You Can't Use the Same Move on a Saint Twice

Just then, the rooftop door opened again, and a figure walked slowly inside. It was Sugihara Kei, who hadn't shown his face in a long time!

Before, Sugihara Kei had been like a spear gleaming with a cold light, constantly radiating danger. Now he was like a blade in its sheath, no longer as sharp and exposed as before!

Go and Horii immediately stood up and blocked his path, their expressions hostile as they spoke.

"Sugihara-senpai... what do you want...?"

Sugihara Kei walked around them and went straight up to Shinnosuke.

"Tonight, I'll be waiting for you under Shibukawa Bridge."

Shinnosuke nodded calmly, and Sugihara Kei left the rooftop without looking back.

Beside him, Inoue Ryushi spoke slowly.

"That guy... cares way too much about saving face..."

Time passed, and Inoue Ryushi and the others arrived under Shibukawa Bridge early. The dim yellow light fell on everyone's faces, as though the outcome were already known.

Horii stared at Sugihara Kei, who stood a short distance away, and spoke.

"Sugihara-senpai's been standing there without moving for half an hour. Don't his legs go numb?"

"Who knows... But Sugihara-senpai is really strong. Even Shinnosuke couldn't beat him without getting hurt..."

As everyone talked, Shinnosuke swaggered into view with an arrogant stride.

"Look! Shinnosuke's here..."

"He's so slow... He's over half an hour late."

"Shinnosuke!"

Shinnosuke ignored them and walked straight up to Sugihara Kei.

"Sorry for the wait. Something held me up."

Sugihara Kei looked calmly at Shinnosuke. Without another word, he let out a roar and charged at him!

"Oh! It's starting, it's starting!"

"That was fast! They've already started!"

"So this is a showdown between strong fighters?! Not a single word wasted!"

Sugihara Kei shot out his hand, chopping sideways at Shinnosuke's neck! Shinnosuke raised a hand to block, only for Sugihara Kei to seize his wrist in an instant!

Sugihara Kei thrust out his left foot and hooked it around Shinnosuke's lower leg, twisting his waist to throw him over his back!

Just then, Shinnosuke grabbed Sugihara Kei's belt with one hand, stopping him from exerting any force. Sugihara Kei instantly dropped into a crouch and abruptly pulled away!

He planted a hand on the ground and suddenly launched himself from an unbelievable angle! His foot whipped across Shinnosuke's face, sending him staggering!

Shinnosuke steadied himself and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes fixed on Sugihara Kei!

Sugihara Kei slid in beneath Shinnosuke, pushed himself up with both hands, and kicked at his chin with both feet! Delight flashed across Sugihara Kei's face. He'd landed it!

Suddenly, he felt his feet kick through empty air without meeting any resistance. Then he saw Shinnosuke's calm eyes, and his heart tightened!

A tremendous force struck his abdomen, sending him flying backward. The moment he hit the ground, he rolled and forced himself to regain his balance!

"Wah..."

Sugihara Kei clutched his abdomen and spat out a mouthful of blood. Then he wiped his mouth and charged at Shinnosuke again!

He seized Shinnosuke's wrist again, dodged a heavy punch, then jerked his wrist sharply downward before yanking it back!

"Crack!"

Shinnosuke endured the pain and retreated, his right arm hanging limply! Sugihara Kei had caught him at the instant his muscles relaxed and dislocated his right arm!

"What kind of move was that?!"

"Judo has a move like that?!"

"Is Shinnosuke going to lose?!"

The onlookers held their breath for Shinnosuke. An ordinary person could never endure the pain of having their arm forcibly dislocated, yet Shinnosuke hadn't made a sound! Just how much willpower did that take?!

Shinnosuke grabbed his right arm and gave it a hard yank under the crowd's astonished gazes, then immediately slammed it against the ground!

A crack rang out. Shinnosuke raised his right arm and clenched his fist. Although his shoulder was covered in bruises, it wouldn't stop him from continuing the fight.

The people behind him stared blankly. Shinnosuke had actually put his own arm back in its socket, and in such a brutal way! They couldn't begin to imagine that kind of pain, and even Shinnosuke had gone pale from it!

Sugihara Kei stared in shock at the man before him. Time and again, Shinnosuke overturned everything he thought he knew! He'd thought that last move would rob Shinnosuke of most of his fighting strength!

If once wasn't enough, he'd do it again! Sugihara Kei gritted his teeth and charged at him once more! He grabbed his wrist again, intending to repeat the move. But the instant he pulled downward, he froze. It felt as though he were holding a mountain, so heavy that he couldn't budge it in the slightest!

Shinnosuke grinned at him, drew back his left hand, and drove a heavy punch into the side of Sugihara Kei's face!

"Don't you know? You can't use the same move on a Saint twice!!"

With a bang, Sugihara Kei was knocked to the ground by the punch!

Shinnosuke walked over and sat cross-legged in front of him. He fished a pack of cigarettes out of Sugihara Kei's pocket and lit one for himself.

He looked at Sugihara Kei, whose eyes were somewhat unfocused, and put the cigarette in his mouth. Sugihara Kei took a deep drag, then spoke softly after a long while.

"Whew... I lost after all..."

Shinnosuke raised an eyebrow and spoke with an arrogant look.

"Don't feel too bad about it. Everyone knows you can't beat me. It's nothing to be ashamed of, really."

Sugihara Kei sat up, ash falling onto his clothes. Surprisingly, he didn't get angry when he heard that.

"I'm really curious how Inoue has put up with you for so long."

Shinnosuke rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before speaking.

"Hmm... It must be my personal charm..."

"..."