April 9th, 20XX.
Narukami Gakuen Gymnasium.
Following Ryûko's request and Yuuki's refusal, he challenged her to change his mind.Following Ryûko's request and Yuuki's refusal, he challenged her to change his mind.
The challenge was simple: land a single hit on Yuuki in battle. Yuuki even advised them to call the entire school for help, if they needed.
They'd chosen the school gymnasium for the showdown—a place that looked almost too grand for a student brawl.
Sunlight streamed in through tall windows, scattering golden patches across the polished wooden floor. The high ceiling, with its neat geometric patterns and soft, glowing lights, made even the smallest sound echo in every corner.
At one end, a stage waited in dignified silence and gave the whole place a slightly old-fashioned, almost regal air. It was the kind of gym where you could imagine a school assembly.
But for Ryûko and her friends, it was perfect: plenty of space for running, dodging, and, most importantly, failing in style.
The challenge was simple : land a single hit on Yuuki in battle. Yuuki even advised them to call the entire school for help, if they needed.
Ryûko refused his advice, choosing to rely solely on her team;, along with Waguri, who tagged along.
The five students were now up against Yuuki, whose expression remained as unreadable as ever.
Yuuki
"You didn't take my advice, it seems."
Ryûko
"Of course not! That would be unfair!"
Yuuki sighed, shaking his head slowly.
Yuuki
"As I expected from you.... Before we start, there are some rules I would like you to acknowledge..."
Yuuki held up a finger, his gaze shifting from Ryûko to her friends.
Yuuki
"... First, your objective is to hit me—either with a direct hit or a projectile. For the record, even a blocked projectile counts as a hit."
He raised a second finger.
Yuuki
"Secondly, we can fight for as long as you want after school, but the deadline remains on Friday."
He raised a third finger.
Yuuki
"Thirdly, if anyone gets injured here, I'll take full responsibility. I don't want you to have any problems."
Yôsuke
"Wait? Why would you do that?"
Yuuki
"I agreed to give you a chance because I thought Ryûko was right. If you plan to win, having me on your team is essential. Since any other outcome will be your defeat and my win. So, technically, everything that will happen here is technically my responsibility."
Ryûko
"What's the last rule ?"
Yuuki slipped his hands in his pockets.
Yuuki
"The fourth and final rule is that you are allowed to use anything you want to touch me. You can even fake being injured to catch me off guard. I don't care."
Ryûko stepped forward, clenching her fist.
Ryûko
"Hey! We're not doing that! That's unfair!!"
Yuuki
"If you think winning is about being fair, then you are—"
Before Yuuki could finish, a light arrow shot toward him—but it halted just inches from his skin.
Waguri
"Stop yapping already. Let's settle it once and for all."
Yuuki
"As you wish."
Yuuki leapt down from the stage. His feet hit the ground with a thud that seemed to shake the entire gymnasium.
Yuuki
"Come at me."
Ryûko and Yôsuke exchanged a glance. They knew it was up to them to lead the first attack.
Fueled by determination, they charged at Yuuki—who, hands still in his pockets, watched them with an unreadable expression.
Yôsuke stepped forward, throwing two quick punches—a left jab followed by a right.
Unfazed, Yuuki dodged both punches with ease. Ryûko followed, shifting her weight to her left leg and delivering a powerful right kick. Yuuki crouched and leapt back, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Yuuki
"Nice try."
Akira slipped behind Yuuki, reaching out to touch him. Yuuki spun instantly, locking eyes with Akira.
Akira's fingers were just centimeters from Yuuki's jacket when Yuuki clenched his fist, eyes sharp.
Yuuki
"That will hurt."
As Yuuki prepared to strike, two projectiles flew toward him—Waguri's arrow of light and Mori's ice spikes.
They should have forced him to dodge, but instead, both shattered against an invisible barrier.
Waguri
("Again?!")
Akira felt the pressure of Yuuki's attack, forcing him to abandon his attempt and raise his arms in defense.
Despite blocking with both arms, the blow's impact reverberated through the gymnasium.
Akira was hurled backward, crashing violently into a wall.
Ryûko
"Akira!"
Akira
"I'm okay..."
Akira struggled to stand, his arms tingling painfully.
Yôsuke and Ryûko quickly positioned themselves between Yuuki and Akira.
Yôsuke
(Projectiles don't seem to affect him. We need to find a way to break through his defense.)
