I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Totsuka Saika paused for a moment, then her face flushed red, and she smiled even more happily.

"That's true!"

Two fists, one slender and one strong, clashed forcefully on the tennis court, sweat reflecting their smiles, shimmering with a warm, sun-like glow.

Asuna Yuuki, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but take a deep breath, completely unsure whether she should be jealous or offer her blessings for this beautiful and pure friendship.

Her boyfriend seemed to be bisexual, which made her feel a bit conflicted.

[Loot obtained: One autographed tennis ball by Saika Totsuka.]

After a round of matches, it was noon. Tenkuji Yu originally planned to go to the cafeteria to fill his stomach, but he found that there were quite a lot of people following him, which reminded him of the scene when Natsukawa Masuzu had just transferred to the school.

In order to enjoy lunch in peace, he turned around and announced, "The challenge activities will continue this afternoon, so you can all go and have lunch first. I will head to the Kendo Club at 1:30, see you then! Those who don't want to see each other again can visit other clubs; our school has a wide variety of club activities!"

Before the crowd could disperse, Yuu Tenkuji said something to the people around him and then headed to the Service Club.

Finally, Yui bought him a bento box, and everyone ate and chatted in the clubroom, creating a rare and warm atmosphere like that of an ordinary club.

Although there were only three students, one teacher, and one student's family member.

After finishing her meal, Yuu Tenkuji continued her challenge.

Fifth stop, Kendo Club.

"Hitomura-kun is the next successor of his family's dojo and the captain of the kendo club. There's no way he could possibly win, is there?"

"I heard that he once taught a lesson to a local gang of thugs with a bamboo sword, making them afraid to harass the students of Zongwu High School anymore..."

"Let's start a betting pool! I bet he'll lose this time, odds are 3 to 1, anyone want to place a bet?"

"Hello, this is the disciplinary committee. Please come with us."

"...I was just kidding."

Amidst the discussions, after finishing their conversation, Yuu Tenkuji and the head of the kendo club stood in the center of the kendo dojo, each holding a bamboo sword, without wearing protective suits.

Aren't you afraid of getting scolded by the coach?

Although he was the one who proposed it, Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but ask questions because the other party agreed to his rule of "not wearing protective clothing and taking a decisive strike" so readily.

“I’m used to being scolded, so don’t worry.” Minister Himura smiled gently, not assuming the standard kendo ready stance, but instead casually letting his bamboo sword hang at his side. “To be honest, I prefer duels like this, where there are no rules to bind us. Being able to fight freely suits me perfectly.”

"It would be better if there were no audience," he said softly, as if sighing.

Tenkuji Yu gave him a strange look, his gaze lingering on the cross-shaped scar on his face: "...You're different from what you look like. I didn't expect you to like being so fierce and aggressive, Torimura-kun."

“When you practice swordsmanship to the end, it will turn out like this.” He smiled and raised the bamboo sword in a very strange but heart-stopping posture. “I can sense that your strength is no less than mine… so I will not hold back.”

“Being able to fight a master at full strength is exactly what I want.” Tenkuji Yu slowly pulled the bamboo sword behind him, leaning forward slightly.

Everyone present knew that they clearly did not intend to have a serious duel using the rules of Kendo.

But the sword-wielding posture of the Minister of the Hiyomura was understandable; it should be the starting move of some kind of family technique. As for Yuu Tenkuji, they couldn't understand it at all. It looked like a pose he was deliberately putting on to look cool, without any of the solemnity that a proper stance should have.

As "experts," the members of the kendo club felt somewhat relieved.

Many of them also went to watch the morning's challenge activities and realized a terrible fact—whether it was archery, baseball, or tennis, Yuu Tenkuji won with overwhelming force.

Not to mention that plate of egg fried rice that looked like the sun; just thinking about it now makes my mouth water, and I wish I could have three more big plates of it...

Although people are reluctant to admit it, in the minds of more and more people, the student standing on the field confronting the head of the kendo club seems to be better than others in everything he does, and he really can take down all the clubs—this consensus is forming.

