Only then did Siyuan Liangxiang look away from Lin Cun'an and turn to the girl beside her.

Miyajima Sakura.

Captain of White Hill High School’s Kendo Club.

She was something of a celebrity—a famously unattainable beauty at their high school.

Her swordsmanship was superb, her manner refined, and she possessed the beauty of a Yamato Nadeshiko.

Even a girl like Siyuan Liangxiang, hailed as the “Karate Idol,” felt wave after wave of pressure in her presence. Sakura was like a goddess.

When had she gotten here?

With the danger so imminent, Siyuan Liangxiang hadn’t noticed what was happening at the edge of the scene.

Only when Lin Cun'an returned the sword did she realize he’d borrowed it from Sakura.

Did they know each other already?

Siyuan Liangxiang didn’t ask aloud, but Miyajima Sakura answered her question anyway.

She took the wooden sword with one hand and smiled faintly.

“No need to thank me. I didn’t do much to help. I don’t think we’ve met before… You’re with Siyuan after school. Are you in the Karate Club too?”

Miyajima Sakura had never met Lin Cun'an.

Or perhaps she had, but forgotten.

She did, however, know of Siyuan Liangxiang, the Karate Club’s star.

This year, Liangxiang had led the Karate Club to an impressive performance at the national tournament, raising White Hill High School’s profile another notch.

Impressive skill, and a lovely appearance…

Miyajima Sakura was certain that plenty of boys had joined the Karate Club just for its ace.

Though Miyajima Sakura was asking Siyuan Liangxiang, her gaze kept moving up and down Lin Cun'an.

“…No.” Siyuan Liangxiang shook her head.

In truth, she hadn’t known Lin Cun'an before today. After the incident with Aiyuan Dahe, she’d considered asking him to join the Karate Club. They could look out for each other, and he’d get a chance to build up his physique. But she’d never expected him to unleash such powerful “swordsmanship” in that fight.

“Swordsmanship”…

Siyuan Liangxiang had found something she didn’t want to find—and just as she’d expected.

Miyajima Sakura narrowed her elegant, old-fashioned purple eyes. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, as if she were quite pleased with the answer.

“What’s your name?”

“Lin… Kobayashi Muran,” Lin Cun'an said.

“Would you be interested in joining the Kendo Club?” Miyajima Sakura asked softly. Then she explained her invitation in just one sentence: “I like your sword.”

L-Like!?

Siyuan Liangxiang’s pupils trembled.

She had added the words “your sword,” but Liangxiang still found herself breathing a little faster.

The Kendo Club was one of the most popular clubs at White Hill High School.

Students lined up to join, but word was that the Kendo Club was already full and had closed recruitment.

The reason was that handsome, beautiful upperclassman Miyajima. For many club members, kendo didn’t matter. What mattered was getting to see Miyajima-senpai in action.

As for Miyajima Sakura personally recruiting someone… that was unheard of.

Lin Cun'an had earned that honor.

Siyuan Liangxiang looked at Lin Cun'an, not even sure why she felt so nervous.

In theory, almost no one could refuse Miyajima Sakura’s invitation… especially not to her face. Besides, the two of them were standing so close that even Siyuan Liangxiang could smell Sakura’s light, pleasant fragrance.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline,” Lin Cun'an said.

“!!”

Siyuan Liangxiang stared at him in shock. “Why!?”

She’d thought she didn’t want Lin Cun'an to join the Kendo Club.

But the moment he turned Sakura down, Liangxiang found herself asking why on the captain’s behalf.

Because…

It was just so unexpected.

Miyajima Sakura’s gaze lowered slightly. She was just as surprised, but hid it well instead of blurting out her reaction like Siyuan Liangxiang had.

“I’m not interested in kendo,” Lin Cun'an said with a smile.

Siyuan Liangxiang gave him a strange look.

Even Miyajima Sakura was struggling to keep her composure.

N-Not interested?

If you weren’t interested, why say, “If Heaven hadn’t given birth to me, Lin Cun'an…”? If you weren’t interested, why take on a dozen delinquents with nothing but a sword? And you call that not being interested!?

Lin Cun'an rubbed his chin, considering his words.

Saying he “wasn’t interested” did sound like a bit of a brag. After the swordsmanship he’d just shown, it made him sound like Jack Ma saying he wasn’t interested in money.

“To me, a sword is a weapon, and swordsmanship is a way to kill. No matter how beautiful the words, they can’t cover up that fact.” Lin Cun'an’s voice turned solemn. “I draw my sword to protect myself, not to perform… or compete.”

“A sword is a weapon… swordsmanship is a way to kill.”

Lin Cun'an said it calmly, but to Miyajima Sakura, his words rang like thunder.

This boy, younger than her, had already reached such a level… As she’d thought, the gap between them was a world apart.

Miyajima Sakura tightened her grip on the wooden sword Lin Cun'an had used until her fingers turned white.

“Thank you for your guidance, Xiao Lin-kun. I’ll be coming to you again in the future. I hope you won’t mind.”

Miyajima Sakura bowed to Lin Cun'an.

It was getting late. After saying that, Miyajima Sakura rose to take her leave. Lin Cun'an rolled his neck, then noticed Siyuan Liangxiang hesitating as if she wanted to say something.

“You…” Her lips moved. “You and Miyajima-senpai…”

Before she could finish, Lin Cun'an pointed to a utility pole in the distance.

A skinny boy was crouched there, his cheek bruised and swollen. He’d been caught in the crossfire of the fight.

“Ah!” Siyuan Liangxiang finally remembered. “Bu!”

She hurried over to help the groaning Songyuan Bu to his feet.

She’d been so caught up in Miyajima Sakura that she’d nearly forgotten her childhood friend.

“Now that this is settled, let’s go our separate ways here.” Lin Cun'an waved carelessly. “I’m turning off up ahead anyway.”

“…Okay.” Siyuan Liangxiang swallowed the question she’d been about to ask.

“Xiao Lin, I had no idea you were this strong…” Songyuan Bu managed a weak, rueful smile. It pulled at his sore muscles, and he grimaced in pain.

Lin Cun'an looked at Songyuan Bu, then at Siyuan Liangxiang, who was a good bit taller than him. Even by appearances, Bu’s skinny arms and legs didn’t look as strong as Liangxiang’s.

“You…” Lin Cun'an sighed. “You should train properly.”

“Huh?” Songyuan Bu didn’t understand.

But Lin Cun'an had already turned away.

The boy walked beneath the fading, dappled sunset.

At the same time, a voice began to ring in his mind.

【Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission: ‘One-on-One? I’ll Take on All of You!’】

【Calculating rewards… ‘Bullshitting’ upgraded to LV.3. Skill learned: ‘Gaze of the Strong Lv.1.’ One draw chance awarded.】

【Would the Host like to draw now?】

(No.)

【All right, arranging a draw for the Host right awa—huh? Huh?! You don’t want to draw now? Beep. Ai-chan looked utterly bewildered.】

(…)

【Seriously? You can even resist that!? Beep. Ai-chan gasped. Is the Host the kind of person who can watch porn without skipping ahead!?】

(Shut up.)

【Congratulations, Host, on completing a hidden achievement. Skill acquired: ‘Inhuman Endurance.’】