Ryûko
(I know. But if we leave him any openings, we'll get hit just like Akira.)
Akira
(It wasn't that hard, I can clearly tell that he was holding back...)
Yuuki watched them silently.
Yôsuke
(He doesn't seem to plan on attacking first. If he only defends, that works for us.)
Yuuki heard their whispered words, even from this distance.
Yuuki
"I'm not just defending. I want to see what you're made of before I finish this."
Waguri
"You aren't even taking us seriously, huh?"
Yuuki
"It's not about taking you seriously. You're not a threat. that's for sure. A just want to test what my competition looks like. And to be honest... Honestly, if this is it, I won't even need to use one percent of my abilities."
While Yuuki and Waguri spoke, Yôsuke and Ryûko launched a surprise attack. Yuuki leapt back several meters with ease.
Waguri and Mori fired projectiles at Yuuki, who deflected them effortlessly without moving.
Once again, in hand-to-hand combat against Yôsuke and Ryûko, their exchanges were one-sided, They struck without landing a single hit, never even coming close.
Yuuki's speed outmatched them both. His footwork was fluid, his movements light compared to their heavier strikes.
Ryûko
("We're so close... But...")
Lost in thought, Ryûko swung another kick. Yuuki deflected it smoothly, then countered with a sharp kick to her left side.
Yôsuke tried to maintain distance, but Yuuki caught him off guard with a subtle trip. Yôsuke stumbled, losing his footing.
As Yôsuke scrambled to recover, Yuuki's fist slammed into his stomach. The blow knocked the air out of him, sending him crashing to the mat.
Yuuki
"Double kill."
In a flash, several projectiles streaked toward Yuuki—but then, just as suddenly, he seemed to vanish. Waguri and Mori exchanged confused glances, scanning for Yuuki's whereabouts.
Ryûko
"Behind you!"
They spun around at Ryûko's warning—only to suffer the same fate as Yôsuke. This time, they were hurled toward Ryûko, crashing hard onto the wooden floor.
Yuuki
"Hm..."
Yuuki watched as his five opponents struggled to rise, pain etched on their faces.
Yuuki
"Oh? You're tougher than I thought. After hits like those, most people would be out."
Yôsuke fired a kunai at Yuuki, but like the others, it halted just before reaching him and dropped to the floor.
Yôsuke
"We trained for this... We aren't... the average humain."
Akira
"Yeah... We are... strong."
Yuuki
"Calling yourselves "strong" is a strong word, if you ask me."
Waguri
"I don't know... if you're doing this on purpose, but you should... stop underestimating us. You might get a nasty surprise."
Yuuki
"Then surprise me."
The five charged at Yuuki with full force and unwavering determination.
Yuuki
"Interesting."
*
Later that same day, the late afternoon sun poured through the gymnasium windows, painting the floor with golden light.
The creak of a door breaking the silence echoed through the empty gym. A young girl with black hair peeked inside, her eyes gently squinted but no at the brightness of the room.
She moved awkwardly, her steps uneven, but after a few paces, the sunlight caught her face, revealing cheeks flushed with a soft pink that contrasted gently with her fair skin.
Her long black hair bounced with each step, her fringe falling just enough to hide her forehead, lending her an air of quiet nobility.
She wore the school uniform casually—the dark red and black pleated skirt slightly shortened, the dark plum jacket draped over an apple-green sweater. Her tie, a shade closer to dark magenta than red, marked her as a second-year. A red armband on her arm confirmed her role in the student council.
"Oh... There you were."
Her soft voice drifted toward four students lying on the ground.
"Uwah... Are you all bullied or something?"
She said curiously, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Tch... Stop talking like you don't know what's going on!"
Even on the verge of passing out, Waguri's tone was as blunt and aggressive as ever.
"Eh? What makes you think that I knew about it? Not that it's wrong but—"
She cut herself off, sensing a presence behind her. Spinning around, she spotted a purple-haired boy.
"Oh, you must be..."
Yuuki
"Yes, I'm the culprit behind this mess."
"...I see. The fact that you aren't denying it with that face is amusing. Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Watanabe Futaba..."
Watanabe Futaba 渡辺 双葉, second year, students council advisor.
She held out her hand,
Futaba
"...Nice to meet you, Harumaki Yuuki."
Yuuki
"Likewise."
They shook hands, still sitting on the floor. Waguri glared, clearly annoyed that Yuuki was even in the same room.
