Manabu watched as Sano was helped away, limping, while listening to the murmurs from the other Karate Club members.
"Holy crap, Fujiwara is insane. Even the President couldn't match him."
"Hey, weren't you just saying he was doing dumb moves and bound to lose? I'm gonna tell him what you said."
"Don't, bro, I was blind. How could someone like me understand a real master? The President got knocked flat. If I took one punch, you'd be lighting incense for me next year."
"I didn't expect the President to say Fujiwara might have what it takes to face Makoto Kyogoku. Isn't that a bit much?"
"Makoto Kyogoku? Is he that strong?"
"You must be new to Karate, huh? Go look up Makoto Kyogoku's matches later. You'll get it."
"But the President's no joke either. The fact that Fujiwara beat him in a few moves... maybe he really can go up against Kyogoku. If he enters the National Karate Tournament, I'm actually kinda hyped."
"Could Tokyo University really produce a Karate champion this year?"
"Haha, I still think Makoto Kyogoku is stronger. Toru doesn't have any competition experience. But hey, since he's from our university, we should root for him."
Tokyo University was Japan's most prestigious university. But maybe because of its fame in academics and research, it didn't really dominate in sports. In fact, it was pretty average among national universities.
If someone from Tokyo University could actually stand toe-to-toe with Makoto Kyogoku, it would be a huge deal.
Manabu adjusted his glasses.
Tokyo University really does hide a lot of monsters.
Good thing Fujiwara went easy on me. His Karate is on a completely different level. And he's the freshman representative who ranked first on the entrance exam. His academic ability is just as scary.
Thinking of the President, who had overwhelmed him earlier, being easily defeated by Toru, the gap felt like a canyon.
For the first time, Manabu experienced the feeling his high school classmates must have had when looking up at him.
His phone vibrated. He glanced at it. The caller ID read: Suzune.
"Suzune?"
He frowned slightly, thinking about how much pressure his sister was under at home. Always being scolded by their parents and compared to him. Manabu sighed.
Suzune was doing everything she could to catch up with him. Not just out of pride, but to stop the constant comparisons.
Back then, he couldn't understand her. He even thought she was foolish.
But now, he understood what it felt like to chase after someone's back with everything you had.
...
"Yukinoshita-senpai, why are you following me?"
Toru had already changed clothes and was walking through campus. Haruno, now in her casual outfit, was tailing him closely.
Haruno quickened her pace and walked beside him. After a moment of thought, she said, "Sano's not a bad guy. He's passionate about Karate. What he said at the end was sincere. He really respects you."
Toru chuckled. "Is senpai here to speak up for him?"
After a pause, he added, "...We're all classmates, after all. I just gave him a little lesson. I didn't go overboard."
"As long as he doesn't come looking for trouble, I won't waste time on him either."
He's not even qualified to be trouble.
Toru muttered in his heart.
The ones who truly caused trouble are already dead and rotting in hell.
"That's good, that's good. I was really afraid you'd go back and finish him off."
Haruno patted her chest, visibly relieved.
"Are you that close with him? You're even stepping in as his advocate?"
"Does Toru-kun care about my feelings that much?"
"Senpai, confidence is good, but don't get ahead of yourself."
"Oh, come on, I'm a girl. Can't you say something sweet?"
"That stuff's not in fashion anymore. I respect train duels between samurai more."
Seeing his attitude, Haruno could only sigh. She explained, "The Yukinoshita family and the Sano family have business ties. Sano and I have known each other since childhood."
"He's been chasing me since high school. I've always treated him as a friend and turned him down multiple times. Now, because of me, you ended up involved. So I'm apologizing."
"Actually, I'm not trying to defend him. If he had bullied you, I'd have stepped in for you too. Do you believe that?"
Toru stopped walking. He turned to look at her refined, beautiful face and nodded.
"I believe it. If it had come to that, you would have spoken up for me."
