Unlike the rest of the campus, this building stood out—a stately wooden hall straight from a samurai film, echoing with sharp cries and the rhythmic clash of wooden swords.
"Hehe… Tenra-senpai, this is a real treasure trove!"
Aika Kiryuu sidled up to Tenra, her smile pure mischief.
"A treasure trove?"
Tenra shot her a skeptical look.
"Yup! This is our school's kendo club—specifically, the girls' kendo club!"
Aika nudged him with her elbow, eyes sparkling. "It's packed with super cute girls swinging swords. Want to take a peek?"
Tenra's brow twitched. Now he understood exactly what Aika meant by "treasure."
Bold and shameless—this girl was incorrigible.
"Sure, why not…"
He stroked his chin, curiosity piqued. He had nothing better to do, and Aika's enthusiasm was infectious.
Inside, the air was thick with energy. Girls in protective gear paired off, their wooden swords crashing together in flurries of motion. Tenra, flanked by Kalamaina, Siris, and Aika, watched from the doorway.
"Well, Tenra-senpai? Impressed?"
"Elegant sword maidens, fierce and beautiful… ahhh…"
Aika's eyes practically sparkled as she narrated, barely containing her excitement. Tenra kept his composure, but the knights instinctively edged away from the pervy girl, leaving Tenra both amused and exasperated.
"Break time!"
With a final shout, the girls dropped their swords, collapsing onto the tatami and mopping sweat from their brows. Tenra's group was about to slip away when—
"Tenra-senpai!"
"Look, it's really him!"
"Tenra-sama!"
One girl spotted Tenra, and within seconds, the entire club erupted. The girls surged forward, surrounding Tenra and his companions in a tidal wave of excitement.
Being popular was nice, sure, but this was a little much. Tenra felt every eye on him, burning with curiosity and admiration—a little overwhelming, if he was honest.
"What are you all doing? Back off! Back off!"
Aika threw herself between Tenra and the mob, arms spread protectively like a mother hen.
"Oh, it's Kiryuu. What makes you think you can block us?"
"Yeah! Hanging out with Tenra-senpai—Kiryuu, you're so sneaky!"
"Move it, Kiryuu! Or are you declaring war on the kendo club?!"
They might be cute, but these girls weren't pushovers. Their voices rang with mock menace, and Aika broke out in a cold sweat.
Let them through? Not a chance. But stand her ground? That was asking for trouble, too. She gritted her teeth, thinking, If it weren't for me, would you even have a shot at Tenra-senpai? Ungrateful little devils!
Just as Aika was about to snap, Tenra spoke up:
"Kiryuu-san, let them through."
Aika huffed, but she couldn't argue with Tenra. She shot the girls a glare, then joined Kalamaina and Siris at Tenra's side.
"Sorry to interrupt your training," Tenra said, offering a gentle smile. "We're just here to observe. We'll be on our way soon."
"No, no, Tenra-senpai, you're not interrupting at all!"
"Having Tenra-senpai visit is an honor!"
"Please, come inside! Let us show you some real hospitality!"
So this was what "overwhelming enthusiasm" looked like. Tenra's eye twitched, but in the end, he could only nod.
The girls erupted in cheers, whisking Tenra and his group inside with infectious energy.
"Hey, Murayama, Katase—over here!"
While the others fawned over Tenra, Aika dragged two girls aside, whispering conspiratorially.
"Ugh, Kiryuu, what's the deal? We need to go greet Tenra-senpai!"
"Yeah! Whatever it is, tell us later!"
Murayama and Katase—one with glossy black hair, one with soft pink—looked desperate to join the crowd. But Aika held firm, her grip ironclad.
"Shut up! If you barge in now, you'll get nothing but scraps."
"Listen up—do exactly what I say…"
She leaned in, whispering rapid-fire advice. The girls' anxious faces gradually relaxed, their eyes lighting up in understanding.
"K-Kiryuu, I'll never forget this!"
"Me too, Kiryuu. I owe you one…"
Blushing, Murayama and Katase thanked Aika, though what she'd said was anyone's guess.
"Don't mention it. Now get moving—you don't want to miss your chance."
Aika pushed up her glasses, looking magnanimous, though a sly smile played at her lips.
…
"Tenra-senpai, please enjoy some tea."
"Tenra-senpai, we made these sweets ourselves. You have to try them!"
"Tenra-senpai, our club has a special massage technique for relaxation—please let us show you…"
Tenra found himself at the center of a whirlwind—dozens of girls offering tea, sweets, even massages. He couldn't help but marvel:
This really was a world ruled by looks.
Kalamaina and Siris stood guard behind him, faces cool and unreadable. As long as the girls didn't get too bold, they wouldn't interfere.
"Tenra-senpai…"
Just as Tenra was savoring the tea and sweets, two girls—one black-haired, one pink—squeezed through the crowd, a little out of breath.
"Can I help you?"
Tenra set down his teacup, looking up.
"Tenra-senpai, I'm Murayama."
"I'm Katase."
"Tenra-senpai, do you practice kendo too?"
The pair introduced themselves, then posed their question.
"A little, I suppose…"
Tenra stroked his chin, smiling. Instantly, Murayama, Katase, and the rest of the club lit up with excitement.
So even the handsome Tenra-senpai knew kendo? That sense of kinship made their admiration burn even brighter.
Murayama and Katase exchanged glances, cheeks flushed, then—
"Tenra-senpai, please spar with us!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
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