After lunch, the class proceeds to go as per the usual schedule.
"Okay, now for this stage part of the map, there will be a trap laid there..."
Our homeroom teacher, Asahi, was discussing the upcoming exam. Every tactic and tricks that could be used.
This is... pretty boring... Most of the tricks he's mentioning are "common-sense" tricks. It's not really something unique, and if Kyouko wasn't exaggerating.
"Hunting a group of students is an easy feat for them."
Then, this may all be pointless.
Argh, I'm getting pretty sleepy.
When suddenly,
"And regarding the one who will hunt you in this test, it is the fourth member of the council, does anybody have a clue as to who is he?"
"We've heard of him, If I'm correct, his name is...Uhm...Kajiyashaki Ryujin!"
One of the female students answered.
"I see. That's right. Kajiyashaki Ryujin, one of the upper echelons of this school is going to be the one hunting you. Knowing him, this test won't be an easy win for you all. I suggest you prepare your arsenals quite wisely to pass this test."
He warned with a smirk on his face as if to mock his students.
"Setting the hunter aside, there have been changes in the time limit. From the previously announced 10 hours to just a short 5 hours. This has been decided by the council to ease the difficulty for the students. Are there any concerns?"
...
"Looks like there are none. Now, let's continue the lesson.
...
After school.
The final bell rang, and a crowd of students stood up from their seats, ready to go back to their dormitory. I was putting all the books back in my bag when suddenly Haruto walked up to me and flashed a friendly smile.
"Hey, about the meeting today, it is announced that the library will be closed so we're looking for a place, so...is your dorm available?"
"W-What...?"
I blurted out in surprise.
"S-Sorry, you seem quite surprised."
"I-I mean... why my dorm?"
Out of all the places you could think of, my dorm comes to your mind?
"All of our dorms aren't available... so..." He replied as he scratched his head.
That's very odd... and weird... suspicious.
"Yeah...sure"
I'm not sure why I agreed...
"That's nice! See you in front of your dorm!"
He said happily as he waved me goodbye.
After he left, I continued packing my things.
I'm regretting my decision already. I stood up and prepared myself to leave when a distinct feeling of being watched surfaced in my chest.
I looked around cautiously, but as expected, there was no one in sight.
I'm having the feeling of being followed. I walked naturally, yet cautiously within the hallways, always on the lookout for whoever was following me.
Continuing my path outside, the terrifying feeling of being watched still lingers.
Up until now, they have been following me, huh?
At one point, I heard the slightest sound of footsteps creeping right behind me.
I immediately turned around, and at the corner of my eye, I saw a silhouette hiding near the trees.
"I know you're there, so come out," I yelled out as I slowly walked towards that tree.
Suddenly, I heard a slight girl shriek just behind that tree.
Girly shriek... So a girl has been stalking me.
I curiously walked towards behind the tree, prepared to battle engagement at any second, when she, the one that has been following me, decided to come out before I could reach her.
A small girl, with shoulder-length candy, and pink hair, accompanied by cute, red flowers at each side of her hair stands before me.
Her eyes were of a vibrant, shining blue.
She was fidgeting and nervous, her cheeks flushed red, and her gaze travelling back and forth between my eyes and the ground.
She doesn't look like the type of person that could potentially cause any harm...
"So, why were you following me?" I asked coldly, maintaining my serious expression.
"U-Uhmm.. I-I-I am... U-Uhhh... Cookies..." She stammers in between her words.
"You're a... cookie?"
"U-Uhmmm, n-no... I-I meant... Uhm."
She's way too nervous to even speak. Her voice was shaking and nervous. It is as if she doesn't know how to talk to people.
"I-I am... H-H-Hanemura K-Keina... C-Class A."
She manages to blurt out a few words. Although her words were pretty hard to understand, I could make out a word or two.
"Okay, Hanemura-san. Why were you following me?" I can't get any answers from her If I'm looking too serious. What a nervous wreck.
"Uhm... K-Kyosuke-san!"
She speaks my name in a determined manner before bowing down her whole upper body and extending her hands towards me, handing out what seemed like cookies wrapped in a pinkish transparent plastic, with a red ribbon tied at the top.
"T-T-This is a thank you... For... Uhm... S-Saving me, the other night!"
Saving her, the other night...?
Wait, is she the one who was bullied by those gangsters?
"I-I-I thank you! P-please accept this!"
She said with great determination. Not accepting this may seem rude and heartbreaking to her. Even though I'm not a fan of sweets, I should accept this
"Thanks"
I took the bag of cookies from her hand collectedly and stared at it for a while. Come to think of it, this is my first time being given something like this aside from my parents.
This actually feels like a great accomplishment... to help someone.
"Uhm... You're welcome... Well then... I should get going. Thank you!"
With those parting words, she ran off at the speed of light. Again, what a nervous wreck, but, these cookies seem like a genuine token of appreciation, so I feel satisfied for the day. I turned around as I put the cookies in my bag and went to the dormitory.
