"That girl totally likes you!"
Up on the school rooftop, Mikako huffed, popping a little sausage—cut into an adorable octopus shape—into her mouth.
Kazuma replied, "I thought the same. Otherwise, why would she suddenly come over today and question you about our relationship?"
"Right?! I knew it!" Mikako exclaimed triumphantly—then paused. "Wait... but what is our relationship, exactly?"
Kazuma scratched his head. "I guess... we're boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Mikako munched on another tiny octopus sausage, frowning. "Are we? But... we haven't really done anything couples are supposed to do."
"What about going to the dagashi shop?"
"That doesn't count! Childhood friends do that kind of stuff all the time! Not that we're childhood friends."
Kazuma thought it over and had to admit she was right.
Back in his previous life, he'd known girls who lived along the same route home. They'd often stop to grab snacks after school and chat on the way back—nothing romantic about it.
"Hmm..."
Kazuma started to say, Maybe we should try dating for real, but the words caught in his throat.
He was still being targeted by the yakuza. Getting closer to Mikako now wasn't a good idea.
In fact, for Mikako's safety, it would be better if she kept her distance.
Last time she'd gotten away unharmed, it was only because Kazuma had won the fight—and because they'd happened to run into Nishiyama Heita, a yakuza boss who actually kept his word.
If either of those factors had gone wrong, Mikako might've been assaulted. Her entire life could've been ruined.
Kazuma glanced at her—still pouting about the class rep's earlier interference, her profile bright and innocent.
The words on the tip of his tongue, he swallowed back down—deep into the darkest corner of his heart and sealed them in concrete.
Until this whole mess was resolved, Kazuma would never officially start a romantic relationship with Mikako.
Never.
In fact, unless the yakuza threat was completely eliminated, he wouldn't start a relationship with any girl.
The rest of the day passed peacefully enough.
Just before lunch ended, Homeroom Teacher Tachibana called Kazuma to the guidance room and handed him a stack of recommended reading—compiled by all the teachers, covering every subject.
"If you go through everything on this list," Tachibana-sensei said, "you'll have a much better shot at getting into Todai."
She added, "If you have questions while studying, feel free to come to the teachers' office—even if it's a teacher from another class. We're all happy to help."
Kazuma hadn't expected this level of support from the entire faculty.
But it was a good thing. With this reference list, he'd save a lot of time trying to figure out Japan's current education system on his own.
After classes and kendo practice were done, Kazuma waved goodbye to Mikako—who was being picked up by her mom—and headed off alone to pick up his sister.
Twenty minutes later, he arrived at the gates of Etsukawa Girls'.
From a distance, he spotted Chiyoko waiting with that girl he'd met briefly this morning—Nanjo.
As soon as she saw him, Chiyoko ran over. "Bro! Our head coach got fired by the board!"
"Is that so? That's good," Kazuma replied—then glanced at Nanjo approaching behind her and lowered his voice. "Why is Nanjo-san with you?"
"Because you promised to spar with her," Chiyoko whispered back. "I couldn't refuse. You should send her away quickly—if the yakuza notice her, it'll be trouble."
Kazuma nodded. As Nanjo walked up, he smiled at her.
"Nanjo-san, my sister said you'd like to spar with me. I understand. I'll be visiting Akutagawa Dojo this Sunday—let's spar then."
Nanjo blinked, then looked a little disappointed. "Oh... can't we go to your dojo now?"
Kazuma was baffled. What's going on? Am I getting too lucky with girls today?
But he kept a polite face and said, "I'm sorry... my sister and I have to buy dinner ingredients and cook tonight. There's really no time."
"I'm good at cooking," Nanjo offered.
Kazuma smiled apologetically. "Even so, it's getting late. If you helped with dinner, you'd be going home too late—and you seem like someone whose family has strict curfews."
That was true. Nanjo had the aura of a traditional Japanese ojō-sama—and those families usually had very strict rules.
As expected, Nanjo looked troubled. "Hmm... the butler would probably let it slide, but you're right—it is getting late. Okay, I'll wait for you at Akutagawa Dojo this weekend. Do you know where it is?"
Kazuma didn't, but that didn't matter. He wasn't planning to deepen things with Nanjo until the yakuza situation was resolved anyway.
In other words, he intended to stand her up.
"Of course I know," Kazuma lied smoothly. "I'll be there."
"Then I'll be going. See you soon." Nanjo gave a polite bow and walked off in another direction.
That's when Kazuma noticed a luxury Lincoln parked by the curb—not a stretch limo, but definitely not cheap.
—Wait a second!
—My goal is to rise to the top, isn't it? Marrying into a rich family could be a path too...!
But he immediately dismissed the thought.
Japan's social hierarchy was rigid. Even if you wanted to marry into a wealthy family, you'd have to get into Todai first—or the family elders would never approve.
If he tried to pursue an ojō-sama without the proper status, it would probably end in elopement.
And since he was already in trouble with the yakuza, the last thing he needed was to offend a major zaibatsu.
Once I get into Todai... then I can think about going after a rich wife.
Kazuma sorted out his priorities decisively, then said to Chiyoko, "Let's go home."
"Okay," Chiyoko nodded.
When Kazuma and Chiyoko returned to the dojo with their cheap groceries, they found a group of rough-looking delinquents loitering out front—half-smoked cigarette butts littered the ground.
"You're late, Kiryu shihan-dai!" the leader sneered, flicking his cigarette to the ground and crushing it underfoot. "We came all this way to attend your dojo's trial class, sensei!"
Without a word, Kazuma drew his wooden sword and handed the groceries to Chiyoko.
"Is that so?" he said calmly. "Then let me give you a proper experience."
One hour later.
At the Tsuda-gumi office, first floor.
Boss Tsuda Masaaki was fuming, gesturing at the bruised and battered delinquents outside.
"I told you to send people to join the dojo—not start a fight! Look at these idiots! You've blown our cover!"
Ōta Jūzō shrugged. "But we achieved our goal—we confirmed that Kiryu Kazuma is genuinely strong. The Kitakatsushi kendo club advisor wasn't exaggerating."
Tsuda nodded reluctantly. "True. And thanks to you, Kiryu's on full alert now. We'll never be able to plant anyone in his dojo again."
"Sorry. Poor judgment on my part," Ōta Jūzō said.
Tsuda sighed. "Forget it. I wasn't planning to use brute force anyway. If I were the type to rely on muscle alone, I wouldn't have earned the main family's favor. They've got enough muscle already."
Just then, the lights flickered and went out.
"What the hell? Didn't I tell you guys to have the damn circuit fixed?" Tsuda snapped. The wiring had been acting up since yesterday.
"The electrician came today. Said it was fixed," Ōta Jūzō replied, frowning. "Guess not."
"Go drag that idiot back here! If he can't fix it today, he can say goodbye to his teeth!" Tsuda growled.
At that moment, the phone on the third floor started ringing.
(End of Chapter)