Chapter 99: Cafe.
Jordan and his friends watched with mouths agape at the result.
The people playing other games felt the room shaking, and out of curiosity, they decided to look what was the cause.
''I-Ichiro, that was insane!'' Jordan exclaimed.
Ichiro smiled and stepped out of the game area; the name of [KurogamIchiro] was shown on the leaderboards with golden colors.
''What should we do next?'' Ichiro inquired.
Jordan shrugged, ''There are still few games we could try out.''
Ichiro nodded and looked around the room, but then they heard an annoying-sounding voice
''Oh, look what we are here. Brutes from High School of Fighting.''
Jordan and his friends turned their heads angrily and clicked their tongues once they saw the upcoming group.
A young man with medium-length blond hair and blue eyes were leading them; he had an above-average face with an expensive-looking outfit.
''Michel, what the fuck are you doing here?'' Jordan asked angrily.
Michel snorted, ''This is a public building, but I am not surprised that you brutes are here. You guys don't care about anything else than Martial Arts.'' He said mockingly.
While Jordan and Michel were arguing.
Ichiro asked one of Jordan's friends, ''Who are they?''
''They are from Private High School of Cold, rich snobs basically.'' Jordan's friend, also known as Wells, replied.
Ichiro nodded and crossed his arms.
Michel's group had 3 boys, him included, and 2 rich and beautiful-looking girls.
Michel was trying to show dominance towards two girls, but their attention wasn't on him.
Instead, with blushing faces, they looked at Ichiro and took sneaky glances every now and then.
Michel smirked, ''The number 1 stop made by our King will always be the sign that we are superior school.''
Michel thought that comment would make him angry, but Jordan smirked, ''Look at the leaderboards, moron~.''
Michel raised an eyebrow and looked at the leaderboard. He gasped, and his face went pale, ''KurogamIchiro?! Who is he?!''
Jordan smirked and grabbed Ichiro's shoulder, ''He is.''
Michel turned his gaze towards Ichiro and narrowed his eyes, ''He doesn't look that strong; you are lying, aren't you?''
Jordan snorted, ''Ichiro, can you do it again?''
Ichiro sighed and nodded. He walked towards the game area, put his left fist forwards and right fist next to his waist.
[Ironical Destruction!]
*BAM*
Again the room started shaking.
Michel and his group looked with widened eyes as the score started climbing up.
Soon the score stopped.
[NEW RECORD!]
[1st - 14395 - KurogamIchiro]
''W-Wha…'' Michel was gobsmacked.
Jordan smirked, ''Your King isn't that great after all; let me introduce our this year S-Ranker - Kurogami Ichiro!!!''
*Clap*
Jordan's friends clapped with playful smiles while Ichiro bowed towards everyone with a sign of appreciation.
Michel gritted his teeth and pointed his shaky finger towards Ichiro, ''A-A-Attack strength doesn't mean anything! It doesn't matter how strong your attack is; if you can't hit your opponent - it's useless!''
''Let's go.'' Michel waved his hand, the boys of his group left, and shortly afterward, girls as well with reluctance.
Jordan snorted, ''Rich snobs.''
Ichiro chuckled, ''What should we do now?''
Jordan shrugged, ''There are still a few hours until we have to be at the dormitory.''
Wells rubbed his chin and said, ''If I remember correctly… There was supposed to be new cafe opening today.''
Jordan snapped his fingers, ''That's it, let's go there.''
Jordan and the group of 5 started walking towards the cafe, while Ichiro followed behind.
They arrived at the cafe, which was currently very populated. There was a line of 30 people at least, and all the tables were occupied.
''More popular than anticipated,'' Wells said with frustration.
Jordan thought for a moment and turned towards Ichiro, ''With your status, we could get our coffees in an instant.''
But Ichiro shook his head, ''I don't wanna abuse my status.''
Jordan chuckled and patted his shoulder, ''Other S-Rankers wouldn't even hesitate; you are indeed different.''
''Are the other S-Rankers really that bad?'' Ichiro asked with curiosity.
Wells grimaced and answered, ''They are the worst. They were already arrogant before coming here, but getting S-Rank status in one of the strongest schools in Arya blinded them. They pretty much think that they are real Kings and that we are their subordinates.''
Ichiro grimaced as well, ''Sounds horrible.''
