsu High]—

Megumi would be lying if he said he wasn't at least slightly excited about the mission ahead. Up until now, his experience had been limited to group missions with Gojo, so the idea of working with someone else felt like a refreshing change.

Besides... in the anime, Mei Mei looked incredibly attractive. It was hard to ignore. Apparently, puberty hadn't only affected the girls.

As he stood before the imposing entrance of Tokyo Jujutsu High, he was greeted by Masamichi Yaga, who formally welcomed him and announced that he would escort him to the airstrip.

The interaction was brief and strictly professional. Due to their limited relationship, Yaga maintained a cold, courteous demeanor, treating him with the same distance he likely reserved for the higher-ups.

As they walked through the quiet halls toward their destination, Megumi decided to lighten the atmosphere.

"I didn't know the school had an airstrip. It's nice to see those old geezers finally spending some of the money they hoard in their vaults."

Without altering his pace or tone, Yaga responded in his characteristic deep voice:

"Actually, it was Mei Mei who built it. According to her, it was to improve her efficiency in transportation during missions."

He paused briefly before adding:

"Her exact words were: 'Time is money.'"

Megumi chuckled lightly.

"Ha!, I should've guessed. Those stingy old men would never invest in something like this."

After this brief exchange, the two continued walking in silence until they reached the airstrip. There, Megumi was surprised to see a luxurious private jet surrounded by technicians conducting detailed inspections.

As they approached, a servant impeccably dressed and equipped with a discreet earpiece activated her communication device to inform Mei Mei, who was waiting inside the plane, of her guest's arrival. The servant then approached Megumi with flawless poise.

"Megumi-sama," she greeted with a polite bow. "Mei Mei-sama is expecting you inside the jet. Please follow me."

"Well, this is where I leave you," Yaga interjected, addressing the servant with a firm tone. "He's in your hands now."

"See you later, Director," Megumi said, raising his hand slightly before following the servant, who waited patiently at the base of the plane's stairs.

As he ascended, he couldn't help but notice the talismans affixed to the base of the jet's windows. "Anti-curse protection? Maybe they're meant to ward off something like Geto's dragon," he mused, his eyes scanning the details of the aircraft.

—[Inside the Private Jet]—

The interior of the jet only reinforced its air of luxury: pristine leather seats, dark wood finishes, and an atmosphere carefully curated for comfort. The servant led him toward the rear, stopping in front of a door.

"This way, please. Mei Mei-sama is waiting inside," she said, stepping aside with a slight bow.

Megumi stepped through the door, and there she was: Mei Mei, sitting elegantly in a wide leather seat, holding a glass of wine in one hand. Her silver hair gleamed under the soft lighting, and her expression exuded both serenity and confidence.

"Good afternoon, Megumi-kun," she greeted with a voice that was both soft and commanding. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Mei Mei, a grade-one sorcerer, and I'll be your partner for this mission. Please, make yourself comfortable."

Following her invitation, Megumi took a seat in a chair identical to hers, separated by a small, luxurious table.

"Although it seems you already know who I am, I'd like to formally introduce myself," Megumi said, settling into his seat. "I'm Megumi Zenin, special-grade sorcerer and heir to the Zenin clan. I look forward to working with you."

"Likewise," Mei Mei replied with a brief but genuine smile. Her expression quickly shifted to a more serious one as she leaned forward slightly.

"Megumi-kun, Gojo-san informed you about the mission details, correct?" she asked in a professional tone.

"Yes, somewhat," he replied calmly. "He didn't have much time, but he gave me the file, and I read it thoroughly."

"Please, tell me what you know about the mission. We've received new information in the past few hours that you might not be aware of," Mei Mei said. Her tone, a perfect blend of calm and subtle allure, seemed to naturally extend from her magnetic presence.

Megumi nodded, organizing the information from the files in his mind before speaking.

"Alright. According to the documents, two grade-one sorcerers were initially sent to Osaka to exorcise a supposed special-grade curse. Neither of them returned."

