Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

After leaving the area of ​​the cultural studies clubs, Huashan stepped deeper into the gymnasium, where the martial arts club booths were filled with the smell of mats and protective gear.

Amidst the sounds of swords clashing against bamboo and the dull thuds of judo strikes, Hanayama suddenly stopped.

Just a few meters ahead in the corridor, several boys who looked like freshmen were surrounding a second-year student with confused expressions.

"Excuse me, there are kendo and judo clubs, but why isn't there a karate club booth? Isn't karate a super popular and classic sport in high school clubs?"

Upon hearing this simple question, the senior student in charge of guiding the class showed a slightly bitter expression and sighed deeply.

"Ah...you guys studied karate. It's a pity that this school doesn't have a karate club. No, to be precise, it was disbanded."

"Abolish the department!? Why?!"

"Since you practice karate, you should at least know the name 'Shinshin-kai,' right?"

Upon hearing the name uttered by the senior student, the freshmen nodded as a matter of course.

"Of course I know. Over two million disciples, the world's largest full-contact karate organization... the head headquarters of combat karate, right?"

"That's right. And then, the real problem comes next... Those guys at the headquarters of the Divine Heart Society, in order to promote themselves and enhance their reputation, have their promising young disciples listed in high schools across the country, and then send them to participate in national competitions like the high school league. What do you think the result will be?"

The freshmen looked at each other in bewilderment.

"It goes without saying. High schools with the Shinshin Association as their sponsor completely dominate and crush the top ranks of the national tournament. How could a mere hobbyist who only practices casually in school clubs after school possibly win against those high school students who have been instilled with real martial arts and are like killing machines? They are completely powerless to fight back."

The senior student shook his head angrily.

"Our school is basically prohibited from exchanging ideas with other schools. The only time we can go out is when we participate in official national competitions. Real karate practitioners who want to climb the ranks would never come to this school in the first place. Even though we don't have any achievements, we still have to spend huge sums of money on expeditions and such, so the school cut our budget and the club was disbanded."

(...I see.)

As Huashan listened to those words, the face of a certain man appeared in his mind.

The old man has no hair on his head, wears an eye patch on one eye, and has an innocent yet ferocious smile on his face.

"The Tiger Slayer," also the head of the Divine Heart Association. A lone wolf in a foolish land.

(That damned old man... he really is a complete rascal.)

Huashan muttered to himself, seemingly without a word.

They sent the disciples of the Divine Heart Society into a competition that was only open to ordinary high school students.

Whether it is right or wrong as a form of martial arts, Huashan does not know.

For Huashan, who had never practiced martial arts, he could not fully comprehend the complexity of the martial arts spirit.

However, from the perspective of the yakuza, it was an immature act, like an adult driving a tank into a child's sandpit.

However, it is precisely because of this that Huashan feels somewhat concerned.

(Should I join the martial arts club at this school to earn points?)

Huashan looked down at his thick palms.

If one can dominate the entire organization with their innate, overwhelming physical strength and violence, they can certainly reach the top and achieve great results.

But isn't this exactly the same kind of behavior as the foolish prank I just played that left me speechless?

(That would be too beneath him. It would damage the reputation of a chivalrous hero.)

Huashan gently shook his head.

Although he was gradually coming to understand the mechanisms of this school that regarded points and intelligence as its lifeline.

Even so, making money by bullying the weak still seriously violates his deeply rooted chivalrous aesthetics.

(That being said... those guys seem much simpler than those in the Ministry of Culture. They could be a good starting point for gathering intelligence.)

The martial arts men, sweating and shouting at each other, rarely have a hypocrite.

Even without using yakuza negotiation techniques or threats, just a little flattery or recognition of strength seems to easily reveal the school's underlying mechanisms.

When Hanayama turned around and headed towards the judo and kendo club areas side by side, intending to randomly pick a target.

"Hey! You first-year student over there!"

A rough, energetic sound echoed through the stadium.

The voice belonged to a senior student dressed in a pure white judo uniform with a black belt. He was about 180 centimeters tall.

His physique is already quite impressive for a high school student; the thick muscles beneath his judo uniform eloquently testify to the extremely rigorous training he has undergone.

However, that is ultimately based on the standards of a typical high school student.

Standing in front of Kaoru Hanayama, whose muscle and bone density far surpasses that of ordinary people, even that imposing judo club member looked like a small boy in his growth spurt.

The senior members of the judo club stopped in their tracks the moment they saw the horrifying scars etched on Hanayama's face and the unfathomable aura of power emanating from him, which resembled that of a yakuza boss.

As a biological instinct, it sounded the alarm: "Don't go near this man."

However, his intuition as a martial arts enthusiast stirred a fierce excitement within him.

(What the heck... this physique! The thickness of his shoulders, the size of his thighs, and the thickness of his neck! It's beyond proportion. He's practically a living, breathing rock mountain!)

The judo club senior's eyes shone with a heat that transcended fear. He stepped forward to Hanayama, a broad smile on his face.

"Your physique is amazing! Have you practiced any martial arts so far? How about trying judo? If you had your bone structure and muscles, you could definitely become a national-level prodigy!"

Overly enthusiastic persuasion.

While many freshmen kept their distance from Hanayama based solely on his appearance, this attitude of approaching him purely based on his physique was not unpleasant to Hanayama.

"...I have no experience in combat techniques. I'm a complete novice."

Huashan answered in a deep, steady voice, and the senior's eyes lit up even more.

"An amateur!? Really? An amateur can have muscles like that!? Does that mean it's natural...? That's amazing! Or rather, it's better if the amateur just doesn't have any weird habits! Let's start training from scratch in our club! How about trying out some mats in our dojo? Even just practicing a simple tuck move would be great!"

Overwhelmed with excitement, the senior reached out and tried to pull on Huashan's thick arm.

The senior student used the powerful pulling force unique to judo practitioners to try to pull Hanayama's arm over. He himself weighs over 80 kilograms and is also a strongman capable of lifting considerable weights in a bench press.

but.

"—What?"

It didn't move at all.

Huashan didn't even spread his legs; he was simply standing in his natural position.

Despite the senior's best efforts to pull, Huashan's arm did not budge an inch.

It was like a tug-of-war with the Earth itself as the opponent—an absolute wall of weight.

"I can't pull it... What's with this sense of stability at the center of gravity... It's unbelievable..."

The senior student stared in astonishment, but at the same time, an increasingly admiring expression appeared on his face.

"Great! You're amazing! What's your name?!"

"Kaoru Hanayama".

Huashan didn't shake off the senior's hand that was pulling at her; she simply quietly gave her name.

"Hanayama! I'm Oki, the captain of the judo club, a third-year student. Wow, this might really be a fateful encounter! Joining the judo club will not only boost your personal reputation, but it will also give your class a huge positive boost in points!! You won't regret it!"

(Class points?)

Huashan slowly looked down at the large tree, his eyes reflecting the quiet light of a capable negotiator.

"Senior, could you please explain what you just said in more detail?"

"Huh...?"

"It's that thing called class points. If I join a club, it will increase? How exactly does it work? If you can give me a convincing explanation, I wouldn't mind visiting the dojo."

"Really!? Oh! I'll explain, I'll explain as much as you want!! Okay, then come with me to the department office for a bit! We can chat over tea!"

Daiki was overjoyed at Huashan's slight compromise, and like a follower leading the way for a king, he eagerly hunched over and led the way.

Huashan put his hands in his pockets and quietly followed behind that figure.

For him, whether or not he joined the judo club was irrelevant; his only purpose in accompanying this senior to guide him was to get him to talk and understand the rules that the school was hiding.