Jordan nodded, ''They don't care about rules. If they fancy someone, but she is already taken. They will take her with force then if have to.''
''And teachers are letting this happen?''
''Of course, they only care how they do in the tournaments. If they do bad, they will get their status removed, but until then. They can do basically anything and no one can do anything to stop it.''
Wells smirked and said, ''But most of the S-Rankers don't understand that this is basically a test.''
''Test?'' Ichiro asked.
Wells nodded, ''It is a perfect way to remove the seeds who get lazy after becoming successful. If the S-Rankers stop training, and focus on their newly found status - the school will stop wasting their resources on them.''
Ichiro nodded, ''That is a smart move.''
''Our turn.'' Jordan pointed, and they could see the person in front of them leaving with a cup of coffee.
''Your orders?'' The woman on the other side of the desk said politely.
Jordan, Ichiro, and others ordered, and shortly afterward, they got their cups.
Ichiro took the cup and gave the money to the woman; with a bashful and blushing face, she took the money and gave the change.
''There!'' Jordan pointed at the table, which was getting empty.
Jordan and his friends basically ran there while Ichiro strolled and sat down next to Wells.
''What are you guys plans during the vacation? No one going to meet their families?'' Ichiro asked.
Jordan shrugged, ''I am not from Winterlight, and traveling is too expensive.''
Wells nodded, ''Same.''
''And we are basically doing to spend our time in the dormitory, playing games or training before the school starts,'' Jordan said.
''Ichiro, once the school year starts, you will be part of the Core of the Martial Arts Club,'' Wells said with slight envy.
''Core? What is that?''
''It is Martial Arts Club team for the upcoming tournament. There will be 3 Main Fighters, and those three are almost always from third-year because their Age of Growth has begun. Next is 5 Reserve Fighters, and lastly 3 or 4 Recruit Fighters.'' Wells explained.
Jordan nodded and started explaining more, ''The Recruit Fighters are the new S-Rankers, like you and the others. The school will spend most of their resources on the new Recruits.''
Ichiro nodded.
''Main Fighters are the ones who will be fighting in the main tournament, but Reserve Fighters and Recruit Fighters will fight against weaker schools.''
''What are you guys then?'' Ichiro asked.
Jordan sighed, ''We are the Ordinary Fighters - If we improve enough, then we can become Reserve Fighter, but that is basically impossible without being S-Ranker.''
''What ranks are you guys then?''
Jordan pointed at himself, ''B-Rank.''
''C-Rank,'' Wells said.
Most of Jordan's group was C-Ranks, while two were D-Rank.
''How strong are the Main Fighters then?'' Ichiro decided to ask.
''Martial Commander,'' Jordan said simply.
Ichiro nodded, it was as expected.
Their group spent another 10 minutes in the cafe, and they finally drank their coffee and decided to leave.
Ichiro followed behind them, but when they were about to leave.
Ichiro saw group of 2 walking towards their table they were on previously.
Another one was beautiful middle-aged woman with long black hair and strikingly beautiful blue eyes. Her face was slightly pale, but the demanor around her was someone who would never give up. She tenderly held the hand of younger girl.
The younger girl was someone who took Ichiro's breath away, she had an exquisite-looking face, like a peerless treasure with flowing black hair and blue eyes similar to the middle-aged woman. Her body was petite, but it didn't diminish her beauty at all, only amplified.
''Mother, be careful,'' Azura said with a caring smile.
Her mother chuckled and carefully kept walking, her body was still in pretty bad shape, but it was getting better every day.
The group of two passed Ichiro, and sat down on the chair with table in front of them.
Ichiro took a glance at the black-haired girl but shook his head shortly afterward and followed behind his new group of friends.
Azura, with a beautiful smile, looked at her mother, but with the corner of her eyes, she saw a very familiar-looking black-haired young man, she turned her head and only saw the back of the young man, but it felt incredibly familiar.
''Hmm…'' She tilted her head curiously, she doesn't know why, but it feels like she has seen him thousands of times, definitely not because every time she opens her phone, she looks at least 5 minutes at the picture in her phone, definitely not.
''Everything alright, honey?'' Her mother asked with gentle smile.
Azura turned her head towards her mother and smiled sweetly, ''Yes, mother.''