After finishing up with Tohru and having breakfast, Shin left home and headed to school.
Though he was leaving alone today, if things went as expected, starting tomorrow, he'd likely be walking out with Megumi. After all, she had already announced her plans to move into his house today—meaning he'd probably have to help her carry her luggage after school. There was no way she could just bring all her belongings to school directly.
Even though Megumi Kato had her low-presence ability, doing something too conspicuous would still draw the attention of particularly observant people.
For instance, Hiratsuka Shizuka, who always kept a close eye on her students, might notice Kato hauling luggage around and pull her aside for questioning. Shin couldn't care less about such things, but Kato would mind, so her belongings would have to wait until after school.
Incidentally, during breakfast, Shin had also informed the other girls in the house about Kato moving in.
Their reactions were mostly indifferent—after all, with so many girls already living there, one more didn't make much difference. The only one slightly displeased was Tohru, but fortunately, Shin had already "fed" her some "life energy" in the morning, temporarily satisfying her cravings.
Though she wasn't thrilled, Thor ultimately didn't protest and even agreed to help prepare a room for Megumi.
While the girls usually slept with Shin at night, they all had their own rooms for use outside of nighttime hours. If they ever needed to sleep separately, they could retreat to their personal spaces.
Just as Shin was about to reach the school gates, he encountered an unexpected visitor at a crosswalk.
"Good morning, Shin-kun."
Standing on the sidewalk near the school entrance was Saeko Busujima, clearly waiting for him. Shin wasn't surprised that she knew which school he attended—after all, she was acquainted with Yukinoshita Yukino. Since Shin and Yukinoshita attended the same school, it stood to reason he was also a student at Private Toyokuzu Academy.
What he hadn't expected was for Saeko to be waiting for him near the school gates on a weekday. Didn't she have school today?
"I took the day off specifically to see you, Shin-kun."
As if reading his thoughts, Saeko calmly explained why she was loitering outside another school on a school day. Slung across her back was a wooden sword wrapped in cloth, making her look like she was on her way to a kendo dojo.
Seeing Saeko 's tall frame blocking his path, coupled with the wooden sword on her back, Shin couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't tell me you're here to try and recruit me again because of my so-called 'kendo talent'?"
He had meant it as a joke, but to his surprise, Saeko nodded solemnly.
She met his gaze and stated her purpose outright:
"I wasn't planning to bother you, but my family elders said they'd regret it for the rest of their lives if you didn't pursue kendo."
Saeko's "elders" were likely the old man Shin had seen at the dojo last time—the one who had witnessed his so-called "talent."
Of course, that "talent" was nothing more than a combination of raw strength and reflexes, having absolutely nothing to do with actual kendo skill. The same results could be achieved in any martial art. But to Saeko and her family, it had looked like the mark of a prodigy.
"So, even though I'm sorry to impose… could I ask you to have a serious match with me?"
With that, Saeko reached back and untied the cloth bundle on her back—revealing not one, but two wooden swords.
She handed one to Shin, her expression deadly serious.
"Please show me your full strength. That way, I can at least give my elders a proper explanation."
It was clear Saeko wasn't the type to pester people. She was only here because her family had insisted. Her solution? Let Shin demonstrate his skill, proving he had no need for the Saeko family's kendo training.
Shin accepted the wooden sword, smiling wryly. The fact that Saeko could even suggest this showed how limited her perspective was.
There was no way he could show her his true strength. If he went all out, a single swing would split the Earth in half.
Even though it was just a wooden sword, reinforcing it with ki would turn it into an unstoppable blade—just like how Future Trunks had sliced Frieza apart with an ordinary sword. But he couldn't blame Saeko for her narrow view. This was, after all, a mundane world where supernatural abilities were beyond most people's comprehension.
Though he found it somewhat amusing, Shin ultimately agreed to her request. Even if he couldn't go all out, it was better to make her give up now.
"Thank you."
A faint smile appeared on Saeko's lips as she raised her own wooden sword, adopting a formal kendo stance.
Shin, meanwhile, held his sword casually. Yet Saeko didn't dare underestimate him. After a brief moment of silent tension, she launched her attack.
Her strikes were ferocious, swift, powerful, and precise, completely unlike what one would expect from a refined young lady.
Shin lazily deflected each blow with minimal movements, effortlessly breaking her guard and leaving her wide open within seconds.
Saeko's heart lurched as she instinctively backpedaled, trying to create distance.
But then she realized something strange—even though she was retreating, Shin's face wasn't getting farther away. In fact, it was getting closer.
The next instant, she found herself pinned against a wall, Shin's wooden sword thrust into the brickwork right beside her ear.
"This should be enough, right?"
Maintaining this "sword-based" kabedon, Shin studied her expression. Those few moves should have been more than enough to prove his point—the Saeko family's kendo was child's play compared to him now.
Saeko stared at Shin's face, now mere inches from her own, her heart pounding violently.
Was it the shame of defeat? The exhaustion from the fight? Or… something else entirely, sparked by witnessing his overwhelming strength?
To be continued…