Chapter 2: Large-Scale Duel《Astral》──Opening
♯
“Ladies and gentlemen gathered here, konnichi-nya!! I’m Suzuran Kazami from《Libra》, assisting the operations team for this May Inter-District Tournament! Now, today is Monday, May 8th! As you can see, the weather is bright and clear, nya! It’s almost a bit too hot, nya! But please, don’t worry—over the next five days, we won’t just bring the heat, we’ll deliver games so scorching they’ll burn, nya!! We’re going full throttle from the start, so everyone, keep up, nya!!!!”
—The start of the week, Monday morning. Exactly 9:00 a.m.
With the command of《Libra》’s Kazami,《Astral》kicked off in grand fashion.
“N… huh?”
Having been guided to the development zone of District Zero a little earlier, we take a moment to look around. …But nothing seems to have changed. The vast, empty lot stretching before us is the same as before, bearing no resemblance to that promotional video.
Blinking in suspicion—that very moment.
“Wow…!”
Akizuki, standing nearby, let out a cheer before anyone else. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and it’s not hard to see why. In an instant, without exaggeration or metaphor, the scenery before us transformed completely.
“Amazing, amazing! It’s really like another world!”
“Right? I wasn’t expecting much, but this might actually be pretty high-quality?”
Following Akizuki’s enthusiasm, Asamiya also looks around with a cheerful expression. Not exactly copying them, but I decide to take another look at our surroundings.
Oh…
The overall vibe is definitely that of a “digital world.” An endless expanse of blue and white, inorganic space. Yet it’s not entirely empty—here and there stand pillars with no visible tops, and translucent walls appear out of nowhere.
Still… of course, it’s not like we’ve stumbled into some other world, as Akizuki put it. The dedicated app distributed to all participants of the May Inter-District Tournament apparently activates automatically when the《Duel》begins, overlaying the player’s field of vision.
So… in short, it’s like “adding elements to the real world.” Kinda like Pokémon GO or something.
That’s how a plain empty lot transforms into a sci-fi digital space, and the《Libra》filming equipment scattered around looks like cybernetic pillars or walls. The only things that look the same as in the normal world are probably us players.
“…It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
A faint murmur draws my attention to my left, where Himeji stands with her hands clasped in front of her, gazing around with a dreamy expression. She seems overwhelmed by the atmosphere and immersion, letting her thoughts slip out unconsciously.
Not wanting to disturb her, I start to explore on my own—but just then, I notice a white line drawn near the foot I was about to step with. It forms a hexagonal outline around me and Himeji, each side shared with adjacent hexagons, creating a honeycomb-like board.
“—Looks like this is the ‘tile’ for this《Duel》.”
Enomoto, standing a short distance away, speaks up while tapping the ground with his right foot.
“Each side is about three meters long, with an area of roughly twenty square meters… These regular hexagons are packed together to form the entire field. Think of it like a chess or shogi board. Though those use squares, not hexagons.”
“Yeah. But if we’re using that analogy, Othello might be a better fit. After all, how many tiles you control directly translates to your ‘influence’.”
“Hmm, that’s a fair point. And also—”
As he speaks, Enomoto smoothly raises his right hand and points behind me. Following his gesture, I turn to see a slightly peculiar sight.
“…Huh? Is something glowing?”
Asamiya, witnessing the same phenomenon, murmurs curiously.
Indeed, as she said, the tile Enomoto pointed to was faintly glowing, unlike the others. Not in standard colors like white or orange, but a bluish-green hue, much like the “Emerald Star” I possess.
Waiting for our reactions to settle, Enomoto continues, casually crossing his arms.
“That single tile was a different color from the background from the start. According to《Astral》’s rules, the ‘territory’ under our control is colored in our team’s shade—meaning Eimei’s team color is emerald, and that tile is already part of our area.”
“Hmm… Wait, huh? Isn’t the team’s area supposed to be ‘the tiles surrounded by captured bases’ or something?”
“Exactly. Which means that tile must house Eimei’s ‘base.’ And while it’s true that the area is ‘the part surrounded by bases,’ if you only have one base, there’s nothing to surround. Thus, only the tile directly under the base is under our control.”
“…Then why do we even have a base? No one’s taken it, right?”
“Can’t you think for yourself a little, Nanase? …Listen. One of the loss conditions for this《Duel》is ‘losing all your area.’ If《Astral》started with no bases, every team would lose instantly.”
Enomoto shrugs with an exasperated, slightly provocative tone.
“…Tch…”
Asamiya, who had been listening earnestly until now, places her right hand on her hip, exposed below her blouse, and turns away with a huff. Then, in a sharp tone, she snaps:
“I get it, but Shinji’s smug attitude gets a zero from me.”
“…Hmph, running away, you idiot.”
“I’m not running!”
Tch…
Ignoring the two bickering even after the game has started, I shift my gaze back to the emerald-colored tile. At its center stands a large flag, likely marking it as a base, and upon closer inspection, Eimei’s school crest is engraved on it.
“Um, since we only have one tile right now, if another team takes this base, that means we—Noa and the others—lose instantly… right?”
I nod in response to Akizuki, who peeks out from the adjacent tile. “Yeah.”
“That’s how it works. So we need to capture other bases and expand our area as soon as possible. By the way, capturing a base involves the ‘Occupy’ command—an action you can execute through the event app. Using it engraves your school crest on the base, placing it under your control.”
“I see… Well then, shall we give it a try?”
Himeji tilts her head slightly, her silver hair swaying. …Indeed, with the《Duel》already underway, it’s nonsense to keep theorizing without testing.
Capturing a base—normally, as the【Commander】, I’d scout the area for unclaimed bases, but whether it’s part of the tutorial or just a coincidence, another large flag stands within sight of our starting base. This one bears no school crest, a so-called neutral base.
Heading toward it, I give instructions to Himeji while holding my device.
“Alright, Himeji? Open the event app, and you’ll see an ‘Action’ option on the main page. Tap that first.”
“Yes. As you command, Master.”
“W-Wow… ♡ Ehehe, it’s like we’re starting something naughty, Hiroto-kun! ♡”
“We’re not. Why would you even think that?”
I shake my head in exasperation, brushing off Akizuki’s nonsense. If something this minor got my heart racing, I wouldn’t be able to face Himeji properly.
“Anyway, let’s continue—Himeji, keep that screen open and get a bit closer to the base. That should automatically bring up the ‘Occupy’ command.”
“Yes. …Oh, there it is. Do I use this command on the base?”
“Yeah, that’s the idea. If it’s another team’s base, you’d need an auxiliary spell called《Neutralize》, but otherwise, a single command should do it.”
While explaining, I swipe my right hand sideways based on the detailed rules, and the event app responds, hijacking my vision to display Eimei’s current status. This function, called “Sight Mode,” shows that Eimei has five surviving members, our team color is emerald, and our influence is listed as “Controlled Area: 1 Tile.”
“Here I go—《Occupy》.”
The moment Himeji presses the execute key with a clear declaration, a faint light begins to glow on the flag marking the base. An emerald light, Eimei’s team color. But it doesn’t spread instantly—it seeps in slowly, almost like it’s infecting the flag.
After about a minute, the entire flag is fully dyed emerald, and Eimei’s school crest emerges prominently on its surface. Simultaneously, the new base and our original base glow as if resonating, and a vivid emerald line appears, connecting the two. Immediately, every tile touching that line is overwritten with emerald.
“…”
Slightly overwhelmed, I check the team info in my vision. The influence section has already updated to “Controlled Area: 15 Tiles.” As per the basic rules, all tiles in a straight line between the two bases have become Eimei’s area.
