20. The Mafia Heiress Determined to Challenge the Mighty

There was not a single girl in the Upper City High School's Martial Arts Club—an indisputable fact.

Yet, as previously mentioned, every club in Chen Shang’s "Campus Arc" had its own designated heroine; there could be no oversight in this respect.

First-time players would rack their brains in vain, never imagining that the Martial Arts Club’s corresponding heroine was actually a stunning beauty from the Kendo Club.

This young woman, with her classic hime-cut hairstyle, was named Chiyo Asougi. She was a year above the protagonist, thus his senior.

But Chiyo Asougi also had two hidden identities, known to none: she was the daughter of the chairman of the largest conglomerate in Arakawa District, the Asougi Group, and concurrently the current leader of the “Tokugawa Society,” the yakuza syndicate under the Group’s wing.

In other words, Chiyo Asougi was the undisputed mafia heiress.

For someone born into the upper echelons, silver spoon in mouth, attending high school was purely a matter of acquiring credentials.

That was why she’d deliberately chosen to study in the neighboring Longmen District, her purpose being to keep her identity concealed.

According to the game's lore, every aspect of Chiyo's upbringing had been dictated by her parents—her refined young lady’s poise, her scornful attitude toward commoners, and her mastery of kendo and the tea ceremony alike.

Yet, a girl raised in a gilded cage could not wholly quash a rebellious heart.

She became obsessed with martial arts. Whether it was the thrill of hurling someone to the ground or taking the brunt of a fierce assault herself, the pain and violence of combat became her only outlet.

But her family would never tolerate their daughter’s fondness for such a brutish “plebeian pursuit.” Thus, Chiyo could only feign interest in the school's kendo club, sneaking over to the Martial Arts Club on occasion to challenge its strongest members.

If the player wanted to raise Chiyo Asougi’s affection in the “Campus Arc,” joining the Martial Arts Club and taking the initiative to challenge her was a must.

“Asougi, here to pick a fight again today?” a senior joked, bumping his fists together.

“I have no interest in any of you. Bring your club president here,” Chiyo replied, flicking her hair with a haughtiness that kept people at arm’s length.

A burst of laughter rose from the crowd.

Any typical male student would have been infuriated by Chiyo's imperious disregard. But the Martial Arts Club had to deal with this madwoman crashing the club two or three times a week; over time, they’d grown used to it, most choosing to shrug it off.

Besides, none of the members present could best her in a one-on-one match. Only the club president had managed to tie her a few times, and those victories were nothing to boast of.

Soon enough, President Lie, a towering figure, pushed through the crowd and stepped up to Chiyo.

“Back again to challenge me?” President Lie’s voice boomed.

“That’s right. No-holds-barred rules,” Chiyo replied coldly, though a competitive gleam sparked in her eyes.

“Listen, kiddo,” President Lie scratched his head, looking troubled, “you’ve already beaten every member of our club, but I really don’t want to hit a girl.”

“You look down on me because I’m a woman?” Chiyo arched a brow, her tone dripping with disdain. “What a damnable attitude.”

With that, she dropped her bamboo sword bag and, gripping the collar of her kendo uniform, tore it open. Her close-fitting tank top and athletic shorts barely concealed the essentials, accentuating every curve of her well-proportioned figure.

“Oooh!” The club members, rarely treated to such a sight, shouted with excitement.

“A pack of rutting dogs,” Chiyo muttered, donning her boxing gloves with open contempt in her gaze.

If this place wasn’t her only outlet, she wouldn’t deign to share the air with these reeking men.

Sensing her fighting spirit, President Lie could only step onto the central ring himself. “Go ahead.”

The rest of the club crowded eagerly around the ring, keen to watch the match.

Only Chen Shang remained in the corner, working the heavy bag, the system’s proficiency notifications flashing before his eyes.

“Hey! Ladies first—I’ll let you have the first move!”

President Lie stood at the far corner of the ring, arms up in a defensive posture, ready for action.

“Let me?” Chiyo snorted, then charged forward in a blur, reaching President Lie in just a few strides. “Prepare to lose!”

The difference in their heights was nearly a head and a half, their builds leagues apart. If Chiyo was a lioness, then President Lie was a full-grown elephant. Going head-to-head would be sheer folly.

Yet Chiyo leaped, bringing herself level with President Lie. In a flash, she swung her arm, a straight punch slicing the air with a sharp whoosh.

Facing such an overt attack, President Lie smirked and raised his arm to block.

Given their disparity, her punch shouldn’t have done any real damage.

But something odd happened: as Chiyo’s fist made contact with his arm, the sound of bones fracturing rang out.

