"Twenty million points."
Ryuen named his price first. The official exchange rate between points and yen was one-to-one, but outside the campus, no one would recognize school points as currency. And Kosei Mizuno had only one buyer: Ryuen. As a businessman, Ryuen had no intention of letting that advantage go to waste.
"Impossible. Five million."
Mizuno immediately slashed the price by three quarters.
Ryuen had no patience for haggling. The initiative was in his hands, and he had a fight scheduled for that afternoon. He had even less desire to sit here bargaining with Mizuno like an old woman at a market stall.
"Ten million. That's my final offer."
Ryuen tapped the tabletop, making his impatience plain.
Ten million was not a small amount. If things went smoothly, Hiyori Shiina would collect two million points in class funds by tomorrow. But it was not an outrageous amount either; Mizuno's class still needed points to maintain even a basic standard of living.
"Fine."
Mizuno did not continue dragging things out. Ten million points for ten million yen. Neither side was losing out.
A transfer notification soon appeared on Ryuen's phone, while Mizuno took the check. As he rose to leave, he did not forget to offer Ryuen a compliment.
"First-years these days are something else."
"You're not worried the check might be fake?"
Ryuen's twisted sense of humor surfaced again.
"I trust the character of the man in charge of the Ryuen Group."
With that, Mizuno turned to leave.
"Looks like we can keep doing business. Exchange contact information with me. There might be a position for you in the group someday."
It was an undisguised attempt at recruitment, but Mizuno had no reason to refuse. Another friend meant another path, another option. Kakeru Ryuen's legendary entrepreneurial history had left a deep impression on him. If he could truly work for Ryuen one day, then his future would be secure.
Afternoon arrived. The setting sun cast its glow over the rooftop of the school building, where Ryuen stood waiting for his challengers.
Unexpectedly, Hiyori Shiina was there as well. She stood off to one side with a book in her arms, and Ryuen immediately understood why. If he lost, she would leave on her own. If he won, she would tell him that she did not want to help collect the class funds. In a sense, she was acting as the girls' representative, here to witness the victor of this battle.
After confirming several times that there were no cameras on the rooftop, Ryuen looked over the crowd, saw that nearly everyone had arrived, and asked with a cocky grin, "One at a time, or all at once? Your choice."
Nearly eighty percent of Class C's boys had shown up. The first to step forward was Albert Yamada. In the original story, Ryuen could not beat Yamada in a fight; he had won him over through sheer perseverance. But that was the original Ryuen. His combat ability had been forged through one street fight after another since childhood, without any formal training in martial arts.
The current Ryuen was different. Fundamentally different.
Boxing, kickboxing, sanda. This Ryuen had truly trained in the octagon, learning only techniques that worked in a real fight.
Facing Yamada, Ryuen felt his blood surge. He had waited sixteen years. At last, he could cut loose.
A jab. Another jab. Then another.
Ryuen struck first. Each punch was heavier than the last, faster than the last. Yamada's arms, raised before his chest, began to go numb—but he seized an opening and drove a hook into Ryuen's abdomen.
The pain sent Ryuen's adrenaline soaring. Every muscle in his body thrilled with excitement. He kicked Yamada sharply in the shin, and the sudden strike forced Yamada down onto one knee. Yamada took the chance to wrap his arms around Ryuen's waist and drive him backward, but Ryuen was not about to let him have his way.
Clasping both hands together, Ryuen hammered his fists down on Yamada's smooth head. Once. Twice. Again and again.
On the sixth blow, Yamada let go. His head was already buzzing, and a piercing ring filled his ears.
As Yamada collapsed unconscious to the ground, the remaining boys rushed him all at once. Ryuen had only just finished warming up. They might have been classmates, but he had no intention of holding back.
Jabs. Hooks. Shoulder throws. Roundhouse kicks. Front kicks...
Mio Ibuki arrived late. By the time she reached the rooftop, all she saw was a group of boys sprawled across the ground. Ryuen alone remained standing beneath the sunset, laughing with wild arrogance as the evening breeze tugged at the hem of his uniform.
"You want to challenge me too?"
Ibuki answered with a high kick.
Ryuen caught her leg. Black safety shorts. What a disappointment.
He shoved Ibuki aside. "Get some of the girls from class to take these guys to the infirmary."
With that, Ryuen left without looking back. Hiyori hurried after him.
Ryuen tasted iron at the corner of his mouth and frowned. Yamada had only landed one punch. Why was he bleeding?
He wiped his face and discovered that it was a nosebleed. It was not from being hit. He was simply so excited that his nose had started bleeding.
Looking at the blood on his hand, Ryuen shook his head helplessly. Beside him, Hiyori offered him a pale blue handkerchief.
Without hesitation, Ryuen pressed it against his nose. He knew it would probably smell nice, but his nose was currently too blocked to catch even a trace of its scent.
"Are you planning to follow me all the way back to the dorm?"
Noticing that Hiyori had no intention of leaving, Ryuen finally spoke.
"I have something to tell you."
Hiyori held her book against her chest. She spoke slowly, without fear, as though the person standing before her were no different from any ordinary student.
"I know what you want to say, and I refuse."
Hiyori had just opened her mouth when Ryuen interrupted her again.
"Do you think I wouldn't hit a girl?"
Ryuen stepped in front of Hiyori and looked down at her. The handkerchief still pressed against his nose made the threatening pose look somewhat ridiculous.
"I'm not afraid."
Hiyori's answer was immediate.
"This is for the class, not for me."
Ryuen knew violence would not make the girl before him submit, so he invoked the greater good of the class instead.
"I don't care whether we reach Class A."
The girl was clearly unmoved.
"No. You do care. It's your responsibility, and your duty."
Hiyori realized that Ryuen was being completely unreasonable. Tilting her head, she asked in displeasure, "Why me?"
Ryuen's nose had stopped bleeding. He carefully wiped it clean, then looked into the girl's amber-brown eyes.
"I do what I want. I don't need a special reason."
That answer clearly did not satisfy her.
Looking at the handkerchief stained red with blood, Ryuen asked, "Do you want to throw this away, or give it to me?"
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register