Being "drunk" was a perfect excuse.
Combined with being "young and reckless," Yuu Hoshimiya didn't have to worry about being seen as impolite even if he acted arrogantly.
Faced with Yuu's words, Heizo Hattori and Ginshiro Toyama were initially a bit annoyed.
But as Yuu released his overwhelming aura, their expressions quickly turned deadly serious.
The two men exchanged a quick glance, both of them looking as if they were facing a world-class enemy.
They stepped forward together, truly intending to join forces.
Goro Otaki's face was filled with utter shock. How was this possible?
Was Consultant Hoshimiya really strong enough to take on both of them at once?
Ran Mouri watched Yuu in the arena, his aura rising like a dragon. She felt an incredible sense of familiarity.
This aura, this feeling—it was exactly how Yuu looked whenever she was in danger.
He was the kind of man who could hold up the sky even if it fell, and it left her utterly mesmerized.
Shizuka Hattori watched Yuu from the side, her heart pounding with worry for him.
Yuu rolled up his sleeves and cracked his neck with a series of audible pops.
As a warrior on the field, there was no need to hide his true nature; at this moment, Yuu was arrogant and domineering to the extreme.
"Come on. It's been a long time since I've had a proper workout. I hope you two can give me a surprise, Superintendent Hattori, Chief Toyama."
Provoked, the two men felt a fire ignite in their hearts. They didn't hesitate for another second.
They surged forward like two gusts of wind, flanking Yuu from the left and right.
Ginshiro Toyama launched the first attack from the side.
Frontal strike... Side strike... Single-hand grip... Rear double-shoulder grip... Shoulder-grip frontal strike...
Ginshiro's Aikido was incredibly aggressive. He moved constantly, trying to get behind Yuu to launch a finishing blow.
Aikido was famous for its unconventional angles, yet Ginshiro's strikes were wide and powerful—a perfect blend of grace and brutality.
Ginshiro's arms blurred with speed, but Yuu was even faster. He raised his left arm, blocking the entire chain of attacks effortlessly.
On the other side, Heizo Hattori kept his hand on the hilt of the bamboo sword at his waist. His aura continued to climb, but he kept his weapon sheathed.
His fox-like eyes narrowed into slits as he used his footwork to support Ginshiro.
Forward step... Power stomp... Side step... Chain kicks...
Kendo footwork doesn't involve kicking above the waist, but every one of Heizo's steps was heavy and precise.
These movements were meant to force an opening, setting up for a one-hit kill with the sword.
Even though these were just supporting moves, the watching Heiji Hattori was stunned. This was far too powerful!
Kazuha pointed at the floor beneath Heizo's feet: "Look! The floorboards are cracking wherever Uncle Heizo steps!"
Everyone looked where she pointed, and sure enough, the wood was splintering.
The two veterans worked together to pressure Yuu, pushing him back.
Everywhere Heizo passed, the floorboards shattered in a visible trail.
Yet, when Heizo's powerful kicks landed on Yuu's legs, they didn't seem to cause any damage at all. Yuu remained perfectly composed and in control.
Goro Otaki looked like he had seen a ghost. How was this possible? The "Twin Heroes of Osaka" couldn't do a thing to Yuu even while working together.
Shizuka Hattori's eyes lit up. She wasn't watching Heizo; her gaze was fixed entirely on Yuu's powerful, masculine form.
Heizo and Ginshiro were in perfect sync, their rhythm identical.
One attacked low while the other attacked high, yet they still couldn't lay a finger on Yuu.
Yuu looked at the bamboo sword Heizo was still clutching and decided to offer them an opening.
He faked a moment of sluggishness in his right shoulder, failing to block Ginshiro's half-body strike and stumbling slightly.
Heizo took the bait instantly. His left eye snapped open, a cold glint flashing within.
The perfectly synchronized Ginshiro had already leaped backward.
Then, the bamboo sword left its sheath. The "Three-Kill Slash" was unleashed in an instant.
