Chapter 46: The Academy Battle Tournament is Finally Starting!
Having reconciled with his biological mother and reunited with his biological father, Kazuma was enjoying his peaceful academy life as usual.
During lunch break, as usual, just as he was about to leave the classroom with Kosuke to head to the cafeteria, Kazuma’s name was called over the academy’s public address system.
“First-year, Support Course, Satsuki Kazuma-kun, Satsuki Kazuma-kun. Please come to the Student Council Room immediately. I repeat—”
Kazuma, having been summoned, tried to ignore it and head to the cafeteria with his friend, but Kosuke grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.
“No, if you were called, you should go.”
“Really?”
“Of course. And hey, don’t ignore a summons from the Student Council.”
“Is the Student Council really that big of a deal?”
“Well, they represent the students of this academy. They’re pretty important.”
“I see~. Well then, I’ll go check it out.”
“Alright.”
And so, Kazuma immediately headed for the Student Council Room. He got lost on the way, so he checked the academy map registered on his terminal, and finally managed to reach the Student Council Room.
“I’m hungry, maybe I should just go back…”
However, thinking it would be a waste to turn back after coming this far, Kazuma steeled himself and opened the door to the Student Council Room.
“Excuse me. First-year, Support Course, Satsuki Kazuma here~.”
Kazuma bowed lightly as he entered the Student Council Room, and when he looked up, there was a luxurious office with a high-end chair, the kind you’d find in a CEO’s office. And in the background, light streamed in through a large window.
It was an atmosphere deliberately crafted to look like something he’d seen somewhere before. Moreover, impeccably, the Vice President stood by the Student Council President’s side holding a tablet, and student council officers stood at attention, ramrod straight, along the walls of the room.
Seeing this sight, Kazuma couldn’t help but get excited. His heart pounded at a scene he had only ever witnessed in manga and anime. A sight that would never occur in reality. Convinced that this Student Council President was the real deal, Kazuma stepped further into the room.
“Nice to meet you, Satsuki Kazuma-kun. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
His posture, elbows on the desk, hands clasped to hide his mouth, was like that of a villain. However, that only made him look cooler, and Kazuma grew even more excited. Finding this situation irresistible, a smile crept onto his lips.
“What’s the reason you summoned me?”
“Now, now, don’t be in such a hurry.”
“…”
“…Phew, can I stop now?”
“I think it’s fine, the plan was a huge success. Look, he’s over there desperately trying to hold back his laughter, his shoulders are shaking.”
As expected, it seemed he had been playing a role. The Student Council President, Kiryuuin Hayato, reached his limit, let out a big sigh, and turned his face to the Vice President, Saijou Shiori, who was waiting beside him.
And, just as Shiori said, the plan was a huge success, and Kazuma’s excitement was at its peak. He was now desperately trying to suppress his laughter.
“Wow, I had no idea the Student Council President was such an amusing person.”
Kazuma, who had been holding back his laughter, had tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. He wiped them away as he spoke.
“Ahahaha. Hearing you say that makes the effort worthwhile. Now then, before we get to the main topic… Satsuki Kazuma-kun. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Well, it’s before lunch, so I am hungry, but…”
“Fufu, well then, how about we grab a bite before our important discussion?”
As Hayato said that, the student council officers waiting by the wall prepared a table and spread out bento boxes from a tiered lacquer box on it.
Then, Hayato and the student council officers took their seats, and Hayato prompted Kazuma to sit as well. Kazuma did as he was told, took a seat, and accepted a pair of disposable chopsticks.
“Well then, let’s eat.”
“Let’s eat.”
“Calling you by your full name is tiring, so is it alright if I call you Kazuma-kun?”
Kazuma, who had already reached for the bento and stuffed his mouth with karaage, was chewing with a “munch, munch” sound, unable to answer Hayato’s question. Seeing this, Hayato’s eyes widened. Hayato chuckled softly, wondering if the rumor that Kazuma had “lost the word ‘restraint’ in an accident” was indeed true.
“My, haha. You really don’t hold back, do you?”
“It’s my policy to eat everything that’s offered to me.”
