I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

the other side.

Department Head Himura stopped the members who wanted to demand an explanation for him, and smiled casually: "He was just stating the facts. I did lose to him that day. The victor is king, the loser is villain. There's nothing to be angry about."

"But Minister, his tone...!"

The bald man, who looked rather fierce and as if he had just been released from prison, gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Tenkuji Yu, who was chatting with the beautiful girls. His expression was a mixture of indignation and jealousy.

However, there were only three or four people like him. Most of them maintained a neutral attitude. Even if they were unhappy with the attitude of looking down on their own minister, they had to admit that Tenkuji Yu had the strength and qualifications to say such things.

Even more so, there are people who want to speak up for Yuu Tenkuji—such as the vice-captain who wants to win a national championship title before graduation, and the kendo girl who was once instructed by him on "how to become stronger".

These two, more than the other members, wanted to use Tenkuji Yu's power, and naturally did not want the atmosphere between them to become dangerous.

After recovering from the shock of the sudden turn of events, they hurriedly stepped forward, wanting to calm things down first.

Before he could even speak, Department Head Himura said with a smile, "No buts."

"Anyone who has a problem with this can try challenging me, or have a go at him who beat me in a head-on fight."

"Only the victors have the right to speak; the losers have their dignity trampled upon—so strive to become stronger. Isn't that why you joined the kendo club?"

His tone was as gentle as ever, yet it carried a pressure that made people dare not resist.

Those who had a problem with Yuu Tenkuji subconsciously took a step back, bowed deeply to him with a "Hi!", and then sat back down in their original seats with slightly pale faces.

"As for you..."

Department Head Himura turned around and looked at the vice-department head and the dark-skinned girl who had walked up to him, their expressions hesitant. He smiled helplessly and said, "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten that we asked him to come as an outside helper."

"It's one thing to have an itch to help, but it's another to fulfill the wishes of members who lack the ability. I will try my best to ask him for help."

"We're so sorry, it's our fault..." The two lowered their heads in shame.

Looking at his right hand, which was wrapped in a cast, the bespectacled vice minister couldn't help but tear up. He bit his lip, holding back tears, and trembled with resentment.

Minister Himura sighed softly.

"It's also my fault for being the minister for so long, but being suspended so often that I couldn't lead you to victory... Let me make up for it this time."

After saying that, he walked towards Tenkuji Yu, who was at the very front of the group of six, and sat down upright about a meter in front of him.

Then, he placed his hands on his knees and slightly bent his straight, sword-like back.

"I was truly rude just now. It was indeed inappropriate to bring up the outcome of our contest at this time. As for that bamboo sword, it is proof that you have defeated me and even the entire Kendo Club, so there is naturally no reason for you to take it back."

"This humble one?" Tenkuji Yu was taken aback. Did this person actually change his self-reference when he got serious?

However, seeing that sincerely lowered head, no matter how cold-blooded and ruthless he was, he couldn't possibly choose to continue mocking the other person at this moment. He simply waved his hand casually and said indifferently:

"Let's leave that boring stuff behind. I just want to ask, do you need my help? If not, I'm leaving."

Department Head Himura didn't raise her head; only her steady voice, imbued with earnest emotion, rang out from between her falling hair:

"Please, we need your help."

As soon as the words fell, the other members also lowered their heads in unison, without any perfunctory response. Their resounding shouts seemed to shake the roof off the kendo club.

"Please lend us a hand!"

"This……"

Staring in astonishment at the perfectly aligned scene, Tenkuji Yuu remained stunned for a moment before scratching his cheek somewhat embarrassedly.

He quickly coughed twice, then replied with a equally serious expression:

"To the best of my ability."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Department Head Himura immediately looked up, his face still bearing that gentle smile.

"Before discussing the order of battle, why don't we have a match to show everyone your strength?"

"...You just want to fight, don't you?"

"Not at all, just a friendly exchange."

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Nine-Headed Dragon Flash! Heavenly Soaring Dragon Flash!

In the end, Yuu Tenkuji decided to have a match with Captain Himura.

In the large kendo club, many members did not witness firsthand the extremely exaggerated swordsmanship competition at the autumn exhibition.

I only know from other people's stories that this person once defeated Minister Himura, but I don't know just how strong he was, or why people were so afraid of him, or even somewhat incredulous.

Take that fierce bald man for example. As the second striker in this national tournament, he clearly didn't trust Tenkuji Yu's strength enough, but he didn't say anything because of Captain Himura's prestige.

"Hmph, he's just a pretty boy and a playboy. He must have used some tricks to beat the minister..."

Despite these issues, a small number of people still had reservations about his sudden arrival and were looking forward to seeing Minister Himura take him down with a bamboo sword.

Of course, Yuu Tenkuji didn't care what they thought.

He only had one thing to do: to crush those kids at the National University Kendo Tournament with perfect swordsmanship and superhuman physique, and bring back a trophy for the school and the Kendo club. That was all.