If you have one base, only the tile directly under it counts. With two, it’s the tiles in a straight line between them. With three or more, it’s the polygon formed by all bases as vertices, and everything inside becomes your area… Well, at least we’re safe from instant defeat now.
I shake my head slightly, reviewing the《Duel》rules in my mind.
“Well, that’s roughly how occupying works. The process itself isn’t too complicated. …By the way, Himeji, what did your device show while the base was being occupied?”
“It displayed ‘Cooldown Time.’ I tried using two registered abilities, but both were blocked.”
“As expected, huh. Using the Occupy command triggers a cooldown, locking out all actions. And once the cooldown ends, the occupation completes.”
“I see. So while using that command, you’re completely defenseless?”
“Yeah. That’s why occupying a base probably involves everyone guarding the person doing it.”
I murmur thoughtfully, meeting Himeji’s azure gaze.
In this《Duel》, using abilities, casting spells, and capturing bases are all no-cost actions. However, in exchange, players who perform an action are subject to a cooldown based on their action value. In a way, you could say “time is the cost.”
“Himeji, your action value is 9, right? Or 8, since we have a【Commander】?”
“Yes. And the cooldown displayed earlier was ‘80 seconds,’ so the time cost for occupying a base is ten times the action value.”
“Ten times, huh…”
I nod in understanding at Himeji’s clarification. …Ten times the action value means about a minute for anyone on our team besides me. That’s fine now, at the start of the《Duel》, but in a situation where enemy teams might attack, taking that long a cooldown is a bit daunting.
And then.
“—No, that’s still the better case.”
Having apparently settled his spat with Asamiya, Enomoto suddenly interjects.
“Base capture is fine as long as you’re vigilant about your surroundings. The real concern is other actions. For example, ‘ability usage’—in《Astral》, abilities also have cooldown times. Once you use an ability, you can’t perform other actions until its cooldown ends. That means trying to attack could leave you unable to dodge in a pinch. If you don’t account for that, you might end up cornered without even being able to escape.”
“…Yeah, that’s true.”
Every action incurring a cooldown means exactly that. Even in the heart of enemy territory, you can’t defend or do anything until the cooldown lifts.
“Then we need to figure out the length of cooldowns first. They’re probably based on action values, but like with ‘Occupy,’ some actions might have a multiplier.”
“Yup, yup! Then let Eimei’s super ace, Noa-chan, demonstrate! ♪”
Responding to my words, Akizuki bounces energetically. With a light step, she moves to my tile and whispers with an upward glance.
“《Value Management》—Ehehe, I’ll max out Hiroto-kun’s affection for Noa! ♡”
“…Akizuki, that doesn’t demonstrate the ability.”
“Ehh, why not, you meanie—Wait!? I get it! That was your cool way of saying ‘My affection’s already maxed out, so it can’t go higher,’ like a proposal—!”
“No.”
“Oof… Hmph, fine. I’ll make you fall for Noa’s charm eventually.”
Pouting playfully, Akizuki swiftly operates her device with one hand. Despite the banter, she did use her ability, as the screen shows a countdown.
“Um… Yup, that gave a five-second cooldown. With the【Commander】’s buff, my action value is 5, so it’s exactly the action value, right?”
“Seems like it. Compared to Occupy’s cooldown, it feels short… but considering this happens during combat, it might be stricter than it seems.”
“True, it does sound tough. …Ehehe ♡ But if Hiroto-kun protects me the whole time I’m on cooldown, that sounds kinda nice… Kyaa ♡”
Akizuki leans closer with a syrupy voice, but entertaining her would either fluster me—or rather, encourage her—so I ignore it completely.
“Well, that’s the basic info…”
To distract myself from Akizuki’s onslaught, I start organizing the situation. …《Astral》’s game field is made of countless hexagonal tiles, and capturing bases allows you to claim all tiles enclosed by them. However, this action—“Occupy”—comes with a cooldown, taking ten times the action value to complete.
And this “cooldown” applies to all actions. For example, using《Value Management》triggers a cooldown equal to the action value.
That’s where my thoughts were—right at that moment.
“—Hiro-kyun, Hiro-kyun. Just a heads-up… That Enomoto-kun, was it? He’s been staring at you with this ‘I’ve got something to say’ look for a while. Maybe you’re missing something…?”
…Huh?
A sudden warning from Kagaya-san through my earpiece prompts me to glance at Enomoto. …Sure enough, he’s observing me with a stern expression, as if silently judging whether I’ll notice something I’ve overlooked.
“…”
I rack my brain, trying not to panic. Something I should’ve noticed by now…? Is there such a thing? We haven’t touched on spells yet, and we’ve covered bases and areas thoroughly. I can’t think of anything else.
Damn… I wanted to save this for later, but no choice.
With that, I resort to a trump card. The special ability《Action Prediction》, derived from the Emerald Star’s effect, usable only three times per game. I use it to peek into what Enomoto’s about to say. …Oh, I see. That’s it.
“—And one more thing.”
Saying that coolly, I start walking forward. Deliberately drawing my teammates’ attention, I move from the neutral area to Eimei’s emerald-colored territory. Naturally burning through《Action Prediction》’s cooldown, I then activate another ability—《†Jet-Black Wings†》.
Right after, I raise my device with a slight smirk.
“Cooldown, twenty-three seconds—my action value should be 25, but it’s 23 now.”
“Wait, really…? Huh, why? What’s going on?”
“《Astral》’s basic rules don’t spell it out, but games like this usually give you an advantage in your own territory. In this《Duel》, that ‘advantage’ means a reduction in action value. Specifically, ‘minus 2 to action value while in your own area.’ …It’s a small difference for my action value, but for someone like Asamiya, going from 5 to 3 is huge. So, expanding your area gives you an edge in combat.”
“Ohh, got it, got it… Totally makes sense. …Hey, isn’t Shino smarter than Shinji? Like, Shinji’s basically useless. Same level as sales tax.”
“Tch, being criticized by Nanase, who’s done nothing useful so far.”
“Huh!? I’m useful! Just being here is eye candy!!”
“I’m tired of looking.”
“Ugh, jerk!”
Asamiya tries to force Enomoto’s attention, while he closes both eyes to avoid her.
After grappling for a bit, Enomoto, now freed, adjusts his collar neatly and mutters to me.
“…Hmm. Seems you’re not just a smooth-talking incompetent.”
Ugh, creepy…
Realizing my teammate was indeed watching me, I steel myself once more.
♯
《Astral》runs from Monday to Friday, split into a “first half” from 9:00 a.m. to noon and a “second half” from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.
The first half of day one passed quickly with rule and basic confirmations, and now, after a lunch break, we’ve moved to the second half.
Resuming the《Duel》after about two hours, I swipe my right hand to activate Sight Mode. Thanks to securing a third base at the end of the first half, we currently control 45 tiles—a decent pace for the early game. But that’s not the focus right now. It’s the section below influence, labeled “Spell Possession.”
“—Spells are generally obtained from ‘bases’.”
Projecting my device’s screen, I begin in a calm tone.
“We talked about how capturing bases expands your area, but that’s not their only role. In《Astral》, every fifteen minutes, each base supplies one spell. One base means one spell per supply, two bases mean two, and so on. The more bases you take, the more spells you get per cycle.”
“Hmm… So if you don’t capture bases, you’re stuck with no spells forever? That’s brutal.”
“No, you’d still get one from the starting base. Though just one is pretty rough.”
“Oh, right, true… Shino, you’re seriously a genius. And unlike Shinji, you explain things nicely.”
Asamiya throws a jab while glancing at Enomoto. …But Enomoto seems more focused on “monitoring” and “observing” me. His piercing gaze is honestly unsettling.
Even so—I have to keep up the deception.
“…Ahem.”
Clearing my throat, I touch my device again.
