Chapter 267: Two Battles
Shinshinkai Karate School is a huge karate school, if not one of Japan's biggest martial arts schools, which is led and created by the 10th dan karate grandmaster, Doppo Orochi.
Doppo Orochi is a famous karate user, if not the most important figure that leads the future of karate in this country. He is known by many titles, such as the "God of War," "Man-Eater Orochi," and "Tiger Slayer." However, out of many titles, most people knew him as a "Tiger Slayer" since he was famous for his feat to slay a tiger with his bare hands. It was also the reason why there was a picture of him slaying a giant tiger outside of the Shinshinkai Headquarters.
Even though it was night, the Shinshinkai Headquarters was still full of light, and there were still some people who trained inside.
Those people were the strongest members of the Shinshinkai, and they were watching the fight spar between the successor of the Shinsekai and the adopted son of Doppo Orochi, Katsumi Orochi, against one of the strongest Chinese Kenpo users, Retsu Kaioh.
The two of them were fighting fiercely as if they were trying to take out each other's lives.
The people, who watched them, could feel that their hearts were beating so fast, and they were full of tension, watching the match between the two of them.
Doppo was also there, watching the match between Katsumi and Retsu, and when he saw his son had lost, he said, "Stop!" He then told the rest of the students to go back, telling them to comprehend what they had watched today.
"Osu!!!"
Leaving such a word, everyone bowed before they walked out from the dojo, leaving Doppo, Katsumi, and Retsu alone.
Katsumi, who had lost, twitched his lips and said, "Thank you, Retsu-san."
Retsu had this solemn expression on his face, and he also nodded, showing his respect. "No, I should be the one who is thankful for you to help me."
Katsumi frowned and said, "Are you telling me that you want to fight that brat?"
The brat on Katsumi's mouth was, of course, the main character of this novel, Shishio Oga.
When the news that Kanoh Agito, who was known as the Champion of Kengan Match, had lost against a 15-year-old boy, it caused a loud noise among all the fighters that had participated in the underground fight.
Even though there were a lot of venues and organizations that had set up an underground arena, Kengan Match was one of the biggest organizations, and anyone who had seen Kanoh Agito fight, they knew that his strength was without a doubt, but for him to lose against a 15-year-old boy, it caused them to feel disbelief.
Some of them were curious, some of them disdained, and some of them were wondering how strong this 15-year-old boy was.
"Don't underestimate him." Doppo suddenly interjected and said, "Don't you forget that we know someone who isn't that much older than him, and he also has become the champion of that place?"
"But Kengan Match is weaker than our place!" Katsumi snorted and said, "The fighters on the Kengan Match are just money-greedy fighters. They have been corrupted by money!"
Unlike the Kengan Match, where the fighters would get money when they fought, the Underground Arena wouldn't give a reward to the fighters who participated in the match, and the reward that they got was pride, which was known as the strongest!
Even though Tokugawa might step down as a shogunate, without a doubt, this family still had a massive influence over this country, and it was also the reason why the Underground Arena was known as the strongest underground fighting organization in this country.
Doppo didn't say anything since he also agreed with his son's thoughts.
"But Kanoh Agito is a strong opponent." Retsu, who had been silent, started to talk.
"You have fought him, Retsu-san?" Katsuki asked curiously.
"Yes." Retsu nodded and said, "I almost lost against him in the past."
".........."
Doppo and Katsumi were silent when they heard Retsu's words.
"But I have become stronger now compared to the past." Retsu clenched his fist, thinking about his match with Kanon Agito in the past, and somehow he felt the wounds he received in the past from Kanoh started to tremble.
Doppo and Katsumi nodded at the same time since they knew how strong Retsu was, and if they were fighting seriously, then no one would be able to tell who would be the final winner.
"I have also heard that this 15-year-old boy is also a Bajiquan practitioner. As the same comrade who learned Chinese martial arts, I want to fight him," Retsu said with a serious expression.
Chinese martial arts have a long history since it has existed for the past 4,000 years old.
Even Retsu, who had practiced Chinese martial arts for his entire life, didn't think he had mastered all the Chinese martial arts.
"But isn't it difficult?" Katsumi sighed and understood why Retsu wanted to fight Shishio Oga since, as a martial artist, it was normal for them to want to fight someone strong, right?
"I have heard that his family is rich, and they have a considerable influence on politics, military, and even police, right? Even Tokugawa-jii might have trouble inviting him."
There was a rumor that Shishio Oga was a descendant of an influential family, which was why no one dared to cause him too much trouble since they were sure that as long as they provoked him for a fight, they would become a prisoner.
Even if Doppo had considerable influence over karate, it didn't mean that he had the power to control the military, politics, and police. If their opponent was only a normal person without any status, then they might come in a group, trying to ask him for a fight. Unfortunately, the opponent was a giant that might cause a massive bleed to his organization.
Doppo, who had a massive organization under him, was still hesitant to challenge Shishio in the fight.
As for a normal martial art, they wouldn't think to fight Shishio since they still needed money.
As a martial art, of course, they wanted to be known as the strongest, but if they couldn't eat, what could they do?
As for Tokugawa, they weren't sure whether he wanted to try to taunt Shishio's family, causing unending troubles.
Retsu didn't say anything. He was sitting in silence since, as a martial artist, he had a feeling that he would fight Shishio Oga sooner or later. He might not know where this feeling came from, but he knew it, and it was also the reason why he asked Katsumi for a spar before. He also had a feeling that he might have achieved enlightenment and become stronger after he had won against Shishio Oga if he had been given a chance to fight him. He wanted to fight him. No, he needed to fight him!
Looking at Retsu, who didn't seem to be trying to give up, Katsumi was a bit helpless and said, "He might not be as powerful as you're thinking, you know? His family is rich, after all. He might buy that Kanoh Agito for losing during the mat ---"
"DON'T INSULT HIM!!!"
