I was kidnapped all of a sudden by a group of strangers in black clothes and stuffed into a car before I had time to resist, as I did not expect to be in such a situation on Earth… and especially in Japan, and I could not use my power as I did in the other world.
When I finally understood that I was involved in an abnormal situation, I immediately tried to leave the place, but…
"──Good day to you, Yuuya Tenjou-san."
"Eh?"
I turned my head toward the voice that called me unexpectedly.
Then, there was a girl in a school uniform from somewhere sitting there, sipping tea gracefully.
I was taken aback by the situation, but I quickly came to my senses and asked her in caution.
"Um… who are you…?"
"I am the student council president of Nittei Academy, and my name is Mirei Kamiyama."
"Nittei Academy…"
The name was vaguely familiar to me.
While Ousei Academy is famous among the public as a super elite school, Nittei Academy could be perceived by the public as a school attended by many super-rich people.
How could someone from such a school do such a thing…?
"This may seem a little harsh, but we have no intention of harming Yuuya-san."
"Then what is it that you want?"
I asked this. Kamiyama-san put down her tea and looked straight at me.
"I'll be straight to the point. Yuuya Tenjou, would you like to come to our Nittei Academy?"
"Eh?"
I was surprised at the unexpected words, and Kamiyama-san continued.
"Our Nittei Academy and Ousei Academy have a somewhat close relationship and have been rivals with each other. However, in recent years, people have begun to say that Nittei Academy is inferior to Ousei Academy."
"H-huh."
"Therefore, we were beginning to work to restore even a little bit of dignity to Nittei Academy… Yuuya-san, you have just transferred to Ousei Academy."
After saying that, Kamiyama-san picked up some documents and began to read them.
"The more I look into it, the more mysterious your background is. However, from what I have seen in the videos of your performance at the athletic festival and ball game competitions, your ability is immeasurable. I had no idea that such talent existed in Japan."
"….."
"The gap between your school and ours has widened even more now that you have joined Ousei Academy. Therefore, we are thinking of closing the gap with Ousei Academy by bringing you, the cause of the gap, to our Nittei Academy. If a student with as much talent as Yuuya-san comes to Nittei Academy, it will be an easy task."
"I-I see?"
I understood what she was saying, but I couldn't imagine I'm that big of a deal, and more importantly, the scale of the story was so large…
I didn't know much about Nittei Academy in the first place, so I didn't even know that it was in a rivalry with Ousei Academy.
However…
"Um… I'm sorry about that. I'm happy you think so highly of me, but I have no intention of leaving Ousei Academy at all."
Kaori encouraged me to transfer, and that's why I am where I am today. Besides, I really enjoy my life at Ousei Academy and can't imagine leaving.
That's why I firmly refused…
"Fufu… well, even if I suddenly offer you something like this, I'm sure you won't immediately agree to it. So, I thought I would invite Yuuya-san to the Nittei Academy once."
"Eh?"
"Now, we've arrived."
"Wha-!?"
I was not paying attention to what was going on outside because I was conversing with Kamiyama-san, but when I looked outside the car, before I knew it, we had arrived in front of a strange and huge gate.
Its size is much bigger than the main gate of Ousei Academy…!
"This is the Nittei Academy. I will now show Yuuya-san around."
The car entered the grounds, leaving me stunned by the sheer size of the place.
"Now, this way."
We got out of the car at the parking lot and walked to the site.
I was astonished by the size of the grounds. First of all, the parking lot was as large as any theme park.
There were gorgeous flowerbeds, a huge fountain, and, of course, a few students riding horses in the distance. Ugh, there are even horses…?
The other students were moving around the grounds in gorgeous carriages as I walked along with Kamiyama-san. W-what's that…
The carriages, reminiscent of the noble culture of medieval Europe, drove through the grounds, and in what appeared to be a garden, students with butlers and maids waiting behind them were enjoying an elegant tea time. T-this is Japan, right…?
The scene was so unrealistic that I couldn't help but think, "I wonder if I can make the maids and butlers work at our school festival."
Even Ousei Academy was an unknown world to me, but this Nittei Academy was a place that went even further.
Kamiyama-san noticed my confused state and explained it to me.
"Those are the horses and carriages provided for the students. As you can see, the grounds of Nittei Gakuen are very large, so the students basically use some kind of vehicle to get around.
"….."
I was no longer at a loss for words.
