The time for the after school match with Class A soon arrived.
Waiting for Class C gathered on the grounds was Class 1-A led by Netsuhara.
Looking at the school building, many students are watching the situation below.
The first Duel Request Conflict since the school year began. And a class vs class large-scale battle at that.
It would be stranger if it didn’t stand out.
“Oooh, so you came without running away huh. How admirable.”
Netsuhara laughs as his red hair sways in the wind.
The silver mesh mixed in with his red hair reflects the sunlight dully and shines.
His eyes quiver with delight and…looking at his feet, I grimaced without thinking.
“…Just how despicable can you be, Netsuhara Eien?”
At the end of Asahina-san’s gaze, a battered girl has collapsed at Netsuhara’s feet.
Seeing Asahina-san’s eyes, Netsuhara seems delighted as he crouches and grabs the girl’s hair.
A rare albino girl with white hair.
With her hair seized and face raised, numerous bruises from being punched are engraved on it.
Her cheeks are swollen, and blood is flowing from the corner of her mouth as if her internal organs are damaged.
Even the usually calm Karasuma shows anger at that sight… The rage Asahina-san, the embodiment of justice, feels must exceed even my expectations.
“Don’t get so worked up, Asahina Kasumi. I’m allowed to do stuff like this, hear me out? No matter how much this chick gets hit, her answer is ‘I’m fine!’ ain’t that right! Gyeheheh!”
If the victim says they ‘forgive’ it even after violence is committed, it doesn’t break the school rules.
After the exchanges between Kirido and me, all of Class C understands how things work.
Therefore, Asahina-san felt even greater anger. She clenched her fist in rage.
“That’s enough… Let’s begin quickly, Netsuhara Eien. I can’t find any value in talking with you anymore. In the name of justice, I will defeat you.”
“Ooh… Then let’s get started quick! Hey, bring out the ‘Participating Students List!'”
Saying that, Netsuhara hops out to the center.
Class A and C each prepared a paper beforehand listing ‘the participating students’ names and order’, which would be revealed on the day itself.
In other words, neither side knows the opponent’s participating students or their order at this point.
The same is true for the other side, so there is absolutely no handicap due to these rules.
–Or so it seemed.
To ensure impartial adjudication, some student council students have undertaken the role of judges.
With an expressionless face, the girl student looks between the two sides.
“Now then, both sides announce your participating students.”
And so, Asahina and Netsuhara make it public.
The participating students lists for this time float overhead.
And as expected…it was just as I had imagined.
…Except for one part.
[Class 1-C] [Class 1-A]
1 Asahina Kasumi 1 Tachibana Tsukihime
2 Sakuma Jyunya 2 Netsuhara Eien
3 Amamori Yuuto 3 Robert Beckio
4 Kurotsuki kanade 4 Kurenai Akiha
5 Karasuma Touji 5 Yoneda Hanbee
6 Raku Ichiraku 6 Mai Shinren
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
“Wha…!”
Asahina-san raises a startled voice. …But hold on a second.
Huh? Isn’t there a familiar name in there?
Eh, could I be seeing things? Did my eyes go bad?
It looks like Amamori Yuuto, but is this an illusion?
“…Just what is the meaning of this?”
“Let me explain!”
Our boss, Tendou-san, somehow picks up on my murmuring.
“Our alliance this time, you could say, has a powerful resilience blessed by heaven! But heaven cried out saying ‘There are strong ability user girls but facing Netsuhara would be scary, right!'”
“I see, a reserve slot.”
In other words ‘There are plenty of strong people in the class but having the girls face Netsuhara is dangerous, right?’ By the way, seems Asahina-san isn’t considered a girl.
I briefly slide my gaze and as expected, my eyes meet Kurashiki’s.
For me who absolutely doesn’t want to participate, it’s clearly some kind of enforced measure like ‘Hey you, take some responsibility and help clean up this mess.’ …I wonder how on earth they schemed this.
They probably did a lot of behind-the-scenes work without my consent to force in my name like this, but I’d like to know honestly how they managed it.
While thinking that, I feel Asahina-san’s fury transmitted over.
“Wh-What is the meaning of this! Netsuhara Eien!”
“No ‘what’ or ‘how’ about it! This is reality!”
Receiving his words, I look over the participating students list again.
Hmm. Robert Beckio huh. Looking at Class A, there’s one foreigner-looking guy with big muscles over 2 meters tall.
Well, it’s an elimination tournament and if Asahina-san defeats everyone then that’s fine but…
“…That’s probably impossible.”
I mutter and gaze at Asahina-san.
Netsuhara makes eye contact with the classmates behind him.
Then the albino girl from earlier, whose hair he had seized, heads toward the center supported by another student’s shoulder. Her name will become clear immediately from the flow.
“Masaka…! Tachibana-san is…”
“Ah, it’s her. Asahina Kasumi, your opponent is this chick.”
Netsuhara is smiling convinced of his victory.
