The School Trip Battle Begins!
♯
“──LNN Second Semester Opening Special Edition”
“This article reviews the intense battles of the first half of this year,
focusing on the inter-district events, while also delving into the strength
of prominent players who have been driving the excitement of the Star-Seizing 《Duel Game》.”
“From players who have continued to reign as district representatives since last year,
dark horses who have begun to unleash their hidden powers, to superstars who have already
made their mark just six months after enrollment… every district is home to ace-level players.
However, at least for this year, one name must be mentioned above all others.”
“He appeared out of nowhere at Academy Island and, on the very same day, defeated the 《Empress》─”
“A new 7-Star who made such a dazzling debut that he was initially met with skepticism.
Yet, in the May Inter-District Battle 《Astral》 and the summer large-scale event 《SFIA Sphere》,
he achieved blazing success, leading his school, District 4’s Eimei Academy, to victory.
His power is now beyond question.”
“The insolent hero who cut through the corrupt 《Hexagram of Justice》 with a single stroke─
Let us introduce Shinohara Hiroto!”
“Hoh… quite an impressive photo, Shinohara.”
──The first day of the second semester. At Eimei Academy High School’s Special Building, in the Student Council Room.
Having finished the opening ceremony held that morning, the selected members of Eimei Academy,
reunited for the first time in a while, were gathered around a rectangular table, looking at a certain online article.
The article in question was a sort of “recap” written by the Academy Island-recognized organization 《Libra》.
Published to coincide with the start of the semester, it introduced players from various districts,
but among them, the strongest 7-Star, me—Shinohara Hiroto—was given overwhelmingly preferential treatment.
Sitting diagonally across from me, the Student Council President, Enomoto Shinji, crossed his arms with a sour expression.
“Well, as a 7-Star, you’re expected to stand out this much, or it’d be a problem…
But compared to that, Nanase, a former model and 6-Star, only got four shots.
That’s a world of difference from Shinohara’s twenty-plus shots. This is a serious matter.”
“Uh-huh… wait, HUH!?”
The one who instantly snapped at his complaint was the gal JK sitting right next to him, Asamiya Nanase.
“Of course I’d lose compared to Shino! And what about you, Shinji? How many shots did you get!?”
“I got seven.”
“No way!? …Wait, those are just from the group interviews with Eimei, aren’t they!?
That’s just a Student Council President bonus! Without those cheap tricks, I’d be way more prominent!”
“No matter how much a sore loser barks, it doesn’t faze me.”
Enomoto smirked faintly, clearly reveling in his victory, while Asamiya, seemingly out of retorts, bit her lower lip with a “grrr.”
It was their usual banter, but this time, Enomoto came out on top.
“…Ehehe, but, like, ♡”
(!?)
And then─from my left, a soft whisper came from the slyly adorable little devil senpai, Akizuki Noa.
She gently tugged my arm, bringing her small face closer.
“Mya-chan’s fourth shot is one where Noa and the others are in it too…
but since Hiroto-kun is the main focus, you’d have to look closely to even notice Mya-chan.
The fact that he could answer that instantly… kyaa! ♡”
Saying that much, Akizuki flashed a mischievous grin. …Our Student Council President, nicknamed “Thousand-Mile Eyes,”
could probably pull that off no matter who it was, but there’s no doubt it’s at least partly because it’s Asamiya.
That much is certain.
As I was pondering this, my right arm was gently pulled.
“─Akizuki-sama. Whispering in Master’s ear is one thing, but taking advantage of the moment
to press your body against him is unacceptable. I have a duty to protect Master.”
A cool voice, flowing silver hair, and white gloves encasing both hands.
The one who slightly lifted her hips to pull me away from Akizuki was none other than my exclusive maid,
the 7-Star Himeji Shirayuki.
“I understand if it’s about reuniting after a long time… but you and Akizuki-sama
met several times during the summer break, didn’t you? Is there really a need to react so excessively?”
“Ehh~? No way, that’s not true. When school’s in session, we get to see each other every day,
but during the break, we only met a few times. I need to recharge… ehehe! ♡”
“Recharge, you say…”
“…F-Foul! Impure interactions between the sexes, senpai!?”
The one who shot up energetically at that was the first-year sitting next to Asamiya, Minakami Mari.
The serious, justice-driven girl was flustered, slamming both hands on the table.
“Th-Th-Th-That kind of thing is no good! B-Because it’s impure!!”
“Ehh~? But Noa’s totally devoted to Hiroto-kun! Pure, innocent, and loyal!”
“Even so, uh… it’s still improper! At least wait until after graduation!”
Minakami shouted loudly, squeezing her eyes shut. Her reaction must’ve hit Asamiya’s sweet spot,
because she started patting her head, saying, “Marie’s just too cute…”
When they first met, Minakami was openly an “enemy,” but now, it’s safe to say she’s fully integrated into the Eimei camp.
“Hm…”
Watching their exchange with a faint smile in my heart─I decided to take another look at 《Libra》’s article.
The article analyzed the events since the first semester, focusing on two major events: 《Astral》 and 《SFIA Sphere》.
The latter half, naturally, covered the conclusion of the summer inter-district battle 《SFIA》.
“The Summer Exchange Tournament [SFIA]… a lot happened, but in the end, it was officially recognized that [Hexagram] cheated, right?”
—Exactly.
The midsummer festival [SFIA], held since late July, had its fairness shaken by the “justice” organization [Hexagram], led by the ace of Second District Comet Academy, Saeki Kaoru.
Although we managed to expose and expel their wrongdoing, if you ask whether the players who lost in the fourth stage semifinals or the final battle were completely unaffected by [Hexagram]’s cheating,
the answer would undoubtedly be no.
Hence, there was a debate about whether it was fair to collect stars from those players.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
To my near-muttering remark, Enomoto nodded and affirmed.
“It’s a natural measure, I suppose. Demoting high-rankers carelessly would make re-promotion difficult due to the cap on numbers, and for those who held colored Unique Stars, there’s really no recourse.
Thus, the only ones who lost stars in that event were [Hexagram] members… and the shortfall in reward stars was covered by the organizers, or so it seems.”
