11 Getting to know each other

Katsuo was in deep thought regarding Panda's question.

He never thought very deeply about this topic. In his past life, he was focused on graduating college and helping his parents so he didn't even have time to think about getting a girlfriend, so he died a virgin.

He was quite okay with that, after all, he had his trusted hand back then to satisfy his needs, but in this life, he has never played with it and he didn't even think too much about doing it even though he was pretty popular and was confessed a few times. It probably was because he could control himself very well due to all the emotional training he did and the fact that he has always been occupied with progressing in his techniques and become stronger, after all, to him, the bliss he gets when he manages to do something he couldn't before is superior to the feeling of satisfying his carnal desire.

So, to him, whose carnal desire isn't a priority, personality is the primary attraction, still, if he had to choose the physical features that attract him the most, he will choose someone that has considerable power, a pretty face, and matching proportions, meaning that he can't get a feeling of incongruity when he looks at her body shape.

If he thought of a nearby example, Maki is someone that fits those physical features.

He looked at Panda and Maki who were still tugging each other and answered.

"To me, personality is more important, but if I had to choose someone based on physical appearance, I will prefer a pretty girl with proportional body shape."

Panda and Maki stopped and, together with Toge, looked at Katsuo who had a pondering expression.

"Katsuo, you're a pretty serious but honest guy, I like you."

Katsuo noticed that Panda already treated him on a first-name basis. He actually preferred that way. Probably because of his first western upbringing.

He nodded at Panda.

"That's just the way I am, how about you guys?"

Toge proceeded by saying a bunch of random onigiri ingredients and Panda traduced.

"He said he prefers big-boobed onee-chans, what a pervert."

Toge stared at Panda.

"Okaka!"

(AN: This is Toge's way of negation according to the fandom.)

"And Panda is Panda, so all humans are creepy to me."

Panda said with a shrug of his shoulders. Katsuo, who even though had already seen him say that in the anime, still thought that it was pretty funny.

"Hey, stop talking about those things, you perverts! Tell me your grades."

"Hmm~, you're no fun Maki, well, Panda is Grade Three."

Toge showed them his identification where it said Grade Two.

"Amazing~"

Said Panda dramatically and Maki continued.

"I'm Grade Four but I can easily take care of Grade Three."

'They are one grade lower than one year later, according to the anime, except for Maki-san, who, because of her family, one year later was still Grade 4.'

Then everyone looked at Katsuo.

Katsuo hesitated a little before answering while taking his identification in case they didn't believe.

"For now, I'm Semi-Grade One but I'm waiting for someone to assign me a promotion mission to advance to Grade One."

The three of them stared at him with sparkling eyes filled with admiration and stupefaction, and Panda seemed to want to ask something but Maki reacted first and pulled Katsuo to the middle of the open space.

"Katsuo, let's train."

She said before reaching to her back and pulling what seemed to be an assemblable naginata from under the uniform jacket.

'I guess that's why they make them baggy.'

In one fluid motion, she assembled and spun it as she took a battle stance where her naginata was pointed at Katsuo.

It didn't seem that she wanted him to take her lightly so, out of respect, Katsuo did the same and took a Karate stance where his right foot was put forward, his gravity center was lowered a bit, his right hand aligned with his nose towards Maki and his left hand was in a fist by his waist.

Panda took initiative and went forward as the referee. He put his hand up and swung it down.

"Start~!"

Maki lunged at him with an overhead strike and Katsuo narrowly dodged.

'Fast!'

Katsuo realized he has been underestimating her, with her power she could take on Grade Two curses, and right now he couldn't use CE so, even though he had a minor advantage in physical ability, Maki had superior martial technique, honed by years of single-minded focus, unlike him who prioritized CE training over martial arts training.

They went back and forward with Katsuo solely focused on dodging and trying to find an opportunity to strike, even Panda and Toge had to give them more space, but it was very difficult, as Maki utilized the reach of her weapon expertly and kept him from approaching but soon the opportunity presented itself.

He attacked with his max speed only to realize it was a trap as a naginata was piercing towards him.

He could only shift his body to a tumble and watched as the naginata caressed his cheek, causing a slash wound to appear on his face. One that he quickly healed by concentrating the positive energy circulating within him on the wound.

Maki stopped attacking him and furrowed her brows.

"Are you taking me lightly? Why didn't you use cursed energy?"

Katsuo stared at her eyes for a moment and answered.

"Aren't we just sparing? there's no need to go all out, and I'm under a Binding Vow that will end in few months, until then I can't use CE in combat."

Maki's face relaxed a little.

"So that's why, still, I'm under a Heavenly Vow but you are physically stronger than me, even though your technique is shit. Can I ask how do you do it?"

Katsuo was a little offended that she thought his martial arts were shit, but he also understood that his martial arts were indeed very inferior to hers.

"It's related to my innate technique, so I will be grateful if you don't ask me any further"

She only nodded.

"Maki-san, can you help me improve my martial arts?"

"Just call me Maki, and I don't have any problem with it, you'll also help me as a sparring partner."

During their talk, Panda and Toge were also speaking to each other.

"They are both so strong, specially Katsuo who didn't even use CE, as expected of someone brought by Gojo-sensei, we also have to work hark, Toge~"

"SHAKE!"

(AN: This is an affirmation)