Chapter 148 - 148: Terrifying Strength

Words : 1593 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

Haru didn't have much of a plan. The school principal had granted his club a decent amount of funding—quite a generous amount, actually. The Karate Club had been training with him for a while, and helping them claim the first-place title was just his way of returning the favor. On the first day of the competition, the scene was chaotic. The competitors were busy with their matches, and the place was filled with the faces of family members and friends of the participants. Although Haru was deliberately holding back his true strength, his physical abilities were so exceptional that even with protective gear, his first opponent was sent sprawling with a simple, no-frills high kick. Despite the protection, the opponent rolled around on the ground in pain before finally conceding. No fancy moves—just pure simplicity. Some reporters were also present, but since it was only the first day, they were mostly focused on schools that had performed well the previous year. Haru made quick work of each match in the individual competition, defeating his opponents in a single move without wasting even a second. The team competition, on the other hand, was all about "form." There were no real combat sparring; it was more of a performance. The team members took the stage together to throw punches and kicks. The victory was determined by factors such as posture, energy, coordination, and whether the movements exuded power. Fortunately, Haru's overwhelming performance in the individual matches gave the team a great boost of confidence, and no one faltered. They made it smoothly through to the next round. By the second day, Yukino and the others didn't come. Although they all wanted to watch, no one felt the need to take leave every day for it. Haru had told them that they could take a leave for the quarterfinals instead. The previous matches had been relatively low-stakes, just as Haru had said—basically, it was just a bunch of rookies clashing with each other. Even when Haru faced opponents who were physically larger than him, he simply used his straightforward kicking technique to ensure his opponent wasn't injured but still took them down with precision. The Karate Club kept advancing. After that day's matches, Hiratsuka-sensei treated everyone to ramen as a way to reward them. Though ramen wasn't everyone's favorite, it was nice when someone else picked up the tab. "You've been holding back, haven't you?" Shizuka asked, sitting beside Haru while waiting for the ramen to arrive. "There's nothing to ask about. As long as we win, that's all that matters," Haru replied, not directly addressing her question. Shizuka, still skeptical, pressed further, "I've talked to Yukino a few times in private. She's not worried about you at all. She says that you'll definitely win before the finals come around." Haru shook his head. "Yukino's still too cautious." "Hah, you're confident, aren't you? No wonder when Haruno heard I was the coach, she told me not to miss a single one of your matches." "Haruno?" Haru blinked in surprise. He suddenly recalled that bright smile Haruno had given him that day. The radiant expression in her smile always made him feel like it contained some deeper emotion. But Haruno always spoke in a way that mixed sincerity with playful teasing, and he had fallen for it a few times before. So even now, he still couldn't figure out what was going on in Haruno's mind. Shizuka didn't know what he was thinking, so she continued, "She's coming to have dinner with me tonight. You should come too." "Me?" Haru pointed at himself. "Yes, she specifically asked for you to join us. She said you'd definitely agree." At this point, Shizuka leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Do you have some kind of agreement with her? Why is she so sure?" "Hiratsuka-sensei, why are you so nosy like a child?" Haru chuckled. "Hey, that's not fair!" Shizuka shot him a glare, but couldn't help but laugh. Being called "like a child" wasn't too bad—it was kind of a compliment, really. The unmarried, slightly older teacher couldn't help but feel pleased with herself. After finishing their ramen, the Karate Club members went their separate ways. Of course, they didn't head home; they had training to do. Haru didn't join them, but no one thought it was strange. "With that freakish strength and speed of his, I wouldn't be surprised if one day he accidentally breaks someone's armor in the ring." By now, everyone had developed a deep impression of Haru. That impression was simple: he was strong. Truly, overwhelmingly strong. What made it even more frustrating was that, despite knowing Haru for so long, none of them could ever figure out his true strength. "Just sitting there eating noodles, Haru's strength is still terrifying." This was a phrase that the Karate Club members loved to use. Haru had often made fun of them for it, but they never seemed to stop. "His stance is terrifying. Even when he goes to the bathroom, it's terrifying…" At 5:30 p.m., Haru and Shizuka met Haruno. She was wearing a light-colored long-sleeve top paired with form-fitting jeans. This style of pants requires a perfect figure because their tight fit shows every detail. If there's any extra flesh on the legs or hips, it becomes very apparent. Haruno wore this with confidence because she had the figure to pull it off. Haru couldn't help but compare her to Yukino, his mind wandering to the differences in their bodies. Even though they were sisters, the differences in their bust size and waist-hip ratio were very clear. "I hope I'm not too late," Haruno said as she greeted Shizuka, then turned her smiling gaze on Haru. "Should I congratulate you?" "It's too early for that. Let me win first before you say anything." "I knew you'd say that. Confident Haru is just as cute as when you were younger." "…If you can, I'd like you to use a different adjective, Haruno-san." The three of them laughed as they found a restaurant. Even though Hiratsuka-sensei treated them to ramen earlier, it wasn't nearly enough to fill Haru up, and noodles were hardly satisfying. "Good thing I saved some room," Shizuka said, putting her hand on her waist. Haruno immediately laughed. "Haru, how about a drink?" "No, thanks. I don't like alcohol," Haru replied firmly. Haruno didn't push the matter. She and Shizuka ordered some sake and food. Perhaps it was because the Karate Club had done so well, or maybe Shizuka was in a good mood, but once the sake arrived, both she and Haruno drank freely. The two women felt at ease with Haru around. Since he could also drive them home, Shizuka let loose and quickly became the life of the party. The meal was filled with a cheerful atmosphere. The two women teased Haru about his performance in the matches, and of course, Haruno couldn't help but throw in a little playful flirting. Shizuka, having drunk a bit, wasn't quite as bold. As his teacher, she couldn't really flirt with her student. Haru focused on eating, as he had grown used to Haruno's teasing and handled it effortlessly. But then Haruno suddenly asked, "When you and Yukino get married, do you want me to be your bridesmaid?" At the mention of "marriage," Shizuka, a woman of a certain age, froze, caught off guard by the question and fell silent. Haru subtly glanced at Haruno, signaling her to look at how Shizuka had been affected by her words. Haruno, clearly used to this reaction, raised her glass with a smile. "Come on, Shizuka, don't be upset. I was talking about Haru and Yukino." "I know, I just…" Shizuka trailed off. "Alright, alright, let's hear what Haru has to say first." Shizuka propped her face up with her hand, feeling helpless, and responded, "Why don't you talk about your own future marriage first?" Haru nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, you should talk about yourself first before you get the right to talk about others." Shizuka looked at them with some amusement. "Are you two trying to use me as a stepping stone for your little competition with Haruno?" "Not at all, I've always respected you," Haru said seriously. Of course, Hiratsuka-sensei didn't believe him. At this moment, Haruno lazily said, "Me, getting married? That's probably something that's still far off. After all, I've never really thought about such a thing." Haru playfully countered, "Haruno-san, remember that you're older than Yukino and me!" Haruno wasn't offended. On the contrary, she smiled brightly. "Well, if I do get married, I certainly wouldn't ask you to be my bridesman." Haru puffed out his chest proudly. "Is it because I'm so handsome that I'll steal the spotlight from your future husband?" Haruno merely smiled without saying anything. The alcohol brought a charming pink hue to her cheeks. With the faintest smile on her lips, she had an almost irresistible allure, the kind that made you want to keep looking at her without being able to pull away. Shizuka, still lazily resting her cheek on her hand, continued to watch her friend closely. She noticed a change in Haruno's mood.

Chapter 148 - 148: Terrifying Strength

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