“…You’re right, Kurotsuki-kun has also told me that. Even now, there are people who join out of curiosity, but if I continue to have no accomplishments, they will inevitably leave.”
“As expected, the genius says it correctly.”
“…Yes, I’m always being helped by him.”
She smiled happily, and her trust in Kurotsuki was clearly visible.
Ah, could it be that Asahina-san and Kurotsuki are starting a love affair? If that’s the case, I’ll wholeheartedly support them. I’m devoted to Hoshina-san, after all.
“…Yes, you’re right, the order was reversed. I haven’t yet earned your trust. …It was a mistake to think my wish would be granted in this situation.”
Relieved, Asahina-san showed a smile.
She dashed off, and after a while, turned back to look at me.
“So, Amamori-kun! Please wait for me! Until the day I’ve accumulated flawless accomplishments, achievements, and trust, and come to recruit you again!”
“But I’m telling you I’m declining.”
“Even so, I want you by my side!”
Her eyes convey that this is her true feelings, and this is everything.
“Why?”
“…Well, when I was in trouble, Amamori-kun, you gave me advice and helped me, didn’t you? I am supposed to be the one who helps, not the one who is helped. And yet, you showed me the way. …That’s why, I think.”
It was probably the conversation at the shopping mall after her defeat by Netsuhara, wasn’t it?
At that time, I gave her advice on a whim.
But… if even after Kurashiki said something to her,
she still has that impression of me, then… hey, Kurashiki, it seems you’ve been unconsciously revealing your own shallowness.
“How much those words saved me,”
she said, flushing slightly with embarrassment.
“If you’re by my side, I’m sure I won’t lose to anyone. If we fight together, I don’t feel like I’ll lose. After all, you’ll help me, and I’ll help you.”
What sophistry, I thought.
And even if that were true… I’m not interested in a woman who can’t win without me.
Looking into my eyes, conveying that sentiment, she inevitably nodded.
“But… yes. I can’t say such dependent things if I want to earn your trust. …So, Kasumi Asahina hereby declares…”
The flame of determination lit her eyes.
“I will no longer lose to anyone.”
So, you won’t lose to anyone, huh, Kasumi Asahina? That’s quite a bold claim.
Does that include me, Yuto Amamori? If so, I’d consider it overconfidence.
But I can sense a resolve from the current Kasumi that’s too heavy to simply dismiss.
“I see. If you won’t lose, then there’s no need for me to be by your side.”
“What!? That’s not true at all!”
“So you’ll lose, then. In that case, I have no intention of standing by you.”
“…! You’re plotting something, aren’t you!”
No matter how she answered, I had an excuse to decline. Realizing this, Asahina began to get angry, but it was you who made such grandiose proclamations in the first place. If you still want to keep me by your side, then at least show some responsibility for the words you’ve spoken.
–At the very least, that resolve wasn’t bad.
Thinking this, I started walking in the opposite direction from her.
But after walking for a while,
I hear Asahina’s soliloquy from far behind me.
“Come to think of it, did I ever tell Amamori-kun abour the person I admire?”
Hearing that, I quicken my pace.
Yeah, this time it seems my own slip of the tongue was the problem.
What you told me was only that you had once admired a “hero of justice.”
–You never said that this hero of justice was a man.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
Thirty minutes after my brief conversation with Asahina,
I was fooling around with the goddess.
“Amamori-kun, this book is also recommended.”
“Yes, I’ll read through all of them.”
Like a soldier seeking an audience with the king, I humbly and sincerely accepted the book.
It’s been a while since Hoshina-san came to Class C.
At first, I was a bit anxious that she might not fit in, but it seems those were just unfounded worries.
In fact, the number of love letters Hoshina-san has received since coming to Class C has easily exceeded twelve.
Some of them were even from students in other grades, but so far, Hoshina-san has politely declined all the confessions. The reason is unknown. If I was told she had someone she liked, I’d probably die.
Incidentally, among those who confessed, there were some pushy types as well. There were even fools who grabbed her arm the moment they were rejected, but they seemed to have disappeared in the instant Hoshina-san closed her eyes.
The next day, those who came to school were strangely quiet, but I wonder what happened to them.
Anyway, back to the topic.
The place is the library. The school has a proper library facility outside the building, so the eccentric ones who come to the school library after school to read books are limited to the Literary Club members.
And so, we, who can freely use the library, were doing a little exercise.
“Ah, Amamori… no, Master! Is this good?”
“Lower your arm a bit more. …Ah, that’s fine, isn’t it?”
