Episode 39: The Student Council President Deciding Battle Finally Begins!
After finishing dessert, they had been engrossed in pleasant conversation for a while, but it was almost time for bed.
Deciding it wouldn’t be right to stay in Kazuma’s room indefinitely, they dispersed, and his classmates returned to their respective rooms.
Left alone, Kazuma cleaned up the dishes, worked up a sweat in the 24-hour training room, rinsed off in the shower, and then went to sleep.
◇◇◇◇
Time flew by in an instant, and the day of the Student Council President Deciding Battle arrived.
It was a school day like any other, yet the students were clearly restless and excited.
Today was the day a new student council president would be decided, and also the day the strongest of the Seventh Esper Academy would be determined. It was only natural for the students to be looking forward to it.
“No classes today, isn’t that the best!”
“Hey, you have to participate in the Student Council President Deciding Battle, what are you talking about?”
“Compared to classes, it’s nothing!”
“Such amazing confidence~”
“We’re just watching, so it’s easy for us, but normally you’d be nervous, right?”
“I won’t be. Saying ‘I couldn’t perform at my usual level because I was nervous’ won’t cut it.”
“O-Oh… Don’t suddenly lower your tone like that.”
Today, there were no classes; the Student Council President Deciding Battle would be held in the morning, and the afternoon would be free.
Kazuma’s spirits were unusually high.
Of course, his classmates felt the same, but unlike Kazuma, most of them were only going to watch the Student Council President Deciding Battle.
It was like entertainment for them, with no nervousness, just pure enjoyment.
“Well, if you’re not worried about it, I guess it’s fine.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. I just need to do what I always do.”
“When you say it, it has a strange kind of impact~”
“Hmph, I’m The Strongest Civilian who defeated Kenzaki Souji and Juzo Hakari all by myself, you know.”
“Sometimes, I wonder if you’re not some kind of bug the world produced.”
“Who are you calling a bug?”
It was a harsh thing to say, but since it wasn’t entirely wrong, he couldn’t strongly refute it.
Then, as he was fooling around with his classmates as usual until the morning homeroom began, the area outside the classroom started to get noisy.
“It’s noisy outside. Did something happen?”
“Who knows? Why don’t you go see?”
As Kazuma said that and headed towards the classroom door, it slid open with a rattle, and a surprising figure entered.
“Yo! Kazuma! How have you been?”
“S-Senpai!? Why are you here?”
The one who entered Kazuma’s classroom was Kenzaki Souji, the student council president of the First Esper Academy and hailed as the strongest active high school student.
Now, having been defeated by Kazuma, he was called the former strongest, but even so, his abilities were among the best in Japan.
“You didn’t know? I’m graduating this year, so for the third semester, as long as my future path is decided, I have flexible attendance. Of course, I still have to maintain propriety. Coming to another academy is fine as long as I apply properly.”
“Huh~! But why did you come to our school today?”
“That’s obvious, isn’t it! It’s because the Student Council President Deciding Battle is happening!”
“Eh? Isn’t First Esper Academy having theirs today too?”
“First is also today, but it’s a foregone conclusion with Kisaragi. That guy can summon two historical figures now. His offense and defense are perfect. No one can beat him. Except for me and you, that is.”
“It was Starry Sky Memory, right? Being able to summon historical figures, heroes… that’s still a cheat, isn’t it~”
“That’s not something you, who completely shut down those heroes on your first try and even pinned me down, should be saying.”
“Dehehe~”
“If only I had one more year, I could have had a rematch with you…”
“I’ll accept your challenge anytime! By the way, you said your future path was decided, but where did you end up choosing?”
“The National Defense Force. Aoi too.”
“Is that so! Congratulations!”
“Yeah! Thanks!”
As the two were talking, the bell for the start of classes rang, signaling the beginning of morning homeroom.
Saying it would be a bother to stay any longer, Souji bid Kazuma farewell and left the classroom, heading towards the guest seating area set up at the venue for the Student Council President Deciding Battle.
