Women Only Slow Down My Punches

Kanzaki Rin couldn't understand what she was seeing.

She turned around, looked at the elevator doors that hadn't closed yet, then stepped back inside.

Once the elevator doors shut, Kanzaki Rin took a deep breath, pressed the open button again, and charged out with her stun gun drawn.

Okay, she hadn't seen it wrong, and she wasn't hallucinating.

Fang Cheng really was chasing Takeda Masumi around and beating her up.

But how could something like this happen?!

Kanzaki Rin wanted to shoot herself right then and there, just to clear her bewildered head.

Takeda Masumi had a nickname in the Disaster Countermeasure Department: Great Demon King Takeda.

She was an incredibly skilled fighter, and she never held back. Whenever she lost her temper, she'd hit anyone, even the commander.

Except for a few Aces, everyone else was as afraid of Takeda Masumi as they were of a tiger. The only way they could deal with her was to use administrative measures to dump her here and let her waste away.

And now this tigress was being chased around by a rookie who'd only been learning to fight for three days. Even an April Fool's joke wouldn't go that far.

Takeda Masumi had noticed Kanzaki Rin. Her face instantly lit up, and she hurried toward her.

"Masumi, what are you—?"

"Stop him!"

Takeda Masumi shot behind Kanzaki Rin.

Fang Cheng chased after her.

Kanzaki Rin hurriedly raised a hand to stop him. "Stop!! What's going on with you two?"

Only when Fang Cheng saw Kanzaki Rin did he finally stop. He rested one hand on his hip. "What do you think? Training."

Takeda Masumi poked her head out from behind Kanzaki Rin and shouted, "Training's over."

Fang Cheng grinned. "But I think I still have a lot to work on."

Takeda Masumi snapped, "Then find someone else."

"You're the only one here."

"I'm done."

"That's not up to you."

"It's not up to you either."

When it looked like they were about to start arguing, Kanzaki Rin hurried to cut in. "Stop. Don't fight!"

The world seemed to be changing too fast. Takeda Masumi used to chase other trainees around relentlessly. In all the years Kanzaki Rin had known her, this was the first time she'd seen someone refuse to let her go.

Kanzaki Rin could see it too. It was hard to believe, but Fang Cheng really did seem to have Takeda Masumi on the back foot, to the point where even the battle maniac didn't want to keep going.

Takeda Masumi grabbed Kanzaki Rin by the shoulders and complained, "Get this brat out of here! I already called training off, but he insists on carrying on. He has no respect for the rules!"

Fang Cheng sneered. "You seemed pretty happy when you were beating me up. So why can't I do the same to you? How is that fair?"

He pointed at Takeda Masumi. "Come out. What kind of skill is it to hide behind a woman?"

Takeda Masumi gritted her teeth. "Are you blind? I'm a woman too."

Fang Cheng spread his hands, unconcerned. "So what if you're a woman? I beat up men just the same. Women are no exception."

Takeda Masumi and Kanzaki Rin were both speechless. Somehow, that sounded completely wrong.

Wasn't he supposed to say the opposite?

No, even the opposite would've sounded like something a jerk would say.

Kanzaki Rin held her forehead. "You'll never get a girlfriend if you act like that."

Fang Cheng ran a hand through his hair. "Hmph. Women only slow down my punches."

"Then why did you write a love letter to a girl?"

"If not a girl, who was I supposed to write to, a guy? I'm not into that."

Kanzaki Rin was at a loss for words. This guy was hopeless. Had a Vampire bitten him and damaged his brain?

"Fine. If training's over, then let's leave it at that."

Kanzaki Rin didn't want to take sides, but she couldn't let them keep fighting.

Fang Cheng rubbed his fists together. "No way. I'm not done yet."

When he refused, Kanzaki Rin's expression darkened. She stared at him for a long moment before saying coldly, "Tonight at the barbecue place... you can eat as much as you want."

Fang Cheng immediately smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. "I'm with you."

He couldn't afford to offend the person who kept feeding him.

