Ibuki replied coldly:
"Ryuuen, what are you doing here? I don't need you worrying about my business!"
Ryuen Kakeru said with a smile:
"I wouldn't worry about a stupid woman like you. You're overthinking it! I'm waiting for them!"
Looking in the direction Ryuuen indicated with his eyes, Natsukawa and Ibuki saw Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yego, and some male classmates he didn't know walking toward Ryuuen.
"Ryuuen, what the hell did you mean on the phone? Did you call us here to fight you one-on-one? We're not scared!"
Along the way, Ishizaki Daichi saw Natsukawa and greeted him.
The group disappeared around the corner.
Ibuki Mio looked eager to try her hand. After hesitating a moment, she told Natsukawa:
"Natsukawa, if you're not used to violence, go ahead to the gym. That bastard Ryuuen actually made fun of me just now. I'm going to beat him up!"
"Will you be okay?"
"Don't worry. Don't underestimate me! Besides, Ishizaki and the others are there. I usually look down on ganging up on someone, but I wouldn't mind making an exception for Ryuuen. We have the numbers."
Natsukawa knew this school was full of extraordinary people: clever ones, strong fighters, and underhanded schemers.
And Ryuen Kakeru happened to be both strong and underhanded.
Ryuuen was planning to take them on alone? That was hard to believe any way you looked at it. He would probably use dirty tricks to pick them off one by one.
There was still some time before the club orientation, so Natsukawa decided to go watch the fun too.
Natsukawa said with a smile:
"Ibuki, I'll come take a look with you."
"What are you coming for? You can't fight! Even if you're thinking of stopping the fight, Ryuuen probably won't agree."
"Don't worry about me. I never said I was going to fight. I'm not planning to stop them and make trouble for myself either. I'll just watch the fun. Don't worry, I know Ishizaki and the others too."
"Tch! Suit yourself."
Once Ibuki learned that Natsukawa wasn't the sort of helpful student who would stop a fight, there was only one possibility!
Ibuki Mio thought Natsukawa was worried she would get hurt and wanted to come along because he cared about her...
Ding! Ibuki Mio's affection +5 Current affection: 50
Behind the school building was a small, quiet clearing, screened by tall trees.
When Natsukawa and Ibuki entered, they saw Ryuuen facing Ishizaki and the others alone, with tension running high.
Of the six classmates, Natsukawa knew only Ishizaki Daichi and Komiya Yego.
Yet Ryuuen showed no sign of panic as he faced them, leaning against a tree with a sinister air and his signature smile.
When he saw Natsukawa and Ibuki Mio come around the corner, he even asked with interest:
"Oh, Natsukawa, are you planning to join in too?"
Ishizaki and the others also turned and saw that Natsukawa and Ibuki Mio had followed them. Ishizaki remembered this girl with her unusual personality. After all, she had dared to join the brawl against Ryuuen before.
But Natsukawa's arrival surprised him somewhat, and Ishizaki asked in confusion:
"Huh? Natsukawa, why are you here too?"
Natsukawa calmly answered Ryuuen's question:
"No, I'm not planning to participate. Ibuki is my friend. I came with her to take a look."
"There's another reason too, Ryuen. You said before that you'd become Class C's leader through violence. I didn't think this seemed like your style, so I got curious and came to watch."
"As things stand, you seem to be at a disadvantage. Let me see what Class C's future leader can do!"
Ryuuen was a little surprised. He hadn't expected Natsukawa to pick up on anything.
He really wasn't foolish enough to arrange a fight against so many people by himself. He already had a somewhat cruel plan in place.
Ryuuen said with a cold smile:
"Yes, that's very much your style. Class C needs clever people like you. I'll show you what I can do! Ishizaki, isn't it about time you idiots submitted to me?"
Ishizaki was baffled and said loudly:
"Hey! Natsukawa, what's that supposed to mean? Ryuuen isn't that big a deal. We've got plenty of people this time!"
"Ryuuen! What the hell are you talking about? Are you still thinking of running the class with those self-important ideas about violence? You've gotten overconfident this time. Didn't expect me to bring so many people, did you? Haha, we'll beat your teeth out in a minute!"
Ibuki Mio couldn't understand what Natsukawa and Ryuuen were talking in riddles about. She didn't bother with all those twists and turns. All she remembered was how Ryuen Kakeru had teased her earlier.
