Awakening at the End of Despair
♯
Luna Island boasts a plethora of lodging facilities.
Well, that’s only natural, isn’t it? Luna Island is one of the world’s top tourist destinations,
constantly swarmed with an overwhelming number of visitors. It’s unthinkable that they wouldn’t have accommodations prepared
to handle that influx.
However, according to Kaga-ya-san, “he” isn’t staying in one of those hotels or guesthouses, apparently. After all, he’s a rare holder of “permanent residency rights,” something almost unprecedented in Luna Island’s history. He’s even granted the right to
rent a residential property. Based on all that information,
we looked into it and found his home in a residential district of the B-rank area.
And now, standing before its front door.
“Phew…”
I let out a quiet breath. …The third morning of the School Trip War Fortissimo. Himeji and I had come to this place
to scout a certain player as Eimei’s [Stranger] candidate.
The catalyst for this was, as expected, Hagoromo Shion’s “test game”—and [Violet] joining the alliance. With the already formidable duo of Minami Shizuku and Kururugi Senri, who had formed a temporary cooperative relationship exclusive to the School Trip War Fortissimo,
an even more ferocious [Stranger] had joined their ranks. As a result, by the midpoint of the second day,
the allied school district had surged to an overwhelming lead, with [Violet] alone amassing a chip count exceeding 8 million.
Meanwhile, Saionji and I were sitting at around 500,000 chips each. By the standards of the School Trip War Fortissimo,
that should be a respectable number, but it’s still far from 10 million. At this rate,
both the School Trip War Fortissimo and Hagoromo’s test game would end in our defeat.
(The only one who could turn this around… is [Phantom], isn’t it?)
Sorting through the situation in my head, I mutter quietly to myself.
[Phantom]—Luna Island’s strongest [Stranger]. According to Fuka, he’s been out of contact since yesterday, but if anyone could stand up to [Violet], it’s him. Currently registered as Shinra’s collaborator,
a [Stranger]’s affiliation can be changed by either the school district or the [Stranger] themselves. In other words, he can be poached.
“Well, that’s assuming he’d even respond to our call, of course.”
“Indeed… [Phantom]-sama seemed to harbor a deep fear of Shion-sama. We’d need to address that trauma before we could ever hope for his cooperation.”
“Yeah. And for that, he’d need to hear us out first—which brings us here, Himeji. I’m counting on you.”
“Understood, Master.”
Himeji touches her device to the contact panel beside the door—a device meant to unlock the electronic lock only when the homeowner’s device is scanned—and begins some kind of operation. Immediately after, a small click sounds,
and the door’s electronic lock is disabled in an instant. …It’s obviously a criminal act,
but let’s just say it’s an emergency and hope for forgiveness.
At any rate, Himeji and I successfully infiltrate [Phantom]’s residence. The interior resembles that of a business hotel. There’s minimal decoration, but it’s simple and impeccably clean. After walking down the hallway for a bit,
we reach a door at the end.
Taking a small breath, I push it open.
“…Huh?”
In that instant—a voice tinged with dumbfounded surprise meets us, belonging to none other than Luna Island’s strongest [Stranger], [Phantom]. Sitting on the bed, hugging one knee,
he gazes at us with a somewhat listless expression. It’s my first time seeing him without his mask, and his long black hair, tied at the nape, has faint blue highlights. His features are refined, with a translucent quality.
Clearly bewildered by our sudden intrusion,
he speaks. “Uh, hold on… Why’d you guys just barge in? This is my house, you know…”
“We are aware, [Phantom]-sama. As you might expect, I had some reservations about entering a man’s home… but thanks to Master being by my side, I’ve managed to avoid fainting thus far. You should thank Master.”
“Wait… I’m the one getting blamed? Even though you broke into my house? Even though you’re violating my privacy? And how the hell did you bypass the electronic lock…?”
“It was open, wasn’t it? You seemed lost in thought, so perhaps you forgot to lock it.”
“No way… Well, I can’t say it’s impossible.”
Himeji lies with a cool expression, and [Phantom] shakes his head quietly. It’s less that he believes us and more that he lacks the energy to press the issue. Compared to when we faced him in yesterday’s game,
he looks noticeably worn out.
“…So, what do you want with me now?”
Without dwelling on the illegal entry, he averts his gaze and continues.
“If you’re here to invite me to join the game, just give up. I don’t want to return to the casino until at least ‘Saionji Sarasa’ leaves Luna Island.”
“…Sounds like it.”
With a sigh, I close the distance to [Phantom] slightly. Alongside Himeji, I step into the living room, lean against a nearby wall with a thud, and cross my arms.
“I know the gist of your situation. But that alone doesn’t quite add up, and there’s a lot I still don’t understand. That’s why I came to hear it straight from you.”
“Huh… You’re pretty dedicated for someone like me.”
[Phantom] mutters in a tone of mild admiration. But he quickly shakes his head.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have much of a story to tell. It’s just that I’m utterly terrified of ‘Saionji Sarasa.’ I thought I’d gotten a bit better over the past three years, but thinking calmly, there’s no way it’d be that easy. I’m almost disappointed in myself.”
“…That’s why we’re saying your perception is mistaken.”
Himeji interjects at that point. Positioning herself as if hiding behind me, she speaks with a resolute tone, though her wariness is evident.
“[Phantom]-sama. Yesterday, during Jackpot Time, you saw a long-haired girl who arrived late—[Violet]-sama—and, turning pale, you blurted out, ‘That’s Saionji Sarasa.’ However, there’s a fundamental misunderstanding. That person is…”
“…I know, I know.”
Shaking his head and lightly pressing his forehead against his knee, [Phantom] cuts off Himeji’s explanation. With a heavy tone, he continues after a slow sigh.
“That girl isn’t ‘Saionji Sarasa.’ The one called by that name is Ouka’s 6-star, right? Fuwa told me too. There’s no doubt the eldest daughter of the Saionji family is her.”
“Exactly. …Could it be you don’t believe that?”
“No way. It’s been a while, so I’m not certain… but I probably misunderstood something. Three years ago, because of a certain incident, I developed a trauma around ‘Saionji Sarasa.’ But it’s entirely possible that the person claiming to be ‘Saionji Sarasa’ back then wasn’t her but [Violet]. She’d never shown her face before that, after all… Well, if that’s the case, it means I’ve spent three years traumatized by some stranger.”
With a self-deprecating sigh, [Phantom] shakes his head slightly.
I exchange a glance with Himeji beside me. …It’s kind of anticlimactic. For us, this is a huge issue, but for him, the identity of his trauma’s source doesn’t seem to matter much.
But if that’s the case, so be it.
The real issue lies ahead—Eimei Academy needs to somehow convince [Phantom] to join us to counter the overwhelming power of [Violet] and the St. Rosalia & Tsuyuri Alliance. If we can’t do that, it’s over. …So,
“Hey, [Phantom]—or maybe I should call you Rindou Kai here.”
“…Hold on. How do you know that?”
“You know the 7-star info access level is the highest, right? …Judging by your reaction, I hit the mark, huh? Saves me the trouble of verifying.”
“Ugh, such a classic move… and I totally fell for it…”
Rindou Kai, aka [Phantom], slumps with a hand to his face, visibly dejected.
Ignoring his reaction, I lean against the wall and get to the main point.
“So, Rindou. Could you tell me about the incident that caused your trauma with ‘Saionji Sarasa’… with [Violet]? We can’t move forward without knowing.”
“…I figured. But I don’t exactly want to move forward. I’m generally a negative guy, but that doesn’t mean I’m eager to expose my weaknesses.”
“I see. …Then, Rindou-sama, let me ask you something. Have you ever met any second-year students from Amanezaka Academy this year?”
“Amanezaka…? Well, yeah, I have. I tried to avoid them, but during yesterday’s game, I ran into a flashy blue-haired guy with sunglasses. I saw a few others too. …But they’re probably pissed since I refused to cooperate and bailed. I’d rather not see them again…”
“Perfect answer. Now, Rindou-sama—if you refuse to comply with Master’s request, I’ll have no choice but to tap this device right now. And by pure coincidence, the ID currently displayed on my device is Yagura-sama’s. The ‘flashy blue-haired sunglasses’ player you mentioned… I could contact him with a single tap.”
