Chapter 1: The Fake of a Fake
♯
“Haa… this is seriously the worst.”
–Early May, after school on a certain day.
I was sitting in the living room of my home, facing a girl who let out a melancholic sigh.
Usually, we’d meet at an underground café where our devices go completely offline, but today, due to certain circumstances, I had her come to my place—a mansion with top-notch security, thanks to《Company》’s thorough modifications. By the way, to avoid being recognized on her way here, the girl in front of me was in disguise mode, wearing a hoodie with the hood up.
And why were we taking such precautions? Well, it’s because she and I have a rather… unique relationship.
“…”
Yes, her—Saionji Sarasa.
With her luxurious red hair and ruby-like eyes, she’s a breathtaking beauty who’d make anyone gasp at first sight. And it’s not just that she’s cute. She’s the only daughter of Saionji Masamune, the supreme chairman of Academy Island, and until recently, she held the title of《Empress》, reigning as a 7-star—the highest rank on this island where everything is determined by stars. A VIP among VIPs, known by everyone on the island. The undefeated former strongest.
And the one who handed this《Empress》her first-ever “defeat” was none other than me, Shinohara Hiroto, who transferred to Academy Island just a month ago. Spotted for my overwhelming talent by the president of Eimei Academy in the Fourth Ward, I defeated《Empress》Saionji Sarasa in my very first match upon transferring, ascending to the top of Academy Island as the fastest 7-star in history—
At least, that’s how it looks to the public.
—But in reality, almost all of that is a “lie.”
To start with, the girl in front of me isn’t the real “Saionji Sarasa.” It might sound confusing, but to put it simply, she’s a body double for Saionji Sarasa. Not the real deal, but a fake heiress. A lie orchestrated by the full might of the Saionji family.
Having accidentally defeated this Saionji and, as a result, learning every detail of the lie she’s upholding, I had no choice but to claim the title of “Academy Island’s strongest” to justify the fact that I’d beaten the island’s top VIP. In other words, it’s all a sham. Saionji isn’t really an heiress, and I’m not really the strongest. We’re both “liars” deceiving the entire island, which is exactly why we’ve formed this partnership in crime.
On the surface, we act like fierce rivals, but behind the scenes, we secretly join hands.
That’s why even meeting face-to-face requires the utmost caution.
“…Tch.”
After taking a sip of the iced lemon tea prepared by the silver-haired maid, Himeji Shirayuki, who tactfully left us alone, I let out a sigh-tinged mutter. When Saionji and I meet, it’s usually to vent our frustrations or speak our true feelings as two people constantly living a lie. But this time, things were a bit different. No surprise there, since today’s main agenda wasn’t a venting session but a strategy meeting.
And what were we discussing, you ask?
“It’s already become quite the hot topic, hasn’t it… the ‘other Saionji (you)’.”
—Exactly.
The source of our current headache was a series of videos uploaded to island tube, a video-sharing site exclusive to Academy Island. The content? Just a girl talking to the camera. No singing, no gaming—just plain, unexciting videos. But the problem was the girl herself.
Flowing, luxurious red hair and ruby eyes radiating unshakable resolve.
One hand on her hip, her modest chest puffed out, and her dazzling thighs boldly exposed in a fearless stance.
Yes—that’s right. The girl who suddenly appeared on island tube was, no matter how you looked at it, the spitting image of Saionji Sarasa. And to make matters worse, it wasn’t just her appearance. In her very first video, she said this:
“—Oh? You’re saying I’m the fake?”
“What a joke. The fake is the one currently calling herself《Empress》.”
“I’m the real one. I’m the true Saionji Sarasa.”
“Heh… Besides, if I were the real《Empress》, I wouldn’t lose to some transfer student, would I?”
“Ugh… okay, that’s enough, you idiot!”
Muttering irritably, Saionji forcibly stopped the video with a tap. Then, with a tired expression, she slumped her upper body onto the table.
“Seriously, what’s this nonsense about the ‘real Saionji Sarasa’? It makes no sense!”
“…You seem pretty shaken up. Has this caused any direct trouble for you?”
“Obviously! People are staring at me way more than usual, every conversation ends up about ‘that fake,’ and some are even digging through old《Duel》records for so-called verification. It feels like my mental energy is draining three times faster than normal!”
“Yikes, that sounds rough… Your fame and status as《Empress》are working against you, huh?”
“Exactly. I can brush it off to some extent, but… it’s been a whole year since I started posing as Sarasa! For someone to pop up now claiming to be the real deal is just absurd. …Not that I’m the real one either!”
“…Yeah, I know. But man, this is complicated.”
I couldn’t help but interject at Saionji’s words. Looking only at the situation, it’s essentially “two fakes arguing over who’s the real one.” Talk about a tangled mess.
But, well, putting that aside for now… Saionji’s right. The idea of someone posing as an already-existing fake is, logically, impossible. It might stir up some temporary buzz on the island’s SNS, STOCK, but it’d usually just be laughed off and forgotten.
Yet, in this case, the topic has persisted for over a week since the first video, even affecting those around her. The biggest reason? Her appearance. Comparison videos with the “real” Saionji Sarasa are already circulating, and without captions, it’s genuinely hard to tell them apart. She’s so identical that she’s been dubbed《Doppelgänger》. No matter how much your brain knows a fake is impossible, your eyes are easily fooled.
Of course, that alone wouldn’t be enough to bring Saionji down. After all, on Academy Island, all personal information is managed by terminals, so there’s no doubt that the girl in front of me, holding Saionji Sarasa’s account, is the “real” one.
“…That makes her claims the real problem, doesn’t it?”
“I was robbed of my terminal account by the current Saionji Sarasa—”
Yes. In her very first video, this《Doppelgänger》boldly declared as much. On Academy Island, where accounts are the foundation of identity, she claimed hers was stolen by Saionji, leaving her without a name, affiliation, or anything else.
Of course, such a thing should be utterly impossible. Account management on Academy Island is incredibly strict—transferring, duplicating, or deleting them is supposed to be out of the question. But she had one piece of “evidence.” The account she revealed in the video had no ID; where an eight-digit number should be, there were only “???” symbols.
A bug display that anyone could see was abnormal.
And since there had never been a precedent for such an anomaly, her claims gained a certain level of credibility.
To bring things back—this is why Saionji and I were meeting today. At 8 p.m., the《Doppelgänger》was scheduled to hold a live stream. After a couple of days of silence, this sudden move, with a clearly provocative title like “Declaration of War,” had skyrocketed attention on island tube.
So, we were bracing ourselves to act quickly if anything happened.
“Phew…”
To soothe my tense, dry throat, I reached for my glass again and looked up.
“It’s almost time. You ready, Saionji?”
“Of course. Obviously. I don’t know what she’s planning to demand, but the《Empress》doesn’t bow to fakes.”
“…Well, you’re a fake too, you know?”
“…Tch, shut up! That’s not what this moment’s about!”
Leaning slightly toward me, Saionji puffed out her cheeks in frustration. I gave her a quick “My bad, my bad” while glancing at the clock before turning to my terminal’s screen. As if on cue, Saionji leaned in to look at the same screen.
And—at exactly 8 p.m., the video switched, and the stream began.
“—Good evening. I’m Saionji Sarasa.”
In the screen, the girl—《Doppelgänger》—stood arrogantly with her right hand on her hip. Looking indistinguishable from Saionji, she raised the corner of her mouth slightly, directing her ruby eyes toward us.
“As I wrote in the title, I’ve brought a very special topic today.”
“Hehe… Are you watching properly, fake me?”
“…I’m watching. Not that I ever agreed to be your fake.”
Propping her cheek on her hand with an irritated tone, Saionji retorted, though of course, there was no response from the other side. Instead,《Doppelgänger》continued with a composed expression.
“Hey, fake-san. I think you’re starting to understand what I’m getting at. I want to take back the ‘Saionji Sarasa’ that you stole from me. I’m not kind enough to keep smiling while a fake takes my place.”
“That’s why—let’s have a《Duel》.”
“You and me, to decide which of us is the real ‘Saionji Sarasa.’ A one-time《Duel》to settle it.”
“Hehe… What do you think? Pretty good idea, right?”
“…”
Saionji narrowed her eyes slightly as《Doppelgänger》flashed a refined smile. But, well, this was within expectations. On this island, a declaration of war means nothing other than a《Duel》.
Crossing her arms lightly under her modest chest, the girl on the screen continued in an elegant tone.
“I’m sure you know, but exactly one week from now, a major event will be held in Academy Island’s Zero Ward. The May Inter-District Tournament. A large-scale《Duel》with selected members from every district… Let’s settle it there.”
“…Ah, so that’s why she chose this timing.”
I nodded in realization at her words.
The May Inter-District Tournament—a massive island-wide event. In fact, I’d just been discussing strategies for it with Himeji and《Company》. It’s apparently a highly publicized event, making it the perfect stage to settle things.
“Naturally, you’ll be participating as Ouka Academy’s leader, right? If you’re not even on the roster, I might reconsider, but I doubt that’s the case.”
