The Second Advanced Education Unlimited Fighting Tournament

"Then, be careful!"

3.5 meters, exactly the distance of two steps. Nagami opened with a classic low-dive takedown attempt. Ayanokoji reacted by lowering his center of gravity and pulling his legs back. Nagami, having rushed in, had to settle for grabbing his waist to engage in a grapple.

After some probing, Nagami backed away to break the stalemate of the grapple. The waist was highly susceptible to a guillotine choke, and since his hands were closest to the neck, he couldn't afford to get tangled up.

"I'm truly surprised. Given your weight, you're at a huge disadvantage, but you're unexpectedly strong."

(But, how will you deal with the difference in reach?)

Nagami threw a few probing jabs, all of which were blocked. He adjusted his footwork, dodging Ayanokoji's counterattack.

After several rounds of testing, Nagami began to get used to the distance and started pressing forward.

A right straight, then a left hook. Ayanokoji returned the favor in kind, but Nagami tilted his head back slightly to dodge them.

Ayanokoji needed to exert force through his entire upper body to dodge, while Nagami only needed to twist his neck. The subtle difference in stamina was slowly being widened.

Before long, Ayanokoji chose to force a close-quarters engagement. Nagami seized the opening and landed a heavy punch to his ribs, forcing him to retreat slightly.

"Honestly, where did you learn your fighting techniques? They're not bad."

"The White Room. I grew up there since I was a child."

Ayanokoji instantly closed the distance, entering the intense phase of close-quarters combat. Sweat dripped down their cheeks, soaking their collars, yet their movements became even more rapid, like two whirlwinds intertwined, inseparable and fierce.

(Choosing to use technique!)

Ayanokoji feinted to close in. Nagami threw a punch, a straight strike aimed at his chest, but it was nimbly parried by Ayanokoji's forearm.

In an instant, Ayanokoji launched a reverse elbow strike toward his face. A "whoosh" could almost be heard in the air. Nagami quickly shook his head to dodge, his shoulder following up with a slam into his opponent's chest and abdomen, attempting to disrupt Ayanokoji's rhythm.

The two fought for the initiative at close range, fists and elbows crossing, footwork pressing in, their bodies almost pressed against each other.

Ayanokoji tried to control his arm, but was met with an inner-hand hook and pull. Using the momentum, Nagami closed in and delivered a short, powerful knee strike to Ayanokoji's waist and abdomen.

This strike carried heavy impact, but Ayanokoji had anticipated it and met it with a knee strike of his own. A muffled grunt followed; it was the sound of their kneecaps colliding.

Neither body retreated an inch. Ayanokoji used his shoulder to shove Nagami's center of gravity off-balance, simultaneously seizing the chance to lock his right arm and suppress his punching space.

But Nagami decisively twisted his waist and sank low, his left foot quickly stepping behind his opponent. Coordinating with the twist of his body, he delivered a sweep to the opponent's calf, forcing him to let go and retreat.

The two widened the distance again. The scene calmed down temporarily, but their breathing remained rapid, and both were silent.

The pace was so fast that there was no time for trash talk, and the fighting spirit in their eyes grew increasingly intense.

Every second of the close-quarters combat felt like a game of chess. The sound of fists and bodies colliding echoed on the rooftop, the rhythm fast enough to make one's heart race. The wind of the punches, the footwork, the sweat, and the breathing wove together into a picture that was both brutal and highly aesthetic.

Ayanokoji was the first to run low on stamina. His movements slowed, and he failed to defend in several places. Nagami feinted a punch to the stomach, leaving his face wide open. He landed a punch to the chin, causing a stun, and followed up with a spinning sweep. Ayanokoji lost his balance.

In the gap while he was falling and adjusting his body, Nagami seized the opportunity to stick to Ayanokoji's arm and immediately applied a ground-based armbar.

The lock was set; there was no breaking free.

The outcome was decided!

"Truly excellent. I concede."

"Even if we're opponents, you're not bad yourself."

Nagami released the armbar, stood up, and reached out to pull Ayanokoji up.

Compared to the cannon fodder of Class C, whose combat effectiveness didn't even mess up their hairstyles, both of them were covered in grime and looked slightly disheveled.

"I bet you'll be mocked if someone sees this hairstyle on the way back."

"Likewise, likewise."

"Today's bout was very satisfying."

Nagami said.

"I don't look forward to a next time."

Ayanokoji replied.

"It's getting late, and you still have a mess to clean up. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Ayanokoji nodded.

"I hope to meet a stronger version of you next time we cross paths."

Nagami turned and walked toward the rooftop exit, delivering a villainous declaration.

"I don't have that much interest in sparring."

Ayanokoji remained expressionless.

The corners of Nagami's mouth curled up slightly before he disappeared into the stairwell.

Ayanokoji stood where he was, feeling as if he had forgotten something.

"Little Kikyo, I went out of my way to get all dirty for your sake. You'd better be properly grateful in your heart."

Ignoring the puzzled gaze of Chabashira, he walked out of the building silently. He decided to reward himself with an extra ten-pull tonight.

Nagami decided just like that, using the gacha to soothe his excited mood.

The second Unlimited Fighting Tournament at the Advanced Nurturing High School has concluded.

Champion Chang Shui Jing, runner-up Ayanokoji.

"Kiyotaka, what happened to your face?"

Sakura looked at the dark, circular marks on Ayanokoji's cheek, which looked like he had been beaten, and asked naturally.

"I accidentally hit my own face while playing basketball."

"I see. Be more careful next time. Is your athletic ability really that poor, Kiyotaka?"

Hasebe looked at Ayanokoji with a suspicious gaze.

"I'm a total klutz when it comes to ball games, so I wanted to practice, but I ended up getting hurt."

"I see. Your courage is commendable, but don't practice anymore, Kiyotaka. If your face gets ugly, no girls will like you later."

"Yeah."

Ayanokoji replied in a listless tone.

"Kagami, what happened to your face?"

Early in the morning, Ichinose, who often walked the same way, asked.

"Honami, someone playing soccer accidentally stepped on my face with their cleat."

"The players at this school don't play very cleanly."

"As you can see, it hurt for a long time."

Chang Shui Jing rubbed the injured area.

"Poor thing. Kagami, don't participate in such dangerous sports next time. Protect yourself."

"I'll be careful. After all, a handsome guy's face is everyone's shared property."

"Wow! Kagami always answers questions from such unexpected angles."

Ichinose sighed once again at Chang Shui Jing's heaven-defying way of speaking.

"Although it really looks like you were beaten up, it's hard to imagine anyone in this school being able to beat Kagami like this."

"Could there be a hidden genius boxer in the school?"

Ichinose closed her eyes, pondering potential suspects.

"As you can see, that's impossible. After all, I am the strongest!"

Chang Shui Jing clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles popping.

From that day on, a rumor suddenly spread through the school: a mysterious person named "X" could no longer stand the arrogance of Class D's bloodthirsty tiger, so he decided to teach him a secret lesson, meeting him on the rooftop for a 1v1 and defeating him head-on. He declared that if Chang Shui Jing used violence again, he would reappear and beat him into a pulp.

From then on, the world gained one more kind and gentle person.

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