Futaba
"So, how did it go?"
Yuuki and Waguri
"Very badly, as you can see."
Futaba
"Eh~ At least you lasted an hour or so. There's still hope for you yet."
Yuuki
"Actually—"
Waguri tried to reach out and poke Yuuki's leg, but her arm flopped uselessly to the floor.
Waguri
"We've been lying here for the last thirty min—"
Yuuki
"Forty-five minutes, it's already. 4:59PM."
Futaba
"So you beat them in fifteen minutes?"
Yuuki
"Three minutes, actually. We started at 4:10."
Futaba covered her mouth with her palm, faking surprise. A light "Oh." coming out of her mouth.
She crouched next to Waguri and started poking her cheek with a finger.
Futaba
"My bet was closer to ten minutes... I'm disappointed, you know?"
Waguri
"Zip it already! Or I will kill you."
Futaba just kept poking, her smile growing wider with every jab.
Yuuki
"I'm impressed that you are conscious, I hit you pretty hard."
Waguri clicked her tongue, annoyed by Yuuki's attitude. She was sure of it now—she couldn't stand him. Just seeing his face made her blood boil.
Waguri
"...Who do you think you are? We won't be chasing after your dumb*ss around forever, you know?"
Yuuki
"Hm... Fair enough. But honestly, you should chase after me. If you want to avoid losing, it's better to have me on your side."
Waguri clenched her fist, practically vibrating with rage.
Waguri
"Get lost already..."
Yuuki
"Good idea. I need to make dinner anyway... Not sure what to cook, though.
Waguri
"I don't know? Rat poison, maybe?"
Yuuki
"Uh...?"
Yuuki looked at Waguri, completely serious.
Yuuki
"It doesn't taste good, though. Don't you have better recommendations?"
He was dead serious—which, for some reason, only pissed Waguri off more.
Yuuki caught the look in her eyes—time to leave before things got ugly. He gave a polite salute and headed for the door, but not before dropping a bag of medical supplies on the floor.
Futaba
"This boy is... Special."
Waguri
"And incredibly annoying."
Futaba's gaze drifted over the four other "corpses" on the floor.
Futaba
"Shouldn't you be healing them? Your kikai can do that, right? They look like they got run over by a truck."
Waguri
"As if I could... God only knows how I'm still conscious."
Futaba
"Eh? Don't tell me I have to take care of you? That sounds like a pain."
Waguri
"So glad that you are worried about us. You are the kindest person in the world, Watanabe-senpai."
Waguri's sarcasm was obvious, but Futaba just played along, pretending not to notice.
Futaba
"I never agreed to that, though. Maybe Harumaki-san hit your head a little too hard."
Waguri
"You—"
A new voice cut in.
"Ah. You are already awake."
Another figure entered the gym—the last person anyone expected to be standing.
Tsukishima Mori walked over, clutching a bag to her chest.
Mori
"Did Harumaki-san already leave?"
Waguri
"Tsukimomo... Why are you... When did you wake up?"
Mori
"About thirty minutes ago."
Waguri's eyes widened at Mori's calmness. It reminded her a little of Yuuki, but somehow, it didn't annoy her.
She looked Mori up and down—honestly, Mori looked worse off than the rest of them. So why was she up and moving, and with that same calm look on her face?
Waguri
"So, what happened while we were out?"
Mori
"I fought Harumaki-san alone...and it didn't go well."
Waguri
"That's it?"
Mori shook her head in disapproval.
Mori
"When I lost again, he gave me advice on using my powers better. He even gave us tips to improve our chances tomorrow."
Waguri
"What? Why would he do that?"
Mori
"I don't know. He didn't tell me why. But he kept his word—he went to get supplies for us and even asked the nurse to check on everyone."
Futaba
"Oh. Isn't he just the nicest guy?"
Waguri clicked her tongue again. Even with Mori listing all of Yuuki's good deeds, Waguri's opinion didn't budge.
Waguri
"Then why didn't you try to touch him while he was distracted?"
Mori
"He wanted me to. Harumaki-san even said I could catch him off guard, but it didn't work. He left the infirmary before I could try again."
Futaba
"It's like he's trying his hardest to help you win—while being totally sure you still can't beat him. You're in deep trouble, Tonakura-chan."
Waguri
"I guess..."
*
The next day, after school, Hinata and her friends returned to the same gymnasium, ready to face Yuuki again.
