Ch.95 Kamo Noritoshi's Inner Turmoil

"Wait!!!"

Kamo Noritoshi reached out his hand like Er Kang from a historical drama.

But Akira ignored him. Kamo tried to chase after Akira, but he was thrown back by Gardevoir's "Psychic." He could only watch helplessly as Akira walked further away, taking with him the one voice that mattered most.

Mother.

A gentle mother.

A beautiful mother.

A strong mother.

The mother who would pick him up whenever he fell.

The mother who taught him to be kind to others.

Even after being disowned by the family, she would still tell him, "It's okay, I'm always watching over you from afar, so you must be well."

Damn it, why didn't I realize it sooner? Even though Mother never mentioned her maiden name, she left me a pendant with the character "明" (Ming) carved on it.

And this Akira... he's the disowned younger brother of my mother, Hayami.

That's why he knows "Blood Manipulation" and has such a deep understanding of the Kamo family. That's why he spoke so much to me.

Unlike with others, even those stronger like Todo Aoi, his attitude towards me was different.

But wasn't he supposed to not have any cursed energy? What is this "Spirit Manipulation" (as listed in his file)?

No... that's not the important part.

The important part is that he calls himself Akira, the son of Hayami from the Ming family.

The identity I longed for—someone who embodies my mother Hayami's will.

He said he was disappointed.

Was that disappointment just his own feelings, or was he feeling disappointed for Mother?

Am I now the kind of child that Mother would hate? If that were true, it would be a bigger blow than all the pressures and failures I've faced put together.

It would be a complete negation of my eight years of effort, my eight years of struggle, and my entire life's plan.

This is harder to accept than losing the exchange event ten times, a hundred times.

As his thoughts drifted, Akira had already returned to the stands around the training field and sat down in a corner.

Gojo Satoru was the first to move closer, asking, "What about the individual matches? You're not going to continue?"

Akira shrugged nonchalantly. "No need. I've done what I came here to do, and I've shown off enough. Panda, Maki, it's up to you guys now. Got it?"

He didn't have much desire to showcase his own strength. Making his foolish brother realize the truth was all he wanted to do.

If Kamo Noritoshi had been ranked higher, Akira would have left even earlier.

"Are you okay?" Panda asked with concern. Akira's behavior was strange enough that even an idiot could tell.

"This isn't something we can talk about here, idiot," Maki said, her emotional intelligence unusually high for once.

"It's not convenient for me to talk, but you can go ask those who know," Akira replied.

A pact only worked on oneself; it couldn't control others.

"If you say so." Gojo made an OK sign, raised a white towel, and said, "Akira forfeits. Next up, Panda."

"Leave it to me," Panda answered loudly.

"Osu!"

Pangoro stood behind his older brother as usual, but now that he couldn't climb onto his back like before, he just swung his fists in support.

Of all of Akira's Pokémon, Pangoro was the one that had learned the most sounds, thanks to Panda's guidance.

"Osu!"

Panda also raised his fists, and the two brothers bumped their bear paws together.

Their size difference might have changed, but their bond remained the same, as did their knack for stirring things up.

After the fist bump, both pandas swung their massive hips simultaneously.

There was a loud "DUANG" sound as their butts collided, and while Pangoro stood still, Panda bounced like a giant ball, landing on the training field.

Using his Fluffy ability to ignore the impact, Panda bowed politely:

"Tokyo School, Panda, at your service! Please teach me, Kamo-senpai."

It was only then that Kamo Noritoshi snapped out of his chaotic thoughts: "I'm afraid I have nothing left to teach you. Please excuse me."

With that, he walked back to the stands, just as Akira had done a few minutes earlier.

"Yare yare," Panda shrugged.

No one objected either. Akira's strength was obvious. If he hadn't gone into lecture mode, Kamo Noritoshi would have been defeated long ago.

Even if he hadn't lost yet, his blood packs and fighting capacity were almost depleted. Staying would only mean taking a beating, so it was better to make a dignified exit.

Soon after, Utahime Iori also raised a white towel. "Kamo Noritoshi forfeits. Next up."

She then sat beside the students, asking the same question: "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Kamo Noritoshi replied, shaking his head.

"Really? Don't push yourself." Given Utahime's care and experience, she already knew her students' strengths and weaknesses.

"I'm not pushing myself," Kamo shook his head again. "In fact, I should be grateful for this exchange event. It helped me recognize my shortcomings. I'm truly sorry, Teacher Utahime. I've been a bit too full of myself before."

Upon hearing these words, all the students turned their heads, both upperclassmen and underclassmen alike.

In their eyes, Kamo Noritoshi was the classic heir—an elite character. Though he was calm and dignified in his interactions, there was always an unconscious air of superiority, naturally assuming a leadership role during group activities.

Those who liked him saw it as leadership charisma. Those who didn't thought he was pretentious. Would someone like that apologize for something so obvious?

What kind of spell did that guy Akira cast on him to make him change so drastically?

Speaking of which, Todo Aoi had also seemed to bond with Akira. Would he also—

"Oho, I like that expression! Maybe now you'll understand the appeal of XP. Let me ask you again, Kamo Noritoshi—what kind of women do you like?"

Everyone else: "..."

So nothing's changed at all. We were idiots to expect anything different.

Kamo Noritoshi decisively shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to refuse. It's too embarrassing."

"And that's why you're always so boring. That's why you can't be as strong as I am," Todo said, shaking his head in disappointment.

"I don't mind becoming strong, but being like you is out of the question."

Kamo replied casually, echoing the sentiment of all the Kyoto students.

This is what a true center of attention should do.

When everyone's attention shifted back to the match, Principal Gakuganji, the oldest person present, hobbled over with his cane, speaking to Noritoshi:

"Kamo Noritoshi, that Akira—"

Kamo was not surprised. Acting as the model child in the eyes of his elders wasn't without its rewards—he knew what every one of those people wanted, even more clearly than Akira did, and he knew how to handle them.

"Sorry, Principal Gakuganji, but that's not something I can reveal."

"I understand." Gakuganji didn't press further.

If the Kamo family heir couldn't speak of it, then it must be an internal family secret. To learn more, one would either have to oppose the Kamo family or find someone of higher status, such as the current head of the Kamo family.

Watching the old man's back as he came and went, Noritoshi felt lighter than he had since entering school.

Though the things he had done were no different from usual, his mindset was completely different.

Obedience and compromise remained, but what once felt like the end goal was now just a step in the process, a means to an end.

Akira was right. It's all about understanding the difference between the ends and the means.