After the Metropolitan Tournament ended, Yoru taught everyone the "Eye Exercises."
Having done them thousands of times in his past life as a student, he couldn't possibly forget them.
To convince everyone of their training effectiveness, he waited a few days after teaching them before equipping the "Insight Rune."
Once the Insight Rune took effect, many club members were amazed by the "magical" results of the eye exercises. Some even went home and taught them to their elders with poor eyesight—though, unsurprisingly, it only provided basic eye care without any miraculous improvements.
Yoru's explanation? "Everyone's constitution is different."
With that settled, Yoru moved up his plan to seek out Oni Juujirou in Okayama Oku.
Originally, he intended to go after the Kantō Tournament, but the day after the Metropolitan Tournament ended, QP brought up the topic of the "Pinnacle of Perfection" (矜持之光, Kyouji no Hikari). Immediately, a Chance Encounter Mission popped up:
[Chance Encounter Mission: Watch QP vs. Oni Juujirou. Reward: Skill Evolution Card x1]
[Chance Encounter Mission: Play a Match Against Oni Juujirou. Reward: Skill Upgrade Card x1.]
Two missions at once, with rewards so tempting Yoru couldn't resist.
He immediately declared they'd set off to find Oni Juujirou.
The next day, the two boarded a train, speeding toward Okayama Prefecture.
In the original series, Oni Juujirou had plenty of backstory.
He attended Okayama Oku Middle School, near an orphanage where he single-handedly cared for a group of children—though he himself wasn't an orphan. His family was actually well-off, but his father passed away early, leaving behind a sizable inheritance and business managed by his mother and grandmother.
As a result, Oni always had ample pocket money. Combined with his part-time jobs, he often treated the kids to extra meals.
After hearing Yoru's explanation, QP couldn't help but admire Oni Juujirou.
"Someone who's been through hardship and still chooses to shield others from the rain… That's worthy of respect."
"You seem to know a lot about him. Are you close?" QP asked.
Yoru shook his head. "Never met him."
QP: "???"
Yoru shrugged. "I have a friend who…"
The universal excuse—"I have a friend"—at least temporarily satisfied QP's curiosity.
QP frowned. "So you're saying you deduced his potential to awaken the Aoi and Gouki (愛知と剛毅) Pinnacle just from secondhand descriptions?"
He suddenly felt like he'd boarded a pirate ship.
Yoru grinned. "Nah, I've seen him before—just never formally met. You know I can see people's latent talents, right?"
QP had no choice but to accept it.
At this point, even if it was a scam, it was too late to back out. Besides, he had grown noticeably stronger since following Yoru.
---
"Okayama Station, arriving now!"
After roughly three hours, the train announcement rang out, and the two stepped onto the platform.
Yoru had done his research beforehand. Okayama Oku wasn't far from the station, but the school itself was… less than impressive.
Okayama Prefecture was economically stable, but Okayama Oku had a reputation as a dumping ground for delinquents.
When they arrived at the middle school's gates, the broken entrance and graffiti-covered walls gave Yoru serious "Suzuran High" vibes (from Crows Zero).
No wonder someone as strong as Oni Juujirou stayed under the radar before high school.
A school like this wouldn't even qualify for regular tournaments—just like Moriya's old school.
"You sure we're in the right place?" QP asked flatly.
"Pretty sure…?"
The two stepped inside.
Before long, they reached the schoolyard—where a massive brawl was underway. Punches flew, bodies crashed, and the atmosphere was anything but scholarly.
Two guys with tennis bags stood out like sore thumbs.
QP frowned. "Should we leave? Or ask someone for directions?"
Yoru smirked. "Nah, let's watch. How often do you get to see a live-action gang fight? We'll ask after they're done."
With his Ten Sense Control, he wasn't worried about getting caught in the crossfire.
Back in his past life, middle school fights usually ended with empty threats—actual all-out brawls were rare.
"Someone's coming," QP said calmly.
THUD.
A body flew their way, landing unconscious at their feet.
"Perfect."
Yoru grabbed the guy's collar, slapped him twice, and jerked him awake.
"Ow… ow—!"
Ignoring the groans, Yoru cut straight to the point: "Where's Oni Juujirou?"
"O-Oni… boss?" The guy winced. "He's… at the orphanage… near the school…"
Then he passed out again.
Mission accomplished.
Yoru dropped him and turned away.
On their way here, they'd passed "Warm and Cozy Alley" Orphanage, but Yoru assumed Oni wouldn't be there during school hours.
Turns out, he'd underestimated how chaotic Okayama Oku was.
Leaving the school behind, they headed for the orphanage.
---
In Japan, abandoned infants were sadly common—statistically, the highest rate in Asia.
High societal pressure led to reckless couples ditching newborns, leaving them at orphanages like this one.
Warm and Cozy Alley lived up to its name.
The gate, covered in ivy, was adorned with handmade plush toys—strangely heartwarming.
Yoru suddenly had a thought. "Did Oni make these?"
Despite his rough, grizzled appearance, Oni was known for crafting stuffed animals for the kids.
"Can I help you two?"
A middle-aged security guard stepped out of the booth.
Yoru smiled. "We're here to see Oni Juujirou."
The guard's expression tightened. His hand drifted toward the baton at his waist.
"What business do you have with Juujirou?"
Yoru wasn't surprised by the reaction.
Given Okayama Oku's reputation and Oni's "demon boss" nickname, the guard's caution made sense.
He lifted his tennis bag. "No worries—we're just here to play tennis."
"Tennis?" The guard relaxed, sliding the baton back.
Most Okayama Oku students had a certain look—these two clearly weren't troublemakers.
"Juujirou's inside helping the kids clean up. You'll spot him right away."
The guard chuckled. "But fair warning—that boy's tennis is monstrous. Don't let him smash your rackets!"
"Back in his first year, he led his old school to a national championship. But he transferred to Okayama Oku for these kids… gave up the spotlight."
Pride dripped from the guard's voice, as if Oni were his own son.
Yoru nodded. "Thanks, sir. We'll head in now."
Working security at an orphanage was a labor of love—the pay sure wasn't the draw.
The man's dedication alone deserved respect.
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