Anime, Girlfriend Shokuhou Misaki

But Haramura Makoto couldn't be judged by normal standards.

(Give up thinking and leave the movements to the body's instincts.)

Just like Nene Saikyo once told him, in close combat, thinking with your brain before acting will always be a step slower.

It was at this moment.

Haramura Makoto's mind was blank; he simply took a step forward, and the instant those four snake swords collided with him, his hand rose upward without warning.

“Clang, clang, clang, clang——”

Four sword sounds rang out belatedly, and the four strikes were undoubtedly parried.

“So, is that all there is to your Device?”

“It's so monotonous that I find it boring.”

At that moment, a stern light flashed in Haramura Makoto's pupils, and immense magical power stirred around him.

He had now completely entered battle mode.

“However, it's only polite to return the favor. You showed me yours, so let me show you the results of my recent training.”

The moment he was enveloped by that chilling aura, Kurashiki Kurato felt every hair on his body stand on end.

Immediately after——

Kurashiki Kurato's vision blurred.

The instinct developed through long-term training in a swordsman's cross-range combat was frantically warning him.

The next second.

“Clang——”

Haramura Makoto's figure seemed to have teleported, appearing directly in front of Kurashiki Kurato, and he brought his sword down heavily with one hand.

With the help of his own superhuman reflexes, Kurashiki Kurato directly blocked Haramura Makoto's attack.

The dark muzzle of a gun suddenly appeared from the left side of the sword, and with the pull of the trigger, three bullets were unleashed.

Extremely close range, within two meters.

“You're underestimating me with bullets at this close range.”

Kurashiki Kurato's forehead veins bulged as he shouted loudly.

The bone sword expanded again at a terrifying speed, and with three crisp impact sounds, the bone sword wrapped around him in a serpentine coil.

Beyond seven steps, the gun is fast; within seven steps, the swordsman is fast.

This is practically a law, and top swordsmen who have mastered the cross-range can easily do this.

Although Kurashiki Kurato couldn't be considered a top swordsman, he could easily do this with his reflexes.

“Your gunfighting transitions still aren't very good.”

Haramura Makoto's eyes narrowed, and he jumped into the air, dodging the snapping snake head while another five magic bullets sprayed from the muzzle.

“Ha——”

The bullets, enhanced by Haramura Makoto's time ability, were even faster than before, even at that close range.

Kurashiki Kurato grinned, revealing a bloodthirsty smile.

“Let me show you my Noble Art as well.”

“——Yamata no Orochi!”

Extreme danger radiated from Kurashiki Kurato; at that moment, even the air seemed to be shaken by the magical power.

Behind Kurashiki Kurato were eight grotesque snake heads.

Using one body to split into eight heads, writhing serpentine bodies spread through the air, opening gray, blood-reeking maws and glaring with scarlet eyes, just like the mythical monster, Yamata no Orochi.

Kurashiki Kurato's wrist flicked slightly, and five of the constantly swaying snake heads suddenly moved.

“Puff——”

With a sound like bullets entering water and being enveloped by something, all the bullets fired by Haramura Makoto were swallowed by the snake heads.

“Continuously unleashing eight sword strikes, creating the illusion that my eyes can't keep up with the speed of the sword.”

“A mundane technique.”

Haramura Makoto took a step forward with his left foot, and his waist sank.

The gun disappeared, and his one-handed grip on the sword changed to a two-handed grip.

“At this point, the result is already clear, isn't it?”

“Your Noble Art can no longer harm me, and I haven't even used my Noble Art yet.”

“So, I'll end you with this sword technique that I created just last night.”

Every hair on Kurashiki Kurato's body stood on end, and acting on the principle of seizing the initiative, he instantly moved.

The eight tongues of Yamata no Orochi instantly danced, rushing towards Haramura Makoto under his control.

Then...

“Secret Sword——”

In an instant, Haramura Makoto's aura suddenly changed, becoming as sharp and dazzling as a blade.

The long sword drew sharp trajectories like a butterfly dancing, transforming into a flash of light, and then seemed to split, launching attacks from three directions.

Although there was only one sword, it instantly divided into three.

(This is an illusion, no, that's not right, this is definitely not an afterimage.)

(This isn't just swordsmanship; it's a combination of swordsmanship and ability.)

“——Tsubame Gaeshi!”

The name of the technique was shouted out by Haramura Makoto at that moment.

The feeling of danger was pushed to the limit at this instant.

——Danger!

——Danger!