Kanzaki Rin kept a blank face, though she could practically hear her wallet wailing.

Damn it!!

Fang Cheng tossed aside his boxing gloves and headed off to take a shower.

That left only Kanzaki Rin and Takeda Masumi, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

When Fang Cheng first showed up, Takeda Masumi had thought he was some pretty boy pestering Kanzaki Rin, so she'd wanted to have a little fun at his expense.

Kanzaki Rin had also worried that Takeda Masumi would hit him too hard and scare him off, ruining their plan.

But the outcome had been completely beyond either of their expectations.

Luckily, hardly anyone ever came to this dump. Otherwise, the tigress's reputation would have been ruined.

Kanzaki Rin felt a little guilty for dragging Takeda Masumi into this mess, and was about to say something to comfort her.

But Takeda Masumi turned to look at her and asked, "That brat's ability... it's not just Self-Healing, is it?"

Kanzaki Rin's heart jumped. Had Takeda Masumi figured out Fang Cheng was a Vampire?

She kept her expression neutral and asked, "Why do you say that?"

"Why?"

Takeda Masumi couldn't help laughing. "Rin, I've taught you how to fight for three years. Have you ever beaten me once?"

Kanzaki Rin pursed her lips. If Takeda Masumi used only one hand, then she'd have a tiny chance of winning.

But Fang Cheng had only needed three days... to chase Takeda Masumi around and beat her.

What was this, some third-rate novel plot?

"I don't know if that brat has some kind of copying ability or a superhuman capacity for learning. But even if it's just his persistence and grit, he's a real talent. You've got a good eye."

Takeda Masumi patted Kanzaki Rin on the shoulder and lowered her voice. "Be careful, and take care of yourself."

Kanzaki Rin turned to her in surprise.

Takeda Masumi waved a hand. "I'm going to shower too. If you're leaving, close the door on your way out."

Kanzaki Rin watched her walk away and murmured, "Thanks."

She knew Takeda Masumi had already realized Fang Cheng definitely wasn't part of the Disaster Countermeasure Department.

There was no way they'd bring such a talented person here and leave him with Takeda Masumi to train.

Takeda Masumi had probably figured it out on the very first day. But she hadn't asked questions; she'd simply kept training Fang Cheng in earnest.

After showering in the bathroom, Fang Cheng came out wrapped in a towel, ready to get dressed.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Takeda Masumi waiting for him by the changing room.

Fang Cheng looked surprised. "What, still sore about losing?"

Takeda Masumi walked up to him and looked down at his face. Then she smiled. "You know, kid, you're actually pretty handsome up close. Just my type."

Fang Cheng furrowed his brow. What was this woman getting at? Had she decided to use her looks since she couldn't beat him?

Takeda Masumi reached out and lightly stroked his bare chest, then slid her hand down to his abs. "I know a lot of people, but you're the only one who even vaguely counts as a man... You can come see me sometime."

She licked her sexy lips and spoke in a soft, husky voice.

"Smack—"

Fang Cheng slapped Takeda Masumi's hand away and scolded her. "You pervert! Where do you think you're touching?"

Takeda Masumi clutched her hand and stared at him in disbelief.

Fang Cheng wiped his chest with his towel, looking annoyed. "If you've got something to say, say it. Don't go touching me all over. Are we even close?"

Takeda Masumi snapped, "Hey, I'm a good-looking woman, at least. Don't you think you're being a little harsh?"

"Harsh? Who gave you the right to touch people of the opposite sex without permission? I only didn't hit you because of Kanzaki Rin."

Fang Cheng glanced at Takeda Masumi's chest and scoffed, his tone dripping with mockery. "Don't tell me you thought I was some innocent kid who'd blush and get all shy if you flirted with him?"

Takeda Masumi had no answer. Her face flushed red with anger, and all she could do was glare furiously at Fang Cheng's back as he walked into the changing room.

After he left, Takeda Masumi took two deep breaths and quickly regained her composure. She gave a soft laugh.

"Rin, that's all your big sister can do for you."