Chapter 1 The district selection tournament begins

 

“Settle down! Everyone, please quiet down!”

 

It was Wednesday morning, April 20th.

 

In the classroom of Eimei Academy High School, Class 2-A—a place that was starting to feel familiar—a cute command, likely meant to carry as much authority as possible, echoed through the room.

 

“Yes… Yes! I have wonderful news for everyone today! There are also a lot of announcements, so please try your best to listen!”

 

Saying this, the homeroom teacher of this class, Nana-chan-sensei, clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest. Of course, that wasn’t her real name, but since everyone used nicknames, there was no inclination to call her anything else. With her fluffy hair and pastel-colored clothing, she always gave off the vibe of a college student.

 

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Nana-chan-sensei pointed her index finger diagonally upward and, in a cheerful tone, made this announcement:

 

“First things first! We have another transfer student joining this class!”

 

“”!?””

 

The room instantly buzzed with excitement. Shock and joy dominated the atmosphere in an instant… and for good reason. The word “transfer student” alone was enough to make hearts race unconditionally, but just last week, I—Hiroto Shinohara—had transferred into Class 2-A. With two transfer students in a row, the rarity factor had skyrocketed.

 

“…”

 

Still, I, sitting at the very back of the classroom, didn’t change my expression. Well, not changing my expression was par for the course for me, but in this case, there was no reason to be surprised in the first place. After all, I already knew who was standing outside the door.

 

“Hehe, everyone’s curious, right? Excited, right? …Okay! No point in dragging it out, so let’s have them come in right away!”

 

With an infectiously bright tone, Nana-chan-sensei gave this preamble and energetically raised her left hand, signaling toward the hallway with a “Come on in!”

 

“Yes.”

 

Immediately after, a cool, clear voice responded. At the same time, the door at the front of the classroom opened silently. The sound of dainty footsteps, tap, tap, echoed softly. Her slender figure was so refined that it captivated everyone, regardless of gender.

 

And then… with a flutter of her silver hair, she bowed her head expressionlessly.

 

“—Pleased to meet you all. My name is Shirayuki Himeji. Until recently, I was enrolled at Sakura Academy in District Three, but due to personal circumstances, I have transferred here to Eimei Academy. I’m not very good at interacting with people I’m meeting for the first time, especially men, so I might come off as rude at times… but please don’t misunderstand—it’s not that I dislike anyone, so I hope you can be lenient with me.”

 

Scanning the entire classroom, the girl—Shirayuki Himeji—delivered her introduction flawlessly to the end.

 

Yes, the transfer student joining this class was none other than her. Due to certain circumstances, she was in a position akin to my “collaborator,” a girl my age. Usually, she wore a monochrome maid outfit, but her Eimei Academy uniform looked surprisingly good on her too.

 

…Or rather.

 

There were, of course, several reasons why Himeji had transferred from Sakura Academy in District Three to Eimei Academy. One was simply that “it was already known that she was my ally.” About ten days ago, during a major “Duel”—the decisive battle against 5-star Seiran Kugasaki—Himeji had exposed herself to the public by supporting my battered body. In that situation, her action was likely the best course, but on this island, “cooperating with a student from another district” was generally unthinkable. That’s why it was necessary to quickly establish a pretext for why she would help me.

 

However, Academy Island operates on a system where “the number of stars” determines everything. Student transfers inevitably involve the “movement of stars,” so it’s not something you can do just because you want to. Special procedures, paperwork, and several complicated steps were required.

 

Knowing this, the headmaster had likely pulled some strings—or rather, gone to great lengths in various ways—for another, more significant reason.

 

(Well… truthfully, it would cause all sorts of problems later if Himeji wasn’t a student here at Eimei. It’s a hassle not being able to get remote support, but it seems Kagaya-san will cover for that.)

 

As I watched Himeji, who was now drawing a flood of curious gazes on the podium, I quietly pondered this. …Some might think I’m overreacting about something as simple as school life, but it’s better to stay cautious. After all, it’s not just the “Duels” where we stake our stars against each other—there are countless opportunities in daily life for my “lie” to be exposed.

 

A lie—yes, a lie.

 

I, Hiroto Shinohara, am currently maintaining a massive “lie” that deceives the entire Academy Island. The absolute evaluation criterion on this island is rank—and despite only recently achieving 2-star status after winning against Kugasaki, I’m fully pretending to be the unique pinnacle, a “7-star.”

 

Due to some rather complicated circumstances, even Masamune Saionji, the highest authority on Academy Island, is involved, so if this lie is exposed, it would be no joke—it could end my life in an instant.

 

That’s why the “Company”—the cheating team that includes Himeji and Kagaya-san—is an indispensable existence for me to keep this lie going.

 

(…Well, that much goes without saying.)

 

I let out a small, bitter smile inwardly.

 

Even as I propped my head on my hand lazily, the buzz in the classroom was gradually intensifying. Some were even so excited they stood up. …But that was hardly surprising. After all, Himeji was already a hot topic as the silver-haired maid who had briefly appeared during that “Duel” and gained a massive following. Since it was already known that she was connected to me, curious glances were darting back and forth between us, trying to figure out our relationship.

 

“…”

 

On the podium, Himeji coolly brushed off those gazes and gave a single, calm bow. The seat assigned to her was the prime spot next to me, at the very back by the window. Following Nana-chan-sensei’s instructions, Himeji walked over with graceful steps, bowed politely once more in front of me, and, with the faintest hint of a smile on her lips, took her seat.

 

“”Oh… Oooooohhh!!””

 

…It seemed that the first change in her expression had already pierced the hearts of several people, but I decided to ignore it all as too much trouble.

 

“Oh, and also! The Academy’s annual inter-district event, the “District Selection Battle”, starts tomorrow! We went over the details in the last homeroom, but as a refresher, here’s an overview—”

 

Nana-chan-sensei’s explanation continued for a while after that, but the impact of the transfer student was so strong that it seemed no one was really listening.

 

“—Nice to meet you, Shirayuki-chan! I’m Kaede Tatara, the class representative!”

 

Shortly after homeroom ended, the first to approach Himeji was none other than her.

 

Kaede Tatara—a lively girl with a bouncing ponytail that left a strong impression. The first time I met her, she was still a candidate for class representative, but it seemed she had successfully claimed the position.

 

“Uh… Y-Yes.”

 

Caught off guard by the sudden friendly approach, Himeji froze for a moment but soon exhaled softly and returned a deep, polite bow.

