The story we started

【boom! 】

【Zaimokuza's punch, which had become increasingly stronger after special training, hit Zain's face with a huge force. A red flower of blood splattered where the fist collided with the face, causing Zain's head to tilt to the left. Then he turned around and kicked Zain in the chest again. The kick with his leg, which was more powerful than his fist, sent Zain flying.】

[“Hmm…”]

[Zain, who had fallen to the ground, stood up while shaking his head. He looked at Zaimokuza, patted the dust on his chest with one hand, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the other hand, and said with a disdainful tone.]

[“It doesn’t hurt, is this the maximum power you can get out of this attack? Kuuga!”]

[“Tsk! Looks like he’s the same blood-bovine type of enemy as he looks.”]

[Zaimokuza has a very accurate understanding of how strong his boxing is in his current all-around form. After special training, his fist power is several times stronger than when he first got the belt. Punching through a steel plate is not an expression but a statement. If he were to fight No. 1 again, who had put him in a tough fight when he first got the belt, Zaimokuza is confident that he could kill the opponent with his fists without using any moves.]

【When a fist of this level was of little use to the enemy in front of him, Zaimokuza felt depressed.】

[Feeling that the enemy would be difficult to deal with this time, he decided to use his ultimate move. He stepped back a few steps and put his hands in front of him in a defensive posture. He lowered his body and prepared for an all-powerful flying kick.]

[“Hmph! Come on!”]

【Zain saw Zaimokuza's posture and knew that he was about to use some powerful trick, but he was always reckless and didn't care. He snorted coldly and leaned down to grab the ground with both hands. He aimed the sharp horns on his head at Zaimokuza and took the posture of an athlete running a race.】

[“I am the zu-zain-da who stabs the enemy with my giant horns that pierce through the mountains. Remember this! Kuuga!”]

[“Drink!!!”]

[With a high-pitched roar like an elephant's moo, dust up to two meters high splashed from Zain's feet. Its huge body flew forward like a cannonball under the powerful reaction force. The sharp horns on its head tore through the air with a sharp shriek, making a sound like a bird's cry.]

[“I’ve told you so many times! I don’t understand. Speak human language!”]

【Faced with Zain's words in Gurongi, Zaimokuza angrily complained and raised his right foot. A blazing flame flashed under his foot, and then he rushed towards Zain without dodging. He jumped up with both feet and flipped in the air. His right foot burning with fire kicked out the sharp horn!】

[“Oh my god!!!”]

【"drink!!!"】

[Amid the roars of both sides, the sharp horns and the kicks wrapped in flames collided with each other, and a shock wave spread from the point where the two collided, blowing up the dust on the entire layer of the ground.]

[And the winner of this collision is——]

【Zaimokuza Yoshiteru! 】

[“Hmm——”]

[As Zain grunted, the almighty flying kick completely shattered the entire horn from the tip, and the fragments of the horn flew everywhere. The last kick hit the center of its forehead head-on. The kick force of at least tens of tons made Zain's forward body suddenly stop, and then he flew backwards immediately and smashed into a wooden warehouse in the distance. The entire warehouse collapsed under the residual force of this blow.]

【Snapped. 】

[Zaimokuza supported himself with one hand and raised the other hand to maintain balance while landing. Burning white smoke rose from the sole of his right foot.]

【"call--"】

[He looked at the collapsed warehouse in the distance and slowly stood up, with hot white air coming out of the edge of his metallic mouthparts as it opened and closed.]

【Finish……】

[…Good job! Kuuga!]

[——It seems like it’s still early. ]

66. Welcome to our Ministry -in-

[The wreckage of the collapsed warehouse scattered in all directions. Zain stood up, holding his forehead where the horn had grown. The thick and long horn was destroyed from the tip by Zaimokuza's almighty flying kick in the previous collision. Now only the root was left standing. Blood flowed out from the broken root and soon flowed all over the stiff face that was expressionless like a mask. 700txt.com]

[Zi——]

[A scarlet "flame" totem appeared on Zain's forehead after he was hit by the almighty flying kick. The surrounding air was distorted in an instant, proving the high temperature of the totem.]

[“You are the first warrior to break the long horns that I am so proud of. It seems that you are finally not as cowardly as before. I agree with you, Kuuga!”]

[Zain put down the hand covering the broken horn, opened and closed his mouth to utter clear human language, letting the blood continue to flow and the totem on his forehead burn himself, as if he was not the one injured.]

