For some reason, in a short span of time, getting taken down by Hayashi and experiencing the "Dō-fall" became something the current or former Elite Ten members were "brave enough" to try.
"I feel like I've become a worker on an assembly line," Hayashi deadpanned as he effortlessly floored Isshiki Satoshi, who had charged at him. He then turned to Gin, who was solemnly jotting down names in a notebook, and said, "These guys are just screws waiting to be processed."
"No big deal, you're just rough processing." Gin sneered as he wrote Isshiki's name in his notebook, then snapped it shut with a thud. "I'll make sure everyone who calls me 'Dōjima' feels the burning passion of my love for them!"
"Are you sure you don't just want to make them 'carry a bag of rice up several floors'?"
"They say 'spare the rod, spoil the child'—wait, no, 'scold them with affection, beat them with love'!"
"So you just want to hit them, huh?"
"Got a problem with that?"
"Whatever makes you happy, Gin-san."
What else could Hayashi say? He could only silently draw a cross for those lying on the ground, enjoying Gin's "love," and hope they'd remember to delete their chat logs, browser history, video comments, and—
Oh right, their QQ Zone posts too (smile).
...
...
Dinner time.
Since it was Hayashi, Erina, and Hisako's first return after a year and a half away, everyone had gathered together for a rare reunion, savoring the dishes personally prepared by Chef Sōma.
"No matter how many times I taste it, Chef Sōma's cooking always moves me to tears—" Terunori wiped the corners of his eyes, choking up. "It's just… just so delicious—"
Hayashi glanced skeptically at the mapo tofu (extra spicy), boiled fish (extra spicy), and spicy chicken (extra spicy) in front of him, then leaned over to whisper in Erina's ear, "Erina, don't you think Kuga's just crying from the spice?"
"Cough—" Erina nearly laughed, pressing her lips together for a few seconds to suppress her amusement before whispering back, "Well… that might be part of it."
After all, this was Terunori Kuga—the man whose name appeared the most in Dōjima's… ahem, Gin's notebook!
"Hey, hey—"
Hinako, watching the two whispering, couldn't resist teasing. "Erina, Hayashi, what are you two talking about? Spill the beans!"
Yūki Yoshino, who shared Hinako's mischievous streak, joined in. "Yeah, yeah! Let us in on your little secret!"
"Seriously? If it's a secret, why would we tell you?" Hayashi rolled his eyes. "Do you even know what 'secret' means?"
"Whoa—" Yūki blinked, then turned to Hinako. "What do we do, Inui-senpai? I think he's got a point?"
"Idiot, don't let him trick you! He's an expert at dragging people down to his level and then beating them with experience—" Hinako said gravely. "We have to stay firm!"
"?"
Hayashi fell silent for a few seconds at Hinako's words, then smiled sweetly. "Miss Inui, if I'm not mistaken… are you implying I'm an idiot?"
"No!" Hinako declared solemnly. "I'm not implying it."
"So you're outright saying it?"
"Ehehe~"
Watching Hinako acting cute by knocking on her own head, Hayashi twitched the corner of his mouth, then glanced at Kōjirō Shinomiya who was exchanging cooking tips with Jōichirō on the other side. An evil grin immediately spread across his face.
"!"
Sensing danger instinctively, Hinako quickly said, "Wait! Young Master Hayashi, what are you planning!? Calm down, stay calm! The world is so beautiful, yet you're so violent—that's not good, not good—"
"I'm perfectly calm~" Hayashi flashed her a smile and said, "I just wanted to say—"
"Wanted to say—" Hinako unconsciously repeated.
"Shinomiya—" Hayashi suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "Hinako just said your hairstyle makes you look like a pink fluffy bunny!"
"Me—" Hinako's mouth fell open. Before she could explain, she saw Kōjirō Shinomiya charging over with a dark expression, roaring angrily, "Hinako!!"
Flustered, Hinako waved her hands and said, "W-wait, Shinomiya-senpai, let me explain... let me explain ahhh..."
Unfortunately, due to Hinako's usual "mischievous deeds," Kōjirō completely ignored her protests and pleas, swiftly unleashing an inescapable combo to finish her off.
After dealing with Hinako, Kōjirō elegantly wiped his hands with a handkerchief, then nodded politely to Hayashi and the others. "My apologies."
With that, he turned and walked back to Jōichirō—he still had more to discuss about tonight's meal!
