“…Is this the Judo Club Room?”
About 10 minutes later.
Sion arrived at the address Michelle Fontatz had sent him.
‘Is it really this big for a club room?’
When he arrived at the address, what he saw was quite a large dojo. The academy was said to be larger than most university campuses, but… he never imagined the club room would be the size of a judo dojo.
Sion took out his student ID and texted Michelle Fontatz.
[Sion: I’ve arrived, senpai.]
[Michelle Fontatz: (cat waving emoji)]
[Michelle Fontatz: I’m by the main entrance of the club room. I’ll be there soon.]
[Michelle Fontatz: (running cat emoji)]
[Sion: Okay.]
“…There are emojis in this world as well.”
The previous headmaster had made the student IDs function like mobile phones. I really want to see what kind of person he is, even just for a moment.
While he waited with such thoughts,
Drrr!
The dojo’s main entrance opened, and Michelle Fontatz, wearing a judogi, came out.
“Hey, kiddo! Long time no see. Did you wait long?”
“No, I just got here… Is this the Judo Club Room?”
“It’s a bit too big to call a club room, right? A famous judo master donated it back in the day, so we were able to build such a large dojo.”
“Ah…”
Sion nodded, finally understanding. There were indeed many buildings and facilities at his previous university that had been donated by famous people.
“Come on in. The president is currently in a sparring match, so it should be fine.”
“Well then… excuse me.”
Sion nervously followed behind Michelle Fontatz. The dojo was a typical judo facility, but it creaked with each step he took. The noise was painfully distracting.
‘I hope I won’t run into the club president…’
Judo Club President Horiya Misaako. If she still wanted to have a rematch with him… she’d probably rush at him the moment she saw him.
That’s why he felt unreasonably tense, as if he were playing a game of tag.
“Are you that anxious?”
“What if I run into her…?”
“If you do, it would be dangerous. The president trains really hard.”
“Is that really true?”
“If you meet her, she might immediately start with the thigh throw.”
“……”
“Haha! Just kidding, just kidding.”
Michelle Fontatz laughed, patting Sion on the shoulder. It wasn’t funny at all to Sion. He was 100% sure he would lose if they fought again.
“Now, this is the storage room of the club. And… this is the money earned that day.”
Clink!
She handed Sion a small pouch. It fit perfectly in his palm. Sion tilted his head.
“…This is the money earned that day?”
“Don’t doubt and just open it, kid.”
“…Ah.”
When Sion opened the pouch, gold coins were visible inside. In this world, 100 silver coins were worth one gold coin. So, this meant the calculations were accurate.
“2 gold coins and 1 silver coin. That’s the income from the last club event.”
“…I see. But didn’t you say it was too hard to give me the silver coins…?”
“W-Well, still take a look at the dojo! How about it? Isn’t it amazing? A famous judo senior donated it! So, do you want to join?”
“…Ah-ha.”
Sion nodded.
‘So, you called me here on purpose…’
Michelle clearly invited him here because she found it difficult to give him the silver coins. However, the real reason was to show him the magnificent dojo used as the club room… and naturally lead him to join the club.
‘That could be.’
He might feel uncomfortable, but honestly, it didn’t matter that much. After all, he had earned 2 gold coins, and considering how much Michelle had helped him until now, this was quite a cheap price.
“…What’s with that smiling face?”
“Me? It’s nothing.”
“Anyway, since the purpose of our meeting is over, you can head back. But feel free to look around a bit first.”
“I’m afraid to run into the president, so I….”
“Really? Then it’s too bad… see you later.”
Michelle made a disappointed expression, but she didn’t try to stop Sion.
“Thank you. Then I’ll be going now.”
“Yeah… If you change your mind, come back! You know how to get out, right?”
“Yeah, you don’t have to see me out.”
Sion bowed his head and thanked Michelle Fontatz. Thanks to her, he had obtained money close to 2 gold coins.
An amount that was enough to buy a wand or staff and still have change left.
‘…But can this cover my tuition?’
Sion placed the small pouch into his uniform pocket and walked back towards the dojo’s main entrance. He was collecting money to pay for his second semester tuition. He had no idea how many gold coins he would need to pay it.
He thought he should go to the Admissions Office for related information when a familiar figure appeared in front of him.
A woman with a red ponytail drenched in sweat.
It was Horiya Misaako.
“…!”
“It’s you….”
Just before he exited the dojo, he ran into Horiya Misaako. Sion’s body immediately stiffened. He had hoped to avoid her, but they ended up meeting.
He tried to subtly turn around and head back, but….
Thud!
Horiya Misaako grabbed Sion by the shoulder, gripping tightly as if she wouldn’t let go.
“Are you Sion, the student I met that time?”
“…I think you have mistaken me for someone else.”
“No, it’s impossible to mistake. I’ve never forgotten since that day.”
Sion trembled at the crazed look in Horiya’s eyes.
Ah… he wished to avoid her, but now he was caught.
She immediately attempted to take Sion back into the dojo.
“Just at the right time, I’ve warmed up. Now’s the perfect time for a rematch….”
“President! Ah… we’ve finally met.”
“…Hm?”
“First, let’s get our hands off and talk. He’s scared.”
Michelle Fontatz forcibly pulled Horiya’s hand away.