【“!?”】

【Seeing this scene full of déjà vu, Zaimokuza's heart suddenly sank. He was almost suffering from PTSD due to this situation.】

[During the months of fighting against the Gurongi that revived from the ruins of Kuroyama, only three of them were able to stand up after being hit by his special moves, and each of them left Zaimokuza with a painful memory. ]

[Even though those three Gurongi were defeated by Zaimokuza afterwards, the process can be said to be a near-death experience. Every time Zaimokuza thinks about it, he covers his injured parts, as if he can still feel the phantom pain left over from the battle.]

【No way……】

【"snort!"】

[The next moment, Zain snorted coldly, confirming Zaimokuza's idea. The totem on his forehead turned into red light particles and dissipated, leaving only the hideous bleeding wound in its original place.]

[“Now it’s my turn!”]

[“This is the power you gave me, so I will return it to you now. In the language of this era, this is called “reciprocity”!”]

[Zain spread his arms out to his side like wings, the copper-colored belt pattern on his waist turned into a dark purple color close to black at his eyes, and the muscles that were already bulging and erected on his body expanded again, and the meridians on his muscles jumped and floated, and his whole body seemed to be covered with a suit of armor made of muscles.]

【Buzz.】

[Purple ripples spread from its waistband to its body. Zain's bulging black muscles changed their nature under the ripples, hardening into a pair of brown armor. Under the shoulders that were originally covered by shoulder armor, another piece of armor with a sharper arc grew again, turning into a double layer of shoulder armor.]

[Zain's eyes also turned dark purple after the ripples spread, his forehead was broken and only the long horn at the root was left. A new sharp horn quickly condensed upward from the broken part, and even two other shorter horns like evil spirits stretched out from both sides of his temples. The three sharp horns were all purple, reflecting the enchanting purple light like purple jade under the sunlight.]

[zu-zain-da·Reinforced body·Strong body. ]

[“Purple power, big trouble…”]

[The moment Zaimokuza saw Zain transform into this form, he knew that this time it was probably going to be bad again. ]

[Because of the fact that he transformed into Kuuga, he also had the ability to transform into a purple titan form, so Yoshizai Mokuza knew how difficult this power was. After putting on heavy armor and sacrificing speed, his attack and defense power were greatly enhanced.]

[Without weapons, the attack power of his fists and feet is not much inferior to that of the red form. After picking up weapons, his attack power is even better than all the forms. Especially in terms of defense, it is simply superior to all the forms. It can be said to be a turtle shell. Ordinary attacks cannot cause any damage at all.]

[Zaimokuza has always loved his Titan form, but when the enemy also has this form, it is a terrible nightmare. 】

[So far, in Zaimokuza's memory, there has only been one record of the Titan form being defeated in battle. That was the last time he fought against No. 21. After the opponent changed into the red form, he suffered a lot. -]

[Red form? Zaimokuza was stunned, and subconsciously looked down at the red spiritual stone belt around his waist. ]

[Then, maybe…]

[While Zaimokuza was still thinking, Zain, who had transformed into a strong body, bent down and picked up a piece of warehouse debris in front of him, tore it into two pieces like tearing paper and held it in his hands.]

【Buzz.】

[The two fragments of the gatehouse became illusory and transparent in its hands, and then twisted and changed their shape, turning into two dark and heavy axes. There was a rhinoceros-like totem on each of the two axe blades.]

[“Tsk, super transformation!”]

[When he saw the enemy take out his own form of weapon, Zaimokuza realized that he had no time to think and smacked his lips unwillingly, then clasped his hands on his waist. The red spirit stone instantly turned purple, and a silver armor with purple stripes also covered his body. ]

[Zaimokuza picked up a steel bar that was left behind by a worker when he fled. The muddy steel bar turned into a large Titan sword in his hand, and the hollow blade popped out from the tail of the sword.]

[“Great! This is the battle I want! That’s it!”]

[Zain laughed loudly when he saw Zaimokuza transform into a Titan, crossed his two axes in front of him, and rushed forward to Zaimokuza who was waiting with a sword in hand...]

【Chiba Prefecture, Chiba City Sobu High School. 】

[“Teacher Hiratsuka, remember to come back more often when you have nothing to do. Sobu High School always welcomes you, and the teachers will be very happy to see you back.”]