Certainly Asahina-san is strong… But before that, she is a hero of justice, for better or worse.
That’s why, no matter how strong she is against evil… She can’t be strong against the same justice, against the weak.
No matter what, benevolent weaklings are ‘beings to protect’ for her.
Asahina-san clenches her fist and grits her teeth.
She seems to have just now realized…that she’s been trapped.
“I noticed it the moment I first went to your class. You aren’t the same as the guy who killed off Kirido. After all, you can’t fully become heartless. With ‘evil’ like me right before your eyes, taking justice’s side is unthinkably useless, ain’t it?”
Saying that, Netsuhara steps back.
What remained were the heavily wounded albino girl…Tachibana, and Asahina-san.
Asahina-san opens her eyes wide, hands clenched.
Blood is dripping from those fists.
More than hatred, vexation showed on her face.
“This is…bad.”
I hear Kurashiki’s voice and close my eyes.
From Asahina-san’s explanation, Netsuhara had emphasized quite a bit about ‘crushing them with his own hands.’ And he had done that extremely skillfully.
That’s why Asahina-san was completely deceived.
She believed the untrustworthy words of evil.
Unease runs through Class 1-C.
Netsuhara Eien was already convinced of his victory.
“Let me say this, my pawns will never surrender.”
That was likely synonymous with checkmate.
Asahina-san opens her eyes wide in shock and stares at Netsuhara.
He lifts his lips in a bow shape and along with a mocking tone announces:
“Asahina Kasumi, you can’t hit the ‘weak.'”
Asahina Kasumi has to defeat Tachibana Tsukihime.
Faced with that fact, Asahina Kasumi froze up.
Anyone could see it. Tachibana Tsukihime is a victim of Netsuhara Eien’s.
Her cheeks are swollen, blood is oozing slightly from her forehead. She hugs her shoulder as if a bone is broken, trembling. Her hair roughly seized sticks up irregularly, conveying heavy injuries all over her body.
To Asahina Kasumi, she is someone who should be protected.
But Tachibana Tsukihime will not say ‘I give up.’
That’s because Netsuhara Eien is frightening. She will never voluntarily surrender because he is frightening.
In other words, for Asahina to win, she has to punch and knock out Tachibana.
She has to raise her hand against one who justice should protect.
Unless she does that, Asahina Kasumi cannot fight Netsuhara Eien.
“…Kh, this is…!”
“Man, the loser dog is barking. Can’t do anything unless the situation suits them huh.”
Netsuhara shows a composed expression from afar.
Seeing him, Asahina-san strongly grinds her teeth. She squeezes her fist to the limit and turns her gaze to Tachibana before her eyes… That was the last resistance Asahina-san could manage.
“…Tachibana Tsukihime-san was it… Please surrender.”
“…N-No, I can’t…!”
Tachibana, who now refIn response to Asahina’s words, Tachibana displayed an almost excessive reaction.
Fear was evident in his eyes. On the other hand, Netsu was composed, never once faltering… I stared at this slightly chilling scene with a blank expression.
“…Y-You, please rest assured. If I, defeat Netsuhara kun, Tachibana Tukihime, then you will be freed from violence! Then, you won’t have to be afraid anymore—”
“Y-You… you can’t… absolutely, can’t win against… Class A…!”
Tachibana no longer seemed to be listening.
Asahina widened her eyes and stumbled over her words.
In response, the unease around them turned to despair.
Even their classmates would have understood by now.
Asahina couldn’t defeat Tachibana Tukihime… She would lose, surely be defeated.
Because there was no other way to avoid harming “Tachibana Tukihime.”
What foolishness. What naivety. …What a farce.
But then again, this is what being a hero is all about.
You had aspired to that fantasy, and so the hardships you’re about to face are beyond measure.
…I won’t blame you, Asahina Kasumi. I knew it was going to be like this.
You have lived righteously up to this point.
You’ve spoken rightly and acted rightly. Therefore, the crisis you’re facing is also just.
No matter who the opponent is, sooner or later, these moments would come.
And I thought, if you’re going to experience defeat anyway, it’s better sooner rather than later.
So I didn’t say anything either. Because this time, I’m also certain Asahina will be defeated.
“Sakuma.”
I call out to Sakuma nearby.
He turns to look at me in surprise, but seeing my eyes, he freezes for a few seconds before letting out a big sigh.
“…Geez, no choice I guess.”
While vigorously scratching his head, he starts walking toward Asahina.
Attention is focused on Sakuma. Netsuhara’s smile deepens further but he doesn’t look particularly interested.
Sakuma places a hand on Asahina’s shoulder, and she greatly shakes her body.
“Yo, hero of justice. We’re switching out.”
“S-Sakuma-kun? B-But, this is…”
“Nothing ‘but’ about it… Admit it plainly. This time, you fell for Netsuhara’s scheme. I hate cocky bastards and guys in denial.”
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