They lasted a little longer than the day before, but Yuuki still outclassed them completely—they couldn't even lay a finger on him.
The day after that, nothing changed. No matter what they tried, Yuuki was untouchable. Even after lasting fifteen minutes, they ended up flat on their backs—twice.
They had no choice but to push past their limits—just for the chance to land a single hit.
And soon, Friday arrived—their last shot at getting Yuuki on their team.
*
Lunch break, 1:15 PM. Narukami Gakuen's rooftop.
Ryûko lounged on the little rooftop structure near the entrance, legs stretched out and arms behind her head.
She stared up at the sky, bandages scattered across her arms and a few scratches marking her cheeks. Her muscles still ached from yesterday's fight—when a familiar voice cut through her thoughts.
Rachel
"Hinata-kun... You know you're not supposed to be up here, right?"
Ryûko glanced left. Rachel stood there, hands on her hips, giving off full "student council president" energy.
Ryûko
"Oh! Sorry, Miss President—I had no idea!"
Rachel
"Don't worry about it, you will be forgiven after a suitable punishment."
Ryûko shot upright, waving her hands in a mild panic.
Ryûko
"Eh? But I apologized! I really didn't know! Please, have mercy!"
Rachel
"This is non-negotiable."
Ryûko
"For real...?"
Ryûko looked down, scratching the back of her hand, cheeks puffed out in mock sulking.
As Ryûko started to stand, Rachel's firm voice stopped her.
Rachel
"Wait! I have something to ask before you go."
Ryûko
"Uh? What is it, Miss President? If it's about the broken window, I swear it wasn't my fault—it was my shoes!"
Rachel giggled, clearly amused by Ryûko's honesty. She didn't mention the window, but Ryûko's confession was definitely noted for later.
Rachel
"It's about another matter. About your after-class meetings with Harumaki Yuuki-kun."
Ryûko
"Oh? What about them?"
Rachel
"You have made quite the sensation, you know? Everyone is talking about it."
Ryûko scratched the back of her head, a sheepish grin on her face.
Ryûko
"Oh really? Sorry if I'm causing trouble to you, Miss President."
Rachel
"Haha! Don't worry. I'm still a student, so stories like that make things interesting for me too. But honestly, I'm impressed—you're trying so hard for him. Why?"
Ryûko
"Because the Newbie is super strong!"
Rachel's confident smile widened.
Rachel
"So strong you can't even touch him in a five-on-one?"
Ryûko
"There's more to it. It's like he's always holding back—a lot, actually. It's kind of—"
Rachel
"Frustrating?"
Ryûko waved her hands in front of her face, shaking her head.
Ryûko
"Not at all! I think it's amazing! He got so strong—even though he was probably at my level once. I'm really curious how he did it. And, well, I'm a little jealous, too. I want to be the strongest, just like him. Not just to win the tournament, but for other reasons, too."
Rachel chuckled, clearly entertained.
Rachel
"The strongest, huh? Even stronger than me?"
Ryûko tapped her chin, pretending to be deep in thought—maybe a little too dramatically.
Ryûko
"Hmm... A fight between Miss President and the Newbie would be super cool to watch! But, I think the Newbie would win—he's just stronger."
Rachel's interest was clearly piqued; her smile turned a little mischievous.
Rachel
"Let me help, then. I haven't drawn my blade in ages. If he's as strong as you say, maybe he'll finally make me do it."
Ryûko
"Ah... Sorry if this sounds rude, but... we don't need you."
Rachel
"Oh~?"
Ryûko looked at her palm, then clenched it into a fist, her voice full of determination.
Ryûko
"This trial is between the Newbie and us.I want to do it with my team."
Rachel
"Hm... You are massively outclassed, you know. Is there a reason?"
Ryûko stood up, hand over her heart, and—strangely—she couldn't help but smile.
Ryûko
"I fight for my friends. Their wishes matter as much as mine, so I'll do everything I can to protect their dreams. I always believed that together, nothing was impossible—and I want the Newbie to get that, too."
She tightened her grip on her chest, determination shining in her eyes.
Ryûko
"He said that he needed a reason to risk losing because of us, but that's not what I want. I want to show him that my friends and I are the real deal—that our wish to protect each other is a strength. So strong, he'd have the best chance of winning with us!"
Ryûko's smile was almost too bright for the moment, but her eyes shone with real determination as she met Rachel's gaze.