“So, with that in mind—I actually used my《Information Control Ex》ability to scout the area earlier. It’s just info within a 70-tile radius, but I’ve mapped out base locations, so it should make planning much easier.”
I send the map data to all team members.《Astral》’s field map expands automatically as you gather information. It started blank, but now the lower-left area is partially visible.
“…”
In truth, the info I got—rather, had Kagaya-san pull—using the 7-star《Information Control》ability covers a wider range. But revealing too much too soon could raise suspicions. I need to pace myself carefully.
“Ehehe, as expected of Hiroto-kun! ♡”
Akizuki says sweetly, peeking up at me with her hands behind her back.
“So, we focus on increasing our bases for now, right?”
“That’s the plan. The bases seem randomly placed overall, but from the current map, we can confirm two bases each to the north and east. So aiming for one of those is the safest—”
“—No, that’s wrong. North is out. East is the only option.”
My seemingly reasonable proposal is shot down by Enomoto. When I look at him questioningly, he meets my gaze with sharp eyes and speaks calmly.
“There’s no ‘if’ or ‘but.’ You said it’s random, Shinohara, but looking at this map, the bases are balanced fairly evenly. They’re probably arranged for event spectacle. With that premise and some thought patterns, we can roughly predict base locations outside the map. The closest base not on your map is to the east—hence, heading there is the best choice, don’t you think?”
“…”
He’s right, but how does he know!? This guy’s terrifying!
I recall the map data I haven’t shown the team, my cheek twitching inwardly. …Enomoto Shinji. The 6-star student council president nicknamed “Clairvoyant.” His thought process is so warped it’s beyond normal comprehension.
But I hide my shock, nodding as if it’s obvious.
“Well, yeah. It’s not certain, but that’s the most likely. So, we’ll head east—back to the point. As I said, spells are dispensed from bases every fifteen minutes. But in this state, they can’t be used yet.”
“Can’t be used…? Huh, is that a thing? Isn’t that pointless?”
“I said ‘in this state.’ …Listen. Spells dispensed from bases go into the team slot first. To make them ‘usable,’ you need to transfer them from the team slot to your personal slot—your device.”
Drawing on the detailed rules I studied (or rather, had Himeji drill into me) during lunch, I explain the spell system. In short, the team slot is like a shared “warehouse” everyone can access. To use a spell, you need to move it to your “hand”—the personal slot.
“Hm…?”
Akizuki tilts her head slightly, pressing her index finger to her cheek.
“But, Hiroto-kun, if you can move spells from the team slot to the personal slot, isn’t it the same either way? Couldn’t we just leave them all in the team slot? Or does moving spells count as an action?”
“No, it’s not that. During combat, you can’t access the team slot. You can only use spells that were in your personal slot when combat started. And the personal slot can hold up to three times the number of bases in spells. …So you always need to keep an eye on your hand.”
“Hmm, got it… Well, we don’t know what spells are out there yet, so picking randomly at first is fine, right? ♪ Ehehe, Noa’s going with this one~ ♡”
“Hey, that’s not fair, Noa! I’m picking too!”
Following Akizuki and the others as they start browsing spells, Himeji and I access the team slot again. …I prepped during lunch, but《Astral》has eight types of spells. Here’s a rough rundown of their effects.
【Basic Attack Spells】
《Sword Flash》—Unleashes an attack with a 3-meter (approx. 1 tile) range. Base damage: 1.
《Gunfire》—Unleashes a 10-meter (approx. 3 tiles) attack. Base damage: 1.
《Magic Cannon》—Unleashes a 20-meter (approx. 5 tiles) attack. Base damage: 1.
【Special Attack Spells】
《Trap》—Sets a trap on the target tile. Activates when “another team’s member steps on that tile.” Damage and additional effects vary based on the number of spells consumed during setup.
【Auxiliary Spells】
《Stealth》—Temporarily makes one player invisible.
《Barrier》—Temporarily makes one player immune to all damage.
《Cancel》—Skips cooldown time once (usable even during cooldown).
《Neutralize》—Returns the target tile to neutral. If used in a neutral area, that tile becomes your team’s area.
“Hm…”
Reviewing the spell list, I quietly bring my right hand to my mouth. …Putting auxiliary spells aside for now, attack methods are the priority.《Astral》explicitly states that “damage can only be dealt through spells,” making attack spells critical. Their quantity and synergy with roles are key.
【Soldier】excels at swords but is weak to guns,【Mage】excels at magic but is weak to swords,【Spy】excels at guns but is weak to magic… So it’s a rock-paper-scissors dynamic.
That’s why, in combat, quickly reading the opponent’s info and allocating spells and roles without error is crucial. A player’s LP is 5, so normal attack spells require five hits to defeat someone. But a proficient spell deals 2 damage, and hitting a weakness boosts it to 4. In a《Duel》where every action incurs a cooldown, reducing the number of actions needed is huge.
Well…【Commander】has no proficient spells and is weak to all spells, though.
“…”
“Hey, Hiroto-kun, how long’s the cooldown for spells compared to abilities?”
“Hm? Oh, yeah. It’s probably the action value normally… No, wait. The three attack spells have different ranges, so their cooldowns likely vary. We should test them.”
“Ooh, me! I wanna try!”
Overhearing my talk with Akizuki, Asamiya raises her hand first. With a cute yet aggressive grin, she points her device, raised to chest level, straight at Enomoto.
“I’ll try slashing Shinji~”
“…Hold it, Nanase. What if I die from that?”
“It’ll be fine. No real reason, but yeah, it’s fine, fine.”
“There’s no way it’s fine… A【Soldier】proficient in swords testing on a【Mage】weak to swords? At best, I’d be near death; with a damage-boosting ability, it’s a one-shot KO. Are you joking?”
“Ehh… What, you’re that against it? Getting killed by a cute girl is like a reward, right?”
“The logic’s validity aside, that premise doesn’t hold with you, Nanase.”
“I’m definitely killing this guy.”
““…””
Watching their umpteenth argument from a distance, Akizuki and I exchange looks halfway between exasperation and amusement. …Wait, huh?
“Hey, Akizuki, where’s Himeji—?”
“…Guess who~?”
In that instant—a soft sensation covers my eyes. Yet I see nothing. I feel a gentle embrace from behind, a sweet breath tickling my ear, but no one’s figure is visible.
Even if I can’t see, I know who it is.
“Himeji, right…?”
“…Hehe, yes.”
Releasing me with her reply, Himeji steps in front of me. Her face slightly flushed with embarrassment, she clears her throat with a “ahem” and speaks calmly.
“For a test run, I used the《Stealth》spell. The cooldown was sixteen seconds… twice my action value. Auxiliary spells likely have this cooldown universally. …Though, to be safe, we should test the other auxiliary spells too.”
“Oh, uh… Got it.”
“? …Um, Master, did I do something wrong…?”
“N-No, it’s not that. If anything, I’m the one who messed up.”
“Eh?”
“Wow, Shirayuki-chan’s bold… ♡ Ehehe, even Noa’s getting embarrassed! ♡”
“Eh? Eh?”
Himeji lets out a confused squeak as Akizuki hugs her tightly in excitement. …Seeing the usually cool Himeji flustered like this feels a bit novel.
Anyway, we continued testing spells. As expected, attack spell cooldowns follow the pattern: swords are one times the action value, guns are two times, and magic is three times. The longer the range, the bigger the loss.
Smoothly deciphering these mechanics, we steadily expanded our area. …But in the end, we didn’t clash with any teams on day one. Based on《Company》’s intel, our first battle will likely be tomorrow.