【“Thank you, Mr. Kudo.”】

[Waving to thank the old school gate security guard behind her, Shizuka Hiratsuka looked back at the familiar campus in front of her, exhaled gently from her mouth, her eyes full of emotion. ]

[“Sobu High School… I’m back.”]

[After many years, the high school in front of me has not undergone any major changes. Only the yellowed exterior walls of the buildings have been repainted, and the rest of the building structure has not changed. Looking down from above, the overall structure is still the "mouth"-shaped structure that students have been complaining about.]

[The sea breeze blew in from the sea not far away, blowing Hiratsuka Shizuka's long hair that she had tied into a ponytail because she was too bothered to do so. The tip of the ponytail swayed gently at her slender waist and back, wavering like her mood.]

[Hiratsuka Shizuka slowly took off the sunglasses on her face and looked at the familiar square school building in front of her with a dazed look. The special building and the teaching building were connected by a corridor on the second floor, forming a square building. In the middle was the sacred place for students to talk about love - the atrium.]

[Those students who had boyfriends and girlfriends at that time always used that place as their base. They ate lunch together as a mixed group during lunch break, played badminton together to help digestion, talked about love with the sunset school building as the background after school, and looked up at the stars while bathing in the sea breeze.]

[In order to ensure that the deviation value and admission rate are among the best in the county, one of the school rules of Sobu High School is that dating is not allowed. Students who dare to show their affection openly are the principal and teachers' biggest worry, because it affects their salary and benefits. ]

[As long as any signs of love are found, they will all be killed without mercy! ]

[The principal's momentum when he slammed the table and said this at the teachers' meeting that year was like Jiang Wei in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms preparing for a last-ditch battle. His usually mellow face actually looked like a general in the Warring States Period when he became serious, except that the shining Mediterranean on his head somewhat ruined his image and temperament.]

[However, how could students in adolescence, who were in the age of inner excitement, honestly abide by this school rule? The courtyard was occupied by students who were developing secret relationships for a long time. Couples used the excuse of eating together here to avoid being chased by school teachers. They often sat on the guardrails under the trees and smiled as they watched the teachers walk by with glaring eyes, looking for direct evidence of their intimacy. When they couldn't find any evidence, they left in despair with a look of helplessness on their faces, and they enjoyed it.]

[This includes Shizuka Hiratsuka, but she is not one of the students, but one of the teachers who played the role of the hunter. As a girl who was approaching 30 and wanted to get married, her hatred for couples can be imagined. She has always been the most active teacher in responding to the school's rule. Couples who were caught in the act of intimacy and fell into her hands would not leave without a layer of skin peeled off. She was feared by the student couples back then.]

[I would rather fall into the hands of the principal than enter the Hiratsuka Gate! ]

[This proverb had extraordinary power among the lovers of Sobu High School back then, and it has remained popular for a long time. Even after many years, it is still regarded as a campus legend by the students of Sobu High School now. They talk about it with relish, and speculate about what kind of god the Hiratsuka teacher of Sobu High School was, who could make those seniors so afraid.]

[Hiratsuka Shizuka walked towards the atrium, but another Hiratsuka Shizuka ran over to her side, grabbed the collars of the two loving couples beside the flower bed with one hand, and dragged them to the office of the dean of discipline with a grim smile, ignoring their pleas for mercy. The other couples around looked at the dashing back of the two unlucky guys dragging away in fear, lamenting that another pair of comrades had unfortunately fallen into the five fingers of the Hiratsuka devil. The remaining few passing single dogs smiled gloatingly, secretly praising Hiratsuka teacher for doing a good job in their hearts! The members of the FFF group looked up at her with admiration, and firmly believed in their hearts and vowed to emulate Hiratsuka Shizuka...]

[As Hiratsuka Shizuka's black boots stepped into the shadow cast by the tree canopy in the courtyard, the other Hiratsuka Shizuka and the couple she held in her hands, as well as the classmates watching the excitement and the other couples in silence, all turned into invisible and colorless phantoms and disappeared, only the laughter and joy seemed to still linger in the ears.]

[Those are just illusions of the past. As time goes by, the students she taught have graduated many years ago and have embarked on their own paths in life, becoming people in society like Hiratsuka Shizuka. Some have even started families and careers like Tobe Sho and Sagami Minami.]

[“This place…hasn’t changed at all.”]