 

“Tatara-sama, is it? Pleased to meet you. And thank you for your kindness. I’m still quite unfamiliar with the affairs of District Four, so I would greatly appreciate any guidance you could offer.”

 

“Huh? W-Wait… You’re so formal, Shirayuki-chan! It feels like there’s a billion and two thousand light-years between us!”

 

“…Is that so? I had no intention of coming across that way…”

 

“R-Really? Well, if that’s the case, it’s totally fine… but, um, could you at least change how you address me? It’s kind of embarrassing to be called ‘-sama’ by a friend!”

 

“Friend…”

 

Muttering softly, Himeji cast a puzzled glance my way. …Having served the Saionji family since childhood, she rarely left the house until middle school and even after enrolling in Sakura Academy’s high school division, she completed all her classes via correspondence courses. This was likely her first time properly interacting with outsiders, so it was only natural that she’d feel overwhelmed by Kaede Tatara’s overly friendly approach right from the start.

 

“…”

 

Nodding to signal that there was no malice in Tatara’s behavior and that it was safe, I watched as Himeji’s lips curved ever so slightly into a faint smile, which she quickly hid by letting her silver hair sway gently.

 

And then,

 

“…I see. So, if we’re friends, I should be more casual in my interactions, is that it?”

 

“Exactly, exactly! As expected of Shirayuki-chan, spot on!”

 

“Understood. In that case—let’s see, from now on, I’ll call you ‘Kaede-san.’”

 

“Wow! Yay, thank you!”

 

With a cheerful clap of her hands in front of her chest, Kaede beamed with delight.

 

At this rate, it seemed Himeji would adjust quickly—I felt a quiet sense of relief inwardly. But just then, Kaede suddenly closed the distance between us, her already high energy kicking up another notch as she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement:

 

“So, so—hey, hey! What’s your relationship with Shinohara-kun, Shirayuki-chan!? If it’s okay, I’d love to know!”

 

The question, brimming with curiosity, hung in the air. Undoubtedly, it was something the entire class was wondering about. I could feel the weight of gazes from all corners of the room without even needing to look around.

 

(What kind of relationship, huh… It’s way too complicated to explain in a single word.)

 

I muttered to myself silently. …If I had to sum it up, “collaborator” might be the closest term, but there was no need to spill everything honestly. We had anticipated questions like this and prepared a safe, standard answer in advance.

 

Standing beside me, Himeji spoke softly and calmly.

 

“Allow me to answer that. …Though I now wear the Eimei Academy uniform, my usual role is as the attendant to my master—Hiroto Shinohara-sama. So, if asked about our relationship, the simplest and most appropriate answer would be ‘master and servant.’”

 

“Wow, so it really is like that!”

 

Kaede’s eyes sparkled with realization at Himeji’s explanation.

 

“…”

 

For someone like me, who had only recently arrived from the mainland, the word “maid” still carried a slight sense of unfamiliarity, even if I could accept it at face value. However, on Academy Island, maids and attendants weren’t particularly rare. After all, this island operated under a unique system where a higher star rank guaranteed a better lifestyle, and those with 5 stars or more could employ dedicated servants. For example, the “Empress”—a certain red-haired girl—was said to have over fifty servants in her household alone.

 

Due to such circumstances, we had concluded it was better not to hide the fact that Himeji was a maid.

 

“Wow… Wow, that’s so cool! I’m kinda jealous…!”

 

Indeed, Kaede seemed to accept it without any hesitation—but then,

 

“…Huh? Wait, but if you’re a maid, that means you go to Shinohara-kun’s house, right?”

 

“? Oh, yeah, that’s right.”

 

Not just visiting, but living there—but I kept that detail under wraps and responded coolly.

 

Blushing slightly, Kaede asked in a quieter tone:

 

“Doesn’t that, um… make you feel weird, Shinohara-kun?”

 

“…Weird, how?”

 

“D-Don’t make me say it! Um, you know… like, um, those kinds of feelings!”

 

Squeezing her eyes shut, she whispered the last part. The girls nearby nodded in agreement, as if endorsing her question. …Her word choice was almost embarrassingly awkward, likely due to her shyness, but I understood what she meant. It was a suspicion we’d expected to arise, of course.

 

So, keeping my expression neutral, I shook my head slightly.

 

“No… It’s only been two weeks since we first met. I don’t feel any ‘weird’ feelings.”

 

“Wha~t, really? …Wait! Doesn’t that make me sound like some perverted, fantasy-obsessed girl for even asking!? N-No, no, no! I was just checking on discipline as the class representative! Shinohara-kun, you pass! Approved by the class rep!”

 

Flushing bright red, Kaede stammered out what sounded like an excuse. …It seemed she was satisfied, at least for now, with our relationship being framed as strictly “master and servant.” There would likely be more speculation in the future, but for the time being, we could probably dodge further questions with the same explanation.

 

While I was mulling this over, the conversation between Himeji and Kaede shifted—likely in part to cover Kaede’s embarrassment—to an introduction of Class 2-A.

 

“—So, you know? There are thirty-six members in this class total. With Shirayuki-chan joining, that makes thirty-seven! We’re technically the top class among the second-years, so it’s full of high-achieving students!”

 

“I see… So, does that mean you are as well, Kaede-san?”

 

“Me? Well… I’m not bad, but I’m not that great either. I’m not just the class rep—I’m also in the track team and student council, so… maybe an award for ‘effort’? Something like that.”

 

“What? No way, Tatara-san, you’re definitely one of the top students.”

 

A male student who had joined the conversation late chimed in lightly. Yuki—a boy with an androgynous face and the classmate I talked to most often in this class. He had a slightly sharp tongue and didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts, but he was considerate enough to keep his distance from Himeji after her earlier introduction.

 

With a faint smile directed at Kaede, Yuki continued.

 

“Tatara-san is 3-star, popular, and taller than me.”

 

“Does the last part even matter!? …Well, I’m not saying it’s bad or anything. But, you know, Class 2-A has someone like Shinohara-kun, who’s on a whole different level… And I bet Shirayuki-chan’s rank is at least 3-star, right? Your profile and stuff are all locked, so we can’t see anything. Right, Shinohara-kun?”

 

“Yeah, that’s right. Himeji is currently 4-star.”

 

“”Oh…!””

 

Both Yuki and Kaede let out impressed exclamations, and in response, Himeji offered a small bow instead of words. …The difference between 3-star and 4-star might seem small, but on Academy Island, a single star was a massive gap. The abilities you could acquire and the privileges you unlocked were on entirely different levels. It was literally a difference in class.

 

Now thoroughly excited, Kaede leaned in close to Himeji.

