Chapter 4: Laugh, Cry, and Laugh Again
From Kurashige Industries, Kazuma and the others headed towards Ivy.
They didn’t have any particular business there, but for Kazuma, it was his home, so he decided to return.
Upon returning to Ivy, Kazuma was greeted by Honoka, and then he took Momoko and Sakura Hakanai into his room.
“I’m already naturally coming up to your room, aren’t I?” Momoko remarked.
“This means marriage is just around the corner, Momoko-chan!” Sakura Hakanai exclaimed.
“And what about that Vixen over there? It’s the same for her, isn’t it?” Momoko retorted.
“She’s a pet! Just a slightly clever one!” Kazuma declared.
“How cruel~. But if I’m your pet, I don’t really mind~,” Sakura Hakanai purred.
“You don’t have any complaints about being kept as a pet…?” Momoko asked, slightly taken aback.
“It’s pretty similar to how things are now, and I’m allowed a fair bit of freedom, so I have no complaints~,” Sakura Hakanai replied.
In reality, although Sakura Hakanai’s Gift was sealed by Kazuma, it didn’t hinder her daily life.
Brainwashing wasn’t a Gift meant for everyday use in the first place.
Unless something extreme happened, she probably wouldn’t use Brainwashing.
Currently, she was working alongside the employees at Ivy, taking care of the children.
She was also receiving a proper salary, so she had no complaints whatsoever.
Besides, being by Kazuma’s side was never boring.
Therefore, there was no need to plot things like overthrowing nations as she had in the past.
With Kazuma around, she could live an exciting life.
“It’s about time I headed home,” Momoko announced.
“Eh!? You’re not staying over, Momoko-chan?” Sakura Hakanai asked.
“I haven’t prepared for that, and I wouldn’t want to impose, so I’ll be going home,” Momoko stated.
“What! I don’t mind at all, you know?” Kazuma offered.
“Even if you don’t, I do. Well then, let’s meet again another day,” Momoko said firmly.
Watching Momoko leave promptly, Kazuma was left alone with Sakura Hakanai.
He was alone with a bewitchingly beautiful woman, but Kazuma was his usual self and started playing a game with Sakura Hakanai to kill time.
“February is almost over, isn’t it~?” Sakura Hakanai mused.
“Yeah. March is just around the corner,” Kazuma replied.
“If I were a student, it’d be spring break, I suppose. I’m so envious~.”
“Well, I’ll be coming here to help out during the break, so I won’t be that free.”
“Don’t you have a graduation ceremony?”
“I do. As student council president, I have to give a farewell address to the graduates as the representative of the current students.”
“Hmm. Have you thought about what you’ll say?”
“I was given a draft.”
“You’re quite trusted, aren’t you~?”
“It’s because I’m already renowned as the most unconventional student council president in history.”
“I can only say, as expected of you~.”
He was called unconventional, but the only thing Kazuma had really “done” was unilaterally deciding on Hawaii as the destination for the training camp.
However, he earned the “unconventional” label because he tried to make all female students wear miniskirts at the closing ceremony of the student council president election.
He didn’t actually go through with it, but people were both anxious and expectant that he might pull something off again someday.
“But still, a whole year has already passed, huh?” Kazuma reflected.
“Didn’t it fly by in an instant? In your case, I mean,” Sakura Hakanai said.
“Yeah, it did~. On the day of the entrance ceremony, I got hit by a truck, fought the Demon Lord as a Hero in another world, and as soon as I came back, I got caught up in terrorism, a new type of Ibinom attacked the school, and to top it all off, I even fought aliens. It’s been way too eventful!”
There was no doubt it had been a turbulent year.
Hit by a truck on the day of the entrance ceremony and summoned to another world, and when he returned, the magic he had acquired in the other world remained.
It was a blessing, but he hid his true identity with foolish delusions, nearly lost his family, but by displaying overwhelming power, he overcame everything, and in the end, even saved the Earth.
It truly was an incredibly eventful year.
“Well, next year surely won’t be as crazy as this one!” Kazuma declared.
“If you say things like that, won’t next year be even more chaotic?” Sakura Hakanai countered.
“…You’re right. They say ‘the mouth is the gate of misfortune,’ or something like that. Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.”
“That would be wise~.”
Surely, something like aliens attacking wouldn’t happen again.
Earth wasn’t registered with the Interstellar Alliance, but it had signed a friendship and peace treaty with the Papipo Aliens.
Attacking Earth was tantamount to spitting in the face of the Papipo Aliens.
Unless they were utter fools, no one would dare attack Earth.
“Well, peace is the best,” Kazuma concluded.
◇◇◇◇
Time passed, and the day of the graduation ceremony arrived at the Seventh Esper Academy.
Kazuma, too, was uncharacteristically serious for today only and was fulfilling his duties as student council president.
“Next, we will have the farewell address from the representative of the current students, Satsuki Kazuma-kun.”
