This time, eight kendo club members came to Kyoto: one coach, four core members, one reserve, and two presidents and vice-presidents as spectators. All were experienced competitors. Their data from district tournaments was well-known—their styles, whether defensive or offensive, and who to watch out for were all clear.
Now, an unfamiliar face wearing the same sports uniform walked among the group, instantly drawing suspicion from other teams.
"Is he a secret ace or just a bluff…?"
Suspicion spread. Countless gazes turned toward Yuu. He looked calm, neither rushed nor anxious. There was no strong aura around him. He simply squinted, nodding with a friendly, innocent smile at students from other schools staring at him.
This made the group even more tense—most kendo practitioners enjoyed shounen manga, so they naturally understood the truth that squinting eyes and a smiling face usually meant a monster.
Instantly, several coaches from other teams suddenly smiled warmly, greeting the Sobu High group, their intent to gather information glaringly obvious.
Unfortunately, before they could, Sobu High's coach had already instructed the club members to surround Yuu. They registered at lightning speed and left just as quickly, giving other schools no chance to snoop.
"I don't think this is necessary. Even if they got the info, they wouldn't have time to strategize."
Yuu, surrounded like a hero, was slightly resigned. Though he felt proud being the secret ace, to him, this was a bit over-the-top.
Yukino, forced to squeeze beside him, hunched her slender shoulders. As they moved, she sighed helplessly, "At least we can get to the inn and rest quickly… I'm starting to hate this place, and it smells bad."
"Your smell?"
"If it was your smell, I'd have vomited already." Yukino didn't even glance at him.
"I see."
Yuu nodded. The meaning was clear: if he smelled of sweat too, Yukino might be vomiting by now.
He didn't mean to be an air freshener for others… He felt a chill down his back. Was it because that Scandinavian beauty was staring at him?
"By the way, Yuu-kun's really become the ace." Yuigahama said admiringly, "Who'd believe someone could be the strongest ace in their first tournament?"
"You're wrong, Yui." While walking back outside the stadium with the kendo club members, Yuu explained casually, "The standard format is five matches, best of three wins. If the first three positions—leader, second, and core—lose, the match ends right there. No matter how great the ace is, it's useless. So, there's a fighting style that puts the strongest as the leader to attack, and one that places the core to hold key matches. Betting everything on the ace is a big risk."
Yukino nodded in understanding. "Like Tian Ji's horse race. Arranging strength order to let the strongest win first. The best horse against the average, the average against the weakest… But with a three-out-of-five system, the chance of a comeback is high. Not every team can use this strategy."
Yuu spread his hands. "Exactly. But that's the coach's problem to figure out."
"Hmm… I think I get it!" Yuigahama puffed her cheeks, seemingly grasping it. "So, if the kendo club loses the first three matches…"
Then it's got nothing to do with Yuu. No matter how great he is, he wouldn't get to fight. He'd just be a mascot—no chance for a comeback. Lose, and go home.
"Yeah. So maybe in the quarterfinals, or against a strong opponent, the coach will call for the Gyokuryuki system, so I can secure the win right away."
The reason Yuu wasn't fighting from start to finish was… the kendo club members didn't come here just for a vacation or to simply win a trophy. Victory was important, but they also wanted the experience of competing!
If it was just about winning, they wouldn't bother with nationals. They all had pride, confidence in their skills, and a strong desire to seize victory with their own hands.
"Gyokuryuki? What's that?" Yuigahama was confused again.
*SNAP!*
Yuu flicked his fingers casually. Yukino glared at him coldly, then explained to Yuigahama, "It's a winner-takes-all system. Members from both teams can fight regardless of order. The winner keeps fighting. If it's a draw, both step back. The team with the last person standing wins… Think of it as a relay battle."
"Exactly. So…"
Yuu pointed at himself with his thumb, smiling casually.
"If the situation allows, I'll take on all five of them at once, ensuring no accidents on the path to the championship."
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They finally arrived at the hot spring inn. Exhausted from the long journey, the group dragged their suitcases and gathered in the lobby to divide rooms.
The seven male and one female kendo club members were split into two rooms: one group room and one single.
Though the club covered their room costs, since Masuzu was from the Service Club, the kendo club booked a room for the three girls together—a four-person room.
Yuu, of course, got his own room.
"Alright, it's free time now. Remember to be back by six for dinner. Hot spring bathing is fine at night. Enjoy Kyoto's streets, and get ready for war tomorrow!"
"Ooh!"
The sports club's cheers were always so unified and loud, even when they were just excited to have fun.
Yuu tossed the key in his hand, casually glancing at Masuzu.
Her shimmering silver hair cascaded behind her. Masuzu looked calm, like a winter lily. Her mask and hair covered most of her face, making it hard to see the emotions hidden in her sapphire eyes.
She simply followed Yukino and Yuigahama, dragging her suitcase into their room.
Almost instinctively, Yuu wanted to use [I Predict Your Move] to find out what Masuzu was thinking—whether she had naughty thoughts about sneaking into his bed or something similar.
But recalling what happened on the bus, he hesitated. In the end, he did nothing and walked to his own room.
"Oh, Yuu-kun, drop off your luggage and meet in the lobby!"
"Huh? What for?"
Yuigahama clenched her fists and said enthusiastically:
"To explore Kyoto together, of course!"
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In a dark room, the phone screen illuminated her cold smile.
"Finally here… I didn't expect them to skip the Shinkansen and take a seven-hour bus."
"Good grief, is the trip planner's brain full of muscle? I've been waiting since morning. Wandering alone was so boring. Good thing I brought work to finish."
The stack of documents on the table showed how bored she'd been.
But the long wait wasn't in vain.
Hearing the faint sound of a door closing in the next room, she could even feel the vibrations of footsteps on the tatami. She cut off contact with her informants.
"Hooray!" Then, she stood up.
The afternoon sunlight streaming through the window lit up her mature, beautiful face and her cunning, lively black eyes, like those of a fox.
"Hehe, I won't make the same mistake as during the fall school trip…"
"Yukino-chan and Tenkuji-kun, just wait—I'll give you a big surprise!"
As if thinking of something delightful, in the quiet single room, Yukinoshita Haruno couldn't contain her excitement and laughed softly.
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His ears twitched slightly. Yuu, who'd just set down his suitcase, turned his confused gaze to the wall.
"I feel like I heard a familiar laugh…"