Popularity, A Little Inexplicably High?

After returning from Izu, Fujino returned to a brief period of normalcy.

Sword practice, school, taking on commissions—that's pretty much it.

After the system upgrade, you can also earn Detective Coins by completing commissions.

Fujino accepted two cases and received two Detective Coins.

There were seven Detective Coins in total, Fujino didn't plan to draw any lottery tickets.

He planned to save up ten, then have a few left over, and after getting a perfect score, use the newly opened system function for a great time.

As for the commission fees he received, he had always kept the small amount of commission fees he received from tasks for his own household use.

Another day of school.

Just after having lunch with Ran and Sonoko, Fujino received a phone call from his junior sister, who summoned him to the kendo club.

As for the reason...

Nothing more.

The kendo tournament that Aoyama Motoko entrusted to us is about to begin.

At noon, at Teitan High School, the Kendo Club.

"You mean, the kendo tournament is the day after tomorrow?"

Fujino looked at Aoyama Motoko with a puzzled expression and asked.

"That's right, Senior Fujino, didn't you know?"

Aoyama Motoko looked at Fujino with some confusion. "I think I mentioned this before, didn't I?"

"It seems... I did say that."

Fujino looked at Aoyama Motoko, who was dressed in a white kendo uniform, as if it were perfectly normal, and for a moment, he was speechless.

Does anyone know what day of next month is?

So... after all this time, that kendo tournament has only just begun?

What happened to the agreed-upon month?

In other words, only a month has passed after all this time?

The timing of this Conan World is truly outrageous.

They don't play by the rules!

"Fujino."

Standing at the entrance of the kendo dojo, Aoyama Motoko noticed that Fujino's expression was a bit off and couldn't help but ask, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"No."

Fujino shook his head, snapping back to reality. "I was just spacing out."

"Oh..."

Fujino glanced at Aoyama Motoko suspiciously.

I have a feeling that my senior brother wasn't prepared at all.

To be honest, they never took this match seriously at all.

After all, she hadn't seen her senior brother come to the kendo club since the commission began.

But then I thought about it again, after all, this senior brother was crowned the "Tokyo Kendo Newcomer King", someone who could go toe-to-toe with my teacher.

It's probably fine to not take the competition too seriously.

Then, she walked into the kendo club. "In that case, Fujino- senpai, let me introduce the club members who will be going to Osaka with us for the competition the day after tomorrow."

"Everyone, get your spirits up for the game the day after tomorrow!"

Just then, a woman's sweet voice came from inside the kendo hall. "Anyone who dares to lose, I'll teach them a lesson when they get back!"

"That voice... why does it sound so familiar?"

As Fujino entered the kendo club, he saw a figure in a black vest and suit that accentuated his refined and stylish physique appear in the venue.

"Yo!"

Hiratsuka Shizuka turned around and saw Fujino, greeting him, "You're here!"

"Teacher Hiratsuka?"

Fujino was surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm currently the temporary instructor for the kendo club..."

Hiratsuka Shizuka was speechless for a moment. "You didn't know?"

"I don't know..."

Fujino looked a little confused. "So when did you become a kendo instructor?"

"Just a while ago, no matter who called you, you wouldn't come to training."

Hiratsuka Shizuka explained, "The original kendo club instructor was hospitalized due to an explosion a while ago, so as a young person, I was naturally asked by the leadership to take over as the kendo club manager."

"Explode..."

Fujino murmured to himself, feeling that Beika was becoming increasingly dangerous.

The Kendo Club is truly a place fraught with misfortune.

So, does this mean that the Iron Fist Saintess has changed her class to the Iron Sword Saintess?

Why do I feel like she'd be more suited to the karate club?

They were all acquaintances.

After a brief introduction, Fujino understood the setup for this competition.

The participants this time are all members sent by Teitan High School, divided into two groups of ten. To summarize, member A, member B, member C...

The teams are divided into men's and women's teams.

Fujino Aoyama Motoko was the female team leader.

Fortunately, Fujino had a fearsome reputation, so these people didn't follow the classic pattern of suspecting Fujino and then being defeated by Fujino.

They all readily accepted Fujino's position as commander.

As for the competition, it will start the day after tomorrow, but the group will have to leave tomorrow to go to Osaka to acclimatize to the local climate and make preparations.

Fujino wasn't under much pressure. With his strength, apart from Okita Soji, no one else was of much use to him.

Even Hattori Heiji would have to back down in his presence now.

After lunch break.

"Is the place we're going to this time Osaka...?"

Fujino returned to Class 2-B, reminiscing about the place where he had just participated in the competition.

To be honest, he always had a strange premonition.

After all, Osaka is right next to Kyoto.

"Hey, Fujino- Senior!"

As she pondered this, just as she sat down, Suzuki Sonoko leaned over and asked, "I heard you're going to Osaka the day after tomorrow for a kendo tournament, is that true?!"

"That's right, that's correct."

Fujino nodded, then looked at Sonoko hesitantly. "How did you know?"

"This matter has already spread far and wide."

Ran followed behind Sonoko: "Teacher Hiratsuka also told us to go and cheer them on."

"Even the Iron Fist Saintess has a lisp..."

Fujino's lips twitched slightly; it felt like something that woman would do.

"Speaking of which, the school is organizing a competition for you Senior the day after tomorrow."

Sonoko chimed in, "Even though it's voluntary, there are still quite a few people who want to watch the kendo club's matches."

"Ah, this..."

Fujino paused for a moment, then asked in confusion, "How many people are 'quite a few'?"

"Well..."

Sonoko pondered, "It's about half of the grade... There are quite a few from both higher and lower grades, and most of them are here because of Fujino- Senior."

Am I really that popular?

Fujino frowned in confusion. "Why don't I usually feel anything..."

"After all, you always seem so serious, senior."

Sonoko said somewhat helplessly, "Besides, he often doesn't come to school every few days, so of course I don't feel anything..."

"Is there?"

Fujino frowned.

I can't quite understand why those girls were afraid.

Could it be a problem with his demeanor?

Indeed, his aura has been gradually growing.

But it doesn't have to be like this...

Not quite understanding, Fujino suddenly remembered something Sonoko had just mentioned, and then asked in confusion, "By the way, when did you guys organize this? How come I didn't know?"

"Just Senior month, after you joined the kendo club, senpai."

Ran replied matter-of-factly, "By the way, it seems you didn't come to school that day, Senior."

Fujino: "..."

I'm so sorry for taking so much time off!