Boxing

As he spoke, he suddenly raised an eyebrow toward the corner. "Did you get it?"

"In 4K HD."

The Vice President shook his phone, its camera still aimed at the Club President's stubbly chin. "But, boss, are we sure it's okay to set Kiryuin up like this?"

"It's called practical training." The Club President tossed a towel over his shoulder, his chest muscles quivering with laughter. "A true fun-seeker has to learn to greet everything with a smile."

In the girls' changing room, Kiryuin Fuuka was unleashing a fierce barrage on the punching bag hanging on the wall beside her.

Every punch and kick was charged with the humiliation of being manipulated.

She glared at the bag through gritted teeth, beating it as if it were the Club President and she meant to kill it.

Damn it. Damn it.

The Club President looked like a brute on the surface, but behind the scenes, he was a schemer.

He'd actually set her up and made her take the blame.

Then she realized the other clubs had done the same thing.

Unbelievable. They were all schemers.

She immediately gave the bag another pounding with fists and feet.

After venting her anger, she tidied her clothes in front of the mirror.

A smile returned to her face.

There was no getting out of taking the blame, but she could handle it.

All she had to do was smile, say a few nice things, and treat them to a meal.

Of course, Kiryuin Fuuka wasn't arrogant enough to think Tanaka Yukishin would indulge her in every way, like her admirers did.

The important thing was that yesterday, besides showing him around, she'd done something else.

She'd vouched for him.

Otherwise, if he simply stopped some random student and tried to challenge the three major clubs, he'd be dreaming.

Nobody would even take him seriously. The fact that they hadn't thrown him out was already polite.

Fine. She'd just consider it paying for some entertainment.

Before long, they arrived.

After exchanging greetings, Tanaka Yukishin confronted her.

"Senpai, you stirred things up behind my back just to watch the fun. You owe me an explanation."

"There's nothing to explain. Just like you said, with the favor I did you yesterday included, we're even."

"You think just showing me around is enough to wipe the slate clean? You're dreaming, senpai."

Kiryuin Fuuka's gaze stabbed at him like a sword, but it barely had any effect.

"You and Matsuzaka Tomohito are two of a kind. Did you really think I didn't know how much I'd done? Without me vouching for you, you wouldn't even have made it through the club's front door."

The Child of Destiny would affect Tanaka Yukishin's life, steering it toward better outcomes whenever possible.

So, a lot of the time, Tanaka Yukishin knew that his smooth sailing really was the result of good luck.

"Likewise. If you figured it out, that's to your credit. If you didn't, then I deserved it."

"Don't forget, senpai. You were the one who started this."

"Is that all? That's not enough."

Kiryuin Fuuka gave him a polite smile, deciding to deal with the problem at hand first and look for a chance to turn the tables later.

"I'll throw in a barbecue dinner."

Without changing expression, she pulled out her phone. On the screen was the Boxing Club President dancing to a girl group song in the changing room.

Seeing the boy's mouth twitch, she waved her phone. "Bonus footage."

If they were going to hurt each other, she could play that game too.

"...Then we're even?"

"We're even."

As they walked, Kiryuin Fuuka came up with a suitable idea.

After all, anyone with eyes could see how much Karuizawa Kei liked Tanaka Yukishin, with her arm linked through his.

Tanaka Yukishin told the Class D students who'd come along about yesterday's club incident, leaving out some details and sharing the rest.

"Hey, kouhai. You've built yourself a harem after just two days at school. Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Snark didn't suit Kiryuin Fuuka. Stirring the pot and causing trouble so she could enjoy the show was more her style.

But she knew where to draw the line. She wouldn't go too far.

For example, she hadn't added, "There's even a boy. Don't tell me you swing both ways."

Confucius said, "A gentleman has three things to guard against: in youth, when his blood and vital energies are unsettled, he guards against lust; in adulthood, when his blood and vital energies are strong, he guards against strife; in old age, when his blood and vital energies have waned, he guards against greed."

With a strong body and a cheat ability on his side,

it was only natural that Tanaka Yukishin had a temper.

He just had good self-control.

That was why he seemed easygoing in his daily interactions with people.

Now, after Kiryuin Fuuka had provoked him again and again,

he was getting a little angry.

He planned to teach the white-haired girl a lesson later.

The members of Karuizawa's group whispered among themselves.

Koenji Rokusuke, meanwhile, didn't seem to care.

