You En arrived on the third floor of the dormitory,
which was reserved for female students. He was there to visit Ando Sayo's room.
Incidentally, Horikita Suzune lived on this floor too.
This weekend's tutoring session
had been held at Ando Sayo's dormitory at Tsube Hitomi's suggestion in the group chat.
Ando Sayo had actually agreed, and Kobashi Yume and the others naturally had no objections.
You En knocked on the door and heard Tsube Hitomi call out.
"Coming!"
Tsube Hitomi hurried over and opened the door. She was wearing a camisole and soft slippers, without a care for her appearance.
"Sorry, Teacher You En. Sayo isn't feeling well today, so we can only ask you to come teach us in the dorm."
You En glanced at the expanse of tan skin she had left uncovered and reminded her,
"Why don't you put on a jacket before I come in?"
Tsube Hitomi already trusted You En completely and had no guard up at all. She stepped forward and tugged at his wrist.
"What's the big deal? Come on in."
"Tsube! I told you to put on your jacket first!"
Ando Sayo hurried out with a jacket draped over her shoulders. Her voice was a little weak, not as clear as before.
She insisted on helping Tsube Hitomi put on her own clothes, then turned to You En with an apologetic look.
"Sorry. I'm not feeling well today. I was going to ask you all to excuse me, but this idiot Hitomi invited everyone over. I'm really sorry."
You En felt warm air drifting from inside. The heater must have been on. Ando's period had probably started.
He looked at Ando Sayo and smiled easily. "It's fine. I like your room, too. You're not going to turn me away, are you?"
"Of course not."
A trace of delight surfaced in Ando Sayo's heart. She stopped Tsube Hitomi from saying anything.
"Come on, let's go in together. I've prepared some tea and snacks for you."
"Then I'm glad I came."
You En smiled at them.
Tsube Hitomi looked rather proud.
"Sayo's tea and snacks are top-notch."
Kobashi Yume and another girl had arrived as well.
The group began studying and chatting in the room.
With You En keeping the study session on track, Ando and the others didn't have to worry. The atmosphere was very relaxed.
You En didn't stop them from chatting. Most of the time, he listened, occasionally bringing up an interesting topic and finding a way to work in some survival knowledge.
Ando Sayo looked at You En and asked,
"I remember Ichinose said this survival class seemed pretty dangerous. If the first lesson was already like that, will things get more and more dangerous later on?"
"It's not that bad, actually."
You En thought it over.
"Only the first lesson was a little dangerous. After that, we'll mostly be taught and learn various things. The trials are optional."
Tsube Hitomi sat with her legs crossed, swaying back and forth.
"What kind of trial?"
"You have to hunt a wild wolf."
Hearing this, Kobashi Yume looked a little scared.
"Really?"
You En nodded.
"Yeah. I'm going to try it tomorrow. Someone's coming with me, of course."
Ando Sayo said worriedly,
"Isn't that a little too risky? And what kind of normal school offers a class like that...? Is it even necessary?"
You En didn't feel any pressure.
"It's fine. I just feel like I should give it a try."
Ando Sayo and Tsube Hitomi exchanged a glance. He sounded as if he were heading out to buy a bottle of soda.
"Good luck."
Kobashi Yume didn't understand, but she didn't question him. Instead, she clasped her hands to her chest.
"I'll pray for you!"
Ando and the others chimed in, "So will we."
"Thanks."
You En felt that getting to know these girls meant far more to him than those few personal points.
The tutoring session went smoothly. Though Sayo wasn't feeling well, she still listened attentively.
After having dinner with them,
night fell.
You En went to the agreed-upon meeting place: the Combat Club's headquarters in the club building.
Seeing the two people at the entrance, he realized who they were and greeted them.
The petite one with blue hair was Ibuki. The other must be Senior Chun-Li, the master Ibuki had mentioned.
Senior Chun-Li didn't feel like a student. She seemed more like an international police officer on an overseas assignment. After sizing You En up, she asked,
"Are you interested in joining the Combat Club?"
You En greeted her first, then said, "I don't have any plans to for now. I'm having a bit of trouble keeping up with the Kyudo Club."
Chun-Li glanced into the distance.
"Is that so? Qiao Heng told me you were a quick learner. She was a good kid back then, and she has a good eye for people. You seem like a good kid too."
You En followed her gaze and saw she was looking toward the Kyudo Club.
"Senior Chun-Li, I think I'm a little too old to be called a kid."
"Let's see you graduate your first year before you say that."
Chun-Li ended the small talk and got down to business.
"Ibuki said you were going to challenge a wild beast. It's not hard to survive, but if you want to kill one, you need to consider something."
You En asked, "What?"
"Are you prepared to get hurt?"
Chun-Li's gaze was serious. "Before a fight, you have to prepare for the worst and anticipate what could happen. Have you thought about that?"
