"Wait, wait?" Anji Seiji finally examined the whole sheet.
Left side white paper, right side white paper.
Flip it over—still ordinary paper.
But… it wouldn't tear.
No, it wasn't about tearing. No matter how he crumpled it, the paper sprang back to perfect flatness, not a wrinkle.
Anji looked at Satoru, puzzled.
Satoru gestured invitingly. "Please, flex those biceps."
"!"
Unforgivable! Uncle could take it, but Auntie couldn't! Anji sucked in a breath, contributing to global warming, then planted his feet, channeling power from the ground.
"Hah!"
One hand on each corner, he yanked wide, mimicking Hung Kuen's open stance!
But—
"Ughhh—" Anji's face turned eggplant purple.
The paper stayed rock-solid.
"—Damn it!!"
Anji couldn't believe it. "W-What's with this paper?!"
Satoru didn't answer, just flicked the 500-yen coin.
"Mine now. A bet's a bet."
"…Lost, lost…" Anji admitted, fair and square—500 yen wasn't much to him anyway.
But his constipated yell drew classmates' attention.
The group gossiping about Satoru earlier approached.
"What's up, Anji? Sounded like a pig squealing."
Anji was decently popular, "average" like Matsubara Ayumu—way above Satoru's "food chain bottom."
They chatted with Anji, ignoring Satoru.
"Oh, this paper? Super tough," Anji said, shaking it.
"Just scrap paper, what's the big deal?"
The speaker was Yamamoto Senjin—a name that screamed stab me. He sneered. "Playing tricks? Let me see."
Yamamoto reached.
Anji pulled back. "No way! I paid 500 yen to touch it. Want in? Cough up 500."
Yamamoto scoffed. "A scrap of paper costs money? Hilarious."
"Fine, bet with Kobayashi like me. If you can't tear it, pay him 500… If you can, Kobayashi and I each pay you 500. Deal?"
"Not fair," Satoru said.
This idiot. Win 500, lose 1,000? High school math went to the dogs?
Yamamoto laughed, thinking Satoru was scared of losing. "Deal… but let's make it big! Ten thousand! I don't need ten each—if I lose, pay me ten grand total."
A scrap of paper flipping the sky?
Someone tugged Yamamoto's sleeve. "Bro, where's your ten grand from?"
"We'll pool it. I cover the bulk, you chip in small," Yamamoto said, crowdfunding. "Win, and we split 70-30—I take 70."
"Only 30%?"
They grumbled but pulled wallets. Sure win!
"…Not good?" Satoru said again.
"Hm? Kobayashi, scared? Bet Anji but not us? Did you scam him?" Yamamoto laughed, stirring trouble. "Anji, you're dense."
Anji rolled his eyes. "My call. It's Kobayashi's thing. Bet or don't—you minding?"
"Fine, fine," Satoru sighed. "Bet then… Hey everyone, hear that? You're betting, not me forcing. No regrets."
"You'll regret it," Yamamoto smirked, slapping a messy pile of ten grand on the desk. "Your money?!"
Worried Satoru couldn't pay—truth was, Satoru had pocket change, no ten grand bills.
"Here!" Anji slapped down five 1,000-yen notes and a 5,000-yen bill.
"Anji, you're brain-fried!" Yamamoto mocked.
"I touched this paper, you didn't. I know what it's like," Anji huffed, then to Satoru. "Kobayashi, win and give me 10%!"
"…Sure," Satoru said.
Hearing Anji and Satoru's vibe, Yamamoto sensed trouble but doubled down—words were out.
He snatched the paper, channeling chi.
"Hah—"
Yamamoto: …
Others: Yamamoto, try harder.
Yamamoto: …
Others: Yamamoto, how many times did you jack off last night?! Can't tear scrap paper?!
Yamamoto found a new angle. "Haaah!!!"
Fingers trembled, breaths ragged.
But the paper… unmoved.
"Y-Yamamoto, you can't tear it?" someone whispered.
Yamamoto: …
Dead silence, sudden concern.
"No way, my money…" High schoolers, pocket-poor—this was their all?
Yamamoto calmed, then grinned triumphantly. "Hah, you panicking? I've got my ultimate move!"
"You've got a finisher? Use it!"
"Watch!"
Yamamoto grabbed his water bottle from his drawer, uncapped it, and poured on the paper.
"Hey, Yamamoto! Cheating!" Anji yelled.
"You didn't ban water!" Yamamoto gloated.
Anji lunged to grab it, but Satoru held him back. "Let them."
Water soaked the paper, wrinkling and softening it.
"Done!" Yamamoto said, others cheering victory.
"As expected from Yamamoto!"
"Genius strategist!"
"Zhuge Liang-level!"
Yamamoto tore furiously!!
…
The soggy paper stayed intact.
Yamamoto: ?
"WTF, Yamamoto, you trolling?!"
"My money! My money!"
"You motherf—"
"Yamamoto! Fuck your ancestors!!"
…
…