“As for the victory condition… Let’s see. The straightforward options would be ‘the one with the higher overall rank’ or ‘the one who wins a direct confrontation,’ but—”
“—how about we spice things up and say ‘the one who defeats Shinohara Hiroto wins’?”
“…Huh?”
Caught off guard by the sudden mention, I let out a dumb sound. What’s that supposed to mean? Why drag me into this?
“Shinohara…?”
Saionji, sitting across from me, looked equally confused, her ruby eyes turning to me in puzzlement.
“B-But, Shinohara has nothing to do with—”
“Hehe. Some might think ‘Shinohara Hiroto has nothing to do with this,’ but that’s not true. The fastest 7-star in history, the one who defeated Saionji Sarasa for the first time… It’s only fair that the one who defeats him is the true《Empress》, don’t you think?”
“Ugh…”
“—Let’s go over the rules, shall we?”
“The stage for the《Duel》is the inter-district event, the May Inter-District Tournament. If I defeat Shinohara Hiroto—or if I win the《Duel》against you—you’ll hand over your account on the spot. You’ll return ‘Saionji Sarasa,’ terminal and all. On the other hand, if you defeat him, the《Duel》is yours. I’ll swear never to do this again and will grant any reasonable request you make.”
“Oh, and if Shinohara Hiroto loses to someone other than you or me, I’ll consider that my victory too. …Hehe, obviously, right? If Shinohara Hiroto is weak enough to lose to some random nobody, then an《Empress》who can’t even beat him is worthless to begin with.”
“And finally, if no one—you, me, or anyone—manages to defeat Shinohara Hiroto, then it’s his sole victory. I’ll leave my fate in his hands.”
“…Phew. Talking this much is a bit tiring, isn’t it?”
“What do you think? This is the full scope of my declaration of war to you, fake.”
“You can refuse, of course, but don’t forget that I have the exact same appearance as you. I’ve been a bit stressed lately, you see. If you reject my challenge, I might feel like relieving that stress by… taking things off. Ignoring island tube’s regulations, I might do all sorts of… pleasurable things in front of tens of thousands of viewers.”
“Hehe… I’m looking forward to a good response.”
With a final provocative chuckle,《Doppelgänger》gracefully ended the stream.
“…”
A heavy silence fell between me and Saionji as we stared at the darkened screen. A declaration of war. It sounds grandiose, but in essence, it’s an invitation to use next week’s major event to determine who the real《Empress》is. Whoever defeats me in the event becomes the true “Saionji Sarasa,” and if Saionji loses, she’ll have to give up her account, terminal and all.
“Ugh… Uuugh… Argh, enough already!”
After sitting stunned for a moment, Saionji finally snapped, vigorously shaking her beautiful red hair. With that momentum, she slammed both hands on the table, half-standing as she leaned toward me.
“What is this!? What’s wrong with that girl’s head!?”
“…Okay, just calm down for a sec.”
“Calm down!? How am I supposed to calm down!? She’s threatening to use my body to film… e-explicit videos and spread them across the island! Are you okay with that!?”
“Why are you asking me…? I mean, obviously, I’d rather that not happen.”
“Huh? Oh, uh… thanks, I guess?”
For some reason, Saionji’s cheeks flushed faintly as she looked away, embarrassed. Feeling awkward myself, I turned my head too. …No, wait, that’s not the point. We don’t have time to waste on this.
“Hey, Saionji. About that declaration… Honestly, we don’t have a choice but to accept, right?”
“…You think so too, huh?”
“Yeah. For the sake of《Empress》’s reputation, you can’t back down. Plus, that threat is a dealbreaker. Even if island tube is exclusive to the island, if… you know, that kind of video gets out, it’ll probably spread like wildfire. Academy Island’s information control is tight, but there’s a chance it could slip through to the mainland.”
“Yeah…”
“…Can you stop getting embarrassed every time?”
“It’s your fault this time! Don’t make me self-conscious, geez…!”
“…Tch, fine, let’s move on. So, about that video—if it spreads just within Academy Island, that’s bad enough, but if it reaches the mainland, there’s one huge problem. A scandal involving someone as famous as you would definitely make news over there. That’d tank the Saionji family’s reputation and—”
“—it’d only be a matter of time before the real Sarasa hears about it.”
Finishing my sentence, Saionji nodded gravely.
Exactly—the real heiress, who was “kidnapped” to the mainland and is now enjoying a normal high school life, knows nothing about Saionji’s lie. She genuinely believes her wish was granted and has no idea her friend is acting as her double.
But if this scandalous video were to circulate on the mainland… If Akabane Rina, under the name Saionji Sarasa, got caught in a massive scandal, the real heiress would surely figure everything out and return to the island. That would unravel Saionji’s lie, which was meant to hurt no one.
And, by the way, if the girl in front of me stops being “Saionji Sarasa,” that’s a huge loss for me too. After all, my position as a “fake 7-star” exists only to match the prestige of the genius heiress Saionji Sarasa. It’s a deal struck by Eimei’s President Ichinose, who saw “mutual benefits” in backing my flashy lie to keep the Saionji family’s favor. If Saionji ceases to be Saionji, the president would have zero reason to keep supporting me.
“Haa… I can’t believe I have to accept such a ridiculous《Duel》.”
Saionji slumped onto the table, letting out a weary sigh.
Watching her, I quietly spoke up to organize my thoughts.
“Probably, but… this has to be connected to Kurahashi Mikado, right?”
—Kurahashi Mikado.
Just ten days ago, he was the mastermind manipulating Akizuki Noa to crush me. The former president of Seijo Academy in the Twelfth Ward. An elite among elites, a gentleman everyone respected, but secretly a vile demon shrouded in dark rumors.
His interference in Eimei’s intra-district event, the《District Selection Battle》, ended with my hard-fought victory, and Akizuki was freed from her brainwashed state. But Kurahashi himself stepped down as Seijo’s president and vanished somewhere. His grudge against me likely deepened after that loss, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s striking again.
“…Yeah, that makes sense.”
Saionji lifted her face slightly and nodded in agreement.
“I mean, if it’s not him, the timing’s just too perfect.《Doppelgänger》first appeared right after the《District Selection Battle》, and Kurahashi knows I was helping you during that event. It wouldn’t be strange if he’s figured out we’re not just rivals.”
“Exactly. So he decided to target both of us this time.”
“That’s the gist of it. …Well, if you think about it, the fact that《Doppelgänger》looks like Akabane Rina might be a small relief. If she had the real Sarasa’s appearance, it’d be game over, honestly.”
“Yeah… you’re right.”
I grimaced in agreement. As Saionji said, the fact that《Doppelgänger》is copying “Akabane Rina” means our secret about the body double hasn’t been exposed. Our “lie” is still intact.
But… that aside, it’s also true that Kurahashi is likely using this event to take us both down. I don’t know his motives, but he’s acting with clear “intent.”
As if this event wasn’t already tough enough, he’s piling on more trouble…
Shaking my head with a silent sigh, I—
“…Hey, Shinohara.”
Hearing a faintly anxious voice, I slowly looked up. Saionji, sitting across from me, was casting a cautious glance my way.
“This《Duel》with her… you’ll help me, right? We’ll be enemies in the event, but when it comes to《Doppelgänger》, you’ll cooperate, right…?”
“…”
“W-Wait, why’re you going quiet!? You get it, don’t you? If my lie gets exposed, you’re in deep trouble too. We’ll both face the consequences, dragged down together, and—”
“…Jeez. Don’t look so worried just because I paused for a second, Saionji.”
Cutting off her frantic attempt to persuade me, I gave a small, wry smile. Then, lifting the corner of my mouth slightly, I said:
“I was just exasperated. Look, I’m your ‘accomplice,’ okay? Ditching you was never an option for me.”
“Ah—”
Saionji froze, her mouth half-open in a daze.
A moment later, she muttered, “…Hmph,” and turned away, fidgeting with her hair near her ear.
♯
“Alright, that’s all for announcements! The long-awaited event period is almost here, but don’t get too carried away, everyone! Let’s keep things in moderation and have a blast! Sensei’s super excited too! See you later~!”
—A few days after my secret meeting with Saionji, Thursday, May 4th.
With Nana-chan-sensei’s usual bubbly energy and cute wave signaling the end of homeroom, the students of Eimei Academy High School’s Class 2-A began their after-school activities.
As a transfer student, I only recently learned this, but apparently, Academy Island doesn’t have a Golden Week. The calendar might mark holidays, but classes go on as usual. Instead, every year, the second week of May brings the “Event Week”—a period of large-scale events involving all the island’s districts. The main event is a major《Duel》, alongside a much more casual open-participation tournament.
Naturally, all schools on Academy Island are closed during this time. Stores across the island hold event-themed campaigns, and《Libra》broadcasts are everywhere, making it a true island-wide festival.
So, yeah, everyone’s buzzing with excitement.
“—Hey, Shinohara-kun.”
As I was reflecting on this, a girl in the seat in front of me turned around and called out. Tatara Fuuka, the class president of 2-A, a cheerful and energetic 3-star girl. Her athletic ponytail, fitting for a track team member, swayed behind her head.