“…Huh. Am I being threatened here?”
“No, no threats at all. Just a slight movement of my fingers,
that’s all.”
Himeji declares with a composed expression. Her tone
doesn’t sound like she’s joking at all.
“So, either have my past dug up here or let the Amanezakas
know where I live… huh.”
What a choice, Rindou thinks as he slumps his shoulders, but eventually, it seems he’s decided the former is the lesser evil. Lowering his face slightly,
he falls silent for a moment… and then, a single word.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been compared to the ‘eldest daughter of the Saionji family’—”
With a self-deprecating smile on his lips, Rindou begins to speak quietly.
—The Rindou family is a prestigious house, equal to or even surpassing
the Saionji family in influence.
If there’s anything they clearly lack, it’s history, but that in itself
proves the Rindou familyBird: family rose to prominence at a far faster pace than the Saionji family. Starting with the head of the family three generations ago, who built a business in education,
they joined the ranks of Japan’s elite in just a few decades.
“It was just over ten years ago that our Rindou family established a foothold on Academy Island. District Seventeen… the academy there is called Amanezaka. It’s a rare school in Academy Island that prides itself on ‘a select few elites.’”
District Seventeen, Amanezaka Academy. …I’ve only met Yumeno and Yagura so far, but they’re definitely eccentric, and undeniably
“strong” in their own way.
“The entire district’s policy is centered on talent, you know. The Rindou family’s stance is basically ‘the individual over the whole.’ They believe a single prodigy can move society forward better than a hundred decently talented people… So, they rigorously select who gets into the academy. There was even a year when no new students were admitted. That’s the kind of school it is, and that’s the kind of family we are.”
Pretty intense, right? Rindou laughs as if it’s someone else’s story.
“And so, I… Rindou Kai, am the eldest son of that Rindou family. To me, it’s like night and day, but in a way, my position is similar to the ‘heir of the Saionji family’—Saionji Sarasa. So, I was always compared to her. They’d say she’s such a prodigy she doesn’t even need to attend school, or that she scored this many points on an aptitude test, or that she’s guaranteed to reach 7 Stars once she joins the Star Capture Game… If it was just that, it’d be fine, but then they’d tear me down too. I was basically the villain, the heel. That’s not my style, though…”
…Humans can only evaluate things by comparing them to something else.
That’s probably what it boils down to. When people wanted to boast about “Saionji Sarasa’s” heroic tales, it wasn’t exciting without a comparison. In that sense, Rindou, the eldest son of the Rindou family,
was the perfect target. The narrative of “Rindou Kai was ○○, but Saionji Sarasa was ◇◇” became so formulaic that he was constantly compared to a girl he’d never even met.
“And then—hey, Shinohara, do you know about the ‘Meltet’ from three years ago?”
Rindou raises his face slightly, as if recalling a memory, and continues quietly.
The “Meltet”—officially called the “Middle School Training Match”—is a massive event held every summer, involving all middle school students on Academy Island, or so I’ve heard. In simple terms, it’s a trial version of the Star Capture Game. Performing well earns you a ton of island currency (electronic money)… and sometimes even recommendations or special admissions to top-ranked academies.
“On the list of participants, Saionji Sarasa’s name was there. I think she didn’t compete in her first year of middle school, so it was her first official match. …When I found out, I thought it was my chance. Maybe all the rumors about her were fake, and the real ‘Saionji Sarasa’ wasn’t a big deal at all… I had that kind of hope. So, I started preparing months in advance. I trained harder than anyone else.”
Rindou speaks entirely in the past tense. …Well, that makes sense. If his efforts had paid off properly, he wouldn’t be carrying this kind of trauma. And Himeji mentioned it too, didn’t she? Hagoromo Shion participated in a major “Duel Game” event once, slipping past her family’s surveillance, and dominated, defeating tens of thousands of participants to take the top spot.
“…In short, it was all just my arrogance.”
His self-mocking voice echoes quietly.
“Saionji Sarasa was a real formidable opponent… No, I probably wasn’t even considered an ‘opponent’ to her until the very end. I’m not exaggerating. I thought I had the upper hand for a while. But when I checked the footage on Island Tube later, all I saw was a pathetic fool, smugly playing tricks against someone leagues above him. …It was a shock, honestly. My strategies didn’t work; they were just being used by her.”
Rindou grips his right hand tightly, spinning out each word deliberately.
“And that girl even said to me—‘You’re strong, aren’t you?’ She kept her face hidden under a hood the whole time, but when my desperate final blow landed, she showed a refined smile for just a moment and praised me. Then, the next instant, she casually defeated me and won the championship. …My downfall after that was pretty brutal, huh? ‘As long as Saionji Sarasa is at Ouka, Amanezaka will never rise,’ or ‘The difference between the heirs is clear as day’… They didn’t care if it was in person or on SNS. And, as I said, the Rindou family’s policy is entirely talent-driven. The moment it was clear I couldn’t beat Saionji Sarasa, my value was gone.”
Abandoned by his father, who’s also the head of Amanezaka, and casually discarded by the public.
His choice, seeking a place to belong—was escape.
“…Amanezaka’s middle school field trip takes you to Luna Island. I lost spectacularly to Saionji Sarasa, but I still placed second in the ‘Meltet,’ so back then, I had a ton of island currency for a middle schooler. I used it to bribe some dealers on Luna Island, which is connected to Academy Island, and just kept collecting chips. By the last day of the field trip, I had enough to buy the right to ‘extend my stay’… And only then did I talk to my dad.”
—Dad, let me stay on Luna Island.
—If I stay here, I can contribute to Amanezaka in the high school grade-based tournaments.
—Not just this year, but next year and the year after too. I’ll earn so much in the “School Trip Battle Fortissimo” that Amanezaka will never lose. That’s something only I can do. It’s my value. My talent.
—So, please, don’t bring me back to Academy Island.
—I’m scared of fighting Saionji Sarasa.
“Pathetic, right? But his answer was ‘Approved.’ So, I’ve been on Luna Island ever since, contributing chips to Amanezaka during the ‘School Trip Battle Fortissimo’ periods. That’s what finally gave me value. As a support character only useful in specific ‘Duel Games.’”
Rindou deliberately chooses words that hurt himself. …But, as a fact, Amanezaka Academy hasn’t lost a single “School Trip Battle Fortissimo” in the past three years. Their second-place ranking in last year’s school rankings is undoubtedly built on those victories.
Of course, saying that wouldn’t change Rindou’s mindset.
“Well… anyway, that’s the situation. I’m hiding on this island to escape from ‘Saionji Sarasa.’ So, I had absolutely no intention of participating in the ‘School Trip Battle Fortissimo’ this year, now that she’s a second-year. But the Amanezaka folks keep calling me relentlessly, the Shinra twins showed up in person, and when I tried to brush them off with some half-baked lie…”
“…Sumire saw through it, huh.”
“Yeah, exactly. That little sister exposed everything I was hiding, and I ended up spilling all the details to her brother. On top of that, they gave me this condition: if I help them in the ‘School Trip Battle Fortissimo,’ they’ll invite me to ‘Albion’ in return… That way, even if I don’t belong to any academy or have no official registry, I can stay on Academy Island.”
“‘Albion’… So, using an unofficial underground organization as a cover, huh.”
“Yeah. ‘We’re a bunch of strays, so we’d welcome someone with baggage like you,’ was Fuwa’s pitch. And… I guess I’m just weak-willed, huh. I was determined not to be swayed, but before I knew it, I was helping the Shinras out.”
Rindou shakes his head weakly.
In any case, that’s how Rindou and the Fuwa siblings struck a deal. Rindou Kai would participate in the “School Trip Battle Fortissimo” as a [Stranger], contributing to Shinra’s victory. But with one clause: he’s allowed to avoid games where “Saionji Sarasa” is present.
“…I thought it’d be fine if I could just avoid her. If I could fight in other games, I’d be okay. I thought I could contribute properly and return to Academy Island.”
But it didn’t work, Rindou says, his voice tinged with resignation.
Last night, just seeing her for、手: for the first time in three years, his legs froze. His voice trembled. His heart raced, and he couldn’t think straight. He couldn’t handle it.
