Chapter 20: My Girlfriend Is More Than Just Cute
"Bloodline" topped the popularity charts.
While this might seem incredible to others, it was indeed the truth.
Under the influence of various factors, even the popular work that had already been successfully animated last time could no longer overshadow Naoto's brilliance.
With an approval rating of sixty percent, it directly accounted for more than half of the total votes, existing like a great demon king.
Looking at the exaggerated data, the manga artists serialized on JUMP all felt disheartened.
There was nothing they could do; his strength was simply too terrifying. As long as he continued to serialize, he was bound to become a pillar of the magazine.
And after securing the top spot on the popularity chart, Naoto successfully made Kuriko his girlfriend, as he wished.
Although even if Naoto hadn't gotten first place on the popularity chart this time, Kuriko would most likely have agreed, at least this way, it was officially recognized, wasn't it?
But honestly, even though Naoto and Kuriko had become a couple, there wasn't much difference between them and before.
They went to school together, then played around with good friends like Sakuta, and then went home together after school.
If there was any change, it was that the two would occasionally go to places couples would visit to experience life.
Or, they would hold hands while walking, like a pure young couple. Uh, no, that's not right, because they *are* a pure young couple.
Serialized in JUMP and having won a national competition, Naoto was undeniably the most popular person in school for a time. Many young girls also regarded Naoto as an idol, wanting to catch a glimpse of him.
However, fame brings trouble, and sometimes being too outstanding can also invite jealousy.
Just like now... "Tch! I heard there's a guy in first year who's pretty arrogant."
"Yeah, I heard he just won a national competition and is also a manga artist. Those little girls just love that kind of stuff."
"I heard he even has a very beautiful girlfriend. Damn it, what's so great about a pretty boy like that!"
In a corner of the school, a group of school delinquents were hiding, smoking cigarettes, and expressing their dissatisfaction with Naoto.
Naturally, these guys wanted to teach the popular Naoto a lesson, to let these younger students know who the boss of this school was.
It can only be said that no matter which school it is, so-called school bullies will always be present.
They think they're great in school, so they cause trouble everywhere, ultimately making the students extremely afraid.
The news that this group of delinquents was going to teach Naoto a lesson naturally spread, and eventually reached Naoto's ears.
"It's bad, Naoto! I heard that those guys from the upper grades said they were going to teach you a lesson today!"
As soon as class ended, Naoto saw Sakuta rush over to him, warning him to be careful.
"They're going to teach me a lesson? Why?"
Naoto rubbed his head. He hadn't provoked anyone recently, had he? Why would he be taught a lesson for no reason?
"It's probably because you've been too much in the limelight lately. Anyway, try to sneak out today. Those guys are not to be trifled with."
It must be said that Sakuta was truly a good friend. After hearing that Naoto might get hurt, he was the first to come with the news.
However, Naoto didn't take such matters too seriously.
"Relax, Sakuta, you can't avoid this kind of thing by hiding. Besides, if you're afraid of them, you'll have a hard time later. With people like this, you can only be stable if you show them you're tougher."
"Is that so?"
Sakuta looked at Naoto's nonchalant expression and suddenly felt a strange sensation. Why did Naoto sound like he was actually looking forward to it?
After school, Naoto left the classroom early, and Sakuta followed closely behind him, thinking that if Naoto got beaten up later, he would step in to help take some of the blows.
At the school gate at this time, a group of small-time delinquents had already been waiting for a long time.
These people were wearing tattered school uniforms, and the smoke from their cigarettes filled the air.
The students who were planning to go home after school could only swallow their anger in this situation, fearing that even a cough would get them beaten up by this group.
"Uh, Naoto, it's probably still not too late to find a teacher now. Are you sure you don't want to do that?"
Sakuta looked at the group of obviously troublesome delinquents and confirmed with Naoto again.
As Naoto appeared, a group of students who had already received the news quickly came out to watch the show.
This time, would it be the campus's popular Naoto who would win? Or would this group of school bullies be superior?
"Oh ho? I didn't expect this kid wouldn't try to run away. He seems to have some backbone."
Seeing Naoto actually swagger out, the leader of these delinquents, a guy who looked like a gorilla, said fiercely.
If an ordinary student saw this situation, they would probably already be cowering.
After all, these dozen or so delinquents were not without baseball bats in their hands. Let alone students, even teachers wouldn't dare to go up. If these hot-blooded guys actually started a fight, they might end up in the hospital.
"These guys are really serious, and there are so many of them."
Looking at their stance, he had originally thought there would only be a few of them.
Because the system had made him a bit stronger, Naoto had initially wanted to show off his muscles.
But he never expected that the development of events seemed to be a bit beyond his expectations.
But what to do now? He was already here, so there was no way he could back down, right? He couldn't lose face.
"What are you doing standing here? Why did you run out first?"
Just as Naoto was hesitating whether to retreat for a moment, Kuriko's voice sounded behind him.
"Kuriko, I..."
Seeing Kuriko appear behind him, Naoto felt a little embarrassed. How should he put it? He couldn't just tell Kuriko that he wanted to show off and now couldn't back down, could he?
However, Naoto seemed to have forgotten at this moment that Kuriko wasn't wearing her ring.
Kuriko immediately understood what Naoto was thinking.
"I see, those people are looking for trouble with you?"
At this time, Kuriko glanced slightly at the delinquents squatting by the main gate behind them. Instantly, an inexplicable chill surged into the hearts of everyone present.
(What's going on? Why does Kuriko feel so scary?)
At this moment, everyone hadn't yet realized how terrifying Kuriko, this seemingly frail little girl, actually was in terms of combat power.