Chapter 10
0The academy's entrance exams were finally over.
My assigned class was A. Apparently, the adventurer records I'd kept as insurance against a one-in-a-hundred-million chance paid off, barely getting me into Class A in 30th place.
30th place was basically last. Ha.
“The top scorer on the written exam is 30th overall. How amusing.”
If it weren't my problem, I'd be laughing at them for ages.
“Let's look on the bright side. At least it's Class A.”
If you lost, no matter how well you did, you couldn't be placed higher than Class B, so I was lucky to get in through a special admission.
But…
“How am I supposed to face Ian?”
After what happened a few days ago, I didn't have the confidence to look Ian in the eye.
I'd been acting all cool because I thought I wouldn't see him for a while.
-The next midterms. The promotion match then. I'll beat you with everything I've got. If you disappoint me like this again…
“Aaaah!”
-I won't forgive you.
“Stop!!!!”
Was I an idiot? Had my chuunibyou phase come back?
Why had I said something like that?!
“Just send me to Class B…”
That was my reaction to hearing I'd been assigned to Class A.
Turn back time for me…
“…What the hell are you doing this early in the morning?”
Let's get ready for school.
…
I should've skipped school. No, since I couldn't, I should've left as late as possible—or set out at dawn.
…
…
How did we run into each other the instant we stepped outside?
““Um…””
The timing, seriously.
“You… go first.”
“O-okay.”
When I told him to go first, Ian seemed to think for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“I'm sorry. I was such an idiot yesterday.”
Ian was apologizing to me again.
“I wasn't trying to put you down. But I know what I did. I'm really sorry.”
But unlike yesterday, I wasn't all that angry.
His expression was serious, and I was grateful he'd apologized first.
“…That's enough. I was a little harsh yesterday, too.”
“…Then!”
Ian's face brightened instantly. Seeing him go from downcast to beaming made him seem kind of cute.
…Cute? A guy? Was I crazy?
“Ahem. Still, I meant what I said yesterday. The promotion match… no, since I'm in Class A too, the ranking match. I'll beat you then.”
“All right. But I won't lose easily… Wait. You're in Class A?”
Confusion appeared on Ian's face, which had just looked so cool.
“…Pfft.”
He looked as if a question mark had appeared over his head, and I couldn't hold back my laughter.
Honestly, that was funny.
“Pwahaha! Yeah. They said they'd put me in Class A as an exception.”
“…Is that really so funny?”
“Pwahahaha!”
His now-pouting face was cute too, so I ended up laughing for quite a while.
…No. Not because he was cute. Because it was funny.
…
By the time I got to the classroom, quite a few students had already gathered.
Well, actually, people had only been called cadets during wartime. Now that things were peaceful, a lot of people called them students instead.
Cadet had a bit of a military-academy feel to it, didn't it?
I had a bit of a culture shock the first time I heard my tutor use “cadet” and “student” interchangeably.
“Cadet” must've come from Japanese, after all.
Anyway. My seat was in the back row, by the window.
In my opinion, the best seat in school.
It was the perfect spot to nap in the warm sunlight.
…Not that I was going to sleep.
Unfortunately, Ian's seat was at the far end diagonally across from me, so we were apart. I guess the seats were assigned by grades.
Since the top three got a lot of perks, starting with dorm accommodations, I had to climb all the way to first place in the ranking match.
No offense to the current top student, but that spot's going to me… Wait.
‘Ian's seat is directly opposite mine. The seats are assigned by grades. …Does that mean…?’
Ian was… first place?
-Thud!
It felt like a rock had dropped into my heart.
I was last. Ian was first… right?
Of course, it was my fault for letting my guard down, but I couldn't help feeling pissed off.
“…Why did it suddenly get cold?”
I saw Ian shiver, but I didn't stop glaring at him.
…I was absolutely going to become number one.
“Good morning, students!”
Just then, someone came into the classroom and shouted.
He seemed to be a teacher… but I hadn't seen him in the game.
Maybe he was a new hire after the war.
Well… It would be strange if a teacher from twenty years ago were still here.
“I'm Cain, and I'll be in charge of Class A from today onward! Though some of you will be demoted, of course.”
Wow. He's already crushing the students' morale right from the start.
