Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

The darkness of night quietly enveloped the campus of Advanced Nurturing High School.

The clock hands have already passed nine o'clock in the evening.

Normally, students should be in their dorm rooms reviewing for the day or enjoying their free time at this time.

"...No, that won't do. Those symbols look like a swarm of ants again."

Huashan, who was facing his desk in his room, rubbed his temples with his thick fingers.

Thanks to Horikita Suzune who tutored him until evening, he felt he had gained a deeper understanding of the concept of probability.

But when he began to face the workbook alone, Sandman instantly bared his fangs.

(Drink some black coffee.)

Taking it as a change of pace, Huashan walked out of his dormitory room.

However, the black coffee in the vending machine right next to the dormitory was sold out.

Perhaps because the exams were approaching, the other students were thinking about the same things.

Huashan had no choice but to walk a little further away, through the tree-lined path behind the special building, where other vending machines were located.

Those were blind spots where the streetlights couldn't reach.

As he reached that place, a low, cold voice came from the darkness.

"...When I first heard that Class D had been promoted to Class C in the first month, I was hoping that you had finally made some progress."

That was a voice I recognized. It belonged to the man who dominated the entire school with his imposing presence on club introduction day—the student council president, Horikita Manabu.

"I misjudged you. You haven't changed at all compared to before."

Ahead, pointed to by those cold words, stood the figure of Horikita Suzune, Hanayama's classmate.

Her expression was nothing like the rational and aloof demeanor she displayed during her daytime tutoring sessions.

Like a fledgling bird before a storm, it trembled, timid, and revealed its weakness.

"I...I'll definitely get into Class A and show you. I came to this school because I wanted my brother to approve of me!"

Suzune tried her best to refute him, but Horikita Manabu's gaze remained unwavering.

"You look down on others and live selfishly in your own world. You don't even realize that your pointless arrogance is tightening around your own neck. You're definitely not suited for this school."

Horikita took a step closer to his younger sister.

"Drop out of school, Suzune."

"...!"

"If you're unwilling, I'll personally re-educate you right now."

Horikita Manabu did not merely remain at the level of words.

In order to bring his unchanged sister back to reality, or in order to sever her dependence through physical pain, Horikita Manabu raised his hand.

Let's stop here.

"...Who is it?"

Horikita Manabu cast a sharp glance at him.

Emerging from the shadows was Kaoru Hanayama, holding a can of coffee in one hand.

"Hanayama-kun?"

Lingyin's eyes widened.

Although Horikita Manabu frowned slightly, he did not change his cold and ruthless attitude.

"First-year students, please leave. This is not a matter for outsiders to interfere in."

You're absolutely right.

Hanayama slowly stepped forward, standing like a wall between Horikita Manabu and Suzune.

"Interfering in other people's family affairs is an inconsiderate act, no matter where you are."

"Since that's the case—"

"But..."

Huashan gulped down the can of black coffee in one go, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"This woman is willing to sacrifice her own time to teach a hopeless idiot like me. To me, that's a favor. To pretend not to see someone who has done you a favor being beaten and just walk by is against my rules."

Horikita Manabu shook his head slightly, probably judging that further verbal warnings were pointless.

"Leave now if you don't want to get hurt."

His right jab shot formed a straight line in the darkness, aimed directly at Huashan's face.

In all fairness, this strike was ultimately just a warning, a threatening thrust intended to intimidate and deter the opponent.

Even Horikita Manabu himself didn't think the attack would hit.

Unless the opponent is extremely slow-witted, they should be able to easily dodge by taking a step back at that distance and timing.

However, the concept of retreat does not exist in Kaoru Hanayama's aesthetics.

boom!

A sharp, resounding impact echoed, and the glasses hanging on Huashan's face were knocked off, falling onto the asphalt road with a few soft thuds.

Horikita Suzune involuntarily covered her mouth.

Because all she could see was her brother's fist hitting Huashan squarely in the face.

However, it was not the one who was hit who was shocked, but Horikita Manabu, who was the one who struck.

(What's with this texture...?)

The sensation coming from the knuckles of the fist was not the sensation of striking human flesh or bones.

Rather, it's like being hit with full force on a thick rubber tire or a solid piece of oak.

Kaoru Hanayama didn't even blink as she looked down at Manabu Horikita.

Then he simply took a step forward calmly.

呲——

That was the sound of shoe soles rubbing against the ground—a perfectly ordinary sound.

However, the phenomenon that occurred to Horikita Manabu, who was the student council president and stood at the top of the school, was completely contrary to common sense.

Imagine it.

Imagine walking in a jungle at night when suddenly, without a sound, a Deviljho walking upright appears from the darkness.

When the giant beast completely ignored the knife you held up for self-defense and simply took a step towards you.

All rationality, logic, and the self-esteem built up so far will evaporate in an instant.

What remains there is only the pure terror of being a predator, etched into the DNA over hundreds of millions of years.

Horikita Manabu's body disregarded the commands of his brain and began to move on its own.

That was not a product of thought, but rather an instinctive stress response after sensing a life-threatening crisis.

Whoosh! Thud! Thud!

That was an outstanding series of attacks.

A right straight punch slammed into his side ribs, followed by a spinning back kick that accurately caught his neck, and then a powerful front kick aimed directly at his heart without leaving any gaps.

As a martial artist, his skill level is genuine; every strike is incredibly precise and hits vital points.

"Brother, what are you doing! Stop it right now!"

Lingyin called out from behind.

The usually calm older brother was now acting as if possessed by something, launching a continuous barrage of attacks without uttering a word.

However, Kaoru Hanayama, who stood in front of Manabu Horikita, was completely unharmed.

"Is it over?"

A flat and emotionless voice.

This was almost as if it were mocking Horikita's martial arts skills, implying they were meaningless in the face of true masters.

"H-How is this possible...?"

For the first time, a wavering sound escaped from Horikita Manabu's throat.

Kaoru Hanayama gently clenched her right hand.

There was no special gesture involved; it was simply pulling the arm back and then pushing it forward.

It was nothing special, just a straight punch that had been repeated tens of thousands of times in fights in the underworld.

However, the strike unleashed by the man who reigned supreme was like a crane's iron ball crashing down on humanity—an embodiment of overwhelming violence.

boom----!!

Horikita Manabu instinctively crossed his arms in front of his chest, assuming a perfect defensive stance.

But this is meaningless.

The moment the fist struck the crossed arms, the exaggerated impact traveled directly through the entire body.

"Well……!?"

His body was flying through the air like shredded paper.

One meter, three meters, five meters.

Horikita Manabu's head slammed hard against the solid brick wall, and his body collapsed to the ground, where he remained motionless and unconscious.