Rachel smiled in response and left without a word. As she left the rooftop, she came across Yuuki, who was eating his lunch on the stairs.
Rachel
"What an unexpected encounter. Why are you eating here, Harumaki-kun?"
Yuuki didn't look up from his lunchbox as he answered, voice as calm as ever.
Yuuki
"I like eating while looking at the sky, so I was going to eat on the rooftop. But I didn't want to interrupt, so I'm here instead."
Rachel
"Oh? I didn't think you were the considerate type."
Yuuki
"I care. Because Ryûko is my friend."
Rachel laughed softly, taking a few steps down before pausing.
Rachel
"You two are more alike than I thought. It's kind of unsettling."
Rachel prepared to leave, but tossed one last comment over her shoulder:
Rachel
"Each of us are aiming to win this tournament. If we end up fighting, would you lose to me?"
Yuuki looked up, meeting Rachel's eyes.
Yuuki
"No. I'd win."
Rachel
"Then I hope to see you on the battlefield—whether you're with them or alone."
She left, leaving Yuuki alone on the stairs.
Yuuki
"..."
Yuuki's mind with Ryûko's previous speech. Not only that, but he could hear her thoughts the entire time.
/ ("That girl... Isn't she too candid?")
Yuuki
("Maybe.")
("Are you sure that this was the right decision?")
Yuuki
("I don't know. I left the choice to them so... I don't know.") /
*
Later that day, Ryûko and her friends returned to the gymnasium, looking more determined than ever.
It wasn't about what they could lose anymore. Now, it was all about winning—this fight, and then the tournament. That had been their goal from the start, and it still was.
Hinata Ryûko, Odogiri Yôsuke, Toshinori Akira, Tsukishima Mori, and Tonakura Waguri—individually, none of them could match Yuuki. But together, they felt like a real team. They came to win as one.
The usual brawl kicked off: Ryûko and Yôsuke led the charge, Akira backed them up, and Waguri and Mori launched attacks from a distance.
Yuuki
("They're using the strategy I gave them yesterday. It worked well, so why go back to their old habits?")
Yôsuke and Ryûko threw a flurry of punches and kicks, hoping to land just one hit—but no luck.
Yuuki dodged with ease. Their moves were obvious to him; his attention was mostly on deflecting Mori's and Waguri's projectiles with his ability.
Ryûko
("His projectile-blocking... It's not automatic. If we can force him to focus on those, maybe we'll get an opening. And that's all we need!")
Ryûko aimed a high kick at Yuuki's face, but he dodged and stepped back, not even breaking a sweat.
Yôsuke immediately followed up, and two projectiles whizzed past, aiming for Yuuki
Yôsuke
("Come on, just once! Let me land it!")
Yôsuke's fingers sparked with energy, a faint glow dancing between them.
Yuuki
("Odogiri Yôsuke—by far the fastest, even though he's tall and pretty muscular...)
Sparks shot out from Yôsuke's fingers, darting toward Yuuki.
The sparks split in all directions. A few nearly reached Yuuki, but fizzled out—just like Waguri and Mori's projectiles.
Yuuki threw a punch, but Yôsuke ducked and instantly set up for a counterattack.
Yuuki
("...He has great agility and above average mobility. His constant change of pace making him tricky to read. With his speed, he could turn things around for a lot of people... But—")
Yuuki was about to strike, but Yôsuke pulled back and raised his guard, bracing for impact.
Yuuki
("Hand-to-hand isn't his thing. He's not a threat because he doesn't believe his hits will do any real damage. It's like he's just waiting for me to attack so he can counter with speed. And he barely uses his kikai—can't control it well, especially with allies nearby. Speed's all he's got against me, and unfortunately for him, I'm even faster.")
Yuuki was about to finish Yôsuke when an ice spike shot toward him—Akira was right behind it, moving in Yôsuke's shadow.
Yuuki started to step back, but sensed Ryûko behind him—she was waiting, ready to pounce.
Ryûko
("Come on, step back! Even if you don't, you'll have to deal with Akira and Mori's projectiles!")
Yuuki changed pace, landing a hit on Yôsuke and deflecting Akira's attack in a single motion.
He struck Akira with his palm, sending him skidding back a few meters.
Without hesitation, Yuuki charged at Mori and Waguri. Mori stepped forward, two fans at the ready, determined to protect Waguri.