 

“Amazing, amazing! Shirayuki-chan is 4-star! That means there are six high-rankers of 4-star or above in Class 2-A… Ugh, I need to step up my game!”

 

“As expected of the class rep, your positivity is something to aspire to. …But wait, are there really that many? 4-star classmates, I mean. Shinohara-kun is 7-star, so that’s a given, but the 4-stars are Sawaki-san, Kitamura-kun, and Wagahara-san… Isn’t that all? Himeji-san would make five, right?”

 

“No way, that can’t be right. The four you just mentioned, and then… and then… Huh!? Oh no, I forgot! What do I do, I can’t remember!”

 

Pressing a finger under her chin, Kaede pondered for a moment before panicking and clutching her head with both hands. She followed up with a genuinely apologetic, “And I’m the class rep, too!” …But it wasn’t as if being class rep meant she had to memorize every classmate’s profile. Especially not at this time of year, right after the new school term started.

 

“…She’s a good person, Kaede-san. It’s hard to put into words, but…”

 

Himeji murmured this observation quietly beside me.

 

As the two of us shared a vaguely warm feeling,

 

“Mmm… Ugh, I can’t remember. I give up! Sorry, Shinohara-kun, can you tell me the answer?”

 

—Smack! Kaede clapped her hands together and suddenly bowed to me.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Caught off guard, I stumbled over my words.

 

She wanted me to tell her the answer—based on the conversation so far, it was clear she was asking about the identity of the fourth 4-star in Class 2-A. At first glance, it might seem odd for Kaede, who had been in this class all along, to ask a transfer student like me, but that wasn’t necessarily the case.

 

After all, as a 7-star—the highest rank on Academy Island—I was supposed to have access to virtually all information. Of course, privacy-related details were off-limits, but names, school affiliations, and individual ranks were generally public information. If someone’s rank was lower than mine, there was no way I wouldn’t know.

 

Unless, of course, I hadn’t forcibly manipulated the system to fake my rank—but that was a different story.

 

(Damn… Already in a pinch, huh?)

 

Internally, I cursed while keeping my expression completely neutral.

 

Of course, I hadn’t entirely failed to anticipate situations like this. Crises outside of “Duels”—situations where my façade might crack—had been fairly common since my first day as a transfer student. That’s why my earpiece was always connected to the “Company” for quick support. I was prepared, perfectly so.

 

…Or so I thought.

 

(Then why the hell am I hearing snoring through the earpiece, damn it!?)

 

Yes. No matter how much I focused on my right ear, all I could hear were steady, peaceful snores. The occasional mumbled sounds made it clear it was Kagaya-san, but there was no useful information to be gleaned.

 

(The remote support switched from Himeji to Kagaya-san just this morning, so maybe she let her guard down thinking, ‘Nothing’s going to happen on the first day,’ or something… Tsk.)

 

I let out a small, frustrated sigh inwardly, my guess likely spot on. Clearing my throat once, I shifted to a calm tone and turned the question back to Kaede.

 

“Uh… Kaede, what answer are you talking about? Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

 

“Um, you know, the fourth 4-star in Class 2-A! I remembered Sawaki-san, Wagahara-san, and Kitamura-kun, but I just can’t recall the last one!”

 

“Right, right. Well, to be honest, it’s not that big of a deal to obsess over… but leaving it hanging feels kinda awkward, you know?”

 

“It’s not about feeling good or bad! Not remembering a classmate’s details is a matter of my pride as class rep! So please, Shinohara-kun, tell me quietly!”

 

Clinging to my hand with a pleading tone, Kaede wouldn’t let it go. I’d considered brushing it off with a distraction, but it seemed that wouldn’t work.

 

So, how was I going to get out of this? While I outwardly maintained a composed expression, I suddenly felt a light tug at the hem of my blazer.

 

(…Huh?)

 

The subtle signal repeated a few more times. …It was Himeji. Standing right beside me, she leaned in slightly, signaling me discreetly while avoiding Yuki and Kaede’s notice.

 

(This… Could it be the emergency signal we agreed on? Let’s see… If it’s three consecutive tugs on the uniform, that means ‘lend me your ear,’ right?)

 

Recalling the signals we’d planned last night, I nodded internally.

 

Lend me your ear—that meant Himeji already knew the answer. She must have accessed the academy’s roster somehow, but the details of how didn’t matter right now. The real issue was how to get that answer from her.

 

Of course, the simplest solution would be to have her whisper it directly, but doing something so obvious here was out of the question.

 

Shifting locations might work, but that could be risky too. Leaving the classroom together at this point would raise suspicions, and coming back suddenly chatty would be blatantly suspicious.

 

(So, I have no choice but to ask Himeji right here… and without anyone noticing.)

 

Swallowing hard, I steeled myself. …Part of me wanted to complain about why I had to deal with this kind of thrill in the middle of a peaceful school day, but with Kagaya-san asleep on the job, I had no other options. Besides—besides, if I was serious about maintaining that lie to the end, I had to handle situations like this with flair.

 

…Alright.

 

“? Mmm, uh… cough. My apologies.”

 

Suddenly letting out a surprisingly sultry voice, Himeji flinched and covered her mouth with one hand, quickly regaining her composure. …That was because I had discreetly reached out and sent her a different signal by touching her back through her uniform. Thanks to her swift reaction, neither Yuki nor Kaede seemed to suspect anything.

 

The signal I sent was simple: “Please crouch down.”

 

“Oh… Master, your shoelace is coming undone.”

 

After a brief pause, as if suppressing a ticklish sensation, Himeji spoke up and bent down as soon as I withdrew my hand. She reached for my school shoes—which, despite being called “indoor shoes,” were actually sneakers with laces, thanks to a partnership with a company in District Four.

 

“Hm? Oh, it’s fine. I’ll do it myself.”

 

Confirming her actions, I quietly crouched down after her. Naturally, since we were both aiming for the same spot, our faces drew close at a level below the desks. Her refined features and clear blue eyes filled my vision.

 

“…”

 

Aware of my heart skipping a beat, I still turned slightly to the right, positioning my ear close to her face. It shouldn’t seem too unnatural given the flow of events, but maintaining this for long would be tricky.

 

Pretending to adjust my shoelace, I slowly began to rise—just before I did, a breathy whisper reached my ear.

 

“Pardon me, Master. The answer to the earlier question is Mizuki Nakano-sama.”

 

“…”

 

Now it was my turn to suppress a ticklish sensation, but I managed to stand up without changing my expression. Turning to Kaede, who was tilting her head curiously in front of me, I apologized briefly with a “Sorry,” then pulled out my device from my pocket and continued.