“…”
Eimei’s current influence stands at 175 controlled tiles, with five bases captured. Spell collection efficiency is up significantly, but considering my contest with Enomoto, not defeating a single【Commander】on day one stings a bit. Plus, that impostor—《Doppelgänger》—hasn’t made a move. She appeared on《Libra》’s broadcast a few times but seems to have just expanded her area without doing much else.
I can’t say I’m not a little anxious… but no team engaged in combat today, so it was like a tutorial. The real game starts tomorrow.
With a short exhale,《Astral》’s first day quietly concludes.
♯
—Shikishima Grand Hotel.
That’s the name of the hotel where all participants of the May Inter-District Tournament are staying.
Located near the development zone where《Astral》is held, it’s part of the resort area owned by Academy Island’s District Zero. A luxurious six-story building, it even has a pool and tennis courts out front. Renting out such an extravagant hotel for just a hundred or so high schoolers is something that could only happen on Academy Island.
The hotel’s layout includes the front desk, entrance, large bath, and restaurant on the first floor. The second floor houses leisure facilities like a karaoke room, game room, and indoor gym. Guest rooms are on the third floor and above. Meals for event participants are provided at the first-floor restaurant, but the convenience store and room service are also free to use. Truly top-notch service.
“Phew…”
Anyway—around 6:00 p.m. on the event’s first day, the five of us returned from the field and stepped into the first-floor restaurant together.
“Hmm, quite a crowd, huh?”
As Asamiya strides forward confidently, over twenty pairs of eyes turn toward us simultaneously. Their reactions are similar: wide-eyed shock or a tense, wary aura. At the same time, hushed whispers reach my ears.
“It’s Eimei…” “Whoa, Shinohara Hiroto? I-Is that the real one?” “Obviously. …Tch, the strongest on Academy Island finally shows up.” “It’s not just Shinohara. Eimei’s got ‘Clairvoyant’ Enomoto and ‘Golden Night’ Asamiya too.” “Tch, too strong… Way too strong…”
“Oh? Eimei also has the super cute, devilish ace Noa-chan! ♡”
“““Urk!?”””
Akizuki peeks out from behind me with a sly smile, causing several students—mostly boys—from other districts to clutch their chests and collapse onto their tables. Staring at the bizarre scene, I give Akizuki a deadpan look.
“What did you do?”
“Ehehe, what’re you talking about? Noa totally forgot! ♡”
“…I can guess, though…”
I don’t know when, but she must’ve charmed some guys at another event with her (petite) devilish tactics. Her cute smile disarms people, leaving them with nothing, and I’ve heard plenty of male students have trauma from her.
But that aside for now.
“…Hehe. Quite popular, aren’t you, Master?”
“Popular? Nah, they’re just super wary of us.”
I whisper back to Himeji, who leans in close. …Posing as a 7-star means this reaction is better than indifference, though.
And then—
“—W-Wow, it’s Eimei! Awesome! That aura’s unreal!!”
As I shake my head vaguely, a particularly loud cheer hits my ears. Its source is a black-haired girl at a nearby table, sending us fervent looks. Her words aren’t much different from the other murmurs, but her complete lack of caution—just pure excitement—stands out.
But another reason caught my attention. Not her, but the familiar figure sitting next to her. Long, luxurious red hair, large ruby eyes brimming with resolve. Saionji Sarasa, seated at District Three Ouka Academy’s table, gazes at us with a faint, confident smile, arms crossed. Her bold, provocative, and composed demeanor screams《Empress》.
“…”
Returning her gaze, I quietly bring my right hand to my mouth.
Hmm… What to do? My usual performance would have me pick a fight here, but doing that on the first day might be too obvious. Still…
My mind races in that fleeting moment.
Deciding the risk outweighs the reward, I start to shake my head—when suddenly,
“—Yo. Long time no see, Shinohara Hiroto… Heh.”
A familiar voice calls out from behind me.
Almost simultaneously, the sharp sound of leather shoes—clack, clack—rhythmically strikes my eardrums. The source overtakes us elegantly, then turns slowly, dramatically sweeping a pitch-black cape.
I know that face, of course.
“…Kugasaki Seiran.”
“Heh… I’m honored you remember my full name, Academy Island’s strongest.”
As I grit out his name, Kugasaki smirks, lifting the corner of his mouth.
“First, let me thank you. For showing up to this event and giving me a chance for revenge. Only you could do that.”
“Whatever. I’m not here for you.”
“Heh, your reasons don’t matter. I just want to fight you again—oh, how I’ve longed for this day. Since the moment I lost to you in《Myriad Twenty-Seven Games》, I’ve never once forgotten you.”
“Nice to know. If you weren’t a guy, I might’ve been a little flattered.”
“Ridiculous! Heh, enjoy your confidence while it lasts. Shinohara Hiroto, Eimei Academy—we, Otowa, will take you down. Look forward to it!”
Raising his right hand theatrically before his face, Kugasaki declares loudly for the entire floor to hear. With another sweep of his cape and a boisterous laugh, he vanishes into the restaurant’s depths.
Watching his back quietly, Himeji, hands clasped in front of her, murmurs softly.
“District Eight Otowa Academy… Usually known for individual strength, ranking tenth last year, but this time, their team consists entirely of regular members of the《Myriad Holy Knights》, led by Kugasaki-sama. Despite appearances, Kugasaki-sama has exceptional charisma, so their team’s danger level is likely among the top.”
“…Yeah, figures.”
I sigh, nodding slowly at my composed maid’s analysis.
With that, we finally head to Eimei’s table.
A buffet-style meal really reveals people’s personalities, I think.
For about thirty minutes after sitting, we chat casually while eating. But everyone’s approach differs. I’m the type to balance my plate, but Akizuki only takes salad and pasta (slyly), and Enomoto picks just sandwiches, reading an e-book with his other hand.
Meanwhile, the gal next to me piles her plate high with everything and even prepares a second, stylishly arranged plate for SNS. …She devours it all quickly after snapping photos, and her zero-waste attitude is honestly admirable.
“Master, please have this.”
As for Himeji, she’s standing beside me, pouring coffee. At first, she was making a balanced plate like mine, but after finishing it, she’s been like this the whole time.
“Whoa~”
Watching this, Asamiya, seated across from me, lets out a strange cheer.
“Yukirin’s legit a maid. Dang, I’m kinda jealous.”
“Jealous…?”
“Yeah! Yukirin’s super cute! I’d be charmed in three seconds flat!!”
“…Um, that would be troublesome, so I’ll pass.”
“Even your troubled face is cute, like an angel… But yeah, I get why you’d want to serve someone as strong and reliable as Shino. Compared to…”
Asamiya props her cheek lazily, glancing at Enomoto. …But Enomoto, engrossed in his book, doesn’t react. Asamiya pouts but eventually sighs dramatically and turns to Akizuki.
“…Wait, Noa, Noa, won’t you get hungry later? That’s just grass, isn’t it?”
“Hmm, not really? Noa’s a light eater, and I’m eating pasta too. Honestly, I thought you were the one on a diet, Mya-chan.”
“Nah, I’m more the exercise type. I’d crash if I didn’t eat, and I love food.”
“Hmph… As expected of Mya-chan, one of the third-year’s top gals… Though Noa’s number one! ♡”
“There it is. I kinda love that about you, Noa~”
Asamiya flashes a genuine smile at Akizuki’s bold self-praise. Despite their strong personalities, they seem to get along surprisingly well.
“…”
Half-listening to my teammates’ chatter, I scan the hall again. …I notice a few others, like me, subtly checking out other tables. With only elite members at this inter-school battle, just seeing the lineup gives a rough idea of their strength.
Though I barely know who’s who…
I sigh inwardly, feeling my lack of knowledge. But then, my uniform pants are tugged gently. Looking over, I see Himeji’s clear eyes on me, nodding slightly.
I get it instantly.
