"What do you mean by that?" Tsujihara asked.

"The Nine Muhaijin are the strongest based on what the people know, right? Not because they actually are." Utsumi answered.

"What nonsense! You're just tryi---"

"Want to test it out? Hell, even Yoshida here can beat the crap out of you."

"WHAT? N-No... He's obviously joking. I'm just---"

"Him? This weak-looking friend of yours? I'd have even considered if you had mentioned Tsujihara here, but this guy? He looks like a complete rookie."

"He may not look it, but he's way stronger than all the others."

"How can you be so sure of it? I'm one of the Nine Muhaijin! I kind of have a pretty good idea about people stronger than me."

What is Utsumi doing!? I can't fight---not one bit! I haven't even undergone training yet.

"Stop kidding around. She isn't weak. She's the only muhaijin among the first years---a fighting prodigy." Tsujihara said.

"Doesn't matter. Yoshida can still kick her ass. Right?" Utsumi responded.

He turned towards me. Everybody subsequently did. I nodded no.

"Only one way to find out, then... Let's have a battle, shall we?" Miura insisted.

"B-Battle? Hell no! I---"

"Lovely." Utsumi interrupted. "Decide the time and place, and we'll be there."

Everybody looked shocked.

"Sure. The venue will be the open field, obviously." Miura decided.

"One condition, though---If we win, then you'll have to join TREC." Utsumi said.

"TREC? You mean that cursed club? Wasn't it disbanded decades ago?"

"We brought it back, and obviously, we're trying to get new members. If we lose, then you can decide on what to do with us. Anything. Deal?"

"Anything? Hah. I'm game. You decide the time. I don't really care when." Miura said, and left the classroom, along with her followers.

"ARE YOU INSANE!? YOSHIDA, AGAINST THE STRONGEST FIRST YEAR STUDENT!? It's not even been a week, and you're going to throw him into a battle with a beast like her!?" Tsujihara shouted.

"Calm down. I'll train him, all right? I'm pretty sure he can beat her." Utsumi implied.

"There is no way---she's too strong. Even some of the teachers are scared of her. Plus, she has great influence here too, being the daughter of a decorated alumnus. You should just apologise and call the fight off." Tsujihara said.

"All the more reason to win. Imagine the publicity we'll gain if she joins us. We can become huge. TREC will thrive again."

He's got a point---bringing her in would be a great boost. But, it's me versus her. I cannot see any light out of this cave.

"Don't worry, I'll get you stronger in no time. Just follow what I tell you during training, and you'll be absolutely fine." Utsumi reassured.

I have no choice. Why don't I get to say anything before things happen?

Open field, 7:00 P.M.

"It's surprisingly empty. Why is it so?" I asked.

"Maybe the gods are on our side. Either way, winning against Miura Rika is impossible---You need to find a loophole, and break the match somehow." Tsujihara implied.

"Come on, cut him some slack. He's going to fight against the strongest first year student. What he needs right now is confidence." Utsumi said, while patting my back.

He sure makes it sound easy. But, if Tsujihara herself is scared of her, then it's no joke---I am indeed in trouble.

"Okay, so, care to tell us about her, class rep?" Utsumi asked.

"She's an enhancement-based power user. I'm not sure what part of the body she can specifically enhance, but, judging by our previous encounters, she might have a great auditory perception---basically she can hear really well... Or that's what I think, considering that she can judge the distance of a person away from her just by listening to the intensity of the vibrations caused due to the footsteps. Hell, she can even predict if you're going to land a punch, or a feint, before you even decide to. I tried thinking that it could be the ability to foresee movements, but that's not really possible." Tsujihara explained.

"That's troublesome. Hah. You've got yourself a good opponent, Yoshida."

"You're the reason why, I suppose." *Sigh*

"Cheer up, okay? Now, listen up. I'm going to show you a technique--you're going to use this against her, got it? No excuses, though. It's going to be extremely tough to learn, and riskier to use, as well. Ready?"

I nodded yes, while gulping.

"There has been a theory that you can increase your physical strength, or your senses, up to your desired choice, depending on how much you'd be willing to sacrifice your body, in exchange for it." Utsumi explained.

"Hang on," I interrupted, "Wouldn't that be an enhancement-based power?"

"True. You'd be increasing your physical strength, or senses, by concentrating your power on all parts of the body, or just one, specifically. It's pretty much the same, except for one small difference---doing this will increase your rate of depletion of power by several times. That isn't the case for enhancement-based power users, as they're naturally accustomed to it. They can use it much longer than you can. But, they always have a limit, as to how strong they can get. Plus, they can't really enhance just any body part---only the ones they've always been able to. We, on the other hand, can push ourselves as much as we can, and, can enhance any body part we want, but only for a few seconds. Their bodies will automatically shut down risks of building up power, which may cause extreme injuries, or even death. So, you have somewhat of an advantage here, but it'll only remain for a moment. Remember---we do NOT have a killswitch---meaning, if you keep enhancing, then your body won't be able to handle the over taxation, and fatal injuries will be imminent, or even worse... death."

"This is some advanced information, absolutely unknown to most 1st-year students... How do you know all of this? Moreover, enhancements by non-enhancement power users is nearly impossible to be done by mere students---no, only TYB personnel can do so." Tsujihara implied.

"I did enhance my fists during my match against you and Yoritaka. How do you possibly think I knocked you two out cold that easily?"

"W-Who the hell are you?" Tsujihara asked, while vigorously sweating.

"Like I said, we have the upper hand here. She isn't aware of Yoshida's powers, and so, we can manipulate her into making rash decisions." Utsumi implied.

"What if my body starts to not listen to me? What if I'm left unable to move?" I asked.

"You're going to have to make it count, Yoshida. You need to win. Plus, I'll be teaching you, so you can leave it to me."

Okay. Deep breath, Ryou. You can do this. You have to.

"So how are you going to teach me to enhance?" I asked.

"Heh, I don't need to. You're different, remember?" Utsumi implied.

"Different? How?" Tsujihara asked, puzzled.

Utsumi didn't reply. Instead, he kept smirking at me. It only meant one thing.