Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week

The Kendo club members once again learned the hard way that anger doesn't make one stronger.

Aozawa dominated them once again. Amidst the earlier noise, the Kendo club gradually fell silent.

Only the echo of his shouts remained.

Aozawa stayed alone in the Kendo club's activity room, but he didn't feel lonely.

At this time, many people in Tokyo, including Sunaga Takashi, were swinging their bamboo swords in training.

He must be preparing for the Jade Dragon Flag competition, Aozawa thought.

Thinking this, Aozawa swung his bamboo sword with even greater force.

When his training session was about done, Aozawa removed his protective gear and stepped outside the activity room.

In the corridor, Ayatsuki Ayaka leaned against the wall, cheerfully holding out a thermos. "Good morning, Aozawa, here's your vegetable juice for today."

"I feel bad making you deliver this every day. I'll buy you coffee this Saturday," Aozawa said as he took the thermos from her, smiling. "What time should we meet up?"

Ayatsuki Ayaka stood with her hands clasped behind her back, grinning from ear to ear. "Let's meet at the West Exit of Ikebukuro Station at twelve-thirty P.M. We're going to watch a horror movie, 'Super Great Escape.' Hehe, will you be scared?"

"No horror movie has ever scared me," Aozawa replied with a smile. He then twisted open the lid of the thermos and took a sip of vegetable juice.

Drinking sweet vegetable juice after exercising had become his morning routine. I really wish I could always have free vegetable juice, he thought, chatting with Ayatsuki Ayaka as they walked outside.

***

Upon reaching the classroom, they parted ways.

Before Aozawa had even taken his seat, he saw the manga manuscript on his desk.

"How is it this time?"

"No good!"

Phoenix Academy Maggie gave this assessment, massaging her temples as she said, "There's been progress, but it's still not ready for serialization."

"No rush, let Tetsuji take his time."

"Did I make a really terrible suggestion?"

Phoenix Academy Maggie, doubting her own advice, complained, "Instead of spending all this time drawing manga, Tetsuji should just muster the courage to pursue Little Sayuri."

"I think your idea was fantastic. Given Tetsuji's personality, do you really think he would pursue a girl in the usual way?"

After hearing Aozawa's words, Phoenix Academy Maggie mulled it over and realized he was right—she couldn't imagine Tetsuji chasing after a girl like an average guy.

Moreover, Little Sayuri's personality wasn't like that of an average girl either. Anyone who could befriend her was, by definition, not ordinary.

"Then it all comes down to his luck."

Phoenix Academy Maggie sighed softly, not wanting to discuss it further. She deliberately lowered her voice, her eyes filled with mystery as she said, "Yesterday, another heinous shooting took place in Shinjuku. During a deal between the Sannou Group and the CIA, something went awry, and they shot at each other—fifteen people were dead on the scene. This news was suppressed by the higher-ups and went unreported."

Aozawa couldn't help but interject, "If this isn't reported and that isn't reported, what exactly is Japanese news for?"

"Of course, it's for the wealthy to have a voice," Phoenix Academy Maggie replied boldly. "Remember, the so-called freedom of speech in the West is just a lie used to deceive people. If you dare to promote red ideas on Twitter or YouTube, you'll either be banned or put under surveillance by the Public Security Bureau. I'm not trying to scare you. When they see you as a threat, human rights are nothing but a piece of paper—every move you make could be watched, and you might even be 'suicided.'"

As an heiress to a conglomerate, Phoenix Academy Maggie had been taught a very important lesson by her parents from a young age.

She could be mischievous, but she absolutely could not afford to be 'red.'

Even the heir to a top conglomerate would become a prisoner at the slightest hint of turning red.

Listening to her grave tone, Aozawa shrugged. "That sounds really dangerous. I hope you manage to hold onto your youthful idealism in the future."

After a pause, his gaze shifted from the manga manuscript in front of him to the spherical fortress encircled by the girl's arms. He laughed and said, "But, with a conscience as big as yours, you should be fine."

Phoenix Academy Maggie tilted her head slightly, pondering what Aozawa meant by a 'large conscience.' Then she noticed his direct gaze.

She glanced down.

The three buttons on her white shirt looked like rocket launchers ready to fire.

Phoenix Academy Maggie instantly realized what 'large conscience' meant, and a flutter of shyness stirred within her.

Her fair cheeks didn't show any outward sign of shyness; she just glared at him and said, "Pervert. I'm not talking to you."

As she spoke, Phoenix Academy Maggie turned away. Her eyes, however, didn't focus on the textbooks on her desk but gazed out the window.

A slightly rounded white cloud drifted across the azure sky, looking much like what she'd seen when she glanced down moments before.

Tsk, what an indecent cloud, Phoenix Academy Maggie inwardly grumbled. Why have my psychological defenses become so weak? Aozawa's simple joke unexpectedly struck a sensitive chord within me. Why am I getting so flustered over a little joke? There's no need to dwell on it, she told herself.

Behind her, Aozawa tugged at her golden hair, saying, "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Don't be angry."

"I'm not angry. Class is about to start."

Phoenix Academy Maggie swore to heaven that she hadn't been angry initially, but after Aozawa's attempt to placate her, she suddenly felt a flicker of genuine annoyance.