“Hey, Himeji—if I asked you to pick standout players here, who’d you choose?”
“…Hmm, let’s see.”
Himeji softens her expression slightly at my question. The three across from us seem intrigued too, even Enomoto pausing his reading.
With a small cough, Himeji continues in a calm tone.
“If I may—first, in terms of pure fame, Saionji Sarasa-sama stands out overwhelmingly. Second-year at District Three Ouka Academy, known as《Empress》. A former 7-star ‘genius’ skilled in all game genres. Her team’s strength is also renowned. Ouka Academy is a consistent top contender in school rankings, and last year, they claimed first place with a 7-star player. …By the way, this time, their team is almost entirely composed of《Empress》’s close aides—her so-called ‘royal guard’.”
“Wow… That’s tough. (Poor thing…)”
I nod seriously while mentally clasping my hands for Saionji. It’s likely a teamwork-focused lineup, but for her, it must be exhausting. Constantly expected to be the ‘perfect lady,’ she has no place to relax.
“…So, like, that loud black-haired girl—is she one of those aides too?”
“Yes. Asuka Momo-sama—she was originally at another district’s middle school but transferred to Ouka Academy’s high school out of admiration for《Empress》Saionji Sarasa-sama. Quite a resume. Despite appearances, she’s a formidable player. Only a first-year, but already a 4-star this early. In STOCK, she’s already nicknamed ‘Supernova’.”
“Whoa…”
I can’t help but react warily. I didn’t expect her to be that strong… But thinking about it, it makes sense. In a massive inter-district《Duel》, there aren’t any low-rankers below 3-star (except maybe me).
“…”
“Moving to another district… Let’s see, Kugasaki Seiran-sama, who challenged Master earlier, is worth noting. Third-year at District Eight Otowa Academy, 5-star rank. Known as《Phoenix》for repeatedly challenging《Empress》despite losses.”
“…Yeah, I know him well.”
“Right. So I’ll keep it brief.”
After quickly covering Saionji Sarasa and Kugasaki Seiran—two people I have history with—Himeji shifts slightly, glancing at a table in the back. Three male students are deep in discussion, but one, a black-haired, slicked-back handsome guy, exudes an intense aura.
“From here, these are opponents Master is meeting for the first time—starting with District Seven Shinra High School. They have a highly aggressive school culture and ranked third last year, their best in years. The key player is Kirigaya Toya-sama. He’s obsessed with winning, with a rough, anything-goes style, as his wild appearance suggests. A 6-star ranker nicknamed《Absolute Monarch》.”
“…Absolute Monarch?”
“Yeah.”
Enomoto, not Himeji, responds bluntly to my parroted question.
“They say facing him in a《Duel》leaves you crushed by sheer volume, tactics, words, or even violence—almost to the point of being unable to recover. It’s probably exaggerated, but I know a few people who left the island after dueling him.”
What!? What’s that about!?
It’s an unbelievable story. I don’t know how true it is, but for Enomoto Shinji to say this much, it’s beyond outrageous.
As I sweat nervously, Asamiya raises her hand with a “Yo, yo.”
“Oh, I got challenged to a《Duel》by him way back. Shinji kept nagging me to drop it, so I put it off, and he ended up withdrawing.”
“…Hmph, I never imagined Nanase would actually consider accepting. What, letting Eimei’s star slip to another district, you idiot?”
“Well, yeah, but… I’m not an idiot! I could’ve won, you know!”
Asamiya slams the table, but Enomoto shakes his head in disbelief. Regaining his composure, he turns back to me.
“Nanase’s nonsense aside, let’s continue—two tables right of Kirigaya’s, there’s one with only female students.”
“? Oh, yeah.”
“Among them… the ponytail girl in the center is a major threat. Kururugi Senri, the de facto leader of District Sixteen Tsuyuri Girls’ Institute. A second-year, 5-star rank. Last year, she was in every event battle from the start. In terms of individual experience, she’s likely unmatched here.”
“Hmm… Sounds manageable if that’s all—”
“No, it’s not. …If I may, she’s a monster. If you encounter her during this event, I strongly recommend fleeing if possible.”
“…Huh? What do you mean…?”
“She possesses that level of ferocious power.”
Himeji cuts in calmly, as if to clarify my confusion.
“As Enomoto-sama said, Kururugi-sama participated in every event battle last year. And during last year’s May Inter-District Tournament—this very event—she achieved a stunning victory. The problem lies in the ability she gained then.”
“Problem…?”
“Yes. It’s called《One-Shot Kill》—an ability that, under specific conditions, can eliminate another player in a single hit. In this《Duel》, for example, it could enhance an attack spell to wipe out 5 LP in one shot, regardless of compatibility.”
“…”
“…It’s no exaggeration; it’s fact. Since acquiring this ability, Tsuyuri Girls has built teams to consistently meet its activation conditions, with Kururugi-sama relentlessly annihilating enemies. Her ferocious strength earned her the nickname《Demon God Shrine Maiden》. Thanks to her, Tsuyuri Girls, which never ranked above fifteenth before, soared to ninth in just one year. That climb is unprecedented.”
If anyone but Himeji were saying this, I’d struggle to believe it, but coming from her, it’s undoubtedly true. I’m speechless from the shock.
Himeji continues, her silver hair swaying.
“Thus, in team-based events, ‘flee if you see Tsuyuri Girls’ isn’t bad advice. Their win rate in multi-player battles is abnormally high. In that regard, Kururugi-sama’s skill rivals even《Empress》. …So, Master, be extremely cautious with her. One misstep, and even Eimei or Ouka could fall.”
Whoa, whoa, whoa… That’s insane, for real.
I clench my fist at Himeji’s warning. Kururugi looks like a serious kendo girl, cute by most standards, but after hearing all this, I feel nothing but dread.
“…Hm?”
Just then, as I’m thinking this, Kururugi stands abruptly. Her slightly babyish face visible from the front, she approaches with steady steps, stopping right before me.
Then, with a hand on the wooden sword at her hip, she speaks in a challenging tone.
“I’m honored by the praise, Academy Island’s strongest. …But isn’t it a bit rude? It’s not quite gossip, but whispering about others like that?”
!? Scary, scary, scary!? Why’s she carrying a sword!?
She glares down at me with sharp eyes, her presence almost overwhelming. Though I nearly shrink back, I keep my cool outwardly and shrug lightly.
“Sorry if I offended you. I’m new here, so I don’t know many faces from other districts. We were just hearing about your exploits.”
“I see, my mistake. …But that makes you even trickier. Word is, you can analyze the tiniest opponent info to create an unbeatable strategy with your《Breakthrough》talent. They say you graduated from an American university at five and were recruited by some agency for brutal ability training…”
“…Hold on, Kururugi. Who—where did you hear that?”
“? From《Libra》’s article, obviously.”
That jerk…!
Maintaining a calm facade, I inwardly grimace at《Libra》—or rather, Kazami’s—handiwork. …It seems she views me as just as much of a threat as I do her.
Kururugi shakes her head once before continuing.
“Whatever. …No matter how invincible you are, I won’t lose in a team battle. Tsuyuri Girls will win《Astral》—and your team’s lineup looks full of holes anyway.”
With a meaningful tone, Kururugi glances sideways at Enomoto and Asamiya, both returning wary looks.
Smirking slightly, she says,
“—I look forward to facing you.”
With that, she returns to her table at the same pace she came.
“““…”””
For a moment, no one speaks. …Kururugi Senri.《Demon God Shrine Maiden》. A one-hit-kill specialist, a monster you flee from in multi-player battles. I haven’t fought her, so I can’t fully grasp it, but I felt something from her. She’s dangerous. She’ll be a formidable enemy.
“…No need to say more about Kururugi-sama.”