Placing both hands on her skirt, she spoke with a concerned tone.
“That was rough, yesterday’s thing… You okay? It felt like you got caught up in a total accident.”
“…Oh, that.”
Suppressing a grimace, I kept a calm face as I responded.
She was probably referring to yesterday’s “declaration of war.” The battle to determine the true《Empress》, piggybacking on next week’s big event, the May Inter-District Tournament. As expected, it’s caused quite a stir, with winner predictions and background analyses already generating major buzz.
So, if we’re talking about whether I’m okay, I’m absolutely not okay…
Muttering to myself internally, I gave a small shake of my head.
“I’m fine. It’s an accident, sure, but it’s my own fault for planting the seeds.”
“Really? Like, really really? I’m the class president, so you can rely on me, you know!”
“Then I’ll gratefully accept the sentiment. Sorry to《Doppelgänger》, but I’ve got my 7-star pride and responsibility. I’m not going down that easily.”
“Wow…! That’s so cool, Shinohara-kun! Like an invincible hero!”
Tatara leaned in closer without realizing, her refreshing scent tickling my nose, her sparkling, sincere eyes reflecting me up close. Then, a subtle, cool cough from right beside me faintly brushed my ear—
“Yeah, exactly. With Shinohara-kun, I doubt we’d need to step in to take down《Doppelgänger》. He’d probably handle it in a snap. …Still, the team lineup’s a bit worrying, right?”
…Hm?
Approaching my desk with a calm smile was a classmate named Yuuki. A fair-skinned, androgynous pretty boy whose male uniform was the only clue to his gender—otherwise, I’d never have guessed.
The word “members” that Tsuji mentioned… Right, as is tradition, the main event of the May Inter-District Tournament isn’t a solo battle but a team battle with five members per district. Meaning, besides me, four other Eimei Academy students will be participating.
And as Tsuji pointed out, two of those names were particularly concerning.
“…Hey, Tsuji. By ‘worrying,’ you mean those two 6-stars, right?”
“Yup, exactly. They’re incredibly talented but come with just as much… quirkiness. In a way, they’re the most famous duo in our school.”
With a wry smile, Tsuji raised his right index finger.
“First, Enomoto Shinji-senpai. He’s insanely smart. There’s even a rumor he has photographic memory, and he aced the last national mock exam by a landslide. His all-seeing style’s earned him the nickname ‘Clairvoyant.’ Oh, and not to be rude, but he’s also got a lot of respect, serving as Eimei’s student council president for two consecutive terms.”
“…Impressive.”
“Right? The president’s amazing! And… the other one’s the total opposite. Asamiya Nanase-san, a stunningly beautiful girl. She’s not great at academics, but she’s gorgeous, has an amazing figure, and is super athletic with crazy dexterity! Her dynamic vision and reflexes are so good, she can clear the hardest rhythm game songs on her first try… or so they say!”
“…Wow.”
No way, are you kidding!? Are all 6-stars just monsters or what…!?
Keeping a neutral face while freaking out internally, I was stunned. I’d looked into their profiles as future teammates, but I hadn’t realized they were this extraordinary. Like Saionji and Akizuki, 6-stars seem to operate on a whole different level.
But if their evaluation ended there, they’d just be “reliable teammates.” Of course, there’s more to it.
“Well… to put it simply, those two have terrible chemistry.”
Shrugging slightly, Tsuji said quietly.
“Don’t get me wrong, they’re both exceptional. In terms of raw skill, they’re easily district representative level. But when they’re together, they somehow drag each other down. I think last year they paired up for an off-campus event once, and they got crushed by a weaker team. Almost like they self-destructed.”
“…I see. Sounds like we drew the short straw here.”
Nodding in agreement, I let out a small sigh. The full picture isn’t clear yet, but with a《Duel》we absolutely can’t lose, this lineup is far too risky.
“Haha. But with you, a 7-star above even those two, I’m sure it’ll be fine, Shinohara-kun. Since Tatara-san and I can’t join the main tournament, we’re planning to participate in the open games instead. But as classmates and friends, we’re genuinely rooting for you!”
“Yeah, thanks…”
“…Oh, I’d better head to the clubroom now.”
With that, Tsuji flashed a delicate smile that could rival a beautiful girl’s and waved “Bye-bye.” I don’t wave back—it’s not my style—but I nodded quietly, watching him go.
Man, sometimes that guy’s just ridiculously cute… Wait, huh?
Suddenly, I felt my uniform’s hem being tugged lightly, and I turned toward the sensation. To my immediate left was a girl.
“…”
Himeji Shirayuki—she’s a recent transfer to our class, just like me. Silky silver hair, clear blue eyes, and a cool, rarely shifting expression. And, truth be told, Himeji is the leader of《Company》, the support team ensuring my lie holds up. She’s the perfect cheating maid who assists me in every way, not just in《Duel》—in other words, she’s literally indispensable for my survival on this island.
“…Um, Master.”
Himeji was holding my uniform with one hand while the other rested near her mouth, her gaze slightly lowered. Her expression was as stoic as ever, but there was a hint of embarrassment or shyness in her demeanor.
“…What’s up, Himeji? Something wrong?”
“No… it’s not that, but…”
Uncharacteristically hesitant, she slowly lifted her clear eyes to meet mine. Then, with a natural movement, she leaned closer, bringing her refined face near my ear and whispering in a breathy voice:
“—Pardon me, Master.”
Huh? What!? What’s going on, Himeji!?
“It’s just… during that earlier exchange, I couldn’t help but feel you were reacting more to him than to Fuuka-san. …Could it be, you’re interested in that side?”
“—”
Speechless.
Needless to say, I spent the next moments desperately explaining myself while dodging Tatara’s curious tilt of the head.
“—Alright, then.”
About thirty minutes after Nana-chan-sensei’s homeroom ended.
Himeji and I left the 2-A classroom and made our way to the school’s courtyard.
“Master, this way, please.”
Himeji, who’d secured a bench ahead of me, was wiping it down with a pristine white handkerchief she’d produced from somewhere, her cool voice carrying over. It’s been nearly a month since I became a (fake) 7-star, so I’m starting to get used to this treatment, but having it done in a school uniform, at school instead of home, still feels oddly fresh.
Though, being treated like this in a uniform at school gives it a weirdly forbidden vibe…
As I vaguely pondered this, Himeji, perhaps finding my silent standing odd, tilted her head with a “…?”
“Is something the matter, Master?”
“Huh? Oh, no—”
“Perhaps you’d prefer a lap pillow? If so, I’ll take a seat first, with your permission.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Knowing she might actually do it, I shook my head and quickly sat on the bench. Himeji muttered a faint “I see” with a hint of disappointment but soon sat beside me with graceful movements.
Then, looking straight at me with her clear eyes, she said:
“As mentioned in homeroom, it seems the official rule outline for the May Inter-District Tournament has finally been released.”
—The May Inter-District Tournament.
The district-versus-district event that came up several times in our earlier chat. A massive event involving all twenty districts of Academy Island—excluding the neutral Zero Ward—making it a large-scale《Duel》with tons of stars at stake. It’s also the stage for the absurd《Empress》dispute that《Doppelgänger》has forced on me and Saionji.
This tournament’s《Duel》apparently gets a new format every year, with rules revealed just before the event starts. True to form, until yesterday, only the team rosters were known, but more details were announced earlier today.
I brought my right hand to my chin thoughtfully.
“It’s kind of a rushed setup, huh? The event starts next Monday, right? Some teams might struggle to prepare in time.”
“Yes. That’s likely the organizers’ intent—to limit preparation time. If my understanding is correct, the May Inter-District Tournament is meant to be fairly casual, almost like a ‘festival.’ It’s a《Duel》, so stars are exchanged, but the focus is on enjoying it rather than intense competition.”
“Got it…”
“…Though, that’s not the case for you, Master.”
Just as I was nodding, Himeji casually retracted her statement with a blank expression. …Well, that’s obvious. Using a red unique star to maintain my lie, a single loss would expose everything. Even without that, with《Doppelgänger》challenging us to such a《Duel》, “it’s just a festival, so losing’s fine” doesn’t fly. I can’t afford to lose.
Noticing me swallow hard, Himeji shifted gears and continued.
“Let’s review the event’s outline again. As explained before, the May Inter-District Tournament is a major event involving students from all districts. However, unlike Eimei’s《District Selection Battle》, not everyone can participate—only a select few from each district are chosen.”
“Right. Five per district, twenty districts, so a hundred total, yeah?”
“Exactly. By the way, Seijo Academy in the Twelfth Ward announced they’d abstain due to the scandal caused by their former president, Kurahashi Mikado. But after some digging, it seems《Doppelgänger》is slipping into the event using their slot. So, Seijo will have just one participant.”
“Talk about anything goes… How’d the organizers even approve that?”
I let out an exasperated sigh. I’d wondered how she, with no clear affiliation or identity, would join, but this is a bolder move than I expected. Then again, her account is “??? (unknown)”—unmarked by any district—so she could probably assign herself to any school.
