Chapter 81: I Love You, So I Have to Defeat You
"Why did you call me out here?"
Miu had been summoned by Takumi at 1 a.m. to this mountain path. He said it was something extremely important. Without overthinking it, she followed. Now they stood on a riverbed covered in smooth pebbles. Takumi stayed completely silent, until finally Miu couldn't hold back anymore.
"I like you."
The moment he spoke, the words hit Miu like a thunderbolt. She never imagined that Takumi—with his serious expression, like he'd made some incredibly difficult decision—would suddenly confess to her. Her face flushed crimson; she flailed a little in panic.
"Wh-What are you saying…?"
"I said I like you. I liked you from the very first time we met. After spending more than a month together, that feeling has turned into real love."
"I… I…"
Miu had no idea how to respond. Shock, embarrassment, joy, and pure chaos swirled inside her. She quickly turned her head away so he wouldn't see how red her face had become. Takumi fell silent again, giving her time to process everything.
After a long while, Miu finally calmed down a bit—though a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks. When Takumi didn't say anything more, she sneaked a glance over… only to see him starting to take off his shirt. Under the moonlight, his body—honed even stronger after a month of brutal training—came into view. Miu froze. Why is he stripping?! Don't tell me… after confessing, he wants to… right here?! No way! I have to shut this down hard!
Her heart pounded like crazy—equal parts embarrassed and terrified. This guy was way too impatient! And doing it outdoors for your first time? She'd regret that for the rest of her life!
"Come at me."
Takumi said it so calmly. Miu blinked, completely thrown off by the sudden swerve.
"Huh? Come at you how?"
"Hit me."
"Why would I hit you? Are you a masochist or something?!"
"Oh? So Miu knows what S and M mean? Which one do you think you are?!"
Crack!
Miu clenched her fist so hard her knuckles popped loudly—an action that clearly answered his question. Takumi coughed awkwardly.
"Okay, okay, I get it. Miu… besides telling you how I feel, there's another reason I brought you here. I want to defeat you—right here, right now."
"What?"
"I like you. But I also like Shigure-sensei. And honestly… I think in the future I might even come to like Keni too."
The moment those words left his mouth, Miu's fist clenched again. The air in her palm couldn't even escape—it exploded with a sharp pop like a firecracker. Was there anything worse in the world? He confesses, doesn't even wait for her answer, and immediately drops a full-on playboy declaration!
"You bastard…"
Miu hissed the curse through gritted teeth. She fought back the urge to punch him and turned to leave. But Takumi called out:
"Wait."
Miu stopped. Around her body, a faint red aura flickered—visible only to someone with Takumi's level of skill. This was Miu's ki: the ki of motion. Triggered by intense emotions like rage, killing intent, and fighting spirit, it unleashed explosive human potential. The opposite—ki of stillness—was drawn from calm, steady, protective feelings. The two were completely different in nature and mindset. Aside from the invincible superman father-son duo, no one could wield both at once. Motion ki excelled in raw destructive power, bursting outward like an explosion. Stillness ki was superior defensively, flowing like penetrating waves.
Miu had sparred with Takumi several times before, but she'd never once released her ki. Now, without even throwing a punch, her motion ki was already surging. That showed just how furious she really was.
"I thought about it seriously: should I be a devoted man who loves only one, or a passionate man who loves many? Obviously the passionate side is stronger in me. But I also feel that's unfair to you. So I came up with this: I'll challenge you. You're stronger than me right now. If I can defeat you when you're fighting at full power… then I'll walk the path of a harem without hesitation. But if I lose, I'll rein in my desires from now on and love only you."
Even though the night sky was clear, Takumi's words struck Miu like a bolt from the blue—far more shocking than the confession itself. Her red motion ki flared even brighter, blazing like a torch. She'd completely lost control of it in her emotional turmoil.
"You're serious?"
The proposal sounded absurd, yet Miu couldn't bring herself to scoff and walk away. She knew: this was the only way to cure Takumi's wandering heart. If she lost… then so be it. Let him chase his ridiculous "harem forever" dream.
"Dead serious!"
Takumi answered firmly. Miu turned back to face him. Her purple eyes had turned a blazing scarlet. The ahoge on her head stood straight up like a spear tip, pushed rigid by her surging motion ki. She took a deep breath, reining the torch-like aura back in. Her fists began glowing red.
"I won't hold back!"
"Give it everything!"
Takumi's muscles trembled—not from fear, but from the overwhelming pressure bearing down on him. He dropped into a karate defensive stance. The next instant, Miu moved. She dove forward like a falcon plummeting from the heavens. Her clothes billowed backward as if invisible hands were yanking them, from the sheer speed of her charge. Takumi defended with everything he had… but against Miu at full power—the girl known as the one with "Wings that Cut the Sky"—he was still sent flying with a single unblockable strike!
It felt like several elephants had slammed into him at once. His body nearly shattered. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed hard into the ground, carving a long furrow in the earth.
High up on a nearby peak, the night wind fluttered their clothes. The invincible superman Fuurinji Hayato, the Chinese master Kensei Ma, the dark-skinned Thai powerhouse Apachai, the ferocious-looking Shio Sakaki, the philosophical judo expert Akisame Kōetsuji, and the ninja-garbed Shigure—the six masters of Ryōzanpaku—were all present. Even from thousands of meters away, nothing below escaped their senses.
Takumi had called Miu out here precisely because he didn't want the dojo members to know… but these people caught wind of even the slightest movement. Curiosity drew them all. When they overheard the confession, they all nodded in understanding—Ah, so that's how it is. But what came next left every single one of them stunned.
"This kid… he's way too greedy. Wants to have it all, huh? Damn it… Miu and Shigure can only go to one guy!"
Kensei Ma grumbled under his breath. Shio Sakaki pressed a hand to his forehead.
"This brat… he's leaving me speechless."
"Hah! The pursuit of art is never-ending for a man. Beautiful women are art itself. Not bad at all—truly a disciple I've trained!"
"Oh ho ho… that boy's got guts."
The invincible superman's eyes gleamed with tangible intensity. And when Takumi declared he'd decide their future love through a duel, every master froze again. Even the usually expressionless Shigure unconsciously tightened her grip on her sword.
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