A bit later, Himeji speaks softly, as if to dispel the heavy mood.
“So, for the final introduction—the most notable player in this《Duel》is undoubtedly her, competing with District Twelve Seijo Academy.《Doppelgänger》. The audacious one who challenged《Empress》and even dragged Master into it. She’s obviously the ‘impostor,’ but she still has supporters.”
“…Yeah, well.”
I nod, hiding my true discontent. Regardless of the claim’s truth, it’s no surprise some jump on the《Doppelgänger》bandwagon for fun.
Glancing at the wall, I see a screen embedded among decorations, where Kazami presents “today’s highlights.” Given her attention-seeking nature, I’d expect her here, but as《Libra》handles both refereeing and《Astral》support, she likely can’t interact directly with participants. Anyway,《Doppelgänger》is predictably featured, staring at me with ruby eyes like Saionji’s.
Enomoto murmurs quietly, watching the screen.
“Come to think of it, Shinohara, she’s got her eye on you.”
“Yeah. But don’t worry, I won’t let it trouble the team.”
“…Hmph.”
Enomoto seems to start a retort but stops, just snorting. Asamiya fumes, “Shinji’s picking on Shino again!” while Akizuki chimes in, “I don’t mind if Hiroto-kun causes me trouble! ♡” with a bizarre appeal.
Amid this, Himeji, silent until now, leans close to my ear, as if concluding the player introductions, and whispers faintly.
“Naturally, it goes without saying, but no matter how many 5-star or 6-star riffraff gather, the strongest is you, Master.”
With the other districts’ members introduced, it’s time to head to our rooms.
It’s just past 8:00 p.m., but the first day of a major event has left us drained. I want a bath and sleep, honestly.
Or so I thought…
“So, how should we split the rooms?”
Akizuki’s words make everyone, half-risen from their seats, sit back down.
Right—room assignments. The May Inter-District Tournament has the entire hotel reserved, so participants get lavish accommodations. Specifically, there’s no set number of rooms per team. We’ll head to the front desk to book rooms for five, and the division is up to us. In theory, we could each take a separate room.
Standing quickly and sidling up to me, Akizuki flashes a sly smile.
“Ehehe… Noa wants a room with Hiroto-kun! ♡”
Blushing faintly, she tugs my sleeve. …She’s gotten bolder, but her cute cunning is unchanged. Her upward glance at close range nearly reveals her uniform’s neckline.
“Look, Akizuki—”
“…Is Noa not good enough?”
“Tch…”
Mesmerized by her alluring lips, I avert my gaze. Turning to the two across from me to shift gears, I see Enomoto shrugging in exasperation.
“Hmph… What a pointless charade. We’re just sleeping, so room assignments don’t matter. My only preference is ‘not with Nanase’.”
“Calling it a charade while sneaking in a preference! What, saying you’re fine with anyone else—like you’d share a room with a girl!?”
“…I didn’t say that.”
“Oh, you did! I see through you! Shinji, you perv! Secret lech!”
It feels like nitpicking, but Asamiya snaps at Enomoto with a scowl. Watching them, Himeji tilts her head slightly.
“Hmm… But since Master and I are already set to share, if Akizuki-sama joins us, wouldn’t that force you two to room together?”
“Wait, no way, impossible! Sh-Sharing with Shinji would be so embarrassing… I mean, physically impossible! I’d rather be alone!”
“Agreed. Sleep with a girl with such bad sleeping habits? No way.”
“That was back in elementary school!”
“You slept together in elementary school…”
Akizuki lets out a flustered squeak, pressing both hands to her cheeks as if cooling off (slyly). Then, with oddly dreamy eyes, she turns to me.
“Ehehe… Hiroto-kun, Hiroto-kun. You can use Noa like a body pillow! ♡”
“No, I can’t leave such a grand role to Akizuki-sama. If you need a pillow, I’ll—”
For some reason, both tug my sleeves, forcing me into an ultimate dilemma. I’m inwardly dying of embarrassment, but outwardly, I stay calm, pondering how to resolve this—when,
“Tch…!”
With loud, stomping steps, a girl storms toward me. Her luxurious long hair flowing, she slams her hands before me, glaring with ruby eyes and a clearly displeased tone.
“…Let me educate you, ignoramus. It’s so obvious it shouldn’t need saying, but the boys’ and girls’ floors are separate. Of course, mixed rooms are impossible, and sensors on our devices prevent even entering the opposite sex’s floor.”
“Oh, uh… Got it.”
“Exactly!”
Saionji’s cheeks twitch as she speaks. I shrug slightly to show contrition instead of replying.
“Hmph… Honestly, you’re so careless…”
Saionji mutters something as she rejoins Ouka’s group, but it’s too quiet to catch.
“…Well, that settles the rooms.”
Enomoto stands quietly. …It’s an Academy Island-sanctioned event, so mixed rooms were obviously a no-go. Akizuki, apparently aware, sticks out her tongue playfully and lets go of me. Surprisingly, Himeji resists longest, but Asamiya’s “Let’s bathe together!” brightens her expression (by millimeters).
Whoa, they’re already buddies… Gals are scary…
I send quiet awe and respect to Asamiya, the ultimate social powerhouse.
And so, we all leave the restaurant hall together.
♯
Enomoto and I end up in Room 513 on the fifth floor.
At Shikishima Grand Hotel, floors three and above are guest rooms, but during the May Inter-District Tournament, three and four are for girls, five and six for boys. Sensors block access to opposite-sex floors.
The hotel’s security is tight, but the rooms are unremarkable. Just clean and spacious, with fluffy beds, ample lounging space, a big TV, and a fridge.
Honestly, I’d prefer a solo room…
I think quietly, setting my device on the bedside table. …For giving orders to《Company》or coordinating with Himeji, sharing with Enomoto creates restrictions. But requesting a solo room back there would’ve seemed suspicious, so I compromised.
According to Himeji, Saionji’s aides fought over sharing her room, but she ended up alone. …I just have to accept it.
“…”
Enomoto, meanwhile, leans against the headboard, silently reading his e-book. He’s already bathed, dressed in plain black sweats.
Curiosity strikes, and I ask.
“Hey, Enomoto. What’re you reading? You seem really into it.”
“Use honorifics, Shinohara. If you don’t know how, I’ll teach you from scratch. …As for this, it’s a popular novel. A light novel, to be precise.”
“Light novel? Huh, didn’t expect that. I thought you’d be into academic books.”
“What’re you talking about? Academic books aren’t for killing time.”
“? Are they?”
“Yes. Data-heavy texts are over in a glance, done in minutes. But novels are different. Stories aren’t just for absorbing info—they’re for sparking imagination and enjoyment.”
“…I see.”
His answer is surprisingly normal yet freakishly brilliant, and I flop onto my back, muttering a vague acknowledgment. I can’t relate to finishing thick books instantly, and academic texts aren’t leisure reading.
As I close my eyes lightly, Enomoto speaks up.
“Shinohara. You’re not planning to sleep like that, are you? You haven’t bathed.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll go after a quick rest.”
“Really? Fine, then…”
Enomoto returns to his device. …He’s gruff, and we’re rivals for【Commander】in《Astral》, so our talks are like this. But he’s not a bad guy. If anything, he’s one of the good ones.
Still… good or not, I’m tricking him without mercy this time.
I muse hazily, staring at the back of my eyelids.
Sleepiness creeps in, and before I know it, I’m out.
“…Crap, what time is it?”
I wake up in the dead of night.
It’s just past 1:00 a.m. I was talking with Enomoto around 10:00 p.m., so I slept for about three hours. The room’s lights are off, Enomoto’s fast asleep, and a thin blanket’s been tossed over me.
“Man, Enomoto’s a good guy.”
