In Tokyo: They are heavily dependent on me

Chapter 35. This time, you'll be the loser.

On his way home from school, Hoshino Kaoru didn't go straight home. Instead, he went to a famous dojo nearby to ask if he could buy a bamboo sword for training. After receiving a positive reply, he awkwardly fixed the bamboo sword he bought onto his bicycle and rode towards home.

After arriving home, Kaoru put her schoolbag away and started learning kendo from videos.

Despite his excellent grades, he also had considerable physical strength. He wouldn't get exhausted after swinging his bamboo sword a few times. He would imagine an invisible enemy appearing in front of him and use his bamboo sword to defend and slash.

He practiced like this for an hour, then, covered in sweat, he put down his bamboo sword and started taking a bath.

"The progress of self-study is too slow, and the time is also very tight, with only one week."

Kaoru began to think of a solution.

No matter what you do, the extent to which theory can achieve something is always limited; practical experience is the fastest way to improve yourself.

If he continues to fight against "imaginary enemies," he will still suffer a crushing defeat in his match against the Kendo Club president a week later, at which point he will become a servant of the Minakami family and completely lose his freedom.

"No, absolutely not!"

Recalling the image of being trampled underfoot and treated like a dog, he shook his head violently, trying to banish that image from his mind.

Starting tomorrow, he must gain experience through real combat!

Who could possibly take on this role...?

Xun pondered for a while, and then he came up with a solution.

Got it!

------------

On Tuesday, as soon as afternoon classes ended, Kaoru dropped her schoolbag and ran towards the kendo club.

He opened the "transparent window" and focused his gaze on one of the items he was holding.

[Universal Learning Card x3]

[Effect: Increases learning efficiency to 1000% in all currently known fields of human knowledge, including but not limited to musicology, linguistics, physics, mathematics, and sports science. Effective for 8 hours.]

If the props are used, his learning speed can increase tenfold within 8 hours!

There's a good chance I'll join the kendo club!

Please advise!

Kaoru gripped the bamboo sword, her eyes fixed on the movements of the kendo club president.

The area attacked... was the right arm!

Then the shoulders!

This time it's the crotch!

*Snap*—The bamboo sword in her hand was knocked away. Kaoru had held out for three rounds before finally succumbing to her opponent's fierce onslaught.

Hmm! You've made progress!

"That doesn't count! Let's try again!"

On his way back from the kendo club, he went to the dojo where he bought bamboo swords to practice and spar with the students there to improve his kendo skills.

From Monday to Thursday, he had so many wounds and bruises that he couldn't even count them all. Before the bruises that had just begun to heal could disappear, another identical bruise would appear on his skin. He was defeated time and time again, and his bamboo sword was knocked away time and time again. In the end, even the arms that held the sword became numb. Whenever this happened, he would get up from the floor, and his fighting spirit would become even stronger.

Back home, there was still some time left on the "All-Purpose Learning Card." Kaoru didn't intend to waste it, so she used the remaining time to study Spanish and finish a week's worth of homework ahead of schedule, staying up until the early hours of the morning every day.

Several days passed in this way, and soon it was Friday as agreed.

With a strip of cloth bearing the words "Victory is certain" tied around his forehead, Kaoru attracted a lot of attention on his way to the kendo club.

[Is that the third-year student who goes to the infirmary every day?]

[I heard he wants to join the kendo club...and compete against the club president.]

[This is terrifying. To compete against a woman like that, there's no way I could win.]

After a brief period of fermentation, the most popular post on the campus forum changed from "[Welcoming the upcoming school festival! The student council welcomes everyone to submit their work!]" to "[A once-in-a-century kendo prodigy! Competing against the upperclassman with the most scandals!]"

It has to be said that the guys in the news department are really good at making headlines. The usually quiet kendo club was packed with people even before the competition started, and many of the girls came with the idea of ​​seeing Hoshino Kaoru make a fool of herself.

"Let's beat that guy who deceived the opposite sex's feelings into a pulp!"

A girl who had been hurt by a boy cheered, and many other girls joined her in cheering for the captain of the kendo club.

"Hoshino's odds are currently at 5, and the betting fee is 100 yen. There are only ten minutes left before the match. Anyone want to take a gamble? This is the final moment!"

One of the first-year students, who is good at making money, plans to use this competition to earn some pocket money.

There were just too many people, and Kaoru was stuck at the entrance and couldn't get in. Just as he was about to use "Fang Thrust" to get through the crowd, he heard a voice behind him.

"Hey, you shouldn't lose to that blonde, right?"

Kaoru looked toward the source of the sound and saw Kobayashi Chio, who had permed hair, a lollipop in her mouth, and dressed in a delinquent style.

"Did you see what it says on it?"

Kaoru raised her right hand and pointed to the strip of cloth on her forehead that read "Victory is certain".

"I don't care to watch. If you lose the match, I absolutely won't let you off the hook!" Kobayashi waved to a boy not far away, then said in a loud voice, "I bet on Hoshino Kaoru, 2 yen!"

"2 yen!"

"Did I hear that right?!"

There was a brief moment of silence. Putting money on a player who had a very high probability of losing in the next match, almost everyone was completely insane, especially considering that this third-year senior was betting on him.

"Just to confirm one last time, are you sure you want to bet 2 yen? Once the competition starts, there's no going back, and you can't get a refund even if you lose."

To avoid unnecessary disputes, the boy also made Xiaolin sign her name on a pre-printed consent form to ensure she wouldn't go back on her word.

"Tch... I know."

Kobayashi impatiently took the pen he was offered and wrote "Kobayashi Chio" in neat handwriting on the consent form before handing over 2 yen.

"Is it okay now?"

"Okay, that's fine."

After receiving the money, the boy nodded, then squeezed into the crowd and continued shouting.

Seeing the 2 yen she had worked so hard to earn handed over to someone else, Kobayashi crushed the lollipop in her mouth and looked up at Kaoru.

For some reason, although this guy was quite annoying, Kobayashi had a strange feeling that... this guy wouldn't lose.

If that's the case, she could earn 10 yen...

Even though losing the competition would mean a huge financial loss for her... she had already handed over the money and signed it in front of so many people, so there was no going back now.

She has no other choice now! She can only trust this confident guy!

"You have to win! No matter how strong that guy is, I absolutely will not allow you to lose! Understand?"

"Ah, this kind of thing..."

Kaoru reached behind her head and pulled the cloth strip with the word "Victory" written on it tightly on her forehead. Then she slung the bamboo sword over her right shoulder.

"Of course I know I will win."

At the stage entrance, where countless eyes were focused, Hoshino Kaoru, who was almost universally disliked and labeled as "inevitable to lose," appeared in the very center of the stage.

If you're scared before the battle even begins, you've already lost.

He will not lose, nor will he be afraid.

Kaoru pointed the tip of her knife at the blonde girl in front of her.

"I'm so sorry."

"This time, you'll be the loser."