“Yup. So, in the end, only two colored stars changed hands in [SFIA]… the regular reward ‘Orange Star’ and the ‘Rust-Colored Star’ that [Hexagram]’s leader let go of, right?”
“Exactly♪ And both of those went to Eimei Academy—to Hiroto-kun and Mari-chan! Ehehe, [SFIA] was a huge victory for Noa!”
Swinging her chestnut-colored twin-tails and striking a double peace sign near her face, Akizuki beamed.
As she said, the two colored star rewards from [SFIA] both ended up with the Eimei faction.
The winners of that [Duel Game] were me, Minakami, Saionji, and Kirigaya—the four of us…
Thinking calmly, the balance is off, but it turned out that way because the colored star Saeki Kaoru relinquished was quite peculiar.
The Rust-Colored Star, enabling the heinous act of “hunting down”—a star so malicious that merely possessing it could earn negative judgment.
In fact, I heard the debate was mostly about the Orange Star, while the Rust-Colored Star was practically being pushed onto others.
The one who put an end to that was none other than Minakami.
She herself chose to take the Rust-Colored Star.
“…By the way, Minakami. Why did you accept the ‘Rust-Colored’ one?”
“Huh? Why, you ask…”
Tilting her head in confusion at my question, Minakami’s glossy black hair swayed gently.
“It’s obvious, Senpai. If someone else might misuse it, it’s far better for me to hold onto it. Besides, it’s a legacy of none other than [Hexagram]… Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility and carry this star to my grave!”
“Whoa! As expected of Mari, so cool!”
Praised by Asamiya, Minakami shyly murmured, “It’s not that big a deal…”
It was a resolute answer, fitting her overly earnest personality.
Perhaps because of such an upright attitude, her fame and attention have been skyrocketing lately.
“In fact, the one who rose the most in [SFIA] is Minakami… Even though one star was taken from her as a [Hexagram] associate, getting the Rust-Colored Star and receiving Eimei’s victory rewards prioritized pushed her rank up to 5 Stars in one go.”
“Yes. A 5-Star Single Color with a colored star—on par with the former Kugasaki Seiran-sama as a district representative. Finding a first-year player with that level of skill across Academy Island would be tough. She’s undeniably top-class.”
“Sh-Shirayuki-senpai, even you… You’re making me blush!”
“Ehehe, girls are cuter when they’re embarrassed, so it’s fine♡ …But, but, I’m not the only one who got stronger in [SFIA], right? I heard Shinra won, so…”
“Indeed. Both Fuwa Mitsuru-sama and Sumire-sama, holders of the Pink Unique Star, have been promoted to 5 Stars together. And with multiple 6-Star players from [Hexagram], starting with Saeki Kaoru, being demoted, several players who were previously 5 Stars have been promoted in their place. The aforementioned Kugasaki Seiran-sama, Minami Shizuku-sama, Kururugi Senri-sama…”
“Kugasaki finally hit 6 Stars, huh… Well, that’s a fitting lineup.”
“And then there’s Yuikawa Kanade-sama.”
“…That guy’s seriously impressive.”
In the Summer Exchange Tournament [SFIA], he quietly survived until the final battle at [Legacy Tower]—even featured in [Libra]’s article as the “Zombie of Thorns”—the name of the ace from Fifteenth District Academy.
Hearing it, I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile at his tenacity.
But… well, in any case, [SFIA] brought some updates to the power dynamics among the districts.
The final article projected on the glass table also listed the district rankings as the “midterm rankings” for this academic year.
[Academy Island 23rd Term School Rankings (Start of Second Semester)]
[1st: Fourth District Eimei / 2nd: Third District Ouka / 3rd: Seventh District Shinra / 4th: Eighth District Otowa / 5th: Seventeenth District Amanezaka / 6th: Sixteenth District Tsuyuri / 7th: Fourteenth District St. Rosalia…]
“…Well, that’s the expected outcome.”
Seeing it, Himeji let out a faintly smug smile while swaying her silver hair.
“With a 7-Star Master, there’s no way Eimei Academy wouldn’t be first. In the end, both [Astral] and [SFIA] were our stage.”
“Hmph… Calling it our stage feels like there were too many close calls, but it’s certainly a fair ranking. Except for Comet Academy falling out of the rankings due to [Hexagram]‘s cheating penalty, the top five are unchanged from last year. If anything, the surprising part is the sixth and seventh places. Tsuyuri was ninth last year, and St. Rosalia climbed from double-digit rankings… Honestly, I don’t know who woke up the ’sleeping lion.’”
Shaking his head with a sigh, Enomoto said.
…Fourteenth District St. Rosalia and Sixteenth District Tsuyuri. Both are districts being pulled up by their absolute aces.
And indeed, the “sleeping lion”—Minami Shizuku—was somewhat awakened by me and Saionji, I suppose.
(No, if we’re talking about that, Yuzu-nee was the original instigator… but that’s neither here nor there.)
Regardless of the circumstances, there’s no doubt that the languid girl who was an unknown 3-Star during [Astral] now stands before us as a 6-Star ace.
“—With that understood,”
Enomoto interrupted the flow with a deliberate tone.
Crossing his arms at his chest, he scanned our faces with his usual sour expression and continued matter-of-factly.
“I didn’t gather you here just to get excited over [Libra]’s article. Everything up to now was just light information sorting before the main topic. As mentioned in the earlier assembly by the chancellor… a major event is scheduled for the latter half of this month.”
“Yes. The large-scale event at the start of the second semester… the Grade-Based Tournament, right?”
“Exactly. A true all-out war event by grade. The first-year edition is … or so they’re sometimes called.”
Affirming Himeji’s words, Enomoto, still crossing his arms, slowly added details.
Yes—the Second Semester Grade-Based Tournament.
About a month after the Summer Exchange Tournament [SFIA], this is the next event awaiting us.
A large-scale [Duel Game] where players from different districts clash by grade—first-years against first-years, second-years against second-years, and so on.
