Vol 1 Chapter 7: That’s a Hilarious Joke—Except It’s Not a Joke (Prologue: Encounters Arrive with a Sense of Déjà Vu)

“No, that can’t be it. I’m a member of Rei, and it’s my first time meeting you today.”

At my words, Rurei’s expression turned dumbfounded for a moment before she burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.

“Kya hahahaha! Seriously hilarious—though it’s not a joke!”

She didn’t believe a word I said.

“Don’t you know that Rei only has female members? I mean… you’re not a girl, are you? You’re cute and all, but you just don’t look like one…”

“That information is pretty outdated.”

Originally, Rei’s members were just the three girls—Miyayuri, Orito Tachibana Hineno, and Katsuko. But then I, a guy, joined as the fourth member, and now even Azuma-kun, who is biologically male, is part of Rei.

Still, Rurei completely disregarded what I said, patting my shoulder repeatedly as she replied:

“It’s all good! You’re at that age where you wanna reach for the stars!”

“Even if I try, stretching won’t make me any taller!”

“What’s that? Is that supposed to be a joke? Sam~”

A gal’s reaction to a lame pun and that unfamiliar Kansai-style vibe was colder than freezing.

“…But I’m really glad you know about Rei… Yeah, yeah. As an apology—and to thank you for helping me out today—I’ll give you this~♪”

With that, Rurei handed me a white synthetic resin fist protector—the very one she’d just used to beat up those guys.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a fist protector used in full-contact karate matches. The members of Rei are supposed to use these in fights.”

There isn’t really any such rule in Rei, and the only other person using that kind of protector is Otomo Shizue, a full-contact karate practitioner.

Rurei still insists she’s a member of Rei, yet her expression shows no hint of deceit.

What’s with this incongruity?
Could it be that she truly believes she’s part of Rei, which is why our conversation isn’t matching up?

“Anyway, I’m giving you the same fist protector as the other Rei members~♪ Since you’re still using a quick wrap in fights—and quick wraps alone tend to hurt your fists—and you’re small, a size like mine should suit you just fine.”

The quick wrap I was using was a precious one given to me by Katsuko, but after countless brawls, it’s worn out. I’d been thinking it was time to get a new one anyway.

“Thanks. I’ll gladly take you up on that.”

I took the fist protector and slipped it onto my hand immediately—it fit surprisingly well.

“Heh… there’s no Velcro, so I can put it on right away.”

“Right? The wrist part is adjustable, so you don’t have to fuss with Velcro; you can just slide it on, which is super handy in a fight~♪”

That might be true, but it sure doesn’t sound like something a typical girl would say—you really seem used to fighting.

If she claims to be from Rei, there’s no denying her skills are top-notch.
But still, it remains a mystery why Rurei insists she’s part of Rei.

“Hey, why are you…?”

Before I could press further with my feigned ignorance, a police siren blared nearby once again.

“Honestly… of all days, the sirens are even more persistent than usual!”

“Maybe a bystander saw our fight with Aida and called the cops.”

“Bummer, but we gotta split here.”

Rurei was already taking off.

Since I’d become involved after beating up Aida, I had no choice but to leave as quickly as possible.

“Ah, thanks for the fist protector!”

“You’re welcome! Hope we meet again sometime!”

She glanced back once, waved, and then dashed off at a speed like an Olympic runner.

I wonder if she’s really that used to running away?
Watching her sprint, I couldn’t help but think that I’ve become something pretty far removed from ordinary people.

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Vol 1 Chapter 8: Sparring Under Mixed Rules (Prologue: Encounters Arrive with a Sense of Déjà Vu)

Three days after I met the girl Rurei.

It was Sunday—the day before the new school term began tomorrow.

The anti-biker gang team, Rei, had gathered at their leader Miyayuri’s house. Instead of a typical girls’ tea party, the members held a sparring session where they exchanged blows with one another.

Each member of Rei, with a background in various martial arts, sparred with the others so they could handle any kind of opponent.

Recently, the eldest member—Orito Tachibana Hineno—graduated from high school and went on to a regional university, effectively retiring from Rei and reducing the number of members by one, though the team had grown from the original three to eight.

