CHAPTER 14: GOLD CAN'T WEIGHT A BOND

The forest just outside the Jujutsu Tech grounds was silent save for the rhythmic crunch of combat—footfalls, tree branches snapping, and the clang of a cursed spear slicing through the air.

Mei Mei stood tall amidst the debris, her black robe fluttering, her spear dripping with residual cursed energy. Her expression was calm, calculating—cold. Across from her, Utahime Iori struggled to keep her stance, blood trickling from her temple, arms trembling, uniform torn in places from the sheer force of the assault.

"Why are you doing this?" Utahime shouted, panting. "This isn't you!"

Mei Mei's eyes narrowed. "You're wrong. This is exactly me. I do what I want… and I want money."

With that, she dashed forward, her spear glowing with cursed energy, wind slicing in her wake. Utahime barely managed to dodge the first strike, but the second caught her in the side. She flew through the air, crashing through a dozen trees, the last one splintering against a massive boulder where she finally collapsed, coughing blood.

"Damn… it," she wheezed.

Mei Mei approached, calm and steady, the end of her cursed spear raised high. Her eyes showed no hesitation, no pity.

"This is for 10 million yen," she whispered.

She lunged.

But just as the cursed blade was inches from Utahime's chest—

Her hand trembled.

The spear froze mid-air.

Her knuckles turned white.

Utahime, barely conscious, looked up with weak defiance.

"Well?" she asked. "What's stopping you?"

Mei Mei's hand quivered. For the first time in a long time, she hesitated.

She slowly pulled the spear away, breathing heavily, confusion flickering in her normally unreadable eyes.

"I don't know," she said quietly. "I was ready. I was paid. I had no reason not to do it."

She dropped her weapon with a metallic clang.

"I just… couldn't."

Utahime blinked. "Why?"

Mei Mei extended her hand.

"Maybe… maybe because no amount of yen can replace someone who made me laugh during missions. Someone who covered my back in training. Someone who called me out on my crap."

Utahime stared at her hand.

Then, slowly, she took it.

Mei Mei pulled her to her feet and looked away awkwardly.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I went too far."

Utahime wiped her bloodied face and smirked faintly. "You damn well did."

They both limped together, side by side, the silence between them now full of unspoken understanding.

Later that night…

In a small apartment lit only by a single dim lamp, Mei Mei sat on her couch. Her long black hair was tied loosely, a cold towel over one shoulder. Her phone buzzed once.

Unknown number.

She answered.

A distorted voice filled her ear. "Did you eliminate the target?"

There was a pause.

Then Mei Mei leaned into the mic.

"You can fuck off, bastard."

And she hung up.

She tossed the phone across the room, leaned back, and stared at the ceiling.

"Sometimes," she muttered, "friendships are worth more than anything that fits in a bank."