“These tournaments are held in three blocks—top, middle, and bottom—based on the midterm rankings, staggered over time. And Eimei, naturally, is in the top block… a block full of formidable opponents, as you can see. So, as your seniors, we thought we could offer some advice.”
“Yup, yup! After all, Noa has experienced both [Rookie Battle Breliude] and [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo]♪ I’ll give Hiroto-kun and the others precise advice and guide you hand-in-hand♡”
“Haha… We didn’t exactly achieve great results last year, though. Part of it was because [Hexagram] crushed our ace, but mostly because Shinji and I were fighting…”
“No, Nanase-senpai. Even so, your advice is incredibly valuable to us juniors. So, um… if you don’t mind, please share it with us, Senpai.”
“! Oh no… Mari’s too good, I’m gonna lose it…”
“If you lose it any more, even I won’t be able to handle you, Nanase. …Now, Minakami-imouto.”
Casting a deadpan glance at the writhing Asamiya, Enomoto sighed and turned back to Minakami.
“As for advice on the first-year edition of the Grade-Based Tournament, [Rookie Battle Breliude], I have to say there’s ‘not much’ to give.”
“Eh…? I-Is that because Shinji-senpai is actually really mean?”
“Absolutely not. I’ll explain once the rules are revealed, but [Rookie Battle Breliude] allows a few third-years to participate as advisors. Tactics for large-scale [Duel Games] can be taught in actual combat, and [Rookie Battle Breliude] itself is designed with that purpose.”
“O-Oh, I see… That’s how it is.”
“Yup. We’ll be there to support, and besides, Mari’s already a 5-Star! You should be able to dominate among first-years, so no worries, no worries!”
Shaking her vibrant blonde hair and flashing a genuine smile, Asamiya said.
Minakami, in response, nodded slightly and said, “I-I’ll do my best!”
…[Rookie Battle Breliude], where first-years from each district compete, with a few third-years joining as advisors.
Minakami’s strength is top-tier, and Enomoto and the others will cover knowledge and experience.
There doesn’t seem to be much to worry about.
“And next is the second-year edition.”
Enomoto’s gaze quietly turned toward me.
“The Grade-Based Tournament [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo]—as the name suggests, second-years participate in a school trip. The destination is Luna Island, a world-renowned tourist spot.
A natural island said to blend a futuristic city far more advanced than Academy Island with world-heritage-level lush nature, and reputed to gather entertainment from across the globe.”
“Yup, yup! They say it’s an island you couldn’t fully enjoy even in a year, with tons of specialties and attractions♪ Noa kinda wants to go there with Hiroto-kun someday…♡”
“…Please refrain from such fanciful temptations, Akizuki-sama.”
Sighing and swaying her silver hair, Himeji said.
Then, tilting her head slightly, she voiced a question.
“As far as I know, [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo] is the highlight of the Grade-Based Tournament… It’s always been known for fierce competition, but the stage is a tourist destination?”
“Yup. Well, we haven’t mentioned the most important part yet.”
Saying that, Asamiya pointed her index finger up in front of us.
And then, in one breath,
“Casino Island—that’s Luna Island’s nickname! What Shinji and Noa mentioned are indeed features of Luna Island, but the most famous thing is that ‘the entire island is a casino’! Everyone living there is a dealer, so when you land, you’re greeted by cool old guys in tuxedos or girls in bunny outfits! Isn’t that super wild!?”
“…The wild part isn’t that, Nanase.”
Sighing at Asamiya, who had suddenly cranked up her energy, Enomoto quietly took over the explanation.
“But the general idea is as Nanase said. Luna Island, also known as ‘Casino Island,’ allows all visitors to try casino games. The residents there act as dealers managing various games, and the main way to play is to join in and earn as many chips as possible. The more chips you earn, the more areas you can access, and you can exchange them for various prizes, so many people indulge in the casino until the last moment of their stay.”
“…Huh. So, casino games like roulette or poker, right? Sounds like luck plays a big role, but is that just ‘how it is’?”
“Luck is certainly involved, no doubt. But it’s not just that—because Luna Island has an item called the [Black Ring], designed for cheating.”
““…[Black Ring]?””
Himeji and I tilted our heads at the exact same moment, making me secretly embarrassed inside.
While Himeji’s cheeks seemed to flush, I pressed on to hide my own embarrassment.
“A cheating item… uh, what does that mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. The [Black Ring] is a jet-black decorative ring that, when bet during a casino game, produces various effects. In that sense, it’s similar to abilities on Academy Island, but the difference lies in its mobility. A [Black Ring] placed on the table during a game moves to the winner along with the chips. In other words, you lose it if you lose, and there’s no limit to how many you can hold, unlike abilities.”
“Hmm… I see.”
I nodded slightly at Enomoto’s explanation.
…Casino games held across Luna Island. The basic goal is to increase your chips, but the [Black Ring] adds a strategic element.
It’s essentially a casino where cheating is officially allowed.
Enomoto, still crossing his arms with his usual sour face, continued.
“[School Trip Battle Forteitsumo] is based on this Luna Island casino. Shinohara, you’ll stay on the island for five nights and six days, but for the first three days—seventy-two hours from joining the casino—you compete to see how many chips you can earn. You can bring one ability, which is converted into the form of a [Black Ring] upon arrival. In short, it’s a [Duel Game] where you use numerous [Black Rings] to earn more chips than anyone else—that’s [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo].”
“Got it… Well, the structure’s pretty clear.”
“Yes. But here’s the problem—since [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo] is a [Duel Game] involving all second-years in the same block, simply comparing the total chips earned would favor districts with more students. To avoid such unfairness, [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo] has a special evaluation criterion called the comprehensive score: [(Top five chip holders’ amounts) × 1 + (District average chip amount) × 5].”
“Top five chip holders and five times the district average, huh. That does make the number of students less relevant, while keeping individual effort meaningful. Plus, it means district representative-class players need to step up even more.”
“Exactly. So, in theory, it’s a well-balanced rule. But let me be clear, Shinohara—this evaluation criterion is fatal for Eimei right now. After all, Eimei Academy’s second-years, aside from Shinohara Hiroto and Himeji Shirayuki, have zero large-scale [Duel Game] experience—honestly, a problem we’ve had since last year has finally surfaced.”
