Epilogue: Closing and Opening
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《Breaking News! District Selection Battle Concludes!》
《This afternoon, the District Selection Battle held at Eimei Academy in District Four ended with great fanfare. Defying expectations, the top spot wasn’t claimed by the “strongest on Academy Island,” Shinohara Hiroto, but by Akizuki Noa—the six-star known as the “little devil.”》
《However, this doesn’t signify Shinohara Hiroto’s downfall. Far from it—he uncovered interference from another district during the event, crushed it decisively, and then handed the top rank to Akizuki Noa. Truly a battle among the elite. This article will focus on these two while recapping the District Selection Battle as a whole.》
《Other highlights include the intense three-day battle between the two other six-stars aside from Akizuki Noa, as well as the notable performance of Himeji Shirayuki, the new transfer student and trending maid at Eimei, who finished just shy of the top ranks—》
“…Phew. Well then, excuse us.”
I closed the ornate double doors with a soft click.
After the seven-day District Selection Battle ended with my grandiose “withdrawal declaration,” the top-rank awards and closing ceremony were held extravagantly. Shortly after, Himeji and I were summoned via DM to the principal’s office.
Having handed the top spot to Akizuki without consulting her after all that cooperation, I braced for some complaints or sarcasm—but…
“She was in quite a good mood, wasn’t she, that vixen?”
Himeji, walking beside me, murmured this.
Yes. Contrary to my concerns, the principal was in an excellent mood today. She mentioned something about a hangover earlier, but she was opening a vintage bottle of wine in her office even now.
Well, that’s no surprise. In truth, my withdrawal from the District Selection Battle at that moment didn’t harm me or the principal in the slightest. In that context, no one would think “I lost,” but if I’d beaten Akizuki there, it would’ve sparked some criticism. Handing her the top rank was a win-win for both of us.
Pondering this, I nodded slightly at Himeji’s comment.
“Yeah, you’re right. She’s always got that sly grin, but today her energy seemed higher than usual.”
“Yes. Her speech earlier let some of her true feelings slip, but she was likely thrilled to have outmaneuvered Kurahashi Mimune, the principal of District Twelve. Apparently, he was the type with ‘plenty of dark rumors but no evidence ever found.’”
“She also said something about ‘making the board members owe her big’… Well, she can do whatever she wants with that.”
I muttered with a mix of wry amusement and exasperation. …My relationship with Principal Ichinose, in a word, is “mutual exploitation.” With the Company’s support in resources, funds, and information, a rise in District Four’s status isn’t a bad deal for me.
By the way, regarding the emerald colored star Akizuki had stolen, it was duly handed over to me as a reward for completing the request. Of course, that’s a private arrangement between me and the principal. Officially, it’s handled differently—namely, the fact that “Akizuki stole the star” is thoroughly hushed up for Eimei’s reputation. Instead, they use the plausible excuse that “while it’s fine to make Akizuki Noa the ace, letting her off without any penalty for cheating could lead to similar issues in next year’s event.” Thus, the star is entrusted to me, the next highest-ranked student, as a formality.
Well, considering the effort this time, I’d say it’s only fair I get at least that much…
“Hehe… You really worked hard, Master.”
At that moment, perhaps reading my thoughts from my expression, Himeji smiled softly beside me. Turning her uniform-clad body slightly toward me, she continued in a whisper:
“That makes three stars, doesn’t it?”
“…Yeah, it does.”
I nodded quietly at her words. …Three stars. Finally three stars. I’m still far from a true “Seven Star,” but it’s a slight improvement. If I keep climbing at this pace, maybe one day I’ll find him. Maybe I’ll fulfill my purpose for coming to this island.
Lost in those vague thoughts—for a fleeting moment—
“Wah! …Ehe~ What a coincidence meeting you here, Hiroto-kun♪”
Running up from far behind, overtaking me at full speed, and spinning around with arms spread as if to block my path was none other than Eimei’s little devil, Akizuki Noa. Her panting breaths completely undermined the “coincidence” vibe, but she still managed a bright smile.
“Noa and you must really be a perfect match—n, ha… cough, cough… S-Sorry, hold on, I can’t!”
“…Whatever, just catch your breath already.”
“Ugh… Thanks, Hiroto-kun…”
Clinging to my arms and looking down, Akizuki took a moment to steady her breathing with heaving shoulders. Then, she suddenly looked up and continued.
“Okay, Noa-chan’s back! Ehe, sorry for getting so close all of a sudden?”
“It’s fine, but… what’s this about? You’re not gonna say it’s actually a coincidence, right?”
“Oh, uh, um… Well, see? Noa has something I want to ask you, Hiroto-kun.”
Saying that, Akizuki’s expression turned slightly serious. Looking up at me from close range, she gazed into my eyes and spoke in a earnest tone.
“Hey, Hiroto-kun. …Why did you help Noa?”
“…Why? I already told you after Board Game Treasure Hunt, didn’t I? It wasn’t about helping you. I just wanted to crush the mastermind behind—”
“No, not that. I mean today—why you gave Noa the top rank. Why you went out of your way to gather Libra’s data and chased away Noa’s inferiority complex. …Ehe, could it be, Hiroto-kun, you actually like Noa? If so… maybe I could do something to thank you?”
Saying this in a sweet voice—half-joking, half-serious—she leaned so close her face nearly brushed mine. A faint citrus scent tickled my nose. With our bodies almost entwined, her chest and legs pressed against me, and the sheer allure nearly made me dizzy… At the same time, I noticed Himeji beside me pursing her lips in displeasure.
“Tch…!”
Focusing my mind to shake off temptation, I considered her question.