That aside.
“The method for selecting participants is generally left to each district. Choosing the top five by rank is standard, but since stars are involved, the process reflects each school’s culture. For Eimei, the《District Selection Battle》last month doubled as the selection event for this tournament.”
“…Yeah, that’s right.”
As Himeji said, Eimei’s tradition is to pick the top five from the《District Selection Battle》. Prioritizing recent performance over apparent rank is very Eimei—or rather, very much like our president—a rational, aggressive selection system.
As my thoughts reached that point, Himeji nodded slightly with a “Yes.”
“It’s a highly effective approach, I think. It gives everyone a chance and ensures broad acceptance. That part’s fine, but… Master, let me emphasize again: the tournament’s format—specifically, the team battle structure—isn’t ideal for you.”
Leaning slightly closer, Himeji stared at me, raising her white-gloved right index finger without waiting for my response.
“Let me remind you, Master—you’re weak. Your initial assessment was 1-star, the lowest rank. You’re effectively 3-star now, but not a single star was earned legitimately. Meanwhile, the tournament’s players are elite selections from each district—mostly 4- to 6-star students. In a fair fight, you’d likely lose to everyone.”
“Ugh… Yeah, that tracks.”
“Correct. So, as usual,《Company》will support you. But here’s where a tricky issue arises.”
“…Yeah, I know.”
I nodded with a bitter expression. We’d already gone over this extensively.
“For example… Akizuki’s on our side this time, but that doesn’t mean we can tell her about《Company》. That’s the deal, right?”
“Precisely, Master. Even teammates can’t know about your cheating. But without that cheating, you can’t compete. In other words, you’ll have to navigate this event while deceiving your own teammates.”
Himeji spoke in her usual calm tone. …She’s right. No need to confirm—it’s obvious. What I’m doing is a clear rule violation, a “lie” that could turn the whole island against me. Naturally, I can’t let my teammates find out.
“Yes, that’s the situation.”
With a clear voice, Himeji nodded, her silver hair swaying.
“So, a ‘team battle’ is a major hurdle for you, Master. It adds unnecessary lies and introduces too many unpredictable factors, so even our best efforts might not prevent a loss.”
“Yeah…”
I let out a groan at Himeji’s words.
It makes sense when you think about it. In a team battle, I’ll be with my teammates the whole time, making it hard to consult Himeji or communicate with《Company》freely. It’s practically the ultimate debuff for me.
“…Wait, huh?”
“Is something wrong, Master?”
“Oh, it’s about《Doppelgänger》. She’s joining as a solo participant under Seijo Academy, right? While other teams have five members. …I don’t know her plan, but isn’t that kind of inefficient for taking down both me and Saionji?”
“…You’re right. Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
Himeji brought her right hand to her mouth in a cute gesture.
But with so little info on《Doppelgänger》, we couldn’t find an answer then and there. With a faint sigh, we switched our terminal screens and shifted focus to analyzing the main event rules.
♯
The next day, Friday, May 5th.
After staying up late dissecting the tournament rules and strategizing, I was battling intense sleepiness but managed to survive all my classes. Listening to Nana-chan-sensei’s fluffy greetings, I finally reached the much-anticipated after-school time.
Honestly, I’d love to go home and crash, but unfortunately, that’s not an option. I’ve got a first-time meeting with the event’s team members scheduled soon. Enomoto Shinji, the 6-star student council president, contacted me directly, wanting to strategize before the weekend.
I had no objections, so I’d already agreed.
“Good work today, Master.”
At that moment, a cool voice accompanied by a light tap of footsteps reached my ears. Turning toward the sound, I saw Himeji in her uniform, her silver hair swaying gracefully.
“Shall we head out?”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
Nodding once, I stood up. Just as Himeji and I were about to leave the classroom—
“Ehehe ♡ Excuse me~♪”
A familiar voice rang out as the door slid open with a rattle. Peeking through was a girl with twin tails—the “little devil.”
Akizuki Noa—third-year at Eimei Academy High School, 6-star rank. Her chestnut hair, reaching her shoulders, was styled in loose twin tails, and her uniform was always deliberately disheveled. Despite her petite, youthful face, her chest was notably large, and the destructive power of her upward glances from perfect angles was immeasurable.
Until recently, Akizuki and I were “enemies.” Plagued by deep-seated inferiority complexes for years, she committed foul play during the《District Selection Battle》to steal my 7-star title. But that was largely due to Kurahashi Mikado’s near-brainwashing emotional manipulation. After the event, she stopped directing pointless hostility at me.
Or rather, it’s not just that it stopped…
She’s been finding excuses to visit the 2-A classroom, replying to messages freakishly fast, and generally acting quite friendly. On the flip side, she’s gotten shy about the constant physical contact she used to initiate during the《District Selection Battle》, so I’m honestly a bit confused.
Anyway—Akizuki, who was scanning the classroom with her usual coy smile, noticed me standing there and lit up.
“Oh…! Hiroto-kun! What’s up? Were you waiting for Noa-chan?”
“…Nah, just a coincidence in timing.”
“Aww, you don’t have to be repealed: Aww, you don’t have to be so shy! We’re close, right, Hiroto-kun? ♡”
“Pardon, Akizuki-sama. You and Master are merely senior and junior from the same school—nothing more. Certainly not lovers or anything close, so please understand.”
“Muu, Shirayuki-chan’s so strict… Ehehe, but still~”
“…What’s with that sly, mischievous grin?”
“Nothing~ Just thinking how kind and cute it is that you’re so prickly but still let me call you a friend! ♡”
“Tch… That’s not it! I just forgot to mention, I’m not approving—Hya!? D-Don’t cling to me, Akizuki-sama!”
“Ehehe, no way~ ♡”
Akizuki playfully latched onto Himeji from the front, while Himeji desperately tried to push her away. Every time she squirmed, certain… assets jiggled softly, a feast for the eyes.
“…”
Lately, this has been the dynamic between Himeji and Akizuki. The cool, composed Himeji gets teased and “targeted” by the overly affectionate Akizuki.
During the《District Selection Battle》, Akizuki held Himeji hostage and even resorted to threats, but afterward, she quickly reached out to apologize one-on-one. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know the details, but according to Himeji, “My impression of her changed a bit.” Since Himeji wasn’t that upset to begin with, any bad blood from the event has completely dissipated.
“—Alright, recharge complete♪”
After clinging to Himeji for a while, Akizuki chirped brightly. Then, stepping closer to me, she looked up with a slight blush and continued:
“Ehehe… Shall we get going, Hiroto-kun? Here, um… hand?”
Her tone grew hesitant, her gaze flickering as she shyly extended her right hand. Such blatant behavior made even me a bit embarrassed, but keeping my cool, I started to consider my response—
“—Indeed. Let’s go, Akizuki-sama.”
“Huh? Wait… Shirayuki-chan!? …Hey, hold on!”
In an instant, Himeji slid in front of me, firmly grabbing Akizuki’s outstretched hand and pulling her along. Her tone was unyielding, but her actions were gentle. Akizuki puffed her cheeks in a cute protest but matched Himeji’s pace as they walked.
Their relationship is hard to pin down—good or bad?—but…
Since neither of them is pulling away, I’ll assume it’s not bad.
Smirking internally, I grabbed my bag and followed the two.
—The meeting was set for a conference room on the second floor of the L Building.
The L Building houses student council rooms, meeting rooms, and reception areas—a small, office-like structure. Regular students rarely come here, but for Enomoto, the student council president, it’s basically home turf.
“By the way… Akizuki, you’re in the same class as the other two members, right?”
“Yup, that’s right~ ♡”
As we entered the L Building, I asked Akizuki, who was now walking beside me—she’d gotten too embarrassed to keep holding Himeji’s hand. She nodded sweetly, her scent wafting around her.
“They’re super famous, the president and Miya-chan’s duo. They’re just a teensy bit below Noa-chan, Eimei’s superstar, but both are top-tier 6-stars! ♪”
“Yeah, sounds like it. Photographic memory, lightning-fast reflexes… Even my classmates know their battle records and legends.”
Recalling Tsuji and Tatara’s comments, I nodded. Climbing the stairs to the second floor, I brought up a concern.
“But I heard those two don’t get along at all—huh?”
Just then, a faint sound caught my ear, and I instinctively looked up.
“…What was that?”
“I heard something too. From upstairs, maybe…?”
Exchanging puzzled glances with Himeji, we hurried up the stairs. After a cautious sweep of the hallway, we found the source—a small conference room in the middle of the second floor, our destination.
“—Hey, Shinji! Are you listening!? Can you hear me!?”
“Nope, the idiot next to me’s too loud for me to hear anything.”
“You’re the one making it loud! And that’s my seat!”
“Based on what? A seat’s a seat. For you, Nanase, the table would do. In summer, outside’s fine too.”
“No way! My terminal’s right there! It’s reserved!”
“I see. So if I give this back, you’ll shut up? Here.”
“That’s not it! Don’t throw my terminal! It’s delicate!”
“Delicate… A middle-school-level word from Nanase’s mouth. I’m touched.”
