11.5 Chapter 8.6: Ryuuen Kakeru Short Story: What Became Apparent to Me After a Year (1)

Part 1

I was waiting for Ayanokouji to leave the café.

If he wasn't alone, I would have to wait for the next chance even though it was a bother.

"You heard from Ishizaki that I would be here?"

"Yeah, I came here searching for you, even wasting my time to greet you, you hear?"

I looked at his face which lacked any expressions making it hard to figure him out.

"You already do know my contact info I'm sure. Wouldn't it have been better to contact me then?"

"I thought it was better to speak up face to face to that dull face of yours."

I don't know anything about how he feels, but that's why I can't evade meeting him straight on.

To conquer him, breaking through that mental iron wall of his is of utmost importance.

Anyway, there is something I must check with him.

"What did you mean by 'that'?"

Even though I asked vaguely, he immediately understood.

The thing I meant by 'that' was his message he made Hiyori tell me.

I'd won 5 to 2 against Ichinose and crushed her during the last special exam of the year.

Her mental state as a leader had been shook thoroughly, the pressure to her classmates has continued, and some of her classmates couldn't join the exam due to stomachaches caused by me.

He knew about my methods and cheekily left a message for me: 'I'd would have easily managed over 5 wins with a better method'.

That move just made me want to talk to him whether he wanted it or not.

It was as if I was being forced to obediently listen to his preaching from some god's point of view.

"Just as I said. I'd have done better than you."

"What methods I use is up to me alone."

If I'd use any other methods and won 5 times, it would still just be another 5 wins to me.

No difference at all.

"That isn't definite. If you had to leave the school due to some blunder, I would be sad."

Some blunder? No way I was going to lose against Ichinose.

I'd just follow this stupid joke of his.

"Kuku, what's up with this joke? Quite arrogant of you despite losing to Sakayanagi and getting demoted."

The match between Ayanokouji and Sakayanagi's classes ended 4 to 3 with Sakayanagi leading her class to victory.

But of course, there is no way he's inferior to her.

Since the peculiarity of that exam meant that the Keeps were limited in what they could do.

No... if he'd been serious I'd bet he could win any exams.

Which means he wasn't serious or that someone interfered.

"It's true our class lost to hers. I have no excuse for that since I was the Keep. Whether Sakayanagi is superior to me or not is for you to find out later."

"What the heck— you looking down on me?"

He easily acknowledged his loss, but that just irritated me even more.

I came closer and peeked at his eyes which lacked any colours.

"Someone who beat me once can never be be inferior to her."

"That's flattering of you, but what if I really didn't rest on my laurels during the exam?"

"Too bad, I don't believe it. You didn't want to fight from the beginning then rather than you getting serious and losing... or that some kind of accident occurred. That's a hell lotta easier to believe. I'd believe it if the school wanted to maintain some image and planned for Class A to win anyway."

His strength isn't on the level of a 1st year high schooler.

I came to experience that during our fight in the first year with my own body.

I even want to know what kind of life he's led up until now to become this kind of monster.

"And? What are you going to do now after your comeback, Ryuuen?"

"You don't get to decide whether I come back or not. I plan to enjoy this nice vacation for a bit longer."

Now is the best time to make those various moves behind the stages.

"But... If I get bored of this vacation, I'll crush Ichinose and Sakayanagi to warm up."

"That's a big change of heart."

"Kukuku, certainly. I'm surprised too. I didn't think I'd get this excited over a chance to take my revenge on you."

"I see."

No matter what he replied, there was no use trying to read into his intent.

But what's clear is that Ayanokouji isn't an ally of Sakayanagi and Ichinose.

No, it may be that even Suzune isn't regarded as an ally by him either.

"I'm grateful for that. If you could crush Ichinose and Sakayanagi first, it would be the best I could hope for. I can smoothly aim upwards."

"I thought you didn't care about your class at all?"

"It's a bit different now. That class will be in a good position by the same time next year. Even if I won't be there anymore."

"What?"

Even if I won't be there anymore?

"I may be targeted from now on so it won't be a surprise if someone managed to expel me. Right?"

That's a stupid thing to worry about.

"Rest assured. If someone is expelling you, that will be me."

I can't think of any others from any classes in any years who can expel him.

I laughed silently due to my own thoughts.

"But—"

I said to him and suddenly closed the distance between us.

Giving him no time for caution, as quick as I could, as fast, directly at him.

"Raaahhh!!"

I aimed for the space right in front of his eyes using my right foot with no hesitation.

But that was the opening move.

Even if you managed to deal with it, it wasn't that important.

It was just the first strike that came with any fight.

But if he managed to dodge it, that would be his downfall.

I proceeded to kick his head with all the power I could muster with my left foot.

But—

He calmly dodged the kick as if he'd known a second strike would come after the first.

He wasn't too early or too late.

With just the neccessary movements.

I had thought of a third strike, but the movements he showed dampened my intent and tension released from my muscles.

"Hah, so even a surprise attack like this won't do anything. What kind of monster are you?"

No matter how this was repeated, he would easily defend against it.

Any fights using force, in other words, brawls, won't be able to defeat his intricacy.

I have to relentlessly strike at him using some unorthodox methods or strategy or else it won't work.

"Quite the showman you are."

He must be telling me to be aware of my time and place, but that's why I did it.

The fact that a countless amount of cameras were installed here just made it clear I had to do it.

"My heart is howling at me; to devour you."

If he was even a bit irritated by this surprise attack, I would gladly do it again.

"Not striking back?"

I tried provoking him, but he didn't move of course.

"I want to avoid any risks from fighting with you here. And it's not the right time for that."

"Hah, the mercy of the strong? You saying it makes it seem so much real, this is getting exciting."

My muscles began to tension again.

Maybe I shall strike him again now, I thought but...

"You have potential. That's why you should grow up properly, Ryuuen."

My tension turned into anger once I heard those words. That wasn't the words used when dealing with an equal opponent, far from it.

Venting my frustration, I punched at those damn walls.

"Grow up properly, you say? When the fuck did you become my teacher?"

"I'm just telling you the truth. But don't let the carpet get so easily pulled from under you."

"What?"

"It seems you did some dirty tricks using Ishizaki and the others. It wasn't a bad idea to use the karaoke to mix in those stuff, but if there were any traces left you would have been finished. You would have been expelled on the spot. Even if you managed to feign ignorance, if something strange had happened during the exam, the school would be suspicious of you, of course. The fact Ichinose didn't file a complaint was your only saving grace, Ryuuen."

"I used her good-naturedness in my calculations."

"If so that was naive of you. You will never be able to catch up to me at this rate."

"...Look at you."

He pinpointed out the naivity in my strategy.

"Whether you heed my warning is for you to decide. But— if you remain as you are now, a rematch isn't even on the table."

So he's saying if I wanted to fight with him, I need to grow up?

I'd kill everyone who tries to advise or warn me but...

"I'll listen to your stupid advice since we're here right now. But I'll crush you sooner or later."

Since he was the only exception I'd acknowledged, I'll take it as an adult for now.

"That's the spirit, Ryuuen. Having you crush and expel me doesn't sound too bad after all."