 

“About that question—the fourth 4-star in this class. I haven’t spoken to her yet, but according to what I looked up on my device, it seems to be someone named ‘Nakano.’”

 

“Oh! Right, Mizuki-chan! Now that you mention it, I recall hearing she was promoted around the time we moved up a grade! Phew, that clears it up… Thanks, Shinohara-kun, you really saved me!”

 

Kaede expressed her gratitude dramatically, while Yuki, standing nearby, nodded slightly and muttered, “Oh, that person, huh.” Both Himeji and I let out sighs of relief.

 

…And, on the side,

 

(If we were going to use the device anyway, couldn’t she have just DM’d me the answer…?)

 

We both likely realized this critical oversight at the same time, but since we’d managed to pull through, I decided to let it slide for now.

 

♯

 

Lunch Break

 

“—There. Here, this is for Himeji.”

 

Himeji and I were sitting on a bench in the courtyard, where no other students were around, enjoying our lunch.

 

Normally, Himeji would prepare a homemade bento for us, but this morning, various transfer-related procedures had taken up her time, so today’s lunch consisted of bread we’d just “acquired” from the school store. …Acquired, not purchased. Yes, it wasn’t a simple transaction—it was a conquest. As the rumors had it, Eimei Academy’s school store operated under a rule where you had to win a mock game against “the lady” to earn the right to buy anything. Those who wanted a slightly fancier lunch engaged in fierce daily battles, making it a quintessential, emblematic scene of the academy’s competitive atmosphere.

 

The legendary chocolate cornet, in particular, had an acquisition rate in the triple digits, and there was a palpable sense that, as a 7-star, I was expected to aim for it. With Kagaya-san, who had just woken from her nap, and Himeji’s help, we’d managed to secure a victory through some underhanded tactics.

 

“Eh…? Um, what do you mean by ‘here’?”

 

As I handed her the fluffy cornet from the store-branded paper bag, Himeji blinked her clear blue eyes in surprise.

 

“Is it alright for me to take this? It’s something you acquired, Master.”

 

“Yeah, I was planning to eat the sandwich instead. Besides, technically, you were the one who won that mock game earlier… Well, if Himeji doesn’t want it, I’ll take it.”

 

“……I-I’m not saying I don’t want it.”

 

Freezing for a moment, she then averted her gaze, resting both hands on her knees, and responded. Hiding her embarrassment, she accepted the chocolate cornet from me, staring at it intently with her blue eyes for a while before taking a small bite.

 

“Nom. Mmm… Munch… Munch.”

 

“…Hey, Himeji, are you okay? You don’t have to rush.”

 

“Ah! …S-Sorry. I couldn’t stop myself because it was so delicious.”

 

The moment she took her first bite, her eyes widened slightly, and she continued chewing happily until she suddenly halted, flustered. A faint blush crept across her cheeks as she looked a bit embarrassed. …For the usually cool Himeji to be so captivated so quickly, this bread must truly be something special. As expected of the most popular item.

 

“I guess I’ll eat too…”

 

Stimulated by her adorable reaction, I reached into the bag and pulled out my sandwich. The two of us sat in the quiet courtyard, enjoying our bread in peaceful silence for a while.

 

And then—after a few minutes, Himeji, having moistened her throat with a carton of milk and politely pressed her hands together to say, “Thank you for the meal,” wiped her hands with a neat handkerchief before slowly broaching the subject.

 

“About earlier— it’s finally here, isn’t it, Master.”

 

“Finally? …Oh, you mean that event.”

 

Realizing it immediately, I responded, and Himeji nodded in affirmation.

 

The “event” she mentioned was none other than the “District Selection Battle”, which Nana-chan-sensei had brought up during homeroom this morning. Today, Himeji’s transfer had been the surprise, so it was glossed over lightly, but for us, it was arguably our top concern at the moment.

 

“The annual in-school event at Eimei Academy, the “District Selection Battle”… It’s an orientation-like school event held every late April. To be more precise, it’s a preliminary selection for the large-scale ‘inter-district competition’ that will take place later,” Himeji explained in a recapping tone, turning toward me.

 

As she said, the “District Selection Battle” was essentially a preliminary screening. It was an internal competition to determine the “selected team” that would represent the academy in the inter-district event. While many schools simply chose participants based on rank—i.e., the number of stars—Eimei Academy seemed to hold this event annually as a tutorial of sorts for new students regarding “Duels”.

 

“The “District Selection Battle”, huh…”

 

Tapping my right earpiece to confirm that Kagaya-san was now on alert, I spoke softly.

 

“The general rules are a survival format, right? Everyone at Eimei starts as a participant, and if someone defeats you, you’re out on the spot. Gradually, the number of participants dwindles, and the last one standing wins… It’s basically like PUBG or Apex in gaming terms.”

 

“That’s correct. Your understanding is mostly accurate,” Himeji said calmly, raising her right index finger pointedly.

 

“Starting tomorrow, for a week—including the weekend, making it exactly seven days—the special command called “Exercise” can be used under the dual conditions of ‘within Eimei Academy’s premises’ and ‘between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.’ This is a ‘mock game’-like feature available only to participants of the “District Selection Battle”—essentially, all Eimei students who haven’t been eliminated. If you lose, you’re dropped from the “District Selection Battle”. However, since it’s just a mock game, your stars won’t be affected even if you lose.”

 

“Yeah. So, it’s basically the same as a “Duel” in concept, but the mechanics are slightly different. For instance, unlike “Duels”, anyone can challenge anyone with an “Exercise” regardless of rank… Though, for now, I don’t plan on challenging anyone myself,” I muttered with a wry smile.

 

The ability to challenge anyone, regardless of rank, was likely the biggest difference between “Duels” and “Exercises”. “Duels” could only be initiated against higher-ranked opponents, but that restriction was completely lifted for “Exercises”. Since the goal wasn’t “how many you can defeat” but “how long you can survive,” there was no advantage in targeting beginners or lower-rankers.

 

There were a few other differences as well.

 

The “District Selection Battle” introduced a concept called “engagement status.” This referred to the state of either “having challenged someone to an “Exercise”” or “having been challenged to an “Exercise”.” In this state, both players were locked out from issuing or receiving any other “Exercise” challenges. In short, it was a first-come, first-served system. In the “District Selection Battle”, once someone challenged you, the “Exercise” was automatically accepted, and you had no choice but to fight them.

