Chapter 300

"Why are you harassing our vice manager! Ah! Your face... I recognize you! You're a student from another class moving up to the Third Year, aren't you? And you're wearing a Judo Club Uniform! I will be filing a formal complaint about your behavior to the Judo Club and the Student Council!"

Listening to Chinami's strict tone, I barely held back a burst of laughter. It was entirely because of how she was addressing the Judo Club member.

To show respect, Chinami usually addressed someone as her 'close friend' if they were even slightly acquainted, or as a 'fellow student' if they weren't. Yet she had just called that guy 'you'. It was a clear indicator of exactly how angry she was right now. It was still hilarious, though, since she was using a poetic form of address straight out of a historical drama.

It was like a naive but warmhearted young princess rolling up her sleeves to protect her loyal retainer from court intrigue... That was exactly the vibe Chinami was giving off right now.

"You're... Nanase, aren't you?"

He recognized Chinami immediately. She really must be famous. Then again, given how uniquely she spoke and acted, it would be weirder if rumors about her hadn't spread.

Flustered for a moment by Chinami's scathing criticism, the Judo Club member looked around. The students of Class 1-D, where the Kendo Club's information session was being held, had opened their windows and were pressed tightly against the wall to watch. All eyes in the corridor were fixed on us.

Seeing this, the guy looked ready to back down. But just then, Renka stepped out of Class D with a bewildered expression and asked what was going on. Recognizing her face, the guy raised his voice at Chinami again.

"Don't you think you're the ones in the wrong for throwing away our posters in the first place?"

He was clearly trying to gaslight us into thinking the fault lay with us. Naturally, Chinami didn't fall for the tricks of a Judo Club member whose head was entirely stuffed with muscle.

"Posters? What on earth are you talking about!?"

"Apologize for your Kendo Club throwing away our Judo Club's posters."

"Excuse me? Who on earth would do something so ridiculous!"

Well, it was me... but I definitely needed to keep my mouth shut about the poster incident. If Chinami found out what I did, she would be furious.

"I cannot even begin to imagine our members doing such a thing, but let us assume for a very, very, very brief moment that your words are true! If so, have you brought any evidence to prove it!?"

Struck speechless by Chinami's logic, the Judo Club member snapped his mouth shut. Chinami scolded him in an even angrier voice.

"Are you saying you committed violence against our vice manager's precious cheek without a shred of proof! You are a very wicked person!"

"..."

Did he realize he was fighting a losing battle? Deciding to retreat for now, the guy shook his head and turned to leave. Then, he muttered softly, just loud enough for us to hear.

"I knew she was crazy, but she's a bigger psycho than I imagined..."

The moment I heard those words, I didn't even have time to think about game events or anything else; I simply strode right up to the bastard and reached out to grab his Training Uniform. As if anticipating I would do exactly that, the Judo Club member spun to face me with a quickness that belied his size, grabbed the collar of my uniform jacket, and threw his weight into it.

My center of gravity was instantly yanked to the side. He was attempting a Tai Otoshi, a body drop throw.

My dress shirt was yanked out of my pants, and my body nearly lifted off the ground, but by calmly using his momentum against him and shifting my center of mass in the opposite direction, I thankfully managed to hold my ground.

"Huh?"

The Judo Club member's eyes widened, clearly not expecting me to stay on my feet. His surprised gasp turned into sheer bewilderment a split second later.

"Uh...?"

I had gripped and twisted the sleeve and lapel of the arm holding my shirt, then let go of the lapel to hook my hand under his armpit and shove upward, completely ruining his balance. It was Kuzushi, the fundamental off-balancing technique executed before a throw.

Realizing my stance was leading into a one-armed shoulder throw, the Judo Club member tried to set up a counter, but that wasn't my goal. Feigning the shoulder throw, I slipped right into his chest and prepared to pivot. But then—

"Hup!"

Using the opponent's own counterattack stance to destroy his equilibrium, I instantly dropped low and swept my leg right between his spread feet.

Smack.

"Ugh?"

When I followed through by sweeping his calf just as I broke his balance, the Judo Club member let out the pathetic, undignified yelp typical of a mob character. It took only an instant for his massive frame to slam into the floor.

Thud!

The Judo Club member landed flat on his back. It wasn't as flashy as other throws, but it was a beautifully executed inner thigh sweep. It hit so perfectly that a guy much larger than me toppled backward like a stiff wooden plank.

If this were a real match, it would have been a guaranteed Ippon. Of course, it wouldn't have worked if this bastard—who never in his wildest dreams suspected I knew judo—hadn't let his guard down.

I seriously considered following up with a grapple on the ground. However, since there was no referee, there was a high chance he would regain his senses, take my back, and choke me out. So, I just stood up. Roughly straightening out my rumpled uniform shirt, I stared down at the Judo Club member as he picked himself up.

"You crazy..."

His heavily scrunched face was turning purple with rage. It seemed he was humiliated that the Kendo Club's vice manager had just laid him out flat with a judo technique.

I had wondered why I used a judo move to subdue him instead of just smashing his teeth in, but seeing his idiotic, pride-shattered face, I finally understood the reason. From my perspective, it was a perfect picture. I would have to deal with the aftermath, of course.