“So… I’m useless for now. No matter what I do, all I can see is the scene of losing to her flashing back. I’m fundamentally different from the so-called geniuses like the ‘Empress’ of Academy Island. No matter what, I can’t beat her.”
Rindou shakes his head weakly, spitting out the words to close the conversation.
The sense of inferiority ingrained in him—it’s clearly eaten deep into his psyche. There’s no way he’s in the mood to be persuaded right now.
—But,
(In short, Rindou can’t fight because of his trauma against Hagoromo… the crushing defeat he suffered. If that could be overcome, wouldn’t he be able to fight again? Couldn’t he return as the strongest [Stranger]…?)
That thought crosses my mind. …No, this isn’t the time to say “couldn’t.” At this point, I have to bet on that outcome. No matter how bad the odds, I’ve got to go for the choice with the biggest return. The stage for compromising choices passed long ago.
So, with a slight smirk, I say in a quiet tone,
“Hey, Rindou—wanna play a little game with me?”
♯
“Huh… a game?”
Luna Island, Day 3, 11:30 AM.
As the “School Trip Battle Fortissimo” nears its climax, we hit a critical moment.
[Violet] and the allied districts are currently dominating Luna Island—but the only player capable of standing against them, [Phantom], blinks in surprise at my proposal.
Still, I keep a calm face and continue.
“Yeah, a game. Since there’s no dealer, it’s more like a ‘mock game,’ but I want you to face me one-on-one.”
“What’s that supposed to mean… Are you saying if I lose, I have to cooperate? If so, no way, obviously. Why would I bother with a game that doesn’t benefit me at all?”
“I’m not saying that. I just want to prove something.”
Pulling out my device from my pocket, I state matter-of-factly.
“Thanks for telling me your story. After hearing your situation, I thought about it… The fear and dread you’re feeling—it’s ultimately the ‘fear of defeat,’ right? It’s not [Violet] herself, but the idea of getting crushed by her that scares you. Because you’ve been compared to her your whole life, you’re convinced that fighting her will only end in a humiliating loss.”
“…It’s not just a feeling. I’ve never beaten [Violet]—”
“Of course you haven’t, you’ve only fought her once. And that ‘Meltet’ was three years ago, a ‘Duel Game’… held on Academy Island, not Luna Island. Aren’t you supposed to be the strongest here? Don’t you never lose on this island?”
“No way… If you’re seriously saying that, I’m kinda shocked.”
Rindou tosses his legs off the bed with a self-deprecating smirk.
“Sure, I’m practically a god on this island… My chip count, my [Black Ring] collection—there aren’t many in Luna Island’s history who’ve surpassed me. But that’s obvious. There are hardly any shady dealers here, so the longer you stay, the more chips you rack up. The more rings you collect, the higher your win rate gets. For short-term battles like the ‘School Trip Battle Fortissimo,’ fine, but just grinding for chips doesn’t require talent.”
“…”
“And even with all the rings, it doesn’t mean you can beat everyone—there are real geniuses out there. Because of the Rindou family’s talent-focused policy, I’ve seen plenty of ‘exceptional’ people since I was a kid. Most are just quick thinkers or great at predicting moves, but every now and then, you get a freak. Someone on a whole different level. And those guys always end up as 7 Stars… ruling the top of the Star Capture Game.”
“…Oh? So, [Violet] is one of those ‘real’ ones?”
“Yeah, she’s the real deal, no question. And no matter how many rings you use to pull tricks, you can’t beat those types. I don’t have that kind of talent… There’s no bridging the gap with her.”
[Phantom] keeps repeating “talent,” hanging his head weakly.
That’s probably because he’s a Rindou—the eldest son of the family expected to lead the elite-driven Amanezaka as its next ace. But in a family that prioritizes talent, he was merely average, while the Saionji family’s eldest daughter had genuine genius. The gap between them was overwhelming, and the three years he spent building himself up on Luna Island couldn’t close it.
But even so.
“Hey, Rindou… How do I look to you? If [Violet] is your source of fear and trauma, what’s your impression of me?”
“Your impression… Like I said before, right? No matter how you slice it, you’re on the ‘talented’ side. You’re a 7 Star, and your knack for casino games is unreal. If I tried to reach B-Rank areas on my own, it’d probably take me ten days.”
“Got it. So, between me and [Violet], who do you think is stronger? Your trauma target, [Violet], versus me, a 7 Star. Who do you rank higher?”
“Huh… What’s that, some ultimate binary choice?”
Rindou says skeptically, shrugging slightly.
“Hmm, let’s see… Emotionally, I’d say [Violet] by a landslide, but if I think calmly, maybe you’re about equal? Honestly, I thought ‘Saionji Sarasa’—[Violet]—was already a 7 Star, so if that’s the case, you’d be on par with her.”
“I see. So, we’re about the same strength, but I’m not scary, huh?”
“Well, yeah… I mean, you haven’t traumatized me or anything.”
“Then, when it comes to a game with me, you’re not ‘so scared you want to run,’ right?”
“…That’s your angle, huh.”
As if finally catching my drift, Rindou lifts his face slowly with a mix of exasperation and realization in his gesture.
“So, you’re saying since I’m not scared of a game with you, I can do it, right? And since you’re as strong as [Violet], if I can beat you, I should be able to beat [Violet] too… Is that what you’re calling ‘proof’?”
“You catch on quick. Saves me some trouble.”
I grin and nod.
That’s right—the reason I challenged him to a game is exactly that. It’s not about winning or losing conditions. Rindou Kai is running from casino games purely because he’s convinced “[Violet] is unbeatable.” His inferiority complex and resignation about his own lack of special talent constantly control his actions.
That’s why we’ve got to smash that mindset first.
“Relax, Rindou. My goal is just to get to the game itself. What you do after that is up to you. Of course, I’d love for you to join us… but it’s gotta be your choice, with the guts to take down everyone. Otherwise, it’s pointless.”
“…Are you seriously saying that to me? I’ve never felt that way in my life.”
“Then this’ll be your first time. It’ll change your world. Even just faking it is enough.”
I goad him with a fearless grin. Rindou, in response, silently shrugs—good enough to take as agreement. He hasn’t fully committed to cooperating with Eimei yet, but he’s at least agreed to the game with me. First step cleared, in other words.
Glancing at Himeji beside me, she flicks her silver hair and speaks.
“Very well. I shall act as the dealer’s proxy. The participants are Master and Rindou-sama, just the two of you. Since this isn’t an official game, all effects will be substitutes. Therefore, let’s adopt the simplest rules possible—the game is called [Selector].”
“…What kind of game is it?”
“It’s essentially a ‘coin toss.’ First, the parent player flips the coin, catches it on the back of their hand, and covers it with their other hand. Then, the child player predicts which side will be up, betting up to 10,000 chips. However, bets must be placed between the moment the coin is flipped and when it lands.”
“…”
“By the way, the child’s bet details remain confidential until the result is revealed. The sequence is: the parent flips the coin, the child places the bet, the parent catches the coin, and then the predicted bet and coin result are revealed simultaneously… That’s how the game progresses.”
“Got it… How many rounds?”
“Ten rounds. However, the parent only switches if the child’s bet succeeds.”
Himeji finishes her explanation in her usual cool tone.
The mock casino game [Selector]—its rules are, in essence, a standard coin toss. While there’s some strategy in the timing of bets or parent switches, it’s fundamentally just a “50-50 guess” game.
Perhaps because of that simplicity, though,
“…Fine, whatever. If it’ll satisfy you guys, it’s a small price to pay.”
Rindou says, nodding slightly. At the same time, he swipes his device with his right hand, making a white mask glimmer dully. The strongest [Stranger] on Luna Island, [Phantom]—Rindou Kai and my unofficial match was about to begin.
“Thanks. …Alright, let’s start with you as the parent.”
Following [Phantom]’s lead, I project a black mask while flipping a single coin—one fitted with a black ring—toward him with a flick of my finger. Luna Island’s chips and rings are generally augmented reality (AR) substitutes, but this is a real coin I bought in the commercial district. It has a complex pattern on one side, designated as heads.
