Shout out to Msos for the pledge. The bonus chapters just got to 10. I'll divide them between this book and the other one.
***
After agreeing to the duel request, Nozomi gently set Mayama Asaka down from his arms and loosened his grip on Kusami Runa's slender waist. The tension in the air faded for just a moment, replaced by a breath of calm between the storm.
The two girls quietly moved aside, stepping out of the impromptu battlefield. As they stood side by side, the contrast between them became evident—Sasanqua, flustered and clearly anxious, and Kusami Runa, calm and composed like a seasoned warrior watching her comrade enter battle.
Sasanqua stole a glance at Kusami Runa, her expression conflicted. "U-Um..."
"I'm Kusami Runa," the girl replied warmly, noticing the hesitation. "My friends just call me Tsukimi. I'm one of Nozomi's girlfriends. You can call me Tsukimi too."
"Ah, I'm Mayama Asaka," she answered nervously, then corrected herself quickly. "My nickname is Sasanqua... You can call me that."
Sasanqua hesitated, her voice dropping. "That... I'm his...his..."
Tsukimi smiled and gently squeezed her hand. "I know. No need to explain. Let's just watch quietly."
Her words, so filled with quiet confidence, washed over Sasanqua like a calming breeze. If someone like Tsukimi believed in Nozomi, then maybe she didn't need to be so scared.
The makeshift arena—an open patch in the park—suddenly felt like a coliseum as Nozomi and Ono Yu faced each other. Their stances, their presence, even the silent tension between them, felt straight out of a shounen anime.
Ono Yu cracked his knuckles, declaring with firm authority, "I am Ono Yu, leader of the Karate Club at Nishizuka High School! I won't hold back just because you've got good looks!"
He crossed his arms and added with a serious tone, "But don't worry, we live in a lawful society. I know the rules. I won't send you to the hospital unless you beg for it. Just don't go crying to the police after I knock you out!"
Nozomi arched an eyebrow, half-amused, half-incredulous. "Wow, you're surprisingly civil for a hot-blooded karateka."
Clearing his throat theatrically, Nozomi replied with exaggerated pride, "Then I'll respond properly. I'm Hozuki Nozomi, Grade 1, Class F, Sobu High. Bring it on, upperclassman."
Ono Yu flared his nostrils. "Upperclassman? You called me a little classmate! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!"
Nozomi flashed a sly grin but remained completely at ease, hands in his pockets, stance relaxed like he had no intention of even lifting a finger.
From the sidelines, Sasanqua shouted, "Nozomi, you can do it! Show him you're not just a pretty face!"
Kusami Runa added softly, "But don't go too hard. If you hurt him too badly, we'll have to deal with hospital bills."
Ono Yu's face darkened. "THAT'S IT! YOU'RE GOING DOWN, PRETTY BOY!"
Fueled by frustration and heartbreak, Ono Yu charged, shouting like a beast. His hand shot up, aiming a brutal karate chop at Nozomi's head—a strike strong enough to crack boards during training.
In an anime, this would've been the climactic moment of impact. But what happened next was... anti-climactic for Ono Yu.
BANG!
Nozomi didn't dodge. He casually lifted a hand. And caught the strike—barehanded.
A sharp, audible crack echoed through the park.
Ono Yu's expression twisted into horror. Pain erupted from his arm like fire, and he fell back clutching his hand. His face paled as tears welled up in his eyes. "M-My hand... What the hell?!"
The recoil wasn't magic or trickery. It was one of Nozomi's hidden skills: [Damage Double Rebound]. Any attack dealt to him would be reflected back—double.
To someone like Ono Yu, this wasn't just an unlucky strike. It was a lesson carved into his bones.
Nozomi didn't pursue. He simply stood tall, hands still in his pockets, and sneered. "That's it? This is the strength you bragged about? If that's what you planned to use to protect Sasanqua, you should probably rethink your career path."
Nozomi walked toward a tree—the size of a basketball post—and in one swift punch, blasted a hole clean through the trunk.
