While Tsukune and company dealt with Junya and Lucas, other parts of the academy buzzed with their own smaller adventures.

  Sakari made her way to the boxing gym, her go-to spot after classes, her steps light with anticipation.

  The moment she stepped inside, a wave of familiar greetings called out to her.

  “Hey, Sakari!”

  “Good luck out there today!”

  “Make sure to put him in his place, Sakari!”

  “I will! I will!” she replied, her voice bright and full of enthusiasm.

  The gym was alive with its usual energy, though the crowd wasn’t as thick as it had been during the early days of her matches. Most of the girls who had initially come to see Gin get pummeled had long since moved on, satisfied after witnessing Sakari deliver a thorough lesson once—or twice.

  The ones who remained weren’t there for drama anymore. They came for the sport—the regulars, monsters with a real passion for fighting. They weren’t just here to cheer; they came to watch, learn, and maybe even push themselves to improve.

  Sakari scanned the room, her eyes locking onto the well-worn boxing ring at the center.

  There was a certain confidence in Sakari’s expression and movements that stood out, almost palpable in the air around her.

  “Hey, girl! You’re looking way too excited,” one of the remaining spectators remarked, trailing behind Sakari as she headed toward the changing room.

  Sakari smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I think I’ve finally figured out the trick behind that technique Gin’s been using.”

  “Oh, seriously?” the girl asks with an equally bright shine in their eyes.

  Sakari nodded, her grin broadening into a girlish smile that was undeniably charming.

  As she stepped into the changing room, her demeanor shifted. Her senses expanded, scanning the space with precision.

  There!

  In a blur, she lunged to the side, startling the girl behind her. Without hesitation, Sakari threw a youki-charged straight punch at what seemed to be an empty wall. Just before impact, the wall shimmered and shifted as Gin’s form materialized, his camouflage spell disrupted by his sudden movement to dodge.

  Sakari’s fist stopped millimeters from the wall, her control precise.

  Gin, now fully visible, took a defensive stance, ready for a fight. But instead of attacking, Sakari crossed her arms and chuckled.

  “Seriously? You’re being forced to train me because of your perving, and you’re still at it?”

  Gin flashed his signature playboy smile, unapologetic as ever. “What can I say? Old habits die hard.”

  “Clearly,” Sakari said, shaking her head in mock exasperation. Then her tone hardened, her confidence unwavering. “But pervert or not, you know the rule—”

  “‘Only strength matters.’ Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it a million times,” Gin interrupted, his annoyance tinged with a begrudging respect.

  Sakari’s smirk grew wider. “Good. Then you better bring your A-game today.”

  Gin frowned, his instincts flaring. Something was off about Sakari—something different. His mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario. His eyes widened in disbelief.

  “No… no way…”

  Hearing his reaction, a wide, triumphant smile lit up Sakari’s face. It was as radiant as it was terrifying to him.

  “Yes,” she said simply, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

  Before Gin could question her further, Sakari promptly shoved him out of the changing room with surprising ease, slamming the door shut behind him. Left outside, Gin staggered, bewildered, while Sakari hummed a cheerful tune, preparing herself for the spar ahead.

  Inside, she was positively giddy. As she swapped her clothes for her usual combat gear, her mind raced with anticipation.

  Meanwhile, Gin trudged to the male changing room, his composure unraveling. Alone, he slowly changed into his own combat attire, his thoughts in disarray.

  There’s no way… She couldn’t have learned Obrac just from watching me, could she?

  Over the past week and days, Sakari had relentlessly sparred with him every single day, fulfilling her vow to the girls to beat him while simultaneously sharpening her skills. The progress she made was undeniable—her control over her youki, her timing, and her technique had grown exponentially.

  Gin, despite his initial grumbling, found himself improving too. Day by day, he honed his instincts, reflexes, and strategies, to the point where he believed he might stand a better chance if he faced the same Moka who had thrashed him on the rooftop.

  Yet, as much as Sakari’s growth was impressive, the idea that she could have replicated Obrac—his prized, advanced youki technique—was unthinkable.

  It took me months to learn it, he thought, his jaw tightening.

  Obrac wasn’t just any technique; it was the crown jewel of Gin’s arsenal. He’d painstakingly studied it under the tutelage of his uncle, an ancient werewolf with a wealth of experience fighting vampires and other equally powerful monsters. Once mastered, Gin saw no reason to learn anything else—it was powerful enough to dominate almost any foe he faced.

  Almost.

  His thoughts soured as memories of Moka flashed in his mind.

  Except her…

  Still, the idea that Sakari—a girl who hadn’t even heard of Obrac until she sparred with him—could have learned it in mere days gnawed at him.

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  “No way,” he muttered to himself. “She couldn’t have… right?”

  But deep down, a flicker of doubt crept into his mind, and that doubt made him nervous.