Mei Mei gave a slight nod, her sharp gaze fixed on him, absorbing every word without betraying a hint of emotion.

"After that loss, they sent a larger team: three grade-one sorcerers and one grade-two sorcerer. Only the latter returned... and he was in terrible condition. He was found with severe injuries and a dangerously high fever that left him in a coma, making it impossible to gather any information from him."

Mei Mei's expression remained unchanged, but Megumi noticed a faint glint in her eyes, as if she knew more about the situation than she let on.

"Based on the condition in which they found the grade-two sorcerer, it was suspected that the cursed technique of this entity had an infectious nature," he continued. "And with that risk confirmed, it was concluded that grade-one sorcerers weren't sufficient to handle it. So, they decided that a special-grade sorcerer needed to take on the case."

Megumi paused briefly.

"However, just as they were planning to send a special-grade sorcerer, they received a notification that complicated matters: their grandchildren, who were on an excursion in Nara Prefecture, had also fallen victim to the curse."

"Go on…" Mei Mei murmured, as if already anticipating the twist.

"The people who found them reported something strange," Megumi continued, furrowing his brow. "Next to their bodies, there was a message written in cursed energy: 'Thank you very much for the meal. I hope this gift inspires you to send more snacks soon.'"

A faint shimmer in Mei Mei's eyes betrayed her otherwise composed demeanor.

"In the face of this provocation, and considering that the curse seemed to be laying a trap, the council decided to send me and Gojo Satoru to ensure the mission's success."

Although he tried not to make it too obvious, a slight hint of pride crept into Megumi's voice as he said this.

"But then," he continued, his tone suggesting an unexpected development, "another problem arose unexpectedly: the sighting of Suguru Geto, a special-grade sorcerer sentenced to death, in Africa. The higher-ups decided to send Gojo to track him down, as no one knows him better than Gojo."

He paused, then looked at her directly.

"And that's why you were chosen as my new partner. From what I understand, you had already requested to join this mission."

Mei Mei smiled subtly, a smile that seemed to hide more than it revealed.

"That's correct," she replied, neither confirming nor denying anything else.

Megumi leaned back slightly in his seat, raising an eyebrow.

"So... is there something I don't know?"

Mei Mei narrowed her eyes, her expression as calm as ever but with a slight weight of gravity.

"Actually, yes," she admitted, briefly closing her eyes before speaking. "A few hours ago, the grade-two sorcerer from the second mission woke up from his coma."

Megumi's eyes widened slightly at her words. Of all the things he had expected, that wasn't on the list.

"And what happened?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.

"The first thing he did upon waking up was go into a frenzy," Mei Mei replied with an unsettling calm. "He attacked everyone nearby. Witnesses reported that, moments before he woke up, small structures resembling mushrooms began sprouting from his body."

Megumi let out a small sigh of disbelief.

"Mushrooms?"

"Exactly. The higher-ups concluded that the cursed technique of this entity is related to parasitic fungi. That's why they decided to name it Cordyceps."

The last word hung in the air, laden with a palpable unease.

"Damn… that's creepy," Megumi muttered, recalling a popular zombie video game he'd played in the past.

Mei Mei let out a short laugh, devoid of humor.

"I agree. And that's precisely why we need to act quickly."

The two exchanged a glance, the weight of the mission settling heavily between them, undeniable and clear.

After discussing some key points about the mission, silence settled in the cabin of the jet. Mei Mei and Megumi gazed out at the Japanese blue sky through the wide windows, watching the fluffy clouds drift by and the occasional bird soar across the horizon.

Both Mei Mei and Megumi appeared relaxed, enjoying the scenery and the calm before the storm that awaited them. But for Mei Mei, that outward calm was merely a facade.

Under the table, her left foot tapped lightly but steadily against the floor, betraying an anxiety she rarely showed.