THUMP.
A gaping, smoldering hole remained. Nozomi shook his hand as if nothing had happened.
Ono Yu, Sasanqua, and Kusami Runa all froze.
"Your bones tougher than this tree, little classmate?" Nozomi asked, voice smooth and dangerous. "Next time, I won't hold back."
Ono Yu didn't care about the throbbing pain radiating from his hand.
Like a man possessed, he staggered over to the tree Nozomi had just punched through with ease. Carefully, almost reverently, he reached out and touched the gaping hole left in the trunk. The bark was splintered, the wood cracked deep—the mark of a monster's fist, not a high schooler's.
A sharp intake of breath followed.
"You'd better get to the hospital soon," Nozomi said nonchalantly, flexing his still-pristine fingers. "If that hand sets wrong, don't say I didn't warn you."
Ono gulped, eyes wide with the dawning realization that he'd just picked a fight with something closer to a walking calamity than a student.
"U-understood, Boss Nozomi! I won't bother Mayama Asaka again! I'll come see you again once I've healed up!"
With that, the former karate club ace bolted like a kicked puppy.
Nozomi blinked. "What's with the 'Boss Nozomi' thing? And why's he planning to see me again?"
Sasanqua giggled, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Well, in delinquent circles, there's this unspoken rule. Whoever has the biggest fists... becomes the boss."
She shrugged as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Then, as if gravity suddenly pulled her, she drifted toward the scarred tree and traced the edges of the gaping hole with delicate fingers. Her gaze flickered back to Nozomi's unscathed hand, awe and a little bit of fear dancing in her wide eyes.
"You're not human..." she whispered.
Nozomi's lips curled into a teasing smirk. He stepped forward.
Sasanqua instinctively backed up until she felt the cold bark of the tree against her spine. Her arms pressed against his chest in alarm, her cheeks turning a fierce red as she stammered.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"What do you think I'm doing?" Nozomi's eyes glinted mischievously. "I just saved your honor. Isn't it time you showed some gratitude?"
Sasanqua's face practically steamed. "T-too fast! I mean, we're only pretending! A-and Tsukimi-chan is still here... Oof!"
A playful flick to her forehead cut off her flustered rambling.
"What're you imagining, pervert? I just want your number. Unless you want us to get caught next time, we need to make our story convincing. Unless... you'd prefer being harassed by Ono Yu again?"
Realizing her mistake, Sasanqua nearly melted into the grass.
"O-oh... That's what you meant..." she mumbled, pressing her phone into his hand with a red face, too embarrassed to meet his gaze.
She fiddled with her fingers awkwardly, clearly wanting to say something but failing to find the words.
Nozomi chuckled. "If you're not in a rush to go home, how about we hang out a bit?"
"W-well... Only because you're begging me!"
"Of course! O lovely Miss Asaka, will you and the elegant Tsukimi-chan honor me with your company for the rest of this fine day?"
Sasanqua puffed her cheeks. "Hehe~ since you put it that way, I suppose I'll allow it. Let's go!"
She latched onto Nozomi's arm, pulling him with surprising strength. Her face was a mixture of pride and flustered excitement.
"Don't get the wrong idea though! Tsukimi-chan too! I'm just trying to make this fake boyfriend-girlfriend thing look real! Who knows, maybe Ono's still lurking in the shadows. He is super cunning!"
Kusami Runa gently took Nozomi's other arm, arching an eyebrow.
"With a broken hand? Come on, at least come up with something more believable. Honestly, just admit it—you're head over heels for my boyfriend."
Sasanqua sputtered. Nozomi didn't deny it.
Kusami Runa's lips curved in satisfaction. She didn't mind. If Nozomi didn't push Sasanqua away, then she wouldn't either.
Arm in arm, the trio quickly made their way out of the park.
After all... tree damage was technically illegal. And getting fined for wrecking public property wasn't exactly how Nozomi wanted to end the day.