The school's facilities were equipped with luxurious amenities that I have never seen before, and I was amazed from beginning to end.
After seeing all the facilities, I was finally guided to the student council room.
"How was it? This Nittei Academy… would you like to attend?"
Kamiyama-san asked me as if she already knew the answer.
But…
"I'm sorry. I know this school is great, but I do not intend to transfer from Ousei Academy."
"What?"
Kamiyama-san's eyes widened at my words.
Indeed, the facilities at Nittei Academy were amazing.
Ousei Academy also incorporated advanced technology in its classes and other activities, but the facilities here were more expensive.
Of course, studying on your own was a prerequisite, but you could do much more in an environment like this.
Still, I did not want to leave Ousei Academy.
I liked everyone at the school, including Kaori.
"So, I'm sorry."
I bowed again, and Kamiyama-san shook her head as if she didn't understand.
"T-that's impossible… Oh, perhaps you're worried about how you'll be treated when you move in? In that case, you don't need to worry. We will pay for your transfer and tuition fees, and if you are too far from home, we will even provide you with a student dormitory for free! Therefore…"
"No, that doesn't change my mind."
Kamiyama-san put on a bitter face as if she realized that nothing she would say would make me change my mind.
"Kuh… T-this can't be…"
"Um, now that we've talked, I think I'll excuse myself here."
As I was about to get up from my seat and leave the place, Kamiyama-san seemed to have an idea and opened her mouth.
"T-that's right! How about we have a match?"
"Eh?"
As I was taken aback by this sudden proposal, Kamiyama-san continued.
"It seems that Yuuya-san thinks that Ousei Academy is such an excellent place. You must think you are in a wonderful environment. But after all, that's just a school for commoners… it can't be any better than this school!"
Kamiyama-san's unabashed assertion made me feel a little peeved.
The reason was that she has clearly ridiculed Ousei Academy… and everyone else involved.
"…Even Ousei Academy has many great things to offer!"
When I mentioned this, Kamiyama-san smiled as if she had been waiting for this.
"Then, isn't it obvious that you can win against the students who are spending their time in our school's facilities?"
"Huh?"
I don't know what to do; I can't understand what she's talking about at all.
Then Kamiyama-san smiled with a relaxed smile.
"So, I want you to compete with the students who are the pride and joy of our school."
"C-competition?"
"Yes. It's a little after school now, and there are a lot of clubs in action. So, Yuuya-san, I want you to compete with our school's athletic club."
"W-why?"
"I told you, didn't I? If Ousei Academy is so superior, Yuuya-san should be able to exercise in a better environment than our students… If Yuuya-san loses to our students, it will prove that Ousei Academy's facilities are not that great. That's why I don't believe that an extraordinary person like Yuuya-san will be able to grow in such an environment. So, for Yuuya-san's sake, I will have you compete with the athletic department that our school prides itself on."
"T-that's…"
I tried to get her to stop somehow, but she wouldn't listen to me; she just called the butler and started to prepare.
I was no longer pushed through the messed-up logic and was taken on a tour of the athletic club by Kamiyama-san.
＊＊＊
The first place Kamiyama-san took me to was the baseball club. The baseball club had its own baseball field and quite a few members.
"Now, this is our baseball club. The contest is simple. If you can get a hit on even one pitch thrown by the baseball team's pitcher, Yuuya-san will win."
"Hmph. I don't know who you are, but… you'll have to struggle for it at best, won't you?"
"N-no, I mean, I'd like to go home…"
My words were futile; before I knew it, I was handed a helmet and bat that had been prepared for me, and I had nowhere to run.
I had no choice but to stand in the batter's box and get ready to bat.
I don't know how this happened, but I hope I'll be able to go home when this is over…
While thinking about this and waiting for the pitcher to throw the ball, the other guy smiled wryly at me.
"Hmph… Sorry, but your bat will never touch my ball──!"
With that said, the ball was thrown, and it flew straight at me.
A closer inspection of the ball confirmed that it was spinning beautifully.
Perhaps because I had fought so many opponents in the past, I was able to predict how the ball would move based on its rotation, and based on that prediction; I swung the bat at the right time.
The bat struck the ball perfectly, and the ball flew away with tremendous momentum.
The ball's momentum did not stop, and when I noticed it, it disappeared like a star in the sky beyond my sight.
"""….."""
"U-uh… Is this the end…?"
"! N-not yet!"