Chapter 40: Trouble Arrives! (Extra Chapter for Recommendation Votes!)

The next day at school.

“Boss...” Maeda Tora furrowed his brows as he approached Aoki Shu.

Aoki Shu was engrossed in the test paper their teacher had just handed out. When he saw Maeda Tora’s grave and worried expression, he raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Maeda Tora let out a sigh. “Boss, you know Ishihara Kiyota, right?” Seeing Aoki Shu nod, he continued, “He came to school today.”

“Oh?” Only then did Aoki Shu recall that unfortunate fellow, who’d apparently been recuperating in the hospital these past few days.

“I’m not really worried you can’t handle him, but...” Maeda Tora scratched his head, taking a moment to gather his words. “I hear he’s pretty petty. If it were just him, it wouldn’t matter, but the real problem is his older brother in third year— Ryota Ishihara. Ryota’s got quite the reputation as a delinquent here. He’s got a lot of followers, and plenty of connections outside school too. Normally, he wouldn’t bother with us, but lately, Boss, you’ve been making waves... There’s a chance you’ve caught his eye.”

“Making waves?” Aoki Shu let out a dry laugh. “All I’ve done is get into a scuffle with you guys. That’s it.”

Maeda Tora forced a sheepish grin. “I know you keep a low profile, but rumors have a life of their own. There’s nothing I can do about what people say.”

“What are they saying?” In truth, Aoki Shu was quite curious about his reputation.

“Uh... They say that as soon as you joined the Kendo Club, you beat up second-year Kiyota Ishihara, all to challenge Ryota Ishihara for the title of school boss. Another version is that you did it for second-year Senior Sister Doshima... um, they say you like her.” Maeda Tora hesitated, then went on, “And there’s some rumor out of nowhere that you have a yakuza background— both your parents are in the syndicate, and you’ve even taught our homeroom teacher Matsushita a lesson several times...”

What the hell!?

Aoki Shu stared in disbelief, eyes wide. “Me? Where the hell would I get a yakuza background? And Kiyota Ishihara—he was the one who came looking for trouble, so how did it become me beating him up first? I’ve never once even considered being school boss! As for Senior Sister Doshima, I only sparred with her a few times... I don’t dislike her, but it’s not like I’m in love or anything! And as for Matsushita, I’ve never even spoken to him, let alone ‘taught him a lesson’!”

“I have no idea either.” Maeda Tora looked equally troubled. “I tried to set the record straight, told people not to spread it, but it hasn’t helped. I heard that as soon as Kiyota Ishihara arrived at school today, Ryota Ishihara called him over. I’m worried they’ll come after you after class. If they’re impatient, maybe even before that.”

Aoki Shu let out a helpless sigh, dropping his forehead to the desk. “Oh...”

What the hell is he supposed to do now? Aoki Shu frowned, never expecting that barely any time had passed since things calmed down, and trouble was already headed his way again.

But when soldiers come, you meet them with generals; when water rises, you build a dam. There was nothing he could do to avoid this confrontation—unless he went to Ishihara Kiyota and admitted defeat.

Hell, even if Aoki Shu had that thought, the long-silent system would never allow it.

[Mission triggered: Burgeoning Reputation]

[Burgeoning Reputation: To be a true delinquent, you need a name—intimidation, not obscurity. If you want to be an outstanding delinquent, you must not only fight, but make a name for yourself. Defeat those who come looking for trouble until they’re sincerely convinced, and let your name resound throughout the entire school. Mission requirements: 1) Defeat your opponents convincingly. 2) After the incident, gain fame throughout the school. Mission rewards: Random item reward x1, free attribute points x3. Additional random rewards based on mission completion.]

Aoki Shu sighed and clutched his head in distress.

With both swordsmanship and mixed martial arts as his foundation, he wasn’t exactly afraid of fights anymore... The real issue was, how do you fight in a way that earns respect? And makes you famous in the process?

If he could single-handedly take on all of them, maybe it’d work, but there’s no way he could win against so many! It’s not as if he’s got a cheat code to magically fight ten more...

Wait!

A sudden thought struck him—he still had an item he’d never used.

[Daruma Sticker: At first glance, it looks just like a cute sticker a little girl would put on her pencil case. But once you stick it on yourself, you become an unyielding daruma—impossible to knock down. Effect: Triples your resistance to blows, and you cannot be knocked off your feet. Any injuries sustained during its three-minute duration will fully heal within twelve hours. Note: If a person is killed, they die. You understand that, right? Duration: Three minutes.]

With the system’s prompt, Aoki Shu remembered the unused item and a plan began to form in his mind: maybe this mission isn’t impossible after all...

“Where’s Aoki Shu?” Suddenly, a brash voice called out from the back door of the classroom.

Aoki Shu turned around. It was Kiyota Ishihara, the same bandage still on his head.

He shoved aside a trembling classmate standing by the door and strode toward Aoki Shu, his attitude full of swagger. The students around them stared in fear, not daring to say a word. Even the students from other classes who had gathered in the corridor to watch the spectacle were silent, eyeing the scene with caution. The once lively break between classes now felt as orderly as a lesson.

Maeda Tora’s face turned pale as he stood up to speak for Aoki Shu, but Aoki Shu stopped him with a calm hand and looked at Kiyota Ishihara, asking evenly, “What brings you here, Senior Ishihara?”

A flash of anger crossed Ishihara’s eyes before he sneered and stepped inside, fixing Aoki Shu with a cold gaze. He spoke, pausing between each word, “Last time, I lost to you—and I’m not satisfied.”

“Fight me again—with swords!” To everyone’s surprise, that was what Kiyota Ishihara declared.