Now, seeing his amateurish attitude, it's like someone is telling me, "The monster doesn't actually exist; you're just overthinking it." I feel a strange mix of disappointment and relief.

Fortunately, no matter how powerful he is, he is ultimately just an ordinary human being who can be defeated.

"The minister can win, right..."

"Don't joke around. If he hadn't been banned from competing, the captain could have won the national kendo championship... How could the Service Club possibly beat him!"

Amidst the murmurs, the two players on the field took a step forward without the referee's signal.

"Flying Sword Style, reporting for duty!"

"Aincrad-style. Change, join!"

next moment.

The two bamboo swords, which had almost disappeared, only reappeared in everyone's sight at the moment of their forceful collision.

……

"I lost."

Tossing aside the broken bamboo sword, the kendo club president laughed heartily, seemingly very pleased: "It's been a long time since I've encountered such a formidable opponent! Tenkuji-kun, why have I never heard of you before?"

“Because before today, I was always wielding my sword for someone.” With a absent-minded reply, Tenkuji Yu raised the bamboo sword in his hand, which he had just received but was already covered in scars.

With a flick of his finger, the bamboo sword snapped in two.

He smirked and looked at the other person with an indescribable complex expression: "Damn, is this perfect-level swordsmanship... If it weren't for my physical condition and state, I might have really messed up."

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Minister Himura tilted his head slightly, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Tenkuji Yu put down the bamboo sword, which was now only half broken, and sighed helplessly: "To be honest, it's a draw. My swordsmanship is a bit worse than yours. If the bamboo sword hadn't broken, it's hard to say who would have won."

He truly never expected that, apart from himself who relied on the system for cheating, there would be such a monster among ordinary high school students...

Tenkuji Yu had heard of the other's impressive reputation, but he thought it was just a skilled peak level like Captain Yukima. He never expected that Soubu High School would be full of hidden talents, with a peer whose swordsmanship could easily surpass his "master level".

You really can't underestimate people...

Minister Hiramura smiled and shook his head, stepping forward: "Swordsmanship isn't just about technique; it includes mindset, willpower, reaction speed... even luck. How many wins you have doesn't matter; as long as you lose the most important 'result,' then the outcome is decided."

As he extended his hand, he lowered his voice and smiled, "...Let's have another match sometime, when no one else is watching."

Tenkuji Yu grasped it and found his hand warm and rough, with a strong grip, seemingly filled with a yearning will.

"...You don't actually want a 'real sword fight,' do you?"

"I prefer a wooden sword. If you want a real sword, you're welcome to come to my dojo, and we'll stop here."

"...He's a madman."

"No, I just like sports."

Tenkuji Yu let go of his hand and, under his friendly and warm gaze, fled from the kendo club as if escaping.

Some onlooker, perhaps being nosy, shouted, "The victor is the Service Department!"

[Loot obtained: One bamboo sword (with carrying bag).]

△

Yuuki Tenkuji glanced back.

The "cheering squad," which had been following him around and whose numbers had dwindled, paused, then took a step back in unison, their bodies slightly stiff, and they dared not look him in the eye.

His cheek twitched slightly: "...What's going on?"

"It was Yui's match with the Kendo Club president that scared everyone." Recalling the scene, which resembled a battle between ferocious beasts (cats) and was filled with murderous intent, even Yui couldn't help but pat her chest, still feeling lingering fear.

"Bang bang bang bang, it's impossible to see the movements clearly... I feel like if I got involved in that battle, I'd be killed by the bamboo sword in less than a second. It's only natural that I'm afraid, right?"

Holding the pile of spoils he had forcibly shoved into her hands, Yukino Yukinoshita said with a mocking tone:

"Yeah, congratulations, you've gone from a campus idol to a campus Tyrannosaurus Rex. From now on, go around showing off your violence."

Tenkuji Yu glanced at her sideways, but before she could retort as usual, Yukinoshita Haruno seized the opportunity to speak up: "Wow~ Tenkuji-chan really knows everything! How did you train so well? I want to know how to become so strong too~"

"I don't know everything, I just know what I happen to know."

Hiratsuka Shizuka asked with a serious expression, "Do you know the Pegasus Meteor Fist? And the Hokuto Hyakretsu Fist?"

