Pedophila is a real problem

POV Iori Utahime Ryoko Jikan's only friend

It was late, I didn't think I had been bickering with.. *psht* Ryoko-kun for so long. Maybe I had just a tiny, itsy bitsy, amount of fun with him.

Oh! I really loved when he thought he almost brought me to tears. Ryoko-kun really cares for his weak and fragile Iori-chan, huh?

So fragile he this if he leaves me I'll get blown over by the wind and die. Oh the humanity!

Smiling at the thought of Ryoko-kun's worry, I would normally be angry that someone would think me so weak. But, maybe Ryoko I would let Ryoko go just this once.

Perhaps a curse spirit would appear, inside MASTER TENGEN's barrier. And it would nearly kill me and then Ryoko-kun would appear to save his Iori-chan.

Laughing loudly to myself on my trek to the teacher dormitory, a sudden chill encompassed me. A gust of wind shoved me to the ground.

Coughing blood, I did a summer-salt backwards, narrowly avoiding a scythe from a large mantis creature.

Its large bulbous eyes locked unto mine, and suddenly I didn't feel so confident that Iori-chan would be safe on her walk home.

I planted a lot of red flags didn't I?

Staring directly at the manits curse, I watched jn shock as it began to speak. "Itahime Ori."

This… this was a high level curse. At least first grade, beyond my pay grade.

Well, let's attempt to wait for my knight in shining armor to arrive. This creature doesn't appear too smart, but how did it know my… 'name'?

The ominous feeling I was already feeling intensified by several magnitudes. Waiting for the curse to speak again, I didn't have to wait long.

"What is Ryoko Jikan's cursed technique?"

This curse knew about Ryoko? That wasn't good. His special grade status hadn't been announced, and it wasn't even assured yet.

I hadn't told principal Gakuganji the full extent of Ryoko's cursed technique. Only telling him it was a very effective healing ability. Allowing him to heal any wound that had happened within three hours if he could touch their body.

That was a support type technique, so the higher ups wouldn't be assured to give him special grade.

Why would I do this?

Well because-

A powerful gust of wind created by the manis slashing without ant cursed energy sent me crashing into the floor again. Spitting out more blood, I decided to stop thinking. Better answer this cursed spirits question.

"A healing technique-" I began.

"YOU ARE LYING!" The mantis shouted at me.

Fuck. "It's the tru-" I started to plead again.

"A little bit of pain brings out the TRUTH, for my cursed technique can discern lies from the truth." The mantis shouted at me before it charged at full velocity at me.

This speed!

Barely able to even perceive the monster, it was right in front of me before I knew it. Raising my arms to cover my body the exact moment its claw would have torn me a new one.

Instead of my ribcage being revealed, it was instead my left arm that was split in half. Directly down the middle till it reached my elbow, two long slices of flesh flailed aimlessly while spouting blood.

Even with my cursed energy enhanced block, even with the skills I had accumulated over my years of work, all it took was one swing from this curse and I was out for the count.

Pain engulfed the entirety of my being, my head becoming devoid of all thoughts not related to the pain coming from my arm.

Just as quick as my thoughts diverted, they reconsolidated. I wasn't going down without a fight, and telling this curse Ryoko's technique would only end in my instant demise.

This curse was inside master Tengen's barrier, so reinforcements should be on the way. At least, thats what I can hope for. But right now, all I could do is use the word game practice I had gotten from Ryoko to fuck it over.

"Ryoko's cursed technique is quite confusing, so I'm not sure if you could comprehend." I said gritting through the pain.

"Go on, Itahime. Or your legs will be missing next." The mantis curse urged me on. Dashing directly in front of me and slicing my clothing a little, an obvious threat.

"The name is Utahime Iori.(Iori Utahime in this universe)" I said, trying to buy more time.

The next thing I knew, all of my fingers were cut off. Even the ones on my flappy arm. The mantis curse began to screech at me more, "WHAT ARE ITS MECHANICS?!"

I was getting this fucker gooo.. ah, I'm feeling light headed. Damnit I should really learn reverse curse technique.

"It's mechanics?… Well, basically he could eradicate all mantises with enough curse energy." That wasn't a lie, if Ryoko could go back millions and billions of years he could kill the ancestors to modern day mantises.

The mantis looked like it was about to attack me before it realized what I said wasn't a lie. Only for it to attack again, taking my big toes for being vague with him before he went back to being roughly 3 meters away from me.

Jackass.

"HOW COULD HE DO SUCH A THING?!" The mantis looked positively terrified that Ryoko could exterminate all his brethren.

*PAT PAT PAT*

The blood loss was starting to overwhelm me, feeling the conciseness slip through my grasp, I felt someone catch me right as I fell to the floor.

Jumping away while carrying me in a bridal pose, was my knight in shining armor, like my red flag prophesied. Damnit Ryoko. Closing my eyes, I was suddenly jolted awake by the feeling I had felt so long ago.

Ryoko had saved my life, again. I was an expert at accumulating life debts wasn't I?

Looking up at Ryoko from his princess carry, I felt like I was indeed weak and fragile. While he was standing strong against this monster, I was cowering at the sight of it now and couldn't even see it move. While he apparently snatched me away from it in an act of foolish bravery.

He really did care for his Iori-chan. As unbelievable as it sounded, a rookie had snatched? Saved me from a probable special grade curse.

Standing back up on my own two feet, I saw the mantis scrape its claws together while Ryoko stood by my side.

"Um, you forgot your phone. Nice case by the way." Ryoko didn't even look at me while he said this, instead staring at the curse in front of us.

Grabbing my phone with an alcohol case from Ryoko, I shoved it in my pocket. If I dared call anyone me any Ryoko would instantly die. Well, perhaps not Ryoko but I was quite certain that this version of me would.

And I did not feel like testing if Ryoko brought back the entire universe, or just himself. And Ryoko didn't either, even if it would have been the far easier and safer option, and he would still save 'me'.

He really did care for his Iori-chan.

It would make me blush if we weren't in a life threatening situation. Perhaps I should take back some insults?(playful jabs)

Glancing nervously at Ryoko, I whispered everything I knew about it into his ear. Its cursed technique being lie detection and it wanting to know about his cursed technique and its strength far beyond me and him.

Ryoko still didn't speak beyond him making fun of my phone case, watching the mantis in what I assumed attentiveness. The mantis spoke first, "What is your cursed technique, Ryoko Jikan?"

Still standing in his spot strongly, Ryoko opened his mouth after a moment of thought. "My cursed technique? You just saw it in action didn't you?"

The mantis scraped its scythes together while making an odd cricketing sound. The aura the mantis exuded doubled in size, making my knees nearly buckle under the intensity of it compared to my own rather pathetic reserves of cursed energy.

And Ryoko still stood strong. Somehow, someway, with some divine miracle the rookie didn't collapse from the aura of a special grade curse.

Was Ryoko always this strong? Or was it because he was fighting for his Iori-chan? I'm blushing now…

He…hu…ha… I still think I'm suffering from blood loss. Yeah, still suffering from blood loss. But that doesn't change the fact that Ryoko is standing strong.

For his Iori- No. stop this thought. -chan. DAMN YOU BLOOD LOSS.

POV Ryoko.

Mommie?