Chapter 19

Before the opening ceremony even began, the moment I arrived in the classroom my classmates surrounded me.

The reason was obvious. The results of our self-directed training during summer break had been posted up in the hallway.

They were displayed as a ranking, showing how quickly each person had cleared the practice course—

“Labyrinth Area Three Practical Training (Advancement Training Course)”
“Top 10 Clear Times”

1st Higashiyama Akira  7:11
2nd Nanjo Ryosuke   15:24
3rd Kitajo Kasumi   21:17
4th Nishizaki Yukie  21:19

Oh—Nanjo-kun in second place really smashed his personal best! I’m pretty sure he used to be in the nineteen-minute range. That’s impressive. He probably only had yesterday to make another attempt, yet he still cut his time down this much.

“This time—what is this!? Isn’t it impossible!? It’s less than half of Nanjo-kun’s time in second place!”

“Hm? Well, I did train pretty hard, you know.”

I felt a bit guilty, like I was cheating somehow, but even so, I wasn’t going to hold back anymore.

I’d decided to move on with top grades, and even if people around me drifted away… I was going to secure the best results and the strongest backing possible.

“Wait, it’s not just that, is it… Akira, didn’t you also win at the Ginza training facility during summer break? Your name was on the list of summer champions.”

“Ah, you found out? Yeah, I kind of went around clearing out a lot of the facilities in the city. I’ve decided to seriously aim for the top as an explorer.”

I said the word ‘top’ half jokingly.

Everyone laughed it off, thinking I was just being my usual cocky self—but Kasumi alone looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if something about what I said didn’t sit right with her.

Yeah. Figures. She’s my best friend. Compared to before summer break, I’d basically become a different person.

I knew someone would notice.

“Akira… did something happen?”

“Hm? Just a bit of a change of heart. I’ll tell you later.”

Even if I couldn’t tell her the truth, I could still tell a lie meant to reassure her.

I don’t believe all lies are evil—so I had no problem lying to my best friend.

When the opening ceremony was about to begin, the teacher came in and told us to head to the gymnasium.

At last, the latter half of our third year. From here on out, everyone would seriously start moving toward higher education, employment, or becoming an explorer.

Maybe it was time for me to think more carefully about how I carried myself at school, too—

“Nice to meet you. I am Soryuji Misaki, the student council president of Meiou Exploration Academy, and today I’ve been unexpectedly asked to give the opening address.”

…Huh? That name coming from the podium sounded extremely familiar.

Wait—wasn’t that the person I fought in the first round on day one of the tournament!?

The one with the striking looks who used a sword! No way… she was the student council president of the school I was advancing to?

“I was originally here today on another matter, but since an overwhelming number of students from this school will be advancing to Meiou Exploration Academy, I’d like to talk about the mindset you should have when advancing, and what you ought to be doing from now on—”

As I listened to Soryuji-san’s speech and glanced around at the others’ reactions, it seemed that to students already planning to advance, she was treated as someone from a world far above their own.

Right after enrolling, she’d been scouted into the student council—made up entirely of the academy’s elite—then promoted to student council president within two years. On top of that, she’d been recruited by Vermilion Cell, one of the most prestigious explorer clans.

A truly chosen individual.

I knew that clan name, of course. If I remembered right, it was one of the country-recognized “Nationally Selected Clans.”

Rumor had it that the clan was composed entirely of women, and that its strength was approaching that of Sunrise Warrior, the so-called strongest of all nationally selected clans.

…Amazing. She really was someone from another world.

If word got out that I’d beaten someone like her in a tournament, I might instantly gain a powerful backer.

“—That is why it’s important to learn things that cannot be gained through school training alone. I, too, recently learned something significant outside the academy. I realized there are still formidable enemies out there, and powerful individuals hidden among the public. The world is still vast, and I feel that reality every day. So whether you choose to advance or pursue another path, I hope you will all turn your eyes toward the wider world.”

…Hm? For a moment, I felt like our eyes met. Probably just my imagination, right?

But still… that part of her speech was definitely about me, wasn’t it? Powerful individuals hidden among the public—that was exactly the kind of opponent I’d been searching for. Though from her perspective, I was probably the one who fit that description.

It was after the opening ceremony ended, when I was about to head back to the classroom.

Just as I passed the spot where the summer training rankings were posted, a voice called out and stopped me.

“Higashiyama Akira-kun, do you have a moment?”

“Hm? …Ah, it’s you.”

It was the student from the advanced class who had taken second place in the rankings.

In fact, I knew him.