“Ugh, you’re just plain annoying!!!”
“…”
The sharp, almost brawling conversation—no, argument—coming from the room made us exchange silent looks. From their names, it was clear these were our meeting partners, but the vibe was way off from what I’d imagined.
“Uh… Akizuki, are those two always like this?”
“Haha… Yeah, pretty much.”
When I asked tentatively, Akizuki gave a vague smile and nodded.
“They’ve got a weird relationship. Childhood friends—or more like a toxic bond. They both claim to ‘hate each other!’ but are always together, constantly fighting.”
“…”
“During the《District Selection Battle》, they started《Exercises》on day one but dragged it out without settling until the final day. They’re individually near-invincible, but together, they’re like max-level debuffs on each other.”
“That’s beyond just bad chemistry…”
Sighing in exasperation at Akizuki’s assessment, I felt my cheek twitch internally. Tsuji and Tatara had warned me, but this team’s quirks are on another level.
Please, I’m begging you…
Offering a silent prayer, I slowly pushed open the door. As expected, two figures in Eimei uniforms were waiting inside. One, a calm-looking male student, sat at the edge of a six-person table, arms crossed with a sour expression. The other, a female student, stood with her hands on the table, her back to us, exuding a vibrant, flashy aura.
“Hm…?”
As I stood there observing, the grumpy guy noticed our arrival. He shot a skeptical glance our way, raised an eyebrow, and said:
“Nanase.”
“What? Calling me all formal. Finally giving me my seat back?”
“No, I’d never give you anything, ever. But that’s not it.”
Brutally dismissing the girl’s hopeful tone, he shook his head with a dramatic gesture, guiding her gaze toward us before muttering quietly:
“—Looks like our teammates are here.”
♯
“Now, once again.”
A soothing, almost air-purifying voice rang out.
Standing beside me, Himeji scanned the room, her hands neatly clasped in front of her.
“Thank you all for gathering today for the May Inter-District Tournament team introduction and strategy meeting. Time is short, so I’d like to dive into the《Duel》rule review. But first, how about introductions? Teaming up with strangers can be tricky, after all.”
“Sounds good! I’m in~”
The first to respond enthusiastically was the girl sitting across from me. Waving her hand cheerfully, she continued:
“So, intros! I’m Asamiya Nanase, from 3-A like Noa-chan. Current rank: 6-star! A bit below the rumored transfer student-kun, but go easy on me, ’kay~?”
With a slightly playful smile, Asamiya Nanase spoke. Her first impression? Eye-catching. Her shoulder-length hair was a vibrant blonde, adorned with a large hair clip. Her reddish-brown eyes were large and expressive, her nose perfectly proportioned—a flawless, stunning face. Beyond beauty, she had a trendy, modern JK vibe in every detail.
And her figure was unmistakable even at a glance. Long, slender legs, a tight waist, and a generous chest—she was like the embodiment of a girl’s ideal.
“…This is the real Nanase-tan…”
“Huh?”
At that moment, Himeji’s quiet mutter made Asamiya tilt her head. Realizing her slip, Himeji quickly covered her mouth, but soon gave up on hiding it, shaking her head as she continued:
“N-No, sorry for derailing, but… Asamiya-sama, you modeled for《MELTY》magazine before, right?”
Oh, that’s what she meant.
Recalling the info I’d been given, I nodded internally.
《MELTY》is a mega-famous fashion magazine, known even to style-ignorant guys like me. Not just on Academy Island—it’s nationwide. If she was featured there, her beauty makes total sense.
Asamiya, meanwhile, lit up, leaning forward excitedly.
“Whoa! How’d you know that!?”
“Uh, well… for reference. I subscribed to it to keep up with trends… and still do.”
“Wow! Really? I was only in it two or three times, and you remembered? That’s… kinda awesome!”
“…Really?”
“Totally! I mean, being admired by a junior is just the best, right? Doesn’t it make your heart race? Like, ‘I’ll protect you!’ vibes!”
Leaning in with a flushed, excited face, Asamiya rambled on. …This gyaru’s way nicer than I expected. Her earlier bickering gave a prickly impression, but talking to her, she’s super friendly.
“T-Thank you…?”
Receiving such an unexpected welcome, Himeji gave a shy but polite bow. After a brief “Um…” and a moment of hesitation, she lifted her blue eyes again.
“By the way—why did you stop modeling, Asamiya-sama? The magazine featured you prominently, and you seemed really popular.”
“Oh, that? Wanna know?”
Flashing a teasing smile, Asamiya glanced at the boy beside her. He sat silently with a sour face, ignoring her, but she continued unfazed:
“Shinji kept nagging me to quit. Every time guys mentioned me on SNS, he’d get all jealous—total possessive vibes. …Oh, Shinji’s not my boyfriend or anything, just my childhood friend.”
“…Hey, Nanase, don’t spread lies to people we just met. I was never jealous. I just suggested wearing less revealing clothes.”
“Ugh, that’s what I’m saying! Getting flak for hot pants and camis means I can’t model! FYI, I was set to do a bikini feature in the next issue. Haa… They said it’d make me even more popular.”
“Don’t care. Also, I recall you were the one freaking out about the bikini, not me.”
“Ugh… T-That’s not true! Anyway, Shinji, introduce yourself already!”
Huffing and turning away, Asamiya fiddled with her terminal to dodge the topic.
Shifting his gaze to me, the boy let out a quiet sigh.
“I’m Enomoto Shinji, 3-A, 6-star. Currently Eimei Academy’s student council president.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“…Pretty casual tone, transfer student. Don’t tell me you can’t even use polite speech?”
“I respect you, so cut me some slack. I don’t mean to look down on you.”
Keeping a relaxed attitude, I subtly observed Enomoto.
His reputation precedes him. Photographic memory, top score in national mock exams—a genius among geniuses. And not just brains—he’s got the charisma to be elected student council president twice.
Definitely a guy you don’t want as an enemy…
Sighing quietly as I thought this, I continued.
With Enomoto and Asamiya’s intros done, it was our turn. Himeji and I gave standard profiles, keeping it simple with a “Nice to meet you.”
My impression during the talk? Asamiya was bright and friendly with everyone. Enomoto, on the other hand, stayed stone-faced, barely reacting to anything. But when Himeji mentioned being shy around guys, I noticed Enomoto shift his chair slightly, so he’s listening at least.
“And finally, me! Eimei’s ace and proud little devil! Hiroto-kun’s lover, mistress, and main wife! The super cute idol of 3-A! …Ehehe, the name’s Akizuki Noa-chan! ♡”
Striking a cute pose with both index fingers on her cheeks, Akizuki wrapped up her intro with a coy smile. Himeji shot her a deadpan glare, but Akizuki didn’t flinch.
Tilting her head, her fluffy twin tails swaying, she said:
“Alright, intros done! Shall we move on to the rule review? ♡”
“…I agree, though I’m not thrilled about it.”
Muttering with a hint of dissatisfaction, Himeji approached Akizuki with refined steps. Setting her terminal on the table, she looked up.
“Now, once more—two pieces of info have been released by the May Inter-District Tournament committee: the event’s promotional video and the basic rules. I’m sure you’ve all seen them, but let’s start with the PV again.”
With that, Himeji gracefully swiped her screen.
Instantly, countless screens projected across the room, playing the event PV released yesterday. A blue-and-white digital game field, like a materialized cyberworld, with hexagonal lines forming a honeycomb grid.
An avatar, likely representing a player, swung their terminal, and their area turned vivid red. Elsewhere, purple and yellow spread, clashing and eroding the sterile world, dyeing it in vibrant chaos—
The final shot showed a colorful, chaotic map before fading to black.
“…”
Reviewing the footage I’d watched multiple times last night, I mulled it over.
It’s fragmented info, but it’s clearly an area-control game. Each team gets a color and paints the field. If you run into another team, you’ve gotta take them out.
—Exactly.
This year’s tournament is a territory-control game. Strengthen your forces per the rules and expand your domain—a strategic simulation like Nobunaga’s Ambition or Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The main difference? Instead of controlling pieces as a player, we are the pieces, running across the field ourselves.
As our thoughts caught up, Himeji continued calmly.
“And here’s the list of currently released game rules. The original text was a bit complex for immersion, so I’ve simplified it.”
With that, the screen switched. Unlike the 360-degree PV projection, the rules were displayed on a single, large screen for readability.
