Uesugi-kun, Your Body Is Quite Sturdy

"This, I've already asked someone to investigate."

Tokugawa Ririko interrupted him, "No need to thank me, this is what I should do."

"I wanted you not to investigate." Uesugi Tetsu saw that there were many people around and their ears were everywhere, so he pulled her to a deserted corridor corner and frowned, "Didn't Officer Nanjo say that ordinary people shouldn't get involved with these things?"

Pressed against the wall by Uesugi Tetsu, Ririko's expression remained unchanged, "You might as well believe I'm a gender-bent Guan Yu from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms who can kill demons with a couple of slashes, rather than believe that cop from yesterday."

She pondered for two seconds, "Uesugi-kun, after you went home last night, you must have encountered a new supernatural incident, right?"

New?

Uesugi Tetsu's gaze sharpened.

What do you mean 'new'?

Didn't Ririko stay at the police station overnight?

Seeing Uesugi Tetsu's expression, Ririko sighed, "It seems my guess was correct."

"Although I don't know how you managed to avoid the new supernatural incident, one thing is certain."

Ririko paused and said, "We have probably entered the line of sight of the 'Friendship Club'."

He hadn't expected Ririko to have thought so much.

But Nanjo Aimi probably hadn't fooled him either, otherwise, she wouldn't have given him that precious doll.

So the problem is...

That obviously unusual Ouija board?

Seeing Uesugi Tetsu deep in thought, Ririko had no intention of being a riddle-teller:

"As for why I could think of these things, it's also very simple—just put yourself in the shoes of the mastermind, and it will become clear."

"'—A situation where everyone should have been wiped out, but two people unexpectedly survived. What should I do?'"

The girl answered calmly, "Finish them off. At the very least, send someone to understand the situation."

"Perhaps we haven't been taken seriously yet, but I don't think we can just sit and wait, praying that the Onmyoji will quickly eradicate that club, and praying that supernatural incidents won't happen to us in the meantime, praying for success... "

Ririko paused and said lightly, "Tell me, Uesugi-kun, when you play mobile games, do you ever get four limited-edition characters in a single ten-pull?"

Uesugi Tetsu shook his head. He was quite satisfied with hitting the pity rate.

"—The probability of success is much smaller than getting four limited-edition characters in a ten-pull."

Ririko: "So, your choice?"

Uesugi Tetsu stared at the Kendo pendant on Ririko's chest for a while, thinking that its effect was truly extraordinary.

Who would have thought that the whimpering girl from last night could transform into the incredibly calm Ririko before him?

He nodded, "You're right."

Hearing this, Tokugawa Ririko exhaled heavily, "Thank you."

Uesugi Tetsu could clearly feel the trembling in Ririko's palms disappear after she said this. He thought for a moment and then raised a finger:

"Since you've said so much, Ririko, let me also give you some news."

Ririko looked up and heard Uesugi Tetsu say, "If you encounter a supernatural incident that you can't resolve, call me. I'll come as soon as possible."

Ririko: "?"

Uesugi Tetsu could clearly read the confusion and doubt in the girl's eyes, but he didn't explain further.

"Oh, and you can investigate, but don't go too deep. It would be bad if it backfired."

Before they parted, Uesugi Tetsu emphasized.

"I will grasp that 'degree'." Ririko nodded, "The people investigating are third-party contractors, experienced private investigators. I haven't told them too much, and even if they get caught, they won't be able to trace it back to me immediately."

But what if the other party uses supernatural means?

Uesugi Tetsu didn't voice this concern. He believed that Ririko couldn't have overlooked this.

And just as she said, even with the risk of being discovered, they had to act instead of waiting to be annihilated.

—This was already the best course of action.

Encountering a god-tier teammate, Uesugi Tetsu thought to himself, amazing.

He found it hard to imagine that Ririko was also a high school sophomore, just like his original self, who was obsessed with anime waifus.

But... where did Ririko get so much money to do all this?

He didn't dwell on it. Everyone had their own little secrets.

Ririko did, and so did he.

Instead of agonizing over it, it was better to increase his proficiency in the Ki-ai Technique in class.

During class, Uesugi Tetsu, who was secretly trying it out, discovered—

Even without gathering the ki into a ball and shouting it out, simply circulating the ki within his body repeatedly could gradually strengthen the ki within him, thereby increasing his proficiency.

During this process, not only did the amount of ki increase, but his control over it also became more accurate.

Uesugi Tetsu preferred to call it meditation and breathing exercises.

Although it was slower than normal cultivation methods, the advantage was that he could practice breathing exercises anytime, anywhere.

Perhaps he still needed a quiet environment now, but Uesugi Tetsu estimated that once his proficiency increased, he could continuously improve his Ki-ai Technique proficiency even while riding a bus or walking.

[Your skill, Ki-ai Technique Fragment Proficiency +25!]

After focusing on practicing Ki-ai Technique for a whole morning, Uesugi Tetsu looked at the notification [Ki-ai Technique Fragment (Beginner 26/100)] and thought to himself that the efficiency was quite fast.

He estimated that it would take about a day to max out the 100 proficiency points for Ki-ai Technique.

He wondered what rewards he would get after the skill leveled up... At least his Physique would increase by 1 point.

While painting a grand picture of skill upgrades for himself, Uesugi Tetsu walked towards the Kendo Club.

It was unavoidable to paint such a picture because practicing Ki-ai Technique required complete concentration. Even the slightest distraction would cause all his previous efforts to go to waste, rendering his efforts completely futile.

Therefore, even after only practicing breathing exercises for a mere morning, Uesugi Tetsu felt mentally exhausted.

Perhaps it was because his Willpower was only 4 points.

At the entrance of the Kendo Club.

Tokugawa Ririko, who had changed into a white Kendo uniform, stood like a guardian deity, leaning against the dojo entrance with her arms crossed and head bowed.

Before Uesugi Tetsu could get close, Ririko's voice reached him: "You can come in."

He scratched his head, a little confused: "You didn't even look up, how did you know it was me?"

"I heard your footsteps. Everyone's footsteps are different."

Ririko pointed to her ears: "For a qualified swordsman, distinguishing sounds and locating positions is the most basic skill."

She closed her eyes and after a few seconds said, "For example, if you turn around now, you can see twenty-seven other people besides you and me."

Uesugi Tetsu counted and was surprised to find that it was indeed true.

Then he fell into thought.

--How did that pathetic raccoon dog manage to corner Ririko and make her tremble in fear?

Could it be that women are naturally afraid of ugly animals?

Uesugi Tetsu forgot that a Brahma with a green face and fangs was far more terrifying than a mere raccoon dog.

"Hurry up and change into something else. We don't have much time for lunch break."

Ririko walked into the dojo and tossed a set of Kendo attire she had prepared earlier to Uesugi Tetsu: "Do you know how to wear it?"

Uesugi Tetsu looked at the pile of clothes in his hands and honestly shook his head: "No."

Ririko put her hand to her forehead: "My mistake, I'll help you change."

And just as she grabbed Uesugi Tetsu's forearm, her eyes, which were originally as calm as still water, suddenly lit up.

Ririko licked her lips and said curiously:

"Uesugi-kun, I never noticed before, but your body is quite sturdy."