 

This mechanic might seem like it could be exploited to stall indefinitely, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. If the “engagement status” lasted twenty-four hours without the “Exercise” being executed, both parties would be forcibly retired—a significant penalty. As expected of Headmaster Ichinose, who oversaw the rules, no detail was overlooked.

 

“—Yes, that’s more or less how it works,” Himeji said, nodding after I finished my recap. She then leaned in slightly closer, her clear blue eyes locking with mine.

 

“But as for the “District Selection Battle”—we absolutely cannot afford to lose, Master.”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

I agreed solemnly, my expression and tone grave.

 

We couldn’t afford to lose. Of course not. Even if the main component was a mock “Exercise” that didn’t involve star transfers, if I, the strongest on Academy Island, couldn’t win a single academy event, it would be a disaster. I’d be laughed at, looked down on, doubted—and worst-case scenario, my entire lie could be exposed.

 

But… on the flip side, winning the “District Selection Battle” would secure my position within Eimei. Becoming the top student in a meritocracy like Eimei would provide the strongest possible evidence to solidify my “lie.” It would be the foundation I needed.

 

—And so,

 

“Our top priority right now is to somehow conquer the “District Selection Battle” and leave the impression that Eimei is completely under my ‘control.’ That’ll solidify my current position…”

 

“Exactly, Master. That’s why I’m here.”

 

With a soft thud, Himeji placed a hand on her chest and offered a faint smile.

 

Yes—in fact, the other reason the headmaster had gone to such lengths to bring Himeji to Eimei was precisely this “District Selection Battle”. For most participants, aside from a few high-rankers seriously aiming to win, reaching the top in this event was nearly impossible. And those people would almost certainly target me with “Exercises”. Some might do it out of curiosity, while others might see it as a no-risk opportunity since they had no intention of advancing far. If they won, they’d instantly become famous. Given these circumstances, it was inevitable that I’d be a constant target during the “District Selection Battle”.

 

Even so, losing was absolutely out of the question. That’s why, in addition to remote support, Himeji herself was now by my side.

 

Gazing at me intently, she continued in a whisper-like voice.

 

“Due to its structure, even 5-star or 6-star high-rankers could easily lose in the “District Selection Battle”. It’s designed for continuous battles, and with a maximum of twenty-four hours from challenge to execution, there’s little time for preparation… Honestly, Master, there are far too many disadvantages stacked against you. …But even so. Even so, let’s achieve a decisive victory and make your ‘strength’ an undeniable reality.”

 

“Yeah… You’re right. There’s no other way.”

 

Nodding in agreement with Himeji’s quiet passion, I tilted my head. It was true that the upcoming “District Selection Battle” was filled with unfavorable conditions for me, but that didn’t mean I had been idle. We had prepared and strategized extensively over the past few days to ensure I could survive the seven-day ordeal unscathed.

 

“Well, as for preparation, the basic strategy is to minimize the number of “Exercise” challenges I receive—in other words, focus on ‘running away’ as much as possible. Using the “Company”’s guidance and support abilities, we’ll do everything we can to avoid “Exercises”. That’s the gist of it.”

 

“Indeed. For any “Exercises” that do get accepted, we’ll handle them the same way we do regular “Duels”, but the “District Selection Battle”’s “Exercise” challenge rules have restrictions: it can only be initiated ‘between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.’ and ‘within Eimei Academy’s premises.’ Unlike regular “Duels”, which can be challenged remotely via the internet, “Exercises” require physically pointing your device at the person you want to challenge. So, as long as you maintain a certain distance, you won’t receive challenges from them. With these limitations, it’s entirely feasible to keep dodging until the end.”

 

“Yeah, that’s why I had the “Company” prepare a lot of things. Speaking of which, I’ve been summoned by the headmaster later, so we’ll review escape routes and—”

 

“—H-Hiro-kun, Hiro-kun! Stop! Halt the conversation! Someone’s coming!”

 

At that moment, a sudden voice interrupted me through my right earpiece. The frantic yet high-spirited tone was unmistakably Kagaya-san’s. Unlike this morning, she seemed to be on the job this time.

 

“”…(nod)””

 

Exchanging a brief glance with Himeji, we seamlessly shifted topics without missing a beat. “Oh, by the way, about that class earlier…”

 

Sure enough, just a few seconds later—as Kagaya-san had warned—a girl passed by the bench where Himeji and I were sitting.

 

“Oh! There you are, there you are. You’re Hiroto-kun, right? That’s correct, isn’t it?”

 

“…Hm?”

 

Stopping right in front of me and leaning in slightly to peer at my face, the girl spoke. From her first words, it was clear she wasn’t just a passerby. I lifted my head to look at her for the first time.

 

“…Hehe.”

 

“…”

 

The impact hit me so hard I was momentarily speechless.

 

She—the girl who had suddenly addressed me—was, to put it mildly, an astonishingly beautiful girl. “Idol-like” might be the best way to describe her. Her features were refined yet carried a hint of innocence, and her chestnut twin-tails, fanning out around her shoulders, softened her aura, making her approachable and endearing. Her petite frame gave off a small-animal-like charm that stirred a protective instinct, and somehow, she exuded an overwhelming “girly” vibe.

 

Unable to respond properly, I froze, and she pouted, puffing out her cheeks.

 

“Mmm… Hey, Hiroto-kun, are you ignoring me? Isn’t it a bit mean to brush off someone as cute and earnest as Noa-chan?”

 

“…No, I wasn’t trying to ignore you.”

 

“Really? Oh, so you must have been mesmerized by Noa, then. I see, I see♡ Well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped!”

 

With a carefree “Hehe~,” she praised herself, her cheeks dimpling. …Noa was likely her name, but knowing just enough to be uncomfortable was the worst part.

 

And so,

 

“Uh… So, who are you, exactly?”

 

“Noa? I’m Noa Akizuki. Nice to meet you♪”

 

Tilting her head slightly at my question, the girl—Noa—clasped her hands behind her back and flashed a bright smile. Her voluminous twin-tails swayed with the motion.

 

“I’m just a tiny bit shorter than most people, but even so, I’m a third-year, a whole year ahead of you, Hiroto-kun. Oh, and I’m an early birthday!”

 

“A third-year? Huh, is that so? …Oh, sorry, but about this casual tone of yours—”

 

“Hm? Oh, that’s fine, don’t worry about it. On this island, rank matters way more than grade.”

 

Waving a hand dismissively as if it were no big deal, Noa continued. Fine by me, I thought, stepping back, but then she closed the physical distance between us with light, playful steps. Her loosely worn uniform revealed glimpses of her collarbone and neckline, and for a moment, I thought I saw the strap of her undergarments. Panicking, I quickly looked up.