Damn it, she and Natsukawa had just been having a normal conversation, yet he'd maliciously suggested they were flirting like a couple. Ryuen really deserved to die!
Ibuki Mio interrupted Ishizaki:
"Ryuen Kakeru, I'm challenging you to a one-on-one fight!"
Ishizaki laughed loudly:
"Haha, see? Even the girls won't accept you!"
Ishizaki wanted to watch the fun too. Even if this brave female classmate couldn't beat Ryuuen, it wouldn't be too late for them to attack together afterward. In any case, he had already decided to teach the arrogant Ryuuen a lesson later!
Ryuuen straightened up and said with a cruel smile:
"Good! I admire your courage, Ibuki! You qualify to become a useful subordinate of mine too! A little dessert before the meal wouldn't hurt. You stupid woman who doesn't know her own limits, I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!"
Ibuki Mio gritted her teeth:
"Damn you! Don't underestimate me!"
Then she charged at Ryuen Kakeru and threw a swift, clean punch.
Ryuuen blocked with one hand and delivered a side kick. Ibuki Mio reacted quickly too, blocking the kick with both hands and retreating two steps.
Then the two clashed again.
Watching from the sidelines, Ishizaki and the others hadn't expected this frail-looking girl to last several exchanges against Ryuuen!
Komiya whispered:
"Ishizaki, should we all go in?"
Ishizaki replied:
"What's the rush? Wait a bit. We'll get our chance to teach Ryuuen a lesson. He had the nerve to challenge us, so we'll let him taste what it's like to get ambushed too. With our numbers, we're sure to win even without Albert! Let's watch for now. Still, I didn't expect Ibuki to be so scary. She's really good!"
Watching from the side, Natsukawa could tell that although Ibuki was a capable fighter, she lacked Ryuuen's fighting experience and had already fallen behind. She was certain to lose after a few more exchanges.
So Natsukawa called out:
"Ryuen, my position hasn't changed! I'm not getting involved in your struggle for control of the class. That sort of trouble isn't for me! Whoever succeeds in the end, I can consider listening to him!"
"But Ibuki is my friend. Do me a favor and spare her face. Just knock her out!"
Hearing Natsukawa's voice, Ryuuen casually blocked another attack from Ibuki and said with a smile:
"Since you briefly guessed earlier that I'd become Class C's future leader, though that's how it'll turn out anyway, I'll do you this favor! After all, Natsukawa, you're one of the few subordinates in the class with a somewhat useful brain!"
"All right, stupid woman, the warm-up is over! If I weren't doing a future subordinate a favor, you'd meet a miserable end!"
With that, Ryuuen caught an opening in Ibuki's defense, ducked her attack, and landed a precise knife-hand strike on the back of her neck, knocking her out.
Hmm, good. He really did do me that favor. Just what I'd expect of Ryuen Kakeru.
Natsukawa scooped Ibuki Mio into a princess carry and prepared to leave.
Ryuuen said with a smile:
"Natsukawa, take the reward you asked for and leave! Or are you interested in watching the main course?"
Natsukawa replied with a smile:
"No, I have something to do. I don't think this is the extent of your abilities."
Mm-hmm, now I can take her back to the dorm and rack up some affection.
Then Natsukawa left with Ibuki Mio in his arms. Before he left, he heard Ishizaki and Komiya's startled cries and a commotion behind him.
"Huh?! When the hell did you guys betray us?!"
The four Class C students who had originally stood behind Ishizaki and Komiya quickly split into pairs, grabbing Ishizaki Daichi's and Komiya Yego's arms from either side.
They said:
"Ryuen, what do we do next?"
"Sorry, Ishizaki, I didn't want to do this either! But when I didn't listen to Ryuen, I got ambushed even when I went to the bathroom. He beat me into submission! I can't beat Ryuen in a fight either..."
Ryuuen walked over with a cruel smile:
"All right! Time for the feast of violence to begin!"
Ryuuen punched Ishizaki and Komiya in the face again and again.
This time, he said nothing about demanding their submission. He had plenty of experience.
He had to stain their cheeks with blood and make them taste fear to the fullest, while stopping just short of seriously injuring them...
Before you continue