Because, although she loved money and the efficiency it provided to protect her lifestyle, Mei Mei knew there were things far more valuable. Things that money couldn't guarantee—like the lives of the people she truly cared about.

There was something about the sorcerer world that had always unsettled her: how easily they accepted their mortality. "No sorcerer dies a dignified death" was a phrase they repeated among themselves almost with pride. But to Mei Mei, that resignation was nauseating.

When she entered the sorcery school, it was with the ambition to learn, grow, and master her abilities. However, it didn't take long for reality to strike: the world of sorcerers was rotten. Sorcerers risked their lives daily for wages that Mei Mei considered insulting, and it filled her with rage.

It was then she decided she would be different. She trained until her bones broke, pushing herself until her strength and abilities placed her above her peers. And with that power, she began to demand the payment she believed her life was worth. At first, they hesitated to accept her exorbitant demands, but her talent proved undeniable.

What had started as a form of protest eventually turned into an obsession. As her wealth grew, so did her ambition.

That greed, indirectly, had put her brother Ui Ui in danger. To strengthen her network of connections with the future higher-ups of sorcery, she had sent Ui Ui to spend time with the council elders' grandchildren. And now, because of the curse they were hunting, he was paying the price.

As the jet soared through the skies, her thoughts spiraled in a whirlwind of guilt and anxiety. But then, a calm voice snapped her out of her reverie.

"Mei Mei, can I ask you a question?" Megumi's voice broke the silence.

He had noticed Mei Mei's restless foot tapping under the table, that small tic betraying her usual composure. His intention was to help her relax—and maybe earn a few points with the fascinating sorcerer.

Hearing him, Mei Mei blinked, focusing her attention on him.

"Hm? Of course. What do you want to know?"

"Doesn't it bother you to be my partner for this mission?" Megumi asked, a mix of seriousness and curiosity in his tone. "I mean, I know that technically I'm a ten-year-old kid, and... it might be hard for someone to fully trust me."

Mei Mei tilted her head slightly, surprised by the question but with a faintly amused smile on her lips.

"I hadn't really thought about it," she replied, looking up at the ceiling as if searching for the right words. "But, if I'm honest, you don't seem like a ten-year-old."

Megumi raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Mei Mei's response.

"Oh, really?"

"Not at all. Your physique is more like that of a fifteen-year-old, and your maturity... Well, anyone who saw how you took charge of your clan during that competition years ago would know your mind is far beyond that of the average adult."

She paused, studying him with a calm gaze before continuing.

"Honestly, I don't mind being your partner. In fact, I feel lucky. With your incredible strength, I'm confident we can exorcise that curse quickly. Plus, you have resources, and it's obvious from how you've expanded your clan's influence that you're ambitious. And, if I'm being completely honest... you're not unpleasant to look at."

Megumi blinked, slightly surprised by the last comment.

"Well... you're pretty direct, Mei. Can I call you Mei?"

Mei Mei let out a soft, charming laugh.

"I wouldn't mind if you did."

Before the conversation could continue, the voice of the attendant came through the jet's speakers.

"Mei Mei-sama, we have arrived at our destination."

Mei Mei stretched in her seat with the same elegance that marked all her movements and turned her gaze to Megumi.

"You should get ready, Megumi-kun. That curse isn't going to exorcise itself."

Megumi stood up, stretching slightly before smiling with determination.

"You're right. Let's go hunt that curse!"

The jet began its descent, and both prepared to face the enemy that awaited them.

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A/N: If you find any error, please let me know so I can correct it.

A/N: It took me longer than I expected to publish a chapter, and I apologize for that. The reason is that I wasn't satisfied with the prelude to the intimate encounter between Mei Mei and Megumi. In the end, I'm not entirely happy with the result, but at least I managed to move forward. I'll be waiting for your opinions when I publish chapter 22.

A/N: If you want to see 5 chapters ahead on Webnovel, you can join my P@treon.

link: [email protected]/Wade69

Next chapter: MASSAGE