The Almighty Chuunibyou Expert

"Wait, wait, hold on there, student!"

The one speaking was a petite, sharp, and spirited senpai.

She spread both her hands, making a gesture to block his path.

Judging by her epaulets, this senpai was likely serving as a disciplinary committee member.

"Is there something wrong? Senpai."

He had no choice but to stop and deal with her.

"Don't you think you're the one with the problem? Student… wait, you're Hasegawa, aren't you?"

The disciplinary committee member observed him carefully, then suddenly confirmed this fact.

Being recognized, with his current notoriety at Shuchiin, it wasn't surprising.

"That's right, Senpai. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

He wanted to get away.

"No!"

The disciplinary committee member shook her head and said with a serious expression, "To prevent any potential malicious incidents, 'weapons' are absolutely not allowed in the school. I suspect you, junior, are carrying a weapon!"

This was the reason she had stopped him.

"I'm a good guy who carries a sword, so it should be fine, right?"

Hasegawa Izumi acted as if he had it all figured out.

"……"

"Hasegawa-kun, this isn't a game of Werewolf, please don't cause trouble for everyone!"

As the disciplinary committee member, the senpai was stunned for a full three seconds before she managed to utter that one sentence.

As the two discussed, more and more onlookers gathered.

"Senpai, it's just a wooden sword. You know that, right? I have a match with the Kendo Club today, which is why I brought it to school."

He had no choice but to appeal to her reason and emotion.

"A wooden sword? Then… let me confirm."

The disciplinary committee member looked around, thought for a moment, and didn't make things too difficult. After confirming it was a wooden sword, she let him pass.

Although it was a small matter, it happened in front of everyone, and they all learned that Hasegawa Izumi had come prepared this time!

This information gradually spread to others in the school, and they began to worry about the Kendo Club.

In the previous few times, Hasegawa Izumi had proven everyone wrong with his performance, displaying astonishing abilities each time that left people in awe.

Now, even when he challenged the Kendo Club, the undisputed kings, the object of their concern had unknowingly shifted.

When he entered his own classroom.

"Wow."

Some of the girls in his class let out gasps.

Although it felt strange, after enduring wave after wave of shock, everyone could somewhat accept it now.

At this moment, the girls noticed that even when that lawless madman did inexplicably serious things, there was a unique kind of coolness about him that inspired admiration.

Of course, very few dared to approach him.

"He seems so unapproachable. When will I be able to talk to him again…"

Nakano Miku, sitting in the front row, secretly glanced back, pushing aside her bangs that blocked her vision.

Having finished reading The Art of War, the girl still had many questions she wanted to explore.

In her eyes, Hasegawa was like a treasure trove, waiting for her to uncover its mysteries, but she lacked the sufficient courage.

Carrying a sword to class seemed rather impolite, so after Hasegawa Izumi sat down, he placed the Sword of Seeking Defeat upright against the wall behind him.

"Sage…"

Two minutes later, Takanashi Rikka entered the classroom from outside. Just as she was about to greet the Sage, her gaze was immediately drawn to the Sword of Seeking Defeat.

"Sage, is this sword the great weapon you prepared for the Kendo Club?"

She squatted beside it, examining it closely, her eyes filled with surprise.

"Not entirely. This sword will be useful sooner or later, so I just took the opportunity to forge it."

Hasegawa rested one hand on the back of his chair and turned to reply.

"Then what's its name?"

Takanashi Rikka withdrew her gaze and looked up to ask.

The next second, she heard the sword's name.

"Seek Defeat."

The absolute strongest, and the loneliness born from it...!

Upon hearing the name, everyone present showed solemn respect.

"What an arrogant person, what an arrogant sword!"

"How dare he name it something like this!"

These were the thoughts of others.

"The Sage is so cool, and the sword's name is so dashing!"

These were Takanashi Rikka's thoughts.

Takanashi Rikka then returned to her seat. Although she was very interested in this Noble Phantasm, she understood that a sword posed the greatest threat when it was sheathed. To avoid disrupting the Sage's battle, she decided not to play with it.

Before long.

Their Homeroom Teacher, Tsukumo Nanase, arrived at the podium.

"Alright, alright, Golden Week is over, and it's time for you all to focus. Next week is the midterm exam, which will be your first test since enrolling. You don't want to be lectured by your parents, do you? So, please study hard from now on."

She clapped her hands, a smile on her face, and advised them in a gentle, pleasant voice.

