Episode 23: After It Ended
The virtual training concluded with Kaori-san’s National Defense Force team achieving victory. Those who remained in the Virtual Space all exited and headed towards the monitor room where Kazuma and the others were.
Kaori-san’s group arrived where Kazuma and the others were watching the training’s outcome in the monitor room. Students from the Support Course and the Combat Course joined together, and a total of fifteen students gathered in the monitor room.
“Kaori-chan! That was amazing at the end! I was so surprised!”
Megumi had lost to Miyazono and immediately ran to the monitor room, where she had been watching Kaori-san and Miyazono’s fight.
“Fufu, thank you. But that wasn’t just my strength alone.”
Saying that, Kaori-san moved away from Megumi and approached Kazuma. For some reason, Kazuma was bewildered by Kaori-san approaching him. Puzzled as to why she was coming towards him, Kazuma guessed she might be heading for someone else nearby and looked around.
However, Kazuma’s guess was off the mark; Kaori-san headed straight for him. Kazuma was surprised, flustered, and unsettled by Kaori-san coming to him.
As if to calm Kazuma’s agitation, Kaori-san took his hand and smiled.
“Thank you, Satsuki-kun. I was able to win at the end thanks to you.”
“Eh, eh, eh?”
“I don’t think you understand what I’m saying, but when I saw the courageous actions Satsuki-kun showed, I thought I couldn’t lose either. That’s why I won in the end. Thank you, truly.”
“Y-You’re welcome?”
Kazuma didn’t quite understand what was going on, but he did grasp that he was being thanked. However, since he didn’t really understand the reason for her gratitude, his reply was a question.
“Heeh~, so you’re the Satsuki guy?”
Just then, Miyazono, who had fought Kaori-san last, cut in. Miyazono seemed interested in the person named Satsuki whom Kaori-san had mentioned at the end, and she peered at Kazuma’s face with curiosity. After all, she had been confident of victory, but then Kaori-san had invoked Satsuki’s name and displayed a power that defeated Miyazono, so it was natural for her to be interested.
“Ah~, haha. Hello.”
“Hmm.”
As Kazuma gave Miyazono a strained smile, she looked him up and down intently.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Heh?”
Miyazono, who had been looking Kazuma over, grabbed his arm. Ignoring Kazuma’s surprise at the sudden action, Miyazono felt his arm all over.
“You’re surprisingly well-built. Good physique too. Uh-huh, I see. No wonder Natsume was concerned about you.”
Miyazono nodded in understanding, as if a lingering question had finally been answered.
“Um…?”
“Ah, sorry about that. For touching you without permission.”
“Ah, that’s fine. I was just wondering about the reason, though.”
“Hm? The reason? Well, it’s just because Natsume mentioned it. That’s all.”
“Ah, I see.”
Since Kazuma had also watched their fight in the monitor room, he could understand Miyazono’s reason. However, Kazuma felt a little embarrassed. It was because he never imagined Kaori-san would actually call out his name.
Kazuma glanced at Kaori-san, wondering if she wasn’t embarrassed, but Kaori-san just tilted her head, her thoughts unreadable. He really wanted to know, but since she didn’t seem to mind, Kazuma decided not to think about it any further.
Then, after a short while, the teacher who had been supervising arrived. In his hand, he held a tablet containing the details of this training session.
“Everyone’s here, I see. Good work on the training. This time, we had a very interesting outcome. It was fun to watch. Especially you, Satsuki Kazuma from the Support Course. You never cease to amaze me. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way.”
At the teacher’s words, Kaori-san and Megumi nodded happily in agreement.
“Now, regarding this session’s evaluation, the National Defense Force team can be said to have earned a perfect score. The Terrorist team was a little lacking. Individual evaluations will be sent to your terminals later. Even if your evaluation is low this time, don’t be discouraged. You all have just enrolled. You’re bound to grow much more from now on. So, continue to strive diligently without becoming complacent.”
And so, with the teacher’s concluding words, the practical exercise came to an end. After that, the teacher left the room, and the remaining fifteen students used the spare time to bombard Kazuma with questions.
Eventually, the bell signaling the end of the day rang, and everyone was dismissed. Since it was Friday, the weekend—Saturday and Sunday—awaited them. An excited Kazuma returned to the classroom, only to find a disastrous scene unfolding before him.
Despite the end-of-day bell having rung, many students were slumped over their desks, twitching. Wondering what on earth had happened, Kazuma rushed over to Kosuke, who was closest to him.
“Hey, Kosuke! What in the world happened?”
Kazuma, rushing to Kosuke who was slumped over his desk, questioned him frantically. Hearing Kazuma’s voice, Kosuke lifted his head.
“Rather, why are you so energetic?”
“Eh? Am I? I feel pretty normal, though?”
“Idiot, look around you. Everyone’s half-dead because of the training.”
“Ah…”
That’s when Kazuma remembered their conversation from the morning. For the Support Course, virtual training was like torture, and all the students except Kazuma had looked reluctant. And no wonder, since they were easy targets for the Combat Course.
The Support Course students slumped over their desks had probably had a terrifying experience during the training. Thanks to being accustomed to fighting in another world, it wasn’t a big deal for Kazuma, but for those with normal sensibilities, it must have been harsh.
Realizing this, Kazuma gave a troubled laugh.
“Well, haha. I didn’t really have such a terrible time in the training, you see.”
“Ah, I see. You were lucky for your first practical exercise, then.”
Perhaps his spirits recovered after talking with Kazuma; Kosuke stood up and grabbed his bag.
“Well, shall we wake up Akatsuki and Taichi and head home?”
“Sounds good. I’ll wake up Taichi.”
“Then I’ll wake up Akatsuki.”
The two split up and went to wake Akatsuki and Taichi. Kazuma went for Taichi, and Kosuke for Akatsuki.
“Ooi, Taichi. Let’s go home~”
“Ugh… Kazuma? Is it over already?”
“It’s been over for a while. Let’s hurry up and go home.”
“O-Okay.”
Taichi staggered to his feet, slung the bag hanging on the side of his desk over his shoulder, and headed towards Kosuke with Kazuma. Kosuke was trying to wake Akatsuki, but Akatsuki wasn’t waking up easily. When they asked what happened, it seemed Akatsuki had unfortunately faced a tough opponent and had been thoroughly beaten up in the Virtual Space.
“Ugh, sorry, guys. I think I’ll just head straight home today.”
“I’ll go with you, Akatsuki.”
“Sorry, Taichi. That’s a big help.”
Even Kazuma couldn’t very well stop them, so he saw the two off and exchanged glances with Kosuke.
“What should we do now?”
“Well, guess we’ll head home too.”
“Yeah. Kosuke, you look tired too, so let’s go home early.”
Kosuke looked like he was fine, but Kazuma, sensing he was probably a little tired, decided they should head straight back to the dorm.
Chatting about trivial things on the way, the two returned to the dorm, promised to meet later in the cafeteria, and went back to their own rooms.
Lying on the bed in his room, Kazuma gazed at the ceiling and meditated. Kazuma continued to meditate for a while, but then the alarm he had set went off, and he leaped out of bed.
“Alright, time to go get some food!”
Kazuma headed to the cafeteria, met up with Kosuke, and heartily ate a ginger pork set meal.