Chapter Forty-One: In Truth, Panic Reigned

Unexpectedly, Kitta Ishihara did not say anything like "Kid, come with me to the rooftop," as one might expect, but instead stared coldly at Tsukasa Aoki, suppressing his anger as he spoke, "Last time, I was careless. This time, I want a proper kendo match."

"Oh..." Tsukasa Aoki scratched his head, knowing his own abilities well. He was on the verge of breaking through to fourth-level kendo, all thanks to Saeko Busujima's generous instruction. However, fighting Saeko Busujima so often had taught him that his previous victory was truly a stroke of luck. He’d heard that Kitta Ishihara was the second strongest in the kendo club, right below Saeko Busujima, and he wasn't confident he could win.

"But why should I fight you?" Tsukasa Aoki feigned confusion and shrugged. "I've only been learning kendo for a few days, so why does Senior Ishihara insist on dueling me?"

Kitta Ishihara frowned, his gaze icy as he glared at Tsukasa Aoki, his tone unfriendly. "Do you know, today my brother said he wanted to come talk to you directly, but I refused. I believe matters of kendo are best resolved with kendo. If you fight me again, I’ll tell my brother, and he won’t bother entangling himself with a first-year. But if you refuse... hmph!"

"The rumors going around the school these days, you should be well aware of them. I don’t care for many things, but I can’t lose face. Either we have a kendo match that doesn’t end until someone can’t get up from the ground," Kitta Ishihara glared fiercely at Tsukasa Aoki, "or I’ll find another way to reclaim my pride."

Ah, this kid actually has some backbone!

Tsukasa Aoki felt that the fierce-looking guy before him was more manly than he’d expected. Instead of bringing his brother to deal with him, he wanted to get up where he fell. Of course, part of it was probably because he thought Tsukasa's kendo skills weren’t enough yet, but it was still better than Tsukasa’s own petty scheming.

However...

If he lost the kendo match, the mission requiring him to make a name for himself would certainly be affected.

If he used an item to win, there was no telling if this guy would get angry and bring others to gang up on him. Without items, even the toughest hero can’t take on four people at once. At most, he could handle two or three, but a dozen would be overwhelming. The only one who might help was Tora Maeda, but the two of them wouldn’t be enough...

So the best choice was to provoke him, get him to gather all his people, then escalate the situation. With everyone present, he could use his item to defeat them all in front of everyone. If a group couldn't beat him, they'd have to accept it, wouldn't they? Plus, taking on a dozen at once would surely earn him plenty of respect, and fame would follow.

Although he had little fondness for the delinquent lifestyle and didn’t really like fighting, Tsukasa Aoki wanted to maximize the mission rewards. If he could draw an item to cure Sora’s illness, wouldn’t that be wonderful!?

So, Tsukasa Aoki calmly smiled, then suddenly his expression turned cold as he stared at Kitta Ishihara, enunciating each word, "Enough with the nonsense. Bring your brother and come challenge me directly. As long as you have time, I don’t mind helping you all get some exercise. And remember, next time you come to another class, knock first and wait for permission to enter."

He stepped in front of Kitta Ishihara, looking up slightly—though he was a bit shorter, his aura was overwhelming. His usually lethargic eyes were now as sharp as a hunting eagle locked on its target, meeting Kitta Ishihara's gaze without flinching. "If you want trouble, stop making excuses. I don’t like fighting, nor causing trouble, but if you insist on bothering me, then come at me."

"This time, make sure you don’t hold back." Tsukasa Aoki sneered, "I’m poor, so please buy insurance for your medical bills."

Kitta Ishihara, boiling with rage, almost instinctively reached out to shove the bald kid in front of him, intending to beat him black and blue.

But in the next moment, he stopped. Tsukasa Aoki’s icy gaze made him feel as though he were standing naked in the snow, a chill raising goosebumps all over his skin.

This guy... his presence is intense!

Kitta Ishihara stood frozen, locked in a staring contest with Tsukasa Aoki.

Meanwhile, Shinmi Teruohashi, having just received the news, was rushing toward the classroom. She had been organizing files in the teacher’s office when someone told her that the upperclassman Kitta Ishihara seemed to be causing trouble for Tsukasa Aoki, which shocked her and filled her with worry.

She practically shoved the files into the bewildered teacher’s hands and hurried out of the office. Pushing through the crowd at the classroom door, the onlookers made way for her, and she saw the scene unfolding—Tsukasa Aoki with his hands in his pockets, staring coldly at the much taller Kitta Ishihara, his posture upright, his aura overwhelming. It was clear Tsukasa Aoki was dominating Kitta Ishihara.

Tsukasa Aoki’s already fierce face now looked like the gang bosses she’d seen in movies, as if the hands in his pockets could pull out a gun at any moment.

Yet Shinmi Teruohashi found Tsukasa Aoki not only intimidating, but also radiating a commanding presence that made him seem taller and stronger, truly cool and impressive! Even those movie gang bosses with armies of henchmen didn’t have such presence. She even thought that the generals and emperors in ancient novels must have possessed such terrifying aura.

Oh... oh my!

Shinmi Teruohashi covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. How could this be... she had completely forgotten her original intent to stop the confrontation. Standing amidst the crowd, staring at Tsukasa Aoki’s extraordinarily cool face, she was utterly transfixed.

Tsukasa Aoki smirked, oblivious to his charm working overtime, and simply recited the lines he’d rehearsed in his mind: "Think it over, then come find me. For now, don’t disturb my studies."

Kitta Ishihara, ashamed by his own sudden loss of composure, snorted coldly and tried to sound fierce. "Fine, since you’re so eager for trouble, don’t blame me for bullying the younger. Tsukasa Aoki, I actually admire you a bit."

With that, he snorted again and turned to leave.

I’m not afraid of this kid, he just has a strong friend beside him (Tora Maeda). If I pick a fight now, it’d be even more embarrassing. This is just a strategic retreat; I’ll gather people and have him beaten up to restore my pride. If I get into a fight now and lose, it would be even worse. So, maintaining my composure and leaving is the right move! Yes, that’s it!

Consoling himself, Kitta Ishihara left the classroom with a dark expression.

Tsukasa Aoki watched him leave, then casually sat back down, picked up his pen, and appeared to focus on his worksheet, though his mind was far from calm: Damn, I thought he was going to hit me just now. Wow, acting tough is really intense! Fighting is so hard!

Tora Maeda looked at Tsukasa Aoki with a gaze of reverence, his heart filled with awe: The boss is truly the boss, that aura... so powerful! To remain so calm when facing such an opponent is really impressive!

No wonder I willingly follow this man!

Tora Maeda was visibly excited, and Shinmi Teruohashi standing at the door was flushed as well: So... so cool... Tsukasa...

The classmates watching, along with the curious students in the hallway, thought: This bald kid... is incredible! He’s not even afraid of a second-year, no, he’s so intimidating that even the second-year is afraid of him! Is this guy really just a normal high school student?

Tsukasa Aoki stared blankly at his worksheet, his pen trembling imperceptibly.

My name is Tsukasa Aoki. Honestly, I was scared out of my wits just now.