Chapter Eighty-Two: A Challenge? Then Let Us Turn the Tables!
“Challenge letter?” Aoki Tsukasa stared at the information Maeda Tora had uncovered, his expression darkening. “I didn’t write this.”
“Damn it…” Aoki Tsukasa slammed his hand on the table in anger, his most hated thing being someone plotting against him behind his back.
Maeda Tora and Matsuzaka Daibu exchanged glances, seeing the furrowed brows on Aoki Tsukasa’s face forming a sharp crease, cold light flashing in his eyes. For a moment, they were intimidated by the sudden surge of authority emanating from him, not daring to speak. In the end, it was Fujiwara Miao who cautiously broke the silence.
“But regardless, whether someone is plotting against you or not, at least we now know why they’ve suddenly banded together,” Fujiwara Miao sighed. “Maybe that group also realizes this, and now they’re just making a big deal out of it.”
Aoki Tsukasa took a deep breath, regaining his composure. “No matter what, finding the mastermind can wait. Right now, we have to deal with the trouble right in front of us. This is an open scheme; even if we know someone is stirring things up behind the scenes, we absolutely cannot retreat!”
To resolve this situation, the first path was for Aoki Tsukasa to win—then all would be settled, and he could smoothly become the leader. The second path was to bow his head and admit defeat, but that would mean his reputation would plummet, and he could forget about ever becoming the strongest delinquent in high school. He’d be lucky if people didn’t point and laugh at him. The system certainly wouldn’t allow it, and Aoki Tsukasa himself could never agree to such a thing. He wasn’t some meek pushover without a temper.
Explain? Those guys who had long wanted to take down Aoki Tsukasa wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity.
“So, we really only have one option left.” A cold gleam flashed in Fujiwara Miao’s eyes. “Divide them and pick them off! At the very least, we need to create a time gap!”
Maeda Tora looked at Fujiwara Miao, bewildered. “Divide… divide and what?”
Aoki Tsukasa fell into thought. “What’s your idea?”
“Although I don’t know how they’re communicating, it’s clear they aren’t truly united. All we need to do is find a way to separate them, then take them down one by one. Here’s what we can do…”
Fujiwara Miao sneered, unfolding his plan slowly.
The more Aoki Tsukasa listened, the more feasible it seemed. In the end, he nodded decisively. “Let’s go with your plan. Time is tight—if we delay until after school, they might just be waiting for us at the gate. This is your task, Fujiwara Miao.”
“Yes, boss!” Fujiwara Miao smiled, nodding with excitement.
Maeda Tora and Matsuzaka Daibu exchanged glances, shivering as they looked at Fujiwara Miao, their tone a mixture of disappointment and fear. “Man, how are you so cunning… You used to be just like us, only knowing how to throw punches—and your punches were pretty soft at that.”
“Hey! This is strategy—strategy!” Fujiwara Miao’s forehead popped with veins as he shouted, both embarrassed and angry. “I’m in the top ten in our year; how could I be the same as you two! And my punches aren’t soft at all!”
Maeda Tora teased, pulling down his eyelid and making a face. “Miyou Honey Punch Fujiwara Miao.”
“Cotton Fist King Fujiwara Miao,” Matsuzaka Daibu chimed in, copying him.
Fujiwara Miao glared at them, his eyes wide. “At least I’m better than you two idiots who don’t even know how to spell ‘strategy’!”
Aoki Tsukasa watched them, relieved to see they had energy to joke around, and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Though this plan is good, we can’t avoid a tough fight. Are you confident?”
Maeda Tora and the others paused, then grinned. “Confident?”
“Hey, are you guys confident?” Maeda Tora turned to look at the seven or eight bald-headed delinquent boys behind him, grinning arrogantly. “Today, we’re going to reach the top of Miyou High!”
“Yeah!” the delinquent boys shouted in unison.
Fujiwara Miao grinned wickedly at the scene. “I don’t know who’s plotting against the boss, but I’m about to turn his scheme to our advantage.”
“Boss, today’s the day we reach the top!” Fujiwara Miao patted his chest before Aoki Tsukasa. “Even if I die, I’ll make sure the plan goes through!”
Aoki Tsukasa felt his blood surge. He’d never been reckless in youth, but now, he thought, why not go wild just this once?
“Didn’t think this day would come so soon… Let me take you all to see the view from Miyou High’s summit!” Aoki Tsukasa beamed. “All right, let’s begin!”
The delinquent boys howled excitedly, “Let’s move!”
Fujiwara Miao waved his arm grandly. “Follow me first. Boss, you just stay in class and take a nap—tonight, it’s all on you!”
Aoki Tsukasa leaned against the wall, stretching, his expression no longer lazy but filled with sharp intensity. “Alright!”
If everything went according to Fujiwara Miao’s plan, Aoki Tsukasa really did need to rest up in the classroom, replenishing the energy lost from last night’s insomnia.
When he woke, he’d need his fists to overturn Miyou High.
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The bell for afternoon classes rang as scheduled. Ueno Yo swayed his bulky body leisurely into the classroom, ignoring the teacher’s and classmates’ disdainful looks. He made his way to the last row by the window, plopping down so hard that his chair creaked under him.
“Huh?” Ueno Yo had planned to fish out some snacks from his desk, but unexpectedly pulled out a pink envelope sealed with a little red heart.
A faint blush appeared on his greasy, chubby face, and he couldn’t help but swallow nervously. Was this… was this a love letter?
Carefully glancing around, Ueno Yo made sure no one noticed him. He discreetly placed the letter on his desk, using his ample body to shield it from prying eyes. His thick, carrot-like fingers trembled as he opened the envelope.
“Hello, Ueno-kun. I’ve had something in my heart for a long time, but never had the chance to tell you. I hesitated for ages, but today I finally gathered the courage to send you this letter. Would you… meet me after school at the third bench in the grove? If you don’t come, I… I won’t bother you again—Your heart’s admirer, who’s longed for you.”
Ueno Yo’s round face flushed bright red; his mouth went dry, and his mind went blank. Heart’s admirer? Was it the short-haired girl from second year? Or the tall-legged girl from third year? Maybe the busty girl from the convenience store at noon?
Was this really a love letter?
Ueno Yo’s breathing grew heavy, his body tingling as if electrified.
Me! Ueno Yo! Got a love letter!
He suddenly stood up, his large belly knocking his desk forward and making the classmate in front of him grimace. Snacks spilled from the desk onto the floor.
“Teacher, I suddenly have a stomach ache. May I go to the restroom?” Ueno Yo’s eyes were red, the pink envelope hidden behind his back, his hand trembling as he gripped it.
The teacher shot him a disgusted look, but didn’t dare reprimand him too harshly, only grunted, “Go!”
Once Ueno Yo left, the teacher began lecturing the other students, “If you don’t study hard, you’ll end up at some third-rate university, and situations like this will keep happening. If you don’t want your college life to be like now, bothered by people like that, you’d better study well. Understood?”
Seeing the students nod obediently, the teacher sighed and resumed the lesson, feeling a bit melancholy inside.
Ueno Yo, clutching the envelope at the classroom door, looked around furtively. When he confirmed no one was watching, he nervously sniffed the letter, its faint scent making his legs weak. His face flushed, he leaned against the wall and limped his way toward the restroom.