Yuuki
("Tsukishima Mori—she seems more experienced than the rest. Her fighting style is solid; she mixes ranged attacks and decent close combat with those fans and her ice kikai. However...")
Yuuki clenched his fist and swung at Mori, not holding back.
Mori tried to block with an ice shield, but Yuuki was too fast.
Caught off guard, Mori's shield only half-formed—she took most of the hit head-on.
Yuuki didn't let up, pressing his attack.
Yuuki
("She hesitates too much—it's like she doesn't trust herself. Which is weird since she actually does better when fighting me alone. Her ice creations are slow to craft and too weak. She's well-rounded, but being decent at everything isn't enough against someone more experienced.")
Ryûko rushed in from behind, throwing a powerful kick at Yuuki's head.
Yuuki deflected it with his palm, letting Ryûko's momentum carry her past him. She managed to keep her balance, turning to face him again.
They traded blows, but it was clear Ryûko was just trying to survive.
Waguri jumped in, making it two-on-one—but Yuuki didn't seem fazed.
He handled them both with ease, then suddenly kicked Ryûko aside, leaving just him and Waguri.
Yuuki
("Tonakura Waguri. At first, she seemed to be the weakest among them. This is what I would say if I didn't pay attention to her kikai. Light attacks and healing—her projectiles are fast, but they hit like a baby's punch.")
Yuuki watched her closely. Waguri's movements were all clumsy, but it was clear that she was giving 120% of her abilities.
Yuuki
("She doesn't really know how to fight—not surprising, since she's not planning to enter the tournament. Her healing ability is the problem here. In close or far combat, she can heal everyone, maybe even herself, with those light arrows. That's why I always try to knock her out first. Weird they never tried to stop me...")
Waguri took two hits, but a cheeky grin spread across her face.
Yuuki
"Oh?"
Yuuki noticed something beneath him—an icy patch on the floor, probably Mori's work.
In an instant, a myriad of ice peaks shot up, forcing Yuuki to leap into the air to dodge.
Yuuki
("Was that a bait from the start ? Or...")
Yuuki glanced down—the five of them were already waiting for him to come back down.
Yuuki
("That's clever of them. Dodging five attacks at once isn't easy. I'll give them a 5 out of 10")
Yuuki twisted in midair, using the momentum to drop straight down—landing right in their midst.
Before they could react, Yuuki knocked Mori and Waguri aside. He turned to Ryûko, but Akira jumped in to protect her.
Yuuki
("Toshinori Akira... Honestly, nothing stands out. He's physically weak and technically underwhelming. Nothing about him is like a fighter's attribute. He tries to copy both Odogiri Yôsuke and Ryûko, without much luck. No unique strengths—just a weaker version. I wouldn't be surprised if his kikai isn't even meant for fighting. Whatever his reason for joining, he doesn't seem cut out for this.")
Akira tried to block Yuuki's attacks, but was overwhelmed almost instantly. Four quick hits landed, and Ryûko had to pull him out of the way.
Behind Yuuki, Yôsuke and Mori regrouped and charged in again.
Ryûko
("We have to attack together if we want even a chance. Usually, he escapes these situations to get some space. If I can read where he'll go, maybe I can—")
To her surprise, Yuuki didn't move—he waited for them to attack.
They instinctively took this opportunity to try forcing the decision. But even three-on-one, they couldn't do a thing.
Each attacks were dodged with ease while Yuuki was slowly breaking through their defenses. Soon enough, his strength completely overwhelmed them.
Yuuki
"It's time to end this."
Yuuki grabbed Yôsuke by the head, yanked him in, and drove his knee into Yôsuke's stomach. Yôsuke doubled over, saliva splattering the floor, before Yuuki kicked him aside.
Next was Mori—she barely put up a fight. In just a few seconds, Yuuki landed solid hits to her stomach, face, and side. Mori dropped to her knees in pain.
Yuuki was about to finish her off when Ryûko stopped him.
Ryûko
"Wait... I'm still standing,! Leave her alone!"
Yuuki glanced over his shoulder at Ryûko, then turned fully to face her. Mori collapsed, knocked out.
Ryûko
"Hehe... Seems like... It's you and me now."
Yuuki
"You really shouldn't fight me alone. You'll just get hurt."
Ryûko
"Try me!"
Before she'd even finished speaking, Ryûko dashed forward, throwing everything she had into a desperate attack.
Every blow was full of determination, but all she got in return were well-placed punches and kicks.