“…Yeah, that.”
Realizing everything from Enomoto’s words, I nodded with a serious expression.
Enomoto, still crossing his arms, let out a faint sigh, shook his head slowly, and continued.
“It’s been said before—Eimei Academy lacks next-generation district representative-class players. In last year’s [Rookie Battle Breliude], not a single person stood out. Your transfer turned things around significantly, but even so, terms like ‘top five’ and ‘district average’ are a headache.”
“Ehehe, tough spot, huh♪ After all, the smart and cute Noa-chan isn’t there♡”
“Exactly! Without our sparkling brains, you can’t win!”
“…Hmph. Ignoring these two, without me, you wouldn’t even manage to organize properly. In short, [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo] has many unfavorable factors for Eimei Academy right now.”
Brushing off Akizuki and Asamiya’s “reliable senior” boasts, Enomoto pressed his fingers to his forehead and sighed.
Watching their exchange, it finally hit me.
(Oh… They’re all worried about us, aren’t they?)
I muttered quietly to myself.
…That’s probably it. They know I’m a “7-Star,” they’ve acknowledged my capabilities in past [Duel Games], and yet Enomoto and the others are still concerned for me and Himeji.
They’re trying to let us rely on them as seniors.
Feeling a slight itch from that realization, I raised the corner of my mouth slightly and continued.
“Well, yeah. Ouka, Tsuyuri, and St. Rosalia have second-years as their main force, and while Kirigaya can’t participate for Shinra, they’ve got Fuwa Mitsuru and Sumire, who became 5-Star Single Colors. Losing three 6-Star seniors and even 5-Star juniors is rough for Eimei.”
“Indeed. It might just be that we were too blessed before, but at the very least, this rule puts Eimei Academy at the biggest disadvantage. With your talent, Master, you might be able to earn the equivalent of five people’s chips on your own… but the opponents are who they are.”
“…”
I silently affirmed Himeji’s whisper as she swayed her silver hair.
…Five average players’ worth, maybe, but against people like Saionji or Minami as the standard for “five people’s worth,” even with cheating, it’s frankly impossible.
“But—of course, there’s a way to turn it around.”
As if reading my thoughts, Enomoto suddenly softened his expression and said.
“As mentioned earlier, Luna Island’s casino is entertainment open to all visitors. So, even during [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo], countless players from outside Academy Island are playing the games. Among them, those specifically ‘permitted to participate in Academy Island’s [Duel Games]’ are collectively called [Strangers].”
“…Permitted to participate in Academy Island’s [Duel Games]?”
“Yup! Basically, people who are set to join the same casino games as Academy Island players♪ To regular people, we’re ‘super strong but maybe you can win a rare [Black Ring] if you beat us’ kind of opponents. Plus, there’s a bonus for playing against Academy Island players! Lots of people are super enthusiastic about it♡”
“Oh, I get it…”
Akizuki’s explanation finally clicked for me.
Indeed, for regular tourists, sitting at a table with Academy Island players is a risky move.
With [Black Rings] in play, it’s not even fair to begin with.
But if the reward for winning is big, that’s a different story.
It wouldn’t be a bad gamble to take a chance on.
“…So? What’s up with these [Strangers], Enomoto?”
“Use honorifics, Shinohara. …Fine. The thing is, in [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo]’s rules, each district can recruit one [Stranger] as an ally. You can scout as many as you want and switch them out midway, but the slot is limited to one. And the [Stranger] registered in that slot counts as a district member… meaning the chips they earn during [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo] contribute to the comprehensive score.”
This one person is key, Enomoto said quietly.
“While Academy Island players start earning chips from the first day of [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo], [Strangers] already on Luna Island often have some experience. Of course, only the chips earned during the ‘seventy-two hours’ count—any chips they had before don’t matter—but the number of [Black Rings] they hold directly translates to strength. So, the key is to recruit someone who’s been on the island as long as possible.”
“Yup, yup. The maximum stay on Luna Island is one week, but you can extend it a bit by paying chips. And the prime example of that is… [Phantom]!”
“[Phantom]? …Oh, that’s—”
Responding to Asamiya’s cue was Minakami, who had been listening intently with a serious expression.
Slowly lifting her face along with her long black hair, she continued.
“I heard about it from Onee-chan. Luna Island’s [Phantom]… the strongest [Stranger] who’s been participating in [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo] every year for years, right?”
“Yeah. A literal ‘outlier’ who gained permanent residency on Luna Island in exchange for a massive amount of chips and is said to hold nearly a thousand types of [Black Rings]. But… for the past three years, without exception, they’ve sided with Seventeenth District Amanezaka Academy. And the last three [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo] events have been overwhelming victories for Amanezaka. It’s one reason they’re in the top ranks.”
“Yup… But it’s not like they’re completely loyal to Amanezaka, right? It’s more like a contract or deal. If you can break that, you might be able to poach them… though we failed last year.”
“True. But unlike last year, when staying in the top five was uncertain, this year’s Eimei is number one in the midterm rankings. As the article earlier showed, we’re in the spotlight, for better or worse. We’re expected to perform. So, we can’t afford to lose.”
No need to tell Shinohara that, Enomoto’s voice implied, and I gave a small nod in return.
Yes… to be honest, this [Duel Game] doesn’t involve any stars at all.
It’s purely a battle for district honor and rankings.
But that doesn’t mean I—or Eimei—can afford to lose.
If I lose pathetically here, expectations will turn to disappointment in an instant.
So,
(Sure, Eimei’s second-years might be unreliable… My ‘7-Star’ is a lie, so the strongest is Himeji at 5 Stars. We might pale compared to other districts. But if that’s the case, I’ll blow all those bad reputations away in this [Duel Game]…!)
I quietly clenched my right fist, solidifying my resolve.
♯
“Then, I’ll contact you with the details later. Sorry, but we’re counting on you, kouhai.”
“Yeah, leave it to me, Senpai.”
—After various discussions concluded and it was time to disband.