"Waaah—"
Hayashi looked at Hinako, who was slumped over the table as if her soul had left her body, and couldn't help but say, "Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay? If you're okay, have some liuliumei—"
"Do I look okay to you?" Hinako's current state resembled a zombie left out in the sun, her HP bar nearly depleted. "I feel like my brains were squeezed out, then roughly stuffed back in and shaken up with my mind!"
"Ahem, sounds pretty rough, huh?" But do you even have a brain to begin with?
"And whose fault is that?!" Hinako glared furiously at Hayashi. "You slandered me! If it weren't for your slander, would I be like this?"
"Hmm..." Hayashi pondered for a few seconds with a hint of guilt (about as much as stealing candy from a child) before saying, "So what do you want?"
"Compensation, absolutely compensation!" Hinako declared righteously. "At the very least, put me on the first batch list for the Pokémon world, no problem, right?"
"..."
Hayashi and Erina exchanged glances, then looked at this almost-thirty-year-old aunt with complicated expressions.
"I-is there a problem?" Hinako straightened her neck defiantly. "I lost half my life here! Half my life! Not Resident Evil, not Metal Slug, not Counter-Strike—half my life, literally!"
Damn, I actually understood that reference.
Hayashi covered his forehead in sorrow, lamenting that he could actually understand Hinako's old jokes. Had he already become an old man at the level of an uncle?
Hayashi sighed and then looked at Hinako, saying, "How about I compensate you with a glass of Moomoo Milk with walnuts?"
"?"
Hinako's expression froze. As a fellow spiritual successor of Kennedy, she quickly grasped Hayashi's implication—drinking walnut milk to nourish her brain!
Damn it!
Hinako clenched her fists and glared at Hayashi, saying, "You hurt me—"
Hayashi hesitated for a split second before singing, "—and just walked away?"
"Pfft—"
Erina and Hisako covered their mouths and collapsed onto the table, while Terunori Kuga beside them was nearly laughing himself to death.
"Waaah—"
So mad, so mad, so mad!
Known as the peerless (only afraid of Kōjirō Shinomiya) ultimate invincible demon queen, when had she ever suffered such humiliation!? Waaah!!
Furious, she slammed the table hard, only to let out a pained cry as the solid wood table's sturdiness left her clutching her hand—a classic case of zero damage dealt, a thousand taken.
Hinako's actions made Hayashi feel a twinge of guilt. He earnestly advised, "So you really should drink some walnut milk—"
Naturally, this dealt a second blow to Hinako, and it was super effective, breaking her defenses completely.
"Waaah—" She ran off crying to Kōjirō Shinomiya, wailing, "Pink Fluffy Bunny, someone's bullying me..."
The scene that followed was too much for Hayashi to bear. All he could say was: brutal, absolutely brutal!
...
...
Late at night.
Erina walked up behind Hayashi and gently rested her chin on his shoulder, looking at the notebook in front of him. Smiling, she asked, "Planning the lineup for the trip to the Pokémon world?"
"Mm." Hayashi nodded. "Jōichirō and Gin definitely have to be paired together—they promised to have at least a 3v3, or up to a 6v6 battle after the trip."
"Wow, that'll be amazing!" Erina's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "And Shinomiya-senpai and Inui-senpai—if those two bickering lovebirds travel together, maybe they'll finally take the last step?"
Hayashi twitched his lips. "Yikes, after what happened tonight, I'm a little worried Hinako might get killed by Shinomiya halfway through the trip—"
"Uh…"
Erina fell silent for a few seconds before forcing a dry laugh. "Th-that probably won't happen… right?"
That tone of utter uncertainty really says it all, huh?
"Whatever. If she dies by Shinomiya's hand, at least it's a fitting end." Hayashi silently paired Kōjirō Shinomiya and Hinako Inui together on the list, then stroked his chin. "Let's hope she makes it."
"Somehow, I feel like you're hoping she doesn't."
"Heh, serves her right for being so cheeky!"
"Tsk tsk, you're terrible."
Hayashi shamelessly planted a kiss on Erina's cheek, then casually pulled her into his arms, seating her on his lap as he said, "After sending the first group over, we'll rest for a couple more days before preparing to head to another world."
"Do you have any ideas already?"
"Mm." Hayashi nodded and said, "First, we'll find a big dummy and trick her out of a cheat, then head to a world where we can quickly unlock our potential to grow stronger!"
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