I mutter, standing and stretching lightly.
The solid three-hour nap killed my sleepiness. Then I remember I haven’t bathed. I’d at least like a shower, but making noise might wake Enomoto.
“Well, I can shower tomorrow morning—wait, no.”
A thought hits me, and I bring my right hand to my mouth. …This hotel has a large bath, open 24/7, perfect for late-night soaks, as the front desk raved.
So, I head to the first-floor bath instead of the room’s unit bath. Towels are in the changing room, so I bring only clothes and my device. Given the hour, I don’t pass anyone on the way.
But—just as I descend the stairs and turn toward the bath,
“…?”
I squint, sensing someone cross my path. The dim, partially unlit floor makes it hard to see, but someone was definitely… there.
“Ngh, hup… Ei! Oh, no? I can’t reach… Nn, nn!”
“…”
In the restaurant where we ate, past the cashier counter in a staff-only area, a girl struggles with a small voice. She’s trying to return a tray to a high shelf.
But the shelf’s height and her short stature make it tough. Each time she stretches, the tray wobbles, and the plates on it teeter dangerously.
“If it comes to this, I’ll unleash my hidden power…!”
The girl steels herself, glaring at the shelf like an archenemy. She bends her slender legs, ready to leap—
“Hold it.”
“Fnya!?”
Just before she jumps, I snatch the tray from her. Her round, startled eyes lock onto me as I place it on the shelf.
“There. …Jeez, jumping’s dangerous. You nearly caused a disaster.”
“…”
“…? Oh, did you want to do it yourself? My bad. Blame me and head back to bed.”
She stares silently, so I wave and start to leave. But she grabs my clothes.
“Um, uh…”
“…? Need something?”
“W-Well… I haven’t said thank you yet.”
She looks away slightly as she speaks. Forced to face her, I finally get a good look at her.
She looks middle-school-aged… maybe. Her height could pass for an elementary kid, giving her a very youthful vibe. Black bob-cut hair, large, pure black eyes, though long bangs cover her right eye. Her outfit’s a gothic lolita-style dress, not overly ornate but simple, blending cool and cute with a… “chuuni” flair, to put it bluntly.
She bows slightly, peeking up at me with her left eye and says,
“Thank you… very much?”
“…Why’s that a question? You stopped me for that.”
“B-Because, I don’t know what you’ll do next… I shouldn’t let my guard down, right?”
“Your caution’s intense.”
I reflexively quip. …Her earlier solo energy is a stark contrast to this. She barely meets my eyes, and when she does, she looks away. Beyond caution, she might just be shy.
Trying to shift topics, I ask,
“By the way… why’re you here?”
“Why…? Uh, is that, like, an existential《raison d’être》thing?”
“Sadly, no. …This hotel’s reserved for May Inter-District Tournament participants. You look like a middle schooler, so you’re not a player. How’d you end up here?”
“Oh, that…”
She droops slightly, disappointed. Still, she nods once, her bob swaying.
“Um, well… I’m kinda involved. My big sister’s with《Libra》, and she asked me to join《MTCG》…”
“…《MTCG》? Oh, that’s fully run by《Libra》?”
“Yeah. I don’t really get it…?”
She nods vaguely. She doesn’t seem like the acting type, so she probably wasn’t told much.
I totally forgot about the sixth person…
I cross my arms, deep in thought. …《MTCG》’s top prize is a wildcard, letting anyone join《Astral》. For Eimei, Enomoto’s eyeing some Minakami person as a likely candidate, but there are too many unknowns to bank on it. Better assume it’s not happening.
“…?”
Noticing her pure, innocent gaze, I halt my thoughts. We’re still mid-conversation. I should let her go now that my question’s answered.
“Uh… Sorry for grilling you. Can you get back to your room okay?”
“Yeah, I can… but.”
“But?”
I glance at her again—she’s staring at me, like she wants to say something. Her bob shifts, revealing the ruby-red eye hidden by her bangs… Ruby?
“Your eye…”
“It’s a contact—er, I mean, I’m chosen. Different from normal people, so my eyes are cool. Look, proper heterochromia! …Awesome, right?”
“…Well, awesome or not, I’d say awesome.”
“R-Really!? Yeah, yeah, I knew you’d get it, Onii-chan! Listen, my right eye’s a《Magic Eye》, so I can see the past, future, and miles away. I totally know you’re no ordinary guy!”
“Wow, that’s a greedy Magic Eye. So? What’s this ultimate being want with me?”
“Yeah! Um, Onii-chan—”
She pauses, takes a deep breath, and says,
“—Date me starting now!!”
“…Huh?”
The mysterious middle schooler—no, this girl with her full-on chuunibyou settings—directed her ultra-pure, unwavering gaze (complete with heterochromatic eyes) at me, declaring it with all her might.
♯
The girl’s name, it seems, is Shiina Tsumugi.
It’s not like I asked her myself, but she looked so desperate to talk that I reluctantly decided to hear her out… That’s the actual story. It’s a bit annoying to feel like she’s controlling the conversation, but knowing her name probably won’t hurt.
By the way, her self-introduction went something like this:
“Heh heh heh… I’m Shiina Tsumugi. Yes, that Shiina Tsumugi!”
“…Which one?”
“Huh, you don’t know!? Ugh, even though I’ve saved the world multiple times with these eyes, it’s still not in the textbooks… By the way, who are you?”
“Hm? Oh, I’m Shinohara Hiroto—”
“! W-Wait, you mean that!?”
“…Stop carrying the conversation with just pronouns.”
A girl who seems to have thoroughly twisted together chuunibyou tendencies and self-esteem. …Well, in any case, her name is Shiina. She’s the younger sister of a《Libra》member (unfortunately, someone I’m not acquainted with) and is currently in her third year of middle school. Appearance-wise, she looks even younger, but in terms of school years, she’s two years below me. Most likely, she’s the type who’s quite shy around strangers. At first, she could barely look me in the eye, but as we talked, her tension gradually eased.
And then, about an hour later, as for the current Shiina—
“Hahaha! Amazing! Onii-chan, you’re strong! Super strong! But I won’t lose either! Ultimate Hyper Little Blast—oooh! …Oh, I messed up the command. Pfft… Hahahahaha!”
—is having an absolute blast, her energy through the roof as she bounces around excitedly.
In the dead of night, when even the grass and trees are asleep, Shiina and I are in the second-floor game room of the hotel. It’s like a mini arcade, stocked with all the classics—claw machines, medal games, fighting games, rhythm games, shooters. Like the rest of the hotel’s facilities, everything’s free for《Astral》participants.
So, in other words, her “date me” comment was referring to hanging out here.
Well, I figured it’d be something like this…
I let out an internal murmur, a mix of relief and vague disappointment.
I’ve been dragged around for almost an hour now, but… seeing her warm up to me and have this much fun doesn’t feel bad at all.
“Hey, hey, Onii-chan, that one next! I wanna play that one!”
Shiina, as forward as ever, eagerly pulls my hand while pointing at a specific game machine with her other. A glass case filled with piles of stuffed toys and two arms dangling above—yep, a claw machine.
“…Oh? You were all about competitive games earlier, and now you’re suddenly showing a cute side?”
“Yeah! ’Cause I love claw machines—er, I mean, I think they’re totally for kids, but sometimes you need a break! Plus, don’t you think this one’s perfect to be the familiar of the great me!? Look, it’s so cool…!”
Shiina presses herself against the glass, her eyes sparkling with awe. Her gaze is fixed not on a dog, cat, or panda, but a three-headed Cerberus. A middle school girl wanting the hellhound as her familiar? She might have some serious potential.
Anyway, Shiina swipes her device at the machine and starts playing with careful, deliberate movements.
