Kase Masafumi: ...Wh-what do you want to do?
Miyajima Sakura watched Hayato fall silent, smiling so warmly, truly unable to fathom what he was thinking. But connecting it to his previous statement... Eh! So, Hayato-kun actually cared about whether she had a boyfriend? Wh-why would he ask something like that...?
Miyajima Sakura already had one or two guesses in her heart. But! How could she possibly ask about such a thing!
Her face felt a little hot, but she quickly hid it by lowering her head.
"L-Hayato-kun, are you thirsty? I'll go buy you something."
Hayato originally wanted to say no need to bother, but on second thought, why not take something for free? Besides, he was indeed a little thirsty, and his living expenses had been cut so much that he didn't even dare to buy an extra bottle of drink. "Coke," he said, and emphasized: "Coca-Cola, not Pepsi."
"...Okay," Miyajima Sakura nodded.
A female junior immediately said:
"Senior Miyajima, I'll go buy it for you."
"No need, I can go myself..." Miyajima Sakura quickly said. The atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous and awkward, and her cheeks felt hot again. Miyajima Sakura hoped to get some fresh air to adjust her mood.
"...Okay," the female junior said.
Wow!
Her face is so red!
She had never seen Senior Miyajima's face turn this red before... A shy Senior Miyajima, so cute...
No, what exactly is the relationship between this Hayato-kun and Senior Miyajima! He actually makes Senior do the work of buying a drink herself!?
Hayato began to survey the Kendo practice room.
It was decorated like a dojo, quite authentic, and very spacious, with complete facilities.
Tsk, it seems that even in a capitalist society like Japan, there are still places for us socialists to learn from!
He clicked his tongue, thinking, but before he could look closely.
"Kid!" A rough voice spoke.
Hayato turned his head to look.
It was a boy with a buzz cut, not tall but very muscular. He pointed his thumb at his nose, as if about to make some 'Wa-re wa Super Vegeta' type of statement. Sure enough, his next sentence was: "My name is Kato Takeshi! I'm also an old member of the Kendo Club! You—"
"You're very brave!" Kato Takeshi originally wanted to mock him, but he hadn't spoken yet.
Hayato nodded in acknowledgment,
"Hello, Senior Katō, please take care of me."
"I—"
Kato Takeshi almost choked.
Oh my god, this isn't right, why is this guy's attitude so good?
For Hayato, titles and ways of speaking were just a matter of moving his lips, and besides, he was indeed a newcomer, so there was no need to be arrogant.
Moreover, he didn't have a bad impression of Kato Takeshi.
Ordinary hairstyle, ordinary appearance, slightly short in height, but with a sturdy build, he looked nothing like a 'cuckold'.
He's a normal person...
To actually meet a normal person in this world!!
"...You, come here! You just joined the club, and as a senior, I need to test your strength." Kato Takeshi said, then extended his hand, "But just in case the President says I'm bullying people by relying on my seniority, we won't compete in sword skills for now. Let me test your arm strength. Come on, you should know the rules of 'arm wrestling', right?"
"Yes," Hayato said.
Then he obediently followed Kato Takeshi and sat cross-legged in front of a low table, with their elbows as pivot points, their palms firmly clasped.
"And they said they wouldn't bully anyone."
"Who doesn't know that Senior Katō has the best arm strength in the entire Kendo Club!"
"Bullying the newcomer, bullying!"
"Poor Hayato-kun, he won't lose his confidence and then not come next time, will he?"
The other members whispered and teased on the side.
Although it was teasing, Kato Takeshi, who had proposed the 'test' at this moment, felt rather embarrassed upon hearing these words.
He had indeed intended to give this kid a bit of a warning, to curb his sharp edge. But looking at him now, he seemed quite obedient, and it really did seem like he was bullying him... Could he have misunderstood him?
However, since he had issued a challenge, it had to be carried through, otherwise people would think he was scared.
"Kase! Come be the referee!" Kato Takeshi shouted.
"...Yes, yes!" Kase Masafumi quickly ran over.
He glanced at Hayato, and just as the latter was about to meet his gaze, he quickly averted his eyes, as if somewhat afraid of making eye contact with Hayato...
Kase Masafumi began to count down:
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three!"
"Start!!"
Hayato's slender arms and legs clearly wouldn't be a match for the burly Kato Takeshi.
Since there was no reward for winning, he wasn't particularly invested.
But...
"Hmph!" Kato Takeshi used all his strength in one breath, wanting to decide the outcome in an instant.
However, under everyone's watchful eyes, Hayato's right hand remained completely still.
Wh-what's going on?
The members looked at each other. Given their physiques and their understanding of Kato Takeshi, this should clearly have been a complete beatdown, so why was it...
Let alone them.
Even Hayato found it a bit strange… Huh?
"Senior Katō, why aren't you trying harder?" Hayato asked, wondering if this senior was more considerate than he seemed.
"..."
"You don't need to go easy on me. Let's just decide the winner fairly."
"..."
"...Could it be that you didn't eat lunch, Senior?"
"..."
Damn!
Kato Takeshi immediately took back what he had just said about him being "well-behaved"! This guy was more than just sarcastic; his expression was practically… a newborn! A newborn!
How could he speak! Couldn't he see his face was turning purple from holding his breath! All his strength was concentrated in his wrist!
But even after putting in all his might, Hayato still had a relaxed expression.
But, damn it!
Staking the dignity of a senior! Kato Takeshi roared in his heart, as if to break through his own limits, he began to exert force… Fortunately, he hadn't eaten too much for lunch, otherwise, the area near his tailbone might have erupted like a volcano!
Finally, with his persistent effort, Hayato's hand moved slightly, at least tilting a bit towards "defeat."
He did it!
Before Kato Takeshi could celebrate, Hayato suddenly counterattacked.
With a "thud," it was quick!
He pressed Kato Takeshi's wrist onto the table.
Kato Takeshi: …Huh?
What happened?
Just when he felt victory was within reach, he inexplicably lost… Oh, he remembered, Hayato was a person, not some stone he had to lift.
He could also exert force.
Which meant, with Hayato exerting just a little bit of force, he lost so decisively!?
Kato Takeshi looked at Hayato, who was looking at his right hand with a strange expression.
Hayato suddenly remembered.
Fantasy Killer: Your right hand is a little thicker than other people's.
The description wasn't just a joke, it was true!
"I didn't realize I was quite strong…" Hayato said with a hint of surprise.
Kato Takeshi: !!
He's mocking me! He's mocking me!