Episode 20: Moving!
Afternoon training had also ended, and Kazuma was waiting for the homeroom at the end of the day to finish.
With no particular announcements, homeroom concluded, and it was time to go home, but only Kazuma was called to stay.
“Ah, Satsuki-kun, please wait.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Your uniform has arrived, so I need you to go pick it up.”
“Understood. Where should I go?”
“You can pick it up at the school store. Just give them your name, and you should be able to receive it.”
“Is that so? Understood.”
“If the size doesn’t fit, tell the store clerk. They’ll give you a new one later.”
“Understood.”
And so, Kazuma headed to the school store, picked up his Combat Course uniform, and returned to the dorms. However, upon arriving at the Support Course dorm, the dorm mother informed him that a room in the Combat Course dorm had been prepared for him.
“Satsuki-kun, right? Your room is ready, so you can move whenever you like.”
“Ah, is that so? Would it be alright to move now?”
“You’re going to move now? It’s already dark, so I think it’s better to wait.”
“No, I don’t have much luggage, so I can move right away.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes. Just one cardboard box and a suitcase.”
“In that case, it seems you can move immediately.”
“That’s right. So, could you please contact the Combat Course dorm?”
“Alright. Please wait a moment.”
Just as Kazuma asked, the dorm mother contacted the Combat Course dorm.
Kazuma listened nearby as the dorm mother made the call for a while.
When the call ended, the dorm mother spoke to Kazuma.
“She said it’s alright.”
“Then, I’ll go get ready immediately.”
“Alright. Is there anything I can help with?”
“No, I can manage on my own.”
Parting from the dorm mother, Kazuma returned to his room, then came down with the cardboard box and suitcase containing his belongings.
The dorm mother was still at the entrance, so Kazuma decided to say his final goodbyes.
“Well then, it was a short time, but thank you for everything.”
“Fufu, I’ve been the dorm mother here for a long time, but you’re the first student like you. Do your best in the Combat Course too, Satsuki-kun.”
“Yessir!”
After replying energetically, Kazuma waved one hand and parted with the dorm mother.
Carrying his luggage, Kazuma headed to the Combat Course dorm and met the Combat Course dorm mother, who had been contacted and was waiting for him.
“Hello. I’m Satsuki Kazuma, and I’ll be in your care from now on.”
“Yes, nice to meet you. I’ve heard about you. The first-ever transfer from the Support Course to the Combat Course, right? Welcome.”
“Thank you for having me.”
“Well then, I’ll show you to your room.”
Following the dorm mother, Kazuma entered the Combat Course dorm.
He had been here before for a study group, so Kazuma, knowing what was in the Combat Course dorm, proceeded without any particular surprise.
Shown to his assigned room, Kazuma put down his luggage and received the key from the dorm mother.
“…The system is different from the Support Course, isn’t it?”
“Well, that can’t be helped. The government puts more resources into the Combat Course, after all.”
The key he was given was the latest model, employing things like biometric and voiceprint authentication, so there was no fear of losing it.
It was a more rigorous system than the Support Course’s, utilizing cutting-edge technology.
“I was thinking of explaining the facilities within the dorm, but is it necessary?”
“By any chance, do you know that I’ve been here before?”
“Yes, of course. I manage everyone who comes and goes. That’s why I’m asking if you still need the explanation, just in case.”
“I see. In that case, could you please explain it to me again? To be honest, I’m not confident I remember everything.”
“Alright. Then I’ll give you a brief explanation.”
Kazuma received another explanation from the dorm mother about the facilities in the Combat Course dorm.
Since it was already late, the dorm mother gave only a brief explanation and then left Kazuma’s room.
Left alone, Kazuma, partly because of the move, was in high spirits and excitedly looked around the prepared room.
“A living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom… it’s definitely more luxurious than the Support Course. A 2LDK is just ridiculous in the first place.”
The Support Course dorm rooms are basically 1DK.
They’re decent enough, but there’s no doubt they’re inferior compared to the Combat Course.
Nevertheless, it goes without saying that even a 1DK was a sufficiently comfortable space for Kazuma, a student.
“For now, I should try on the Combat Course uniform at least once.”
Kazuma took out the uniform he had received from the academy store and tried it on.
He had given them his size, so there were no particular problems, and no hemming was needed.
After striking a few poses in front of the full-length mirror, Kazuma nodded with satisfaction, then hung the uniform on a hanger and put it away in the closet.
