Chapter 8 — The Hardest Path

Almost a hundred students were packed into Auditorium No. 2, all waiting for the Erabareshimono no Kyousou draw.


The first round was set for next week, and everyone was eager to see their path through the eliminatory phase of the Erabareshimono no Kyousou.


On the stage, before everyone, stood Narukami Rachel, the Student Council President. As usual, her presence drew everyone's attention.


Maybe it was her cool appearance, with her jacket draped on her shoulder, or simply her natural charisma visible just by a look in her orange eyes.


Beside her, Watanabe Futaba, the Student Council Secretary, behind a computer. With a subtle, sly smile on his face, he could be easily mistaken for a girl... Wait... was he a girl? Well, it doesn't matter anyway.


And lastly, a man in a white suit. Most likely an official for the ENK.


The gymnasium lights cut out, instantly silencing everyone. The spotlights flashed on the president as she took the floor with a powerful step forward; she certainly knew how to make her presence unavoidable. That's why people call her "Miss President" more than her actual name, I think.


With a confident smile, she started her speech.


"Three hundred years ago, several villages were caught in a civil war between rebels and the government. Unable to defend, they asked for help from the Deity, and only one came to their rescue."


She walked around the stage, scanning every student from the front and back rows.


"They were called the Deity of Wishes. Moved by the villagers' collective determination, they chose to give them an opportunity. In the form of superhuman abilities, to protect their future... I like this story a lot, actually. Even though it sounds a little simple, don't you think? It's like me telling you that my name would make me a deity as well, truly amusing, isn't it!


//In Japanese, Narukami, when reversed, can be read as Kami ni Naru, meaning "to become a god." //


Wait... was that a joke? Rachel nodded proudly, chuckling. That was really a joke, and a really bad one.


"More seriously," The giant screen behind her turned on, revealing a myriad of names written in all directions. "You all are proof that this story may be reality! With these Kikai you were entrusted, each of you can reach new heights for humanity! You and three thousand other high school students will fight to seize this opportunity! That's the Erabareshimono no Kyousou!!"


She seemed like a real crowd pleaser. Her speech carried profound meaning, galvanizing many in the audience.


"Now, let us unveil your path to the top; short or long, the choice is yours, my dear chosen ones!!"


Futaba pressed a button on the keyboard, and a large bracket appeared on the screen.


A mix of reactions swept through the gymnasium. Fear, surprise, and indifference, the last being mine.


"Look, Newbie! Our bracket is stacked!!"


The bracket was divided into two brackets, each leading to a spot in the final.


Team Hinata was in the first one, along with Team Bu Mie, led by Bu Mie Homura; Team Watanabe, led by Watanabe Futaba; and Team Narukami, led by Narukami Rachel and some others.
Ryûko was right: as it stood, we would have to fight every team above us, our first opponent already being Team Watanabe.


"How are we supposed to win? We fight, like, every member of the Big Four!"


Akira complained, his hands on his face. He looks kind of stressed, even though he appears laid-back most of the time.


"Don't be scared, Akira, we'll just start with minus one point even when we have a full team."


Yôsuke tried to tease him to ease his stress, nudging Akira's arm with his elbow and a grin on his face.


"Why do you talk like you're one of the big guns, dude?"


"Um... I don't mean to interrupt you, but what's a Big Four?" I asked, interrupting their bickering.


"You don't know about it?" Ryûko tilted her head.


Considering I came last week and only fought and slept through classes, I'd say it's not surprising.


Instead of giving this response, I just shook my head.


"Hm... to put it simply, the big four are like the four strongest students in Narukami High School."


"Yeah, I figured. What I want to know is who they are." I replied with my calm voice.


"The Thunder of Narukami, Narukami Rachel; The Flame of Absolution, Bu Mie Homura; The One and Only, Arataki Siegfried; and lastly, The Iron Empress, Hojû Makio."


A firm voice came from behind us. It was a girl with short gray hair, square glasses, and a stern expression.


She reminded me more of a teacher than anything else. Looking at her over my shoulder, a name stuck in my mind. Hojû Makio... What is she doing here?


"Harumaki Yuuki, I presume?" She asked, adjusting her glasses.


"Correct. And you are?"


"Kurosaki Imu. Member of Team Hojû. I've heard so much about you, Harumaki-san. It's a pleasure to meet you."


"Same."


Our eyes remained locked, in the almost complete silence of our surroundings.


This Kurosaki person was strong; there was no doubt about it, and it made it obvious that we were talking about the same Hojû Makio.


I noticed Ryûko's bob cut swaying slightly, almost trembling. She clung to my shirt, even though she was trying to look brave in front of Kurosaki.


Suddenly, the room's atmosphere shifted; a pressure was emanating from Kurosaki. As if she were about to attack me, yet I didn't flinch.


The girl beside her waved her hands repeatedly between us.


"Kurosaki-senpai! Now is not the time to fight! We will get in trouble again..."


Her gaze kept scanning our surroundings repeatedly. Her pink bob followed her motion. Bob cuts are surprisingly really popular these days, huh?


"Mister Harumaki, don't mind Kurosaki-senpai! She's just fooling around!"


"Ah? Don't get ahead of yourself, Shinzou; you may have Makio-sama's favor, but you don't have mine."


The glasses-wearing girl, apparently named Shinzou, bowed repeatedly, begging for pardon.


"I'm so sorry, Kurosaki-senpai! I will buy you four melon pans as payback!"


"Then, you shall be forgiven."


That was easy, I'd expect a strict person like her to be more... strict.