 

Whether she noticed my reaction or not, Noa smiled faintly and went on.

 

“Anywa~y—Hehe, you really are strong, Hiroto-kun♪ I think this is the first time Noa’s seen someone stand out so much in the store’s mock game♡”

 

“Eh? Oh… I see, so that’s why you chased after me.”

 

It finally clicked. That made sense—it wasn’t particularly strange. But looking closer, I noticed Noa was carrying a paper bag behind her. Peeking out was unmistakably the wrapper of the limited-edition chocolate cornet.

 

“…Wait, didn’t you win one too?”

 

“Oh, you noticed? Hehe, oopsie-daisy… But of course I won. It’s only natural, obvious even. After all, Noa-chan is strong, smart, and cute♪”

 

Without a hint of humility, she responded to my exasperated tone, then eagerly pulled out her chocolate cornet. Licking the cream with the tip of her tongue, she let out a blissful “Mmm~♡” and made a face of pure ecstasy. Her actions might have seemed calculatedly charming to some, but somehow, with Noa, it was genuinely adorable in a way that was almost unfair.

 

“—Ahem.”

 

To keep from being swept away by her pace, I cleared my throat and redirected the conversation.

 

“So? Did you need something from me, Akizuki?”

 

“Need? Well… Hmm, I guess you could say I do, but…”

 

Tapping her chin with a finger, she glanced briefly at Himeji beside me, then nodded thoughtfully. With a mischievous grin, she continued.

 

“Hehe… Was Noa interrupting? Are you mad, Hiroto-kun?”

 

“I didn’t say that. Asking what you want isn’t me brushing you off—it’s a genuine question. I’m not particularly welcoming, but I don’t think you’re a nuisance either.”

 

“Oh, is that so? Hehe, then Noa feels the same! I’m just talking to you out of pure curiosity, Hiroto-kun♪ For example… Hey, I’ve been wondering since earlier—are you two, like, dating?”

 

“Two… You mean me and Himeji? If so, you’re way off base with that speculation.”

 

“Indeed. At least for now, we maintain a proper relationship. …For now.”

 

“Ehhh~ Really~? But you’re master and maid, right? You’re together every day, right? It’d be weirder if nothing happened♡”

 

“It’s not weird at all. You can fantasize all you want, but don’t push it on others.”

 

“Hmm, so it’s not like that… I see, I see. Well then… Here we go!”

 

(!?)

 

In an instant—after my curt response, Noa’s lips curled into a small smile, and with an exaggerated little shout, she plopped down on the same bench as us, right next to me on my right side, opposite Himeji. She sat so close that she was practically leaning against me, leaving almost no space between us.

 

Then, looking up at me with doe eyes, she whispered in a coquettish tone.

 

“…Hehe♡ Isn’t this easier to talk like this?”

 

“Wha… How do you even see it that way? It’s too hot and bothersome, so back off already.”

 

“Ehh~ Why not? It’s a privilege to be this close to someone as cute as Noa, Hiroto-kun, you know? Come on, since we’ve got this chance, you should enjoy it more without holding back…♡”

Though I glared at her lightly with an annoyed tone, Akizuki showed no sign of backing down. Instead, she wrapped both her arms around mine, as if to ensure I couldn’t shake her off. It was a pose that looked like a couple flirting in some park somewhere. Her soft, voluminous chest pressed firmly against me, her silky hair and warm breath tickled my neck, and the sweet citrus scent enveloping me from her made my head feel fuzzy…

 

(—Wait, ow!?)

 

…If Himeji hadn’t pinched me from the other side, I might have lost myself completely. That was close.

 

Clearing my throat once more, I steered the conversation back on track.

 

“Tch… Enough with the preamble. Get to the point already, Akizuki. If you don’t have a reason to be here, just leave.”

 

“Boo. You’re so impatient, Hiroto-kun… Fine, I get it. The main topic.”

 

After pouting for a moment, Akizuki nodded slightly and leaned back, her tone shifting to a marginally more serious one.

 

“What I wanted to talk about is the event. The “District Selection Battle”—you know about it, right?”

 

“Yeah, more or less. I’m not particularly interested, but with all the big announcements, it’s hard to miss.”

 

“True, that makes sense. Then, here’s another thing—there’s LNN, right? It’s the largest online news app on Academy Island, run by “Libra”. A couple of days ago, they were conducting a pre-event poll for the “District Selection Battle”. Things like rank predictions, strategies, who you’d like to challenge in an “Exercise”… and more. So, do you know about that?”

 

“Hmm… No, that’s news to me. Though it does sound like the kind of thing they’d do.”

 

Judging that it wasn’t a question that could expose any weaknesses, I answered honestly. …I’d met Kazami from “Libra” a few times before. He was the type who loved excitement and thrived on hyping up events. Naturally, he’d be paying close attention to the “District Selection Battle”.

 

Well, since this was strictly an in-school event at Eimei, I didn’t think “Libra” would have much direct involvement this time…

 

“…Hmm? So Hiroto-kun isn’t that interested, huh. I see, I see.”

 

At my disinterested response, Akizuki, sitting next to me, reacted strangely. The soft, playful vibe she’d had until now vanished in an instant, and her voice turned flat and cold.

 

(What…)

 

Frowning inwardly at this sudden shift, I was caught off guard—but by then, Akizuki’s expression had already returned to its usual coy, flirtatious demeanor. No matter how closely I watched, the earlier unease was gone. It almost made me wonder if I’d imagined it.

 

Unfazed, Akizuki continued in her usual tone.

 

“Hehe… So, I got a notification from LNN earlier and checked it out. The results of that rank prediction poll are out. Of course, strong and cute Noa-chan made it to the top too, but unsurprisingly, Hiroto-kun, you were overwhelmingly popular. Hehe, amazing, right♪”

 

“Huh, is that so? …Well, people can expect whatever they want. It’s their business.”

 

Shrugging lightly, I muttered in a casual tone.

 

Akizuki kept chatting about “Libra” articles and event gossip for a while after that, but eventually, she seemed to realize lunch break was nearing its end. Clapping her hands together at a natural breaking point, she wrapped up.

 

“—Well, that’s about it. Hehe… Bye-bye, Hiroto-kun. Thanks for chatting with Noa so much♡”

 

Standing up and waving her hand near her face, she turned on her heel to leave. I thought she’d walk away, but after a few steps, she stopped, glanced back over her shoulder, and called out with a playful smile, “Let’s both do our best, okay♪.”