“Oh… So I just flip this, huh? But what about the child’s bet?”
“Got that covered too.”
Before I even finish replying, a translucent panel projects in front of me—two commands to select [Heads] or [Tails], plus a keypad to input the chip amount. This is a makeshift system Kagaya-san set up just moments ago. When Rindou flips the coin, I’ll need to input my bet before it lands.
At that moment, Rindou, who’d been toying with the coin, speaks in a probing tone.
“Just to confirm… As long as Shinohara keeps guessing wrong, I stay the parent, right? And the parent gets the chips the child loses… That sound right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. If the guess is right, chips move from parent to child; if wrong, from child to parent, exactly as betted. Of course, since this is a mock game, it’s just for show.”
“Hm… What about using [Black Rings]? …Can we even use them?”
“Of course, that’s possible. The rings won’t actually be consumed, but their effects will alter the visual effects accordingly… or so you can assume. Let’s limit it to one ring per game, though. That should still give Rindou-sama a significant advantage.”
Makes sense, Rindou nods. …On Luna Island, rings are essentially your hand. Even with just one, his vast ring collection opens up endless strategies. At the same time, the expression behind his white mask shifts to a slightly more serious one—and then,
“Alright, let’s get started. A game to make you give up on recruiting me… and, while we’re at it, for me to give up on my own talent.”
[Phantom] flicks the coin high into the air.
The mock casino game [Selector]—its first round began quietly.
I chose [Tails / 1000 chips]. A low bet, and I picked heads or tails on a whim. A decent way to test the waters, I’d say.
“…[Black Ring: Pre-Disclosure] activated.”
But [Phantom] didn’t hesitate, drawing his weapon from the first move—[Black Ring: Pre-Disclosure]. This reveals my [Tails / 1000 chips] choice before the coin lands, visible to [Phantom]’s eyes. Whether he adjusted his wrist snap or not, I don’t know, but the revealed coin was [Heads].
“—Tough luck, you missed.”
[Phantom] states the result flatly, not boasting.
And from there, a relentless streak began—heads, tails, tails, heads, tails, heads, heads, heads. All were 1000-chip bets, but from the second to ninth rounds, every single guess of mine was wrong. If this were pure luck, the odds of nine straight losses are 1/512. Not impossible, but hardly a casual miracle.
But… truth be told, I’d figured out the trick.
“The panel’s layout… that’s it, right?”
I touch my right ear lightly, speaking in a calm tone.
“You used the ring to peek at my bet in the first round, not just to guarantee a win. It was to memorize the panel’s layout. As long as you knew where [Heads] and [Tails] were, you could see what I picked from the second round onward.”
“…Yeah, sure. But figuring that out now is a bit late, isn’t it?”
“Nah, not really. Because—”
Cutting myself off, I flash a grin and swipe my device, making the panel in front of me vanish. With nothing obstructing my view, I lock eyes with [Phantom] again.
“—In [Selector], the betting panel isn’t essential. It’s just ‘for show.’ Even without it, I can place bets with my device.”
“…Huh? Then why until now… No way, you’re losing on purpose?”
“Who knows? Doubt me all you want, but there’s still one bet left.”
I keep up my bold, relaxed demeanor. …And why wouldn’t I? Luna Island’s casino rules are universally “whoever earns more wins.” Sure, I’ve missed nine guesses in a row, but since they were all small bets, my total loss is 9000 chips. If I nail a 10,000-chip bet next, that alone flips the outcome.
“Hah… Just flip it already, [Phantom]. I’ve got my bet ready.”
“…Tch.”
Looking like he’s half-expecting me to lose, [Phantom] grimaces and flips the coin with force. It spins rapidly and lands in his hand. No way to check heads or tails, but I’ve already placed my bet.
—And then,
“Now, for the tenth round’s reveal. Master’s bet was [Heads / 10,000 chips]. And the face-up side is… [Tails]. Unfortunately, no hit.”
“…What?”
“This means all betted chips transfer to [Phantom]-sama. The total chip change is +19,000 for [Phantom]-sama. And with that—”
“No… Wait, hold on.”
Just as Himeji begins announcing the result in her cool tone, [Phantom] cuts in, raising his voice. Despite being the side that earned more, he looks stunned, gripping the sheets tightly and staring through his mask.
“What’s that? I won…? No way. Explain it properly, Shinohara.”
“Explain what? It was just a luck-based game in the end, and I guessed wrong.”
“No, it’s not just luck. You’re acting way too calm, like you knew you’d lose from the start… If it was really up to chance, you’d be at least a little—”
The rules of Luna Island Casino are uniformly “the one who earns more wins.” That’s right.
I’ve missed my predictions nine times in a row, but they were all small bets,
so the total loss is 9,000 chips. In other words, if I succeed with a 10,000-chip bet next,
it would be enough to turn the tide of victory.
“Hah… Hurry up and flip the coin, [Phantom]. I’ve already decided my bet.”
“…Damn it.”
As if implying I’d end up losing, [Phantom] grimaced
and flipped the coin with force. It spun rapidly,
eventually landing in [Phantom]’s hand. There’s no way to confirm heads or tails,
but I’ve already placed my bet.
—And then,
“Now, we will reveal the results of the tenth round. Master’s bet was [Heads / 10,000 chips].
And the face showing is… [Tails], unfortunately. That means you missed.”
“…Huh?”
“As a result, all the chips bet will be transferred to [Phantom]-sama. The total chip balance
shows [Phantom]-sama at +19,000 chips. And so—”
“No… Wait, hold on.”
The moment Himeji was about to announce the results in her cool tone,
[Phantom] interrupted with a raised voice. Despite being the one who should have earned more,
for some reason, he stared at me through his mask with a dumbfounded expression, clutching the sheets tightly.
“What the hell was that? I won…? No way. Explain it properly, Shinohara.”
“Explain what? The last round was just a game of chance, wasn’t it? I just missed my prediction.”
“No, it wasn’t just chance. You acted so calm, like you knew you’d lose from the start…
If it was really left to luck, wouldn’t you normally be a bit more frustrated?”
[Phantom] threw his doubts at me, revealing faint irritation.
“What did you do, huh? …In the final round, I couldn’t figure out your bet,
so I tried reading your expression, but I gave up because it was useless. You were still holding onto [Black Ring],
and I was sure you’d lose… Yet, you missed your prediction. If you’re gonna say this was a coincidence,
I’ll cheat right now and walk away. I don’t care about the [School Trip Battle Fortissimo] anymore.”
“…Well, you’re right. Like you said, that last loss wasn’t just a coincidence.”
“Right? But how did you…?”
“Same as you, [Phantom]—I read your moves. When you catch the coin with [Heads] up
versus [Tails] up, the way you pull your left hand is slightly different, isn’t it? It’s a beat slower for [Tails].
Just like you saw through my bet from the panel layout, I was observing your habits the whole time.”
I declared with a smug grin—but of course, that was a lie.
Or rather, I wasn’t the one who noticed. Himeji, acting as the dealer,
thoroughly analyzed it during the first few rounds
and relayed it to me through the earpiece in my right ear.
“…What the hell?”
Learning my trick, [Phantom]’s voice trembled slightly as he continued roughly.
“So, you deliberately lost, didn’t you? You completely saw through my habits
and chose to lose on purpose. In a situation like this, making me think ‘I beat the Seven Stars’
or ‘Maybe I can beat [Violet] too’—is that the illusion you’re trying to create?
Sorry, but I’m pretty negative. There’s no way that’s possible.”
“…That’s not it, idiot.”
To [Phantom]’s self-deprecating accusations, I gave a straightforward reply.
“Sure, my ‘total loss’ had a trick—up to the ninth round, I let you win on purpose,
and in the tenth, I went for the hit. But think about it. Doesn’t that seem weird?”
“Weird… What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb, genius. How does a game like this even have concepts like ‘sure win’?
Normally, you can’t see the heads or tails of a falling coin, and you can’t choose which side faces up.
So why did it turn into such a complex psychological battle? That’s because of you, [Phantom].
Your tosses are so precise, hitting the exact side you aim for every time, that it created this ‘mind game.’”
That’s right—originally, I should’ve been the one showing shock.
In [Selector], the only mind-game element is usually the ring.