“Heh heh… Now, Lloyd, turn this way and look deep into my eyes. I’ll make it crystal clear who you belong to!”
“It’s got a name already?”
“Of course! Our meeting here is a fate decreed by the Book of Wisdom. I bet it’s written in the Kojiki or the Kokin Wakashu too!”
[T/N: Kokin Wakashu is an early anthology of the waka form of Japanese poetry, dating from the Heian period.]
“It can compose waka poems too? Lloyd’s a real all-rounder.”
“Right? …Oh, why’d it fall!? Hey, Onii-chan, this arm’s trying to twist my fate!”
“That’s an unnecessarily epic way to put it… Tch.”
Muttering lightly, “Just watch,” I take over from Shiina and face Lloyd head-on. Truth is, I’ve always been pretty good at claw machines. I’m not perfect, but I can usually snag most prizes within three tries.
And… as expected, on the third try, the Cerberus drops with a clunk.
“Woooow! Amazing, amazing, Onii-chan, you’re amazing! As expected of someone I set my sights on! Yup, well done!”
“Thanks. Here, your precious Lloyd.”
“Yay! Thank you, Onii-chan!”
Shiina hugs the stuffed toy I hand her with a pure, childlike smile—well, she is a kid, technically. Despite her chuunibyou outbursts, in moments like this, she’s just a regular middle schooler. She feels a bit like a little sister, making me want to spoil her.
And… as I’m thinking that, Shiina, who’d been fawning over her familiar, lets out a cute “Kwa…” yawn. She was bouncing around just moments ago, but fatigue must be catching up. She rubs her eyes with the hand not holding the stuffed toy.
“Fwa… sleepy…”
“…You good? If it’s the gatekeeper of hell, this hour should be like morning, right?”
“I’m the master… This guy’s the gatekeeper. Plus, my right eye can see a thousand miles wherever I am, so I’m fine even in dreams… Wait, was it my left eye?”
Shiina mumbles in a dreamy tone, her voice fading. Before long, still standing, she slumps against me and falls fast asleep.
“What a talent…”
I mutter softly, supporting her delicate frame. It’s no surprise she’s exhausted after all that excitement, but falling asleep like this is impressive. She was too shy to even meet my eyes at first, and now she’s completely let her guard down, deep in sleep.
“Gotta get her to bed properly… but I can’t exactly take her to her room.”
I don’t know where Shiina’s staying, and bringing her to mine and Enomoto’s room is obviously out—both ethically and with the hotel’s security.
So—after a bit of thought, I hoist her onto my back and head somewhere specific.
“W-Wait, she’s asleep…!?”
—Shikishima Grand Hotel, first-floor front desk.
When I knock on the door marked “Staff Only,” a woman in a uniform emerges after a slight delay, her eyes widening as she lets out a yelp.
“K-Kid, what happened to her!? Did she collapse somewhere…!?”
“Huh…? No, it’s not some emergency. I ran into her at the restaurant earlier, and she dragged me to the arcade. But as you can see, she conked out midway… Uh, can I leave the rest to you?”
“Huh? Oh, sure, that’s fine, but… Hey, can I ask something?”
The woman, still stunned, compares me and Shiina, her mouth agape. Pointing cautiously at Shiina on my back, she continues in a probing tone.
“She… warmed up to you? That girl?”
“I didn’t expect to be doubted this much, but… probably?”
“Shocking…!”
Hearing my answer, the overly dramatic woman throws her head back in exaggeration.
Curious, I ask for details. Apparently, Shiina Tsumugi has a “reclusive personality.” Her mix of chuunibyou and extreme shyness makes forming relationships tough, and she barely opens up to anyone. She’s been at the hotel since the day before yesterday but hasn’t warmed up to any staff, not even coming to pick up her meals.
“S-So… if you’re okay with it!”
Pausing briefly, the woman clasps her hands together in a pleading gesture.
“Could you bring her meals starting tomorrow? Around midnight, for late-night snacks… I mean, we prepared food for her today, but Shiina-chan only showed up when it was stone-cold!”
“Uh… I get the situation, but…”
“I know, it’s a hassle, right!? Ugh, I get it, but please, somehow… Oh, I know! If you agree, I’ll secretly lift the entry restrictions for the girls’ floors—third and fourth. How’s that!?”
“…Huh?”
My eyebrow twitches at the woman’s proposed deal.
Lifting the girls’ floor entry restrictions—indeed, that’s undeniably necessary to deliver meals to Shiina. Getting flagged by alerts every time would be a nightmare. …But,
“Uh… Is that for real? Can you actually do that?”
“Of course! I’m staff here, so I can handle the system side. I’ll make it so your device isn’t detected by the sensors. As for ethical concerns… Let’s see, if something happens because I gave you special treatment—”
“Happens?”
“…I’ll atone with my death.”
“Absolutely do not do that.”
I shoot back bluntly at her dead-eyed murmur. …Joking banter aside, though.
“—Alright, I’ll take care of Shiina starting tomorrow.”
With purely calculated intentions and not a shred of ulterior motive, I accept her request.
That’s right—access to the girls’ floors means I can make contact with Himeji and Saionji. Especially with Saionji, since we can’t exchange much info in the《Duel》, having real-world opportunities like this is insanely valuable. Taming a shy girl has unexpectedly come with a huge bonus.
I’m itching to head back to my room and start planning how to make the most of this, but—before that,
…Nah, I’m getting pretty sleepy myself…
I let out a small yawn.
With day two looming just hours away, I need at least a bit of sleep to get through it.
【May Inter-District Tournament《Astral》—Day One Complete】
【Team with Most Controlled Tiles: District Three Ouka Academy (221 Tiles)】
【Team with Highest Approval Rating: District Four Eimei Academy (7.2%)】
【《Libra》Reporter Comment: The May Inter-District Tournament has finally begun, and day one was a gentle start, nya! Truly the calm before the storm, nya! Every team’s steadily preparing, and at this rate, tomorrow should bring tons of battles—so everyone, stay tuned and get excited, nya!!!】
LNN -Librarian Net News- Extra Edition
May Inter-District Tournament “Astral” Notable Players Spotlight!
To put it simply, this large-scale duel “Astral” is a territory-capture game played by selected teams from each school district, meow! That’s all, meow!
All the nitty-gritty details are written in the rules, so here we’ll just introduce the notable players, meow!
Shinohara Hiroto, Fourth Ward, Eimei Academy, Second Year, Seven Stars
The most talked-about rising star who became a Seven-Star holder at unprecedented speed on his first day after transferring. However, his teamwork remains an unknown factor.
Sarasa Saionji, Third Ward, Ouka Academy, Second Year, Six Stars
The “Empress” who suffered a shocking defeat to Shinohara, yet her overwhelming strength remains undeniable. Her rivalry with the “Shadow Warrior” is also a hot topic.
Kirigaya Touya, Seventh Ward, Shinra High School, Third Year, Six Stars
The victory-obsessed “Absolute Monarch” is poised to seize the top spot with keen ambition. Keep an eye on when and where he makes his move.
Kururugi Senri, Sixteenth Ward, Tsuyuri Girls’ Institute, Second Year, Five Stars
The infamous “Demon God Shrine Maiden” known for the warning “Run if you see her.” Will her deadly strike ignite the battlefield once again?
Kugasaki Seiran, Eighth Ward, Otowa Academy, Third Year, Five Stars
The indomitable charisma of the “Phoenix” is ready to get serious. He vows to turn the tables on Shinohara Hiroto with a formation leveraging his leadership.
“Shadow Warrior,” Twelfth Ward, Seijo Academy, ???
The sudden appearance of the “true Sarasa Saionji.” Provocative, cunning, and an eerie presence in every sense of the word.