She wasn't a threat to him—in fact, it was the opposite. No matter how many times she tried, she couldn't land a single hit.
After another exchange, Ryûko finally blocked one of Yuuki's punches, but still had to step back, breath ragged.
Yuuki
"Hinata Ryûko..."
Yuuki walked toward her, eyes cold and focused.
Yuuki
"You're the strongest out of them. Your style is clear, your strengths obvious, and you get the most out of them. You've got great anticipation and reaction time. You trained hard for this—that's for sure."
Ryûko
"What are you—"
Yuuki stopped right in front of her.
Yuuki
"Stand up."
Yuuki's cold gaze bore down on her. Ryûko forced herself up, only to be kicked away again.
Again, Yuuki walked over and repeated himself.
Yuuki
"Stand up."
The same thing happened three times—until Ryûko finally reached one of the walls.
Yuuki
"Stand up. Hinata Ryûko."
This time, it took Ryûko much longer to stand, even as she leaned heavily against the wall.
Her face was slick with sweat and twisted in pain, but she rose regardless...
Ryûko
"COME ON!!"
Ryûko gave it everything she had, struggling for breath as she forced herself upright.
Ryûko
"You can... knock me down as much as you want... I'll stand up again, and again, and again!"
Yuuki stood in front of her, motionless and unfazed by her suffering. Her face—scratched, bruised, and with one swollen eyelid—still looked determined.
But the fierce blaze in her eyes hadn't faded. If anything, it burned brighter than ever.
Their eyes were so different, but Yuuki saw it—the same intense drive to protect something precious. Just like... hers.
/ ("This girl is persistent.")
Yuuki
("Yeah.")
("Too bad she isn't strong enough.")
Yuuki
("Yes. Too bad indeed.") /
Yuuki
"You want to save your father, right? Is this really all you've got?"
Ryûko
"No... I will save him. I'll get stronger—no matter what."
Yuuki
"On the roof, you said nothing's impossible with your friends. If we consider that you are right, you don't need me on your team. Even if I'm your enemy, you'd still win. Or am I wrong?"
Ryûko
"I did say that.... But it's not really like that..."
Yuuki
"Then, why did you tell them you'd lose without me?"
Ryûko swallowed hard. She could barely stand, but she forced herself to speak...
Despite everything, she summoned the last of her strength to tell Yuuki what she truly felt.
Ryûko
"...Because... it would feel like losing. If we won without you, it'd still feel like a loss."
Yuuki
"So the real reason behind my recruitment is so it doesn't feel like losing."
Ryûko nodded yes.
Ryûko
"It would be the same for any of us. If I didn't make it to the end with them, it'd feel like I lost."
Yuuki
"We only met a few days ago. Why do you care about my dream so much?"
Ryûko
"It's because..."
Ryûko looked Yuuki straight in the eyes.
Ryûko
"...Because you are precious to me."
Yuuki
"..."
Ryûko
"You're precious to me. That's why I want you to reach your dream. I want my dad to live like before, but more than that... I want all my precious friends to smile in the end. That's my real wish."
Ryûko stepped forward, clenching her fist.
Ryûko
("Should use it now...?")
Yuuki looked at Ryûko, his face emotionless—but inside, a lot more was happening. His mind raced with several memories, a past his heart wouldn't there to forget.
/// "Uh? Why do I stay with you all the time? It's obvious, no...? It's because you are precious to me! I feel like my place in this world is here right besides you. As of now and until the end of time, you are my dearest, Yuuki!" ///
Yuuki came back to reality, the memories as sweet as he remembered them to be. The girl in front of him, her pure heart radiating pure and blunt selflessness.
It reached his heart, just like she did when Yuuki met her for the first time.
Yuuki
"I remember..."
Yuuki looked at his palm.
Yuuki
"Someone I knew used to say that people who do everything for others, leaving themselves behind, are stupid—because those others usually don't need all that 'everything.' You're exactly like that, Hinata Ryûko. You go through so much just to make those precious to you happy."
Yuuki took a step closer.
Yuuki
"Exactly like that day, I still thinks that those people were stupid and egoistic.."
Yuuki stopped right in front of her.
Yuuki
"And with time, I realized I was like them too. Refusing to let go of the past, fighting to crush other people's dreams—that's one the most stupid and egoistic things you can do. In the end, we all just use our Kikai to chase our ambitions, like they were meant to be used."
