Matsuda, barely containing his delight, pointed his finger somewhere ahead. "Naritu, you have to see over there. It's Tada."
At that moment Tada sent his opponent to the floor with a powerful punch and asked calmly, "Is it over already?"
He was the captain of class four. His opponent, breathing heavily, raised himself up on his elbows and barked, "Freak."
Tada stepped closer and said coldly, "Are you going to end this so easily? Do you want to disgrace your class? Show some fighting spirit. You carry a responsibility on your shoulders to everyone who believes in you. You can't just give up because of one blow."
The guy spat and snapped, "Damn. He's always preaching that outdated morality of his. Just shut up."
Tada clenched his fist and shouted, "Then come at me like your life depends on it."
The opponent howled in anger, swung his arm and shouted, "You talk too much." He struck forward, but Tada dodged easily and then appeared behind him. The opponent spun around and launched a roundhouse kick, aiming for the head, but Tada managed to avoid it, moving his head only slightly.
A roundhouse kick? Not bad, Tada thought. But he's acting too relaxed, like he isn't taking the fight seriously.
He smirked. "Too relaxed. Or are you just holding back?"
The guy growled. "So are you, weakling."
He swung again, but this time Tada did not dodge. He caught the fist in flight and said harshly, "Being relaxed means holding back, and you don't even know how to do that. Why the hell did you come out here at all if you're not ready to fight?"
And then he delivered a crushing series of punches, sending his opponent to the floor again, and muttered, "And this, in my opinion, is a blow from someone who's holding back."
The first round of the Freshman War in this pair: Tada wins.
Some time later, Tada was walking down the street with his bag slung over his shoulder. Then he put a hand to his stomach and thought, I shouldn't waste time on trifles today. I'll go to that café and eat.
Then he heard sounds behind him and, turning around, asked, "What now?"
Fang was standing behind him with several hooligans. He held a crowbar in his hands and said, "Hey, Tada. What are you purring about? In a good mood, or what?"
Tada turned around and barked, "What? Why are you bothering me?" He glanced at the others and added, "There are so many of you. This doesn't look like a friendly meeting. They're crowded in here like cockroaches."
Fang chuckled. "Cockroaches, huh? So you're our bait."
Tada was indignant. "What are you talking about? What nonsense?"
After that he took a few steps forward and froze in surprise. "Inui?"
Inui said coldly, "What bad manners, addressing your elders by just their first names."
At that moment Rui passed by and said, "Fine. I leave everything to you. Inui?"
He nodded. "I understand."
Rui added, "Just no excesses. Okay? It would be a shame if he breaks. Otherwise he'll blame everything on me."
Inui chuckled. "Fine. I'll try not to hit him too hard. Although that's more up to him. He could have pardoned you — he's a kind guy, after all."
Tada snorted. "Do you even realise what you just said? Don't think you're settling everything here peacefully. You understand that, right?"
Inui chuckled again. "Scary. As expected of a guy who reached the semi-finals of the Freshman War."
Tada narrowed his eyes. "What's the matter? Who are these people with you?"
Inui answered calmly, "Nothing special. I'm here to recruit you."
Tada asked, puzzled, "Recruit?"
"That's right, Tada. You have real talent. Honestly, it's impressive." He pointed a finger at him and added, "An ability like that should be used where it can be applied best. So you'll work for me. You'll be one of those who are used."
Tada still did not understand. "What?"
Fang waved his hand, and Inui added, "You're useful. That's why we don't want you to go to waste. A good offer, right?"
Tada barked, "Proposal? What are you even talking about? Are you crazy?"
Inui raised an eyebrow. "Any other questions, guys? We need to make him more obedient. Go ahead."
Someone walked past in the other direction and said, "He's tough, so don't hold back too much."
Fang assumed a fighting stance and replied, "Yeah."
Tada muttered after him, "Freak."
At that moment a guy jumped at him from behind, swinging a bat. Tada threw his bag aside and barked, "What nonsense is this?" He spun around and kicked the attacker. He grabbed another guy by the face and shouted, "This is just a regular fight, and they call it recruitment. It's idiotic." He punched the next attacker and then smirked. "But on the other hand, they'll give me good training today."
He attacked his next opponent with his elbow, and noticing a few more people coming up behind him he said, "Come on, guys. This was just getting interesting." He spun around and delivered a series of punches and kicks.
After a while he straightened up, sighed and remarked, "Well, I warmed up nicely." He reached for his bag and added, "But do you know you didn't impress me?"
He stood surrounded by beaten students and said coldly that he had been hoping for a more serious fight. "Hey. Where's the one who said I'd work for him? Who would go and serve someone weaker than himself? In that case, I'd gladly refuse to join you."
But the next second a blow flew at his head. A man with a crowbar was standing behind him.
Inui asked, "Since when did I say that they were all my subordinates?"
Tada trembled with rage and shouted, "You're a coward?"
The man chuckled. "A coward? You think fighting is a sport? You still idolise comic book heroes. You can't let your guard down, right?" He came closer, grabbed Tada by the hair and muttered, "It's the same as war. Truth is always on the winning side. It's simple, right? No matter what methods you use, if they don't lead to success, you won't get any respect. So, what's your answer?"
The next second Tada spat in his face and hissed with total confidence, "What kind of idiot would listen to the nonsense of a loser like you?"
Inui smiled and said, "So that's it. Well, then nothing can be done. We have to beat him up."
The next second the guys with crowbars pounced on Tada, but soon Fang stopped in surprise, and the others froze, looking at him.
Fang exhaled. "This is too much, man. Inui, maybe it's time to stop."
Inui silently surveyed everyone, then walked closer to Tada, and looking down at him remarked coldly, "How pathetic. I hoped you'd learned. People who preach fair play only shine in sports and comics." Then he turned and waved to the others. "Let's go."
Tada stretched a hand out after him, screaming, "Wait!"
But the next second his consciousness faded, and he collapsed on the pavement.