Ryuu returned back from the battlefield, the heat of combat still radiating off his body.

  His steps were slow but firm, like a soldier returning from war. His expression was calm—until he saw someone standing in his path.

  Seichii.

  He stood silently, right in front of him, arms crossed, eyes sharp with a glare that screamed bloodlust. The air between them grew heavier with every second.

  Ryuu blinked, genuinely confused.

  “S-Seichii!? W-why are you glaring at me like that?” he asked, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

  Seichii didn’t speak. He just slowly walked toward him—each step deliberate, his eyes not leaving Ryuu for a second. Ryuu instinctively tensed up.

  Then suddenly—

  “RYUU!! YOU… WERE SO COOL OUT THERE!!”

  Seichii burst out, his expression lighting up with sheer admiration.

  “WHEN DID YOU BECOME SO POWERFUL!? HOW DID YOU BLOCK MISAKI’S SAN FIRE FIST WITH JUST YOUR BARE HAND!?”

  He grabbed Ryuu by the shoulders, shaking him with excitement. “YOU’RE AWESOME, MAN!”

  Ryuu froze, baffled, repulsed.

  “Hey you idiot! Why are you clinging on me like that!? It’s disgusting!” he shouted, trying to shove Seichii off him.

  Without any warning—

  POW!!

  Ryuu’s fist slammed down on Seichii’s head with a loud thud, his eyes twitching in annoyance.

  “Back off already!!”

  Seichii staggered backward, rubbing his head, eyes now flaring with irritation.

  “WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN IDIOT, HUH!? YOU’RE THE ONE WHO’S AN IDIOT!!”

  He launched himself at Ryuu and punched him square in the face, the sound echoing through the air like a firecracker.

  Ryuu stumbled back slightly, a red mark blooming on his cheek. He raised his head slowly, a vein visibly pulsing on his forehead.

  “You… wanna fight, huh?”

  He cracked his knuckles, his voice low and threatening.

  “Fine by me.”

  Without hesitation, Ryuu dashed toward Seichii with explosive speed, his fist drawn back, aura flaring around him like sparks ready to ignite.

  “You’re not getting the first hit this time!!” Seichii shouted, charging forward with just as much fire, his own battle aura swirling wildly around him.

  The two clashed in the center of the corridor.

  BAM!

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Their fists collided, creating a loud shockwave that sent a gust of wind in all directions. Dust lifted from the floor as their clash intensified.

  Ryuu ducked low and aimed a sweeping kick, but Seichii leapt over it, twisting mid-air and retaliating with a knee aimed at Ryuu’s chest.

  Ryuu blocked it with his forearm and countered with a punch that grazed Seichii’s jaw.

  “Tch—! You’re faster than before…” Seichii hissed, skidding back.

  “And you’re still as reckless as ever,” Ryuu growled, lunging forward with another strike.

  They exchanged a rapid flurry of blows—punches, blocks, counters. Their movements were sharp, raw, instinctual.

  The intensity was rising fast, neither willing to back down. It was no longer a joke—it was turning into a full-on brawl.

  “You really want me to beat you up in front of everyone, huh!?” Ryuu snapped, throwing a hook that narrowly missed Seichii’s head.

  “BRING IT ON, TOUGH GUY!!” Seichii shouted back, ramming his shoulder into Ryuu's chest and driving him back a few steps.

  But just as they were about to go at it again—

  “HEY YOU TWO! STOP RIGHT THERE!!”

  The voice ripped through the battlefield like lightning. Both Ryuu and Seichii froze mid-action, fists still raised, their momentum halted instantly.

  They slowly turned their necks toward the side, stiff like robots.

  Ryoko was standing there.

  Her eyes glowed with cold fury, arms crossed, and a chilling wind gathered around her, making her uniform flutter like she was summoning a storm.

  Her bloodlust was palpable. It was the kind of presence that could shut down an entire battlefield.

  Behind her stood Masumi, watching calmly, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips like she was enjoying the show.

  “R-Ryoko-san!” Seichii stammered, suddenly sweating bullets. “We were just talking to each other! It’s not like we were fighting or anything. Isn’t that right, Ryuu?”

  “Y-Yes!! Totally just talking!!” Ryuu chimed in immediately, his face frozen in a guilty grin, legs trembling slightly.

  Ryoko sighed deeply, her voice like ice.

  “Haa~ You two… What do you think you were doing here? Ruining our name and making a joke of yourselves in front of the whole crowd?”

  Her tone wasn’t loud, but it hit harder than any punch they’d thrown.

  “It’s not time for you two to wander around.

  The team battle between the First and the Fourth Division is about to begin. We’re going to face either one of those teams.”

  She took a step forward, her presence crushing.

  “So now, sit and observe the match—otherwise, no one will be able to save either of you from me.”

  Both Ryuu and Seichii nodded so fast it was a blur, bolting toward their seats like children being scolded by their mother.

  Masumi quietly chuckled behind her.

  (What are those four doing? Flirting in front of the whole arena.)

  On the sidelines, Hikuro, Meiko, and Hibino watched the whole scene unfold. All three placed a hand over their foreheads in sync and sighed deeply.

  Just then, a loud voice thundered through the stadium—

  “THE TEAM BATTLE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THE FOURTH DIVISION WILL NOW BEGIN!!”

  RUMBLE!!

  The earth shook violently as Tomoki stood tall at the center of the battlefield.

  Huge rock walls burst from the ground like ancient giants rising, forming a complex and unforgiving terrain.

  “In this team battle,” he roared, “each member of the team will take part—even the healers.”

  Gasps rippled through the crowd.

  “The teams will fight each other on the basis of strategies they make.

  When each member of a team is unable to fight, the opponent team will be declared the winner of this battle between the First and the Fourth Division!”

  He stepped back, letting the tension rise.

  “Now, the match begins!!”

  On the battlefield, students took their positions. The air was thick with silence—until someone from the Fourth Division began walking forward alone.

  Rajin stepped out calmly, like he owned the arena. Every movement oozed confidence. Eyes turned toward him, puzzled.

  “Rajin, what are you trying to do coming at us all alone!!?” Miyuki shouted from the First Division’s side, rage bubbling to the surface.

  He hadn’t forgotten the solo matches. Not for a second.

  His glare at Rajin was filled with unfiltered hatred.

  Rajin’s smirk widened as he raised an eyebrow lazily.

  “Ohh! The little bird is still alive? I guess, just tearing the wings off didn’t kill it, huh?”

  Miyuki gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so hard they trembled. He stepped forward, aura flickering around him.

  But—

  “Stop.”

  A hand blocked his path.

  He turned his head to see Carol, calm and stern.

  “Don’t let the anger take over you,”

  She said, eyes narrowing on Rajin. “He’s mocking you on purpose—to lure you out and finish you in one blow.”

  Her voice was low, but precise.

  “Creating cracks in our team from the beginning of the match.”

  Miyuki’s rage cooled just enough for clarity to return. He took a deep breath and stepped back.

  Rajin observed the exchange, then chuckled.

  (Not bad… seeing through my tactic on the first sight.)

  He cracked his knuckles.

  The real battle was only just beginning.