Koneko pointed to the cat ears atop her head.
"Isn't this cute?"
Kanzaki reached out and gently touched them.
Last time, amidst the chaos of battle, she had vanished before he could even get close. This time, he finally had the chance.
"Senpai, please don't touch me."
Her body trembled, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
"Also, this isn't about being cute or not."
"Once the Nekomata bloodline is activated, serious problems can arise."
Serious problems?
Kanzaki recalled her history.
"You're worried that awakening your bloodline will cause you to lose control?"
"...Yes. I don't want to hurt anyone."
"Then don't worry."
Kanzaki patted his chest confidently.
"Even if you go berserk, you won't be able to beat me."
Koneko blinked.
"Are you sure that's supposed to be comforting?"
She looked at him, torn between annoyance and amusement.
"Koneko, Kanzaki is right." Rias chimed in to the conversation.
"You don't need to suppress your bloodline like before."
"Even if you lose control, Kanzaki and I will find a way to bring you back."
"Yeah, yeah."
Kanzaki nodded.
As a Nekomata, Koneko possessed immense potential. Suppressing her bloodline would only hinder her growth.
He was counting on her strength; there was no way he'd let her stagnate.
"Koneko, if you don't understand something, you can ask me. I'll teach you how to use senjutsu."
"Huh? Senpai, you know senjutsu?"
Koneko blinked, surprised.
Not only her, but Rias and the others who overheard looked curious.
"Not proficient, but I know a bit."
A bit?
Rias thought back to the previous night.
When Sona had asked Kanzaki if he knew tracking magic, he had responded similarly.
Then, in less than ten minutes, he had located the stray devil.
Thinking of this, Rias felt reassured and began giving orders.
"Koneko, you should learn senjutsu from Kanzaki from now on."
"...Understood."
Koneko hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
In the past, she would have refused, no matter how much Rias persuaded her.
But after being defeated by Kanzaki a few days ago, she realized the importance of strength.
Being weak was truly terrifying.
To avoid repeating past mistakes, it was time to move forward.
"Senpai, I want to learn senjutsu."
"No problem."
Kanzaki instructed, "First, try to sense your senjutsu energy. It's the foundation for all techniques."
"Senjutsu energy?"
"It's that fire-like essence within you. Focus, and you'll find it."
"...Senpai, I think I failed."
After several attempts, Koneko realized a troubling issue.
Having a talented individual as a teacher wasn't always beneficial.
"Don't rush. Take your time."
Kanzaki adjusted his teaching pace.
As a Nekomata, Koneko had excellent potential.
After several corrections, she finally sensed her senjutsu energy.
Senjutsu energy was the basis of all techniques. Once mastered, the rest would follow.
After a few more hours, Kanzaki taught her some basic techniques he had developed.
"Have you memorized everything?"
"I have."
"Good. Next, practice these techniques repeatedly."
"When you can use them instinctively, you'll have a solid foundation."
"Then I'll teach you how to use magic to unlock your potential. You can grow stronger even while resting."
Koneko's eyes widened.
"Senpai, you're amazing. You even developed this kind of magic."
It wasn't particularly complex.
Seeing her admiration, Kanzaki decided not to dampen her enthusiasm.
Encouragement was important.
"Kanzaki, there's a task for you."
Rias approached.
"What's this time?"
"Educate a psychic, let him understand he's not special, and shouldn't misuse his powers."
"A psychic? That's rare."
Kanzaki's eyes lit up, motivated.
And after discussing with Rias, he set the summoning condition to combat.
This mission was obtained through Rias's connections.
Sitting on the teleportation array, Kanzaki input the coordinates and was transported to an unfamiliar room.
"You're the client, right?"
Kanzaki looked at the middle-aged man with a beer belly ahead.
After some communication, Kanzaki learned that the man was the principal of Black Vinegar Middle School.
And they were currently in his office.
"Mr. Kanzaki, your target is a student named Hanazawa Teruki."
"Hanazawa is a natural psychic with immense power."
"Using this power, he formed gangs and disrupted the school."
"I hope you can teach him a lesson, show him he's not above others."
Kanzaki accepted the task.
"Can I use force?"
The principal nodded.
"As long as you don't kill or permanently injure him, do as you see fit."
The principal was furious about the school's declining reputation due to the student's actions.
If he hadn't learned about summoning devils from a friend, he wouldn't know how to handle the situation.
Boom!
A roar came from outside the window.
The principal trembled, his expression tense.
"What's that noise? Did something explode?"
"It's not an explosion, it's someone being hit."
Kanzaki walked to the window and looked at the golden-haired boy on the playground.
He recognized the name Hanazawa Teruki; he was a character from the franchise: Mob Psycho 100.
"Stronger than I thought."
His eyes shifted to the boy with bowl-cut hair nearby, exuding a deadly aura.
A naturally born psychic monster, Kageyama Shigeo.