Originally, Miyayuri’s house—a former barbershop converted into a gym-like training area—was too cramped for eight people to practice at once. So, to let the juniors use the space, I had been sparring at the kickboxing gym I attend instead of joining the girls’ meetings. But this time, for a reason that wasn’t even as valid as “everyone’s starting a new school year tomorrow,” everyone was forced to attend the girls’ meeting.

◇

“‘Kosutake-senpai, do your best!’”

Enthusiastic cheers—and even some fake ones—pushed me onward.

“Kei! Show those hyped-up lackeys what you’re made of!”

My mistress, Miyayuri, seems to be on Kei’s side.

“Kosutake-kun! If you lose, let me touch your butt!”

The one spouting that pervy line—as naturally as if breathing—really, even in college, is that all you can say?!

Anyway, I decided to concentrate on the sparring right in front of me.

For safety, I had donned a full-face headgear, leg guards, wrist wraps, and a fist protector, along with an inner protector under my gi, and I faced off against Kei—a mixed martial arts practitioner.

I, too, was wearing similar protective gear as Kei; however, my fist protector was one I’d received from that gal, Rurei, just the other day.

I wanted to try it out in sparring before using it in a real fight, but since the gym essentially only permits 16‑ounce gloves for sparring, I had no choice but to use it during the girls’ meeting.

“Ready… Start!”

Together with Miyayuri—who had made me her servant—and my other mistress, Shuso Katsuko, who pressed the timer, the sparring match began.

Kei spread her feet shoulder-width apart, positioned her left hand (with the fist protector) forward and her right hand back, her hand set just below her line of sight, then took a big step forward with her left foot.

Unlike the narrow stance of kickboxing, this wide, front–back stance makes it harder to have your legs grabbed for a tackle—a fundamental stance in mixed martial arts.

“In kickboxing, you might be stronger than me, but in MMA, I won’t lose!”

Kei said that, and her improved kickboxing skills are indeed impressive.

Pivoting on her left foot, Kei rotated her lower body backward, and then, using the recoil from the spin, unleashed a forceful horizontal backfist.

What, a backhand blow all of a sudden?!

I dodged with a swivel-back, but Kei kept moving; she spun her lower body once again, generating power in her pivot leg, and then unleashed a powerful, momentum-filled heel kick aimed at my face.

Whoa! Now, a backspin kick?!

Even with my headgear on, I backstepped to dodge the relentless onslaught, narrowly avoiding a knockout.

Even though we’ve sparred many times at the gym, this match was held under amateur kickboxing rules, where rotational attacks are banned.

This is Kei at her best—demonstrating her prowess in rotational strikes.

Kei’s seriousness was evident, so I knew I had to step up my game.

I counterattacked by delivering a left low kick to Kei’s thigh.

“Tsuu!”

Even though she had leg guards on and it likely wasn’t very effective, Kei cried out in pain.

Even with her high striking sense, her defense leaves something to be desired, so landing an attack on her wasn’t too hard.

Still, since throwing middle kicks against Kei—who uses mixed martial arts—was risky, I decided to rely mostly on low kicks and punches.

“Shu! Shu!”

Taking advantage of the opening created by my low kick, I followed up with two rapid jabs that lifted Kei’s face, forcing her to keep her head up, and then, as I landed another low kick, she staggered.

It’s working! This is my chance!

I attempted another low kick by launching an inside low strike at Kei’s inner thigh.

But Kei caught my leg with her left hand, and behind the full-face headgear, her eyes gleamed with amusement.

So she was faking it, huh!

“Gotcha!”

Kei, having caught my leg with her left, flung it aside, unbalanced me, and without delay, executed a takedown.

“Ouch!”

After taking me down, Kei promptly pressed her knee onto my stomach—a so-called “knee on the belly”—to lock down my movements.

In this position, I had no chance to mount a counterattack.

After Kei landed a few measured blows to my face, Katsuko stopped the sparring match.

◇

I had actually used the knee-on-the-belly technique in a recent mixed rules sparring match, and I was astonished at how easily it could subdue an opponent once it was properly executed.

Or maybe it’s just because I’ve gotten heavier (laughs).