Chapter 84: Domain Reappears.
Aoi Todo spent a full four minutes plus explaining the principles of cursed techniques and their extensions to Okkotsu Yuta. Kinji Hakari didn't attack but waited for him to finish.
After all, this was a friendship match, and he was teaching his own junior; there was nothing wrong with that.
As time passed, the BGM/buff Hakari had gained from hitting the jackpot slowly faded. It seemed to signify the jackpot period had expired, and the feeling of "infinite" cursed energy within his body also disappeared.
"Oh, so that's how it is." Okkotsu Yuta noted it down with a serious expression.
"Alright, that's all I'll teach you for now. What follows is a battle between true men." Aoi Todo looked at Kinji Hakari and asked, "You can still deploy it, right? The domain."
"Heh! Of course. After all, my luck is pretty good right now."
The two looked at each other, adhering to the principle of a true man's 1v1 duel. In unison, they said to Okkotsu Yuta, who was beside them, "Junior (Rival), stay clear."
"Oh..." Okkotsu Yuta also knew he didn't need to interfere here anymore. Recalling Kirara Hoshi, who was still unconscious, he left directly.
Watching Okkotsu Yuta leave the range of the technique, Kinji Hakari brought his hands together and said, "Ready to end my gamble? Domain Expansion: Idle Death Gamble!"
"Hey! A loud crash from the sky, and Tatsuro makes a dazzling entrance! Who used that 'Domain Expansion' just now?"
The moment the domain opened, Tatsuro fell from the sky, landing squarely between the two, and then he too was pulled into it.
The surrounding scenery began to change. Since techniques within a domain are guaranteed to hit, a large number of rules began to be forcibly instilled into both their minds.
After briefly processing the new information that had suddenly appeared in his mind, Tatsuro gazed around and found they were now standing at a train station entrance.
Kinji Hakari was speechless. He never would have imagined someone would fall from the sky. He asked, "Junior Tatsuro, what kind of commotion are you joining...?"
"Hehe, isn't it because I was curious who deployed a domain? I came over to secretly learn a move or two, didn't expect to get dragged in. How about... you let me out?" Tatsuro scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. After all, he knew both their personalities. If they were fighting, they wouldn't allow outsiders to interfere; Mechamaru was a lesson from before.
"..."
"Let you out...? Do you think my 'Domain Expansion' doesn't consume cursed energy!" Kinji Hakari tapped Tatsuro on the head and said, "Go watch from the side. Just don't interfere in our battle."
"Oh..." Tatsuro clutched his head and walked to the side. In front of these incredibly awesome seniors, he seemed like a weak and easily bullied sheep, appearing harmless to humans and animals alike.
Aoi Todo, having roughly understood the game rules, now showed a smile and said, "Let's begin."
"Of course!" Kinji Hakari tossed out two pachinko balls from his pocket. One disappeared to start the animation sequence, while the other turned gold and was stored as a reserved ball.
"I'm going to be late, I'm going to be late!" The protagonist, Yamaguchi Yūki, rushed past them,carrying a briefcase. Aoi Todo touched him, found he was an illusion, then clenched his fist and directly punched at Kinji Hakari in front of him.
This is the lowest expectancy. And he just started the domain. Clearly, even if he uses 'Kakuhen' and 'Jitan' simultaneously, the probability of hitting a jackpot is 1/60.
Adding the so-called expectancy boosts for a jackpot, it's at most 1/50. And all items in the field are made of cursed energy, they can be hit!
Aoi Todo had figured out the current situation in an instant.
Kinji Hakari also knew it was difficult to hit a jackpot like this and directly used 'Jitan' to reduce the time.
The protagonist, Yamaguchi Yūki, failed to pass through the ticket gate. Behind him, where two "Asagiri Yume No. 2" symbols had been, one "Saito Ushi No. 1" symbol appeared.
The first animation sequence ended. The stored reserved ball now appeared, starting the second animation sequence.
Meanwhile, Hakari and Todo were entangled, exchanging fists and kicks. Tatsuro, watching from the side, felt his hands itching; he also wanted to jump in and fight, but he just couldn't get in.
However, this domain was truly interesting. Just like the name of the technique, Idle Death Gamble!
A gambler playing against fate – it really fits senior Hakari's personality. Betting everything he has to fight others: passion, hot-bloodedness, and the gambler's cool-headed daring in the face of danger.
So this is what a Domain Expansion is, materializing the world of one's inner thoughts into reality.
Tatsuro hadn't learned any theoretical knowledge related to 'Domain Expansion'; it was just a feeling. He also didn't want to enter his own inner world; it was too dark...
One by one, pachinko balls were thrown out, and the animation sequences accelerated. But Kinji Hakari still didn't hit a jackpot. The symbols behind him spun rapidly.
"Are you trying to stack your luck?" Aoi Todo threw a punch, sending Hakari flying from the train station entrance into the station itself.
"Tch, my luck's a bit off today." Hakari wiped the blood from his nose and tossed out another pachinko ball. Two "Shimizu Ryōka No. 5" symbols appeared behind him. Riichi started again!
Yamaguchi Yūki appeared inside the station, waiting for the train's arrival. The train slowly pulled in, its doors glowing gold.
"Gold means x3. Seven symbols in total. A 3/7 probability? A bit risky."
Feeling uneasy, Aoi Todo clapped his hands, directly swapping places with the chair behind Kinji Hakari, and kicked out.
(PS: Everything in the domain is made of cursed energy; Aoi Todo can swap positions with them.)
This kick sent Hakari, who hadn't reacted in time, flying into a wall. Todo didn't want to waste time and prepared to defeat him directly to forcibly end the domain.
He clapped his hands again; a nearby chair instantly disappeared. Kinji Hakari was now lying on the ground, somewhat dazed. Aoi Todo aimed a kick directly at his head.
Thump!
The ground cracked. The train had also arrived at the station. The doors opened. Yamaguchi Yūki, preparing to enter, saw Asagiri Yume inside and said, somewhat shyly, "Hello..."
Asagiri Yume blushed and replied, "Mm..."
Kinji Hakari, lying on the ground completely unconscious, had the last symbol behind him begin to spin.
『5. Shimizu Ryōka』
Three identical cards aligned. Jackpot!
As the music restarted, Kinji Hakari, who had lost consciousness, instantly awoke. He grabbed Aoi Todo's foot, which was coming down for another blow, and said, "That really hurt. Looks like my luck today is really not bad, huh? I actually hit the jackpot again."
Just as he finished speaking, Aoi Todo leaped up, kicked both feet at the back of Hakari's head, and then quickly retreated.
But Kinji Hakari, as if nothing had happened, slowly climbed out of the crater. The wounds on his face were healing rapidly, and his cursed energy returned to its peak.
Rolling his neck, he said, "You really don't hold back at all, do you? The moment you get a chance, you kick like you're trying to kill. Don't you know continuously kicking someone's head will make them dumber?"
Aoi Todo looked at Kinji Hakari using Reverse Cursed Technique. Based on the music from before the domain opened, he instantly understood this domain. He readjusted his stance, beckoned, and said, "Don't worry. Takada-chan said boys are better if they're a bit dumb."
"To hell with you! I'm a man!"