"Teacher, you're getting on in years, it's time to face reality..." A fist swept across, but Tenkuji Yu turned his head to dodge it, "Anyway, I don't know how."

"Tsk, students I can't beat are so annoying!" the bad teacher gritted his teeth in resentment.

Yukino Yukinoshita continued to look at his profile, her hands behind her back, and asked with a smile, "Want to have a match with me next time? I know a lot of things, like shooting, darts, billiards, and I've never lost to anyone."

"Sister..." Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but sigh. She seemed to really hate to see her sister shamelessly clinging to someone, and knowing that she couldn't persuade her, she finally decided to simply turn her back on her sister to avoid seeing her.

Yui Yuigahama looked at Yuu Tenkuji with some nervousness, not knowing why, she didn't want him to agree to the suggestion of this mature and beautiful female college student.

“Let’s talk about it next time.” Without much hesitation, Tenkuji Yu replied perfunctorily, “I’m not good at everything. At most, I just choose to challenge others with what I’m good at, using this despicable strategy to gain fame… It’s just that I know a lot, so I seem so amazing.”

"Hmm, I really can't tell if you're being modest or overconfident." Yukinoshita Haruno shrugged easily, her smile not diminishing at all because of his polite refusal. "Let's talk about it next time. What club are you going to challenge next? How about checking out a cultural club like the Literature Club?"

"As for the literature club, I remember they held a one-sentence ghost story contest..."

Halfway through her speech, Yuu Tenkuji suddenly caught a glimpse of a man wearing a hood and mask, with a slightly hunched back, shrouded in shadow, whose appearance made her feel uneasy from the bottom of her heart.

The state of "a flash of inspiration" suddenly flashed into my mind.

He paused slightly, and following his inner guidance, he inexplicably activated "I anticipated your movements," his pupils suddenly contracting.

Countless intense thoughts flooded his mind, including things like "wanting to go to the toilet," "wanting to chat up that beautiful woman," and "wanting to rush up to Lord Tenkuji and be severely punished by him with a bamboo sword." All sorts of random thoughts filled his consciousness in that instant, making his head throb as if it were about to explode.

Tenkuji Yu quickly blocked out those thoughts, fixing his gaze on the hooded man. With his mind completely focused, a line of bold black characters slowly floated above the man's head.

"He wanted to kill someone."

Then, in the blink of an eye, the other person disappeared into the crowd and vanished into the shadows around the corner.

Chapter 107 Attack and Counterattack

Meanwhile, on Yuuki Asuna's side...

"The restroom should be this way..."

After passing behind the teaching building, she walked along a sparsely populated tree-lined path, comparing the map in her hand with a hint of uncertainty on her face.

“Don’t take shortcuts, wouldn’t it be faster to just find a building? This is a school, not the outskirts of the city.” Kyoko Yuuki sighed and criticized, “That’s why you never amount to anything, and you even play online games…”

"Mom, you're the one who needs to go to the bathroom, not me!" Asuna emphasized, then smiled at her mother. "Besides, let's not even talk about how this has nothing to do with the game... It's because of that game that I was able to meet Yu-kun, and you were able to have such an excellent son-in-law, isn't that right?"

Looking at her daughter's smile, which was brighter than the sun, Kyoko Yuuki curled her lip, seemingly too lazy to pay attention to her: "...Look at how smug you are. Few student romances last. Even if he becomes a great person in the future, it's still uncertain whether you can continue to hold on to him. It's too early to be happy now."

"Sigh, Mom, can't you just stop being so stubborn?"

This time it was Asuna's turn to sigh. She hugged her mother's arm to make sure she couldn't angrily slap herself on the head before she began to criticize:

"First they criticized Yu-kun, saying he had no achievements and couldn't compare to elites like Su-xiang. Then, when Yu-kun showed his strength, they started criticizing him again, saying they couldn't hold onto him and that their relationship wouldn't last... You know what? In the mouths of young people, this is what's called hindsight bias? On the internet, it's also called 'keyboard warriors'!"

"No need to specifically emphasize young people, I understand!"