Jaden still remembered Ogami Sakura.
It wasn't because she was good-looking.
It was because she had genuinely troubled him before.
Because of that, her impression was deeper than Kiryu Setsuna's. With Kiryu, Jaden had only exchanged names before knocking him out. There was no real interaction.
Of course, another reason was that Jaden hadn't been paying much attention to A Certain Magical Index recently. After the first royalty payment came in, he had distributed the illustrator's salary, submitted the second volume to the editorial department, and then more or less let it go.
If he had been following things closely, the pen name "Kiryu Setsuna" might have registered with him.
But he hadn't.
So now-
"Wow."
Jaden looked at Kiryu Setsuna, who was surrounded by medical equipment, and raised an eyebrow.
"He got beaten pretty badly."
Even by Jack Hanma's standards, the injuries were severe.
"So," Jaden continued, "do we know who did this to him?"
Standing beside him, Shion nodded.
"It's said to be the new representative combatant of Yamashita Trading Company. Tokita Ohma."
She paused, then added.
"According to Kiryu, he lost. The opponent spared his life and left on his own."
"I see."
Jaden raised his brows slightly.
He didn't pursue the topic further.
But Shion glanced at him again.
"And there's something else. It's said that Tokita Ohma was carrying a book titled A Certain Magical Index."
Shion was clearly watching Jaden's reaction.
Based on her investigation, that light novel was almost certainly written by the person standing in front of her.
"Ah."
Jaden responded simply, then shook his head.
"So that's how it is."
"Turns out if a light novel author doesn't update or messes up the plot, they get beaten half to death by deranged readers."
"No."
Shion shook her head.
"According to Kiryu, Tokita Ohma probably can't even read."
"He seemed to be trying to get an autograph for someone else. Who that someone is, I'm not sure."
"But it's likely an issue connected to Yamashita Trading Company."
She continued calmly.
"Tokita Ohma, Yamashita Trading Company, and Kiryu Setsuna all appeared suddenly, without prior records."
"I understand."
Jaden nodded.
He mentally noted the name Tokita Ohma, then smoothly shifted the topic.
"So."
"About Ogami Sakura-she..."
"Master Jaden-!"
Before he could finish, a voice reached him from a distance.
Jaden sighed the moment he heard it.
She still hadn't changed how she addressed him.
Turning his head, he raised an eyebrow.
Ogami Sakura stood there, looking exactly the same as before. No visible increase in muscle mass. No obvious physical changes.
"You know," Jaden said flatly, "I told you not to call me Master."
"No!"
Ogami Sakura answered without hesitation.
"You showed me kindness by giving me guidance. How could I not respect you?"
Tsk.
"Eh..."
Jaden paused, stared at her for a moment, then sighed.
"Fine. Do whatever you want."
He gave up.
At that moment, Shion spoke.
"Since you're technically this child's master, Jaden, please try to persuade her."
"She's only in her third year of junior high."
"She won't even enter high school until the new semester starts and she enrolls at Koyo."
"From an ethical and logical standpoint, I don't think she should be exposed to Kengan matches this year."
Jaden looked at Ogami Sakura.
"You heard that."
"And last time, you didn't even beat Kiryu Setsuna, right?"
He gestured toward the hospital bed.
"Look at him now."
"He got beaten into this state by someone else."
"So don't go sticking your head where it doesn't belong."
Jaden himself participated in Kengan largely because of two things.
The Jack Hanma template.
And the Curse.
Those two factors made his participation stable. Controlled.
But Ogami Sakura-
To be honest, Jaden felt she was still weak.
If Takeshi Wakatsuki fought her in her current state, he could probably take her out quickly.
In that sense, Shion wasn't wrong.
Kengan wasn't a sport.
It wasn't a competition.
It was an underground fight.
People died there.
Countless martial artists had their futures ruined in Kengan matches.
Ogami Sakura-
She lacked the necessary "purity" in every sense.
"Master Jaden."
Ogami Sakura spoke firmly.
"The me right now is different from before."
