Once they had talked things through, everything was naturally fine.
Sonoko blushingly gave the chocolate to Makoto Kyogoku, who accepted it somewhat bashfully. That matter could be considered settled.
However, Makoto Kyogoku clearly still had something to say to Fang Zheng.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, have you practiced martial arts as well?"
Staring at Fang Zheng, Makoto Kyogoku's expression was exceptionally serious. Although he already knew Fang Zheng had merely been praising him earlier, that clearly was not the issue.
"More or less. I know a little of this and that. Just the basics, just the basics."
Fang Zheng took a sip of water and answered with a grin, while Makoto Kyogoku looked at him.
"Forgive my frankness, but during the fight just now, you said that karate was flashy but impractical... I truly cannot agree with that."
"Huh? Mr. Fang Zheng said something like that?"
Ran was shocked when she heard this, but Fang Zheng merely shrugged.
"That's simply the truth. To someone who practices martial arts, karate is indeed flashy but impractical. It emphasizes form over force. Frankly, whether it's you or Ran, the people you usually face are either helpless weaklings or amateurs who know a few crude moves. When you truly encounter someone who knows martial arts, it goes like this..."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng extended a hand and smiled at Makoto Kyogoku.
"I could defeat you with one hand."
"..."
Makoto Kyogoku could not help falling silent at Fang Zheng's words. Indeed, just as Fang Zheng had said, he had already given it everything he had earlier. Moreover, thanks to Fang Zheng's "performance," Makoto Kyogoku had been burning with rage at the time, far more ferocious than he ever was in the ring. Yet Fang Zheng had still toyed with him effortlessly. Now he himself