"But Yukinoshita-senpai, even though your method is good, trying to smooth things over with both sides and avoid conflict, sometimes being too neutral makes people not trust you."
"There's a saying: 'Loyalty that isn't absolute is absolute disloyalty.' Not everything can be a win-win. Sometimes, you have to pick a side."
Haruno was momentarily stunned. She looked at Toru's serious expression, thought for a bit, then smiled.
"You're right. I tend to overthink things. It makes me come across as a fence-sitter. Next time, I'll firmly take Fujiwara-kun's side."
Toru pouted. "No thanks. I'd rather not have another mess like this."
"Are you free this weekend?"
"I think so. Why?"
"Don't be so guarded. I'm just treating you to a meal. Call it an apology."
"Fine. I'll check my schedule on Friday and let you know."
Haruno sighed. "Why is it so hard to set a date with you?"
"I can't help it. I'm really busy."
"Chiba's not far from Tokyo. My sister's visiting this weekend too. You don't mind if she tags along, right?"
"It's not like it's a date. Sounds like you two get along well."
"Get along?"
Haruno gave a playful smile, like someone about to tease a kitten.
"...I think we get along. Yukino probably doesn't agree."
She strolled beside him and changed the topic casually.
"Hey, Fujiwara-kun, have you seen the recent news?"
"What news?"
"That research institute collapse in the Tokyo suburbs."
"Oh, that one. Didn't they say it was a natural gas pipeline explosion?"
"Seems you don't follow the news much. That was already debunked."
She pulled out her phone, opened TikTok, found a video, and held it in front of Toru.
"Check this out. Someone uploaded this clip at the time."
Toru glanced at the phone. It was a video of him flying an Apache attack helicopter, raining hell on the research institute, while Tokyo police officers raised their hands in surrender.
"They're calling it a terrorist attack. Apparently, people died, and the government is trying to bury the incident with fake news."
Haruno's expression turned serious.
"...Japan used to be called one of the safest countries. Now it's getting worse."
"Crime's spiking, especially murder cases. And now there's a full-blown terrorist attack."
"Thankfully, it was out in the suburbs. If something like that hit downtown Tokyo, I don't even want to imagine."
Haruno wasn't necessarily worried about the country. But she did live in Tokyo.
The surge in these violent cases made her daily life feel more dangerous.
She now walked around constantly on edge, as if there were killers lurking on every street.
"Crime's on the rise, but the police's case-solving rate is dropping. They even surrendered during that terrorist incident. People online are furious. They think the police are just wasting taxpayers' money."
Haruno felt helpless. She didn't care about tax money, but the police really weren't doing their job.
Almost every murder case lately had been solved by a private detective. What were the police even there for?
Toru actually defended them. "The police aren't really equipped to deal with that level of terrorism. And they've probably never dealt with anything like it."
"I get what you mean. I think everyone understands. But the reason people are venting online is because they're scared."
Haruno said calmly.
Blame Conan for that.
Toru muttered in his heart.
The power of the Elementary School Grim Reaper is too strong.
He could feel clearly that the timeline hadn't broken. There weren't time loops or mass deaths occurring repeatedly.
Which meant Conan wasn't directly going through that many cases.
But the ripple effect from his presence was no joke. Serious crimes were erupting all over Japan like a chain reaction.
Especially the victims. Some of them were high-ranking corporate presidents. The public's frustration with the police was boiling over.
"Anyway, let's not talk about depressing stuff. See you this weekend, Fujiwara-kun. I'll introduce my sister to you. She's gorgeous~"
Haruno stopped with him near the school gate. She knew he commuted from home. Smiling mischievously, she said,
"I never agreed to go out with you this weekend."
"That's okay. I'll assume you did. If you really can't come, just let me know. Yukino can keep me company. Alright, I won't see you off. Drive safe. Bye~"
Haruno waved with a dazzling smile and turned to leave.
(To be continued.)