Saturday, April 11.
10:00 a.m.
Under a cloudless blue sky, the early summer sun shone brightly over the enormous outdoor swimming pool of Advanced Nurturing High School.
Unlike the previous week, not a single student from Class 1-D arrived late.
Part of the reason was obvious.
Everyone now knew that attendance and classroom behavior affected their monthly Class Points.
The other reason…
Was Kaoru Hanayama.
After witnessing his overwhelming strength over the past few days, no one wanted to be the first person caught slacking off.
Of course…
Not everyone had come with studying on their mind.
“Hurry up already!”
“The girls are finally coming!”
Kanji Ike practically bounced on the balls of his feet as he peered toward the changing rooms.
“The long-awaited swimsuit reveal!”
Beside him stood Haruki Yamauchi.
Hideo Sotomura was busy tapping away on his tablet.
Standing awkwardly at the edge of the group was Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, who looked as though he’d been dragged into the conversation against his will.
“Hehehe…”
Ike rubbed his hands together.
“Emergency betting pool!”
“Kushida or Hasebe—which one has the bigger bust?”
“We’ll wager points!”
“I’m betting on Kushida-chan!”
Yamauchi answered immediately.
“You can tell even through her uniform!”
Sotomura adjusted his glasses.
“According to my database…”
“Hasebe’s measurements are most likely an E cup or larger.”
“Kushida should be around a D.”
“So Hasebe has the lower payout.”
“Perfect!”
Ike grinned.
“Ayanokōji, you’re joining too!”
“…I’d rather not.”
Ayanokōji sighed and tried to distance himself from the group.
Before anyone could continue—
A voice interrupted them.
“…You guys.”
“Don’t you think you’ve gone a little too far?”
It was Sudō Ken.
Ever since being effortlessly subdued by Hanayama several days earlier, Sudō had become noticeably more restrained.
His instincts warned him not to act recklessly whenever Hanayama was nearby.
Instinctively…
He looked toward the towering giant.
“…Hanayama.”
“What do you think?”
Heavy footsteps echoed across the poolside.
Thud.
Thud.
Hanayama approached.
The four boys instantly fell silent.
Without saying a word—
Thunk.
He flicked Ike squarely on the forehead.
“Ow!”
Thunk.
Yamauchi received the same treatment.
“My head!”
Thunk.
Sotomura staggered backward, clutching his forehead.
“My skull…!”
Finally—
Thunk.
“…”
Ayanokōji instinctively crouched, both hands covering his forehead.
(…That actually hurt.)
For the first time that morning…
The usually expressionless boy genuinely grimaced.
Hanayama slowly crouched down until he was eye level with the group.
“You boys.”
“As students…”
“You’re planning to gamble?”
His deep voice carried surprising weight.
The boys instinctively shrank back.
“I-It was just a joke…”
“We were only betting on—”
Ike’s explanation died halfway through.
Hanayama’s gaze alone silenced him.
“If money is involved…”
“It’s gambling.”
“And gamblers accept consequences.”
He spoke calmly.
“If you lose…”
“And can’t pay your debt…”
“The traditional penalty is losing a finger.”
His expression never changed.
There wasn’t the slightest hint that he was joking.
The boys stared at him.
For one terrifying moment…
They genuinely believed he might produce a knife.
“W-We quit!”
“The bet’s cancelled!”
“Students shouldn’t gamble!”
The three immediately abandoned the idea.
Even Ayanokōji quietly stepped away from them.
Watching the awkward silence that followed, Sudō desperately searched for another topic.
“H-Hey, Hanayama…”
“Why’s your swimsuit different from everyone else’s?”
Everyone looked over.
Hanayama’s swimsuit was completely unlike the standard school-issued trunks.
Instead, he wore a sleek black competitive swimsuit that covered almost his entire body.
It extended from his neck to his wrists and continued down to just above his ankles.
The reason was simple.
Covering his back was the enormous tattoo of the Hanayama-gumi, the symbol of his yakuza family.
His body also bore countless knife wounds, bullet scars, and other injuries accumulated throughout years of brutal battles.
If he exposed those scars during a high school swimming class…
Questions would immediately follow.
So the previous afternoon, Hanayama had visited several sporting goods stores before placing a special order for a full-body racing suit.
It was an elaborate effort to preserve his secret.
Naturally…
He couldn’t explain any of that.
Hanayama puffed out his chest confidently.
“…I’m an excellent swimmer.”
“So I prepared the best possible equipment.”
It was a complete fabrication.
“I-Is that so?”
Sudō nodded in admiration.
“I didn’t know you took swimming this seriously.”
Without the slightest suspicion…
He accepted the explanation completely.
Hanayama gave a solemn nod, as though confirming an undeniable truth.
Then…
His attention shifted elsewhere.
Ayanokōji was still rubbing his forehead after the earlier flick.
Hanayama walked over.
He gently patted Ayanokōji’s shoulder…
Then his back.
The light taps caused Ayanokōji to sway slightly.
“Hmm…”
Hanayama nodded thoughtfully.
“Ayanokōji.”
“Your body’s well-built.”
“Strong bones.”
“Solid muscles.”
“You’ve got a sturdy frame.”
Ayanokōji froze for the briefest instant.
Then his usual indifferent expression returned.
“…It’s probably genetics.”
“I’ve never really trained.”
It was the same harmless excuse he always used to avoid attracting attention.
Hanayama nodded in complete agreement.
“I understand.”
“It’s genetics.”
“I’ve never trained either.”
“…”
Ayanokōji almost lost his composure.
(Please don’t compare us.)
He silently swallowed the retort.
Continuing this conversation with Hanayama would only draw more attention to himself.
Remaining quiet was undoubtedly the safer choice.