Deep in the mountain forest, mist hung heavy. The damp wind carried a scent of danger as it swept wildly through the trees.
Li Xiang raced toward Senku with Kohaku and Ginro.
None of them dared waste any time.
Before long, the figures ahead finally came into view.
In the middle of an open clearing, Senku Ishigami calmly faced the people opposite him. Chrome stood at his side, his expression tense.
The atmosphere was on a knife's edge.
Li Xiang looked up and scanned the scene, immediately picking out the group across from them.
Hyoga was there, with a whole contingent of fighters from the Tsukasa Faction behind him.
But all Li Xiang could do was complain inwardly.
[Help...]
[Does nobody on Tsukasa's side know how to wear something decent? Tsukasa included.]
[Are they all just wearing underpants?]
[See no evil...]
[I'm begging you... could you please pay a little attention to how you look?!]
In the audience, Hyoga reached over and pinched Li Xiang's cheek.
"Oh, so that's it. Now I finally understand."
"No wonder you never looked me in the eye whenever we met afterward. This was why?"
Her cheek grew warm from being pinched. Li Xiang hurriedly pushed his hand away and waved her hands in denial, her expression utterly serious.
"No, no, you're free to dress however you want. That's none of my business."
She looked up and countered earnestly, "What you wear is your business, and whether I look is mine. Why do you have to meddle in whether I look at you?"
That gave her even more confidence. With a perfectly solemn expression, she continued, "Besides, why should I have to stare at you? That makes no sense."
She gently rubbed her reddened cheek with her fingertips, looking thoroughly wronged.
It wasn't really Li