"Kid, don't think you're impressive just because you hid your Karate skills, made Horikita careless, and used some petty tricks to win."
"I'm going to show you that against absolute strength, those little tricks are completely useless."
"Watch carefully. Today, I'll teach you what real Karate looks like in combat. So many people want me to teach them, but I usually can't be bothered!"
Sano spoke with righteous confidence, taking on the posture of a senior giving guidance to a junior, as if generously offering Toru a rare chance to be taught by him.
In reality, this was just a tactic to provoke and embarrass Toru by playing the role of a condescending mentor.
But when it came to Karate, Sano always took things seriously. No matter who the opponent was.
He let out a loud shout.
In many martial arts, shouting can both unsettle the opponent and help gather internal strength.
Although he claimed it was instruction, Sano went all out from the start. His footwork was sharp and fast, leaving Toru with no time to react. He leapt into the air and chopped down at Toru's shoulder with a knife-hand strike.
He didn't dare aim for an artery. That would be fatal.
But this strike would definitely make the kid cry out in pain. He just wasn't sure if he'd cry or scream.
At the critical moment, Toru raised his left arm, blocking the strike across his front with a strong guard.
"That was a bad start for Fujiwara. How could he let the President lead with a kill move? That's completely disadvantageous."
"But did the President go all-out? That knife-hand strike could easily snap a weaker person's arm. He's probably still holding back."
Watching from the side, the club members shook their heads. Most of them were convinced Toru had only beaten Manabu earlier with luck or misdirection.
In a Karate match, letting your opponent open with a kill move? Only possible if there's an overwhelming difference in ability.
But this was the President. The guy who only lost to Makoto Kyogoku at last year's National Karate Tournament. Which, if you round it, makes him the runner-up, right?
Only Sano himself felt a chill in his heart. He knew exactly how hard he had struck.
Which was why, seeing Toru not move an inch and block it cleanly with his arm, he was shaken.
"Alright... Uechi-ryu really does focus on training tendons and bones. Fujiwara, you've clearly mastered the essence of it."
Sano quickly gave himself a way out, refusing to believe that Toru's Karate level was above his. Not just above, but possibly by a whole tier.
And he fully bought into his own excuse. Uechi-ryu, derived from Tiger Fist, emphasized internal strength and durability.
That must be why the strike didn't land. His opponent's body was just built for impact.
He shifted tactics instantly and launched a straight punch, fast as lightning.
Punches. Kicks. Every move tore through the air with explosive sound, making people's scalps go numb.
This was the power of a National Tournament Top 8 fighter. Against an average person, these strikes would have been more than enough to put them in the hospital.
Just looking at Sano's movements, it was clear. His real combat strength could overwhelm seven or eight grown men. A true Karate master, forged through years of training.
"Fujiwara missed his opportunity. That knife-hand was strong, but Sano's posture was too open. If he'd countered then, he might've landed a clean hit."
"But he didn't. Now he's stuck defending against this flurry. The window's closed. Bad move."
Several dan-ranked members nodded, analyzing the match.
Sano's movements were almost too fast for the eye to follow. He displayed his striking techniques to the fullest.
Toru, however, kept retreating. Each time, he narrowly dodged, the wind from Sano's attacks ruffling his uniform. It looked like he was barely hanging on.
"He must've never watched the President's matches. This is Sano's signature blitz. He took down several big names with this combo to enter the Top 8."
"If not for running into that monster Kyogoku, he could've gone even further."
"Foreign masters, elite fighters, they've all struggled against this. Some tried to dodge and exhaust him. It never worked."
"Honestly, it's better to go all in and counter. Even if you lose, you do it with honor. Toru's just delaying the inevitable."
"Yeah, he's going down. No one can keep dodging forever. The only person who beat the President was Kyogoku, and he went blow for blow, punch for punch."
"But still... Fujiwara's lasting longer than anyone else here ever has. The President's never used this combo on us."
The club members continued chatting casually. For them, the result was already clear.
From their perspective, Sano had the absolute advantage. None of them could see the problem.
Only Sano was feeling the pressure. It might have looked like Toru was barely avoiding the attacks, but to him, it was too precise. Too perfect.
No one could dodge this much with just luck.
This wasn't chance.
This was power.
Could this guy be stronger than me?
The thought shot through Sano's head. It made his blood run cold.
No way. There's no way some unknown kid, never seen at any National Tournament or international stage, is stronger than me!
Sano lost it.
Fueled by rage, he roared, spun on his left foot, lifted his right leg high, and slammed down with a vicious axe kick.
It was like a blade crashing down.
But against a skilled opponent, this kind of high attack was risky. Unless you were sure it would land, it was asking to be countered.
Toru, now at the edge of the wall, struck upward with a sharp knife-hand to Sano's exposed calf.
Pain shot through Sano's leg. He screamed. His balance broke.
Toru didn't waste the opening. He stepped in, pivoted, and launched a flying kick that crashed into Sano's chest mid-air, sending him flying.
Sano flailed like a frog in midair. After a spin, he crashed to the ground on all fours.