“Now then, what to do about dinner…”
He debated whether to go to the cafeteria or prepare something himself.
If he went to the cafeteria, he could eat cheap and tasty food right away.
If he cooked himself, it would be cheaper than the cafeteria, but it would involve more troublesome effort.
He thought about it for a while, but since he had just moved in today, Kazuma decided to eat quickly at the cafeteria.
“Alright, let’s go to the cafeteria.”
He immediately followed the route the dorm mother had shown him and headed for the cafeteria.
When he arrived at the cafeteria, it was overflowing with students who had likely come for dinner.
Being growing youths, and Combat Course students to boot, there were many students eating large amounts of food.
“It’s different from the Support Course~…”
The Support Course cafeteria is plain compared to the Combat Course cafeteria.
And not many students use it.
They were the same age and thus also growing youths, but unlike the Combat Course, many Support Course students were slender, and few ate heartily.
Amazed by the differences from the Support Course, he headed towards the ticket machine to buy a meal ticket, but on the way, he was bathed in many gazes and became strangely conscious of them.
Bothered by the stares directed at him, Kazuma turned his face towards the owners of those gazes.
At that, many of them averted their eyes when Kazuma looked their way.
Kazuma was slightly irritated by this, but then he was distracted by faintly audible voices.
“Hey, is that the rumored…?”
“Yeah, that’s Satsuki Kazuma.”
“So that’s The Strongest Civilian, huh…”
“I heard he was transferring in, but this is pretty quick.”
“What should we do? Try talking to him?”
“Nah, let’s just wait and see for now.”
Hearing such voices, Kazuma understood that he was drawing attention, and his lips twisted into a not-altogether-displeased smirk.
“(Guhehehehe~. I see~. So everyone’s interested in me, huh? It’s tough being famous~)”
Kazuma, starting to get carried away as if this was his moment, wore a creepy, smirking grin inwardly.
Kazuma was getting giddy all by himself, but his stomach rumbled, bringing him back to his senses. He bought a meal ticket and waited for his food.
After receiving his ordered food, Kazuma looked for a suitable empty seat.
As he was looking around restlessly for an empty seat, Shunsuke and the others, who happened to be in the cafeteria, called out to Kazuma.
“O~i, Kazuma~”
“Nn? Oh! Isn’t that Shunsuke? And Tsuyoshi and Shinya too!”
“This spot’s free, come on over.”
“Thanks!”
Called over, Kazuma headed to the table where Shunsuke and the others were and sat down in an empty seat.
“Man~, you saved me. There are quite a lot of people, so I was wondering where to sit.”
“What did you do when you were in the Support Course?” Shunsuke asked.
“There aren’t this many people over there,” Kazuma replied. “Basically, seats were always available anywhere.”
“That’s a waste. The food here is delicious,” Shinya remarked.
“Well, Support Course and Combat Course students have different builds. It can’t be helped,” Tsuyoshi said.
“But it’s cheap and tasty, so they should use it, right?” Shinya pressed.
“Shinya, like I said earlier, Combat Course and Support Course students eat different amounts,” Tsuyoshi reiterated.
“Ah~, it’s true, the portions are pretty big here~” Shinya conceded.
Even a regular Karaage Teishoku (fried chicken set meal) came with eight pieces of fried chicken, a large serving of rice, miso soup, and a side dish; each item on the cafeteria menu was generous in portion.
It was a bit much for the Support Course students, many of whom were slender.
“By the way, Kazuma, are you over here starting today?” Shunsuke asked.
“Yeah. It was surprisingly fast, so I was surprised too, but I’m here from today,” Kazuma replied.
“That’s kinda… sounds like there are some behind-the-scenes circumstances,” Shunsuke mused.
“Well, probably,” Kazuma said. “In fact, when the transfer talk came up, they said something along those lines.”
“Seriously!?” Shinya exclaimed.
“Seriously. Apparently, a lot of money changed hands at the Academy Battle Tournament.”
“Hmm, so they moved Kazuma to the Combat Course with an eye on next year and beyond, huh,” Tsuyoshi pondered.
“Probably something like that,” Kazuma affirmed.
“Whoa~… So that kind of stuff really happens,” Shinya said, wide-eyed.
Despite hearing about the dirty dealings of adults from Kazuma, the three didn’t lose their appetites; they continued eating normally and cleaned their plates.
Sorry for the late update.
Real life has been busy, and updates might continue to be delayed.
Thank you for your continued support.