Chapter 75: That's Right, Katsuragi Keima is Absolutely a Top-Tier Expert!
"Hey! Are you guys okay?!"
Ibuki Mio hurried to Ryuen Kakeru's side. After confirming he was still breathing, she shook him several times. "Wake up! Ryuen!"
Following Ibuki's shouts, Ryuen and the others finally drifted awake.
"That hurts... what happened?" Ryuen leaned against the wall, barely maintaining his balance while desperately trying to recall the previous events.
They had been in a standoff with Katsuragi Keima and Elsie. Suddenly, Ryuen had lost consciousness. At that moment, it felt as if a massive impact had swept him off his feet.
Ryuen's mind had already identified the source of that impact: Katsuragi Keima's fist.
Albert and Ishizaki Daichi also crawled up from the ground with pained expressions.
"It hurts so much..."
"What happened?"
They felt as if every bone in their bodies was about to shatter. As for what exactly had transpired, neither could say for certain.
"It seems I wasn't wrong after all." Despite the pain radiating from all over his body, Ryuen wore a smile. "Katsuragi Keima really is a very special existence. I knew he was strong, but I didn't expect him to be this strong. I didn't even see him move. Fantastic, simply fantastic!"
"You just got beaten up and you're still laughing? I don't even know what to say to you." Ibuki Mio sighed, though her heart was still filled with doubt.
She had studied martial arts herself and was more than capable of handling average students. But no matter how strong Katsuragi Keima was, it shouldn't have been possible for her to fail to capture even a single movement. In Ibuki's memory, there was no record of Keima striking.
'That guy... just how powerful is he?'
Similar thoughts were swirling in the minds of the others.
"..."
A normal person would never imagine that the broom in Elsie's hand was a magical tool used by a demon. Combined with the previous forum posts, everything seemed to click into place.
Ibuki bit her lip and looked at Ryuen again. "I thought you had some kind of preparation, but in the end, you just got us all beaten up. Can we use this? I remember you mentioned a similar plan before."
Ibuki had heard Ryuen say he planned to have Class C students deliberately provoke students from other classes. In this school, brawling was strictly forbidden. If they could goad the opponent into striking first, they could profit from it.
"No, at least not this time," Ryuen immediately rejected the idea.
Such an operation could only be handled by his subordinates; he himself could never be involved. Even if it were a facade, Ryuen would never allow himself to be seen as the losing party, as it would undermine the prestige he used to rule the class.
Furthermore, although this was a blind spot Ryuen had specifically chosen, cameras at the entrance would have certainly captured them waiting for Keima and leading him into the alley. That would be disadvantageous for them.
"So this whole operation was just for us to take a beating? I can't just swallow this. That guy looks like he can't even lift a finger, so why is he so strong?"
"No, we gained something." Ryuen narrowed his eyes. "We've confirmed that Katsuragi Keima possesses terrifying physical force. I've heard his academic ability is also quite impressive. If we go to war with Class D in the future, he is an existence that cannot be ignored."
The smile on his face widened. "But that's what makes it interesting. He won this time, but what about next? As long as we sink our teeth in and don't let go, even he will eventually show a weakness."
Ryuen brushed the dust off his clothes, an irrepressible sense of excitement rising in his chest. He hadn't felt this way even when he ruled his class through force. Until now.
"This school is getting more and more interesting."
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Meanwhile, at the Student Council office.
A second-year boy named Kiriyama Ikuto knocked respectfully and entered the office. "Vice President Nagumo."
Kiriyama looked at the handsome man with long blonde hair and spoke respectfully. "That girl Kiryuin seems to have made contact with a first-year student."
"Oh? That woman actually went to see a first-year?"
His name was Nagumo Miyabi, the Student Council Vice President. He was also the leader of the current Year 2, Class A. Formerly a member of Class B, he used his own abilities to lead his class to overtake and replace Class A. He was also appreciated by Horikita Manabu and joined the Student Council.
However, their philosophies were completely different, and friction occasionally occurred within the council. Kiriyama, the boy before him, was a former Class A student who now appeared to have submitted to Nagumo.
"Yes. Kiryuin had no intention of hiding her tracks. Vice President Nagumo previously thought her movements were suspicious and asked me to track her. Sure enough, I found something," Kiriyama replied, though a trace of dissatisfaction crossed his face.
"Kiryuin's way of operating can't be judged by common sense. But Kiriyama, you seem to still care a lot about her. Are you still brooding over her indifference?" Nagumo narrowed his eyes, as if trying to peel back Kiriyama's layers.
"Yes." Kiriyama nodded, not denying it.
If Kiryuin Fuuka had contributed during their past class battles, Nagumo would never have been able to take the top position. But Kiryuin acted entirely on her own whims and never proactively did anything for the class. This ultimately led to Class A's defeat and their replacement by Class B.
"But the result is decided. I can't change it, nor do I plan to," Kiriyama answered, sounding as if he had given up on reclaiming the Class A position.
Nagumo simply studied Kiriyama with a meaningful smile. After a few seconds of silence, Nagumo spoke again.
