Chapter 127

The roar was not a singular sound, but a series of overlapping, discordant notes that grated against the very fabric of reality.

It was a sound that seemed to twist and warp the air around them as if reality itself were being torn apart by the force of the beast's fury.

After the roar had stopped, it was dead silent afterwards, no birds could be heard nor the cricks and clicks of the cicadas.

The creature suddenly lunged at her with its sharp-bladed hands, Amane raised her hands, and the power within her surged outwards, forming a glowing, ethereal blade.

The two forces finally met.

{CLAAAAAAAAANG!?!?!}

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{Location: Yakusa High School}

After Kaori's amazing performance, the last performers to go on stage was another band that also performed decently.

Though in Ekko's honest opinion, he thinks the "Starry Nights" did a much better job. In any case, the talent show was a massive success and everyone had an amazing time.

Afterwards, the students who had performed on stage all came out to give the audience one last bow before moving on to the other activities of the night.

Some students went dancing on the makeshift dance floor, while others went to go watch movies or eat and drink.

While Nana and Yakana went to see their other friends Ekko and Gojo on the other hand went to go participate in the pugil stick fight.

It is a sport or training exercise that originated in the military and involves two people, each holding a padded stick or "pugil stick," attempting to knock the other person off a platform or into a pit.

The sticks are padded to minimize the risk of injury, but the game still requires physical strength, agility, and strategy.

Safe to say Ekko also got into the finals of that competition but so did a familiar face. Saeko Busujima, from class 2-A and the captain of the Kendo club.

Ekko was drawn to her the moment he saw her, and not in a love-at-first-sight type of way but more in a martial artists type way.

Ekko wasn't like most people and has experienced a lot of things despite his young age.

And Saeko hid it well from the people around her, but looking into her eyes Ekko saw someone who liked the thrill of violence and fighting.

Her heart was beating out of her chest, not out of nervousness but excitement.

Ekko smiled finding her quite interesting, she actually reminded him of one of his sisters in his old world, sadistic on the inside but sweet on the outside.

But with that sort of mindset and how people are in the modern age, it can be scary to let out your true self to people.

" Will our finalist please step on the podium." A teacher/referee asked as she blew her whistle.

Ekko stepped onto the platform, adjusting his grip on the padded pugil stick. He was excited, facing off against the legendary Saeko Busujima in a Pugil Stick spar. The crowd cheered and jeered as the two combatants took their positions, circling each other warily.

" So you're the infamous Makena-kun huh, I've heard a lot of things about you." Saeko said as the two circled the ring.

" All good things I hope." Ekko quipped.

" I guess, but I would only say 70% of it is good, but I don't really care about rumours, you scored the highest on the punching machine and even broke the record. I want you to show me your power unless it was all luck." Saeko said as she stopped circling and faced Ekko head-on.

Ekko also stopped, he stared at his opponent before smirking. "I don't need luck to win. I've got skill."

Immediately after Ekko dashed forward shocking Saeko with his speed before blocking an overhead attack. Her feet slid a metre back before she found her footing and jumped away.

" Is that all you got miss Captain, and here I thought I was going to get a challenge from the famous Saeko Busujima." Ekko taunted while Saeko showed no emotion on the outside.

Ekko was fast and strong, but Saeko was even faster, dodging his other blows with ease. She circled him, watching for an opening, and struck back with a flurry of blows that left Ekko reeling.

"You're not bad," Saeko said, her voice calm and measured. "But you're not good enough." Saeko said finally letting out a smile of her own.

Ekko regained his balance and smiled while rolling his shoulders and back in a nonchalant manner." That was a pretty good massage, but you missed a spot on my lumbar."

' From what I can tell she's trained for many years. She's got good agility, strength, technique and excellent control...she would make a good sparing partner for me and Baiken.'

Ekko thought to himself while getting into a ready position.

The fight continued while each combatant was pushing themselves to the limit.

Saeko felt sweat pouring down her face and her muscles burning with exertion, but she refused to give up. She landed blow after blow, but Ekko was always one step ahead of her.

Ekko swept her legs and was about to hit her stomach but she quickly rolled out of the way and counterattacked with a fast jab to his shoulder.

