Chapter 16: No Way!
Kazuma and the others had come to karaoke. This time, it wasn’t their usual spot, Grand One, but a popular national chain store in the city district known as “Pig’s Song Box” (a karaoke box). It owed its popularity to having the latest machines and being the cheapest in the industry.
“Who’s going to sing first?”
It wasn’t that his communication skills were particularly high; it was simply that Kazuma was the one most able to talk to the Combat Course girls, so he was just acting as a bridge between the two groups.
“…”
“…”
A perfect silence. Kazuma frowned, wondering if they were exercising their right to remain silent, but no one was exercising any such right. They were simply still awkward around each other. They had met before, sure, but they hadn’t formally introduced themselves.
That’s why there was an awkward atmosphere between them.
“Why don’t you sing, Kazuma?”
“Me first? If this were Kohaku, I’d be the final performer, you know?”
“Eh, amazing! Kazuma, you’ve been on Kohaku before?”
“Not that one!”
“It’s not…?”
“It’s not! Never mind. Anyway, shall I sing first?”
“Hey…”
“Hm?”
“It’s been quiet except for us for a while now, but is everyone shy?”
“It’s just because they’re strangers to each other. We should probably do introductions first, but Makimura-san isn’t saying anything.”
“Even though we’re all first-years…”
“Don’t say it like all of humanity are best friends…”
In their own little world, everyone else was left behind. No one could break into their unique atmosphere.
The Combat Course girls who knew Kaede well looked on curiously, wondering why she was getting along so well with a Support Course boy.
Meanwhile, the Support Course boys were impressed that Kazuma, as usual, wasn’t intimidated by the Combat Course girls.
“Anyway, should we do introductions or something?”
“We probably should. We don’t know anything about each other.”
“K-Kazuma. We, uh, actually know each other’s names, you know?”
Kazuma, who had assumed they didn’t know each other’s names because they’d been silent the whole time, was surprised by Kosuke’s remark.
“Eh, seriously!? Don’t tell me I’m the only one who doesn’t know?”
The surprised Kazuma pointed to himself and looked around at both groups, and they nodded as if to say, “That’s right.” At this shocking revelation, Kazuma’s jaw dropped, and he froze.
“Waah, Kazuma, you’re so awful~. Not knowing the girls’ names~.”
“Hey, stop poking my cheek with your finger! Your nail is kinda digging in, and it hurts!”
Does she even have emotions? Kaede, a downer-type beauty and also an airhead. Kazuma, having his cheek vigorously poked by her. To an onlooker, they might look like a close couple, but they weren’t dating.
Let me repeat: they were not dating.
However. Because they looked like nothing but a couple to onlookers, everyone around them watching their interaction was screaming internally, “Just get together already!”
“Err, well then, since it seems I’m the only one who doesn’t know, I think we’ll start with introductions.”
Kazuma, holding the microphone, proceeded like an MC.
“Waah, clap clap~.”
“Yes, thank you. Thanks~.”
To Kaede, who was saying “clap clap” instead of actually clapping, Kazuma offered his thanks for the applause anyway.
“Well then, I’ll start. I’m Satsuki Kazuma. A first-year in the Support Course, and an unfortunate but fine young man who got into a traffic accident on the first day of the entrance ceremony. Nice to meet you.”
“Don’t lie!”
“Apologize to ‘fine young men’!”
“Stop with the self-deprecating humor!”
Receiving these insincere comments from the boys, Kazuma played along.
“Shaddup! I am not telling lies, you know!”
“Oooh, a suspicious Chinese person!”
Perhaps his broken speech was a hit, as only Kaede’s eyes sparkled as she applauded. The fact that her applause was more enthusiastic than before showed how much more she enjoyed it.
“Kaede, you really like weird stuff, huh.”
“Really? I think it’s normal.”
“You’re about the only one who’d call that normal, Kaede…”
While the boys were getting lively, the girls were also getting excited in their own way—specifically, about Kaede, who was more energetic than usual.
Kazuma’s not-particularly-funny self-introduction ended, and he passed the microphone like a baton. Akatsuki received it and coolly introduced himself, and soon all the boys had finished their introductions.