When they reached the Boxing Club, the members had already prepared the ring.

As they walked in, the burly men all flashed them friendly smiles, their biceps twitching.

"Senpai." Tanaka suddenly turned his head, his voice clear enough to pierce soundproof glass. "That deal where you paid me to take over as Club President still stands, right?"

The entire venue fell silent.

The energy drink in Kiryuin's hand popped with a sharp crack. Sticky liquid dripped between her fingers.

The Club President slowly turned around, his eyes shifting between her and the boy. Then, suddenly, he seemed to understand.

"So that's what it was..." The Club President rubbed his chin, the pattern on his chest shifting with his expression. "Kiryuin really wants to be Club President?"

No wonder she'd repeatedly urged him to fight yesterday. She'd been playing both sides.

She could watch the place descend into chaos while undermining the Club President's authority.

He'd thought he was simply going along with her plan while getting in a little jab at Kiryuin.

But it turned out everything had gone according to her plan.

Was he the one who'd been outsmarted after all?

"I don't! I didn't!" Kiryuin was about to blow her top when she caught Tanaka waving his phone screen. It showed the girl group dance video she'd treasured.

The Class D students looked at them strangely.

They knew he was getting back at her for provoking him earlier.

"I really didn't."

"Don't worry, senpai. With my help, becoming Club President will be a piece of cake."

I... never mind.

After arguing, she saw that the Club President still looked at her strangely.

Thinking of how she'd angrily flung open the changing-room door earlier,

she realized an explanation wouldn't do much good, so Kiryuin Fuuka gave up struggling.

So what if she was taking the blame? She could take another one.

After giving up, she suddenly smiled.

Since it had started for fun, it might as well end for fun.

The girl took a deep breath and forced a twisted smile. "That's right. Knock those three down, and I'll give you a hundred thousand each!"

One win.

But Tanaka Yukishin wasn't so easily satisfied.

"I was joking, senpai. I didn't realize you really had a problem with the Boxing Club President."

Chapter 22: Boxing

Kiryuin Fuuka had already made peace with her fate. Her heart was as serene as Guanyin's, her face as fierce as a demon's.

She didn't react to his words.

The three members of the Boxing Club, however, suddenly understood.

It wasn't that Kiryuin was so clever she'd effortlessly manipulated them.

Her attempt to stir things up had been exposed, and Tanaka Yukishin was simply taking the chance to get back at her.

Thinking this, the three exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"What a shame."

"Sure is a shame."

It was a pity they couldn't record this scene in 4K HD and watch it every day.

Karuizawa Kei's straw stirred tiny whirlpools in her carbonated drink, while the camera's red light blinked in the dim corner.

They skipped the introductions. Tanaka Yukishin and the three members of the Boxing Club went to the boxing ring.

"Tanaka-kun, we've heard about what happened yesterday. We've also looked at your stats and videos. So, is it okay if all three of us fight you at once?"

The Club President sounded as if he were asking, but he'd already tossed over a pair of boxing gloves.

Tanaka Yukishin caught the gloves in midair, slipped them on deftly, and tied the laces.

"Looks like you haven't used gloves before, Tanaka-kun. Do you need a moment to get used to them?"

Tanaka Yukishin shook his head.

After years of using Martial Arts Prodigy, he understood how it worked.

When learning any technique or ability related to martial arts, it gave him a boost in comprehension.

Now, he was curious to see how quickly he could learn boxing with Martial Arts Prodigy combined with Universal Tool.

The three members of the Boxing Club exchanged glances and understood.

There was no need to say anything. A man's hot blood was meant to be expressed with his fists.

They spread out around Tanaka Yukishin, forming a triangle.

The triangle cast sharp geometric shadows across the floor, their angles shifting with the swaying overhead lights.

Rustling clothes rose and fell from the spectators' seats. Someone leaned forward without realizing it, making the leather chair creak beneath them.

Seeing that the three seemed ready to go through the motions—

circling him to study his weaknesses and find a good moment to attack—

Tanaka Yukishin struck first.

He pushed off with his right leg, and the recoil sent him hurtling toward the Club President.

Radiating wrinkles suddenly spread across the rubber floor. The gust from the silver-haired boy's charge ruffled the referee's hair.

As the Club President's pupils contracted, he saw circular ripples forming in the leather of the other boy's glove as it compressed at high speed.

A punch thrown with only thirty percent of his strength cut through the air with a faint swish.