“Hahaha, it’s true, it’s sad for the person who prepared it if food is left over. Yes, yes, please eat without holding back. Well, I say that like I’m important, but I’m not the one who made it, though.”
“Thanks! Then I’ll gladly take you up on your offer and dig in!”
Having received permission, Kazuma ate the colorful side dishes neatly arranged in the tiered box. With an onigiri in one hand, he ate asparagus wrapped in pork, tamagoyaki, and meatballs one after another.
The student council officers smiled at Kazuma, who ate heartily, seemingly unfamiliar with the word “restraint.” Shiori was the one who had prepared the bento, and she had honestly thought she might have gotten a bit too carried away, but seeing how Kazuma ate, her worries proved unfounded.
“That was a feast!”
Kazuma, his stomach full, clapped his hands together and bowed. Then, he looked up and fixed his gaze on Hayato.
“My stomach is full. You can proceed to the main topic now.”
“Understood. First, what I want to ask is, how much do you know about the Academy Battle Tournament held in December, Kazuma-kun?”
“Um, I only know what the teacher told me, but I heard it’s an event where students representing the academy compete for supremacy. The number of participants is ten, and including substitutes and Support Course students, a total of fifteen representatives will participate in the Academy Battle Tournament, right?”
“Yes. That’s mostly correct. To add to that, there are two substitutes and three from the Support Course.”
“I see. In that case, could it be that…”
“You catch on quick. That’s right, I want you to participate as a representative of the Support Course.”
“From what the teacher said, aren’t the most senior students usually chosen every year?”
“Well, yes. Normally, we would plan to choose third-year students, who are the most senior… but this year, you were here.”
“…Could it be that you’ve been watching my usual training?”
“With the Student Council’s authority, we can view each student’s grades and training data. Your academic performance is below average, but… in practical application and combat aspects, you surpass even the Combat Course students. Frankly, this is abnormal.”
“My mother was strict.”
“Ah, I’ve heard about that. The story of you getting punched by a girl at the school festival is also famous, you know. Or rather, you’re someone who’s never short of topics for conversation.”
“Man~, being famous is tough.”
“So, what do you say?”
Hayato stared at Kazuma with a serious gaze.
Kazuma closed his eyes and thought for a while.
“(It probably wouldn’t be a problem if I refuse… but maybe I should hear his reasons first before deciding.)”
First was why he had chosen him. Kazuma was curious about that and spoke to Hayato.
“President. Before I give my answer, may I hear your reasons first? Why did you choose me, a first-year, instead of an experienced third-year? Could you tell me that?”
“Well, you’d be curious, wouldn’t you? As I said earlier, it’s because your combat abilities are outstanding. The Academy Battle Tournament is fundamentally about Combat Course students competing in various events, but I think you know what the main attraction is.”
“Ah, speaking of the Academy Battle Tournament’s specialty, that would be the Crown Battle, wouldn’t it…”
The Crown Battle is the main attraction of the Academy Battle Tournament. And at the same time, it’s said to be everything. It’s a survival game where all participants compete for the Crown on a vast map.
“You know the rules, right?”
“One of the three Support Course students holds the crown, and it’s a competition where everyone tries to snatch it, right?”
“Correct. That’s the reason the Support Course participates.”
“It’s unreasonable, isn’t it~. To be honest, I think it would be fine with just the Combat Course students.”
“It’s the result of seeking fairness…”
“Well, it’s true that if you, President, were holding the crown in our academy, snatching it would be an extremely difficult feat.”
“Exactly. So, this time, I’m thinking of having you hold the crown.”
“That’s the most important role, isn’t it? But there are dummies too, right?”
“That’s right. All three Support Course students will be given crowns, but two of them are complete dummies. Strategy becomes crucial.”
“I see. So that’s where I come in…”
“Yes. The Crown Battle is a fight to snatch the crown. Therefore, I want you to be the eye of the storm in it.”
“That makes sense. You mean that since I’m not like a typical Support Course student, I can outwit the opponents, right?”
“I’m sorry. We absolutely need your strength.”