"Kiryuin is indeed a troublesome person. However, she usually doesn't walk around the school so blatantly alone with another student. That suggests the other party is special. What kind of person are they?" Nagumo's smile grew more pronounced.
"His name is Katsuragi Keima, from Year 1, Class D."
"Oh, what a coincidence." Nagumo looked down at the terminal in his hand; the screen showed the relevant forum posts.
"He's a Class D student; surely there's nothing special about him?"
"You're dead wrong, Kiriyama," Nagumo said. "Did you forget? In this year's first-year entrance exams, there was one person who got a perfect score in every subject. If I remember correctly, it was Katsuragi Keima."
"..."
Although he was a member of the Student Council, Kiriyama hadn't paid attention to such things. He froze upon hearing about the perfect scores. A perfect score in every subject—even Horikita Manabu hadn't achieved that. Such a person was in Class D?
"I'm quite curious about this cute kouhai. I'll find an opportunity to get in touch." Having said his piece, Nagumo, who had a class next, left the office first.
Once he was sure Nagumo had left, Kiriyama took out his own terminal and dialed a certain number. "President Horikita, Nagumo seems to have noticed the existence of that first-year you were interested in."
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"Not bad, not bad."
On the other side, Katsuragi Keima had returned to his room. Elsie had already moved the items back. Although there was a small interlude on the way, fortunately, no equipment was damaged. Keima connected all the devices in an instant and prepared to start gaming with feverish impatience.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Who is it?"
Keima went over to open the door, only to see Sakura Airi. At this moment, Airi's forehead was covered in sweat, as if she had just engaged in high-intensity exercise.
"Airi? Why are you here...?"
"I... I... I brought something for Keima-kun!" Airi lowered her head, and Keima followed her gaze downward.
Beside Airi's fair, slender legs sat another game console. Keima's gaze didn't linger on her legs for even half a second; it locked instantly onto the console.
"I, I... I saw that Keima-kun seemed to really like it today... so, so I bought one..." Airi's tone was still nervous.
Seeing Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi deliver a console to Keima today had shocked her immensely. She had never even met those two students before. But seeing Keima smile upon receiving the gift had solidified the thought in her heart. She, too, had to give Keima a gift like that.
Although she didn't know who Sakayanagi was or her exact relationship with Keima, in Airi's heart, a war without smoke had already begun.
Previously, Airi had given Keima a game cartridge, but she had completely overlooked the possibility that he might have already played it. Even though Keima had said that for a good game, it was fine to buy any number of copies, Airi had been brooding over it. She wanted Keima to be incredibly happy when he saw her gift.
So, Airi finally summoned her courage and went to buy a console for Keima. Without that previous clerk there, Airi was much more at ease.
"..."
This console was heavier than she imagined. Airi had nearly "burnt out" carrying it the whole way. Fortunately, there weren't many students on the way; everyone was likely eating in the cafeteria. If anyone had been watching her, she probably would have collapsed.
"Previously, Keima-kun... helped me so much, so, so, I thought... I'd buy this... I was afraid you... wouldn't like it." Airi lowered her head, her hands fidgeting, but she tilted her head slightly with expectation, wanting to see Keima's reaction. She was worried he wouldn't like it.
"I love it! With another console, the efficiency of my conquests will increase significantly!" Keima said with a smile. Hearing this, a happy smile also broke out on Airi's face.
"But this set must have cost a lot of points."
"I... the points the Chairman mentioned have arrived. If it weren't for Katsuragi-kun... I might not have... and I wouldn't have these points."
Keima had previously negotiated with Chairman Sakayanagi. Since the school bore significant responsibility for what Airi had endured, the Chairman agreed to provide compensation to both. Keima used this to scrap his deal with Chabashira Sae, while Airi simply received points. For her, this meant temporary financial freedom.
"Um, that, that Sakayanagi-san... is she the person Keima-kun and the Chairman mentioned?" Airi still seemed a bit concerned about Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Mm."
"How... how did you two meet? Sorry, did I ask an unnecessary question?"
"No, it's fine. I ran into her by chance last Friday." Keima paused for a moment and then continued, "Later, she happened to find out I can play chess, so we had a match with a wager. This game console was my prize for winning."
"As expected, as expected of... of... of... Keima-kun."
"I thought you were going to say 'God.'" If it were Hasabe Haruka, she definitely would have.
"I'm not, not very good at calling others by nick... and..." Airi clasped her hands to her chest and looked at Keima. "And, I... I'd rather use the name Keima-kun..."
"I understand. Call me whatever you like."
"By the way, I, I also used points to... buy some other things..."
"What are they?"
"I... I can't tell you for now! But when the time comes, Keima-kun, you, you will know!" Airi raised her head very seriously and looked directly into Keima's eyes. "I want to give Keima-kun a surprise!"
"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to it."
"Then, then, then I'll be going now! See you this afternoon, Keima-kun!" Airi then turned around and, like a victor, jogged away from Keima's room. She seemed so happy and excited that she almost performed a face-plant on the flat ground.
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