【May Inter-District Tournament: Main Event: Basic Rule List】
【This event, under Academy Island’s “Star Acquisition Game” regulations, hosts a large-scale duel for up to 100 players, “Area Steal To Reconquer All Lost”—abbreviated《ASTRAL》.】
【The duel runs from Monday, May 8th, to Friday, May 12th, split into morning (9:00-12:00) and afternoon (14:00-17:00) sessions, totaling ten parts.】
【《ASTRAL》takes place in Academy Island’s Zero Ward, the “Development Special Zone.” Players install an event-specific AR app on their terminals, overlaying an augmented reality field in the area to log into《ASTRAL》.】
【The《ASTRAL》field consists entirely of hexagonal “cells.” Scattered “bases” can be “captured” through specific actions. Capturing bases connects them with straight lines; two bases claim the line between, while three or more claim the enclosed polygon’s cells, painting them in the team’s assigned “color.” This colored area is the team’s “domain.”】
【Bases periodically generate “spells,” consumable abilities. Spells include “attack spells” and “support spells,” but only attack spells can damage players in《ASTRAL》.】
【《ASTRAL》uses a “cooldown system.” Performing certain actions, including spell use, temporarily locks all such actions. The cooldown duration is calculated from a player’s “action value” stat—higher action values mean faster recovery.】
【《ASTRAL》features five “roles,” each with different attack spell affinities and resistances. Roles cannot overlap within a team. Each role has an “ability tendency,” restricting usable abilities.】
【Victory Condition: Conquer all areas or eliminate all teams. If unmet by the event’s end, the team with the largest domain wins.】
【Defeat Condition: If a player’s LP (Life Points, max 5, restored to max each part) hits 0, they’re eliminated from《ASTRAL》. A team loses if all members are eliminated or their domain shrinks to 0.】
【Rewards: Teams ranking 6th or below lose one star each. Teams in the top 5 gain stars per a separate table, plus event-exclusive abilities and substantial island currency. Star distribution is left to the school. (Winning doesn’t allow two-rank promotions. Due to rank caps, 5-star+ promotions are blocked unless upper ranks drop.)】
【Related: Alongside《ASTRAL》, an optional open game,《MTCG》, runs concurrently. Its top prize is a wildcard—entry to《ASTRAL》as a sixth member for the winner’s school.】
“—That’s the overview.”
Clearing her throat lightly, Himeji continued in her cool tone.
“Details on spells and specifics are only partially disclosed, so it’s hard to say more. The key points are the domain, roles, and action values… right?”
“Got it… Hey, Shirayuki-chan, can we see those action values yet?”
“Yes, of course, Akizuki-sama.”
Nodding at Akizuki’s question, Himeji swiped her terminal, revealing a “9” on her screen.
“—As you can see, opening the event app shows your ‘action value’ at the top of your profile. It’s on a 25-point scale, lower being better. Could everyone check theirs?”
“Got it!” “Ehehe, sure~ ♡”
Asamiya and Akizuki nodded almost in sync, quickly operating their terminals. Enomoto stayed silent but didn’t object, and soon, everyone’s action values were displayed.
【Akizuki Noa】—Action Value: 6
【Enomoto Shinji】—Action Value: 5
【Asamiya Nanase】—Action Value: 5
【Himeji Shirayuki】—Action Value: 9
“…”
Staring at my teammates’ screens with a serious expression, I noted the action value—a number derived from overall performance, like rank and《Duel》records. Same-rank students typically have similar values.
As for me…
【Shinohara Hiroto】—Action Value: 3
“! Whoa, that’s… insane, right!?”
Leaning across the table with curiosity, Asamiya—her pose a bit too unguarded—widened her eyes at my number.
“Shino, you’re totally hyped up, huh? Yup, that’s a 7-star for you!”
“Thanks… Wait, Shino? What’s that?”
“Huh? It’s just a nickname. Is it bad?”
“…No, it’s fine.”
“Sweet!”
Grinning proudly, Asamiya’s every move was effortlessly charming. Keeping my nerves in check, I glanced at Enomoto beside her.
“…”
Here’s the thing—my action value isn’t real. It’s not 3; it’s 19.《Company》rigged the display, but in truth, my stat is way lower.
Apparently, this event doesn’t pull rank data from the island’s system—it calculates stats internally on the terminal. So, my effective 3-star status gives me a correspondingly low action value. But as a “fake 7-star,” I need to appear to have the highest stats to keep up the act.
So, the first hurdle is whether this trick goes unnoticed…
Secretly gauging everyone’s reactions, I stayed cautious. Akizuki and the surprisingly earnest Asamiya weren’t an issue, but Enomoto, with his photographic memory, might pick up on something. I braced myself—
“…Hm, I see.”
That’s all he said, calmly looking away from my screen. No suspicion. As always,《Company》comes through.
“Phew…”
Beside me, Himeji let out a faint, relieved breath. With a quiet “Now then,” she shook her silver hair and resumed.
“As for specific gameplay and strategies… what should we do? We should at least settle on a general approach, even if details come later.”
“Smart. There’s no point gathering if we don’t discuss that.”
Nodding seriously, Enomoto took over from Himeji.
“Let’s handle minor stuff first. The wildcard—the sixth member from《MTCG》. We’ve got a candidate: Minakami Mayu. She narrowly missed the team in the《District Selection Battle》but has the skill to snag the wildcard. Still, the open games draw over 5,000 participants yearly, so don’t count on it.”
“Yeah, treat it as a bonus if it happens.”
“Exactly. As for《ASTRAL》strategy, there are two main approaches: prioritize expanding our domain or eliminating other teams. But since combat requires spells, and spells need a larger domain, they’re interconnected. No need to treat them separately.”
“Agreed. So, the ‘approach’ we need to decide is more about team composition—or role assignments, to be precise.”
—Role assignments.
As mentioned in the rules, this《Duel》introduces “roles”—think RPG “jobs” or “classes.” Your role affects spell compatibility and usable abilities. Since abilities in Academy Island’s《Duel》are practically the battle plan itself, we can’t move forward without settling this.
For reference, here’s the role list:
・【Commander】—The team’s strategist. High affinity for support and special abilities, and the only role that can use intel-gathering abilities. While a Commander is active, all teammates get “Action Value -1” and “LP +1” buffs, but the Commander’s action value is fixed at 25. Once per《Duel》, they can swap roles with one teammate.
Strong Spell (Double Damage): None.
Weak Spell (Double Damage Taken): All attack spells.
・【Soldier】—The team’s vanguard. High affinity for speed and attack abilities, with a constant “Action Value -1” buff during combat. Excels in mobility and firepower but can’t use support or defense abilities.
Strong Spell (Double Damage):《Sword Flash》
Weak Spell (Double Damage Taken):《Gunfire》
・【Mage】—The team’s area control specialist. High affinity for attack and support abilities, with halved cooldowns for support spells. Versatile as both attacker and supporter but can’t use action-value-modifying abilities.
Strong Spell (Double Damage):《Magic Cannon》
Weak Spell (Double Damage Taken):《Sword Flash》
・【Scout】—The team’s stealth operative. High affinity for support and assistance abilities, focused on indirect disruption over direct combat. Can’t use attack or speed abilities but can detect traps without abilities.
Strong Spell (Double Damage):《Gunfire》
Weak Spell (Double Damage Taken):《Magic Cannon》
・【Guardian】—The team’s defender. High affinity for support and defense abilities, key for protecting players and bases. Always has a “Damage Taken -1” buff, making them tanky, but can’t use attack or speed abilities.
Strong Spell (Double Damage): None.
Weak Spell (Double Damage Taken): None.
“…”
While projecting the role list page on my terminal, I secretly observed the reactions of the three others besides Himeji. Of course, I kept a cool expression on the surface… but in truth, this role selection phase was critically important to me, practically the first major hurdle.
The reason being,
Commander—I have to take Commander, or it’s game over.
—Exactly, that’s right.
Commander. The role responsible for gathering intel, inherently fragile but capable of strengthening other team members—a pivotal position. It’s essentially the team leader, handling instructions, but for me, the critical part wasn’t that. It was the drawback: “The Commander’s action value is fixed at 25.”
No… of course, having a high action value is a pure disadvantage in this《Duel》. Since action values determine cooldown times, it’s nothing but a shackle.
But even so, gaining the excuse of “It’s because I’m the Commander” in exchange is an overwhelmingly huge advantage. After all, it’s normal for a Commander to have a low action value. That holds true whether you’re a 3-star or a 7-star.
On the flip side, if I end up as anything but Commander, it’s a massive problem… Everyone else is mostly 5-star or higher, but I’d be participating with a 3-star action value. If that happens, it wouldn’t be surprising if my “lie” got exposed in an instant.
Thinking this, I quietly swallowed hard.
And, by the way… beyond just self-preservation, even from the perspective of seriously conquering the May Inter-District Tournament, I’m still the best choice for Commander. Because with me, I can act like I’m using intel abilities while constantly relying on《Company》’s support. That advantage is bound to be enormous.
So, no matter what, securing Commander here is an absolute condition for my victory.
…It’ll probably be fine, though.
Half-genuine, half-prayer, I let that prediction cross my mind. …It’s an important role, no doubt, but Commander is, after all, a plain support position. It’s easy to get knocked out and unsuited for combat, so if I just wait, it’ll likely come to me.
“Um…?”
Brushing back the golden strands near her ear, Asamiya peeked at the screen.
“I’m, like, obviously going for Soldier, right? My athletic skills and dynamic vision are totally top-notch, so I’ll be the one charging in and wiping out enemies! My base action value is plenty high, but maybe I’ll tweak it even more with abilities.”
