“– [blessing of the star]”
At my words, the classmates nearby reacted.
Among them was Asahina, who looked at me with surprise.
“T-That means—”
“Hoshina-san isn’t very interested in abilities. That’s why she doesn’t tell anyone or boast about it. But it doesn’t mean her ability is unimpressive.”
Hoshina Tsubomi. She too is a possessor of the 【Blessing】 ability.
And her ability is truly a “game-breaker.”
“【Within one hour of use, she can predict all events happening before her eyes】”
I explained to my classmates, but to be precise, it’s the ability to choose the desired future from countless possibilities. Without a doubt, she is a prodigy that can be counted among the strongest in Class B, along with Shinzaki and Shiki.
Her combat ability may be negligible, but if she had used this power just before a battle request, Class C might not have had a chance. …But wondering about the behind-the-scenes circumstances won’t get us anywhere.
What’s important now is that this trump card has already been played.
“Could it be…Amamori, did you know about this?”
Manabe-kun opened his mouth in astonishment.
Since he knows the useless ability of 【Eye Impairment】, the assumption was that if the owner doesn’t want to talk about their ability, it must be a weak one, so it’s better not to pry too much.
But unfortunately, she is anything but weak.
The strength of Shinzaki, the trump card of Hoshina, and the negotiator Shiki.
Class B is built upon the excellence of these three.
Subtract their strength, and the current fighting power of Class B is less than half.
Even Shiki, if I’m the opponent, will be of little use, I think.
In my line of sight, Hoshina-san reaches for the last pair.
Absolute memory, luck, and drawing power – everything.
She can freely decide the future.
Against that, we are utterly powerless.
As the representatives of other classes collapsed to the ground and the student council president stood there with a smile,
Hoshina-san cleanly swept through all the pairs without a single mistake.
“What an amazing achievement! In the first event, first place goes to Class 1-C! They’ve won decisively by getting all the pairs!”
Hoshina-san trembled slightly and gave a troubled smile.
Normally it would be a joke, but this time I’d like to call her the “Goddess of Victory.”
The sports festival, which was thought to be unwinnable against the second and third-year students.
The expectation was that even just placing would be a cause for celebration.
But they overturned that from the very first event, and demonstrated their overwhelming strength.
I gave a thumbs-up to Hoshina-san in the distance, and she shyly returned the gesture.
Class C was enveloped in cheers.
Hoshina-san laughed, embarrassed but happy.
“…I was a little worried that she wouldn’t fit in with Class C…”
“That’s just needless worry. She’s the leaders of the Literature Club, you know.”
Manabe-kun and I looked at each other and laughed.
Now, the sports festival has just begun.
I decided not to cooperate with Asahina, but that doesn’t mean I won’t contribute to the class.
First, a victory. It’s like slapping the smug upper-classmen in the face.
From now on, they will compete with all their might.
The upper-classmen have been training their abilities for twice or even three times as long as us.
The gap in experience is likely even greater than the visible age difference.
–But in terms of pure ability, I don’t think this class is greatly inferior.
“Let’s go, Manabe-kun. This is an overthrow.”
“Yeah, although I won’t be participating this time.”
Don’t worry, I’m only participating in one event as well.
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The triumphant march of Class C continued in the subsequent events as well.
The second event, [Ball Toss]. A normal competition after the first event.
The participants from Class C included Asahina, Kurotsuki, and several other students.
As soon as the event started, Asahina gathered all the balls around her, and Kurotsuki used his teleportation magic to quickly throw them all in, an outrageous strategy. Class C naturally placed.
But this was the pride of the second and third-year students. Even Class C was only able to take third place.
There were two other classes that managed to throw in a large number of balls even faster than our Class C’s devilish combo.
But a placement is a placement. The fact that we were able to compete seriously against the upperclassmen who had brought out their full strength is already a passing grade. –The problem, however, was the next event.
The third event — [Toppling the Tiger].
As the name suggests, it was a crazy event.
Three tigers would burst out from the prepared screens. The order of the first three people who managed to take down the tigers would be the ranking. It was a direct challenge to animal protection organizations.
Well, I had thought that if one had the appropriate ability, it would be possible to actually extract the tigers from the screens. But what shocked me was the appearance of the monsters that emerged.
