Chapter 9: The Eternal Night of Kendo
Once again, Yamato was mentally defeated by Ryouma's 'verbal barrage.'
Not only him, but the delinquent gang behind him also began to fall into doubt, weighing the pros and cons.
Forget them—even Ryouka was stunned.
She first glanced back at the rigid Ayumu, then stared at the leisurely and composed Ryouma. Placing a hand over her chest, she took a resolute step forward.
Ryouma quickly grabbed her wrist.
What was this foolish girl thinking?
Ryouka turned back in surprise... Wasn't the only way to salvage this situation for her to sacrifice herself nobly?
Ryouma's eyes widened immediately.
This was just his way of buying time—did she really think he'd rely on her selling her body to solve this!?
"Silly girl…"
And to think she was actually willing…
Ryouka felt somewhat disappointed and uneasy inside.
But after listening to Ryouma's calm explanation, she couldn't think of a better plan… Sacrificing herself alone could save Ayumu and Kobayashi… Especially Kobayashi—his words had been downright "vicious" to her, the person involved.
Yet, Ryouka didn't blame him. After all, he was just an unrelated party dragged into this mess because of her own kindness.
However, Ryouka didn't know whether his statement, "With all the money I took from Ryouka, where couldn't we go?" would still hold true afterward. Even if she became "impure"… would he still take her to China?
"—Anyway, let's beat this brat up first!!" Yamato roared.
They couldn't afford to overthink this. As the saying goes, "The first blow is half the battle; the second weakens; the third exhausts." They were already in the "weakened" state. If they grew "exhausted" again, they would face defeat once more.
"Tch,"
Ryouma clicked his tongue. He hadn't expected it to come down to this—a situation where he was outnumbered.
He had been searching for a "weapon" all along, preferably a "sword." Even a "Physics Holy Sword" like a crowbar would do.
But the place was as clean as if it had been scrubbed. Forget a crowbar—there wasn't even a wooden stick or a broken mop in sight…
Without a weapon, Ryouma was, at best, only slightly stronger than Ayumu.
If Ayumu was a small weakling, then Ryouma was a big weakling… Weaklings could be pretty, but it was hard for them to be strong.
If he got caught, he would inevitably become a hostage, used to threaten Ryouka.
In the blink of an eye,
At Yamato's command, the blonde delinquents surged with fervor and charged straight at Ryouma.
Ryouka quickly grabbed the collar of Ryouma's shirt and yanked him behind her.
Then, her skirt fluttered as she lifted her leg high, revealing the black safety shorts underneath. A knee strike sent the first delinquent charging at her crumpling into a wilted shrimp.
Based on past experience, Ryouka could take on three at most. The others would inevitably rush toward Ryouma and Ayumu.
And the one Ryouma had to face… was the strongest and most robust among them—Aihara Yamato.
A sinister glint shone from behind the guy's glasses as he flexed his wrists, approaching Ryouma with a mocking air.
"What's going on?"
A questioning voice came from behind Ryouma.
But even if there were reinforcements at this point, it would likely be hard to turn the tide… After all, even adding another Ryouka wouldn't overcome the numerical disadvantage.
Moreover, this voice didn't belong to a tough guy, but rather a girl who sounded quite gentle.
Ryouma turned his head to look. The newcomer was wearing the same school uniform as them.
Her black-purple hair was tied into a side ponytail with a red ribbon, with a few strands falling from her bangs and clinging to her full chest.
Her gaze was somewhat cold, but she couldn't hide her shock upon seeing such a scene.
Her figure was delicate and more voluptuous than Ryouka's, with a face that leaned more toward maturity.
"――Shit!" Ryouma couldn't help but curse.
He knew this person!
Not in the "reality" of this world, but from his past life.
That's right.
In a "doujinshi."
And an "NTR cuckold doujinshi" at that.
The heroine of "Hypnosis Instructor."
Name: Miyajima Sakura.
The memories of "Kobayashi Ryouma" also told him that the person before him was indeed "Miyajima Sakura," one of the unattainable flowers of Shiraoka High School.
At the same time, Ryouma recalled something.
"Sakura-senpai!! The sword! The sword!!"
He waved at the bewildered Sakura, as if begging for something.
Sakura was in Class 3-D and also the captain of Shiraoka High School's kendo club.
Sakura didn't understand what was happening in this chaotic fight, but upon hearing someone call her "senpai" for help, she instinctively threw the "bokuto" (wooden sword—Japan doesn't distinguish between swords and knives) she carried with her, along with its cloth wrapping.
She regretted it immediately after throwing it.
No, she had never seen this boy in the kendo club.
He wasn't a member, and a "bokuto" wouldn't be of much use in his hands. She should have stepped in herself to block the bespectacled guy's attack.
To be honest, even Ryouma himself didn't know how powerful the "Swordsmanship Mastery EX" skill was or whether it could overcome Yamato's muscles.
But the moment he gripped the bokuto's hilt, all those doubts vanished.
It was like Nobita Nobi getting his hands on the "Famous Sword Denkoumaru"—his first thought was...
I can win! Absolutely!
"Hah."
Yamato sneered disdainfully. Trash was trash, even if they got their hands on a weapon. Besides, this was just a wooden sword. If it were a "real sword," he might have hesitated, but a "bokuto"? Something like this...
"Break!!" Yamato threw a punch.
The punch carried a fierce gust of wind.
Aimed directly at Ryouma's cheek.
"Kobayashi!" Ryouka desperately kicked away a delinquent and immediately tried to rush toward Ryouma.
But it was too far.
However, Ryouma was fast.
He crouched low.
The fist brushed past Ryouma's hair.
By then, Ryouma had already unwrapped the cloth from the bokuto and held it horizontally at his waist.
He took a deep breath, "Disperse!!"
He swung the sword!!
The tip of the sword shot out with unstoppable force!!
As if tearing through the air itself.
Yamato had no time to react before the sword struck his chest.
Of course, a wooden sword had no edge, but even so, the immense force sent Yamato flying.
He flew a full five or six meters before crashing into the wall and collapsing!!
"Cough, cough..."
Yamato coughed heavily, saliva dribbling from the corner of his mouth. He felt like he had broken a few ribs...
Ryouma spun the hilt around his wrist, his gaze cold as he watched the group of delinquents, momentarily stunned by his outburst.
"Heaven gave birth not to me, Ryouma Kobayashi, leaving the path of the sword in eternal darkness."
He spoke calmly, then beckoned to Ryouka: "Ryouka, come over and stand behind me. I'd like to see which of them can break through my sword's defense."
Ryouma had long wanted to try delivering such an arrogant line.
This time, it felt truly satisfying.