But because the dealer was [Phantom], the situation became far more intricate.
Luck was eliminated, turning it into a game on another level.
Placing a hand on my jet-black mask, I looked straight at [Phantom] and continued.
“It’s not just now. Roulette wheel manipulation, deck counting—
there’s probably no dealer in all of Luna Island who can do it better than you.
That’s your weapon, isn’t it? A skill no one can beat.”
“That… might be true, but… skills are nothing compared to talent.
Anyone can acquire skills with effort, which is why it’s written as ‘technique’ and ‘method,’ right?
Someone who can achieve what no one else can is obviously greater.”
“Is that so? If you really believe that, that’s your downfall.
You have all this skill, yet you’ve been fooled by vague words like ‘talent’ into thinking you’re weak?
Don’t mess around—listen, [Phantom]. In a game, the winner wins.
Whether it’s skill or talent doesn’t matter one bit. You’re undeniably strong.
At the very least, I’ve never seen anyone flip a coin as skillfully as you.”
“…Tch…”
As I wrapped up my speech, [Phantom] silently lowered his face slightly.
…He’s probably a very serious guy by nature.
He wasn’t blessed with extraordinary talent but never stopped working hard.
That’s why he’s so good at “building up,” and he had time.
For three years, Rindou Kai honed his skills on Luna Island.
Let me say it again—he’s undoubtedly the strongest [Stranger] on Luna Island.
“…But still.”
At that moment, [Phantom] let out a soft murmur.
Unlike the defiant tone from before, his voice carried a hint of fragility.
“I still don’t think I can beat [Violet]… I’m aware of it.
I’m probably not good at using [Black Ring].
It feels like outright cheating, so I have some resistance to it.
Like earlier, I tend to use it up early and discard it…”
“Oh? So if you could get past that, you might have a shot at beating [Violet]?”
“…I wouldn’t go that far, not even if my mouth was torn open.
But [Violet] uses the ring much more boldly.
If I could do it like that, maybe I could get a little stronger.”
Shaking his head, [Phantom] implied “it’s impossible for me.”
The only weakness of the man who built up his skills is [Black Ring].
Indeed, [Violet] seems to dominate games by freely using the ring.
In contrast, [Phantom] uses it as a mere supplement to his skills.
Whether to make cheat items the core of strategy or treat them as universal support—
that difference in approach is clear.
…And then.
If we were to divide all players into one of those two categories,
I’d definitely fall into the former.
“Hey, Rindou. I’ve actually been wearing a ring since I got here… Did you notice?”
“Huh? Oh, you are wearing one… Wait, a black ring? No way, that’s—”
“Exactly. This isn’t a real ring—it’s an augmented reality AR [Black Ring].”
As I said that, I quietly raised my right hand.
On my index finger was a ring adorned with jet-black decorations…
unmistakably a [Black Ring].
With a slight smirk, I continued in a confident tone.
“You mentioned earlier that I was ‘holding onto my ring,’ right?
That was just a misunderstanding. I’ve already used [Black Ring]—
in fact, I used it before you did.”
“…[Black Ring: Situation Reversal]? In this game, the player who pays more chips to their opponent wins…!?”
—Yes, exactly.
The jet-black ring on my right hand was the very cheat item I used.
Its effect was to reverse the win condition… No, actually, it’s my trump card with a different effect,
but it can be used this way too—a [Black Ring].
Hearing my declaration, Himeji spoke in her cool tone.
“Yes—and so, my earlier announcement changes.
The result of the pseudo-casino game [Selector] is +19,000 chips for [Phantom]-sama’s defeat.
The winner is Master.”
“…Well, that’s how it is.”
As expected, the planned outcome unfolded perfectly.
Having become the “reversal winner” as intended, I spoke boldly to the stunned [Phantom]—or rather, Rindou Kai.
“As you can see, I’m pretty good at handling rings and cheating.
…No, that’s not right. Since I don’t have skills like you, I have to rely on my brain to come up with strategies.
That means we’re pretty compatible, don’t you think?
If you come with me, I probably won’t lose to anyone.”
“…Tch…”
“Also… I hate to bring it up again, Rindou, but what did you think when Fuwa Mutsuru invited you?
Going back to Academy Island is great, but returning quietly without belonging to any academy—
is that really enough for you? No way, right?
You’re going to crush [Violet] in the [School Trip Battle Fortissimo],
completely overcome your trauma, and return to Academy Island triumphantly.
Then, you can enroll in Amanezaka or any school you like and—”
“…And?”
“Become my rival, Rindou. You can never have too many people to compete with.”
With that, I quietly wrapped up my speech.
That’s all the persuasion I can offer—I can’t pay any price,
nor can I instantly resolve his trauma with [Violet].
All I can do is show him a direction.
Rindou, who’s honed intricate skills on Luna Island,
and me, who’s kept cheating to protect the false title of Seven Stars.
If we team up, we’re practically invincible.
To that proposal, he…
“…Let me think about it.”
After a long silence, he said that in a strained voice.
♯
—Luna Island, third day, evening.
While waiting for Rindou’s answer, Himeji and I kept racking up chips.
Let’s review the current state of the [School Trip Battle Fortissimo]—
unlike the first day when [Phantom] gave Shinra’s team an overwhelming lead,
now the alliance of St. Rosalia and Tsuyuri, led by [Violet], is dominating with a staggering total of over 15 million chips.
Pulled by [Violet], Minami and Kururugi have both surpassed 1 million chips,
already moving their battlefield to the A-rank area.
Conversely, the other academies are in a stalemate.
The second place after the alliance is Ouka, home to the double aces Saionji and Fujishiro.
Saionji has 1.21 million chips, stepping into the A-rank area, with Fujishiro hot on her heels.
Eimei Academy is still in third.
My chip count is 770,000… not bad, but nowhere near enough.
To win the [School Trip Battle Fortissimo] and pass Hagoromo Shion’s test game,
my minimum mission is to secure the A-rank area entry license—meaning 1 million chips—by the end of today.
“Phew…”
So, Himeji and I are currently tackling a certain casino game.
The game is [Rock Baccarat]—risk level [☆2, slightly high],
and one that Kagaya-san gave a glowing “absolutely recommended!” as an “easy to earn” game.
While probing the win conditions in the first few rounds, I casually asked Himeji something that crossed my mind.
“By the way… is everything okay with the Jackpot Time?”
“Indeed. It should be starting soon, shouldn’t it…?”
Whispering softly, Himeji lowered her clear blue eyes to her device’s screen.
Jackpot Time—the high-stakes game we participated in on the first day.
It’s undoubtedly a key factor in dominating the [School Trip Battle Fortissimo],
but it’s not very efficient for players who can already enter B-rank or higher areas.
So, since yesterday, we’ve entrusted its management to Tsuji and Tatara.
Recalling that, Himeji gently shook her silver hair and nodded slightly.
“It seems it started on schedule just a moment ago.
There are no participants from Eimei Academy, as we discussed,
and the selection has been entrusted to Fuuka-san and Tsuji-sama, so there shouldn’t be any issues.
Besides… most of the so-called high-rankers have already moved to B-rank or higher areas.”
“…Yeah, makes sense.”
Satisfied with Himeji’s response, I shifted my focus back to the game.
…As confirmed with Kagaya-san, [Rock Baccarat] is currently the highest-stakes game in the B-rank area.
However, with several players already in the A-rank area, there’s only one familiar pair here.
“Wow, amazing… Shinohara-kun’s really strong, huh.
But, Fujishiro-k—Kei, Keiya! Keiya’s not losing either!”
“…If it’s that hard to say, just use my last name.”
“No way, I decided to be brave. My mission is to spread Keiya’s greatness!”
The two from Ouka—Fujishiro Keiya and Mano Yuuka—were having a somewhat fresh conversation.
As they said, [Rock Baccarat] was currently dominated by Himeji and me.
After seven sets, both of us had earned over 200,000 chips.
Being a simple card game, it’s easy for [Company] to intervene, making it a jackpot game for us.
“Honestly… just having fewer high-rankers makes earning so much easier.
It means we’re being left behind, but I’m kinda grateful for it right now.”