The graduation ceremony proceeded smoothly according to the program, and it was time for Kazuma’s farewell address.
As the representative of the current students, Kazuma ascended the stage to deliver the farewell address to the graduates. He glanced at the paper on which the words of the farewell address he had been given were written, then returned his gaze to the graduates.
Then, taking a deep breath, Kazuma dramatically tore up the paper, and with a microphone in one hand, a fearless smile spread across his face.
“Ah, he really went and did it.”
“Indeed. There was no way Kazuma-kun would behave himself, was there?”
“Even though it’s the senpais’ graduation ceremony, that guy…”
“That’s just Kazuma for you.”
The student council members, who had been watching to see if Kazuma would properly read the farewell address as planned, shrugged their shoulders as if to say “as expected,” but their expressions were gentle.
They had known from the beginning that he wouldn’t behave.
They were convinced that Kazuma would never just obediently read out the words he had been given.
“That’s so like Kazuma-kun~,” Honoka chirped.
“This isn’t the time to be laughing! The parents are frozen in surprise, aren’t they?” Shiori pointed out.
“Ahahaha. Well, it’ll be fine. It’s Kazuma-kun, after all,” Honoka giggled.
“Honestly… What a troublesome kouhai,” Shiori sighed.
Hayato and Shiori, who were graduating, were exasperated by Kazuma’s outrageous behavior, but they were smiling and forgiving him.
Although they had only known him for a short time, they knew well what kind of person Kazuma was. Surely, this wouldn’t be an ordinary graduation ceremony.
“Representative of the current students, Satsuki Kazuma! First off, to our graduating senpais! Congratulations on your graduation! Normally, I’d offer more fitting words, but unfortunately, I’m not that kind of person! To the senpais who, for this past year, as the uppermost classmen, have guided their kouhais, supported them, and led the Seventh Esper Academy, I offer my immense gratitude! To the graduating senpais who are about to take flight towards a new future on this auspicious day, I offer my blessings! In hopes that your tomorrows will shine brightly, I offer my praise! And now, as a final gift from your kouhai… It’s a battle royale with me—!!!”
“We’ve been waiting for those words—!” the graduates roared in unison.
Had they been preparing to fight? The graduates had combat uniforms hidden under their school uniforms.
Their jackets flew into the air, and the graduates, now clad in combat uniforms, wore fearless smiles.
“W-What—!?” Kazuma cried out.
He had planned to give them time to prepare for a fight, so he was surprised that they were already fully prepared.
“Kazuma-kun. We haven’t known each other long, but I know you well,” Hayato said.
“Hayato-senpai! Was this your doing?!” Kazuma exclaimed.
“That’s right. I was sure you’d pull something at the graduation ceremony. Believing that, I had everyone prepare,” Hayato explained.
“Hmph! As expected of my number one disciple! You understand me well!” Kazuma declared.
“A graduation ceremony where we regret parting, hold back tears, and take a new step forward is fine enough… but I thought it might also be good to teach our cheeky kouhai a lesson before that,” Hayato said with a grin.
“I see. Normally, it would be the kouhai’s role to let their graduating senpais have the glory… but as someone carrying the ‘strongest’ title, I can’t afford to lose!” Kazuma proclaimed.
“Let’s drag that title down today!” Hayato challenged.
As the graduates roared, they simultaneously leaped towards Kazuma on the stage.
Kazuma deftly parried the successively attacking graduates, fighting to protect his title of “the strongest.”
The current students and parents were wide-eyed and frozen, but they snapped back to their senses at the brawl unfolding before them. The teachers also jumped in, trying to stop it immediately, but in the end, all those who could fight challenged Kazuma together.
Several tens of minutes later, Kazuma stood atop a mountain of bodies.
He had splendidly defeated all the challengers who came at him.
Graduates, current students, teachers, and even parents—he had mowed them all down without distinction.
It seemed likely that complaints would come later, but since even the Combat Course teachers couldn’t stop him, there was nothing to be done.
Nevertheless, it was far too outrageous, so the academy would receive complaints, and Kazuma would likely receive a stern warning later.
“Wahahahaha! Trying to beat me? You’re a hundred years too early!” Kazuma laughed boisterously.
“I knew it, but you’re merciless…” Hayato managed, lying on the ground.
“Don’t you think about letting your senpais have a little glory…?” Shiori added weakly.
“Do I look like that kind of guy to you?” Kazuma asked.
“Not at all,” Hayato and Shiori replied in unison.
“Right? Well then, once again, congratulations on your graduation,” Kazuma said with a grin.
A moving graduation ceremony where they regretted parting and shed tears would have been fine, but this was a graduation ceremony where they were exasperated, laughed, eventually cried after all, but then laughed again and could take a step towards the future.
Though they had faced many difficulties this past year, the graduates of the Seventh Esper Academy safely concluded their graduation ceremony.