A moment later, President Lie’s face turned crimson, and, to the shock of all, he was sent flying.

Chiyo pressed her advantage, stepping up and unleashing a flurry of blows, forcing her opponent into a desperate retreat.

Despite being pummeled by such a slender girl, President Lie was powerless to retaliate. All he could do was shout, “Stop, stop, I give up!”

Only then did Chiyo relent, skipping back two steps, still bouncing on her feet.

“Damn, how did that happen? Big Brother Lie got sent flying by a single punch from this little girl?”

“Last week she could only hold her own against him with technique, now this madwoman’s overpowering him outright!”

Witnessing such a one-sided defeat, the club members broke into whispers, worried for their president.

Chen Shang, on the other hand, was unsurprised.

Despite her slim, delicate frame, the mafia heiress took gene-modifying drugs daily; her body was far from ordinary.

At this point in the story, Chiyo’s genetic chains had just broken free, and her strength was at the human limit—five points. She’d also unlocked a temporary limiter-removal skill, letting her exceed even that.

President Lie rushed off to the infirmary, likely needing a cast for his arm.

Chiyo stood alone in the ring, her eyes drifting toward Chen Shang, who continued training at the heavy bag.

“Who’s that? I haven’t seen him before,” she asked, pointing his way, chin raised.

“Oh, he’s the new kid who joined today!” the senior instructing Chen Shang replied.

Chiyo considered for a moment, then said, “Call him over. I want to spar with him.”

The senior quickly pleaded, “It’s his first day and he has no combat experience—maybe let it go?”

Chiyo shot him a glare. “Then you get up here and fight.”

That drew a cold sweat from the senior, who flinched instinctively.

After a few moments of awkward silence, a club member ran to Chen Shang and pointed at the ring. “Hey, quit training! See that beauty up there? She wants a match with you!”

“Not interested,” Chen Shang replied, landing another punch on the bag.

The member slunk back to the ring and joked, “Our new guy’s practicing celibacy—he can’t be distracted by women.”

The club erupted in laughter, trying to lighten the mood.

But Chiyo was unmoved, her gaze fixed coldly on Chen Shang as she repeated, “Bring him here to fight me.”

The club members looked at each other, at a loss.

Seeing their hesitation, Chiyo jumped down from the ring and strode straight toward Chen Shang.

He kept working the bag, ignoring the world.

Bang! In the next instant, Chiyo let fly a punch at the bag.

The bag dented visibly, its chain snapping under the strain, sending it flying across the room.

With his training interrupted, Chen Shang turned to Chiyo and offered a polite smile. “Can I help you?”

“Fight me,” Chiyo commanded.

“I refuse,” Chen Shang replied, standing his ground.

He appeared calm, but sweat was already forming on his back.

Why is Chiyo Asougi taking an interest in me?

Chen Shang was baffled.

In dating sims, heroines generally fell into two categories: proactive and passive.

Proactive types, like Nayu, would approach the protagonist as the story progressed. They required little effort—follow the main story, and you’d earn their affection.

Passive types were the opposite. If the protagonist didn’t initiate conversation or trigger events, she’d remain a stranger forever.

Chiyo Asougi was the epitome of a passive heroine. Even if the player joined the Martial Arts Club, unless he sought her out for a match, she’d never show any interest.

That was why Chen Shang had planned to be an inconspicuous background figure, training quietly and staying off Chiyo’s radar.

Why, then, had this mafia heiress taken the initiative to notice him and insist on a duel?

Truth be told, Chen Shang wanted nothing to do with her.

In the original setting, Chiyo Asougi was ruthless and unscrupulous, looking down on all others.

Yet, should the player manage to break through her shell and raise her affection above fifty, she’d instantly become a tsundere girlfriend—cold on the outside, warm within.

This archetype would have been the perfect bait for many players’ secret tastes. Chen Shang had even considered her one of the game’s poster girls.

Unfortunately, after the rich kid’s rewrites, Chiyo’s character had been twisted into a green tea girl—using the protagonist as a lapdog, only to fawn over the deuteragonist behind his back.

Getting tangled up with such a woman could only be described as “unfortunate.”

When Chen Shang refused, Chiyo snorted and suddenly threw a jab at him.

He barely reacted before the wind of her punch ruffled his hair, the fist stopping mere centimeters from his face, yet the force was enough to sting his skin.

Chiyo had deliberately thrown a feint, a blatant provocation.

Even a rookie would find it hard to swallow such an affront—especially from a girl his own age.

“You really want to spar that badly?” Chen Shang sighed, then broke into a grin.

“You asked for it.”