“Yeah, makes sense. Then Noa… hmm, Noa-chan’s Eimei’s ace, but Commander’s kinda a pass, huh? It’s not really fun—er, I mean, it doesn’t suit Noa. …So, probably Scout, right? Setting traps stealthily, sneaking around—that’s totally my thing! ♪ Ehehe, I’m gonna shine so much~ ♡”
Following Asamiya, Akizuki quickly picked her role too. Himeji’s staying silent with a composed expression for now, but per yesterday’s discussion, she’ll take Guardian once I lock in Commander. If that’s the case, we might as well move things along.
“Alright, then I’ll—”
“—Commander.”
““…Huh?””
In that instant, a curt line cut off my words, catching both me and Himeji off guard as we looked up in unison. The speaker was—predictably—Enomoto Shinji himself.
“I’m aiming for Commander. Don’t tell me, Shinohara, you were too?”
W-Wait, what!? Is this guy for real!?
Feeling his probing gaze, I was inwardly shaken. But I couldn’t let that show. Observing Enomoto carefully, I responded in a calm tone.
“Well, yeah. …By the way, why do you want Commander?”
“It’s not ‘you,’ it’s Enomoto. Use polite speech with your seniors, Shinohara. …And why? Commander is the most critical role here. Without a competent Commander, winning《ASTRAL》is absolutely impossible.”
“Sure… but by that logic, wouldn’t I do just as well?”
“I said use polite speech. And no, it’s not the same. Since Commander’s action value is fixed at 25, you’d take a bigger hit than me, given your lower base value. Plus, Commander duties—intel gathering, opponent analysis, mapping, giving orders—are all my specialties. I’m the ideal fit.”
“Oh? …So you’re saying I’m not suited? I don’t know how you rate me, but fact is, I’m a unique star holder and a 7-star ranker. If intel and analysis are key, I’m clearly better suited, with strong abilities to spare.”
“Is that so? Just because you’re a 7-star—or a unique star holder—doesn’t mean you’re inherently superior. I, on the other hand, am undeniably excellent. I know myself well. Got that, transfer student? Also, polite speech.”
“…”
Clashing with Enomoto’s arguments, I quietly turned my thoughts.
It was like… my worst fear had come true. A rival for Commander. Enomoto’s probably a true meritocrat, beyond just ranks. Even knowing I’m a 7-star, he won’t give me special treatment. He trusts his own abilities too much to back down easily.
“Ugh…”
Watching our exchange, Asamiya, sitting next to him, propped her cheek on her hand with a deeply dissatisfied look.
“Why’re you so tense, Shinji? Shino’s offering, so just let him be Commander. Also, I’m totally not cool with moving under your orders.”
“This isn’t about liking or disliking. It’s about suitability.”
“So you’re saying you’re more suitable than Shino, a 7-star? Isn’t that kinda arrogant?”
“…So, Nanase, you think Shinohara’s better than me?”
“Duh, obviously.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Asamiya declared it and shot me a bright “You got this~” smile. Himeji’s definitely on my side, so if we pushed for a majority vote, I’d almost certainly win. But that wouldn’t mean much.
Like Himeji said… I need to deceive both enemies and allies in this event. And deceiving means making them believe. Believe that I’m far above them—that I’m the real deal. If I don’t, he probably won’t function properly.
He’s powerful, no doubt, but that makes him an incredibly tricky card to play. Suspicion would grow daily, and eventually, my “lie” could be exposed.
So, here’s the plan.
“…Hey, Enomoto.”
“You’re missing the ‘senpai,’ but what is it, Shinohara?”
“How about this? The rules say Commander can ‘swap’ roles once during the game. So, let me take Commander first. If I don’t meet your standards, I’ll hand it over at some point.”
“…I’d argue I should start, but… fine, a concession deserves a concession.”
Muttering his agreement, Enomoto gave a small nod.
Then, fixing his deep indigo eyes on me, he said in a calm tone:
“The condition is—by the end of day three, eliminate three Commanders. If you fail, you hand over Commander to me starting day four. How’s that?”
“…Please wait, Enomoto-sama.”
The first to react to Enomoto’s proposal wasn’t me but Himeji. From a slight distance, she posed a question in her clear voice.
“Isn’t that condition a bit unfair? If you, as a teammate, refuse to cooperate with Master or even sabotage him…”
“Himeji Shirayuki-kun, was it? Your polite speech is admirable, but you’re misunderstanding something.”
“Eh… misunderstanding?”
“Yes, fundamentally so. …I just want to win. As Eimei Academy’s student council president, I don’t want to lose this event. I don’t personally dislike Shinohara, and even if I did, it wouldn’t matter.”
Pausing for a moment, Enomoto let out a quiet breath.
“As you know, this island has a school ranking system. A clear hierarchy among academies, decided once a year as the culmination of the star acquisition system. For years, Eimei has been stuck at fifth place. …To put it plainly, I want to raise that rank. Last year, we nearly dropped to sixth due to our failures. But this year, we have a 7-star—Shinohara. The potential is there. So, I’d never intentionally sabotage him—I’ll state that clearly here.”
“…I see. My apologies.”
With refined grace, Himeji bowed and quietly stepped back. Enomoto’s expression was dead serious. No hint of bluffing. As student council president and a member of the select team, he’s genuinely determined to make Eimei win.
—So,
“OK, deal.”
Facing Enomoto’s challenging gaze, I grinned and replied:
“By the end of day three, I’ll take down three Commanders. If I can’t, I’ll hand over Commander to you immediately—and I’ll speak politely to you for life.”
“…Alright, I’m looking forward to it.”
Raising the corner of his mouth slightly, Enomoto muttered with an expression that was neither anger nor a smile.
And so, the pre-event strategy meeting ended with a distinctly tense atmosphere.
♯
“So… please help me, Kagaya-san!”
“W-Wow, Hiro-kyun’s making big promises again?!?!”
That night.
In the luxurious living room on the first floor of the dorm, I was practically bowing to the woman in a tracksuit sitting across from me.
Kagaya-san—a woman slightly older than us (probably), she’s part of the support team《Company》like Himeji. Always sleepy, in a tracksuit, with messy hair—a tragic beauty, but freakishly skilled with computers, and she’s helped me out tons before.
“Um… so, what was it again?”
Rubbing her bedhead, Kagaya-san muttered as if calming herself.
“As Academy Island’s strongest, you’re joining the May Inter-District Tournament, pulling off perfect Commander moves to keep your lie hidden from your 6-star teammates, taking down three rival leaders by the end of day three, all while preparing for the ultra-dangerous《Doppelgänger》?”
“…Yeah, that’s about it.”
“H-Hiro-kyun’s really working people hard…”
Letting out a dramatic guhaa like she’d been fatally wounded, Kagaya-san collapsed onto the table. …Listing it out like this, it does sound like an impossible game. Fooling teammates—mainly Enomoto—while preparing for whatever《Doppelgänger》is planning. And, of course, winning the《Duel》is a given.
Then, a sudden question hit me, and I quietly looked up.
“By the way… can《Company》provide support as usual? I heard this event’s renting out some part of Zero Ward.”
“Hm? Oh, that—”
“No need to worry, Master.”
Cutting off Kagaya-san, Himeji returned from the kitchen, placing a cup in front of me with a soft clink. After serving Kagaya-san as well, she hugged her silver tray to her chest and continued.
“While the relevant area of Zero Ward—the Development Special Zone—is reserved for the event, surrounding areas remain open as usual.《Company》primarily provides remote support anyway… and since I’m participating as a player, I’ll be on-site.”
“Yup, that’s the deal. I’ll be on standby to respond anytime, so if you wanna hear your big sis’s voice, just pop in the earpiece, ’kay?”
“…Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Her sleepy voice might actually be perfect for lulling me to sleep.
“Anyway, let’s organize the info here. First, this《Duel》—《ASTRAL》—is a free-for-all territory control game. You expand your team’s area by capturing bases on the field while building up strength to take out other teams.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“From the rules, there seem to be three key elements. Action values, which determine cooldowns after actions; roles, which affect ability selection and spell compatibility; and the last one—the voting system.”
Meeting Himeji’s clear blue eyes as she gazed straight at me, I murmured quietly.
The voting system—an additional rule announced by《Libra》just earlier. As the name suggests, every high school student not participating in the May Inter-District Tournament gets a “vote” to predict the winner.
And—here’s the issue—these votes can be changed freely at any time, and the vote share impacts the team’s action values. In simple terms, the more votes you gather from spectators, the bigger your advantage.
For me, it sounds convenient—or rather, ripe for exploitation.
“But… this system probably matters more in the late game. Early on, the game’s outcome will mostly hinge on how well roles and abilities are coordinated.”
“Yes, exactly. Since vote share acts as a buff, initially, students will likely vote for their own academies. So, there won’t be much difference at the start.”
“Right. So, let’s shift to roles for now… The Commander role I picked handles scouting enemy info, exploring the field to expand the map, and giving orders to teammates based on that intel. Naturally, my abilities need to align with that.”