“The top-ranked students should work hard so the lower-ranked ones don't catch up, and the lower-ranked students should work hard to climb up instead of getting left behind. Especially you, number 29! You're in the most danger, so you'd better work the hardest!”
“M-me? Huh?”
The male student beside me spoke in confusion, apparently startled at being called out so suddenly.
“There's one person behind me, though…”
Number 29 looked over with an aggrieved expression as he said that.
…Even guys like him looked down on me?
I really need the midterms to hurry up.
So I can kill them all.
“Hahaha! Just because there's one person behind you doesn't mean you're not in danger! Do your best!”
“Yes…”
Number 29 answered weakly with a wronged look, and Cain continued.
“Anyway, I'll train you all to be the strongest. Strong enough to be called heroes! All right, dismissed!”
-Clap clap.
The students applauded after Cain finished speaking.
Well, it had been a really short, impactful speech.
No… maybe it wasn't a speech so much as a passion that really struck a chord?
Anyway, after Cain, the passionate-teacher type, left the classroom, it quickly grew noisy.
-Isn't the professor kind of cool?
-Yeah. His speech really reached my heart.
-And his face, too…
Well, he was handsome. Though I thought Ian was a little better-looking.
“Didn't the professor's speech kind of get to you? It feels like it'd sound pretty lame written down.”
“It did.”
Because there's a kind of passion you can only feel in person.
“What class are you taking next?”
“Well… obviously, I think I'll take [Sword Basics]. The fundamentals matter more than anything.”
“True. Your horizontal and vertical slashes were really scary.”
…Are you making fun of me?
When I looked at him like that, Ian seemed embarrassed and looked away.
“Sigh. Let's go to class.”
“O-okay.”
The [Sword Basics] class was a practical course held on the training field.
“Glad you made it, students!”
And the professor was none other than Cain.
He looked like the sort who'd put us through exhausting physical training.
Like ten laps around the field…
“Since it's the first day, we'll keep it light and just work on your stamina! From now on, run until you can't go any farther!”
Wow. He's just making us run nonstop.
Well… a few laps around the field wouldn't be enough to tire me out, but it was still a pain.
“Aren't you tired?”
“Of course not. What about you? You're not tired?”
“Hah! As if!”
Even while chatting with Ian as we ran, I still had plenty of energy.
Ian had more than enough stamina for that, too.
“Then I'll go ahead?”
“…?”
After saying that, Ian took off with a whoosh.
…Oh? Is he trying to provoke me?
I caught up in no time, passed him, and said,
“Bleh! Keep up if you can!”
I stuck out my tongue at him and left him behind.
“…You!”
Ian chased after me with a furious expression.
Hmph. As if.
Remembering what happened last time, I ran without holding back.
I kind of wanted to stay just one step ahead and tease him, but I felt like he'd pass me at the end if I did.
I wasn't about to get caught off guard again!
…
Two students were running around the field as if competing.
Ian and me.
Most of the other students had dropped out from exhaustion or slowed their pace, but we were only running faster.
Our seemingly endless race-that-was-more-like-tag came to an end when class did.
“That's enough! Good work, everyone!”
At that, the students collapsed one after another.
Ian had collapsed too, lying on his back and panting.
“Haaah! Haaah!”
Seeing him panting and drenched in sweat made me feel a little mischievous.
I'm not usually one to play pranks like this, but for some reason, I wanted to tease Ian a little.
“Tired already?”
“E-El!”
Ian called my name in an irritated voice, clearly annoyed that I was grinning without a single drop of sweat.
“There, there. I'm right here. Ian, you weakling with no stamina.”
“…!”
Ian's already flushed face turned even redder at my teasing.
I didn't know someone could get even redder. How fascinating.
His hand, reaching toward me with the determination to grab me, couldn't reach me while he was lying down.
Heh heh. I'll get closer and tease him.
“Hehe. Want to catch me? Then try…”
-Squish
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
Ian's arm was stretched high above him. And I was leaning in close to tease him.
Maybe he'd run out of strength, because Ian's arm suddenly dropped.
The problem was that I was right there. More precisely, my chest was…
“…!!!!”
My soundless scream rang out.
…I let my guard down and got caught again.