Stopped by Enomoto, I had a brief private talk before rejoining Himeji.
“Good work, Master.”
As we walked side by side, Himeji swayed her silver hair and asked.
“You were talking quite a bit. Was it something important?”
“Well, yeah. A continuation of the strategy meeting, or rather… in short, it was about the third-year edition of the Grade-Based Tournament, [Mastery Battle Refrain]. I’ll fill you in on the details when we get back.”
“Thank you, Master. …[Mastery Battle Refrain], huh.”
Bowing politely, Himeji brought her white-gloved right hand to her mouth.
“Indeed, the third-years likely have plenty of headaches. After all, for Enomoto-sama and the others, this will be a ‘[Duel Game] without the strongest 7-Star.’”
“…Well, on the surface, yeah.”
In reality, my rank is just a facade, but for Enomoto and the others, it’s probably an emergency.
They need to strategize thoroughly with their limited members to avoid being targeted by other districts.
…But that’s their domain.
I feel a bit uneasy, but there’s nothing I can do about it now.
“We’ll leave [Rookie Battle Breliude] and [Mastery Battle Refrain] to them and focus on our own strategy…”
“Hehe. Yes, indeed. Two weeks until the Grade-Based Tournament [School Trip Battle Forteitsumo]—let’s prepare as much as we can with Kagaya-san and Tsumugi-san. Plus, we need to decide on class policies with Fuuka-san and Tsuji-sama.”
“Yeah… Wait.”
Noticing that Himeji’s voice and expression were slightly different than usual, I tilted my head faintly.
It was a subtle change, but she seemed almost cheerful, like she was brimming with excitement.
“What’s up… You don’t seem all that worried, Himeji?”
“? Um, do I not?”
“Yeah. I mean, it might just be my imagination, but… you seem kind of happy?”
“Mm…”
At my observation, Himeji closed her eyes for a brief moment, as if thinking.
But the next instant, she swayed her silver hair and turned her clear emerald eyes back to me.
The slight softening of her lips didn’t seem like my imagination after all.
She spoke in a crystalline voice.
“It’s not that I’m not worried. Even if no stars are at stake, this is a [Duel Game] bearing the academy’s name, so I can’t let you lose, Master. As [Company], I’ll support you with all my strength. But, if I seem to be in high spirits despite that—”
“…Despite that?”
“If I seem cheerful, it’s simply because I’m looking forward to the school trip. I’ve always dreamed of chatting late into the night with my classmates, and I want to experience as much of Luna Island’s charm as possible, which they say you can’t fully enjoy in a year… Above all, it’s my first trip with you, Master. I might be a bit too excited.”
“—”
Saying that, Himeji averted her gaze slightly, looking just a touch embarrassed.
…Oh, man, seriously.
This maid follower is sometimes so cute it’s almost blinding.
♯
And so, about two weeks later—.
The start of the second semester passed without any major events.
Of course, there were plenty of noteworthy incidents: I, now a five-color holder post-[SFIA], continued to be targeted from all directions; Minakami, whose fame skyrocketed, started visiting my classroom for no apparent reason; Minami’s curated “High-Ranker Girls Special” became a regular feature in LNN; Yuikawa’s STOC account got flamed… and so on.
But detailing all that would take forever, so let’s just say a lot happened.
And now, September 19th, Monday, 2:17 PM.
After a few hours of flight and a ferry transfer, we had landed on the aforementioned Luna Island.
“Wow!
Amazing!!!”
—Western Port District of Luna Island, a world-class tourist destination.
The one who let out an excited shout upon seeing the pristine white sandy beach after completing entry procedures was none other than our 2-A class president, Tatara Fuuka.
A lively girl with a bouncing ponytail and a radiant, innocent smile.
Already dashing forward, she turned back to us from the middle of the beach.
“Shirayuki-chan! Shirayuki-chan, over here! You can see the ocean so clearly from this spot—it’s super pretty! Come on, Shinohara-kun, hurry up~!”
“…Hehe.”
Smiling softly at her friend’s noticeably higher-than-usual energy, Himeji held her straw hat with one hand and walked slowly forward.
Carefully stepping on the sand, she stood beside Tatara and narrowed her eyes contentedly for a moment.
“Yes, it’s indeed a stunning view. …But, Fuuka-san, if you’re going out on the beach, shouldn’t you at least wear a hat? You’ll get sunburned.”
“I’ve got sunscreen on, so I’m fine! The power of science is amazing, yup!”
Puffing out her chest proudly, Tatara declared.
Indeed, as a member of the track team, she’s constantly exposed to direct sunlight, yet her healthy, glowing skin remains perfectly white.
I don’t understand how sunscreen works, but science is seriously impressive.
“Haa…”
As I was lost in such thoughts at the edge of the beach, a faint
sigh reached my ears from behind. Turning around instinctively, I saw
none other than
Yuki Tsuji. Like Tatara,
he’s a classmate from 2-A. With his androgynous, refined looks that could easily pass for a beautiful girl if not for the boys’ uniform, he shuffled unsteadily
and plopped down onto a nearby bench.
“Tatara-san sure is full of energy… Meanwhile, I’ve been battling seasickness
ever since we got on the ferry, and my head’s barely functioning. I didn’t know
ferries could rock that much…”
“Well… it’s probably a matter of stamina. That guy’s in the track club, after all.”
“True, but still… Whoa!?”
At that moment, he let out a startled yelp—
and honestly,
it’s no wonder. After all, Tatara had sneaked up behind the bench
and pressed a chilled juice can against
Tsuji-kun’s neck with a playful thud.
“…Uh, Tatara-san?”
“Here you go!
Tsuji-kun, you looked pale the whole time on the ferry,
so as class rep, I figured I should get you something. I bought this at the vending machine over there. It might not cure seasickness, but it’ll definitely refresh you a bit!”
“Oh… really? …Wait, Tatara-san, where were you
keeping this until just now?”
“Huh? In my bag, obviously. See, right here.”
“Right… and that’s the bag you were swinging around
like crazy when you went ‘Woo!’ earlier, isn’t it? And this is carbonated orange juice, right? …Hey, Tatara-san. What do you think will happen if I open this right now?”