“Indeed. With Minami-sama, Kururugi-sama, Sarasa-sama, and Shion-sama advancing to the A-rank area,
and Fukami-sama and Sumire-sama participating in games in other zones,
if Fujishiro-sama and Mano-sama had moved there too, we might’ve already hit 1 million chips by now…”
“Well, that’s probably expecting a bit too much… Wait, huh?”
I gave a wry smile at Himeji’s comment, then suddenly furrowed my brow.
Come to think of it, what’s that guy—Yakura, the sunglasses guy—up to?
That flashy guy from Amanezaka, with high game sense and a relentless drive for victory.
Is it even possible that someone as aggressive as him isn’t participating in any game?
(…No.)
A sudden possibility hit me, and I quietly raised my face.
The current time is 8 p.m.—an hour since Jackpot Time started.
A bad feeling surged. His taunt about “one-man” hit me with a vivid intensity.
“…What’s up, Shinohara? It’s your turn.”
Noticing my prolonged silence, Fujishiro called out in his usual rough tone.
I mumbled, “Ah, uh…” while glancing sideways.
There was an unfamiliar girl in an Amanezaka uniform—her player name was [Nishino].
“…Hey, you’re from Amanezaka, right?”
“? …M-Me!? I’m not tasty even if you eat me!”
“I’m not gonna eat you. That’s not what I mean…
Your guy, Yakura with the sunglasses, he’s around, right?
Where is he and what’s he doing? I thought he’d be in some game…”
“Oh… Phew, that’s what you meant.”
As I got straight to the point, Nishino nodded in understanding.
Without any intent to hide, she casually said,
“Yakura-kun said he was going to crash Jackpot Time, I think…”
…Probably.
That answer was among the “worst” scenarios I’d imagined.
♭
“Man, this is so boring—everyone’s just a bunch of noobs, seriously lame ☆.”
—[School Trip Battle Fortissimo], third day, Jackpot Time [Death Seven].
A game with nearly fifty participants, including up to four from each Academy Island district and [Strangers],
was being completely dominated by a single player.
Yakura Ryūji—a second-year from Amanezaka Academy with flashy blue hair and sunglasses.
In Eimei’s chat, he’s labeled a “high-risk, high-return dangerous guy.”
He favors strategies that lead to instant defeat if they fail but yield massive profits if successful.
In Academy Island’s [Duel Games], that trait has its pros and cons,
but on Luna Island, it clearly works in his favor.
After all, a hundred wins or one win against ninety-nine losses are equal if the chip earnings are the same.
Plus, a “do-or-die gamble” has a much higher success rate in an environment with no one to counter it.
So, despite already having a B-rank area entry license,
he joined Jackpot Time, where no “strong opponents” were present—
and controlled the first two of the three rounds almost entirely as he pleased.
(God… what’s going on here?)
Amid the Eimei camp, sinking into an atmosphere like condemned criminals,
Tsuji Yuki tried to regain composure by reviewing the events so far.
The casino game [Death Seven]—despite its ominous name, it’s based on the card game “Sevens.”
Players place cards next to those on the field, winning when they run out of cards…
a classic game’s expanded version.
With nearly fifty players acting simultaneously, the goal is to either use [Kill] to turn others’ cards into “dead cards”
or [Play] to correctly exhaust one’s hand.
But—no, recalling the detailed rules or mechanics is pointless.
In short, Tsuji and the others were completely outplayed psychologically, without any ring effects,
and Yakura’s surprise [Kill] wiped out over half their cards in the first turn.
“…”
The rest was a disaster, to put it mildly.
Players whose plans were shattered tried to recover in the second turn and beyond,
recklessly spamming [Kill]. Many failed their actions, turning their entire hands into “dead cards,”
and the first round ended as is.
In [Death Seven], the number of “dead cards” increases the chips you pay…
so the dozens of players who lost the first round racked up debts of over 50,000 chips each.
For most, that’s a fatal defeat crossing the critical loss line.
If the game ends and settlements happen, they’re done for, so everyone approached the second round cautiously…
(Yeah… we’re totally being played.)
—In the second round, Yakura neither used [Kill] nor [Play], simply passing his turns.
Naturally, he lost, but with almost no “dead cards,” his losses were minimal.
Far from covering the first round’s debts.
Yawning nonchalantly, Yakura fiddled with his piercing, looking bored.
“Ugh, it’s just too easy, lol. Easy earnings, lucky me…
but, like, guilt? Winning too much isn’t even fun.
I had some hopes since Eimei folks were here, but it’s just Shinohara’s one-man show, huh.”
“…Tch…”
“Well, if I endure this, tomorrow’s the fun A-rank area… guess I’ll tough it out.”
Yakura said that not as a taunt but as a plain fact.
Despite his flashy look and gleaming sunglasses, everyone glared at him with hostility,
but he didn’t care. He didn’t need to.
They weren’t on the same level. For Yakura Ryūji, a Five Star,
no one here was an opponent.
A resigned mood began to spread.
Words of “we got a bad opponent” and “can’t help it” echoed, as if licking each other’s wounds.
—That’s when it happened.
“…I’m sorry.”
Suddenly, the ponytail girl standing next to Tsuji—
Tatara Fuuka—stumbled as if losing her balance.
Tsuji caught her, preventing a fall, but something was clearly wrong with her.
Unlike the others who had given up, she hid her tear-streaked face,
gripping Tsuji’s uniform tightly.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, everyone. Really, really sorry…”
“…Hey, why’s Tatara-san apologizing? You’re not secretly working with that guy, are you?”
“No way, I’m not… I’m not pen-palling or anything!”
“Not pen-palling, conspiring. Like a spy.”
“No, no. I’m not doing anything cool like that…
but I have to apologize.”
Pressing her face into Tsuji’s uniform, Tatara Fuuka spoke in a trembling voice.
Tsuji tried to protest, but she continued haltingly, cutting him off.
“Because… because I’m the class president… I was supposed to lead everyone.
I was supposed to win properly.
Shinohara-kun even said ‘I’m counting on you’…
but I couldn’t do anything.”
“…That’s…”
“It’s true! Everyone had so many chips,
and because I’m the president, I said ‘trust me,’ and they did, they entrusted them to me,
but I couldn’t protect that trust! I can’t stand it…
I’m the president, I’m supposed to be strong!”
Tatara shook her ponytail vigorously.
“…”
From Tsuji’s perspective, honestly, this wasn’t something she should feel guilty about.
Tsuji, the two classmates here, everyone knew high-stakes games carry high risks from the start.
And, frankly, it’s just a game.
If the four of them hit a critical loss, Eimei might take a hit,
but with Shinohara Hiroto there, they wouldn’t lose easily.
“…Maybe I’m not cut out for this.”
Still—even if the rational part of her understood that,
seeing her crying stirred something undeniable in Tsuji’s chest.
A girl who’d never taken any [Duel Game] seriously before
felt a fierce, almost angry surge in her heart,
and there was no doubt about it.
“I wanted to be a president everyone could rely on, everyone would like,
strong and cool… but maybe I’m just not good enough—mgh!?”
“…Can you be quiet for a sec, Tatara-san?”
So, to stop the words Tsuji least wanted to hear from the girl he admired most,
he pulled Tatara’s head to his chest for a moment,
then gently pushed her shoulders with a soft tap.
Tatara, her eyes red and swollen from crying, looked at Tsuji with confusion.
Smiling silently in return, Tsuji turned around—
“Oh?”
—Click. She summoned a jet-black ring in front of the bored-looking Yakura.
Noticing it, he toyed with his flashy blue hair and shot a sharp glance at Tsuji.
“What’s this… [Black Ring]? I don’t recall opening up for donations.”
“I’m not giving it to you. That’s the ring I planned to use in the final round for a comeback.
I’m entrusting it to you—sealing it so I can’t use it.
So, how about you play along? Let’s both put our lifelines on the line.”
“Whoa, for an unknown player who’s never been in a big event, you’re pretty bold.
What’s in it for me? Explain in 140 characters or less.”
“If you don’t, you’ll look insanely lame. You’re like a jerk high schooler crashing a kids’ baseball game with a metal bat.
If you ignore their concessions, you’re truly hopeless.”