He clutched his chest. The pain was crushing. Breathing became difficult.
Thanks to years of training, his body was resilient. Otherwise, that one kick could have shattered his ribs.
Even so, he couldn't get up.
As he tried to catch his breath, a dark shadow loomed.
Toru stood before him like a demon king.
He grabbed Sano by the collar, tossed him into the air, then unleashed a storm of punches. His fists moved like blurs, each strike landing like a hammer on a sandbag.
Then, mimicking Sano's earlier move, Toru spun and kicked him mid-air.
Boom—
Sano slammed into the wall. His body slid down slowly. He was barely conscious.
Around him, the Karate Club members screamed. Some of the girls cried out in shock.
Through blurred vision, Sano saw the demon's shadow descend again. Toru's knife-hand came down next to his head and struck the wall.
Crack—
A deep groove split the wall beside Sano's ear.
If that strike had landed, it would have split his skull.
Cold sweat poured down Sano's back.
He swallowed hard and looked at Toru, who calmly retracted his hand and dusted off his uniform.
For a moment, it felt like he was back at last year's National Tournament, standing before Makoto Kyogoku.
That overwhelming presence. That terrifying strength.
In all his years of Karate, only Kyogoku had made him feel like this.
Kyogoku had changed the game. He broke through the limits of Karate. Singlehandedly raised the bar.
And now, standing before him, was someone just as monstrous.
"President!"
"Sano-senpai, are you okay?!"
The club members rushed over, trembling as they checked him.
A few seconds ago, they thought Sano might actually be beaten to death.
All those students who had confidently predicted Toru's loss were speechless.
What just happened? They didn't even see it clearly.
In the blink of an eye, Toru had turned the entire match around and demolished Sano in a way that didn't even look human.
Sano sat on the ground, defeated.
Crushed in the one thing he was most proud of.
If he said anything now, he'd just look like a fool.
No more provocation. No more bluster.
This time, he was actually scared that Toru might hit him again and finish the job.
Gritting his teeth, forcing himself to swallow the humiliation, Sano said quietly, "Thanks for holding back."
He knew full well. If Toru had really gone all out, he'd be in the hospital. Maybe worse.
After a couple deep breaths, he asked, "That kick just now... was it Jeet Kune Do?"
Toru's kick looked exactly like Bruce Lee's signature move. It was hard not to make the connection.
"What's called Jeet Kune Do is a concept. An ideal.
"Whether it's Karate, Aikido, or anything else, they're all about applying force. The human body can only move in certain ways."
"Some styles favor attack. Others focus on counters. But in real combat, everyone uses whatever works."
"In a life-or-death moment, no one cares if it's Karate or Jeet Kune Do. You use what keeps you alive."
"If you've got a gun, then sure, go ahead and use gun-fu. The technique doesn't matter. The outcome does."
"So whether it was Karate or Jeet Kune Do doesn't really matter. It's all the same."
Sano coughed twice and said, "You're right. I was too hung up on labels."
He didn't fully agree, but he had lost. And when you lose, the winner's words become truth.
Arguing would only make him look petty and pathetic.
Toru gave him a nod. Then, without warning, he slapped him across the face.
As Sano stared at him in disbelief, Toru said flatly, "That's for your earlier attitude."
Then he turned to leave.
Sano's face flushed with shame and anger. But thinking of Toru's strength, he gritted his teeth and called out, "Fujiwara Toru!"
Toru stopped and looked back.
Sano took a deep breath and said, "I hope you'll join the Karate Club. You don't have to attend practice if you're busy. Just having your name here is enough."
"I'll be a fourth-year next year and won't be President anymore. I hope you'll take over the club then."
Toru looked at him. In Sano's eyes, he saw no schemes. Just sincerity.
He nodded. "Alright. I don't mind being listed in the club. As for being President, we'll talk about that later."
Sano asked, "Are you planning to enter the National Karate Tournament this year?"
"Don't you need a dan rank for that? I don't have one."
"Tokyo University has the authority to recommend participants. My family does too. I can get you in. If you're willing, I'll handle it."
Toru blinked. "Why do you want me to enter the tournament so badly?"
Sano answered seriously, "Because I want to see you fight Makoto Kyogoku. I've fought him. And now I've fought you. I believe, if anyone can beat Kyogoku, it's you."
That one statement caused a stir among the club members.
They knew Toru was strong. But strong enough to beat Makoto Kyogoku?
Toru thought for a moment and smiled. "Alright. If you can get me in, I'd like to meet him too."
He had no desire to chase fame, but he wouldn't reject it either.
The more recognition he got, the more political power he could wield in the future.
"I've got something else to do today, so I'm heading out."
With that, he walked toward the changing room.
Haruno paused for a second, then followed.
Sano placed a hand on the cracked wall beside his head and took a long breath.
That guy was terrifying.
Supported by the others, he stood up while clutching his chest.
"Someone take me to the hospital. Damn, that kid didn't hold back at all."
"I don't know where he came from, but that strength is absurd. Besides Makoto Kyogoku, he's the second guy I'm truly convinced by."
(To be continued.)
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