“(Souji-senpai decided to join the National Defense Force…!)”
During morning homeroom, Kazuma’s eyes widened as if he had received a revelation.
The participants in the Student Council President Deciding Battle had to change clothes and go to the room where the VR machines were set up, but before heading to the changing room, Kazuma called Ema.
“Is this an urgent call?”
“Urgently, please transfer Kenzaki Souji, who has decided to join the National Defense Force, and any related personnel to my unit! That’s all! You have no right to refuse! Later!”
Kazuma unilaterally stated his business and then hung up the phone.
And so, while lamenting that Souji himself had probably leaked the news of his enlistment in the National Defense Force, Ema did as Kazuma said, contacted the Minister of Defense, and had Souji and Aoi assigned to a unit directly under the Crimson Knight.
As an aside, it goes without saying that the Minister of Defense and the top brass of the National Defense Force lamented this notification. After all, Kenzaki Souji was the rising star of the National Defense Force.
And now, the Crimson Knight, a force capable of taking on an entire nation single-handedly, had snatched him away.
It is said that the top executives, while grumbling that the Crimson Knight probably didn’t even need subordinates, drowned their sorrows in alcohol.
Returning to the story, Kazuma finished changing and boarded the VR machine.
He would wait in the Virtual Space until the Student Council President Deciding Battle began.
“This day has finally come, hasn’t it?”
“Indeed. It felt like no time at all.”
The master of ceremonies for the Student Council President Deciding Battle, Kiryuuin Hayato.
And the commentator, Saijou Shiori.
The Student Council President Deciding Battle was scheduled to begin with speeches from these two.
“I know everyone’s eager, so I’d like to start right away, but the start time is fixed, so please bear with us a little longer.”
“I understand everyone’s excited, but this level of enthusiasm is amazing, isn’t it?”
“That’s because Kazuma-kun is so popular. It seems the guests in the VIP seats are looking forward to it too.”
“I never imagined so many people would come to our academy.”
“That’s right. Until last year, you could count the number of guests on one hand.”
“It just means Kazuma-kun is drawing that much attention.”
“That’s a given. The world learned about Kazuma-kun during the Academy Battle Tournament. His Gift is Transposition, but when he wears a Powered Suit, he’s the strongest. Everyone can’t wait to see Kazuma-kun fight.”
“Well, it is being broadcast nationwide, you know.”
The Student Council President Deciding Battle, like the Academy Battle Tournament, was being broadcast nationwide.
Moreover, it was being simultaneously broadcast from all academies, so viewers could watch whichever one they liked.
However, this time, only the Seventh Esper Academy’s channel had its viewership ratings skyrocket.
“It’s almost time to start, isn’t it?”
“It’s beginning…”
“Shiori, who do you think will win?”
“Hayato… What’s the point of asking something so obvious?”
“Ahahaha, my bad, my bad. So, you also think Kazuma-kun will win, then.”
“He’s wearing another ridiculous outfit, but I know his strength all too well. No matter how much Yukihime or Karin cooperate, they probably don’t stand a chance…”
Kazuma was already fully prepared in the Virtual Space.
Although his armament was restricted to melee weapons only, he was clad in a Powered Suit with five times Body Enhancement, so there was no doubt he was overwhelmingly powerful.
And this time, his attire seemed to be themed after a Sengoku warlord, presenting a rather imposing figure in full armor.
He wore a cheek guard shaped like a demon’s visage, giving him an incredibly intimidating presence.
“That’s right. Because Kazuma-kun’s conditions are the same as in the Academy Battle Tournament.”
“Honestly, isn’t five times Body Enhancement a bit excessive?”
“Yeah, it is. He could probably manage well enough even without Body Enhancement, don’t you think?”
“A physical monster…”
“Oops, we talked for so long it’s already the start time. Well then, shall we begin the countdown? 3, 2, 1! Start!”
With Hayato’s signal, the Student Council President Deciding Battle began in the Virtual Space.