“Uh… I think it’ll go psshhh,
and Tsuji-kun and I
will be in big trouble.”
“Exactly.”
To avoid such a disaster, Tsuji-kun refrained from touching the pull-tab, muttering a quiet “Thanks, though,” before pressing the can to his own neck.
Seeing this, Tatara let out a relieved sigh, stroking her chest
as her ponytail bounced, and
she plopped down next to
Tsuji-kun on the bench.
And then,
“Ta-daaa!”
With a cheerful sound effect, she pulled a travel
guidebook out of her bag. Naturally, the cover read “Luna Island.”
Likely bought in print to jot down notes, the book was twice as thick with countless sticky notes plastered all over it.
“You’ve really studied it thoroughly, haven’t you, Fuuka-san? Impressive as always.”
“Yup! I mean, I was super excited… and besides, we’re not just here to have fun.
As 2-A’s class rep, I’ve gotta know more than anyone else!”
“…You’re overdoing it, Tatara-san. You could take it a bit easier, you know.”
“Nah, it’s fine! This suits me better anyway.”
Tsuji-kun muttered in an exasperated tone,
but Tatara brushed it off like it was nothing. With an excited expression, she
flipped through the pages of the guidebook resting on her lap.
“Luna Island, one of the world’s top tourist destinations—a dream island where you can enjoy both near-untouched nature and futuristic urban areas.
The views, entertainment, food, experiences—there’s so much to do, you could never cover it all.
It’s been ranked the number-one must-visit destination for ten years straight! There’s even a mythical lake that only one in tens of thousands can reach!”
“…Well, it’s definitely an island that never runs out of things to talk about. But we can enjoy all that later.
Right now, we should be focusing on the grade-wide competition… the School Trip Battle Forteitsumo.”
“Yup! Of course, I’ve got that covered too!”
With that, Tatara deftly flipped through the pages and stopped at the start of a particular chapter. There, it detailed Luna Island’s biggest feature—its identity as a casino island.
(Uh…?)
To refresh my memory, I glanced at the guidebook too.
On Luna Island, every visitor can participate in casino games—every islander acts as a dealer, managing some kind of game, with visitors as the players.
Players earn chips through games, and the number of chips determines which areas they can access or what rare items they can exchange for in the end.
And the second-year edition of the grade-wide competition, School Trip Battle Forteitsumo,
is based on this Luna Island casino system. Players from each school district start with 1,000 chips and compete to earn as many as possible over three days.
The district’s total score is calculated as [(Top five players’ chip counts) × 1 + (District average chip count) × 5], so no one can afford to slack off.
As I reviewed this with Tatara and the others, I slightly raised my face.
“By the way… when does the Duel Game actually start?
The arrival times on Luna Island vary by district, so it feels like the conditions might not line up.”
“Oh, yeah! Normally, that’d be the case, but this time, it’s counted individually.
The moment someone declares their intent to participate in the Luna Island casino, the clock starts—exactly three days, or seventy-two hours later, the count ends!
Any games in progress at that point will have their chips recorded up to the ‘next settlement point.’ And to show your intent to participate—you need this!
Within thirty minutes of landing on Luna Island, you have to put on some kind of mask!”
“…A mask?”
“Yup! To challenge the Luna Island casino, you need to wear a ‘mask’ as proof of participation.
Like sunglasses, an eyepatch, or a face mask… They’re projected with augmented reality, so you can choose any design you want. And you can even make your own!”
“Hmm? So it’s like a masquerade ball kind of vibe? That sounds kinda fun… but it’s not just for show, is it?”
“Tsuji-kun, you’re spot on! Like I said, the mask is
proof of participation, so if it breaks, that’s it—you’re done.
No matter how many days you have left, you can’t participate in the Luna Island casino anymore. …Right, Shirayuki-chan?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
While Tatara passionately explained, Himeji nodded quietly in agreement.
“By the way, there’s only one way to lose your mask on Luna Island.
If you lose a casino game and your chip count falls to zero or below… that’s called a Critical Loss.
When that happens, as a penalty, the player’s mask disappears.”
“Got it… So at that point, you can’t continue playing casino games.”
“Exactly. Of course, you can still enjoy sightseeing, but…”
Himeji added that clarification, her silver hair swaying.
Indeed—on Luna Island, the “mask” is a crucial item required to participate in casino games.
You can customize it freely using augmented reality, but if your chip count drops to zero or below, it results in a Critical Loss, and the mask breaks.
And a Critical Loss means game over. Dropping out of the School Trip Battle Forteitsumo… that’s something we have to avoid at all costs.
“—By the way, Master.”
As I was mulling over these thoughts, Himeji, standing beside me, leaned in softly
and whispered into my ear with a gentle voice. Tatara, sitting on the bench,
was already engrossed in designing her mask and didn’t seem to be listening to us.
Her clear voice brushed against my eardrums.
“Master, do you have any ideas for the kind of mask you’d like to wear?”
“? Nah, not really… Why?”
“Well, you see, after learning about the Luna Island casino rules,
Tsumugi-san and Kagaya-san got really excited and designed a mask for you… Here it is.”
With a slight smile, Himeji quietly held out her device in front of me—
displayed on the screen was a sleek, jet-black mask modeled in 3D. It was the type that completely covered the area around the eyes,
with a fierce, stylish, streamlined form reminiscent of a crow or a panther.
It was, for lack of a better term, the kind of mask you’d expect on an evil overlord or the mastermind of a death game.
(Whoa, that’s insanely cool… Shiina’s chuuni flair is exploding in all the right ways.)
“Hehe, does it suit your taste?”
“Hm… Yeah, it’s not bad. Not bad at all, but isn’t it a bit too cool…?”
“That’s what makes it perfect. A mask this refined and sophisticated
is the only thing worthy of adorning none other than the 7-Star Master.”
Himeji said this with a playful tone, as if nudging me forward.
…Well, I suppose if you were to abstract the image of Hiroto Shinohara, who’s constantly featured in LNN, it might end up looking something like this.