“What do you mean by that? To be honest, this might sound rude, but… isn’t our academy always fighting for last place every year? It doesn’t affect job prospects or anything, so I feel like it doesn’t have to be me, does it?”
“Ahahaha. You really say things bluntly, don’t you~”
After laughing for a while, Hayato wiped the corner of his eye and turned a serious gaze towards Kazuma.
“Just as you said, Kazuma-kun, our academy is perennially fighting for last place. But we’ve always fought, dreaming of victory.”
“That, well, I think I can understand. But honestly, I think it will be tough this time too. You’re strong, President. However, the First Academy has the genius, Kenzaki Souji.”
“That’s right. He’s the same age as me, but our abilities are worlds apart. And above all, he’s the only one this year with two Gifts: Body Enhancement and Copy. There are limitations, but he’s a genius who can master multiple Gifts. He’s still undefeated, the strongest.”
“How do you plan to win against an opponent like that?”
As Kazuma laid out the harsh reality, Hayato said nothing, just stared intently into Kazuma’s eyes.
“I don’t intend to win.”
“Eh?”
“But I don’t intend to lose either.”
“I don’t understand what you mean…”
“I have a specific strategy. And you’re the key man for it, Kazuma-kun.”
“You’re not planning to pit me against him, are you?”
“Well, Support Course students are allowed to fight, but facing Kenzaki would be too much, even for you.”
“Right. So, what kind of strategy is it?”
“You know the basic formation for Crown Battle, right?”
“Yes. You form three teams of four, five, and four, including Support Course students, and hide the real crown among them, right?”
“That’s right. Normally, that’s how it is… but this time, I’m planning a special formation.”
“…………Ah, so when you say ‘key man,’ you mean my role is important, right?”
“Correct. I want you, Kazuma-kun, to take the real crown and run around with it.”
“Excuse me. I’d like to decline.”
Thinking this was no joke, Kazuma stood up from his chair and tried to leave the student council room, but the officers sitting on either side of him grabbed his shoulders. Forcibly returned to his seat, Kazuma looked at Hayato with a displeased expression.
“No way, not me! I don’t want to be chased around by Kenzaki Souji!”
“Now, now, calm down. Our strategy is quite simple. When enemies come after you, our entire team will take them all down at once. See? Easy, right?”
“The burden on me will be immense!”
“But you managed to escape from over a hundred students during the Support Course’s sports festival, didn’t you?”
“That’s because they were from the Support Course. If it were Combat Course students, I’d have been caught immediately.”
“It’ll be fine. Even if someone with Body Enhancement comes at you, with your physical abilities, you won’t be caught so easily! Besides, counterattacks are allowed, so even if you end up in a fight, you wouldn’t be taken down right away, would you?”
“Well, that might be true! But even so, I don’t want to be the center of attention.”
“Considering you’re already on good terms with the Witch Alicia Miller and the Holy Maiden Charlotte Soleil, I think it’s a bit late for that, don’t you?”
“Guh…”
“Honestly, I’m jealous.”
“Hayato? What do you mean by that?”
“Ah, no, this is!”
At the sudden confession, Shiori shot a sharp glare at Hayato. Hayato flustered as if he’d slipped up, but he couldn’t make any excuses now.
“A-Ahem. Getting back to the topic, Kazuma-kun, what do you think?”
“No, it’s just impossible. Winning might be your dearest wish, but just winning the Crown Battle doesn’t mean you win the overall championship, right?”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
“Eh? Have some new rules been added or something?”
“Actually, starting this year, there’s a new rule where you get one point for every person you defeat. And the leader is worth five points.”
“Does that mean… an upset is possible?”
“That’s right. And the Crown is worth ten points! Fakes are worth zero, though.”
“I see. In that case, depending on the points, winning the championship does seem possible.”
“You understand now! So, about your participation…”
“No, that and this are separate issues. There’s no merit in it for me.”
“If you participate in the Academy Battle Tournament, you’ll be exempt from the final exams. And the winter break assignments too.”
“If I’m good enough, then by all means!”
As expected of the student council president. He had accurately pinpointed Kazuma’s weakness and splendidly secured his agreement.