Because in my previous life… I’d crossed paths with him, if only briefly.

I had chosen the path of becoming an explorer.

He had entered an exploration academy as the top student and gone on to become the student council president of its affiliated high school.

We were almost polar opposites. Naturally, our encounter hadn’t been a pleasant one—and it had led to conflict.

I’d thought I wouldn’t have anything to do with him in this life.

But it seemed he had something he wanted to say to the person who’d taken first place.

“You’re Nanjo-kun, right? The student council president.”

“So you already knew about me. But I don’t know you. I’d like to ask about these training results—are these numbers accurate?”

“They’re accurate. The equipment and facilities at this academy are probably among the most precise in the country. There’s no mistake in the results. I cleared it in less than half your time.”

“…I see. Sounds like there’s something fishy going on. I don’t know what kind of tricks you used, but the real thing won’t be so easy. Advancing includes interpersonal combat tests, you know. People with similar rankings in other training will be matched against each other. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Though even if the actual records are worlds apart, it does seem a bit cruel to make first and second place fight each other.”

And there was one more reason I was speaking to Nanjo-kun in a way that might come across as overly polite—bordering on rude.

The answer was simple.

I knew he was a bigoted, unpleasant piece of trash.

That’s why, in my previous life… I’d crushed his spirit.

It seemed that in this life, that moment might just be coming a little sooner—

“Eh!? Why!?”

“No way—why are they here!?”

The other students who had been watching our argument in the hallway from all around us—

That gallery suddenly began to stir.

What now? Did a teacher come to break up the argument or something?

In that case, I’d better make myself scarce—

“Ah, I’ve found you. You’re Higashiyama Akira-kun, correct?”

However, the second person today to call me by my full name wasn’t a teacher.

The crowd in the hallway instantly split to the left and right, and walking calmly through the opening toward us was—

“Ah, Soryuji-san. Hello there. So you were my senior, after all.”

Yes—the woman who had just given the address at the opening ceremony, who truly was someone from a world above ours—

And the very woman who had been instantly defeated by me in the tournament—was standing right there.

…So it wasn’t my imagination after all. We really did make eye contact during the ceremony…!

“That was a pleasant surprise. May I call you Akira-kun?”

“No problem. Then may I call you Misaki-senpai as well?”

“Hehe. Yes, that’s fine. My family name is rather long, after all.”

“But it’s a cool name, you know? Mine’s just Higashiyama—pretty ordinary.”

“Not at all. Anyway, I’ve gone off topic. Akira-kun, if you don’t mind, would you be willing to spar with me sometime after this?”

“Eh!? Ah—sorry, that ‘ugh, what a pain!’ just slipped right out.”

“…You actually said it out loud?”

“I’m sorry… it’s just that school ends early today, and I already have plans to go out to eat with my family.”

“Oh, in that case I can’t force you. But I truly would like to spar with you once more.”

So this is basically a rematch, huh!?

At that moment, Nanjo-kun—whose conversation had been cut short by her sudden arrival—seemed to reboot and jumped back in.

“Soryuji-senpai! It’s been a while!”

“…? Um, and you are?”

“I-I’m the student council president of this school. I believe we’ve met once before.”

“Ah, I see. My apologies—I meet so many people…”

“N-no, that’s fine. But, um, why would you spar with this man? If you want training, I’d be happy to accompany you.”

I suppose the student councils of the affiliated high school and the academy must cross paths at events now and then.

Unfortunately, it seemed she didn’t remember him at all.

“Ah, I’ll gladly accept the sentiment alone. In that case, Akira-kun, would you mind exchanging contact information with me? If you ever have some free time, please do let me know. I’ll adjust my schedule to match yours.”

“You’re really coming on strong… alright. I look forward to working with you after I advance, Misaki-senpai.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it as well. …Alright, exchanged. I’ll contact you later.”

And just like that, Misaki-senpai—who had disrupted the scene at her own pace—once again parted the crowd like Moses and left.

Th-this… couldn’t this be considered, in a way, a huge connection? A potential powerful backer?

Well, it also felt like it might become the source of some troublesome grudges.

“Well then, I’m heading out, Nanjo-kun.”

“Wait! Why are you so close with Soryuji-san!?”

“Secret. It’s bad manners to pry into the relationship between a man and a woman, you know, Nanjo-kun.”

With that, I dodged the issue and headed back to the classroom.

Now then… what I really need to think about right now isn’t my future positioning—

It’s where I should go eat with my sister.

Is a hamburger joint really okay?