How strange, she thought.

"Oh, that's good then."

Aozawa gave up on apologizing and went back to reading the manga.

Fine! Phoenix Academy Maggie confirmed to herself. I really *am* angry now! Was that an apologetic attitude? Just because I said I wasn't angry, did that mean he could just take my word for it and stop? Couldn't he at least apologize one more time? Aozawa, you blockhead! You big oaf! she fumed silently.

***

BRRRING!

The four morning classes flew by, and soon the bell signaling their end echoed across the campus.

As the teacher left, the classroom buzzed with activity again.

Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't join Aozawa for lunch, not that she was still angry; such a trivial matter had blown over after just one class.

Ever since she joined the Manga Club, she spent every lunch with Yoshikawa Sayuri and Nomura True Wave in the Manga Club room, not with Aozawa in the cafeteria.

To accommodate her two friends, Phoenix Academy Maggie even had her family's chef prepare bento boxes for her to bring.

Aozawa's lunch companion had changed to Hojo Tetsuji.

"Later on the rooftop, remember to help me look over the plot."

Hojo Tetsuji was pouring immense effort into creating a manga that could be serialized and was genuinely open to advice. He'd even stopped sleeping in class and was using the time to revise his manga drafts.

"Sure." Aozawa nodded. "Are you having bread for lunch again?"

"Mhm." Hojo Tetsuji nodded. His reply was so curt it made Aozawa slightly suspicious of Shouko's cooking. "Why don't you eat the bento Shouko makes?" he asked. "Could it be she's one of the Five Tiger Generals of the dark cooking world?"

"Shouko's cooking is fine; it's just that her bentos are always overly elaborate. Bread suits me better," Hojo Tetsuji said with a shake of his head.

In elementary school, he had always eaten bentos made by Shouko.

Once he got to middle school, Hojo Tetsuji refused to eat those overly cutesy bentos. It was mainly because he felt they didn't fit his image. A tough guy like him eating pink, heart-shaped bentos? It just wasn't right.

"I see. You really are an idiot!" Aozawa retorted. So many brothers dream of having a cute, doting younger sister like that, and this guy doesn't appreciate her at all!

"Shut it. Everyone has their own preferences," Hojo Tetsuji said irritably, though he didn't deny being an idiot. He was quite self-aware in that respect.

***

Aozawa and Hojo Tetsuji split up on the first floor.

He headed to the club building, not via the main entrance, but by taking a familiar, winding side path—much like a cat would use—that led him to the exterior of the Guzheng Club's window.

He raised his hand to knock but paused, his expression turning awkward as he took in the scene inside the activity room.

Two young women in the bloom of youth in the activity room should have been a pleasant sight. However, their current posture was anything but delightful and could easily spark one's imagination.

Hojo Shouko had Natsuka Yanagimachi's shirt pulled open and was leaning close to her abdomen, apparently sniffing something.

All three pairs of eyes met.

Natsuka Yanagimachi's fair cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She pushed Hojo Shouko away, spun around, and didn't dare meet Aozawa's gaze.

Hojo Shouko, on the other hand, was very calm. She stood up, picked up her bento, and walked over to the window.

Opening it, she earnestly explained, "I happened to hear someone say that girls' belly buttons smell. I'd never noticed this before and became curious about whether this was true. I can't smell my own, so I tried smelling Natsuka's. The plan was for her to smell mine afterward so we could find out the truth."

Aozawa, now enlightened, asked curiously, "Does it smell?"

"There seems to be a faint, slightly odd smell, but it's not very noticeable." Hojo Shouko's voice was soft and sweet, like freshly made mochi.

"Shouko!" Natsuka Yanagimachi exclaimed, her back still to them. Her cheeks were as red as apples; it was mortifying to have her belly button's potential odor discussed like this.

I want to die! she roared internally.

Aozawa realized he might have said something wrong. He took the bento, saying, "Shouko, you need to be more mindful of your image."

"Aozawa-senpai, I was merely testing a piece of information I'd heard."

"Regardless, apologize to your friend, quickly," Aozawa said, a hint of exasperation in his voice, then turned and walked towards the academic building.

Hojo Shouko blinked, then turned to face her friend, who still had her back to her.

She understood. Stepping forward, she bowed. "Natsuka, I'm sorry. What I did just now was very impolite. I shouldn't have told Aozawa-senpai about the private matter of whether your belly button has a scent or not. I'm truly sorry."

"It's fine, I'm used to you by now," Natsuka Yanagimachi sighed. This isn't really Shouko's fault. Aozawa just showed up at the worst possible moment, she thought.

Natsuka Yanagimachi turned to forgive Shouko, but her eyes fell upon a smooth, pale abdomen. And a cute belly button.

"Now it's your turn to smell mine and see if it has a scent," Hojo Shouko offered.

Natsuka Yanagimachi's smile faded bit by bit until her face was expressionless.

"Natsuka?"

"Belly button attack!"

Natsuka Yanagimachi jabbed her right index finger into Shouko's navel.

"Ah!" Hojo Shouko doubled over in pain. Why did Natsuka suddenly attack me? We agreed to smell each other's belly buttons! Why is she going back on her word? she wondered.

"Shouko, you're coming to Hell with me! Cross Scissor Lock!"