79 - Informing the Dojo Friends

RAW

The day after promising to attend the fireworks festival with Ayaka, Haruto throws himself into sparring practice at his karate dojo.

His sparring partner is Ishikura. The two are among the top talents at the Dōjima Dojo, and their intense bout involves lightning-fast exchanges of attack and defense.

Ishikura launches a series of mid- and high-level kicks, which Haruto dodges by pulling back slightly. Using his retracted leg as a pivot, he counters with a front kick to keep Ishikura at bay. Ishikura steps back to evade it, but Haruto swiftly closes the gap, executing a spinning back kick. Ishikura barely avoids it, momentarily off-balance.

Not missing a beat, Haruto continues his relentless assault with rapid punches, pushing Ishikura into a corner. Ishikura, determined to counterattack, attempts a close-range high kick—a signature move that strikes from outside the opponent's field of vision. But Haruto anticipates this from the preparatory motion, lowering his center of gravity and sweeping Ishikura’s support leg, thwarting the attack.

Even while on the defensive, Ishikura seems to enjoy the challenge, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination. Haruto, too, smiles confidently, maintaining his sharp focus.

The two rivals, who have competed against each other since childhood, prepare to escalate the intensity. However, the timer signals the end of the match, and they immediately bow to each other.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

With the day’s training complete, Ishikura, wiping his forehead with a towel, remarks, “You did well today, Haruto.”

“Thanks. It’s thanks to you, Kaz-senpai. Your advice helped clear my mind.”

“Oh, is this about that time I found you moping alone in the park?”

“Yeah... Thanks to you, I now have a girlfriend.”

Haruto’s face reddens slightly with embarrassment as he scratches his cheek. Although he and Ayaka decided to keep their relationship a secret at school, they agreed to tell close friends. For Haruto, that includes Ishikura and Shizuku.

Ishikura smiles. “Congrats, man. Good for you.”

“It’s all because of your lecture that night.”

“It wasn’t that big a deal,” Ishikura replies modestly.

Their conversation is interrupted when Shizuku, wearing her usual expressionless face, steps in front of Ishikura. “Kaz-senpai, why the sinister smile? Planning humanity’s extinction?”

“Why do you always make me out to be some dark lord?”

Their usual banter begins. “Haruto has a girlfriend now. We were just celebrating.”

Shizuku raises an eyebrow. “Oh? Is your girlfriend by any chance Tōjō-senpai?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“I see... That means I’ve become your mistress, then?”

“What?!”

Shizuku continues her playful teasing with terms like “second wife” and “concubine,” each more confusing than the last. Haruto retorts, “I’m not some feudal lord!”

Ishikura laughs. “If you were, you’d definitely be a foolish lord.”

“Watch it, Kaz-senpai, or I’ll work you hard!”

“Bring it on. I’d overthrow you in a heartbeat.”

Shizuku adds, “Kaz-senpai already has an intimidating enough face for that.”

“Who’s a dark lord?!”

After their banter, Shizuku turns serious. “Haruto, you’ll need to train even harder now.”

“Why’s that?”

“Dating Tōjō-senpai means the whole school’s male population will be jealous. You’ll be fighting in the gym every day.”

“Come on, our school isn’t that wild,” Haruto protests, though he admits, “Something like that might happen.”

Curious, Ishikura asks, “Is she really that famous?”

Shizuku proudly responds, “She’s as beautiful as I am.”

Ishikura raises an eyebrow. “You?”

Shizuku’s eyes narrow. “What’s that look?”

Their familiar exchanges continue until Haruto checks the time. “I need to go. I have plans.”

“A date already?” Ishikura grins.

“Yeah, we’re going to the fireworks festival.”

“Bring me back a candy apple,” Shizuku jokes.

Haruto smiles at their antics. As he leaves, Ishikura calls, “Enjoy your date!”

Shizuku adds, “If you get a stomachache and miss the date, let me know. I’ll console you.”

“That’s not happening!”

With that, Haruto hurries off to meet Ayaka.