“By the way, what kind are you going with, Himeji?”
“I was suggested by Kagaya-san to wear cat-ear headbands—”
“!?!?”
“—but spending five or six days with cat ears felt a bit too embarrassing, so I opted for something a bit more subdued.”
With a slightly shy tone, Himeji swiped her device’s screen
and quickly set her own “mask.” In the next moment, as she looked directly at me,
cute little whisker-like lines appeared on her cheeks. They were a faint cherry-blossom pink,
with a soft, almost childlike doodle-like charm.
“Whoa… That’s nice. Like the kind of thing soccer fans paint on their cheeks for matches.”
“Thank you for the compliment. Exactly, yes. It’s a type of face paint,
often called a face tattoo, placed on the cheeks or forehead as a small accent.
According to Kagaya-san, it’s designed with a gimmick that changes color or movement based on my emotions.”
“Oh? So when the pink whiskers are lightly swaying…”
“It’s likely my neutral state or leaning toward the ‘joy’ side of emotions.
Nyan.”
Himeji let out a deliberately cute suffix with an expression that suggested she wasn’t entirely displeased (by our standards).
The sheer marvel of augmented reality technology that changes with emotions is beyond me…
but the undeniable fact is that Shirayuki Himeji, with whisker-paint on both cheeks,
is exuding an extraordinary level of cuteness. The contrast between her composed expression
and the lively, expressive whiskers creates an even greater charm. In short, she’s incredibly adorable.
And—just as we were caught up in this conversation,
“…Oh?”
A bold, all-too-familiar voice called out from behind.
Instantly sharpening my expression, I turned toward the voice—
and, as expected, standing there was Sarasa Saionji herself, clad in the Ouka Third District uniform.
Her fiery red hair flowed luxuriously. With her arms elegantly crossed under her chest,
she fixed her ruby-red eyes on me.
“What a coincidence, Shinohara. To meet in a place like this…
Could it be, were you waiting for me? Hehe, I could sign something for you, you know.”
“…Hah. Who’d want your autograph, huh?”
“Not that? Then you must’ve wanted to chat with me. That’s kinda cute, you know.”
Saionji smirked triumphantly, brushing her hair with her right hand.
Her logic seemed rougher than usual—perhaps the excitement of the school trip was getting to her.
Looking past her, I could see more Ouka students approaching.
Their ferry probably arrived a bit later than Eimei’s.
At any rate, Saionji wore a provocative grin as she delivered her “greeting.”
“The grade-wide competition, second-year edition—School Trip Battle Forteitsumo—
Sorry to say, Shinohara, but this time, Ouka’s taking the win.
We’ll be the first to make contact with Phantom and crush them without question.
You might want to start thinking up excuses for when you lose.”
“Big talk for someone relying on others. Can’t win on your own, Empress?”
“Oh? Don’t act like you’re not after the same thing.
The strongest Stranger on Luna Island… the player named Phantom,
who’s led Amanonezaka Academy to victory in the last three School Trip Battle Forteitsumo tournaments.
…In other words, this Duel Game is a kind of ‘treasure hunt.’
Recruiting Phantom is one of the many conditions for victory.”
“…Well, yeah, that’s true.”
I nodded quietly in agreement.
As Enomoto and the others had explained, a Stranger is like a “cooperator slot”
that each district can assign to one person. Since they’ve been on the island longer,
they often hold a large number of Black Rings, making them a significant asset.
Among them, Phantom is exceptional.
Recruiting him is the key to winning the School Trip Battle Forteitsumo…
and if both we and Ouka are thinking this way, then likely every district is aiming for Phantom.
“Heh! And when it comes to treasure hunts, this Libra is in her element, nya!”
…And then,
cutting in with her signature suffix was Suzuran Kazami, a second-year from Libra.
Lifting her trademark baseball cap slightly, she peered up at me with a cool pose,
flashing a playful sideways peace sign.
“Long time no see, Shinohara-kun! I’m usually a fair and neutral member of Libra,
but this time, we’re enemies, nya! Still, I’ll be writing an article later, so I’m expecting you to shine, nya!”
“Oh? So you’re joining as part of Ouka this time, Kazami?”
“Yup, nya. On Luna Island, it’s hard to film without catching regular people in the shot,
so every year, during this Duel Game, Libra stops being Libra, nya!”
Kazami declared, slipping off her armband that read “Ace Reporter.”
…No Libra filming is good news for me.
It means one less thing to worry about.
…And then,
almost at the same moment I thought this, someone emerged from behind Kazami—
“Yo, Shinohara.”
—Keiya Fujishiro. Ouka’s so-called “shadow ace,” a 6-Star ranker.
Behind him, I could see the timid figure of Yuka Mano
(the girl who confessed to Fujishiro during that Rainbow Patisserie event).
Fujishiro stood protectively in front of her, continuing in a low, menacing tone.
“I owe you one for SFIA Sphere. Ouka’s ace winning was about half thanks to you.
But… that’s that. In the rules of the School Trip Battle Forteitsumo, Ouka’s overwhelmingly stronger.”
“Oh? What makes you so sure of that?”
“You know why. I acknowledge your strength, sure.
But that’s it. Among Eimei’s second-years, you’re the only one I see as a threat…
One-man shows don’t win.”
Fujishiro said, glancing briefly behind me as he spoke.
…Given his personality, he’s probably not picking a fight but stating a calm assessment.
As I feared, to other districts, Eimei’s second-years—us—must look thin in terms of depth.
“…Anyway!”
At that moment, perhaps sensing the air growing heavy from Fujishiro’s words,
Saionji forcefully changed the subject, brushing her luxurious red hair.
“That’s enough greetings for now, Shinohara. Like I said,
Ouka’s claiming Phantom. The winner of the School Trip Battle Forteitsumo will be us—
hehe, you’d better be ready!”
Saying that, she softened her lips into a smile and briskly turned her back
on us. That must’ve been the signal, as Fujishiro Kazami and the rest
of the Ouka members started leaving one by one as they pleased.