“Yes. It’s like a searcher or supporter role. Combat ability is low, but it’s indispensable for info warfare. Being the only role that can use intel abilities is a major strength, so popular choices include《Reconnaissance》,《Data Theft》,《Psychology》… and《Perimeter Scan》is also a strong contender.”
“Yeah, when I looked earlier, those abilities ranked high. …But if I tried to fulfill Commander’s role properly with my rank, I’d have to fill all my slots with them. Even then, I’d probably still fall short compared to others.”
Exactly… ranks on Academy Island are that significant. For example, a 6-star ranker might pull off something with one ability slot, but I’d need two or three lower-tier abilities to replicate it. That leaves no room for other abilities, drastically weakening my combat power.
So, what I’ll use is—“cheating.”
“…Kagaya-san.”
“Yup. Once the event starts, we at《Company》will sneak into the May Inter-District Tournament’s server, grabbing the info Hiro-kyun’s supposed to have access to and feeding it to you in real-time… That’s the plan, right?”
“Yeah, exactly. …Can you pull it off?”
“Totally. If we can tap the main server, we might even track《Doppelgänger》’s movements. That’s no problem at all. It’s been about ten days since the《District Selection Battle》, so this is a big chance to show off big sis’s skills!”
“…Hehe, that’s exciting. I need to work occasionally, or I’ll get fired.”
“W-What!? Even though I’m supporting Hiro-kyun remotely every day!?”
“That’s paid for with my home-cooked meals.”
“In-kind payment!? Uu~… Hiro-kyun, you’ve gotta take care of me…”
With an exaggerated gaaah, Kagaya-san looked up dramatically, giving me puppy-dog eyes (so sneaky). Himeji, chuckling softly and whispering, “Of course, I’m kidding,” turned to me, tilting her head slightly.
“So, with《Company》covering your Commander role, what about your actual ability loadout, Master?”
“…Yeah, that’s the real issue.”
At Himeji’s question, her silver hair swaying gently, I quietly brought my right hand to my mouth.
“It’ll be a long battle, so I think we should pick abilities for flexibility. Given that, one’s definitely the blue star’s exclusive ability—《†Jet-Black Wings†》. An ability to freely manipulate effects. Since the field’s built on augmented reality, it’s practically like interfering with the world itself, so it should be super useful.”
“I see, that’s definitely powerful now that you mention it. For the second slot… how about the green star you got as a reward from the《District Selection Battle》?”
“Huh? …But that’s not an ability, right? It’s more like a program, same as the red star’s power. Plus, Kurahashi modified it, so it’s ultra-illegal…”
“Yes. But we can extract its effect and convert it into an ability. Call it an《Action Prediction》ability. Of course, we’d have to nerf its performance.”
“Oh… got it. Yeah, that’d actually work. I can’t use it as freely as Akizuki, but it’d still be a weapon against Enomoto.”
Nodding slightly as I spoke. …Needing a “weapon” against an ally is absurd, but if it makes Enomoto trust me, it’s worth it. The effect’s strong, so there’s no reason not to use it.
At that moment, Kagaya-san, typing something on her laptop, let out a soft “Hmm.”
“Two unique star special abilities—that’s the obvious choice for you right now, Hiro-kyun. …But the tricky part’s the last slot, right?”
“Yeah. …I’ll think about that one a bit more. We’ve still got time.”
“Gotcha. You can’t just pick that one carelessly. Our ability guy’s super talented, so even if you ask for a custom ability Sunday night, he’ll probably pull it off.”
“Eh?”
“…You’re getting surprised?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Inamura-kun’s just like that. He’s only got low self-esteem.”
Kagaya-san waved her hand casually. Meanwhile, the guy named Inamura muttered over the earpiece, “I’ll try, but… probably an all-nighter…” with a voice dripping with despair. …I’ll make sure to request early.
“So… what about you, Himeji? Your ability picks?”
“I’ve mostly decided.”
Turning her clear blue eyes to me, Himeji nodded once.
“Given we don’t know what《Doppelgänger》might do, I’ll start with the standard defense ability,《Interference Nullification》. And since action values and vote shares involve lots of ‘numbers,’ I’ll take the versatile《Value Management》. …That’s standard for a Guardian so far, but the last one’s my trump card.”
“Trump card?”
“Yes. The《Swap》ability—an auxiliary ability that lets you exchange one ability between team members. It’s pretty powerful depending on how you use it, but since it’s only usable in team battles, it’s not well-known and hasn’t been flagged as illegal yet. …What do you think? Sounds like it could lead to some fun strategies, right?”
“…Definitely.”
Smirking at Himeji’s mischievous grin, I let my own lips curl up slightly. Trading abilities is a pretty enticing idea. Depending on the combo, it could infinitely expand our strategic options.
“That said—《Swap》is extremely expensive, so instead of buying it outright, I’ll have Inamura-san tweak it.”
“Oh, even Leader Himeji’s piling work on me… No, it’s an honor, but…”
I’m starting to feel bad for him, but I’ll let it slide for now.
Anyway… with that, my and Himeji’s ability loadouts are pretty much set. Beyond that, we won’t know much until the《Duel》actually starts.
My first big event, a mysterious《Doppelgänger》stirring trouble, and I’ve gotta deceive my teammates too—not gonna lie, I’m a bit anxious…
Hit by a sudden wave of unease, I let that weak thought slip in my mind.
And—at that moment, whether she saw through me or not, Himeji suddenly took my hand gently. The warmth and softness of her gloved hand came through. Her blue eyes, now so close, gazed at me tenderly.
And then,
“—It’ll be alright, Master.”
With her silver hair swaying faintly, she whispered in my ear.
“Nothing like last time will happen again. No matter the situation, no matter what… I’ll be by your side.”
“…!”
Her faintly warm voice. The breath brushing my ear. The heartbeat—whose, I couldn’t tell.
Desperately racking my brain for a witty response, I—
“Um… just, just so you know? Big sis is right here too.”
“…Same.”
“!!”
Startled by《Company》’s embarrassed reactions, we both snapped back to reality and hurriedly let go.
♯♯
“Hmm… I see.”
After the meeting with《Company》, back in my room a little later.
Sitting on my bed, I was contacting Saionji via my terminal.
Since the May Inter-District Tournament is a district-versus-district event, contacting other team members during the event is prohibited. Meeting in person on-site is fine, but two members from different districts talking would stand out. Plus, Saionji and I are supposed to be rivals from the start. If we’re not careful, we might not even get to talk, let alone strategize… so we decided to hash things out before the event began.
“So, it’s basically as we planned, right? We secretly cooperate only against《Doppelgänger》, but otherwise, we’re straight-up ‘enemies.’ If either of us risks falling below sixth place, we’ll figure it out as it comes.”
“Yeah, that’s the vibe.”
I replied casually to Saionji’s words.
“For us, the《Duel》with《Doppelgänger》is tougher and riskier than the event itself. So, we just cooperate on that… Honestly, if we don’t act like proper enemies in the main event, it’ll look suspicious. Teaming up too obviously would backfire.”
“True. …Hehe, well then, I’ll win without holding back—within reason. Ouka Academy’s honor’s on the line, and I’m not losing to Eimei.”
“Yeah, yeah, keep talking. Don’t come crying later.”
Grinning as we teased each other over the terminal. …Despite the wildcard of《Doppelgänger》, that’s a separate matter. As Academy Island’s strongest 7-star, I can’t lose. As Ouka’s absolute ace, Saionji can’t either. Getting into the top five is a given—a prerequisite. We’re obligated to aim as high as possible.
“…Anyway, that’s the situation.”
Flopping back onto the bed with a thud, I stretched and continued.
“I’ve got one countermeasure for《Doppelgänger》, but… honestly, there’s not much more I can do until the《Duel》starts. We’ll just have to play it by ear.”
“Yeah… Ha. I’m kinda dreading it, though. Ouka’s team keeps looking at me with sparkly eyes. It’s exhausting.”
“? …Isn’t that just normal for a celebrity like you?”
“Sure, but usually, it’s just at school. During the event, it’s morning, noon, and night—constant. The only break I’ll get is probably when I’m sleeping. And I probably won’t even get to talk to you…”
“…”
“…N-Not that I’m saying it’s hard not seeing you! I just mean it’s annoying not having someone to vent to! D-Don’t get the wrong idea!”
“I didn’t say anything.”
I muttered with a wry smile. Not having our venting sessions is tough for me too, but we don’t have the luxury to complain. If we lose the《Duel》to《Doppelgänger》, Saionji gets replaced by a fake, and as accomplices, we’d both face a social death—a bad end.
So,
“Don’t lose, Saionji. For my sake too.”
“…Hmph. If you feel that way, I’d appreciate you protecting me properly.”
“…? What’s that, not like you. You sleepy or something?”
“No, I’m not!”
For some reason, Saionji snapped back with a mix of anger and frustration at my perfectly reasonable question. She kept muttering things like “Geez…” but soon regained her confident smirk and said:
“Kidding—obviously, right? The《Empress》doesn’t lose that easily.”
Her voice brimmed with confidence.
♭♭♭
“—Hello?”
“Yeah, it’s me. Shinohara.”
“Listen, I need your help with something—”