"If I fought Mr. Kiryu again, I would win."
Jaden glanced at Kiryu Setsuna, still lying motionless in the hospital bed.
"Yes."
"Given his condition, he can't even get out of bed."
"If you still lost to someone like that, you really should quit martial arts altogether."
"No, that's not what I meant-"
Ogami Sakura tried to explain.
But Jaden turned away and looked at Shion.
"Miss Shion."
"Please prepare the fighting arena."
"...Ah?"
Shion was stunned.
Jaden's expression, however, remained calm.
He turned his body slightly and looked back at Ogami Sakura.
"You call me Master."
"Even though I don't really have much to teach you, and I find disciples troublesome."
"I'm good at persuading people."
"But there's a faster way to stop someone from getting themselves killed."
He spoke evenly.
"Fight me, Ogami."
"Let me see your level."
Ogami Sakura's lips curled upward.
Her eyes shone.
"I understand, Master Jaden!"
...
"These two really are..."
Shion watched as Jaden and Ogami Sakura entered the arena, shaking her head helplessly.
Nearby, Shion's colleague Akemi was also present.
Along with her friend.
Hibiki Sakura.
They were watching as well.
Unlike Shion's resigned reaction, Hibiki was visibly excited.
"Akemi."
"Isn't that the guy who saved us the other day?"
"Was he a martial artist?"
"...Yes."
Akemi answered after a brief pause.
"Though whether he counts as a martial artist is debatable."
"But one thing is certain."
"He's extremely strong, Hibiki."
"I see."
Hibiki nodded.
She leaned forward against the railing, eyes fixed on the arena.
This kind of scene usually only appeared in movies.
Naturally, she was excited.
Meanwhile, inside the arena, Jaden spoke.
"Come on, Ogami."
"I understand, Master Jaden!"
Ogami Sakura nodded.
She planted one foot firmly and charged straight toward Jaden without hesitation.
She knew how strong Jaden was.
She had watched his match with Takeshi Wakatsuki.
Because of that, she didn't hold back at all.
As soon as the distance closed, she shifted into a boxing stance and threw a punch directly at Jaden's face.
Jaden raised his hand casually.
He lightly batted her fist downward.
Ogami Sakura seized the moment.
Her leg swept out, targeting Jaden's thigh.
She struck, then retreated immediately.
For someone of her build facing someone like Jaden-whose strength was clearly abnormal-the thigh was the best target.
Repeated low kicks would reduce speed.
If the leg was compromised, power generation would also suffer.
That was her plan.
Hands to draw attention.
Legs to chip away at mobility.
A reasonable tactic.
But-
After just one kick, Ogami Sakura understood something clearly.
This wouldn't work.
At all.
She had kicked Jaden's inner thigh cleanly.
But it felt like striking a steel plate.
She didn't know whether Jaden felt anything.
But her own calf was aching badly.
If she kept this up, she'd cripple herself before doing any damage.
"As expected of you, Master Jaden!"
Ogami Sakura spoke with genuine admiration.
Jaden snorted softly.
Tekkai: Hollow Tree.
A technique he mastered after learning Paper Arts and further refining his body control.
Originally Rob Lucci's move.
It allowed the user to maintain Tekkai while reflecting force back at the attacker.
"You won't make it at this level."
Jaden said it plainly.
But Ogami Sakura kept smiling.
"If it were the old me, Master Jaden..."
"I would've been finished after one exchange."
"And if you had attacked seriously, I'd definitely be taken out in one move."
She paused.
"Of course."
"If you get serious now, I'd still be taken out in one move."
"The gap between us is still enormous."
As she spoke, she relaxed her stance.
Her arms lowered.
Her posture loosened.
"But."
"If you're only testing me..."
"Then this should be enough."
Her hands hung naturally at her sides.
Her center of gravity sank.
Her legs, however, looked relaxed.
"Hehe."
"This is something I finally understood after your guidance last time, Master Jaden."
She smiled.
"I call this move-"
"Formless."
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