Left behind, I quietly turned around after Saionji’s figure disappeared from sight—
and then,
“…That kind of thing kinda ticks me off.”
“Ugh… It’s true that I’ve been relying on Shinohara-kun a lot,
but…”
There, already wearing their masks,
Tsuji and Tatara
were showing displeased expressions. Tsuji, with a monocle over one eye,
narrowed his gaze through the transparent lens, while Tatara, wearing an adorable bunny-ear headband,
puffed out her cheeks. …And then,
“…Yeah, that’s right. Nobody likes being talked down to like that, right—
Alright, then!”
Noticing the faintly darkened expressions of her classmates, Tatara
gave a firm nod.
With that, she suddenly flipped her ponytail and dashed toward the beach with quick steps—
there, Tatara pulled out her device and performed a certain operation with her fingertips.
She started a group call, inviting the entire 2-A class of Eimei Academy’s high school division. Within moments of the notification, classmates—including those who had already left the port—
began joining the call one after another. In less than ten seconds, every single name was present, no doubt because the caller was Tatara.
“Wow… Thanks, everyone.”
Confirming this, Tatara hugged the device connected to all her classmates close to her chest…
then took a deep breath and spoke up with a bold attitude.
“Listen up, everyone! It’s your trusty class rep, Tatara Fuuka!
We just arrived at Luna Island, and our school trip is about to begin—
I’ve been super excited for this! Let’s go explore all sorts of places together. Sightseeing, shopping, and eating our way through!
I’ve checked out tons of spots, so leave the guiding to your class rep!”
“But the first main event is the 《Duel Game》—we’re here to win.
Last year, Eimei Academy was ranked fifth, but this year, we’re at the top of the mid-term rankings.
Of course, that’s thanks to Shinohara-kun winning both 《Astral》 and 《SFIA Sphere》, but this time, it’s not just about him.
The 《School Trip Battle Fortissimo》 isn’t something one person can win alone—it’s a rule that requires the entire school district to work hard…
so we’ve got to take the lead.”
“…Everyone. You know why we’re in 2-A, right?”
“It’s because we’re strong. Out of thousands of students, we’re the strongest.
We’re expected to shine. We’re entrusted with that hope. People believe we can do this.”
“So, I’d love for everyone to follow me—”
“For these three days! We, Eimei Academy, are going to dominate the 《Duel Game》
and seize a huge victory that’ll shock everyone at Academy Island.
I mean, if Shinohara-kun earns the most chips but we lose because the school district’s average is too low, wouldn’t that be a total bummer!?
They’d say stuff like, ‘It’s just Shinohara, the rest aren’t a big deal’…
If they said that and we couldn’t even argue back because of our results, I’d probably cry from frustration.
I’d wail and sob. And if that happened, we probably wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy the rest of the school trip.”
“I love Eimei Academy—
I love all of you, so I want to prove it. That Eimei is strong.
That we’re the strongest. That it’s not just Shinohara-kun!”
“…This is our moment to shine, everyone.”
“Your trusty class rep will lead the charge to the very end, so follow me at full speed!!”
Tatara shouted with all her might.
“““…”””
Perhaps caught off guard by the sudden speech, or maybe stunned by the passion so unlike her usual self,
the 2-A group call fell eerily silent for just a moment—but truly, only for a moment.
“““OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”””
In an instant, the line was flooded with maximum-voltage enthusiasm, rousing the entire 2-A class in one fell swoop.
“…Phew…”
Watching that scene… I, too, decided to put on the handmade mask crafted by Shiina.
LNN -Librarian Net News-
Academy Island (Academy) Inter-Year Competition · Field Trip Battle (Fortissimo) Highlights
The Academy Island second semester inter-district competition is held separately for each grade—. The stage for the second-year Field Trip Battle is the annual “Casino Game” on Luna Island, nya! Here, we’ll introduce the highlights of the seven schools in the top blocks all at once, nya!
District 4 · Eimei Academy (Mid-Term Ranking 1st) Eimei Academy surged to the top of the rankings thanks to the whirlwind performance of the 7-Star Hiroto Shinohara. However, in this year’s large-scale 《Duels》, only he and his retainer, Shirayuki Himeji (5-Star), have stood out. The lack of depth in their forces may pose a challenge.
District 3 · Ouka Academy (Mid-Term Ranking 2nd) Though they relinquished the 7-Star title to Hiroto Shinohara, the charismatic 《Empress》 Sarasa Saionji (6-Star) and fellow 6-Star Keiya Fujishiro form a formidable duo. With the current second-years having been the main force in large-scale 《Duels》 from the start, their overall strength is unparalleled.
District 5 · Shinra High School (Mid-Term Ranking 3rd) The twin siblings Mitsuru Fuwa & Sumire Fuwa (5-Star) pushed Hiroto Shinohara to the brink in the final battle of the summer exchange event 《SFIA》. Though their ace, third-year Toya Kirigaya (6-Star), is absent, can they become dark horses in the Field Trip Battle?
District 7 · Otowa Academy (Mid-Term Ranking 4th) The absolute charisma known as the Phoenix, Seiran Kugasaki (6-Star), is a third-year and thus absent. The academy lacks standout second-year players, but this makes their potential leap through the event all the more anticipated.
District 19 · Amanezaka Academy (Mid-Term Ranking 5th) Amanezaka Academy has topped the Field Trip Battle for three consecutive years. Will the strongest 【Stranger】 smile upon them again this year? The ranking disputes within the district, ongoing from the first semester through the summer, seem to have settled for now.
District 16 · Kururugi Girls’ Academy (Mid-Term Ranking 6th) Kururugi Girls’ Academy has been climbing the ranks thanks to the performance of the newly promoted 6-Star 《Oni God’s Miko》 Risa Kinoshita. Like Eimei, the district has concerns about its player depth, but do they have a secret strategy?
District 14 · St. Rosalia Girls’ Academy (Mid-Term Ranking 7th) The academy has been garnering attention due to the awakening of 《Nagi’s Sound Flame》 Minami Shizuku (6-Star). Amid the refined and reserved school culture, her consistently tricky maneuvers are drawing significant focus.
