Chapter 37 - Hermit Vs Haruto Rematch

"So you are here for me right?" Haruto asked while coming in front of him. Miu protected Lala even though she doesn't need it since she also has some fighting experience since she's a princess. Natsu nodded his head after hearing Haruto's question.

"You have become a thorn in Ragnarok so the faster we deal with you the better it is." Natsu or otherwise known as Hermit said looking at Haruto.

"Since we are going to fight, why don't you show me your face." Haruto asks when Natsu removes his hood and lets them see his face.

"Ahh...Tanimoto-San." Miu said in surprise.

"You're the one who played the prince!?" Lala exclaimed. Both girls were surprised, never expecting that he would be the man known as Hermit. Only Haruto didn't have any reaction, seeing which Natsu raised his eyebrows.

"Did you already know about me?" Natsu was a bit surprised that he managed to recognize him even though he tried hiding his face.

"Yeah more or less, as when we shook hands for the first time I knew those hands weren't of someone who only does acting in the play, then those delinquents who were badly beaten after creating a ruckus wasn't done by me so I knew someone from the drama club must be behind it and finally you used the half-turning three step unconsciously while acting in the play which is part of a Chinese martial arts steps." Haruto explained and actually knew about it from his other memory but couldn't say it outloud.

"Oh I see, it looks like you have great observation skills." Seeing that Natsu won't stop until he gets to fight Haruto he also gets into his battle stance to fight against him. He saw his former self in Natsu eyes filled with hate and anger to the world.

"I also hate lies and your eyes show nothing but melancholy. I can't leave someone with the same vision that I once had. That's why…" Haruto removing his blindfolds surprised Natsu, never expecting someone with such strange eyes.

"Contact lens? Never expect you to be chuunibyou." Natsu mocking his eyes while Haruto looked at home deadpanned.

"Tell that to yourself. I mean have you seen yourself in the mirror?" Haruto insulted and got offended that he would call him that when he's not the one dressed like he came out of cosplay convention!

"Enough talk, let's end this quickly!" Natsu prepared to attack while Lala was worried for Haruto but Miu stopped her since this was a fight of two people and knew he wouldn't lose against Natsu.

Unable to wait anymore Natsu attacks Haruto with his right palm towards his face which Haruto blocked using both his hands by making a X.

Haruto can easily see through his attacks but his move had been sluggish because of the extra weight that he had been carrying and restricting his movement. It was part of his training from Akisame. However, he has [ Foresight ] and [ Zone ] that allowed him to see through his movement rather easily and simply couldn't the way he liked.

Natsuu with his left hand attacks on Haruto's stomach but Haruto uses Double Palm to push away the attacks of Hemit, and when he gets closer, pushes the enemy with both hands.

He stands with his right foot in front. As he makes a circular movement with both hands, he steps with his left foot. While stepping, he brings his hands to his right, and then pushes both hands forward and hits the ground with his left foot at the same time.

Natsu takes the hit on his stomach and starts coughing as he backs down to create some distance between them but Haruto doesn't let him have a moment of rest and gives a low kick with his right leg at his left knee.

He goes on one of his knees due to Haruto's kick and sees Haruto knee coming towards his face, he uses both his hands and blocks the attack.

After his last attack is blocked Haruto takes two steps back and starts breathing heavily as he was wearing extra deadweight making his movements sluggish otherwise Natsu wouldn't have been able to block the last attack.

"You have no idea how much I despised that expression of yours." Natsu asked while holding his stomach.

"Same here, I hate that fake persona of yours and prefer this one but that anger…I don't like that." Haruto said as he took his defense position once again ready to defend and attack Natsu the moment he came.

'He is stronger than I had predicted he would.' Natsu thought as he started to think of his next moves. Not far from their position the members of Ryozanpaku were looking at their fight.

"Hmm... Haruto's movements are sluggish, is there any reason for it!?" Kensei Ma asked.

"We'll just yesterday only I increased his restraints weight so it's normal that his movements will be sluggish." Akisame answered.

"What then won't he lose against such an opponent!?" Sakaki asked.

"Well we will have to wait and see how it goes," Akisame replied.

On the bridge Natsu and Haruto's fight had become more dangerous as he had started using a more dangerous Technique. Natsu went forward and attacked Haruto with Backslash which is a front attack to the opponent's face with an open palm strike forcing them back.

Haruto protected his face with both hands but got hit by Natsu who used an Axe Kick, a front kick to the leg of an opponent to catch them off balance and sit up for the next technique. making him fall down.

As Haruto fell on the ground Natsu used Uryubanda or Black dragon smash, An open palm slap striking towards the ground in a flat stance with heavy momentum to attack him. Haruto rolls over the ground to dodge the attack. A noise was heard and there were some broken slabs of the bridge under his hand.

"Hey, that's Hikaken! It looks a lot like Kung fu!" Kansei Ma.

"Hikaken!? Isn't that a dangerous martial art" asked Sakaki.

"Among Chinese martial arts, it is among the one's which is used more for actual combat. Using both arms like a whip, falling on the opponent without giving him the chance to counter attack, surely it is the fist of strength" Kansei Ma said, looking a bit concerned.

"Is it really the time to praise the guy who is after our disciples life" said Sakaki

"Don't get agitated, Sakaki" said Akisame.

"You shut up!! restraining Haruto's strength in order to help him to control is understandable but what I don't understand is why didn't you give him a key to get out of the restraints when he has to fight." Sakaki asked.