Kurosaki's gaze turned to Mori, who was sitting silently at the end of the row.


"You are..." Her gaze hardened slightly, as did her posture. "So you chose these lots, huh? Aren't you an idiotic one, Tsukishima Mori?"


Their cold gazes clashed, though Mori's lacked the aggressive glint Kurosaki's had.


"Well, wasn't that one interesting meeting."


Rachel broke the silence between us, sitting down a few seats away from Shinzou. With her arms and legs crossed, she was leaning back in the seat.


"Kurosaki-kun, I didn't expect you to show up here. You're supposed to triumph no matter who the opponent is, right?"


"Hmpf. I still stand by it. My presence here is only due to Harumaki Yuuki-san."


"Oh?" Rachel flashed a sly grin. "Harumaki-kun, you again... you're attracting the attention of everyone in the Big 4 and beyond. You're going to end up being the target to take down."


Rachel's grin grew wider. I'm no stranger to being the center of attention, but still, it's a bit too much.


Besides, that 'Big 4' itself has no meaning to me. So I looked back at Rachel and said,


"I don't care. Being a target or whatever, it won't stop me from achieving my wish. In my eyes, when it comes to strength, I'm on top."


Despite my monotone voice, I was surprised at how arrogant my sentence sounded. And judging by Kurosaki's disgusted reaction and Rachel's big smile, if I were planning on having a humble guy's reputation, I'd fail instantly.


Kurosaki stood up rapidly. "Shinzou, we are leaving."


"Yes, boss."


And there they went. Leaving us with Rachel, her presence casts a spotlight on us even when the room's already well-lit.


Rachel kept looking at me, as if searching for a reaction. Does she know that my face is as still as a rock? Should I say it?


"I'm sorry that they are causing problems. Hojû-kun and her lackeys can be quite troublesome. Are you all alright? They can be intimidating at first."


Well, I am. As for the other...


"I'm okay."


Yôsuke had kept his cool throughout, leaning on his arms. As for Akira, he just took a long breath out. Kurosaki's presence definitely affected him.


"I'm... fine, too."


Mori added silently, avoiding everyone's gaze. Her hands were clasped together on her lap; I think she felt nervous about it, but not for the same reason as Akira.


And lastly, Ryûko... for some reason, she had her cheeks puffed to their max; her face was even starting to fade blue. I pressed my palms against her cheeks, forcing the air out of her mouth until her cheeks were completely deflated.


Was she holding her breath all this time? That's both wild and stupid, just like her.


"Thanks, Newbie! I was about to pass out!"


"Huh? Why did you hold your breath then?"


"Don't you do that too? Holding your breath when you are about to say something that you shouldn't, isn't it common?"


Ryûko tilted her head cutely. The person who tricked her clearly had a grudge against her.


Ryûko's clueless intervention stole a low laugh from Rachel's lips.


"Hahahaha! Waguri-kun hasn't changed one bit, huh?"


So it was Tonakura Waguri all along. Yeah, I could've guessed.


"Wait, what? Did Waguri trick me again??"


"Yes."


"Definitely yes."


"Ryûko is an idiot after all."


Ryûko looked dumbfounded, thrown back by the news.


"Even when she isn't here, Waguri keeps bullying me!"


"To be fair, it's more your fault, Ryûko." Akira retorted.


"How?! Just 'cause I trust my buddies?"


"I think there is a difference between trusting and believing blindly."


Right, it's no secret that Ryûko has her very own way of thinking, a way that's sometimes lacking.


My attention switched from Akira and Ryûko's bickering to the glimpse of memories I had from Makio. Our last meeting turned out badly, but I wonder how she is doing now...


"Say, Mori. Were you friends with that girl just now? Sounded like you met before."


Mori nodded faintly. "I wouldn't call her a friend... but we did meet. It was on the first day."


Mori's gaze was distant, lost in reminiscence of what had happened that day.


"Kurosaki-senpai... she came to talk to me directly, as well as Hojû-senpai. They were looking to recruit me for the Erabreshimono no Kyousou."


"Oh? Kurosaki-kun asked you directly?"


Mori nodded. "I turned them down, of course, I promised that I'd join Ryûko's team and stood by it. Still, it was hard. When Hojû-senpai looked at me directly, it felt like she was about to crush me alive, yet she accepted my decision with no complaint. Only adding that it was a shame."


Yeah, that sounds just like Makio. She values strength more than anything, so it doesn't surprise me that she went for Mori.


"Haha! Tsukishima-kun is brave! Hojû-kun has no limits when she wants something. This encounter could have ended much worse for you."


Rachel stood up from her seat and looked at Mori.


"So I wasn't the only one planning to scout her." My mind-reading allowed me to catch her thought. So, Rachel was after her as well.


I watched Mori's neutral expression as she listened to the many compliments Rachel showered on her. Mori doesn't realize how dangerous she is; perhaps she can't.


Our world is both material and spiritual, and every living being has its own Reiki, an aura surrounding it. Very few can see them, for they are mirrors of human identity.


Mine is a pure void threatening to slow what gets too close. Mori's is blurry, as if it's trying to fade away entirely. What's strange is that I don't see those intentions in Mori's mind. What is it then?


While in thought, Mori glanced at me, as I caught the glint of her eyes, a clear turquoise, waiting to be lit up. For some reason, it sent a chill down my spine. A chill...? How? Why?


Tsukishima Mori is far from a normal girl, that's for sure, but I'm still curious, why is she so special, Tsukishima-san?



To be continued...