  For the first time in his life, Gin felt surrounded by monsters whose talents eclipsed his own. It gnawed at him, but he forced himself to focus. If Sakari had really learned Obrac, then he wasn’t the top dog anymore. Worse, it meant he’d been coasting on his skills for too long.

  By the time he returned to the boxing area, his mind was set. He spotted Sakari in the ring, stretching with that smug grin plastered on her face. He ignored it, climbing into the ring with deliberate calm.

  If she had become this much stronger, then he’d just have to rise to meet her.

  Ever since the lizardman incident, Hermann hadn’t crossed paths with Tsukune. But during lunch, he spotted a familiar figure in a public area that caught his attention.

  Is that Moka? he wondered, immediately recognizing her signature pink hair. It struck him as unusual—Moka and Tsukune were usually tucked away somewhere more private during lunch time.

  Those two always find a spot to hang out and flirt, he thought. But I haven’t seen Tsukune in a while. Maybe I’ll go say hi.

  As Hermann approached, something felt off. The closer he got, the clearer it became.

  That’s not Tsukune, he thought.

  His instincts kicked in, body tensing as if preparing for the inevitable chaos that always seemed to follow Tsukune and Moka.

  Immediately, Hermann scanned the area, hoping to spot Tsukune.

  Maybe I’ve got this all wrong? Moka… with another guy?

  Hermann was sure—100% sure—that Tsukune was head over heels for Moka. And he was about 70% sure that Moka felt the same way. That missing 30% was purely because Hermann didn’t trust his own instincts when it came to women. But one thing he was certain of: Moka wasn’t the type to jump from one guy to another.

  Something’s off. I’m 100% sure of it.

  Before he could dive headfirst into what he assumed was another one of Tsukune’s chaotic misadventures, something caught his eye.

  Just a few meters away from Moka, Hermann noticed a small girl weaving through the crowd. Her deliberate, sneaky movements drew his attention. She seemed to be avoiding people, using the crowd of students to stay out of sight.

  He couldn’t help but be amused by her eccentric way of moving around. As if compelled by instinct, Hermann began trailing her. As a jackalope, his natural agility and speed made it easy for him to move silently and keep up with her quick steps.

  It didn’t take long for him to get close. After following her for a few minutes, the girl finally stopped by a corner. Hermann paused, watching her.

  The girl leaned forward, peeking around the corner to stay hidden.

  What’s she up to? Hermann wondered, narrowing his eyes.

  Taking advantage of their size difference, Hermann leaned just enough to see past her. His eyes followed her line of sight, landing on someone familiar.

  Wait a second… isn’t that girl from the Public Safety Committee?

  Both of them were so focused on the PSC girl that they momentarily forgot about each other. When Hermann accidentally bumped into her, the short girl jumped with a squeak.

  “Eek!” she yelped, spinning around to see Hermann looming over her.

  Her face flushed, and without hesitation, she shoved him away.

  Hermann stumbled, caught off guard by her unexpected strength. Well, that was… dramatic, he thought as he tried to steady himself.

  Realizing her startled noise had drawn the attention of the girl she was trailing, Rainee quickly grabbed Hermann, hoping to make the situation look like an innocent accident. Unfortunately, her plan didn’t account for her current physical condition.

  With her incomplete and damaged youki pathways, Rainee’s monster strength was practically non-existent. Without it, she was little more than a glorified human with a few earth-related spells up her sleeve. And Hermann, being relatively tall and nearly twice her weight, wasn’t exactly easy to handle.

  Predictably, the two toppled over in a clumsy heap.

  “Ahhh!” Rainee yelped as she lost her balance, falling forward and landing face-first onto Hermann, her small frame sprawled awkwardly on top of him.

  Hermann blinked up at her, trying to act nonchalant despite the absurdity of the situation. “Hi, Rainee,” he said, as if this were the most normal thing in the world.

  Recognition dawned in Rainee’s eyes, and she squinted at him suspiciously. “You!”

  Before she could launch into a tirade, the sound of footsteps behind them made both of their heads snap around.

  Panicked, they scrambled to untangle themselves, but it was too late.

  “What the…?” The girl from the Public Safety Committee stood there, staring down at them with wide eyes, taking in the very compromising position of Rainee lying squarely on top of Hermann.

  The surprise didn’t last long. As a member of the Public Safety Committee, it was Keito’s duty to enforce the academy’s rules, and she wasted no time stepping into her role. Glaring at the pair, her sharp voice rang out:

  “What do you two think you’re doing?!”

  Keito’s commanding tone echoed through the area, her badge gleaming in the light. Nearby students caught sight of her and quickly scurried away, not wanting to get involved.

  Hermann and Rainee scrambled to their feet, hurriedly separating from their compromising position.

  “It was just an accident!” Rainee blurted, her voice high with urgency.

  “It’s my fault,” Hermann interjected, stepping up to take the blame.

  The two exchanged surprised glances, caught off guard by each other’s willingness to speak up. However, their attempts at explanation only seemed to irritate Keito further.