There's no need to build good relationships with them. After all, there can only be two people on the kendo field—yourself and your enemy. If you lose, you lose, and it has nothing to do with teamwork.

If the "Jade Dragon Flag" format is activated, there won't even be a need for the other four players. He can defeat all five opponents by himself, at most his stamina will be used up more.

He's practically an army by himself; even he himself feels it's a bit of a violation of the rules.

So, aren't you envious?

I changed girlfriends.

“I’m glad you agreed.” The laughter coming from behind the mask was somewhat subdued, but it still had that cheerful and gentle feel. “Since that day, I’ve been waiting for you, waiting for you to come to my house (dojo) so we can have another good clash, just like we agreed.”

"Don't be so ambiguous, okay? And sorry, I forgot I had a duel with you after that fight. Maybe I'm just not that belligerent to begin with."

Anyway, after the second mission ended, his former warlike nature disappeared without him realizing it, and he could no longer find the passion he had when he clashed fiercely with Asuna.

Wearing a heavy kendo uniform, Tenkuji Yu sighed, "Bamboo swords are fine for fighting, but if we really use wooden swords, there will inevitably be times when we can't stop."

"That's such a pity... Well, let's get back to the main topic."

In a 9x9 square, Minister Himura stood behind a white line, waving the bamboo sword in his hand.

"Tenkuji-kun, you've probably never been on a match before, right? Besides itching to play, I also want to tell you what rules you have to follow in a real match, what constitutes a foul, and that even if you hit a valid target area, you won't score."

Tenkuji Yu shrugged: "Thank you for your trouble. Although I've never been on the field, I still know this much."

The perfect-level skills even include the history of Kendo's development, so naturally the competition rules cannot be overlooked.

"Really? Then let's get right to it." Department Head Himura seemed relieved, and his casual posture suddenly became more upright.

First, hold the knife and bow slightly to him, then make a symbolic gesture of drawing the knife, and then perform a squatting salute, with a solemn and graceful posture.

On the other side, Tenkuji Yu squatted down and stood up almost simultaneously with him, then assumed their most commonly used mid-stance stance, with the tips of their swords pointing directly at each other's throats.

Through the mask, his eyes stared coldly into the other person's eyes, not missing a single change.

"—"

Even before the referee called "start," the tense atmosphere that permeated the entire stadium had already taken control of the breath of every spectator.

Among the members of the kendo club, the bald man's expression changed as he watched the standoff, and he finally had to admit that he had misjudged the situation.

Before even making a move, his mere presence was enough to make people admit defeat—that person was at least on par with Minister Himura, a powerhouse beyond my ability to question.

The deputy minister pushed up his glasses, trying to hide his excitement, his eyes fixed on the two people in the room.

It was as if he had become Tenkuji Yu, now standing in front of the captain, and in the future standing on the competition field, winning the only national championship of his life.

As for the Service Department...

"This is the first time I've seen Xiaoyou in a kendo uniform..."

"It's so dark I can't even see her face, she's hideous! Give me back my Ayou!"

"Wow, both the senior and that department head look so scary... Kanade, who do you think will win?"

"Hmm... Mapo tofu?"

"Senior? Well, you've won once, after all."

"Why has Mapo Tofu become his nickname...? Also, the competition is about to start, please be quiet."

As the excitement at the Service Club finally subsided, the kendo girl acting as referee took a deep breath, her face flushed with excitement. After confirming that both sides were in their ready positions, she forcefully swung her arm down:

"Shobu!" (Win or lose!)

At a command.

The figure behind the white line vanished instantly, leaving afterimages with each step. The bamboo sword, moving at an almost invisible speed, slashed straight at Tenkuji Yu's face.

"The noodles are effective!"

"One book! Separate them!"

In just about a second, the kendo girl raised her right hand and stammered that Tenkuji Yu had scored.

Everyone, including the referee, stared blankly as he sheathed his sword and walked back to the white line with ease.

The kendo hall was quiet, with only the sound of breathing gradually becoming tense and heavy.

"How...how did you do that?"

"It was clearly the minister who made the first move! And there wasn't even any fighting, it was over in a second..."

"It feels even scarier than before..."

The discussions outside the arena began to stir, but the expressions of the two people facing off inside remained largely unchanged. They simply stared at each other with cold indifference, their spirits taut and focused, without the slightest relaxation or distraction.

Before the referee gave the whistle, Minister Himura spoke softly:

"You were only one millisecond faster than me, but you won."

Yuu Tenkuji replied indifferently:

"To win, a millisecond is enough."

"Indeed... I won't lose again next time."

He smiled, and his always squinted eyes suddenly opened wide, as if a sharp blade had sliced ​​through his mask, reflecting in Tenkuji Yu's eyes.

next moment.

"Shobu!" (Win or lose!)