You En lowered his head and thought it over before answering seriously,
"...No. I only thought that Teacher Ed might step in if things got dangerous. I hadn't considered how to deal with it myself."
Chun-Li nodded, appreciating his honesty.
"That's the problem. If you're planning to fight with your life on the line, you have to be ready to get hurt—and even consider whether you might die.
"So tonight, I'm going to help you get used to that."
Ibuki looked reluctant. She spoke up,
"Master, You En isn't in the Combat Club and has no experience. There's no need to put him through special training."
"That's what she says,"
Chun-Li said, looking at You En. "What's your answer?"
You En didn't think it was a bother. If anything, he felt it was only right.
"If we're going to fight side by side, I have to take responsibility for my part. And you're training me because you want to keep us from getting hurt, right, Senior?"
"You're showing some promise as a gentleman."
Chun-Li patted Ibuki on the head. "You have a good eye."
Ibuki thought her senior might have gotten the wrong idea, but there was nothing she could do. Since Chun-Li was her master, she just had to put up with it.
"Come on. Let's spar."
You En followed Ibuki and Senior Chun-Li into the Combat Club. The school's buildings were just as enormous and extravagant inside.
"The best way to get used to it is simple: take a beating until your body learns to handle it."
Chun-Li gave You En a set of protective gear to put on.
"Let Ibuki beat you up first so you can get used to it. Then I'll take over."
You En wanted to ask if that wouldn't leave him in bad shape tomorrow.
But his body seemed to be in good condition. Even if he picked up a minor injury, a night's sleep would probably fix it.
Had she noticed that, and decided to skip the explanation and get straight to it?
Ibuki was eagerly warming up. "Ready? I've wanted to beat you up for ages. I'll go easy on you."
You En sighed. Once he had learned enough at the Kyudo Club, he'd have to join a club focused on close combat. There was no point staying this helpless all the time.
The beating didn't last long,
because Chun-Li noticed a problem: You En wasn't afraid of death at all. He wasn't really afraid of pain, either—he just disliked it...
He didn't need to overcome any mental barriers, only his body's instincts.
The latter was easy to correct, but the former was extremely difficult for an ordinary person.
"You..."
Chun-Li chose not to press him. People like him often had pasts beyond the average person's imagination, and might even have stood at death's door. That was how they developed that kind of mindset.
"Let's move on. I'll teach you the simplest basic teamwork. You'll start by learning each other's habits..."
After a brief lesson, Chun-Li began acting as their sparring partner. She let You En use his bow.
But You En didn't dare. He was afraid he might hurt her.
Chun-Li had to find him a batch of blunt-tipped arrows instead.
Once they started, You En and Ibuki's performance could be summed up in one word: dismal.
But after a long beating,
You En and Ibuki grew more and more in sync. They had gotten along well from the start; they just hadn't practiced much. After Senior Chun-Li's training, they could often understand what the other meant with just a glance.
By the end, they lasted twice as long against Chun-Li, though it still wasn't long. And neither You En nor Ibuki had managed to touch her.
"That's enough for now."
Senior Chun-Li looked at the two of them lying on the ground.
"If it's a wild wolf, you should be able to pass. But if anything unexpected happens, you'll have to rely on yourselves."
You En felt as if she were warning them.
Could the beast they were given be something other than a wolf?
If it wasn't a wolf, what would it be?
With a few questions and a little anticipation on his mind,
You En caught his breath and recovered some energy. He prepared to leave and planned to take Ibuki back with him.
"No need. She's staying with me tonight,"
Chun-Li said.
"She isn't in the same condition as you. I'll have to help her recover by tomorrow."
"Then I'll be off. Thank you, Senior."
Chun-Li watched him leave in silence. There was one thing she hadn't mentioned:
Most of the time, it was You En who adapted to Ibuki during their teamwork.
You En's comprehension and tolerance were far greater, so he was the one who had to adjust to Ibuki.
Of course, that wasn't Ibuki's fault. Her abilities and the understanding she shared with You En were already excellent.
The main thing was You En himself. Though he seemed to have no training, he possessed all sorts of fundamental abilities that others couldn't hope to match.
His temperament and abilities were better suited to making him a class leader or organizer. Yet he preferred solitude. That was just the eccentricity of a genius, she supposed.
Chun-Li touched Ibuki's forehead.
With Ibuki's talent and ability, joining an advanced club would usually be difficult. Chun-Li had made an exception because she liked Ibuki and admired her personality.
But that meant Ibuki would face many hardships, and might not even survive.
Chun-Li had always worried about that.
But now, her worry had eased a little.
If these two partnered up, they should have no trouble with the first semester's official assessment for first-years.
She couldn't say how well they'd do in the end, but at least they'd survive.
Chun-Li shook her head.
It was too early to say any of that.
She'd observe them during this month's first assessment for new students.
It was the fourth week now, so that meant next week.
Before you continue