"Those forearm lines, those deltoids, that teres major, those lats... The proportions aren't that impressive, but the overall form is practically perfect..."
In the dojo changing room, Ririko kept touching and squeezing Uesugi Tetsu's body, looking utterly amazed.
"Why is she paying attention to all those weird muscles, just like some muscle-bound gym bro?"
Uesugi Tetsu grumbled inwardly, then took off his school uniform shirt. He picked up the gi and held out his hand toward Ririko. "Come on. Don't pity me just because I'm a delicate flower!"
Ririko's pretty little face flushed slightly, but she quickly took the gi and carefully draped it over Uesugi Tetsu. As she dressed him, she asked, "Uesugi-kun, how did you train yourself into this shape?"
The answer was Brahma's Ghost God Power and Ki-ai Technique.
Of course, Uesugi Tetsu couldn't say that, so he casually replied, "Maybe it's because I'm naturally gifted."
Who could have expected Ririko to nod in complete agreement and sigh? "Natural talent, huh..."
"Those blessed by talent deserve to die."
The girl turned her head and spat the words under her breath.
Uesugi Tetsu stared at her. "Did you just say something?"
Ririko blinked and expressionlessly tightened Uesugi Tetsu's hakama ties and belt. "No. Nothing at all."
"Since this is your first time holding a sword, you won't be wearing protective gear."
Uesugi Tetsu recalled the club members in the dojo wearing protective equipment and sparring with Bamboo Swords. He said, "Ririko, if you want to beat me up, you can just say so."
"If I wanted to, I'd do it directly."
Ririko picked up a Bamboo Sword and tried to calm herself, but from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Uesugi Tetsu's perfectly proportioned figure after he turned around.
She had been training since childhood, yet after more than a decade, she was still far from having a physique like that. Uesugi Tetsu, meanwhile, seemed to have achieved it in just a few months.
So, almost unconsciously, Ririko swung the Bamboo Sword in her hand.
Smack!
Uesugi Tetsu staggered and fell to his knees, feeling a fiery pain flare up in his buttocks.
He turned back in confusion and met Ririko's expressionless gaze.
Wait, you really went straight from saying it to doing it?
Ririko, meanwhile, opened and closed her hand in confusion, as if only now realizing what she had done.
She suddenly understood. "Uesugi-kun, it seems jealousy really can make someone lose all semblance of reason."
The corner of Uesugi Tetsu's brow twitched. He was silent for a moment, and just as he was about to speak, Ririko handed him the Bamboo Sword. Then she turned around, bent over, and stuck out her full buttocks.
Uesugi Tetsu: "Huh?"
Ririko looked back and said seriously, "Uesugi-kun, hit my butt hard too. Then we'll be even!"
Uesugi Tetsu hesitated slightly. "Um..."
Ririko raised her brows and smacked her butt firmly. "Come on, hurry! Don't let such a trivial matter leave you feeling awkward, Uesugi-kun, and interfere with the training later!"
Since she had put it that way, Uesugi Tetsu found it hard to refuse.
He gripped the sword with both hands. "Then I won't hold back."
The girl clenched her teeth. "Come on!"
Uesugi Tetsu showed no intention of going easy on her. Just like he was swinging a baseball bat, he lashed out with the sword and struck the exact center of Ririko's two buttocks with a heavy blow.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
Ririko couldn't stop herself from crying out. Her expression twisted, and her eyes rolled upward from the pain.
Just then, a voice from outside the changing room drew closer. "Tokugawa, it's time for everyone to train with you..."
"It's Teacher Kondo!"
Ririko had intended to stand up immediately and put on an expressionless face, but Uesugi Tetsu's strike had been merciless. Her legs were trembling with pain, and she couldn't straighten her back.
Rattle~
The wooden door to the changing room slid open. Kendo club instructor Kondo Hideya stood in the doorway, staring wide-eyed at the scene inside.
The middle-aged man, already over forty, opened and closed his mouth. He suddenly realized that his vocabulary was woefully inadequate and had no idea what to say.
Uesugi Tetsu lowered the Bamboo Sword and thought for a moment before trying to explain. "Well..."
Kondo Hideya silently watched the two of them. First, he turned to confirm that no students were paying attention, then he stiffened his face and said sternly in a low voice:
"You two, get yourselves sorted out! Then come to my office immediately!"
The two exchanged a glance, covered their buttocks, and limped out of the changing room.
After watching the two of them enter, Kondo Hideya personally closed the office door.
"You! What's your name?"
As soon as the extremely well-insulated door closed, Kondo Hideya shouted at Uesugi Tetsu.
Uesugi Tetsu answered truthfully.
Kondo Hideya frowned when he heard the answer and looked at Tokugawa Ririko. "Is this the 'transfer student' you mentioned this morning?"
"Yes."
The walk had already nearly dispelled the pain in her buttocks, so Tokugawa Ririko replied expressionlessly, "He's already here, so sorry for the trouble, Teacher Kondo. Please help him complete the paperwork."
"Paperwork!?"
Kondo Hideya slammed his hand on the desk in anger. "Tokugawa! Do you even understand what's going on?"
He roared, "Before afternoon classes, go do one thousand practice swings!"
"And you!" Kondo Hideya looked at Uesugi Tetsu, who was secretly taking out his phone to check how long remained before afternoon classes. "Aren't you planning to join the kendo club? Go run around the track until afternoon classes start. Let me see your guts!"
Uesugi Tetsu raised a brow. Why did this instructor sound so thoroughly Showa-era?
This was the twenty-first century. Never mind that this was all a misunderstanding—even if he and Ririko really had been hugging in the changing room, so what? It was just normal interaction between a boy and a girl.
Ririko raised her hand. "Teacher Kondo, this actually has nothing to do with Uesugi-kun. I'll run twenty extra laps."
Holy crap.
Ririko had even volunteered to take the punishment for him. She really was a good buddy who would share both hardship and danger.
He'd have to take Ririko out for hotpot or barbecue sometime in the next couple of days.
Kondo Hideya's gaze shifted repeatedly between the two of them before he sneered. "Since the two of you are so close, why don't you run laps together under the sun? It'll be a good chance to warm up your relationship."
Ririko frowned and was just about to say that she shouldn't waste someone else's time and would run fifty laps and do two thousand practice swings afterward.
But Uesugi Tetsu answered loudly first. "Consider it done!"
"Very good! That's the spirit!"
Kondo Hideya's expression softened slightly. "Don't let me catch you slacking. Now, go!"
Uesugi Tetsu pulled Ririko out of the office. Just before they reached the track, the girl asked in confusion, "Uesugi-kun, time is precious right now. Why are you taking the blame for my mistake?"
Uesugi Tetsu patted his chest. "When something happens, brothers shoulder it together. How could I sell you out?"
Ririko fell into deep thought. When Uesugi Tetsu saw the [Enter Everworld] option suddenly light up again, he didn't disturb her and simply continued running laps.
After a long while, the afternoon class bell rang.
Tokugawa Ririko's gi was soaked through with sweat. She fanned herself with one hand and suddenly asked:
"So what does that make our relationship now?"
Uesugi Tetsu, nearly exhausted to the point of collapse, answered weakly:
"A bond forged through a strike to the buttocks, I guess."
Ririko, who had always worn an expressionless face, froze for a moment. After turning the phrase over several times, she finally broke and buried her face against Uesugi Tetsu's shoulder, laughing muffledly.
Before you continue