 

“”…””

 

Himeji and I watched her back in silence, unable to say a word for a moment. A few seconds later, it was Himeji, not me, who broke the silence with a soft sigh.

 

“She’s someone to watch out for.”

 

“…Watch out for?”

 

“Yes. She is Noa Akizuki-sama—a 6-star ranker from Eimei Academy High School Class 3-A, nicknamed the ‘Little Devil.’ There are about three 6-star students at this academy, but she stands out even among them for her exceptional “Duel” performance. She might pose a significant threat in this event as well.”

 

“6-star…!? Seriously, is she that big of a deal?”

 

“Yes. And… how should I put it? I felt an incredibly unsettling presence. It’s not just that she’s a ‘formidable opponent’—there’s something bottomless, some kind of ‘something’ about her… I hope it’s just my imagination, but…”

 

With that, Himeji fell silent, bringing her right hand to her mouth.

 

“…”

 

Chewing over her words, I fell into quiet thought as well. …I couldn’t quite pinpoint what she meant by “unsettling presence,” but there had indeed been a strange unease. Looking back, this encounter had just been casual chatter. I couldn’t discern any clear intent.

 

Still… that didn’t mean we had to jump to conclusions right away. Just then, the warning bell for fifth period rang, so prioritizing a return to the classroom over dwelling on Akizuki made more sense.

 

As I moved to stand up from the bench, a sudden question stopped me in my tracks—

 

“By the way… Master, do you prefer women like her?”

 

“Wha—”

 

Caught off guard by Himeji’s deadpan interrogation at close range, I was momentarily speechless.

 

It took about five minutes of explanation to clear that up, but I’ll spare the details.

 

♯

 

After Fifth and Sixth Periods, Once Homeroom Was Over and School Was Officially Out—

 

“Kukuku… Well, hello there. Keeping well, are we?”

 

Having entrusted Himeji to Kaede Tatara, who insisted on giving her a tour of the school, I made my way alone (or rather, with Kagaya-san on standby via earpiece) to the heart of the academy.

 

The headmaster’s office at Private Eimei Academy.

 

In the center of the room, which exuded both luxury and refinement, a woman in a tight skirt—Natsume Ichinose—sat on a sofa with her legs boldly crossed. With a chuckle, she continued.

 

“You were late, so I got bored and played a little prank. How was it?”

 

“…It was you, wasn’t it?”

 

I sighed in response. …Yes. In fact, starting around the middle of fifth period, my device had been flooded with over twenty anonymous notifications—emails, text messages, in-island SNS DMs, and even voice calls—all leading to the same conclusion: “So come to the headmaster’s office, okay☆.” It was mildly horrifying.

 

“Well, I’ll give it to you—it was impressively done. The writing style and voice changes were on another level. How many personas do you even have?”

 

“Kukuku, right? I’m glad you enjoyed it. You can pay the fee later via transfer.”

 

“Pay? No way.”

 

If anything, I felt like demanding compensation for the spam harassment—maybe dinner. …But anyway.

 

Shaking my head slightly, I refocused and met the headmaster’s gaze.

 

“So… this is about the “District Selection Battle”, right?”

 

“Yes. Not the event itself, but something closely related.”

 

Nodding leisurely at my question, the headmaster continued.

 

“The “District Selection Battle”—Eimei’s traditional in-school event, held under the guise of selecting a team for the inter-district competition. You should already know you have to win this. That’s why we went to the trouble of pulling Shirayuki from District Three. …Honestly, it was a hassle. Do you have any idea how complicated it is to transfer a student on this island? I tried to minimize the damage, but I still ended up owing Sakura Academy’s headmaster a favor or two.”

 

Sighing wearily, she shrugged. …Well, that made sense. On an island where academies were essentially rivals, transferring a student to another district was an extraordinary occurrence. On top of that, Shirayuki Himeji was a 4-star powerhouse. The price must have been steep.

 

“Of course, I’m grateful for that. I can’t afford to lose either.”

 

“Kukuku… If you understand that, it’s fine. Especially if you grasp the part about ‘I went through a lot of trouble to help you.’ That’s more than enough.”

 

“…Are you planning to make me do something?”

 

“Sharp, aren’t you? I like that about you, Shinohara.”

 

Adjusting her crossed legs, Ichinose pushed up her glasses with one hand, her lips curling into a smirk. Then, shifting to a serious tone, she began.

 

“Actually—there are currently two strange phenomena occurring within Eimei Academy.”

 

“Strange phenomena?”

 

“Yes. Let me explain in order. First—while we don’t know many details yet, it seems someone from outside is sticking their nose into this event. Because of that, alerts have been going off nonstop since yesterday. I’ve been investigating, but the culprit is quite cunning. No matter how much we dig, we can’t catch their tail.”

 

Though her voice was calm, I detected a hint of frustration in her expression. She’d probably been dealing with this all day. Those prank DMs and emails earlier might have been her way of blowing off steam.

 

…Not that I wanted her taking it out on me.

 

“Ahem. …So, what’s the intent behind this ‘external interference’? It’s an in-school event with no star transfers, so people from other districts shouldn’t be too involved, right?”

 

“Basically, you’re correct. But—and this is why, Shinohara—you’re the most likely target. Some unknown person might be infiltrating this event specifically to target you. Logically, it could be someone from District Three or Eight holding a grudge against you, but… well, it’s hard to say. If the goal is to take down a 7-star, there isn’t a single person on this island without motive to target you.”

 

“…”

 

Swallowing hard at the headmaster’s blunt statement, I fell silent. …But that was something I’d known from the start. The fastest 7-star in history. The transfer student who toppled the “Empress” Sarasa Saionji. With this much attention, it wouldn’t be surprising if anyone on Academy Island targeted me. It was almost old news at this point.

 

“Haa…”

 

Taking a deep breath to refocus, I turned back to the headmaster.

 

“I see, that makes sense. …So, what’s the second thing?”

 

“Right, yes. The second is about colored stars.”

 

“Huh?”

 

The sudden term made me blink in surprise.

 

On Academy Island, “stars” typically had no color, but among them, only a dozen or so possessed various hues like red or indigo. These were known as special stars—or colored stars. Far harder to obtain than regular stars, they each granted unique abilities.

 

But that wasn’t the only reason colored stars were special. Normally, I, who had tricked the star-gathering system into becoming a fake 7-star, couldn’t acquire any stars. However, due to an exception in the system, I could still obtain colored stars normally. Of course, this didn’t change my visible rank, but it could increase my actual rank—which was still only 2-star at the moment—bringing me one step closer to becoming a true 7-star.

