"Well... this..."
The vibrant energy vanished from young Matsuda Jinpei's face as it instantly crumpled in defeat.
The izakaya fell into a momentary hush as everyone watched the conflicted little boy with amused expressions.
"...Dad always said," Matsuda Jinpei finally began, straightening his small frame. His voice was still high-pitched and youthful, but it carried a sudden, unwavering resolve. "A real man keeps his word! From now on, I'm giving up my pursuit of Chihaya-nee!"
"Like I'd ever let a brat like you catch me anyway!" Hagiwara Chihaya shot him an irritated glare. However, her gaze quickly drifted toward Hayashi Shuichi. Finding him looking back at her, the young girl couldn't help but feel her face flush a deep crimson.
In the corner, the Kujo couple watched the scene unfold with warm smiles.
Reiko, however, was less than pleased. Seeing Chihaya clinging to her brother's side again, her little mouth puckered into a deep pout. She marched over grumpily and tugged hard on Shuichi's sleeve, her dark, shiny eyes filled with blatant dissatisfaction.
"By the way, Mr. Matsuda," Shuichi said, turning to his uncle sitting nearby as he recalled a previous promise. "My uncle is a huge boxing fan. I promised him earlier that if you won the finals, I'd help him get an autograph."
"Haha, Hayashi-san, you're far too kind!" Matsuda Jotaro laughed heartily. "If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have even been able to participate in the match today. Forget one autograph—I'd sign ten thousand if you asked!"
Hearing this, Kujo Keisuke hurriedly brought over a pen and paper. Once Matsuda Jotaro had signed his name, Keisuke pulled out a camera, eager to capture the moment.
"What's the fun in just the two of you taking a picture?" Kujo Kotona suggested with a light laugh. "It's fate that brought us all together today. Why don't we just take a group photo?"
"Yeah!" The kids cheered in unison. Hagiwara Kenji was so excited he started hopping around, nearly knocking over a chair behind him.
Shuichi and the others had no objections, and everyone began straightening their clothes in preparation for the shot.
Just as the group was discussing where to stand, the door to the izakaya was suddenly pushed open. Furuya Rei walked in, looking utterly despondent—like a withered eggplant struck by a harsh frost.
Though Shuichi had already guessed the reason, he feigned a look of confusion. "What's wrong? Why the long face?"
"...Master," Furuya Rei's voice trembled with the threat of tears. He slumped onto a high stool at the bar, burying his face in his arms. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Haha, how can you blame Onii-chan for this?" Reiko couldn't suppress her giggles. "Who told you to go sticking to him just because you thought he was cute?"
"I... I just never imagined that someone as cute as Seishuu-chan would actually be a..."
Overwhelmed by a mix of grief and indignation, Furuya Rei grabbed a teacup and gulped it down in one go. Water trickled down his chin and dripped onto his T-shirt, but he didn't even bother to wipe it away.
"This morning, I went to Beika Central Hospital to find Seishuu. When I told everyone she was a girl, the doctors and nurses started laughing. I didn't realize why at the time."
"Then this afternoon, we were playing in the hospital garden. She—he—accidentally slipped, and I rushed to catch him..."
At this point, his voice dropped to a whisper, and his expression became incredibly complex.
"In the end, we both fell, and... and he accidentally kissed me!"
Furuya Rei slammed his hands over his face, his ears turning so red they looked ready to bleed.
"I imagine you must have been thrilled at the time, right?" Shuichi said, struggling to keep a straight face.
"Whoa, getting kissed by a cute girl? Isn't that a dream come true?" Hagiwara Kenji asked, his face full of envy.
"How is that a good thing?!" Matsuda Jinpei shot his best friend a look of pure disdain.
"...He is very cute," Furuya Rei suddenly looked up, shouting in tragic frustration. "But he's not a girl!"
"Not a girl?" Hagiwara Kenji froze, his envious expression instantly turning to stone. "You... you were kissed by a guy? On the mouth?"
"Ugh!" Matsuda Jinpei dramatically covered his mouth, making a gagging sound.
"It was just on the cheek!" Furuya Rei waved his hands frantically in explanation, his face flushed bright red.
Despite the clarification, Hagiwara Kenji grabbed Matsuda Jinpei and silently took two steps back, pointedly maintaining a safe distance.
"So, was it Seishuu who told you he was a boy?" Shuichi asked curiously.
"...No," Furuya Rei muttered, ruffling his hair in frustration. "After we left the garden, we went to the restroom. Seishuu followed me right into the men's room."
"I thought he was just curious about what the men's room looked like, so I didn't think much of it... But then, he just... he just stood right there in front of the urinal and started peeing!"
"Waaaah! My first love is ruined! Master, you guys are too much!"
Furuya Rei buried his face back into his arms, his shoulders shaking.
Shuichi didn't need the details to imagine how utterly shattered Furuya Rei's world must have felt the moment he saw Seishuu peeing standing up. The story triggered a wave of laughter that nearly took the roof off the izakaya.
Seeing his "disciple" looking like he wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear, Shuichi finally waved his hand to signal everyone to stop.
"You're back just in time. We were about to take a group photo. Come and join us."
"A photo?" Furuya Rei looked at Hagiwara Kenji and Matsuda Jinpei with confusion. "Master, who are they? Your new disciples?"
"No, they are..." Before Shuichi could finish, Hagiwara Kenji interjected impatiently.
"I'm Shuichi-niisand's future brother-in-law!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Two fists landed simultaneously on Hagiwara Kenji's head—one from each side. On the left was a fuming Reiko, and on the right was his own sister, Hagiwara Chihaya.
"These are the kids I met at the boxing match today," Shuichi explained with a helpless shake of his head. He gestured toward Matsuda Jotaro. "And this gentleman is today's newly crowned boxing champion."
"Whoa, amazing!" Furuya Rei's eyes instantly turned into sparkling stars. "Master, between you and the champion, who's stronger?"
"Hmm... inside a boxing ring, Mr. Matsuda could easily beat me," Shuichi mused, rubbing his chin. "But outside the ring? I think I'd probably win."
"No way!" Matsuda Jinpei shouted defiantly. "Dad wouldn't lose!"
"Shuichi-niisan, you're definitely bragging," Hagiwara Kenji added, skeptical. "Uncle Matsuda's punches are incredibly powerful."
"Hmph, my Onii-chan is amazing too!" Reiko puffed out her chest with pride. "He's used Sanda and combat techniques to take down lots of criminals!"
Matsuda Jinpei straightened his neck, stubborn as ever. "Even if Shuichi-niisan is good, I still don't believe Dad would lose!"
"In that case, why don't you two have a sparring match?" Kujo Keisuke suggested with great enthusiasm.
"What are you saying?!" Kujo Kotona glared fiercely at her husband. "What if someone gets hurt?"
"Master, just do it!" Furuya Rei suddenly regained his spirit, egging him on with a mischievous grin. "If you lose, I'm quitting and leaving your tutelage!"
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