As she semi-embraced Sion, Michelle backed away from Horiya.
Sion looked up at her with grateful eyes.
‘…I’m sorry for thinking badly of senpai.’
To stand up for him even against the club president.
It was the same when she broke down the dojo door to train for her juniors the first time they met.
Michelle Fontatz was definitely a good person—
“First, we need to get him enrolled in the club!”
“…Enroll?”
“Yeah! If you join the club, you can spar as many times as you want. Right?”
“Hmmm, thinking about it, you’re right. So I just need to bring the club admission paperwork?”
“…Huh?”
Sion blinked in surprise.
Join the club? Spar as many times as I want? Bring the club admission paperwork?
What in the world were they talking about?
“Um, senpai…?”
“Yeah? What?”
“I’m not really planning to join….”
“What are you talking about! I was so happy thinking a junior from the Magic Department was finally joining us.”
“……….”
“And I also remember that spar.”
She gazed at far-off mountains with an ecstatic expression, as if recalling glorious moments from the past.
“I thought I’d be beaten by that thigh throw without being able to fight back, but who would have thought you’d counter it with a thigh throw of your own?!”
“……”
“If you could do that even without formally learning judo, then you’ll surely become an outstanding judo practitioner!”
No, I don’t plan to become a judo practitioner.
It seemed Michelle Fontatz, whom he thought was on his side, was actually an enemy.
Sion despaired at that realization.
Did he really have to join the judo club like this? Just then.
“President, when are you coming… huh?”
“Hmm, sorry to keep you waiting. There’s a new student expressing interest in the Judo Club.”
“This brat… is it really the first-year student Sion from the Magic Department?”
A woman came out from deeper inside the dojo.
She looked just like Horiya Misaako.
‘…Doppelgänger?’
With red hair, a ponytail, and a judo uniform, her overall facial resemblance resembled Horiya Misaako’s childhood.
The only difference was… she had even sharper eyes than Misaako?
Noticing Sion’s gaze, the female student frowned.
Then she spoke to Misaako.
“President, this guy is famous for something called the Visaniti.”
“Famous?”
“He’s known for bragging to girls and embarrassing professors… total delinquent, didn’t you know?”
The girl pointed her finger at Sion and spoke openly.
‘No, how far has the rumors spread?’
Of course, Sion felt wronged.
He had never bragged to girls and certainly had not embarrassed professors!
He swore to the skies he had never done that.
…Though he did accidentally splash water on Professor Ronda Magret, but anyway, that was an accident, so it’s an exception.
“Mi Yu, you really shouldn’t say such things in front of the person involved.”
“I’m saying this for the president. And we can’t let such a punk into our judo club.”
“I’ve personally experienced Sion’s abilities.”
“I don’t know what trick he used. Stories from Visaniti have been going around about what tricks this guy used….”
“Enough.”
Horiya interrupted Mi Yu’s words.
Her expression was dangerously devoid of emotion.
Even Mi Yu, the one called so, took a step back in awe.
“I don’t believe it unless I see it or hear it myself.”
“…Kuh.”
“Is there anything to add to the president’s opinion? If you have more to say, I trust you’re prepared for the consequences.”
Mi Yu bit her lip, unable to respond appropriately.
Perhaps she had realized that persuading the president would be difficult.
Her gaze shifted from Horiya Misaako to Sion.
As if she had just thought of something brilliant.
“No matter how much you say that, I can’t stand the thought of that guy joining our club! Especially since that money was earned through your hard work!”
“Mi Yu! That’s enough. I’m not your sister right now, I’m the president—”
“Then…!”
Snap!
Mi Yu pointed her finger at Sion.
Her expression twisted.
As if she were looking at an archenemy.
She loosened her belt and threw it at Sion with a “whoosh!”
It hit him squarely in the chest and fell to the ground with a thud.
…What the heck was this?
“You’re fighting me now! You punk.”
“Mi Yu!”
“If I win, I’ll make you give me as much gold as you’re taking home today. 2 gold coins, right?”
Clink.
She pulled out 2 gold coins from her belongings.
Was she a wealthy heiress, to be so careless with her gold coins?
As Sion was amazed, Mi Yu smirked.
“But if I win, you better not even think about entering the judo club again. Got it?”
“……”
“Why, scared? Are you afraid? I don’t know what dirty tricks you used to win against my sister, but I won’t fall for it!”
“Mi Yu, I told you to stop. What are you saying to the newcomer?”
“No. It’s fine.”
Sion took a step forward.
Michelle Fontatz, Horiya Misaako, and even Mi Yu, whom he assumed was her sister.
Everyone was looking at Sion as he said,
“I’d like to accept that challenge.”
“Si-Sion! You don’t need to think so hastily! Mi Yu often picks fights with others!”
“Michelle, please step back!”
A flustered Michelle tried to stop Sion, but he gazed at Mi Yu without changing his expression.
Looking at Mi Yu’s face, which still seemed to underestimate him, Sion thought.
‘…This is a fight I have no reason to back down from, right?’
If Sion won, he would double the gold coins he would receive.
If Sion lost, he would have a legitimate reason not to join the judo club.
He had absolutely nothing to lose. A complete no-risk, high-return scenario.
Sion was actually grateful to Mi Yu.
