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"The Karate Club?"
Fujiwara Tōru smiled faintly as he gazed at Yukinoshita Yōno before him. He hadn't expected to encounter her so soon after starting university, let alone receive an invitation to join a club from her.
Seeing Tōru's interest piqued, Yōno's expression brightened. With renewed enthusiasm, she offered him a radiant and graceful smile.
"Yes, it's the Karate Club. Even if you don't know karate, Fujiwara-kun, that's perfectly fine. Not everyone who joins is already skilled in karate. The senpai in the club will provide some basic instruction for beginners."
"If you end up liking karate, you can take grading exams to earn belts or even participate in competitions during your time at university."
"Of course, whether it's belt exams or competitions, there's no pressure. This is just a casual hobby club—it's not focused on professional-level training."
Yōno made sure to emphasize this point.
She had seen plenty of young men brimming with ambition, eager to achieve success.
Especially someone like Tōru, who had already gained recognition as the freshman representative, naturally exuding confidence and likely believing he could excel at anything he tried.
Yōno didn't dislike such men; confident individuals were often quite charming.
However, if that confidence turned into unwarranted arrogance, making them a laughingstock, even someone as composed as Yōno would privately mock them—though she'd never say it outright.
Yōno herself was an extremely self-assured woman, embodying the image of a strong-willed Tokyo University student many people envisioned.
Her relentless effort to invite Tōru stemmed from her agreement with her friend Miyuki's suggestion.
This freshman representative had already made a name for himself among the first-years. Inviting him to join the club would serve as excellent advertising to attract other new students.
Moreover, Tōru was undeniably handsome, which made him perfect for recruiting female students—a fact Yōno understood all too well.
Well-versed in the dynamics of attraction between genders, Yōno knew how to leverage her feminine charm, just as she was doing now.
Tōru listened intently to Yōno's words, his expression serious.
After Yōno finished explaining the achievements of Tokyo University's Karate Club and its past members, Tōru suddenly asked:
"Senpai Yukinoshita, did you start learning karate from a young age?"
Yōno paused momentarily, her smile brightening further. "Yes, I've been practicing karate since I was little. By middle school, I had already earned my black belt."
"So, Fujiwara-kun, are you interested in joining the Karate Club? If you need more time to think, that's fine too—I just hope you'll keep us in mind when choosing a club."
Yōno understood that pushing too hard could breed resentment, so she gave Tōru an easy way out. Even if he declined, both parties could part ways without losing face.
It was undeniable that this woman excelled in navigating social nuances, behaving like a caring and considerate older sister.
"Senpai Yukinoshita, do you also teach newcomers?" Tōru inquired curiously.
"Not usually. At most, I might offer some pointers here and there. My free time is mostly spent practicing for national karate tournaments."
"But if you join, Fujiwara-kun, I wouldn't mind giving you personal guidance. Would you be interested in receiving instruction from your senpai?"
Yōno winked, flashing an ambiguous smile that was both inviting and teasing, leaving Tōru intrigued.
"To be honest, I'm not particularly picky about joining any specific club. Since Senpai Yukinoshita has kindly extended this invitation, refusing would seem ungrateful. Besides, I've actually practiced karate before."
Tōru hadn't anticipated encountering such a pleasant surprise at Tokyo University by meeting Yukinoshita Yōno.
"Oh? What level are you at, Fujiwara-kun?"
Yōno wasn't surprised to hear that Tōru practiced karate.
Over the past two decades, karate had surged in popularity across Japan, much like idol bands among teenagers today.
Especially after a certain karate prodigy burst onto the scene last year, sparking a nationwide craze for the martial art.
'What level am I at? Probably around the same level as Kyōgoku Makoto right now. But once I push my physical limits further through training, even Kyōgoku won't stand a chance against me.'
With these thoughts in mind, Tōru chuckled and replied, "I'm not sure what level I'm at—I've just been training blindly on my own. I've never taken any grading exams."
Tōru wasn't lying to Yōno—he really had relied on his cheat-like abilities to train haphazardly!
"If you already have a foundation, that's great. We can spar sometime," Yōno said tactfully, implying she could guide him. She continued, "...So, Fujiwara-kun, have you made a decision? Do you still need time to think?"
"No need to think anymore. With such a thoughtful senpai like you, further deliberation seems unnecessary. Where's the registration form? I can fill it out right now."
Upon meeting Yukinoshita Yōno, Tōru knew for certain that he was joining the Karate Club!