-63- Trash

In the evening, the Special Instruction Building was still filled with stifling air.

Hori, on a floor near the rooftop, was blocked by three people.

The ominous atmosphere pervaded.

Hori raised his gaze and looked ahead, taking in the three individuals blocking his path.

Because Ryuen Kakeru had made it clear that he would send a few people today, Hori took the opportunity when Kushida Kikyou came to school with him in the morning to ask her for some information about the students in Class C.

It must be said that Kushida Kikyou, with friends almost all over the first year, was a popular figure.

Even though Hori only wanted to get a general idea and didn't expect detailed information, Kushida Kikyou provided overly precise intelligence.

Therefore, Hori wasn't unfamiliar with the three people in front of him.

The apparent leader, a boy named Ishizaki Daichi, was said to have a violent tendency similar to Sudou Ken. He seemed to have resisted Ryuen Kakeru's rule at the beginning of the school year but was severely defeated by Ryuen Kakeru, becoming one of his lackeys thereafter.

Accompanying Ishizaki Daichi were two other boys named Komiya Kyogo and Kondo Reo.

Unlike Ishizaki Daichi, the two didn't have violent tendencies. However, like Sudou Ken, they joined the basketball club shortly after starting school, although they weren't singled out by the advisor as Sudou Ken was. They seemed to have undergone considerable training, coupled with living under Ryuen Kakeru's dictatorship in Class C. They should pose a considerable threat in a fight.

That was the information Hori had gathered.

For an ordinary person, being surrounded by three robust boys like this would seem hopeless.

Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Kyogo, and Kondo Reo seemed to think they had Hori under control, showing a disdainful sneer.

Especially Ishizaki Daichi, after sizing up Hori, made this comment:

"I thought someone who caught Ryuen's attention would be impressive. But you look pretty ordinary, don't you?"

If the previous remarks were contemptuous, now it was downright disdainful.

In this regard, there were indeed factors that made Hori look down upon.

Compared to the relatively robust Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Kyogo, and Kondo Reo, Hori's physique was that of an ordinary high school boy.

From appearances alone, it wasn't surprising to be called thin and weak.

Therefore, being underestimated seemed natural.

Komiya Kyogo and Kondo Reo, like Ishizaki Daichi, came to the same conclusion and laughed.

"I thought you were someone impressive, but you're nothing special after all."

"Since we're going to fight anyway, why not call Sudou over? I've had my eye on him for a while."

The two basketball club members mocked Hori while provoking him.

They clearly didn't regard Hori highly.

If Sudou Ken were here, he would probably have exploded by now.

Unfortunately, these three guys picked the wrong person to provoke.

"Is this your opening line?"

Hori glanced at the three with indifference, then, seeming to lose interest, spoke.

"No wonder Ryuen said he was sending over a bunch of trash. Seems like he was right."

The flat tone of Hori's words froze the mocking expressions on Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Kyogo, and Kondo Reo's faces.

"What did you say, you bastard!"

"Tsk! So arrogant!"

Komiya Kyogo and Kondo Reo were instantly infuriated.

Even Ishizaki Daichi's face darkened, and a hint of anger appeared in his eyes as he looked at Hori.

"Quite the talker."

Ishizaki Daichi approached Hori.

"Let's see if your skin is as tough as your words!"

With a shout, Ishizaki Daichi suddenly increased his speed and charged towards Hori.

The distance between Ishizaki Daichi and Hori was already very close, less than five meters.

Ishizaki Daichi's charge almost reduced the distance between them to zero in the next second.

Then, without hesitation, Ishizaki Daichi swung a powerful punch at Hori's face.

It was a very strong blow.

Even though Ishizaki Daichi didn't seem to have any specialized training, judging from the angle and posture of his punch, he must have been accustomed to fighting and knew how to punch with maximum force.

Moreover, Ishizaki Daichi's physique was quite robust.

With this punch, even bricks would probably be shattered.

Once it landed on someone's face, bruises and swelling would be the only outcome.

However, in the face of this powerful blow, Hori didn't even move. He just stared at the fist rapidly approaching in his field of vision.

"Tap!"

A crisp sound rang out the next moment.

It was the sound of Hori reaching out and catching the incoming fist in his palm.

"I see, you do have some force."

After giving this evaluation, Hori slowly tightened his grip around Ishizaki Daichi's fist.

"Ugh...!"

Ishizaki Daichi's expression immediately changed.

His fist, slowly clenched by Hori, emitted a sound as if bones were about to be crushed.

"Argh...!"

Ishizaki Daichi let out a cry of pain, and his hand, slowly squeezed by Hori, lost strength in intense pain, causing him to try to change position to alleviate the pain. The result was him kneeling on the ground.

"What... what are you doing!?"

"Let go of Ishizaki!"

Komiya Kyogo and Kondo Reo finally reacted, snarling as they rushed towards Hori.

However, these two were just star players of the basketball club, unlike Ishizaki Daichi, who was good at fighting.

As a result, the two of them rushed headlong toward the obviously unusual opponent, and the outcome was doomed.

"Thud!"

In the dull sound, Komiya Kyogo was hit by Hori's strong swing before he could even touch him.

Ishizaki Daichi happened to be in Hori's hands.

This swing caused Ishizaki Daichi's entire body to be flung out as if he had been thrown, crashing heavily into Komiya Kyogo.

The two of them immediately rolled away and collided with the nearby wall.

Hori didn't even glance at them. He just tilted his body slightly, dodging Kondo Reo's lunge, then gently patted Kondo Reo's back.

"Wha...!"

Kondo Reo exclaimed.

With just one pat from Hori, his steps immediately became unstable. In a few staggering steps, he stumbled like a drunkard, knocking Ishizaki Daichi and Komiya Kyogo down again as they were trying to get up.

The three strong men rolled into a tangled mess, becoming a human pyramid.

"See?"

Hori stood in the same place, speaking with a smile that wasn't a smile.

"I told you, you guys are trash."