At the time, all his attention had been focused on the delinquents around him. The pedestrians in the distance had not even dared approach after seeing the scene, and even if someone had filmed from far away, the image quality should have been terrible given the technology of the era.
But…
This video was way too close, wasn't it?!
Was this filmed from their own courtyard or something?!
For a moment, Sato did not even know what to say. More importantly, the video had probably already spread everywhere, otherwise he would not have been getting so many stares on his way here.
"Nohara, when did you go film a movie?"
The next second, Isshiki Iroha's excited question left him stunned.
F-film a movie?
He subconsciously glanced around the classroom and realized everyone else had the same expression as Isshiki Iroha.
Sato suddenly closed his mouth, feeling strange inside.
Why was this developing differently from what he imagined? Why had they suddenly associated it with filming a movie…
Hm?!
He suddenly reacted, his eyes lighting up.
From a normal person's perspective, something like this really could only happen in movies. Thinking that way was actually the natural reaction!
Seriously, what normal person could fight dozens of people alone without a scratch and even kick someone flying that far?
After understanding everyone's thought process, Sato finally relaxed a little.
"About that… it's hard to explain."
"I get it! You need to keep it secret before the movie comes out, right?"
Isshiki Iroha said enthusiastically.
"Ah, exactly like that!"
Sato nodded rapidly, his eyes full of satisfaction as he looked at Isshiki Iroha.
You really are a clever little devil.
"Right, it has to stay confidential!"
"So it really was filming a movie. I thought…"
"You thought it was real, right? Don't be stupid. How could someone possibly beat dozens of delinquents alone? Who do you think I am? John Wick?"
"But I heard people say this happened yesterday!"
"Did you see it yourself?"
"Uh… no!"
"If you didn't see it, how do you know it's real?"
"That actually makes sense!"
Hearing the discussions around the classroom, Sato quietly let out a breath of relief. Turning to Isshiki Iroha, he said, "Then I'll head back to my seat first…"
"Wait!"
Isshiki Iroha suddenly grabbed his sleeve and rolled her eyes at him. After secretly glancing around, she lowered her voice.
"Tell me what actually happened here!"
Sato's gaze shifted slightly.
"Let's talk at my seat."
After bringing Isshiki Iroha over, Sato looked at her strangely and asked, "How did you know it was real?"
Isshiki Iroha pouted.
"I just believe it, okay? Don't forget, I've seen your kendo before!"
Back when Sato fought someone in a kendo match, he had actually left afterimages behind. That alone already exceeded the realm of normal human understanding. So while she was still shocked that he had beaten more than thirty people by himself, it was not completely incomprehensible to her.
"I never thought you'd actually be this amazing!"
And Sato's response had confirmed everything was real.
Isshiki Iroha stared at him in complete shock and could not help asking, "Can you tell me why you're not only so good at studying, but also so good at fighting?"
"Maybe because I like eating spinach."
Sato put on a thoughtful expression before answering seriously.
"Spinach?"
Isshiki Iroha looked confused at first, then immediately gave him another charming eye roll.
"What are you, Popeye?"
"Huh? You actually know that?"
"I'm not that uncultured!"
Isshiki Iroha said angrily, "I just covered for you, you know! Is this how you repay me?"
The girl glared at him furiously with both eyes.
I just saved you a whole lot of trouble!
Sato thought about it for a moment, and it really did seem that way.
Without Isshiki Iroha's quick reaction earlier, this widely spread video probably would have caused him a lot of trouble.
"Then thank you very much. How about I treat you to lunch at noon?"
"Pfft! What's there to eat at school? Fried noodle bread? Is this really how you repay your benefactor?"
Isshiki Iroha looked at him unhappily.
"Then… how about on a day off? I'll treat you to a meal on our day off."
"On a day off… hmph! That's more like it!"
Isshiki Iroha muttered under her breath, then a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
Seeing her suddenly beam with happiness, Sato could not help smiling too. At that moment, Isshiki Iroha suddenly added:
"But this is you thanking me, not a date, okay!"
"Huh?"
"Mhm! Mhm! Not a date!"
Sato helplessly shook his head. After she deliberately emphasized it like that, it somehow sounded even more like one.
Wait!
Could that have been her goal all along?!
He looked at Isshiki Iroha suspiciously, only to see her gaze wandering around as she avoided eye contact.
But very quickly, her eyes landed on the thick stack of love letters in Sato's hands, and she immediately changed the subject.
"What's that in your hands?"
Sato lifted them slightly, causing Isshiki Iroha to cry out in shock.
"So many love letters?! Have the girls in our school gone crazy? They're actually writing love letters to someone with violent tendencies like you?!"
"Hey! What do you mean violent tendencies?! Yesterday was self-defense!"
"Like I'd believe that! Without enough experience, how could you stay so calm while being surrounded by that many people? You definitely used to fight all the time, right?"
Sato: "…"
He had to admit, Isshiki Iroha's logic actually made a lot of sense.
But he really had not fought much before. All those rich combat experiences had been forcefully implanted into him by the system.
"See? You can't even argue back now!"
Isshiki Iroha wore an expression that said she had already uncovered the truth, proudly raising her eyebrows at him.
Sato opened his mouth, then helplessly closed it again.
But this matter…
After thinking for a moment, a faint glint flashed through his eyes, and he sent a message to Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Very quickly, Hiratsuka Shizuka replied.
[I'm already handling it. Seriously, can you brats stop causing me trouble all the time? Don't make me clean up after you every single time!]