Chapter 69

"Well..."

The Miko maiden senior briefly crashed.

"No need for further explanation, I concede! As agreed, our Supernatural Research Club will change our club activities and will no longer interfere in Shuchiin's 'mysteries'."

She gradually recovered from the blow, stood up, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.

"Then we'll take our leave."

"Wait, junior!"

Just as he was about to leave, Atenbo Yume stopped him.

Is there anything else?

He put his hands in his pockets, turned around, and asked.

"Hasegawa-kun, after our discussion, I've realized my shortcomings. It's incredibly foolish of me to presume to love when I don't understand it, so I want to change this weakness..."

Atenbo Yume clasped her hands together, tilting them slightly. A touch of rosy blush appeared on her exquisite face, and her eyes held an even gentler smile.

"Hasegawa-kun, I want to ask you to teach me what love is!"

"Huh!?"

Everyone in the Supernatural Research Club was dumbfounded.

To everyone's surprise, their Club President actually said something that sounded like a confession after the defeat!

Oh my god, I'm so envious!

"What would Sage say in response?"

Takanashi Rikka's breathing quickened slightly, and for some reason, she felt nervous.

"There's no need to even think about that."

Natsukawa Masuzu even yawned.

"Sorry, I don't accept this kind of request."

Just as she expected, the Club President simply took out his right hand from his pocket, waved it, and walked confidently toward them, leaving the Miko maiden senior heartbroken, squatting in a corner drawing circles.

"Club President, another complete victory! You truly are the person I rely on most!"

She moved closer again, mimicking a clipped voice.

"You've worked hard, Sage."

Takanashi Rikka also went up to offer her condolences.

"It's nothing, this should be an easy challenge."

Hasegawa Izumi looked regretful.

It seems that Shuchiin will not produce any opponents stronger than Busujima Senpai and Shinomiya-san.

This is probably the limit of genius in the world right now.

"Hmm? What about Dekumori and Nibuya?"

That's when he noticed.

"Could it be that the Management Bureau pulled a dirty trick! They actually took advantage of the situation to launch a sneak attack."

Takanashi Rikka immediately became alert, fearing an attack from the shadows.

They should be outside.

Natsukawa Masuzu pointed to the doorway.

The three of them walked out of the Supernatural Research Club and then witnessed this scene.

"Let go of me, you sow!"

"You little brat, damn it!"

Nibuya Morika and Dekomori Sanae were wrestling, each grabbing the other's sleeve and rolling around on the ground, cursing at each other.

Suddenly, Dekomori Sanae seized the opportunity, tilted her head back, and rammed it into Nibuya's forehead.

"Bang!"

"Ouch."

The one who groaned was Nibuya, while Dekumori looked relaxed.

"It's so hard... head."

She covered her head, feeling her eyes sting.

"Hahaha! You're too weak. You think you can defeat me? You're a hundred years too early to die!"

Dekomori Sanae looked smug.

"How long are you two going to stay there?"

The sarcastic remarks made by Natsukawa Masuzu from the side distracted the two.

"Eh, is it over already? Lord Sage, what was the result? Death."

Dekomori Sanae quickly got up, ran to his side, and looked on expectantly.

"Why don't you brush the dust off your clothes first?"

He smiled and glanced at the girl.

"Oh..."

After Dekomori Sanae and Nibuya Morika finished tidying themselves up, they learned of the victory.

"Alas~"

Although it was something she expected, Dekomori Sanae happily swung her two Wind and Thunder Whips.

"Having successfully defeated the forces of the underworld, the 'mystery' of Shuchiin will ultimately belong to our Far East Magic Society!"

The club activities ended, and the excitement gave way to calm.

"Um?"

Just as Hasegawa Izumi was about to leave the school, her expression suddenly changed.

He sensed a gaze from the shadows.

85. If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening.

Kendo Club.

In the courtyard behind, where birds sing and flowers bloom.

