Hayato sauntered out of the Kendo Club after polishing off his bento. Club activities were far from over, but who'd dare stop this newcomer? His first visit, he'd crushed senior Takeshi Kato. His second, he'd floored Vice Captain Ayaka Kobayashi. Criticize him? Go take a piss and look in the mirror!
Ayaka just sneered, "Hmph, what an undisciplined person… I'll report your behavior to Sakura!"
Hayato acted like he didn't hear, not glancing back, merely raising a hand to wave lazily. Sakura wouldn't do a thing to him—they'd already sealed a three-point agreement long ago.
"That hateful brat," Ayaka muttered under her breath. It's easy to be tough when you can't see that face!
Hayato, meanwhile, felt a strange tickle of confusion. "System, how did the mission get completed? Have you finally developed a bug? Ha, truly flat-out flat-out… I can't even see you once a day, and yet you still get bugs."
[Not at all, AI is operating in good condition]
"Then what's with the mission?"
[Please confirm it yourself, Host.]
"…Alright, you may withdraw."
[…Eh? Eh eh eh eh! What about the lottery, the lottery, the lottery!? Please, Host, don't always tease AI and then not give AI pleasure]
"Nothing useful ever comes out of it anyway…" Hayato muttered, thinking of that Matsushita brand Blu-ray DVD player. He backtracked. "Even if we take a step back, even if something good is drawn, the one who gets happy should be me, what does it have to do with you?"
[When drawing, AI can feel currents running all over her body, a tingling sensation, and she can also release a burst of…]
"Shut up, you're getting weirder and weirder. Enough small talk, if you're going to draw, draw quickly."
[Yep! AI giggled happily, and thanked the Host for satisfying AI's desire. Beep beep beep, ding ding ding…]
"I told you these sound effects can be canceled."
[Hmph, AI directly gives the system reward]
[Congratulations, Host, you have obtained the skill 『Iron Crotch Skill EX』]
Hayato: "???"
What the hell was this?
He opened the skill panel.
[Iron Crotch Skill EX]: A good man's crotch will never rot. It can make the crotch become—hard as a rock!
Hayato " …"
[Hoo hoo hoo! Beep, AI laughed triumphantly, and boasted that thanks to AI's efforts, the Host's lower-body happiness is preserved.]
Hayato: How hard can my crotch get?
[According to AI's estimation, it's probably just a little softer than the Host's mouth.]
Hayato mused that he never spoke stubbornly. This [skill]… He pondered for a moment, then smirked slightly
…
After the committee meeting wrapped up, Sakura returned to the Kendo Club to take charge, only to find Hayato had already left. A junior member informed her that "Kobayashi-senpai" had shown up today.
Hearing this, Sakura's irritation flared. Hayato rarely visited, and she, the Captain, wasn't even there! Hateful! The committee was stealing her youth!
"What did Hayato-kun do when he came to the Kendo Club?" Sakura asked.
The junior replied obediently, "He ate his bento, taught Kase… and, he also had a match with Ayaka-senpai."
"What!" Sakura gasped, her voice sharp. "Ayaka!!"
Ayaka, unusually diligent after her loss to Hayato, paused her training at her best friend's call. Seeing Sakura's slight anger, she blinked in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"How could you bully Hayato-kun?"
"Huh?" Ayaka's confusion deepened.
Since Hayato arrived, he'd dominated her in both conversation and their match. She hadn't gained an inch of ground. Bully him? Where'd that come from?
"Hayato-kun wasn't feeling well today," Sakura sighed. "He stayed in the infirmary all morning… Isn't it bullying to challenge him to a kendo match at a time like this? Ayaka, I know you don't like Hayato-kun very much, but you don't have to treat him like this, do you?"
That guy was… unwell? Ayaka froze. Sakura wouldn't lie, meaning Hayato really hadn't been at his best. But… she flashed back to their spar. Was that the strength of someone unwell?! How strong is he at his peak?!
"Th-that, Sakura, is there a possibility…" Ayaka ventured, "that he challenged me to a sword fight?"
"Then you shouldn't have accepted. It goes against the way of kendo to treat someone so weak."
"Sakura… is there also a possibility that I was utterly defeated?"
Sakura froze, then rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "That's something I truly didn't expect."
"Then you really need to talk to that brat afterwards," Ayaka said, eager to put pressure on Hayato. "Even when he's not feeling well, he still insists on playing the hero and showing off. That kind of mindset also goes against the way of kendo."
But Sakura seemed not to hear, murmuring to herself, "Hayato-kun still wanted to test his sword skills even when he was so weak? What a strong mindset and amazing perseverance, truly worthy of Hayato-kun… Our entire Kendo Club should learn from him."
Ayaka "…"
I never realized it before, Sakura! You're such a hypocrite . Their ten years of friendship—shattered by that man! You should know that I, Ayaka Kobayashi, faced his dazzling looks and stayed completely calm!
Sakura, you're such a disappointment! Ayaka vowed that, handsome or not, she'd teach that man a lesson next time. He's just a little better-looking than the average guy. That's it. Falling for him? Impossible.
The next morning, the Kendo Club was out on the field for collective physical training—running laps. Ayaka was stretching her legs when a clear voice called out, "Yo, Ayaka-senpai."
She turned and saw Hayato, hood up, waving casually.
Bastard! Too handsome!