"Haha! As expected of Yugo and his friends! You’re exactly the sort of men we took you for!"
"Father? You look like you’re trying to wrap this up on a high note, but it won’t be that easy. You’re going to spend some serious time reflecting on your actions today, understood?"
"Not just Uncle Tadakatsu—you as well, Father. Please realize that Ryuga-san and the others had to clean up after you yet again."
"If you bring trouble here one more time, we’ll make Yugo and the others turn you away at the gate. Every single time you visit, you leave us with nothing but a headache!"
"H-How shameful..."
"Raiha, please stop showing your Dragon's Eye. It’s making me feel unsettled in more ways than one..."
As most had anticipated, the duel with the three uninvited guests from Yamato ended in a crushing victory for Yugo and his companions. However, the trio of Warrior Shrine Maidens weren’t about to let the matter rest there. They currently had their fathers forced into a formal seiza posture, right in the middle of a stern lecture.
Yugo and the others could only manage wry smiles as they watched Sakura and the girls cornering their parents, fury practically radiating from their backs. Sakura was right; Yugo certainly hoped this would be the last time they imported their problems. Still, feeling a pang of pity for the fathers, he stepped in to mediate.
"Now, now, that’s probably enough. I’m sure Uncle Tadakatsu and the others have learned their lesson. You won’t be bringing any more trouble our way, will you?"
"I won’t be dealing with it even if they do," Ryuga interjected coldly. "In fact, it might be simpler if I just cut them all down right here."
"Ryuga? Isn't that a little too extreme, even for you?" Yugo asked.
"No... it is the most certain method," Raiha added, her expression grim. "It might honestly be for the best."
"Raiha? Could you please not weigh the pros and cons of letting your father die with such a straight face? Even I’m going to start crying, you know!" Ujiyasu pleaded.
As Yugo watched Ryuga and Raiha seriously debate such a murderous solution, he couldn't help but think their thought processes were becoming disturbingly similar. He realized Ujiyasu—who looked moments away from being abandoned by his daughter—needed a lifeline. Meanwhile, Marcos, who had more or less resigned himself to being a human climbing pole for Elena, addressed the fathers.
"So, what is the status of those three now? After such a humiliating defeat and public display of incompetence, is there a chance they might try to stir up more trouble out of desperation?"
"Ah, they should be fine," one of the fathers replied. "For now, Katsuyori only had minor injuries and is recovering at the hospital. Enji’s diagnosis was similar; nothing serious, so he’s just resting quietly. Katsuyori has accepted his loss with grace, and Enji likely doesn’t have the energy to make a fuss anyway."
"What about Masanaga?" Ryuga asked. "He disappeared in the middle of everything."
"He’s already packed his bags and is preparing to head back to Yamato, leaving the two in the hospital behind. He lost to Ryuga-kun after looking down on him and made an absolute fool of himself... Given his pride, he probably can’t stand the curious stares of the students here."
Of the three, Katsuyori and Enji were hospitalized for observation due to their combat injuries. Masanaga might have been physically unscathed, but his pride was in shreds. He hadn’t just lost to Ryuga; his leadership had been proven a sham, his katana—the very soul of a swordsman—had been shattered, and he had been stripped down to a fundoshi. To make matters worse, Ryuga had done all of this while clearly toying with him. It was a miracle the man hadn’t died of pure embarrassment right there.
This wasn’t just about Masanaga, either. Word of the duel would reach Yamato eventually. Once the details of their behavior and the nature of their defeat reached the homeland, the public, and their respective families, Enji and Masanaga’s reputations would be utterly destroyed. Katsuyori might be spared the worst of it, but the others were finished. Having been disowned himself, Yugo felt a flicker of sympathy for the harsh fate awaiting them... but he quickly corrected himself. They had brought this on themselves.
The one-on-one clash with Katsuyori had been a respectable fight, and Yugo decided he’d limit his well-wishes to him alone.
"Well, that settles that!" Tadakatsu barked, trying to steer the conversation toward safety. "Sorry again for the trouble, Yugo. I’ll make sure a proper apology gift reaches you soon, so just sit tight."
"Honestly! Father! Do you think everything can be brushed aside just because you apologize and offer a reward—"
Sakura was about to tear into her father for trying to dodge accountability again when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She spun around, only to feel a chill run down her spine. Anhel stood behind her, wearing a truly sinister smile.
"Don't you worry, Sakura. This isn't over. In fact, for me, the real show is just beginning."
"...An-dono, did you do something?"
Anhel wasn't directing her hostility toward her, but that smile sent a wave of dread through the room. What was she up to? Before Sakura could find out, the door burst open with violent force, followed by a frantic, high-pitched scream from the hallway.