"My senior seems to be spacing out again; she's been like this ever since that day."

"Losing to Hasegawa-kun must be the first time in your life that you've lost to someone your own age, right? It must feel really bad, right?"

Two girls dressed in Kendo Uniform were watching the figure under the tree, whispering among themselves.

As people who frequently lose, they cannot empathize with the situation and can only make their own inferences.

Clearly, they had misunderstood.

Busujima Saeko looked up at the sky, her gaze somewhat unfocused, and muttered to herself.

"I have never seen a sword like that before—pure, powerful, and beautiful..."

The sword duel that day is still vivid in my mind, as if it were projected into the sky, the clash of swords producing a sound that shook my soul.

She had used all her strength, employing the swordsmanship she had honed since childhood, a style she considered impeccable among her peers, yet that man easily broke through her moves.

Despite her profound swordsmanship, she was like a toddler learning to walk in front of that man. She couldn't even touch his body, let alone force him to use his full strength.

No!

They don't even know how much of their strength the opponent has used!

Even if one uses Breathing Technique and sword stances that cannot be used in public, the same applies.

That sword was beyond her imagination.

He was stronger than her, stronger than her father, the grandmaster of the Busujima Family, and even... comparable to the legendary Tou-ei Sword Saint!

Such a judgment seems somewhat absurd. After all, martial artists at the level of Sword Saint can be counted on two hands in this world. How could a mere high school student possibly reach that level?

If she told her father, he would definitely think she had been beaten senseless.

But that's really what she thinks.

"Hehehehe..."

She imagined the battle again, and a slightly ferocious, sickly smile suddenly appeared on her pretty, cold face, transforming her gentle and mature demeanor into that of a bloodthirsty and vicious demon.

"I really want to know about that sword..."

"I really want to keep fighting him..."

"Even being struck by a sword like that would be a wonderful thing."

She lightly touched her lips with her fingers, her expression becoming excited.

Indeed, after that battle, Busujima Saeko felt no sense of defeat; on the contrary, she became even more excited. Even her previously suppressed bloodlust was unleashed, and the combination of the two produced an even more wonderful reaction.

"Hasegawa-kun, it's so wonderful that you exist in this world."

"I am... satisfied."

But the prerequisite for achieving these things is to know the other party.

So, Busujima Saeko thought about visiting Hasegawa, but each time she prepared to do so, she had layers of concerns.

Is someone like her really capable?

Don't you think she's a pervert?

She, who appears quite mature to others, is experiencing adolescent-like anxieties.

"That's... Hasegawa-kun?"

As Busujima Saeko left the Kendo Club and prepared to go home, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure not far away.

She instinctively hid to the side, secretly observing, her mind starting to churn with conflicting thoughts.

"This is a rare opportunity, let's just..."

The girl made up her mind and carefully followed behind the other person, eventually reaching a ninety-degree corner.

She continued to follow, but after turning the corner, she found that the other person had disappeared from sight.

Just then, a sound suddenly came from behind.

"How long are you going to keep following me...? Wait, Busujima Senpai?"

After noticing the peeping gaze, Hasegawa Izumi initially didn't pay much attention, as this was quite common, given his current popularity.

But soon he discovered that the furtive gaze had been there all along, even following him out of the school gate.

So, taking advantage of the lack of visibility at the corner, he climbed over the wall next to him, went back around, and then saw that striking dark purple long hair and pretty face.

However, her familiar, aloof face seemed to flush slightly, showing a hint of hesitation.

"Hasegawa-kun, hello..."

Busujima Saeko responded by slightly raising her hand, her gaze somewhat evasive.

"Oh, good afternoon, senior. Is there something you need?"

He was somewhat surprised by the mature and sophisticated senior's behavior and asked in confusion.

"Yes, there are some things. Can we talk about them over there?"

She pointed to a small garden not far away, a place where they could have a quiet conversation.

"Alright."