“Tch, you’ve got a mouth on you. I’d consider a fun challenge,
but… why are you so pissed? I’m playing by the rules.
The power gap’s just too big, no need to vilify me.”
“I get it… I mean, do I really seem that angry?”
“Anyone with eyes can see it. You mocking me?”
To Yakura’s exasperated reply, Tsuji quietly touched her cheek.
She thought she’d kept her demeanor in check, but it seems her training’s still lacking.
“…I think I’m pretty patient, you know. I hardly ever get mad at anyone in daily life,
and I’m not that interested in things outside myself.
Anger’s an emotion for when something precious is broken, hurt, or insulted, right?
Sadly, I don’t have much that’s precious.”
“Oh? …And?”
“But right now, I’m definitely angry. I can swallow most things,
but this is something I can’t let slide.
This feeling is probably my reason to fight.”
With a slight smirk, Tsuji slowly threw her words at him.
…
Yuki, as a person, is basically energy-efficient.
Since she can handle most things better than others, she rarely puts in full effort.
Studies, [Duel Games], it’s all the same.
If she invested time and effort, she might aim a bit higher,
but she’d never reach the likes of Six or Seven Stars.
So, it’s better to half-ass it and settle for a decent spot.
But—no, because of that,
Tatara Fuuka, who gives her all to everything, is dazzling to Tsuji.
The thought of her dream being crushed was an unbearable pain Tsuji couldn’t believe.
“God, Shinohara-kun’s such a Shinohara.
Saying ‘I’m counting on you’ so casually, like it’s nothing.
He should think about how it feels to be relied on by Academy Island’s strongest.”
If it’s a plea, it makes you want to try hard; if it’s trust, it’s a little ticklish.
“Well, but—”
At that point, Tsuji glanced back.
There was Tatara with bloodshot eyes, supported by the glasses-wearing Misumi,
and Tonomura, exuding a resolute aura.
Eimei Academy High School 2-A classmates…
members probably unknown to 99% of Academy Island.
In a story, they’d be as close to mob characters as it gets.
Yet now, they’re all united in responding to Tatara’s trust and spirit.
Likewise, Tsuji—bluntly put, she’s pissed.
So,
“—I’ll make sure you can never say Eimei’s second-years are weak except for Shinohara-kun.”
Tsuji thrust his device at Yakura like a magic trick and said in a low voice.
♯
“…Huh? What’s the rush, Shinohara-kun?”
Luna Island, third day, 9 p.m. sharp.
Having cut [Rock Baccarat] short to head to Jackpot Time’s venue,
Himeji and I were greeted by Yuki, smiling nonchalantly,
and our classmates sporting oddly cheerful grins.
““…?””
The scene was so far from our expectations that Himeji and I exchanged glances.
Representing our confusion, Himeji, shaking her silver hair, cautiously spoke.
“No… We heard that Yakura-sama, a Five Star from Amanezaka, was participating in this game.
We came back in case something went wrong, but…”
“Hmm? So you didn’t trust us after all?”
“—Why do you have to say it so meanly, Yuki-kun!”
Yuki shot back with a mischievous smile, teasing us.
The one who raised a loud voice following him was standing right next to him,
Tatara. It probably wasn’t because of the bunny ear headband, but her eyes were faintly
red as she turned toward us with a beaming smile.
“Thank you for coming, both of you! Just as Shirayuki-chan said,
I was battling Yagura-kun in the same game until just a moment ago. He was so strong,
I thought I was about to lose, but…”
“But?”
“I pulled off a huge comeback! Everyone was amazing,
-kun,
Sumitsume-chan, and Tonomura-kun were the best!”
“…Uh, Tatara-san? Exaggeration is fine, but that’s a bit much—”
“No way!
-kun was super, super cool and
awesome! He was the best in the universe!”
For a moment, her praise made him choke on his words, then he muttered, “…I see,”
quietly.
Well, anyway—listening to Tatara’s story, I gradually started to grasp the situation. With overwhelming skill, Yagura Ryūji dominated the game.
Provoking him and sealing his ring,
Tsuji quickly moved to “form a team” as a strategy.
With Tatara, who was better than anyone at rallying people, as the figurehead, he got all fifty people there on his side.
And so, using over thirty different rings, he made everything “as if it never happened”—
In simple terms, it was like a puzzle. Nullifying others’ rings, going back one turn, designating the next action, matching chip counts, and so on.
By meticulously combining countless [Black Rings],
he essentially reset the match up to the second round, and furthermore,
in the third round, everyone except Yagura started with “one card” and “maximum bet,” an overwhelmingly advantageous position.
This pushed Yagura to the brink of a critical loss, they say.
(Seriously…? He did that?)
I couldn’t help but be shocked by the fact. …The coordination of [Black Rings] isn’t particularly unusual,
but stacking thirty types is insane in terms of processing power.
Plus, Tatara’s ability to unite players who weren’t even allies was astonishing.
Or perhaps she awakened after being provoked by people from other districts?
(No… that’s not it. They just didn’t have a chance to shine before, but these two were always strong.
Far more suited than me, more experienced, and more resolved…
Maybe the idea that Eimei’s player base is weak was a huge misunderstanding.)
The moment I let my guard down ever so slightly…
“—Emergency alert, emergency alert!”
A deafening sound struck my eardrums, and Himeji and I both tensed up.
With them right in front of us, we didn’t show our nerves,
but we focused all our senses on listening.
“This is Kagaya-onee-san! I was tracking the logs of a game [Violet]-tan was in,
and a huge incident just broke out!”
“Game name: [Chicken Race]—a casino game against the dealer held in the A-rank area.
Players take turns one by one, battling the dealer.
Each time, you can lower the ‘win rate’… At first, the odds are heavily in the players’ favor,
but gradually, the dealer gains the advantage.
And as that happens, the betting rate keeps rising.
If you lose to the dealer, you pay the full bet; if you fold, you pay half to everyone. That’s the rule.”
“And! The participants were [Violet]-tan, Minami-chan,
Kururugi-chan, Saionji-chan, and about three [Stranger] kids… or so.”
“To cut to the chase—Saionji-chan got crushed.”
“…Can’t be helped. With three from the coalition there, and [Chicken Race] being a game where everyone piles on one weak player,
once someone’s at a disadvantage, you have no choice but to jump on.”
“Saionji-chan tried to adapt quickly, but preventing a critical loss was the best she could do.”
“Her final loss was 970,000 chips… Recovery from here might be a bit tough, y’know.”
Gone was the usual carefree cheer; Kagaya-san murmured in a solemn tone.
Hearing that from afar, I stood frozen in place.
♯
Saying I had somewhere to be, I parted ways with Tsuji and the others for now,
leaving just Himeji and me.
“…I’m sorry, Master…”
She looked distressed, biting her lower lip slightly, her cat whiskers seeming to droop.
“It’s my mistake… I was with Shion-sama, yet I couldn’t stop her rampage,
and I let Rina get pushed to the edge of elimination.
The only saving grace is that it didn’t reach a critical loss,
but losing nearly a million chips at this timing…”
“…Well, it’s not like it doesn’t hurt. But it’s not something for you to feel bad about, Himeji.
Your role is strictly to ensure ‘Hagoromo, when she’s on a roll, doesn’t cause a critical loss.’
The losses are on me and Saionji.
Besides, Hagoromo’s part of the coalition now, right?
Handling her, Minami, and Kururugi at the same time is just too much.”
“No, but—”
“No buts. Without you, this trial game wouldn’t even work—so there’s no need to apologize.
Plus, [School Trip Battle Fortissimo] still has half a day left.”
To Himeji, who peered at me anxiously with her jade eyes, I said firmly.
And—just then, the device in my pocket suddenly vibrated.
Checking the display, the name shown was Saionji Sarasa.
My eyes widened at the eerily timely name, and I started the call on speaker mode.
“—Saionji? You okay?”
“? Okay, you say… Oh, I get it. You’ve already got a grasp on things here, huh?”
Saionji’s voice carried a hint of a smile, as if she’d been caught off guard.
She’s supposed to be standing on the edge of a cliff right now.
Defeated by the coalition led by Hagoromo, her chip count is on the verge of a critical loss.
