Uzuki Yugao's Interrogation

With a delicate laugh from Uzuki Yugao, the sound of her bamboo sword slicing through the air grew significantly sharper. Nebula Kotetsu dared not be careless, focusing his entire attention on parrying her assault.

"Bang, bang, bang!!!!!" The small courtyard once again rang out with the dense, rhythmic clatter of bamboo swords colliding.

Uzuki Yugao's offensive was relentless and her movements agile; under her barrage, Nebula Kotetsu found himself suppressed to the point of having no time to catch his breath, occasionally failing to block as the bamboo sword landed on his body, stinging with a dull ache.

Of course, if he were to unleash his raw strength to withstand her momentum for a split second and use his masculine power advantage to bulldoze through, victory would be certain, but that would defeat the original purpose of a swordsmanship spar.

Up until now, the rewards provided by the system had all been ability-based; as for combat experience, the system had yet to provide any relevant content.

Relying on his excellent physical reflexes, Nebula Kotetsu managed to hold his ground for a while, and after some time, he sensed that Uzuki Yugao's strength and speed were gradually waning.

Realizing her stamina was beginning to falter, his eyes lit up, and he prepared to seize the opportunity to counterattack, only for Uzuki Yugao to suddenly leap backward.

"Alright, alright."

"Senior Kotetsu, you really intended to hit me hard, didn't you?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "Please, I've been the one getting beaten the whole time, haven't I?"

Uzuki Yugao lowered her bamboo sword, twisting her hands together with a bashful expression: "Sorry, Senior. I didn't expect your reflexes to be so good; I got excited and just focused on attacking, forgetting everything else."

Nebula Kotetsu: "Then let's continue."

"I need to pay you back."

Uzuki Yugao squinted and smiled, dropping her bamboo sword and leaning in close to Nebula Kotetsu: "Don't be like that, Senior."

"You have so much strength; what if you break me?"

"How about I compensate you in other ways?"

Nebula Kotetsu leaned back tactically.

"No need."

"I just want to hit you back."

Uzuki Yugao said: "What's the point of hitting back?"

"How about I become your girlfriend instead?"

"If I become your girlfriend, maybe I'll let you hit me back?"

Nebula Kotetsu shook his head.

He admitted that for a split second, Uzuki Yugao's proposal had conjured up images in his mind.

But it was only for a split second.

He was not lacking in that department.

"Yugao."

"Let's not talk about this; let's just focus on our swordsmanship spar."

"I am very interested in swordsmanship. How about this: whenever I have time during this period, I'll set it aside to spar with you, how does that sound?"

How does it sound? Uzuki Yugao thought it sounded terrible.

Faced with Nebula Kotetsu's rejection, she appeared somewhat unhappy. Thus, she voiced the question in her heart.

"Senior Kotetsu, why won't you agree to let me be your girlfriend?"

"Although it's hard to say, but... from what I understand, you generally don't reject a girl's confession, right?"

"Why am I not good enough?"

Ever since she had seen Nebula Kotetsu's true face, Uzuki Yugao, having entered a predatory state, certainly wouldn't fight a battle without preparation.

She had infiltrated the girls' gossip circles and collected quite a bit of information on Nebula Kotetsu.

Not to mention the clichés like Hand of God or his peerless good looks, there was plenty of other useful information.

For instance, according to the experience summarized by "predecessors," as long as one's looks were above average, a confession to Nebula Kotetsu would basically never be rejected. The only prerequisite was being able to accept his double-digit number of girlfriends and the pointing fingers of classmates.

Uzuki Yugao wasn't being arrogant; from childhood to the present, whether based on her own perception or the reactions of classmates and passersby, she knew clearly that she was definitely not ugly.

No matter which class she was placed in, she was always among the top tier in terms of appearance.

That was why she had come with full confidence. She hadn't expected Nebula Kotetsu to actually refuse!

It was too bullying!

Faced with Uzuki Yugao's question, Nebula Kotetsu felt a bit awkward.

His appetite had indeed been a bit larger in the past.

But times were different now, and he couldn't explain the reasons too clearly.

After a moment of thought, he said: "Yugao."

"As I am now, I have no intention of accepting a new girlfriend. I'm sorry, the timing of our meeting is wrong."

"If only you had appeared a little earlier."

Faced with his excuse, the corner of Uzuki Yugao's mouth twitched.

What a scummy vibe.

If it weren't for the fact that he was just a little bit good-looking, she definitely would have turned around and walked away.

But then again—who could blame her when he was this good-looking!

She said, "Why?"

"Since you already have so many girlfriends, what would one more matter?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "I'm sorry."

"I really don't have the energy."

"As you know, after becoming a Genin, I'll only get busier. My current girlfriends have already filled up all my time and my heart; I truly have no strength left to love anyone else."

Uzuki Yugao: "(￢_￢)"

"Filled up your time and heart?"

"Then who was the person I saw lying on the lounge chair sunbathing just a moment ago?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "..."

Uzuki Yugao took a step closer, leaning in until she was right in front of Nebula Kotetsu, staring deep into his eyes.

"Could it be... that it's because I didn't bring Hayate along?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "!!"

"What are you talking about!?"

Uzuki Yugao wore an expression that said, "I've seen right through you."

She gave a light huff and said, "Don't think I don't know."

"Actually... I saw through your intentions a long time ago!"

"Yesterday, when I invited you to spar with me, you refused so firmly. And yet, what happened?"

"The moment Hayate appeared, you changed your mind."

"If Hayate were here right now, would you agree to be my boyfriend?"

Nebula Kotetsu's face darkened: "Don't talk nonsense."

"How can you slander an innocent person out of thin air?"

Uzuki Yugao smiled.

"Senior Kotetsu, I know more than just that."

"I also know that for the past two years, every so often, you get surrounded by boys who threaten to beat you to death, claiming you stole their girlfriends."

"Do you specifically target girls who already have boyfriends or suitors?"

Nebula Kotetsu's face darkened further.

"It's a coincidence! A total coincidence!"

He wasn't lying; it really was a coincidence.

It was a matter of statistics. As a student trying to complete the system's 99 tasks, the school was naturally his primary target.

And he had his own standards for looks.

Just think about it: most of the girls in school who met his aesthetic standards had some sort of connection with him. With so many attractive girls, it was inevitable that they would have plenty of suitors and admirers.

The only reason he hadn't been beaten to death after being surrounded was thanks to his own quick wits and the protection of his late father's spirit in heaven.

"Fine." Uzuki Yugao's tone grew heavier: "Even if that's the case, I'll believe you—it's all a coincidence."

"But what about Anko!?"

"Anko likes you too! She has for a long time!"

"And Anko is very pretty!"

"Why won't you agree to her?"

Just as Nebula Kotetsu was thinking of how to answer, Uzuki Yugao spoke for him.

A flash of wisdom crossed Uzuki Yugao's eyes: "Is it because Anko has a boisterous, impulsive personality and acts like a tomboy, so no one in class pursues her?"

"Because no one else wants her, you don't want her either?"

She stared intensely into Nebula Kotetsu's eyes: "Because... you don't want the things that others don't want!"

"Am I right?"