Retsu cut Katsumi's words and said, "I know what kind of person Kanoh Agito is, and I don't think that he'll purposefully lose to someone just for money. Don't you know his master? Do you think the CEO of the Dainippon Bank lacks money?"
Katsumi raised his hands helplessly and nodded. "Sorry, sorry, my bad." If he thought about it carefully, he also didn't believe that Kanoh Agito would lose purposely since Kanoh Agito's master was the CEO of the Dainippon Bank, one of the biggest banks in this country. There was a lot of money in the bank that someone might not have possibly spent on them, so why should Kanoh lose purposely for money?
Especially when the fight between Shishio and Kanoh was held to decide who would get a massive investment project with ten billion yen of worth, so who would dare to lose purposely in this battle?
Still, without a doubt, Katsumi, Doppo, and Retsu were quite curious about Shishio Oga since this 15-year-old boy could defeat the undefeatable champion of the Kengan Match. They had seen the 17-year-old champion at the Underground Arena, so they didn't feel that much surprised with the 15-year-old champion of the Kengan Match. However, as a martial art, they had their own pride, and they didn't think they would lose to anyone!
While they were in the middle of their thoughts, they heard hurried footsteps coming closer and closer, and when they were wondering who ran on this place, they heard a familiar voice.
"Retsu, your match has been decided! Wednesday night! Can you fight?" Tokugawa shouted loudly as he panted since he had been running for a while, but even so, he still stared at Retsu with reddened eyes, waiting for his response.
Retsu felt that his blood was boiling at that moment, and he stood up without hesitation. Bowing his head toward Tokugawa to show his thanks, and said, "Thank you!" His eyes were full of fighting spirit, and he couldn't wait to fight Shishio Oga!
After Tokugawa said those words, he then didn't hesitate to announce the fight between Retsu Kaioh and Shishio Oga, and without a doubt, the Underground Arena was going to be boiled with the intensity of their match!
---
The night passed quickly, and the morning was coming.
The members of the literature club had promised to each other to cook their own bento for lunch before so they could eat it together in the clubroom. As a member, Shishio also cooked a bento too, but this time, he made a lot of them so he could share them with everyone.
Shishio is in his class right now, talking with Usa and Tagami. "You have joined a soccer club, Tagami?"
"Of course!" Tagami nodded without hesitation and said, "By the way, Oga, do you know the manager of that club is so cute!"
"......."
Shishio was speechless and asked, "Why do you need to mention this matter to me? What do you want me to do?"
Hearing Shishio's response, Tagami understood the meaning behind Shishio's words.
Shishio had a girlfriend after all, so what was the use of telling him this?
Tagami felt an arrow strike his chest. "Ugh..."
Usa laughed when he saw Tagami's reaction.
"Are you interested in her?" Shishio asked curiously.
"Yes." Tagami nodded, regained his excitement, and said, "Her name is Iroha Isshiki. She's at 1-5 class."
"Then go after her," Shishio said simply, and his expression didn't change much when he heard that name.
Tagami blushed and said, "It's easy for you to say that, but I'm so nervous when I meet her!"
Usa nodded and agreed. "If you need help, then I will support you."
"Rather than talking about a girl, isn't it better to talk about the sport test that we'll do tomorrow?" Nana then joined and said, "I'm going to bring him back."
"........"
Looking at Shishio, who was pulled by Nana, Usa and Tagami sighed and thought that it had always been a hoe before bro.
Nana was in a hurry since there was something that she needed to ask Shishio, especially when she learned that Shishio was going to fight in a match. So she moved closer toward him and asked in a whisper, "Are you really going to have a match on Wednesday?"
"Yes."
"Can I come too?"
"Why not?"
"Then I will come." Nana nodded without hesitation and asked, "By the way, Miu-senpai doesn't know about this matter, right? Are you planning to tell her?"
Shishio didn't answer Nana's question first but looked at her and asked, "What do you think? Should I tell her?"
"It isn't about whether you need to tell her or not." Nana looked at Shishio and said, "She's your girlfriend, and she has a right to know what you're going to do. Unless it is an important secret such as a country secret or company secret, then there was no need to hide it, right? But that isn't the case, right? If so, then you won't tell me, Saki, and Mashiro, right?"
"That's true." Shishio nodded and said, "Thank you, Nana. You're so smart."
Nana smiled and hugged his arm without hesitation. "I have always been smart!"
"Cough! Cough!"
"Can you not flirt in class?"
Maiko and Mea looked at Shishio and Nana helplessly.
Shishio and Nana didn't think too much and sat on their seats naturally as if nothing had happened.
"........." Maiko and Mea.
"By the way, do you remember about yesterday's plan to cook a bento to have lunch together?" Mea asked Shishio curiously.
"Of course, I remember." Shishio nodded since there was no way that he could forget since he had an "Enhanced Memory."
"Oh? Did you cook your own bento, Shishio?" Nana asked curiously since she didn't know that Shishio could cook.
"I cooked the bento on my own." Shishio nodded, but then Mea laughed, which made him confused. "Why did you laugh?"
Mea patted Shishio's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I cook a lot so I can share some with you."
".........."
Shishio looked at Mea speechless, wondering whether this girl thought that his cooking skill was shit.
'If only this girl knows....'
Shishio shook his head and didn't refute Mea's words since the fact was better than words, and he was also a bit afraid that he might be afraid to hit their confidence when they knew the truth.
They continued to talk to each other until the teacher came, but then all of them were anticipating lunchtime since, during lunch, they would start their feminine appeal battle to show who was the strongest girl among them!
But at this moment, they didn't even know that the feminine appeal that they were proud of had been defeated by Shishio.