The crowd of students were loving the action and were cheering for their favourite.

Finally, the referee signalled the end of the match, and the two fighters stepped off the platform. Saeko extended her hand, and Ekko shook it, feeling a sense of respect.

" Looks like you weren't all bite as I thought previously, I'd like to spar again sometime if you don't mind." Saeko asked while wiping some sweat away from her brow.

Ekko nodded." Of course, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a good sparing partner, I also have a female swordsman living at the inn I own, I'm sure she would love to spar as well."

' I see, so he's already got people living at Mr Kojo's home. Well I guess visiting him won't be a problem, plus father should be arranging a meeting with Ekko soon about that!'

" I would very much like that, my number is xxxxx xx xxxx." Saeko dident hesitate to give him her number and Ekko also gave her his.

' This is the first number on my phone that isent a girl's or my family's.' Saeko thought as being one of the most beautiful girls in school, of course, she has been confessed to.

By men and by women, but she never could accept their feelings or their friendship...for obvious reasons.

" I'll see you around then Busujima-san." Ekko said before he and Gojo left.

After leaving the Pugil Stick arena Ekko and Gojo went their separate ways to explore around the school themselves.

And not long after Ekko ended up bumping into two familiar faces.

They were Sumi Sakurasawa and Koizumi.

He met Sumi at a slushy stand where she was trying to order a blue and green slushy but was failing to communicate miserably.

(AN - Question: What are your favourite slushy colours to mix? I get either blue and red, or pink and green. I don't like mixing more than two colours together.)

And he met Koizumi at the school cafeteria where of course she was eating.

Ekko had helped Sumi by ordering her drink while finally cornering her for answers as to why she hadn't talked to him yet despite being in the same class.

She was afraid at first to tell him but after feeling Ekko's familiar warm head pats she felt much more calm and comfortable.

{ Head patting: A skill that when used by the host can calm the recipient and give them a sense of comfort and relief.

Proficient:New

Note: Upgrading this talent Is recommended by the system.}

Ekko had just bought the talent just then so at least then Sumi would be able to let out a few coherent sentences.

And it seemed like the talent did its job...but also dident as by the end of the head pat Sumi looked at his retreating hand like he was taking away her favourite ice cream.

As for Koizumi, she completely ignored Ekko, but she did say a few words whenever he asked her about something. She even surprised Ekko by congratulating him on his win in the Volleyball tournament.

He thanked her and afterwards left so he could walk around a bit more and maybe meet up with Kaori.

Though that didn't end up happening because as he was strolling around, one final announcement was made through the speakers of the school.

They were announcing one final big event which was actually a game of hide and seek.

At first, Ekko wasn't too interested in participating but when he heard the top 20 hiders would get free tickets to any Zoo or aquarium of his/her choice he decided to join.

' I could take Cana and Eris out to one of those locations for a date.'

The rules of the hide-and-seek game were pretty simple. Everyone knew what the rules of hide and seek were, if you're seen you're caught.

But besides the basic rules, there were also teachers hiding around with stars on their person, and if hiders or seekers found those teachers then the number of tickets they get would increase with the number on the star.

Ekko thought this would have been a simple and wast game but he would come to later regret those thoughts...

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{30 minutes Later/ Location: Science lab}

" Haaa!! Haaa! E-Ekko I don't think I can take much more." The voice of a seductive siren whispered right besides Ekko's ear.

Ekko gulped while looking anywhere else besides Miss Aki. Though it was beginning to be a challenge even for him.

The two were standing in a debauched manner as Aki had her ass pressed against his crotch and her exposed glabrous back pressed against his chest.

The two were stuck inside a locker together and there was no way they could leave any time soon. They had to endure this awkward but sexual situation...but how long could they hold on for.

"Ngnnnnn!!!!" Aki suddenly let out a moan but quickly covered her mouth to not let the people who were also inside the science lab know the two were there.

' Fuck.' Ekko could only curse while simultaneously praising whichever God put him into this circumstance.

How did the two of them get into this kind of situation in the first place...well to know that we would have to rewind time...

{Flashback}