 

That’s why I was particularly sensitive to information about colored stars.

 

“Kukuku…”

 

The headmaster, clearly aware I’d bite, smirked and continued leisurely.

 

“Since it’s a good opportunity, let me start from the basics. Colored stars are issued one per academy on Academy Island, and it’s up to each headmaster to decide who receives them. Typically, they go to outstanding students—like the student council president, event winners, or top performers in exams. Of course, they can be won or lost in subsequent “Duels”, so they often end up with completely unrelated people after a while… but the original ownership always remains with each academy.”

 

“…? Uh-huh.”

 

“And when a student holding a colored star graduates from a high school on Academy Island, that star returns to the issuing academy. No matter how many times it changes hands, it ultimately comes back to its origin. That’s a key characteristic of colored stars. …Even you must have figured it out by now, but to put it simply, Eimei has one too. The Emerald Star. It belonged to last year’s graduate, so it’s currently stored in Eimei’s server….Or rather, it was stored.”

 

“…Huh? You mean…”

 

Sensing something ominous from her use of past tense, I cautiously met her gaze.

 

“Yes. —It was stolen.”

 

She confirmed it bluntly.

 

“Normally, we’d award the colored star to the winner of the “District Selection Battle” at Eimei, but someone snatched it before the event even started.”

 

“Wha—what…”

 

“…Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

 

“I wasn’t saying you did… but is something that important really so easy to steal?”

 

“Hardly. Data as critical as a colored star is managed on a standalone server not connected to the internet, with no entry points… or at least, that’s what I’d usually say. But apparently, because it was being prepared as a reward for the event, its storage location was changed. And that’s where they pinpointed and hacked it.”

 

“What!? That’s a huge problem!”

 

“That’s what I’ve been saying from the start.”

 

Sighing, the headmaster continued calmly, holding up two fingers.

 

“These are the two strange phenomena. We don’t know if they’re related yet, but since they occurred around the same time, there’s a good chance it’s the same perpetrator.”

 

“I see, both are definitely concerning. …But why tell me?”

 

“…Are you dense? Isn’t it obvious? I’m asking you to help find the culprit.”

 

“Wha… No, but—”

 

I stumbled over my words. …The unsettling shadow lurking in the school event was certainly worrisome, but I had the critical mission of surviving the “District Selection Battle”. I had no spare mental capacity for anything else…

 

“No?”

 

But the headmaster, crossing her legs arrogantly, dismissed my concerns.

 

“Think about it, Shinohara. If someone’s using the “District Selection Battle” to pull something on you, they’ll make their move as long as you stay in the event. You won’t even need to search for them—they’ll come to you. …Besides, didn’t I mention earlier? The mastermind behind this has the colored star. Specifically, the Emerald Star you were supposed to win in the “District Selection Battle”. Kukuku… You understand what that means, don’t you?”

 

“…”

 

Silenced by her provocative words, I fell quiet. …Yes, if she’d gone this far, of course I understood. In short, she was saying, “If you want the colored star, go get it yourself.” After all, the colored star that should have been Eimei’s reward for the “District Selection Battle” no longer existed here. If I wanted to claim a star in this event, I had no choice but to take on her request.

 

Moreover… as the headmaster said, even if I refused to help, the “mastermind” would still target me. In that case, it was far better to aim for two birds with one stone from the start.

 

“—Looks like you’ve made up your mind?”

 

“Well… yeah. …Fine, I’ll do it.”

 

“Good. —Then, Shinohara, your mission has three parts: uncover who’s interfering in the “District Selection Battle”, retrieve the stolen colored star, and, on top of that, secure victory to solidify your position as the strongest on Academy Island. Kukuku… Of course, I’ll support you as much as I can.”

 

The headmaster declared this in a solemn tone.

 

With that, the discussion was settled—the prerequisite was to win the “District Selection Battle”, but now I also had to deal with the “external interferer” and the “colored star thief.” Whether they were the same person or not, one thing was clear: they were a formidable opponent.

 

“Speaking of which…”

 

A sudden thought crossed my mind, and I spoke up.

 

“Aside from the external interference, the colored star thief is probably a student, right? They must have used some kind of cheating, but if they’re capable of something that impressive, I almost wish they’d join our side…”

 

“…Don’t even think about it. They’re the type who’ll stop at nothing. You’d just end up with a knife in your back later.”

 

“Uh… No, that was a joke. I wasn’t serious.”

 

Chuckling wryly, I shook my head and stood up slowly.

 

It wasn’t as if I didn’t think taking on extra tasks for an already challenging event was foolish, but I couldn’t afford to let this golden opportunity slip away. This was the moment to muster all my resolve to aim for a true 7-star.

 

Win the “District Selection Battle” decisively and cement my position as the strongest on Academy Island.

 

Complete the headmaster’s mission flawlessly and claim the third colored star, following Red and Indigo.

 

(I’m not backing down from either… Yeah, if I can’t handle this much, what kind of ‘strongest’ am I?)

 

Motivating myself, I gave a small, confident smirk.

 

The “District Selection Battle” would run for exactly one week, starting tomorrow.

 

 

 

Himeji-san, please explain the rules of the District Selection Battle

 

The District Selection Battle is an annual in-school event held at Eimei Academy during this time of year. It serves as a means to form a selection team for upcoming external battles and as a tutorial for new students regarding Duels. In simple terms, it is a survival-style competition where the last player standing emerges victorious. Whatever the circumstances, we absolutely cannot afford to lose.

 

Rule 1: The event lasts one week

The District Selection Battle will take place over one week, starting tomorrow, Thursday. If multiple participants remain by the final day, a “round-robin match” will determine the winner.

 

Rule 2: Battles during the event are conducted via Exercises, not Duels

As this is an event, rather than engaging in actual Duels, participants use Exercises, a simulated game format, to compete. Anyone can request an Exercise, and such requests cannot be declined—they are automatically accepted.

 

Rule 3: Exercises can only be requested within school grounds and between 8:00 and 17:00

Requests for Exercises are restricted to within the academy’s premises and must be made between 8:00 and 17:00. However, there are no rule violations if an already-approved Exercise takes place outside the school grounds or beyond these hours.

 

Rule 4: Penalties are imposed if an Exercise is not conducted

While in an “engaged state” after an Exercise request has been approved, players cannot receive new requests from other players. If an Exercise does not occur within 24 hours of entering this “engaged state,” a severe penalty is applied: both players are deemed to have lost.