And then, it was the girls’ turn. First, Kaede introduced herself, followed by her two friends.
“Um, I’m Ichinose Shion, a first-year in the Combat Course. My Gift is Lightning Strike. Though, I’m still inexperienced, so I can’t do much with it yet…”
“Ohh, Elec-type abilities have a pretty strong image, don’t they?”
Hearing about Shion’s Gift, Kazuma alone reacted with exaggerated surprise. It seemed he had the image that her Gift, Elec, was strong, and a question mark floated above his head.
“Yeah. It’s generally said to be strong, but it depends on the user. My control is still poor, so I’m not good at all.”
“Is that so? But you’ll be fine if you train hard, right!”
“Ahaha. Well, that’s true, but… Even now that the second semester has started, I haven’t improved much, and at this rate, I’m likely to fail the promotion exam.”
Kazuma started to panic, realizing he’d touched upon a sensitive subject. He began to fluster, “Awa awa,” and looked to the boys, wondering how to smooth things over, but they, too, couldn’t possibly offer advice to a Combat Course girl and averted their gazes.
Seeing that, Kazuma realized he couldn’t expect anything from the boys and turned to the girls. Kaede gave him a deadpan stare as if to say, “Figure it out yourself,” while the other girl put her hands together in an apologetic gesture.
Kazuma was panicking considerably, even thinking of teaching her the combat methods he’d cultivated during his time as a Hero. His eyes were spinning, and he was on the verge of trying to demonstrate lightning magic for Shion.
Just then, perhaps taking pity on Kazuma, whose eyes were spinning and who was sweating strangely, Kaede threw him a lifeline.
“Why don’t you have Kazuma teach you? Unlike other Support Course students, Kazuma can fight.”
“Eh? I’d heard rumors like that, but is it true?”
“Yup. You’ll see if you ask the other kids.”
“Um, just so you know, I don’t know, okay? I mean, I’ve never even been with that Satsuki guy, I’ve only heard rumors.”
“See?”
“No, it’s not ‘see’! Marin just said she doesn’t know either!”
“Ah, sorry. I haven’t introduced myself yet, huh. I’m Nikaido Marin, from the Combat Course like you two. My dad’s American and my mom’s Japanese, so I’m half. Nice to meet ya~. Oh, and my Gift is Gravity Manipulation!”
“Ossu, nice to meet’cha-ssu!”
Kazuma, who had been listening to the three girls’ conversation, had regained his composure. He replied not in his usual casual manner, but with a sports-club-like enthusiasm. Hearing his reply, Marin looked blank for a moment, but then immediately clutched her stomach and burst out laughing.
“Pfft, ahahahaha! What’s with that~, hilarious! Are you in a sports club or something~?”
“That’s how I thought the conversation was going-ssu! Since Ichinose-san seems to be becoming my disciple-ssu!”
“Ahahahaha! Nothing’s even decided yet, and you’re already acting like a master~!”
Apparently finding it hilarious, Marin was banging on the table in the room. Each time, the glasses on the table, filled to the brim with juice, shook, causing the boys to panic.
“Eh, do I have to become Satsuki-kun’s disciple?”
“Why not, Shion! Kaede’s giving him her seal of approval, so you should just do it, right?”
“Yeah. I have a feeling Kazuma would do things we can’t even imagine.”
“Just a feeling?! That’s completely a hunch!”
“No good?”
“Well, if it’s Kaede’s hunch, then maybe it’s fine?”
The conversation was progressing smoothly, but if things continued like this, he’d really have to become her master, so Kazuma pleaded to be spared.
“Ahahaha~. No, I’m happy you rate me so highly, but. I’m in the Support Course, and Ichinose-san, you wouldn’t want to be taught by a guy like me, right~?”
Kazuma was trying to refuse gently so as to avoid any hard feelings, but Shion, spurred on by her two friends, was now motivated.
“Satsuki-kun! I may be unworthy, but please, I’ll be in your care!”
“Hoaah!?”
“Good luck, Kazuma.”
“Just so you know, if you try anything funny with Shion, I won’t forgive you, okay!”
“Dyuwah!?”
Kazuma finally takes a disciple. Kazuma, who had only ever been taught in the other world, was now to become a master in his original world.