21 Kenjutsu Club

Weeks flew by, and the club recruitment event came to a close without any major hiccups, although a small scuffle was bound to happen.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"What?" Erika replied, puzzled. "You've dealt with these guys before, right? But I can't help but wonder what trouble they'll cause later."

Erika's mischievous grin and curious question made me chuckle. "So you're worried? Well, thank you."

"W-What!? Me, worried? No way!" Erika protested, trying to hide her concern.

In truth, she was initially apprehensive when I decided to join the kenjutsu club. But why did I join? Simple—to sharpen my skills.

"Why is this idiot suddenly hanging out with us?" Erika asked, pointing her thumb towards Leo, whose mouth twitched uncomfortably.

"What's with this gorilla? I just wanted to try something new since I've been stuck with hand-to-hand combat---Ouch! Why did you suddenly punch me?"

Leo explained that he joined the club to break free from his monotonous fighting style.

Using the system might make things easier for me, but I don't believe it's beneficial for my personal growth. I'll only rely on it as a last resort or when I find myself in a sticky situation.

Speaking of the system, I suddenly recalled turning off those annoying notifications, making it seem like I never had the system in the first place.

[You're deliberately ignoring me, huh?]

No, I'm not.

[Sure seems like it.]

Oh? Why so sudden attitude?

[...]

The system appeared to be unresponsive and angry. Ah, it's been a while.

Status.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Name: Yuki Haku

Age : 14

Gender: Male

Karma points: 458,157,113

Photographic Memory [A]

Cooking [S]

Mother Tounge [A]

Knowledge [S+]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Power:

Unlimited Psions [MAX]

Psion control [S]

Magical Endurance [S]

Sukunahikona [S]

Daikokuten [S]

Elemental Sight [S]

Heavenly Body [A]

Unknown [F-]

Ninjutsu [A-]

Taijutsu [A]

Swordsmanship [D-]

Spearmanship [B]

Shurikenjutsu [A]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Storage:

Wet Towels

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The newfangled system had undergone a drastic transformation - names were no longer solitary entities but were accompanied by an enigmatic indicator.

This unexpected alteration sent shivers down my spine, causing an uneasy sweat to creep across my back. Why this sudden shift in the system's design?

It felt as though the very system itself was propelling me relentlessly towards an unyielding path of growth and strength.

And what in the world was the meaning behind "[Unknown]"? It was like a riddle yet to be deciphered.

My memory harked back to the days when I absorbed a strange energy within the depths of the quantum realm, but thus far, I hadn't ventured to explore or uncover the truth behind it.

After a leisurely stroll, we finally arrived at the gymnasium where the Kenjutsu Club had congregated.

Stepping inside, I found myself greeted by a sea of thirty-two individuals, their eyes resembling daggers locked onto my presence.

The penetrating gazes made it evident to me who the seniors were and who the fresh-faced first-year students were.

"Come on now! Can't a bloke simply perform his duty without attracting such scrutiny?" I grumbled, feeling Erika's ceaseless teasing at my side.

"Hehe, it looks like all eyes are fixated on you, Kekeke," Erika playfully taunted.

"Shut it." I retorted, dismissing her jest.

Side by side, we ventured further into the gymnasium until someone approached us, breaking the tension. "When I saw that name, I couldn't believe my eyes! Anyhow, welcome!" the newcomer exclaimed.

Truth be told, I hadn't anticipated such a nonchalant reception. Apparently, he bore no grudges concerning the events that transpired during the recruitment event. "It's been a while, Kirihara-senpai," I greeted him.

"Hmm... I was expecting something more exhilarating, but it seems fate had other plans," Erika responded, her tone tinged with mild disappointment.

"What did you expect from me, Chiba?" Kirihara quipped back, refusing to be outdone.

"Are you begging to get knocked out?" Chiba threatened, her eyes narrowing with an air of menace.

Curiosity piqued, Leo nudged me, eager to uncover the identity of the enigmatic senior by my side. I responded with an elbow jab, whispering, "That's Kirihara Takeaki, a senior. They've been acquainted for quite some time, given their shared interests."

"All right, everyone's present and accounted for. Let's kick things off with some good ol' self-introductions," Kirihara-senpai announced, sporting a wide grin.

"Go ahead," he gestured to Saiba Takumi, a student from 1-D.

With a sense of urgency, Saiba promptly rose from the floor, stood up straight, and introduced himself, "Greetings, one and all! I am Saiba Takumi from 1-D. Delighted to make your acquaintance. Just so you know, I'm not particularly interested in forging friendships here, so don't expect me to go above and beyond."

Nine out of twelve people had now concluded their introductions. It was my turn to step into the spotlight. "Yuki Haku, 1-E," I announced, fully aware of the mixed response I was likely to receive. The seniors exhibited mild discontent, while others simply couldn't be bothered.

"I'm... yawn~ Chiba Erika, also hailing from 1-E," Erika chimed in with an impish grin, settling herself down in a rather audacious manner.

Every eye within the room shifted towards the enigmatic girl who emitted an aura of indifference. Her eyes, crimson and half-lidded, mirrored pools of blood, harmonized perfectly with her straight bob of jet-black hair, cascading down to her neck. A small mole nestled beneath her left eye lent a touch of uniqueness to her appearance.

As she uttered her name with a voice that resounded neither too loud nor too soft, the entire gymnasium fell into silence.

The mere mention of her name caused some to gulp audibly, while others swiftly averted their gaze, their initial fascination now veiled in uncertainty.

"Yotsuba Mei, from 1-A," a gentle yet icy voice emerged, shattering the silence that had enveloped the room.

------------------

Ah! It's been a while!

Sorry about the delay in updating!

Life has been a bit chaotic lately, and I got caught up in a whirlwind of unexpected events. I've been juggling multiple commitments and lost track of time. My sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused, and I promise to get those stories updated as soon as possible.

Thanks for understanding!

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