"Uesugi-kun, I Like You!"

Uesugi Tetsu opened his eyes to the familiar ceiling of the kendo dojo.

Since he still had to continue his high-intensity sword training that afternoon, he hadn't taken advantage of the free time to shower.

Once Ririko came back, they should go have lunch.

Just as Uesugi Tetsu thought this, Ririko's face poked out from the dojo entrance. She looked left and right before waving at him. "Uesugi-kun, come here."

Water droplets still dripped from the tips of Ririko's hair. Combined with the girl's radiant smile, she looked especially youthful.

Why does this feel like sneaking around? It's broad daylight...

Although he had no idea what Ririko was up to, Uesugi Tetsu still hurried over to humor her and asked, "What's up?"

"Secret."

Ririko raised her index finger to her lips and smiled brightly.

She leaned close to Uesugi Tetsu's ear and whispered, "Come with me to the rooftop, and I'll tell you."

Uesugi Tetsu blinked after hearing this, then nodded noncommittally.

Thus, the two of them walked one after the other through the deserted school toward the rooftop.

But this time, things were different—Ririko wasn't walking ahead as usual. Instead, she followed behind Uesugi Tetsu.

When they reached the bottom of the teaching building, Uesugi Tetsu, who had been subjected to Ririko's gaze the entire way, couldn't help turning back in confusion. "Is there something on my face?"

"No."

Ririko answered without hesitation. She looked up at the sky and pondered for a long while before suddenly clapping her hands, as if she had found the answer.

"Maybe it's because you're handsome, Uesugi-kun! Especially after what happened yesterday!"

Uesugi Tetsu was stunned by her answer.

He rubbed his chin and thought of his nearly useless nine points of Charisma... Could it be that this attribute was finally starting to show its strength?

That was good. Very good.

At this thought, Uesugi Tetsu grinned and showed Ririko a row of white teeth.

"Thanks."

Ririko hurriedly waved her hands. "No need to thank me."

Uesugi Tetsu turned around and continued toward the rooftop, wondering whether it had been locked. If it had, the crowbar would finally have a chance to prove its worth.

Before long, the two of them had climbed six flights of stairs and arrived at the rooftop entrance.

Unfortunately, nothing had ever happened on Sakura Capital High School's rooftop, so the school hadn't used chains and padlocks to prevent students from entering.

Uesugi Tetsu touched the old, rusted iron door that had served for over twenty years and sighed regretfully. He pushed it open and stepped onto the spacious rooftop.

The rooftop was huge, probably several hundred square meters. Green, patinated iron fencing several meters high stood around it, preventing students in poor mental states from trying their hand at flying through the air.

A few scattered grains of rice could still be seen on the benches around the edges. Apparently, people often came up to the rooftop to eat.

But there was no one here now. That was good.

Creak.

Uesugi Tetsu walked to the center of the rooftop. Ririko closed the iron door behind him, then lowered her head and walked toward him.

"Uesugi-kun, there's something I want to tell you."

Ririko's face was as red as a ripe apple, and her fingers traced circles in the air.

Uesugi Tetsu kept measuring the distance between his toes and Ririko's, then asked curiously, "What is it?"

Then he saw Ririko take a deep breath, as if summoning all her courage, before shouting loudly:

"Uesugi-kun, I like you!"

The girl's trembling voice echoed across the vast rooftop, lingering for a long time.

Then she received Uesugi Tetsu's reply—

"Oh."

Uesugi Tetsu nodded calmly and asked in return, "And then? That's it? Aren't you going to show it?"

Ririko's mouth hung open as she froze. "Isn't the boy usually supposed to show it at a time like this?"

Uesugi Tetsu laughed.

He asked in confusion, "What am I supposed to show a monster that appeared inside the school at noon?"

The air on the rooftop suddenly fell silent.

The youthful atmosphere vanished in an instant, leaving behind only Uesugi Tetsu's bone-chilling killing intent.

Ah, what a pity.

I'd really wanted to experience the feelings of a male high school student who was confessed to by the girl he liked, only to be killed by her with his own hands.

"Ririko" stared at Uesugi Tetsu for a while before asking strangely, "I specifically observed her just now. How did you realize it?"

This time, Uesugi Tetsu genuinely laughed, from the bottom of his heart.

Since this stupid monster didn't kill me outright and was even wondering how I saw through it, that proves it came looking for me first. Ririko should probably be fine for now.

Otherwise, this clumsy act would have been exposed by Ririko long ago.

Kaga Kiyomitsu appeared in Uesugi Tetsu's hand. Under "Ririko's" shocked gaze, he drew the blade and sighed. "Because Ririko would never make such a disgusting expression."

"How did this sword appear..."

"It's—disgusting enough to make someone throw up last night's dinner!"

His sword moved even faster than Uesugi Tetsu's voice of disgust!

The distance he had measured countless times with his eyes after stepping onto the rooftop was crossed in an instant. The Internal Energy that had long since been compressed and condensed into a single mass exploded inside Uesugi Tetsu's body!

Laughing Brahma's surface began to bleed profusely. Its capillaries burst one after another under the tremendous pressure, while his Physique attribute actually broke through the twenty-point threshold at that very moment!

This was a reckless thrust that disregarded all consequences!

Even a lion used all its strength when pouncing on a rabbit!

What more when facing the unknown monster before him?

He had followed its wishes and come to the deserted rooftop precisely so he could transform into Laughing Brahma and unleash his full strength.

Uesugi Tetsu had originally intended to use this sword strike to heavily injure it, then take the Spirit Awakening Mist and decide based on the situation whether to let the doll in his arms act.

But now, it seemed that the sword's effect was...

A little too good?

"Ririko's" disguise peeled away and dissipated like mist. Beneath it was actually a white-haired woman.

Uesugi Tetsu pulled Kaga Kiyomitsu, which hummed lightly, from the woman's eye socket, then indifferently stared into her other eye as it struggled to turn.

Then he noticed that the woman's eyes held not resentment or a desire to live, but genuine delight, shock, and exhilaration.

Uesugi Tetsu narrowed his eyes, sensing that something was wrong.

But judging from Kaga Kiyomitsu's reaction, he had indeed killed this monster. It was merely in its final moments now.

"This... really is a wonderful surprise." A broken voice came from Ai Bielie's body. "What a pity the main body can't share memories with its clones. Otherwise, I could have tasted your delicious flavor sooner..."

A clone.

The thing before him was actually only a clone.

Uesugi Tetsu fell silent, unable for a moment to think of any monster or supernatural phenomenon capable of both imitating others and creating clones.

Then he saw the white-haired woman before him gradually turn into mist and disperse as she introduced herself. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ai Bielie."

"Uesugi-kun, I believe we'll meet again..."

As the wind swept across the rooftop, Ai Bielie's body and voice vanished in an instant, as if she had never appeared.

Only then did the notification appear before him.

[You killed Ai Bielie's clone and obtained 100 Soul Ash.]

Uesugi Tetsu had no time to think further, because he knew that a clone of Ai Bielie disguised as "Uesugi Tetsu" had probably appeared in front of Ririko as well.

He had to hurry.