The only sound in the air was a sharp whistle. To the audience, it looked like three straight lines of white light struck Yuu simultaneously.
Heiji's pupils contracted. His father's quick-draw technique was terrifying!
Recounting his own match from that afternoon, it felt like a child's scuffle. No wonder his father didn't care about his championship.
But the Three-Kill Slash, backed by all of Heizo's momentum, only cut through an afterimage. It didn't even graze Yuu's clothes.
Heizo's brow furrowed deep.
Now that the sword was out, Heizo's true strength was laid bare before Yuu.
He was strong. If he were using a real blade, he'd likely be world-class.
But compared to the current Yuu, he was still worlds apart.
Ginshiro, having jumped back, lunged forward with everything he had. The floorboards beneath his feet exploded as he charged like a bolt of lightning, his arms spread in a bear-hug.
The Aikido finishing move—Heaven and Earth Throw!
Kazuha closed her eyes. One was her father, the other was her lover; she couldn't bear to watch.
BOOM!
The Heaven and Earth Throw was naturally unable to trap Yuu. He raised his left arm and delivered a powerful downward chop that slammed Ginshiro straight into the floor.
The boards beneath the face-down Ginshiro cracked into a spiderweb of splinters.
For Kazuha's sake, Yuu used a "vibration transfer" technique to send all the force into the floor; Ginshiro himself wasn't hurt at all!
At that moment, the sound of Heizo's bamboo sword cutting the air rang out like the chirping of birds.
Countless "sword flowers" appeared around Yuu, so bright and numerous that the sword itself was invisible.
Heizo's kendo had reached a level near the "Way," leaving no trace of its path.
The Kendo Secret Technique—Chidori (One Thousand Birds)!
The net of sword strikes wove together, closing in on Yuu.
Yuu watched the Chidori form with a smile. He centered his fist at his waist, his internal energy becoming as vast as an abyss.
A "secret technique" was really just a matter of using a bit more force.
As his level increased and his physical stats grew more god-like, Yuu began to understand Saitama.
You didn't need flashy tricks. One punch was enough!
If he wasn't afraid of being too shocking, he wouldn't even have bothered to dodge Heizo and Ginshiro's attacks.
They simply couldn't break his defense.
His fist slammed into the side of the bamboo blade. A staggering amount of power surged forth, and the bamboo sword exploded into splinters instantly.
Countless fragments of bamboo flew through the air, embedding themselves deep into the surrounding floor.
A wave of concussive force traveled up the hilt into Heizo's body. The 1.9-meter-tall man couldn't stop himself from being blasted backward.
He plowed through the floorboards like an iron bull, shredding the wood beneath his feet before slamming hard into the wall, right over the calligraphy for "Valor"!
His body shook. He let out a long, ragged breath, unable to recover his composure.
He was literally pinned to the wall by the force.
Every spectator in the room had their mouth hanging open, staring in dazed silence. They couldn't believe a human could possess such destructive power.
On the floor, two deep grooves led all the way to Heizo. The dojo was covered in bamboo shards.
Yet, the splinters had stopped exactly two meters away from Ran and the others; even Ginshiro hadn't been touched by a single piece of debris.
Ginshiro lifted his head and looked around. He was surrounded by a sea of bamboo shards, yet he was completely unharmed. His eyes were wide with disbelief.
This level of control over his own strength was terrifying.
Heizo struggled to pull himself off the wall. The final surge of force had left his blood pumping wildly.
But Yuu had held back; he hadn't actually injured him.
Still, as a swordsman who had lost his sword, there was no question—he had lost the fight.
This wasn't Heizo's full potential, of course. Since it was a friendly match, they used bamboo instead of steel. With his weapon destroyed, there was no way to continue.
If Heizo had a real katana, he might not have lost so quickly, and he might have had other techniques to show.
Heizo spoke with a heavy sigh of admiration: "Truly, the rumors didn't do you justice. You are so young, yet your strength is frightening, Yuu-kun."
Yuu smiled. "I'm just taking advantage of being young and fit."