I only had one regret. Compared to other throws, the inner thigh sweep had a relatively short falling distance, meaning it didn't hurt him all that much.

To punish the bastard for using foul language against Chinami, I should have thrown him with a dynamic counter meant to break something... but that was the first technique that popped into my head, so I didn't have the luxury of choosing. I should have just piledriven him on his head instead... It's a shame the guy actually knew how to take a fall properly.

Anyway, by needlessly weighing my options, I had only let Chinami get insulted. From now on, if scum like him pop up, I shouldn't calculate gains and losses—I should just rip them in half and kill them. That's the right way to do it. I shouldn't overthink things. Let's stick to a policy of causing a scene first and somehow managing the cleanup later.

I'll take everything from your family. I sincerely hope you have a beautiful mother and a younger sister, or perhaps an older sister. Having both would be even better.

"Both of you, stop! What do you think you're doing right now!"

Having stood there dumbfounded, watching my defense and counterattack unfold in the blink of an eye, Renka finally wedged herself between me and the Judo Club member.

How should I handle the fallout? After quickly racking my brain for a moment, I chose to remain silent.

Chinami, Renka, and the prospective freshmen standing nearby had all heard the Judo Club member swear. The freshmen would provide the justification for my actions. Besides, I had absolutely no intention of making excuses in front of the bastard who had insulted Chinami.

What worried me most, however, was Hiyori. From her perspective, it probably looked like I had violently attacked him out of nowhere, didn't it? I would have to make up for this somehow on another day.

With that thought in mind, I discreetly shifted my gaze toward the transparent windows of Class D, only to realize my worries were completely unfounded. Hiyori was staring in our direction with a look of pure fascination.

Did she like watching fights or something? Or was she intrigued by me because I reeked of a rebellious streak just like hers? It couldn't be either of those... Perhaps Hiyori had actually heard the curse the Judo Club member muttered.

Rattle!

Several members wearing Judo Club Uniforms poured out of the classroom where their information session was taking place. Every single one of them was massive, which made me slightly tense, but the situation I feared wouldn't come to pass. After all, the members chosen to run an information session wouldn't be as hotheaded as this guy.

The bastard I fought was simply an exceptionally nasty extra. I was sure the rest of them would listen to the full story and hand down a fair judgment.

I might have put him down, but he attacked first, and he swore first. I had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

Grabbing the wrist of Chinami, who was staring with her jaw wide open in pure shock, I pulled her behind my back and faced the Judo Club members, standing tall and unapologetic.

"What's going on, Inoo?"

Standing at the very front, a hulking man who was clearly the captain recognized Renka. Since they held the same position, they seemed to be acquainted. Letting out a deep sigh at his question, Renka answered.

"An argument broke out and turned into a fight. We'll have to hear the details to know exactly what happened."

She was trying to maintain as neutral a stance as possible, but Renka's tone was notably harsh. She knew it too. She knew exactly whose fault this fight was.

"Is that so? It would be best to separate the two of them."

The Judo Club captain looked ferocious, but his voice was calm and even. In my experience, people like that were usually fair. It meant he wouldn't just blindly cover for his own club members.

If there's an obnoxious character who makes you frown, there has to be a moral character to balance things out. That's just how cliches work.

Replying that she understood, Renka sincerely apologized to the prospective freshmen gathered around. Then, she turned to me.

"Wait outside."

Honestly, I wanted to stay here, check on Chinami, and watch Hiyori. But this wasn't the time to act selfishly. I would just do as Renka said. However, I needed to watch that dangerous bastard leave first.

"I'll go after I see him leave. I'm worried about Master."

"I am fine. The Judo Club captain is not an arrogant, disrespectful person like that man. With him here, nothing else will happen. Please do not worry. Go drink some Peach Milk from the School Store. Here..."

Chinami, who had been blinking her large eyes up until now, pressed a few coins into my hand along with her comforting words. Her voice was so soft and gentle that just listening to it felt healing. Still, 'that man'... it seemed she would rather die than call him 'close friend' or 'fellow student' now.

"He's leaving now anyway. You head down the opposite corridor," Renka added.

Hearing her words, I glanced at the guy I'd fought. Watching him walk away through the parted crowd of freshmen, escorted by another Judo Club member, I nodded.

"Understood."

"Alright. And don't worry too much."

Mmhmm. If it had been the old Renka, she would have glared at me with disgust and scolded me... but now she was comforting me just like Chinami. I was absolutely delighted. My heart felt like it was swelling all on its own.

Before leaving, I offered a sincere apology in a steady, measured tone to everyone in front of me, behind me, and the freshmen from Class D.

"I apologize for this unsavory incident. I am truly sorry."

It was important to show that while I was unapologetic for the fight itself, I was well aware I had caused a nuisance to those around me. Projecting exactly that attitude, I silently straightened my clothes and walked down the corridor.

Since I'd brawled right in front of the underclassmen, would the Student Council treat this as a serious incident? There were plenty of witnesses around, so the situation would likely spin in my favor... but perhaps because of my past track record, I felt a creeping sense of dread.