"Hmmm.... because till now there wasn't anyone who could defeat him even with those restraints on him, but looks like I will have to pass on a key to him as his opponents strength is also increasing along with him" replied Akisame.

"Oh you better." Sakaki said as he became more restless. On the bridge after seeing the last attack of Natsu, Haruto looks at his in shock

"That attack could have killed someone you know?" Haruto playfully said since it wouldn't even kill him, especially his ability to command his body.

Natsu didn't reply to anything but once again attacked Haruto this time his palm went for his left thigh, but before the palm of Natsu could reach Haruto's thigh he moved forward and used his right knee hitting him straight at his stomach.

Natsu coughed from the attack and lowered his head while trying to step back but Haruto was far from finished and used his right elbow and hitted him on his head.

"Aaaaaahhhh..." Natsu shouted in pain as he fell on the ground after taking Haruto's elbow. He was no match against his opponent considering he was superior in every way.

"Ohh! He sure picked Apachai's move easily." said Kensei after he saw Haruto's attack.

"Yeah! it looks like we won't have to worry about Haruto for now." Akisame said

"Apachai is a great teacher." Apachai said

"Hahaha, that's my disciple!" Sakaki said while laughing. Haruto stepped back.

"Get up, I know you won't go down so easily." Haruto said, looking at Natsu as he stood up slowly and Haruto gave him the time to get his bearings back.

"Since you were using such dangerous moves I should also not go easy on you right.." Haruto said as he took a deep breath and changed his style, merely taking it even more seriously where he could see his next move would be.

"Let's get this over with." said Haruto as he ran towards Natsu who was standing 10 steps away from him. Until now Haruto has only been defending himself but this time he went forward to attack.

Seeing him run towards himself Natsu once again attacked Haruto's face but he went into his battle stance before that happened making the pointed spear hand position of [ Hakkejyou ] and as Natsu's palm reached his face he turned around, then push the palm to the left and used the right hand to attack his neck.

After this he went into a continuous series of attacks: first Neck strike!, Crotch hit! then he turned around to the back and with the edge of the hand hitted his back of the Neck!, then Elbow to the side! and finished it off by kicking the back of the knee to topple Natsu. This series of attacks was done within 10 seconds not leaving any chance for Natsu to fight back.

Once the series of attacks ended Haruto walked back again to let Tanimoto stand as he knew until this guy is conscious he won't stop fighting so he was already ready to beat him till he is unconscious then call Master Akisame to do the treatment for him.

Time passes, Natsu stood up making his fighting stance to fight once again but Haruto could easily see that if he falls this time then he won't be able to stand up once again so he also got ready for the final round.

Natsu moved forward and so did Haruto. One attacked with his palm and the other with a punch hitting each other, Haruto could have easily avoided his palms but he wanted to trade blows and see until when Natsu stood up his punches.

Natsu's palm hit his chest while his punch went for the gut. This exchange of attacks went on for 2 minutes or so by that time they had exchanged 50 punches or more after which Natsu was fumbling and looked like he was going to fall anytime.

Seeing this Haruto knew that he had to end it now so just as Natsu attacked him once more, Haruto caught his hand with his left hand and lifted Natsu onto the hip and slammed him to the ground making him unconscious.

"...He is really a tough guy" Haruto is impressed by his progress and can see his refusal of defeat buried deep inside her mind.

"Is he ok, Haruto!?" asked Miu as she came towards Haruto.

"Yeah he should be fine just a little unconscious that's all" replied Haruto

"You really got even stronger, Haruto!" Lala said.

"Hehehe thanks." Haruto said as he took out his cellphone and called a number.

"Hello this is I have your child here." said Apachai as he picked up his cellphone given by Haruto.

"Yes Apachai-san, is Master Akisame there" Haruto asked

"Yes he is right here with me." Apachai replied.

"Ok then could you tell him that there will be a patient coming for him right now as he was injured during my fight with him" Haruto said.

"Don't worry we saw your fight so I will tell him right now" said Apachai to Haruto on the phone then looked at Akisame.

"Haruto wants to treat you to the guy he just met on the bridge." Apachai told him.

"Hmm... no problem, just bring him to my clinic" Akisame replied.

"Wait, you people are here." Haruto said as he looked around and saw a group with two giants and easily recognised them as the members of Ryozanpaku.

"Perfect Apachai-san, can you come here and pick up this guy to drop him off at Master Akisame's clinic, I will treat you to a hamburger?" Haruto said.

"Hamburger!? yes I am coming" Apachai said and made a giant leap directly landing on the bridge.

"Just take him to Master Akisame's clinic and I will bring your hamburger with me." Haruto said.

"Ok I will take him then." said Apachai and picked up Natsu in one hand and jumped down from the bridge running in the direction of Akisame's Clinic. After Apachai went away Haruto looked at Lala and Miu.

"Let's go, we also have to do a small party of the three since Miu's play was a success? I heard there was a new Cafe nearby." Haruto suggested.

"Yes, that would be great! " Lala said with a smile. Hearing this Miu became a little emotional and never expected Haruto would be the boy that she had crush on in the past and the reason why she wanted to become beautiful bride but a bit saddened that he has Lala and Honoka then realize things wouldn't be problem since Lala didn't mind others joining. However she was unsure if it was alright but still decided to focus on what he had done for her.

"Thank you very much...."