The experience accumulated from countless battles with other swordsmen, or perhaps his soul-piercing sixth sense, was telling him.

Extreme danger.

The originally separated, grotesquely scattered snake heads instantly gathered together, intertwining and twisting like a rope, turning into a drill that directly headed towards Haramura Makoto.

“Break through it for me!”

This was a heartfelt cry that went straight to the soul.

Magical power, as if it were free, was frantically poured into his Device by Kurashiki Kurato.

Kurashiki Kurato was very clear.

This was not an attack that could be avoided; even if his nerve reflexes were faster and his intuition stronger, this was not something he could dodge.

For no reason, that's just how he felt.

So he chose to face it head-on, and with the superposition of eight full-force sword swings, he was confident that he could directly break through the opponent's sword technique.

“A waste of effort.”

With this sigh, the pale sword light and Haramura Makoto's figure suddenly disappeared.

Kurashiki Kurato didn't even realize what was happening.

Three slashes, none of them missed, all landed squarely on Kurashiki Kurato, cutting his school uniform and tearing his flesh.

Blood splattered!

“Boss!!”

The underlings sitting on the side stood up, shouting in shock.

“Puff——”

His body crashed heavily to the ground, and Kurashiki Kurato spat out a mouthful of blood.

“The victory has been decided.”

Lightly flicking the blade, which was not stained with a single drop of blood, Haramura Makoto dispelled the Device in his hand.

“I spared your life, thank the current system, you trash.”

Haramura Makoto looked at Kurashiki Kurato, who was still coughing up blood, with indifferent eyes.

The three slashes just now had cut open his chest, side abdomen, and thigh, respectively, and none of them were deep, so it only looked miserable in appearance. In reality, it wasn't a very serious injury for a Blader.

In fact, with this kind of injury, as long as he went to the treatment pod and stayed in the hospital for a day, he could be discharged.

To be honest.

According to Haramura Makoto's habits, this kind of trash, if it fell into his hands in Academy City, basically meant he wouldn't see the sun tomorrow.

But unfortunately.

This world is very tolerant of Bladers, even terrorists are given a chance to reform, and the actions of someone like Kurashiki Kurato, who was just a thug, wouldn't even be considered a crime, at most a verbal warning.

So Haramura Makoto had to be a little restrained in his actions.

Otherwise, what would happen if those three slashes were aimed at Kurashiki Kurato's neck and head?

“Cough——”

Another mouthful of blood spurted from Kurashiki Kurato's mouth, and with the blood constantly seeping from his wounds, the ground he was sitting on was about to form a pool of blood.

“Spa…tial…sword…skill?”

With just four short words, Kurashiki Kurato spoke with great difficulty.

There was no way, he was struggling to keep himself awake, all with the determination of his will. Who told him his blood loss to be so great? No matter how minor the injury, it would be difficult to stay awake with this amount of blood loss.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Take your boss and get lost; if you dawdle any longer, the recovery time will be far more than just this.”

Perhaps because their boss had been defeated, or perhaps because the aura on Haramura Makoto was too intimidating.

Those few thugs didn't dare to do anything, carefully put Kurashiki Kurato, who had received his answer and passed out contentedly, into the ambulance, and quickly scurried away.

“Alright, Senpai, this dojo has been returned to your hands.”

Hearing Haramura Makoto's words, Ayatsuji Ayase was first stunned, then lowered her head, looking around at the familiar yet slightly changed scenery. Past memories constantly flooded her mind, and crystalline tears began to well up in her eyes.

“Um… Tha, thank you, Haramura-kun.”

Although she cried, these were tears of joy.

“It's nothing, just a fair trade. After your father recovers, Senpai, I will visit again.”

……

On the way home, feeling the gaze that was so scorching it was about to burn him, Haramura Makoto only felt a chill.

The goosebumps all over his body stood up.

“Ask what you want to ask directly, Ikki.”

“You looking at me like that is making me feel disgusted.”

Haramura Makoto glared unhappily at Kurogane Ikki, who was looking at him thoughtfully.

If Stella were staring at him with that kind of gaze, it would feel pretty good, but being stared at by a grown man only left him with disgust.

“Eh, is that okay?”

“The confidentiality of sword techniques is very important to swordsmen, right?”

Kurogane Ikki quickly waved his hand, refusing Haramura Makoto's words.

Every move has weaknesses, and every Noble Art has ways to be countered, so generally no one would expose their techniques.

“It's fine.”

Haramura Makoto also waved his hand.