Surviving a near 1-vs-6 situation is impressive, but reaching the 1 million chips required for high-rankers in [School Trip Battle Fortissimo]—
or the 10 million needed to pass Hagoromo’s trial game—is hopelessly out of reach.
Yet, the voice coming through the call was surprisingly upbeat.
“Geez, what a mess… I was planning to make my move around that turn, y’know.
But Shion got the jump on me by one turn, and before I knew it, everyone else was swept up.
Once it got like that, a comeback was impossible, so I defended what I could and bailed.”
“Yeah… that was probably the right call. Using a ring recklessly would’ve been worse.
Paying the minimum chips to end the game was the better choice.”
“…Hmm? Consoling me, huh? I thought you’d say something like,
‘If you can’t overcome that level of adversity, then if you’re the [Empress], I must be a god or something.’”
“What’s that supposed to mean? When have I ever said—”
“‘Always.’”
“—Well, yeah, I’ve said it, but… y’know, that’s just…”
It’s the banter between the Academy Island’s strongest, the invincible [Empress], and me—a kind of spark.
It’s just provocation for show; I’ve never genuinely looked down on Saionji.
“Anyway… the real issue is what we do next.”
Shaking my head to refocus, I spoke quietly.
“[School Trip Battle Fortissimo] and Hagoromo’s trial game—both end tomorrow.
You and I have about half a day to get our chip counts to 10 million.”
“Right. By the way, how many chips do you have, Shinohara?”
“Me? Uh… I hit 1.3 million after the last game.
Himeji’s at 1.08 million. It’s tight, but we’ve secured A-rank area entry licenses.”
“Hmm, hmm…”
Saionji responded with a tone that suggested she was casually crossing her arms on the other side.
With a faint sigh, she continued in a belligerent tone.
“Well, that means we’re not completely out of time.
From what I’ve heard, the A-rank area hosts one [☆5] game daily.
In those, a single round—not even a full game—can move hundreds of thousands to a million chips.
Of course, Shion and the others will probably join, but…
the point is, if we can rack up chips there, we’ve got a shot at hitting 10 million.
So, as much as it pains me, we’ll have to team up.
You can’t beat the coalition alone.”
“Huh…? Wait, hold on, Saionji. Team-up aside,
with your chip count, you can’t even enter the A-rank area, can you?
Unless you’re planning to grind it out now…”
“Heh—don’t underestimate me. I’m the [Empress] of the world!”
Cutting off my concern, Saionji spoke in a playful tone.
“The ring I brought to [School Trip Battle Fortissimo] is [License Forgery].
With this, I can freely move up to the A-rank area for one day.
Even if I’m cornered, I always make sure there’s a chance for a ‘one-shot reversal’!”
“Oh… I see. Nice one, Saionji.”
“Hehe, right? Isn’t it? Go ahead and praise me to your heart’s content!”
Her delighted laugh and sigh tickled my eardrums, secretly making my heart race.
But, well, anyway—the ring [License Forgery] lets her bypass chip requirements to enter up to the A-rank area.
With that, Saionji can indeed join the highest-stakes games starting tomorrow morning.
There’s a slim chance she could reach the S-rank area.
After thinking it through, I gave a small nod.
“Alright, then I’ll ask [Company] to look into the details of this [☆5] game.
We won’t have much time to strategize, but it’s better than nothing.”
“Yeah, sounds good. You aside, Shinohara, your cheating team is reliable.”
“It’s not a cheating team, it’s [Company]! And… aren’t you being weirdly cheerful?
Not that I’m saying you should mope, but still.”
“? Am I?”
Saionji let out a sound like she only just noticed, pausing briefly as if thinking.
Then, in a tone still devoid of gloom, she continued.
“Well, maybe so. But aside from the chip situation, things aren’t that bad, y’know.
Tomorrow’s [☆5] game—first off, you’re on my side, right, Shinohara?
Yuki’s on my side too, and then Shion… Shion probably doesn’t want to crush me.
I think she wants both me and you to pass the trial game… Probably.”
“That’s right. I can guarantee that.”
Himeji, leaning close, nodded softly.
…She’s right. Hagoromo’s imposing an unfair trial game, but there’s no doubt she’s grateful to Saionji.
They’re best friends, after all. She’s a formidable enemy, but there’s no “malice” in her.
On the other end, Saionji let out a soft chuckle.
“Hehe… So, Shinohara, tomorrow’s game will be tough, sure,
but think about it—we’ve got this many allies at the same table.
A gamble like that? You’d have to be lying to think we’d lose!”
“…Yeah…”
To Saionji’s encouraging words, I hesitated for a moment.
Sure, with Saionji and [Company]’s help, we might “win” tomorrow’s game.
But that’s not enough. Even if we win, if the earnings don’t hit 10 million, it’s meaningless.
[School Trip Battle Fortissimo] will end with a victory for St. Rosalia & Tsuyuri,
and we’ll fail Hagoromo’s trial game, losing everything.
(So, just one more piece… If we can fit one more piece here, we might still have a shot at a comeback.
But if we don’t, then—)
The moment I closed my eyes, thinking that…
“Hey—you, Seven Stars.”
“!”
As I was talking with Saionji, a short voice called out from behind me.
A familiar voice. And, at the same time, the voice I’d been desperately hoping for.
A boy in a white mask—Rindō Kai, or rather, the player known as [Phantom].
Approaching quietly, he spoke again.
“Let me confirm one thing. What you said yesterday…
that I could beat [Violet]—was that from the heart? Or just a convenient lie to get me on board?”
“That’s a bit late to ask. Of course it’s from the heart.
Hell, if you didn’t show up, we wouldn’t even get started.
I was just starting to think about how to drag you here.”
“What, are we in the Stone Age? I’m not that much of a shut-in.”
Rindō’s lips curved slightly at my joking remark.
He’s probably trying to hide it, but… his voice was trembling a little.
His expression was tense, his steps not quite steady.
He must’ve agonized, struggled, and still came here.
“…I…”
Rindō continued, as if chewing on his words.
“I still think I don’t have any talent…
No matter how much I imagine, I can’t see a future where I beat [Violet], or even you, Shinohara.
I haven’t beaten laziness, sleepiness, trauma—nothing.
I just keep losing, over and over.”
“At least beat sleepiness, man.”
“Impossible, that’s the strongest one.
…But, even as a loser like me, thanks to you, I’ve shaken off the idea that I’m ‘nothing.’
Sure, I got crushed by [Violet] in the [Duel Game] three years ago, and I’m still scared.
But—”
“But?”
“—On this island, on Luna Island, I’m the strongest.”
Forcing a smile, Rindō declared.
Seeing that—Hearing those words, I cheered wildly in my heart.
That’s it. That’s what I wanted to hear.
Me, Himeji, [Company], Saionji, Hagoromo, and now [Phantom].
Finally, the pieces are in place. The stage is set for a comeback.
So, I grinned, raising the corner of my mouth to match Rindō’s resolve.
“Hah… That’s the spirit. So, you’re lending Eimei a hand, right?”
“…Well, coming this far and flipping the board with some cheap trick would be tacky.
I’ll use you guys to overcome my trauma. That cool?”
“More than enough.”
I nodded quietly, accepting Rindō’s offer.
…This exchange probably reached Saionji on the call.
And through the device’s info, it likely spread to all participants of [School Trip Battle Fortissimo].
Rindō Kai—the strongest [Stranger]—has joined Eimei’s side.
The only one who can rival [Violet] has rebooted.
(Alright… it’s the final battle.)
Thinking that, I clenched my right fist tightly.
[Grade-Based Battle [School Trip Battle Fortissimo] Day 3—End]
[A-Rank Area Entry License Holders]
[Eimei: Shinohara Hiroto / Himeji Shirayuki / Phantom]
[Ōka: Saionji Sarasa / Fujishiro Keiya / Mano Yūka]
[Shinra: Fuwa Mitsuru / Fuwa Sumire]
[Coalition: Minami Shizuku / Kururugi Senri / Violet]
[Total Scores]
[Third Place: Eimei – 3.42 million chips]
[Second Place: Ōka – 3.87 million chips]
[First Place: St. Rosalia & Tsuyuri – 18.43 million chips]