Heizo could only shake his head with a bitter laugh.
He and Ginshiro were twenty or thirty years older than Yuu, but they were in their prime. They were nowhere near their decline.
On the contrary, with their experience, they should have been at their absolute peak of physical and combat ability.
Even if it wasn't a life-or-death battle, being defeated so easily in a two-on-one fight was hard for them to swallow.
Yuu turned and helped the still-dazed Ginshiro up from the floor.
Ginshiro stood up and looked at the crater of cracks beneath him—it was perfectly shaped like a human body. Outside that shape, the floor was covered in bamboo needles, making it impossible to walk.
He checked his body and found he was fine, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Yuu-kun, I don't think I'll ever match your level of control in this lifetime."
Kazuha cried out and tried to run toward them. "Dad! Are you okay?"
Ginshiro quickly held up a hand to stop her.
"Stay back, Kazuha! I'm fine. Yuu-kun showed mercy. Just wait there for us!"
Kazuha relaxed and stopped her approach.
A look of deep affection flashed in her eyes as she gazed at Yuu.
Ginshiro looked at the floor full of bamboo needles. "But how are we supposed to get out of here?"
Yuu waved a hand. "Leave it to me. Everyone just stand steady."
He suddenly dropped his weight and slammed his fist into the floor.
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, the entire room vibrated three times. Every single bamboo splinter was shaken out of the wood and fell flat onto the surface.
"Whoa!"
Goro Otaki lost his balance and fell right on his butt.
He looked at Yuu with a gaze full of pure terror.
This young consultant was essentially a human Tyrannosaurus!
Meanwhile, Shizuka, Ran, and Kazuha all looked at Yuu with eyes of absolute worship.
Yuu spoke up: "The splinters can just be swept away, but you'll probably need to replace these two rows of floorboards."
Heizo's face turned red with embarrassment. He hurriedly said, "It's fine! Those are minor details. I'll have the housekeeper handle it tomorrow."
"This place is a mess. Let's get out of here first."
He walked out, stepping over the bamboo remains, clearly unwilling to stay in the ruined dojo a second longer.
Ginshiro and Yuu followed him out. Kazuha met them in the hallway and whispered, "Dad, Yuu... are you both really okay?"
The two men assured her they were fine and led the group through the corridors.
It was dark now, and the hallway lights were glowing. Heizo spoke: "Shizuka, it's late. Please settle Yuu-kun and the others in."
This had been planned in advance, so Yuu had no objections.
Shizuka nodded in agreement.
Ginshiro spoke up then: "Heizo, I moved a bit too fast earlier. My head is spinning, and the alcohol is starting to hit me. I don't think I can drive. I'll have to trouble you to give us a ride home in a bit!"
Goro Otaki chimed in like a loyal subordinate: "Chief Toyama, how about I drive you? I'm quite good behind the wheel. No need to trouble the Superintendent."
Ginshiro replied, "Thank you, Goro, but you're heading in the opposite direction. Don't worry about it!"
He then added with a joke, "Besides, Heizo and I both lost to Detective Hoshimiya today. We need to discuss some tactics to reclaim our dignity."
Otaki shut his mouth immediately.
Soon, Heizo and Ginshiro left together.
With her father right there, Kazuha didn't dare show too much affection and obediently followed him out.
However, she had already promised to be their tour guide tomorrow, so she wasn't too sad to say goodbye.
Otaki took his leave as well, and the hallway suddenly became quiet and empty.
Under Shizuka's lead, Yuu and Ran were taken to three adjacent guest rooms in the back wing—one for Yuu and one for Ran.
Even as a couple, guests in a traditional home were expected to stay in separate rooms if they were available.
Even married couples often followed this custom when visiting.
Next, everyone took turns bathing in the large bathhouse in the back. The men followed the women.
Heiji Hattori was last in line, and since he didn't want to wait, he simply went to the modern bathroom in the front wing.
The back bathhouse was a traditional Japanese style with a large, square wooden tub. Heating the water took time, but the experience was incredibly relaxing.