..
Arriving at the dorm's facade, I was greeted by Haruto, waving his arms.
"Took you quite some time, what happened?" He asked.
"Long story, let's just go."
"Alright then."
"Where are the others?"
"They'll be here soon. They said that we should go in first."
"Okay."
I led the way towards my room and opened it with the card room I received, which acted like a passkey to my room.
"Come in. It's pretty boring though."
"Well, pardon my intrusion."
I threw my bag on the bed before I proceeded to throw myself on that same bed.
"Just take a seat or whatever," I said as I pointed at the chair nearby.
"Thanks."
Not long after, the others also arrived, carrying a bunch of chips and drinks in their arms.
Kyouko sat on the chair, still reading her book while the others crossed their legs and sat on the ground, with food all over, as if this was a picnic session.
"So, what's with the chips and drinks?"
I said as I stared at them in disbelief.
Unexpectedly, Kyouko opened her mouth and replied to me, "They're a fun crowd. You'll get used to the headaches they'll cause." She monotoned without taking off her eyes from the book.
Looks like she's talking from experience. Still, this is too overly friendly, I'm getting quite uncomfortable. Or maybe it's just because I'm a shut-in and this is actually the norm for communicating with people? Pretty sure not.
"Well, let's not waste any more time." Haruto opened the door to a conversation as he grabbed his notebook and placed it in the middle of the ground floor.
I slightly bent my back and looked a little closer at his phone.
"This is all the information we've gathered about the fourth seat. He is a male student from 2-A, a double-blade user." He continued.
"We also have here that he mainly uses water-type magic, and he really excels at it," Hina added as she read some from the notes.
"Moreover, based on the exam last year, which was also a survival-type exam, with the hunter being last year's first year, the fourth was able to hold his ground against the first." Airi continued.
A double-blade, water-type, second-year student, that was able to hold his ground against the strongest last year...? Kajiyashaki Ryujin...
"He sounds absurdly strong, I'm pretty nervous," Arata remarked with a slight nervousness in his voice.
"Oh my, this is the first time I've seen Arata nervous." Giggled Airi as he looked at Arata.
"Who wouldn't be? That guy's one hell of a monster. He beat the first! Ain't he one hell of a monster?" Fretted Arata as he stares at the phones of information right in front of him. "Argh, I thought I could easily pass this!"
"You could, Arata. You're doubting yourself too much. Back in middle school, you were the one to watch."
"Me? Nah, not me. I had failin' grades at that time. Is that supposed to be an insult?!"
"No, you are misunderstanding me. The school's year-end event was the one I was talking about!"
"Oh... That... Haha! Well..."
"I'm very sorry Ryo if we're suddenly reminiscing over things," Airi said as she turned towards me, looking concerned that I was feeling out of place because of their conversation. "The four of us we're actually middle school classmates. We're from the Illusionary Magic Academy, the academy of Kira."
"Kira... The leading prestigious middle school in this country?"
"Yes! Precisely. The four of us have been classmates since the beginning of middle school."
"Why Seiei Academy? That Academy is way ahead of this one."
"A lot of things happened really," Her face suddenly turned sincerely melancholic, as if a memory she didn't want to remember suddenly reappeared in her mind.
"I apologize."
"It's fine. Anyway," She suddenly changed expression and returned to her usual self as if nothing happened. "Coming back to Kajiyashaki Ryujin, we also have info that says he is usually found strolling around the academy. We might run into him"
"That would be insane. I wonder what kind of aura he has." Arata beamed as he began thinking about what kind of person Kajiyashaki Ryujin is.
"Maybe he's a big and scary guy!" Haruto exclaimed, raising both of his hands.
"Oooor, maybe he's a friendly and kind one!" Contradicts Hina.
I can imagine him somehow. Maybe a happy-going guy, seeing that he's often strolling around. Perhaps I could agree with Hina. Still, this kind of information is just surface-level. We don't actually have any specific information about his abilities and all that.
All of a sudden, Kyouko closed her book and prepared herself to speak.
"He is a powerful opponent. I know a lot of information about him since we're from the same middle school." She said straightforwardly, still maintaining her serious facade.
"Waiiiit, really, Kyouko?!" Hina excitedly blurted out.
"Yes, I do. I am from the same middle school as him after all."
"C-Could you tell us about him?"
All eyes turned to her. Maintaining her straight face, she opened her mouth to speak.
"His strength really is supreme and strong. He is a monster. Taking precautions when facing him is a must." She cautioned us with her serious, cold tone, adding intense pressure to her statement. Her
"J-Just how strong is he?" gasped Hina as she asked.
"Insanely strong. Though, I don't have a straight comparison compared to you all since I haven't seen your abilities yet."
"O-Oh... T-Then, since we're going to have a showcasing of our abilities, let's do it now!"
The others agreed, which brings us to the forest with a wide clearing just beside the dormitory.