// Kikai is made up of two kanji: 機 ("Ki," meaning opportunity) and 会 ("Kai," meaning reunion). So, at its core, Kikai means opportunity—used by humans to fulfill their ambitions. //
/ ("Is this enough for you ? Even though she lacks the strength.")
Yuuki
("Yes. I sincerely thought that they would fail, but here goes nothing.") /
Yuuki
"My name is Harumaki Yuuki. I want to win the Erabareshimono no Kyousou because there's someone I have to find, no matter what. What about you?"
Yuuki looked at Ryûko, his gaze calm and collected. His decision was made. Not because it was worth taking the risk, not because it was the nicest thing to do...
Ryûko was surprised by his sudden speech, but answered with her usual cheerful energy.
Ryûko
"My name is Hinata Ryûko, I want to win the Erabareshimono no Kyousou to help my dad—and because I want all my friends to reach their dreams too!"
Yuuki
("There's no logical reason for this. I'm the strongest—so why take this risk? Because I'm nice? Because I trust them? Or just because...")
Yuuki reached out his hand. His expression was as blank as ever, but Ryûko could feel the warmth in his voice—and his eyes.
Yuuki
"I feel the same. I want you to fulfil your ambition. So let's win this together."
Ryûko's eyes widened. She could tell Yuuki meant every word.
Ryûko
"Newbie... You... This... isn't a bait, right? You're for real, right?"
Yuuki
"Yeah. I've made up my mind. I want to join your team—and make it the one that wins everything."
Ryûko hesitated for a split second—then jumped right into Yuuki's arms.
He didn't try to dodge, so the two of them toppled to the floor together
Ryûko
"You really meant it!!!"
Ryûko hugged him tightly, tears welling up in her eyes
Ryûko
"Thank you so much!!!"
Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. The warmth from this surprise made her heart race.
Ryûko
"Thank you... Thank you so much..."
Yuuki gently patted her head.
Yuuki
"No worries."
*
Half an hour later, the others finally regained consciousness.
They sat in a circle, tending to their injuries as calmly as possible. Of course, one question hung in the air.
Waguri
"So... Care to explain what happened ?"
Ryûko
"Well, you know... We fought."
Akira
"And?"
Ryûko
"I got beat up pretty bad."
Yôsuke
"And?"
Ryûko
"Now the Newbie is with us."
Akira
"Yep, that doesn't make any sense!"
Ryûko
"Well, you weren't there so..."
Waguri sighed, exasperated.
Waguri
"That's why we're asking—You know what? Never mind."
Mori
"So, does that mean you're joining our team, Harumaki-san?"
Yuuki
"More or less. Actually, it's more like you're joining mine since I'll be the captain."
Akira
"Why? Ryûko's already our captain."
Ryûko
"He can do it. I don't mind. He's the strongest, so why not?"
Ryûko smiled at Yuuki, which made Akira visibly uncomfortable.
Akira
"I think you give him too much credit."
"Oh... Did I miss the final decision?"
A soft voice floated in from the gym entrance. Watanabe Futaba stood there, looking as relaxed as ever.
Futaba
"You all look like you've been through a war. Good news, though—the president wants to see you in her office. Right now."
Yôsuke
"By 'you,' do you mean all of us?"
Futaba
"Yep. You were all fighting here without permission, so the president has a few words for you."
Waguri
"Uh?"
She blinked, genuine confusion written all over her face.
Waguri
"She said we could use this gymnasium!"
Futaba
"That was just for Tuesday."
Waguri clicked her tongue and crossed her arms.
Waguri
"I freaking hate her."
Akira
"Hey, Watanabe-senpai. Are we in trouble ?"
Waguri
"Hmph.. Who knows?"
Waguri stood up and walked toward Futaba, with Mori helping her along—Mori somehow looking less tired than the rest.
Ryûko
"At least we recruited the Newbie!"
She exclaimed, grabbing Yuuki's arm with a big grin.
Yuuki
"You know... we can't enter the tournament."
Ryûko
"That's true. Guess we will see what happens, hehe!"
Yôsuke
"You are so simple minded Ryûko, that's what I love about you."
Yôsuke patted Ryûko's head, smiling.
Ryûko
"Thanks, Yôsuke!"
Watching his childhood friends being so carefree, Akira couldn't help but sigh.
Akira
"What have I gotten myself into...?"
To be continued...