Heiji left and didn't return to the back wing.
Yuu sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, admiring the moonlight and the red maple leaves while waiting for the water to heat up.
Once it was hot, Ran went in first.
After her hot bath, Ran looked a bit sleepy. "Brother Yuu, Auntie Shizuka, I'm heading to bed now!"
Wearing her yukata, she walked toward her guest room, leaving Yuu and Shizuka alone in the courtyard.
Finding herself alone with Yuu again, Shizuka couldn't help but feel a surge of panic.
What he had done to her in the stadium earlier was still fresh in her mind. He had been that bold with people all around them; with the two of them alone now, it would be even more terrifying!
Shizuka hurriedly spoke: "Mr. Yuu... it's your turn to bathe!"
Yuu moved closer to her with a smirk. "Shouldn't it be ladies first? It's your turn, Madam."
Shizuka huddled her body together on the stone bench, her heart rate accelerating. "Mr. Yuu, you are our guest. And after that sparring session, you must be exhausted. You should use the hot water while it's fresh to relax your body!"
Yuu put on a look of feigned confusion.
"Is that so? You seem a bit afraid of me, Madam."
Shizuka became even more flustered.
"N-no... of course not. You're joking, Mr. Yuu."
Her teeth were practically chattering.
Looking at the Superintendent's wife so frightened of him, a smile spread across Yuu's face.
He glanced at the brightly lit bathhouse and stopped suppressing his urges.
After their previous encounters, he was certain that even if something happened, Shizuka would cooperate to hide it.
In fact, nothing would go wrong anyway.
Yuu didn't use magical barriers often, but they were incredibly effective.
Even if someone were waiting outside to bathe next, the two of them could go in together and no one would suspect a thing!
Yuu reached out and pulled Shizuka up.
"Madam, I think we should stop the polite back-and-forth. Let's just bathe together. That way, you won't have to reheat the water."
Shizuka's face went pale.
"How could you say that?! Mr. Yuu, who do you think I am? I am the matriarch of the Hattori family! What is the meaning of this?"
"It was bad enough in the car and at the stadium, but now in the Hattori home? You're being far too bold!"
Shizuka was clearly agitated, her chest heaving, but surprisingly, she didn't pull her hand out of Yuu's grip.
Yuu leaned close to her head and whispered into her ear, his hot breath hitting her skin.
"Madam, when we parted in Tokyo, you said I was wrong about one thing regarding you. I've been thinking about it ever since, and I finally figured it out."
Shizuka's pupils contracted, and her mind became a total mess.
"Madam, I just want you to help me scrub my back. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
Smiling, Yuu picked up their change of clothes from the stone table with one hand.
Then, his other hand wrapped around Shizuka's supple waist, lifting her into a carry as he marched toward the bathhouse.
The bathhouse was thick with steam. The center of attention was a wooden tub measuring three meters across and 1.5 meters high, set on a raised platform with steps leading up into the water.
Yuu placed their clothes on a shelf, set Shizuka down, and locked the door from the inside.
Shizuka kept her head down like a frightened bird, her face crimson as she stole glances at the exit, clearly wanting to bolt.
Yuu wasn't about to let the meat slip away now that it was in his hands. He reached out and grabbed the belt of Shizuka's kimono, intending to undress her himself.
Shizuka looked panicked. "Let... let me do it myself!"
Yuu released her and stood by the only exit, crossing his arms as he watched the beauty undress.
Seeing no way out, Shizuka had no choice but to slowly begin removing her clothes.
There were seven layers in total; it took her nearly ten minutes.
Finally, under the threat of Yuu stepping in to "help," she removed the final layer and turned her back to him.
A body as white as polished jade was revealed to Yuu.
Soon, a smirk touched his lips.
He could see that the red maple leaf mark he had "given" her in the car was still there, vibrant and soulful on her pale skin.
Shizuka used a towel to cover her private areas and stepped onto the wooden stairs. With her legs crossing gracefully, she slowly descended into the wooden tub.