In one word, [Manticore].
The two-headed beast – part lion, part goat, with the wings of a bird and the snake-like tail of a monster.
I had desperately wanted to shout “Where did the tiger element go?”, but I was more shocked by the realization that such a creature actually existed. It was hard to believe something like that could be real. So I figured it must have been created by the latest technology at the school.
“Damn it! If only I had been a bit faster!”
The participant from Class C was Sakuma. The result was second place. An impressive achievement.
Ever since losing to Netsuhara, Sakuma had been rigorously training his ability.
The results have now come to light… and yet, the reason for his frustration is puzzling.
The one who took the top spot was none other than Yasuhito Shinzaki from Class 1-B.
From his name “Tiger Slayer,” one might have expected him to be a speed-focused ability user [like the others]. But the outcome was a resounding defeat, as he had deployed his full might without holding back.
While other classes struggled against opponents, Shinzaki alone swiftly and powerfully eliminated the Manticore. Undisputedly, he claimed the number one position.
Miss Asahina seemed to have a troubled expression after witnessing his combat abilities, but I’m on the sidelines, so I just watched leisurely.
What I’m more concerned about is the fact that there were two people tied for second place.
The runners-up were from Class 1-C and Class 1-A.
It was a perfect tie, an almost miraculous result with no difference, not even a hundredth of a second.
And the participant from Class 1-A was none other than Netsuhara Nagashi.
“Tch, tying with that mountain leader. Guess I held back too much.”
“Hah, keep barking, you hot-headed fool! That just sounds like sour grapes to me!”
Sakuma retorts to Natsuhara’s taunt from the distance.
However, Natsuhara’s [Fervent Iron’s Protection] is heavy, making speed his weakest point.
And yet, this result.
In other words, Natsuhara fought Sakuma on his own weak point, and ended up in a draw.
As always, that man is a walking violation. If it weren’t for that woman in Class A, I’d want to recruit him.
…Well, with that woman in Class A, it’s probably impossible.
I turn my gaze towards Class A. The conspicuous figure of [white-haired] is nowhere to be seen, but… what is her intention? I had thought they would just observe the sports festival, but to move Natsuhara here…
While I’m pondering, Natsuhara happens to pass by me on his way back to his own side.
I thought we had no business with each other, but…
–Suddenly, Natsuhara stops beside me.
“One thing, a message from our princess. You bastard.”
Soon after those words,
suddenly a glimpse of white hair sways at the edge of my vision.
The air around me changes. From the stifling blue sky, a refreshing wind blows.
As if this place, this space, has been rewritten into a different world, the sense of incongruity is overwhelming.
Right in front of me.
Unnoticed, a small girl has been walking beside Natsuhara.
“–While observing is fine, But it still doesn’t feel good to be defeated”
The first thing I judge within that distance is whether I can punch her or not.
I clench my fist with all my might. The blood drains from my fist, and veins stand out on my arm.
Not towards Natsuhara or Shinzaki, but a strike meant to kill, and only to kill.
And yet, in the end, I did nothing.
“…How unfortunate.”
She says so, directing her words towards my clenched fist, and walks away again.
When I look back, the figure of the white-haired girl has already disappeared.
I slowly uncurl my tightly clenched fist, one finger at a time.
…There was no carelessness. But, against that girl, such an excuse is just a justification.
I failed to notice her at that distance. Then, it was my own shortcoming.
It would be unsightly to try an attack now.
“…It won’t be that straightforward, huh.”
“Eh? What’s wrong, Amamori-kun?”
Hoshina-san, who was nearby, reacted, and I shook my head.
“No, it’s nothing. The opponent is strong too, it seems. I can’t quite be as good as Hoshina-san.”
I deflected it with that excuse and started walking a little.
///
scene transition
///
The heightened vigilance I had set up just now alerted me to the approach of a certain person.
I grab Manabe-kun who was nearby and hide behind him.
Manabe-kun and Hoshina-san look at me with puzzled eyes.
But if they hear that voice, their puzzlement will turn to understanding.
“Hmm. Ability users are really strong, aren’t they! Us students without direct combat-type abilities seem to be left behind in these situations!”
At those words, the entire Class C turns their attention that way.
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