【Ha ha ha ha--】

[Hiratsuka Shizuka closed her eyes, the laughter of her students continued to ring in her ears, echoing deep in her heart, like a ray of light shining in her tired soul.]

[Sobu High School is still Sobu High School, Nakatani is still Nakatani, and Hiratsuka Shizuka is still Hiratsuka Shizuka. 】

[But everyone who was here back then has long since left and never returned. She is the only one who returned here after leaving, just to keep the promise she made with a student, who she doesn't know if she still remembers.]

[Shizuka Hiratsuka feels like she is a ghost from the past, wandering alone in a place that only she remembers and unwilling to leave. Her back must look a bit pitiful.]

[She looked up at the teaching buildings around her. Students were still attending classes, wearing the familiar black school uniforms, but there was not a single student she was familiar with.]

[A few students who were sitting by the window and daydreaming noticed Shizuka Hiratsuka standing under the tree in the courtyard, and looked at this beauty they had never seen before with curiosity. Shizuka Hiratsuka also smiled and waved to them, then turned and walked towards the stairs of one of the teaching buildings.]

【Snapped. 】

[She stepped on the stairs, and the sound of her footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell because students were in class.]

[It has been many years since she left, but when Shizuka Hiratsuka stepped onto this staircase and walked up, she didn't feel strange at all, as if she had never left. ]

[And many years ago, the Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had a piece of bread in her mouth, milk and textbooks in her hands, and a tired look in her eyes, passed by me and walked in the direction she was going. ]

[Hiratsuka Shizuka followed the steps of herself in her memory, quietly bypassing the classroom where students were taking classes, looking far away at the teacher's office where she used to stay, passing by the door of the health room, walking through the corridor full of student clubs, and slowly walking towards the other side of the teaching building where there were few people.]

[Hiratsuka Shizuka is so familiar with this place that she can walk to any place she wants to go in the school with her eyes closed.]

[She thought she had forgotten the way here, but when she came here, all the memories surged out from the depths of her brain like a flood, washing away the dust of time. The water of memory flowed down along the track, washing through every pipe, washing away the dried traces and revealing the original color underneath.]

[But when you spend at least a quarter of your life in one place, how can you not feel familiar with it? ]

【Finally, Shizuka Hiratsuka stopped and slowly opened her eyes.】

[What appeared before her was a sliding door of a classroom. ]

【“…”】

[Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at the sliding door, as if she could see the scene inside through it.]

[A girl with long black hair is sitting by the window, reading a book. The breeze blows up her hair tied with a red string and the pages of the book. The girl with slightly frowned brows puts the long hair by her ears behind her head, puts a bookmark into the book to find the content she wants to read and turns to the next page; a girl with pink hair tied in two buns is lying on the table, clicking on the shopping app on her mobile phone with both hands to find the cosmetics she wants to buy, but sighs because of the expensive prices; a boy with dead fish eyes and short black hair sits stiffly on a chair far away from the two of them, holding a stack of manuscripts and looking hopeless; a fat boy with short white hair and a windbreaker outside his school uniform stands in front of him with great interest, his eyes sparkling as he waits for his best friend to appreciate his new "masterpiece" about a love quadrangle. The girl with long black hair and short pink hair casts pitying glances at the dead fish eyes here...]

[Even their voices can be heard clearly.]

[“Hey, hey, Hachiman! Come and have a look! This is my most proud new masterpiece!”]

[“Uh… you can look for Yukinoshita first—”]

[“It was the director who asked me to come to you! She said she would wait for your evaluation before reading it, and said “If you are more conscious than Penguin, you might as well read it.” I wonder why the director said that?”]

[…Then, Yuigahama—”]

[“Yuigahama-san said that her literary literacy is not as profound as yours, Hachiman and Yukinoshita-san, and that your evaluation is definitely better than hers, and she also asked me to come to you. But after I went to the club, she asked me to come to you.”]

【“…”】

【"?"】

[“…Then maybe you could talk to Mr. Hiratsuka? He teaches Chinese after all, so he’s definitely better at evaluating works than I am (his voice gets lower and lower)…”]

[“Hmm~ That’s true. Then Hiratsuka-sensei should be right now—”]

[“Eh? Hiratsuka-sensei!”]

【Click.】

[After the last exclamation, Hiratsuka Shizuka opened the sliding door in front of her. ]