  A wave of oppressive youki emanated from the purple-haired PSC member, her presence suddenly suffused with an almost predatory menace.

  Rainee froze in place, paralyzed by the overwhelming aura, while Hermann felt as though he were ensnared in a suffocating web, every movement restricted.

  Keito’s gaze burned into them, and her voice was thick with restrained menace as she prepared to unleash her power. But then, her eyes flickered with sudden realization.

  She checked the time and clicked her tongue in annoyance. It was late, and she had errands to complete for Kuyo.

  Reluctantly, Keito withdrew her youki, the oppressive weight lifting as quickly as it had descended. Hermann and Rainee gasped for breath, collapsing to their knees in relief.

  “You’re lucky I’m busy,” Keito said with a smirk, her eyes glinting with amusement.

  As her presence flared one final time, they flinched instinctively.

  “Scram,” she commanded, her voice like a whip crack.

  Without hesitation, Hermann grabbed Rainee’s arm, and the two bolted, not daring to look back.

  Without glancing back, Hermann kept running, Rainee stumbling along in tow.

  “W-Wait! She’s not chasing us anymore! Stop!” Rainee shouted, her voice sharp with frustration.

  But Hermann didn’t stop. His mind was consumed by the lingering terror of Keito’s overwhelming power. For someone whose strongest foes had been a trained relative and the lizardmen he recently fought, this level of direct intimidation was something entirely new.

  Rainee, having managed to regain her composure, dug her heels into the ground, forcing Hermann to slow down.

  Eventually, Hermann’s pace faltered, and he came to a stop, panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face. He turned to see Rainee glaring at him, arms crossed and expression simmering with irritation.

  “I told you to stop!” she snapped. “Now I have to track her all over again!”

  Hermann, still shaken, uncharacteristically raised his voice. “Track her again?! Are you out of your mind? Didn’t you feel how strong she was? She could’ve killed us!”

  Rainee arched an eyebrow. “Do you really think they’d kill us in broad daylight?”

  Hermann hesitated, his brow furrowing. “No… but—”

  Rainee sighed, cutting him off. “Look, you’re right. Killing us is probably not above them but if they spare us, they’d still drag us to their headquarters. Once we’re there, good luck ever seeing the sun again.”

  Hermann nodded grimly, the weight of her words sinking in.

  A tense silence lingered between them until Hermann broke it, his voice quieter this time. “If you know that, then I have to ask. Why are you following someone that dangerous anyway?”

  Rainee’s eyes narrowed as she studied him. “That’s… personal. And why do you care? What I do doesn’t have anything to do with you.”

  Hermann frowned, unable to immediately answer. The question lingered in his mind as well.

  Why am I even bothering with this? I already lost years of my life fighting those lizardmen…

  Noticing his hesitation, Rainee let out another sigh. “If you’re done, I’m going back to track her.”

  “But you might get caught again,” Hermann said, his tone a mix of concern and exasperation.

  Rainee’s frown deepened as she stepped closer, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I only got caught because you decided to follow me! And you still haven’t explained why!”

  Caught off guard, Hermann hastily changed the subject. “So, this is about Moka and Tsukune again, isn’t it?”

  Hearing her motives laid bare, Rainee flushed a deep red. Defensive, she shot back, “S-So what?! They’re my idols! It’s my duty as a fan to help them, no matter what!”

  Hermann blinked, stunned by her fervor. Sure, Moka was adored by practically everyone at the academy, but Tsukune? “Even Tsukune?”

  “Even?!” Rainee echoed, sounding deeply offended.

  Hermann winced as she narrowed her eyes, clearly gearing up for a spirited defense of Tsukune. But before she could launch into a tirade, he blurted, “Let me help you!”

  Rainee froze, caught completely off guard. “What?”

  “If you’re doing something to help Tsukune,” Hermann said, his voice steady despite his nerves, “then I want to help too. He’s a friend. And if you’re helping them, doesn’t that make you a friend too?”

  Rainee hesitated, processing his words. Slowly, she nodded.

  “So… is that why you’ve been following me?” she asked, tilting her head.

  Hermann nodded quickly, the lie slipping out effortlessly.

  Rainee’s face lit up with a triumphant smile. “I knew it!”

  “K-Knew what?” Hermann stammered, bracing himself for whatever wild conclusion she’d drawn.

  “They’re your idols too!” Rainee declared, her confidence unwavering. “You could’ve just said so, you know. I mean, there’s no shame in it! Moka is absolutely incredible, and Tsukune—he’s so brave and selfless and—”

  As Rainee launched into a passionate monologue about Moka and Tsukune’s virtues, Hermann stared at her, caught somewhere between exasperation and surrender.

  Rainee mistook his expression for embarrassment, nodding sagely as if she’d uncovered some profound truth.

  And that’s when it hit Hermann, clear as day.

  I can’t believe I have a crush on this idiot.