Chapter 9: Arm Wrestling
At dinner, Red was the one doing most of the talking. Mayumi's parents were extremely impressed by Red's japanese skills.
"You've travelled to so many countries!" Mayumi said in shock.
"Where are your parents?" Mayumi's dad asked. "You are living alone here."
"My parents passed away several years ago." Red said.
The mood at the table immediately turned somber, but Red quickly changed the topic, talking about how he once tried to stop a thief only to find out that no one had stolen anything and it was all just a misunderstanding causing everyone to laugh.
"Red, your life sounds so interesting. I also want to travel the world once I graduate from high school." Mayumi said with longing.
After dinner ended, Red returned to his own flat and went to sleep. Today was a tiring day.
"School life... its tiring to act like having this life is enjoyable." He mumbled as he dozed off.
The next day at school. Goutou had caught up with one of the delinquents Sai. He was an infamous senior, who often bullied students and got into brawls.
Goutou handed him 10,000 Yen. "Sai, I want you to beat up the gaijin transfer student in my class."
Sai laughed. "Goutou, do you think I am an idiot? That is an international transfer student. Of something happens to him it will definitely blow into a huge matter. I might even get expelled. You think 10,000 yen is enough?"
Goutou gritted his teeth. "How much do you want?"
Sai shook his head. "I cannot take this up. You give me 50,000 and I'll pay a gang to handle him outside the school. Give him a good beating."
Goutou nodded. "Alright."
In class, Red was fiddling with his phone. Rin ribbed him with her elbow.
"Who are you chatting with?" Rin asked.
"Your literature club president." Red replied.
"You didn't exchange numbers with me, but you began chatting with the academic beauty senior?" Rin asked while pouting.
Red made an apologetic face. "Actually, I just discovered that she is my neighbor. I went to her place for dinner and we exchanged numbers there. Let's exchange numbers, then I can spam you emojis as well." Red said.
Rin tried to act angry, but she eventually exchanged numbers anyway. After that, she added him to the class group. Red then used that to add everyone else's contact details.
He then sent everyone an individual message. He got several replies and began chatting with everyone.
Rin looked at Red fiddling with the phone. "Did you end up joining any club?"
"Yes, I joined the Arts Club. I began learning to draw." Red replied. "I haven't tried drawing before and my drawing was hideous."
"Really? show me." Rin nagged.
Red took out an art book and showed his drawing. It was a drawing of an ideal apple, but it was pretty uneven and the shading was terrible. The second was also a picture of an apple, but it looked much better.
At this moment, five guys were holding an arm wrestling competition. Red looked at it with interest. He looked at Rin.
"Is this a regular thing?" He asked.
Rin shook her head in irritation. "Yes. Those five are from the Health club. They daily compete in arm wrestling."
Red laughed and walked towards the five well built figures. "Can I join your competition?"
The five looked at each other and laughed. "Sure!" They replied enthusiastically.
Many people suddenly saw Red joining the daily arm wrestling competition and looked on with interest. Goutou saw Red attract some attention and once again grit his teeth.
Red rested his elbow on the desk and gripped his opponent's palm. The five health club members were nicknamed brother one to brother five respectively, based on their regular rankings among each other. Red was now arm wrestling with brother five.
"Begin!"
Everyone thought Red would quickly lose and he did fall into an early disadvantage. But then, his hand began to gently vibrate in a very curious manner, even if his elbow was iron fixed to the desk. Suddenly, brother five couldn't gain an advantage anymore and Red slowly pulled back and won the match.
"Oof, Brother five has terrific arm strength!" Red exclaimed.
"Red, you are one to talk. You are much leaner than me and yet you still won. Your hand had suddenly felt like it was vibrating!" Brother five exclaimed in surprise.
"Just a small trick I learnt at the circus." Red laughed.
"Circus?" Rin asked from behind. She was also surprised that Red won against brother five.
"I worked as a magician in a circus for a few months once." Red explained.
"Really?" Rin found it unbelieveable. Which student would work in a circus in this age!
"He knows magic tricks." Yui suddenly commented.
Suddenly the class calmed down. Everyone looked at Yui. Even Rin was surprised. Yui realized that everyone's attention turned towards her and she felt awkward.
Red saw that Yui was suddenly put into an awkward position so he nodded. "Indeed, I wanted to become a magician then, and went to a circus to learn as an apprentice."
He then waved his hand and a jester hat appeared in his hand.
"Wow, how did you do that!" Everyone was shocked.
Red laughed. "Just a little trick." Then he waved his hand again and the hat disappeared and it turned into two roses. Red handed one to Rin and one to Yui who were closest to him.
When Goutou saw Yui take the rose, he couldn't stand it anymore. He slammed the table and stood up in rage.
"Red, do you dare to arm wrestle with me?" Goutou suddenly yelled.
Red looked awkward. "Goutou, is there something wrong between us? You've been very hostile to me since yesterday..." He asked in a very serious tone.
Many other students also got up.
"Enough Goutou! You've been acting like a mafia since yesterday! Do you know Red helped carry yoj to the infirmary? Why are you targetting him?" Rin defended Red and slammed Goutou.
Goutou looked at Yui and saw her face was cold as well. He flew into a rage. "Red, do you dare arm wrestle me or not? Are you going to hide behind a woman?"
Red shook his head with a disappointed look. "I tried very hard to be friendly with you, but it seems you are hell bent on having an enmity with me. I didn't do anything to you." He skmply ignored Goutou's provocation and returned to his seat.
The five brothers looked at Goutou in anger. They were impressed by Red's strength and wanted to get him into their health club, but now Goutou had ruined it all.
"Goutou, if you misbehave with Red again, then don't blame me for being impolite!" Brother one immediately warned him. "Red is not just a transfer student, but a cultural exchange student. His experiences in our class would be his reflection of the kind of people our countrymen are. Your pathetic attempts at riling him up are not just insulting him, but insulting us! So you better shut up and sit quietly!"
Rin looked at Red's disappointed look. "Red, ignore Goutou, he is a crazy guy. Everyone in class likes you. Goutou has a screw lose in his head."
Yui also turned and looked at Red. She collected her words before she spoke. "I'm sorry Red. Goutou is behaving like this because of me. I didn't know he was such a bully and an insecure person before. I apologize on his behalf."
Red shook his head. "He is he. You are you. You didn't do anything to me, you don't need to apologize."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone