Boom!
Tree trunks snapped, and dust flew.
Tetsuya crashed through several trees thick enough to require three people to encircle, yet he hadn't even managed to graze Haruto's clothes.
Panting heavily, he stopped and glared viciously at Haruto.
"Jumping around like a flea—what kind of man are you? Fight me head-on like before!"
Haruto looked at Tetsuya with disdain, as if he were an idiot.
"Just because you're stupid doesn't mean everyone else is."
Haruto was more than happy to keep talking. Tetsuya's second-stage transformation couldn't last much longer.
If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have waited until he was beaten half to death before using it.
"How much longer can you maintain this state?" Haruto said, recovering his stamina and magic. "If you can last another ten minutes, I'll admit defeat."
Tetsuya's already ugly face twisted even further.
He could also tell that Haruto was relying on a method that couldn't be sustained for long to evade his attacks.
Haruto claimed he could last ten more minutes, but Tetsuya couldn't—he'd be lucky to hold on for five.
Seeing Tetsuya's grim expression, Haruto relaxed slightly.
If Tetsuya had remained silent and attacked again, Haruto would've had to consider calling for backup.
In truth, Haruto didn't have enough magic left to last ten minutes either—seven or eight at most.
And he'd be completely drained afterward.
"Surrender and lose only half," Haruto continued stalling. "If you admit defeat now, we can call it even."
Tetsuya wasn't the brightest, but he wasn't a complete fool.
He could tell Haruto was buying time, but he really didn't want to keep fighting either.
Because, honestly… he couldn't even touch Haruto.
Suppressing his anger, Tetsuya growled, "You were the one who started this! And now you have the nerve to say we should call it even?"
"What? You want me to apologize too?"
Haruto raised an eyebrow. This is settled—he's really at his limit.
Tetsuya clenched his fists, tempted to just go all out.
But in the end, he held back—his skill's duration was almost up.
Cough…
The two stood there staring at each other for a moment before Tetsuya collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood as he slowly reverted to human form.
"Tsk tsk, such a short duration. You should be ashamed to even show your face."
Haruto nudged Tetsuya's leg with his foot to confirm the other wasn't faking and truly couldn't get up before finally relaxing completely.
Tetsuya wanted to retort, but the aftereffects were too severe—he didn't even have the strength to speak.
Once his skill duration ended, he was practically crippled. At that point, Haruto could kill him as easily as squashing an ant.
This was precisely why he'd chosen to back down.
"Pretty thrilling. Definitely different from bullying delinquents," Haruto exhaled deeply, filled with emotion.
It hadn't been a pretty victory, but he'd won nonetheless—a genuine 1v1 at that.
As for dealing with the other two third-years...
Let's be honest—that would require careful planning after some more development.
Leaving Tetsuya lying on the ground like a dead dog, Haruto approached the completely stunned Issei.
"Issei Hyoudou."
"..."
"Issei Hyoudou!"
"..."
"ISSEI HYOUDOU!!!"
"Ah! I'm here!" Issei jumped in fright, finally snapping out of his daze.
Haruto curled his lip. Just in time.
Any longer without a response and he would've resorted to physical methods.
"I know today's events must have been shocking for you."
Haruto patted his shoulder with a kindly smile. "I still have some matters to attend to now. If you have any questions, you can come find me tomorrow."
"Ah...oh, don't worry, I'll keep it secret."
Issei covered his mouth, his expression solemn as he promised confidentiality.
"Er...actually it's fine if you tell people." Haruto scratched his head. "No one would believe you anyway."
Issei: "..."
"Though of course, keeping it secret would be best."
Haruto's gaze unconsciously drifted to Issei's arm. If the Boosted Gear hadn't completed its possession yet...
Cards on the table—Haruto wanted a Longinus too.
Issei had no idea what Haruto was thinking. Right now, he just wanted to go home and process everything.
"Um...since Haruto-kun still has things to do, I'll head out first. My mom's waiting for me to come home for dinner."
"Oh, sure." Haruto said, "Need me to walk you out?"
"No, no need."
Seeing the bloodstains on Haruto's clothes, Issei shook his head vigorously like a rattle-drum.
Haruto waved and turned to deal with Tetsuya.
The Longinus matter couldn't be rushed—he needed to handle the immediate situation first.
Just as Haruto grabbed Tetsuya's ankle and began dragging him out like a dead dog, Issei came running back.
Haruto: "???"
"Uh...Haruto-san, I don't know how to get out..."
Issei looked miserable, terrified that Haruto might think they were accomplices.
If he could've found the exit, he never would've returned.
Haruto patted his shoulder in understanding.
"Then come out with me."
He was taking Tetsuya to the Occult Research Club for further interrogation anyway.
Issei cautiously glanced at the extremely weakened Tetsuya. Seeing no reaction, he nodded rapidly like a pecking chick.
"By the way, why were you with Tetsuya here today?"
With nothing better to do, Haruto struck up conversation with Issei as they walked.
Issei froze in his tracks, cold sweat pouring down his back.
If Haruto found out he was here to help Tetsuya, there was no way he'd be walking out unscathed.
Haruto was dragging Tetsuya with his right hand—his left hand just happened to be free.
"U-uh… that is…"
Stammering for a long while, Issei couldn't come up with a good excuse and eventually had no choice but to tell the truth.
Haruto didn't care at all that Issei was Tetsuya's ally.
Whether Issei helped or not wouldn't make the slightest difference in this fight.
————
"I'm heading to the club next. You know the way from here, right, Hyoudou?"
"Yeah, yeah." Issei quickly replied, staring at the club building ahead.
He had wanted to leave the moment they exited the Magic barrier and entered the school grounds, terrified that Haruto might hold his allegiance to Tetsuya against him.
Only after seeing Issei off did Haruto allow Tsubaki and Akeno to appear.
Tsubaki looked puzzled. "Haruto, why didn't you let us show ourselves to that guy?"
"Wouldn't it have been easier if we helped you take him away?" Akeno also voiced her curiosity. "And you could've gotten treated sooner."
Haruto waved a hand dismissively. "It's just a minor injury, nothing serious. If you two were seen, word might spread, and that'd cause trouble later."
"Tetsuya deliberately brought an ordinary person along—there's an eighty percent chance that was his plan."
Though Tetsuya couldn't speak, he let out muffled noises upon hearing Haruto's words.
His intentions had been completely seen through. And his earlier concerns were right—this pretty boy really did have women backing him.
If he hadn't brought Issei along, he probably wouldn't even have gotten a 1v1 fight today.
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