After glancing at the sweaty Ishino, I turned my gaze back to the book.
He was desperately unleashing jabs into the void, and Higarashi-san and the others were watching him with interest.
–What on earth is he doing?
If asked, I’d say I’m training Ishino.
Do you remember a little while ago, when Ishino asked me to “teach him some techniques”?
I had completely forgotten about it, but it seems Ishino had been taking it seriously all this time, remembering that I had nodded.
“Even if you say to train my abilities… the most important thing is that no one gets seriously injured, you know? After all, it’s not worth it if your hard work goes to waste, Amamori-kun!”
That was his reasoning. I think it’s unlikely he’ll be able to catch up, but… hWe’re number one and number two in the attendance list, so as long as he wants it, I’ll go along with it.
“Ah, so Ishino is entering a training arc, huh…”
“Ah, Ishino, you don’t need to forcibly build up muscle. You are the one and only being in this three-dimensional world who is closest to the two-dimensional, the so-called ‘Otoko no Ko.'”
“T-That phrasing is kind of weird, Manabe-kun!”
Unleashing jabs, Ishino was panting heavily.
Eventually, Ishino’s strength gave out, and he collapsed to his knees, his shoulders shaking.
“Phew, phew… Amamori-kun, I, I don’t mean to doubt you, but… can I really become strong?”
“…I don’t know. As I said before, I don’t think you can even complete the basics in three years. Unless you’re a genius like Kurotsuki, that is.”
At first, I was making up nonsense like that to refuse his request.
I don’t have any particular style to teach. Whether I teach or not, I barely know the basics myself.
If I had to teach anything, it would be the basics like how to grip and throw a punch… But even that won’t stick without a serious commitment. That’s what the warning was about.
[If your heart’s not in it, don’t even start], was the message.
Well, he didn’t listen to that warning, of course.
“Y-yeah, that’s true… But… I think Amamori-kun is so cool. I’m going to try my best, even if it’s just to get a little closer!”
His determination seems unwavering. Ishino steadied his ragged breathing and readied his fist again.
Effort doesn’t always guarantee results, but… I see. If the goal is to get even a little closer, effort will never betray you. The distance will shrink by however much you’ve walked.
Well, whatever. I turned my gaze to the book I borrowed from Hoshina-san.
“Hey, Amamori? Could you show me an example?”
“An example?”
I responded with a questioning tone without even looking up at Higarashi-san’s suggestion.
An example, huh? Well, seeing it won’t necessarily change anything.
Ishino’s biggest lack is simply physical ability. Even learning the techniques, he doesn’t have the fundamental prerequisites. So training would be much more effective than just observing, I thought.
“You’ll probably work up a sweat if you move around. And since you recommended the book, I’d like to read it.”
“Amamori-san. Aren’t your thoughts and words a bit reversed?”
Haha, no way. I’m an honest person, I just said what was closest to my true feelings.
My statement drew slightly wry smiles from the Literature Club members.
As I read the book, ignoring their subtle atmosphere, a goddess’s whisper reached my ears.
“I-I see… That’s a shame. Um, you see, when you were fighting, Amamori-kun looked… so cool.”
…Cool?
That word, the first time I’d ever received it, struck me like lightning.
Before I knew it, I had stood up and was loosening my tie.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
“That was way too easy, Amamori.”
Easy? That’s a perfectly normal high school boy reaction!
I rolled up my sleeves and walked up to Ishino.
Higarashi-san and Tendou-san were watching me with deadpan expressions, but I ignored them.
“Okay, Ishino. Structurally, physically, the ‘output’ of a human being is limited. In contrast, ability is like a cheat that rewrites that ‘limit’ quickly. So the premise is, don’t try to beat ability with just your bare hands. Keep that in mind.”
“Huh? But Amamori, weren’t you fighting pretty evenly with Netsuhara and Shinzaki and the others?”
Higarashi-san’s question was easy to answer.
“That’s true. In terms of raw power, I can draw out something equivalent to Netsuhara, and for an instant, I can neutralize Shinzaki’s strikes. …But that’s only because their techniques are still unsophisticated.”
“…Unsophisticated?”
Ishino was confused, unable to follow.
“To be precise, it’s that they aren’t fully utilizing their abilities yet.”
Netsuhara and Shinzaki are still just being tossed around by their abilities. Just because a student is suddenly given the physical power to shatter boulders, that doesn’t mean they can use it skillfully.
So if it’s me, who’s mastered this body 100% from the start, I have a chance.
And what I want to teach Ishino is precisely that.
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