"Yeeees~!"

Only a listless response came from below.

It wasn't due to post-holiday syndrome, but rather because their attention was entirely focused on the great battle scheduled for after school today.

"Sigh."

Tsukumo Nanase sighed and didn't say much more. She merely glanced at a certain person before beginning her lesson.

After class.

"It's called 'Seek Defeat,' meaning 'only seeking defeat'? Is Izumi-chan perhaps what they call 'The Loneliness of a Master' now?"

Fujiwara Chika sidled up, also drawn by the mysterious object wrapped in bandages. After inquiring, she voiced her thoughts.

"That's right, this is the so-called 'It is lonely at top'," Hasegawa Izumi said, gently shaking his head. Gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, he couldn't help but sigh.

Being strong was a good thing, but once one became overwhelmingly strong, finding no opponents, or even nothing interesting, became rather boring.

The absolute strongest, and the loneliness born from it... this feeling was truly difficult to dispel.

However, he believed that in this ever-changing world, there would eventually appear a true anomaly, someone who could truly let him have a good time!

If such a day came, and such a person appeared, then he would definitely not forget them.

The wind fills the tower before the rain arrives.

A tense atmosphere spread silently, at least halving the effectiveness of Shuchiin's lessons that day.

Initially, no one paid attention to this challenge; it was merely a joke, a suicide. It wasn't until the results of the challenge were truly presented before their eyes that they understood what kind of power that man possessed.

And now, everyone had a new realization: this was actually a revolution!

When a high-and-mighty Pure Academy Student was trampled underfoot by an unknown Mixed Academy Student and unable to resist, people's views would gradually shift.

So, those elite individuals were just ordinary people. In the face of true strength, they were merely weaklings!

Of course, while some people thought this way, they were still thinking too much.

For Hasegawa Izumi, everything he was doing now was merely self-satisfaction.

He simply wanted the Far East Magic Society to gain enough popularity, and then select trustworthy comrades to face the future storms.

Other minor details were unimportant.

He was just that simple and pure a person—

Or so he thought.

Time moved to the afternoon, just before the end of school.

"Ding..."

As the bell rang, the subject teachers left, and the normally lifeless Shuchiin immediately became boisterous.

"Izumi-chan, are we going now?"

Fujiwara Chika, wearing an extremely dark ribbon, ran over from her seat, a very sunny smile on her face.

Clearly, she was very interested in this revolution, in which she herself was even participating.

She had plenty of grievances with Shuchiin!

"Let's wait a little longer. We have to give them some time to prepare, and... as the protagonist, my entrance must be planned and impactful. Otherwise, I'll just become a background character."

Hasegawa Izumi leaned against the wall, maintaining a relaxed demeanor.

"At times like this, you must maintain strategic composure! Only the weak are in a hurry; the strong can make choices freely."

Takanashi Rikka also spoke with great conviction.

"I have learned something!"

Fujiwara Chika nodded very seriously.

She felt these strategies she learned might even be useful when choosing a prime minister in the future.

At this time, the Kendo Club was in a completely different state.

"Hasn't that man arrived yet?"

"He seems to still be in the classroom, saying he needs time to prepare for us."

"This is probably a psychological tactic, right?"

The club members, already dressed in their Kendo attire, were whispering amongst themselves.

"That kind of thing doesn't matter, does it?"

Suddenly, a figure lifted the beaded curtain, emerged from the small door, and slowly walked towards them.

The one speaking was their club's vice-captain, Kojima Hideo. His short hair was slicked back, and his eyes were sharp as knives, giving him a very fierce impression.

As the son of the Superintendent-General of the Metropolitan Police Department, this vice-captain was someone they greatly feared. When he first enrolled, he had defeated everyone except the captain in Kendo, and he had also achieved a top four finish in the national tournament. He was an undisputed powerhouse among the sports clubs.

"Vice-captain, when will Busujima Senpai come out?"

A qualified second-year club member asked cautiously.

"What's the hurry? The captain certainly isn't flustered like you all. She's still calmly meditating in the courtyard, awaiting her opponent's arrival."

Kojima Hideo glanced at the senior member.

"Alright, it's time to open the gates and let the spectators properly enjoy the glorious defeat of that guy named 'Hasegawa'! In my eyes, among peers, the captain's swordsmanship has no equal! She is the strongest!"

After his impassioned declaration, he walked towards the Kendo Club's main gate.