Why I helped Akizuki—not just defeating Kurahashi, but giving her Eimei’s top rank. Partly, it was guilt, and I won’t say the explanation I gave on stage was entirely a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either.
First, empathy. Akizuki, unable to rely on anyone after resorting to cheating, mirrored my own situation in many ways. And even if you’re weighed down by guilt and can’t ask for help, clinging to a “liar” far from justice is fair game.
And… there was another, more important reason.
“—Because you’re valuable, that’s why.”
“Huh… V-Valuable?”
Blinking up at me from close range, Akizuki seemed puzzled by my words. Since it didn’t quite get through, I added a bit more.
“Yeah, valuable. In this event, even with cheating, you were ridiculously strong. The number of times you made me think I might lose wasn’t just once or twice… Letting someone like that slip away would be a waste, don’t you think? So I figured I’d make you owe me now. Nothing more, nothing less.”
I said this in a half-dismissive tone.
What I said was, of course, a surface-level excuse I could share with Akizuki, but it was more than half true. She single-handedly stole Eimei’s emerald star, and though she used illegal abilities, she nearly dominated the District Selection Battle flawlessly. She was an extraordinary foe, but if she became an ally, she’d be incredibly reliable. For conquering inter-district battles ahead, she’d undoubtedly be a key asset.
“…………”
Hearing my answer, Akizuki fell silent for a moment. Then, swallowing hesitantly, she asked in a cautious tone:
“Hey, Hiroto-kun. …That means, that means you saw value in Noa, right? That Noa became your ‘special,’ right?”
“Huh? Well… Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
Feeling a slight catch at her phrasing, I nodded in agreement. I half-expected Akizuki to flash a coy “I knew it♡” smile, as usual—but…
“…………Hehe.”
—Contrary to my expectations, her reaction was subdued. Instead of her usual exaggerated flair, she blushed slightly, letting out a shy, natural smile—one that seemed to slip out unintentionally. It was the first time I’d seen that expression from her, so adorable it nearly captivated me, and I subtly averted my gaze to hide it.
““…………””
For a while, neither Akizuki nor I could say anything.
Then, recovering first, Akizuki pressed a piece of memo paper into my hand. On it, written in cute handwriting, was a ten-digit alphanumeric code.
Frowning slightly, I looked at her as she whispered:
“Um… That’s Noa’s terminal ID. Not the public one I share with everyone, but a private account I made only for really important people. I’ve never shown it to anyone before… but, ehe, I’m giving it to you, Hiroto-kun, as a special exception♪”
“Huh? Oh, uh… Thanks.”
“Yup! From now on, Noa will say good morning, good night, have a good day, and welcome back all cutely—u-unless it’s a bother, then I’ll stop right away… So, um, please take care of me from now on!”
With a shy smile after saying this, Akizuki spun around. Without looking back, she hurried off into the distance. …Maybe embarrassment got the better of her, as her usual coyness was absent, making my heart race even more. Damn, she’s just too cute in her natural state—
“—I see. So this is the famous ‘starting as friends’ thing… I see.”
Beside me, Himeji nodded expressionlessly, but I decided not to ask, as it felt too scary.
♭♭
“…That’s rare, isn’t it, Mikado? You screwing up this badly.”
“…………”
“Oops… You might want to wash your face. You look awful—not at all like a gentle scholar. Like you’ve already killed three people.”
“…Can’t help it. This is legitimately the first time even part of my plan failed. I’d be crazy to be in a good mood.”
“Hmm, really? But that’s your fault, right? You lost because you were weak. Let’s see… What was it? You failed to steal stars from Shinohara Hiroto, lost Akizuki Noa, got ousted as Seijo’s principal, and barely escaped with your life?”
“Tch… Yeah, my bad.”
“Don’t sulk. Well, it’s not a big deal, right? That was just your ‘public face’—you won’t miss it much. …Anyway, your current situation doesn’t matter. What matters is that Shinohara Hiroto got his third colored star in this event. He should slow down soon, but if he reaches eight stars, that’s a huge problem. You get that, right?”
“I get it, I get it. …Next time, I’ll crush him for sure.”
“Good. …Oh, but next time, don’t go alone—take her with you. Even I wouldn’t laugh if you fail again.”
“…Got it.”
“And… since you brought back some interesting info, maybe we can try a more indirect approach next time. For example—”
♯♯♯
The call from Sarasa came that night.
“…Hm?”
The vibration of my terminal made me look up. …We exchange DMs or messages with complaints fairly often, but this time it was a rare call notification. It was nearly bedtime, so I sat on my bed and touched the screen lightly.
“Hello?”
<“Oh, Shinohara!? Thank goodness, I was worried you wouldn’t pick up!”>
“What’s with the panic? …Oh, right. Thanks to you, the District Selection Battle ended safely. I got the colored star as a reward for completing the request.”
<“Tch… R-Really? Hmm, that’s good then. You didn’t contact me for a while, so I was a bit worried about how it went.”>
“Huh…? No, I did contact you. This evening, by message.”
<“Huh? …Oh, you’re right. Sorry, I totally missed it.”>
“No big deal, but… that’s a rare slip-up for you.”
<“Maybe. I’ve just been a bit distracted… Oh, right! That’s why I called you! It’s serious, really serious!”>
“Serious…? What is?”
Her urgency made me ask back skeptically. Sarasa’s usually the calm type, so seeing her this rattled was unusual.
I braced myself, wondering what happened—but her next shocking statement shattered my defenses effortlessly.
<“Sarasa…! Not me, not the real Sarasa, but a third Saionji Sarasa has appeared!!”>
“…What?”
In a word—
Our “lie” has a few too many obstacles.
