Time: 7:30.
Inside a private room at a KTV.
Two groups stood there.
On one side was Ryuen Kakeru's group, and on the other was Akasaka's.
The two groups sat on opposite sofas, legs crossed.
Ryuen's face was dark with anger. He was furious enough to burst a blood vessel.
He glared at Akasaka Ryunosuke before him, grinding his back teeth together.
Ayanokoji and Horikita stood on either side of Akasaka, while Kato Megumi had already circled around behind Ryuen like an assassin.
To be precise, her presence was so faint—and Kato was so bored—that she had simply wandered behind the other group.
No one noticed her the entire time.
Ayanokoji couldn't help but envy her.
That's amazing... I wish I could learn that trick too. Maybe I'll ask Kato sometime.
The negotiations officially began.
Ryuen made the first move. He slapped the table and was about to demand an explanation.
"You! When did you plant the camera?"
Akasaka spread his hands. "At night, of course. You think I'd do it in broad daylight?"
Ryuen was immediately left speechless. He was so furious he nearly forgot to breathe. Once he calmed down, he sat back down on the sofa.
"Tell me what you want. What will it take for you to delete that video?"
Seeing that the other side had gotten down to business, Akasaka stopped fooling around.
Right in front of Ryuen Kakeru, he produced a Duplicate Contract he had prepared in advance.
Ryuen raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you had this planned all along, kid."
Akasaka chuckled, crossed his legs, and swung one foot idly.
"I'm just trying to make a living, boss. You don't mind, do you?"
Ryuen Kakeru gave a cruel smile and gestured to the people beside him to shut the door. Then he said with a faint smile,
"Of course I don't mind. Why would I have any objections?"
Once his underlings had closed the door, Ryuen stopped pretending. His expression turned vicious.
"Because you won't get the chance to let me object, kid! Get them! Take them down!"
Ryuen waved his hand, signaling his underlings to take them all on.
Akasaka wore an expression that said he'd expected as much.
"I knew it..."
Then he turned to Ayanokoji and Horikita beside him, waved his hand, and shouted,
"Get them! My right-hand men!"
Horikita furrowed her brow. "Who are you calling your right-hand men? Don't get the wrong idea."
Despite what she said, Horikita stepped forward to fight. Her opponents were two girls.
One was Manabe Shiho, and the other was Ibuki Mio.
Meanwhile, our Literary Girl, Shiina Hiyori, had already sat down beside Akasaka, chatting away with him.
Shiina hugged her books and chatted with Akasaka leisurely, completely unconcerned that a fight was breaking out.
Shiina complained to Akasaka, "You really do know how to cause me trouble, Akasaka."
"How so? Didn't I do my best to keep you out of it?"
"I even blurred you in the video I posted and specially altered your voice. You won't get dragged into this."
"That's not what I meant..." Shiina looked at the two groups already fighting and couldn't help sighing.
"I meant this... You got them fighting..."
Akasaka shrugged helplessly. "There's nothing I can do. There can't be a gang war without casualties."
Shiina looked resigned.
"This could've been avoided, but you chose the most extreme approach. I don't even know what to say to you..."
Meanwhile, Albert had approached the 1.75-meter-tall Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Ayanokoji looked at the two-meter-tall giant without changing his expression. He even had time to let his mind wander.
"You're really tall. What did you eat growing up? Can you tell me? I want to get taller too."
Albert answered honestly. "Protein powder..."
"Can protein powder make you taller?" Ayanokoji asked, puzzled.
Albert shook his head. "No! But it can build muscle. I was born this tall, so I'm sorry, but I can't answer your question. I don't know either."
"I see..." Ayanokoji put his hands in his pockets and said expressionlessly,
"Then let's get started. I want to go back and sleep as soon as possible."
Albert nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry. I'll make this quick."
Then he raised a fist as big as a sandbag and swung it at Ayanokoji.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka remained expressionless, hands still in his pockets, as he faced Albert's fist.
Albert followed through with a punch aimed at Ayanokoji's face.
Ayanokoji tilted his head aside and dodged it. Then he stepped forward, closing the distance in an instant, and raised one hand into a palm strike aimed at Albert's chin, trying to knock him unconscious.
After all, the human chin was very vulnerable. Even a light blow could cause a concussion and knock someone out.
That was Ayanokoji's aim.
Albert nearly lost consciousness from the blow. But thanks to his sturdy build, he managed to take it and headbutted Ayanokoji below him.
Ayanokoji was slightly surprised that Albert hadn't lost consciousness. He spun aside to dodge, then leaped into the air and kicked Albert in the neck, sending him flying.
His foot remained raised in midair as he looked impassively at Albert, whom he had just kicked away.
Albert climbed out of the wreckage and rolled his stiff neck.
Ayanokoji slowly lowered his foot and sighed to himself.
"Looks like I'll have to put a little more force into it. This guy's built like a tank. A light hit won't knock him out..."
Meanwhile, Horikita was also fighting two girls.
Manabe Shiho kicked Horikita hard in the face. Horikita blocked with both hands, but the impact still sent her stumbling back a few steps.
After seeing her kick her opponent back, Manabe got carried away and charged at her alone.
Horikita snatched up her schoolbag and slammed it into the girl's temple, then followed with a flying kick that sent her tumbling three or four meters away.
Manabe hit the ground face-first, blood running down her cheek. That kick had clearly landed hard.
Horikita hadn't held back. She didn't have the leeway to do so.
Horikita rolled her ankle, then looked at her other opponent: Ibuki Mio.
Ibuki Mio was also rolling her ankle, looking excited.
Before you continue